No One's POV
The black, rather non-descript military SUV, pulled up to the white, one-story house, the outside painting a rather cozy looking picture to Aaron as he faced the short walk-way to the front door, his bag slung over his shoulder and his brief case in his other hand, the MP that had chauffeured him giving him a short salute before driving away.
Aaron gave himself a moment to collect himself, a brief moment to gather his thoughts and his breathe before he squared his shoulders and walked forward, giving a short knock at the door to alert the present company inside.
"Coming, coming." Madison's voice calls from inside as she makes her way from the kitchen, Aaron quickly hearing the deadbolt unlock and another lock switching back.
"Aaron!" Madison exclaims joyfully, her arms immediately coming around his neck to engulf him in a massive hug, nearly topping him as she jumps towards him, Aaron barely having a split second to catch her before he has her entire body weight, small baby bump between them.
"Maddie." Aaron breathes out, practically feeling the draining tension he had in his body the past two months, drain from his body entirely.
"Hey. Hey, everything is okay. You're here now." Madison pulls back to smile softly at Aaron, her hand coming to cup his face, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw.
"I missed you." Aaron tells his girlfriend as he balances her weight and walks them the step or two it takes to enter the house, practically kicking the front door shut and then promptly locking it behind him.
"I missed you too, my Secret Agent." Madison says only a slight tease in her voice.
"And- and, hello there…" Aaron places Madison down on the floor to kneel in front of his girlfriend to place his hands on the small baby bump that protrudes from Madison's large t-shirt, Aaron carelessly dumping his things in the entryway. "Hello… I missed you too… Daddy's here now." Aaron presses a small kiss to Madison's stomach, taking a moment to press his forehead to her stomach as if he could press all his missed kisses and affections towards his unborn child.
"Jack's at school still. He'll be home in a few hours." Madison tells Aaron, her hands coming to smooth through Aaron's hair.
"Okay." Aaron murmurs against Madison's stomach, still kneeling on the ground.
"A few hours…" Madison prompts Aaron. "A few hours, Aaron Hotchner… Are you going to greet me properly?" Madison questions her boyfriend with a playful and mischievous look in her eyes as she tows Aaron towards the master bedroom.
Aaron and Madison sat on the couch in the living room, Madison drinking tea and Aaron a cup of coffee when Jack thundered into the small house with the MP that drove him to and from school, walking in behind him.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Jack streaks through the entryway, nearly missing Madison and Aaron on the couch.
"In the living room, Jack." Madison tells Jack, an amused look coming onto her expression. "And… Look who's here?" She smiles, her voice lifting slightly with the excitement.
"Mommy?" Aaron silently mouths to Madison as if to question when Jack had started to call Madison 'mom', not that he minded, in fact, it pleased him a lot that Jack had started that, it just shocked him to hear his son call Madison that.
"Who?" Jack asks eagerly.
"Daddy."
"DAD!" Jack screams, nearly leaping for the couch at full speed.
"Woah, buddy. Don't jump." Aaron's reflexes are fast as his arms catch Jack just before he lands on the two of them curled together on the couch. "You don't want to leap on Maddie, bud."
"Yeah, remember what I said, Jack?" Madison tells Jack as she sets her cup on the coffee table. "We have to keep your sibling safe and sound in my tummy. No jumping on me."
"Sorry." Jack apologizes immediately as he snuggles between Aaron and Madison.
"It's okay. Just be careful." Madison smiles at Jack and ruffles his hair. "Now, what were you screaming about?"
"I'm just heading out. I was just picking up the treats." MP Sergeant Andrews tells Madison as he walks back from the kitchen from where he had grabbed his usual container of treats for "Treat Tuesday".
"Have a good evening, Sergeant." Madison offers to the MP as she waves him good bye.
"Treats?" Aaron questions again somewhat quietly, but Jack manages to hear anyway, his expression still one of confusion.
"Yeah, daddy! Mommy bakes stuff for all the MP's. But only on Tuesday's. I named it Treat Tuesday. It's to thank them… For prowtecting us."
"It seems I have a lot to catch up on." Aaron replies. "But first, what's this?" Aaron questions, pointing to the paper in Jack's hand.
Daddy, I'm afraid, won't you stay a little while?
Keep me safe 'cause there's monsters right outside.
Daddy, please don't go, I don't wanna be alone,
'Cause the second that you're gone they're gonna know.
Before he went to bed he grabbed my hand and said.
A few days later, Aaron sat on the side of his son's bed, Jack already tuck under the covers, his teddy bear beside him, and the nightlight casting a soft glow in the corner of the room.
"Daddy?" Jack questions softly, his expression looking innocently up at his father.
"Yeah, bud?" Aaron answers back equally as soft as if not to disturb the quiet peace in the house.
"Do you have to leave tomorrow? I don't want you to." Jack asks.
"I do, buddy. I really do. I'm sorry." Aaron sighs softly, his hands coming to place themselves over Jack's small form.
"To catch the bad guy?" Jack questions again, with all the innocence of a five-year old and child that didn't fully comprehend the situation they were in.
"Yes. To catch the bad guy. And keep you, your new sibling, and Maddie safe." Aaron explains. "Always remember, buddy… I would never leave you unless I had to. I love you and mommy… And your unborn sibling. So very much. But, I have to protect you guys. You mean the world to me." Aaron tells Jack, leaning down to press another kiss to his son's forehead. "Now, get some rest, bud. I'll see you in the morning."
Just 'cause I'm leavin',
It don't mean that I won't be right by your side.
When you need me,
And you can't see me, in the middle of the night.
Just close your eyes and say a prayer.
It's okay, I know you're scared when I'm not here,
But I'll always be right there.
Even though I'm leavin', I ain't goin' nowhere.
"Hey, now you've seen Jack and I… Our little bundle… Maybe you can focus a little better. Spencer tells me you haven't been able to focus at work. And Rossi says you are at his place." Madison tells Aaron, taking Aaron's face into her hands, turning his face to look into her gaze, Aaron's bags re-packed and by the front door waiting for the MP to put them in the car and for Aaron to say his good bye's.
"And maybe… The team should learn to keep their mouth shut." Aaron grumbles a little like a sulky child.
"They're concerned, Aaron." Madison chastises a little. "But… I'm serious. Now that you've seen clearly that Jack and I are in one piece… Maybe you can focus a little better, hmm?" Madison offers.
"Maybe." Aaron barely concedes.
"We'll see you soon, Aaron." Madison smiles. "We'll miss you." Madison leans up to kiss Aaron softly, her hand carefully reaching for Aaron's and placing one around her waist and one on her stomach to allow him to feel it.
"I'll miss you too, sweetheart." Aaron murmurs, reluctantly breaking their embrace only to scoop Jack up in a large hug.
"Remember what I said last night, buddy. Daddy loves you very much." Aaron reaffirms. "Promise to keep doing a good job of taking care of Maddie and your sibling for me." Aaron smiles at his son before he lets him go.
"Okay, daddy. I promise."
Daddy, I'm afraid, won't you stay a little while?
I never thought I'd see the day I had to say goodbye.
Daddy, please don't go, I can't do this on my own.
There's no way that I can walk this road alone,
Daddy grabbed my hand and said,
/
Just 'cause I'm leavin',
It don't mean that I won't be right by your side.
When you need me,
And you can't see me, in the middle of the night.
Just close your eyes and say a prayer.
It's okay, I know you're scared when I'm not here,
But I'll always be right there.
Even though I'm leavin', I ain't goin' nowhere.
Luke Combs ~ Even Though I'm Leaving