A/N: Hello again friends! Just a quick thanks once again to those of you who have reviewed/alerted/favorited this story. Glad you are enjoying it!



Hotch and Haley went back downstairs and sat at the kitchen table.

"How long has he been having nightmares?"

Haley sighed. This was one conversation she was hoping not to have. "They were bad right after your attack. When he couldn't see you. He couldn't see that you were really okay. They got better after a little while, but he still has them from time to time."

Hotch sighed deeply shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," he uttered. "I brought all of this on."

"Aaron, this wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was. I let George Foyet get to me in Boston. I made it personal. He made me pay for it. Even now that he's dead, he's still making me pay for it."

"Aaron…"

"No, Haley. Because of me, you and Jack were taken away from everything you know and love with no guarantee that you would ever come back to it. I honestly didn't think I would ever see either of you again. My son is having nightmares because of it. Your life was turned completely upside down. How do I not blame myself for that?"

Haley thought for a moment. She needed to choose her words carefully to make him understand she didn't blame him for this. Not anymore, anyway.

"Aaron, I need you to listen to me. And I'm probably going to fumble this a little, so please let me finish before you say anything, okay?"

He sighed and nodded.

"When your agents came busting through my door, it scared the hell out of me. They were asking where Jack was, if there was anyone else in the house. It was all happening so fast that at first I didn't even realize you weren't with them. When I did realize it, the first thing I thought was that you were dead. That would be the only explanation for all this chaos around me and Jack. I felt sick, thinking I would have to explain to Jack that he would never see you again. Then Morgan said you were in the hospital and JJ explained about the attack. I've never felt so…. I don't know if confused is the right word. It was just too much too fast. I was relieved that you were alive, sad because you were hurt, terrified that all of you thought we were targets. It's exactly the thing I was always the most afraid of… someone using us to get to you. And I was so angry."

She paused to look up at him. She could see the guilt written all over his face. But as promised he wasn't interrupting. She couldn't stop yet. She had to make him understand. She took a deep breath before continuing.

"I didn't know who to be angry at. I was mad at the government for letting Foyet escape to begin with. I was mad at you because I thought you must have done something to provoke him. I was mad at him for simply existing. And I was mad at myself because I didn't think I was strong enough to get us through this without any help. Once things settled down and I really got a handle on just how much danger we were really in, I knew there was only one person to be angry with."

She watched as he ran his hand through his hair and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was never going to forgive himself for this ordeal. Even though he'd done nothing wrong. She reached across the table and took his hand to get his attention.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you? You didn't do this to us, Aaron. You didn't bring this on. We were all victims in this. There is only one person to blame, and thanks to you and your team, that person can't hurt us or anyone else ever again. Are you hearing me?"

He still wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Look at me, Aaron." She waited. "Look at me."

Finally, he did.

"This was not your fault."

He gave her that slight half smile he'd become known for, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"I'm so glad that you and Jack are back here and safe, and I'm thankful that you don't blame me for this, but it's going to be a while before I can forgive myself."

She knew she couldn't give him anything more than that, at least not tonight. Not until he had come to terms with the past eight months. She decided for one night to let it be. She got up to leave and stopped next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"We're safe now, thanks to you and your team. And now our lives can get back to normal. I'm gonna try to get some sleep. You should try to get some sleep, too."

She turned to leave.

"Haley."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you," he said, keeping his eyes on the table in front of him instead of looking at her.

"For what?"

"Just… thank you."

She nodded. "Good night."

"Night."