Rossi came back to the hospital early the next morning to check on Liz. He hadn't realized Hotch and Jack had stayed the night and he stopped in the doorway when he saw the three of them asleep. He snapped a quick picture careful not to wake them.
He turned to leave realizing he wasn't needed if Hotch was there but Hotch woke up right as Rossi turned around.
"Dave?" Hotch questioned.
Rossi walked back into the room. "I was just checking in, I didn't realize you were here, sorry if I woke you."
"I wasn't asleep, actually I was up all night."
"Alright well, since I'm here, and you're tired how about we grab a coffee from downstairs? We can have a little chat." Rossi suggested smirking.
"Sure." Hotch stood up and the two men quietly left the room.
Once down stairs and at a table with their coffee Rossi eyed Hotch who seemed to be out of it. "Hotch?"
"Yeah sorry." Hotch snapped back into it.
"Tell me what's going on."
"How do you mean?" Hotch asked.
Rossi raised an eyebrow, "it doesn't take a profiler to see that you love her. So tell me about it."
Hotch smiled, it was small but there.
"I don't know Dave, it's weird all these years I've known her and now she's got me wrapped around her finger."
Rossi chuckled. "You've been wrapped around her finger since she was six. The thing is that you're just now realizing you love her. You need her, Aaron, I see it, the team see's it, everyone see's it. Just now you smiled when I brought her up. You need to tell her."
"I can't." Hotch sighed.
"And why is that?"
"Does it not occur to anyone else that she's nineteen years younger than I am?"
"It does, we just choose to ignore it. There's this crazy thing called love, Aaron, in which age becomes just a number." Rossi explained.
"She'd never do it."
Rossi shook his head and scoffed. "You're wrong, I've seen the way she looks at you, she loves you but you're both to stubborn to say anything."
Hotch thought of the night she came over and made cake with Jack. How happy they were in that moment. He started smiling without realizing.
"Aaron, look at yourself. The last time I saw that look was when you were with Haley, I didn't see you like this with Beth."
"I was just thinking about how her and Jack are together, she's so good with him, she always has been."
"All the more reason. That kid loves Liz."
"No doubt about that." Hotch agreed.
"Just do yourself a favor and tell her how you feel. It pains me to see the two of you hide it."
"I'll try." Hotch took a sip of his coffee.
Rossi stood up and went to leave, patting Aaron on the back on his way out. "Thanks Dave."
"No problem, I'll see you at work."
Rossi left but Hotch stayed in the small, hospital cafe and thought about what Rossi told him.
Meanwhile, Liz was starting to wake up. Her eyes opened to discover Aaron had left, Jack however was still cuddled close to her, wide awake, watching cartoons. "Morning bud." She kissed his head.
"Good morning Liz." He smiled up at her.
"Where'd you're daddy go?" She asked him.
He shrugged. "I don't know, he was gone when I woke up."
"Hmm." Liz nodded.
"Liz? Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah buddy what's up?"
"Are you and my dad going to get married?"
Liz chuckled. She thought about for a minute, her and Aaron against the world, formally raising Jack together, the very thought made her smile.
"I don't know bud."
"Oh." Jack responded disappointment covering his face.
"Can I ask you something else?"
Liz laughed. "Shoot."
"Do you love my dad?"
Liz felt heat run to her face, she imagined it a nice shade of red.
"I love you and your dad more than anything." She smiled at Jack who beamed up at her.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"I love you too."
Liz kissed his head and he turned back to the TV.
After a few minutes he spoke again. "Dad talks about you a lot."
Liz giggled. "Does he?"
"All the time." Jack looked up at her again, "I think he loves you too."
Liz just smiled unsure what to say and then the door opened, it was Aaron.
"Hey look who's awake." He said referring to both of them.
"Hey you, where have you been?" Liz asked.
"Rossi and I had coffee downstairs. How are you?"
"I'm alright, ready to go home."
"We can leave when you are ready, the nurse just has to bring the discharge papers."
As if on cue the nurse walked in with a clipboard. She handed it to Liz. "Just sign the bottom and you're set to go."
Liz signed and handed the board back to the nurse.
"Thank you." Liz smiled at her, then the nurse left.
"Looks like you gotta get up bud." She nudged Jack a little who got up off the bed and walked to Aaron.
"Are you coming over?" Jack asked.
Liz looked at Aaron then to Jack, "I have to go home and get some rest." She admitted.
"You're more than welcome to stay with us, if you want some company."
Liz wanted to but she knew Simon wouldn't have it, not after the drinking incident. "I'll tell you two what, how about I come over tomorrow night." She suggested.
They both nodded, then went to the lobby to wait for Liz. She quickly got changed and made her way downstairs to the lobby. "Ready?" She said once the two of them were in view.
"Yes." Aaron led them out to the car. The drive to Liz's was silent. Aaron parked the car and walked her inside.
"If you need anything, call me alright." He said.
"I will. Thank you, Aaron."
"You're welcome Liz. Also please take tomorrow off, I know you don't want to but please will you?"
Liz rolled her eyes.
"Actually it's an order." Aaron added.
"Fine, only if we have dinner at your place before I stay over."
"Deal."
"I thought you didn't make deals." Liz teased.
"I guess you're an exception."
They both smiled.
"Get some rest...that's also an order."
"Don't have to tell me twice I'm exhausted." They both laughed.
"Do you need anything while I'm here?"
Liz scanned the room then looked back to Aaron. "I think I'm set, shoot me a text when you two are home safe."
"Will do."
Aaron went over and hugged her tightly. She savored the embrace taking it in. "Thanks again." She whispered.
"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow." He pulled away and released her. And just like that he left. A part of her was hoping he'd insist on staying. And she hoped he'd walk back through the door and kiss her but he just drove off.
He texted her twenty minutes later letting her know they'd made it home safe.
The day dragged on. Liz grew bored, she wanted to call Aaron but thought against it. Instead she called Simon.
He answered. "Hey kiddo. What's up?"
"Nothing." She replied.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine, just tired."
"Ok, well did you need something?"
"No, just kind of bored. Are you home?"
"Yeah."
"I'll be over in ten minutes."
"Alright." They hung up. Liz went for her keys only to realize they weren't there. Her car was still at the BAU.
"Dammit." She mumbled.
She called Simon again.
"I need you to come get me, my cars at the office."
Simon laughed. "Okay, be there in a minute."
He drove and picked her up then took her to the BAU, they remained silent. She met him back at his house and spent the day there.
"I think you should go to therapy again." Simon said as they ate take out at the breakfast bar.
"I really don't want to Simon, I told you it was one time thing."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You promise?"
"I promised you this two days ago."
"Please?"
"Yeah Simon I promise." She rolled her eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me young lady." He chuckled.
"What are you my father?" She retaliated. There was some truth there though, they both knew that, he was the closest thing she had to a father.
"Will you play?" She asked looking over at the piano in the corner of the room.
"Do you want me too?" He questioned.
"Yeah." She loved hearing him play, it was one of her favorite things. When she stays here, she feels at home and she falls asleep to the sound of him playing the piano. It's like the world doesn't exist and her thoughts become quiet and she's at peace.
Simon got up and walked over to the piano. He started to play, Canon in D an original by Pachelbel, also one of her favorites. He played forever, she could've sat on the couch and listened forever. She waited for him to stop, hoping he wouldn't but expecting, but he kept playing song after song.
After a while she fell asleep on the couch. Once she was completely asleep, Simon got up and kissed her forehead, then sat on the other couch in silence until he too fell asleep.
He was happy she's stayed the night. He could be sure she stayed away from the drinking but he'd also hoped she would've stayed with Aaron.
~~~~~
So I'm a big fan of Hugh Laurie and he's kind of what I saw as Simon. Also hope you're enjoying this sorry if it sucks! Much Love xoxo
