champagne problems x jemily/hotchniss

forty-seven

good morning besties this is a very early morning update because i'll be in a meeting all day today and tomorrow so expect 7 am updates for today and tomorrow🤨

happy readings and stay safe besties! -salem🤍

TW: minimal swearing, mentions of hallucinations
word count: 3807

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Aaron: "She was something he knew he had missed: the flower of life." Edith Wharton.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and Beth was busy. After dealing with the kids all day, both of them were finally down for a nap. Aaron had tried to be helpful throughout the day, but his files needed his attention.

Beth had taken it upon herself to keep herself busy while the kids were asleep. And one thing is for sure; the garage was a mess that was calling her name. Beth had been moving boxes with various items from hers and Aaron's old houses.

She tried to keep hold of one box, but she let it slip and fall onto the floor. A various amount of photo albums came out from the boxes. The one that caught her eye was one that had a picture of Jack and Emily on the preview cover. Beth furrowed her eyebrows as she leaned down and picked up the album. It was full of Aaron and Emily and their days of engagement and dating photographed by the man. There were pictures of the two kissing, going out to eat, and of course with Jack. But the one that caught Beth's eye was one that fell out when the box fell.

Beth walked into Hotch's office. The man was working on some paperwork as the kids were put to sleep for a nap. She watched him for a second before crossing her cardigan over her chest and leaned against the doorway.

"What's going on with you?" Beth asked softly. Aaron turned around and furrowed his eyebrows. Beth stood there for a few seconds.

Because if you don't think she isn't even a little suspicious, you aren't paying attention.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Aaron said and turned his full attention to his wife.

"Please don't play devil's advocate with me. Something has been bothering you for months now. And I'm sick of ignoring and being the good wife and just dismissing it," Beth said and shook her head. "Does it have anything to do with this?"

Beth set down the picture in her hand in front of him. It was a picture of Emily and Aaron the night they had gotten engaged. Specifically, it was the picture that both were showing off her engagement ring. Emily's hand proudly on the man's chest as he kissed her head.

"Where did you get that?" Aaron asked and clenched his jaw. Beth pursed her lips.

"I was cleaning out the garage. And I found these old photo albums," Beth said as Aaron fought so hard not to pick up the picture. "I don't even know why I'm asking by that look on your face."

"It's history," Aaron said and moved the picture away from him. "This doesn't change anything."

"It changes everything," Beth said and chuckled bitterly. She grabbed the picture and stuffed it in her pocket. "You told me you were married before. But you didn't bother to mention it was to a prominent member on your team."

"Emily and I weren't married. We were about to get married. And that's when everything happened with Jack's mom and Emily that made her go away," Aaron said and looked up at Beth. "She left me."

"You should have told me," Beth said and just walked out of the room. Aaron was about to stand up and grab her arm, but he didn't have the strength to fight about this anymore.

He just ran his hands down his face and clenched his jaw tightly. Truthfully, he didn't have the guts to throw away those photo albums of him and Emily. He would miss those memories too much. Aaron would never forgive himself if he got rid of anything from that period of his life. He figured it was just safer to lock them away. Out of sight. Out of mind.