Safe Haven ~ ✨Aaron Hotchner✨

Chapter 38

The next morning dawned crisp and clear, the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window as Y/N prepared breakfast. Jack sat at the table, his legs swinging back and forth as he worked on a puzzle. Aaron leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee and glancing between the two of them with a faint smile.

"What's on the agenda today?" Aaron asked, his voice warm.

Y/N flipped the pancakes on the griddle, and the golden-brown color was satisfying. "Not much. Jack and I were thinking of finishing his dinosaur diorama. Right, Jack?"

Jack looked up, his eyes bright. "Yeah! And maybe we can play with the new train set Grandma sent me?"

Aaron chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Jack's hair. "Sounds like a full day. You'll take good care of your mom, won't you, buddy?"

"I always do!" Jack said proudly, puffing out his chest.

As the morning went on, the house buzzed with the usual sounds of family life. Jack chattered non-stop about his plans for the day, Y/N hummed softly as she cleaned up the kitchen, and Aaron moved through the house gathering his things for work.

But as Aaron grabbed his briefcase and prepared to leave, Y/N suddenly paused, her hand resting on her belly. A sharp tightening sensation spread across her abdomen, causing her to wince slightly.

Aaron noticed immediately, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Y/N? What is it?"

"It's nothing," she said quickly, though her voice was tinged with uncertainty. "Just a cramp, I think."

Aaron set down his briefcase and moved to her side, his hand gently replacing hers on her belly. "Cramp or contraction?"

She shook her head, trying to brush it off. "It's too early for contractions, Aaron. I'm fine."

But before she could say more, another tightening sensation gripped her. This time, it was more intense, causing her to take a sharp breath.

Aaron's brows furrowed. "Y/N, this isn't something we should ignore."

"Mom, are you okay?" Jack asked, his small voice filled with worry as he stood near the table, clutching a puzzle piece.

Y/N forced a reassuring smile, despite the discomfort. "I'm okay, sweetheart. Just feeling a little funny."

Aaron wasn't convinced. He pulled out his phone, already dialing. "I'm calling your doctor."

She reached out, touching his arm. "Aaron, wait. Let's just see if it passes first. It could just be Braxton Hicks."

He hesitated, his protective instincts warring with her calm reasoning. Finally, he nodded but didn't put his phone away. "We're timing these, then. Sit down."

Y/N allowed him to guide her to the couch, Jack trailing closely behind. Aaron crouched down in front of her, his hand still on her belly. "Let me know the moment it happens again."

Jack climbed up beside her, his face scrunched with concern. "Is the baby okay?"

"The baby's fine, Jack," Y/N assured him, brushing her fingers through his hair. "Sometimes moms get these practice contractions before the baby comes. It's normal."

Aaron raised an eyebrow but kept his thoughts to himself. He remained hyper-focused, glancing between the clock and Y/N's expressions.

After about ten minutes, the tightening sensation returned, though it was less intense this time. Y/N winced but waved off Aaron's hovering hands. "See? They're already fading."

Aaron let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Braxton Hicks, then. But you're taking it easy today. No exceptions."

Y/N rolled her eyes but smiled. "Yes, boss."

Jack leaned forward, placing his small hands on her belly as if trying to feel what was happening. "Does it hurt a lot?"

"Not too much," Y/N said gently. "It's just my body practicing for when your sister is ready to come."

Jack's eyes widened. "Is she coming today?"

"No, not today," Aaron said firmly, ruffling Jack's hair. "But we'll be ready when she does."

The rest of the morning passed quietly, with Y/N staying on the couch as Aaron had insisted. Jack brought her snacks and kept her entertained with his stories, though he occasionally glanced at her belly as if expecting something dramatic to happen.

Aaron stayed home longer than usual, fussing over Y/N despite her protests. When he finally left for work, it was with multiple promises to check in throughout the day.

By mid-afternoon, Y/N felt more like herself. The Braxton Hicks contractions had stopped entirely, leaving only a lingering sense of exhaustion. She and Jack spent the rest of the day finishing his diorama, the two of them laughing and chatting as they glued tiny trees and dinosaurs in place.

When Aaron returned that evening, he found them in the living room, Jack proudly showing off the completed project. Y/N was curled up on the couch, her face peaceful despite the earlier scare.

Aaron set his briefcase down and walked over, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she said honestly. "It really was just Braxton Hicks."

He nodded, his relief evident. "Good. But we're still taking it one day at a time. No overdoing it."

Y/N smiled, reaching out to take his hand. "Yes, boss."

Jack tugged on Aaron's sleeve, his eyes shining with excitement. "Dad, look at our diorama! Mom helped a lot!"

Aaron crouched down, examining the project with genuine interest. "Wow, this looks amazing. Great job, both of you."

Jack beamed, clearly proud of their work. "Mom said we're the best team."

Aaron glanced at Y/N, his expression soft. "She's right. We are."

As the evening wore on, the three of them settled into their usual routine. Dinner was a lively affair, with Jack providing a play-by-play of his day, and Aaron stealing amused glances at Y/N every time she rolled her eyes at his overprotectiveness.

Later, as they tucked Jack into bed, he hugged Y/N tightly, his small arms wrapping around her as much as they could. "Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, baby sister."

Y/N kissed the top of his head, her heart full. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well."

Aaron lingered in Jack's room for a moment, adjusting the blankets and brushing a hand through his son's hair. When he finally joined Y/N in their bedroom, he found her already under the covers, a book resting on her lap.

He slid into bed beside her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "Today was a little more eventful than I planned."

She chuckled, leaning against him. "Tell me about it. But everything's okay now."

He pressed a kiss to her temple, his voice quiet. "Just a few more weeks. Then she'll be here."

Y/N placed her hand over his, their fingers interlocking as they rested on her belly. "I can't wait to meet her."

Aaron smiled, his eyes warm with love and anticipation. "Neither can I."