Disclaimed!

References to the episodes Extreme Aggressor and Compulsion from season one. The timeline is a little out with the First Season (especially Jack's birth) but that's just because I wrote this without actually looking up the dates beforehand.

This was originally two chapters but one was really short so I combined them.

Let me know what you think.

...

Seattle, September 2003

The Unit Chief of the FBI's serious crimes Unit in Seattle could feel somebody watching him as he re read the report his second in command had left him the previous evening.

Seeing the familiar figure hovering in his office doorway, Hotch felt the tensions of the day leave his body. "What are you doing down here on the third floor?"

JJ stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. "I have some news about the Beaumont case."

"Really?" His eyes widened in surprise at her words and the sudden ache of disappointment in his stomach. The only reason the liaison was still in Seattle was because she was the liaison for the New York field office.

"We're getting close to arrests." She explained triumphantly. "Harris thinks we'll have closed the case by Christmas."

"Wow, that soon?" Hotch replied dejectedly.

JJ inhaled deeply to calm her nerves. "Harris wants me to head back to New York after Thanksgiving to deal with the DA's office there."

He blinked quickly as he tried to come up with an eloquent response. "Huh."

"I was thinking, if you want me to stay that is..."

"I want you to stay JJ." He answered instantly.

She smiled warmly at the panic which flashed across his face. "The Seattle field office's Communication Department is going to a little short staffed when Agent Miller goes on Maternity Leave in February."

"Do you think Harris could spare you for three or four months?" Hotch asked with a small smirk.

"I'm sure if you ask nicely, he wouldn't mind." She smiled sweetly in return.

The team leader sighed in uncertainty. "What are we going to do when Miller returns?"

"We'll figure it out, then." JJ shrugged in nonchalance.

"I love you Jennifer Jareau." Hotch sighed longingly. "But, I hate that we have to live month by month."

"Well maybe when your divorce is finalised and I get out of Harris's department, things will become more permanent for us." JJ countered with a lustful smile.

Hotch's grin broadened as he closed the distance between them. "I like the way you think Agent Jareau."

Quantico, January 2005

JJ sat in her office while the team were away on a case in Seattle.

A town that had far too many memories with one man in particular and the thought of returning to the same place they once shared a live together only six months after it all fell apart was too much for the blonde.

So when the call came, JJ had instantly put her plan in to motion. It might have been a tad too elaborate and he would read right through her sudden offer to handle that week's local court appearance for the team but that long of a flight to an emotive city, in such as small compartment was too much to bear.

Since her position in the BAU was finalised three weeks ago, Hailey Hotchner had made her marriage to Aaron Hotchner apparent to everyone in the BAU with her daily visits, hourly phone calls and constant need for attention.

If she were in the other woman's shoes of course she would feel threatened, but in the liaison's heart, she was still grieving for a future that she was never going to have.

JJ looked at the unappealing sandwich in front of her and scoffed. The fact that Hotch was moving on with his life with his wife and newborn son had made her feel pathetic.

She didn't understand why she stayed in the BAU and it just made her angry with herself. Lost in her own self pity, JJ became startled when she heard giggling coming from the doorway. "You look like you need a friend."

"Hey Garcia. What's going on?" JJ asked as she threw her sandwich in the garbage bin.

The technical analyst came and sat in front of the liaison desks with a small smirk on her face. "I was going to ask you the same thing pumpkin."

"I was just wallowing." JJ rolled her eye at the desperation in her voice.

Garcia frowned as she took a seat in front of the overworked media liaison. "About what?"

"Life really sucks sometimes." JJ huffed while running a hand through her hair.

"What's a hot thing like you got to moan about?" The analyst smirked as JJ rolled her eyes.

Straightening in her seat, the blonde agent shrugged. "Nothing major I guess. I'm just tired."

"Oh, I was kind of hoping that we could maybe go out for drinks tonight. You know, while the cats are away." Garcia chuckled slightly.

JJ smiled warmly. "Well, I was raised to never turn down a night of drinking, so sure, I could sleep later."

"Yay, that's great peaches. Meet you at the elevators after our shifts?" Garcia asked hopefully. "I'll drive."

"I'll see you then." JJ smiled and shook her head at her friend's flamboyancy as she left the liaison's office. Returning to her caseload, the Pennsylvanian sighed deeply. The prospect of moving on after a two year relationship seemed daunting but necessary and maybe one little drink with a new friend could be the start of good things to come.

...

Quantico, March 2005

A few weeks later and the team had grown yet again. Agent Gideon had returned and a new female Agent, Elle Greenaway from the Seattle trip, and were finishing their first official case with the Unit.

JJ tapped on the Unit Chief's door, knowing the team had returned from Texas not too long ago. Meeting his dark eyes, the liaison smiled warmly as she handed him a file.

"Gideon's handwriting is atrocious." The blonde smirked as he glanced over the documents.

He nodded once and returned his gaze back to his work. Frowning, JJ cocked her head curiously. "Are you okay?"

"I shot a girl today." He announced quietly. "She wasn't even old enough to buy a drink."

JJ took a tentative step forward slowly. "You did what you had to do. You needed to save those college kids."

"I'm tired." The profiler scrubbed his eyes tiredly and met her blue eyes wanting.

JJ's reassuring smile faltered as their eye contact remained. "You should go home then."

"Yeah." He scoffed lightly as he attempted to straighten.

JJ turned to head out of the office but stopped suddenly at the door. "Aaron, I want this to work out. I like the BAU. I enjoy working with everyone here and I feel as though this position is worthwhile."

Hotch smiled at her confidence in her determination. "I'm glad."

"I need to move on from you. I'm not exactly sure how, with you being in my life constantly, but it's been over six months and in that time you've resumed married life and you've got a beautiful baby boy. Our relationship was a big part of my life for two years and I feel as though a part of me was ripped to shreds by the separation. But it's ended and I've accepted that." JJ winced at how strong her voice sounded.

Hotch's gaze fell to the floor momentarily before he replied. "I just want you to be happy JJ."

"I want you to be happy too, Aaron." JJ responded with a small smile. "Thank you for those two years. We had it good for a while."

"We did." He nodded his agreement.

JJ met his eyes again warmly and produced a lopsided smile. "This wasn't how it was supposed to end. But at least we're still amicable, right?"

"It's more than I deserve, I know that." Hotch glanced at his polished back shoes.

JJ swallowed briefly. "It wasn't as if you cheated, Aaron. I just probably should have waited for you to officially be divorced before we moved in together and became so serious."

"I wouldn't have had it any other way." Hotch stated quietly. "Not the ending, but what we had. I wouldn't change any of that. I love you JJ. I always will."

JJ's mouth opened slightly, her uncertainty evident as they stared at each other. "I..."

"I know I hurt you JJ. I didn't put up a fight but you seemed so confident that you didn't want us anymore, I just didn't want to cause you any more pain. I thought of every possible solution to keep you and still be a part of Jack's life, but I was beaten this time." The profiler confessed barely above a whisper.

JJ shrugged allowing her eyes to drag away from his. "I knew it would only be so long until you were moving to DC to be closer to your kid and then there'd be bonding and then you and Hailey would get closer..."

"I would never have cheated on you," He stated adamantly. "I told you that I love you JJ, that'll never change. When you came into my life and for the first time in God knows how long, I found me. I became who I wanted to be and I didn't have to put on a facade. That was all you. I'm a better person with you."

"You and Hailey have a long history together and I knew I could never tear apart a family. You still love her too and that's okay to admit. You've always been a good, honestly decent man Aaron. I just didn't need you to be anyone other than you." The blonde replied honestly.

Hotch closed his eyes momentarily before catching her gaze. "I know. Thank you for that."

Feeling suddenly awkward, JJ took a step back. "I need to head out. Don't stay here too much longer, okay?"

"I won't." Hotch stiffened as the liaison edged towards the door. "JJ?"

Before she could reach the door, the Pennsylvanian inhaled deeply before turning back to face the supervisor. "Yeah?"

"I hope we can be friend's one day." Hotch frowned quickly realising his voice had quivered.

JJ cringed. "Ouch, just what every ex wants to hear."

"You don't think we can be friends?" The profiler raised a worried eye.

JJ turned and opened the office door. "We were never friend's Aaron."

...

Thanks for reading!