constellations

the other woman

Literally wrote this as a self indulgent fan fiction but it can be read as a standalone yass. Heavily and obviously inspired by The Other Woman by Lana Del Rey. Characters stray from cannon and are a bit OOC. 

playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wOoSUiP3mv5FVlJHbtZTm?si=b9458fdb6790456c 

pinterest: https://pin.it/50iDPkf 

Aaron Hotchner is a powerful man. In his line of work he has to be; an FBI agent doesn't come without acknowledging your influence over others. He doesn't mind being recognized as the withdrawn BAU chief, by the permanent scowl mark on his forehead, or by his cold-blooded stare that only the most heinous of killers would dare stand against.

It was the aftermath of a particularly soul-sucking case when he found himself at a bar in D.C. with the rest of his team. Aaron was usually the first to refuse a night of drinking, but the lingering tensions at home only prompted him to nurse a glass of whiskey for the evening as his subordinates filled themselves with excessive alcohol.

He never minded them going out, even as their boss. They were bound together by death and crime, but never did their determination falter. On this particular night he left his agents to themselves, not wanting to dampen their mood with his melancholy, and sat by the bar when he saw her.

Sprightly and bright eyed, her jovial laughter filled his head with immediate adoration and Aaron felt himself get addicted to the sound. When she caught his gaze he held it intensely, her flirtatious smile taunted him and his impulse overtook his rationale.

The rest of the team is too drunk to realize when he leaves, the young woman by his side.

Celina Hale is an intelligent girl. He recognized that about her immediately. Far beyond her years as she graduated top of her class at Yale and continued her father's legacy by pursuing a law degree at Georgetown. She was raised with hefty allowances, matured in private school hallways, and embraced her country club birthdays.

Everything about him should have made her stay away. He was 15 years her elder, a father, and most importantly, Aaron Hotchner was devotedly married. Somewhat. There was no loyalty to his wife in the way he fucked Celina. His sacred promise of fidelity only visible in the imprint his wedding ring would leave on her body when he'd grip her hips too tight or press his hand around her neck.

Haley Hotchner was a believer. She believed in herself, she believed in her dreams, and most importantly she believed in her family. Haley had married her high school sweetheart and delivered the most beautiful baby boy into this world with her husband at her side. It had been perfect, her quintessential American dream family.

She knew what she was getting into when Aaron took the position of unit chief. Long work trips, hours locked up in his office, and workaholic habits that bordered on obsessiveness all came with the job. But Haley never minded. She forced herself to be okay as a stay at home mom, essentially raising Jack as a single parent. All because she loved her husband and would do anything to keep her family at peace.

But Haley wasn't stupid. She made herself painfully aware of her husband's behavior while he was away. "A wife's intuition" she'd call it as the odds grew against her but the evidence never surfaced.

She would never mention it, never bring up the affair with bitterness or resentment. Haley continued to love Aaron and perhaps that love would reside in her forever.

So she provided for her family, cooked dinner in the evenings, cleaned up Jack's littered toys, just to ensure her own sanity. Haley couldn't afford to fall apart.