Rom-com Gone Wrong (Hotch x Reader)// ✔

20. Halfway Up

Summary:

A dinner party after the events of the day leads to a multitude of discoveries - though you try to avoid just one.

Notes:

tw: smut, thigh riding, light choking

(leaving u all w a long one!! hope u like it! bcs they're dummies and thanks so much for ur constant support and patience, luv yall <3)

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Some time between the BAU interrogating and arresting the robbers and finding yourself on the footsteps of your brother's house – you realize you must have been in a lot of shock to agree to an impromptu dinner party with everyone.

And that means each and every single one of the profilers.

All in close quarters for an evening at your brother's house, who has also, left his kids in charge to a common friend.

But he needs to face the truth and confront these irrational fears over Spencer, out of all people, being so against dating someone with kids.

At least that is what you repeat to yourself when you let loose his two energetic kids from the car after picking them up. It has nothing to do with wanting to avoid confronting your current realization.

With a heaving breath, you push the front door open and Jane and Daniel race through, like malfunctioning missiles into space. They pick up books and toys and drop their little backpacks on the ground where everyone's shoes are neatly left over.

They had straight for the garden out in the back, bypassing the music and noise of chatter coming from the kitchen. You hesitate as you take off your shoes, dump your purse over a furniture. Tommy has already left 3 missed calls but you're not in the right state of mind to hear, nor talk about work. Something is in your mind that you hadn't had the time to smooth out with Aaron, nor the rest of his team.

They had acted as if it had been normal for you to show up; normal that you'd wanted to get into the bank building just to save his life even if they were more assured than anything that Aaron had the situation under control. They had read you. Or maybe they'd understood something from him .

"We trust him to figure out a way" Rossi had said and you'd slowly blinked, words rushing out without thinking: "I do too, but It doesn't mean we shouldn't make it easier for him?

Now though, waiting with a bag of ice you'd stupidly insisted on going out to buy for the drinks, which had lead to the detour of picking up Matt's kids, you realize what you're avoiding is the quiet realization outside the bank building.

Are you really in love with Aaron Hotchner?

"Hey"

You shake out of your reverie only to find Aaron pop his head out from the living room, the opposite side of the kitchen. You're not thrown off by his presence, but by the look on his face. Stern, frowning, intense eyes set on yours, and his voice is firm.

"We have to talk about what happened today"

He's tall and large in the small hallway of your brother's house, and it makes your breath hitch when he steps forward to stand before you.

"What you did today was..." He lets the words hang, and you catch the meaning right away – and assume it is a reprimand.

"I know, I know" you speak in bursts and stammering, "I was reckless and wasn't thinking when I heard Matt say you were in danger. Actually, it was about you getting kidnapped which sent my mind into a block. I couldn't even think straight, I just drove and wanted to see for myself---"