Born For This // Aaron Hotchner

Four

Traveling for the Hotchner children was always an adventure. Jack was the first one up after only having fallen asleep four hours prior. He made sure all the suitcases were lined up at the front door ready to be loaded into the car. Then he started a pot of coffee and made breakfast burritos for the plane ride.

Light footsteps could be heard coming into the kitchen. "Jack? What are you doing up early? It's 4am and the flight doesn't leave until 8am," Aaron inquired.

"I couldn't sleep. I know the twins don't like to wake up early so I thought I'd prepare some food to go as well as some snacks. Addie always forgets to eat breakfast. We don't have any checked in bags so I was planning on letting them sleep in a bit. I thought maybe I could get a head start on prep. We downloaded movies and already checked in yesterday morning."

Aaron chuckled, "And you're TSA pre checked which means that the security screening won't take as long."

"Exactly, I'm just trying to prepare since we're always rushing to leave on time. James and Addie have their iced coffee ready for them in the fridge and the breakfast burritos should be enough sustenance for the flight until we get to campus. I know for a fact that they will not be happy if they do not get their coffee. They are like gremlins until they drink caffeine."

"Are the twins doing well in the dorms? I know they're both in single rooms but I just don't get to hear much about them."

"Well considering they spend every weekend at my apartment I'd say it's going well. I think it's a bit difficult for them to get along with their peers. After all they are still minors. I'm pretty sure a lot of their peers are worried about going to jail. If Addie or James do anything their record will be cleared at 18."

"Don't tell your mother, but if you want to give them a bit of a college experience feel free. I'd rather they do it with you than strangers," Aaron told his son. "If you need anything all you have to do is call. You also have the number of the FBI unit chief in the area in case there's anything off."

Jack knew exactly what his father was referring to. His mother was head of homeland security and he was running the FBI as director. Both parents were in a position where they made a lot of enemies. Jack still remembered his childhood and the circumstances in which he had met his mother. "I know dad. I'll make sure to protect Addie and James."

Aaron handed his son three envelopes. "Here's some spending money for each of you. I labeled them. Make sure you don't give them to the twins until you arrive. It should hold them up for the last month. Even with their love for take out and snacks."

"Dad, you don't have to give them so much. We still have half of what you gave us the last time."

"Consider it in case of an emergency. It's been a little too quiet recently for my liking. It's always good to have some extra cash on hand."

"How have cases been recently? I know you still consult on cases but you aren't active in the field anymore."  Jack was unsure to the extent of danger his parents put themselves in daily life.

"No, but I still have to pass the physicals. Your mother as well even though she works in homeland. They still loan her to consult on cases whether FBI or terrorist. We kinda just dable at this point. The FBI is currently eying to nab Addie post graduation," Aaron told his son.

"Addie mentioned the job offers although I didn't know the extent of them. Is she looking at offers from FBI, NCIS, Interpol, Homeland, and the military?"

"Everyone," Aaron confirmed. "Hell even the labs want her for forensics. I'm sure Aria will have her pick as well. Although, I am worried about James. He doesn't seem to know what he wants to do post graduation."

Jack nodded, "James seems to thrive in the academic setting just like Uncle Reid. I think James just needs time. Maybe he can get a masters and then decide what he wants to do?"

"I think that would honestly just buy him an extra semester to decide. The amount of academic classes the twins have taken surprised me. I didn't expect Victoria and Spencer indulging them in summer school and community college courses from a young age would mean having them graduate this early," Aaron sighed. "I thought they wouldn't leave home so early, but your mom and I have done the best we could to prepare them for the world."

Jack knew his father was woried about his siblings. It hadn't been easy with all that had happened to the family. While Jack wouldn't admit it, he could still remember when his mom returned from her 'vacation' when he was a little boy. "I know dad, but mom and Prentiss have trained James and Addie in self defense, Morgan taught them to diffuse a bomb, and Grandpa Rossi taught them to profile. They know more than they should at their age. If you don't think they are prepared for the world then I don't know who is. I think that you should just relax and let them be kids. I can take care of them. We've had the entire family teach us what to do in any situation. I think it's time to relax a bit."

Aaron knew that his son had a point. That Victoria and him had done everything they could to prepare their children. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it is time to put a bit more trust in the twins. They haven't given me any reason to doubt them."

Aaron and Jack heard footsteps and saw Victoria come into the kitchen. "What are you two doing up so early? I thought we had to be at the airport at 7," She asked.

"We do, but I just wanted to make some breakfast burritos for the plane," Jack responded. "Addie gets hangry when she doesn't eat and I thought it would be better if she actually had some food."

Victoria took a seat at the island. "Well them maybe we should just wake them up and have some waffles with extra whipped cream and strawberries. I'm sure the twins would love that."

"Aria does not need the extra sugar," Aaron warned her. "She's still recovering from the hot chocolate with extra whipped cream."

Jack asked, "Waffles?"

"Waffles," his parents responded.

"I'll get the waffle iron while Aaron prepares the batter," Victoria stated as she went into the pantry.

"Jack do you want to whip up some fresh whipped cream? We still have some heavy whipping cream in the fridge," Aaron asked his son.

Jack nodded and immediately got to work. Once they had their breakfast spread ready at 5:30am they thought it would be a fun idea to wake up the rest of the family with the lovely sound of banging pots and pans.

"For the love of all things holy stop that noise," Addie shrieked. 

"Would you rather the noise or a bucket of cold water," Jack taunted.

"And I'm up," she immediately responded. "Is James awake?"

Aria laughed, "He's already downstairs eating waffles."

"Waffles?" Addie looked like a kid who just found out it was Christmas. "Oh I better get down there before James finishes them all." 

It was the last Hotchner breakfast before they would be spread out into two different states. Aaron sighed as he knew that meals like this one would be a luxury until the semester ended. For now he decided to enjoy the moment rather than worry about the future.