Part 2

"Good morning, sweetie," Sandy Jareau greeted her daughter about 10 o'clock the next morning. "How did your date with the handsome Aaron Hotchner go?"

"It went great," JJ said smiling, as she remembered. Aaron had taken her to this little romantic restaurant that wasn't too far from the desert place. The tables had a been lit up by a candle in the center, the lighting of course was dim.

"He took me to this really romantic restaurant in Alhambra. It's just a little place that stays open late. The food was spectacular, but he warned me not to fill up. He then took me to this coffee and dessert place where that's all they serve. They apparently have desserts from around the world. We shared three desserts, and he also ordered something called café de olla that was really delicious. I could easily get addicted, even though I'm sure it has a ton of calories."

"Well, that sounds like a really good first date," Sandy said pleased.

"You have to go sometime, mom," JJ said. "The desserts were spectacular and they café de olla, was one of the best drinks I've ever had. It's served in earthenware mugs, as apparently that's traditional in Mexico. It's supposed add to the taste."

"So what's in it?" Sandy asked

"Just water, whole coffee beans, a Mexican brown sugar called piloncillo, Mexican cinnamon, and unsulphured molasses. That last is optional, but it gives it a nice depth."

"I might just have to try it," Sandy mused. "I've lived in Los Angeles all my life and I've never even heard of it."

"It's really good so long, as it is fixed correctly and a lot of places don't fix it traditionally. Someplace's even call it café de olla and it's really not."

"Well, it sounds like a good first date to me," Sandy said.

"It certainly was," JJ agreed, smiling brightly. "I've had a crush on him for several years, but I never thought he'd look at little old me. I didn't even think he knew I existed."

Sandy nodded at this for the movie studio that her daughter worked for was huge and employed thousands of people, in various positions, so she could understand where JJ was coming from.

Aaron Hotchner was the head honcho at the studio and a good man from all reports. Yes, his name and life had been all over the papers, just a few years ago, but that was Hollywood and you couldn't keep a divorce quiet about such a prominent man, in a prominent position. He might not get as much play in the papers as some of the stars, but he was still in there plenty, as his life was raked over by the media.

"So where are my two babies?" JJ asked.

"Playing in their room," said Sandy. "I got them up, dressed and fed and they were asking where you were. I told them you were still sleeping, as you were very tired and asked them not to bother you."

"I'll go see them, let them see I'm alright," JJ said. "They are to young to understand I'm seeing someone."

"You needed to get a boyfriend," Sandy said with just a hint of exasperation in her voice. "You can't just go to work and come home everyday. You needed a significant other, someone to spend time with outside your family. Even if it doesn't work out at least you would've tried."

"There is always Emily," JJ protested mildly, "and Alex."

"Friends are all well and good, but you need someone else, a man," Sandy chastised her daughter mildly.

"There aren't enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done, so explain to me how I have enough time to go boyfriend shopping?" JJ asked her mother in exasperation. "I spend every free minute with my sons and while I appreciate you're here to take up the slack, it's still my responsibility."

"There is such a thing as delegating, sweetie," Sandy told her daughter firmly. "I just want you to be happy and while you have a very fulfilling job, one you enjoy, it's not the whole answer to a happy and fulfilled life."

"I know mom," JJ sighed giving in. Her mother was right and she knew it, "but it really hasn't been that long since I've had a date."

"Nearly three years," Sandy reminded her daughter. "As far as I know, you haven't even had any one night stands, much less a boyfriend or significant other. You have been lonely, even if you hadn't realized it yet. I mean you're over 30 and a lot of people are married by this time, though I know many are not."

"There was that actor that Emily tried to set me up with more than a year ago now," JJ reminded her mother.

"I suppose," Sandy said, thinking about the man her daughter had dated briefly. "I didn't like him. I'm glad that relationship didn't last. He was arrogant, rude, full of himself and anybody who asks you to just dump your kids on me doesn't deserve your time, if they can't understand you love your twins and you aren't about to do so."

JJ sighed and didn't bother to argue, mostly because she knew her mother was right.

"Let's hope my relationship with Aaron goes well then," JJ said. "He's a good guy, but I've known that for a long time."

"According to the papers he had three kids of his own," Sandy said.

"Yeah, a boy and two girls, Jack, Olivia and Trista. Jack is the oldest at nearly 11. Olivia is about three years younger then Jack and then Trista is the baby and is nearly 5 years younger and was something of a surprise according to Aaron. I'm not sure what happened there, but I suspect that maybe Haley forgot to take a birth control pill or something. People forget that kind of thing all the time if they have busy lives."

"Or it's possible that Trista isn't Aaron's," Sandy suggested. "Haley did cheat on him according to the papers after all, so it's quite possible that the baby is whoever she cheated on him with."

"That's possible," JJ decided. "If that's true, I can see Aaron keeping the baby. He'd never take out any anger he had at his ex-wife on an infant. He just isn't that kind of man. He wouldn't resent a baby of another man and would still treat her or him as his child. I don't think he would bother to try to find the father, because he might not be a good guy and Jack or Olivia would never understand losing their baby sister, especially Jack. Even if the guy that his ex-wife cheated on him with was a decent human being, well, Aaron probably wouldn't want to give the baby up, because he's the type to fall in love with him or her after they're born. I can see him loving the baby, even before it's born. I can see him resenting or hating Haley, even being furious at her for not being loyal, but to resent or hate a baby that had nothing to do with it, and was simply a byproduct of the cheating, no."

"Plenty of people wouldn't see it that way, you know," Sandy said.

"I know," JJ agreed, as she finished her breakfast that her mother had fixed. "I'm rather surprised that Haley left her children with Aaron though. I would have thought she would have fought for them."

"From all I've heard, Haley Hotchner is spiraling downwards," Sandy said. "Life in the spotlight is hard and some people can't handle that after awhile. Your private life is hardly private for the most part, especially if you're out in public. It could be as simple as she started not to be able handle the pressure or it could be something else."

"Aaron thought she was jealous that he made more then she did. He told me last night that he discovered in high school he had no talent for acting, so went into the other side of the business. He still loves movies and how they're made, but he never would've made a good actor," JJ said. "Actually, I can see Aaron fighting for custody for all of his kids, even if one of them isn't biologically related. I have no doubt he would've won, because not only does he make much more, he would just have to prove that Haley was incapable of looking after them, which shouldn't be too hard if all I've heard is true."

"Well, Haley Hotchner is hardly a big-name star," Sandy said. "She's mostly had bit parts, so yes, I can see her resenting that Aaron did better in his side of the business then she did. It happens all the time, especially in Hollywood. I can also see your Aaron fighting for custody of his kids. If he's a good father he would never allow Haley to have them if she's really going downhill. Children need love and support, not a mother who is slowly disintegrating. So many things can happen to young children whose parents don't watch them closely enough. They could have an accident in the kitchen, get into the bleach or some other household cleaner and drink it, which might kill them or might just put them in the hospital."

Both mother and daughter agreed on that and so JJ finished her breakfast and went to see her two boys.

~~~Aaron and JJ~~~

"This is really nice, Aaron," JJ said looking around the large condo. There were six bedrooms, which left two free, a large kitchen and dining room combination and a den. There were bathrooms attached to each of the suites, so really, it was quite large, about 4000 ft.² It was certainly a nice place to raise a family.

"Thanks, I've been thinking about buying a house for me and my kids," Aaron said. "Somewhere with a big backyard for them to play in. All of them like to be outdoors, particularly the oldest two and it's not often I can take them to the park. That's usually Jessica's responsibility."

"They're really cute and adorable kids," JJ said. She had met them several times over the last several weeks that she had been dating their father. Aaron had yet to meet her kids, but that was coming soon. Today, they were with their aunt, who had the day off.

"I think so," Aaron grinned.

JJ grinned, as she knew Aaron adored his kids, even though Trista didn't look a thing like Aaron or Haley for that matter or at least not much, because she had seen photographs. Not to mention her picture had been blasted all over the papers, though hose pictures were in black and white, not color.

JJ believed that her mother's theory was spot on and Trista shared the DNA of another man and she took after him in looks. Of course, it was very possible that someone in the family had dark red hair and green eyes, but JJ suspected that there were mostly black hair and dark brown eyes in the Hotchner family, though Jack had gotten his mother's blonde hair. Olivia had gotten her father's black hair and dark brown eyes, but JJ had to admit despite the blonde hair Jack looked a lot like Aaron so it was clear that they were related. Trista was the only one that didn't look a thing like Aaron and only a little like Haley.

"So what has you so deep in thought?" Aaron asked with a teasing smile.

"You don't want to know what I'm thinking," JJ teased right back.

"I'm going to get it out of you," Aaron said, starting to tickle her sides until she was laughing so hard that she was getting a cramp.

"Alright, alright, Stop! I'll tell you," JJ said, as she gasped, trying her best to get her back.

"So?" Aaron asked prepared tickle JJ again.

"I don't want to upset you, but I was thinking Trista doesn't look a thing like you or Haley. Well, she looks like Haley a little I suppose, at least from the colored photos I've seen, but not much."

"Ah! I was wondering when you would mention that," Aaron said not upset at all.

"You were waiting for me to bring it up," JJ realized.

"Yes, I was. You're one of the very few that I have allowed to meet my kids and I knew you would immediately notice that Trista didn't look a thing like me or Haley, as you're intelligent and observant. I'm very careful about who I introduce my kids too," Aaron chuckled. "However, I'm glad you decided to mention it on a day when the kids aren't present."

"I would never bring up such a delicate question in front of your kids," JJ protested. "It would only upset them I'm sure."

"The truth is, that I know Trista isn't mine, at least not in her DNA. Haley did cheat on me, several times, after all. When she was born she didn't look a thing like me. She already had the beginnings of red hair that has only darkened over the last few years to where it's now more auburn then it was when she was born. That doesn't mean, she's not mine in every other way, except biologically."

"I figured that," JJ said. "I was thinking your family ran to slightly olive skin, black hair and brown eyes, while Haley was blonde haired and blue eyes, as is her sister Jessica."

"There are some blonde and blue eye members of my family, my mother and my brother for instance, though Sean's is more of a sandy blonde instead of a pure blonde like yours. Before you ask, there is not any red hair and green eyes in my family at least not within the last 10 generations or so and I don't know about Haley's. We do have some Irish blood, but not enough to produce constant redheads, as it's a recessive gene."

"Which is where Jack gets his blonde hair," JJ murmured.

"Yes," Aaron said. "Jack looks a great deal like me despite the blonde hair and the blue eyes."

"It doesn't matter if Trista is not yours biologically, you still love her, that should be all that matters. It let's me know that you're willing to take in another man's kid and treat them with love, which means you'll accept my two and not treat them as if they're an inconvenience or a bother."

"No, I won't," Aaron promised. "If our relationship gets that far I'll adopt them with your permission."

"Well, that's for later," JJ said. "My two will fit right in, as they're nearly 3 now, so they'll be the youngest of the kids."

"They won't be for long, because I'd love to get you pregnant and have at least a couple by you."

"We'll see," JJ said. "I'm not against it, but I hate to say this, but there should be a prenup agreement that at least has a clause about you paying a certain amount of child support if we divorce. I'm not saying that's going to happen, but since you never know... I make plenty to support my two, but having three or four would be a bit much, especially with how expensive California, particularly Los Angeles is."

"I am intending to marry you for life," Aaron told her seriously. "With Haley, it was different, as I told you before. It was just infatuation and probably lust with her, but not really love. I was willing to be with Haley for the rest of my life, but her cheating was the last straw, especially when she got pregnant with another man's kid. I can forgive a great deal, because I know that a lot of people cheat on their spouses, especially in Hollywood. Cheating once might be a mistake, like if she was drunk for instance, but to make it a habit meant that she had no loyalty, to me or to her kids. She got pregnant by another man after all and while I love and adore her, she still doesn't share my DNA. I never cheated on Haley, not once, in all the years we were married."

"Alright then," JJ decided beyond pleased. She had to admit that she was falling in love with Aaron Hotchner, he was exactly the kind of man that she needed for herself and for her children. He was loyal, gentle and kind. He obviously adored children, as he treated his own with love and affection and the fact that he was so handsome certainly did not hurt, though it wasn't a requirement. He was willing to take in another man's kid and treat her as his own, just because Trista had been borne by his then wife, which told her all she needed to know about his ethics and personality. He did what was best for his kids...always, something a lot of parents didn't do.

The two of them had been dating for six weeks now, and JJ knew that she was already in love with him and had been even before he'd asked her for a date. She had seen him from a distance of the studio and thought he was very handsome, but he had never figured her feelings would go anywhere. She had assumed that they were just a dream, a fantasy, not reality. She had apparently been mistaken about that and she was happy that she had been, as Aaron Hotchner was everything she could want in a husband. He was loving, gentle and kind. He obviously adored children, and was generous to a fault. She could see herself being very happy with Aaron Hotchner for the rest of her life, as he didn't have the ethics of Will thank goodness. He was too honorable to do what Will had done, much too honorable to cheat on her, which was something she had known for a long time.

"I suppose that since you've introduced me to your kids I should introduce you to my two," JJ said finally coming to a decision.

"I would love to meet them," Aaron said. "I was wondering when you were going to introduce me, but I understand your caution where your kids are concerned."

"Yeah, they might have been an accident, but that doesn't mean I don't love them," JJ said.

"Of course not," Aaron agreed. "Will might've be a bastard, but that doesn't mean you don't love the kids he left you with, you would've had an abortion otherwise or left them in an orphanage."

JJ looked into Aaron's eyes and saw that he truly did understand.

"Marrying you will give me incentive to find a bigger place," Aaron added after moment. "While the kids love it here, everybody, except for possibly Trista will understand the need to move. With the addition of your twins we run out of room and if we want even one more we'll have to find some other place. I just didn't see the point of moving really, since there was plenty of room, for me and my three. I know my three have been wanting a big backyard they can play in, but there is always the park for that. I just didn't want to go to the trouble."

"I can certainly understand that," JJ agreed. "It's so much trouble to move unless it's absolutely necessary, not to mention expensive. We both have busy lives after all and it takes time to shop for a house, to have it painted and to buy furniture."

"Money doesn't matter," Aaron said. "I have more than enough to buy half a dozen houses if I wanted to."

That just told JJ that he was very wealthy, which wasn't really a surprise, as he was at the top of his game and studio producers made big bucks. Of course, she was at the top of hers too and pulled in quite a bit, but nowhere near a producer or one of the actors.

Aaron finished fixing lunch, not allowing JJ to help and put it on the table. Both JJ and Aaron understood that they would take their relationship to the next level, but there was no rush as far, as they were both concerned. They wanted to make truly sure they were suited to each other before they made it permanent.

Aaron had rushed things with Haley and he knew it and he wasn't going to go there this time. Luckily for him, Jennifer more than understood his caution, as she was the exact same way, mostly because of her kids.

~~~Aaron and JJ~~~