It had been a week since the engagement party when Hotch saw Maddie.
After he left her room, he went down and found Rachel and subtlety pulled her aside, asking if Maddie was alright.
Rachel dismissed his concerns smiling and explained that she was probably just stressed with midterms and she was fine, not to worry.
That night, Maddie texted him, "Hey, sorry for freaking out on u earlier. Just stressed with school. Missed u and I miss jack! If you need any babysitting soon, let me know :) have a good night!"
But now, a week later, he could shake the feeling that something still wasn't quite right with her.
It was a rare Friday afternoon- the team had gotten back that morning from their case and barring any emergencies, they'd have the rest of the weekend off.
To celebrate a successful case, they made plans to all go out to dinner that night, and Hotch, per usual, declined because he wanted to spend time with Jack. But the more he thought about it, he had another idea.
"I know it's last minute, but if you're free to watch Jack tonight, I'm sure he'd love to see you." He texted to Maddie.
A minute later she replied, "Yes! I've missed him! Let me just check with my mom."
A few hours later, a knock at the door notified Hotch and Jack that Maddie was there. Before Hotch could even put down the spoon he was using to make mac-and-cheese, Jack had already zipped by him and flung open the door.
"Maddie!" He greeted, jumping onto her in a hug.
She laughed and returned the hug. "Hey Jack! I missed you bud!" She said, as Hotch joined them in the hall.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice Maddie" he said with a rare Hotch smile.
"Anytime" she replied sincerely, already distracted by the toys and books Jack was trying to show her.
Hotch glanced down at his watch as his typical look of seriousness returned to his face.
"Well I've got to get going in a minute, but dinners on the stove and bedtime by 8:30 right Jack?" He said, looking at his son.
"Got it Dad!" He replied with a grin.
"Alright buddy" Hotch said with a chuckle. "You be good for Maddie and I'll see you in the morning. I should be back around 10" he told Maddie.
Hotch grabbed his coat and put it on then put his phone in his pocket and took his keys from the table. "Can I get a hug goodbye?" He said to Jack, who happily ran up and wrapped his body around Hotch's waist.
Hotch smiled, patting his back. "You be good buddy, love you."
"Love you too Dad!" Jack said, and Hotch left.
Jack and Maddie had a fun evening of eating dinner, building a fort, and playing "superheroes."
In just a few short hours, it was time for Jack to go to bed, and he complied, feeling tired from all they had done that night.
Once he brushed his teeth and got changed into race car pajamas Hotch had left out, Maddie pulled the covers on his bed down and he crawled under them.
"Story?" He asked with a smile hinting at his lips.
"You betcha" Maddie replied, grabbing one from the nightstand.
By the time she finished reading, Jack was almost asleep with a teddy bear in his arms and his eyes looking more sleepy by the minute.
Maddie put the story back and turned his nightlight on, but before she could leave, Jack's small voice stopped him.
"Maddie?"
"Yeah buddy, what's up?" She said, returning to his bedside.
"Daddy said your mommy is getting married again."
Maddie nodded slowly, trying to not let her own feelings about the matter show in her face.
"Th-that's right Jack she is." Maddie confirmed, not sure where the conversation was going.
"Are you excited?" He asked
Maddie thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I'm excited that my mom is happy" she replied.
"Maddie?" He asked again
"What's up bud?"
"Do you think daddy will ever get married again?" He asked innocently
"I'm not sure, Jack." She replied truthfully. "But remember if he does your mommy will still be with you in heaven and always love you."
Jack nodded, accepting the answer, and shut his eyes, drifting off to sleep almost instantly.
Maddie quietly pulled his door to be open just a crack, and went downstairs to clean up some, still thinking about the conversation they had just had.
About an hour later she had broken down most of the fort, watched some tv and was finishing up the dishes from dinner when she heard the door open and Hotch come in from the garage into the kitchen.
She finished washing the plate she was on and set it on the dish drain, then wiped her hands dry.
"Hey Maddie" Hotch greeted, setting his keys down quietly on the counter. "How was Jack?"
"He was great, as always" she replied, and a small look of pride filled Hotch's face.
"Well thanks again for coming, I know he loves spending time with you." He replied, putting the water on for tea.
"Anytime" she replied, walking towards the table.
It had become a little tradition whenever Maddie babysat in the evening for her and Hotch to have tea together and catch up a little before Hotch drove her home.
Maddie sat down at the table, and was responding to some texts with a look of slight worry on her face when Hotch finished the tea and came over.
He broke her out of her thoughts by placing the mug next to her, and sitting down across the table with his own.
"Everything ok?" He said, eyebrows raised slightly in suspicion as she put her phone down, immediately changing her facial expression back to normal.
She smiled and nodded, taking a sip of her tea.
"Yeah just... stupid friend drama." She replied lightly.
"It's not boys is it?" He said, half jokingly but half seriously too.
As much as he hated admitting it to himself, he couldn't stand the idea of any boys being interested in Maddie. She was like a daughter to him, and as she got older, he certainly felt the protective side of himself come out, even though he didn't want to admit it to himself.
She gave a slight laugh and rolled her eyes. "No, my friends all like my boyfriend"
Hotch put his mug down quickly. "Boyfriend?" he questioned.
"Shit" Maddie thought, kicking herself under the table. It had just slipped out.
"For how long?" He demanded.
Maddie forced a light laugh. "It's nothing serious Uncle Aaron. It's just been going on for a few weeks, I didn't mean to say it."
"Does your mom know?" He asked
Maddie bit her lip and shook her head slightly, a little sadness creeping back on her face.
"She's been so busy with work, and now the wedding of course..." she trailed. "It's not important, I didn't want to bother her."
"Maddie" Hotch said, a little confused at her answer. "You're never a bother to her."
"Maybe, but I am a second thought sometimes, especially with everything so hectic now with planning" she confided.
She had talked to Hotch a couple times over the years in frustration with her Mom- she was very successful, but very busy, and definitely left Maddie to be independent a lot.
It was another reason he made spending time with her a priority, especially since she was missing the father figure in her life.
He nodded slowly, "Is that what's been going on? With the party and all?"
"Gosh you're still on this? Don't you have like, I don't know, federal crimes to focus on solving?" She said laughing a little, and effectively avoiding his question. "What happened in the last case?"
"Ritualistic murders" he replied, noting her subject change.
"Hmm, that's interesting." She said
He nodded, "and gruesome. It took us a couple days to even realize that's what they were, Reid recognized a symbol pattern in the M.O though."
Although she had never met the team and they didn't know about her, she felt like she knew they from all the cases and stories Hotch shared with her.
She nodded. "That's good that you caught him at least."
"It is" Hotch replied. "So back to this boy.."
Maddie rolled her eyes.
"He's treating you ok, right? Because if not be happy to pay him a visit and..."
"Yes he's fine" Maddie said, laughing at how protective he was being and cutting him off.
Hotch raised an eyebrow, not fully accepting her answer.
"He can be a little controlling sometimes, but he's nice." She continued.
Hotch's brows knit together. "Physically controlling? I saw the bruise on your wrist last weekend.." he said, his voice now laced with worry.
"What? No. Uncle Aaron could you please stop interrogating me? I'm fine. I just... had a bad day on Sunday." She replied, still smiling, but clearly feeling a little taken back by all his questions.
Now it was Hotch who kicked himself. He let his overprotective side take over, and he needed to calm down. Maddie needed someone to be able to openly talk to, not feel interrogated by.
"You're right, I'm sorry. I was just worried about you." He told her. "You're allowed to have bad days, just.. remember you can always talk to me if you do." He reminded.
Maddie smiled softly. "I know."
"Good." Hotch replied, "so how's law theory going?" He started, and the two talked for a while more in their usual light tone about school and funny stories with jack, and after a half hour or so, Hotch drove her home.
When he came back, he went to check on Jack and found him sleeping peacefully. He crossed the room to his bed and pressed a gentle kiss on his head, then rubbed his face looking at his young son, knowing someday he too would want to start dating... and just hoped his "girls have cooties" phase would last as long as possible.
Sorry I kind of forgot about this, but there's much more to this story that I have planned if people still are interested in it! please let me know what you think by reviewing!