A/N: Short little chapter that takes place during 3x15. This is the episode where Hotch spends some time with Jack. Sorry, it's short, but I'll make up for it in the long chapter that's about to be uploaded right after this. Thanks for reading guys!

Early April 2008

"I've taken the day off; I want to spend some time with Jack," Hotch muttered into his cell whilst pressing the elevator button.

Haley's sigh greeted his ears.

"Aaron… I thought you were going to take him on the weekend. That was what we planned, was it not?" The elevator door opened, and he stepped inside. Anger pulsed through his veins. The blonde and himself had sat down a week ago, planning their custody schedule for Jack. And the whole process felt like someone had shot Hotch through the heart. At this point, it was every second weekend that he could spend time with his son; not enough time, in his humble opinion.

"I know… I just… I need to sit down with him and explain what this means."

Haley snapped back, "he won't understand Aaron, he's only 2 and a half."

Hotch knew that much would be true, but still… The thought of not being around Jack for long periods bludgeoned him. The least the boy deserved was a simple explanation from his father. "Haley, please… All I want is to spend a couple hours with him, minimum." He would have preferred to have Jack for the whole day and even overnight for that matter.

He swore he felt the woman's anger heating up his cell phone. After a few moments of heavy breathing and contemplation, she replied, "okay, but you can't keep doing… this… I have a life Aaron and Jack has a routine. He's going to get confused if you keep taking him randomly."

The man nodded, understanding completely. "Just this once… And that's it. I promise. I'll be there in 30…" He hung up the call, leaning up against the back of the elevator.

Every emotion flew through him all at once. First the anger, then numbness…

Embarrassment.

Sadness.

Guilt.

Aaron loved Haley with his entire heart, and signing the divorce papers yesterday, he realised he'd forever lost the woman. But what people didn't warn Hotch about was the pain. Perhaps the situation would be easier to process if Jack wasn't involved. But the poor little guy was. And even though Jack wouldn't properly process his family's break-up for years to come, the mere thought of having to ferry him between homes broke Hotch's heart.

It was never the life Aaron had planned for his son.

He supposed it was better than not seeing Jack at all, but Hotch hadn't seen the boy in close to 3 weeks. And little boys Jack's age could change in the blink of an eye. The man didn't know if he was still into spiderman or if there were any new clothes or food that he liked or detested. Aaron just… didn't feel like he knew his son.

And that made him feel like the worst father in the world.

When Hotch arrived at his old house- they'd decided it would be best if Jack remained in the same house with Haley- his son practically bowled into his legs. Hotch picked him up, swung him around, and planted soft kisses all over his tiny face. Haley walked out moments later, with the slightest hint of a smile, but Hotch could still tell the woman still had remnants of a scowl.

"Daddy!" the boy screamed into his ear. "Mommy says I spend the day wit you!" For the first time in days, Hotch grinned, so ecstatic to have his little boy in his arms.

There really was nothing like the love of a child.

"That's right, buddy. How about you and I go and have a picnic at the park? Does that sound good?"

Bobbing his head enthusiastically, Jack replied, "I like the park…"

Hotch placed the boy down, whispering, "go grab your bag from inside…"

While Jack disappeared, Haley approached Hotch. "I take it you want him for the night?"

"If that's okay with you. I'll drop him off tomorrow morning." Haley simply nodded, raising a brow temporarily.

"I'm sorry about what I said before… I was just angry. Jack deserves to see you."

Aaron crossed his arms, "Haley, I may have been the most absent husband on this earth, but I'm determined not to become the most absent father." In that moment, Jack returned with a spiderman bag, and Hotch couldn't have been happier. Most discussions with Haley often ended in some sort of argument or criticism, and Hotch simply hadn't the energy to deal with that. "Go give your mom a kiss."

Haley knelt, snuggling her son before letting him run back to his father. "I know Aaron…" She replied quietly before walking inside and closing the door in his face.

"Has mom been taking you to pre-school buddy?" Jack nodded as he bit into the ham and egg sandwich. Haley had recently enrolled the boy into a new pre-school which he seemed to be enjoying.

"Ya! I play in sand!" He muttered with a mouthful of ham and egg. Something about sand fascinated Jack. Every time they visited a playground with a sandpit, it was the first thing Jack always played in first followed by the slides and then the swing sets. Hotch recalled taking him to the beach for the first time as a baby, and he couldn't get enough of the sand between his feet.

Biting into his own sandwich, Hotch beamed at his handsome son. "Yeah? And have you made some friends?"

"Miny and Jake…" he stated, "two friends!" The boy held up a couple of fingers.

"I'm glad you've made some friends, Jack…" Hotch sucked in a breath and began his little speech to his son, "Daddy wants to tell you something."

"Kay…" He motioned for Jack to come closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

Sadness filled his throat, and for a moment, Hotch thought he couldn't say anything. "Daddy isn't going to be around as much anymore…" Jack shoved the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth and looked up to his father with a little frown. "That doesn't mean I won't see you, though… Just only on weekends."

"You gatch bad guys, daddy?"

Hotch nodded, ruffling his son's hair. "Yeah buddy, I catch the bad guys." Jack's eyes softened as his dimpled smile appeared.

"Like Spiderman!" His father chuckled as Jack stood up and impersonated the hero, letting his little limbs fly everywhere as he pretended to shoot webs and climb buildings. A few moments later, Hotch held open his arms, letting the small boy fly into them and tickling him on the stomach. Roars of laughter erupted.

"Don't have too much fun without me while I'm gone." Jack continued giggling and then wrapped his arms around his dad's neck.

"It's all gonna be okay, daddy…" Those words brought a fresh tear to Hotch's eye. He pulled the boy into his chest as close as he physically could, rocking him back and forth until he started fidgeting. "Go playgound now?"

A/N: I love writing Jack.