geekystudmuffin | One Who Kisses and One Who Offers the Cheek, Hotch/Reid and Jack, PG-13, Fathers Are Not Born series

severity-softly.livejournal.com posting in

Title: One Who Kisses and One Who Offers the Cheek
Authors:

severity_softly
Pairing/characters: Hotch/Reid, Jack Hotchner, and Haley Hotchner
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jack and Spencer spend some quality time together, and Spencer learns the healing power of kisses.
Word count: ~6,000
Notes: Self-beta'd, so feel free to point out any errors.

This is part of the "Fathers Are Not Born" universe, all of which can be found at this tag. This is part FOUR. Each installment may also be read as a stand alone fic, however it will hopefully add to your enjoyment if you read the series as a whole. :)

“In love, there is always one who kisses and one who offers the cheek.”
~ French Proverb

Even though Spencer was growing more comfortable spending time alone with Jack, he was still fairly certain he wouldn't be anyone's first choice as a baby-sitter. He didn't have the proper instincts to tell him the right things to say or do around children. Not to mention he still didn't like trying to discipline Jack, even if he was finally learning to say, "We don't hit people," in something like a weak imitation of Aaron's stern father voice.

All the same, emergencies came up, and when Aaron was stuck changing a flat tire on the north side of D.C. less than an hour before he was supposed to meet Haley at the house to start his weekend with Jack...well, there was no one but Spencer to do the honors.

Ever since the disastrous first time, Spencer had avoided being at Aaron's house when he knew Haley would be coming by. It hadn't slipped Aaron's notice either, so after Aaron apologized far too many times, Spencer headed over to his house, snagging Jack's favorite cookies out of his cupboard on the way. They happened to be his favorite cookies too, so he pretended that that was the only reason he kept them all the time now, instead of just occasionally.

When he got to Aaron's house, it was chilly, so Spencer turned on the fireplace, making sure the guard in front of it was secure. No sooner had he done that, the door bell rang, and on the other side he could hear Jack shouting, "DADDY, OPEN UP! COME TO THE DOOOOOOOOR!" and Haley saying something back to him, too quietly to be heard.

Spencer sighed and went to answer.

Haley obviously wasn't expecting him to be the one who answered the door; he'd parked in the garage, so she wouldn't have seen his car. She looked taken aback, but quickly gave him a tight smile.

Jack wasn't so reserved. "SPENCER!" he hollered, and threw himself at Spencer's legs. He hit with the approximate force of a cannon ball and wrapped his arms around them.

Spencer almost stumbled back, but he threw his hand out to the banister quickly enough. He thanked whatever God Aaron believed in that he hadn't fallen in front of Haley. Jack was getting heavier, and he'd soon be too big to clobber Spencer like he always did. He should probably tell Jack that, but...

Maybe later. Much later. Maybe Spencer could get Aaron to do it.

"Ah, Aaron had a flat," he explained, reaching down to touch Jack's head when he'd gained his balance enough to let go of the rail.

"Oh. Do I need to wait?" She looked at Spencer's hand on Jack's hair. He couldn't read her expression, but she didn't seem angry.

Spencer shook his head. "You don't have to," he said, then added, "Unless you want to." He hadn't wanted to make the offer, but Jack was her child, and if she didn't feel comfortable leaving him with Spencer, that was up to her. Not that Spencer hadn't been left alone with Jack before, but not as soon as he was dropped off, and never by Haley.

She glanced at her watch, then looked back up at Spencer. "I have plans in an hour," she said after a moment. "I really don't have much time... Did Aaron say how long he was going to be?"

"He's still on the north side of the city."

She pressed her lips together. "You won't let him jump off the roof, right?" she asked, and the tone of her voice almost sounded like she was joking with him.

Spencer's lips quirked to the side a bit, but he wasn't quite smiling. Haley Hotchner confused him. "Not without a parachute of some sort," he ventured.

She nodded, smiling suddenly. "He can be a handful," she said. "Are you sure..." She stopped herself and shook her head. "Of course you're sure. Jack adores you. You'll be fine." She held out the overnight bag she was carrying. "His blanket and stuffed frog are in there."

Jack had obviously been listening, but hadn't chimed in until just now. "We're going to jump off the roof?!" he asked.

Spencer tried not to roll his eyes. Instead, he just looked at the ceiling for a moment while he tried to think of an answer that wasn't 'no'. Jack was deathly allergic to 'no' lately, unless he was the one saying it. When he looked back down, he thought he saw Haley hiding a laugh. "Maybe when you're ten."

"That's a big number," Jack said.

Spencer nodded, and then took the bag from Haley. "Thanks."

"You'd better hope he doesn't remember that when he's ten," she said, but she was still smiling. "Thank you, Spencer. I'll see you Sunday."

"All right," he said. "Bye."

Jack let go of Spencer, then made a whiny noise and reached for his mother. "Moooommmmmy!" he said, and reached up for her, bouncing on his toes. She crouched down and petted his hair, and he whined again until she gave him a kiss goodbye.

"I'll see you soon," she promised, and he pouted at her, but seemed to settle enough at that to let her go without the huge fuss that Spencer was afraid was about to occur. Aaron had told him about some of the fits he'd thrown when she'd left him before, and Spencer had personally witnessed a few when Haley had picked him up and Jack didn't want to leave Daddy.

Jack came back over and pressed his face against Spencer's leg, holding on to him again. Spencer shrugged at Haley and she waved and left. After the door closed behind her, Jack made a quiet noise that sounded like a whimper.

Spencer looked down at him for a long moment. "We can either stand here all day, or you can let go for me to move," he said after a long pause.

Jack didn't respond.

Spencer held a sigh. "Daddy will be here soon," he offered optimistically. He hated when Jack got pouty and grumpy.

After a moment Jack looked up at him. "I'm hungry."

"We could start making supper. Do you want to help me? That way when Daddy gets home, we'll be ready to eat."

"Hungry NOW!" Jack said.

Spencer stared at him. "What about Daddy?"

Jack's lip pooched out, but after a minute he said, "He gets leftovers. He's late for supper."

Spencer frowned. That sounded a little too much like Haley. "He's late because his car got a flat tire and he's out in the cold trying to fix it. I think it would be nice to have a hot supper ready for him when he gets home."

Jack worked his lips as he thought, then said, "We can make him hot chocolate too! I know how to make hot chocolate! You put chocolate chips and candy bars and soda pop and bake it!"

Spencer made a face. "Sounds wonderful," he said, not helping the flat, dry tone.

"It's really good!" Jack protested.

"No, I believe you," Spencer said, though he knew he still sounded as unconvinced as Jack looked of Spencer's words. "What should we make Daddy for supper?"

"Hot chocolate and cake and baskeddi! And macaronis!"

"Spaghetti and macaroni?" Spencer said. "What about spaghetti and broccoli?"

"EEEEWwwwwwwwww!"

Spencer gently pried Jack away from his leg and peeled off his little scarf. "What vegetable do you want?"

"No vegetable!"

Spencer pulled off Jack's coat and hung it. "Have to have a vegetable."

"Corms?"

"The human body doesn't digest corn very well, you know," Spencer pointed out. Jack scrunched his nose at Spencer. "Okay, fine. Corn on the cob or out of the can?" he asked, and started to lead Jack into the kitchen.

"COB!" Jack yelled, and dashed around Spencer, then went ahead of him to the kitchen. "Cob cob cob cob cob!" he chanted.

Spencer sighed, but at least Jack wasn't whiny anymore, or insisting that Aaron eat leftovers. Spencer made a mental note to try to reverse the seemingly ingrained idea that Daddy needed to be "punished" when he was late.

A short time later, Spencer had managed to get Jack occupied with a coloring book at the table while Spencer pulled together the meal. He'd added garlic toast when Jack got whiny again about being hungry, and let Jack have one piece. He was just draining the spaghetti when he heard the garage door opening.

The door from the garage shut and a moment later Aaron walked into the kitchen. He looked unusually disheveled, his hands and face smudged with black. He took off his coat to reveal that he was in his shirt sleeves. After a moment he pulled his tie out of a pocket and shook it to uncrumple it.

"Hi," he said, sounding tired.

Jack was frowning at him. "You're dirty, Daddy. You need to wash up before supper."

Aaron looked over at him and smiled a little more warmly. Then he walked over and growled, pressing his face to Jack's neck and trying to envelop Jack in a hug that Spencer knew wasn't really meant to get Jack dirty. "Who's dirty?"

Jack squealed and tried to push him away.

Spencer grinned, watching as Aaron kissed Jack's cheek, then lifted him into the air for a minute. "What are you coloring?" he asked. "Come talk to Daddy while I wash my hands."

"And your face," Jack said. Aaron grinned at Spencer over Jack's head.

"And my face," he agreed. "Be right back, Spence."

Spencer smiled and nodded as Aaron walked away. Half way down that hall, he heard Jack tell Aaron he'd been coloring his garlic toast. Upon closer inspection, Spencer noticed he had.

When Aaron and Jack came back, Jack riding on Aaron's shoulders, Spencer was setting the table. He wasn't entirely sure he liked feeling like a housewife, but at the same time it was nice to be able to help Aaron like this. Aaron kissed Spencer, which nearly got him kicked in the face as Jack squeaked and held on, then said, "I think Jack needs a new piece of toast."

"He was supposed to eat the first one," Spencer said, glancing up at Jack.

"It was all yellow!" Jack said.

"Garlic bread is supposed to be yellow," Spencer said.

"Yellow is the color of pee-pee," Jack said.

Spencer rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm so glad you're home," he groaned to Aaron, then sat.

Aaron laughed. "The house is still standing, neither of you is bleeding, and I have hot food waiting for me," he said. "I think you've achieved a miracle." He lowered Jack to the chair between them, getting him settled in his booster seat before sitting down himself.

"Garlic bread is supposed to be yellow," he informed his son. "Just like bananas are yellow. And corn is yellow," he added, putting a cob on Jack's plate. He darted a glance at Spencer, then dished some spaghetti on Jack's plate, too.

Spencer was too worn out to pay much attention to the chore that was getting Jack to eat everything on his plate instead of chattering non-stop. He just ate and let Aaron deal with his son. When the meal was over, Aaron said he would take Jack upstairs for a while.

"Don't worry about cleaning up," he murmured, and kissed Spencer's cheek. "Just relax for a while. Thank you for supper."

"You're welcome," Spencer said, and stared at the dishes on the table and the purply-greenish toast next to Jack's plate for a moment as Aaron and Jack's voices disappeared upstairs. For a while, he considered cleaning up, regardless of what Aaron said, but he really didn't like feeling like a housewife.

It was weird, but when Jack wasn't around, Spencer never thought twice about taking care of Aaron, but when he was there, it was almost like they had to adopt gender roles. He rolled his eyes at himself, but went and collapsed on the couch anyway.
Eventually he heard footsteps on the stairs, and then Jack was singing off-key, interspersed with giggling. Aaron and Jack came into the living room and Jack climbed on the couch, crawling onto Spencer's lap.

"Do you want to help me clean up the kitchen, Jacks?" Aaron said as Jack held out a paper for Spencer to take.

"I maked this for you."

Spencer took the paper from him and could help but smile. It was just a bunch of brightly colored scribbles, but Jack looked very proud. "You're a much better artist when you use the proper media," he said.

"Mee-eea?"

"When you draw on paper instead of toast," Spencer filled in. "I like it. Thank you."

Jack beamed at him.

"Did Daddy help you spell my name?"

"No, I did it all by myself!" Jack lied happily.

Aaron grinned and shook his head. "At least our son will have a very good vocabulary thanks to you," he teased. He ruffled Jack's hair. "Come on, Jack, let's go clean the kitchen up, and then we can play with Spencer for a while."

A funny little jolt went through Spencer when Aaron called Jack 'our son', but he swallowed and ignored it. He stood and followed them into the kitchen, feeling better about cleaning up when it wasn't just him doing it.

"You don't have to help, Spence," Aaron murmured. "You cooked." His gaze was warm as he started gathering dishes for the dishwasher.

"I get the spoons!" Jack announced, and started collecting spoons off the table.

"Yes, you take blunt objects, I'll get the sharp ones," Spencer told Jack, and started gathering the silverware Jack was leaving and plucking the occasional sharp or breakable thing Jack would pick up out of his hands.

Jack blinked at him. "What's blunt?"

"Ah, it means it isn't sharp."

"Oh." Jack looked at the spoon for a minute, then carried it over to the dishwasher, where Aaron was putting the detergent in. "Blunt!" he announced, and handed the spoons to his dad.

Aaron grinned at Spencer, and Spencer rolled his eyes. He tended to just talk to Jack like he would anyone else, and forgot how often Jack didn't understand things he thought were simple. It was sometimes amusing to hear him try to mimic Spencer, though, especially the bigger words.

Spencer wasn't sure how it happened. He'd turned to put the leftovers in the refrigerator and was just turning back when he heard Jack make a quiet sound, a gasp rather than a cry. He turned the rest of the way and saw the toddler at the table, staring at his hand. Aaron, at the sink, dropped what he was holding and started towards Jack. That was when Spencer realized the little boy's hand was welling up with blood.

Aaron hadn't taken two steps when Jack ran, not to his father, but to Spencer. He turned his unhappy face up to Spencer, his eyes already glistening with tears, and held up his bloody hand.

Spencer stared at him a moment, startled by Jack having come to him, but when the tears that were puddling in Jack's eyes fell down his cheek, Spencer reached down and took his wrist gently. His hand needed to be washed off, and Jack couldn't reach the sink, so a moment later Spencer scooped Jack into his arms awkwardly, with Jack's help, while still holding the bloody hand away.

"What did you do?" he asked, carrying Jack over to sit him down on the counter, and giving Aaron an 'I don't know what I'm doing' look over Jack's shoulder, hoping Aaron wasn't going to be bothered that Jack ran to Spencer instead of him.

Aaron's expression was odd, but he smiled at Spencer and nodded for him to go on.

"Sharp," Jack said. "I cutted my hand."

"Well, I see that, but how?" Spencer asked, inspecting the cut. It appeared to have meat sauce in it, so he suspected he missed a knife. Jack just whimpered, so Spencer turned on the water and looked at Jack. "This is going to sting."

Jack's little face scrunched up, but he nodded, looking at Spencer's face. Spencer gave him a reassuring smile. He saw Aaron leave the room, probably going for the first aid kit. Spencer cleaned the cut carefully and was relieved to see it was a clean cut and not too deep. Huge tears were rolling down Jack's face, but he just whimpered a little.

When Aaron returned with the first aid kit, he set it on the counter, but stayed out of the way.

Spencer gave him a questioning look, but then reached for a clean paper towel to dry Jack's hand. He opened the box Aaron had brought over and out some salve on Jack's cut, then covered it with a Bandaid.

Jack lifted and hand and wiped at his face, and Spencer looked up at him and shrugged. "It's not that bad."

"You didn't make it better!" Jack accused. "You's'posed to make it better!"

Spencer's eyes widened. "Cuts take time to heal. But it will get better, and that will help," he said, and gestured at the Bandaid.

Aaron coughed lightly, and Spencer somehow managed to hear it over Jack's unhappy wail of "MAKE IT BETTER!" Spencer looked up at him, and Aaron was mouthing words.

Spencer stared at him for a long moment before he got it, then he looked back at Jack's hand dubiously. God, he didn't want to kiss Jack's Bandaid... though he supposed it was clean. "You know, kissing it doesn't do any--"

Jack cut him off with a frustrated noise, and Spencer debated telling Jack it was all psychological, that there was no magic to it. The first part Jack wouldn't care about, though, and after Spencer had made the mistake of showing Jack magic, just the word 'magic' could mean hours of 'more, more, more!'

Spencer held a sigh and kissed the inside of Jack's palm.

Instantly the howling stopped and Jack twined his little arms around Spencer's neck. God, kids were confusing. Aaron was smiling at him, though, so he must have got it right.

"Did Spencer make it better?" Aaron asked, coming over to rub Jack's back comfortingly.

Jack nodded against Spencer's shoulder. "Uh-huh. It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Good," Aaron said. He leaned down and brushed his nose against Jack's hair. "Do you want Daddy to kiss it better, too?"

"NO! Just Spencer."

Aaron's eyebrows went up, but he shrugged. "Okay. Spencer's kisses must be very special."

"Spencer never kisses me," Jack said conversationally, and looked up at Spencer.

Spencer stilled a little. Jack wanted him Spencer to kiss him? Spencer really didn't know what to say. "Spencer isn't a kissy sort of person," he explained.

"You kiss Daddy," Jack said.

Aaron was smiling as he watched them, and Spencer thought again of the way Aaron had called Jack 'our son'. "Maybe that's why Spencer's kisses are special." He leaned down a little. "And maybe Jack should kiss Spencer more often," he added in a whisper that Spencer could clearly hear.

"Spencer's kisses are special because he kisses you?" Jack asked, looking up at Aaron.

"No, because he doesn't kiss people very much."

Jack watched his dad for a moment, seeming to work that out in his head. "Kind of like how you only get birthday cake when you've been really good all year?"

Spencer thought that was flawed logic, but he didn't argue when Aaron nodded at Jack. Jack grinned and then looked back at Spencer. Spencer barely had time to think 'oh God,' much less say it, before Jack wrapped his arms around Spencer and gave him a far too wet kiss on the cheek.

Aaron didn't bother hiding the grin that broke across his face. He laughed and lifted his son out of Spencer's arms. "Come on, Jacksie," he said. "Spencer will get used to kisses eventually. Why don't we go play with your Lincoln Logs? Didn't you say we were going to build a cowboy fort next time you came to stay?" He gave Spencer a completely unapologetic look as Spencer fought the impulse to wipe a hand over his cheek.

"Can I put on the hat Uncle Dave gave me?!" Jack said excitedly.

Uncle Dave. If the rest of the team only knew.

Spencer watched Aaron and Jack leave the room, and then wiped at his face before following.

The evening was nice, even if Aaron and Spencer spent more time playing with the Lincoln Logs while Jack kept knocking apart every fort they built. Every once in a while Jack would jump up, shout, "BANG BANG!" and run through the fort making noises Spencer supposed were meant to be either horse whinnies or maybe Indian war whoops.

Eventually Aaron got Jack settled down and agreed to not one but two bedtime stories, since Jack's finger was hurting. Aaron tucked Jack in and sat next to his pillow. He told Jack a story about a lost dinosaur that Spencer was fairly certain he must have just made up on the spot. Then Jack pushed Aaron away and looked at Spencer expectantly.

Spencer eyebrows lifted, and he scanned Jack's shelves for a book to read for a moment. Jack frowned at him, though. Spencer didn't think he could just make up a story like Aaron did, so he started to recite a few Aesop's fables from memory. He couldn't help but be amused by the looks that Jack was giving Aaron. Spencer's skills at 'making up' stories were clearly superior to Aaron's, in Jack's opinion.

Aaron just folded his arms across his chest and watched as Jack snuggled up against Spencer's leg and slipped a thumb into his mouth. It didn't take long for Jack to drift off to sleep, Spencer retreated to the hall so Aaron could tuck him in.

Aaron smoothed the covers over Jack, then joined Spencer in the hall.

"Cheater," he said as soon as the bedroom door was closed.

"How is that cheating?" Spencer asked, but he couldn't help but smile. He hoped Aaron wasn't really upset after that and Jack running to Spencer when he cut himself.

"Not everyone has an eidetic memory. We mere mortals have to make do with lame stories cobbled together from six different fairy tales and a movie I think I saw once." Aaron hooked his fingers in Spencer's belt loops and pulled him close for a soft kiss, proving he wasn't really angry.

Spencer shrugged. "I'm not any good at making stuff like that up," he said.

"He clearly liked your story better," Aaron murmured, and slid his arms around Spencer. He lowered his forehead until it rested against Spencer's shoulder. "I love you."

Spencer hummed happily and pulled Aaron closer. "Sorry," he murmured.

Aaron chuckled. "I hope you're not sorry that I love you," he teased. He lifted his head and kissed Spencer's cheek. "I think Jack loves you, too."

"I know. He left enough DNA on my cheek to prove that," Spencer said, and turned his head to kiss Aaron slowly.

Humming into the kiss, Aaron tightened his arms around Spencer. "Kids are messy," he murmured after the kiss ended. "Why don't we take this somewhere else?"

"Have any suggestions?" Spencer said.

"Oh, couch, bed..." Aaron lifted his head to kiss Spencer's ear. "Bathtub..."

"Bath," Spencer said, a little shiver going through him at Aaron's breath in his ear. "Then bed, and a bowl of popcorn, and a movie." He pulled back and looked at Aaron. "Or sex. Lots and lots of sex."

Aaron made a pleased noise and tugged Spencer away from Jack's door. "Bath, bed, popcorn and movie," he said. "Because I know you, and the sex will happen in the bath."

"But I said 'lots'," Spencer protested, but let Aaron pull him toward the master bath. "There's no reason it can't happen in the bath, and the bed. And maybe the floor on the way from the bath to the bed."

Aaron laughed. "There's a very good reason," he said, leaning in, "and that is that my dick might fall off." Oh, he knew exactly what it did to Spencer when he talked like that. That was so not fair.

Spencer gave him a breathy laugh. "You know, it's a little more firmly attached to your body than all that," he murmured, and slid his hand down to cup Aaron through his pants as they walked.

***

Later, Aaron ran his fingers through Spencer's still-damp hair, liking the weight of Spencer's head against his chest. He was only halfway paying attention to the movie. He was completely relaxed after sex on the floor and in the bath, and he was enjoying the way Spencer's hand every once in a while crept up to feed him more popcorn.

Mostly he was thinking about his family, and the two people he loved more than anything in the world. Spencer had made him ridiculously happy, had shown him that he could be loved for who he was, that his partner could share his priorities. And Jack...

"It means more than I can tell you," Aaron murmured. "The fact that you take such good care of Jack."

Spencer tilted his head to look at Aaron, though he didn't move his head from where it was resting. A moment later, he settled back the way that he was before. "I don't really do anything special. I, ah... keep him from jumping off the roof." Spencer shrugged against him.

Aaron chuckled. "That's a relief," he said, wondering where that had come from. "But you do. You pay attention to him. You talk to him. Spencer, he really does love you." He smiled, remembering his shock earlier in the evening. "He went to you for comfort."

"I didn't do anything to deserve that," Spencer said. "I really... don't feel like I'm very good with him, but your and Jack's delusions where my 'parenting' ability is concerned," he said, making air quotes, "seem to continue growing. It's astounding." He sounded like he was only half-joking, and he looked back up at Aaron, an unsure smile on his lips.

Aaron let his thumb trace Spencer's lips. There were as many different parenting styles as there were people, and he knew how he'd learned his: refuse to be like his blood father, and emulate his step-dad as much as possible. "Everyone just makes up his parenting ability as he goes along," he murmured. "And you're doing fine. When in doubt, a hug and kiss can make all kinds of things better."

Spencer gave Aaron a dubious look. "Spencer isn't a kissy sort of person."

Aaron smiled softly. "Spencer kisses Daddy."

Spencer's smile went a little crooked, and he leaned up and kissed Aaron thoroughly. "That's because kissing Daddy often leads to much better things," he breathed when the kiss broke.

"You know, the Freudians could make a lot out of this conversation," Aaron teased. He was fairly certain Spencer liked kissing a lot...as long as it didn't involve children.

"The Freudians could make something out of anything," Spencer murmured, rolling his eyes a little, and kissed Aaron again.

"Hmm." Aaron smiled and ran his fingers through Spencer's hair. "Thank you for being here today. I'm so sorry I was late." He could imagine Haley had had some sharp words for Spencer. He'd felt horrible about that, but he hadn't known what else to do.

Spencer shook his head. "It was fine. Don't apologize," he whispered.

"I can't imagine Haley was pleased about it," Aaron said wryly. He closed his eyes.

"She was fine. She actually smiled. I don't think I've seen her smile in years," he murmured, and settled against Aaron again.

Another frisson of shock ran through Aaron. "She...smiled?"

Spencer looked back up at Aaron, and then started laughing. "If you could see the expression on your face..."

Aaron laughed ruefully and rubbed a hand over his face. "I just...I can't remember the last time I saw her really smile, either." He sighed. "God, Spencer, I made her so unhappy. How is it you seem happy with me?"

Spencer gently plucked the bowl out of Aaron's hand and put it on the bedside table so he could move to straddle Aaron's lap. His lips had thinned a little. "It's a two way street. She made you unhappy too." His fingers played lightly over Aaron's chest and stomach, and his eyes were fixed on them.

It was amazing how Spencer could make him feel better like that. He seemed so protective of Aaron, which was ironic considering how Aaron always wanted to protect Spencer. Aaron lifted his hands to cup Spencer's face, tracing his thumbs along his cheekbones. "I love you," he murmured. "You make me happy, you know that, don't you?"

Spencer looked up and met his gaze, then nodded and turned his head to kiss the inside of Aaron's hand. "I love you too," he murmured against the skin, then bit lightly at the fleshy mound of muscle under Aaron's thumb.

It sent a thrill through Aaron, and he pulled Spencer down for a hungry kiss. When their lips finally parted, he smiled, breathing hard. "Maybe more sex," he conceded, and rolled them over to kiss Spencer again.

***

Spencer had learned, after the first time, that when Jack was over at Aaron's house, it was best to stumble out of bed at some point in the night to put on some form of clothing. When Jack clobbered them in bed this morning, Spencer and Aaron were in their pajama bottoms. Aaron slipped out of bed after cuddling Jack for a moment, as was becoming habit on these mornings, leaving Spencer and Jack to sleep.

Spencer pulled Jack close and snuggled him, like Jack had taught him to the first weekend this had happened. It made Jack happy and seemed to the only way to keep the toddler quiet this early in the morning, even if he still did squirm and kick a little more than Spencer would have liked, considering he was attempting to sleep in.

Jack was more restless than usual this morning, and finally he made a whiny noise and nudged Spencer. "My finger hurts."

Spencer groaned. "You cut it yesterday," he mumbled.

"Make it better," Jack whispered, pressing his hand against Spencer's face.

Spencer scrunched his face up and recoiled a little, curling his fingers lightly around Jack's wrist. "Can I sleep for five more minutes?" he asked, not opening his eyes.

Jack didn't say anything for a minute, and then he settled down again. "Okay," he whispered.

"Thank you," Spencer said, smiling faintly and letting himself relax against Jack again. Which only lasted about three seconds before Jack spoke again.

"Is it five minutes yet?" Jack asked.

"No," Spencer muttered, frowning.

"What about now?"

Spencer sighed and fumbled blindly for Jack's hand.

Jack made a happy noise as Spencer peeled open his eyes and pressed a kiss against Jack's hand. Then Jack snuggled against Spencer and kissed him sloppily back.

Spencer frowned and wiped his cheek, too sleepy to worry. He closed his eyes again. "We need to work on the lips to saliva ratio you have going."

"Sa-what?" Jack asked.

Spencer petted his head clumsily. "Shh, go back to sleep."

"No, what?" Jack insisted.

"Nothing. It won't really be important to you until you're sixteen, or so," Spencer muttered, then covered Jack's mouth.

Jack licked his hand and giggled when Spencer pulled it away in disgust. He was obviously too awake for snuggles this morning.

"Why don't you go bug Daddy?" Spencer suggested.

Jack giggled again and wormed his way out of bed, then ran shouting out of the room.

"Don't run on the stairs!" Spencer found himself calling after Jack, and a little shock of surprise washed through him, but he just pulled the covers over his head a moment later. He'd only said it because Aaron would kill him if Jack fell. Surely.

Aaron and Jack woke him up again some time later, and this time there was coffee and toast with melted butter and brown sugar on it. It never ceased to amuse Spencer at how indulgent Aaron could be as a father. Aaron climbed back in bed and put Jack on his other side, presumably to spare Spencer from getting his coffee jostled.

Spencer was nowhere near awake, but Aaron knew just how he took his coffee so that helped, and he sat quietly and listened to Jack and Aaron talk as they ate. Eventually Spencer finished and slumped against Aaron's side.

Aaron grinned and leaned into him without comment, and Spencer glanced over at Jack, insanely glad Jack couldn't reach him to kiss him with butter and sugar covered lips. "Thank you for breakfast," he murmured.

"You're very welcome," Aaron said, stroking a thumb lightly along Spencer's arm. "What are we going to do today?" he asked.

"Make a kite!" Jack said. "And eat ice cream! And make s'liva!"

Spencer felt his face go hot, and he sank down in the covers a little. "You make saliva all the time without trying," he pointed out, but he sounded a little strange.

"Saliva?" Aaron asked, amusement in his voice. "You're going to have to explain that one, Spencer."

"What is s'liva?" Jack asked.

Spencer looked up at Aaron and made a face, then looked at Jack. "It's spit."

Jack frowned at him, figuring that out. "Why didn't you just say spit, then?" he asked after a moment, and started swishing his lips. A moment later, he blew a spit bubble.

Spencer shrugged, and shot Aaron a look, but before Aaron could rescue him, Jack piped up again, his lips shiny. "Why is it only important when I'm sixteen?"

Spencer's face went hotter.

"What exactly have you been teaching our son?" Aaron asked, his voice warm.

"Just that he needed to work on his kissing skills, but that he had time," Spencer said quickly, then looked at Jack. "It's an important part of the digestion process all the time. Forget sixteen."

Aaron laughed again and covered his face dramatically. "Maybe I don't need to know."

"You asked," Spencer said, but Jack was just looking more and more confused.

"Spencer is silly," he announced, and crawled over Aaron's legs to climb on Spencer's lap. Aaron was smiling.

"Maybe Jack is silly," he said, and pulled the toddler off Spencer, rolling over and off the bed in very dramatic fashion. Spencer grinned as Jack shrieked. Then there were the distinct gaspy giggles that always meant Jack was being tickled. A moment later Aaron groaned, which would have worried Spencer more if Aaron hadn't growled immediately after that.

"Good, you two left me the bed," he murmured, and snuggled back under the covers. He heard Aaron say something, and then Jack giggled. Then the bed dipped, and Spencer knew he was being invaded again.

But instead of an attack, he felt Jack crawl carefully back under the covers and snuggle up against his chest. A moment later Aaron snuggled up on the other side of Jack, his arm sliding around both Jack and Spencer.

"I love my family," he murmured.

"I love you, too, Daddy." Jack squirmed just a little, tucking his head under Spencer's chin. "I love you, Spencer."

The next installment in the series: Saying The Words

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

darkhawkhealer.livejournal.com

Jack is like the cutest kid in the world, seriously.

Super adorable.

I really kind of love that Spencer's giving him kisses. And he's kissing Spencer. And we all know Aaron's kisses are always made of win. ♥! *smishes the boys*

From:

severity-softly.livejournal.com

Spencer is reluctantly giving kisses! LOL

I'm glad you liked it! :)

One Who Kisses and One Who Offers the Cheek, Hotch/Reid and Jack, PG-13, Fathers Are Not Born series

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