Prompt: Snowman
Pairing: Hotch/Beth

XXI: Snowman

One day, Hotch was ready to go through his morning routine of dropping Jack off at school and then heading to the BAU. Unfortunately, it had snowed a lot overnight, and this meant that Jack's school made it a snow day. He called Jessica about taking him, but she ended up being sick. Rather than panic, he used one of his sick days and decided to stay home with Jack, giving him some much needed time with his son.

"Dad, can we go to the park?" Jack asked, finishing his oatmeal.

Hotch shrugged, sipping his coffee. "I don't see why not. Go get ready, we'll leave in a few minutes."

"...Can Beth come?"

He smiled slightly, nodding. "I think she'd like that. Tell you what? I'll give her a call while you're getting ready, we'll see what she says."

He put his bowl in the sink before running to his room, closing the door behind him.

Hotch took out his phone, calling Beth and leaning against the counter.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Beth," he started, crossing his arms.

"To what does one owe this early morning phone call?"

He laughed softly. "The man you're dating can't just call and say hello?"

"Oh believe me, he can. He just doesn't. I know him better than that."

"I'm sorry, which of us is the profiler?"

"I believe that's you. What's going on?"

"Jack wants to know if you're up to anything today. He has a snow day and I called into work to spend the day with him, and he wants you to come to the park with us."

"So, just Jack wants to spend the day with me? Nobody else?"

He chuckled. "Well, I suppose spending time with you wouldn't hurt."

"I thought so. What time are you heading out?"

"Probably a half hour."

She clicked her tongue. "Tell you what? I'll meet you there."

"See you soon." He hung up, walking to his bedroom and closing the door.

The two of them walked to the park and Hotch turned to him. "What do you want to do to today, buddy?"

He thought before looking up at Hotch. "Can we make a snowman?"

"I think that sounds like a great idea. Do you want to wait for Beth?"

"Well she does know art," Jack pointed out.

Hotch laughed. "I can't argue with that logic."

Beth came a few minutes later, grabbing a snowball and throwing it at Hotch to get his attention. He turned around and shook his head. "Childish antics, really?"

She shrugged, giving him a quick kiss. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

Jack gave her a hug and looked up at her. "Can you help us make a snowman, Beth?"

Beth turned to Hotch, who shrugged. "He says we need your expertise, because you know art."

"He's a smart kid." She turned to Jack. "How about your dad starts on the bottom, I'll do the middle, and you work on the head?"

He nodded, starting to roll his snowball.

Before long, the three of them had the perfect sized snowballs of snow to build their snowman. Jack chose the perfect spot for it and pointed to it for Hotch to move his large snowball over there. Beth was next, picking hers up, with Hotch's help, and setting it on top. Finally, Hotch picked up Jack, letting him set the head on top.

"What are we going to put on him, Jack?" Beth asked, looking at him.

He put up his finger before taking off his gloves, reaching in his pocket, taking out a carrot and an old scarf. "His nose and a scarf!"

Hotch smiled, picking him up again and letting him put them on. "What about eyes, a mouth, and arms?"

"Rocks and sticks!"

"Good idea. How about I go find the sticks while you and Beth hunt down enough rocks for it?"

He nodded, taking Beth's hand and running off.

Hotch had the easy job finding the arms, putting them in the snowman's sides and waiting for them to come back. Bending down, he made a snowball, ready for Beth's return. When he saw Jack running back with a handful of rocks, Beth close behind him, he ducked behind a tree. Once Beth passed by, he threw it at her, immediately hiding again.

She shook her head, dusting the snow off of her back. "Really, Aaron?"

He shrugged. "Consider it payback." He walked over, helping Jack in the eyes and mouth. Stepping back, he took it in, eyebrows raised. "I think we did a good job. What do you say, Jack?"

Jack nodded, giving Beth a high five.

Hotch took out his phone, taking a picture of Jack with it.

"Beth, do you want to come home and watch movies with me and Dad?" Jack asked, looking up at her.

She smiled. "I would love to."

The three of them spent the rest of their day sitting on the couch in Hotch's apartment, enjoying some cocoa and Christmas specials. Hotch definitely preferred this to another day of monotony in the BAU.