Aaron left her bag in the bedroom and he prepared lunch and Jack sat at the kitchen table reading the book he borrowed from Lex. Lex was hugging herself when she walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, wearing the purple sweater and jeans Hotch picked up for her and the boots she was wearing last night.

"Hi." Jack jumped from his seat and ran up to her.

"Hi," she said back.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Hi," Hotch interrupted. "Stay for lunch?"

"Oh, I should go."

"C'mon. We can eat outside." He grabbed the plate of sandwiches, chips and dips while Lex surrendered and carried Jack out. Jack talked for the bones of an hour. Both Hotch and Lex were surprised when he decided to go play on the slide.

"This place is really amazing." Lex looked around. "Incredible view, nice neighbourhood, great backyard."

Hotch chuckled. "I have a confession to make." He poured Lex some more Lemonade. "When I went by your place, I had a run in with your… well, I won't lie… Dirtbag."

"Oh god."

"I told him not to come near you anymore."

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that."

"I'm sorry. I just… you've been so miserable lately and I wanted to see you happy. Jack needs to see you happy."

"You shouldn't have had to. But thank you." Lex eyed him for a little longer. She put her head in her hands. "What did you do?"

"Nothing… I just told him that you didn't do much talking last night. Given, I didn't say it was because you were drunk." Lex smiled. "He won't bother you anymore. Unless you want him to."

Lex shook her head. She turned her head toward Jack. "Remember how simple life was as a kid? You didn't care what people thought about you; you were outgoing and wanted to live life and socialise… Now all I wanna do next week is work and sleep."

"Huh, when I was a kid, I wanted to play in the river below the house… It was… very muddy." He laughed at the memory. "To say the least."

Lex laughed. "Me too! God, I used to love the summer."

"But then you had to get all the school stuff and go back to school."

"You know, every year, without fail, 'Death on the Nile' would be on and I'd always...every year... miss the first fifteen minutes. I never saw the start of it until I left home."

"You're kidding? That's a classic."

"Ok." She leaned foreward. "It's not my fault I could prioritise." She heard Jack squeal and looked back. "He's a great kid."

"Hm. He really is. He loves you."

Lex smiled. "I get to let out my inner child." A few minutes of pure silence before Lex made any movement. "I should be going."

"We'll walk you."

Lex stood. "You don't have to. It's at least a thirty minute walk."

"Jack!" He turned back to the table and started cleaning up. "He can use the walk."

Lex scoffed. "You mean you could use the walk... Oldie." Hotch grabbed a rolled up napkin and threw it at Lex.

Jack ran up the two adults. "Can I bring my bike?"

"Sure, buddy."

When Lex walked into the house and had gotten over her fit of the giggles that Jack had gotten her into, she suddenly felt lonely.