Part 11

"Have you ever made love out in a beautiful meadow on a gorgeous sunny day?" Spencer asked rhetorically with a wide grin knowing very well that it was unlikely that his mate had ever made love outside.

"No, I don't believe I have," Hotch said returning Spencer's wide grin knowing exactly what his mate was hinting at. "However, there is a first time for everything, now isn't there?"

"Absolutely," Spencer agreed enthusiastically.

The two of them had finished their lessons for the day and Spencer had led Aaron to this gorgeous meadow that he and his brothers had found, right after have moved to the Washington/Virginia area, over a year ago.

The two of them had laid down side by side not bothering to change into their human forms and just enjoyed laying together under the shade of humongous and ancient Sycamore tree.

"Have you ever made love out in the woods?" Hotch asked a little tentatively which was very unlike him, but Spencer had never talked much about his sex life before the two of them had met, although he knew that he'd had been out on dates, and he also knew that Spencer wasn't a complete virgin, but then again neither was he.

"One of the females of the wolfpack near where I went to college. I was just 19 at the time and it was right before I met Gideon. Her name was Alice, and she was about 21. She to was going to college in the area, but not to Caltech. We happened to meet when we were both visiting the local pack at the same time and we liked each other enough at that point in time. We dated for awhile, and we remain friends, but nothing really happened after that one time. I suppose we just used each other to relieve our sexual tension, since both of us were kind of shy in that area. I haven't heard from her ever since I graduated college. That was just a quick fuck though, a way to relieve ourselves, but what I have planned for you means we might be out here all night."

"Which is fine," Hotch said with a grin. "Tomorrow is one of our rare days off, so we might as well enjoy ourselves."

As he was speaking, Hotch slowly transformed back into his human form Spencer following. As soon as the transformation was complete, Hotch was immediately on top of Spencer who did not protest in the least, and in fact was looking forward to whatever his mate chose to do him.

"I'm going to make love to you all night, and not allow you much sleep," Hotch told him his eyes hot with lust and desire as he looked down at his mate's slimly muscled body. He would never get enough of looking at Spencer's body for long as he lived or of fucking it senseless as Reid had a very fine one. He knew that a lot of women went for those bulky muscled guys like he was, but he couldn't help but disagree.

"Go ahead," Spencer told him as he leaned up just enough to kiss Hotch directly on the lips. "You won't get any objection from me."

"I know," Hotch said with a lecherous grin.

"Are you going to lock me?" Spencer asked

Hotch knew immediately what Reid was referring to and that was the knot that was part of all male werewolves. He'd had trouble at first controlling this part him and Spencer had told him that it just took practice, but he had a very strong will and usually he could stop it from growing so that he could remove his cock from Spencer's hole when he wanted to, but tonight there was no need to control himself, except enough so that he got his penis inside his mate's body before the knot grew to such a size that he wouldn't be able to get it past Spencer's tight passage.

"Yes, I am," Hotch said his voice a low lust filled growl. "You will enjoy everything I do to your body and beg me for more."

Spencer recognized that his mate was going into an Alpha mode and that was fine with him as the lovemaking sessions were always even more spectacular when he did. The Alpha in Aaron Hotchner most often took control during their lovemaking and as had already been stated that was perfectly fine and in fact, Spencer looked forward to those sessions, for his climaxes tended to be so much stronger, and lasted a whole hell of a lot longer when the two of them were locked together. Sure being locked together could be extremely painful, especially when Aaron tried to pull his cock out of his tight passage and the knot wouldn't let it come because the channel was much to narrow for something that big. It was only after a werewolf's knot shrunk back to normal that the penis could be removed and sometimes that didn't happen for hours and sometimes all night. Sure the knot pulling against this passage could be extremely painful, but he healed up fast from those sessions and he was always feeling fine again within a few hours, so he and Aaron did it often. Besides, when Aaron pushed his cock forward instead of pulling it back to the pleasure was exquisite, and he always craved more, as he always had probably a dozen earthshattering climaxes during that time. He often wished that he and Aaron could walk around connected to each other, but he knew that was not possible, so in order to compensate he and his mate had sex as often as was humanly possible.

He knew that Aaron also loved having his cock inside his body and asked to be locked just as often as he did and didn't seem to care how sore he was afterwards because of the exquisite pleasure involved, but Spencer knew Aaron also healed up within hours, so that was part of the reason why.

Spencer had often been surprised at how often Aaron allowed him to control the lovemaking, since he was an Alpha after all, but perhaps, he was keeping in mind what he told him about True Mates being equal partners. Besides, he knew Hotch was not an unfair man and so long as they both got their satisfaction...

Spencer gasped, because the pleasure was so utterly exquisite as he felt Aaron begin to nibble on one of his nipples while his hand stroked the soft skin of his left thigh.

Hotch didn't bother to speak, just grinned down at his mate to let him know he knew Spencer was enjoying himself just as he was.

And boy was he! He wasn't about to complain what his mate was doing to him as the pleasure was so absolutely heartstopping. Aaron knew exactly how to get his body to respond as he should considering they'd been together for quite awhile now, but then he also knew how to get his mate's body to respond to him as well. The two of them had spent months learning about each other's bodies and what they like best, so they knew exactly how to stop the others body from climaxing until they were ready for it to do so.

Hotch pinched one of Spencer's nipples rolling the sensitive bud between his thumb and forefinger causing him to gasp and his head to roll back as intense painful pleasure shot through him like a lightning bolt.

"More! More, Aaron!" Spencer cried as his fingernails actually broke the skin on his mate's back as they dug in deeply.

Hotch didn't respond verbally continuing to use his mouth to torture his mate therefore, making the pleasure even greater. Hotch's eyes turned the amber the wolf as he took a deep breath of his mate's aroused scent and he didn't bother to try to keep control of that part of him, since they had all the time in the world at the moment to continue to give each other pleasure or if he wanted to be crude to fuck each other senseless for hours or preferably for the rest of the night, even if that was out here in the forest.

Hotch ran a hand over the smooth skin of Spencer's thighs, thighs that were only lightly covered in hair unlike his own.

Spencer let out a gasp at that little gesture and bit down on his mate's shoulder to prevent himself from crying out.

Hotch ignored the pain that Spencer's bite brought him as he knew it would heal in a few hours. Hotch grinned down at the slender form that was laying beneath him on the moss. He had not known, that his mate could be such a wildcat in bed, until a month or so after they had gotten together, but he loved it as it proved to him that Spencer had more hidden passion then he had ever dreamed about since he was usually so calm and collected. In bed though, it was a totally different story, and Hotch was sure that Reid had never done the same to the other women or men that he had had sex with before they had met. With him though, it was different, and Hotch could only guess it was because the two of them were meant for each other and that was the reason that Spencer had gotten over his apprehension about doing something like that.

He'd had to assure Spencer that he didn't mind the bites or the scratches at all and that he wanted the other man to participate in their lovemaking. I don't want you to lay there like a doll, Hotch remembered telling Reid, if we both don't get pleasure out of it what's the point?

He remembered Spencer's blush at his words, but after that there had been no apprehension and Spencer hadn't tried to keep himself still or quiet at least when they were home in their own bed.

Hotch knew that he could wait no longer to enter his lover's body for he could feel the knot that was now part of his cock starting to grow and he knew that if it got any bigger that he would not be able to enter Spencer's narrow passage.

Hotch got himself into position and shoved his cock into Spencer's tight channel without ceremony feeling his knot suddenly double, then triple in size, until it was about as large as a closed fist, which meant there was no way he and Spencer were going to be separated until it had shrunk back to normal, unless the two of them were ripped apart violently, which would damage both of them and possibly kill Spencer in the process.

Spencer groaned in pain at the rough penetration and then let out a high keening sound of pure pleasure as the pain faded and Hotch shoved his cock forward as far as it would go into his tight passage.

"More!" Reid panted, his voice barely understandable. "More!"

"It will give me the greatest of pleasure," Hotch assured his mate with a smirk. "I did promise to make love to you all night and that's exactly what I am going to do. We do not get the opportunity to often to do that so we might as well take advantage of it while we can."

Hotch pulled his cock back as far as it would go, which caused a whimper of pain to escape from Reid's lips as Hotch's knot pulled against his already abused narrow channel, but then Hotch pushed forward again and Reid let out another scream that echoed around the forest clearing scaring the birds and other animals, but this time as pure, intense, exquisite pleasure shot through his entire body again.

Finally Hotch could hold back no longer and his cock exploded into his mate's body, releasing spurt, after spurt, after spurt into the slim form beneath him, until after more than half a dozen spurts his cock was finally empty.

Hotch collapsed on top of his lover who found the weight of his much heavier mate comforting instead of smothering just like he always did. Hotch knew from experience that he wouldn't be able to pull his cock out of Spencer's hole, because his knot would still be swelled to three times its normal size and would remain that way, probably for hours.

Spencer couldn't speak for quite a few minutes as he was still recovering from his climax, but finally he leaned up and kissed the side of his, Alpha neck breathing in his scent that he would never get enough of for as long as he lived.

"That was really something," Spencer said, as soon as he had gotten his breath back.

"Oh, we are not done," Hodge promised him with a leering grin his eyes sparkling with intense desire and lust. "I just need chance to recover a little, but we will be making love for hours."

"If you think I'm going to object…" Spencer said his voice trailing off.

"Oh, I already knew you wouldn't," Hotch assured his mate with a smirk, "since you enjoy making love just as much as I do."

"Which I know surprised you at first," Spencer said grinning up at his mate.

"It did, but it was a very pleasant surprise," Hotch said. "I knew you weren't a complete virgin, but I didn't think you would enjoy making love as much as I do and I am glad I was wrong about that."

"I might not boast about my exploits like some people do, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the act of sex as long as it's with you," Spencer said.

"Don't I know it," Hotch said with a chuckle. "Well, I think I've significantly recovered for another round."

The two men kissed passionately and Hotch began stroking his mate in his most sensitive areas again and it wasn't long at all before both of them were climaxing just as hard and fast as they had the first time. He's mine! The wolf in Hotch's chest thought possessively as he continued kiss, lick and nip every sensitive place on his mate's body. Spencer is mine! My mate! My lover! He so enjoyed torturing his mate this way and he knew Spencer enjoyed it as well.

After the two men had gotten their breath back from their second earthshattering climaxes, they continued to make love throughout the night with only a little rest in between.

~~~Spencer and Aaron~~~

A tall, naked form strode out of the forest towards a back door that contained a doggie door just as dawn was lightening the sky. Hotch carried his mate with ease his muscles bulging with the weight of the long, lanky form of Spencer Reid who was sleeping peacefully. The younger man was all tuckered out, Hotch thought with a leering smirk, looking down at the handsome form of his mate, who had his head buried in his shoulder, his slightly long curly dark brown hair all tangled, with grass and leaves all through it from where he had been laying on the forest floor. It wasn't really surprising actually as he had been given the little wolf talk by Keenan right after he had been changed so that he would know what to expect from his wolf instincts. Spencer was a fount of information in that area to, as for one thing he was able to explain all the feelings he experienced thanks to his new wolfish instincts.

Normally, young werewolves got the talk when they turned 16, although in Spencer's case he'd had it at 13 before he had gone to college.

Hotch absorbed what he had been told, so that when his wolfish instincts came to the surface unexpectedly, which could still surprise him sometimes, he was able to quickly deal with them. He was quickly getting the hang of handling them.

He knew that as the Alpha and therefore, the one in charge that he would be experiencing feelings of possessiveness and leadership. Also as the Alpha in the relationship he knew that it was his job to take care of his mate since he was only an Omega, especially after the two of them had been locked together. He knew that he was supposed to take care of all the scratches and bite marks that littered Spencer's body from that night out in the woods, so they wouldn't get infected, not that that was likely since they healed so fast, but still the scratches and bruises needed to be doctored, so that they would heal a lot faster than even a werewolf healing ability could manage. Also it was his responsibility to feed his mate as well as give him a bath since he was incapable of doing it for himself at the moment. Only once these duties were done, could he allow himself to fall into bed and sleep. He had been told that it was the sign of a good Alpha mate to be able to do these things for their weaker partner, no matter how weak or shaky their legs were and Hotch was determined to be a good Alpha mate, and so was the wolf within his chest. No matter how shaky his legs felt or how weak kneed he was, his Spencer came first, always.

Both Keenan and Spencer had warned him that it would take time to get used to all the instincts a wolf possessed and also learn how to control them, but that eventually he would get the hang of it.

Right at the moment he was feeling very possessive of the young man in his arms, a kind of tender possessiveness that would give Spencer anything he asked for, even if it was the moon in the sky. Hotch smiled down tenderly at the completely naked form in his arms knowing that the younger man had a right to be exhausted and so did he for the two of them had indeed made love all night long as they remained locked together.

It had been an incredible experience, one that he intended to repeat as often as time allowed, and he knew that Spencer wouldn't object you all. He admitted if only to himself that he had indeed gone all Alpha wolf on Spencer and had left him with several very visible love bites, as his wolfish instincts had taken over, which Hotch was sure Spencer would tell him was perfectly normal for an Alpha wolf to do to their mate.

Of course, Spencer had been locked inside him on several occasions already, which is how Hotch had known that it would be incredible experience for his mate once he could do the same thing. However, this was the first time, that he been able to do the same thing that his mate had done for him, and he had already known that Spencer would enjoy it just as much as he had when the two of them had made love all night long, except with Spencer on top, his cock locked inside his body instead of the reverse. This was their first experience making love out in the forest as well, and it was one he intended to repeat, though they wouldn't be able to do the same in the winter, only in the summer and occasionally in the spring and fall, since it could get extremely cold out.

Hotch laid his mate down gently on the ground since he knew he wouldn't manage to get the key to the back door unless he did. He managed to get the key that was hidden in a hard to reach spot on purpose because if you didn't know it was there you would never have known it, which was really the point and unlocked the back door opening it wide before turning back to pick up the tall, slender form of his mate gently from the ground kissing his forehead tenderly, thinking that Spencer looked throughly fucked.

Hotch smirked at this thought for Spencer Reid, his mate had indeed been thoroughly fucked and he had enjoyed every minute of it to, just as he knew the younger man had. He must've made love to his mate at least half a dozen times throughout the night, although it could possibly have been more than that as he had lost count.

The two of them had remained locked together throughout the night and he had only been able to remove his cock just as dawn approached after he had woken up from his third or fourth little nap.

Hotch carried the form of his mate inside the house making sure to shut the back door behind him with his foot, and then carried the lanky body into their shared bedroom and into the connecting bath, where he gently placed him on the bathmat before starting the water in the tub

Once the bath was full and the right temperature he picked up his mate's body again and gently placed him in the tub, causing Spencer's eyes to open wide in shock once he body touched the water, but once he identified the figure of his mate he relaxed again.

"Shh! Relax," Hotch urged gently running a hand through his mate's dark brown hair soothingly. "You're bound to be incredibly sore, for at least the next few hours. I know I was when you had your wicked way with me and I didn't heal as fast back then since I was still human."

Reid smiled tiredly, as Hotch kissed him on the forehead before he took the washcloth that was on the rack to the side, wet it and then soaped it up, before gently running it up and down Spencer's body, making sure to wash every nook and cranny including in between his fingers and toes. Spencer relaxed against the back of the tub, closing his eyes in bliss, as his mate washed his body very gently, reverently and tenderly.

"That feels so good," Spencer sighed as Hotch kissed him very gently and tenderly on the lips making Reid feel more loved then he had in his entire life.

Finally Hotch, did Spencer's hair by helping him dunk it in the water soaking it thoroughly, before gently massaging shampoo and conditioner into before having him dunk it again.

Once that was done he pulled the plug on the tub to drain it and then picked up the tall form of his mate gently and after drying him off with a big fluffy towel carried him into the bedroom and gently placed him on the already turned down bed.

"Sleep," Hotch ordered gently running a gentle hand through Reid's still wet hair. "You need it. I'll wake you for food soon."

Reid didn't bother to protest as he really was incredibly sleepy, as well as sore in places he didn't know he possessed, but thanks to his werewolf physiology he knew that he wouldn't be sore in a few hours, probably by the time he woke up.

Hotch watched his mate sleep for a few minutes while continuing to run a hand through his dark hair, which was even darker at the moment because of the water soaking it

Hotch felt feelings of possession, tenderness, and love all balled up in his chest, as he watched the lanky form of his mate sleep all curled up on his side of the bed looking almost like a wolf, even in human form.

He loved Spencer so much that he would be devastated if anything ever happened to the younger man and so he would protect him as much as he was able from people who tried to hurt him, and he knew that the younger man loved him just as much and would do anything in his power to protect him as well.

As Reid had said some time ago the mate bond created an equal partnership between them, and both of them would do their best to protect the other from all that could hurt them. He certainly understood what Spencer had been talking about better now than he had when he was human as he felt at least three times as protective now that he was a werewolf as he had when he was human, but knew that was only because he now knew that it would feel like if he lost the young man now sleeping so peacefully all curled up on his side of the bed. He wasn't sure that he could survive if anything were to happen to his mate and he knew that a lot of True Mated couples killed themselves when their mate died.

Well, there was no point of thinking about that now, as he would do everything in his power to prevent that from ever happening.

Finally Hotch got up from where he was sitting and went into the bathroom and took a quick shower, before he headed into the kitchen and opened up a can of Campbell's chicken and rice soup and heated it in a saucepan on the stove.

Once the soup was ready he poured it into a large mug and also poured a glass of water he headed into the bedroom to wake his mate so he could eat.

~~~Spencer and Aaron~~~

Spencer groaned groggily burying his head deeper into the pillow as he felt a gentle hand shake his shoulder in order to wake him.

"Come on, Spencer. You must wake up," a distant voice urged him.

"Don't wanna!" Spencer's groggy voice whined as he tried to bury his head back in his pillow again. "All I want is sleep."

Hotch gently moved the cup back and forth under Spencer's nose and that caused the younger man to prop one eye open at the smell of the soup.

Spencer's sighed and tried to prop himself off so that he could eat, knowing that his mate would continue to persist until he did what he wanted. Besides, he knew that he had lost a lot of fluids from the all night lovemaking session and that he needed to replace them as soon as possible.

Hotch put the mug on the bedside table and then gently helped the younger man sit up, propping his back against the pillows and his head against the headboard.

Reid struggled to keep his eyes open, as Hotch retrieved the cup of soup from the bedside table and placed it to his lips.

Reid took several sips of the warm, fragrant soup and it and it slid down his throat very softly warming his insides up wonderfully.

It wasn't long before the mug of soup was finished and then Hotch placed a glass of water to his lips.

"Don't wanna!" Reid whined struggling mightily to stay awake.

"You will," Hotch ordered him gruffly. "You need to replace the fluids you've lost and you know it. You can go back to sleep once you drink the whole glass."

Reid whined some more, but finally complied and drank the whole glass of water that his mate held to his lips.

Once the glass was empty, Hotch started to doctor every bruise, bite mark and scratch that was made due to their lovemaking out in the forest, although Reid whined the entire time as he was so tired, all he wanted to do was sleep.

"Shh! It'll be over soon," Hotch gently soothed the younger wolf, while putting medicine on every injury. Finally, Hotch put the last Band-Aid on the last of the bite marks that was on the side of Spencer's neck and kissed him gently on the forehead and said softly, "Sleep now."

Hotch knew that the bite mark would heal, in no time and thought that it was too bad that there wouldn't be a permanent mark to show his ownership and possession of the young man. Well, he would just have to make another one as soon as that one healed, so that nobody doubted that the younger man was his.

Hotch helped Reid lay back down after placing the water glass on the bedside table where he immediately curled onto his other side and was asleep again within seconds.

Hotch threaded his fingers through his mate's hair gently while he watched him sleep and the younger man didn't even stir.

Finally Hotch rose from where he was sitting and went to get himself something to eat, before he to crawled into bed beside his mate and was immediately asleep.

~~~Spencer and Aaron~~~

"Can I talk to you?" Gideon said approaching the young man he considered a son.

Reid looked up from where he was just starting to gather his things to leave for the day. This particular day had been nothing but paperwork, which always completed fast, since he could read over the forms at warp speed and fill out all the blank spaces in record time.

"What about?" asked Reid suspiciously. "You and I haven't exactly been very close in the last few months."

Reid didn't bother to state the reason for this since they both knew what he was talking about.

Gideon looked a little ashamed, Reid noticed, but he wasn't willing to forgive the older man for all the pain he had put him and Aaron through quite yet.

"Why don't I take you and Hotch to dinner and we can talk about it, in private," Gideon suggested and Reid thought about it for moment then nodded.

"I'll see if Aaron is agreeable," Reid said, heading for his mate's office.

When Reid came back just a couple of minutes later he told Gideon that he and Aaron would meet him at whatever restaurant he chose.

Gideon looked relieved and gave the name of a place that Reid was that Aaron would know, but that he was unfamiliar with.

"We'll meet you there in half an hour," Spencer promised him.

Gideon nodded headed for the elevator not looking back.

Hotch came out of his office once Gideon had left and joined Reid in the bullpen.

"So what do you think Gideon wants?" Spencer asked his mate.

"You know the answer to that," Hotch replied with a smile kissing Reid on the cheek.

"Yes, I do, but I want your opinion," Reid said.

"I truly believe that Gideon has realized that he's not going to break us up with his coldness or by keeping his distance," Hotch said. "I believe that he's finally realized that the barrier he's putting between you and him, has hurt you both, although you the most. He needs to be the one to make amends, since he was the one that put the distance between you in the first place. He does think of you like the son, and I think he expected that you and I would end our relationship just because he was displeased, but I think he's come to realize that you are your own man. I'm sure the distance he has put between you wasn't very easy for him either, although he's really the one that kept it going and really it was him that needs to apologize to you not the other way around. You haven't done anything wrong, as he's the one that made a big deal out of our relationship even though you're grown man and more then capable of making your own decisions. You are to intelligent to allow yourself to get involved in a relationship if your weren't sure of your feelings for me and that doesn't even include the whole werewolf True Mate thing that we can't tell him about."

"He hurt you too," Reid pointed out.

"A little, but not in the same way he hurt you," Hotch replied. "He hurt me because he truly believed that I had forced you into a relationship and he should have known me well enough to know that I would never do such a thing, especially considering that we have worked together for a number of years even before you came onto the scene. I know he was saying such untrue and nasty things because he was having trouble accepting that you were in a relationship with me, but that doesn't make it right for him to lash out at me or at you. I realize that we're all human and sometimes as humans we let our emotions get in the way of logical thinking, but what really hurt me the most was the fact that he kept his distance from you all these months and I know that hurt you and anything that hurts you hurts me. Gideon could've apologized a long time before now, and he hasn't. As for myself I don't really care what Gideon's opinion is of me or anybody else's for that matter except for yours."

Reid nodded as that made complete sense as Aaron wasn't one of those people that got his feelings hurt so easily with other peoples opinion of him, not even a longtime associate and supposed friend.

"We had better get going if we are to meet Gideon at the restaurant on time," Spencer said and Hotch nodded.

"Let's get this over with," Hotch said. "They're other things I'd rather be doing and they don't include going to a meeting with a man that should have apologized months ago."

"Yes, I can think of several things I'd rather be doing," Spencer admitted, "but I would like to see if Gideon and I can resolve our differences since I hate this separation between us."

"I can certainly understand that," Hotch said, "since I know he's been more of a father to you then your own was, or at least he was until recently."

"Let's get this over with so we can get back home and make love for the rest of the night," Reid suggested with an impish grin as there was nothing else he would rather be doing and that included reading, which had used to be his favorite pastime.

"That's fine with me," Hotch said with a wide grin of his own.

The two main headed for the elevator and to their car in silence as they thought about the lovemaking that would follow dinner with Gideon.

~~~Spencer and Aaron~~~

"Look, I won't apologize for my initial reaction," Gideon begin as soon as their dinners had been delivered. "However, I will apologize for the distance I put between us the last few months."

The conversation before their dinners were ordered and delivered had been rather stiff and uncomfortable and Reid missed the easiness that he had used to have with the older man. However, Reid knew that things could not stay the same forever even if he would have liked them to.

"I don't really blame you for your initial reaction, since I realize it was quite a shock," Reid told him calmly his tone completely neutral. "However, I do blame you for the barrier you put between us and also the nasty untrue things you said about Aaron. You should have known Hotch better than to accuse him of forcing me into a relationship with him. I mean you're a profiler and therefore fairly observant and you and Aaron have worked together for a number of years."

Gideon hung his head knowing that his protégé was absolutely right and everything he had just said. He had let his extreme dislike of same-sex relationships color his opinion of the two and say things to a man he respected and to the man he considered a son just because of it.

He had been shocked when he had finally figured out that the two of them were in a relationship, but still he should have observed him for awhile and when he had seen that Reid in particular was happy he should've let it drop and yet he hadn't. He would be very surprised if Reid ever forgave him completely, not only because of what he had said had hurt the younger man, but because what he had said had hurt the man he loved. If he wanted any hope of repairing his relationship with his protégé he was just going to have to accept that his relationship with Hotch was going to likely be a permanent one and that he had no right to tell Spencer whom he could or couldn't love. Besides, he could now admit, that his protégé and the older man were a good match, and not just in their ethics, but in their intelligence, and personalities as well.

He remembered thinking months ago that there was no way that Reid would get involved with anyone that wasn't as intelligent as he was, even if it was about different things, and most of the human race, the female portion of it anyway, did not meet that criteria especially not ones Reid's age. Who you liked also had a lot to do with chemistry and Gideon had seen the chemistry between Reid and Hotch.

"Alright, I am willing to admit I was wrong to say those things about Hotch," Gideon said by way of apology.

"Yes, you were," Reid told him bluntly causing Gideon to wince, although he realized that he deserved it. "However, what really hurt me was the distance you put between us of the last few months. What you did reminded me of my own father who never had any good feelings for his oldest son, and therefore spent as little time around him as possible."

Gideon winced at that, because he had never wanted to remind Reid of his father and yet he had by just basically ignoring him, except when they were working and even then it was apparent at least to the team that their relationship was strained.

"I know you believed that if you kept your distance that Aaron and I would end our relationship, but if it comes to the point that I have to choose between you and him I'll choose him every time as having you as my friend, mentor and a father figure are not essential to my happiness, but he is. I'm not saying that you leaving wouldn't hurt, but if Aaron left it would be a whole different story."

"Which isn't going to happen," Hotch said speaking for the first time, although he had been listening to the conversation closely and observing Gideon's reactions to what his mate was saying. "I don't really care what you think of me," Hotch continued bluntly staring at Gideon refusing to look away until finally Gideon lowered his eyes, "but what you did to Spencer, the man that you supposedly consider a son was deplorable. Like Spencer, I don't blame you for your initial reaction since I know we shocked you, but after that you had months in order to make amends and apologize, which you are just now doing. Even though Spencer hasn't said much about how coldly you were treating him affected him, I know you hurt him deeply by your actions and for that I will not forgive you. If you and Spencer manage to work up to what your former relationship was, I will be watching just to make sure you don't hurt him again."

"I have no intention of hurting him again," Gideon said, "and I don't blame you for your hatred of me."

"I don't hate you," Hotch told him, "and I trust you when it comes to us working together, but when it comes to Spencer and anything personal that involves him, no I don't. I will not have you or anyone including Strauss hurt him again for no other reason than you and they are against two men being together. Yes, I know I can't prevent people's reaction to our relationship, but strangers reaction doesn't have the same impact of someone who is a trusted friend and confidant and is totally different."

Gideon got the hidden meaning behind Hotch's words, and that was hurt Spencer again and you will regret it.

He was sure that Hotch would never physically harm him, but he would encourage Spencer to break off all contact with him and probably tell the people in charge that he was having another mental breakdown so he was forced to retire. Gideon finally saw, that Aaron Hotchner loved his protégé just as much as Reid loved him and to try to break them apart would be awfully petty of him, even if he didn't approve of two men being together. Even if he did try he doubted very much that he would succeed and that would just drive a bigger wedge deeper between him and his protégé, which he didn't want. He finally saw that Spencer was no longer the young man that he had met in his friend's criminology course at Caltech and that he was grown up enough to know what he wanted. Gideon knew that Reid hadn't had a very fun childhood and had had to learn responsibility early as he'd had to help raise his six brothers since his father was useless and his mother was sick. Reid deserved to have some joy and romance in his life and if Aaron Hotchner could provide that he would stop objecting to their relationship.

"Can we at least agree to cease hostilities," asked Gideon, "and to try to bring our relationship back to what it was before even if I realize it'll never be quite the same?"

His protégé stared at him for very long time as if trying to see deep into his very soul, but finally nodded and said, "I would like that, provided you realize that I am not a child or the same young man you met at Caltech all those years ago. I know it's hard for you to fathom, but I have not been a child for a very long time, definitely not since my father left when I was ten and probably even before that. Unlike most children who are allowed to be exactly what they are I had too learn responsibility early as you know and that changes a person."

"Yes, I know," Gideon said, as he and Reid shook hands by way of sealing their agreement.

"Good," Hotch said, although he had not spoken much during the whole dinner figuring that this was mostly between Gideon and Spencer.

The three men went back to their dinner, and the tension between them this time was much less then it had been and the silence was not as uncomfortable as it had been initially. There was still quite a lot of things to be worked out, but it looked like maybe things would finally get back to the way they had before all this started or at least as much is it could.

~~~Spencer and Aaron~~~