A/N: Hi all! Sorry for the long wait. I just moved into a new house and everything's been a big mess lately with boxes and stuff lying around. So, I haven't had a chance to crack open my lap top for writing purposes. But, hopefully, now that I'm a little more settled in I'll be updating much sooner!

Just wanted to say thanks for the amazing response I've been getting for this! I'm loving it and I'm glad you guys are loving it! Thanks!

Anyways, on with the show…

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. I wish, but no.

Post-Wedding 1:

"Henry," JJ called up the stairs to her son. "Henry, I need you to come get your toys."

"No," Henry shouted back defiantly.

"Henry," she yelled back.

JJ let out a frustrated sigh. Things were definitely not going according to plan. She'd called the wedding off two weeks ago and she still thought that was the right choice, Henry obviously disagreed.

Will had immediately moved out and that hadn't talked much since then. JJ had feared he'd go back to New Orleans, and distance himself from his son, something that would have devastated Henry. But, no, he'd been staying with Jason ever since then. She was grateful he had somewhere to go, somewhere close by.

But the move was still an obvious change to Henry's routine life and he was feeling the disruption. For the past week Henry had been angry and aggressive. And she had no idea what to do about it.

The doorbell rang just then, distracting her momentarily. She went to the door and looked through the peep hole.

Hotch, her mind screamed in happiness.

She eagerly opened the door and before words could be exchanged she threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.

"Oof," Hotch grunted at the force of her hug. "Hey, is everything all right?"

She didn't want to let go of him. So, she murmured into his neck, "Much better now that you're here."

Hotch extracted himself from her death grip. He took her hand into his and led the way to the living room. JJ took the seat that he gestured to, even though all she wanted to do was hold onto him and never let go.

JJ avoided his penetrating gaze, knowing her mini-outburst had not gone unnoticed.

"JJ," Hotch said firmly, "Look at me."

She let out a sigh, but complied. She was struck by how much love emanated from his gaze alone. And she was suddenly reminded that this man before her actually loved her.

"Are you regretting your decision?" he asked, surprising the heck out of her.

"No," she said adamantly. "God, no. Calling off the wedding and ending things with Will was definitely the right decision." She gave his arm, still in her hold, a squeeze. "You're the right choice!"

He let out a breath as if he'd been holding it for her answer.

"Hotch," she said warmly. "Don't ever doubt that, ok, no matter what, you're the one I want."

He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers in a brief kiss.

"I love you," he said after pulling back.

"Love you too," she said, marvelling at how those three little words could make her feel so giddy.

"So," he prompted. "What's going on?"

But those three little words couldn't make all her problems go away. "Henry," she said simply, frowning.

"Henry?" Hotch replied unsure.

"Yeah, he's taking Will moving out real hard. I don't know what to do. He doesn't want to talk to me… He's three and doesn't want to talk?"

She threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.

Hotch considered her dilemma for a moment. "I don't want to tell you what to do, JJ—"

"Please," she cut him off. "Do. I need all the help I can get."

He gave her a sympathetic smile. "Will moving out is a huge change for Henry. He's never known a time where both of you weren't easily accessible. From my own experience, when Hailey and I got a divorce Jack took it hard as well."

"What did you do?" she asked, desperately needing to know.

He gave her a wry smile. "First, I took a day off, I even missed a case briefing," he told her.

"Really?" she said, not being able to contain her surprise.

"Yes, really," Hotch answered, briefly amused. "It was that Angel of Death case in Pennsylvania three years ago."

"Yeah, I remember," JJ prompted.

"I spent some time with Jack," Hotch explained. "I talked to him; I let him know that no matter where we were, no matter what, both his parents loved him."

"And that worked?" JJ asked incredulously.

Hotch nodded his head. "For awhile you'll have to reinforce that thought. You know, until he gets into a new routine. But I wouldn't worry. You and Will are great parents."

"Yeah?"" JJ said, still unsure.

Though, she loved Hotch, and she knew now that staying with Will for the sake of Henry wouldn't be good for anyone, she still had some guilt at seemingly ruining Henry's happy home life. But she had to keep reminding herself of how happy could a life with Will be if she didn't love him? Henry would pick up on that sooner or later.

"Yeah," Hotch answered definitely.

It helped that she had the man before her to remind her of how right of a decision it really was.

JJ hugged Hotch tightly, thankful for his presence. "I'm so glad you're here…" she murmured.

She felt him kiss the top of her head. "I'll be here for as long as you'll have me."

"Forever," she said firmly.

Hotch tentatively knocked on the door frame of the little boy's room. Henry didn't look up, engrossed in his truck playing.

Hotch frowned. He had hated to see JJ so broken up over her baby's obstinance. And Hotch felt that this was partially his fault. After all, he did ask for JJ's affection, knowing that this would be the obvious result.

"Hey there, buddy," Hotch greeted, realizing the little boy probably thought he was JJ.

"Hotch!" Henry exclaimed, a smile lighting his cherub face. He got up and practically threw himself around Hotch's legs. He held on tightly until he leaned down to pick the boy up.

Hotch carried him to the bed, putting him down, then he took a seat on the edge.

"Where's Jack?" Henry asked eagerly.

"Oh, he's at his Aunt Jessica's," Hotch said quickly.

"Oh," Henry said calmly. "He's pwaying with his cousins?"

Hotch smiled at the little boy's matter-of-fact tone. "Yeah, but he'll come to visit soon."

Hotch surmised that now he and JJ and were free to be together they'd all be seeing a lot more of each other. That thought warmed him. Maybe someday Henry and Jack would be real brothers. He'd keep that thought to himself for now.

"Wanna pway with me?" Henry asked happily.

"Sure," Hotch agreed.

He spent the next fifteen minutes rolling toy cars and trucks around Henry's bedroom making all the necessary sound effects. He really enjoyed the time he spent hanging out with Henry, but he'd come up for another reason.

"Hey Henry," Hotch started pausing his vrooming noises. "How's your mom—"

"I 'ate mommy," Henry exclaimed unhappily.

Hotch was taken aback by the boy's exuberance.

"But Henry, you know your mom loves you more than anything in the world," Hotch implored.

Henry shook his head. "Mommy 'ates me."

"Why do you say that?" Hotch questioned.

"'cause she sent daddy away from me!" Henry yelled.

Hotch nodded in understanding. "Ok, Henry I need you to calm down, all right. No yelling."

Henry nodded.

"Henry, your mom didn't send him away," Hotch tried to explain. "They both decided that your dad living somewhere else is better. But that doesn't mean they don't love you. Your dad loves you, Henry. And so does your mom."

"Mommy's a bad people," Henry said with a little less conviction.

Hotch thought that he might be getting through to him. "I love Jack, Henry, is he a bad person?"

Henry quickly replied, "Jack's awesome!"

"Yeah he is," Hotch agreed. "I love you too, Henry. Are you a bad person?"

The three year old shook his head.

"And I love your mom," Hotch said emphatically. "I don't love bad people."

Henry gave him a confused look.

"Henry, your mom loves you. She's sad because you're sad," Hotch told the boy truthfully.

"I… I don't want mommy to be sads," Henry said, on the verge of tears.

"You know what will make her feel better?" Hotch asked Henry and he shook his head, "A big hug from you will make her feel a hundred times better."

Henry got up quickly and ran out of the room. Hotch got to his feet too, following a few steps behind.

"Henry, what's—" he heard JJ's surprised voice.

Hotch came down the steps to see that Henry had run to give his mom that big hug he'd suggested.

"Mommy," Henry was saying. "Don't be sads, ok. I loves you."

JJ looked up at Hotch giving him a tearful smile. "I love you too, sweetheart."

Well that's it for now. There are a few more chapters left, just to show how everyone's adjusting to this new life they've found together.

Hope you're all still enjoying, despite the long wait.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: stripes31; Hotch Fan; JJandHotch4ever96; jekkah; ThePenIsMighty; spk; ReadingRed; countersteak21; Zolidfy; dramaaddict8807; canny-bairn (Will and the best man, hmm.. I wonder if you're thinking what I'm thinking… we'll find out soon.); kurussom (probably not 13 more chapters, but a few more at least); starrmyst; and hot4booth.

I'll try my best to update soon!