Just Like A Family

CHAPTER 2

Aaron's POV

Y/n had given you her other earbud and you stuck it in your ear fumbling to make it comfortable. You give her a small smile letting her know it connected & she hits play on her phone returning her gaze to the window and you return to paperwork. Every so often looking up and stealing a glance or two from her beautiful green eyes that complimented her dark hair and pale skin. You remembered during the interview 5 years ago, her hair had been down her back in two Dutch braids and she had a cream colored sweater with a black skirt that made her eyes pop even more emerald than normal. A few weeks later she had come in having buzzed her hair short on the sides and a little longer on top. You remember thinking how beautiful she looked that day and that you scolded yourself for thinking these things about a colleague. The sound of leather moving pulled you from your thoughts, seeing y/n standing, making her way to the small kitchenette in the back of the jet. Returning your focus to the case files in front of you, the song in your ear fades and the next one starts when you hear coughing from behind you. Whipping your head around, you see y/n's face flush and eyes wide. She hurries back to the table swiping her phone open and changing the song quickly all while muttering apologies about how Inappropriate that song was. A soft chuckle escaped you shaking your head and returning to the files.

Y/n POV:

Pilot:

*Guys we'll be landing in about 30 minutes, so just make sure everything is situated and put away*

The cabin lights dimly light the interior of the jet & the team slowly rises from their somewhat peaceful slumber. Aaron handing you back your earbud closing the files in front of him. He gets up looking for his briefcase, walking towards the front of the jet where the team bags are kept. You pop the other bud back in the case tossing it to the bottomless pit of your backpack.

"Y/n any plans for the weekend?" Prentiss asks from the row in front of you.

"Probably not, providing we don't have a case I might go home to visit my sister. She's been asking for me a lot apparently."

You reply with a sad smile. Your younger sister Adri held a special place in your heart, being an only child for 16 years made you bitter but when she was born it was like you were a different person. Happier, more loving & more passionate. You tried to keep her out of the BAU talk because she was so young but the team knew she was your lifeline and talking about her made you soften up. She lived up in New Jersey with your father and stepmom. They were nice but it came with a lot of issues. You rarely got to see them but when you did it was heavenly to be around you baby sister.

"How is she doing? She's what 6 now ?" JJ questioned turning her head to face you.

"Yeah, she's starting first grade already, can you believe it?! I remember when she was born. She was so tiny and I was so scared I was going to break her."

The jets landing gear came out signaling the approach to the airport & everyone got settled in their seats, Hotch returning to sit across from you. Your screen lit up with a message from Penelope in the BAU group chat. It was set up so that we could talk freely about whatever without the bureau monitoring anything and it didn't have "mom and dad" aka Hotch and Rossi in it. We were free to talk shit without getting scolded.

BAU BADDIES✨

PGarcia: Hey my crime fighters! When you land let's meet at the bar on 5th and start this weekend right!

EPrentiss: sounds like a plan PG providing Hotch doesn't make us stay to do paperwork and tells us it can wait till Monday.

DMorgan: I'm always down babygirl, you don't have to ask me twice.

JJareau: I can't. Will is going to visit family and I'm gonna be home with the boys.

SReid: No thanks guys. I'm gonna pass. Thanks anyway though.

The jet lands and the cabin lights get brighter allowing us to see where our go bags and backpacks are.

"Y/n did you get Garcia's text? You should come tonight and then you can leave tomorrow for Jersey." Morgan says grabbing his bag from under the table and handing Spencer his bag from the bins above the seats.

"Idk Morgan, it's already late & by the time we get back to the office and get paperwork done it's gonna be almost midnight. And it's a 4 hour drive back home one way. I'll think about it okay ?" You say hoping he'll leave it alone. It's not that you didn't wanna go with them, you knew that Aaron wasn't going to be there and you also didn't want to be hungover on the drive home tomorrow. There's nothing worse than trying to drive on I-95 north with a hangover and traffic. You grab your backpack from your feet and walk to the front grabbing your duffel bag from your original seat you had taken upon boarding the jet in Seattle. Hopping down the steps to the jet you see the two SUVs parked at the hangar, deciding that you would just toss your bag in the second one and get in the passenger seat. Your phone lit up again with another message from Penelope except it wasn't the group message, swiping your phone open you click on the message.

PGarcia: Are you still coming out with us tonight ?

(Your first initial/ last name): idk Pen. I'll think about it.

PGarcia: okay well apparently Morgan asked bossman & Rossi to come and they both said yes. It would be a shame if you didn't come with !

You closed your messages app not wanting to answer right away, your mind clouded with thoughts about Aaron. None of which were appropriate. You felt your face flush again and you look up to see Aaron in the seat next to you starting up the SUV. Looking in the backseat it's just you two and you feel yourself getting redder and redder in the face. Burying your face in your hands, you reach back and pull your hair out of it's tight ponytail shaking your head to let it breathe.

"Aaron....I need to talk to you." You say so quickly you're not even sure if he heard you.

"Is everything okay?"

"No...not really, but I also know that it never will be okay." You reply, choking back tears looking out the window as the trees fade to buildings as you get closer to HQ. There's no way you'd be able to work alongside Hotch without thinking of him inappropriately. You could barely focus on getting the words in your head to formulate a coherent sentence around him, how are you supposed to continue working alongside him while your feelings for him grew stronger.

"Y/n, what's this about? Talk to me" you look at him with tears in your eyes & an ache in your heart.