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Outside the bedroom window, you could hear the soft chirping of the birds that had taken up residence in the old tree in the garden, framing the gentle morning you were enjoying. You softly sighed as Aaron’s fingers gently stroked over the skin of your back, a soothing motion, your head rested on his bare chest. The sun had only barely risen, casting a warm glow over your shared room, creating the perfect soft morning atmosphere. Since dating Aaron, it’d been almost entirely bliss. There was stress that came from his job, there always would be, but if that was the only real stressor in your lives then you were sure that you’d continue to be just fine. You shuffled slightly to sit up, your stomach growling to tell you that it was time for breakfast. Aaron followed you only a moment later, wrapping his arms around your waist.
You laughed softly and leaned your head back against his shoulder, pressing a kiss to his jaw where stubble was just starting to grow, a sign he would need to shave this morning.
“I need to make breakfast.” You said, though you were easily tempted to remain in bed by Aaron’s hands trailing over your body, slowly up your stomach and chest until he reached your scars, tracing over them with two fingers.
“You’re so handsome.” He said, rather than actually replying to your mention of breakfast.
“So are you,” you pushed up and out of his arms, “but it’s time for breakfast.”
Finally he let you go, going to take a shower and shave for himself, and when he descended the stairs to find you in the kitchen, there you were with Jack, eating pancakes and turkey bacon. That was the view that inspired Aaron’s next thought. It wasn’t often that he was impulsive, but once upon a time he’d been someone different - a boy that liked taking risks and being spontaneous. The two of you led a perfectly happy domestic life, but he had to wonder whether maybe you wished for something different, just once. To do something you usually wouldn’t. As he stood in the doorway, just observing you with Jack, the way you laughed and joked with him, so easily as if you’d always been there, he knew what he had to do.
“We should go on vacation.” He suggested, finally stepping into the room proper to join the two of you at the dining table and eat his breakfast. Fork half way to your mouth, you paused, staring at your lover with raised brows.
“Really?” Jack asked eagerly, looking between you and his father with a grin. There was no chance you could say no now, you never could say no to Jack, but you were still stunned.
“Yeah, bud. Just us three, somewhere nice.” Aaron replied, smiling warmly at his son. Jack hopped down from his chair and rushed around the table to throw himself at his father in a tight embrace. Your confusion and the fast working of your brain that considered the logistics crumbled in the face of the warm familial affection. It seemed neither of you could say no to Jack.
You decided today would have to continue as planned, so when Jack rushed away to get ready for school, still excited about the upcoming trip, you turned to Aaron.
“Where did that come from?” You asked, smiling and easily leaning into his body when he stepped in behind you, arms wrapping lazily around your shoulders.
“Thought maybe some spontaneity would be good for us.” He replied casually, and you laughed softly.
“You don’t do spontaneous.” It was true, in the time you’d been dating, the most spontaneous thing he’d done was buy you a gift while out on a case, and even then that was a deliberate choice he made the first time that became a habit when he got a chance to engage in it. He was a man that appreciated routine, and planning.
“I can.” He protested, looking down at you with a frown, though you could see the amusement in his eyes. Maybe long before you’d known him, he’d been different, but you didn’t mind that because the man he was now was the man you’d fallen in love with.
“Clearly. Now go get ready or you’re going to be late.” You told him, pushing him away to send him back up to your shared bedroom. Aaron snatched a quick kiss from you before he actually went, and you enjoyed watching from behind as he ascended the stairs, admiring his ass. He was your boyfriend, it was your ass to admire.
Thankfully, Aaron didn’t get called away for a case that day, so instead of doing paperwork he spent most of his work day cooped up in his office looking at travel sites to find a place to take you. He needed a place that the two of you would enjoy, but would also be fun for Jack. Even before he’d gotten excited, there was no way Aaron would leave his son behind to go on a romantic holiday with you - at least not for more than a weekend. And, if he had anything to say about it, Aaron was taking you away for full week. He texted with you a little to see when you could get days off at work, and once he had confirmed dates, he finished the planning.
In two weeks, the minimum notice both of you could give for vacation days, you’d all be flying out to Europe to enjoy a vacation in sunny Spain. He’d found a small villa with an indoor pool for you all to enjoy, within walking distance of a tourist heavy area which had plenty of day time activities for adults and children alike to enjoy. Strauss was surprised to see him taking vacation days, but was pleased by it seemingly, and Aaron warned Rossi ahead of time under the assumption he’d likely take over for the week.
Two weeks passed quicker than you’d have expected, and suddenly you were in the airport, Aaron’s hand in one of yours, Jack’s in the other. You’d all dressed comfortably for the long flight, your suitcases already checked in. Jack was bouncing on the balls of his feet with nervous excitement, having already been told all about the plane and what it’d be like to prepare him for the journey. You’d packed a snack box that you’d seen suggested online, brought an iPad and portable charger, with games and movies downloaded, and a neck pillow in case he wanted to take a nap. You’d never been quite so prepared for a flight before.
“It’s going to be fine.” Aaron assured you, voice filled with fond amusement.#
“I know it is, because we’re prepared.”
“You’re still worrying.” He gently chastised, using his free hand to cup your chin and tilt back your head, to kiss you softly.
“It’s hard not to. I just want to make sure he’s happy.” You mumbled against his lips. Jack released your hand and began to jog in circles around the two of you.
“He’s happy in the airport. It’s going to be fine.” Aaron replied, and you were forced to accept that with a sigh. Aaron stepped back to scoop Jack up, preventing him from running off or getting in anyone’s way, and lifted the boy onto his shoulders.
Much to Aaron’s amusement, and your exasperation, everything went basically perfectly for the flight. You got onto the plane without issue, Jack was a champion, sitting mostly still and then sleeping for the rest of the duration, and you even managed to get some rest yourself. When you landed, the weather was perfect, and you almost seamlessly passed through and back out of the Spanish airport.
You arrived at the villa and immediately set to unpack, wanting to be fully settled before you agreed to do anything else. Jack took off to explore everywhere, and you found him bouncing on the bed that he’d claimed. It was evening time once you were done, so you all freshened up, changed, and headed to enjoy a meal together. You’d enjoyed a leisurely walk on your way to find somewhere to eat, choosing to find something on foot rather than looking it up ahead of time. It forced you all to enjoy the local scenery and investigate each place individually. Realistically, for your first meal you wanted something quick and familiar, but exploring like that meant you were able to note some places down to return to at a later date, when you were less hungry or Jack was feeling more adventurous.
The meal arrived quickly, but you ate it slowly, allowing yourselves to enjoy it and the reality of being in another country. The waitress was a younger woman and was easily entertained by Jack. It was a slow evening, so her boss didn’t seem to mind her helping Jack figure out how to say a few simple phrases in Spanish, things that admittedly likely would come in handy while you were there, and so you made sure to leave a generous tip, even if that wasn’t typical of the local culture. When you had the means, why shouldn’t you tip someone for good service?
When you returned, you put Jack to bed, glad that the activity and filling meal seemed to make him tired enough to go to bed despite the time difference. He’d asked you both to lay with him until he fell asleep, and you couldn’t begrudge him that since you were not only in a new place but an entirely new continent, and the bed was big enough for the three of you to squeeze in together.
Once he was sleeping soundly, and had been for at least ten minutes, you and Aaron changed your outfits again, swapping into your swimwear, to enjoy the swimming pool together to end your long day of travel and excitement.
“We never get to stay in hotels as nice as this.” He murmured from where he sat on the edge of the pool, feet hanging over the edge to be in the water while you had found a lilo to inflate and rest on.
“That’s because it’s a work trip, not a luxury retreat.” You replied, sticking your leg out to push off the edge so you could look at him head on.
“I don’t disagree, doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He said, then pushed off the edge and dropped into the pool to swim over to you. You easily followed suit, submerging most of your body in the water so you could close the distance between the two of you.
It was so easy to fall into his arms, wrapping yours around him in turn, and even easier to let your lips touch. In the quiet of the late evening, the pool water still rippling just slightly, hands wandering entirely above the waist - exploration more about feeling and closeness than further pursuits. There was no better feeling that simply being close to him, feeling his skin on yours, and knowing that nobody else on the Earth could ever love you like this, like him; knowing that this man was your home, that you were his, that the connection you shared was the thing keeping you both sane, it was uniquely intoxicating. You parted for a moment to catch your breaths, but rather than leaning in for another kiss, you rested your head against Aaron’s shoulder, softly kissing a scar he had there.
“I love you. Thank you for this, I think we needed it.” You said, and Aaron hummed, pressing a kiss to your head in turn.
“I love you too. We did, just some time to be a family, away from all the stress of work and school and life.” He agreed, starting to softly sway you both, just slightly, not to any particular tune. What more could you want than this?