Liz took a deep breath before walking inside the restaurant. The warm air hit her when she made it inside and she quickly located Aaron who was waving subtly at her. She hadn't thought through what she was going to say exactly and she was nervous. Here goes nothing she thought. She slowly walked across the place and sat across from Aaron. "Hi." She greeted him.
"Hi Liz." He called her Liz again. What was his deal? Whatever at least it wasn't Ryan. "How are you?"
"Fine." She wanted to skip the small talk she hated it. But to be polite she asked, "how are you?"
"Good."
There was silence, kind of awkward at that.
"So what do you want to talk about?" He asked finally.
She felt like she was on a first date.
She took a deep breath and looked up to meet his eyes. "Us." She whispered hardly audible.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Us?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, shoot."
"Where do I start Aaron? Honestly," she sighed, "I feel like we're strangers."
Aaron turned to look out the window and thought for a minute before turning back to Liz. "Yeah, me too."
"So what? What are you going to do?" She questioned.
"I don't know Liz."
"Can I ask you something then?"
"Anything."
"Do you still even want to be friends?"
"Why wouldn't I want that?"
"I don't know Aaron. You just don't seem to care anymore. You haven't seemed to care at all in the past few years."
"Listen I'm sorry." He said agitated, he just stopped and looked at her for a minute then continued, "why is this coming up now?"
"Because I'm tired of acting like everything's okay, when there's clearly something wrong."
Aaron sighed but Liz continued, "so let me ask you again, do you even want to be friends anymore? Because I can make arrangements with Jessica to have Jack dropped at my house once a week instead of me coming to yours. Then the only time we ever have to see each other is at work."
"Don't do that. It's just been hard for me Liz, yeah I want be friends." He wanted to say more. To tell her he wanted to be more than that but he just stopped talking.
"Alright." She too wanted to tell him more but kept her mouth shut. They ate their meals in silence.
At some point Aaron stopped and watched her. "I'm sorry." He said. "I'm sorry I'v been such an asshole to you. You come over and help with Jack and I just ignore you and push you away."
"I get it, you've had a rough time. It's just I knew you better than anyone, and I could've helped you through it, but you decided that wasn't what you wanted."
"You didn't deserve that."
"I didn't but I understood."
"I'm sorry." He mumbled again.
"Stop apologizing. The truth is, Aaron, I don't think I could ever be that mad at you, not even if I tried."
Silence.
"I'm glad we had dinner." He said offhand.
"Me too." Liz smiled at him.
"Would you like to come over and have dessert with Jack and I?"
"I'd really like that."
He smiled at her, content with where they now stood yet still wanting more at the same time. He'd tell her eventually but first he had six years of a broken friendship to mend.
As for Liz she too was happy with where they stood. But she had hoped to break through and kick down a few more walls Aaron put up.
The waiter dropped the bill at the table and both of them went for their wallets. "Please, I got it Liz." Aaron offered.
"You don't have too."
"I want too, it's the least I can do. "
She smiled at him again. "Thank you."
They made their way outside to the cold air. "You still coming over?" He asked.
"Of course. I'll see you in a few minutes." She walked to her car and he went to his without saying another word.
When she made it to his apartment she knocked on the door. Jessica opened it and greeted her. "Liz? How are you? What are you doing here, I thought you weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow?"
"Hi Jess, I'm good. Aaron invited me over for dessert we just had dinner, I take it he's not here yet."
"I am now." Aaron came up from behind her.
They made their way inside. "Thanks for watching him Jess, I'll see you Monday morning?" Aaron said.
"Yes." She smiled. "You guys have fun." She flashed a subtle wink at Liz, who only laughed and shook her head no.
Then Jessica was gone and Jack came out from his room. His eyes widened at the sight of Liz. "Liz!!" He ran up to her and hugged her.
"Hi buddy."
"I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow."
"Thought I'd surprise you." She said hugging him back.
"It was my idea." Aaron added. "Also another idea of mine, how about we make cake?"
"Seriously? You're going to bake dad?"
Aaron laughed and so did Liz, "I never knew Aaron Hotchner was a baker." She added.
"I'll have you know I'm a great baker."
Liz and Jack looked at each other. "Suure!" They said in unison.
He took the box of cake mix out of the cabinet and read the back. "This doesn't seem that hard."
"Alright, then Jack and I will be in the living room and leave you to it."
"I can handle this." He laughed.
"I believe you." She winked at Jack.
The two of them made their way to the living room and popped in a movie.
After about ten minutes they heard a loud crash.
"Shit!" They heard Aaron yell.
They looked at each other and tried to hide their laughter. "You alright in there?" Liz asked.
"Just awesome!" He called back sarcastically.
Two minutes later he came out covered in cake batter. "How the hell did you manage to do that?" Liz laughed.
"I'm actually not sure."
"I thought you said you could handle it dad?" Jack said between laughs.
"Can you stop laughing at me, and come help me?" Aaron asked defeated.
Jack and Liz got up from the couch and went back into the kitchen.
"Leave it to the experts." Liz stuck her tongue out at Aaron.
"Yeah dad."
"Whatever, you two are mean." He teased.
"You're the one who covered yourself in cake batter." Liz retorted.
After they cleaned the mess Aaron had made they started over. Jack and Liz that is. Aaron sat quietly on the end of the counter and watched them. He loved how they interacted with each other. Liz was so good with Jack, she always had been and Aaron loved that. And Jack was most excited when Liz was around. God I love her Aaron thought. He pushed it away though, just like he always did.
"What are you smiling at?" Liz asked pulling him from his thoughts.
"I didn't realize I was smiling at all." He admitted.
"Well, you should more often." She smiled. So should you he thought to himself, but he only smiled at her again.
"Well, the cake should be done in like thirty minutes, Jack and I are going to watch some of our movie, you coming?"
"Yeah." He hopped off the counter and followed the two to the living room. Jack and Liz claimed the couch, leaving Aaron to sit on the floor. They sat and watched quietly giggling at the disney movie. The timer in the kitchen went off.
"I'll get it." Aaron offered.
"Um, remember what happened last time we left you alone in there?" Liz teased. "I can get it." She got up and went to the kitchen and pulled the pan from the oven.
"Jack, you want to come decorate it?"
"Yeah!" Jack came running in followed by Aaron.
"What about me?" Aaron made a puppy dog face.
"Of course." Liz said.
When it was all decorated and ready to eat Liz pulled a knife from the drawer to cut it.
"Nope." Aaron stopped her.
She looked at him strangely.
"We are going to eat it like that." Aaron went over and pulled out three forks putting the knife away. "But first get a picture with your creation."
Jack and Liz got together behind the cake and smiled while Aaron took the picture. They all stabbed the cake and pulled a piece away.
"Mine would have totally been better." Aaron commented teasing the two.
"You wish." Liz laughed.
The night seemed to move to fast. In all honesty Aaron didn't want Liz to leave. She had said goodnight to Jack and sent him off to bed. Now the she and Aaron were standing in the living room.
"I should go." she said grabbing her purse.
"Are you still stopping by tomorrow?" He asked hoping she was.
"As planned."
"Okay." He smiled. She was standing by the door.
"Goodnight Aaron."
He walked over to her put his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She mimicked the unexpected gesture.
"Thanks for a fun night." He whispered. "And the cake was delicious."
"You're welcome." She didn't want to moment to end. She wanted to stay in the moment forever, surrounded by his scent, and held in his arms, but she had to go home. She released him and took a step backward.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled and walked out the door.
"Goodnight Liz." He said watching her leave.
She managed to hide her smile until she was sure she was out of his sight. She pulled her phone out and dialed Simon. "Hello." He answered on the second ring.
"I'm coming over." Was all she said.
