Disclaimed!
Hi everyone, times are going to get a bit happier for a little while, then who knows, there could be more drama :P
Side note - For anyone who is reading my other fic I started a while ago 'Changes' I'm starting to finish it now, this story just got in the way :S
Enjoy, any thoughts would be appreciated!
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JJ and Hotch walked into the spacious living room with their hands entwined as the boys ran off to look at the bedrooms. The real estate agent hovered at the doorway, allowing the pair to talk amongst themselves.
JJ tugged on the profiler's hand to get him to stop walking. He frowned at the blonde's uncertain expression as they stood next to a large fireplace. "If you don't like this place, there are plenty of other houses to look at."
JJ moaned gently. "It's not that, it's just... doesn't it feel like to you that we're going a lot faster than slower?"
"You don't want to move?" Hotch queried with a raised eye.
The liaison shrugged as she closed the gap between them, to rest her hand on his chest. "We need to move, three kids in such a small space is a disaster waiting to happen."
"But you don't like this house?" He questioned unsure as to his girlfriend's behaviour.
"I like the house. It's a great house. It's in a great neighbourhood. The boys have a huge garden to run around in and I could totally see us living here." JJ explained with a hesitant smile.
Hotch rolled his eyes at her unconvincing tone. "But..."
"We've only been dating ten months." JJ stated as she tightened her grip on his hand.
Hotch nodded slowly. "We have. We've also known each other for nearly ten years."
JJ groaned as he looked down at her with no idea where her line of thought was going. "Yes ten years as friends, then we became more than friends and we became this family and we loved it. Then I became distant and you became standoffish and we took a two week break but it was weird for over a month and..."
"Two weeks Jaje. In the grand scheme of things I think we've had enough drama in the last ten months to last a lifetime." Hotch kissed her forehead sweetly.
JJ looked at him seriously, her voice deadpanned. "Don't tempt fate."
"JJ, are you having doubts because I had doubts last week?" He asked cautiously.
The blonde shook her head quickly. "I have no doubts. We're going to be a family and I love you but don't you think that maybe after spending ten years as friends to suddenly have all of these changes happen to us over a short space of time is a little much."
"You're freaking out?" He smirked in amusement.
JJ kissed his lips softly. "No, I'm just over-thinking things."
"Everything is going to be fine. Once we organise..."
JJ groaned in frustration. "Stop, being so calm! I need to know how you are really feeling. I don't mind if you're nervous or overcompensating for not wanting another child..."
"JJ I want this baby." Hotch stated firmly.
JJ raised an eye. "Aaron, you've jumped straight back into impending fatherhood and you're telling me there's not one little part that isn't freaking out?"
"A tiny little bit. But that doesn't mean I don't want us to be a family nor does it mean that I don't want this child." Hotch pressed a palm softly against JJ's stomach. "I do. It just came as a shock. I didn't think we'd do the whole kid thing again with having Jack and Henry and yes I feel a little guilty about how I behaved the other week and..." He admitted quietly before he got interrupted.
JJ pressed a soft kiss to the profiler's lips gratefully and shrugged. "We don't need this house, Aaron. It's far too big. You know that it's okay that you're in shock about the baby. It's only been six days. You're allowed to be freaking out. I did for two weeks and honestly I'm just glad that you are freaking out by looking at massive houses and trying to plan every moment of the next seven months."
"I don't want you to think that you can't depend on me." Hotch claimed in worry.
The blonde smiled warmly. "Honey you're my hero, I know I can always depend on you."
Hotch chuckled and kissed her once more before glancing around the spacious white room. The boys bungled into the room laughing and skidding on the wooden floor, quickly followed by the curious real estate agent.
Hotch gave the boys a warning to calm down as they ran towards the French doors in the kitchen, but they simply ignored him and continued to chat to each other while pointing into the large garden. The red headed forty-something, real estate woman smiled brightly. "So what do you guys think?"
JJ and Hotch exchanged smirks before JJ answered. "It's a really nice house."
"I'm sensing abut." The woman sensed.
"No just caution. This is the first house we've looked at and we're still processing the idea of a move." Hotch continued as the woman's phone rang.
She excused herself from the living room and left JJ and Hotch watching the boys through the living room door in the kitchen. JJ pressed a hand against her stomach and leaned into the unit chief's side. He kissed her forehead and smiled. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking we're going to have three children under the age of ten soon." JJ replied dauntingly.
Hotch nodded slowly. "We have to tell the boys about the baby."
They stood for a few moments in silence watching their sons interact.
"Strauss was right." JJ muttered quietly.
Hotch frowned in a startle. "Strauss was right about what?"
"We can't work together in the BAU." JJ stated finally.
"What!" Hotch looked down at his petite girlfriend in confusion. "Of course we can, the performance review board ruled in our favour she has no right to..."
JJ pursed her lips at his defensiveness. "Aaron, she just suggested working in different departments may be beneficial to us."
"Yeah right she just wants to screw with us." Hotch spat in disbelief.
"Look at our boys. They need a parent who's with them full time. Not part time parents. We're all they have. Then when this one arrives," JJ pointed to her stomach, "three kids under ten, Aaron. That's not going to be easy. Maybe I should be looking for a more suitable position."
Hotch scoffed in disbelief. "JJ you love the BAU and when we started this we both agreed we weren't going to make compromises because of our jobs."
"We were being selfish." JJ stated adamantly.
Hotch smirked at the blonde's determined expression. "Maybe, but we agreed work was important to both of us."
"It still will be but we're having a child. We're moving in together. We're planning a future together. If we're daunted by all the changes don't you think the kids are? Maybe if I'm around more permanently then they'd feel more assured."
Hotch frowned in confusion. "The kids?"
JJ sighed as she replied. "Okay maybe I'm transferring but if we're going at this full steam, we should at least be realistic. The team are going to need a permanent liaison and the kids are going to need a permanent mom and I can't be both."
"If you really want this then I can't stop you, can I?" Hotch stated with acceptance.
The communication coordinator smirked. "No, but you can voice your opinion."
The profiler tugged on her hand to bring her closer to him. "I don't want you to leave the BAU but if I'm honest, I want nothing more than for you to be safe in a desk job."
"I never said I'd take a desk job." JJ raised an eye in humour. "But, maybe when I go on maternity leave I should look for another position."
Hotch looked towards the boys as they laughed at something through the window before he turned back to his pregnant partner. "JJ, if all of these changes are too much we can just walk out of here, wait for the scan and go from there."
"I do like the house Aaron however we should keep looking for something a bit more suitable and less gigantic. Also it's far too soon for us to get back into family life without talking to the boys about the baby." JJ responded truthfully.
He nodded before glancing to see where the estate agent was. "Okay, I have no qualms about that."
"You're happy just to let things happen until the scan?" JJ raised an eye unsurely.
"I love you JJ. I'm happy as long as you're happy." Hotch answered with a small smile before kissing the liaison soundly.
JJ's smile widened as they pulled a part. "Maybe we should try and organise another date before work takes over seeing as you're so determined to make plans."
"Okay but this time you can choose where we go. I thought a fancy restaurant was good idea and you preferred the diner we had to go too after to get your milkshake." He quipped dryly.
JJ giggled as they ushered the Jack and Henry to their sides. "Fine, but you're paying this time."
...
So there's a huge possibility that I've totally screwed up the timeline with stopping and starting but since I've been writing this story for ten months that is now the time span of the fic :D
Thanks for reviewing; Kimd33, ReadingRed, JJandHotch4ever96, mummacass, crazyobsession101, whimsical-one-ga and jekkah!
