Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! My motivation/muse has been lacking as of late. So this chapter is kind of forced out, so I'm a little unsure of the quality but hope you guys enjoy any ways. And I am sorry about the quality, like I said. I just wanted to rush through this part. I shouldn't have, but I'm anxious to get on with this story a bit more.


Hotch sighed as he now stood outside Will's new place. How had he ended up here? A lot of arguing. He'd told Rossi, there was no way he was going to break JJ and Will up. That was childish. But it took much convincing and then Rossi informed him that Will was cheating on JJ. That was the last straw, and he'd flown out here without much thought. He knew there was no love in their relationship but cheating was wrong. And whether JJ had feelings for him or not wasn't part of the equation. Being betrayed hurt, no matter where you stood. And he knew that JJ still cared for Will, she just wasn't in love with him.

He raised his hand up to the door and knocked three times.

Who the hell is that? He recognized the thoughts to be Will's and he was right. Will flung the door open, looking quite annoyed as he took in Hotch's expression.

"Hello?" he asked, confused.

Aaron grimaced. Even the sound of his accent was annoying him right now. It took all his control to not get violent and remain calm. "Come clean about what you're doing behind JJ's back. Tell her the truth."

"I'm not doing anything!" Will responded in a panic, his voice squeaking under the glare of Aaron Hotchner. Did she send him here? So help me god, if she did.

What is taking Will so long? That froze Hotch right there. Will wasn't alone. "You have a girl in here right now. I'm not playing games."

"How would you know that? I'm alone," Will said defiantly, rising to his full height, trying to act brave.

"Can I come in?" Hotch asked, raising his eyebrow.

"No," Will responded. How does he know?

"That's what I thought. Now are you going to tell her? Or shall we do this the hard way?" Hotch said in a tone of deadly calm, as he saw Will debate this in his head. He saw the detective sizing him up, and he almost smirked.

"I'll tell her," Will said reluctantly, admitting defeat. She'll leave me for good. I'm not sure why I want us to remain together, but I do...

"Good," Aaron said, feeling slightly guilty. This was going to hurt JJ. But it was best for her to know, and he knew that. She had to know. And then when she recovered. He could make her happy. And I will make her happy. She deserves to be happy.


He hadn't expected it. Not at all. But when he heard the knock on his door at 12 in the morning, he knew. And there she stood, her hair thrown up in a quick ponytail, sweats and a nightshirt. It didn't matter, she was still beautiful, even though there were tears in her eyes.

"JJ?" Hotch asked, forcing a tone of confusion. The guilt was eating at him now. But it was the right thing to do. Or so he tried to convince himself.

What am I doing here? I shouldn't be here! It just... "Um," JJ said awkwardly, shifting Henry's weight. Oh god, I feel like such an idiot.

Opening the door to allow JJ entry, Aaron gestured towards the couch. Somehow despite the shaking, JJ made her way to it. He knew why she was here. But she didn't know that. He had to act normal. He swallowed the lump in his throat that felt quite overwhelming.

"I'm sorry. You're probably wondering why I'm here. I didn't know where to go, and if anyone understands, it's you!" And I just wanted to see you.

"Understands what?" Aaron asked sympathetically, he entered into the kitchen just briefly to put the kettle on the stove to make her some tea, just the way she liked it. Henry lay asleep in her arms, completely unaware of the emotions in the room right now.

"Will just left. He's met someone else. I knew it was coming, but I still... I mean he'd already left but I was hoping he'd come back and now it's for sure..." her voice broke off, her watering eyes met his. I needed a friend.

"It's okay, really." Hotch tried to reassure her. He left the room to finish up with adding sugar to her tea, milk and by the time he came back, she was sound asleep on the couch, Henry nestled up close. A smile touched his lips. They looked so... there were no words. He stared for awhile after he got a blanket he lay over her. There they were. And the guilt wouldn't leave, because here one of his best friends was, crying to him, in pain and all he could think about was how much he loved her...


It had been weeks ago since JJ had appeared on his steps, with nowhere to go. The house was in Will's name and he'd moved back in to it after he'd told JJ the truth. JJ stayed with him, in the guest bedroom. Many would think this would be comforting to him, but it hurt. The worst way to miss someone is to be so close to them, knowing you can't have them.

He knew the girls were talking. And he knew his name had been brought in there due to the sudden silence whenever he walked into a room where Emily, JJ and Garcia were. He'd heard some of Emily and Penelope's thoughts and knew most of what JJ had told them.

Despite the fact he had been against Dave's plans to get the girl, now he was anxious to start working on it. But Dave had shook his head and told him it was too soon. JJ needed to heal. Dave told him that he couldn't be the rebound guy. Whatever that meant. Dave told him that JJ would casually date someone else, before realizing she's just trying to fill that hole in her heart. And after that guy, that's when he'd have to be there.

Hotch didn't buy any of this. He felt they were wasting precious time and he started small, making her breakfast and making sure to look out for her and his son as best as he could. When was it okay to try to make JJ happy? When was it too soon? And what were the chances she'd ever go for him? He'd heard her thoughts, but he wasn't sure. He also felt like he was being selfish, though he did care for her happiness and worry for her. All he could think about was starting on their path, together.

It'd been so long since he'd been with any girl besides Haley, so long since he'd been on a date even. Him and JJ had pretended that awkward day never happened. The one where he just spilled his feelings out and caused the tension in their friendship. They also pretended that she hadn't gone to him right after Will for help. They acted like this was normal. But words could not describe how hard it was for him.

Why was he trusting Dave any ways? The man had three failed marriages. What did he know about anything to do with woman? Perhaps it was time to take matters into his own hands.