Hi, how are you. I loved this story, I cried a lot, too beautiful, to feel like wanting to help Aaron, and I hope you write a new story telling how they got in the future. Beautiful story. thanks.

fuckimg loved this book and the prequel. absolutely obsessed

...and I have to apologize about Rossi...he's fifteen years older than Hotch so of course he'd be FBI by the time this story plays. Don't know where the 19 years old part came from...sorry for that.

Just amazing. This story was really great. Great writing gripping and realistic story and a believable background for Aaron. You kept the suspense going till the end. I couldn't stop reading. When I saw this story listened as unfinished, I thought 'oh shit, I hope it will be updated fast'. Turns out I didn't have to worry, since this is the last chapter.

It was hard reading Aaron's struggles. Very hard. I kept hoping he'd collapse in school or something and people would find out and get him the hell away from there. This lie about falling in with the wrong crowd Charles forced him to tell made me sick. I hope it gets out that it was a lie, although for Aaron's sake, without the part about the abuse. And that math teacher. Now, her (and all those other teachers, too), I would love to find out just why Aaron wasn't 'interested' in classes. I want them to feel guilty and properly ashamed of themselves, for allowing another student to almost die because of neglect. It's appalling.

Again, exceptionally grateful for Haley here- she brightened everything with her unfailing loyalty and kindness towards Aaron. I just wish Aaron hadn't managed to make her promise to keep his secret and she'd have gone to the police and gotten him saved sooner. I understand why she didn't and I'm not angry at her but I just wish Aaron hadn't had to suffer for so long. And still, he actually visited his mom in hospital. She is right. I don't feel like she deserved the regard and kiss Aaron gave her in the end (though it did make me ridiculously proud of Aaron, not many would have the strength), not after all the terrible things she did to him. Still, I can recognize that she was a sick sick woman and I did feel sorry that it went the way it did. I'd have loved to witness the loving mother she should and could have been.

As for the Brooks...great family. I felt so grateful to them and that they tool Aaron and Sean in. I wonder whether they ended up getting separated in foster care or if they managed to keep together. I like to think that Aaron got emancipated and lived either alone (with his brother at the Brooks) or together in an apartment, with continuous visits from the Brooks (Haley in particular) and support from Haley's parents. I can't imagine Aaron wanting to continue to be dependant on anyone, no matter how nice they are, after what he's experienced. He'd want to be self sufficient as soon as possible. Not a loner though. But I just can't imagine him wanting anyone with any sort of authority over him like his parents.

I was banking on Rossi and Gideon coming to the rescue. A bit later than I'd originally hoped, though it made sense and Aaron kind of ended up saving his brother and himself by himself (with help from Haley and her family), but I was really happy that Rossi and Gideon came to look for him and all. And those uplifting words. Well, they surely were completely right. Aaron did grow up to be one hell of a profiler ;-)

I think there was even a brief mention of Reid...one I think I could've done without. Not because I don't like him or anything but because I'm kind of a stickler for correct ages in a story and Reid was still a toddler like Sean when Aaron was in High School. But then again, Rossi would've been like 19 around that time and I liked him being already an FBI agent and meeting young Aaron like he did. ;-)

Glad that Charles is gone for good, though I wish Aaron didn't have to be the one to shoot him (great aim, though...and in that condition, too).
I liked it how Aaron worked the case, btw.

Once again, amazing story and a highly believable and realistic background for Hotch.

Nope not offended by your portrayal of teachers, because it's right. Even now, this still happens. I can totally understand your anger.
If it weren't for Aaron, poor Peter might have succumbed to his injuries. All because people ignored his plight or didn't recognize the signs. Poor kid might still die, with that head wound. I wish those teachers had recognized the signs with Aaron. I mean, come on! Really? There he is, telling them exactly what to look out for and they just...ignore the glaring signs he himself gave in that conversation. Those bastards. They shouldn't be allowed to be teachers. Because of their neglect, a student might yet die, another is irrevocably damaged and will go on to become a killer and Aaron is suffering unspeakable agony and horror each day.
What do they think made Aaron so knowledgeable about how Peter feels? And still, they continue to be blind. Makes me so mad.

Amazing chapter!
Loved the date, it was sweet. Charles presence marred it a bit, but it was great he was there in the end. Now Aaron has blackmail on the bastard and I'd only be happier if the guy had offed himself somehow and his mother had realized what a monster she became and gotten herself help. Yeah, highly unlikely, I know. But you can dream.

Wow. Aaron was very courageous, standing up to his stepfather like that. Loved that scene, aside from the rough manhandling part.

What an uplifting chapter. It made me so happy that Aaron got welcomed into the baseball group and that they then helped him against Vinny. It's so nice to see him getting at least a bit of a break. And all thanks to Hayley, the brave soul.
Wow, the "reveal" at the end, which I suppose I could've come to myself had I really thought about it (I think you gave ample hints), made me speechless. So Vinny, that angry, abused bully, is Vincent Perotta? Okay, I didn't expect that. It's actually quite plausible that Aaron knew him from before. A pity his fear of the guy becoming a killer becomes a reality. Well, I know it's Aaron, but amazing profiling skills. And he's so young still.
Looking forward to the date.

Great chapter. I felt crushed and just as angry as Aaron when I realized that teacher was noticing his injuries and blatantly ignoring them. The other teachers, too. It's pathetic. Teachers have a duty to guide the students educate them to have a better life and better prospects. Just as parents, they have a duty to look out for a child's wellfare. Why don't they? So many children get hurt and suffer and it would only take a few open eyes and active teachers, caring adults, to lessen that suffering or even make it go away by taking the child out of their horrible situation. I truly believe far less people would run amok and senselessly kill people, lashing out at the world in anger if teachers and other adults would just ACT ON WHAT THEY SEE. HELP. Instead of looking away. It makes me furious that people who just close their eyes and blatantly ignore a child's suffering like that get allowed to be teachers. Truly, becoming a teacher should come with a mandatory course on what to do if a child is abused or needs help, and a degree in child psychology. I'm NOT saying they should shoulder every childs pain and help them work through it and cope, personally take them from their abusive home and all that, but I do wish they'd at least notify the authorities and qualified people of the problem. It's their duty, in my opinion. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THOSE PEOPLE AND THE WHOLE DAMN SYSTEM, REALLY, THAT CHILDREN ARE LEFT TO SUFFER ALONE?
Sorry for the rant, especially since you clearly know what you're talking about but...well, what Aaron did and thought in that chapter here, it resonated with me. It makes me so angry. So much evil, so much suffering could be stopped if people just bothered to lift a finger, dial ONE phone number (child services) and just helped instead of looking away. Mind you I'm not saying there's no room for improvement when it comes to child services (there's so much that still gets not stopped even when they get involved or handled badly), but at least those people try. It's our own damn future that get's just spilled down the drain.
Again, going of on you like that. Sorry.

This story was well written and Aaron's actions and reactions were realistic. Sadly, the reactions and actions of everyone else were too. Grateful for Hayley. She's a real gem here. Wish more people were like her. She's helping and she's not looking away.

Wow! What an ending. I can empathize with young Aaron Hotchner on a level that no one should be able to. I know what it's like to be told you're not good enough. I would like another story in this series though. It's too good to just leave like this. You have given me hope and I thank you. Keep up the awesome writing!

I loved your ending! I couldn't help but laugh at the parts about the suits lol :) hopefully we get a story in present time where we see Hotch deal with his past or something. That would be awesome

Very well written story. Interesting and well done

I love your story. It's fantastic.

Bravo! You have no idea how happy I was getting the notifications for this story and I have to say that I'm sorry to see it end- it was an excellent read! I thought the pacing was well done and gave some great insight into your ideas for Hotch's back story. I especially loved the little nods to the show- they always made me smile!

One thing I might suggest: there were a few places where the dialogue felt a little off to me- kind of like I couldn't really hear someone speaking that way. From what I remember, it happened often with Hotch, both in his internal monologues and when he was speaking to another character. I'm all for big descriptive words and I get that he's had to grow up way too fast so he's incredibly mature for his age, but some places felt a little too formal. (This is a bad example because it's a line from Gideon, but a point of reference might be in the last chapter where he tells Hotch that his past won't "plague" him. I've known people to use "haunt", but that particular use of "plague" doesn't seem to come up much in everyday conversation.). Sorry to sound so nit-picky; I'm a sucker for realistic dialogue :)

Anyway, whether or not you come back here (though I sincerely hope you do), I hope you'll keep writing! Thanks for the great ride!

I love it! Aaron is finally getting away from his mom. I can't wait for the next chapter.

Glad Aaron is getting away from his mom.