A/N: Hey all! Sorry about the long wait. It's been a hectic, short February. I was gone for a week in Cuba, and before that I had to run around, making sure I had my passports done, and vaccinations. So, that's my excuse this time around. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and that you'll let me know what you think. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

Chapter 9:

JJ stood in her son's doorway, watching Henry play with his toy trucks. The little boy seemed to be oblivious to the tension she felt building in the air. Today was the day Will was to come for a visit with Henry and she just kept going back and forth on her decision to allow him to come over.

She knew deep down it was the right thing to do—Will was trying to atone for his mistakes— but it still didn't mean her uneasiness with the whole situation would dissipate.

Henry glanced up at her, a big smile on his face. "Mommy, wanna play trucks?"

JJ smiled back, nodding her head. She entered the room and knelt on the floor beside him. Henry was using his bed as a massive freeway.

"Which one do I get?" she asked her little boy.

Henry pointed at his favorite yellow dump-truck. So, she picked it up and began to zoom it over his bed spread. There were a few moments in their play where Henry stopped her for making the wrong sound effects. He attempted to correct her and she tried to imitate him with no luck.

Finally, when the doorbell rang it was to both their relief. "Go get the door, mommy," Henry suggested eagerly.

She laughed all the way to the door, opening it mid-chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Hotch asked, giving her a smile that she was starting to recognize was just for her.

"Apparently, I can't make a proper truck noise to save my life," she informed, as she happily ushered him inside.

Pausing briefly, she gave his cheek a kiss in greeting. Even though they'd admitted they cared for each other the night before, they'd yet to share another kiss like the one they'd had the night Will had left. Apparently, they were taking things slow without even talking about it first. JJ didn't mind. Every moment spent with Hotch just felt so right, whatever they did.

"It's easy," he informed. "It's all from the throat."

She chuckled. "Yeah, why don't I leave the sound effects to you, Henry, and Jack."

He shrugged his shoulders in an "it's up to you" gesture before they entered the living room. She watched him look around.

"So… I take it he's not here yet?" Hotch asked cautiously.

She shook her head. "I told him 11:45, that way we could start by having lunch first."

Hotch nodded his head and then gave her a worried look. "How are you doing?"

She sat down on the sofa and he followed her, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. She felt relaxed instantaneously as she allowed herself to sink into his side.

JJ let out a sigh. "I'm nervous, anxious; I just want to get this over with. I'm constantly second guessing myself. I know this is the right thing to do, but I'm still worried. I just… I just don't want my little boy to get hurt again."

Hotch imitated her sigh. "It's a risk," Hotch agreed with her. "Will might pull the same thing. But… from what you told me… he seems to really want to fix things. And Henry having his father in his life is good for him."

JJ stared up at him. "You think?"

"Yeah, I do…" Hotch replied. "The key thing to Henry's happiness, though, is having you. You're a pretty awesome mom, if you haven't already noticed…"

JJ's heart warmed at his words. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight hug. "You're sweet," she said affectionately. "I think Henry and I are the lucky ones, though…"

"How so?"

"We're lucky to have you and Jack in our lives," she stated plainly. "I'm not sure what I would have done without you all this time."

When the doorbell rang again fifteen minutes later, Hotch was in Henry's room, taking over JJ's truck as she prepared lunch. He winced at the sound of the bell, knowing that what would come next would not be entirely pleasant. He knew this situation would be hard on JJ and the child that sat before him, but he also knew this would be difficult on Will, as well.

The man had unwittingly created a hell for himself, lost his family in the process and now that he'd clawed his way out, his family, or at least JJ, was forever lost to him. He knew that if he was in Will's place he'd be devastated to lose a woman as loving and beautiful as JJ. He vowed to himself right then that he would never do anything that would ever even risk that for him. He loved her too much to ever let her go.

"Aaron," JJ's tentative voice came from the doorway.

He looked up to see JJ glancing at her son, more than a little anxious. "He's here?" Hotch asked unnecessarily.

She nodded in answer, still looking at Henry with worried eyes.

"Come on, Henry," he said, standing up, "We've got a visitor to see us. And it's lunch time."

Henry took Hotch's outstretched hand. "Yay, lunch!" Henry exclaimed.

Hotch gave JJ a reassuring look, trying to send her nothing but good vibes; she nodded, giving him a grateful smile. She led the way into the living room with Hotch and Henry following behind.

When they reached the living room, Hotch saw that Will was sitting on the couch. He stood to face them when he heard their approach. Hotch watched on as Will's gaze landed on his son's hand in his own. He didn't miss the pain that passed over his face.

"Henry, hi…" Will said to his son, keeping his voice low, soothing.

Hotch thought better of the man for realizing this would be difficult on the child.

Still, Hotch felt Henry take a step closer to his side, pressing himself against Hotch's leg; he could plainly see that the boy was confused.

"Henry," JJ started slowly. "Do you remember your daddy?"

Hotch looked to JJ. He could see the warring emotions on her face. He could see she was on the verge of calling this whole thing off.

"Hi Will," Hotch greeted, hoping to take some of the focus off of Henry, briefly. He extended his hand across the couch. "How are you?"

Will tore his gaze away from his son. "Uh…" He took Hotch's hand. "I'm good, you? How's Jack?"

"I'm good. Jack's doing fine," Hotch answered.

"Jack's my best friend," Henry was quick to point out.

Will smiled for the first time since arriving. "Is he? Is he here today?"

Henry shook his head. "Hotch, where's Jack?"

He looked down to see Henry looking up at him quizzically. "Oh, he's with Aunt Jessica today."

"Oh," Henry replied solemnly.

Hotch smiled down at the young boy.

"I brought something for you Henry and for Jack too…" Will paused looking to both him and JJ for approval. They both nodded. "Do you want to see, Henry?"

Hotch could see the little boy was curious. He looked at his father with wide, expectant eyes. But before going to him, he looked up to Hotch for permission. Hotch ran an affectionate hand over top of Henry's head.

"Go ahead, Henry. I'll be right here," Hotch assured.

Henry let go of his hand and ran around the couch to join Will.

Hotch glanced at the man to see him watching him with an unreadable expression. He realized that he had no idea how Will felt about his presence there today.

He felt JJ's fingers on his arm and met her eyes. Wordlessly, he followed her to the kitchen where they still had a good view of the pair in the living room.

"So…" JJ prompted urgently.

Hotch put his hands on both of her shoulders, giving them a comforting rub. "I think he's… ok," Hotch glanced to the living room, seeing Will take out several toys to Henry's delight. "It'll take some time, but… I think they'll both be fine."

JJ exhaled the breath she'd been holding. Hotch hugged her close. "I just… he's my baby, Aaron. I just want him to be happy."

"He will be," Hotch assured. "We'll both make sure of that…"

"Together?" JJ asked hesitantly.

Hotch pulled back to look into the blue eyes he so loved. He nodded. "Together."

JJ glanced around the table; though she was sure Hotch was right, that things would be fine, at the moment she felt like they could cut the tension with a knife. They were in the middle of lunch, Hotch on one side, Henry the other. Will sat across from her. She was finding it hard to keep the conversation going, and would only speak when asked a question.

"So, Will, how long will you be staying?" Hotch wanted to know.

"A few days, that's all I could get off of work," Will answered. "I was hoping I could take Henry to the zoo tomorrow…"

"Zoo!" Henry exclaimed.

"Will," JJ warned sharply.

They hadn't talked about this. She did not appreciate him mentioning it in front of Henry before checking with her.

"Sorry," Will apologized sheepishly. "I'm just hoping I can spend some time alone with Henry while I'm here." He turned to address Henry. "Wouldn't you like that, son? Want to go to the zoo with daddy?"

JJ glared angrily at Will. He was moving too fast for her comfort. She looked to Henry, looking even more confused than before.

"Daddy?" he said unsurely.

She saw him look from Will to Hotch and back again. The poor boy didn't seem to know what to think.

"Henry—" she tried.

"No!" Henry shouted. "No, daddy!"

They all sat their stunned as Henry ran out of the room. Both JJ and Will stood up ready to go after their son. Hotch stood up, putting a hand up for them to stop.

"No, wait, let me. I think I know what that was about."

JJ looked at Hotch unsurely. All she wanted to do at the moment was go to her son and hug him like there was no tomorrow.

"Trust me…"

She did trust him. She knew he loved Henry so much. And JJ knew that if Hotch thought he could help then he probably could. She nodded for him to go.

Well that's it for this chapter. I've already begun working on the next chapter. I hope to have that one up by next weekend.

Thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing: nebula2; canny-bairn; angry penguin; deeda; whimsical-one-ga; jekkah; Monkeywand; Reading Red; basket-case1880; DracoMalfoysSweetGirl92; and newsyd.

Had to move the Will/Hotch talk and the date to next chapter.

Until next time…