A/N: Hello! Tried to get this out earlier, but got interrupted way to many times. But, I got a moment to finish this at 3am and here it is! Hope you enjoy! Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Post-Wedding 3:

"How's the popcorn coming?" JJ asked as she entered the kitchen. "The kids are getting pretty restless…"

She watched as Hotch poured some vegetable oil into one of her older pots. He said he was making popcorn the old fashioned way on the stove top in a pot. JJ, having only ever used her little air popper, scoffed at the idea, and said she'd take his word for it. As if to prove her point, it seemed it was taking a bit longer than a machine, but he kept insisting that this was the only way to eat popcorn.

"Done in five minutes," he assured her.

"That's what you said five minutes ago," JJ mused.

"It's the only way—"

"—to eat popcorn, I remember," she finished for him, smiling. She came around the counter and planted a quick kiss on his lips. He was too cute. "Just bring it to the living room when it's done, ok?"

She let out a happy sigh. Things were going great. It had been a whole month since ending things with Will, and things were even going well on the Will front. They had set up a steady routine with Henry which he seemed to be adjusting to.

As for her relationship with Hotch, they were still taking things slow for the boy's sakes. She suspected that Jack understood the nature of her relationship with his dad, but Henry needed more time. His entire universe, up until recently, had revolved around only his mom and dad.

But much to JJ's delight, they'd eventually had their first date after that disastrous night weeks ago. And it had been everything she'd imagined. And that first date had opened a floodgate for other firsts. She had to grin at the memory of some of those other firsts.

The one thing they hadn't done yet was slept at each others places while the kids were home. Again, they wanted to make sure the kids weren't blindsided by their sudden relationship.

"So, did we decide on a movie yet?" JJ questioned the boys as she entered the living room.

The boys were huddled together by JJ's DVD shelf, perusing their collection of child friendly DVD's.

"I wanna watch Cars," Henry exclaimed.

JJ laughed. "Ok, let's ask Jack if he wants to watch Cars too."

Henry turned to his older friend. "Jack, you wanna watch Cars too?"

Jack nodded serenely. "Sure."

Once again JJ marvelled at how calm Jack was compared to Henry. She wondered if Henry would be like that in a few years, but somehow she doubted that. As much as she loved her baby, calm and serene weren't words she'd use to describe Henry. Plus, she suspected that Jack's calmness was genetic, coming from his stoic father.

JJ ran a hand through the seven year olds hair affectionately. He smiled brightly at her and she was struck by what a sweetheart he was. Just like his father.

"All right you two, get comfortable, Aaron's almost done with the popcorn."

Both boys snuggled into the pillows and blankets she'd placed in front of the couch. Hotch arrived seconds later with two bowls of popcorn. The boys got one on the floor and the adults took the other on the couch. Only when the boys were thoroughly into the movie did JJ feel Hotch's arm go around her. She snuggled into the man of her dreams, not being able to hold in her content sigh.

About three quarters into the movie Henry dropped out for the night. Five minutes after that Jack followed into dreamland. They finished the movie for good measure to make sure the boys were really out for the count.

JJ stood up and shut off the TV, Hotch followed.

"I'll take Henry up to bed," he offered.

She smiled as he effortlessly picked up the four year old and made his way up the stairs. JJ followed behind them. Once inside the room she pulled the sheets back and out of the way for Hotch to place Henry beneath them. She pulled the blankets up around her baby, giving him a kiss on the forehead.

Shutting the door behind them, they stood at the foot of the stairs. Hotch let out a content sigh.

"Jack and I had a great time tonight."

She knew he was getting ready to say he had to leave, but for some reason she just couldn't stand the thought of Hotch so far away all of the sudden.

"Don't go," JJ said quickly.

Hotch frowned. "I don't know, JJ."

"Henry's asleep, Jack's asleep, it will be all right," she assured.

She clung to his shirt front not wanting to let go. She leaned up on her toes and kissed him; his arms instantly wound their way behind her, pulling her close. The kiss deepened, and JJ knew that if they didn't stop now there'd be no turning back.

But all thoughts of how far things would go flew from both their minds when a screech had them suddenly jumping three feet in the air. They whirled around to the source of the sound and found Henry standing just outside of his bedroom, with wide, horror filled eyes.

"Henry, sweetie, what's wrong?" JJ asked concernedly.

"No mommy, don't kiss Hotch!" Henry shouted. "Only daddy!"

JJ's face fell. "Oh honey…" She didn't have a clue what else to say. But her heart nearly broke when Henry let out another furious shriek and ran to his room.

JJ quickly glanced at Hotch, hoping he had a solution, but his face held only a grim look.

"Dad!" they heard from downstairs. It was Jack.

"Talk to Henry, I'll go check on Jack," Hotch informed her.

The look he gave her conveyed that he didn't want to leave her alone to this task.

She nodded. She didn't want him to go down either, she felt like she needed his strength at this moment. But Jack was probably frightened and he needed to come first.

Hotch went on his way and JJ took a deep breath, hoping to fortify her nerves for this difficult conversation ahead. As she stepped inside, she half hoped that Henry had fallen asleep, but there he was, wide awake, throwing his toys around the room furiously.

"Henry, honey," she said tentatively.

"I don't like you mommy!" he shouted.

Her eyes instantly moistened. "Oh, sweetie, but mommy loves you so much."

Henry glanced at his mother and JJ saw a flash of something in his eyes, something like he was remembering something he'd forgotten, and he was instantly at her side. "Don't be sad, mommy!"

She was shocked by her four year olds sense of empathy and hugged him tightly when his little arms went around her.

JJ picked up her little boy and sat down with him in her lap on his bed.

"Henry, I should have talked to you about me and daddy a long time ago, but I'd like to talk now about daddy and about Hotch too. Is that ok?" she asked slowly.

The little boy nodded, staring up at her with wide—blue, like his mother's—innocent eyes.

"Do you still like daddy, mommy?" Henry wanted to know.

"Yes, Henry, I will always like you're daddy," JJ answered truthfully.

"Why'd he have to go to Uncle Jason's?"

"Sometimes, grown up's do funny things, Henry. Sometimes, two people can't live with each other anymore. Like me and daddy," JJ tried to explain inadequately. "Daddy moved in with Jason, because Jason is daddy's best friend."

How do you explain to a four year old that you didn't love their father anymore?

"Is Hotch your bestest friend, mommy?" Henry asked, making his own connections.

JJ smiled. "Yeah, yeah he is… Henry, you know I love you very much, right?" He nodded. "And I love Hotch and Jack too."

"I loves them too," Henry was quick to assure. "And daddy, too."

JJ nodded. "And sometimes, when you love someone you give them a kiss."

She pulled Henry closer and gave his forehead a kiss. He giggled and then he scrambled in her arms to reach up and give her a kiss on the cheek.

"I loves you mommy," he added.

"Love you too, honey," JJ said, sighing with relief. "So, Henry, do you understand why I kissed Hotch?"

He scrunched up his face in concentration. "'Cause you loves Hotch!"

"Yes," she affirmed.

"And daddy too?"

JJ's smile wavered. "I care about your daddy, Henry. And your dad loves you very much," she tried to avert.

She struggled, hoping she was putting the situation into terms he could understand. She was scared that she wasn't doing a very good job.

"Ok, mommy," he said cheerfully.

"Ok?"

"Ok," he repeated.

She watched him jump out of her arms and down onto the floor to play with the toys. Did she do something right? Or was her little boy just easily pleased? She wasn't exactly sure.

"Dad?" Jack questioned as Hotch came into the room.

"Hey buddy," Hotch said, instantly going to his son's side. "You ok?"

"What's wrong?" Jack asked instead.

"Henry had a little fright, JJ's upstairs talking to him," Hotch explained.

"He's ok?" Jack asked suspiciously.

Hotch nodded. "He'll be ok," he assured. "Are you ok?"

Jack nodded. "I was scared for a second… I thought something bad was happening like…"

The little boy trailed off and Hotch's face instantly fell. Of course his son still had thoughts about what happened with Foyet. It wasn't that long ago. He was an idiot for ever thinking he'd gotten over it.

"Jack, I need you to know that I will do everything in my power to never let anything bad happen to you ever again," he promised.

His son nodded solemnly. "And JJ, too?" He said more than asked.

"JJ?" Hotch said confused.

"JJ's gonna look out for me too, right?" Jack elaborated. "She loves us."

Hotch's eyes widened in astonishment. "Yeah she will. She does love us."

"Good," Jack answered. "I love her too."

Before Hotch could say anymore, JJ was walking into the room. She looked relieved.

"How'd it go?"

"Ok, I think," JJ said unsurely. He put up more of a fuss when I put him back into bed…"

Hotch nodded. "I think I'll go up and say a quick good night, and then Jack and I will be off."

She didn't argue, but he could see the regret in her eyes, regret for the night ahead lost. He got up and gave her hand a brief squeeze before moving past her. He climbed the stairs quickly and then approached Henry's bedroom.

The door was still open, but the room was dark, save for a small night light. He pushed open the door and tip-toed inside. Everything was still, so he assumed Henry was fast asleep. That was ok; he just wanted to give the boy a good night kiss.

He sat at the edge of Henry's bed and was surprised to see Henry's eyes half open.

"Hi Hotch," the boy said sleepily.

"Hi Henry," Hotch replied, smiling.

"Hotch, do you love mommy?" Henry asked.

Hotch nodded. "Very much."

"Good," Henry said happily.

Hotch leaned forward and gave the boy a kiss on the forehead. Henry giggled and said, "Love you too, Hotch."

Hotch gave Henry a quizzical look, but the boy was soon fast asleep.

JJ sat down on the couch next to the seven year old boy. She put her arm around Jack. "You ok, hun?"

Jack glanced up at her nodding. "I'm a big kid now."

She smiled, giving him a squeeze and then a kiss on the top of his head for good measure. "Yes, you are."

"JJ," Jack said, a question in his voice. "You're not my mom…"

JJ stared at the boy with wide eyes, wondering if they were just confusing the boys.

"I know Jack, and I swear I'm not trying to replace your mom. She was a really great person. But I just want to you to know that I love you just as much as if I really were your mom."

Jack shook his head. "You're not my mom… but, you're like my mom…"

JJ was sure she was going to burst into tears right on spot.

"JJ?"

The moment was interrupted. JJ looked up to see a huge smile on Hotch's face.

"Ready to go home, Jack?" Hotch questioned.

"Yeah," Jack answered sleepily.

The little boy stood up to get his things together. JJ stood up to meet Hotch.

"So," Hotch started. "How'd we do?"

She smiled brightly, putting her arms around him. "I think we're doing all right… what do you think?"

"Yeah, I'd say we're doing just fine," Hotch agreed.

Well that's it for this one. Two more to go, and in the next one we get to finally find out what's up with Will.

Thanks to everyone who's reading and alerting. And a special thanks to everyone who's taken the time to review: Melissa Larkin; Hotch Fan; countersteak21 (yeah I think most of us wish AJ Cook was still on the show…); canny-bairn; Zolidify; spk; Myspaceisdaocean (welcome :) ); angry penguin; Starrmyst (don't worry too much about Will ;) ); Reading Red; and JJandHotch4ever96.

I'll try to update soon. Next weekend at the latest.