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“I’m sorry, what?” Haley asked, unsure whether she was hearing things or if Aaron really had just said what she thought he said.
“I said that I’m seeing someone,” Aaron repeated. He wasn’t exactly sure how Haley would react to this news, however he saw no reason to hide his new relationship. He and Haley had been divorced for over a year and he knew that she had gone on a few dates herself. Although he and Emily hadn't been together for very long, they both knew that it was a serious relationship for both of them. Neither were interested in playing games or fooling around. This was real. For both of them.
“Really?” Haley asked as she tried to keep the surprise from her voice. Even though it was a surprise. When Aaron wasn’t working, he was with Jack. Therefore when exactly would he have had the time to go out and meet someone. Unless- “Do you work with her?”
“Yes,” Aaron replied, the confusion on his face evident. “How did you-?”
“No offence Aaron, but where else would you meet someone?” Haley quipped as she offered him the open cookie jar. Aaron rolled his eyes but took a cookie anyway. The sound of the ceramic jar being set onto the table was enough for Jack to hurry into the kitchen, his hand already outstretched for a cookie. “Just one.”
Jack mumbled a thanks between a mouthful of crumbs and chocolate chips. As he scampered back to the living room to play with his cars, Haley looked expectantly at Aaron and made a rolling gesture with her hand, prompting him to tell her just who he was dating.
“It’s Emily,” Aaron admitted and this time, Haley looked surprised at the revelation. Well, she wasn’t exactly surprised. Ever since Aaron returned from New York with an ear injury and Emily calling over more than once to ‘check on him’; she had had her suspicions. “It’s still quite new but I wanted you to know.”
“Thanks for telling me,” Haley replied sincerely. They both knew that Aaron didn’t have to tell her anything but she also knew that neither Aaron nor Emily were the sort to rush into things. If they were truly together, then she had no doubt that there would have been a long conversation where they went over every minute detail. “Are, are you two allowed to date?”
“Of course,” Aaron replied before he realised what Haley was asking. “There aren’t any rules against it. It’s not encouraged but there is nothing that says we can’t be together.”
“That’s good,” Haley stated fairly. “And since she works with you, then Emily gets it, doesn’t she?”
“She does.” Aaron replied tactfully. The BAU was the main thing that drove them apart. The unpredictable hours. The constant dangers. The fact that although Aaron promised time and again that she and Jack were safe; they both knew that wasn’t a guarantee. After what happened to Elle, to Gideon in the safety of their own homes; they couldn’t maintain that belief that she and Jack were safe from potential threats simply because Aaron worked for the BAU. As well as the fact that Haley didn’t have the stomach to hear about all the horror and the gore; the mental images of dismembered bodies, the smell of blood and gunpowder was enough to turn her stomach. She could never bear to hear about it, meaning Aaron couldn’t talk about it with her and that was another wedge that wound up tearing them apart. With Emily, those issues weren’t there.
“That’s good, for both of you,” Haley said as she glanced towards Jack. “What about Jack?”
“I haven’t told him yet. I was going to tell him next weekend.” Aaron explained. “Emily is really good with kids but I won’t take Jack to meet her until we agree on a date.”
“Thank you,” Haley said, she had met Emily before and she liked her but this was a new situation. For all of them. “I think if Jack’s OK with it and both of you are Ok with it; then maybe the weekend after next would be a good time for them to meet?”
“Are you sure?” Aaron asked, he hadn’t expected that quick of an answer from Haley. Admittedly, the only other person apart from Emily who he had spoken to about telling Haley had been Dave and Dave had been more than eager to share his horror stories about his various ex-wives meeting one another. Apparently the ex and the new partner meeting was never expected to go well.
“Of course. I trust you and I know Emily well enough to trust her. If she had been a stranger, it would be different. Besides,” Haley smiled as she took a sip of her coffee. “We know she’s not a serial killer.”
“Hilarious,” Aaron remarked dryly before he smiled at his ex-wife. “You’re sure you’re OK with all of this?”
“Of course. If I wasn't, I would tell you.” Haley stated honestly. She and Aaron never held back when something was an issue, hence why they were divorced after all, that hadn’t changed. If anything, their divorce had been better as it meant that they had to communicate. They had to be open and honest to maintain a good relationship for one another and to support Jack. Being able to handle challenging conversations without it devolving into a screaming match was far better for him than building tensions by refusing to see past their own stubbornness and anger.
“Let’s go put your stuff in your room,” Aaron suggested as he led Jack towards his room. Haley and Emily watched them go and the moment both Hotchner boys were out of sight, there was a moment where the unexpected tension threatened to hang in the air.
“Can I ask you something?” Emily asked, more to break the potentially awkward silence than anything else.
“Sure,” Haley replied, unsure of what was to come. She was surprised to see an almost frustrated look on Emily’s face.
“When you and Aaron were married, did he leave wet towels on your bathroom floor too? We’ve only been together for about a month or so but it’s happened twice already and it’s driving me nuts.” Emily asked, smiling as Haley laughed at the unexpected question.
“Yes, when we first moved in together, Aaron was terrible for that.” Haley said as she shook her head fondly at the memory. “What you need to do is put them into his side of the bed and go to bed first so he has to lie down on them. And don’t change the bedsheets because he’s sulking about sleeping in the damp patch.”
“Did that work?” Emily asked, laughing at the mere thought of it as Haley laughed at the memory.
“By the third time, he got the hint and the towels miraculously found their way into the laundry basket.” Haley quipped as they both laughed. “I need to ask you now; does he still insist that you take the last slice of pizza or bit of dessert and then pout when you do take it?”
“Yes! It happened last night, only it was a spring roll and he looked at me like I’d shot a puppy or something.” Emily replied. Part of her had wished she had gotten a photo, there was no way that JJ or Garcia would believe her when she told them just how upset Aaron had gotten over not getting the last spring roll.
“That sounds like Aaron,” Haley smiled as they went over to the kitchen to get some coffee. Although this was a new situation for both her and Emily; she knew that Emily was the best person for Aaron. The fact that Jack adored her and Haley already liked her so much only helped to solidify that.
Aaron emerged from Jack’s bedroom to find Haley and Emily sitting on the couch, chatting and laughing as if they had been lifelong friends. As he walked over, they spotted him and for some reason, laughed harder. Aaron frowned slightly as he headed back towards the kitchen, their talking getting quieter and their laughter getting louder with each step he took. Something told him that he was the butt of whatever joke they were making and as he made his own coffee, Aaron had a realisation.
David Rossi, once again, had been wrong.
His ex-wife and his new girlfriend not liking one another was not the worst thing that could have happened when they met.
The two of them becoming almost instant best friends was somehow worse.