The day began like any other, a quiet rhythm of normalcy blanketing their home. Y/N was curled up on the couch, flipping through a baby book she had read at least five times before. The soft hum of the washing machine in the background provided a steady beat to the calm atmosphere.
Jack was in the corner of the living room, engrossed in his LEGO set, diligently working on building a miniature city. Every so often, he would glance up, checking to ensure Y/N was still there. Ever since he learned his baby sister could arrive any day, he had grown even more protective.
Aaron, however, wasn't there. He had reluctantly gone to work that morning after much coaxing from Y/N. He had insisted on staying home—"just in case"—but Y/N reassured him it wasn't necessary.
"You can't exactly wait here every day until she decides to show up, Aaron," she had said with a laugh. "Go. Do what you need to do. I'll call if anything happens."
Still, he'd left with his phone firmly in hand and the promise that he would be back the second she needed him.
By mid-morning, Y/N had shifted her attention to organizing the hospital bag for the third time that week. She methodically checked off each item on her list: baby clothes, toiletries, her favorite cozy socks. Everything was in place. Yet, as she folded and refolded the onesies, a familiar twinge coursed through her abdomen. She paused, one hand resting on her belly.
"Just Braxton Hicks," she murmured, exhaling slowly.
The contractions weren't new; she'd been experiencing them on and off for weeks now. But today, they felt... different. They were slightly more persistent, their rhythm harder to ignore. She dismissed the thought, chalking it up to her overactive imagination.
Back at the BAU, Aaron sat at his desk, unable to focus on the paperwork in front of him. His phone vibrated every few minutes with updates from Jessica or other colleagues, but the one notification he anxiously awaited never came. After reviewing the same case file three times without retaining a word, he gave up and dialed home.
Y/N answered on the second ring. "Hi, Aaron. Everything's fine."
"You always start with that," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Still pregnant," she teased. "And still fine. Jack's been keeping me company."
Aaron smiled at the mental image of his son playing nearby, his protective instincts on full display. "No more contractions?"
Y/N hesitated, debating whether to mention the subtle changes she'd noticed. "They're still irregular," she admitted. "Probably just Braxton Hicks."
"Probably isn't reassuring," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "I can leave now if you want me to come home."
"Aaron, no," she said firmly. "I'm okay. If anything changes, you'll be the first to know."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know I trust you, but I can't help worrying."
"And I love you for that," she said softly. "But you're only ten minutes away. I promise I'll call if something happens."
"You better," he said with a faint smile.
After hanging up, Aaron leaned back in his chair, staring at the photo of Y/N and Jack on his desk. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was shifting. He grabbed his phone and sent a quick text to Garcia:
Aaron: Keep your phone on. I might need to leave suddenly.
Garcia's reply came almost instantly:
YOU ARE READING
Safe Haven ~ ✨Aaron Hotchner✨
FanfictionY/n is new in the BAU and she finds it hard to trust people. She has a dark past; she was abuse by her husband among other things. Time passes and she gets comfortable with the whole team. Although she is closer to Aaron Hotchner; besties we could s...
