A/n, I know it's been forever and for that I'm sorry. Here's a new chapter. I hope someone will still read this.

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Aaron Hotchner smiled as he thought about his plans for that evening. It was the Friday after Labor Day and he and Olivia had been dating for a year as of tonight. He was glad that their relationship was going so well. She loved and adored Jack and the feeling was mutual. She also was super understanding regarding his job. She didn't get mad when plans had to be canceled at the last minute because he got a case. A knock on his office door startled him.

"Come in," he called. The door opened, revealing Dave. He greeted his best friend with a smile.

"Hey there, Aaron. So, tonight's the big night, huh?" Hotch nodded as he smiled. He had asked Dave to go with him to pick out the ring for Olivia. He thought about asking one of the girls, but he knew none of them could keep it a secret very well.

"Yeah, and I'm terrified," Hotch admitted.

"That's completely normal, but I'm sure she'll say yes," Dave assured.

"I sure hope so," Hotch said softly. Deciding it was time to change the subject he turned the tables on the older profiler. "So, any plans with Emily tonight?" Dave's mouth dropped open.

"How did you know?" he asked clearly surprised.

"You guys aren't being as covert as you think. You've come in at the same time two mornings in a row this week and I saw the kiss you gave her just before you got on the elevator last night. I was coming down the hall from the other direction," Hotch explained.

"We've only been going out for a couple months. It's still new," Dave argued. "We're planning on telling the team at a get together at my house next Sunday. Which reminds me, you and Liv are invited."

"Sure, sounds good to me," Hotch agreed glancing at his watch. It was finally 5:00.

"Go on get out of here. Whose got Jack tonight?" Dave asked.

"He's staying with Jess, he wanted to have a sleepover with her since she's been gone on vacation," Hotch explained. Nodding Dave patted him on the shoulder before heading out of the unit chief's office. Smiling Aaron shut down his computer and grabbed his briefcase. Before leaving his office, he made sure that the ring box was in his pants pocket. Well here goes nothing, he thought as he exited and headed out to start his Friday evening.

XXXX

"Aren't you glad you finally told him how you felt, Janica?" Olivia asked as she chatted with her best friend while she finished getting ready.

"Yeah, I guess so," Janica reluctantly admitted. "I mean he's great and we've had a great time starting to date. We already know a lot about each other since we lived together until I found a new house for myself and the kids," she stated.

"And the kids are happy?" Liv checked.

"Lizzy and Adam both love him. I don't think Adam really understands that we're dating but Lizzy kind of does. She asked him if he would be her new daddy the other day," the first-grade teacher revealed. Liv gasped that was quite the question.

"Oh wow, what did he say?"

"Well after stammering for a second he told her that if he and I got married someday he would be her step-dad but that he wouldn't ever try and replace her daddy. Then she said okay and asked if she could drop the uncle part of Uncle Spencer and just call him Spencer. He told her of course she could. My mom is watching them so we can go out tonight. It will be nice since they've been gone so much lately," Jan commented.

"Yes, it will," Liv agreed. Just then her doorbell rang.

"I heard the doorbell. I'll let you go. Have a great night. Love you, Livy."

"Bye, and I love you to, Janica," she said as she hung up the phone and headed for the door ready for her date with Aaron.

XXXX

"Hey, you," she greeted happily as she opened her door to a smiling Hotch.

"Hey there yourself. You look amazing, Liv. I almost don't want to go out," he murmured as he pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

"Oh no you don't. I didn't take this long to get ready just to stay home. We're going out to dinner," she demanded with a smile.

"Yes, ma'am. Dinner it is. Shall we?" he asked reaching for her hand and guiding her down the steps.

"Yes, let's go," she agreed as they headed for the car.

XXXX

Dinner was going very well, and they had discussed a range of topics.

"So, Dave finally admitted that he and Em are dating?" she stated.

"How'd you know about that?" he wondered.

"The last time we were all out as a group, I noticed that they sat next to each other and he barely left her side. He was always getting her things if she asked for them and they left together. He gave her a ride, remember?" Hotch shook his head he had forgotten that part.

"Well I'm glad they both deserve to be happy," he said. Liv nodded she wanted everyone to be happy. Just then the waiter approached their table.

"Can I interest you folks in some dessert?"

"What kind of cheesecake do you have?" Liv asked.

"We have cherry, strawberry, and Oreo," he answered.

"What do you think, Aaron?"

"Either strawberry or Oreo," he suggested.

"We'll have some of the Oreo cheesecake with two forks, please," Liv requested.

"Coming right up," the waiter said giving them both a smile before heading off to put in their dessert order. They were both enjoying their cheesecake when Hotch stopped eating.

"Hey Liv?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm having a great time tonight. This last year has been so amazing. I had no idea that being late to pick up Jack would have turned my life upside down so much but in such a fantastic way." As he was speaking, he got up from his seat and came to stand next to her. "I love you so much and Jack does too. Olivia Anne Baker, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Liv, will you marry me?" Tears sprang to her eyes and her hands flew to her mouth.

"Oh my gosh, Aaron. Yes! Yes, of course I'll marry you!" Letting out a relieved breath he slipped the ring on her finger before scooping her into his arms for a kiss. She was laughing and crying all at the same time. Everyone in the restaurant was clapping and cheering.

"I love you so much, Livy," Hotch whispered as he put her back on her feet.

"I love you to. What do you say we go and celebrate?" she suggested with a coy smile.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," he agreed. After paying the bill he took her hand and the two of them headed for his car ready to celebrate their engagement.

XXXX

Later after they had celebrated, they were snuggled in his bed enjoying the quiet.

"Hey Aaron?" Liv murmured.

"Hmm?" he answered.

"You're sure Jack's okay with this? I don't want him to think I'm replacing Haley," she worried. Reaching out Hotch tilted her chin up so he was looking into her eyes.

"I'm totally sure he's fine. I asked him about it before I even bought the ring."

"Oh? How'd that go?" she wanted to know.

"Well…" Hotch began, remembering the conversation.

XXXX

The father and son had just finished Jack's bath and bedtime story. Hotch had just tucked Jack in and decided it was now or never.

"Hey, can I talk to you about something, Jack?"

"Am I in trouble?" Jack asked.

"No, you're not, buddy. I want to ask you something, though.

"What is it?" Jack wanted to know.

"Would you be okay if I ask Liv to marry me?" Jack's eyes lit up and he smiled.

"Would she be my new mommy if you got married?" the six-year-old asked.

"Yes, she would but you know she would never replace your mommy, right?" Hotch checked. He needed to know for sure that Jack understood that.

"Yeah, I do. Can I call her Mom, though? Would Mommy get mad if I did that?" Jack picked at his covers he was clearly worried about this. Reaching out Hotch pulled his son in for a hug.

"No, she wouldn't be mad at you for that, Jack. I told you that Mommy made me make a promise before she went to heaven, didn't I?" Jack shook his head. "Well she did, and that promise was to help you see what love is and how important it is. I love Liv and I would love to have her be part of our lives permanently."

"What's permitly mean?" Jack asked.

"It's permanently and it means that she would be my wife and your step-mom," he explained.

"Oh, then that would be okay. When can I ask her about calling her mom?"

"Well I don't even have the ring yet. I promise once I've asked her you can talk to her about it, okay, buddy?" Jack nodded he couldn't stop smiling. He was finally getting a new mommy. "Just one more thing then it's time to go to sleep," Hotch stated.

"What?" the little boy asked.

"This is a secret for now. So, you can't tell anyone, not even Henry okay?"

"Yes Daddy, goodnight, I love you," Jack said through a yawn.

"Goodnight kiddo, I love you to, Jack," Hotch said as he kissed Jack's forehead before getting up and leaving the room closing the door behind him.

XXXX

Liv had tears rolling down her face. That sounds so sweet. I love that little boy so much."

"Don't tell him that you know he wants to call you mom. That was supposed to be a surprise," Hotch requested.

"Of course, I won't, can we tell him tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yeah, and then Dave invited everyone for cookout next Sunday, so I was thinking of telling the rest of the team then, does that work?" Liv nodded.

"So, who already knows from the team?" She noticed he had said he wanted to tell the rest of the team.

"Well Dave helped me picked out the ring," Hotch admitted. Liv smiled and pulled him in for a kiss.

"Well I love it, and I love you."

"I love you to, sweetheart," Hotch replied kissing her once more before they settled down for the night.