Funeral
It was finally the day of the funeral and the Hotchners were getting ready in separate rooms. They'd hardly even spent time together since Toby had died two weeks ago. Aaron hadn't missed a day of work while Emily had never gone back. She didn't even know if she could bring herself to. Jack spent most of his time at Jordan's even though he'd never touched a cigarette again.
Emily changed into a black dress and hat with a black veil that she placed over her eyes in the bedroom while Aaron changed into a black suit and tie in the study. Jack changed into a similar black suit and tie in his bedroom. As he looked in the mirror he couldn't help but remember his mother's funeral and how different it had all been.
Jack couldn't understand his father's behaviour. Why was he not bothering to spend a moment with them? He was allowing his work to consume him when when he was five he took time off to be with him and grieve his mother. Now he wasn't even taking time to grieve his little brother. He himself couldn't even cope being home in their house as it only served as reminders of how his little brother was gone. He knew it was the same for Emily.
When the funeral car arrived they all got in and followed the hearse to the cemetery. When Emily saw the coffin holding her little boy she couldn't handle it and burst into tears. Aaron just looked out of the window trying to blot out her tears while Jack wrapped his arm around her. She laid her head on her stepson's shoulder crying her heart out while her husband wouldn't even trust her.
When they arrived at the cemetery they got the coffin out and Aaron went to carry it. Morgan and Rossi stepped up to help carry the coffin with the official pallbearers. Morgan tried to take the coffin from Aaron but he just fixed him with his famous glare.
"I'll carry my own son," he gritted through his teeth.
"Aaron, you shouldn't carry him," he answered.
"I'll carry my own son."
He walked away letting him while Jack helped Emily follow the coffin. If his father couldn't step up and be her emotional crutch he would. He usually respected his father but he didn't respect him for this.
They laid his coffin down to rest in his final resting place and they went through the ceremony. Jack stepped up with Emily to make the eulogy and as Emily made it he placed his hand on Jack's back while Aaron looked down at his feet. He knew he wasn't doing right by Emily but he just couldn't bear it. He just wanted to forget this was happening. He wanted to forget his youngest son was lying in that coffin.
At the wake Emily couldn't find him so went to look for him. She eventually found him in the study working on files. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw he was working. This was their son's wake, for God's sake! What did he think he was doing?
"What are you doing?" she shouted.
"What does it look like?" he answered. "I'm working."
"At our son's wake!" He didn't even raise his head. "It's our son's wake! You should be out there celebrating his young life!" Again he wouldn't answer. "Did he mean anything to you?"
He still wouldn't answer but the blood boiled in his veins. Why couldn't she understand? Why couldn't she see he didn't want to remember? He didn't want to remember how he hadn't got there in time to save their son.
As time went by and he didn't respond the blood boiled in her veins. This was the last straw! She was leaving. She'd pack her bags and hand in her notice tomorrow. She couldn't stay here and be treated like she and her son hadn't existed. She couldn't bear all the memories this house held of their late son.