Be My Valentine Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

'Stupid Cupid you're a real mean guy.' ~ Neil Sedaka

Even before Hotch put the key in the door he could hear the soft murmur of voices inside his apartment. It was a comforting sound, It made him smile. He unlocked the door and went in. Jack and Hotch's sister in- law Jessie were sitting on the floor at the coffee table finishing off their pizza. Jack jumped up and ran into his father's arms. Jessie stood and took their plates to the kitchen.

"Daddy, aunt Jessie got pizza for dinner," Jack said as if this were the greatest thing anyone could ever think of.

Jess smiled at the father and son. "I got lazy today, but we saved you some, do you want me to heat it up?"

"That's great but I'll do later; I'm going to talk to Jack for a while," Aaron carried his son to the couch and sat down, Jack was beside himself with excitment.

"Daddy, wait til you see what I got." Jack said as he jumped off Hotch's lap and raced into the other room. Aaron was pleased to see him so animated. The past several months had been really hard. Jack was still waking up with nightmares, sometimes crying for his mother and more often than not, sleeping in Hotch's room. It was just lately he was starting to see his young son gradually come out from this cloud of grief that hung over both of them. He knew Haley's sister Jessie had a lot to do with that.

Jessie was getting her coat on to go home."I hope you didn't mind us eating at the coffee table?" she said.

"No, not at all" Hotch replied. In fact, Hotch kind of liked it. After spending days buttoned down and bottled up, the informality felt good. When he and Jack were alone he tended to over indulge him a bit. Their family therapist had warned him this might happen and he should try to nip it in the bud, but it was so hard and frankly he saw nothing wrong with the two Hotchner men staying in their pyjamas til noon and eating hotdogs for dinner and lunch, at least not once in a while.

Jack came racing back into the living room. He carried a shoebox covered in pink tissue paper. It held his valentines from school.

"Wow, Jack look at all the valentines you got, you must have a lot of friends." Hotch said as he sorted through the little valentine greetings and heart shaped suckers. Jack only nodded in agreement. He noticed his aunt getting ready to go.

"Aunt Jessie, you gotta stay and watch the movie with us, Daddy said he's gonna make old fashion popcorn."

Jess bent down to talk to Jack. "I have to go home sweetie, your daddy hasn't seen you in days."

Jack stuck out his lower lip stubbornly. "But we picked out a good movie together." his voice taking on a whinier tone.

"I really don't mind Jess, and you did say it was a 'good movie' ?" Hotch said as he arched an eyebrow at her.

"Yes Aaron, it's definitely a 'good movie'. she said. She and Hotch had developed a code for talking about certain things when Jack was around. Hotch had been horrified to find out how many Disney movies had mothers and parents dying in them right at the start of the film. A 'good movie' was Jack friendly.

Jack looked at her with pleading eyes "Please!"

Jessie was not made of stone. "Ok pumpkin, I'll go home after the movie, now how about I heat up that pizza and your dad can make that 'old fashion popcorn'."

Jack did a little jump of excitment. Jessie shrugged at Hotch as if to tell him she was helpless against Jack's charms.

A short time later Jack sat on the couch between his father and aunt happily munching popcorn. Hotch watched Jack giggle at the silly antics of the Pixar characters, at one point Jack let out a big belly laugh which made Hotch laugh just to watch him.

Suddenly, Hotch was seized by enormous feelings of guilt and sorrow. It shouldn't be him that got to see his son laughing and enjoying himself, it should be Haley. Haley should be here right now, alive and happy. His eyes darted over to Jess, She glanced at him and he saw that her eyes were a little misty. She must have been having similar feelings. She gave him a tight smile and nodded slightly at Jack. He knew they had to pull themselves together. Hotch took a deep breath and forced himself to focus on the movie. Jack leaned back and snuggled against his dad; Hotch kissed the top of his head. He looked up at his father and smiled.

"Happy valentines day Daddy," he said unexpectantly.

"Happy valentines day Jack." he said in return. His heart swelled with love for the little boy. 'I love you Jack'

Derek noticed that the lights were on in the living room as he unlocked the front door of his house. It mean't that Tamara had come over. He had given her a key to his place over a month ago. It was the biggest gesture he had ever made to a woman in his entire life. It was practically a marriage proposal to the commitment phobic profiler.

He entered the house and quietly hung up his leather jacket. He carried a single orchid in his hand; he remembered she'd said it was her favourite flower. He'd been lucky to find a florist open so late on his drive home.

"Tamara," he called softly. Instead his dog Cloony came padding out into the hallway, his walk now stiff and slow. He was beginning to suffer from bad hips. An ailment common to dogs his size and breed. Cloony stopped and wagged his tail, his mouth hanging open in what can only be described as a doggy smile. Morgan stooped down and scratched his friend behind the ears. Cloony satisfied that he had fulfilled his doggly duties turned around and ambled back to the livingroom. Derek followed his canine friend til he found himself standing over Tamara who was curled up on his sofa sound asleep.

Morgan kneeled on the floor beside her. He didn't want to wake her, not yet. He wanted to take in how beautiful she looked. She wore jeans and a sweater and had on miminal makeup. Her features were so serene in her sleep. He wished she would always look that way. Sometimes he could see the pain that lived behind her eyes. He wished he could take it away for her. He brushed the flower lightly against her face. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Derek you're home," she propped herself up on one elbow to talk to him.

"This is for you." he said as he handed her the orchid.

"You remembered, thank you it's beautiful," she gave him a rather sheepish grin. "I have a confession to make, my gift to you was that I was going to cook you an amazing dinner, but Cloony here talked me into having a nap, well, as you can see, no dinner"

"Cloony is rather serious about his naps these days. Don't worry, I have the largest collection of take-out menus in all of DC, unless you wanted to go out?" he said.

He felt a little annoyed at himself for assuming she wanted to eat out of a cardboard container on their first Valentines day.

Tamara just shook her head, "Take-out is fine. I came here to see you."

"I'm so glad you came, can you stay the night?"

"Yes,"

Without warning, an overwhelming feeling came over him. It almost made him dizzy. Morgan realized he didn't want Tamara to stay the night, he wanted her to stay every night. He wanted to wake up beside her every morning, to come home to her, to know she was there. What the hell was happening to him?

"Derek, you alright?" said Tamara, concerned at his sudden zone out.

"Huh? yeah, I'm just happy you're here," He leaned forward, ready to press a kiss against her lips, she closed her eyes and moved toward him when Cloony's large head came directly between them, the two of them were now practically kissing Cloony.

Tamara burst into a fit of giggles and fell back on the couch. Morgan groaned and pushed the dog away.

"I love ya buddy, but I have my priorities," he climbed on the couch beside Tamara and put his arms around her, she was still laughing. Derek pressed his body close to her's and captured her mouth with his. The giggles turned into sighs.

Morgan hadn't forgot about the feeling he had experienced. He just needed to figure it out. The sighs were now turning into moans.

He would figure it out tomorrow.

JJ smiled across the dining room table at Will. He had gone to great pains to make sure this was a wonderful night for her. She had been able to put Henry to bed when she got home and Will had prepared a beautiful dinner for the two them. They clinked their glasses of beer and gingerale together in a toast.

"To my beautiful JJ."

JJ leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you Will, this is so sweet."

Will arched a brow at her "I like to keep my woman fed and happy."

JJ frowned slightly "That sounds weird, but I'll take it in the spirit it was given."

Will stood and began to gather up the dishes. JJ grabbed his arm.

"Honey, for heavens sake, relax. I'll clean up, you did all the cooking."

Will gave her a sly smile. "Actually, I thought while I was cleaning up you could go find that little black lacy number you used to bring to New Orleans with you."

JJ raised her eyebrows. "Ah, so you have ulterior motives behind all this pampering."

"Absolutely."

"So if I put it on, what will you do?" she asked.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Why cher, I'l I take it off."

That was a good enough reason for her. She stood up, "Well hurry up with those dishes then, LaMontagne," she ordered.

JJ hastened up the stairs but was struck by a strong urge to check on Henry again. She opened his door and quietly watched him from the doorway. He lay on his back with his little arms up on either side of his head. He was sleeping soundly. She stood watching him for several minutes when Will came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. JJ put her finger to her lips.

"Shh!" she said.

"He looks so sweet." she whispered.

"Just like his mama," Will murmured as he nuzzled her neck in a way that made her shiver.

"Hmm, oh Will, I forgot to tell you what Garcia said to me today." she smiled as she recalled the memory.

"What," he said as he kissed her shoulder.

"She said, 'Be careful because we don't want to have to find a replacement for you nine months from now ' "

JJ felt Will's lips curve into a smile against her neck. His hand moved down and caressed her belly.

"And did you tell her that it would be only seven months before they would have to find a replacement for you?"

JJ gave a small laugh,"They're profilers, they'll figure it out sooner or later."

She reached over and quietly closed Henry's door. She turned around in Will's arms til she was facing him.

"Take me to bed Will," she breathed.

"Yes Ma'am,"

"I love you,"

"I love you too JJ,"

"Then show me" She took both his hands and led him to their bedroom.

TBC.

AN. Lots and lots of fluff and smoopiness. I hope you all can stand it. Part three is about the rest of the gang and their evenings. Please read and review.