Author's Note: As you all know by now, we are in full swing on the Profiler's Choice Awards hosted on "Chit Chat on Author's Corner". And we'd like to offer an extra incentive to get those nominations rolling in. For the next five people to complete the nomination ballot in its entirety, I would be happy to write a oneshot of your pairing preference (hetero, slash or femslash, doesn't matter!). We have an abundance of incredible stories and authors to choose from this year and we have already received many wonderful nominations. Just to refresh your memory though, tonnie2001969 and myself (ilovetvalot) have removed ourselves from eligibility in the interest of avoiding all appearances of self-promotion. But, we want to make this an incredible experience for each one of you and give you a well-rounded final voting selection to choose from. So let's all put on our reading caps and pick our favorites!

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As always, guys, Happy Reading!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Chapter One

Wearily walking into his condo, his five year old son trailing behind him, Aaron Hotchner closed his eyes and reminded himself that choking his young son would be WRONG.

"But, why, dad?" Jack whined for the tenth time since Hotch had picked him up from his Aunt Jessica's neat house on the outskirts of the city.

"For the last time, Jack, it isn't appropriate," Hotch replied tiredly, turning to assess his determined son. Dark eyes that mirrored his own stared stubbornly back at him.

"But, daddy," his son whined, his nose wrinkling, "You heard Aunt Jess! You gots to get back in the mating game," Jack said seriously.

"The dating game, son. She said the dating game," Hotch corrected his little boy with a grimace, lifting his hands to massage his aching temples. "And you weren't supposed to be listening to our very adult conversation," he admonished sternly, his dark eyes meeting his boy's.

"She said I needed a eternal touch," Jack declared, determination etched in the little guy's smooth face. "And I heared that tone before, Daddy! She meant it."

"She said you needed a maternal touch and I'm well aware that your aunt was serious. And so am I. I am not asking your Aunt Penelope on a date," Hotch said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest as he faced his young son. For some reason, debating with his son often took as much preparation as he had used as a prosecutor…and Jack was definitely trickier than any defense attorney Hotch had ever faced before.

"Aunt Jess is right!" Jack huffed, stomping his small foot on the floor. "You are a stubborned jackrabbit!"

"That wasn't exactly what Aunt Jessica called me," Hotch sighed. "But, close enough. And I get to be a stubborn jackrabbit if I want to be. I'm the grown up here." Although, he had to admit, he felt like he was rapidly devolving into an irate child. When his son felt strongly about something, he'd devote his last breath into driving his point home. "And you, my young man, are skating very close to the end of my patience. We do NOT stomp when we get angry."

"But, I love Aunt Penny!" Jack proclaimed passionately, his tiny fists balled at his side as he faced off with his father, visions of his always smiling blonde haired aunt dancing through his mind.

"I love her, too, Jack," Hotch said softly, dropping to a knee in front of his son. And he did. During the last year, Penelope Garcia had proven herself worth her weight in gold. Always available on a moment's notice, she'd pulled his ass out of the fire repeatedly. Whether it was for last minute babysitting, baking cookies with a lonely Jack, or just being available to listen when things in his home became overwhelming, Penelope had proven time and again that she was a loyal friend. But asking her on a date to satisfy the desire of his five year old son wasn't something he was prepared to ask of her. Even she had to have limits.

"Then why can't she come be my second mommy? Amy gots a second daddy," Jack pouted, mentioning his fellow first-grade pal. "And you told me that it was even better to have three parents that loved you more than anything! I only gots one!" Jack argued vehemently, popping one grubby finger in the air in front of Aaron's face.

His son had inherited his sense of logic, Hotch thought grimly, and that slight fact didn't bode well for his future. "Has it occurred to you, son, that Aunt Penny might not want to go on a date with me?"

"That's silly," Jack scoffed, rolling his eyes in the same way his late mother used to do when she'd become inherently frustrated by the state of events in her world. "Uncle Morgan says she makes cop eyes ev'ry time you ain't lookin'," he informed his father matter of factly.

"Again, son, I think what you mean is cow eyes. And your Uncle Morgan and I are going to have a long discussion regarding acceptable topics you two can debate. You Aunt Penelope and I are not an acceptable choice. Furthermore, Uncle Morgan is wrong. Aunt Penelope and I are friends. Like you and Amy. And, finally, 'ain't' isn't a word," Hotch explained, striving for patience. If only his little boy realized how deeply his feelings ran for the enthusiastic technical analyst...but again, not an appropriate subject for discussion with a five year old, Aaron, he reminded himself.

"I want Amy to be my girlfriend," Jack countered, crossing his arms over his chest and mimicking his father's earlier pose to a tee. "And I think you want Aunt Penny to be your girlfriend."

Out of the mouths of babes, Hotch silently moaned. Cocking his head to the side, Hotch studied his son's willful expression. A perfect blend of him and Haley, he couldn't help the small smile that formed against his lips. "So, you've given this idea a great deal of thought, huh?"

"Uh huh," Jack nodded dutifully. "Aunt Penny is the bestest, daddy! She knows everything," Jack enthused, holding his arms wide and encompassing the room. "And she's always happy!"

"Yeah," Hotch admitted grudgingly with a nod, "She is."

"And she always knows what my favorite things are. And she don't treat me like a baby...even when I get a boo-boo. She just kisses them better and tells me I'm her little g-man. I loves her, Daddy, and I think you do, too."

His son certainly had a promising future in litigation if he chose to pursue that as his destiny. His serious little boy had made a sound convincing argument...for both of them. Penelope Garcia was exactly the sort of woman Haley would have wanted to guide her son into manhood...pure of heart, loyal, dependable and most of all, infatuated with their tiny child. "I'll tell you what, Buddy," Hotch said, rubbing Jack's stiff arm, "I'll call Aunt Pen and make the offer. But, if she says 'no', that's the end of it. No more arguing and complaining."

"You'll ask her?" Jack asked, his face lightening up with a beatific smile as his eyes widened on his small face.

"I'll ask," Hotch confirmed with a nod. "But the final decision rests with her. And I'm only going to ask her to dinner. Not to move in here with us," Hotch clarified. He knew his son well. If he gave an inch, Jack would attempt to grab his mile with both hands.

Mouth twitching from side to side as he deliberated his father's offer, Jack muttered, "Well, it's a start. But I bets you and Aunt Penny have lots of dates after the first one."

"Don't get your hopes up," Hotch warned, his eyes softening as he looked at his hopeful son. "But, we'll see." Rising back to his feet, he ordered, "Now, go get on your jammies and hop into bed. I'll call Aunt Penny after I tuck you in."

"'Kay, Daddy," Jack grinned, scampering towards his room, content that his mission had been completed.

And staring after the walking, talking miniature replica of himself, Aaron Hotchner wondered what exactly he'd gotten himself into.

And forty-five minutes later, as he heard Garcia's bright, albeit recorded voice say, "You've reached the personal phone of the Goddess of Goodness. State your request after the beep and know that all wishes granted are non-refundable," Aaron Hotchner knew that he was about to make a step toward the future.

"Garcia," Hotch said deeply after the cursory beep, "It's Hotch. And I've got an odd...request. How would you feel about dinner on Friday night sans Jack? I've made a promise to a five year old and I'm hoping that you're in one of your generous moods for a date. Let me know, okay? Goodbye."

Damn, he could only hope he hadn't sounded as flustered as he felt, he thought as he dropped his cell phone on the table in front of him with a shaky hand. How the hell long had it been since he'd asked out a girl? How long ago had senior prom been?

But, for better or worse, the wheels had been set into motion. He could only hang on for the ride now.

Author's Note 2 - Also guys, please don't forget that if you'd like to advertise the awards on your own profile pages or stories, there's a short blurb on my (ilovetvalot) and Tonnie's (tonnie2001969) profile page for you to copy and paste if you choose!

And thanks to everyone that continues to read, review, favorite and alert! You guys and gals are awesome!