Authors Note: Early season 11. Few things. Things are about to go from somewhat following the show to basically not following any part of the show. Derek is not leaving as he is married to Penny not whom he married in the show. And there will be other major differences which you shall see as the chapters continue. Happy reading

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It was Monday morning and Lorelai had just gotten to the office. Again, they had a new member of the team. After Kate had her baby she had chosen to take a year off. JJ also was on maternity leave but wouldn't be taking the full year. But they had a new member Dr. Tara Lewis. She seemed like a good Agent, but Lorelai missed JJ and Kate. She had gotten close to Kate over the year she was there. And JJ had been there since Lorelai had started only having taken one other extended time off when she had Henry. She hated that the team kept losing members and to be honest she hadn't had much of a chance to get to know Tara yet and to be honest for some reason she didn't feel the want to.

"Morning," Lorelai said.

"Morning," Tara said.

Lorelai sat down at her desk and turned on her computer and waited for it to fully start up.

"Good weekend?" Tara asked

"Yup. My fiancé and I put an offer in on a house. Had dinner out with some friends. You?" Lorelai asked

Tara told her what she had done that weekend. "Where did you and your friends go for dinner?"

Lorelai told her where.

"Very nice," Tara said. "I have heard of that place but never been."

"It was pretty good. It was a first time for me." Lorelai said

"Nice," Tara said.

Rossi walked by a few minutes later and said good morning before he went up to his office. Hotch was already in his office

Slowly the rest of the team came in and got settled.

They were called to Ohio for a case involving children being kidnapped, tortured, and murdered. They discussed everything on the jet there. After they were done discussing. Hotch got up and went to the back where his youngest agent was getting a drink from the back.

"I'm letting you know. There will be no fieldwork for you whatsoever on this case." Hotch said

Hotchner Jr. took a breath. "Well, I have asked for less field work but why can't I be involved in any?"

"You know why." He said

"Did I do something that my pregnancy brain is making me forget?" She asked

"Not recently. But I think given the case it's better you stay at the station and help from there." Hotch said

Lorelai nodded. "Yes sir." She knew that he meant because this case involves children, and it did hurt that he didn't seem to trust her, but she knew better than to argue.

She grabbed a bottle of water and went and sat down and looked out the window.

"You all right?" Morgan asked

Lorelai looked up. "Yes. I'm fine."

Morgan nodded. When they landed in Ohio. Hotch sent Morgan and Reid to one of the crime scenes, He went with Tara to another, and Lorelai went with Rossi to the station to talk to the police there and get things set up before delivering the profile to the team at the station. Everyone went off afterward and Lorelai went back to the conference room.

Rossi could tell something was off with the young agent. "Everything okay?" he asked

Lorelai took a breath. "Yes." sitting down and rubbing at her stomach.

"Nothing wrong with the baby?" He asked when he saw that.

Lorelai smiled and shook her head. "Just kicking."

"Ah. An experience like no other I have been told." He said remembering back to when Caroline was pregnant with their son.

"It is." She said before she got to work on some things on the computer.

Rossi called Hotch and told him that the profile had been delivered.

"Good," Hotch said.

Lorelai told him what he should know.

"Thanks, Agent Hotchner," Hotch said.

"No problem," Lorelai said.

"Rossi. I need you to go talk to the parents of the first victim. I will send Dr. Lewis to join you." Hotch said

Rossi agreed and the call ended.

"You fully off fieldwork?" Rossi asked

"For this case. Not by choice." Lorelai said

Rossi tilted his head.

"Agent Hotchner seems to think it is the best given what this case is," Lorelai said

"Is that what he told you?" Rossi asked surprised.

"Yup," Lorelai said.

Rossi was surprised. But right now, they needed to work on the case and Rossi went off to do what he was told. He would talk to Aaron later.

The next day a call came into the tip line and an officer came in. "Got a call from someone saying they believe they saw one of the missing girls at their neighbors."

Lorelai quickly called the rest of the team and relayed the information, and they all went from their locations. Some of the officers went to but Lorelai stayed where she was.

She worked with Penny on relaying information they would need and a few hours later they had rescued the most recent girl who was taken. And found the bodies of two others as well.

Lorelai was sent to the hospital to sit with the girl. Her parents had been arrested as they had been found to have been involved too. She got to the hospital and sat next to the bed. The little girl was four but looked no more than two and she was battered and bruised from what Lorelai guessed was years of malnourishment and abuse.

Meanwhile, Rossi and Hotch had just finished up with an interrogation and were alone in the conference room.

"Did you really tell Lorelai that she wasn't working in the field because of what this case entailed?" Rossi asked

"Not your concern Rossi," Hotch said.

"Do you have any idea what that did to her?" Rossi asked

"She's pregnant she asked for reduced fieldwork," Hotch said not looking up from his paperwork.

"But you completely took her out of the field. Because you don't trust that she could handle herself because this case involved children." Rossi said

Hotch looked up. "And what happened the last time she worked a case involving children? What did you have to do?"

"When you start doubting your agents I think that means there is a serious problem. Especially when that agent is your daughter." Rossi said

Hotch sat down. "Dave. She is pregnant. I just…"

"So, it's not really about doubting her abilities is it?" Rossi asked

"No. I admit that was just a way to get her not to fight it…" Hotch said

"Aaron. You have always been a good team leader. In the past yes there have been times when maybe you teetered on the line between father and boss at work. But on this case, you crossed that line so far that you can't see the line." Dave told him

Aaron nodded. "I did. I will fix it."

An hour later he had given the team their final tasks and went to the hospital. Lorelai was sitting with the little girl reading her a book that she had on her phone. When she saw him she looked at the little girl.

"This is Agent Hotchner. He is my boss." Lorelai said

"You can call me Aaron," Hotch told the little girl

The little girl nodded.

"Can I speak with you?" He asked Lorelai.

Lorelai nodded. "I'll be right back." She got up and went outside the room. "I got her statement. I've already sent it to the team."

"I know. I saw it. Thank you that's not what this is about." Aaron said

"Oh?" Lorelai said

"We both know when it comes to separating boss from father I have…" He started

"Struggled?" Lorelai offered

"Tethered on the line," Aaron said

Lorelai nodded.

"But this time I crossed that line. I should never have let you believe I had doubts about you doing the right thing. I wasn't thinking as a boss. I was thinking as a father of a pregnant woman. I knew if I told you that I didn't want you working in the field at all until after the baby is born you would not have cooperated." Aaron said

"So, you led me to believe you doubted me so that I wouldn't fight it?" Lorelai asked

"I know. I crossed the line. Big time." Aaron said

Lorelai nodded and went back into the room and sat down. She was not in a good place at the moment to speak to him because she would say something she regrets.

Aaron went into the room. "I have spoken to a social worker. She will be here soon, and she will find you a place to stay." He told the little girl

The little girl looked at Lorelai. "Can't I stay with you?"

Lorelai smiled a bit "I'm sorry sweetheart that wouldn't work very well."

"Why not?" The little girl asked

"With the work, I do it just wouldn't be very good," Lorelai said.

"But you're already going to have a baby soon." She said pointing to her tummy.

Lorelai bit the inside of her mouth to keep from chuckling.

"Which is another reason it wouldn't work. I wouldn't be able to give you the attention you deserve." Lorelai said

The little girl nodded with sad eyes.

Lorelai took a breath. "But I will make sure you are in a good home okay?"

The little girl nodded again. Before long the social worker was there, and Lorelai left to head out to the car. Aaron followed.

"Lorelai. I know you're angry. But we have to talk about this." He said

"No. We don't Agent Hotchner." Lorelai said.

"And why not?" Aaron asked

"Because when we get back I will be taking my maternity leave until after the baby is born. And when I return I will be requesting to be on a different team." She said before getting into her car and heading back to the police station.

Aaron was in shock. He had royally screwed up. Once his shock wore off he got into the car he drove there and drove back to the station as well.

When he got there Lorelai was already in the conference room with everyone else doing paperwork.

Rossi looked up at him eyebrow raised questioning. Hotch shook his head telling him it didn't go well.

Paperwork was finished and they all headed to the Jet and went home. When they got there everyone got off the Jet except for Aaron and Dave.

"What happened?" Dave asked

"Told her the truth. She was angry. Understandably. But didn't say much. When we were both leaving the hospital I stopped her and told her we needed to talk about it. And she told me we didn't. When I asked her why she told me that when we got back to DC. She was going on immediate maternity leave and when she returns after the baby is born she is going to request to be on another team." Aaron said

Rossi took out his phone.

Dave "Before you do anything you regret you need to take a couple of days to think. I want you in my office the day after tomorrow at eight. Please don't do anything until then."

Lorelai: "Fine. But only because YOU asked"

"Okay. I've gotten to her to take a couple of days to think about it. As for you." Rossi said.

Aaron looked at him. "You can't be serious."

"Have I ever not been serious about this in the past?" Rossi asked

"Well. No. But. I'm not your subordinate any longer. Technically your mine." Aaron said

"Yes. Your team lead. But during this case, you did not act like the team lead. You took advantage of your position to get what you want in keeping an agent out of the field and not utilizing her full potential." Rossi lectured. "You took away a chance for her to prove that she could be professional. You put the team at risk of losing one of its members and you risked your relationship with that agent and your daughter. You had her doubting her abilities which could have led her to not be at her full potential. You didn't act like team lead." Rossi continued.

Aaron looked down. He knew Dave was right. But that didn't mean he wanted to accept the consequences that the older agent wanted to hand him. "I'm not denying any of that. And I will fix it. But we don't need to go about this in the way you think we do." Aaron said

"Aaron you have tried to fix it and made it worse. If it wasn't for my interfering she would likely be in the director's office very soon to move to another team." Rossi said. "And since I had to do so I do not think that me tanning your hide is out of the realm of reason." He continued. "Not to mention team lead or not you are not immune to mistakes. You have made one. A big one. If the director was to find out that you put your position of father over the position of boss in this case you would be getting a mark on your record if not losing your position as the team lead. Would you prefer that?" Rossi asked

Aaron listened to the lecture. More and more feeling less like the boss and more like a chastised young man. He didn't say anything.

"So, what's it going to be Aaron?" Rossi asked

He didn't want to give up his position. He didn't want the mark on his file. He also didn't want to be taken in hand by Rossi, but he was sure he wasn't supposed to want to deal with the consequences of his actions. Aaron let out a breath.

Dave knew what the man had decided. It had always taken time for Dave to get Aaron to accept the consequences in the past and he knew it would be the same now.

"My office tomorrow morning at eight," Rossi said

Aaron nodded.

The two got off the Jet and headed home. Aaron got home to Lorelai packing up her room. He went and knocked on her open door.

"Lorelai. Please. Can we just talk about this?" Aaron asked sadness in his voice and eyes.

"What is there to talk about? You used your position as my boss to keep me as your daughter out of the field completely. Causing me to doubt myself. Causing me to think I had lost your trust completely. Do you understand how much that hurts? I looked up to you. I trusted you. Do you know how hard it was for me to let myself trust someone? How scared I was to disappoint and lose you? And how much I thought I had lost all of that?" Lorelai said in tears.

"I can not begin to apologize for the way I made you feel. And the fact that I made you doubt yourself. And how much it hurts me that I broke the trust you had in me. I know it was hard for you to allow yourself to trust people. I broke that. I know. But you running away. Isn't going to help repair anything. Running away from your home. Your job. Your family." Aaron said

"So, I fuck up at work and I get my ass handed to me, but you screw up and I'm supposed to just forgive you is that how it works?" Lorelai asked

"Of course not. I'm not asking you to forgive me just like that. I'm asking you not to run away from your home. And your family. I screwed up. The rest of them didn't." Aaron said

"And I'm supposed to just go on being your agent and trusting you after what you did?" Lorelai asked. "How do I know you won't make the same choice again?"

"Because like when you make a mistake there are consequences there will be for me also," Aaron said

Lorelai looked at him. "Your planning on telling the director? You could lose your job." She said. "I will not be the reason you don't have a job to provide for my brother and sister."

"I'm not going to lose my job. Not important for you to know just know that it's being handled." Aaron said taking a breath

Lorelai made a face before it clicked. Lorelai put a hand over her mouth. She knew that Rossi once was his boss, and she knew how he handled things. But she never imagined he would follow through on it with Hotch being the team lead at this point. She opened her mouth to say something, but she wasn't sure what to say so she just closed her mouth. She took a breath and moved her hand from her mouth. "I see." She sat on her bed and rubbed her tummy.

Aaron realized that she figured it out but appreciated that she didn't say anything. "You okay?" Aaron asked

"I think the stress is making the baby not happy," Lorelai said.

"That's not good." He said softly

"Well, it's not entirely my fault," Lorelai said.

"No. It's partly mine. What can I do?" Aaron asked

"Don't ever make me doubt my abilities again. And at work, I'm your agent. And if you can't do that I will have to request to be on another team." Lorelai said

Aaron took a breath. "I will work on it."

"You know I will be moving out soon as it is," Lorelai said.

"I know. But I don't want you moving out until you are truly ready. And I don't think that is tonight." Aaron said.

Lorelai nodded.

"And It would be completely unfair to Jack and Rachel. Who didn't do anything wrong." Aaron pointed out

Lorelai nodded. "You're right."

"I want you to know I'm proud of you. I know you were hurting because of me it didn't seem to distract you from doing your job. To your full abilities. In the tasks you did." Aaron said

"I could have done a lot more," Lorelai said.

"I know. I should have let you." Aaron said. "I won't make that mistake again."

Lorelai nodded.

"The baby is kicking up a story. They were quiet for the most part the last couple of days. But since you came into the room they have been active." She said. "Think maybe they hear your voice."

Aaron smiled. "You're really good at not letting the gender slip."

Lorelai chuckled. "I'm good a keeping the good secrets. The surprises."

Aaron nodded "I have noticed that yes."

Lorelai took his hand and put it on her tummy.

"Wow. They are really pushing aren't they?" Aaron said

"I know it's cliché but little soccer player maybe," Lorelai said.

"Or kickboxer," Aaron said.

Lorelai smiled and nodded.

"I know if genetics plays a role they will be kind, incredibly smart, and all around a good person," Aaron said.

"I don't think I believe in genetics playing a role in much outside of looks. Because I am nothing like my biological parents. I think nurture has far more to do with how we turn out." Lorelai said

Aaron nodded. "I think both play a role. Because I have seen the way you are. And I have seen some of how your uncle is. And I see a lot of similarities. Which means if anything your biological father was the one less like the genetics." He said "Not to mention. You've been told your mother loved you dearly. If it wasn't for the drugs and alcohol I think they both would have been okay. Not to mention. Most of your years were spent in a horrible home where 'nurture' would have turned you into an evil person. There is not an ounce of you that is anything like that woman."

Lorelai shrugged. "Maybe. But I have been told by a lot of people that you and I are alike. People who don't know the truth. People who assume you are my birth father."

Aaron smiled. "Really?"

"On a case a few weeks back. One of the officers. Said that even if they didn't know that we shared a last name they wouldn't doubt we were related because we look alike and act alike. And talk alike. I didn't have the heart to tell them there is no genetic relation." She said with a chuckle

Aaron chuckled "Well I think we probably both have rubbed off on each other."

Lorelai shrugged.

"I remember the first time I had to tell you off. After the session with the therapist. I found out you neglected to tell me about already having a therapist. I listed off a lot of the things I saw in your personality from the very beginning. Before I played as big of a role in your life as I do now. Do you remember what they were?" Aaron asked

Lorelai chuckled. "I remember infuriating."

Aaron smirked. "Yes. That was one of them."

"Smart, kind, strong-willed, determined, stubborn, hard-headed, and infuriating sometimes. Also, very guarded." Lorelai said remembered the conversation as if it had just been the day before

Aaron nodded. "Remember what I told you about all those traits?"

"Most of those traits are good. They will help you. Even the stubborn hard-headed, and infuriating can at times be beneficial. But guarded can cause issues with those who care about you." Lorelai said quoting word for word what he had said.

"Wow. Good memory." He said

Lorelai nodded. "That was the first time someone had taken the time and showed me they cared. I won't ever forget that."

Aaron put an arm around her as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"You are still all those things. Which is good. Except you have let your walls down. Around the people, you are safe to do so." Aaron said.

Lorelai nodded.

"You are not the same person you were when you came to the FBI. You are stronger, braver, smarter, and wiser than you were. You have learned so much and I think that you have taken the horrible things that have happened to you since day one of your life and taken that warranted anger and unleashed it in fighting for the good guys." Aaron said

Lorelai smiled a bit. "Thanks."

"Were okay?" Aaron asked

"Just give me some time," Lorelai said.

Aaron nodded. "Of course. Have you eaten?"

"Not since lunch," Lorelai said.

"Well let's get this baby some food." He said getting up. The two of them went downstairs.

"What do you want?" Aaron asked

"A BLT sandwich sounds good," Lorelai said.

Aaron took out the ingredient and started making it for her.

Rachel came and sat in the kitchen with them.

"Hey, dad, Can I talk to you? Lorelai can stay." Rachel said

"Sure," Aaron said

"So. Um. Brooke has invited me to go to Chicago for a week or two before the summer is over. Can I go? Rachel asked

Aaron nodded. "Well. How would you afford it?"

Rachel bit her lip.

"Um. Not to stick my opinion in but Spencer and I have yet to get her a graduation gift. We discussed. If you approve her going we can cover her plane tickets there and back." Lorelai said

Rachel's eyes lit up.

"But that's only part of what you would need," Aaron said.

Rachel nodded. "I have some savings. A few hundred dollars."

Aaron nodded. "Would you be staying with her?"

Rachel nodded. "She has a guest bedroom she told me I could stay in. She still lives with her parents, and they are completely on board with it."

Aaron nodded.

"I could do a background check on them?" Lorelai said with a smirk.

"Don't you dare!" Rachel said

Aaron took a breath "You would have an issue with it?"

"I mean. Wouldn't they know?" Rachel asked

"No. They wouldn't. I have already done one. On Brooke and her parents." Aaron said

"Oh…" Rachel said. "And?"

"And there is nothing that worries me about them," Aaron said.

"So. Does that mean I can go?" Rachel asked

"Yes. And I owe you for offering to watch Jack this summer no arguments. So, I can give you a bit of extra money as well." Aaron said

"I can also watch him this coming school year. I have a job already lined up starting in September but it's a daytime job. 7-3 shifts three days a week." Rachel said. "And I don't expect you to pay me for watching him."

Aaron nodded. "What's the job?"

"Concession stand at the community center," Rachel said.

"Wow. That's a cool first job." Lorelai said

Rachel nodded. "I'm looking forward to it. And since it's three days a week it gives me time to write as well." She pointed out

Aaron served Lorelai her BLT. "You want one too Rachel?" He asked

"No. I already ate. Jack and I had the leftovers in the fridge." She said

Aaron nodded. He made himself a sandwich as well.

"And if something comes up that Rachel can't cover for whatever reason I will be around. I think I am going to take the full year of maternity leave." Lorelai said

Aaron nodded. "Okay. Spencer and you have discussed it?"

"Well, we did discuss it to some degree. He told me he'd support whatever I wanted to do." Lorelai said

Lorelai and Aaron ate their sandwiches and Rachel went off to call Brooke to let her know she could come.

When they were done eating. Lorelai went off to shower and get ready for bed. It had been a long few days and she needed her sleep.