A/N I need to know. Why does Aaron have a DC address when he works at Quantico? That gives him like a 45 minute commute WITHOUT the horrible DC traffic when Quantico is surrounded by very nice suburbs? AND there's a Wegmans nearby for Christ's sake. Actually maybe not at the time this story takes place BUT STILL. I used to live in eastern Virginia and it's causing me to have A LOT of questions about where these people are living and why.

I'm just saying, he could have a ten minute commute in a nice school district for Jack. So that's what I'm going with here LOL.

Thank you for coming to my logistics TedTalk.

Enjoy the fluff.


"Faye."

She groaned into his pillows, having slept so hard once she finally did fall asleep that she hadn't even noticed him getting up.

He kissed her head and stroked back her hair. "I just got off the phone with Jack, I'm gonna pick him up from his aunt's in an hour."

Rolling onto her back she stretched and opened her eyes with a yawn and checked the clock. "It's six am." He was fully in weekend dad mode with his heavy knit blue sweater and jeans. "How's my favorite Hotchner?"

Rolling his shoulders, Aaron yawned and jokingly answered. "Tired. Oh, you meant Jack." Giving in to just a few more minutes he crawled over her to get back into bed, propping his head up on his hand and facing her. "Well he begged me to take him to the aquarium today and I didn't have the heart to say no. I feel like I haven't been around much lately."

Burrowing into his arms she closed her eyes and let the smell of his aftershave surround her. "That sounds like a great idea, Jack always comes up with the best ones."

Aaron chuckled. "Even if his ideas are two hours away and in a different state?"

"Especially then." She agreed firmly.

"Well I'm glad to hear you agree, since he practically demanded you come with us so you really don't have a choice in the matter."

Her eyes flicked back open and she leaned back, a little surprised. It wasn't that he wasn't used to her being around, but they hadn't let him in on the secret either and had maintained a purely platonic relationship around him.

"I wouldn't be so surprised after you spent an hour talking about sharks with him at Rossi's last get together." Aaron reminded her.

"Sharks are fucking cool." Taking a deep refreshing breath, she kissed him with a smile. "I love that he likes me."

"So do I." He said warmly, deepening the kiss and rolling her onto her back. He was just startling to rile her up when he pulled back with a cheeky grin, sliding back out of bed. "Go take a shower. We've got some fucking cool sharks to go see."

"Oh you-"

"I'll make some breakfast, coffee's waiting."

Beaming, but frustrated, she wrapped herself up in the comforter and shuffled into the bathroom. Ten minutes later she was coming out into the living room wrapped in a towel. "All I have are work shirts." She left out that she was pretty sure that's all she had at home too, if the piles of dirty laundry in her bedroom was any indication.

He paused, pan in hand midway through scooping scrambled eggs onto tortillas. "There's a new pullover in my closet. I haven't worn it yet so nobody will know it's mine."

"You're the king of quarter zip pullovers dear, Jessica's not an idiot."

"And you'll be wearing your coat when we pick up Jack so she'll never know."

Conceding, she went back into the bedroom to get dressed. They had at least one discussion on cover ups and evidence of their relationship a week, usually more. She supposed he was right about this one, and she much preferred the idea of wearing something of his than going home to change. Pants, passable as casual wear. Shoes? Spare tennis shoes in her go bag in case of blisters. She threw one of his under shirts over her head and tucked it loosely into her waistband, then dug around in the closet until she found a burgundy pullover she didn't recognize.

Ever the organized man, she came back out to find two burritos wrapped in paper towels and two travel mugs of coffee. One, his usual stainless steel mug, and the other, a paper to go cup from Wawa. When they committed to the bit, they really committed.

"Forget the BAU, we should've been spies." She remarked, packing her bag and dropping it by the door.

At the sink washing the morning dishes he chuckled. "I don't think spies get to have as much fun as we do."

Slinking up to him she laid her hands on his waist, slipping her thumbs under the edge of his sweater. "They definitely don't."

"Faye…" He sighed warningly as she wrapped her arms around him and started dragging her hands over his chest.

"Aaron…" She taunted.

"What are you doing?"

"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?"

He groaned, shutting off the water and leaning his head back as she got on her tiptoes and kissed the back of his neck. "I should've known you wouldn't let that go."

"How long until we have to leave?"

In one quick move he checked his watch and turned them around to press her back against the counter as he kissed her. "Long enough." His hands worked at her belt and hers worked at his. "Bedroom."


Aaron could barely believe how tall Jack was getting as his son alternated leading Faye and him around by the hand from tank to tank. It made it impossible to ignore the passage of time and not keep count of how long they'd been without Haley. Ages ago, and yet sometimes it felt like it had only been days. The only thing that soothed the sting besides Jack, was Faye. Haley had always liked her, in the short bits of time where they were around each other they got along well and Faye had known Jack since he was a baby. Things had been so different between them back then, purely professional with no thoughts of anything else. Sometimes he felt like the development of their feelings for each other was some kind of message from the universe that it was time to look ahead.

As they entered the underwater walkway Jack stared up at the ceiling while a shark swam over them. "Look Faye! Hammerhead, remember!"

Faye leaned over to Aaron and whispered, "Fucking cool sharks." then crouched down to meet Jack's level and look up at all the fish around them. "I think the hammerhead is my favorite. What about you?"

"Zebra shark!" He exclaimed, pointing to a brown spotted shark off to their left.

Aaron never thought he could feel this way again, like someone just…fit. It had been tempting enough in the beginning of things for him to consider starting something with Faye to begin with. Now he couldn't imagine calling it off for anything. She'd been good, for both him and Jack, and he liked to think that somewhere, Haley approved too.

Their trip ended with the gift shop, puppy dog eyes, and a seal stuffed animal that was as long as Jack was tall. For the first time in a long time, he felt like they were just a normal family on a normal weekend and it took everything in him to not slip his hand into Faye's as they walked back to the parking structure.

By that time Jack was dragging and Aaron picked him up well before they even reached the elevator. As they got out on their floor he shifted Jack so he could fish his keys out of his pocket. Faye's phone pinged and she jumped, checking it quickly before frowning and shoving it back in her pocket.

"Everything okay?" He asked quickly, trying not to disturb Jack who seemed to be falling asleep against his shoulder.

"Spam text." She mumbled quickly.

Then when she habitually scanned the parking structure around them the hair on the back of his neck prickled. He didn't say anything as he scanned the structure too. Maybe they were both just being paranoid after too many long nights on the job. But he wasn't going to take any chances and quickly found his keys and set to rousing Jack enough to get him buckled.

She waited until Jack's door was closed before getting into the passenger side.

From the driver's seat, Aaron looked back at Jack to make sure he was sleeping again and locked the doors. He had them out of the parking garage before he said anything to Faye.

"What spooked you back there?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you." She was tense, but he could tell she was pretending not to be. "I was just psyching myself out. You know when you're walking up stairs in the dark and you convince yourself a monster is chasing you?"

They didn't profile each other. But there were some aspects he couldn't not do. One of them was knowing her as an agent, and she'd turned that on the second her phone had beeped. But he played along, for now. He wasn't about to cross into professional lines and order her to explain anything.

With Jack asleep, he took the opportunity to reach over and take her hand. "That's what I'm here for, remember?" He gave it a warm squeeze and glanced over at her with a smile.

The two hours back were uneventful, cruising through the dark, south from Baltimore until they curled around DC and back down towards Quantico. Jack, ever the wingman, managed to sleep the whole way, so Aaron took advantage by holding Faye's hand the whole way too.

He pulled up beside her car at the apartment complex and got out with her, leaving the car and heat running. She opened the back door long enough to tell his sleepy son goodbye and he let his hand fall against her lower back as he led her to her driver's door.

Cold winter wind cut through their coats but he took the time to check that Jack wasn't looking, then kissed her. "Thank you for coming with us today."

She smiled at him softly and pressed her warm hand to his cheek. "It was the best day I've had in…probably years." She laughed. "Now go get my little man to bed, he's completely wrecked."

He laughed with her. "Yes, ma'am."

One more kiss goodnight and she slipped into her car, rolling down her window to peek out. "Goodnight. I'll see you on Monday?"

"Monday. But call if you need anything." No, one more kiss, stolen as he leaned through the open window. "Message me when you're home safe."

"Yes, sir." She teased.

"Goodnight." Wait, no, one more peck. "I love you."

It had slipped out as naturally as breathing and it startled him so much he froze, eyes snapping to her, afraid he'd stepped too far.

But she didn't miss a beat and smiled. "Love you too."

They grinned at each other, confession finally made on both their parts, each relieved and warmed to find their feelings reciprocated. But they both knew they couldn't drag the night on any longer.


Faye felt like she was so full of combating emotions she might puke as she pulled into her driveway. She'd known how she felt about Aaron for a long time, at least it seemed that way. But she'd held off, trying to let him set the pace. Now it was set, confirmed, and she was floating.

Except for the creeping feeling in her spine, anchoring her to the past through her phone.

She set the deadbolt behind her and turned on all the lights, checking every room before getting ready for bed.

Toothbrush in hand, she finally got up the courage to look back at the message again. Same area code, different number.

Did you say hello to the jellyfish for me?