A/N: Over 600 reviews! You guys are the nicest, sweetest, most awesomest reviewers EVER! Just so you know. :D Thank you all so much for everything. You are wonderful! As a tribute to you all, lets have some fun with the Hotchners!
365: Day 51
Characters: Aaron Hotchner, Jack Hotchner, Jessica Brooks
Rating: K
Chili Night
"Dad! We're home!" Jack Hotchner's voice called out as his aunt disarmed the alarm system.
"In the kitchen, buddy!"
Hotch stood over the stove stirring a big pot. Jack came running and dropped his backpack beside the kitchen table. Hotch put the lid back on the pot and turned around to get his super-sized hug from his son.
"How was school?"
"It was awesome! In science class, Mrs. Wright blew up balloons with a funnel!"
"A funnel?" Hotch looked perplexed as he turned to stir the pot once more.
"Yeah! It was great! She put the end of a balloon around a funnel, then poured in some sugar and... uh..." He scrunched his forehead trying to think of the other ingredient.
"Yeast," his aunt reminded him from the doorway.
"Oh yeah! Yeast! And then some water, and then she tied the balloon closed and measured it, and then we waited, and we didn't think it was working because nothing was happening, but she kept telling us to be patient..."
"Jack, take a breath," Hotch reminded his son, all the while laughing at his obvious excitement. Jessica laughed as well. She's already heard this story once and he was still just as excited to tell it as he was three hours ago when she picked him up from school.
"So we waited some more and then she measured it again and it grew! All by itself! And then a few minutes later she measured it again and it was even bigger!"
"That is awesome!" Hotch played up his enthusiasm to match Jack's. Jack was beaming! He loved to see his boy smile like that, especially when talking about school.
"It was just like Uncle Spence's magic film canister!"
"Magic film canister?" Jessica looked at Hotch.
"It's his Physics Magic trick," Hotch answered.
"Yeah! He turns film canisters into rockets! And they shoot off the table!"
"That sounds pretty impressive," she grinned at her nephew.
"It's so cool!"
"Jack, dinner is almost ready. Go wash up."
"Okay," he ran down the hallway. Hotch shook his head and laughed. That kid was a ball of energy. He wished he could bottle some of it and sell it. He'd be rich!
"Something smells delicious," Jessica came fully into the kitchen.
"It's chili night."
Her eyes widened. "You mean you actually get him to eat something besides Mac & Cheese?" she asked with surprise.
"On rare occasions, yes. He is finally starting to branch out. Thank goodness."
"Getting a little burned out on the blue box?" she chuckled.
"If it's not mac & cheese it's chicken fingers. Or spaghetti."
"So how did you get him to try chili?"
"Begging." She looked at him with disbelief. "I admit it. Got on my knees and begged and pleaded until he gave in."
"Wow. Aaron. Begging a seven-year-old. Really?"
"I was desperate!"
She laughed heartily. He hung his head in defeat. He went to the cabinet and pulled out three bowls and filled them with chili as Jack made his grand reappearance and helped set the table. While they ate Jack regaled them with more tales of the awesomeness that is First Grade. After they ate and cleared the table, Aaron and Jack escorted Jessica to the door.
"Oh, Aaron," she said while putting on her coat. "The next time you get desperate, try beef stew. He ate that up for me when you were out of town."
"Beef stew?" he looked down at Jack, who grinned mischievously. "You've been holding out on me," he grabbed him and started tickling him. Jack squealed and ran. Jessica laughed.
"Have a good night, you two."
"Be careful."
"I will."
He closed the door behind her and went in search of his mini-me. He found him hiding behind the couch and commenced tickling him again, now the both of them rolling around on the floor.
And thus concluded another chili night with the Hotchners.
02/20/2013
