"All right, Jack. This is your last chance to pick something up before we get underway once more."
His son smiled up at him and grabbed hold of Erin's hand. "We'll go and find something for the drive, Daddy." He watched his son tug Erin into the store and then began to fuel up. It hadn't taken very long to load the car up, as Erin had had most everything ready and at the door that morning. Getting underway had been another story, as there had been a traffic accident that had caused a long backup.
Erin, bless her heart, had kept Jack entertained with stories that even Aaron had found himself enamored with, and he didn't really mind the extra time. Smiling, he watched them go through the store as he filled up, and then he joined them, picking up a large bottle of water and a granola bar. "Is that all you're going to get, Aaron?"
He glanced down at Erin, surprised to see that she was carrying three sugary snacks and a bottle of soda. "Yes. I, for one, am not going to have a sugar crash while driving. The moment you finish that, you are going to pass out from exhaustion, Erin."
She blushed, looking away from him. "Yes, well, I know that you'll wake me when we get to the hotel, if I should fall asleep. And I have a bit of a sweet tooth."
Aaron laughed a little as he reached out and rubbed her back. "I'm just teasing you, Erin."
She shrugged and thrust the things she was holding at him. "I don't do teasing well." He could hear the hurt underneath her brusque words and he closed his hand around her waist. "Aaron?"
"I'm sorry." She looked up at him, her eyes luminous from unshed tears. "I teased Haley and Beth all the time. I guess I'm just used to it." She nodded and tried to smile, but it never quite reached her eyes. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips, feeling her melt against him. "Go wait for me in the car, okay?"
Erin nodded, her features softening. "All right. Jack, give your things to your father and come with me." His son nodded, handing over a bottle of Gatorade and some candy before slipping his hand into Erin's, sticking close to her side.
Going up to the clerk, he paid for the gas and their snacks. It didn't take long to get everything settled and then he was going back out to the car. Jack was hooked up in his seat and Erin was curled up in the passenger seat, a soft smile on her lips. "Daddy, Miss Erin said that we're almost to the hotel room! Do I really have to sleep in my own bed tonight?"
"Well, usually hotel rooms have small beds, not like ours at home, so yeah, you will."
"Fine!" He said with a definite pout and Erin laughed gently, her hands coming to rest in her lap. "But you will read me a bedtime story, right, Miss Erin?"
"I was thinking that you could read something to me, Jack. I like listening to you."
"Okay." Aaron smiled as he started the car and pulled out into traffic. He wasn't surprised that within twenty minutes both Erin and Jack were asleep, their snacks and drinks untouched. After another forty five minutes on the road, he was pulling into the parking lot of the hotel and went inside.
"Reservation for Hotchner," he said to the clerk, and she tapped away at her keyboard, calling it up.
"All right, I have you on the ground floor, close to the elevator. We serve a continental breakfast beginning at five thirty, local calls are free, check out time is eleven. Have a good evening."
She handed him two key cards and a paper that showed where there room was as she smiled at him. Nodding to her, he turned and left the lobby, returning to the still sleeping Erin and Jack. Quickly, he drove around to the side of the building, parking near the door before turning the car off and getting out.
Opening the trunk, he pulled out the overnight bag Erin had insisted on packing for them and then went inside, putting their things down before coming back out for Jack. His son groaned a little as he picked him up, curling up into him. It didn't take long to get him into their room and onto a bed, and then he was returning to Erin, smiling gently as he opened her door. "Erin, wake up. We've arrived."
She blinked rapidly as she looked at him, a soft, open, expression on her face. "How long was I asleep?"
"Almost an hour and a half. I didn't want to wake you; you looked like you needed the rest." She nodded and he reached out to caress her cheek, listening to her sigh softly. "Jack's in the room already, still out to the world."
"We should probably join him, then," she murmured as she undid her belt and slipped out of the car. She managed to catch her toe in a small crack in the asphalt and pitched forward into his arms, scraping her own arm against the car door. "Ouch!"
"Careful there, Rin." He steadied her and she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on tightly. "Are you okay?"
"I think so. I've always been a bit clumsy." He nodded and rubbed her back softly. "Let's head inside." She kept her arm around his waist as they went in to their room. Jack had managed to sprawl himself out on his bed, his body seeming to take up every available inch of space, and he listened to Erin laugh lowly. "He's so adorable, Aaron."
"Isn't he, though? Sometimes, I find it hard to look at him, he reminds me so of Haley."
"Oh, Aaron," she whispered, turning in his arms once more. He felt her lips gently press against his cheek, and then he was holding her tightly, trying not to cry. "How much you must still miss her. I wish that there had been some way we could have caught that man sooner, before he destroyed something so precious to you."
Her tender words touched his heart and he nodded against her head. "Thank you, Rin." She sighed lightly, nuzzling her face against his shoulder. "We should probably get changed," he said after a few moments.
"Probably." Instead of pulling away from him, she pressed herself closer to his body, her arms tightening around his waist. "Could you just hold me for a little bit longer?" He nodded and began to rub her back. "I love this, you know. And I've missed this. Someone holding me tightly, gently, not pressuring me to do something I don't want to do."
"I would never pressure you to do anything, I promise," he murmured before pressing his lips to the crown of her head.
"I know, Aaron, I know." Finally, she pulled back from him, her lashes spiky with tears. "Would you join me in the bathroom? Please?"
There was something infinitely tender about her question, and he nodded. "Yes, of course."
"Thank you." She went over to their bag and pulled out the nightclothes she had packed before going into the other room. Aaron trailed after her, finding the bathroom small, though not cramped. Looking over, he saw that Erin had stripped down to her bra and panties already, and he smiled appreciatively. A soft blush stained her face and neck and he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. "Aaron?"
"You just look so lovely in this moment, Rin. May I kiss you?"
"That was sort of why I asked you in here. I didn't want to take the chance that Jack might wake up and see us locked in an embrace." Standing on her tiptoes, Erin pressed her lips against his. He groaned lowly as her nearly bare breasts flattened against his chest, and he deepened the kiss, letting his hands cup her ass and hold her tightly.
Finally, they broke the kiss and she stared into his eyes. The only thing he could focus on was the stormy grey color they had taken on, and he leaned in and kissed her once more. "You taste lovely, too."
"Thanks." She shyly tucked her hair behind her ear before reaching back to unclasp her bra, letting it fall to the floor as she picked up her nightie and pulled it over her head. "I'll see you back out there," she murmured, brushing past him. All he could do was stare after her, feeling his heart leave with her.