DADDY'S PRIDE AND JOY

This is also one of my entries for the Prompt Challenge: Deadwood - Unauthorized Cinnamon

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"Anna-Joy Hotchner, freeze and put that cinnamon down this instant."

AJ did freeze and let her eyes fall closed. Damnit. Caught. "Hi Dad."

"What are you doing up, young lady? The deal was you start choosing your bedtime once you graduate," Aaron said, coming fully into the kitchen. Emily had woken with nightmares and he'd been on his way down to fix her a cup of tea or warm milk when he'd seen the small counter light on in the kitchen.

AJ sighed. "I know, and I'm sorry. I'm working on a paper and I had this inspiration and I couldn't let it pass and then because I was up I got hungry, so I thought I'd come downstairs and fix myself a snack and then I could just re-brush my teeth and go to bed. I promise I didn't actually mean to break the rules, but it's my English paper and you know how much I hate English and-"

"Annie, enough," Aaron said with a chuckle, reaching above his daughter's head to pull a mug out of the cupboard above her. "We made the bedtime rule to make sure you didn't become your mother and I."

"Oh?" AJ took that as tacit permission and went back to sprinkling cinnamon over her apples. It was a snack her mother ate like candy and slightly healthier too. People often looked at her funny when she brought it to school to eat during free period, but AJ didn't much care. No one else in her family ate it, with the exception of Jack. Kate was shockingly allergic to cinnamon and Seth hated apples.

Aaron smiled wryly as he turned on the water. "We were hoping you'd wait until college to train yourself how to pull all-nighters."

"You know college is like, four months away, right, Dad?"

Aaron sighed. "Don't remind me."

"Hey, it's not like I'm going to be gone forever," AJ laughed, boosting herself up on the counter.

Her father smiled softly. "No, but yesterday was your first day of first grade."

"I remember that," AJ nodded, tossing a piece of apple into her mouth. "Mom almost cried."

"You're your mother's first baby," Aaron replied, dropping a dry tea bag into the mug. "And though she considered Jack as close as you, Kate and Seth, he didn't leave home to go to school."

"But you're perfectly calm. You've always been more protective than Mom. And, Daddy..." She leaned over conspiratorially. "There are going to be college boys there."

He pressed his lips into a straight line. "I'm trying not to think about it. Especially if any of them are anything like your Uncle Derek."

AJ laughed. "I can hold my own."

"I know you can," Aaron said, kissing her forehead. "I love you."

"Love you too, Daddy."

"And I'm proud of you."

AJ shot her father a look. She'd only meant to tease him, and it was 3am. "Okay..."

"Really, Annie. You're going to college in four months. You were a baby yesterday."

"I'm not a baby anymore," AJ said, throwing a piece of apple at him with a pout.

He threw it back at her with a disapproving look. "You're certainly acting like it. You used to throw your food on the floor when you were in a high chair."

"Did I really?"

"Your mother has a picture of you covered in food on her desk," he answered, grabbing the kettle and going about making Emily's tea. "You've grown up a bit since then."

"Only a bit," AJ said, holding up her thumb and index finger.

"Stay that way."

AJ rolled her eyes. "I can't be a kid forever."

His smile was reminiscent, sad, and paternal all at the same time. "You aren't a kid, Annie. You're almost an adult."

AJ was silent for a minute, looking down at her apples. As much as she teased her parents that she was growing up, it was a terrifying prospect. She wasn't used to being on her own and while she knew home would always be there, it was still scary to be leaving home. "What if I don't make it?"

"Don't make what?"

"What if... what if I fail all of my courses? What if I don't do well? What if.... What if they kick me out?"

"They won't kick you out, AJ. You're too smart for that." The fact that Emily's parents still contributed to Yale was a different story entirely.

"But what if I'm not?"

"Sweetheart, you are a beautiful and intelligent young woman. You have your mother's drive and ambition and one day, you're going to find something that grips you like the BAU did your mother and I and you're going to dedicate the entirety of your life to that thing. And your mother and I will be there every step of the way, taking embarrassing pictures and watching every minute of it," he said, smoothing her hair back from her face. "You have nothing to worry your pretty little head about."

AJ smiled. "Thanks Daddy." She kissed his cheek as she hopped off the counter, taking her bowl of apples with her.

"Don't forget to bring that bowl down in the morning!"

AJ knew when she rolled her eyes, her father was aware she was doing it. "I promise. Night Dad!"

"Night, honey."