Aaron started at the sound of his phone ringing. He had been thinking about Erin, and her words about how she couldn't afford to acknowledge the feelings that were bubbling up in her chest, and how he didn't want to also acknowledge those feelings, either. Because that meant things would grow a lot more complicated between them, and all he wanted was to make her time in rehab easier on her. It was clear that she didn't have many friends, as she hadn't talked about anyone other than her children visiting her where she was. Though he also knew that Erin might not want everyone in her life to know the extent of her issues, and so hadn't told her friends where she was, which would lend to the air of loneliness that surrounded her.

Shaking his head a little to clear out the lingering thoughts, Aaron picked up his phone and saw that Beth was ringing him. His first instinct was to let the call go to voicemail, but that was the coward's way out of the situation, and he answered. "Hello, Beth."

"Aaron! You're in town, then?"

He nodded as he leaned back against the sofa and stared out the window to watch the rain fall. "I am, yes. We got back early from this last case, and Jack and I have been spending the afternoon watching movies. What's up?"

"Oh, I just wanted to see if I could stop by for a little bit. I feel like we haven't seen each other in forever!"

Aaron cleared his throat, looking over at Jack. His son was engrossed in the movie that he had chosen, and he knew that he couldn't introduce her to him at this juncture, not when he wasn't certain that he wanted to continue in a relationship with Beth. "Hey, buddy, I'm going to finish this conversation in the study, okay? You can pick out another movie if this one finishes."

Jack nodded, giving him a wide smile, and Aaron grinned back as he ruffled his son's hair as he passed him on his way to the stairs. "I take it that you're going to tell me no, then?"

He took a deep breath as he climbed the stairs, deciding to just take a seat on the very top one before answering Beth. "I don't feel comfortable introducing Jack to new people in my life, especially when I'm not certain where this relationship is heading. Which, I do think that we need to have a talk, and I hate to do it over the phone, but Jessica is away for the weekend, so there's no one to watch Jack."

"You're breaking up with me."

He winced at how flat she said those words, and he shook his head. "I don't know, honestly. Let me explain things to you and I'll let you make the next decision. Please, just listen to me before you say anything?"

"Of course. What's going on?"

Aaron swallowed a few times before he started to answer. "Shortly before Christmas, I had my direct supervisor brought to rehab, because she had seriously spiraled into a dangerous alcohol addiction. For the last few weeks, I've been calling on her, because I feel guilty for what I had a hand in, as the facility where she's working through her ninety days is spartan, to say the least. And we've grown closer than I thought we would ever become, since she's been a thorn in my side ever since I began with the BAU. And on New Year's Day, we ended up kissing, because it's the tradition. But things seemed to shift between us in that moment. Saturday, when I went to see her again, she mentioned that she is starting to develop feelings for me, but she doesn't know how true they are, since she is in rehab, and is so isolated from her former life."

"Oh, Aaron, you are a knight in shining armour, aren't you?" she interjected, and he chuckled. "What?"

"She said that that's what her youngest daughter would label me as, too. I don't really see it…"

"You should. You are a good, honorable, man, and I am lucky to have met you and been able to call you mine, even if only for a short little while."

"That sounds really final."

There was a short pause before Beth sniffled and then blew her nose. "Because it is. Just the fact that you would be so considerate of both our feelings tells me that you're one of the best men out there, and I wish that I could have you forever. But I think that your boss needs you more, and you like being needed."

"That's…."

"A weird assessment, I know. But I think that if you examine your heart, you'll see that I'm not that far off base. Your heart is leading you towards her, and I think that that's really sweet. Again, we had a little bit of fun, which is what I needed, but I really think that you need to follow where things are leading. And if it doesn't work out between the two of you, well, you still have my number, and can call. I would never say no to a second chance."

He ran his hand over his hair as he thought about their conversation. It felt entirely too calm, as if he had been expecting fighting and fireworks. Still, though, it was good to have this honest discussion, rather than allowing emotions to cloud their reactions. "And I would like to have a second chance, if I'm reading the situation wrong. I fully admit that I could be reading more into it than is really there."

"You've kissed her, just like you've kissed me, and I think that means things are a little more down the path than you want to acknowledge. Now, how are you planning on telling your team that you've started seeing your boss?"

Aaron blinked a few times, having never really considered that fact. "Oh, fuck," he breathed out, glad that Jack was still in the living room so that he wouldn't hear his language. "I didn't think about that, since there's been a bit of bad blood between her and them. Especially Derek. I truly didn't think this through."

"Well, now's your chance for that, and if I could be bold?"

"Of course."

"Don't let their thoughts color how you see Erin. It's clear that you truly like her, and if your team is holding on to some animosity regarding her, then they'll probably try to convince you that she's manipulated you into something. If you want to put a buffer zone between them and her, use my name when you go out to see her, until you are certain of where things are headed. That might relieve some of the pressure on you and her. Because you are going to have to tread carefully around her."

"Come again?"

Beth drew in a long breath, allowing a quiet pause to fall between them before she spoke once more. "I am quite familiar with addiction in my family, and I know that there are things that can become a stumbling block to recovery. And a judgmental look or word from someone on your team could cause her to spiral. This is already a bit nebulous, you know. Usually they prefer there to be a year from leaving rehab before the person engages in a relationship. How are you getting around that?"

"Lauren, the woman who runs that facility, seems to believe that my presence is a calming one for Erin. I don't know how true that is, but she does seem different since she's been there."

"There you go, you are making a difference in her life. Be the good that she needs right now, and enjoy the time you have with her. And if you ever want to just talk, feel free to call, too. My ear is open to you."

"Thank you, Beth."

"You're welcome. Have a good afternoon." Before he could give her the same platitude, she had disconnected the call, and he pulled his phone away to stare at it, wondering what had just happened. It wasn't supposed to be that easy, even if they had just started exploring a relationship, but it felt right. Just like thinking of Erin felt right. And now, he was free to explore just where those feelings were leading them.