Thank you ever so much for the reviews and alerts for the last chapter. If I missed thanking you for the reviews I am sorry.
She had been home once to get clothes and basic things that she needed. Hotch wouldn't let her be alone, well alone in her own apartment. Not that she minded, he was being tender and caring.
Sitting at the table with Jack as he did his homework. She did didn't correct or change any answers for him, what she did do was tell him if his answer was right or not when he asked her. Leaving the rest to him to correct it or not.
"Can't you write a program that fixes my answers for me?" He writes on the paper next to them, as he talks so his father can hear too.
Smiling she looks at Aaron then back to Jack. "Yes I could, but tell me what would you learn if I did? My program won't help you if you have a test will it?"
"No, but. . ." Jack starts to write
"You my small friend are smart, right now you are suffering from what all boys your age suffer from, video game withdrawal. Do the home work and I show you an Easter egg that the programmers put in the game."
"Is it a good one?"
With her hand on her heart, she asks him. "Would I lie to you?"
That's all it took, Jack did his homework without any trouble or mistakes. The promise of the Easter egg did the trick. He was being a normal child, and there wasn't any need to mention it any further.
She didn't intrude in their bedtime rituals leaving the reading and lighting the candle for his mother to Aaron and Jack to share. It was their time and she knew just how precious it was to share a memory, and just be father and son.
She picked up the small mess they had made then went into the kitchen cleaning in there as well. After starting the dishwasher she put the kettle on before getting the tea pot out.
It was a tiny pleasure drinking a cup of tea along with a few cookies. It was something normal that hadn't been taken away from her.
After placing the tray with the tea for two on the coffee table, she curled her feet under herself before picking up a book. Watching TV and movies had lost their appeal, and the computer? Well she got enough of that at work.
Books, they were a comfort you didn't need to hear to enjoy a book. She soon lost herself in a historical fiction, strong characters and of course some romantic undertones. Something light and easy without too much blood and gore.
He came into the room not long after having showered and changed into sleeping pants and a tee shirt. Penelope had showered and changed not long after they had finished dinner. She looked beautiful sitting there with her hair loose around her shoulders, a mass of soft curls. Curls that he loved sinking his hands into every change he got, she always smelled so good, floral and something else he hadn't figured out yet.
It was something that most of the agent did, showering at night. You never knew if you would be getting a call in the middle of the night about a case. It made life easier and less stinky to put it mildly.
She looked up and smiled as he joined her on the couch. Unlike Haley she didn't say anything when he picked up a case file. Instead she reached next to her bringing out her tablet laying it on the empty space between them.
He knew what she was telling him, all he has to do is ask and she will get the required information or update for him.
He didn't say anything when he turned to look at her in bed he reached over and kissed her, she kissed him back and soon they were lost in each others arms making as little noise as possible. No one could say that Aaron Hotchner was a stuffed shirt by the way he made her climax. It was something that no one had ever been able to do before, not even by her own hand. It was, well, the best orgasms she had ever had in her entire life.
Later once they were spooning together Aaron holding on to her, protecting her with his own body. She waited until he was asleep, deep asleep, she could feel his breaths on her neck and once they were steady and in a perfect rhythm she knew he was sleeping. She laid her hand on top of his feeling the warmth that radiated off of it. She couldn't help but stroke her hand over his feeling every bump and nuance on it.
Only then did she let out a deep sigh. She wanted this, with this man. But he was so much better than her, he deserved so much more than a deaf, technical analyst. Not to mention her wardrobe or the way she acted.. He is leagues away from her, the only thing she had going for her is her intelligence. She knew she was smart, okay she was very smart and sometimes it scared off men. It was just easier to play the dumb blond, except she wasn't even a real blond.
What if he got tired of her? She didn't think she could survive another major break in her life, not now. Where would she go? Back to Kevin? Or maybe Shane? She had grown so much beyond them. To put it simply she was terrified that he would tell her to leave, that he was only keeping her with him because of guilt.
Closing her eyes she feels him holding her tighter and closer to him, like a man not letting go of his possessions, one last sigh and she surrenders to sleep.
He opens his eyes and turns them bringing her close, she snuggles in laying her head on his chest. Knowing full well that she can't hear him, he whispers his love for her into the still dark bedroom. Holding her all the more secure in his embrace.
She finished her report then left in on Hotch's desk. The team was on their way back from their latest round of meetings and she was going to take some comp time, something she rarely did, getting approval from Chef Cruz was only a formality.
When she called her doctor and explained about her hearing, they told her to come in for a new hearing test. It didn't take long and they told her that they would have the results by the following week. She went home after that, she knew that Hotch had a late meeting with the rest of the unit chiefs and was Jack with his Aunt Jess.
She was desperate for alone time. She sent a text to him promising to stay in the locked apartment until he came to get her in the morning, explaining that she had things that she needs to do.
He returned the text with a simple reply. "If you need anything just let me know."
A simple meal, a long a bath and she went to bed, not sleeping well at all she realized that she missed being at his side. She missed his warmth, the way his breath gave her shivers when he huffed in his sleep. Try as she might, she just couldn't deny that she loved him.
Just after eight in the morning he let himself into her apartment remembering to push the doorbell a few times so the lights would flash letting her know that he was here. He didn't want her frighten her.
She walked in to the living room as he was watching the morning news program. He turned and looked at her standing there, she smiled slightly as he took in her attire . She was wearing a very conservative outfit a cream colored linen skirt and jacket paired with a pale peach colored silk blouse, her jewelry simple and understated pearl necklace with a matching earrings, a simple gold watch. Her eyeglasses were just as simple plan gold rims, not one clip, ribbon, or bow in her hair, it threw him for a moment. The last thing he notices is her shoes a two inch heel with a black strap, even her make-up had subtle toned to it. She looked like a junior lawyer at an up and coming law firm. Not like his Penelope at all, it was a little bit unnerving to see her like that.
"I thought it would be better if I dressed like an adult," she tells him with a big smile seeing the expression on his face. " I do know how to, you know. It's just more fun to dress the way I normally do."
He stands bringing her into his arms then kisses her. "Either way. You're perfect." he looks at his watch then signs they have to go.
With coffee in hand they enter the courthouse. It takes a few minutes to get through security as he has to declare his sidearm. Neither one of them seems the bit surprised to see their team as well as Gibbs, Tim and Tony standing by the courtroom waiting for them. After greeting their friends they settled down to wait until their case is called.
It was the reaction from the agents that has her turning to look down the corridor seeing Sam get closer to them. She comes to the realization that the love she had for him at one time has truly died, she only has feelings of friendship for him now. Nothing more, nothing less. She offers her hand to him. He takes a few steps away so that Tony can sign for him.
Keeping her conversation as cordial as possible, it was the hair on the back of her neck that alerted her that Margret is coming she shivers as she watches the reaction of the agents making a semi -circle, ready to strike and protect and defend.
She didn't move, she wants to stand her ground face to face, she is tired of running, of hiding. Sam turns and looks at his mother as she is getting closer. They all watch as he winces at hearing her voice talking to him as if he were still a child.
Margret finally stops one step away from her son, the agents watch as she put her hand into her pocket, they are alert to her every action. They know she doesn't a weapon because of the courthouse screening.
Penelope did the one thing she swore she wouldn't do, she took a step back into the protective space that Hotch offered her, when he places a hand around her shoulder, she can feel herself calm down.
Her expression didn't change as Tony signed what Margret was saying. "See I told you that she is a cheater look I bet she is already jumping from bed to bed. I wouldn't put it past her, she has no class and is not worthy of you, my son."
Penelope looks at her friends then at Sam, the look on her face is one that the agent know very well it is one of cunning and astuteness. Controlling her voice she keeps her timbre at a steady pitch. " There is an old saying Margret, "It takes one to know one," so tell us who was it that you cheated with? I'm sure your son would love to know if the man he called dad was his real father or not."
"Why you bitch!" Margret yells taking a step forward with a raised hand.
