Disclaimer: I own nothing...well only wild imagination.
It was 12:45 and JJ was getting ready to get lost from her office. She hoped she could sneak out without Hotch noticing. But she was proven wrong. When she opened doors of her office she almost bumped to her boss. He was holding big box of takeout.
"I thought you might be already hungry" he said sweetly and very wisely didn't comment on her runaway attempt. JJ managed to put smile on her face although her hunger was gone.
"Come in, then" she made step back and let him inside her office. She then sat on her chair, but it didn't take a profiler to notice she was uncomfortable.
"JJ, if you really don't want me here, I'll go" he offered "but I don't think even Will would have any problem with you having lunch with your boss"
"Will's gone" she spat out unexpectedly. It surprised even herself. It was supposed to be secret.
"He's what?"
"He met some blond bimbo barely-over-teen-age that craves nothing more then be his housewife" the look of disgust appeared on her face "But now you see why I'm not comfortable with you being so..." she was looking for some word and finally satisfied herself with "friendly".
Hotch was taken by surprise. He had no idea that something had been wrong between JJ and her now ex fiancée, not to mention they had broken up completely. After the first shock he had to fight the sudden urge to smile. He took control of himself within seconds and finally said
"How are you holding up, are you OK?" he leaned over her table and tried to hold her hand. She pulled he hand away.
"I'm not some emo-teen to go and cut my wrist, don't worry. I can handle break-up, especially when he was wise enough to grant me sole custody over Henry. It looks like his bimbo doesn't like my kid." JJ smiled contently, but continued without even taking a breath "What I can't handle right now is my boss behaving in a weird way. I don't have anything left to figure it out, so please, just keep your distance" she blurted out before she could cowardly keep it inside.
Hotch knew better then deny anything. She had him figure out quite well, even if she said otherwise. He decided to left it uncommented and offer the peace.
"Right, but it doesn't mean we can't eat together, can we?" he put in front of her box of her favorite take out and moved back to gave her enough space.
"I think I can handle lunch" she smiled relaxed. Every once in a while it was good to work with profilers.
.oOo.
Time passed quickly and almost peacefully. JJ's scars faded with time. It was almost two months since her accident. She was so busy with her work and Henry she didn't even had the time to realize Hotch was finding her more and more amazing. He tiptoed around her, made sure she didn't need anything. He spent most of his free time inviting schemes to spent time with her and the boys. He was so focused on not scaring her away he never noticed when Morgan started the pool in the office about them two getting together.
"I'll bet you 5 dollars JJ and Hotch are going to make it official in less then two weeks" he whispered once to Emily when he got tired of paperworks one afternoon. Prentiss first jumped surprised, he came from behind and she never saw him.
"No way, with the scars they both have it will take them at least another half a year." she opposed.
"You're on, girl" he dared "but I doubt you have seen Hotch recently. He has tiny hearts where his pupils used to be" he exaggerated.
"He might, but JJ is too much by the book to start dating her boss" Emily shared her observation.
"Don't the two of you have anything better to do?" they were taken by surprise by Rossi. He had just gotten fresh cup of coffee.
"Oh, man, you've scared me" Morgan admitted.
"It means you don't have a clean conscience" Rossi offered explanation willingly. He could swear Emily blushed a little. "Anyway, two weeks is too early, but if I had to watch them act like two morons for another month I would be forced to...interfere" he smiled knowingly.
"One month it is" and Morgan made a move like he was writing Rossi's bet down.
"One month to what?" Reid came in closer curious about the small whispering group.
"Till JJ and Hotch make it official" Emily explained.
"Make what official?" Reid asked sincerely surprised.
"One day, you and I, kid, are going to have long conversation" Rossi was still amazed by this boy naivety "we are talking about JJ and Hotch being in love"
"You think those two are in love?" he didn't need to pretend surprise, it was honest "It's common mistake, you see what you want to see. It's almost the rule when the couples of mixed sex work together. Those two also had in common the kids what made them even more alike in private life, but despise all the love-stories it rather quite rare for real relationship to start it the workplace. It was also proven that..."
"OK, Reid, we get it. You're not going to bet with us" Morgan stopped Reid's lecture before it really started.
OK, I know this chapter wasn't as interesting as it should be, but I've figured I needed some fillers before I go and write the important stuff, so just you wait;)
Next: The beginning of troubles in paradise
