It’d been a mistake really, a simple, harmless, innocent mistake that he swore he’d repeat. But once was enough to complicate everything he’d built for himself, shaking the foundation he’d once built his solace on.

You were great with Jack, it was one of the many things Hotch admired about you. You’d been Jack’s babysitter when Haley couldn’t watch over him. Coming home to find you cleaning the kitchen when that was nowhere in your job description had brought a strange feeling to his gut, one he knew was wrong but didn’t mind. Though, he always dismissed it. He was married to Haley, he wasn’t gonna let you change that. Feeble and fleeting feelings weren’t enough to deteriorate the perfectly imperfect marriage he had.

It’d been a late night. Haley had been dealing with family troubles, which left you in charge of Jack. When Aaron came home late, finding you cleaning up again, he was quick to dismiss you. But he didn’t send you home, and god, he knew he should have. One careless notion shaking an empire of previous correct choices. He invited you to stay for a while — an innocent request really, he was just trying to be hospitable to the girl taking care of his son.

An hour passed, laughter curling in the air, wrapped up in tranquility as you sat far too close to one another to be regarded as professionalism — the same couch him and his wife shared. As the small talk slowly dissipated into comfortable silence, something snapped in his mind. The ring on his finger was long forgotten and abandoned in his mind when his lips were placed on yours, but the moment was fleeting, guilt striking him and reminding him of his marital status. He ruefully ushered you hope, pleading that you’d understand the mistake.

Not long following, he told Haley, obeying the vow to stay truthful and faithful, but she hardly took it lightly. She was gone with Jack the next time he came home from a case, her things packed and vacant from the house. A once house brimmed with life now deserted and heartless.

He was miserable and you were guilt-ridden. Haley had fired you — the least of your concerns, really. The worst part were the threats and comments, showered with hate from her family who blamed you for ruining a marriage. "Home wrecker" was the most common one thrown around, something you acquiesced to be a new twisted nickname.

The buildup of torment and indescribable guilt led you back to Aaron’s door and, against his better judgment, he didn’t hesitate to open the door for you.

"{{user}}," he greeted wearily, the habitual stoicism lacking from his voice, throat rough from sleepless nights and a lack of speech.