Oxytocin [aaron hotchner]

twenty two

It was about 6:30PM when Aaron got home that night. Today had been a desk day for him as well, as there was a lot that still needed to be done. He was nearly done with everything though by then, so that gave him a bit more peace with everything.

"Hey buddy" Aaron said gently to his son who as on the couch. "Hey daddy, I missed you!" His son exclaimed, reaching his arms out. Aaron bent down and picked Jack up, the little boy wrapped his legs around his dads torso and his arms around his neck. Aaron kisses the top of his head.

Jessica was in the kitchen cleaning up and he walked over there, Jack still clinging onto him. "Hey Jessica" he said. "Oh hi Aaron. I didn't hear you come in." She was putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

Aaron just rested his chin on his sons head, not really responding to his sister in law. "You okay Aaron? You look drown in thought."

"Daddy is always thinking." Jack chimed in, putting his little hand on Aaron's head and giving it a gentle rub. Aaron's lips curled into a small smile, "I'm sorry sweetheart. Daddy should turn his brain off when he's with you."

"Do you want to watch a movie with me?"

Aaron thought about it for a second. There weren't many nights that he got home at such a reasonable hour, so he decided that it was okay. Jack needed to be in bed by 8PM so there was still some time. "Okay, you choose a movie and I'm gonna get something to eat. Because I haven't had dinner yet."

Jack smiled in respons and jumped out of his fathers arm, running to the living room. Aaron took off his suit jacket and put it over the nearest high chair at the kitchen island. "Aaron, you don't seem well to me. Yes you're always thinking or pondering but it's different. Somethings troubling you." Jessica spoke, closing up the dishwasher. "And I wish I would've known you were coming home, I would've made you something to eat."

"No that's okay, Jessica. Thank you. I'll find something." He sighed, rubbing his fingers over his temple as he leaned against the counter. "I've been having some... trouble with one of my agents. We had a dispute today and it hasn't been resolved."

Jessica nodded her head. "Is it about this Y/N girl perhaps? Isn't she one of your agents?"

Aaron's heart skipped a beat at the sudden mention of her name. He had never mentioned Y/N to Jessica before so how could she possibly know? "Jack likes her. That's how I know her name."

He looked down at the floor, his right hand doing the rubbing thing with his fingers that he always did when he was feeling anxious. "Jessica, I-"

"Oh Aaron," she breathed and placed her hand on his shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. "Do you honestly think you could go on without Hailey forever? It's okay. She would want you to be happy."

"I'm not, we're not-" Aaron chimed in, suddenly feeling defensive at the mention of Hailey's name. He couldn't believe Jessica immediately brought her up. Part of his doubt with Y/N came from thinking about Hailey. He still thought of her so much, he saw Hailey in Jack all the time. He just didn't know whether or not it was too soon to be doing something like this. Whatever this is.

"Okay, if you say you're not." She said, continuing to clean up without giving him a second glance. "But you deserve to be happy, or get the chance to figure out what it is that you two have. Or could have. It's been a little over three years, Aaron. It's okay."

"Hmmm" he sighed.

She turned around again, looking into his eyes now. "And Jack adores her. He talks about her, like frequently." She chuckled. "At first I didn't know who he was talking about until he kind of explained."