We were called into work at six this morning on a child abduction in Rockville, Maryland. Again, we didn't get the chance to talk about it.
We picked JJ up on the way, dropped Jack to Jessica, and made the drive up to Maryland.
Morgan, Reid, and Rossi bet us there, and they had already walked the scene and spoken to the parents. The boy had been taken from his bed, but there was no forced entry, no signs of a struggle, no blood.
It was an exhausting case, but we found the boy a little after four in the afternoon, taken by his uncle, so he went willingly. His uncle was trying to take out a vendetta on his brother and was going to sell the boy. This, of course, opened an entirely new investigation on child trafficking, but that wasn't for us to work. We handed it over to the domestic trafficking task force, and we went home.
As soon as we got home, I was over the awkward and uncomfortable moments. "Jack, can you please go play in your room for a little while?"
"Okay." He got up from the couch and ran down the hall to his bedroom.
Hotch looked at me and I let out a breath, "I'm sorry."
"No, Em—"
"Rossi spoke to me. He didn't tell me outright, but he made a few points and told me to think about it. You feel emasculated. That was never my intention and I'm sorry."
He shook his head, "It's the 21st century; you're allowed to tell me you love me and propose first."
I approached him and took his hand, "But you weren't raised like that, and that's okay," I nodded, "To be fair, I didn't mean to say 'I love you' first. I was drunk. I didn't want to be the first to say it.
"And I didn't think before I asked you to marry me. I know you feel that men are supposed to ask that question, and frankly, I do too, it just happened. I assure you; I want to be the girl in this relationship." I joked. He chuckled softly at that and played with my hand. "I won't bring it up again. I'll wait for you to be ready to ask me yourself."
"I appreciate that. I do have a whole proposal planned for when the time is right…"
"I don't need a big show, Aaron. I don't even need a ring."
"You will get a special proposal, and you will get a beautiful ring."
"Don't spend too much on it."
"I already did, and no, you cannot see it," He raised his eyebrows; he knew I would want to, and that made me smile. "Now, while I'm not quite ready to propose to you yet, I am ready to find a bigger place, and I found a few online yesterday." He got up and grabbed his laptop from his briefcase.
He showed me a few apartments and a couple of houses. He made sure they were close enough to Jack's school, Jessica's house, and no more than an hour from Quantico. They were okay, but I wasn't sure what to look for in purchasing a property.
"These seem fine, but I have a suggestion. Why don't we ask Morgan?"
"Morgan?" He looked at me.
"He restores and sells houses on the side. I'm not saying we buy from him, but maybe we should ask for his input, because he will know if there are any issues or things to avoid."
He nodded, "Okay. I think I would prefer a house over another apartment. Is that okay?"
I smiled and nodded. All the awkwardness was gone, thank god. "Aaron?" I asked for his attention quietly. When he looked at me, I placed a long kiss on his lips, "I love you."
After attending a few bank and broker appointments, we got pre-approval for a home loan.
For three weeks between cases, we would go and view houses. Some of the agents were a little confused that there were three of us, since I made Morgan come along to all of them with us. One even thought that I must have been with Morgan, and Hotch must have been my brother.
I stopped explaining the nature of our relationships after the first few houses. It wasn't their business, and I was tired of clarifying.
After three weeks, I had lost hope. This week, we hadn't been called out to a case. Monday and Tuesday, Hotch showed me some houses to see, and I just dismissed them. I told him I was too tired, or I didn't like the look of that one, or would just say no. Then he stopped showing me.
Morgan asked if we had found any more to look at and I told him no.
Tonight, when we got home after a long day of paperwork, Hotch made an easy dinner for us, and we spent the evening with Jack. Once he was in bed, Hotch came and found me in our bedroom. "You were dismissive this week when I showed you those houses. Are you having second thoughts?"
I sighed and looked at him, "I'm exhausted, Aaron. It just feels like we're never going to find one, and if we do, we can't even be sure that we'll get it over someone else."
"Would you prefer we buy a block and build?"
"We're not going to find a decent block within the zone we want to live in," I shook my head, "I just give up."
He sighed and approached the bed. He sat down and looked at me for a few seconds before placing his hand under my chin. He moved my head to look at him, "We are going to find a house that you will fall in love with, and I will do whatever I have to, to make sure we get it."
"Will you use your badge to intimidate other buyers to back off, and to make the realtor give it to us?"
"Absolutely."
I snickered and hit his arm playfully, "No you won't."
He grinned and then kissed me, soft and passionate. "Let me show you the photos of one I was looking at this morning, because I really think you'll love it." He rolled over to grab his phone.
I smiled as I watched him find the photos, and I looked through them. I'll admit, it was a nice house. Four bedrooms, a large study, two living areas, an ensuite and walk-in-robe, and a double lock-up garage. The yard was fully fenced and a decent size.
"Do we really need four bedrooms and a study?"
"One for us, one for Jack, an office each, and a spare room."
"You're going to give me my own office?" I raised my eyebrows.
"The whole reason we are doing this is so you have your own space. I suppose it doesn't have to be an office. You could put whatever you'd like in there."
I smiled, "You are perfect. Now put the phone down and make love to me." I lay back and pulled him to roll over me.
He held himself above me and kissed me for a while, starting slow and sweet, and getting increasingly more passionate. One of his hands twisted into my hair, and then he moved it down slowly to my breasts. He took turns rolling both nipples a few times before he continued down my torso and between my legs. He ghosted over my clit a few times as he ran his hands up my inner thighs. When I couldn't handle the teasing anymore, I moved my hand between us and grabbed his. I put my fingers over his and made him apply pressure to my clit.
I felt him smile against my lips when I moaned at his first independent movement.
Soon, I flipped us over quickly and moved down his body. He tried to protest and tell me he was ready, but I ignored him. I wanted him in my mouth, now.
I let out an appreciative hum at the taste of him. He dropped his head back and moved my hair out of my face, holding it at the back of my head.
I heard the door open and it startled me so much I almost bit. I forced my jaw to stay in place just long enough to let him out, and then I rolled off him and lay on my side of the bed.
"Daddy?" I heard Jack ask.
"Buddy, remember when we talked about knocking before coming into daddy and Emily's room?"
"No time, I'm scared!" I saw him run to the bed and jump up. Hotch was quick to cover himself and reach for his boxers. I grabbed my underwear from the bedside table and slipped them back on. Thankfully, my silk nightgown hadn't come off yet. "I heard noises. Can I sleep with you tonight?"
I heard Hotch sigh and he looked at me. I smiled and nodded, so he moved away from me and Jack climbed between us. He nestled down into the blankets, rolled onto his side, and then moved close to burrow into me. I put my arm around him and looked at Hotch for approval. He beamed at me, leant over to place a kiss on my lips, then on Jack's head, and then he lay down to go to sleep.
After Jack walking in on us last night, I had waited all morning for him to ask questions, but he didn't. Hotch had suggested maybe he hadn't seen anything or had already forgotten.
We were going out for lunch with the team today. When we got there, it was all how it usually was, comfortable and fun. Then, Jack spoke loud enough that the entire table heard, and maybe even neighbouring tables. "Daddy, why did Emmy have your pee-pee in her mouth last night?" I choked on my soda, almost spitting it out across the table. I saw the team trying to stifle their laughs, all grinning.
Hotch was at a loss for words, "Uh…well…"
"Say something…" I said quietly.
"When adults love each other, they express that love in lots of different ways. That is what…happened…last night."
Jack seemed to think about it for a second, "Did mummy ever put your pee-pee in her mouth?"
He hesitated as he looked at his son, "Look! A playroom!" Jack turned excitedly – distracted – and ran off to the playroom quickly.
"She didn't, did she?" I looked at Hotch. He didn't reply, which confirmed that she hadn't. "Did she do anything?"
"She gave me a son." Hotch tried, realising too late what he had just said. My face dropped and my eyes stung as I tried to keep the tears away. "No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry, Emily!" He called out my name as I stood quickly and walked away from the table.
I went into the women's bathroom and he was only a step behind me. "Stop," He grabbed my elbow gently and turned me to face him, "I did not mean it like that, and I am so sorry."
"She gave you a son and I couldn't. Is that it? Is that why you don't want to marry me?"
He sighed, "I do want to marry you. I will marry you. Emily, I did not mean it that way, I promise. You asked if she did anything, and that was the first thing that came out. I wasn't trying to hurt you or make you feel inferior to her."
I wiped the tears away from my cheeks, "Go back out. Just give me a minute." He hesitated before he sighed again and left the bathroom. I turned to the mirror and did my best to tidy my makeup up. Once I was done, I took a deep breath and made my way back out to the table.
"Sorry." I apologised to the team quietly when I sat. They continued their conversation without acknowledging what had just happened between Hotch and I, which I was very grateful for. Hotch's hand found mine on my knee and he tried to hold it. I yanked my hand away and crossed my arms on the table as I refused to look at him beside me. I could feel his eyes burning into me.
When our meals arrived, I stood before Hotch could to go and get Jack from the playroom. He showed me what he had been doing in there before he took my hand and I led him back to the table.
I picked at my meal, but I wasn't hungry anymore. I felt nauseous and I couldn't stop thinking about how much Hotch must have resented me to make that comment.
