It was just past midnight when Hotch finally arrived home. After walking through the front door, he paused for a moment in the foyer to take a deep breath and feel the change in atmosphere of the house. He closed his eyes and smiled contentedly to himself. The house had been feeling cold and empty for the past few weeks but now it was – Alive was the only way he could think to describe it. His home was alive and happy and ready to face the future.
After leaving his attaché in the den and locking his gun securely in the gun safe, he hurried upstairs. The first thing he noticed when he got to the top of the stairs was that the light in Jack's room was still on. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hall towards it. However, when he got to the doorway and peeked in, he saw that Jack had fallen asleep on his bed while playing one of his video games, leaving the light on. Hotch gently took the electronic game out of his son's hand, turned it off, and placed it on the desk. He then pulled a light blanket up over Jack, turned the light out, and quietly closed the door.
His next stop was Jacob's room, where he assured himself that the toddler was sleeping soundly in his bed, before proceeding to Lilly's room, where he found her crib empty. Suspecting what he was going to find, he walked next door to the master suite where he found both his wife and his daughter curled up together in what he liked to think of as Lynn's 'nest' – A collection of assorted pillows which she had piled up protectively around both of them.
After carefully moving Lilly back to her room, Hotch quickly changed into pajama bottoms and a t-shirt and joined his wife in their bed. His last thought before he fell asleep was how glad he was that his family was again safe and sound at home.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
When Hotch awoke the next morning, he was alone in the bed. Reaching over to Lynn's side, he found that was cool, indicating that she had been up for a while. Quickly, he got up and prepared to face the day.
"No, Jack, I don't know what is going on with your Aunt Jessica." Lynn's voice was the first thing he heard when he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"You are going to have to wait until your father gets up and see what he has to say," she continued. "And, Jacob, are you sure you want another waffle? Why don't you wait and share one with Aaron? I'm sure he'll be waking up any time now."
"How about right now?" Hotch asked as he walked into the kitchen. "I am up and sharing a waffle sounds like a great idea."
"Good morning everyone," he added as he gave Lynn a huge hug and kiss. "Lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Dad, what's wrong with Aunt Jessica?" Jack immediately demanded. "I tried calling her last night but all she would say was that I should talk to you. And, then, she hung up on me. She's never done that before!"
"What is going on?" He stared truculently at his father.
"Well, your Aunt Jessica seems to have gotten herself into a bit of trouble yesterday," Hotch began. "And, on top of that, there are some other difficulties that she created for herself several weeks ago. Now, I am not going to discuss anything until after we have all eaten breakfast. Then, you and I can go into my den and talk about some changes that are going to be made."
"I have a soccer game today," Jack reminded him. "And I need to get there early to talk with Coach."
"I'll make sure you arrive at the field in plenty of time for that," Hotch assured him. "And, after the game, you will be leaving with Jessica to spend the rest of the weekend with her. So you'll need to pack an overnight bag."
"Like your 'To Go Bag'?" Jacob piped up helpfully
"Just like that," Hotch smiled at the toddler. "And now, young man, are you ready to share that waffle with me?"
"DAD!" Jack demanded.
"After breakfast!" Hotch replied sternly.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Hotch's subsequent discussion with his son was heated but forceful.
"Dad, I can't live here!" Jack declared. "My home is with Aunt Jessica. Besides, in a few weeks all my friends will be starting high school at the school she is zoned to and I want to be with them."
"We are zoned to the same high school as Jessica," Hotch pointed out. "So you will still be with your friends. And, after some of the problems she has caused recently, I question the wisdom of continuing to let her be responsible for you."
"Jack, I have tried to be understanding," he continued. "But I have let this situation go on for far too long. I am your father and your home is with me. When I am home, I want to see you. If you have a problem, I want to be the one who helps you deal with it. I want to know what is going on in your life and to be a part of that life."
"But what about Aunt Jessica?" Jack demanded. "What about her feelings? She loves me."
"I don't doubt that, but I love you, too," Hotch told him. "And you will be spending weekends with her. It will just be a reversal of what we have been doing up until now. You will spend the week here with us, and the weekends with Jessica. Each holiday will be negotiated separately because I want you to have an opportunity to spend time with your Brooks relatives as well as with your Hotchner relations."
"DAD – THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Jack raged. "I don't want to live here!"
"But, I want you to live here," Hotch reiterated. "And, I am the father, so my decision stands. Now, go get dressed for your soccer game and remember to pack an overnight bag. You will be leaving with Jessica to spend the remainder of the weekend with her."
As Jack stormed from the room, Hotch drew a deep sigh. He had made a promise to himself not to badmouth Jessica in front of Jack and, somehow, he had managed to keep that promise. But, he was worried about how much longer it would be before Jack discovered the truth on his own. He only hoped that when that happened he would be around to help his son deal with it.