(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or it's characters)

I'm currently travelling to London, that's probably somewhere in this country that you guys might know ;) I'm going to see Hamilton tonight! Whoop whoop! I'm so excited. The train ride should give me time to complete this chapter.

Thanks to Indi, ahowell1993, Emobunnyme, fishtrek, iluvhotchme, Rookblonkorules, lilyflower101, AZCatmom, Diana, Ludub, laileyspenstar, Guest, and Aja85 who reviewed last chapter. Still can't believe we're past the 700 mark. I'm so so happy.

Enjoy!

Previously:

"Your son?" William asked absently. Spencer gazed at his father and William shifted uncomfortably under the toddlers stare. He glanced back at the child when something clicked. He left Diana to eat her food while he stepped closer, his eyes engaged on the little boy, on his height, on his features, on the way his unruly hair stuck out randomly in whisky curls.

"It..." William gasped, reaching out a hand to touch the boy. Spencer flinched and clung to Hotch. William withdrew his hand but continued to gape. "Spencer?" He whispered.

Hotch didn't know what to do. The father of his adopted son was stood before him, his eyes staring in disbelief and strangely with affection at Spencer.

"It's not possible," William whispered.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Aaron said quickly while he pushed Spencer's face gently back into his shoulder. "This is my son, Jack," he remarked. William glared at him unconvincingly.

"I remember what my son looks like," William hissed and he went to grab the small boy from Aaron. Spencer yelped and clung to Hotch as tight as he could when the unwanted hands grabbed at his collar.

Hotch shoved the older man away, his arms coiling protectively around Spencer who let out a mewl and a shiver of fear.

"I'm sorry," William suddenly gasped. "Spencer, I'm so sorry. It's me, it's your dad." William looked to Aaron desperately. "Does he remember?" He asked frantically.

"It's not-" Hotch started but William was quick to interrupt with a look of panic and confusion.

"It can't be... Is this Spencer's son? My grandchild? But..." William trailed off as he gaped at the boy. "No. That's my son."

"You're confused-."

"No," snapped William. "No I'm not, now tell me the truth Agent Hotchner. What happened to my son?" He demanded. Aaron shifted Spencer and locked his jaw. He glowered at him for a moment before marching to the door, glancing down the hallway and shutting it.

"What do you want?" Aaron growled. William stumbled back a bit when Aaron got too close but he managed to keep his cool. He looked over his shoulder at Diana who was muttering harshly to herself.

"The truth," he barked back, taking a daring step towards Aaron. "Is that Spencer? My Spencer."

Aaron ground his teeth together in thought.

"Yes," he said finally. Spencer snapped his head up and gaped at Aaron. "It's okay, buddy," Aaron hissed, he slowly put Spencer on his feet and took his hand. Spencer stared at Aaron for another frightened moment before turning his gaze on his father. William gazed at his son in wonder and sunk to his knees, a warm smile on his face. Spencer cowered from him, knowing full well that William had no warmth inside him. But then again, why was he visiting his mother? On that same note, however, why did he abandon them in the first place? Spencer froze to the spot as he tried to conquer to conflict in his mind.

"Spencer," William breathed, forcing Spencer to break his staring contest with the carpet. "You're exactly as I remember," he muttered which made Spencer more uncomfortable.

He sought out Aaron's hand and hung back at his side.

"He won't remember you," Aaron blurted quickly. He cleared his throat as William's frown fell upon him. "There was an accident." Hotch put his hands over Spencer's ears so he couldn't hear what he already knew, he wanted the lie to be believable. Spencer's soft brown curls tickled his palms and the boy looked up indignantly.

"What sort of accident?" Why wasn't I contacted?" William demanded.

"Why would we contact you? Spencer didn't even know where you were hiding, why should we?"

"You could have found me!" William shouted and he smacked his hand on the floor causing Diana to cast her wandering gaze over. Spencer jumped back and Aaron could feel the small body at his side tremble.

"Professor Steven ought not to shout," Diana grumbled from her bed. She raised her eyebrows at William who gave her a quick, reassuring wave. She scowled at Aaron before looking down at her food and wondering where it had come from.

"If I'd of known..." William hissed, his tone lowered this time. Aaron snorted at that.

"You'd of done what? Put him up for adoption yourself?" He grunted and folded his arms, narrowing his eyes at the deadbeat on the floor.

William shook his head and sat back on his knees. "How... How is this even possible?"

Aaron put his hands back over Spencer's ears who whined in frustration.

"We had a case. The Unsub had been testing a serum on victim's and when they didn't revert to an age suitable to his standards he'd kill them," Hotch explained, there was an anger in his voice that he made no effort to surpress.

"A-and Spencer... what? He was suitable?" William queried.

Hotch shook his head. "Spencer was his last victim; we got there just before the unsub disposed of him."

"Dispos-?"

"Shot him! Killed him, William. Understand?" Hotch yelled.

William's tonugue darted out of his mouth to wet his suddenly dry lips.

"We got there just in time." Aaron pressed his hands firmer over Spencer's ears. "He didn't remember anything about his past life. My girlfriend and I adopted him a few weeks ago. We weren't going to abandon him," he added, aiming to spite William who looked away, his face filled with shame.

"So... he thinks you're his father?" The ratty man asked. Aaron nodded. He let go of Spencer's ears and the boy took his hand again.

"Can I see... I-if he remembers me?" William asked anxiously. Hotch huffed and shrugged his shoulders. William took that as a yes and leaned forward on his hands and knees and smiled kindly at Spencer who, for just a moment, was convinced by it; he remembered a time when his father had looked at him that way but only because he'd seen potential within him. And then Spencer had to let him down by being 'abnormal', a 'disappointment to the family.'

Spencer sucked on his bottom lip and blinked sweetly back at William. If he was going to play a part then so would Spencer.

"It's me, Spencer. I'm William-" William paused and glanced nervously at Aaron. "I'm your father."

Aaron pulled Spencer back from the man and felt like hitting William's rat-like face.

Spencer stuck to Aaron like velcro and looked up at him with round, frightened eyes. "Daddy," he whimpered.

William straightened up.

"He really doesn't remember?" He asked in a thick breath. Aaron nodded angrily and released Spencer's hand, letting it curl around the boy's shoulder for extra protection.

"You have adopted him right?"

"Don't try anything," Aaron grunted and he wrapped his arms around Spencer, lifting him up and holding him to his chest. "You gave up your role as his father. Its my role now, so back off."

"I-."

"I know what you lawyers are like," Aaron snarled, and he clutched Spencer closer to him. The toddler was breathing deeply into Aaron's shirt.

"Agent Hotchner I-."

"We have a family. Spencer has two brothers now, it's too late, Reid."

"I don't-."

"He doesn't want you either he's-."

"Agent Hotchner! I don't want him!" William exclaimed. Aaron snapped his mouth shut. "You're right," William panted, the argument and his sudden confession having knocked the air from him. "I was a terrible father, I understand and Doctor Norton reminds me of that, even Diana does when she's lucid... was..."

Spencer held his breath against Aaron who was just staring at what had been his competition.

"Wow," Aaron murmured.

"You must understand that, now, I've got a very stable position at my firm; a child just wouldn't suit my lifestyle-."

"A child never has suited your lifestyle."

"My point is, Agent Hotchner, that I'm quite happy for you and your wife to keep my son-."

There was a loud crack in the room. Spencer found himself stood on the floor again and staring up in horror as William reeled back from a blow and Aaron shook out his hand.

"Don't you dare!" Aaron thundered. He pointed a quivering finger at William who staggered back, his hand tapping his face to check for blood. "Don't make it seem like you're doing us a favour."

Spencer blanched. He looked at Aaron's back and felt his eyes water. He really was a burden.

"I'm giving you what you want!" William gasped, although it sounded much like the squealing of a pig.

"I don't need permission from you to keep Spencer. You have no choice; I told you this; he's my son now, not yours."

Hotch turned back to Spencer who was lifted roughly into his arms while the older man seethed. Spencer was breathing fast but his face was flushed with relief. He dropped his head onto Aaron's shoulder and looked up at him with wonder.

"I just said that's fine. You didn't have to hit me," William groaned his fingers trying to staunch his bloody nose. There were only a few drips but his shirt had captured some of the running crimson and now William looked pissed.

"You deserve more than that for what you did to him."

"My wife and son no longer remember me or our briefly happy family. Okay? I've sufffered enough, Agent Hotchner."

Aaron halted his next insult at William's words.

"Y-you broke your family up long before any of this happened," he muttered. William wiped away the rest of the blood and sniffed loudly, wincing as he swallowed a thick globule of blood.

"I realise that, Agent. I've spent many years regretting it. I-if this is Spencer's second chance..." William looked at Spencer wistfully. "Then he's better off without me."

"You-," Aaron started but he wasn't sure what he could say.

"You may believe otherwise but I do love my son."

Aaron scoffed.

"It's because I love him that I'm not fighting you for him. He'll be happier with you," William said. He licked the blood off his lips and glanced at the door.

Hotch shook his head. "Fine. You can believe that. I know the real reason," he said and he turned to leave.

"Goodbye, Diana," he added. Spencer opened his mouth but William's eyes were on him so he held back the farewell to his mother.

"Why did you come?"

Hotch spun around and raised an eyebrow at William, questioning the cowards sudden bravery. He glanced at Spencer. "Earmuffs, Spencer," he instructed. Spencer frowned but then he remembered how Hotch had ordered Jack to do the same thing once. The two-year-old slowly raised his hands and put them over his ears. Hotch smiled and nodded his approval before turning his now fiery eyes back on William.

"I thought Spencer should say goodbye to his biological mother. I suppose that's why you're here; you heard your wife was dying and you thought it was time to pay her a visit."

William's glare returned but he didn't retaliate.

"Diana was good to Spencer, despite her illness and I thought that they both deserved to see each other before it was too late," Aaron continued and he knew Spencer wasn't covering his ears enough because the boy's expression fell.

"Unfortunately, we were interrupted." And with that Aaron turned on his heel and walked toward the closed door.

He hitched Spencer on his hip as he reached out for the handle.

"Wait!" Diana gasped from behind. Aaron looked back hopefully.

"Yes?" He said, staring into Diana's cloudy eyes which seemed a little less foggy than they had earlier. She licked her lips and thought for a moment before smiling at Aaron.

"Thank you," She rasped. William gazed at the woman's beaming face and then he looked over at Aaron who nodded and left with his son.

After the door closed Diana smiled at William. "Nice young man, what did you say his name was?"

"Aaron Hotchner," William ground out through his teeth.

"Where did mother go?" She asked in a confused voice. Her eyebrows were scrunched up thoughtfully.

"Just eat your lunch, Diana," jibbed William.

"Diana?"

Aaron and Spencer got back to the hotel a little later. As soon as the door was opened Spencer broke away from Aaron's hand and ran to the bathroom. He flung himself inside and shut the door. He was too short to lock it so instead he pressed his back against it and slid down to the floor.

"Spencer," Aaron said with a sigh. He locked the main door and slowly made his way to the bathroom. He gave the door an unenthusiastic knock and he waited.

After a minute of no answer Aaron himself drifted down the wall. He looked up at the ceiling and let out a worried groan when he heard sniffling on the other side.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that," he whispered, hoping he was loud enough for Spencer to hear. The walls must have been thin because he was replied by an emotional cough.

"W-when you said dat he-he w-wasn't doing y-you a-a Fay- fa-vouw by letting you t-tat-tate me... did you mean dat?" A stuttered voice from the bathroom whimpered. Aaron gloomily exhaled and ran his hand down his face and over his stubble that he had no intention of shaving anytime soon.

"Oh, buddy, that's not what I meant. You know I'd take you any day. He just made it seem like he was letting me have you when I never needed his permission." Aaron paused to purse his lips. He listened for a response and only heard shuddery breathing.

"He wanted to make himself look better."

"B-but I'm a buwden."

Aaron shook his head so sharply that he heard his neck crack. "No, Spencer! You're not a burden to us! You're family."

There was a quiet sob from the bathroom and Aaron pulled himself up. "Can I come in?"

"O-otay."

There was the sound of shuffling and Aaron pulled open the door. "Spencer," he breathed when he saw the little boy sat on the bathroom rug, his knees pulled up to his chin which was resting on them while tears trickled down to the floor.

Aaron stepped over lightly and parked himself on Spencer's right side. Spencer fisted at his eyes and turned his face from Aaron.

"I'm sorry, Spencer," sighed Aaron.

"It's o-otay."

"I'm also sorry that he's your biological father."

Aaron stared at the door and in the corner of his eye he saw Spencer look up at him.

"Dats no-not youw fault."

Aaron looked down and smiled at Spencer. "No-one deserves a father like that. Even my old man was better than that and he was a drunk."

Spencer gaped at him.

"He didn't hit me," Aaron put in quickly. "He could be a nice guy when he hadn't had five beers. And even so, he never left me, Sean or my mother. He watched us go off to college until he finally drunk himself to death."

"O-oh I'm sowwy," Spencer whispered. Aaron put an arm around the small boy and pulled him closer.

"We weren't too close. I promised myself never to make his mistakes. Which is why..." Aaron lifted Spencer up into his lap and turned him so they were facing each other. "...I hate William Reid."

Aaron wiped a tear from Spencer's face and the boy hicupped. "Me too," Spencer said with a smile. "He's not really my dad."

"Oh really?" Aaron asked.

Spencer hummed in agreement. "You'we a bettew fathew" Spencer said before he threw his arms around Aaron.

Aaron got down to some work that night after they'd ordered room service. Spencer was reading on the bed while Aaron glanced through an online case that he'd been asked to look over. Spencer finished the final line of his book and he stared at the blank space between the writing and the end of the page. All distraction vanished and his big dilemma crashed back into him. He glanced up at Aaron as he closed the book carefully. He sat up on the bed and worked up the courage to break the silence in the room.

"Tan we 'tay?" Spencer whispered. Aaron glanced up from his laptop and watched as Spencer squirmed on his bed.

"What was that?"

"I said tan we 'Tay?" Spencer repeated in a small voice. "Hewe I mean. Sh-She's really bad a-and..." he gulped. "I wanna be here when she..." Spencer dropped his head when he felt his emotions take hold.

Hotch lurched forward, shutting his laptop as he hurried to the bed. He moved the book away and caught Spencer in a hug. "Oh, buddy, of course we can."

"It shouldn't be much longer, I Tould see it," Spencer mumbled. He leaned into Hotch for comfort. "I-I wanna see mom...khm... go..." he added.

Hotch pressed his chin gently against the top of Spencer's head and nodded. "Sure, bud." And then he added, "It'll be okay.

"Thanks, Dad."

Aaron held Spencer for a moment his words ringing in his ears before another ringing sounded. He managed to fish his phone from his pocket without disturbing the hug. The number was JJ's.

"Hey, honey," he said as he answered it.

"Ew!" A voice down the other end of the phone cried. Aaron frowned. Spencer pulled back from him and glanced inquisitively at the phone. He heard the voice talk again, this time more muffled as if it was talking across the room. "He called your mummy 'honey!'"

"Yuck!" Another voice put in. Hotch removed the phone briefly to sigh and roll his eyes.

He held it back to his ear and cleared his throat. "Jack? Why have you got JJ's phone?"

"She gave it to me. She's right here."

"Are you going to let me talk to her?" Aaron questioned a little exasperatedly.

"No, I called to read Spencer and you a bedtime story," Jack informed him in an authoritative tone. Hotch's eyebrows rose so high that they nearly exceeded his hairline.

He pressed speaker phone so Spencer could hear. "What bedtime story do you have in mind?"

Spencer blinked at Aaron and then down at the phone. "The boys wanna read you a story," Hotch whispered and Spencer's mouthed an 'oh' of understanding.

"Green eggs and ham."

Spencer beamed at the phone and tugged up the sheets from under Aaron who had to shift to allow him access.

"Okay, we're listening," Hotch replied to which he was answered by an unsatified grunt.

"Are you comfy?" Jack shouted down the phone. Hotch pushed himself back against the headboard and rested his hands behind his head while Spencer hunkered down under the covers, pulling his rabbit with him.

"We're comfy," Hotch confirmed with a smirk directed at Spencer who was also smiling.

"Good! Henry chose tonight's story," Jack explained and Hotch heard Henry's hum of confirmation.

Jack commenced with the story and Hotch leant back, listening to the speaker phone while Spencer closed his eyes, a peaceful look on his face.

He hated to admit it but his real parents were the big problems in his life, aside from being turned into a two-year-old (something Spencer didn't seem to mind considering the family he gained from it.) Part of him had hoped his father had fought Hotch to have custody, but his attitude shouldn't have surprised him; he turned away from fatherhood the first time, why would he give it another go?

Hotch watched as Spencer's eyebrows furrowed. He knew the bedtime story fell on deaf ears in Spencer's case.

He reached out and put a hand on Spencer's leg. The boy peeled open an eyelid and a lazy brown iris found Hotch who smiled and mouthed 'don't worry.'

Spencer swallowed thickly and nodded. His head fell back onto the pillow and his mind went back to worrying.

Sorry if that's not what you hoped for but I thought that William's reaction to Spencer would be something like this because he doesn't seem to want to have an active part in Spencer's life, perhaps from the sidelines but he definitely wouldn't try and be a 'single father' for Spencer.

Also, who needs William Reid when you have Aaron Hotchner!

Anyway, thank you for reading!

Please review, it really means so much to me

See you in the next one!