Siblings

The Con

"What the hell do you mean 'After Comic Con'? You can't be serious!"

"JJ, I'm not putting Comic Con before you, I'd just prefer not to be sore and sweaty while I'm in costume," Spencer explained as he adjusted his suit and grabbed the keys to the car. He paused when he saw her pout. "I'll be home in a bit, I promise," he assured quietly.

He checked his surroundings, finding no one else in the room with them, then pecked her cheek. As he turned to the door, she spoke up.

"You never did hold up your end of the bargain," she gestured to the keys. He twirled them once in his hand.

"Not my fault you gave me the silent treatment instead of your chem notes," he saluted. She scoffed. Before he closed the door all the way he peeked his head in, "Oh, and wasn't Hotch's birthday yesterday? Go spend time with him."

A look of pure surprise crossed her face.

"Ooo, someone forgot her best friend's birthday. You should take care of that," Spencer teased before finally shutting the door.

Of course she'd remember Aaron's birthday; She had sent him a text the day before. That wasn't what surprised her. What surprised her was the fact that Spencer actually encouraged her friendship with Aaron.

Spencer was insecure, and it didn't take a brainiac to see it. Ever since Aaron had the conversation with her in the car, she saw it more and more. He was jealous, possessive, protective--kind of how a puppy is with its favorite toy. But he never really acted on those feelings. He could be a bit arrogant when he was an expert in something, but most of the time, he was mature. It was something JJ always had admired about him, at least when he wasn't having one of his mood-swings and retreated back into his shell.

She recalled the day Spencer and Aaron officially met. It was back in ninth grade, when JJ's dad finally lifted the "No Boys Ban" (minus Kevin). Even after countless attempts of telling her father that she wasn't dating, her dad vetoed the very concept. That was until Diana had Aaron as a patient a couple months prior. He fell directly on his wrist from a too-rough tackle at football practice and sprained it. Diana convinced JJ's dad how sweet and respectful Aaron was. Eventually through Aaron, JJ ended up meeting Derek and then getting to know Elle.

Over time, JJ's dad grew to really like Aaron, saying that he reminded him of his younger self. He soon saw him like a son of his own.

That first time though, in freshman year... that was around the same time that Spencer started shutting JJ out and favored going over to Kevin's house more than hanging out with her.

-

"There it is," JJ pointed to her house from a few blocks away, walking with Aaron from the bus stop.

"Oh wow," he said, ducking below a low hanging tree branch just in time. "It's just one story?"

JJ's eyebrows rose. "Yes, Hotchner, got a problem with it?" she teased.

"What? Oh, no. That's not what I meant. I just... I dunno, it'd be weird to think of my own family living in a one story house again. When we did, I had to share a room with Sean." He turned to JJ with a grin, "Do you have to share a room with your nerdy step-brother?" She smacked him on the arm lightly.

"No," she said with a mocking-low voice. "I do not share a room with Spence."

"Ohhh, I forgot. You ditched me in middle school for Spencie-poo. It's a bit weird to like your kinda-almost-brother, but whatever makes you happy, JJ."