CM Fic: "Paper Chains"
For the wonderful melliyna on her birthday! Thanks for letting me play in your sandbox again!
Title: "Paper Chains"
Author: Kate Wallace
Fandom: CM (Set in CM Kid-Verse)
Rating: T
Pairing/Characters: Aaron Hotchner/David Rossi, Ensemble
Summary: You just never know what you'll find at the end of a paper chain.
Aaron Hotchner was tired. It had been a long day in court and all he wanted right now was to have something to eat and sit in his favorite chair and relax. Dave’s car was already in the garage and Aaron smiled, knowing that meant dinner was probably already in the oven.
The smile vanished when he opened the door...even without looking he could tell that something had been attached to the door knob on the inside, and, judging by the glitter dust he could see on the floor , it was probably one of Spencer and Penelope’s paper chain creations. For a moment, he thought about just getting back in his car and going out to a diner. He could call and say he’d been delayed at work and they could eat without him.
You see, the appearance of a paper chain could mean one of two things. Spencer and Pen had been in a decorating mood and decided to ‘liven up’ the house, or, and this was the usual reason, they had done something they shouldn’t have and the chain was an attempt to distract Aaron so he wouldn’t be too angry with them. Lately, it had seemed to be more of the latter.
Dave had tried to explain it one day. Dave, who if Aaron had been putting up ‘Wanted’ posters at the local post office, would have been on one that read in bold-faced type “Wanted for aiding and abetting known mischief makers" . Aiding in setting the kitchen stove on fire one day when they were trying to make fudge. “Who knew that it would go up like that?” Dave had been just as mystified as the firemen had been at the event. His usual excuses were more along the lines of, “They have to learn to ‘_____’ sometime!” or “It looked pretty easy when we started!” Aaron could never stay angry at any of them for very long, especially after the appearance of the first paper chain...which had led him into the kitchen to find everyone covered in flour and frosting and standing in front of a plate of iced sugar cookies.
He sat his briefcase down next to the door and started down the hall, following the chain. It proved to be quite an elaborate one, many of the rings had glitter on them, as well as stickers of various kinds...he could tell which one's Derek had made because of the football stickers on them. Emily’s were made with two colors of paper and braided. JJ’s had soccer balls drawn on them. He figured the glitter and crayon ones were Pen and Derek’s contributions. He went upstairs and in and out of the bathroom and back downstairs and through the living room and kitchen and finally, into the dining room. He stopped in his tracks, stunned by the sight that met his eyes.
The table was set with their best china and glassware. Candles were lit and the soft glow reflected off the expectant faces he could see standing there. No flour, or even glitter this time. They were all freshly scrubbed and dressed in their best clothes.Well, except for Penelope. She was in her favorite blue tutu..as far as she was concerned, it was her best outfit! The centerpiece was a large cake, covered in candles, though they were unlit. For just a moment, Aaron Hotchner, a man famous for never being at a loss for words, was speechless. Finally he managed to speak:”What’s this?”
Instantly , everyone responded “Happy Birthday!” Their smiles stretched from ear to ear and the younger ones ran around the table to hug the guest of honor.
Who hugged them back and then said, obviously confused “But my birthday isn’t until next week!”
Pen tapped him on the knee with her ever-present fairy wand and said in a firm voice. (The kind that toddlers adopt when explaining something that should be obvious to a dull-witted adult. )
“But this way it’s a surprise!”
Aaron had to admit he couldn’t argue with her logic. He laughed and scooped her up off the floor.
“Well then, consider me surprised!” He looked over at the rest of his family. “Would there be ice cream to go with that cake?” The answering “Yes!” almost shattered the windows. Aaron decided, as he sat down, that maybe paper chains weren’t such a bad thing after all!
Title: "Paper Chains"
Author: Kate Wallace
Fandom: CM (Set in CM Kid-Verse)
Rating: T
Pairing/Characters: Aaron Hotchner/David Rossi, Ensemble
Summary: You just never know what you'll find at the end of a paper chain.
Aaron Hotchner was tired. It had been a long day in court and all he wanted right now was to have something to eat and sit in his favorite chair and relax. Dave’s car was already in the garage and Aaron smiled, knowing that meant dinner was probably already in the oven.
The smile vanished when he opened the door...even without looking he could tell that something had been attached to the door knob on the inside, and, judging by the glitter dust he could see on the floor , it was probably one of Spencer and Penelope’s paper chain creations. For a moment, he thought about just getting back in his car and going out to a diner. He could call and say he’d been delayed at work and they could eat without him.
You see, the appearance of a paper chain could mean one of two things. Spencer and Pen had been in a decorating mood and decided to ‘liven up’ the house, or, and this was the usual reason, they had done something they shouldn’t have and the chain was an attempt to distract Aaron so he wouldn’t be too angry with them. Lately, it had seemed to be more of the latter.
Dave had tried to explain it one day. Dave, who if Aaron had been putting up ‘Wanted’ posters at the local post office, would have been on one that read in bold-faced type “Wanted for aiding and abetting known mischief makers" . Aiding in setting the kitchen stove on fire one day when they were trying to make fudge. “Who knew that it would go up like that?” Dave had been just as mystified as the firemen had been at the event. His usual excuses were more along the lines of, “They have to learn to ‘_____’ sometime!” or “It looked pretty easy when we started!” Aaron could never stay angry at any of them for very long, especially after the appearance of the first paper chain...which had led him into the kitchen to find everyone covered in flour and frosting and standing in front of a plate of iced sugar cookies.
He sat his briefcase down next to the door and started down the hall, following the chain. It proved to be quite an elaborate one, many of the rings had glitter on them, as well as stickers of various kinds...he could tell which one's Derek had made because of the football stickers on them. Emily’s were made with two colors of paper and braided. JJ’s had soccer balls drawn on them. He figured the glitter and crayon ones were Pen and Derek’s contributions. He went upstairs and in and out of the bathroom and back downstairs and through the living room and kitchen and finally, into the dining room. He stopped in his tracks, stunned by the sight that met his eyes.
The table was set with their best china and glassware. Candles were lit and the soft glow reflected off the expectant faces he could see standing there. No flour, or even glitter this time. They were all freshly scrubbed and dressed in their best clothes.Well, except for Penelope. She was in her favorite blue tutu..as far as she was concerned, it was her best outfit! The centerpiece was a large cake, covered in candles, though they were unlit. For just a moment, Aaron Hotchner, a man famous for never being at a loss for words, was speechless. Finally he managed to speak:”What’s this?”
Instantly , everyone responded “Happy Birthday!” Their smiles stretched from ear to ear and the younger ones ran around the table to hug the guest of honor.
Who hugged them back and then said, obviously confused “But my birthday isn’t until next week!”
Pen tapped him on the knee with her ever-present fairy wand and said in a firm voice. (The kind that toddlers adopt when explaining something that should be obvious to a dull-witted adult. )
“But this way it’s a surprise!”
Aaron had to admit he couldn’t argue with her logic. He laughed and scooped her up off the floor.
“Well then, consider me surprised!” He looked over at the rest of his family. “Would there be ice cream to go with that cake?” The answering “Yes!” almost shattered the windows. Aaron decided, as he sat down, that maybe paper chains weren’t such a bad thing after all!