AN: Don't own Criminal Minds. Please leave feedback! Thanks!
Chapter 13: Waffles for Rent
"Your lease is nearly up," Aaron commented conversationally, toying with the stem of his wine glass. Ashley affirmed with a hum.
"I was thinking," Aaron began and Ashley smiled at his almost shy tone, "That you and Sophia should move in with Jack and me. I purchased a beautiful house close to here last year; it has two master suites, large bedrooms, a renovated kitchen, and a nice backyard. Rationally, it would make sense if you could…" She cut him off with a laugh. His rambling was completely out of character and it amused Ashley more than it should have. Aaron looked at her almost horrified as she fell over herself giggling.
"So that's a no," Aaron surmised and Ashley shook her head swallowing her laughter.
"No, Aaron, I think it's a fantastic idea. It's just that you sounded so unsure and that's so unlike you. You're always sure," Ashley said nudging his shoulder, "But I don't think I'll be able to afford the rent."
"Don't be silly, I'll trade childcare and waffles for rent."
"So now you're my sugar daddy," Ashley teased and Aaron snorted in return.
"I'm not that old."
"Oh okay. Don't wanna break it to you, Agent, but you're more than a decade older than me, so I'm gonna be a pseudo-wife with no sex," Ashley assessed and Aaron choked on his wine.
"But Aaron, the sex is the best part," Ashley whined.
"You're going to kill this old man," Aaron sighed faking exasperation.
"I do think it is a good idea and much more convenient," Ashley agreed, "Seal it with a kiss, quasi-husband."
Ashley leaned into him, placed a hand on his cheek, and kissed him gently. He pulled away and shook his head.
"I don't think this is a good idea, Miss Barton," Aaron responded.
"O, Miss Barton, is it? Agent Hotchner, what would be a good idea? All I know is that we're moving in together and I'm not sure about your situation, but living with your child and someone of the opposite sex and their child is a pretty big no-no in the dating world."
"Ashley…"
"Think about it Aaron, I know what you do. It would be easy. Who cares if it's not the passionate, all-consuming love from the movies? It'll be good enough, it'll be easy, and our kids will be happy."
"Maybe you're right, but I don't want the children to know until we're sure."
"I could get behind that, but I want you to know that I love Jack and no matter what happens that will always be true. I will always take care of him."
"He loves you, too. Sometimes, I get jealous when he wants to call you at night."
"Well that's just because I'm a rock-star with sleepy-time songs."
She leaned in again and this time he didn't pull away. Everything was tentative and tender. Their tongues didn't duel, they caressed. Their hands didn't pull and tug, they skimmed. There was no fight for control, but a communion of two bodies. Ashley wanted it to be enough.
BREAK
"I'm going with you," Ashley demanded as Derek made his way to the door.
"Stay here," Derek ordered.
"Please, if they're alive," her voice bounced, "I want to be there. They'll be so scared."
"Alright, we've gotta hurry," Derek went to the SUV and they rushed to the precinct.
From there, Derek and Captain America made plans for extraction with the least loss of life. Ashley couldn't take it; she paced until she felt that she'd produced enough friction to burn a hole through the carpet.
"We're going, stay here with Agent Rossi," Derek said.
"But," She made to protest.
"Please, we can't worry about you."
"Alright, please, bring them back to me."
Agent Rossi tried to get her to sit, to eat something, to drink something, to do anything, but pace. She couldn't though, he body thrummed with nerves: her blood rushing in her ears made it hard to hear, her heart beating erratically, and her legs wanting to move.
"They're coming back," Agent Rossi told her, but his voice held a hint of horror and hopefulness.
"Do they have them?"
"They have Sophia," Agent Rossi soothed, "and the man who did it, but they were too late to save Liam."
She clenched her jaw and squeezed her eyes shut. The overwhelming urge to lie down and weep or to throw things consumed her, but she knew she had to be strong for Sophia. She couldn't fall apart when her daughter was broken.
They arrived shortly after Agent Rossi broke the news. Sophia was wrapped spider-monkey-like around Derek's torso and her head buried in his neck. Her body shaking visibly, her clothes grubby, and her hair matted. Derek whispered to her, her head popped up, and she found her mother in the crowd. Ashley let out a sob when she saw the blood caked on her daughter's face. She rushed towards the pair and Sophia threw herself into her mother's arms. Ashley caressed Sophia's cheek, assessing the damage.
"It's not hers," Derek exhaled stroking Sophia's hair. The unspoken 'it's Liam's,' caused Ashley to dig her face into Sophia's frenzied curls that absorbed the choked noise and the rogue tears.
"Thank you," Ashley whispered squeezing her daughter.
Derek walked away, allowing mother and daughter to be reunited and so he could ream that bastard in interrogation. Ashley just stood in the middle of the precinct holding her daughter. She couldn't move, for she feared that she would collapse under the weight. Suddenly, Sophia lifted her head and made an excruciatingly alarmed noise.
"Derek," Sophia bawled her body straining in Ashley's arms as she looked around for the agent. Her cry startled the entire department and Agent Jareau rushed to the interrogation room. Sophia continued her litany of the agent's name in a roughened voice. Derek came rushing into the room. When Sophia saw him she relaxed and reached an arm toward him, the other arm wrapped tightly around Ashley's neck. Sophia fisted his tee in her hand.
"Stay," Sophia demanded in her weakened voice and the only thing Derek could do was nod in acquiesce, for fear that he would allow tears to roll down his cheeks if he spoke. He then noticed that Sophia wasn't the only one shaking that Ashley had begun to vibrate. He placed his hand on her lower back and led her to a row of chairs. They fell into the chairs and Sophia curled into her mother's lap keeping her eyes on Derek.
Jerry hustled into the room followed closely by his parents. Sophia saw him and whimpered loudly turning her head into Ashley's stomach. Ashley's innards rolled; there was no way in hell she was going to allow Jerry to frighten her. Ashley gently lifted Sophia and placed her in Derek's lap. She proceeded to Jerry and placed a calming hand on his chest.
"Please, don't," She whispered desperately, but he didn't listen. When he lifted her out of Derek's lap she let out a screech.
"No, no, no, no, no," She wailed. Sophia reached for her mother who wrapped her arms tightly.
"Baby, daddy loves you," Ashley whispered. Derek and Jerry hovered closely to the two. Again Sophia reached out her hand to fist in Derek's shirt.
"Safe," she sighed when she had a handful of fabric.
AN: So, I didn't put a quote last time… so here are two. Please leave feedback!
"If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love."-Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
"Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety." - William Shakespeare