Wow so this is the end. Let me know what you think in a review!
Four months, one week and three days. That's how long it had been since he made the best decision of his life. Four months, one week and three days ago he kissed Jennifer Jareau. It had been the some of the best four months of his life so far. Hotch went to JJ's the Sunday after the poker game – which involved innuendo's all night long – and they just hung out, just the two of them and the boys watching films and so on. They had decided that they would take it slow to give them enough time to figure out how they were going to deal with being in each other's lives in this way and to let the boys get to know each other better. They also didn't want to be insensitive to Jack and Jessica as even though it had been three years they didn't want it to appear that JJ was going to replace Hailey. The team were more than happy to poke fun at the pair for taking so long to get together but then only to decide to take things slow but at the end of the day they both knew they had to ease into their relationship as there were many people invested in it not just them.
At work while Hotch tried to remain professional and impartial their budding romance still affected his decisions when it came to JJ. They had decided they shouldn't go on raids together and he referred all of JJ's assessments and other relevant things to Rossi in order to be fair. Their relationship had become common knowledge on the 6th floor of the Quantico building yet it was still talked about in hushed tones out of respect and knowing that their being together would be frowned upon if anyone from the 15th floor found out. Hotch became somewhat relaxed at work and his ever present smile was one reason alone not to let him or JJ hear the gossip about them.
Their official first date was JJ's choice she decided on pizza and Go Karting at a local track remembering Hotch's wanting to be a racing driver when he was younger. Her competitiveness meant Hotch let her win but he was truly thankful that she considered and remembered what he had told her about his childhood dreams. One of their following dates that Hotch arranged involved a trip to New York, the date included fancy dinners, a Broadway show and ice skating. They spent a few nights in the city while the boys were being watched by Marc and after a late night drink she thanked him in her own special way for the great time she was having. They had become extremely close and the team joked that they found their close relationship almost sickening but really couldn't be any happier for the pair.
Fast-forward to the present and Hotch was sitting at his desk at home trying to complete a request form that had to be handed in the next day before he went to bed. His attention was turned to the photo on his desk of him with Jack, Henry and JJ at the zoo, all had their faces painted. Jack's face was a tiger, Henry's was a monkey and JJ had glittery butterfly wings around her eyes. JJ had coerced Hotch into getting a lion face painted on him and while he might have still had some stubborn paint still on his face the next day at the team briefing which everyone couldn't help but stare at, the night before had certainly made up for it. He smiled at the memory and quickly finished up signing the forms.
Hotch looked around his home noting how since they had started spending more time together here, his apartment had somehow became a lot more messy yet his life had become a lot more put together. He picked up Mr Dinosaur, Henry's cleverly named stuffed dinosaur toy and quietly checked on the two sleeping boys who had started to share a room when Henry and his mom stayed with him and Jack. Their room was again never tidy but they were getting on like a house on fire. Jack took to being over protective of Henry and would occupy the four year olds time constantly. Hotch placed Mr Dinosaur next to Henry and gave him a light kiss on his forehead. He turned to do the same to Jack but stood on some kind of squeaky toy. He froze praying he did not disturb either of them. Luckily they were both too deep in sleep to be woken so he continued towards his son. He tucked Jack in better who had obviously been tossing as his blanket was practically on the floor and kissed his forehead and proceeded to leave the room as silently as he entered.
He continued on his patrol around the apartment checking everything was secure before he made his way to his bedroom. He stood at the doorway admiring the woman sitting on his bed going through the developed photos she had taken at Emily's big birthday bash last week. She could feel his gaze on her but was adamantly concentrating on her little project she started when he went to do some paper work. Finally she couldn't take it anymore she turned to see him staring intensely at her creating butterflies in stomach.
"Weren't you ever told that it's rude to stare?"
He smirked loving the way she looked sitting on his bed in his old green Georgetown hoody and her grey pyjama shorts, her hair was messily pulled back in a loose bun and she was crossed legged surrounded by photos.
"What can I say you're something to look at"
She chuckled at his reply and climbed off the bed to clear away the photographs. He came up behind her wrapping his arms around her and pulling her backwards into the embrace. He trailed kisses down her neck and she groaned in response. He hummed something into her neck and she turned to kiss him on his lips. They stood there for what could easily have lasted for hours focused solely on each other. Until JJ pulled away telling him it was time for bed which he whimpered at in protest but she just kissed him again and he was putty in her hands, doing as she asked.
Hotch made his way into the bathroom to get himself ready and JJ was busy clearing the bed and sorting herself out. He looked in the mirror down at his scars he had received from Foyet. His mind wondered from knowing he lost Hailey and wondering if she'd approve of JJ being the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with to the thoughts of how self conscious he was around JJ at first because of the scars only to be pulled out of his thoughts vaguely aware of JJ asking if he was okay.
When he re-entered the bedroom JJ was already under the covers, he turned the lights off before he expertly making his way to the far side of the bed, he always slept closet to the door paranoia kicking in again. He slipped under the blankets slowly dragging his hands up and down his girlfriend's body before cosying up to her steadying his hands around her middle.
As her back was against his front he leant over her slender body, to kiss her soundly on her lips and after doing so she turned snuggling up to him. JJ placed her head on his chest, her leg took its place between his and her hands were unconsciously tracing a random pattern on his firm chest.
Sleepily JJ whispered "Love you"
"I love you too Jaje, always"
After a while he could feel her breathing evening out and his mind went back to wondering. He closed his eyes, taking in the scent of JJ's fruity shampoo smelling hair. His dreams no longer starred the Reaper or the images of his murdered first love now they were full of days spent with JJ and the boys and dreams of future days with the people he loved the most in the world. He had become somewhat orientated around the sleeping blonde in his arms but he didn't care. Instead he welcomed the unconditional love he felt for JJ, what else could he do? He was happy and Hotch was living his life at last. That was all he wanted for so long and to be honest he considered him a spoiled man for finally being able to spend his life with the woman he loved.
The end
So I hope I've done justice to the pairing and to the prompt given by Kdzl in the March madness challenge. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing you guys have honestly been awesome, I've never wrote anything like this before and you all made me want to keep on writing. Hopefully I'll get some inspiration to write more JJ/Hotch fics, I have got a few ideas and there may be even an angsty sequel because there needs to be more stories on the jotch pairing out there. Thanks again for your positive comments and if you haven't reviewed but have read the story please do to let me know what you guys think!
