Love in the Time of Chaos

Summary: AU. [Post Faceless, Nameless] "Being loved deeply by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." (Lao Tzu) A different take on the events of Season 5. Hotch/JJ pairing.

Rating: T

JJ took a deep breath, smoothing her simple black dress and checking her hair once more in the mirror before she answered the knock at the front door. The small smile that had been on her face for the past two hours as she had gotten ready for the night ahead increased tenfold as she took in Aaron, standing in front of her straight and tall in a dark blue button down shirt with the top few buttons undone and simple black slacks. He had a beautiful a bouquet of red roses in one hand and she chuckled at his expression, a small blush overtaking her cheeks. "Hi."

Aaron had mentally prepared himself for this moment since he had left the office, but he still couldn't stop himself from gawking at JJ like a teenager going on his first date with the head cheerleader from high school. She looked too beautiful to be allowed in public; stunning and classic black dress that fit her perfectly in every way, nude pumps and simple diamond earrings, enough make-up to accentuate her features but not enough to take away from her natural beauty, and a simple up-do with a few curls framing her face. She looked too good for words, but Aaron couldn't help himself from attempting to classify how simply stunning she looked. "You're beautiful."

JJ chuckled, the blush on her cheeks growing even darker. She had put more than double her normal effort into getting ready for her date tonight. She had wanted to look perfect for Aaron, even if he would have thought she looked stunning in sweatpants with no make-up and her hair in a messy ponytail. Aaron smiled broadly, stepping forward slightly while handing over the flowers in his hand. "Aaron, these are beautiful."

Aaron was still recovering from JJ's appearance. "You're beautiful."

JJ chuckled, dipping her head in the roses to try to cover her blush. Aaron chuckled, absolutely enamored with the adorable blonde in front of him. He lifted her chin so she met his eye. "You really are beautiful."

JJ smiled again, the blush still on her cheeks but the embarrassment far gone. It was impossible for her to feel anything but completely loved when Aaron looked at her like that. "You look pretty handsome yourself. I'm glad you're not in a suit."

Aaron managed to keep his own blush in check but JJ still saw the embarrassment flash across his face. "Well I wear one every day to work…"

JJ laughed, reaching up to grab his hand as she lead him into her apartment, heading to the kitchen to get a vase for the flowers. "Trust me, this was a good choice." The two shared a chuckle as JJ got some water for her beautiful flowers.

"As fun as it was getting ready for a date again, I still don't understand why you're so insistent that we have an "official" first date." Aaron leaned against the wall, mesmerized by the woman before him.

"Because I want to take you out. You deserve a real first date."

JJ turned around, her hands on her hips but a smile on her face. "I'm not a high maintenance type of girl Aaron. You know I love you, you've pretty much got a sure thing right here."

Aaron moved forward, planting a kiss on JJ's cheek as he finished putting the roses in the vase. "Well I happen to love you and high maintenance or not, you deserve and will get a real first date."

JJ smiled at Aaron, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. "You're too good for me."

Aaron smiled, squeezing her hand in return as he lead her back to the front door. "Well then hopefully I can get some tonight after our date." JJ gasped, an appalled but highly amused look on her face as she swatted Aaron's arm. Aaron just laughed and led JJ out the door.

JJ had just registered she was slightly chilly when Aaron draped his jacket over her shoulders. She stared up at the man walking beside her, once again amazed at how in tune he was to her every need. He shot her a quick smile before he continued to walk forward, still adjusting to the feeling of sand between his toes. He had decided to do something more than just dinner and a movie, so he had set up a picnic on the beach with three large blankets so they could lie out and look at the stars. After enjoying dinner and relaxing for a while, JJ had decided that since the weather was perfect they needed to take a walk along the beach. Aaron had quickly agreed without hesitation before JJ demanded they go barefoot. He couldn't remember the last time he had walked along the beach without shoes on.

JJ slid her arms into the jacket, her eyes shifting between Aaron beside her and the sand at her feet. "Am I the only one who gets to see this side of you?"

Aaron was confused by JJ's question and turned to look at her as they continued their walk. "What do you mean?"

JJ continued to smile and wrapped the jacket tighter around her, every so often getting a whiff of Aaron's smell as she held it closer to her body. "The off-work Aaron."

Aaron stared down at his feet. "Is there a big difference?"

JJ just chuckled, her eyes twinkling as they continued their walk.

Aaron nodded, continuing to stare ahead instead of at JJ. He didn't want to make any deal out of the conversation at hand, but he was slowly having flashbacks to his marriage and the disaster that had ensued. Haley had always said there were two different sides to Aaron: one for work and one not for work. The failure of their marriage hinged heavily on Haley's dislike of Aaron's work side and Aaron's inability to be 100% off-work Aaron that Haley had always wanted him to be. He had no idea what he would do when JJ discovered that Aaron didn't know how to be only one side. After so many years of being both, he honestly didn't think he could be only one and now it was possible that it could destroy his relationship with JJ just as it had destroyed his relationship with Haley.

JJ smiled, totally unaware of Aaron's internal anxieties. "I've worked with you for years and you've never set up romantic picnics on the beach at night on a case before." Aaron smiled but it didn't reach his eyes as he continued to stare at the ground. "Seriously though…I love when you're willing to be vulnerable with me."

Aaron finally turned his head to look at her. He had been terrified as he set up tonight, putting all his effort into making it perfect. He had tried to keep his worry from JJ, and until her admission he had thought he succeeded. JJ laughed at the expression on his face. "I know how much tonight's made you anxious, Aaron."

"You do?"

JJ nodded, entwining her fingers with Aaron's as they continued their walk. "I could tell how nervous you were when you asked me to go out with you tonight, even though we're already in a committed relationship." She leaned closer into his side as she giggled to herself, a small blush appearing on her face. "I don't know, I just love being the one person that gets to see you like this."

Aaron came to a dead stop and pulled JJ close, looking right into her eyes as she looked back into his. "It doesn't bother you?"

JJ was thoroughly confused but tried to follow his train of thought. "What, that you're one way at work and another way at home?" Aaron nodded, his heart beating a little quicker as he waited for her answer. JJ laughed and squeezed Aaron's hand, continuing to walk and forcing him to step beside her. "No it doesn't bother me. I don't expect you to be romantic on a crime scene Aaron, that'd be a tad bit inappropriate."

Aaron was still unsettled at how aloof JJ was about the conversation at hand. "But you don't mind that there are two different sides to me?"

It was JJ's time to stop as she stared at Aaron with a confused look on her face. She stared at him for a moment longer before she began to laugh, reaching up to kiss Aaron's cheek. "Oh sweetheart, you're not that complex!"

JJ moved to keep walking but Aaron stayed rooted where he was, forcing JJ to turn back around and look at him. She suddenly understood that there was a hidden layer to this conversation. "Aaron, talk to me."

Aaron held her hand as her thumb rubbed circles against his skin. "Haley always said I was two different people."

JJ nodded even though Aaron wasn't looking at her. "Well, Haley is entitled to her opinion, I suppose."

Aaron looked up, surprised to see the small smile on JJ's face. "But you don't agree?"

JJ shook her head, the curls framing her face moving with head. "Nope. Yes, there are parts of you that you don't and can't bring to work. Your romance, your goofy and slightly inappropriate sense of humor, your ability to quote all of The Big Lebowski…" The two shared a small laugh. "That doesn't mean you're two different people, Aaron. You just show yourself differently depending on the situation."

Aaron stared at JJ, unable to take his eyes off of her; never in all his life had he been so amazed with one single person before. "How do you know exactly who I am?"

JJ laughed, once again keeping the conversation lighter than Aaron ever imagined it could be. "Because I love you and the man that you are. Have for quite some time actually." She shot him a wink as she tugged on his hand, forcing him to walk beside her. Before she could take a step away Aaron tugged back on her arm, pulling her to him as his free hand reached up to her face, guiding his lips down on to hers as her body molded against his. JJ loved how perfectly Aaron's body covered hers every time they kissed just as Aaron loved how perfectly JJ's formed against his. JJ sighed as Aaron pulled away, the two resting against each other as Aaron stroked JJ's cheek.

"I love you so much JJ."

JJ smiled and placed a quick kiss on Aaron's lips. "And I love you."

The two finally managed to resume their walk, enjoying the silence that happily existed between them as they held hands along the beach. They silently moved together as they turned around, slowly making their way back to the blanket. JJ fiddled with the button on Aaron's coat for several feet before finally speaking up. "If I had a random thought in my head would you think I was ridiculous?"

Aaron burst out laughing, giving JJ a kiss on the cheek as he collected himself. "Not at all. What are you thinking, love?"

JJ smiled at the term of endearment Aaron randomly gave her every now and again. "Do you…I mean honestly, don't answer just because you think I'm expecting you to or because it'll make me feel better, this is really important-"

"JJ, rambling."

JJ blushed, glad once again that Aaron thought she was adorable when she rambled instead of finding her to be a bumbling idiot. "Do you think Jack's goingtobeokwithus?

Aaron chuckled secretly to himself, mentally patting himself on the back for being able to understand JJ's lightening speed. "Jack loves you JJ."

"Yeah, when I'm just a co-worker of yours. What if he doesn't like that we're together?"

Aaron knew this was really important to JJ, but just as she had previously done, he couldn't quite take the conversation seriously. "JJ, Jack loves you, regardless of what you are to me. He'll be even more thrilled now that you'll be with us all the time. He'll love having you around."

JJ began to get frantic as she always did when something was weighing heavily on her mind. "But what if he thinks I'm just trying to take his mom's place or he doesn't want you to be with anyone or he doesn't like me enough that he wants me to be around all the time-"

"JJ if you question how much my son loves you one more time I'm going to shake you." JJ stopped dead and stared at Aaron who had a twinkle in his eye. "I've thought about Jack dozens of times since I told you how I feel about you, and I'm positive that Jack will be thrilled. You would never try to take Haley's place and Jack will understand that. He thinks the world of you and he'll love the fact that he can be with you as much as he can. I hate to admit it, but there's a chance my son may be as in love with you as I am."

JJ chuckled nervously, her weight shifting as she stared at the ground. Aaron chuckled and kissed her on the forehead, his action causing JJ to look up at him once again. "Jack will understand, JJ. And he'll be thrilled."

JJ nodded, playing with Aaron's fingers as she looked into his eyes. "I just don't want him to hate me. I love your son Aaron."

Aaron's heart swelled at JJ's words and he kissed her without even realizing he had moved forward. "Do you know how much that means to me?"

JJ scoffed, her free arm shooting up into the air. "This isn't about you!"

Aaron laughed and kissed JJ's cheek. "You're too perfect for words JJ." JJ blushed, the smile on her face finally reaching her eyes. "When we bring Jack home, the three of us will sit down and we will make sure that Jack's ok with everything."

JJ nodded, her head dropped but her eyes finding Aaron's under her eyelashes. "If he doesn't approve I'm breaking up with you."

Aaron chuckled, squeezing her hand as he resumed their walk back to the blanket. "Well we'll talk about that when we get to it."

JJ walked right beside him. "I will, even if you don't believe me."

Aaron laughed again and spun her around once in the sand, causing JJ to shriek with laughter. "Whatever you say my love."