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Grace bobbles her head behind Aaron's kneecaps as her father gripped her hand, standing further back as she anxiously waited. Occasionally, her head looked up, dark purple bows woven through light blonde hairs, down up in two braids thanks to her Mother, eyes glued to Haley as she smiled at one of her new students. Grace folded her arms across her dress, a small pout on her lips as her mommy — someone she already had to share with her soon-to be baby brother — held onto someone else's hand, explaining that they could go into the classroom whenever they were ready.
Grace was silent as Aaron hummed, grinning up towards his wife as someone thanked her, moving onto the next student as she kneeled, her center off gravity off balance as she opened her arms for her daughter, looking up to see no one else in line. "Hi, lovebug." Haley whispered, once Grace was in her arms, snuggling up against her chest as she whined. "What's bothering you? Last night you couldn't stop talking about coming to school and being in Mommy's class."
"But you didn't say I had to share you, Mommy…" Grace mumbled, crying into Haley's shoulder as Aaron rested a hand on the small of Grace's back, rubbing small circles as Haley did her best to comfort her daughter. "I already have to share my toys with Jack when he comes."
"Jack won't want your toys when he's born, Gracie-girl." Haley moves her bangs out from under her eyes, pulling away as she looked at her daughter, trying to get her to smile. "He'll be too little to play for a couple years."
"But he stole my Mommy already." Gracie said, matter of factly, in a tune of voice that was so Aaron, Haley had to do a double take, watching her husband as he tried his best not to laugh at her. "And so did everyone in your class, Momma. What if I just want my mommy?"
"I'll be right here the entire time, Grace. No one else in there is my little girl."
"So why did you hug one of them?"
"He was nervous, baby. Just like you are. I was just trying to make sure he felt comfortable. Starting Kindergarten is scary for all of you."
Grace shook her head, "I'm not scared."
"So you want to go in there and make some friends?"
"Will you be there?" Grace pulled away, letting her hand slide down to Haley's bump, wanting to say to Jack. Haley shook her head, so Grace moved back closer. "So I'm not going yet. Not without my Mommy."
"Baby. Mommy has to meet everyone else. I love you, but I can't stay out here holding you, sweetheart. I have to do my job. Daddy would be there with you. He wouldn't leave your side, ever."
"No." Grace pulled away, eye level on Haley as she swayed. "I want you to be there."
Haley stood, already seeing another kid approaching, "Lovebug, I would love to, but Mommy has to help him get settled in. Why don't you go put your backpack down? Daddy can show you the desk that has your name on it."
"Is it close to you?"
Haley pursed her lips, unsure. "It is."
"And you promise you'll come back and say hi to me? I'll want another hug, Momma."
Haley nodded, already moving onto a little girl, one that hid behind her parents nervously as Grace stood in the entryway, holding onto Aaron's hand as he gently moved her inside. Grace kept looking behind her, stuck on Haley, wondering why she had to share her mom. "Do you want to take off your backpack, baby?" Aaron asked, looking down at Grace as she eyed Haley, watching as she smiled towards the girl.
"I know your nervous." Haley said as Grace shook her head, smiling as her mom turned in her direction, waving wide as Haley couldn't help but smile, "But the girl with the blonde hair is my daughter, and she's already really scared… but she loves playing Barbie's. I bet Grace would love nothing more than to play with you, honey."
Grace lit up, "I can play with my toys, Mommy?"
"You can. Do you want Megan to join you?"
Grace didn't pause to think, already was pushing her backpack off her shoulders as Aaron helped. "Yeah. Yeah! Yeah!" She clapped her hands together. Her classmate anxiously entered the space, smiling at Grace as she grabbed her Barbie. "This one is new. I got it when I learned I was having a baby brother. His name is Jack and he's still growing inside my mommy."
Her new friend grinned ear to ear, "I have a big brother and a big sister."
"Is it really fun?"
"Yeah. We always jump on the trampoline together."
Grace squealed as Haley smiled towards Aaron, hands folded over her bump absentmindedly. She sits down at the her desk, her new best friend right beside her as they laughed together. "My mommy says that Jack will be really little for a while, so we won't be able to play, but one day we will."
"What's your name?" The girl asked, eyes etched against Grace's baby blue ones as Aaron stepped outside for a moment, gently bumping Haley's shoulder as she waited for another one of her students to pile on in.
"Our daughter's making her very first friend." Aaron whispered, wanting nothing more than to kiss Haley right then in there, in the off-white lighting of the school hallway. So reminiscent of their first kiss back in high school.
Haley swallowed back tears, cheeks paling red as she froze. "Don't tell me that, Aaron. I'll cry all my makeup off."
"Look." They move in the same stride as Grace talked, too polite for her own good — all Haley.
"My name is Grace." She put out her hand, just like Aaron always had. "What's your name?"
"Megan."
"Megan." Grace repeats, "That's really pretty. I love your Barbie."
Haley sighed, choking as Aaron held her upright. "Oh my god. Our baby is all grown up."
He glanced down at his watch, already an hour late to his meeting. "Do you think I should stay? Or is she okay?"
"Parents are welcome to stay until noon, Aaron, but if you want to hold up your reputation of being a hard ass, you're more than welcome to leave."
"I'm not a hard ass." Aaron whispered as the bell rang above them. Haley shuffled closer, pulling the door shut as he got stuck in front of her, "Not at all, Mrs. Hotchner."
"Agent Hotchner, it might be best if you stay by your daughter." Haley teased, "Hot for teacher doesn't suit you, Aaron."
Grace was too busy playing to notice them. Haley grabbed her chalk and began to write her name onto the chalkboard. Aaron was certain he had never loved her more.