A/N: Hey ya'll, I've decided that I'll be uploading two chapters today, and I'm incredibly happy how they have turned out. This episode in season three (3x12) was personally a favourite of mine as Hotch and Prentiss were paired up on the case, so there was a lot to work with. Anyway, enjoy this chapter and please review if you can! Thanks again!

Early January 2008

"Ugh…" Prentiss said as Hotch and her walked away from a grieving father. She bit down hard on her tongue, attempting to stifle the tears that threatened to escape. The last few moments, standing there, watching a father fall to pieces as he learnt his pride and joy had died… Emily wanted more than anything in the world to give the man a shoulder to cry on.

"You okay?" Hotch asked, glancing over to see a disdained expression on the brunette's face.

Emily could have lied there and then, pretending that she had everything under control, but what was the point? Hotch probably felt the exact same emotions she was feeling, so she shook her head. "It's been a while since…" She swallowed, "since I've told someone a loved one died."

"It doesn't get easier," Hotch added as they reached the vehicle and stepped inside.

Prentiss nodded, "you know… As much as I detest every unsub and their actions, I always overlook the fact they have a family and people who care about them. And…" The brunette pursed her lips together as she shook her head. Hotch could tell this whole incident had really got to her. "I mean… This guy was obviously so invested in his son and didn't even know what was truly going on."

Hotch sullenly placed the key into the ignition and started the car, feeling each word hit deep in his chest. Moments like these really sucked where you had to turn your back on a grieving parent and remain impartial. Dead, mutilated, and tortured corpses Hotch had acclimatised to. They were his new normal. Not that the bodies never affected him, because they always did- especially those of children. But having to tell someone they'll never see their child again… Hotch believed that was the worst curse in the world.

"There's never anything that we can do to ease their pain," Hotch said, momentarily gazing over the passenger seat to see Prentiss' numb expression. "I think we could both do with a break. Coffee?"

"Yeah…Anything to distract me."

Prentiss had found over the past month or so that the so-called 'mandatory breaks' were doing her mental health good. Work had been hectic and non-stop over the Christmas holidays and new year, and Emily felt like she'd hardly breathed. So, when the opportunity came to rest for a little moment whether it be between car chases or paperwork, the woman couldn't wait to get out of her head.

They drove a few minutes down the road, and it didn't take long to find a café. Hotch told Emily to stay in the car while he popped inside and grabbed two coffees. When he returned, Prentiss had her forehead wrinkled with an eyebrow quirked, "we just gonna sit in the car?"

"Thought we could go to a park." In all honesty, the breaks at first had felt incredibly awkward with Prentiss. And it had become monotonous, walking down to their favourite coffee shop and sitting in the same place each time with the same order. He didn't know Prentiss' opinion on the whole subject, but slowly, he'd incorporated new ways of spending their breaks- such as walking around a park and the other week he'd even invited JJ to join them.

The more time the two spent together, the less awkward things were. Over a month ago, Prentiss would no doubt have rolled her eyes at the concept of strolling around a garden with him. Now though, he could see in her body language that she really craved these moments of peace and she didn't care where they went or what they did as long as she could distract herself from work.

The park Hotch chose seemed incredibly small, yet so quiet. A green slide and a couple swings inhabited the far corner while a quaint pond sat in the middle, surrounded by rose bushes, ferns and tall oak trees. Prentiss sat on a rustic bench by the pond, closing her eyes as she soaked in the peace and songbirds in their nests.

"I always think of Gideon when I see or hear a bird," Hotch said as he tilted his head towards the sounds high up.

"Yes… I remember he always used to talk about them on the jet. Mockingbirds, swans, ravens… And even crows." Prentiss paused, sipping her drink, "you ever hear back from him after he left?" It was a question she'd wanted to ask him for ages, Emily had just never gotten around to it.

Hotch slowly nodded, relaxing his posture on his seat so that he was slightly tilted towards the brunette. "Yeah, a few weeks ago actually. He's okay, in Canada, somewhere exploring."

"I wanna do that one day. Just go out to the middle of nowhere and explore to my heart's content."

The man quirked an eyebrow in interest, "any place in particular?"

Shrugging, Emily replied, "If I had to choose, probably France. I've been there a million times before, but there are so many hidden gems. I absolutely would if I had the chance, but… With the job and all…" Prentiss didn't need to say any more for Hotch to get the gist. "Anywhere you've wanted to go?"

"I've always wanted to take Jack to Europe. I don't see how it's possible now with the separation and all."

Emily nodded in understanding. Things must have felt so hard for Hotch right now. Part of her wanted to grab his hand and squeeze it, just for reassurance, but that would have been wrong and not to mention incredibly awkward. So, she continued sipping her coffee, slipping deeper into thought by the second.

"Maybe France… Perhaps Russia even. I don't know."

"One day you'll get there," Prentiss reassured. "And even if you can't take Jack with you now, chances are if you did, he most likely wouldn't remember any of it."

Hotch nodded, not realising that fact until now. "You got any recommendations?"

"For where to travel? If I were you, I'd visit Spain first. The culture there is amazing, food is delicious. It's so warm, and the cities are beautifully ancient." Prentiss said with a smile, remembering memories in Spain as a child.

"You lived there, didn't you?"

"Only for a year and a half… My mother got a job offer in Barcelona when I was five and her being her of course… Took the offer. It seems like such a lifetime ago. I remember riding a bike to school. Swimming all the time. They would always have these fiestas, and all I remember is dancing and eating the best food ever. I really miss it."

She turned to look at Hotch who surprisingly had his rare dimples in plain sight. These days, it was so rare to see the man smirk, let alone see his dimples. And so, Emily shouldn't have been surprised. Her job was torturous enough as it was, but no matter how many burdens she carried, Hotch would always carry the most being unit chief. Then to top all that off, he was in the process of divorce and separation from his kid. As Emily thought about it, this was the first time she'd seen the man smile for days.

He averted his eyes from her, and the smile disappeared. Hotch could listen to the brunette ramble on and on about her years growing up around the world; Emily's story simply fascinated him. Once upon a time, he hadn't the patience to even converse with Prentiss, but the breaks had provided him with valuable insight regarding her past. The sort of teddy bear she used to sleep with, memories of her childhood, her biggest pet peeves. The last person aside from Haley who Hotch had such insight into was Gideon. And even then, there was still so much about the guy that Hotch would never know about.

Emily screwed her nose up as Hotch's cell phone rung, ruining the last five minutes of peaceful quiet. She knew from the looks of Hotch's stern, wrinkled expression that something was terribly wrong and immediately, Emily stood up. "What's going on?" She asked when he hung up.

"Jack Vaughan just stole that U.S Marshall's car from the station."

"What?" Emily said flabbergasted, "that's a bold move."

"We need to meet up with the others and figure out where he could be. Reid thinks Jack knows where Lindsay is." Emily quirked a brow and quickly followed Hotch back to their vehicle.

Guess break time was over…

"Daddy!" Jack came barrelling into Hotch's arms, and he cuddled the boy like there would be no tomorrow. Hotch buried his nose into the short strands of Jack's hair, smelling the scent of fresh baby shampoo.

The last case had felt long and arduous, even though they were only in California for less than 48 hours. And the entire time, Hotch had been aching to be with his son. Cases where missing children were involved only made the man more eager to see Jack. "Hey, buddy! I've missed you…"

It had been 3 weeks since he had seen Jack. Hotch couldn't even see him on Christmas because of a killing spree in Georgia.

"Miss you too…" Jack babbled back in his innocent little voice. "I got a spiderman for Crimas!"

"A spiderman! Wow!" Hotch replied, amazed. He had bought Jack some Christmas presents as well, but he hadn't the chance to give them to him yet.

He ran over to his backpack which Haley had packed and brought it back over to his father.

Hotch's dimpled smile appeared, "are you gonna come stay with daddy for a few days?" Jack's head nodded excitedly, and Hotch picked the boy up in one swipe.

Haley stood at the front door, watching the exchange between father and son. "Bedtime no later than 7:30, okay?" Hotch wanted to roll his eyes. He knew that Haley was concerned about making sure that Jack stayed in a routine, however he was perfectly capable of looking after his boy. So, instead, he just nodded and walked over to Haley with Jack so that he could give her a kiss.

After tucking him securely in the car, Hotch asked him, "what do you want to do today, buddy?" Jack thought about it for a second while he fiddled with the spiderman toy in his hand.

"Waterpark!"

"Jack, not the waterpark… It's too cold at the moment." The little boy's bottom lip covered his top one, and his eyes crinkled in disappointment. "What about the park? You really like going down the red slide, don't you?"

In an instant, whatever disappointment Jack had felt vanished, and a large beam overtook his face. "Uh-huh! I like the park! I bring spiderman?" He asked, holding up the toy to his father's face.

Hotch buckled him in and ruffled his hair, "yes Jack, you can bring spiderman as well…"

When they arrived at Jack's favourite park, the boy had all the desperation in the world to get out of his car seat. He instantly ran to the large red slide and tried climbing up the ladder. He hadn't quite mastered it yet without slipping off, so Hotch decided to give him a little boost upwards. "No, daddy… I big… I can do it…"

Hotch chuckled to himself. Jack had obviously inherited his stubbornness. "Okay, but these other kids are waiting, and you are holding them up." With the tiniest bit of help, Jack made it up to the top of the slide, and he had the broadest grin on his face as he slid down. Hotch caught him at the bottom as he flew off, kissing him on the cheek as he brought Jack to his feet. "Was that fun?"

"Yeah! Again!" The cycle repeated, Hotch would help Jack climb up the ladder and then he'd run to the bottom of the slide to catch the boy, occasionally tickling him. Hotch had forgotten how demanding and time-consuming little boys could be. And Jack would be 3 towards the end of the year. Where all his time as a baby had disappeared to, he didn't really know. "Daddy… Go swings?"

Hotch led him to the swings. He attempted to place him in the baby swing, but it was getting to the point where he was getting too big for it. From his memory, Jack hadn't really been on a regular swing. "Let's try this one," he whispered, placing jack onto it. "Hold on tight and don't let go." Jack nodded and began beaming as Hotch slowly pushed him.

"Quickly!" He shouted. Hotch shook his head.

"No, buddy… Slowly." The last thing Jack needed was a head injury. After a few more minutes and making sure that Jack was adjusted to the swing, Hotch started to increase the speed, and Jack cracked up in fits of laughter. He enjoyed it, which please Hotch immensely, but then again, you could introduce Jack to anything, and he would learn to love it. "Does mommy bring you to the park?"

Jack nodded, "We go swings together…" He pointed to an empty swing next to him. "Daddy, you swing?" Hotch felt a moment of panic rise in him, he wanted to be right in front of Jack if he accidentally fell off. But obviously, Haley did this with Jack all the time, so how hard could it be? Hotch began to swing slowly next to Jack, making sure to manage his speed so that he could jump off in case of an accident. "I go faster than you!" The boy laughed. Hotch made a funny face at Jack, poking out his tongue.

The boy started to get upset as he started slowing down. "I need a push!"

"Use your legs buddy… Like this." Hotch showed him by example, and within no time, Jack was comfortably high in the air, laughing with a huge dimpled smile.

"I'm doing it!" Soon enough, Jack had had enough of the swing. "I wanna eat… I'm hungry…" Hotch took Jack's hand and led him back to the car.

"Let's go home and make some sandwiches… You like them with peanut butter, aye?" Jack shook his head.

"No daddy…I… I want raspberry jam." Hotch's eyes raised in surprise. Perhaps this was something new that Haley had introduced to him because he never remembered Jack liking Raspberry Jam. He wasn't even sure he had any in the cupboard.

He buckled his son back in his car-seat, "alright, Jack, I'll make you a sandwich with raspberry jam in it. Love you, my boy." He placed a long kiss on his forehead.

"Luv you daddy…"

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed that cute bonding time between Jack and Hotch. I loved writing them together.