#christmas hotchniss

[emilyshotchniss]

When You’re Feeling Alone, I’ll Remind You of Home

deciding to write this was a very, very last minute decision - i had intended to try and finish it on Christmas Day, so I apologise that technically it’s being posted on Boxing Day :/

i hope you all enjoy nonetheless! i hope you everyone had a lovely christmas, consider this a belated gift - i’m so thankful to have stumbled across this many people who love these two as much as i do❤️

word count- 2k

warnings - none, just pure fluff with a pinch of angst if you squint :)

-x-

She was having a bad day.

Emily knew Christmas time was going to be difficult, but she failed to anticipate just how isolated she was going to feel. Ever since she returned from Paris, it had felt like she was trying to squeeze herself back into a life that no longer had room for her. She should've known the holidays would only heighten the imposter syndrome that followed her around like a shadow.

Last Christmas, life was so different that on days like this she found it difficult to fathom. From team nights out to spending Christmas Day all together at Rossi’s, Emily had never felt more at home. Only two months later, a phone call from Sean McAllister tore through her life - she wondered now if she’d ever find that feeling of home again.

Aaron could see her struggling. He saw her struggling to find her footing again, saw how she was overcompensating in both her work and personal life, desperate for things just to go back to how they were. However, he didn't want to force her into a conversation she wasn’t ready to have, and risk spooking her. He knew from experience that this was something she needed to come to him with, on her own terms.

In the end he’d had to prompt her. A gentle reminder that bad days were something he was all too familiar with, that he was always there for her should she need him. When he found her not even three days later, curled in on herself alone on the jet, he knew he’d made the right call.

“Have dinner with Jack and I tonight,” he proposed.

He didn’t miss the way her face faltered, the ramblings of imposing on them forming in her head, so he spoke again before she could get the words out of her mouth.

“I’m serious, Em. Jack would love to see you and I may or may not have left all my Christmas wrapping to the last minute. I could really use another pair of hands,”

She thought about it for a minute, before shooting him a mischievous smirk. Something he hadn't seen in far too long, something so distinctly Emily that had his stomach doing flips.

“You’re playing dirty Hotch, you know I can never say no to that angel of a son you’ve got,” she grinned.

“It’s true! He’s been asking for weeks when he can next have a playdate ‘Emmy’,” he smiled.

“He really does love you,”.

The sincerity in his tone alleviated any anxiety that had previously been looming over her, and she felt her cheeks warm as she turned her head to meet his soft gaze.

“Does six-thirty work?”

As promised, a knock on the front door rang through the Hotchner Household at six-thirty on the dot. Emily stood outside the door, grinning to herself as she heard a screech from the other side, followed by the thundering of footsteps running down the hall.

“DAD!”

Suddenly the door swung open, and to her surprise, she found Jack staring up at her from inside the apartment.

“EMMY!” he screamed, a whole millisecond before launching himself against her, hugging her legs so tight she had to grab the door frame for balance.

“Hey little guy!” she giggled, crouching down to his eye level. “Oh, I’ve missed you!” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a proper hug, blinking away the tears that had welled in her eyes as she heard Aaron’s footsteps round the corner.

“At least let Emily get in the door Jack,” He chastised, but she could hear the humour in his tone. “Sorry about that, come on in Emily.” He offered her his hand to help her up, and ignored the shiver that ran through his body as her hand slid so perfectly into his.

“Never apologise for that sweet boy - if I’m going to get a welcome like that everytime I come over, you’ll never get rid of me,” Emily laughed.

“Don’t give Jack any ideas, that’s his idea of heaven,” He smiled at her.

Wordlessly, he appeared behind her and gently slipped her coat off her shoulders. Her eyes fluttered shut for a fleeting moment as she relished the feel of his breath on the back of her neck. Something about the way he skimmed her shoulders ever so gently she could only just feel it, had her heart beating that little bit faster.

Emily knew she couldn’t feel this way about him. But if she was truly honest with herself, she had done for years now.

She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment she fell in love with him, instead she felt it had crept up on her, getting stronger and stronger until it consumed her. She loved everything about him - from his dedication to his work to the dimple in his left cheek. Most of all, she loved the way he put his son before anything else in his life. Despite everything they’d both been through, Aaron had still raised the kindest, politest, most perfect little boy - a carbon copy of his father through and through.

“I hope you don’t mind, but Jack has decided the only thing he was willing to eat tonight was a Happy Meal, so I ordered in McDonalds. Chicken nuggets are still your favourite, right?” He said, grinning.

She narrowed her eyes at him as she tried to deflect attention from the blush forming across her cheeks. It was something he used to tease her mercilessly for, how she’d grown up immersed in so many different cuisines around the world, yet her favourite dish was a six chicken nugget meal from McDonalds.

“Try all you want to embarrass me, but I can assure you it won’t work - I have no shame.” She replied, following him into the kitchen.

“Look Emily, I put your plate next to mine so we can sit next to each other at the table!” Jack exclaimed, as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the table.

“Wow, Jack, thank you!” She chuckled, throwing a reassuring smile to Aaron over her shoulder before following Jack to the table, leaving Aaron to plate their food.

“So tell me something,” She began as she folded the sides of the paper up and onto the gift she was currently wrapping. “Did you really invite me over to check in on me, or did you just need someone to wrap all your gifts?”

He laughed, shaking his head as he passed her a piece of tape.

“Busted,” He replied, a grin on his face.

“Knew it!” She laughed, swatting his arm playfully as she accepted the tape gratefully, securing the paper against the box.

“Okay, this one is good to join the rest under the tree,” She stated, handing him the present as he made his way to the large Christmas tree.

She began to unwind more paper from the roll, cutting a new piece ready for the next gift. When she reached around to take said next gift from Aaron, he was suddenly much closer than she remembered him being before. He sat the present on the floor next to him, before reaching out and gently squeezing her arm.

“All jokes aside Emily, I’m worried about you.” He said, a sincerity to his tone that made her feel exposed - she should’ve known she could never hide anything from him. She took a deep breath, and gently blew it out, before turning to face him.

She was met with eyes swimming with concern. “That bad?” He asked her.

“What?” She asked, genuinely confused.

“That’s your tell,” He told her, eyebrows furrowing.

“It is? For how long?” She stuttered.

“Uh, ever since I’ve known you?” He deadpanned, as she rolled her eyes.

“Well, you have one too.” She huffed in response.

“I do?” He smiled.

“Yeah, only I’m not going to tell you what it is or you’ll stop doing it.” She giggled.

“I see,” He replied, a genuine smile on his face. They sat for a moment, simply looking at one another, comfortable silence engulfing them.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He began tentatively.

“I guess…“ She started shakily. “The holidays are just hard, I guess.” She tried to shrug it off, desperate to convince him she was fine so she could leave this state of sheer vulnerability. The moment she faced him she knew that it was pointless, that he would see right through her.

“It's more the thought of the fact that I finally felt like…”

“Like you had a home?” He prompted.

“Yeah…” She replied, her voice tight, sharply inhaling as tears she refused to let fall brimmed in her eyes as she met his. “He took my home, Aaron,” She breathed out, her vision clouding over as she felt a stray tear fall from her lash line.

Aaron reached his hand up to carefully wipe it away, cradling her face in his hands like she was made of glass. The reverence in his touch only caused more tears to fall. She leant into his touch as he skimmed her cheekbone with this thumb.

“Emily, listen to me when I say this - you are home.” He told her, with so much sincerity behind his words.

“This is your home - we are your home. I need you to know that,” His voice suddenly sounding thick.

She was sure she heard something in her neck crack as she snapped her head back up to find him so close their noses were close to touching.

“Do you mean that?” She all but whispered.

“You’ve always had a home with me.” He choked out, his thumb still tracing her skin.

They stared at one another for a moment, eyes fleeting down to one another's lips and back to each other, as a feeling of understanding settled between the two - both acutely aware of the shift about to occur between them.

The moment their lips met, she knew he was right. He was always right.

This was her home. All her fears, all her anxieties melted away the second he pulled her into his embrace.

He cupped the back of her head, fingers trailing through her dark hair as her hands ran across his shoulders, and up to the short hair at the base of his neck. What began as something delicate and tentative quickly progressed, the second he gave her hair a light tug.

He swallowed up her moan, pulling back quickly before diving back in, chasing her lips. Before they even knew what was happening, he had manoeuvred her onto the floor as he hovered above her, her hands stroking the strong muscles in his back as he snuck his under the soft material of her sweater, groaning at the feel of the soft skin that lay beneath.

However, their bubble burst suddenly as Emily cried out, quickly pushing him off of her.

“Oh god, Emily, I don’t- I’m so sorry, I completely overstepped-“ He began.

“Aaron,” She smiled, cutting him off from his rambling. Why was she smiling? Hadn’t he just completely taken advantage of her?

“Relax - I just rolled onto the scissors,” She giggled.

“Oh. Oh,” He replied as relief washed over him.

She crawled off the floor and up towards him, pushing him back against the edge of the couch as she settled in his lap. She mimicked his earlier movements, running her thumb over his cheekbone.

“I’m home.” She whispered, tears brimming in her eyes again.

“You’re home,” He choked out in reply, as he brought his hand to the back of her head again, holding her in place. He kissed the tip of her nose, and slowly pulled back to look her in the eyes again.

“You have tape in your hair,” He said barely above a whisper, and she barked out a laugh as her face flushed red, resting her forehead against his.

“Way to ruin the moment you asshole,” She laughed, removing the rogue piece of tape from her hair.

They had so much to discuss, a lot to work though, but all of it could wait.

This was her forever home after all. They had all the time in the world.

[rawr-jess]

THIS ladies and gentlemen is the only reason I somehow managed to complete a degree and somehow stay alive in the process.

Get yourself a talented friend who will write allll the fluff for you hahah <3 

I Can’t Go Back to Where I Used To Be

This was never what she expected, a life she told herself that she would never get to have, but she was so glad she had it.

-x-

Hi friends, this is a fic for my friend @rawr-jess who just finished all of her exams!! And because I missed her birthday (in my defence I didn't know when it was until afterwards) I told her I'd write something for her now <3

It's full of girl dad Aaron, family fluff and all the good stuff.

-x-

Words: 3.4k

Warnings: pregnancy, references to infertility

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Another child had never been part of the plan. 

In Paris, she’d been told that having children was unlikely, but not impossible. It had devastated her. She’d walked home from that appointment in a daze, the streets of a city she’d once loved now her prison as she felt like nothing more than a ghost of her former self. When she returned to her apartment, a place she would never have chosen, she laid on the floor and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes fixed on the air conditioning unit that made a noise she could hear even now if she thought about it too much. 

She didn’t cry about it until she was already home, her months in Paris and her recovery both things she would rather forget as she got further and further away from them. It was only when she and Aaron were looking to buy a house together that she thought about it again. The real estate agent’s comment about how the room next to the master bedroom would make a perfect nursery hanging in the air around them, Aaron’s wistful smile enough to make Emily choke on familiar grief filling in her lungs, the sound of that old air conditioning unit clicking in her head the whole journey back to his apartment as he talked about how perfect the house was. 

She cried that night. Tears burning tracks down her cheeks as she told him what she was sure would stop their relationship, the very thing that had made her turn down Clyde’s offer of a job in London, in its tracks. Instead, all Aaron does is pull her into a hug and reassure her that he loved her, that he loved whatever life they were going to have together. Even if it just ended up just the two of them and Jack. 

Then Olivia came along. Bright pink, screaming and furious as she was handed to Emily. She remembered how her hands shook, her body pushed to its limit as she held her daughter for the first time, the anxiety she had felt her entire pregnancy flooding out of her as it was replaced with the love she’d been too afraid to feel ever since two lines appeared on a stick in their ensuite bathroom. Aaron had been by her side the entire time, the same calming reassurance he’d surrounded her with for months, his smile wide and full of wonder as they spent their first few moments with their little girl.

Two years later Elena was born. She was quieter than her sister, slightly more subdued from the start in a way that worried Emily at first, so used to the way Olivia was always insistent on what she wanted that she spent countless nights just watching her newborn sleep. As the months went by it became clear that Elena was just like Aaron and Jack. Quieter and more stoic than Emily and Oliva. 

Their family had felt complete, their home as hectic as it was full of love. Another child had never been part of the plan until Emily once again found herself with a positive pregnancy test in hand. Laughing as she wished she could go back and talk to the version of herself who cried into Aaron’s chest when she was sure they’d never have kids and tell her that, apparently, she and Aaron were the most fertile couple on the planet despite everything that technically should have been working against them. 

It’s how she found herself at her OBGYN for her 20-week scan with Aaron by her side, a fussy Elena in his lap as she recovers from getting her shots at her 12-month appointment. 

“You’re ok, princess,” Aaron says, holding Elena and her stuffed elephant, a bright pink thing called Penny named after the person who bought it for her, “Once Mommy has her appointment we can go home.” 

Emily reaches over to tuck some of Elena’s hair behind her ear, smiling when her daughter leans into her palm, seeking out the comfort the always wanted from her mother. She scoots towards her, her little fists reaching out for Emily and Aaron holds her even tighter. 

“You stay with Daddy for now sweet girl, ok?” She says gently, “Mommy is too full of baby and all the water I had to drink on the way here,” she looks at Aaron over Elena’s head and narrows her eyes when she sees he is smiling, “I don’t know what you’re smiling about, your doctor's appointment is next week.” 

Even though her age meant it was highly unlikely she’d be able to have another baby after this one, she wanted to make sure it wouldn’t happen. Aaron had readily agreed to the vasectomy, not arguing even once in a way that made her need to pull out all the reasons she’d come up with prior to raising it with him. She knew it was because he understood the practicalities of it, that he had watched her go through now three pregnancies that hadn’t been easy on her, and it was a relatively simple procedure. That, and she had made many threats that they were never having sex again if they didn’t do something.

“I know, sweetheart,” He says, picking up Penny as it hits the floor, knowing they would be in for a rough afternoon if they left it anywhere, “It’s in my calendar on my phone” he winks at her, “and you wrote it in red pen on the paper one my desk.” 

She smiles at him and places her hand on her stomach, the baby rolling around and pressing against her full bladder, “I just want to make sure,” she replies, “So, final chance - are we going to find out what we’re having?”

With Olivia, they’d found out as soon as they could. It was something that Emily could control, knowing that they were having a little girl the thing that had held her together throughout a pregnancy she’d once been told was unlikely to happen. When she had Elena they’d decided to leave it as a surprise which had led to both Emily and Aaron crying as their daughter was handed to them for the first time, the moment no less amazing than the first time. 

“I say we find out,” he replies, readjusting his hold on Elena who had now fallen asleep against him, “So we can prepare Dave in case it is another mini Emily.” 

She laughs and shakes her head, “Oh please, Elena might look like a mini-me but she is you through and through. She even has your scowl, which is impressive considering she’s only 12 months old.” 

“Emily Prentiss?” 

They both look up at the sound of her name being called, smiling as they look at the nurse. Emily looks back at her husband and reaches out to squeeze his hand, “Let’s go see the baby.” 

Neither of them notices how the bright pink elephant slips out of Elena’s slack hand as they stand.

___

“I cannot believe you left the damn elephant there.” 

“That’s a bad word, Mama.” 

Emily looks down at Olivia and smiles at the three-year-old, “Sorry sweetie, you’re right,” she looks back up at her husband and her smile slips off her face, “I cannot believe you left the elephant there.” 

Aaron pinches the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath as he tries to zone out from the incessant crying coming from his youngest daughter. Elena woke up as soon as they got home and it became immediately clear that they had left her favourite toy at the doctor's office. She was inconsolable, her face buried in Emily’s neck as she paced back and forth in their living room with their daughter sitting on top of her bump. 

“I swear, Em I thought I had it.”

She glares at him, her irritation clear, and she takes a moment from comforting their daughter, “Well clearly you don’t.” 

“You didn’t have it either.” 

He regrets it the moment he says it, and he watches as his wife’s eyes go wide before he can apologise, “Well I was too busy trying not to pis-” she looks back down at Olivia, the little girl happily colouring in her book, before she looks back up, “Pee myself whilst I had an ultrasound for the best part of a freaking hour.” 

“You’re right,” he says, holding his hands up in front of him, stepping back towards the front door and picking his keys back off the side table, “I am sorry and I am on my way back to the doctor's office to get it.”  

She nods, pressing a kiss into Elena’s head as she rubs her hand up and down her back, “Ok, thank you,” she smiles at him, “I love you. Even if you do leave our kid’s favourite toy in a doctor's office.” 

He chuckles and opens the front door, “I love you too.” 

Eventually, mercifully, Elena falls asleep, worn out by her tears and vaguely placated by Oliva’s offer of every single one of her stuffed animals that she carried down the stairs one by one in an attempt to cheer up her sister. It makes Emily well up too, the kindness shown by her eldest daughter enough to tip her over the edge, but she manages to keep it together, well aware that they didn’t need someone else crying right now.

When Jack gets home from school, his eyes wide at the scene he comes home to, he takes Olivia to the den without being asked. Distracting her so Emily can focus entirely on her youngest. She feels the baby move in her belly and she smiles. 

Her youngest for now. 

Emily winces as the doorbell rings, and she looks at Elena, the little girl still fast asleep against her, and sighs in relief. She walks towards the door and smiles as she opens it, laughing as she looks Dave up and down, a box of cooking equipment in his hands. 

“You do realise we have pans here, right?” She says, stepping back so he can walk past her, “You don’t have to bring your own.” 

“If I’m cooking dinner for everyone I’m bringing my cast iron skillet,” he replies raising an eyebrow at her as they walk to the kitchen, his eyes flicking between her and the line of stuffed animals on the couch, “Remind me why I am cooking dinner for everyone when you’re hosting again?” 

“Because Aaron and I are the ones with small children and the last time you hosted Livvie drew on your living room wall with a crayon and you still won’t let me forget it.”

He chuckles as he places the box on the kitchen counter, “Do you know how expensive that wallpaper is?” 

“Yes,” she replies, shifting Elena in her now aching arms, “I wrote you a cheque for the replacement, remember?” 

Dave looks her up and down, “Should you be carrying her like that in your condition?” 

Emily narrows her eyes at him, “I’m pregnant, not sick. And if I put her down she will start crying because she got shots this morning so she’s cranky anyway, and Aaron left her favourite toy at the doctor's office.” 

“So that’s why his car isn’t in the driveway?” 

She nods, “He should be on his way back, hopefully with the pink elephant in tow or he’s sleeping on the couch tonight,” she says, “And Jack is currently being the best big brother in the world and keeping Livvie entertained with a game I know he hates.” 

He smiles as he starts to get his ingredients out, “Hopefully baby number three will be a boy to even things out for him and Aaron.” 

Her response catches in her chest and she holds Elena a little closer before she clears her through, “Actually, it’s another girl,” she says, her joy from when the doctor told her returning and mixing in with the anxiety she’d felt ever since, “We found out today.” 

Dave smiles, “Congratulations,” he says before he shakes his head, “Poor Aaron though, totally outnumbered.” 

She feels a pang in her chest, irritated that Dave seemed to have picked up on her biggest insecurity in one swoop. She was delighted they were having another girl, she would have been if they were having a boy. It still took her aback sometimes that this was her life. That she had a son, Jack every bit as much as hers as the girls were, and soon-to-be three daughters, that she had a husband who she could yell at about like mundane things like their kid’s favourite toy. Even though this third baby hadn’t been part of the plan she so desperately loved her already. 

And she knew Aaron did too, but a small part of her was worried he was disappointed that they were having another girl. They hadn’t had much of a chance to talk about it, the moment they got home Elena had woken up and everything had gone to hell, and now she wouldn’t get a chance to talk to him about it until the team left after pasta night. 

She fixes a smile on her face, “He loves it, you know that.” 

Dave nods, conceding to the well-known fact that if there was one thing Aaron loved it was being a dad, regardless of anything else. 

She’s grateful when he doesn’t say anything else, and she just hopes she’s right. 

___

Aaron yawns as he walks down the stairs of his home and towards the living room. He smiles when he sees Emily on the couch with Olivia, the toddler fast asleep in her mother’s lap.

“Jack is playing his video game, Ellie is fast asleep and Penny the elephant is secure in her arms,” he says quietly, “And I might put a damn tracker on it,” he smiles when she laughs and he points towards Olivia, “Want me to take her up?” 

Emily shakes her head, “Not yet,” she says, her fingers trailing through Olivia’s hair, “It’s rare I get to snuggle with her like this these days,” she looks back at her husband, “She’s always on the move.” 

He smiles as he settles on the couch and puts his arm around the two of them, “That’s because she’s just like you.” 

She rests her head against his shoulder, “I remember being so scared when I was pregnant with her,” she says, her eyes fixed on their daughter’s face, “I was terrified the whole time something was going to go wrong because nothing had ever gone right for me,” she blushes when she looks up at him, “Until you and Jack of course,” she looks back down at Olivia, “And then she was here and she was perfect.”

“She’s still perfect,” Aaron says, “Even when she’s insisting I’ve cut her watermelon the wrong way. She’s perfect,” he places his hand on Emily’s bump, “All of them are.” 

Her smile falters slightly and she feels the question she has been trying to push down all day climbing up her throat before she can stop it, “You’re not disappointed are you?” She asks, smiling when she feels a kick she knows he has too, “You’re not disappointed it's a girl?” 

He snaps his head up so fast it pulls at his neck, making him wince as he puts his hand on it to rub at the sore tendons. 

“What?” He asks, shaking his head, “Of course not. Do I seem disappointed?” 

“God, no,” she says, blowing out a breath as she closes her eyes, “No, I’m sorry. It’s just something Dave said before you got home and…” she drifts off, irritated at herself as tears flood her eyes, “At one point I was so sure I wouldn’t have any of this, l laid on the floor in my place in Paris and convinced myself I didn’t need any of this to be happy,” she jumps slightly when she feels his finger against her cheek, only realising she was actually crying until he wipes the tears away, “And maybe I would have been happy, a different kind of happy,” she says, her words catching in her chest, “But happy nonetheless. So all of this. You, Jack and the girls, and this baby all feels like it’s a dream I’ll wake up from one day.” 

“Em-”

“Like I’ll wake up on the floor in that fucking apartment with the stupid broken air conditioning and none of this will have been real.” 

“Sweeheart,” he says, stopping her from saying anything else, placing his hand back on her belly, both of them smiling when the baby kicks, “It’s all very real. I’m here, Ellie and Jack are upstairs, Livvie is sleeping right here on top of you,” he smiles again, “And baby girl number three is kicking up a storm in there,” he reaches up to wipe tears from her cheek, “And nothing about that could ever be disappointing to me.” 

A sob escapes her before she can prevent it, and she shakes her head, “Damn it, Aaron you can’t say shit like that to a pregnant woman.” 

“It’s true,” he says, leaning in to kiss her, his lips soft against hers, “I’d have a hundred little girls with you if I could.”

She laughs at that, shaking her head at him as she cups his cheek. He somehow always knew exactly what to say to cheer her up, and she was still after all these years getting used to having someone who loved her enough to understand her in that way. Any residual concern he was disappointed is gone, and she smiles at him. 

“Well that’s impossible for two reasons. One - I am 45 so having another kid after this one is unlikely as it is, and secondly-”

“I’m having a vasectomy next week.” 

She smiles and nods, stroking his cheek with her thumb, “You’re having a vasectomy next week,” they fall into brief silence, the only noise in the room Olivia’s soft breathing, before Emily speaks again, “We’ll have to come up with a name,” she says, kissing him again, “I can only think of boys names.” 

He chuckles, rubbing his hand over her bump, “We have time, plus maybe we can get the kids to help.” 

___

Emily winces as she readjusts in the hospital bed, shushing the newborn baby in her arms as she cries out at the movement. 

“It’s ok sweet girl,” she says quietly, “You’re ok,” she looks up at the clock on the wall and smiles to herself before she looks down at her daughter, “You’d better enjoy the quiet it’s the last time you’ll ever experience it. Daddy will be here any minute with your brother and sisters and we love them but they are all so loud.” 

She was looking forward to seeing her children, she’d missed them, but she was enjoying a few seconds of quiet with who she knew was going to be her last baby. 

“You look just like your sisters,” she whispers, running her fingers over the baby’s dark hair, “which means you look like me,” she smiles, “Sorry about the nose.” 

She hears familiar, and thundering footsteps in the hallway and she grimaces, knowing Aaron would be being glared at by any nurses who were in the hall. The door is flung open and she spots Olivia and Jack before they rush over to the bed. Aaron is in the room a second later, Elena on his hip as he smiles.

“Everyone be careful with Mom, ok?” He says, closing the door behind him, smiling before he walks over and leans down to kiss his wife, “Hi, how are you?” 

“Good,” she replies, “Tired.” 

“Understandable,” he replies, winking at her before he sits Elena down next to her, the little girl desperate for her mother, “Be careful, Ellie.” 

“Baby!” 

“That’s right, sweetie,” Emily says, shifting the blanket around the baby’s face so the others can see her, “This is your baby sister.”

“This is Jasmine?” Jack asks, his smile as wide as it was the first time he met Olivia and Elena, always excited to be an older brother. 

Emily smiles at Aaron who nods. They’d asked the kids to help name the baby and whilst they’d had to veto a number of options, most of the more ridiculous ones from Olivia who wanted to call the newborn ‘Mufasa’, and they finally settled on a name that seemed right. 

Aaron always called all of the girls princess anyway. 

“Yeah,” she says, looking back at the baby, “This is Jasmine.” 

-x-

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[the-queen-and-the-king]

Just a booty call - 6

Summary: It's the 24th of December and Emily and Hotch are both alone. The director is on call and she's supposed to be on a day-off, but the desire to see her boss and have a good time with him is running into her veins.

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, Emily Prentiss

Contents: explicit smut, masturbation (self, fingering and handjob), alcohol, a little bit of angst, unprotected sex (don't do that!), creampie; breeding king (kind of) NSFW/MINORS DNI

This text is a try, with a reverse structure compared to the other Hotchniss' AU I'm used to work on. It all starts with a FWB that will evolve into something else (with a certain amount of angst).

PS : English is not my mother language so they are necessarily mistakes. Sorry about that.

___

It was the twenty-fourth of December and she was sitting on her sofa, alone, her phone in her hands, hesitating to dial Aaron's number. It was the twenty-fourth of December, Christmas Eve, and the whole team had scattered to the four corners of the country, except for the two of them. JJ and Will had left for New Orleans with Henry under their arm. Derek had joined his sisters and mother in Chicago. Spencer had decided to keep his mother company in Las Vegas. Rossi had flown to Europe to sign his latest book for readers on the Old Continent. Penelope had been invited by her brothers, she didn't know where in the United States. As Hotch was Jewish by birth, he had already celebrated the end of the year earlier in December, so this day meant nothing special to him. If it weren't for the fact that he wouldn't be able to see Jack, Haley having opted for festivities with her West Coast family. And Elizabeth Prentiss was on the loose in the Baltic states, so she was idle at a time when everyone was supposed to be gathering around a good table.

                She must have been staring at her mobile screen for an hour, wondering whether it was a good idea to call her boss or not. She knew he was on call – like all agents for whom Christmas was just another twenty-fifth of the month – but didn't know whether he was at home or in the office. She could ask him, but he'd immediately react by trying to find out why the question. She had a ready-made answer for that, but wondered about it. She wanted him. They hadn't done anything since his birthday in early November, and she was starving. During the last investigation, she had ended up in the room adjoining his. This simple, nearby presence had driven her to masturbate almost every night, imagining that he was inviting himself into her bed to take her ardently. She had come systematically, without trying to be discreet. The thought that he might have heard her had galvanized her excitement.

                But he hadn't said anything, hadn't raised any eyebrows, and hadn't made any gestures that might have shown that this had aroused his attention. She doubted again how important she really was to him. And other doubts were added to this one. What did he mean to her? What did she really feel for him? Did she find him sexy because he was attractive to her or simply because she wasn't supposed to want him? Was she sensitive to his presence because she had feelings for him, or only because they shared this unmentionable secret? Was she coming because he knew how to handle her, or was it just the result of the prohibition surrounding their relationship?

                She would have liked this fevered passion for him to be more than just some kind of fetish for her boss, but part of her couldn't help pointing out that she might not want him as much if they were just colleagues. She tried to imagine what would have happened if they'd bumped into each other in a bar or a supermarket aisle, and was disappointed to hear the voice of reason tell her that she probably wouldn't have even looked at him. But was it really the reasonable part of her brain that was talking? Wasn't it more her anxiety that was resurfacing? Or was it a possible instinct trying to stop her in this madness before she went too far and they both ended up at the FBI's door?

                Except that the urges of her lower abdomen were, to this day, stronger than any rational area of her brain, and she craved him. So she turned on her phone, found the last message she'd sent him and wrote:

Are you at work?

She trembled as she pressed the send button, but felt a weight leave her shoulders as she did so. She expected an immediate response and was worried that this would not be the case. Stress took over from excitement and she regretted her gesture. Unfortunately, there was no turning back. She hesitated to type a second message to tell him not to pay attention to the first, when the reply came, lapidary.

Why?

Not ‘yes’, not ‘no’. Typical of him. He protected his privacy in all circumstances, despite the bond between them. She didn't know why he behaved this way, but she'd learned not to take it personally. It was just a reflex for him.

I need to talk with you.

She couldn't have been more explicit, in case anyone from the Bureau happened to poke their nose into their conversations. She hoped he would understand her intentions in spite of everything.

I’m at home.

Emily's heart leapt in her chest. He agreed to see her. She jumped to her feet, grabbed her coat and bag, and rushed out of her apartment. Along the way, she stopped at a convenience store still open at this late hour, grabbed a few victuals at random so as not to arrive empty-handed, and relieved herself of the necessary dollars. When she stood in front of his door some fifteen minutes later, she was filled with shivers of impatience.

                She rang the bell and he opened the door a few seconds later. She presented her gigantic pack of Curly and her pack of beers with a broad smile; he sketched a brief chuckle and stepped aside to let her in. The television was on, showing a film that had been re-run for the umpteenth time. The sound was so low she wondered for a moment if he'd muted it. After closing the door behind him, he headed for the kitchen, from where he brought out a salad bowl and cap opener. Bottle in hand, they toasted, took a sip and turned their attention to the screen. He'd turned up the volume in the meantime so she could enjoy it too.

                Who gave the first impulse? Who motivated the other to make the first move? She couldn't tell, but Aaron's hand ended up on her thigh. She lowered her eyes to it, raised them to meet the gaze of the tenant of the premises and took another swig with a smile at the corner of her lips. She hadn't consented verbally, but she hadn't rejected him either. He shifted his arm, moving up towards her crotch as he plunged into the muscle. She bit her lower lip as she felt the first sparks fizz in her belly.

                When he brushed the buttons of her jeans, she put her beer down on the side table and unbuttoned her pants herself, exposing the first stitches of her blue lace panties. This time, a frank smile stretched the giant's mouth. He made no comment. Gently, delicately, he slipped his fingers between her skin and the fabric, and worked his way through her brown fleece until he reached her clitoris. His warm phalanges caressed her, slowly at first, then with more vivacity. Emily closed her eyes, sank a little deeper into the cushion, spread her legs and enjoyed the delicious sensations running up her torso.

                Between two whimpers, she heard the unmistakable sound of a zipper being unzipped and opened one eyelid. His neighbor in turn undressed to free his taut, excited member. She stopped him in his tracks, however, to wrap her hand around his sex herself and expose it to the open air. It was hard, swollen, oozing with pre-seminal fluid. She began her back-and-forth movements as he resumed his careful masturbation. She closed her eyes again, savoring both the waves of pleasure that invaded her and the grunts of ecstasy from the colossus beside her.

                The latter, however, suddenly stopped his attentions and removed her hand from his penis to stand up. Surprised, she snapped back to reality to see him pull down his pants and shorts. She immediately understood his intentions and quickly undressed. Half-naked, with a full erection, he leaned in to kiss her. She caught his lips and face, and lay back more comfortably on the sofa. He naturally lay on top of her, between her open thighs, and penetrated her without further ado.

                Then he pushed hard inside her. More than the usual. He repeated his gesture and a groan escaped from his partner's mouth. He repeated this energetic intrusion, and she encouraged him to continue his effort. Every thrust of his triggered electrical waves in her body that gave her a glimpse of the approaching orgasm. He hammered her pelvis fiercely, emitting grunts of effort as much as pleasure as she multiplied “yes”, “go ahead”, “again”, clutching at his shirt. The embers of her lower abdomen had become a fire that spread beneath her skin at breakneck speed.

                Midnight sounded and he pressed himself against her vulva one last time, spilling a generous amount of semen into her intimacy. Emily's eyes bulged and her body convulsed as the apotheosis imploded inside her. Aaron was trembling too, short of breath, his large hands still wrapped around the hips of his evening accomplice. But they didn't detach from each other immediately. Still a little out of breath, she propped herself up on her elbows and he helped her to sit on his thighs. They curled up in each other's arms and stayed there for a few moments, drinking in each other's warmth and scent.

                It was she who took the initiative to leave this position, which, although pleasant, was beyond the framework they had set themselves. She'd gotten what she wanted, and she didn't think she'd like to ask for more. Until the next time. Until their respective desires threw them back into a passionate embrace that would leave them breathless, but satisfied. How long would this last? She didn't want to know and, tonight, would be content with the present the director had delivered and placed in the pit of her abdomen. One more time.

___

First chapter >> https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-and-the-king/757694774493986816/just-a-booty-call-1?source=share

Next chapter >> https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-and-the-king/761499830946332672/just-a-booty-call-7?source=share

[cloudlessly-light]

Let it be all night 6/6

A/N: This is the last part of Hotchniss getting caught, previous chapters can be read here. Hope you guys enjoy this one!

Summary: Aaron and Emily gets caught… and not only once. Word Count: 2,5k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Smut, in public, dirty talk, pregnancy, consumption of alcohol

Strauss

“So, how do I look?” Emily asks as she walks out of their bathroom and Aaron turns at the sound of her voice. For a moment he’s stunned as he takes in his wife, dressed in a dark green silk dress. The fabric hugged her body, tight over her chest and hips and then falling softly down her thighs, showing a hint of cleavage and when she spun around he saw that the dress was backless, giving him a view of soft, creamy skin. He swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry as he watches her.

“That good?” She asks with a grin and he nods.

“How did I get this lucky?” He asks as he walks towards her, presses her against the wall for a moment and she shivers, her hands resting against his chest. “Gorgeous thing.” He whispers against her lips before kissing her, causing her to moan softly against his lips.

She felt his hand press softly low on her stomach, felt the little bump under his palm and she smiled into another kiss. Ever since they found out she was pregnant, Aaron had been insatiable, always wanting her, always touching her. It was still early, they hadn’t told anyone yet, wanted to keep this for themselves for at least another couple of weeks but the tiny changes that had started to happen to her body was already driving him insane.

“Honey,” She mumbled against his lips when she felt his hand wander from her waist to find the slit of her dress and warm fingers found her thigh. “We don’t have time.”

“I know,” He nodded and kissed her again. “But fuck sweetheart, you can’t expect me not to want to fuck you when you look this good.” His voice had already dropped to a murmur and she felt her own body respond to him.

“Aaron.” She pushed slightly on his chest, laughed when he released a sigh and his forehead landed on her shoulder. “When we get home you can have me any way you want.”

“Oh really?” He looked back at her with a smirk, his eyes dark as he licked over his bottom lip.

It was going to be a long night.

*

It was the annual Christmas party that the Bureau held every year. Most years the team hadn’t been able to attend, away for cases all over the country, but this year the whole team was there. It was one of those nights that flew by as they all talked, danced and laughed together. Emily sipped the sparkling cider as she stood with Spencer and Dave, so far no one had noticed that she wasn’t drinking champagne and she smiled to herself. Aaron on the other hand, had been drinking the champagne, that much was obvious as he came from behind her, his arms wrapping around her middle.

He didn’t even pretend to listen to Dave as he spoke, his sole focus on his wife. His pregnant wife.

“You’re so sexy.” He whispered quietly against her ear and she tensed slightly in his arms.

“Aaron.” She gave him a pointed look but it didn’t deter him, his lips tugging into a smirk. He could see the flush on her cheeks, knew that look in her eye. She was just as affected by him as he was by her.

“I’m allowed to call my wife sexy, aren’t I?” He pressed a kiss to her cheek just as Spencer cleared his throat.

“Can you…not?” He asked and Emily laughed when Aaron only tightened his hold on her.

“It’s not like we both haven’t seen worse.” Dave scoffed and Emily was sure her cheeks were bright enough to light up the room.

“Dave!” She pushed at his shoulder but the older man only laughed at her clear discomfort.

“If you didn’t want us to tease you every once in a while, you shouldn’t have had sex in my study, or in a club, or the office, or a public gym.” He winked at her and Emily felt her mouth drop open. She turned her head enough to look at Aaron but he seemed too lost looking down her cleavage to pay much attention to the conversation going on.

“You know what, I’m going to find the girls.” She disentangled herself from her husband’s embrace and then gave him a quick kiss.

“Like they don’t tease you more than that, JJ has told me what you get up to on girl’s night.” Spencer grinned and she resisted flipping him off. Instead she rolled her eyes at them and turned towards the sound of Penelope’s laugh.

“She’s told you nothing, what happens at girl’s night stays at girl’s night!” She calls over her shoulder and she can hear Dave chuckling.

*

Aaron couldn’t keep his eyes off Emily, lust simmering under his skin, fingers itching to touch her, lips longing to taste her. He tried to control it, he really did, but how could he be expected to stay away from her when she walked around the venue looking like a goddess? It’s getting late and he needs her, can barely think about anything else but how he wants to hear her moan his name.

He gets her alone, presses her against a wall and she chuckles at the way his hands grip at her hips.

“Honey, you really need to stop-” Her words are cut off by the feeling of his cock, hard against her hip as he pushes against her. His lips find the junction between her neck and shoulder, his tongue licking softly over the skin before grazing his teeth against it. “Someone might see…” She tries, but there’s no denying the way the want for him pulses between her legs, that she needs him just as much as he needs her.

“Let them.” He mutters and she gasps as his thigh press between hers, his lips heated on her skin.

She feels her resolve faulter by every kiss, every touch, but they’re out in the open, barely hidden by a large floor plant and she pushes at his shoulders.

“Not here.” She tells him and the way his eyes gloss over with pure desire makes her suck in a breath. “Follow me.”

His hand is warm and secure in hers as she leads him through the crowd and towards the bathrooms. His other hand keeps moving over her every chance he gets and she knows that she’ll yell at him in the morning for turning her on like this in pubic, but for now all she wanted was to feel him. She pops her head in the women’s bathroom, checks quickly if there’s anybody in the stalls but finds it empty and she figures that it’s a sign.

Aaron smirks as she tugs him towards the stall at the far end, waits until she locks it before he’s on her again. His hands move to tug the fabric of her dress up over her hips, a low groan rumbling in his throat at the sight of her smooth thighs. He kisses her, his tongue prying her lips open while her fingers grip his hair to keep him in place.

Emily’s soft gasp is swallowed by his lips when he pushes her underwear to the side and then dips a finger inside of her. She’s wet and he hums at the feeling of her slick as it coats his finger.

“Baby, no teasing.” She mumbled against his lips and she immediately feels two of his fingers push inside of her and curling, making her moan.

“Shh, sweetheart, don’t get us caught.” He looks smug when he pulls away from her and for some reason it only turns her on further. Her hands move to the fly of his pants, the sound of the zipper loud in the otherwise empty and quiet room.

“You wanted to fuck me,” She gets his cock out through the fly and he’s so hard he’s already leaking, it makes her smirk. “Then fuck me.” She pulls him against her by a firm grip on his tie, and she lifts one of her legs to circle it around his hip.

Aaron is quick to steady her, one hand moving to hold her thigh in a firm grip. When he pushes inside of her it’s smooth and slow, his eyes trained on hers as he watches the pleasure on her face. He moves slowly, finds a rhythm easily and holds back a low groan at the feeling of her wetness around him.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous, fucking perfect.” He mumbles quietly and Emily’s hold tightens on his arms in response, her bottom lip sucked between her teeth to keep from moaning. His hips push harder against her, forcing her against the door that rattles slightly but he doesn’t care and Emily doesn’t stop him so he keeps going, thrusts faster against her until she can’t keep her balance in the high heels she’s wearing for any longer.

“Sit down.” She pants and pushes him back until he’s sitting on the closed toilet. She sits back against him, sinks down on him easily with her back against his chest . She takes a moment to steady her breathing before starting to grind on his lap, Aaron’s low hiss inly spurring her on. Aaron’s hands finds her breasts, squeezes them through her dress as he presses heated kisses over the skin of her back, up her neck, filthy words falling from his lips as she moves above him.

“You’re so wet for me, so tight around my cock.” He keeps one hand on her breast while the other moves over the soft silk of her dress until he reaches her clit. She can’t keep the whimper down when he starts to circle it quickly. “That’s it, fuck yourself, use my cock sweetheart.”

“Aaron…” She’s not sure if she’s warning him to stay quiet or if she’s begging for more. She moves her hips against him, chases the orgasm that’s building with every second until she feels her thighs trembling.

He can feel her walls tightening, bites down his grunt by biting down on her shoulder as he starts to push up against her, fucking deeper into her and Emily put her own hand over her mouth to keep from moaning. She’s so close she can taste it and then the sound of the door opening makes her freeze.

She gives Aaron a panicked look over her shoulder when he doesn’t stop, his fingers rubbing faster, his strong hips continuing to thrust into her, only getting her closer.

He smirks at the way she’s trembling in an effort to hold off, his eyes on her while his ears are trained on the sound of high heeled shoes, of the toilet flushing and then the stranger washing her hands. He pinches her clit between his fingers and Emily jerks so violently that she would have fallen off his lap if he hadn’t held on to her. She comes shaking and biting down on her fist hard enough that he’s surprised she doesn’t break skin.

She feels the pleasure in her entire body, her eyes rolling back and hips rocking into his automatically as he makes her come on his lap while a stranger is only a few feet away from them. But she can’t find it in her to be mad, not when he made her come so hard she wasn’t sure she’d ever come down.

He nudges her off him once he’s sure that she can stand and the sound of the door closing sounds through the bathroom, then quicky picks her up. Her legs wrap around his waist as he squeezes her ass. His back would kill him tomorrow, but it would be worth it. The sound of her back colliding with the door once more is loud but he doesn’t care, they’re alone again.

“You’re crazy.” She gasps, a smile on her face, cheeks and chest flushed.

“Can’t help it, you’re driving me crazy.” He kisses her again as he starts to thrust harder and deeper than before. He can feel his release building by each thrust, can’t focus on anything but how she clings to him, arms and legs around him, center tight around his shaft. “You feel so fucking good on my cock.”

“Come inside me Aaron, please come so I can feel it all night.” She shivers at the growl that leaves him, his teeth digging into her neck and for sure leaving a mark that she won’t be able to hide. But it doesn’t matter, she doesn’t care, not when she sees the pleasure on his face, how his eyes darken and jaw clenching. “Let go honey.” She whispers and then squeezes hard around him and Aaron gasps.

“Coming.” It’s all he gets out before he comes, his hips stuttering and knees weakening as he gives in to his release. He’s sure she’ll have fingertip shaped bruises on her ass from the way his gripping her, knows that he’ll kiss each one in the morning. He’s still shaking slightly when he sets her down, Emily’s own hands moving over his arms and down his side, makes sure that he can keep standing and then pulls his zipper up before pushing her dress back over her hips.

“I think it’s about time we go home.” She smiles and pulls him into a soft kiss, one that he happily returns.

“Yes, it’ll be more comfortable having my way with you on our bed.” He chuckles as she unlocks the door.

“You’re insatiable…” Her words die on her tongue when she opens the door and comes face to face with Erin Strauss, standing by the sink with a look of horror on her face. “Ma’am-”

“Don’t talk.” The other woman raises her hand as she cuts Emily off. “Let’s never speak of this.” She looks between Aaron’s rumbled hair and Emily’s creased dress.

“We weren’t-”

“Having sex in public? Weren’t committing a federal crime?” She interrupts Aaron this time and Emily flinches slightly. The older woman gave them another stern look, her mouth in a straight line. “Do not speak, don’t make this worse. We are ignoring that this ever happened.”

Aaron relaxed slightly at that, knew that Erin was only going to pretend for Dave’s sake but he was still grateful.

“Thank you. We were never here.” He gently pushes Emily who stands rooted in place. “We’re going to go.”

“I think that’s wise.” Erin nods curtly, keeps her eyes on them until the door closes behind them.

“What should we do?” Emily asks the moment they’re alone again and Aaron puts his arm around her shoulder.

“We do what she said, we don’t mention it.” He smirks and kisses her temple. “At least I won’t, you’ll be telling the girls at girl’s night.”

Emily knew that he was right.

“I know,” He nodded and kissed her again. “But fuck sweetheart, you can’t expect me not to fuck you when you look this good.” His voice had already dropped to a murmur and she felt her own body respond to him.

“Aaron.” She pushed slightly on his chest, laughed when he released a sigh and his forehead landed on her shoulder. “When we get home you can have me any way you want.”

“Oh really?” He looked back at her with a smirk, his eyes dark as he licked over his bottom lip.

It was going to be a long night.

[criminalmindsgonewrong]

Impact.

A Hotchniss fanfiction. Proceed with caution.

Chapter six. The final chapter. Aftermath.

Coming tomorrow.

snipped under the cut.

She managed to hide them for months before Aaron found out. Always the same nightmare, and there would be no prizes for dream analysis this time. Emily endured the crash all over again everytime she closed her eyes.

It was coming up on Christmas when she couldn’t hide them anymore. Some of her pains had subsided, but she was still off work; she had six months of paid leave, recommended by Dr Abernathy, approved by the Director himself. Elizabeth had even more connections at Quantico than Rossi, it seemed. The nightmares were worse than ever, though. The last thing Emily remembered before she woke up was the impact of the windscreen against her skull, and she sat up with a jolt that made her cry out, her ribs protesting, painfully. Beside her, Aaron started awake, sitting up and immediately reaching for her, the hand on her shoulder burning hot.

“Em?” He asked, drowsy but alert, “Em, what’s wrong?”

But she couldn’t speak, too overwhelmed by everything, and her shoulders shook as she cried, awful, wrenching sobs from deep in her gut, the kind of sobs that steal your breath and spill huge, hot tears onto your cheeks in a river that feels fathomless. The sound she made was one of utter, desperate anguish, and all Aaron could do was cradle her in his arms, stroking her short hair and making soft, soothing sounds of reassurance as she cried it all out. Elizabeth, startled awake by Emily’s crying, came to the door, but her daughter was too distraught to notice and Aaron just shook his head, sad but grateful for her care. With a sorrowful, helpless look at her daughter, clinging to Aaron like a scared and hopeless child, Elizabeth let them be.

[duchessas]

✿ people i’d like to get to know better ✿

Tagged by @em-prentiss 🤍

☆ last song: ooh it was either the black dog by taylor swift or it’s all coming back to me now by celine dion!

☆ fav colour: blue - like the blue of the mediterranean sea if we’re being specific

☆ last book: I’m currently halfway through the women by kirsten hannah and wow it’s breaking me

☆ last movie: this is an really not sure about?? probably inside out 2 but also maybe the pride and prejudice film with keira knightley

☆ last tv show: hahahhaaha criminal minds 😅 currently back in season 3! also halfway through the lincoln lawyer on netflix

☆ sweet/savoury/spicy: always sweet, my sweet tooth knows no bounds

☆ relationship status: in a very long term relationship. longer than I actually care to admit on here lol

☆ current obsession: hotchniss (always and forever), olivie blake, fizzy sweets (sour worms, soda twists, anything of this sort) and kind of colouring after watching some TikTok’s and thinking I could do it (spoiler: I can’t)

☆ looking forward to: christmas!! and going on holiday, bubble bath and a candle szn, finally getting chapter 4 of exposure done…

No pressure tags: @hctchniss @ssa-sparks @criminalmindsgonewrong @twosignificantfigures

✿ 10 People l'd like to get to know better ✿

Thank you for the tags angels @rafecameroninterlude @xxbimbobunnyxx ˚ ༘♡ ·˚

𐙚 Last song: stockholm syndrome by one direction

𐙚 Fav color: baby pink, lilac, black

𐙚 Last book: the dare by harley laroux (i started losers but i’ve been so busy i haven’t had a chance to get very far yet!!)

𐙚 Last movie: a nightmare on elm street 3

𐙚 Last tv show: american horror story, penny dreadful, grotesquerie

𐙚 Sweet / spicy / savory: all!

𐙚 Relationship status: in a reverse harem with josh hartnett, nicholas chavez, matthew gray gubler, drew starkey, hugh jackman, and evan peters (a.k.a painfully single)

𐙚 Last thing i googled: kayvan novak one direction (connected the dots that the photographer from the that moment parody is also nandor the relentless)

𐙚 Current obsession: nicholas alexander chavez (it’s unhealthy i literally cried thinking about him the other day), cooper abbott/adams, expanding my horror vhs collection, building my dream wardrobe, organizing/decorating my room, older!rafe cameron

𐙚 Looking forward to: a new tattoo at the end of november, NOT my birthday, new movies!! (nosferatu, your monster, wicked, heretic, etc.)

No pressure tags: @babygorewhore @eddiesxangel @myherometalhead @littlexdeaths @taintandviolent @luthqrs

[aubreyprc]

mhmmm write a drabble about our parents<3 spending christmas together with jack and like a new baby or something idk mmajeodkansr i don’t feel like sleeping at all tonight

😀 this is terrible i haven’t wrote anything in so long holy shit lol

a family at christmas

wooo lol idk drabble drabble but not sad it’s v happy.

—

He’s surprised when, for the first time in as long as he can remember, he’s woken up on his own accord. Not by a screaming toddler, not by a hyper seven year old running around the house. Not by an insanely loud alarm. But himself, for what reason he doesn’t know.

The silence is peaceful until he wakes up completely, and he sits up, alarmed at the suspicious silence. He turns to check the time, before turning to his wife, who’s sleeping next to him peacefully.

It’s just past seven, not as early as they’d been awoken since their daughter was born just over two years ago, but not as late as he thought, forcing himself to calm down. He’s about to stand, check on their kids, see what has kept them asleep this long, when the instantly recognisable footsteps of his son come rushing down the hall.

“It’s christmas!” the seven year old screams as he sprints from his bedroom to theirs, stopping in the doorway of his parents room. “It’s christmas!” he screams again, the second shout waking Emily as she squints her eyes. Aaron doesn’t have chance to stop his son from jumping right onto her, missing him by a mere inch, and the groan she gives out makes him flinch, and it makes Jack sit up instantly, wide eyes staring at her.

“Good morning,” she smiles to her step son, running a hand through his hair as she sits up.

“It’s christmas.” he smiles at her, before turning to his dad. “Can we go downstairs? Please?” he asks and Hotch smiles.

“Go and wake up your sister.” he says, and the boy cheers before jumping off the bed, his loud feet bouncing of the floor boards.

“Merry christmas.” Aaron smiles, bending down to kiss his wife.

“Merry christmas.” she grins, pressing another kiss onto his lips before their toddler makes her way onto the bed, wrapping herself into Aaron’s arms, a smile in her mother’s direction.

“Let’s go!” Jack shouts from the door, and the two adults laugh.

Aaron carries their two year old down the stairs, smiling to Emily as her face lights up at the wrapped presents under the tree. Her first christmas that she understands.

“Mommy look!” she cheers, pointing her finger towards the tree, and Emily smiles.

“I know.” she gasps, “do you want to see which ones are yours?”

The two year old nods eagerly as Aaron drops her to the ground and Jack cheers, rushing into the stack of presents under the overly large tree, their two year old not far behind him.

The two children scream, cheer, and laugh as they unwrap their presents, their smiles making the midnight wrapping they had to do worth it as they watch their joy.

“Next year, we’ll have to wrap them before christmas eve.” Aaron says as Emily yawns.

“We said that last year.” she points out, wrapping her hand in his. “We run out of time every year.” She tells him, smiling as he places a kiss to her lips, before turning when their children cheer once again.

Hours pass, and she looks towards the living room where Jack helps his sister with one of her new toys and she smiles, walking through towards the kitchen, a wrapped small box in her hands and a knot in her stomach that had been there for days.

They hadn’t planned this. Hadn’t been trying. They’d spoke about it, both agreed that having two was enough for now. That another child would be chaos, they’d agreed to that. So when two pink lines showed up on a test she would have bet money on being negative, her stomach knotted, her eyes widened and she stood in shock for what felt like days, before she hid in her draw.

Now it was time. She’d wrapped it in a bag, a small bow on it. A present for her husband because she knows even though it wasn’t planned, even though the timing is less than ideal, he’ll be happy, she doesn’t have to worry about that.

“Hey,” she smiles as she turns the corner, “I have something for you.”

“I thought we agreed we weren’t doing presents this year.” he said, raising an eyebrow at her as she holds up the bag.

“It’s just a little something,” she tells him, and he squints his eyes as her as he takes it, frowning at the odd shape wrapped up in the bag. He picks it up and his expression changes instantly as he realises what it is, and when he spots the two pink lines, his eyes snap up to hers, a smile on his face.

“Is this—” he stops, looking back down at it. “Your pregnant?”

“Yeah,” she laughs, “I found out a few days ago.” she says, smiling when he looks at her again, placing the test down on the table before kissing her.

“I know we said we’d wait and—”

“Best present ever.” he whispers and she laughs.

“Don’t let our other two hear you say that. They’ll get jealous.” she teases. “Three kids huh. Two under three and one under ten.” she says and he laughs.

“We’re never going to be able to get the wrapping done before christmas eve.” he sighs, and she laughs loudly, before turning towards the two under the tree.

A family. She had a family. How could she ever wish for anything more?

[jetaime-jespere]

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

This is for the lovely @sequinsmile-x on her birthday. I started reading her stories back in December and was a huge fan from the beginning. Fast forward a few months, and I am somehow lucky enough to call you my friend. For all the pep talks, the inspiration, and the laughs- you have been a bright spot of 2021. But I stand true to my word if harm ever comes to Theo Hotchner, you know what’s coming your way ; ) Happiest of birthdays, my friend! Enjoy every moment and all the cocktails.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

The Day After Thanksgiving

The fragrant aromas of hazelnut and vanilla waft through the air as Aaron precariously grips two full mugs of coffee in his hands. He sidesteps a few toys and a pair of shoes that were somehow missed in last night’s cleanup as he carefully ascends the stairs. The coffee threatens to slosh over the edge of the mugs and stain the hardwood floors; he slows his steps and tiptoes past closed bedroom doors. He avoids the squeaky floorboards - he knows exactly where they are by now - and kicks another stray toy against the wall in his haste to get to Emily before she wakes up.

Coffee in bed is a sacred routine for them, one they haven’t abandoned even balancing the demands of three children and two grueling careers. It’s one of Emily’s little pleasures, an act so simple Aaron can’t deny her whenever he gets the chance. That alone is how he found himself awake before the sun rises, rearranging the various pyrex containers of Thanksgiving leftovers to locate the coveted bottle of Emily’s favorite creamer in the fridge. It was wedged behind the cranberry sauce and macaroni and cheese they made for Nora, who vehemently refused to eat turkey. Of course, she’d eaten maybe five bites of her specially prepared dinner before she’d crawled into Emily’s lap in the middle of dinner. Yet it still brings a smile to his face; it’s their first holiday season as a family of five - something they never expected, something they’ll never take for granted.

Read the rest here or on ao3

When he shoulders the door open, Aaron finds her awake, feeding Leo. She holds him at her breast, her head tipped back and her eyes closed. She senses his presence innately, attuned to the softness of his steps as he steps over the threshold of the sanctuary of their bedroom. Emily’s face stretches into a brilliant smile when she sees him, but it doesn’t hide the exhaustion that paints her features.

“He’s awake again?” Aaron sets the mug on the nightstand and kisses her cheek then the top of Leo’s head. “I thought you’d at least get another hour of sleep.”

“He had other plans,” Emily murmurs, lovingly shifting their son in her arms. “He’s almost done.” She reaches for the coffee with her free hand, lifts the mug to her lips. “Thank you for this.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Aaron watches her finish Leo’s feed with unabashed awe. There’s nothing but adoration in his eyes, amazement at how she handles motherhood with an abundance of patience and grace. There have been ups and downs, tears. arguments and fights, her nerves stretched thin and his worn down. But these moments make it worth it, ones he wouldn’t trade. He leans down to take Leo to give her a break. The little boy’s eyes are already closed, contentedly asleep once again.

“You’re spoiling me.” Emily says with a grateful smile. She rests back against the pillows, eyes closing again. “What was I thinking when I agreed to go Black Friday shopping with JJ and Garcia?”

“Might be good to get out of the house. Away from the chaos.”

“Into a whole new kind of chaos. Garcia means business. I’m afraid of her ambition.” Emily rolls her eyes at the thought of the shared document Garcia had sent to her and JJ - essentially a shopping itinerary, with all the best deals and discounts clearly marked.

“You say it like you’re surprised.” Aaron gently places Leo into the bassinet before crawling back into bed with his wife. “It is Garcia we’re talking about.”

“Maybe I’ll learn my lesson next year.” She snuggles against him, seeking a few extra moments of peace.

Christmas Tree Shopping

It’s scarcely a week after Thanksgiving when Aaron caves to the persistent demands from Nora and Jack, unable to hold them off any longer. Less than an hour later, as the sun starts to go down in the early December sky, the Hotchners find themselves at an idyllic Christmas tree farm in Loudoun County. They’re not the only ones, as families make their way through the maize of evergreen, the air thick with the cloying, yet not unpleasant, scent of pine needles.

“We’re becoming those people,” Aaron grumbles good naturedly, Leo strapped to his chest in a baby carrier. “Jack, please watch your sister!” A few feet ahead, Nora runs excitedly through the trees, clapping her tiny mitten covered hands with joy. But Jack looks just as excited and takes off behind her as they search for the perfect one. It’s a tradition he never had growing up; one he’d only ever heard stories about from his classmates as he swallowed an emotion he only identified many years later as jealousy.

“What kind of people?” Emily carefully picks her way through the grass, her hand enclosed in his. Her head falls onto his shoulder every few feet; they quietly murmur to each other in broken sentences, interrupted every few seconds by one of the kids, yet it’s a language they’ve mastered over the last few years. Glances and smiles, words that speak volumes, little touches here and there.

“Those Christmas crazed people. Pretty soon we’re going to have an inflatable Santa on the lawn or something.”

“Don’t say that too loudly.” Emily gives him a quick kiss, stopping for a moment to adjust Leo’s hat to cover his tiny head. “Nora said one of her classmates has one. She’s already talking about it.”

“Great.” Aaron rolls his eyes. “I bet Garcia has one we could borrow. Probably more than one.”

Emily laughs, lightly smacking him on the shoulder as Nora grabs her hand. “Mommy, Jack and I like this one!” They all stop in front of a tree on a corner. It’s bigger than Aaron anticipated - he has visions of vacuuming pine needles for the next four weeks - and slightly lopsided, with uneven branches and a few gaps in between. Certainly not what you might see in a magazine, and in no way picture perfect, but Nora and Jack are beaming, their cheeks flushed pink in the chilly early evening air.

“Oh, you mean you two finally agree on something?” Emily quips, letting Nora drag her around the base of the tree, listening as their daughter explains where she wants to put her collection of superhero ornaments. “Who would have ever thought?” But when her eyes meet Aaron’s, it’s clear they’re thinking the same thing too.

It’s perfect.

A Lesson In Gift Wrapping

“Damnit,” Emily swears under her breath as the wrapping paper seemingly shreds in her hands. How does Aaron make this look so easy? With her bottom lip between her teeth, she folds another piece of paper around the box, trying to mimic the process she’s seen him do so effortlessly time and time again. It’s not quite enough paper to wrap around the box, and she shakes her head in defeat.

“Of all the places I looked, I didn’t think I’d find you here.” Aaron’s baritone voice shakes her from her trance. He’s leaning in the doorway of the guest room, an amused but loving smirk on his face. The remnants of the day are there - a hint of shadow on his chin, tie loosened and sleeves rolled to his elbows.

“Thought I might get some of this done.” She looks up at him briefly before her attention goes back to the mess of wrapping paper, twisted balls of tape, and gift bows. “There’s a lot still left to do.”

“Did the North Pole finally accept your elf application?” Aaron teases lovingly, pushing the door  open and side-stepping a large pile of gifts that still have yet to be wrapped. “Looks like we’re a little behind schedule this year.”

With a roll of her eyes, Emily pushes a piece of hair out of her face. “You’re home earlier than I  expected.” She glances at the mess around her with a sigh, and her voice softens. “Leo needs to be fed when he gets up. I need to pick up Nora from school and Jack will be home in an hour.”

He immediately catches the tension in her voice. As the early days of December melted into weeks, the never ending hustle was clearly starting to get to her, especially since cases took Aaron out of town most of the workweek. Evenings were full of obligations - practices and errands, weekends packed with as much family time as they could manage. All the rest was pushed to the side, a never ending list of chores that was only added to, never subtracted from.

The team had spent almost a week in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, ironically called the Christmas City, searching for an arsonist that had the entire city on edge. Perhaps the nickname was an eerie coincidence yet nonetheless it was a grueling case. Since he’d gotten home he could sense the stress emanating from her, curling like fog around her. She couldn’t hide it from him; she couldn’t hide anything from him. And while he didn’t ask, he somehow already knew.  “I asked Garcia to pick Nora up to give you a break.”

“What about dinner?”

“It’s already been ordered.” Aaron says easily, settling beside her on the floor. “Pizza sounded good.”

Relief floods her face. “Pizza always sounds good.” She kicks the abandoned box out of the way to wedge herself against him, lacing her fingers through his. “We’ve missed you around here.” It’s honest, an understated relief that only years of intimacy can bring. Her head finds its way to his shoulder; she leans against him.

“We’re finished until after New Years.” Aaron holds their hands up to the light, staring at the bouncing reflection of their wedding rings. “You have me here until January.”

“Lucky me,” Emily says dryly.

Aaron picks up a stray ball of abandoned wrapping paper and chucks it at her. “What do you say we finish wrapping these together?”

“I say,” she begins slowly, eyes darting between the neatly made bed and his own. “We take advantage of having the house to ourselves.”

He makes her come three times before they hear Garcia’s car in the driveway, and twice more after the kids are in bed, for good measure.

A Deal With The Devil

The name that appears on the screen of his ringing phone is one Aaron can’t ignore. It’s terrible timing, but he’s not at all surprised. His mother in law had an uncanny knack for calling at the most inopportune moments.

“Hi, Elizabeth,” Aaron says hastily, pressing the phone between his ear and his shoulder as he wedges the final plate into the dishwasher. He barely got to the phone in time before it went to voicemail, and something tells him she’s only a little miffed about that fact. Elizabeth Prentiss has an abundance of patience for her grandchildren, but not much for anyone else, he’s come to learn.

“Good evening, Aaron,” she says crisply yet not unkindly. In the background he can hear the mellow crooning of Bing Crosby. He imagines Elizabeth with a glass of wine in one hand, a thick book in her lap. “Is Emily around? I tried to reach her earlier. She didn’t answer my call.”

“She’s giving Nora a bath.” He glances upward, the muffled squeals and giggles coming from the bathroom just loud enough to hear from downstairs. At least things have calmed down since dinner . He decides not to mention it’s already been quite an evening around their house, thanks to unfamiliar vegetables and a long day in preschool. “Is there something you’d like me to pass along?” Of course Elizabeth would call on the one night this week he isn’t away on a case.

“Actually, Aaron, maybe you can help me,” Elizabeth presses, and he knows whatever she’s about to say is something that’s already caused a disagreement between her and Emily.

“I can try,” he offers tentatively, choosing words carefully. The very last thing he wants to do is get caught between their fires. It’s never ended well for him.

“You sound tired, Aaron. Are you not sleeping well?”

“We have three kids, Elizabeth,” he counters back. “I haven’t slept well in years.”

He hears a soft laugh on the other line; for a moment he has to remind himself he’s not talking to his wife. Sometimes the similarities between them are uncanny, much to Emily’s chagrin.

He’s wrapping up the call, assuring Elizabeth they’ll figure out a plan that works for everyone yet doesn’t add any additional stress, while simultaneously cleaning the rest of the kitchen when he hears soft footsteps on the stairs.

“You’re on bedtime duty.” Emily appears behind him, leaning against the counter with an exasperated huff. “She’s in a mood tonight.”

Aaron comes to stand behind her, circling both arms around her waist. Her hips fit snugly against the cradle of his own; he rests his chin over her shoulder to nip at her ear. “I just made a deal with your mother.” He doesn’t miss how she tenses against him, a combination of frustration, annoyance, and exhaustion seeping through her body. It’s the first time they’ve been alone all day. He presses a palm against her chest, feeling the beat of her heart under the warmth of his hand.

“She called again? I let it go to voicemail earlier.”

“Just now. She wanted to talk to you. Luckily, you’re off the hook, because I talked to her.” He kisses her neck. He swipes at a few stray bath bubbles that have somehow found their way into her hair. Of all the versions of Emily he’s loved over the years, this Emily might just be his favorite.

“Let me guess. She wants us to come to her for Christmas Eve dinner instead of her coming here.”

“Something like that.”

“Does she not understand we have three children?” Emily grumbles. “I’ve been over this with her. She’s not the one who has to put them to bed on Christmas Eve, you know. It’s a whole different kind of chaos.”

“I think we can figure it out, Em.” Aaron chuckles. He holds her a little closer, voice reassuring and calm. “I made her a deal.” She noticeably relaxes, her body melding against his. Proximity is one of their love languages, the subtle touches an endless source of comfort for them both.

“ Mommy!” Nora’s voice is an insistent, urgent interruption, one they can’t ignore. “Mommy!”

Emily sighs in defeat, the moment of peaceful bliss abruptly over.

“I’ll go,” Aaron says immediately, leaving a trail of kisses down Emily’s neck. “I haven’t seen you sit down all day.”

“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” She presses her hips into his teasingly and turns her head to kiss him. It’s a promise of later, another little luxury they still manage to make time for.

“No, but you can show me once the kids are asleep.” He reluctantly lets her go as he heads in the direction of the upstairs.

“Only if I don’t fall asleep first.”

Visiting Santa

“This is not the smartest idea we’ve ever had, clearly,” Emily mutters under her breath as the crowd around them seems to thicken before their eyes. The mall is packed, full of shoppers and families lined elbow to elbow around a colorful, elaborate display to meet Santa. There’s fake snow everywhere, teenagers dressed up as elves supervising the line and a kids’ rendition of a Christmas song blasting from speakers. “What were we thinking?”

“The same as everyone else in Northern Virginia, apparently.” Aaron finds the small of her back through her coat, rests his hand there gently as Emily pushes the stroller a little to soothe Leo. “Not like we had much of a choice, sweetheart. I’ve been gone all week. When else were we supposed to do this?”

“I could have taken them myself one night.” She looks annoyed and rightfully so, as one of the elves announces it’s time for Santa to take a fifteen minute break.

“And miss all this fun?” Aaron jokes. He’s doing his best to hide his own annoyance, yet the flex of his jaw is a tell-tale sign that Emily spots immediately. “Not a chance.”

They’ve been in line for over a half an hour, and will be for at least another half hour. Beside Aaron, Jack grumbles under his breath and rolls his eyes without even looking up from his Nintendo Switch. He’d obliged reluctantly, partly because Aaron had promised him a new video game if he didn't complain. And from where Nora is nestled in the safety of her mother’s arms, she presses her cheek against Emily’s shoulder. “What if we miss Santa, Mommy?”

“We won’t, honey,” Emily soothes, catching Aaron’s eyes over their daughter’s head of dark hair. It’s the third time she’s asked the question, her dark eyes widening as Santa waves to the crowd before disappearing. “He’s just taking a break.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Aaron mutters under his breath. “Even Santa is over it.”

When they finally emerge from the mall almost an hour later, with three cranky children in tow, Emily passes over the photograph to Aaron. “This is an awful picture,” she snickers behind her gloved fist. It’s true. It was taken at the worst possible moment - seconds after Leo started screaming, Nora’s attention anywhere but the camera, and Jack’s eyes closed. “This is even worse than last year’s picture. We can’t actually display this anywhere, you know.”

“We can give it to Dave. He’ll love it,” Aaron jokes as he tucks the envelope under his arm. “Trust me.”

Twas the Night before Christmas

“Move over, Nora!” Jack elbows his sister squarely in the stomach in an attempt to crawl over his sister to get closer to Aaron. “You’re taking up too much space.”

“Ouch, Jack! Daddy, Jack is being mean!”

“There’s more than enough room for everyone,” Aaron says neutrally and cheerfully. It’s clear he won’t pick a side. “Santa doesn’t want to hear the two of you fighting on Christmas Eve. Last time we checked the radar, he was headed to the United States, wasn’t he?”

From where she cradles a milk-drunk Leo in her arms, Emily stifles a laugh in her fist. She makes a mental note to thank Garcia for showing it to the kids earlier that evening. It’s been the only thing to keep them from completely losing their minds with excitement ever since.

“Nora, why don’t you come sit over here next to Mommy and Leo?” He pats the sliver of space between his thigh and Emily’s, covered in matching flannel pajamas as Emily shifts over.

“Okay, Daddy,” she beams, scrambling off the couch and making a point to stick her tongue out at Jack along the way.

“Nora, apologize to Jack,” Emily cuts in smoothly with a sharp look at her daughter.

The little girl pouts even as guilt spreads across her face. “Sorry, Jack.” She breaks off a piece of the frosted cookie in her hand - the one she isn’t supposed to have on the new couch - and hands it to Jack. “Here.”

“Is everyone ready?” Aaron asks once Nora is settled and Jack has stopped kicking his feet underneath one of the many blankets flung around the couch. “No one needs anything?” He grins at the insistent pleas of both kids, hushes them quietly to avoid waking the sleeping baby on Emily’s chest. “Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house…” He begins, as a silence falls over them all.

Emily watches him read, transfixed by the sight of Jack and Nora completely engrossed in the story they’ve heard dozens of times, as if they never have before. Sometimes it still doesn’t seem real that this is their life now. She would have laughed ten years ago if someone predicted her future.

“A happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.” Aaron closes the book in his hands, looking between Nora and Jack. “I think it’s bedtime, what do you think?”

There are grumbles from them both as they trip over each other on their way towards the stairs, not without frequent peeks over the shoulder to see if in fact Santa somehow materialized behind them.

“Maybe Santa will bring us a puppy, Jack!"

Christmas Eve

“You think they’ll be disappointed when none of these presents bark?” Emily jokes once they’ve finished setting up the pile of gifts. There’s a bottle of wine between them, and It’s A Wonderful Life plays in the background on low.

“I told them Santa doesn’t carry pets on the sleigh.” Aaron tucks his arm around her and brings her into his chest, dropping a kiss on the crown of her head. “Said it was too dangerous.”

“Did they buy that?”

“Seemed to.” He shrugs. “We might have some explaining to do if Allison and Shane end up getting Jude a puppy, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” In the easy silence the movie stretches on; they share sips of wine and leftover cookies and murmur soft whispers over the final few minutes.

“I love this part,” Emily murmurs as George Bailey reunites with his family in a joyous, tearful reunion and the opening measures of Auld Lang Syne begin to play. She doesn't look away from the screen.

“You love this whole movie,” he teases gently. “You always have.”

“You don’t?”

“I have other favorites. But I’ll always watch it with you.”Outside, the snow has started to accumulate; it’s already formed a blanket of white across the grass, and is covering the trees. It doesn’t look like it’ll be stopping anytime soon.

“This never gets old,” Emily says from where they’re snuggled together on the couch, staring at the Christmas tree and the falling snow out the window. It’s been their tradition to do this since having Nora - set up presents and watch the movie.

They watch the falling snow in silence once again, their fingers linked, heads bent together, enjoying the few extra moments of peace. It’s only when Emily’s eyes drift shut does she realize just how exhausted she really is.

“Don’t fall asleep on me,” Aaron murmurs as she opens them. “There’s one thing left to do.”

“We did everything. We even answered the note they wrote for Santa. We forgot that last year.” Emily stretches as she stands, her limbs aching. “It’s time for bed, Aaron. I’m so tired.”

“Not quite yet, sweetheart.” Aaron is reaching behind the decorations on the mantle for the small hidden speakers, flicking a button. “I think you’re forgetting something.”

“What?” She yawns, not even bothering to hide it. “It’s so late.”

“You remember,” he says, holding out his hand as the music starts.

Emily rolls her eyes good naturedly, remembering just what he means. “Really, Aaron?”

“One dance, sweetheart. Please?”

“I'm tired.”

He rolls his eyes. It’s a line she’s used many times, yet for some reason, she always gives in. In fact, she’s stepping into his arms before she even stops talking.

“That’s what you always say.” He takes her hand and wraps his other arm around her back, drawing her in close. “Yet you always end up right here.”

“Because I love you,” she whispers, following his steps as he takes the lead.

Some soft Christmas jazz starts to play, a sultry sounding medley that might just lull her to sleep. “This is the song you picked?” Emily rests her head on his shoulder as he sways them in time to the music. “You couldn’t have picked anything more lively?”

“Shhhh,” he murmurs, his hand bracing against the small of her back as he dips her down and brings her back up. “Just go with it.”

So she does, letting him move them both around the living room in a series of smooth, even steps. When the music stops, they still for a few blissful, silent moments. Still wrapped in each other’s arms, they’re close enough together to feel the other’s heart beating in sync. “Merry Christmas, Emily. I love you.”

“I love you too, Aaron. Merry Christmas.”

[alexandrablake]

leave

Prompt: Angst 1. “I’m leaving.” “Of course you are. That’s all you know how to do.” from this prompt list! Pairing: Hotchniss (Emily Prentiss x Aaron Hotchner) Show: Criminal minds Word Count: 1,226 Warnings: I don’t think there are any, but please inform me if otherwise. A/n: Do I hate it? Uhhh.... Only a little. And that’s progress, baby!

It was a bad day from the start. No one had gotten any sleep, all of them staying up through the night in a desperate attempt to find the unsub before he took another victim. It was a failure, and another kid was taken. When they did find him, Morgan and Emily split off, which left an easy angle on Morgan, and he was in shoulder.

They were all having a bad day. 

Emily and Hotch were silently cleaning the conference room where the team had set up for the week. Morgan was doing an overnight in the hospital, and the rest of the team had been sent away to the hotel to get some sleep. Hotch, who was practically inhuman when it came to loss of sleep, stayed behind to clean, and Prentiss joined him- she was far too worried with the events of the day to be able to fall asleep.

Aaron, fighting back a yawn as he placed down two steaming cups of coffee, glanced at his frowning counterpart. “What are you staring at?”

“Well, it just doesn’t make sense.” She looked back at him from the bulletin board. “Why Johanssen would stay in Cheyenne, I mean. With everything he went through as a teen, you would think getting out of here would be the first thing on his mind.”

Hotch raised a singular eyebrow and turned back to his pile of paper. “Yeah, well, some people don’t think like that, Prentiss. You should know that, we’ve seen it time and time again.”

Emily sighed as a response and took down the newspaper clippings detailed the horrors the unsub had gone through in his adolescence. She muttered a curse when the pin holding up a photo of a victim stabbed her finger. 

“So why did you do it?”

“It?”

Hotch nodded. “Leave Morgan. I gave you orders to stay together. Morgan’s reckless, he’ll push unsubs like this one,” he scowled at the board, “too far. That’s why I paired someone with him. Johanssen was far too unstable to be dealt with by one person. So why did you leave?

“I-”

There was a long pause as they stared at each other. Hotch nodded, waiting for an answer. Rather than answer, Emily stared at the dark circles under his eyes. They were a shade far too dark to just be from one sleepless night. 

“When was the last time you slept?”

He rolled his eyes and shifted his weight so he was leaning on the desk. “What does it matter? And you’re just trying to change the subject. Why did you leave?”

“I don’t know, Hotch! Is that what you want to hear? That I don’t know why I left Morgan?” she exclaimed, eyes hardening. “Because I don’t. We were looking for a ruthless killer, you’ve seen the victims. I felt it was best to be more than cautious when checking the rooms. Morgan went forward, I turned into a different room. And then there were shots.”

Hotch’s scowl somehow etched deeper into his face. Both of them were running on adrenaline and caffeine, the tiredness had long since fogged their brains. There would be an apology tomorrow morning, with soft words and gentle touches extending an olive branch. But he didn’t care right now. Right now, all he wanted to do was let out his frustration.

“Shots that led to Morgan being in the hospital. What would you do if one of them had hit Morgan in the head, killing him?”

Emily fought to keep the tears of indignation she felt bubbling to the surface back. She was not going to cry right now. 

“Jesus, Hotch, don’t you think I feel bad already? Morgan is my partner, do you think I want him to be shot?”

The walls seemed to be closing in on them, and Prentiss could barely breathe. 

“Sure seemed like you did tonight.”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Emily had to leave the room.

“I’m leaving,” she told him, her voice wobbling a little. 

Hotch shook his head, regret not having reached him yet, and said the first thing that came to his mind, “Of course you are. That’s all you know how to do.”

Halfway out the door, she stopped, his words catching her off-guard. “What?”

“You leave Morgan now. You move all the time. You left after Doyle-”

“That’s not fair!”

Hotch was far too gone to stop at this point. “You can’t stay in one place for too long. The only constant in your life is this job, and that’s only because it’s always on the move.”

The door slammed on her way out.

Hotch collapsed into a chair, and his head fell into his hands. “Nice one, Aaron. That’s how you’ll get the girl, point out all her flaws and make it worse on an already horrible day.”

He scoffed and mussed his hair. The mess of the room loomed over him, and he stood up with a heavy sigh to clean some more of it.

Light footsteps sounded behind him, but he was far too engrossed in the menial task and his sulking to care. He reached up to grab a case file but paused when a soft voice floated in from the doorway.

“Did it really bother you when I left all those times? When I moved?”

Hotch spun on his heel and found himself staring into the same tired brown eyes that had been challenging him minutes prior.

“Well, yeah. Of course it did, Emily,” Wanting this shell of Emily gone, he joked, “I liked that apartment of yours.”

She did laugh, but it felt far more forced than natural. “Actually?”

His tone softened and he took a seat. “Actually. You shouldn’t have left Morgan,” she nodded in agreement, quickly swiping at her eyes, “but any of us would have done the exact same thing. I don’t blame you. I’m just tired and frustrated and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”

She gave him a light smile, taking the seat next to him. “It’s okay.”

The look she gave him was rather indecipherable. Rather than dwell on it, he continued in his explanation. “And I don’t begrudge you for leaving after Doyle, especially since I helped you with it. Your life was in danger, and I wouldn’t have had you do anything else.”

Emily nodded, taking in his words.

“I don’t know, Prentiss. You just-” he interrupted himself with a sigh, rethinking his words. “You’re just gone all the time. You might actually be here, but you aren’t. Not really. And all I want to do is fix that. Because I just- I just want you to be happy. And I can’t help you be happy when you aren’t with me.”

“Aaron…”

Once again, he was too far gone to stop. “And I don’t know how to help you. That’s your issue. You are so afraid of getting hurt again that you keep anyone from getting close enough to help.”

Chapped lips were pressed onto his. Purely on instinct, his eyes fluttered shut and he reached a hand out to pull her even closer. Their lips moved in harmony, almost as if both of them had dreamed of this exact moment.

Emily pulled away first, and his lips chased after her, hungry for more. She stopped him, needing to breathe, by placing her forehead on his and laughing breathily.

“Is this close enough?”

He responded with a soft huff and kissed her again, grabbing onto something that he would never let go of.

[emilyshotchniss]

Tis’ the Damn Season

my first mini-fic in nearly a year is finally here! it’s hotchniss at christmas and i really hope you like it :)

for the lovely and incomparable @sequinsmile-x , whose fics have brought me so much joy and comfort throughout this shitty shitty year and because she deserves all the good things<3

special mention to @whitecrossgirl for inspiring this one! think of it as a continuation of Mistletoe Kiss!

Word count: 2.4k

Warnings: none, just the fluffiest shit ever<3

read on ao3 or below the cut!

When Emily stepped foot into the bullpen, she was quite literally lost for words. Seemingly overnight, their everyday office had been transformed into Santas Grotto, decorations covering every inch of the office.

“Garcia,” She called, as Penelope sheepishly stepped out of the kitchen and into Emilys line of sight.

“Didnt Hotch talk to you about all this?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Emily, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Penelope said matter of factly.

“I thought he told you to only decorate your office,” she questioned.

“Emily, I really have no clue what you’re taking about, I did only decorate my lair.” Garcia said as if it was the most simple thing ever.

“So then who did this?” Emily asked, suppressing a laugh, gesturing to the office.

“I don’t know- Ooh! Maybe it was the ELVES!” Garcia squealed.

“Funny,” She scoffed. “I didn’t know elves had blonde hair and wore rainbow platform heels to work” Emily deadpanned, before settling at her desk.

She glanced up to Hotch’s office, and realised his door was wide open, listening in to their entire exchange. She met his eyes with a faint blush and a smile, as he grinned back at her, gently rolling his eyes at Garcias antics. She got on with her paperwork, ignoring the rapid fluttering in her stomach.

The day went on, a festive atmosphere flowing through the bullpen as Christmas music filled the air, making the the most of a case-free day. Emily finished the last file in her current pile, and stood from her desk to hand it to Hotch.

“Anyone need files taken up?” She asked her teammates.

“We’re all good sugar,” Morgan replied, earning a smile from the brunette. She made her way up the stairs, and entered Hotch’s office. The moment she disappeared from view, the team leapt into action.

“Go JJ go!” Garcia whispered (loudly, but still, the effort was appreciated).

Derek quickly placed tape on the piece of mistletoe and handed it off to JJ. She was tasked with placing it above Hotch’s office doorway, in a desperate attempt to get their friends to finally face whatever they’d clearly been dancing around for months, if not years.

She tiptoed up the stairs then walked casually to his door, reaching up and sticking the mistletoe up quickly on her way by, upping her pace to a rapid speed walk to get back to the others surrounding Dereks desk once she’d completed her mission.

“Nice work pennsylvania petite,” Derek said playfully, gently nudging her in the ribs.

So… what now?” Reid asked the group.

“We wait, mio figlio.” Rossi replied, seemingly appearing from thin air, startling the group.

They watched Hotch’s office for what felt like hours, until finally they saw Emily approach the door, Hotch following close behind her.

“Thanks Prentiss, if you could just sign off on that last one that would be great.” He told her, clearing his throat.

“No problem Hotch,” She replied, stepping closer to the doorway.

“Oh jesus christ,” Rossi muttered shaking his head.

“This better work Derek, because I cannot continue to watch them act like fools around each other much longer. I’m too old for it.”

“Have faith my friend… have faith,” Derek said before whistling to the pair of agents on the catwalk.

“Hey lovebirds, look up,” He smirked, not even attempting to hide his amusement.

His comment startled the pair of agents, and as soon as they realised what was happening, they were both flushing red. Hotch awkwardly cleared his throat again whilst Emily stared at the floor.

“It’s okay, we don’t- we don’t have to,” She mumbled, attempting to hide the blush across her cheeks.

“No, no, it’s fine. Really,” He replied with a smile, sensing she was uncomfortable and attempting to alleviate some of the tension suddenly enveloping them.

Before she even realised what was happening, his hand was on her arm and his lips were brushing against her cheek, ghosting over the corner of her mouth. She began to relax into his touch, but the moment was over before she knew it, and reality set back in. He stepped back from her, giving her space, but when he looked at her he could’ve sworn she looked almost… disappointed.

He pushed that thought away as quickly as it came to him and squeezed her arm before handing her the file back.

“Thanks, Hotch, thanks, yeah I’ll, I’ll sign that right now…” She trailed off, giving him a tight-lipped smile before returning to her desk.

“Back to work everyone.” Hotch said, the stoic mask back in place as he re-entered his office, closing the door behind him.

“What are you guys looking at?” Emily said, a failed attempt at being stern.

“Nothing, n-nothing,” They all mumbled before heading back to their respective desks.

When she thought she was out of the spotlight, she took her hand and gently traced where his lips met her skin with her fingers.

She didn’t realise was they were all still watching her over their computers, beaming with glee.

The day drew to a close, everybody filtering out at a reasonable hour for once. Emily hit the button on the elevator, and stepped inside, when a hand slid through the doors, and a deep voice boomed into the silence, and she froze.

“Hold the elevator! Oh, hey, Prentiss,”

“Hey, Hotch,” She breathed.

“Did you uh, did you talk to Garcia, about santas grotto?” She smirked at him.

“Despite her desperate attempts to convince me that it was in fact Santas elves that broke into the behavioural analysis unit, yes, I spoke to her and eventually she agreed to tone it down a little.” He laughed.

“God, he really needs to smile more…” She thought to herself.

“It was fun today though, the decorations, and music, plus not having a case,” She smiled.

“Yeah, yeah it was,” He smiled back.

They fell into an awkward silence, the tension between them thickening. Finally, god, finally the elevator arrived at the parking lot.

“Right, uh, well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow Hotch.” She said, making her way out of the elevator.

“Oh, uh, let me walk you to your car.” He replied, not quite ready to say goodbye to her.

“Oh it’s okay, my car’s just down there Hotch, thank you though,” She smiled. “Goodnight.”

And then she was off, her car fading out of view and exiting the garage, whilst he remained frozen in place. Pulling himself together, he followed suit and headed home not far behind her.

He’d been home for nearly two hours when he heard a knock at the door. He moved through his apartment and answered his door, puzzled when he found Emily standing in his doorway.

“Emily? it’s nine thirty, what are you doing here?”

She had changed out of her usual work attire into a pair of yoga pants and a yale sweatshirt, that even after all this time still looked a few sizes too big on her slender frame. It took him back to those early days in her mothers mansion, when she was known only as the ambassadors “wild child”. It took his breath away for a split second.

“Can-Can I come in?” She asked, barely above a whisper.

“Sure, yeah, of course.” He replied, her demeanour worrying him ever so slightly, stepping aside to let her through.

“Is everything alright?” He asked her tentatively.

“Honestly? No, no it’s not alright,” She said, exhaling deeply. She spoke again after he was silent for a beat, clearly confused.

“Hotch, what are we doing?” She asked, chewing on her bottom lip.

“What do you mean?” He asked her, despite already knowing the answer.

“This. Us. This thing we’ve been avoiding.”

More silence. “God, Aaron, say something to her. Say anything, jesus, why weren’t any words coming out?” He thought to himself.

“Look, Hotch, I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable but I have to be honest with you. I can’t keep living like this.” She replied shakily.

“Like what?” He replied, her comment genuinely confusing him for a second.

“Like I’m not in love with you.” She choked out, her eyes glassing over as she smacked a hand over her mouth, regretting ever opening it in the first place.

That got his attention. He looked up at her, finding her close to tears, eyes shining in the glow of the fairy lights from his tree and immediately felt the overwhelming urge to touch her. To comfort her in the way he’d been longing to for years.

Did she think he didn’t feel the same?

Had he made her feel like that?

He was by her side in two strides, taking her hands in his.

“You love me?” He asked.

“Forget it Hotch, I shouldn’t have said anything, I’m sorry for barging in.” She replied, avoiding his eyes and attempting to free herself from his grasp. He placed his hands on either side of her chin, turning her head gently back towards his gaze.

“Emily.” He pressed, needing to know how she truly felt. “You love me.” He stated simply, his expression softening.

“I know I shouldn’t, and I’m sorry - you’re my boss, I’m your subordinate, it goes against like every HR rule in the book, but I do. And I know that’s not fair to drop on you like this, you’ve been through enough and god, you don’t need some emotionally stunted screw up to-“

She wasn’t talking anymore, she realised, as she felt his lips on hers, and suddenly something clicked. She relaxed into his embrace, deepening the kiss until they were short of breath.

He pulled away chest heaving, tucking a stray piece of raven hair behind her ear.

“Emily… I love you too.” He said, as he felt his own eyes grow glassy now. Blinking quickly, he continued.

“I think deep down I always have. Ever since I first saw you, roaming the halls of your mothers mansion, wreaking havoc wherever you went.” He said with a reminiscent smile, watching as one began to grow across her own face too. “I’m so sorry if I ever made you believe otherwise.”

A sob escaped her then, the emotion she’d been fighting so hard to keep hidden spilling over the surface.

“God, for two profilers we really are unbelievably stupid.” She laughed, a tear escaping her eye. He caught it as it fell, wiping it from her cheek with a feather light touch, as if she was the most precious thing he’d ever touched.

As he stroked her cheekbone with his thumb and looked at her, he realised that she might just be the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. In the glow of the christmas lights, he could see the shine of her hair, and the soft brown of her eyes up close, and he internally cursed himself for wasting so much time.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to make a move.” He smiled. Her hands came up and settled behind his neck.

“I’m sorry for making you think i didn’t feel the same. And I’m sorry you feel like you’re an emotionally stunted screw up because let me assure you… you’re anything but.” He said firmly, as she tensed in his hold.

“Aaron,” She began, but he cut her off.

“No. You’re the best agent on this team, the best friend to this team, the glue that holds this team together. We fell apart when you were gone - I didn’t know how we were going to recover. But from the moment you came back to us, everything finally felt like it would be okay again. So don’t you dare call yourself an ‘emotionally stunted screw-up’.” He tilted her chin back towards his face, watching her blink back the tears that threatened to fall.

“God, I’ve wanted to tell you that for months…” He laughed nervously.

“You need to smile more.” She told him, running a thumb over his dimple. “I’ve wanted to tell you that for months.”

“So… we’re gonna do this then? Us?” She asked hesitantly.

“I think we’d be stupid to waste anymore time.” He replied, smiling as she blew out a breath she’d clearly been holding.

“Thank god.” She laughed, as he pulled her into a tight hug.

“Do you want to stay?” He asked into her shoulder.

“We could watch a movie or something, and I uh- I can give you a t-shirt to sleep in, or not, if you don’t want to stay that’s completely fine-“ He was cut off.

“Aaron,” She started. “I’d love to.” She replied, fingers threading through the short hairs at the nape of his neck.

“But it is getting late, so maybe we could take a rain-check on the movie?”

“Of course we can,” He smiled. “I’ll go grab you a t-shirt.”

“Oh, uh, do you have a spare blanket, you know, for the couch?” She asked him.

“You are not taking the couch.” He told her firmly, and she blushed at their unspoken understanding.

He took her hand and led her to his bedroom, grabbing an old Beatles t-shirt from his drawer for her. He ducked into the bathroom quickly, allowing her to change and to take a moment to steady himself. He re-entered his bedroom to find Emily tucked under his duvet, looking impossibly tiny in his big bed. Making his way to his side of the mattress, he joined her, and she instantly moulded to his side, resting her head on his chest, tucking it under his chin.

“Thank you.” She said, barely above a whisper.

“For what?”

“For telling me how much I’m needed. No one’s ever told me those things before.” She croaked our, fighting tears again.

He pulled her even closer to him and held her tight, one hand wrapped around her middle, the other stroking her hair.

“I should’ve told you sooner. I meant every word.” He replied.

“I can’t believe I’m a better agent than Morgan,” She joked, smiling into his chest.

“Do not tell him I said that,” He laughed, pressing a kiss to her head.

He felt her yawn against him, and shifted down under the covers making them more comfortable. Readjusting her head, he resumed his motions on her hair.

“We should sleep, you’re tired.” He told her.

“Mmm… okay.” She mumbled, fighting the slumber that was overtaking her. “Goodnight Aaron.”

His heart swelled so much he was scared it was going to burst from his chest. Clearing his throat, he replied.

“Goodnight Em. This is the best Christmas present I could have asked for.” He felt her grin against his chest, and eventually they fell asleep, entwined in each other’s embrace.

After all, there was nowhere else they’d rather be.

[hancydrewfan]

this was such a wonderful fluffy thing! these kids seem so lovely. i just know in this timeline they get every good thing they deserve. merry christmas bestie ♡

Wrapped Up in Love

Three Christmases in the life of the Hotchner family.

-x-

Hi friends!

This is a little gift from me to you on Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays for whatever you do, or don't, celebrate, and I wish you all the love and happiness in the world <3

Love you all very much!

-x-

Warnings: pregnancy, so fluffy you'll need to floss afterwards.

Words: 3.1k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily adjusts her hold on the bundle in her arms. She smiles down at her daughter, looking intently at her face, eager to memorise every tiny feature. She hums softly as the baby shifts in her embrace and whimpers.

“Oh Evie, Mommy’s got you,” she says, lifting Evelyn to press a kiss to her forehead, “It’s hard work being born, huh?” She grimaces as she shifts in the bed, her lower body hurting in ways she didn’t know was possible, “Mommy didn’t have an easy time of it either,” she gently strokes Evelyn’s cheek and then her nose, the slope of it more beautiful than it had ever seemed on her own face, “You’re the best Christmas present ever though, even if you did give me and Daddy a bit of a shock this morning.” 

She wasn’t due for another three weeks. 

Emily’s plan for Christmas Day had been to sit on the couch, eat more cookies than any one person feasibly should, and let Jack talk at her about all of his new toys. Evelyn, it seemed, had other plans. Emily had woken up very early in the morning to a pain in her belly that she initially wrote off as Braxton Hicks contractions, an idea she quickly dismissed when her water broke as she stood up. Aaron had woken up to her shaking him, her voice tight, strangled by fear that her baby wasn’t supposed to be coming yet, as she told him she was in labour. 

It was only when they made it to the hospital, Jack safely with Jessica, that she really thought about the fact it was Christmas, that she was having a baby on Christmas Day of all days. She had spent the time in between contractions worrying about the fact her little girl’s birthday was on a major holiday, that she’d never quite get the attention she deserved. Aaron had tried to calm her down, her physical and emotional support as he sat behind her for hours, never once complaining when she was sure she almost broke his hand. 

She looks up as she hears a knock on the door, “Come in,” she says quietly, smiling as her husband pops his head into the room, his smile wide and full of adoration as their eyes meet, “Hi honey,” she looks down at Evelyn, “Look sweet girl, Daddy is back.” 

Aaron’s smile gets impossibly wider at the sight of his girls together, “Are you two ready for a visitor?”

She nods, well aware that there was only one person that Aaron would have with him. He’d only been out of the room for a matter of minutes, his only goal to meet Jack and Jessica in the waiting room so the young boy could meet his little sister, and she’d missed him. Emily had been clear from the very start that she didn’t want visitors in the hospital, and that Jack was her only exception. 

It ended up being one of the benefits of going into labour when she had. She’d sent a text to the BAU team group chat, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, but hadn’t hinted that she was in labour. 

She could surprise them all tomorrow, send a picture of Evelyn and Jack together and announce she’d unexpectedly given birth earlier than expected, but for now, she wanted to live in this little bubble with her children and her husband. 

“Of course,” she replies, winking at her husband before the door opens, revealing Jack standing next to him, his eyes wide in wonder as he walks into the room, “Hi Jack.” 

“Hi,” he says, stepping closer to the bed, staring at the bundle in Emily’s arms. “Is that baby sister?” 

“Yeah, buddy, that’s your sister” Aaron says, picking Jack up and placing him carefully on the bed so he doesn’t jostle Emily too much, “Now be careful, remember-”

“The baby is small and Mom might be sore,” Jack says, his eyes still fixed on the baby, his fascination so intense he misses how Emily rolls her eyes at Aaron over his head. 

“I’m fine, sweetie,” Emily says, encouraging him to sit next to her, rearranging the blankets around her daughter's face, “This is Evelyn, but we’re going to call her Evie most of the time.” 

Jack gasps and leans in closer, stamping a kiss on Evelyn’s forehead before he sits back up, looking back and forth between his parents, “She’s so pretty, Mom,” Jack says, his smile wide as he leans into Emily’s side, “Just like you.” 

Emily chuckles and shakes her head, turning to kiss his temple, “You’re a charmer,” she says, looking at her husband and raising her eyebrow, “Just like your dad.” 

“Can I hold her?” Jack asks enthusiastically and Emily nods.

“Of course, put your arms like mine,” she says, nodding encouragingly as he does so, “Be careful with her head,” she adds as she hands over Evelyn, shushing her as she whines a little bit, making sure she keeps a hand under her head for extra support, “There you go.” 

The family of four falls into a contented silence as Jack looks down at his younger sister, his smile wide. 

“What do you think, Jack?” Aaron asks, sitting on the edge of the bed. He places his hand on Emily’s leg and squeezes, exchanging a small smile with her. 

“I think she’s the best Christmas present ever.” 

___

Emily was losing her mind. 

She was surrounded by wrapping paper, ‘Happy Birthday’ to her right and ‘Merry Christmas to her left. 

She hated wrapping presents. She wasn’t good at it, didn’t have the patience for it, but it was a necessary evil - especially this time of year. She groans as she looks at the pile of toys in front of her, gifts for Evelyn and Jack mixed in together, and she rests her elbows on the table and her face in her hands. 

“You okay sweetheart?” 

She turns her head just enough to look at her husband, offering him a half smile as he walks over, “I hate wrapping.” 

He chuckles as he sits next to her and places a hot chocolate on the table in front of her, “I know you do,” he says, stamping a kiss against her temple as he reaches out and places his hand on her stomach, rubbing a circle on her bump, “How are you two doing?” 

She smiles as she rests her hand over his, “We’re okay,” she says, scrunching her nose up as she looks at the pile of still unwrapped gifts on the table, “He hates wrapping too.”

Aaron raises his eyebrow at her, “He told you that did he?” 

She shrugs, “He lives inside of me, I just know.” 

He smiles and leans in, stamping a kiss against her lips, “Why don’t you sit there and enjoy your hot chocolate,” he says, sliding it closer to her, “And I’ll take over wrapping.” 

She beams at him, both of them aware that this was the inevitable outcome anyway, and she nods, reaching out for her drink and leaning back in her chair, “The giant stuffed dog is for Evie’s birthday, the PlayDoh Kitchen is for Christmas.” 

“I know, Em,” he says, winking at her as he starts to measure out paper, doing it much more meticulously than she would, “I went to the toy store with you,” he smiles wryly, “And last year she was more interested in the wrapping paper than the toy we actually bought her.”  

She nods, sipping her hot chocolate, “Sorry, honey,” she says, watching him as he works, “I think I’m just…overthinking it. She’s turning 3 and it’s the first birthday and Christmas she’s going to really understand.” 

He puts down the scissors and reaches over to squeeze her knee, “I know, baby,” he assures her, “And you’re five months pregnant, so everything feels a little sharper.” 

She presses her lips together, one of her hands drifting down to her bump, smiling at the sensation of her son moving, “That too,” she sighs, looking over the pile of gifts, “I…I feel bad sometimes. I worry she’s going to grow up and feel bad because her brothers have separate days and she has to share her day with everyone.” 

Aaron shifts closer, wrapping his arm around her as he pulls her into his side, “Em, she’s the happiest little girl,” he says, “And we’ve always made a point that the morning is her birthday, the afternoon is Christmas, and we’ll keep on doing that,” he places his hand on her bump, “And her little brother will understand it all too.” 

She hums, “I hope so,” she says, resting her head on his shoulder, “Speaking of the kids, where are they?” She asks as she looks around, “It’s too quiet.” 

He chuckles, “Last time I checked Jack was showing Evie how to play a game in the living room.”

She smiles and she nods, placing her hot chocolate down and kissing his cheek before she stands, “Well, your youngest son is bouncing on my bladder, so I’ll check on them on the way to the bathroom.” 

He grabs her hand as she walks past and presses a kiss to her knuckles, “Love you.” 

“Love you too,” she replies, squeezing his hand before she leaves the room, suppressing a yawn as she looks at her watch and rolls her eyes, “It’s only 6 pm,” she grumbles to herself, “You’re zapping all my energy sweet boy.” 

She stops outside of the living room when she hears her children’s hushed voices, pausing just out of sight so she can hear them. 

“I’ll write your name for you, Evie,” Jack says, “And you put on the glitter.” 

“Momma loves glitter.” 

Emily chuckles at the delight in her daughter’s voice, and she covers her mouth to stop herself from disturbing them. She absolutely did not love glitter, especially in what she was sure in large amounts on her hardwood floor, but she loved her children, so she’d put up with finding glitter on the floor for the rest of her life if it made them happy. 

“Exactly. That’s why we’ve got to make her the best card, because she’s the best Mom,” Jack says, and Emily blows out a steady breath, tears already pressing at the back of her eyes. 

“The best Momma!” 

She presses her lips together to stop them from trembling, but tears slip past her lashline, splashing onto her cheeks at the sound of her daughter’s sweet voice. 

“They’re right you know,” Aaron says softly, appearing behind her so quietly that she jumps, her hand on her chest as she turns to look at him, “You are the best.” 

She smiles as he pulls her into a hug, his arms tight around her, and she presses her cheek to his shoulder. Sometimes it was still hard to believe that this was her life, that she had a family of her own. A husband she loved beyond measure and children that were the centre of her world. 

“Aaron?” She says softly, and she feels the way he hums in response, feels it rumble from his chest to hers, “I still really need to go pee so you need to stop squeezing me.” 

He lets go of her, a smile on his face as he steps back, “You go to the bathroom, I’ll go make sure the monsters aren’t entirely covering the living room with glitter as they make our cards.”

On Christmas morning, the presents for everyone still tucked away under the tree as Evie excitedly unwraps her birthday presents, Emily sits on the couch, a cup of tea in hand, and revels in her ordinary, extraordinary life. 

___

She yawns as she picks up balled-up wrapping paper, unceremoniously dumping them into the recycling bin she’d pulled into the living room. She smiles at the mix of Christmas and Birthday paper, something that had been normal in their house for 15 years now. 

“Mom, do you want some help?” 

Emily turns and smiles at Evelyn, the teenager standing with her arms crossed in the doorway, “If don’t mind, honey,” Emily says, and Evelyn walks in, leaning down to start picking up paper too, “Where’s everyone else?”

“Jack is FaceTiming his girlfriend,” Evelyn says, rolling her eyes when she thinks of her older brother, “Apparently a whole week away from college might be the end of them both.”

Emily smiles as she watches her daughter clean up. Everyone had always said Evelyn was the double of her, in looks and attitude, and she knew it was true. It had been strange at first, raising someone who was exactly like her and struggling to see the faults her mother had always pointed out to her. All the parts of her own personality that people told her she’d struggle with when she was on the receiving end of them nothing short of amazing to her, each of them contributing to the beautiful person her daughter was turning into.

“Be nice,” Emily says, smiling wryly as Evelyn looks up at her with a raised eyebrow, “One day you’ll meet someone and fall in love and be just as disgusting about it,” she chuckles, “But don’t do it too soon, you might give Dad a heart attack and I quite like having him around,” she adds and Evelyn laughs too, the sound matching Aaron’s perfectly, the one thing she’d seemingly picked up from her father, “What about everyone else?”

“Ollie is reading his new book in bed,” she explains, and Emily thinks of her 12-year-old son, his love of learning and reading something that she treasured and would protect forever, even if it meant she had to go to the school and talk to the kids who called him a nerd, “And Dad is reading Willa a story because she insisted and we all know he’s wrapped around her finger.” 

Willa had been a surprise, an addition to their family they weren’t expecting a few years after they’d agreed Oliver would be their last. Emily had assumed her mood swings and exhaustion were perimenopause, the start of the next stage of her life. The sadness, the pull of regret in her belly, felt strange, misplaced even, until her doctor told her she was pregnant, the final piece of the puzzle they hadn’t known was missing. Willa was funny, her sense of humour sharp for a 9-year-old, and she lived to make the people around her laugh. 

“You say that like he isn’t wrapped around yours,” Emily quips, her smile getting wider as Evelyn jokingly sticks her tongue out at her. She smiles as she dumps the last of the wrapping paper into the recycling and she sighs, “Want to pick a movie whilst we wait for your dad?” 

Evelyn’s eyes light up, “I get to pick?” 

Emily smiles, “It’s your birthday honey, of course you get to pick,” she squeezes her daughter’s shoulder as she passes her, “I’ll get the hot chocolate.” 

She makes quick work of making the drinks, making sure she puts extra marshmallows in Evelyn’s, and she walks back to the living room. Evelyn was on the couch now, a blanket over her lap. Emily walks over and puts the hot chocolates down on the coffee table and sits next to Evelyn, she smiles when the teenager puts the other half of the blanket over Emily’s lap. She then rests her head on her mother’s shoulder, sighing contently as Emily lifts her arm and lets her snuggle closer. 

“Did you have a nice birthday?” Emily asks, running her fingers through her daughter’s long dark hair.

Evelyn nods against her, “I did, thank you for all my gifts,” she tilts her head to look up at her, “Can I ask you something?”

Emily nods, “Of course you can.”

“Where do you even find birthday wrapping paper this time of year?” She asks, her brow furrowed, “When I was picking out stuff to wrap my gifts for everyone I couldn’t see it anywhere.” 

Emily chuckles, “I buy it when I buy stuff for Jack’s,” she says, “Just to make sure I have it.” 

Evelyn smiles at her, “Why? I mean, I love it, but you don’t have to worry. I know you’re busy.” 

She shrugs at her daughter's question, “Ever since you were born, and you were that tiny little baby in that hospital room, I promised you that I’d always make sure you felt special on your birthday,” she says, still playing with Evelyn’s hair. 

Evelyn smiles at her, “You’ve always done that, Mom,” she says, “You’re the best.” 

Emily presses her lips together to stop her daughter from seeing them tremble, her children and their open affection for her something that had always been her Achilles’ heel. It was something she treasured, a sign that she’d done what her mother had never done for her - raised them in a way that let them know they were loved. 

“I remember on your second birthday you were more interested in the wrapping paper,” Emily says, changing the subject just enough so she could get her emotions under control. She smiles wistfully as she thinks about when Evie was a tiny little thing, not the gangly teenager who was leaning against her, “You didn’t look at your actual present for days.” 

Evelyn chuckles, “I have always liked shiny things.” 

“You get that from your Dad,” Emily jokes and they both laugh, sinking further into each other, both of them enjoying some rare alone time together. 

“What are you two laughing at?” Aaron says as he walks into the room, his eyebrow raised as they both turn to look at him and start laughing even harder. He shakes his head and walks over, dropping a kiss on his wife’s lips before he rounds the couch and sits on Emily’s other side, sandwiching her between him and their eldest daughter. 

“Nothing, honey,” Emily says, her hand on his cheek as she pulls him in for a quick kiss, making a point of doing it again when Evelyn groans in disgust next to him, “Evie picked the movie.” 

“Well of course,” he says, leaning back to look at his daughter over his wife’s head, “She’s the birthday girl.” 

Evelyn smiles widely, “I’m the best Christmas present ever,” she says. It was something she’d repeated every year ever since Emily had told her that’s what Jack had called her when he met her, something that embarrassed the now 22-year-old. 

Emily smiles and squeezes her daughter against her, “You really are.” 

-x-

Tag List:

@ssa-sparks, @lukeclvez, @lyds102, @glockleveledatyourcrotch, @hotchnissenthusiast, @danadeservesadrink, @ssamorganhotchner, @emilyprentissisgod, @notagentprentiss, @freesiasandfics, @emilyshotchniss, @thecharmingart, @paulitalblond, @hancydrewfan, @camille093, @whitecrossgirl, @moonlight-2-6, @rawr-jess, @florenceremingtonthethird, @jareauswife, @ms-black-a, @beebeelank, @aubreyprc, @zipzapboingg, @psychopath-at-heart, @criminalmindsgonewrong, @fionaloover, @kinqslcys, @prentissinred, @ccmattis-22, @denvivale317, @thrindis, @hotchsguccitie, @cmfouatslota77, @alexblakegf, @aliensaurusrex, @prentissxhotch, @emobabeyy, @victoiregranger, @stormyweatherth, @wanderingdreamer009, @ssablackbird, @luhwithah, @lex13cm, @prentiss-theorem, @dont-emily-me, @mrs-ssa-hotch, @jocyycreation, @itsmytimetoodream, @hotchnissgroupie, @controversialpooh, @capsshinyshield, @canuck-eh

Join my tag list here!

[zzzugzwanggg]

*at Emily’s funeral*

Hotch: This is an old adage. . . But they say that when you find true love, you know within the first twenty-four hours.

Hotch: With Emily, I knew within the first twenty-four minutes.

The funeral attendees:

Hotch:

JJ:

Hotch: . . . Of the second day I met her.

[shmaptainwrites]

mimi’s fic rec list | part 1

send in a rec for pt. 2

- Legend -

☾ x reader

☼ x oc

❆ series/multi-part

♢ nsfw or 18+

Fandoms below the cut:

Criminal Minds

Marvel

Star Wars

9-1-1

Masterlists and Blogs

Angelfxllcm’s Masterlist @angelfxllcm

Orange-Bird-Writes Blog @orange-bird-writes

Thelukealvez’s Masterlist @thelukealvez

Altsvu’s Masterlist @altsvu

Aaron Hotchner

Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity by @maybege ❆ ☾

Educated Guess by @hotchnerxo ☾

Find You by @h0tch-r0cket ☾ ❆ ♢

Can’t Lose You by @ofwilliamandwalter ☾

Spontaneous by @eldrai

That Other Night In Islamabad by @vintagesubmariner ☾

Best One Yet by @dadbodhotch11 ☾

Penemily

Happily by @unmitigatedsuperiority

Godsend by @/unmitigatedsuperiority

Ralvez

Not So Claustrophobic Christmas by @/unmitigatedsuperiority

Drunk Confessions by @justiceforralvez

Hotchreid

The Perfect Christmas Gift by @glowingspence [Platonic]

Father of the Genius [AO3] [Spencer as Hotch’s adopted son] ❆

Moreid

Belle Époque [AO3] ❆ ♢

Spencer Reid

It’s Just a Shadow You’re Seeing That He’s Chasing by @spencer-reids-adventures ☾ ❆

Hotchniss

Satellite by @olivinesea

Not Like This by @ssa-m-187

Hotchgan

Surviving by @hogwartstoalexandria

Anticipate by @masterwords

Hossi

Too Old For This [AO3] ❆ ♢

Masterlists and Blogs

Roger-That-Cap’s Masterlist @roger-that-cap

@cheeseburgerstuff

@storiesbystarlight

Bucky Barnes

TFWS Rewrite by @writingtoforgetreality ☾ ❆

Ocean Deep by @/lily-of-the-valley-writes ☾

Helmut Zemo

The Way I Loved You by @/writingtoforgetreality ☾

Steve Rogers

Faking to Pretend by @/writingtoforgetreality ☾

Dr. Husband by @sylvie-writes ☾

Love Story by @goldenfolklores ☾

Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree by @lily-of-the-valley-writes ☾

Sam Wilson

Worrisome Wars & Unfortunate Futures by @/writingtoforgetreality ☾

Din Dijarin

Medic by @lovelybucky1 ☾ ♢

Smoke and Ash by @hdlynnslibrary ☾

The Hidden by @/aerynwrites ☾ ❆

Boba Fett

Midnight Special by @/maybege ☾ ❆ ♢

Scars by @/aerynwrites ☾

Paz Vizsla

Neighbours by @/hdlynnslibrary ☾

Cabur by @aerynwrites ☾

Blogs and Masterlists

Depressedauthor88’s Masterlist @depressedauthor88

Ravi Pannikar

Holiday Cheer by @derekmorganscrocs ☾

Evan Buckley

Someone From My Past by @lure-of-writing ☾ ❆

Separated by @iamcalmdammit ☾

Eddie Diaz

Maybe, Maybe, Maybe by @/iamcalmdammit ☾ ❆

Mine by @floralbuckleys ☾

[cloudlessly-light]

Hi sweet girl. I have a prompt request for youuuu

Hotchniss gets interrupted during sex, I was thinking maybe to go to a formal events cause then the team can be involved. To keep Emily on edge Hotch uses one of those remote control vibrators. Ofc she has to hold it together until they get home where they finally get to *finish* 😏🫠

Rating: Explicit 

Warnings: Smut, in public, sex toys, orgasm control, overstimulation, multiple orgasms  

Emily shifts uncomfortably as she stands next to Aaron surrounded by their friends and colleagues. She fidgets, knows that she’s not paying enough attention to what is going on around her but how could she with Aaron pressing the button on the vibrator buzzing inside of her repeatedly.  

It had been a spur of the moment thing, they had been interrupted just as Aaron had gotten her naked, the time not enough before they had to leave to go to the FBI’s annual Christmas party and he had pressed the small vibrator inside of her with a dirty look in his eye. 

“Are you insane?” She chuckled breathlessly because the idea of standing in a room full of federal agents while having the toy inside of her was as stupid as it was arousing. 

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He kisses her quickly “Will definitely make the night more interesting.” 

How was she supposed to argue with that logic? 

And now there she was, clenching and dripping around the toy as Aaron held the remote, hid it in his pocket with a smirk as he spoke against her ear. 

“Look at you being such a good girl, controlling yourself so well darling.” He upped the power and she hissed and almost stumbled.  

“Honey.” She breathes warningly as she leaned into him, felt her knees weaken until he turned the vibration off and when she looked up Spencer and Penelope were making their way towards them. 

“Are you as miserable as I am?” Penelope asked, her voice already “I had to literally run away from the tech guy from... Em are you okay?” She stopped mid-sentence as she studied the brunette. 

“Yeah I’m fine. Bored.” She tried not to react when she felt the buzzing again and she quickly looked to Aaron. “Not that bored.”  

Aaron chuckled at the way her eyes shot daggers at him and pressed the power button. 

“Are you sick? You look sick.” Penelope pressed a hand to her forehead. “You’re all flushed.” 

“I’m good, promise.” She just barely kept the gasp in as the vibrations increased until the insistent buzzing was making her want to drag her husband to a hidden corner. Instead she squared her shoulders just as JJ and Derek walked up to them, luckily taking the focus off her. She could feel Aaron’s eyes on her thought. 

The night went on pretty much the same, Aaron playing with the remote control and making her body flush in excitement as he got her closer to the edge by each passing hour, but always stopping as she was starting to become too visibly aroused. 

“Careful Em, wouldn’t want you to leak on the floor.” He mumbled as her hand squeezed his hand tighter. 

“Just let me come.” She pleaded, feeling like her body was on fire from the stimulation. 

“You wanna come in front of the entire bureau?”  

“I don’t care.”  

Her response made him snicker, but he couldn’t deny that watching Emily struggle to control herself all night wasn’t a turn on. Quickly looking at the time he decided that they had been there long enough and he tugged on her hand to get her to follow him.  

“Let’s go home baby.” 

Emily barely registers the car ride home, her only focus on the pleasure from the vibrator as she finally is able to let out the moans and curses she’s held in all night.  

By the time he was pushing her onto their bed she was close to sobbing from frustration, the pleasurable pain of not coming making her feel dizzy. 

“So good.” Aaron whispers against her ear as he thrusts inside of her. A groan leaving him as he feels how hot and wet she is. “Fuck Emily, so wet.” 

“What the hell were you expecting?” She almost growls at him, flips them over and settles on top of him. She starts to move on his lap with quick and heavy movements, her only aim to come undone. She pins him down as she lifts her hips, rides him fast and moans as his hands grabs her hips and pulls her down against him. 

Aaron watches her as she moves above him, uses his body to take out her frustration and it’s the sexiest thing he’s ever seen. She groans as her nails dig into his chest and with a low moan of his own he pushes up against her, creating more friction for the both of them.  

Emily’s orgasm rips through her quick and hard, making her buckle on top of him as she finally gets the release she’s been craving. She’s still shuddering, the pleasure making her lightheaded when Aaron flips them over. He thrusts hard against her, sneaks a hand between their bodies and finds her clit. He rubs the bundle of nerves, knows her body so well by now that he makes her come again within moments. 

“Fuck, Aaron!” She gasps as he brings her over the edge for a second time, her body tensing beneath him as he fucks her through it. 

“That’s it Em, let me hear you.” He groans against her ear, his thrusts not slowing down and his fingers toying with her clit and she whimpers at the almost painful stimulation. 

“Too much...” She hisses but only met by Aaron’s smirk above her. 

“Be a good girl and take it.”  

When all he hears is a low mewl in return he chuckles and ducks his head lower, kisses down her neck and collarbone until he can suck one of her nipples between his lips. He sucks and licks over it, feels Emily’s nails dig harder into his shoulders as he does. He moves to the other nipple and bites down around it, when he pulls it between his teeth she comes again with a breathless cry. 

She arches off the bed as he forces a third orgasm out of her, eyes rolling back as she clenches around him. The pressure around his shaft is enough to send him over the edge as well and he comes with a strangled groan against her chest. He pumps inside of her until he’s slack and panting in exhaustion, only rolling off her when she pushes at his chest.  

As Emily rolls onto her side, panting and eyes still closed she smiles, her hand easily finding his. 

“I think we should find a toy for you too.” 

“Never going to happen sweetheart.”

[e-prentiss]

HOTCHNISS FIC RECS (no one asked for)

and their short plot descriptions. Said description is solely based on what I can remember of the story and mostly just my reactions. I’m sure the authors provided a better summary so go read that instead.

Intolerable Me, Despicable You by Blythechild

Slowburn, enemies to lovers Hotchniss. This fic basically screams angst.

Recovery Series by Kavi Leighanna

Series order: Endgame, Rise and Forward

Post s6 - Lauren arc. This could have been season 7 but CM writers really decided to rob us of Hotchniss. Anyway, this one is a good read. Kind of Emily centric but also just pure Hotchniss goodness.

Bonus: kind of team fic as well since it explores their relationship with Emily after the whole she faked her death thing.

Reckoning by Tigereye77

Post s6. Lauren arc (we love Lauren arc fics. Best arc in the whole series if you ask me). Badass Prentiss, Emily centric, protective Hotch. Again, this could have been s7 but we were robbed.

Small Favors by Doodle19

Emily centric. Mommy Emily! + slowburn hotchniss all rolled into one. Also, Ambassador Prentiss really be redeeming herself in this fic.

Untold Truths by Doodle19

Hotchniss secret child. Mom Emily. Slowburn, angsty Hotchniss. Really, you’ll fall in love with Emily’s child here you wouldn’t stop reading it.

Family Dynamics by DreamGoddesses’92

Sequel: Days Go By

Jack + Emily goodness. After Foyet arc. Basically, how season 5 should have been.

Glittering Mica Series by SequinSmile

Post S15. Bawled my eyes out after reading this series. Probably my favorite Hotchniss fic. Coffees and slow dances will never be the same again after reading this.

Whatever Tomorrow Brings by SequinSmile

Established/Married Hotchniss. AU where Haley and Hotch never got married. Instead she left him, he met Emily and married her instead. But here comes the kicker, Jack still exists!

A sequel entitled, If Tomorrow Starts Without You, is still ongoing.

Midnight Blue Velvet by SSA_Sparks

Established Hotchniss. Pure fluff. Hotch being a good boyfriend and seriously making me want to have a Hotch of my own.

Goddess of the Hunt and the Never Do Again List by FotobridgeT2

Emily centric. Team dynamics and Hotch lowkey pining over Emily.

Some Chicken Soup, a Box of Tissues and Little TLC by Sienna27

Established Hotchniss. Sick fic. Hotch taking care of sick Emily and basically being the best boyfriend anyone could ask for.

Falling in Love with a Girl by Sienna27

You know those platonic friendships — having that connection with someone and then said friendship blossoms into so much more. Platonic friendship turns into platonic soulmates to actual endgame!! If you love that trope, well this fic is for you. Oh and Hotch getting all alpha male and protective of Emily, then getting all soft and calling her sweetheart. I mean —

Behind the Scene Series by Luli27

Season 5 + Foyet arc and how Hotchniss was so dating and developing during that whole season (and yes you can’t change my mind).

Part 1: All She Could Do

Part 2: Break Me Out

Part 3: Coming Out to the Other Side

Part 4: Drinks and Conversation

Part 5: Evaluations, Explanations and Expectations

Part 6: First Obstacle

Part 7: Gossip at 3,000 Feet

Part 8: Hunted Hotch

Part 9: Interlude’s End

Part 10: Journey’s New Beginning

Jake and Amy by Microwavebubbles

B99 parallel and an honest to god fluff goodness.

I Was Enchanted to Meet You by Purpleplasticpurse

Again, if fluff is your cup of tea, then this one is for you.

The Wonder of You by by PrentissInRed

Forgot the premise but set around s7. One of the first fics I’ve read.

Case fics:

If you are looking for a good case fic with a side of Hotchniss (bonus: the whole team is included!) then this trilogy by Sarramaks is the one.

Calverville Point, South Dakota

Humanity

When the Blue of the Night

NCIS x Criminal Minds crossover:

A Rose by Any Other Name by Tigereye77

Set after Demonology. NCIS team dynamics + Emily Prentiss goodness + 2 team leaders butting heads over Emily Prentiss — need I say more? Or Gibbs being Gibbs and Hotch trying to repress his feelings for Emily, therefore messing everything up when really he should just man up and tell the woman.

Perfect by Tigereye77

Unfinished sequel but still just as good.

Christmas fics:

Hurry Down the Chimney Tonight by Kavi Leighanna

Christmas goodness. Fluffy/domestic Hotchniss with a dash of our favorite little g-man, Jack Hotchner.

His Christmas Wish by Kavi Leighanna

Another Christmas fic. Forgot the whole premise but this one is also just as good as the other Christmas fic written by the same writer. It made me feel all tingly and soft. Again, pure Hotchniss fluff with a sprinkle of Jack.

Seriously though, if you feel like starting your holidays early, scroll through Kavi Leighanna's page and get your Hotchniss holiday fix.

Honorary mention since this is staple Hotchniss fics:

We See No End, We Don’t Know How by Purpleplasticpurse

Casual Arrangement by Microwavebubbles

Ongoing fics:

How Far We’ll Go by likingandloving

Season 7. In this universe Beth does not exist and Emily is Hotch's training partner for the triathlon.

Someone You Love by Prentissinred

First Time’s Butterflies by SSA_Sparks

Brief Encounters by Microwavebubbles

[jetaime-jespere]

Blue Christmas 

Aaron, Emily, Jack, and Ava at Christmas, with a few surprises along the way.. (Fits in my Perfect to Me universe but can be read as a stand-alone.)

I got bit hard by the Christmas fluff bug yesterday and this is what came out after a few hours. Lots of fluff, a little smut, and some Christmas joy if you need a little happy today and into the week. on ao3 here. Let me know what you think! ♥️