Chapter Text
Agent Aaron Hotchner was a very private person. In all the years he worked with the BAU team, they only figured he had a son because the portrait of the cute little boy was updated annually and was kept in this desk. Also, the golden ring on his finger made it very clear that he was off the market.
He knew that the other agents where crazy about finding out anything about his wife and he heard several times that although the BAU had dealt with the strangest and most horrifying cases ever seen, the biggest mystery was “Who is Aaron Hotchner’s Wife?”
Every day was more difficult to hide his amusement watching his team trying to snoop around and end up with nothing. Penelope Garcia was able to opened his personal file quickly, but the frustration came just as fast, the Bureau had blacked his wife’s name, due to safety reasons.
More than one time he saw one of the agents eyeing his phone to check the screen, but, again, due to safety, he never put any pictures of his family on display or carried one in his wallet, the only exception was the Jack one on his office.
Jennifer Jareau, Derek Morgan and Spencer Reid always had tried to make him slip and tell something they could work with, unfortunately for them, they hadn’t succeeded yet. That situation remained like that until David Rossi decided to be reinstalled to the team after years of retirement.
That being said, one could only imagine the shocked faces of Jennifer Jareau, Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid and Penelope Garcia when David Rossi, on his first day back asked about the beautiful Mrs. Hotchner. The response of the Unit Chief was more startling, he said that she had missed him and the italian should come over for dinner.
Both friends didn’t have much time to catch up at the moment, a case in Dallas was open and the local police needed their assistance.
They were able to find the unsub but Hotch was upset to miss Halloween with his family, it was the first time his son went trick or treating. While on the jet, he was looking through the pictures his wife had sent. His little boy had completed three years a few days before his wife’s birthday, and had been put in a Mario Bros costume. She knew that her husband wouldn’t dress up, so she decided to be Luigi to complete their son’s costume.
Aaron was smiling in a way his team has never seam.
- How is my godson? – Rossi asked sitting across the Unit Chief.
- He is great, he is loving preschool. – Hotch smile showing a picture of his kid.
- He looks so much like you, it’s crazy.
- It’s genetics. – Hotch rolled his eyes.
- The eye rolling isn’t genetics. – Rossi replied and they both laughed, leaving the team confused, it was a habit the Unit Chief picked from his wife.
- Well, after a while is normal to pick up habits from the spouse, you should know, you had three of them. – Hotch said playfully. The team was confused, those two were really comfortable around each other.
- Ha ha, you are spending to much time with my bella, that was something she would have said.
- Well, she’s not here, I had to do the job for her, consider this your welcome.
- How is my bella, Hotch? – David smile at his friend response, but asked is a serious tone.
- She is adjusting, Dave, it’s a new routine, new job, new house, Jack is a new phase. Everything is changing, but “your” bella is doing ok, we just need to adapt. – Hotch answer sincerely, quoting with his fingers the “your bella”.
- If anyone can do it, it’s the two of you. Things will get better. – David comforted his friend and they changed the subject.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team, where exchanging looks, JJ was briefing the tech annalist about what they just had heard. It wasn’t fair, not only David Rossi knew who Hotch’s wife was, but he had his own nickname for her.
Months had passed since David Rossi reinstatement and the Halloween case was closed, the team were nowhere close to finding out who Aaron Hotchner’s wife was and that was driving them crazy.