Criminal Minds x Reader

Only One [A.H]

Happiness comes from many things. An orange sunset at the end of a long day, seeing the sunrise by the sea, a hot coffee in your hands on a cold winter night or finding a cool pillow in summer. To you these things gave joy, cheered you up, but only one thing warmed your heart. Only one person. Aaron Hotchner.

Your story had started by accident, maybe after a few too many glances or maybe after a sweet talk at the right time. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke he did so well. His presence was calm by your side, like an embrace that you felt perpetually on your skin even when your bodies did not touch at all.

You would not even have been able to tell how then love for him amplified and doubled, and how that strong feeling in your heart had eventually extended to his 4-year-old son as well.

But how it had happened didn't matter much to you, because spending evenings at the Hotchner house was all you had on your mind.

You were sitting on the couch, your legs folded under you, and your laughter echoed throughout the living room. Your boyfriend was sitting straight beside you, a smile on his face because seeing you so happy was wholesome and he knew it could make the meanest man in the world turn good.

"It's not that funny" he exhaled, lips curving.

"It is!" squealed Jack as he stood up and began to run around the couch. "You do look like him, dad"

You closed your lips, trying to keep yourself together. You were watching cartoons when one of the characters had appeared with a frown and a 'he looks like you Aaron, you know?' escaped your lips before you could even stop it.

The man tilted his head and shot you a look, trying to keep a straight face to prove his point. "I don't make that face"

"You do" you replied gently, resting a hand on top of his. "But that's one of the reasons I love you so much"

He looked at you. He squeezed your hand and shook his head moving closer to you, kissing your lips. It was a short peck but that didn't stop Jack from stopping on his toes and covering his eyes. "Ew"

You laughed again before getting up and heading for the kitchen. You took the plate with the treats you had brought and removed the plastic wrapped around them. "Would you like a cookie buddy?"

You did not receive a verbal response, but you heard the sound of tiny feet approaching you. "Cookies!" he then shouted as you handed him one.

Aaron meanwhile had turned around, leaned one arm against the back of the sofa, his body facing you. "What do you say to Y/N?"

The child did not stop chewing and mumbled a 'thank you' with his mouth still full.

"You're welcome" you said, ruffling his hair.

You returned to the living room, and gave one to his dad as well. "Thank you" he muttered just before breaking it in half and handing a piece to you. You had thought of him, but as always happened you had forgotten about yourself. He didn't mind sharing, anyway, or at least with you who had taken his complicated life and untangled it for him to feel love again.

You positioned yourself at his side and he wrapped an arm around your body. Not thirty seconds later Jack was standing before you with a pout and pleading eyes. "Can I have another?"

You looked at Aaron, who answered without looking at you. "No. Only one"

The little one's face contorted and that's where you leaned close to his ear. "Meet me in the kitchen in five minutes" you said not even really trying to whisper.

He laughed contentedly and ran away. Then you heard something, or rather someone, squeezing your side. "I heard you, love"

Happiness comes from many things. A clear sky after a storm, a good book on your bedside table or the feeling of your feet in the water as you walk by the ocean. And now you knew what things warmed your heart. One man, one child and only one cookie.

You smiled at him, shrugging. "I don't know what you're talking about, handsome"