AN -Hi there! Some asked for more, so I decided to flesh out some of the scenes I mentioned in the first part. I should have a few more like the fight with her high school boyfriend and that Christmas.

I am also working on a collection of Hotch/Prentiss one shots so look for those soon.

Jessica rolled over to find her phone on the nightstand. Opening her eyes just enough to see the display she swiped her thumb over the alarm icon. Her head hit the pillow as she let out a sigh. Her mind started running through the list of all the things she needed to that day: take jack to school, get groceries, send that operations report, call Shelia about book club, collect her mail, do laundry and get more clothes from her place. Five months ago she thought taking Jack while Aaron traveled would mean a few sleepovers a week. Now she felt like she was running to households.

Uuhhh I need to get up, Jessica thought with a groan. She rolled out of bed and grabbed her robe off the chair in the guest room. She walked blurry eyed to the kitchen to start her morning pot of coffee. As she went about the process of measuring, grinding and scooping she blocked out her long to do it. It wasn't until she took her first sip that she let her eyes wander around the living room. Aaron should be coming back tonight and she wanted to make sure the place was clean for him. Feeding, clothing and just general care of Jack took a lot of time. But since he had only been home four days in the last three weeks, she wanted to take care of the mundane chores as well so he could spend more time with his son. One, actually more like ten, less things he had to worry about.

That's when she noticed the brief case on the desk and the coat thrown over the back of the couch. He must have gotten back in the middle of the night. An idea swept over her. She quickly turned to the stove and punched some buttons. She grabbed the carton of eggs from the fridge and the loaf of bread from the counter. If she worked fast this wouldn't cut into her morning routine too much and it would be a nice surprise for Aaron and Jack. Once everything was in the oven she peeked into Jack's room. He was still sound asleep.

Jessica hurried through her shower and scurried back to her room, carefully listening for the sounds of movement from the other bedrooms. She once again said a silent thanks for her job in the tech world and the fact that she didn't need to dress professionally for it. After tossing on jeans and a sweater she toweled her hair. A few swipes of makeup and a dollop of mousse on her curls and she was ready. Silently she crept to the kitchen to check the timer. She pulled out the griddle, turned it to low and placed some sausage patties on it.

"Hey Jack, sweetheart," she cooed with a hand on his back. "It's time to get up buddy."

He grumbled a response and rolled over. She tried again.

"Jack, if you get up I have a surprise for you."

"I doe wanna," he mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Oh, I think you will 'wanna'. Your Dad came home last night and if you are real quiet we can surprise him." At the mention of his dad Jack's eyes popped open and grin spread across his face. "Would you like that?"

"What kind of surprise?"

"We can bring him breakfast," she said in a conspiratorial whisper, "but we have to be real sneaky ok?" Seeing him nod she continued. "Quick like a bunny, go to the bathroom and wash your hands. I'll get your clothes laid out then meet me in the kitchen. Ready?"

Jack darted from his bed and she went back to the kitchen to grab the breakfast tray and move a stool into the kitchen for Jack to help. Once he was dressed he came bounding into the kitchen ready to help. She scooped him up, placing his feet on the stool.

"So Jack, I made French toast and sausage. What else should we make your dad?"

"Coffee!"

"Ok, we can do that. Can you measure three scoops of this into that white filter? I'll get the water." Jack had a very determined look on his face as he counter each scoop quietly. "Good job. What else does he need?"

"Juice!" Jack almost shouted. He saw Jessica put a finger against her pursed lips and he slapped his hands over his mouth. "Opps. Juice and toast."

"Can you reach the glasses?" Jack handed her one and she placed it on the try behind her. "Thank you. What about the toaster?" Jack took the bread from her and stretched as far as his little four year old arms could reach. "There you go, push it down."

"Let's get your breakfast so we can let him sleep a little longer." Jack climbed onto a chair as she set a plate and glass of juice in front of him. Just as she was pouring a second cup of coffee she heard the shuffle of feet.

"Mmm. That coffee smells wonderful."

"Daddy! Your home!" Jack cried. "We made you breakfast!"

"Good Morning, Aaron," Jessica greeted warmly.

He reached up to rub his eyes, almost as if he couldn't believe what he saw before him. "Haley, you are too good to me."

Jessica froze. Her eyes darted from the man standing in the hallway to the little boy at the table. Thankfully Jack didn't seem to notice the use of his mother's first name. She looked back at Aaron trying to read his face. Now would be a good time to have his profiling skills, she thought. A wide smile was still plastered on his face and he took a few more steps towards the kitchen. She saw his arms come up like he was going to embrace her. She scrambled backwards trying to think of her next move.

"We thought breakfast in bed would be a nice surprise, sorry to wake you up so early," she said quickly gesturing towards the tray.

The expression on his face changed quickly, from delight to confusion to heart break in the twitch of his mouth. His feet stuttered and his arms hung in mid air. She could see him tilt his head as he tried to work through what was happening. His eyes scanned her face and body, comparing what he was seeing to the voice he heard. Jessica was still again, watching for signs of distress. Finally Jack spoke up.

"Were you surprised Daddy?"

Aaron slowly turned his head towards his son. "Yeah buddy I was. You and Aunt Jessica did a good job. Thank you." He may be a master at hiding his emotions from his face and voice at work, but right now they were heavy with sorrow.

"Did you get the bad guy? Will you be home for a while? I got to play soccer yesterday when we went to the park." Jack continued to ramble about his day, oblivious to what was happening around him.

"Here, sit, eat," Jessica moved the contents of the tray to the table so father and son could enjoy breakfast together. She busied herself with filling the dishwasher and tidying the living room, anything to get out of the way and put some distance between them and that awkward encounter. She packed Jack's bag and gathered her own.

"We have to leave in five minutes Jack. Go brush your teeth. And the syrup off your face."

"Can't Daddy take me?" He pleaded looking as his dad. "Please?"

"He's not dressed and he's probably really tired from chasing bad guys and wants to go back to bed."

"I can pick you up today. Let me get some sleep and we can play all afternoon at the park."

"Ok!" With that Jack ran off down the hall leaving the two adults to avoid the elephant in the room.

Jessica moved to the door to gather coats and shoes. Aaron was pushing chunks of soggy French toast around his plate. They kept glancing at each other only to tuned away when they saw the other looking; their mouths kept forming the first part of a word only to be abandoned half way through. Neither wanted to go first.

"Thank you," he finally croaked out. "For breakfast. And for watching Jack. Three weeks must have been hard."

"Sounds like they were hard for you too."That was as close to a comment as she was going to make. Jack came around the corner ending the attempt at a conversation. Jessica helped him put on his shoes and into his coat. "Say goodbye."

"Bye Dad," Jack flung his arms around his father's middle, nearly hitting his head on the table.

"Bye buddy, I'll see you after school. Love you."

"Bye Jess, again thanks so much." He gave her a nod of acknowledgement all the while ever taking his eyes of Jack. She only offered a feeble wave in return.

In the car she chatted with Jack about what he was going to do at school and all the things he should show his Dad when he got home. It wasn't until she was alone did she think over the exchange. His face was swimming her mind. For a moment he looked so happy and content. If she didn't know any better she would say there was a hint of affection in his eyes when he first came out. It was the face after he realized she wasn't Haley that made her heart clench and her stomach turn. There was so much confusion and hurt, like she had tricked him into thinking the love of his life was back.

Wiping back the tears Jessica thought about what she needed to do. She decided to care for Jack as a way to help them heal, to remove some of the pain of Haley's loss. Being the cause of more hurt, knowing that she wasn't enough to take away his pain was unbearable. It was time to make another decision to lessen their pain. She couldn't call him Aaron anymore. At least not when he was sleep deprived and completely warn out, maybe not ever again. Why did I ever think this would be easy? Because loving Jack was easy, being there for him was worth the obstacles and the double life.

Because loving Aaron was easy.