Author's Notes: This story started out in the back of my head after "It Takes a Village". The more I thought about it, the more I liked it, but I wanted it to have a little "sizzle". But, I'm still not comfortable writing the "sizzle" for the public. So a PM with my mentor, Thn0715 (excuse me, newly minted CM FanFic Award winner Thn – congrats babe!), got the ball rolling. She says "You start it and give me a vibe. I'll do the 'sizzle', and then you run from there."

So here is our first collaboration! All I can say is that it has been an absolute awesome experience, and an honor, to work with my mentor and have her as co-author of part of this story. On behalf of both of us, we hope you enjoy it. Make sure to tell us what you think!

This started out as a one shot. With two of us working on this tale, it took on a bit of a life of its own. So its three chapters now, all of which are completed, and will be posted daily.

Thn and I proudly dedicate this to all of our special friends in the "Hotch thread" at a certain, very special place. And to all of the fanfic writers that also are part of our family there.

Please note the rating. The rating for this chapter is to be on the safe side.

Chapter 1

Aaron Hotchner walked into the viewing area next to the interrogation room. David Rossi took one look at his partner. "Oh that's a nice look."

Hotch just smirked at his lover as he typed a message into his cell phone. Dave continued, "Aaron, I thought we discussed this. And you know our son doesn't like the beard either."

"Dave, I got off a plane 45 minutes ago at Andrews from Pakistan and came straight here. I didn't exactly have a chance to shave."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was a ten hour flight."

Aaron shot Dave a menacing look. "It's not like a C-130 has the accommodations of a Gulf Stream."

"Well, you are going to shave, right?"

"Dave, we've got a young kid to find. I'll worry about that later."

While David Rossi wanted to make his point further that he didn't appreciate how his lover looked, he knew that Aaron had valid points and let the matter go. But only until the case ended.

Dave was in his study of the home he shared with Aaron and Jack when he heard the garage door open. Looking at his watch for the umpteenth time, he thought to himself, it's about damn time.

Aaron shut the garage door as he walked into their home. Mudgie, who had been asleep until he heard the door go up, met him at the door. As he walked in, Mudg greeted him with a wagging tail. Hotch reached down and gave him a rub behind both ears and scratched his back. "Hi pal; missed you." Mudg gave him a small bark. He knew better than to let out a usual one with Jack sleeping. Mudg's best bud was just too important to him.

Dave walked into the kitchen. "You hungry?" Hotch just shook his head.

"I just want to see Jack and hold you," as he started to walk to Dave.

Dave held up his hands. "I'm not going to kiss you with that scruff."

"God dammit Dave, give me a break. I just walked in the door and I haven't seen the two people I love the most in over three weeks."

"We've both missed you, too. But not that face full of hair."

"And I've put up with that goat of yours for how long?"

"You've never complained before."

"Whatever," Hotch said as he walked past his lover to head up the stairs. Dave let Mudgie out and then walked back into the den to polish off his scotch. After thinking for a second, he poured himself another and Aaron one as well. As he returned to the kitchen, he let Mudgie in and shut the lights off downstairs as he ascended the steps.

He paused to lean against the doorframe of Jack's room, watching as Hotch stroked their son's golden hair as he kneeled alongside the bed. That sight always warmed Dave's heart. Hotch put another silent kiss on Jack's forehead and whispered, "See ya in the morning buddy." He gave him one more stroke of his head and pulled Jack's comforter up around his neck tighter. "Night buddy." Mudgie had already settled down on the rug on the floor at the foot of Jack's bed, ready to spend the night with his pal, while on vigilant guard. Dave smiled and started for the master bedroom with the two glasses in hand as Hotch rose from the bed. He followed Dave into their room and shut the door.

Hotch was already stripping off the shirt he had been wearing in Pakistan when he took Morgan's call. Finding Declan Doyle had been the first and only priority, but it was well past the time for him to get out of it. He walked into the bathroom to put the shirt in the hamper. His undershirt, socks and pants, in the same condition, were the next to go and he started the shower. He continued undressing and climbed into the huge glass encased paradise. As Aaron let the warm spray of water cascade over his naked body, he felt his muscles begin to relax as he thanked the heavens for the nine hours of sleep he was able to get on the USAF's version of a flying washing machine.

Fifteen minutes later, he shut the water off, stepped out, and grabbed one of the large Egyptian cotton towels to dry off. After three weeks in the desert, working in military conditions, even the towel felt like heaven. Thank God for Dave's taste in excellence he thought to himself. When he finished drying off, he wrapped the towel around his waist and headed into the bedroom. Dave handed Aaron the tumbler with the brown elixir. "Thanks, that's just what the doctor ordered," as he walked over to the dresser and took a drink.

"You're welcome. But what took you so long to get home? I've been here almost three hours."

"Reports," Aaron said as he reached into the drawer to grab a pair of boxers.

"Dammit Aaron…." Dave started, once again immediately upset that Hotch had spent that time in the office.

"They had to be done."

"They couldn't wait until the morning?"

"I have responsibilities remember?"

"Such as and compared to around here?" Dave bit out.

"I'm Unit Chief; and you know as well as I do when all this business with Doyle and Emily hits the fan there's going to be hell to pay," Hotch testily answered as he took another drink. He stopped mid-reach into the drawer and looked at Dave. "And I supposed you're pissed that I didn't tell you about Emily."

"I pretty much had an idea what was going on with her." Hotch cocked an eyebrow at him. "What? I'm good at my job and I can read you like a book."

"So why are you so damn surly with me?"

"The damn hair on your face," Dave retorted, the two scotches he had already drank beginning to have their effect.

"Hold your voice down," Aaron snarled back. "Our son is sleeping in the next room." Nodding at Dave's glass, "How many of those have you had?"

"Enough to take the edge off of 24 hours of a bitch of day," Dave replied.

"Yeah, well, you're sounding like a bitch."

"And gee, like you're in a really good mood." Hotch threw the boxers on top of the dresser and shut the drawer with enough authority to get Dave's attention, but not waking Jack.

"Dammit Dave, what is your problem?"

"I don't like the beard."

"Tough shit! In case you haven't noticed I was in on that '24 hours of a bitch of a day'. And I really expected to come home and find my lover, whom I haven't seen in three weeks, welcoming me with open arms. But all I'm getting is a goddamn sermonette about some facial hair."

"Now you're the one that needs to hold your voice down."

Hotch hung his head and looked at the floor. When he finally looked at his lover, Dave could see the angst in Aaron's eyes. "What's going on with you? The Emily situation has been resolved. And I'm damn proud of you for the decision you made. You kept Emily and the team safe."

Aaron lowered his eyes at bit and shrugged. "Dave, you don't know what it was like over there. Do you know the military guys have a part of the camp that they call 'the sweet spot'? It's remote and private and reserved for one thing."

"What's that," Dave queried, knowing that something was eating at Aaron.

"It was a place where you could go and get some privacy while you used your hand," Aaron said sadly. "I'm really tired of that routine. I thought I could come home tonight and being horny as hell, you could take care of me. But all you keep doing is biting me in the ass about some facial hair."

Dave looked at Aaron intently. And that nagging feeling entered into his subconscious. Again. Did Aaron really have full buy into their relationship? As he looked at Aaron, he knew his partner, both personally and professionally, was profiling him and was sadly, softly shaking his head. God, Dave thought. This is the last thing he needs tonight, knowing that Aaron had also read him like a book.