A/N: It will get better, I promise. You know me. I can only do angst for so long. And once again, some words are the creation of a CM writer.

Chapter 10

Aaron inwardly worried how his sons would handle the graveside service. Jack stood with Zach, his hurting right hand on his brother's shoulder. Maybe they were just cried out or maybe, they were like their dad, putting on a brave front; but they never flinched. They were Hotchner's. After the rest of the mourners began to leave, JJ, after she and Will laid their white roses on top of Haley's coffin, was quietly stopped by Zach as they started to leave. He pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for everything the other night. I forgot to tell you last night," he whispered. "It was really appreciated." JJ, holding Will's hand, gave him a soft smile, a rub of his side and they moved to the vehicles.

Finally, it was just the immediate family. Sean was the first to place his rose, giving Haley's "shoulder" one final rub. "Thanks sis," he whispered and moved away. Jessica was next, followed by her parents. They left the Aaron and boys with simple nods.

Zach placed his rose first as Aaron pulled Jack into his arms. "Thanks mom. I'll always love you. And I'll keep my promise."

Aaron and Jack added theirs together and then Aaron wrapped his free arm around Zach's shoulder. He looked at Jack. "Blow mommy a kiss." Jack did and the three Hotchner's turned and slowly walked away.

John and Hannah Brooks held the funeral reception and dinner for their daughter at a country club. Knowing the size of the gathering, with the BAU team, and Hotchner's church family, the small, cramped basement of the church was not going to work.

As Zach and Jack were eating in a quiet corner, he noticed his dad and Uncle Dave talking outside. He looked out again a little later to see Morgan joining them. By his body movements, and Dave's as well, he simply knew. "Hey JP, you finished?" Zach said as he polished off his meal. Jack bobbed his head to the affirmative to his brother. Zach took Jack's hand and they met Dave and Derek at the door.

Zach looked Dave in the eye. "We're OK; we really are. It's sorta comforting in a way that you're going out on a case." Dave looked at Zach. "I saw you talking to dad, and then Derek joining you. I read the rest of the body language. What else could it be?" Dave and Derek just shook their heads. Dave pulled Jack into a huge hug and Derek carefully shook Zach's hand. "Stay safe, all of you." Derek gave him a rub on this arm as Dave put Jack back down.

"Be good little man," Derek said to Jack, as Dave pulled Zach into a hug. Jack blistered Derek's hand with a high five.

Aaron, the boys and Sean spent a quiet evening going through the cards that were addressed to them and enjoyed a movie and some homemade popcorn.

The next morning, Sean stirred out of Jack's bed. He knew his mission; to get two Hotchner boys, and their dad fueled up. He quietly got in the shower. As he stood in front of the mirror shaving, Aaron walked in and got the shower running and then used the toilet. Sean just stared at him. "Whatttt? We shared a bathroom for how many years?" Sean just rolled his eyes at him and finished up as Aaron began to get ready to get into the running water.

Aaron walked into the kitchen fifteen minutes later to Sean frying sausage links and stirring pancake batter. "I can cook, you know."

"Yeah, I know; oatmeal, oatmeal and oatmeal."

"And what's wrong with oatmeal."

"If you haven't noticed Mr. Profiler, you have two growing sons."

"Yes, I have. And thanks bro, it's been great having you around. You've been huge to me."

Sean smiled. "Aaron, I know you really haven't had a chance to breathe, far less process a lot of things, but what happens from here with you? And the boys?" Sean whispered, trying not to wake Zach.

Aaron sat down in one of the lunch counter chairs, completely at ease with Sean in his kitchen. "I've already told Chief Strauss that I'm taking a leave of absence from the BAU. Derek has being doing a great job leading the team and I trust him completely."

Sean hiked his eyebrows at his brother. "Derek's been leading the team?" Aaron nodded and filled him in on the reasons why.

"You and I need to talk more big brother."

"You think?" Aaron smiled. "My first order of business on Monday is to get Zach scheduled for his follow-up doctor's appointment. That finger needs an MRI. The next is to find a pre-school for Jack." Sean eyed Aaron again. "Yes, Zach needs to get back in school too, but that's a bit trickier, considering he was under an assumed name in New Jersey. The Marshall Service has people that will take of that, I was told Thursday, but it will take time getting his school records back under his name and ready for transfer. And Sean, if his finger needs surgery, why put in him in school for a day or two, and then pull him out for day or two?" Sean nodded his agreement. "I'm just hoping a lot of that can get resolved next week."

"Sounds like you have a solid game plan Aaron."

"After that, it's getting the house cleaned out. Strauss told me the Bureau clean-up techs have it ready. I want to get as much of the boys' stuff here that they want or haven't grown out of. The rest, I'll let Jessica have for a garage sale or donate to Goodwill. Then it's going through all the rest, either selling it or putting it into storage, getting Haley's estate settled and getting the house on the market."

"After what happened there, how much of chance is there of it selling Aaron?"

Hotch shook his head. "Sean, you be surprised by how many people what to get into that. We've always marveled about that at the BAU, when we get our follow-ups from the locals."

"You guys do that?"

"Yes, we do."

"Why?"

"To make sure we don't have another one in the making." Aaron shrugged. "Big brother, or more importantly, Penelope Garcia is watching," he smiled softly. Jack came into the kitchen, yawning. Aaron pulled him into his lap.

"Somethin' smells good," he smiled.

Sean smiled at this youngest nephew. "Pancakes and sausages, Jack."

Jack smiled brightly. "Yes! Just like Saturday's at Uncle Dave's cabin. Daddy, can I have some juice please?" Sean started pouring the pancake batter.

"After you go to the bathroom and brush your teeth," Aaron smiled, putting his son on the floor. Jack zoomed down the hall. Aaron moved to the couch to see Zach roll on his back and look him in the eye.

"Do none of you understand the concept about sleeping in on Saturday's?"

As Zach took a shower, with Sean taping plastic foods bag around his left arm and right hand to keep the stiches dry, he looked at Aaron. "Aaron, I know it's going to be tough on you and the boys. Hell, it's going to be tough on me. But please, bro, I'm still here until Tuesday morning. Let me help." Aaron smiled at his brother. They gathered up the boys, and set out, with Aaron explaining to the boys what they wanted to do. Sean informed Aaron that he made some phone calls of his own, lining up some moving boxes. They stopped at the facility on the way.

As Aaron pulled his vehicle in the driveway, he noticed the yellow "Crime Scene" tape was gone. He silently thanked the heavens for that. Using the key he had received from the Bureau to the new front door, they entered into the house. All of the carpeting that had any trace of Haley's blood, or Zach and Aaron's as well, had been pulled up. In some spots, even the padding had been removed. While the house smelled clean, they all knew it was anything but. The electricity had been turned back on.

As they walked in, Zach noticed the dining room window, Foyet's blood long gone, now boarded up. Sean noticed and silently nodded at his brother, getting Jack up to his room, carrying a couple of boxes. Zach just stared until his dad wrapped his arm around his shoulder. "Let it go Zach. It's done. And don't ever question again what you did."

"Dad, I killed a man in that window."

"You used the football training you got when you played to protect me and your brother. Zach, look me in the eyes." Zach followed his dad's request. "Did you even see that window?"

Zach shook his head. "All I saw was you in trouble and an opening to help."

"Then that's all you need to think about. It's over son, and you've been cleared by the authorities. Let it go."

"Dad, how can I let that go?"

"Because you reacted with your instincts and did the right thing. Come on, I'll help you with your room." Zach gave his dad a hug and they moved to pick up some of the flat boxes that Sean left by the front door. They moved up the steps to Zach's room getting the boxes formed up.

As they entered, Hotch looked at Zach. "How much of your clothes are you going to fit into?"

"Other than my casual t-shirts," Zach smiled, pointing at the one his was wearing, "probably not much; maybe some boxers." Aaron just shook his head. "Dad, what I really need is my back pack from the school in New Jersey. My iPod is in it."

"The Marshall Service is working on that."

Aaron helped Zach pack up what fit, which wasn't much considering how much his son had grown over the summer. They both laughed as Zach pulled on a pair of jeans and the bottom of the legs didn't even reach his ankles. Zach looked at his dad. "You know I love you, right?"

"Zach, I don't ever doubt that."

"I know dad. But dad, I don't want to sleep on the couch the rest of my high school days."

Aaron rubbed his arm. "I know son. I don't want you to do that either. And I know sharing a room with Jack isn't on your agenda either. Just give me some time Zach."

"Good enough for me dad," his oldest son smiled at him. They packed up what fit Zach and the things he wanted, took the boxes downstairs and walked into the kitchen.

Aaron found Haley's car keys in their usual spot in the basket on the kitchen cupboard and handed them to Zach. The vehicle she drove from New Jersey, part of the Marshall Service fleet given to her, was long gone. "It's your car now." Zach smiled. Aaron noticed that Haley's purse had been returned and was sitting on the kitchen counter.

Aaron pulled out his cellphone and typed in some words. "Dad, what are doing?"

"Adding to my 'to-do' list; getting you a Virginia driver's license and putting you and your car under my insurance."

"Do I want to know how long that list is?" Aaron just smiled at his son and shook his head.

The four Hotchner's got the boys' stuff that they wanted packed up and back to the apartment. Jack smiled proudly as he rode back to their dad's place in his car seat with Zach. Dave kept Aaron updated about the case the team was working on in Nashville. The rest of the day they just lazed around, watching the baseball playoffs on TV.

They all went to church together on Sunday in Aaron and the boy's home church. The heartfelt love they received from their entire church family, beyond the scope of those closest to them, most just learning the news at what happened and its horrific nature was sincere. Other than Zach getting a little emotional when Pastor prayed for the family, with Jack wrapping his arms around his dad's neck, the boys handled it well. Jack went to Sunday School, Zach joined the teen group and Aaron and Sean got together with the coffee klatch people.

After they got home and Zach changed, he walked into the kitchen and started pulling cupboard doors open. Aaron walked in, changed as well, and looked at him. "Dad, you have a bachelor pad. It needs to become a home for a while. That includes having a kitchen with what it really needs. Mom has what you're missing." He grabbed a note pad Aaron had by the phone to make his inventory. Sean walked in on the conversation. "I'd just like to get back working over at the house and get that done. I, we, just have to be able to finally walk away."

Aaron smiled at him. "Let me make that list easy. Just write down what I have."

Zach smiled wickedly at his dad. "That's going to be a pretty short list." Aaron rolled his eyes at him as Sean laughed. Aaron punched his brother in the bicep and moved down the hall to have Jack pack up some things to spend the day at the house.

Zach looked at Sean. "If I did that to Jack, he'd chew my butt," he said to his uncle. Sean laughed louder.

"I heard that," his dad said. Zach just shook his head.

Aaron, Sean and Jack stopped at Subway on the way to get some lunch for all of them. Zach zoomed into the moving facility to get as many boxes as "his" car could hold and met them there. As they sat around the kitchen nook table eating their lunch, Aaron's cell rang. "Hi Jessica." When he hung up, he looked at Zach. "Aunt Jess feels like you. She'll be here in 20 minutes."

"Where's grandma and grandpa daddy?" Jack asked.

"Aunt Jess took them back home last night buddy."

Jessica walked through the swinging door into the kitchen to see a whirlwind of activity. Zach looked at her. "I hope you don't mind: dad's kitchen needs some help," he smiled.

Jess smiled at him. "Zach, all this is yours, and Jack's. I know for a fact that your mom never changed the will she and your dad had together. And I totally agree. But if all of you don't mind, I'd like to go through Haley's stuff."

Aaron looked at her. "Please do. That's something I wasn't looking forward to. I'm glad you want to do it. And some of Jack's clothes and almost all of Zach's don't fit so if you want to have a garage sale…"

Jessica interrupted him. "Aaron, you heard what I said. It belongs to the you and the boys. I think Haley would want what's left over to be donated to charity." Zach shook his head in agreement and asked Jess about his mom's cookbooks. She smiled. "They're yours. I've got my own copy of all of them." Looking around she added, "Mind if I go upstairs?"

Aaron shook his head. "Let me help you get some boxes pulled together." Zach and Sean moved to continue getting the kitchen stuff sorted out. Jack played with his cars on the nook floor.

Sean nudged Zach. "Give me your car keys. We need plastic wrap and a lot of tape to get the stuff going into storage ready. Where's the nearest home supply store?" Zach handed him his keys and gave him the directions.

As Sean left, Jack looked at Zach. "I'm getting tired." Zach chased him into the bathroom and then took him into the living room, got him settled on the couch, pulling the afghan that their grandma made that lay over the back onto Jack. Jack, having got up early for eight o'clock church, quickly conked out.

Jessica worked on Haley's room as the other Hotchner's worked on the kitchen. Zach looked at Aaron. "You mean what you said about a house in the future?" Aaron nodded, as Sean was using the bathroom. "Then we sorta have to think ahead." He pulled a post-it note pad from one of the kitchen drawers. "Do we need the nook table and chairs?" After they finished the kitchen, they spent the rest of the afternoon going through the house, designating what would go in storage and what would be donated. They started the process of wrapping in plastic the items that would go in storage.

After a dinner from McDonald's that Zach went and got, they continued to work into the evening. Sean pulled Aaron aside as they were working together. "Aaron, you do know that Haley's car is a piece of crap."

Aaron slightly smiled. "I loved her with my life. But if I had one knock on her, it was that. She was hell on a vehicle."

"Bro, that's the vehicle that Zach is going to be driving. You better think about that."

Jessica called for Aaron from the top of the steps. "I need you up here please." Aaron went up the steps to see tears in Jessica's eyes. She waved him into Haley's room. At the bottom of a drawer, she had found the engagement and wedding ring that Aaron gave her.

Jessica looked him in the eye. "Do you want them?"

Aaron sadly smiled. Jess gave him the rings, which he put in his pocket. "Thank you for being so supportive with all of this."

###