Hotchniss One-Shots

budget meeting

Jack had fallen asleep halfway through Finding Nemo, head tucked under Emily's arm, the empty popcorn bowl balanced on the coffee table. The soft glow from the TV flickered across the living room, and for a moment, she didn't have the heart to move.

It was peaceful — a rare word in her life. The BAU never slept, and neither, usually, did she. But tonight, with Jack's small hand resting against hers and the distant hum of the refrigerator breaking the quiet, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. Still.

Aaron had texted earlier — Budget meeting running late. Don't wait up.
She'd replied with a thumbs-up and a photo of Jack smiling through a mouthful of popcorn. He'd sent back a small smile emoji. For Hotch, that was practically a love letter.

She smiled faintly at the thought, adjusting the blanket over Jack as the credits rolled. His breathing was steady and soft, and she brushed a hand over his hair before gently slipping out from under him.

She stretched, careful not to wake him, then moved quietly into the kitchen to tidy up the dishes. The apartment was warm, faintly smelling of cinnamon from the candle Garcia had given Hotch "to make the place less dad and more domestic."

Emily washed the bowls, wiped the counter, and glanced at the clock.  11:35 p.m.
Still no sign of him.

She shouldn't care. But she did.

She told herself it was because she'd promised to stay until he got home — someone had to make sure Jack didn't wake up alone — but if she was being honest, it wasn't just that. It was the way the apartment felt when he wasn't in it. Too still. Too quiet.

She sat back down on the couch, meaning to wait another ten minutes. Maybe fifteen.

The sound of a key in the lock pulled her from sleep.

Emily blinked, disoriented, the TV screen a blue haze in the dark. Her neck ached, and for a second, she didn't remember where she was. Then the door opened, and Aaron stepped inside.

He stopped when he saw her, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

"What time is it?" she mumbled, voice rough with sleep.

"Almost one a.m.," he said quietly, setting his briefcase down. "You fell asleep. You may as well stay."

He sounded calm, but there was something softer under the words — gratitude, maybe. Relief.

Emily rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the haze. "Sorry. I was waiting up to make sure you got home."

He shook his head, moving toward her. "You didn't have to."

"I know," she said, and smiled. "But I wanted to."

He sighed — that small, familiar exhale that wasn't quite frustration. "You shouldn't be this good at taking care of other people."

"Bad habit," she said lightly.

His gaze lingered a moment longer than it should have. Then he looked away, glancing toward Jack's room. "He was good?"

"Perfect," Emily said softly. "Fell asleep halfway through the movie. Out like a light."

"Thank you," he murmured, meaning it.

She shrugged, still fighting off the yawn creeping up her throat. "Anytime. He's a great kid."

"He adores you," Aaron said, and when he looked back at her, his expression gentled even more. "You didn't have to do this, Emily."

She met his eyes, smile small but real. "You'd do it for me."

Something flickered across his face — that quiet understanding they always shared, the kind that didn't need words. It sat between them now, heavy in the soft light.