Chapter 8- Smithsonian and Prep

"Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." -Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Spencer's POV

I caught the Metro to the station closest to Hotch's apartment, and I walked to his building. At exactly 8:30, I walked up to the front desk.

"How may I help you, sir?" the attendant asked me.

"I am here to go to Aaron Hotchner's apartment," I stated.

"Is he expecting you?" the attendant asked.

"Yes, he is," I stated. The attendant called Hotch, and after a couple of seconds got off the phone.

"You can go up sir, apartment 21," The attendant commented. I walked up the set of stairs, and went to the first apartment. I knocked, and Hotch answered the door. He was in a pair of jeans, and a pullover. I was in a pair of jeans, with a t-shirt, and a flannel shirt, with my black converse.

"Good morning, Spencer," Hotch told me as he ushered me in.

"Good morning, Hotch," I commented as I walked in.

"Please, call me Aaron, outside of the office," Hotch, no, Aaron told him. I blushed, and smiled at him.

"Uncle Spencer!" Jack yelled, and ran out in his Captain America PJs, he hugged me.

"Hey, Jack, buddy. Are you excited to go to the Smithsonian?" I asked. Jack just nodded.

"I am happy Dad is taking us," Jack stated.

"What are you most looking forward to seeing today?" I asked.

"Darth Vader's suit!" Jack exclaimed.

"Yeah? Did you know that the actor in that suit just said a bunch of crazy things, and everyone else had to act like he said the real lines," I infomed Jack. He just laughed, and I looked up, to see Aaron smiling. That used to be a rare sight, but now he smiles more often.

"Dad does Uncle Spencer know everything?" Jack asked Aaron, who just smiled at him.

"I think he might, buddy," Aaron answered. Jack sat down at the table, and Aaron put a plate of pancakes, bacon, and eggs. He also had one for himself, and for me. I smiled at my boss, who just grinned back at me.

"Please pass the Ketchup?" Jack asked me, as I sat down next to Aaron, across from Jack.

"Sure thing," I told Jack, as I passed him the Ketchup, and he put it on his eggs. I put butter and syrup on my pancakes, as well as some Ketchup on my eggs. Aaron smiled, and I grinned. This felt like a family meal.

"Uncle Spencer, have you met Aunt Gwen?" Jack asked me, as Aaron and I climbed into the front seat of a Ford Focus, Jack in his booster seat.

"Yes, she works with your dad and I now," I told him, as Aaron drove off.

"Why haven't I met her before?" Jack asked Aaron and I.

"She was overseas, when you were born, saving lives. Gwen was in the Navy as a Captain Flight Surgeon, which is a rank of enlisted doctors in the Navy. She was stationed on the USS Eisenhower," Aaron answered his son. I was kinda shocked, the Eisenhower was the aircraft carrier that was one of the first to go into combat.

"What do you think of her, Uncle Spencer?" Jack asked me.

"She adores having fun, Gwen is gentle, but she can take down both Morgan and your father. Gwen was instrumental in solving our last case," I told the boy. Jack looked happy at that. I know that last year, Jack dressed up like Aaron. Henry, my godson, wanted to go as Spider-man for Halloween this year.

"Hey, Jack, what museum do you want to go to?" Aaron asked his son.

"Air and Space?" Jack asked. I smiled, so did Aaron, and Aaron drove to the museum. The Air and Space museum hadn't changed since the 90's, when it had been redecorated from the 70's.

The group of three walked around the museum, and Jack kept jumping around, and running around. There were many interactive exhibits, and Aaron and I walked about a meter behind Jack, and we kept him in sight at all times, and Jack was smiling. It looked like he was having a lot of fun. His favorite exhibit was the rocket exhibit.

They went to the gift shop, and Jack asked for a Rocket lego set, and some astronaut food. I got him the astronaut food, and Aaron got him the lego set. Jack was so happy after we left the museum. The three of us got into Aaron's car, and drove back to Aaron's apartment. When we got there, Aaron helped Jack out of his booster seat.

Gwen's POV

I drove up to Dave's house, pardon me, Mansion. He lived in a beautiful house in the mountains of Virginia. When I pulled in, a Chocolate Lab greeted me. When I was a teen and recovering, my parents got me a Chocolate Lab and named her Tara. Bending down, I looked at the pup's collar, it read Mudgie, the hunting dog. Please return to David Rossi. Smiling, I took the dog inside, and Mudgie ran to his room.

I however walked into the kitchen, carrying a basket of fruit. My mom taught me, never go to a party empty handed.

"Hey, kiddo," Dave called out. I smiled and put the fruit on the table, and I slipped on an apron.

"Hey Dave," I responded, as I started the water for the pasta.

"How did you know I was going to ask you to do that?" Dave asked, and I just smiled as I turned on his stove, and sprinkled in some salt, and waited for it to boil. While I was waiting, I grabbed the ham and bacon out of the fridge, and started to dice them, while Dave diced the garlic and onions. We cooked in unison, and joked with each other. Dave had a glass of scotch beside him, and I had a glass of my sparkling water.

There was a knock on the door, and I went to answer in, and cautiously, I had one hand behind my back, where my gun was. I looked, and it was Spencer and Aaron. Relaxing, I opened the door, and was met by a short boy, hugging my waist.

"Hi, Jack," I called out, as I picked up my godson. "My name is Gwen, and I am sure you know this, but I am a friend of your father's." Jack nodded and smiled at me. I put him down and he ran to hug Dave. I waved at Spencer, and hugged Aaron. Aaron smiled at me as I sent him a knowing smirk. "Come on in, food is almost done," I invited them into the house.