Even though their hair is streaked with more grey than it held just two years ago doesn't mean that a sixty year old Aaron Hotchner and a fifty three year old Emily Prentiss won't kick your ass.
In fact, their more likely to tag team their way into kicking your ass. You learn a lot working in the Behavioral Analysis Unit.
And maybe they won't because as stated ' you learn a lot working in the Behavioral Analysis Unit.
"Listen buddy, you've official surpassed my realm of knowledge."
Aaron Hotchner never got to be the cool dad who went on the field trips and everyone loved. No. He was the dad that everyone pitted. He was the single dad who's job threatened his life on a daily basis. Grandchildren were a new chance to be cool. To be like everyone else.
"I know you're lying, Pops." They're great kids. One'sgraduating this year from college with his Associates Agree. The youngest, fifteen with her father's know it all attitude (or as Emily would say: "Just the Hotchner mentality"), and quick mouth. "You did the jaw thing."
Hotch looks cross but Emily high fives her grand daughter. "I didn't think you'd actually heard me tell you that," Emily grins smiling back down at the food she's preparing.
"Okay. You got me but I'm not telling you this one." Hotch sets his arms across his chest and waits for her to try again.
Their days of soccer practices, quick kisses before work, yelling about the coffee pot, and hospital bills are pretty much over.
There's very small chance Hotch will ever experience carring a small child on his shoulders as he runs around trying to keep the little league soccer team together.
They won't have to inroll anymore children. Pretend not to care when they start school on the fall. Chase small children around the playground. Or even just pick out the shark gummies at the store.
Well, maybe not the shark gummies. They both really do like those.
She scowls down at the paper again. Eyebrows turned down towards her nose and the corners of her mouth drawn tight.
"I just don't understand it!" She cries hiding her face in her arms.
Hotch looks up to Emily and Emily squints her eyes and he knows what she means.
He gets up from his chair and comes around to squat beside her. He puts a hand on her back and pats it. "Alright," he sighs. "Let me see it again."
She lifts her head, and there are tears running down her cheek. "Pops, I'm nothing like Luke. Dad's gonna be so disappointed."
Hotch just looks back at her.
Emily comes over and pushes Aaron aside so she can get to their distressed granddaughter. "Hey baby," Emily pulls her in and rubs her back. "Why do you think that?"
She hiccups and shakes her head. "Luke's good at everything. He never had to study. He didn't even have to take notes." She wipes the tears away with the back of her hand," and I can't even understand government." She liaghs in a way that is pure sarcasm and hurt," and my grandparents were freaking government employees and you were a lawyer, Pops!"
Emily shakes her head. "Honey, that doesn't matter." She cups her granddaughters cheek. "Luke needed help. He hated asking for help so he was strange about how he'd come across and ask, but he needed help."
She sniffles again and turns to Hotch. "Will you help me, then?"
He nods and picks her pencil up. "Judicial branch," he points to the words on her paper. "What do they do?"
She sniffles once again before nodding. "They're judges, right?"
Hotch nods and smiles. "See? You're better than you realize."
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"They're asleep?" Jack came back earlier than expected. He's promised to be back from his shift before nine but it's only seven.
"They were pretty wiped out," Emily steps aside to allow her adopted son in the room. "You're father's on the recliner, she's on the sofa."
Jack smiles and walks towards the living room. "Want me to wake him up?" The years of sleep deprivation caught up with his father and getting the man up from where ever he'd fallen alseep had steadily gotten harder and harder.
"I'm not saying you should but I'm certainly not saying you shouldn't." It's so odd loving someone. The longer you love them the harder and stranger it gets. You've seen this person through so much. Seen them laugh until they cry. Cry until they can't anymore and you've seen them love. They love so hard it hurts.
"...use my son against me." Hotch mumbles as he limps past her to the kitchen. All of those old injures come back to bite you in the ass.
"Don't be like that," Emily replies. "We'll go to bed when they leave."
Jack comes back to the hall, his tired yawning daughter under his arm, and smiles. "Night guys. Thank you for watching her."
They see them out and then Emily guides Hotch back to the bed.
"Would you look at that," Emily mumbles plucking a hair from his head. "You've got greys popping up everywhere."
He swats at her hand as she plucks another," would you stop! Jeez!"
She gives him a kiss before crawling into bed. "Come on, big guy. Let's get some sleep."
He complies through a yawn," fine but I hate it when you call me that." He pulls her close," makes me feel like a dog."
She laughs and lays down on his shoulder. "I love you, Aaron."
He smiles and holds her closer. "Good. I love you too."
I literally feel like the worst. I'm supposed to update everyday but I don't. Guys I'm sorry.
If you have a challenge for the next it's "Dealing With Children"
I already have a pretty solid idea but still...
-SH
