Hello, my faithful readers! I'm really sorry I haven't updated recently! I've been behind in homework lately and haven't had time to update! Hopefully, this new addtion will suffice for my inconsistancy!

Shout Outs:

p95000: Yes, agreed. I just thought Rossi might be a little more sensitive than he looked. And yes, with Hotch as a child new personality traits will make themselves known. And again, yes, he's Italian! They all love food and feeding others, do they not?

judithya88: Thank you much, dearie! I'm glad you think so! No, don't be dissapointed! I'll definately have him written in here. Hayley, I don't know. I'll probably have her stay more toward the background. And, yes, I guess you could say she's my creation! I'm telling you, I read in another fic that he had one, and it didn't mention anywhere that the story was AU. But, yeh know, your mind likes to think things that aren't true? Thanks for telling me about Sean, I knew I probably spelled it wrong! :D

Disclaimer: Don't give me that look! Everyone knows that de-aged Hotch lives in my basement! JK. I don't own CM or de-aged Hotch. Darn.

Seeing is not always believing. - Martin Luther King Jr.

After dinner, which I had no problem getting Aaron to eat all of and then some, I had put him, more like forced him to bed. Everything had gone fairly well until I'd told him he needed sleep if we were going into work the next day. I didn't know how Strauss was going to take this, all we told her was that he had gotten his head bashed in by the UnSub and probably got a concussion. Hence the reason we took him to the hospital. In truth, he had hit his head and attained a slight concussion, but he'd also been turned into a 3 year old child. (A/N Yes, Hotch is 3 years old. I know I said 3 multiple times in the previous chapters, and in the first chapter I said 4, but he is 3, just so you all know.)

The next day I was up bright and early, but poor Aaron wasn't. I wasn't surprised. He had been up since three in the morning yesterday and he only had a good 30 minute nap from the hospital to my cabin. I felt for the kid, even if it was his fault he decided not to sleep unless it was in a concussion induced coma.

I stood in the living room alone, dressed in my usal blue jeans, dress shirt, jacket, and black Italian loafers. I sipped my coffee I had brewed about an hour ago and decided that it was probably best to wake Aaron, even if I really didn't want to. I shuffled quietly up the stairs, replaying the speech I had for Director Strauss on Aarons "accident." She probably would think I'd finally gone senile and send me to one of those retirement homes for the elderly. I'd take my chances.

I opened the door to find Aaron curled in a fetal position with his back to me. His thick dark hair was mussed and sticking up every which way from sleep, and the blanket I'd covered him with when he'd finally given into slumber was strewn across the floor. Though I didn't worry about him getting too cold, he was wearing some cotton, long sleeved blue striped pajamas, from JJ of course. I chuckled softly and moved to rouse the slumbering boy.

"Aaron, come on dormiglione, sleepy-head. It's time to get up and ready for work," I rubbed my fingers up and down his back, gently shaking his small figure. A groan. "Come on, I know you're tired. You can take a nap later. Right now, you have to get up so we can go and explain this to Strauss." He finally rolled over to look at me with sleep glazed eyes. It was best to catch children, i.e. Hotch, in their disoriented state before waking, that way they'd be easier to coax.

Aaron squinted. "What time is it?" His voice was hoarse from lack of use.

"About 6:30," I answered, I watched as his eyes rolled back into his head before he sat up and rubbed his eyes. "You'd better get up and ready, piccolo. I don't think Strauss'll fancy it if we're late."

He nodded now fully comprehensive of his surroundings and what I had said. I smiled before I stood and watched him follow me. I had a feeling today wasn't going to go well.

Criminal Minds

"Oh, Agent Rossi you've definately told more believeable stories than you're telling me now." The blonde beast starred stonily at me, as if she had better things to waste her breath on. "Now, are you going to tell me where Aaron really is? Or do I have to suspend you today?"

I wanted to take a 9 iron to this woman's head, and Hotch who sat behind me in one of Strauss' back breaking vinyl chairs probably wanted to do a lot worse. I turned to look at the boy who glarred sharply at Erin. I could tell he was becoming extremely agitated with the directors ignorance.

"If I wasn't Aaron, Director Strauss, would I know that you have a birthmark in the shape of a crown on your backside?" I gaped at the boy who smirked triumphantly and laughed at the look on Strauss' face. Priceless.

"How do you know that, Aaron?" He gave me a look that said, 'don't ask.' I'd pry it out of him later, right now I'd just laugh at the look on her face.

"Aaron...it is you...h-how did this happen?" She clutched at her armrests from where she sat behind her desk. "W-why are you..."

"A child? Well, the UnSub Dr. Tate Rayners is the one you can thank for this...'incident.'" He looked quickly down at himself before looking back at Erin. "Can we please be dismissed, ma'am?"

"Y-yes," it came out as more of a question than a statement."But I don't want you going out into the field, Aaron. One, it's dangerous, and two, questions will definately arise if an FBI agent is seen publicly with a child when on duty."

We turned to leave. "And, Agents..."

"Yes, ma'am?" Aaron's reply was given through clenched teeth. He was obviously unhappy with Erin's orders.

"Thank you, Director Strauss."

She merely nodded before shooing us out. That was when Aaron started to fuss, loudly.

"First she tells me that she doesn't believe it me, and when I convince her, she prohibits me from doing my job!" He shouted this and the agents in the bullpen of the BAU began to stare. I veered into the central part of the BAU, and was greeted first by Morgan, Reid, and Emily.

"Hey, Rossi, Hotch?" Morgan smiled at me and chanced a smile down at Aaron. Reid waved and Emily said 'hello' while she surpressed her look of utter astonishment.. He nodded at him and then proceeded to waddle over to the middle of the bullpen. JJ and Garcia appeared seconds later.

"Goodmorning, Hotch, Rossi," JJ and Garcia said in unison.

"What do we have, Agent Jureau?" He ignored their surprised looks and turned expectantly to JJ. "Well?"

"Uhm, a woman, Kirstie Williams, Richmond, VA. Found dead in her apartment. Husband said she'd been missing for 3 days. Said, when he came home, he found her there lying in the bed. Single gunshot wound to the chest."

"Okay, team. Rossi, you and I will check out the crime scene..." He had been interrupted by Strauss who walked past.

"Wrong!" And she was gone. Everyone looked completely baffled. What was her problem?

"Fine, JJ, and Emily will check out the crime scene. Morgan and Rossi will canvas the neighbors and ask if anyone saw anything. And Reid , Garcia and I will find possible suspects by checking her background."

Strauss walked past and toward her office once more. "Right!" She said curtly before she disappeared a last time. She seriously had issues...

"Well, that was..."

"Weird," Morgan finished for Spencer.

"Let's move it team," and with that, the rest of the team and I spread out, I not so happy to have to leave Aaron but knowing better than to argue.

Criminal Minds

A/N Until next time, my doves! Read and review!