This picture breaks my heart. Anyway Love you all thanks for reading!! Xoxo
~~~~~~~
Liz sat in her living room. Were they still doing dinner tonight? Of course she answered her own question why wouldn't they. She went to her room and packed a bag. One night. Just one night she'd stay. Unless he asked her otherwise. What in the world was she going to wear to dinner? And since when did she care so much? He only kissed her, probably just to shut her up, it probably meant nothing. But it meant everything and she felt it.
She checked one last time to make sure she had everything before taking one last look in the mirror. Then she headed down to the car. She couldn't control the smiles she tried to fight on the way to Aaron's. She felt like a teenager again. She liked it.
Aaron waited anxiously for Liz to show up. He and Jack were making dinner together.
"Dad?" Jack looked curious.
"What's up bud?"
"What time is Liz coming over?"
"She should be here soon." Aaron reassured his son.
"Are you going to marry her?"
Aaron looked down at Jack. He was thrown off by the question.
"Do you want me too?" Aaron quirked an eyebrow at the boy.
"Kinda." Jack said truthfully. "But are you?"
"I don't know bud." Aaron patted his head.
"You're doing great with the sauce." Aaron told Jack, changing the subject.
"Better than you would have done." Jack teased.
"Keep telling yourself that." Aaron shot back laughing. A knock came to the door. "How do I look bud?" Aaron asked Jack.
"Great dad." Jack laughed.
They both went to the door. Aaron opened it to find Liz standing there.
"Hi." She breathed.
"Hi." He greeted her smiling. "Come in."
She smiled at the both of them. "Smells great whats for dinner?"
"Spaghetti, at Jack's request."
Liz looked at Jack and gave him a high five. "Good choice bud."
The three of them made their way to the kitchen. Liz started to pick up a spoon and stir the sauce. Aaron came up and took it from her. "Nope," he said, "tonight Jack and I are the chefs."
"Alright." She laughed. She sat on the counter and watched as they finished preparing dinner.
When it was done Aaron carried both his plate and Liz's to the table. Jack followed behind with his and Liz followed the both of them and then took her seat.
Dinner was fun. No tension or awkwardness. Just laughing between the three of them, as Jack and Aaron told jokes. Liz took Jack into the living room and watched cartoons while Aaron cleaned up the kitchen. Of course Liz had wanted to help but Aaron refused.
He could here her and Jack laughing in the other room. A smile came across his face. He stood behind watching from the kitchen before entering the living room. Silently sitting in the floor in front of them.
"I would've helped." Liz said.
"I told you I got it. I liked hearing you and Jack in here anyway."
She smiled at him. Jack was laying against her shoulder, mesmerized by the TV. After another hour of silence the boy was asleep.
Aaron picked him up and carried him to bed. Jack only stirred when Aaron set him down. "Goodnight Dad."
Aaron kissed his forehead. "Goodnight Buddy."
He walked out, closing the door quietly behind him.
He returned to the living room and found Liz still sitting on the couch. He sat down next to her and just looked at her.
"It's not nice to stare." She turned to him.
"Sorry I just couldn't help it."
She blushed. Woah, that was new.
"So you didn't kiss me just to shut me up." She teased.
He took her hand. "No I didn't." He laughed. "That was only part of the reason."
"And the other part?" She raised an eyebrow.
"The other part, is because I love you." He whispered leaning in.
She smiled, leaning in towards him. "I love you too Aaron Hotchner." Their lips meant. It was a soft yet passionate kiss. They pulled away and stared at one another.
"I'm sorry." He said.
She looked at him curiously. "For what?"
"Everything." He put his head down,"everything you've been through when I was being a terrible person."
She put her hand on his cheek. "I already told you it wasn't your fault."
He sighed. "You should see a counselor though."
"Will that make you feel better?"
"No, but I think it will make you feel better, which will make me feel better."
She smiled at him again. "Okay," she said. "I'll look into it tomorrow."
He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I love you Elizabeth Ryan." He whispered against her head. She leaned into him, laying in his chest. "I love you so much."
She listened to his heartbeat. She thought about responding. She loved him too, she just didn't say it. She wanted to hear him say it again.
"Say it again?"
He laughed. "I love you." He said softly.
"I love you too." She managed a laugh and pulled away from his chest. They sat across from one another. She ran her fingers through his hair, messing it up.
"So now what?" She asked.
"How do you mean?"
"I don't know. It's a lot in one day, so now what?" She wasn't sure what she was trying to say. No one was. She just kept looking at him.
"Babe, we just take it day by day."
Babe? He called her babe. Her heart fluttered. She just kept smiling at him.
"You know," she started, "I've waited for this for a long time."
He sighed, afraid of where this would lead. "Is this not what you want? Liz please tell me now."
She looked at him. Tears brimmed both their eyes. Neither of them aware of why they were crying.
"It's exactly what I want, which is why it scares me."
He tilted his head questioning her statement, his eyes begging her to elaborate.
"Every Time I get what I want, Aaron it disappears before I even realize its mine." She took a deep breath and he wiped the single tear streaming down her cheek. "I just don't want to lose you." Her brown eyes were locked with his. He pulled her close to him. Her head against his chest. His arms wrapped tightly around her.
"You don't have to worry about that, Elizabeth, I am not going anywhere." He kissed the top of her head. "Baby, I'm not going anywhere." He said again. More as a promise this time.
She felt safe there in the moment wrapped in his arms. Thankful she was finally there. She drifted off to sleep.
Aaron stayed awake holding her. Thinking about her and the life ahead of them. He tried not to get ahead of himself but couldn't help it.
He carried her off to bed. It was early only eleven, on a Friday night. He laid her down and threw the comforter over her before crawling in next to her. His phone buzzed just has he switched off the lamp. A text from Rossi. He opened to find the picture Rossi had taken that morning at the hospital.
Rossi: Thought you'd want this
Aaron smiled.
Aaron: Thanks Dave.
He stared at the picture for a while. Smiling at it. They looked like a family. He locked his phone and looked over at Liz, fast asleep. She looked beautiful. He kissed her head again, before he too fell asleep.
