"I really like your girlfriend," Dave told his longtime friend.

Dave had met JJ at the dinner party that he had thrown mainly to introduce all his closest friends to his girlfriend. JJ had impressed him with how intelligent she was, how kind and sensible and it was clear that she adored Aaron along with his children of course. She was no Spencer Reid, but then, few were. Being a genius wasn't a requirement for dating Aaron Hotchner or anybody for that matter, which was a good thing, because while there was a lot of intelligent people in the world most of them couldn't match Spencer or his sister for sheer brains. Not to mention a lot of geniuses were arrogant in the extreme, something that Spencer and his sister were not.

The two of them were sharing lunch in a quiet little café, that catered to those at the movie studios.

"Thank you, I've been wanting to ask her for a date for sometime," Aaron said as he ate his breakfast with relish.

"So how is it working out?" Dave asked.

"Is working out fine," Aaron said. "She's exactly who I want to marry. Emily's the one that let me know about her, as the two of them have been friends since childhood. She's intelligent, tender and kind and my kids adore her. You know how careful I am about who I introduce my kids too."

"So...Emily was matchmaking," Dave said amused.

"Not precisely no," Aaron said shaking his head. "She told me that if she'd really tried that, JJ would probably reject my offer of a date, as she apparently hates being set up, even by her best friend. All she did was show me her picture and kept me informed on whether she was with anyone or not. Once he found out that Emily had been involved I'm sure best friend or not she at least got a lecture about interfering in her love life. JJ might seem all sweet and kind, but she does have a tough side and can be quite fierce."

"That doesn't surprise me at all," Dave snorted. "I heard all about what she nearly did to that paparazzi."

"That guy had it coming," Aaron said totally unsympathetically. "Not only is JJ not used to being in the spotlight, bringing up her kids was a mistake, as that made it personal and she can be as fierce as a mother bear protecting her cubs. It isn't like having kids out of wedlock is unusual in Hollywood, so that paparazzi should have left them out of it."

"Yes, I saw and that guy was lucky to escape without at least one broken bone," Dave snorted in contempt. "That guy was an idiot to personalize his questions, by digging into JJ's private life."

"Yes, he was, so he deserved having the life scared out of him," Aaron agreed with a fierce grin, one that was returned. Aaron then added thoughtfully, "I chose this life, so I knew what I was getting into, but JJ is mostly not in the spotlight, so she doesn't know how to react to all the public attention. I thought she was handling it pretty well, until that idiot brought up her kids, trying to get a reaction out of her I'm sure. When we get married...well, if we do...any reporter that brings up my kids will be hemmed in so many lawsuits that they will regret bringing them up in the first place. I'll have my lawyer hem that reporter's paper in so many legal suits that they'll leave our kids alone from then on. I can think of half a dozen to throw at them right off the top of my head and I'm sure my lawyer can think of more. After my lawyer is done the owner, the editor and the reporter in question will be hemmed in so many lawsuits they'll apologize very publicly and never go after our kids again."

Dave knew that Aaron would adopt JJ's twins with their mother's permission of course, so they could truly be one family. That was just the way Aaron Hotchner operated, as his friend was just to honorable to do anything else. He would never allow JJ's twins to feel unwanted or unloved. He was already a great father to his three and Dave knew very well that the youngest Trista wasn't really related to his friend just Haley, not that that mattered to Aaron.

"That's the way to do it," Dave said approvingly. "That'll teach them about bringing up someones kids or any other minor, especially from somebody who could own the paper if they cared to. That paparazzi was an idiot and got a reaction alright, though probably not the one he was expecting. He'll know better next time, unless he really is a complete idiot," Dave commented and Aaron nodded. "So I also heard that she tried to date Frederick Spinelli," Dave added.

"That was somebody that her friend tried to set her up with," Aaron admitted. "From what JJ told me it went wrong from the start."

"So I heard," Dave said chuckling. "What did Spinelli expect when he suggested she just dump her twins on her mother permanently? I mean really, he's usually not that idiotic, but he sure was that time."

"No, I just think, its because he's sure of his desirability, that any female will do what he demands. I will admit he's handsome enough, but with the personality of a skunk. He's arrogant, rude, demanding. He's caused more trouble on movie sets then a lot of other actors and a lot of them are temperamental. Also most of the females he dates, don't have any children I'm sure."

"Well, he is a good actor, not that that excuses his attitude," Dave said.

"Yes, he is, and that's the only reason that I give into most of his ridiculous demands. He's highly temperamental, a lot like Haley in that way," Aaron said.

Dave didn't comment, as he'd had a front row seat for the rather tumultuous divorce. Dave was actually surprised that Aaron had put up with Haley's cheating for so long. When that cheating had actually produced a baby that was clear from the beginning wasn't Aaron's that had been the last straw for his friend.

"So are you going to ask her to marry you?" Dave asked.

"Oh...eventually," Aaron said.

"Why eventually?" Dave asked, confused. "You love her, she loves you so what's the problem? I mean she really loves you. You, yourself just described her as kind and tender."

"I rushed things with Haley all those years ago," Aaron tried to explain. "I just want to make sure of her feelings before we take that final step."

"Aaron, I can tell you right now that JJ is nothing like Haley," Dave said shaking his head in amazement at Aaron's obtusement. "I only talked to her for a few minutes at the dinner party, but I can tell you right now, that you have chosen well. She isn't like your former wife at all. She's loyal and kind. It's clear that she adores her boys, just by how she talks about them and by extension that usually means she's good with children. You just told me yourself that your children adore her and children can usually sense when someone is not what they seem."

"Well, I did tell her that I wanted to make it permanent and I meant it," Aaron admitted after moment. "She knows that Trista isn't mine biologically and told me I had done the right thing. You know what some women would have said if they knew that Trista and I don't share blood."

"They would want you to locate the father and send her back to him," Dave said immediately. "Or demand you drop her off at an orphanage or a hospital."

Hospitals were safe havens and any new mother or father for that matter could drop a child off at one and not face any charges, though that was really newborns only, not four, nearly five olds.

Actors, or humans in general could be childish, demanding, selfish and arrogant. Hollywood people could be all four, with towering egos the size of Australia as well. Actors, especially lived in a world of makebelieve, as they had to act out whatever part they had been hired to play and make it believable.

"That's at an absolute minimum," Aaron agreed with a grimace.

"That ought to tell you right there that she's a good person," Dave said. "Do you really think that she would put up with being in the spotlight if she didn't truly care for you? She's used to living a nice, quiet, basically normal life, especially for someone who works around a movie studio, with all the actors, directors and other people that keep the place running. So what's the problem? It's not usually like you to waffle so much."

"I just don't want to make another mistake," Aaron admitted. "You know what Haley did to me."

"Yes, I do and I'll tell you again when I told you then. Haley was an idiot and I thought you never should've married her. I could tell from the moment I met her that she was temperamental like a lot of the actors that I work with and also suspicious of every female you hung around with, even though it's part of the job to schmooze with people and not all those people are going to be male."

"No, a great many of them are not," Aaron admitted relaxing. "You're right. I already love JJ so much and I'm nearly positive she feels the same."

"Trust me, she is totally different from Haley. She doesn't have a temperamental bone in her body for one thing. She won't make demands of you like Haley used to, and she doesn't seem like she's unreasonable. I suppose if she gets pregnant it's possible, but other than that I don't see her as whining all the time."

"We can forgive her for being temperamental if she's carrying my child," Aaron said his lips twitching. "We both know that pregnant women can be unreasonable."

"I wouldn't tell JJ that, not unless you want to get your butt kicked," Dave said smiling.

"I won't," Aaron agreed his lips twitching again. "I'm not stupid."

"Now, you need to get off your butt and propose to that lovely lady, before she believes that you don't love her like she does you. Also, don't you think all your friends know how you feel about her considering you aren't usually one to display just a temporary girlfriend. In other words, you don't have dinner parties with somebody you don't intend on making a permanent part of your life. I know that some people would do exactly that, but not you."

"You know me so well," Aaron said with a wary twist of his mouth. "I knew what people would think if I had that dinner party with JJ as hostess."

"Well then," Dave asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Alright, Alright," Aaron gave in, because he knew his old friend was very right. "You've convinced me to do what I wanted to any way before my attack of doubt stopped me."

"Everyone has doubts, Aaron, even big time producers," Dave said, "but you need to charge ahead, especially if you know you're doing the right thing. Yes, you had some trouble with Haley, and that's bound to leave anyone with doubts about relationships, but you have to push through them unless you want to live the rest of your life alone. Something that wouldn't be my choice, especially if you are lucky enough to find love. True love is a rare and precious commodity and something that is very hard to find in this business."

Aaron was nodding at his friend's words, because it was very true. Finding true love in Hollywood, which was basically the makebelieve capital of the world was very hard to do. There was lust, desire and attraction, but those emotions often never lasted, not without true friendship at least.

He and JJ had become good friends over the last few months, and even if their relationship didn't work out he knew they would remain friends, which was a hard thing to do in this business.

"Good, I will expect to hear an announcement any day now," Dave said pleased. "I just want you to be happy and having a wife that loves you and that you return that affection makes this kind a life easier to bear."

Aaron nodded, because Dave was right and he knew it. The two old friends parted ways after Dave had paid for lunch with Aaron protesting. Finally, Aaron gave in just rolled his eyes, as he knew how stubborn his friend could be, but was determined to find a way to pay him back.

Dave simply gave him a look causing Aaron to sigh in fond exasperation.

~~~Aaron and JJ~~~

Review folks! Please, as you'll inspire me to write more stories! Just one more chapter to go!