Chapter 10

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Hotch returned the rental truck and picked up his car. He drove to the furniture store and made the salesman working on commission very happy. He pointed to a dining set, and bookcases in the same wood stain, "That one, with four chairs, no leaf needed. And two bookcases."

They walked towards the bedroom section, when Hotch noticed floor lamps. He point to a simply styled one, "Two of those." They continued on and he picked out a dresser and short bookcase to match Jack's new crib. The salesman promised next day delivery and Hotch was done. Furniture shopping completed. It took longer for the salesman to enter the address information and handle payment than it did to pick out furniture.

Once home, Hotch went into Jack's new room to imagine how the new furniture would sit. He sat on the floor and opened the boxes from Prentiss. Amongst the toys, books and clothes, she had packed crib sized sheets and baby sized towels.

He tipped to the left as he dug his phone out of his pocket, settling back down and calling her.

"Hi Hotch!" She answered warily.

"We don't have a case." He started and she laughed in relief, "I wanted to thank you for all the baby stuff you sent over."

"Of course, it was just sitting in the basement." She paused and hollered away from the phone "No Declan!" before continuing, "It's amazing how much stuff you need when they are babies, you know."

"I really appreciate it."

"Liam was very happy to pack up his old toys and books. He said he wants to meet Mr. Hotch's baby."

He chuckled at Liam's name for him, "We'll have to get them together."

"Sounds good! I have to run, Liam and Declan are probably eating raw cookie dough."

"Well, thanks again."

"No problemo! See you on Monday."

~~~~~CM~~~~~

The next day, Hotch grocery shopped. The experience was quite depressing. The store was busy, and he had no idea what to get for a single man. What if they got called a case, wouldn't it all go bad? If he only bought a small amount of food, and they didn't get called away, wouldn't he need to just need to grocery shop more often?

He sighed; he would go with the buying less method so not to waste food. He milled around the store, placing the pantry basics in the cart. The cart was nearly full and yet he didn't have anything to cook for dinner. Ketchup, flour and coffee don't make a meal. He double backed to the meat section and picked out chicken breasts and pork chops.

He was home in the time his furniture was delivered. He signed his name to the delivery order and shut the door. Hotch sat on his couch, miserable, and stared at the plastic wrapped chairs. He needed to get up and finish setting up. He needed to unpack books and shelve them. Maybe even unpack his own boxes but instead he sat and stared.

~~~~~CM~~~~~

The team was called to Tennessee for a case. It was four days before he returned home. He threw together a quick dinner and started unpacking while it cooked.

Jack's room was unpacked. Hotch looked around and found the room a little sterile. The baby's room at home was a light green with striped wallpaper with plenty of pictures on the wall and a large teddy bear that took up an entire corner of the room.

Hotch returned to the kitchen and pulled the chicken out of the oven. He drank a beer as he waited for the chicken to cool a bit. He contemplated asking Garcia to help decorate Jack's room but he really didn't want to induce seizures in his son. He could ask Prentiss.

Finishing up his dinner, Hotch rinsed his dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. Tonight, he would unpack his books and breakdown all the boxes. He would officially be unpacked.

His text alert beeped. It was from his brother, Sean.

'Sup Bro'

Hotch snickered as he typed back.

'Sup? You sound like a 14 yr old girl. How are you?'

'Haha! decent, u'

'divorcing and new apartment'

Hotch wasn't surprised when the phone rang a few seconds later, "Hey Sean."

"Oh dude, that is awful."

He didn't normally share much with his younger brother but it had been two months since the separation. He needed to bite the bullet and just tell him. "Yeah, it has been pretty hard."

"Is it, like bad? Like did she cheat?"

Hotch couldn't help but laugh, "Are you, like, a fourteen year old girl, like really?"

"I didn't know what to say, Aaron. Don't be a douche!" Sean yelled at him before dropping his voice, "Seriously, are you okay?"

"Doing better I guess. I was angry for awhile. I am slowly accepting it."

A nervous laugh escaped, "Um, is that like the seven stages of grief?"

"Yeah, she didn't cheat. I just work too much and," Hotch didn't know what to say and there was an uncomfortable silence before Sean spoke up again.

"Aaron, you know you could have called me. I would have been there for you."

Sighing, Hotch considered it for a moment, "I know, I should have. I guess you being so much younger, I've always just parented you instead of being your brother."

"Things were different growing up. But we are both adults now so our relationship should probably change." Sean told him.

"I'd like that."

"Great. So does she let you see Jack?"

The brothers continued chatting as Hotch finished unpacking his movies and books. The conversation lasting longer than any they had ever had.

~~~~~CM~~~~~