Authors Note: The chapter contains mentions of LGBTQ+ I will not tolerate any hatred in reviews about the topic. So not your thing feel free to back out now.

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When they got back to DC. They dropped Spencer off at home.

"I will come by tomorrow so we can talk." Spencer told Lorelai

Lorelai sighed. "Why do I feel like you will be doing the talking and I'm not going to be allowed to say much."

"Because you're a smart women." He said with a smile and a kiss before he went into his building

She nodded. "See you tomorrow."

After they dropped him off the started the drive to their own place.

"Do you want to hear the lecture now or do you want to wait?" Aaron asked

"Go ahead." Lorelai said

"You again disobeyed a direct order. You are barley off probation, and you go and pull another stunt like this. Do you actually need to be on permanent probation? So, you don't take these stupid risks again and again." He said

"I didn't see any other option. They would have killed the officers." She said

"Maybe. But I can guarantee they told you that because they wanted -you. They wanted to kill -you. And -you walked right into their trap." He said

"And I got shot. But I'm alive. And they are the ones dead." Lorelai said

"Because you got lucky Agent Hotchner." He said

"You told me that Hotchner's don't run from our problems. We run straight into them. Well, this was my problem and I handled it." Lorelai told him

"Never said you had to handle them yourself. You can take the help." Aaron said

"If it was you're problem?" Lorelai asked

"I would have gotten help." He said

"Like you did with Haley?" She asked

Aaron nodded. "You're right. I did that myself. And look how it ended." He said

"Okay. Wait. I'm not blaming you for what happened." She said

"But who knows what would have happened if I had asked for help." Aaron said

"You got their faster on your own than if you had called for backup." Lorelai said. "Just like I got to the officers faster on my own." She added

Aaron nodded. "Do as I say not as I do. Because you are in a world of trouble right now for disobeying a direct order from your superior agent."

Lorelai sighed. "Yes sir."

"And not just from Morgan." He said

"Oh, I know. You, and Spencer too." She said

Aaron nodded. "Never seen him quite that angry before."

Lorelai let out a huffed chuckle. "Me neither."

"You okay?" Aaron asked

"Tired. Sore. Feeling guilty." She said

"Well, I'm sure the guilt will be gone once you deal with the consequences." He said

Lorelai nodded.

"Dad. I'm going to be honest. I am sorry that I had to ignore an order to do what I did but I'm not sorry I did it. I know you know my story. Everything those two did to me. I know you feel for what I've been through. But you will never understand how I truly felt. How much I needed to handle this situation on my own. And even with the way it ended I would do it again the exact same way." She said

Aaron nodded. "I get that. I know I will never know how you truly feel. And I appreciate your honesty."

"But?" She asked

"But that doesn't change the consequences." He said

"I know. I'm not trying to get out of the consequences." She said

They pulled in at home and went inside where Jack was throwing a fit. Rebecca was sitting there letting it happen as they wasn't anything she could do to stop it.

"Jack Hotchner. What are you doing?" Aaron asked

Jack stopped as soon as he heard his dads voice. He got up and ran to him hugging him

Aaron gave the boy a small hug. "Why were you having a tantrum?" He asked him

"Rebecca was being mean." Jack said

"Oh really?" Aaron asked looking at Rebecca. He didn't believe his son for a second.

"So, mean. I wouldn't let him have chocolate so close to dinner being ready." Becca said

"That's why she was mean?" Aaron asked his son

Jack nodded.

"Well than. You shouldn't have been throwing a fit. I wouldn't have let you have the chocolate either." He said

Jack sulked.

"Go to your room." Aaron told his son

Jack went stomping the whole way there.

Aaron sighed and looked at Rebecca. "How was he otherwise?"

"He was good besides this one situation." Becca said

"And Rachel?" Aaron asked

"Didn't leave her room much." Becca said

Aaron nodded. "You get anything of information as to why things happened at school?"

"Nope. She wouldn't talk to me about it. And I tried." Becca said

"Thank you." He said

Becca nodded.

When they had gotten home Lorelai had gone up to her room and crashed in bed. She was exhausted.

Rebecca finished up dinner while Aaron went and showered before checking in on his kids.

When he got to Rachel's room he knocked and went in when she told him she could.

"How was your last few days?" He asked

"Boring." Rachel said. "Is Lorelai okay?"

Aaron nodded. "She will be fine. Have you decided you are ready to talk?" he asked

"Nope." Rachel said

Aaron nodded. "Okay. Cant make you. Dinner will be ready shortly. You will come down and eat with us." he told her

"Not hungry." Rachel said

Aaron took a breathe. "You are not being given an option. You will come down and sit with us. I don't not want to hear another word about it." He said before leaving her room and going to Jack's knocking and going in.

He sat on Jack's bed. "Jack. You have been told you listen to those in charge. You know your not allowed treats this close to dinner. Explain why you threw a tantrum when Rebecca told you no." He asked his son.

Jack looked down and didn't answer.

"You do not get your way by misbehaving young man." Aaron said

Jack nodded.

Aaron sighed. He was tired and didn't want to have to deal with this right now, but he knew he didn't have a choice.

He picked his son up and put him across his lap and gave the boy a dozen hard swats. The boy was sobbing by the end.

Aaron sat him up and held him till he calmed down. When he was calm Aaron spoke again. "You will apologize to Rebecca. Understood?"

"Yes daddy." Jack said

Aaron sat him down. "Dinner will be ready soon."

When dinner was ready they all came down and ate. When they were done Lorelai and Rachel went back to their rooms. Jack apologized to Rebecca before she headed out and back home.

Aaron watched a movie with Jack before getting him ready for bed. Once his youngest was in bed he went and checked on the other two. Lorelai was asleep. Rachel was sitting on her bed reading.

"What you reading?" He asked

"Its called Cinderella is dead." Rachel said

"That sounds a bit morbid." Aaron said

Rachel chuckled "They don't mean literally dead. Just that she's not the way a princess is supposed to be."

"Oh. What makes her unlike a princess?" Aaron asked

"She is supposed to meet a boy, but she'd rather be in a relationship with her best friend. A girl." Rachel said

"Oh. Well, that shouldn't matter." Aaron said sitting on her bed. "We don't choose whom we are attracted to. Yes I was born to fall in love with a woman. If you were born the same way. To love a women. Not a man. It doesn't change anything in my eyes." He said wondering if maybe there was a reason she was reading that book in particular.

Rachel took a breathe. "You know?" She asked

"I'm wondering if you are reading that book for more than just because it's a good book." He said

Rachel nodded.

"Rach. Tell me. I promise it changes nothing." He told her

"I like girls." Rachel said putting a bookmark in her book and setting it down.

Aaron wrapped her in a tight hug.

Rachel wrapped her arms around him and broke down sobbing.

Aaron just held her. "I promise nothing has changed. You are still the same Rachel you were before you told me."

She calmed down after a bit and pulled apart from her dad.

"Does that have anything to do with the fight at school?" He asked

Rachel nodded. "I have um. Been getting close with a girl. She's a year older than me. Her older sister. The one who came out of no where and started punching at me. Found out. Their family is very religious and anti LQBTQ+ and was under the impression I was forcing something on her sister who would never do that. Which is most definitely not the case." She told her dad

"Why didn't you tell the principal?" He asked

"Well, I wasn't sure how you felt. And it would mean the other girls parents would be told and I was trying to protect her." Rachel said

"I understand. How did she end up with bruised eye and you, just the hand hurt?" He asked

Rachel nodded. "Okay. Maybe I saw her coming… And protected myself. Before she could hit me."

"So, you technically threw the first punch." He said

"The only punch. Yes sir." She said

Aaron nodded. "I understand you wanted to protect your friend and yourself. That's okay. But you should have told the principal that you threw the punch in defence. It wouldn't have changed anything about the suspension, but it would have been the truth."

She looked down. "Yes sir."

"Tomorrow we are going to call the principal and tell her everything. You don't have to hide who you are at that school. That school. The principal all are very accepting. Its part of the code of that school to accept everyone no matter who they are." Aaron told her

"But my friend…" Rachel said

"The principal will do everything she can to protect her too. I am sure of it." Aaron told his daughter

Rachel nodded. "Am I in trouble?"

"I understand why you did what you did. But there is no excuse for the attitude you were me and the principal." He told her

Rachel nodded.

Aaron patted his lap. "Lets get this over with." He told her.

Rachel stood up and was helped over his lap.

Aaron gave her a dozen hard swats. Before he started to lecture.

"There is never an excuse to be rude or disrespectful to anyone who treats you with respect." He said landing a swat with every word.

Rachel was sobbing.

He finished up giving her six more hard swats.

She sobbed loudly. When he was finished he sat her up and held her close letting her sob till she calmed down.

"You okay?" He asked

Rachel nodded.

"You need to tell the principal the truth. And you never need to hide who you are from me anyone in this family or the school. It is part of the code of that school to accept everyone as they are." He told her

Rachel nodded. "I will tell the principal the truth."

"Good. And just do you know. I will always have your back if you are defending yourself or others who cant. Even if you get suspended for it." Aaron said

"Really?" she asked

"Don't throw the first punch but throw the second and third. Until you can safely get away." He said

Rachel smiled a bit.

Aaron hugged her again. "Now get some sleep." He told her. He kissed her head and got up leaving her.

"Good night dad." Rachel said

"Good night Princess." He said

Rachel smiled. When he was gone she got ready for bed and feel asleep reading her book.

Aaron was glad to know what had happened, but he hated that he had to deal with her he hated that part of being a father and a boss. He knew it was necessary part of it but didn't mean he had to like it. He got ready for and went to bed.