A/N: I'm going to try this and hope for the best. FF had a brain fart most of the day. It's just about hockey time! With some deeply needed family time.
Chapter 4
Aaron woke a little after 3:30 am, silently thanking the angels in heaven that Jack was sleeping blissfully. When Jack was that tired, the nightmares usually came. Yet, Mudg would have waked him and Dave if that happened. He crawled out of bed, used the bathroom, pulled on a pair of boxers and gently woke Dave.
Dave pulled out of his slumber and rubbed his eyes looking at his partner. "Somethin' wrong?"
"No," Aaron softly smiled, giving Dave a kiss in the moonlight that came through their bedroom window. "You just need some boxers. You know who will be joining us when the sun is up," he smiled.
Dave rubbed Aaron's stubbled cheek as he got out of bed. He made his way into the bathroom as well. Returning, he pulled on a pair of boxers. He climbed back into bed to Aaron's waiting arms. The couple slept blissfully.
That is until one Jack Hotchner, at 7:45, cold feet from letting Mudg out, and getting him feed climbed into their bed on Dave's side. His cold feet, curling around Dave's legs, woke him immediately. Dave startled and then smiled. "Hey chapiono," he said, giving Jack a kiss on the head. "How'd you sleep?" Aaron stirred at the conversation.
"Like a log Papa," Jack smiled, nestling up next to Dave to get warm. The joys of sleeping closest to door, Dave thought. I may get the cold feet, but I get my munchkin in my arms. Aaron rolled over to put his arm across the two of them, rubbing Jack's chest. The three of them conked out again as Mudg made his way into the bedroom as well, making his usual three turns before settling down into the carpet next to Jack's side of the bed. He protected his best pal.
An hour later, Jack woke up, this time ready to rock and roll. He turned in Dave's arms and rubbed his stubbled face. "Papa, wake up."
Dave propped an eye open. "Hey chapiono," he yawned and stretched a bit. That woke Aaron.
Like Zazu, in The Lion King, another Jack favorite DVD, he gave his morning report, ending with "I let out Mudg and fed him. But Papa," Jack said, rubbing Dave's stubble again, "I'm getting hungry." Jack's stomach rumbled with his growing body's need for food. Aaron stirred as well, hearing his son's words. Dave pulled Jack close to his body in a hug and then rolled over, putting their son in between them.
Aaron kissed his son's forehead. "Good morning buddy," he smiled.
"'Mornin' dad," Jack smiled as he rubbed Aaron's chin. "You got scruffies like Papa." Aaron and Dave both laughed at their son's observation.
"What ya thinking for breakfast?" Aaron asked, looking at Dave. They smiled each other, knowing they already had his breakfast wishes covered. Jack, when it came to breakfast, was pretty predictable for the two senior profilers; especially at the cabin.
Jack rubbed Aaron's stubble again. "Ummm, I think, maybe pancakes and sausages?" he said. "We're going skating. We need fuel," Jack added.
Dave rolled his eyes at the first grader that was growing up too fast in front of their eyes. Aaron laughed. "I think that's a plan buddy," he smiled, pulling his son into a hug. Dave rubbed Jack's back as the two of them shared their moment with Aaron pulling Jack onto his chest.
"Ummm, dad?"
"Yes Jack."
"Can we sorta spend a couple minutes like this before we get going?"
Dave smiled at Aaron as he hugged Jack and kissed the cheek that lay nuzzled to his neck. "Sure thing buddy." Dave rubbed Jack's back as he contently lay in his father's arms.
That lasted about three minutes when Jack's stomach rumbled even louder. Dave put his left hand on Aaron's shoulder and leaned up a bit. He took his right hand and gently pulled at Jack's ear, and looked in. "Yup dad, the fuel gauge is just about on empty."
"Papa, I've got a fuel gauge in there?"
Dave smiled. "One I can even see without my reading glasses." Dave had finally given into his eyes over his ego and was using them.
Jack leaned up on Aaron's chest putting his forearms on them to look in his father's eye. "Really dad?"
Jack got a tiny dose of the Hotchner glare. "You doubt Papa and me?" Before Jack could answer, his stomach rumbled even louder. Aaron smiled. "Jack, what does a profiler need to close a case?"
"Proof, dad," Jack correctly answered.
"I think," he said smiling, "we've got ours."
Dave laughed and rolled out of bed. "I'm showering Aaron; you get the munchkin downstairs, get the sausages going, and stir up the pancake batter. I'll do the rest." He disappeared into the bathroom.
Jack rolled off Aaron's chest and out of his side of the bed. "Papa, wait!" Dave froze in his tracks and looked at his son. "I gotta go," he smiled, racing in to use the toilet. Dave rubbed his head as he sped buy and reached into the glass encased shower to get the warm water running. Jack flew back out a two minutes later to see Aaron pulling a sweatshirt, his cotton sleep pants and socks already on. Mudg woke to the commotion and followed the two of them down the hall into the kitchen.
Dave appeared fifteen minutes later, and true to his word, started the pancakes so Jack could eat, as well as Aaron. He was shaved as well. Jack, sitting next to Aaron at the lunch counter smiled at Dave. "You look better without the scruffies Papa."
Dave smiled at his son. "Thank you," he said as gave Jack the first two pancakes, Aaron getting the other two. As he started four more, he smiled at Jack. "Bet you won't get that from dad."
Jack burrowed his version of the Hotchner glare into his father as he forked in a bite. "Sorry bud." Aaron shook his head. "I'm off for the weekend. FBI Agent Hotchner stayed at home."
"But your my superhero," Jack tried to reason with him.
Aaron kissed his forehead. "Thanks buddy, but this weekend, I'm just dad. I need the downtime." Jack looked at Dave, who quietly shook his head at his son with a smile. Dave, as Aaron's lover, didn't like his scruffies either, but he understood. It was Aaron's way of separating himself from the job of being the BAU SAC. And God knew Aaron Hotchner needed that after the butt kicking they had received the last three weeks. Dave could understand it completely; his US Marine training just kept getting in the way.
Jack looked at Aaron. "OK dad. I'll let it slide this time." He shoved in another bite. Aaron and Dave exchanged smiles.
Dave finished the next four, giving another one to Jack. "Aaron?"
He shook his head. "They're yours. I'll make the last," he said, getting out of his stool at the lunch counter, letting Dave sit down as they shared a kiss. Jack happily smiled. Aaron poured the last of the batter to get three more pancakes. That would work for him and Dave.
Jack finished up, Aaron got his face and hands cleaned up with the dishcloth at the sink, and sent him on his merry way down the hall to get his teeth brushed and changed. He and Dave polished off the last of the pancakes and sausages. Jack had eaten three of the sausage links as well, along with two glasses of milk.
Dave looked at Aaron. "We're just getting started with him and his stomach, aren't we?"
"Ya think?" Dave just shook his head.
Dave and Jack watched some TV together on the couch while Aaron showered. He came down the hall and smiled. "Who's up for some ice skating?"
Jack smiled brightly. "Who's up for some hockey?"
Dave rolled his eyes a bit. The spa tub in him and Aaron's bathroom would get a workout tonight.
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