𝐒𝐔𝐍 & 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 | 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐰𝐨

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐗𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧.

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐗𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃,
𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧.

𝐈𝐓 hurt Aaron to see Averie like this, after three days in New York  it was finally time for her to visit her brothers grave. It was a short headstone, a small one, with his name engraved and the dates of his birth and death, "What can I do?" Aaron whispered.

He stood behind Averie, as she broke down in front of the grave, clutching bright red roses in her hand, "He's really gone, isn't he?" She whimpered, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, "He never got to meet you, he never got to give me away at our wedding or meet Mila, he never got to see his niece or any future nieces or nephews"

Aaron moved to kneel down next to Averie, bringing the crying woman to his chest, "I know, sweetheart, I know" He assured, rubbing her back with soft movements, "I wish I got to meet him, Averie, I really do, but I know he'd be so proud of you, for beating Burr, for finding yourself a new life, for being a great doctor and a loving Mom"

She melted against his chest, tears falling onto his shirt, "I introduced him to John, John killed him, it's-it's my fault, Aaron how can I survive and he doesn't?" Averie sobbed, her cheek pressed against his neck.

"My sweet Averie, it wasn't your fault, and if he had a choice, he'd pick you over him, it's what big brothers do, ok, my sweetness?" Aaron murmured against her hair, "Nothing is your fault, darling"

It takes another hour before Averie's ready to leave, her hand intertwined with Aaron's, the grip is tight and sweaty as they walk through the streets of New York. She brushed past him, he didn't even notice, Aaron didn't notice - until his wife grabbed the man, staring at him with wide eyes.

The older man looked her up and down, "look little lady I haven't got no spare change-"

Averie gulped, eyes softening, "You don't recognise me? It's me, it's Averee"

His eyes widen in shock, stuttering out words, "Averee Montgomery?"

"It's me dad, well it's Averie Hotchner now, my husband, Aaron" She pointed to the Agent at her side, "You didn't even recognise me..."

"You have a husband? Your like what, 20?"

He didn't spare a glance at Aaron, who instinctively took a step closer to his wife, arm looping around her waist, "I'm 28 in a month, Dad..."

Jensen scoffed, shaking his head, "Your brother let you get married to a man who's what twice your age?" He ran a hand down his face, "Your brother was always good for nothing, looks like you slagged yourself out as soon as you could" He insulted.

"Ok, that's enough!" Aaron's voice raised, "Your a drunk, an addict, I can smell the vodka from over here, your daughter is an amazing woman, no thanks to you and I may have never got to meet Preston, but I'm damn sure he was a better man then you"

"Who the hell do you think you are, buddy?" Jensen hissed, pushing forward, leading Averie to stagger into her husband.

Aaron was quick to pull his wife behind him, "You lay a finger on my wife again, I will have you arrested for assault and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law"

"Course ya' married a fuckin' fed!"

Averie flinched from the yelling, from the memories of her fathers drunken returns when she was young, "Aar', leave him..." She interlaced her fingers through her husbands. The two men glare at eachother for another moment, before Averie's curiosity gets the better of her, "Did you even go to the funeral?"

"What funeral? Your mother finally dead? Praise heaven" Jensen spat, as Averie clung to Aaron's hand in a deathly grip.

"Preston's funeral" She spoke, taking a deep breath, "I don't remember much of it, I was beyond drunk, J-John had to help me stand upright, but I'd have known if I saw you, was you lurking in the back?"