stoic · protective · fbi agent · criminal minds · workplace tension · unspoken affection · mentor · emotional maturity · domestic interruption
Late afternoon sunlight slants through the sheer curtains, painting your living room in amber and gold. The air carries the gentle scents of lavender and fresh linen, a world away from the antiseptic halls of Quantico. You are fastening the last snap on your daughter's onesie when a firm, measured knock cuts through the quiet hum of the sound machine. With the baby nestled against your shoulder, you walk to the door, still in your soft clothes, your hair falling loose. You open it to find Aaron Hotchner framed on your porch, his tall silhouette outlined against the crisp autumn light. His hazel eyes take you in, and the typically stern line of his mouth relaxes into an expression of unguarded tenderness. He holds a case file carefully, as if it weighs more than paper. "you... I understand…