Momentum

Rating: T

Pairing: JJ/Hotch

Song: Momentum by The Hush Sound


All we need is a little bit of momentum
Break down these walls that we've built around ourselves
All we need is a little bit of inertia
Break down and tell, break down and tell

"When is JJ getting here dad?"

Aaron smiled at Jack, who was sitting at the counter in the kitchen, watching Aaron as he got everything they needed to start cooking. "She'll be here in about an hour buddy." Jack's face started to fall once again; JJ had truly managed to worm her way into Jack's life. Aaron couldn't deny that she had wormed her way into his life too. "And that means we have an hour to cook JJ a really special surprise dinner." Jack's face lit up at the idea of surprising JJ. "What do you think we should make her?"

"Breakfast for dinner! Breakfast for dinner!" Aaron couldn't help but laugh at Jack's utter enthusiasm.

"Breakfast, why breakfast?"

Jack shrugged. "JJ said it was the only thing you could cook and I think we should make a good dinner." Aaron turned to look at his son with a serious look on his face but a smile obviously tugging at his lips. Jack was all smiles as he stared at his dad.

"Oh she did, did she? And just what do you think?"

Jack giggled and kept staring at his dad. "She's right dad. You make good breakfast, but bad everything else."

Aaron gasped and crossed his arms, his face still very serious but the small smile on his face showing his son he was joking around. Jack tried his best to match his dad, his little hands going to his hips as he tried to stare Aaron down, but he couldn't stop laughing. "Jack Hotchner, are you telling me I'm a bad cook?" Jack nodded, another laugh escaping his lips. "I can't believe my own son doesn't like my cooking! I slave over a hot stove and no one appreciates my cooking! Why I oughta…"

Aaron charged at Jack, who squealed with laughter as his dad picked him up and potato-sacked him over his shoulder, both of the boys laughing loudly as Aaron paraded Jack around the kitchen several times. "Dad! We gotta cook for JJ, 'member?"

Aaron finally sat Jack down on the countertop so he could be close while Aaron cooked. "Alright my little G-man, let's cook Miss JJ a grand breakfast dinner!"

The two dug into their task, working diligently to make a wonderful dinner for the girl they were both crazy about; Aaron made sure to keep his almost seven year old away from the stove and all cutting tasks, but Jack gleefully helped with everything else. As they were finishing up the meal, Jack got quiet and Aaron knew the look on his face only happened when he was thinking about something really important. "What's on your mind buddy?"

Jack only paused momentarily before he finally spoke his mind. "Dad, are you and JJ together? Like mom and Ben?"

Aaron was stunned by the question, but whether Jack knew of his dad's surprise was beyond him. "No buddy, JJ and I are just friends. We work together remember?"

"So you can't date her because you work together?"

"We're not supposed to date coworkers at my work."

"Because you can't fight bad guys as good or because the bad guys could find out and hurt them?"

"Both buddy. We have to be really careful."

"Oh." Jack was silent for only a few moments before he spoke again. "I think that's dumb."

Aaron chuckled, looking up from the stove to glance at his son. "Why do you think it's dumb?"

Jack was still focused on his task, but his face gave away the frustration he felt because of the conversation at hand. "Cause you like JJ and you have for a long time and you still fight bad guys better than everybody else."

Aaron's head whipped up at his son's observation. "What makes you think I like JJ?"

Jack stopped peeling the orange he had been working on for the past few minutes to stare at his dad as though he had never heard such a stupid comment come out of his father's mouth. "Come on dad."

Aaron moved to disprove his son's point, but one look from Jack immediately silenced him. He couldn't lie to his son, and it was obvious that Jack was more observational than Aaron gave him credit for, which was truly saying something. "Buddy, it's just not that simple."

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes; anyone listening in on the conversation would have thought Jack was the mature father of the conversation and Aaron was the child. "You adults make everything unsimple! It's so frustrating!" Jack dug into peeling the orange in front of him, taking his frustration out on the poor fruit.

"Jack, JJ and I-"

Jack forcefully put down the fruit, turning to full on glare at his father. Aaron had been told on more than one occasion by more than one person that Jack had inherited the famous Hotchner glare from his father; seeing it reflected back at him, Aaron realized his glare really was terrifying. "Dad you're being dumb! You like JJ, I know you do. She's really pretty and really nice and really funny and she makes you smile all the time!" Aaron moved to interrupt but Jack kept talking. "I like that she makes you happy. You make her happy too dad. She smiles whenever she looks at you and she looks at you when you aren't looking and that means she likes you. You should stop being dumb and tell her you like her."

Jack, apparently having gotten his frustration out after scolding his father, calmly turned back to peeling another orange while Aaron just stared at his son, trying to remember when he had grown up. "You really think JJ likes me?" Apparently Aaron should've focused less on when Jack grew up and more on when he himself had reverted back to a stupid, insecure teenager.

Jack laughed and looked back at his dad. "Yeah. And you like her."

Aaron looked down, amazed at the conversation he was having with his son. "Yeah…I do buddy."

Jack broke into a huge smile that encompassed every inch of his face. "Good cause I like her too! You should ask her on a date!"

Aaron laughed quietly to himself, absolutely envious of his son's innocence. "Yeah but what if she says no?"

Jack shrugged. "I think she'll say yes."

Aaron raised an eyebrow while his son just continued to stare at him. "Why do you think that?"

Jack motioned for his dad to bend down; as soon as Aaron was at his son's level, Jack took his hand and whacked his dad upside the head. "Cause she likes you and you like her. Duh dad!"

Aaron was too shocked to move. Getting smacked upside your head by your seven year-old son was quite an eye opener. Both heads turned to the door at the sound of a knock, signaling JJ's arrival. Aaron immediately tensed up, suddenly extremely nervous, but Jack turned and gave his dad a huge smile. Realizing his dad was nervous about asking the pretty blonde girl he liked so much out on a date, he quickly moved to wrap his arms around his dad's neck. "She likes you dad, 'member?"

Aaron's heart melted at his son's gesture, and he instantly wrapped his arms around his son, amazed at the strength and courage now coursing through him. Jack pulled away and gave his dad a thumbs-up, causing Aaron to chuckle before taking a deep breath, running a hand through his hair before heading to the door.

Jack turned back to the oranges, a huge smile on his face. All his dad needed was a push, and Jack had been more than happy to provide it.

Author's Note: I really loved the idea of this one, but I don't think it turned out that great. It would have been a lot more sad and angsty if it had been after Haley's death, so I kept Haley alive and gave her some random boyfriend. I don't know, it was a lot cuter in my head; I just couldn't translate it perfectly to paper. Hope it was ok, review if you feel so inclined and I'll greatly appreciate it! Thanks for reading!