Chapter 25

Sort of An Officer and a Gentleman

Anna-Joy Hotchner

April

AJ's heart slammed against her chest as she turned into the mile-long driveway of the Cliff estate. Aunt Penelope had been more than happy to do a quick look up of the place when she hadn't been able to find it in the yellow pages. Hours ago, she'd been sitting on the back porch of her parents' house with her family when it had hit her:

She wanted Vaughan to be there.

But with their no strings relationship and because she'd not said anything meant that it wasn't something she could ask of him. They weren't exclusive and AJ really wasn't sure she wanted to face the questions her family was more than likely to ask. The pull of wanting him to meet and spend time with her family was strong enough for her to make her excuses to her parents, climb in the car and make the trip up the east coast.

She forced herself to take deep breaths as she methodically turned off the car and climbed out. She carefully measured her steps to the front door. She was nervous, really nervous. If Vaughan turned her down, she was going to look both desperate and pathetic, two things she really didn't want to be around a guy like Vaughan Cliff.

"Can I help you?"

A well-dressed woman had answered the door and AJ jumped having been lost too deeply in her own thoughts. She drew on her genetic predisposition for an impenetrable poker face as she smiled. "Hi. Um... I'm looking for Vaughan Cliff?

"Are you a friend?" the woman asked.

"Um... Yeah," AJ agreed.

The woman moved back, waving AJ in. "I'm Tenley Cliff, Vaughan's mother."

"AJ," she replied. "I mean... Anna-Joy. Hotchner."

"I know your parents," Tenley said with a welcoming smile. "Is that where you met my son?"

"It is," AJ agreed. "We, um, also go to school together. He's in some of my classes."

Tenley closed the door. "Vaughan's upstairs in his room. You're welcome to go up."

"Thank you," AJ replied, following Tenley's arm towards the stairs.

"It's the third door on the left."

AJ paused at the top of the stairs, sucking in a deep breath. She started off down the hall, habitually straightening her shirt before knocking on the door briskly.

"Mother, I don't want to go to the club," Vaughan's voice called back.

"It's not your mom," she replied, eyes darting up and down the doorframe.

The door opened a few minutes later and Vaughan's gaze met hers, sending a spike of lust through her body.

"No," he said warmly. "You most certainly are not my mother. To what do I owe the pleasure, Hotch?"

She steeled her nerves. "I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?" he asked in confusion.

AJ took a deep breath as she looked up at him. "I can't do no strings anymore," she whispered, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. "I want more."

"Oh thank God," Vaughan replied finally, wrapping her up in his arms. AJ had enough time to squeak before he was kissing her, devouring her, holding her body as close to his as was physically possible. Finally, he pulled away, both of them breathless as he cupped her face in his hands. There was an awe in his eyes, an appreciation and emotion in his face that actually made AJ stop breathing.

"Annie… I didn't think this… I never expected…" An odd sound whooshed out of his mouth and he was kissing her again before she could ask for any clarification. Her brain was swirling, mind foggy as she tried to simultaneously drown in the feeling of Vaughan and puzzle out what he was trying to tell her. If she had to guess from his actions she was leaning towards positive. The rest of her thoughts scattered with the wind when his hand snuck under her blouse, stretching over the bottom of her spine.

She arched into his body, one of her own hands burrowing into his hair as she kissed him back ferociously. He pulled her back further into his room, kicking the door closed before using it as leverage to lift her into his arms. She squeaked into their kiss as Vaughan made his way to his bed, laying her across the black comforter and rolling over her. AJ flipped them as he leaned over her, straddling his hips, smiling down at him as her thumb brushed over his bottom lip.

"I take it you want to add strings then?" she breathed.

"Hotch, I've wanted strings since your sister's trial," he admitted. Then they were kissing again, his hands sliding her hair elastic out of her dark hair. He flipped them over again, settling more fully against her before moving his attention to her cheeks, her nose, her jaw. It was as he was trailing kisses down her neck that AJ spoke.

"I want you to meet my parents."

Vaughan paused, then raised his head to meet her gaze. "Annie, I've already met your parents, remember? Christmas?"

AJ rolled her eyes, her arms still wrapped around Vaughan's neck. "Yeah, as a pain in my ass." She looked away briefly, then turned her eyes back. "I want them to meet you as my boyfriend."

"There's a difference?" Vaughan asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

"Between a pain in my ass and a boyfriend? Not if you ask my mother," she agreed reluctantly. "But this time you'll be coming to my parents' place. Jack will try and be all parole officer intimidating, but if you get on Gabi's good side his opinion really won't matter. Daddy will have his gun... the question becomes how much of my family would you like to meet at once?"

Vaughan swallowed. "You're terrifying me."

"I know," she said, trying to stay cheerful. "But I have a few aunts and uncles, well, surrogate aunts and uncles that are going to want to meet and talk to you."

"We just agreed to try this dating thing long term!" he exclaimed with a smile. "When did you introduce your last boyfriend to your parents?"

"Two years after we started dating, but that was something different. He was picking me up from prom and he was the very first boy I brought home. My Daddy's a little overprotective."

"Because that makes me feel so much better about meeting your parents."

She laughed and leaned up to kiss him. She pulled back when her head started to spin. "There's a barbeque next month for Nate's birthday."

"Nate?" Vaughan's brow wrinkled.

AJ shook her head. "My cousin. But... You should come. You can meet my parents then. Kate's bringing her boyfriend so you'll have a buffer."

"Vaughan?"

Vaughan grimaced above AJ, then pushed himself off the bed. "Yes Mother?"

AJ scrambled towards the adjoining bathroom, throwing her hair back up into its presentable ponytail and straightening her clothes. She heard Vaughan open the door and his mother's voice get stronger. She rolled her eyes at herself before stepping back out into the bedroom. She blushed when Vaughan held out his hand for her with a smile, immediately snuggling her into his side.

"Mother, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend."

Okay, so there's just the epilogue, then this is done. I have a quick little glimpse one-shot that I'm considering putting up when this baby's done, but I'm not totally sure. It takes place long down the line when this generation is all married with kids. That makes our BAU grandparents.

I'd like to take a moment... this is utterly terrifying. This universe has been a two-year process for me and there's the real potential of it coming to an end this summer. This is my baby and it's kind of a bittersweet moment for me to potentially be walking away from these guys. They mean a lot to me, so I guess we'll just have to see if the oneshot takes on a life of it's own?

Up Next: Even Fairy Tale Characters Would be Jealous (epilogue: the whole fam-damily)