A/N: This story follows my previous Hotch/Rossi fics 'Let Me Give You A Hand' and 'A Secret Revealed'. You don't need to know those stories to understand the context, although I certainly won't mind, if you read those, too. ;)

Disclaimer: Not my characters…

Disappointment
Chapter 1

„My parents invited me to brunch tomorrow," Dave told Aaron as the two plus Jack were walking back to their cars from the soccer field after Jack's game. "They insist I bring my new love."

"You ready to tell them about us?" Aaron asked.

"I don't want to keep it a secret from them any longer, you know," Dave replied, smiling at him.

They had already talked about this a couple of times since the start of their relationship. Aaron knew Dave was hesitant when it came to going public and he understood where his lover was coming from, but was also eager to finally meet his parents.

Dave was always telling the most wonderful stories about them, about what it was like growing up as the only son of second-generation Italian-Americans. It was obvious how much they meant to him.

He also mentioned on more than one occasion how much they would love to become grandparents and Aaron wondered if they would be willing to take over that role for his son. His own parents had passed away before Jack's birth and Haley's parents lived too far away for regular visits.

Having spoken with Dave about this, he was glad that his partner agreed with him, not that Aaron expected it to be different.

"They'll be happy to finally have a grandchild they can spoil rotten," Dave had said.

There had been a slight trace of doubt in his voice, though. Aaron had noticed it, but hadn't called him out on it, wondering if maybe he'd just imagined it.

Upon asking Dave what his parents would say if they learned their thrice married, seemingly heterosexual son was in love with another man, Dave had tried to assure him that they'd be happy for him. However, there had been the same, barely noticeable reluctance when he'd spoken.

"They've been nagging me about meeting you for a while now, you know that," Dave continued, getting his car keys out of his pockets.

"But they still don't know that I'm a man, correct?"

"They've always supported me in whatever I did. Even with marriages number two and three. Why would it be any different now?"

Aaron was about to comment on how he knew that this was exactly what Dave was afraid of, but Dave turned away and focused of Jack.

The boy was walking next to them, unusually quiet, with his head hanging. His team had lost by one last minute goal, even though they, and especially Jack, had played really well.

"You did a fantastic job today, champ," Dave told him, kneeling down to Jack.

"We should have won. We were better than them," Jack sniffed.

"Next time you'll win again. You did have a lot of fun, though, didn't you?"

Jack nodded, a smile gracing his lips.

"See? That's what counts. I'm really proud of you, son. Next time you'll have more luck."

Jack reached out and gave Dave a big hug, looking significantly more cheerful again.

"So, how about an excursion to McDonald's for lunch?" Dave suggested, getting up, a groan echoing his protesting knees.

"Yay!" Jack exclaimed and dashed ahead with Mudgie in tow.

Dave's dog had long since become the family dog and was with them for every soccer game.

Aaron took Dave's hand and smiled gratefully at him.

"Thanks. You always know how to cheer him up."

They reached the car, too, and helped Jack and Mudgie in. Aaron leaned over and brushed a quick kiss on Dave's lips before opening the door on the passenger side.

Grinning contently, Dave turned to go over to the driver's side, but then froze in his tracks when out of nowhere he found his himself face to face with his parents. Aaron, who was already half seated, stepped out again. He'd seen enough pictures of them to know who these two elderly people were.

One look into their faces and it was clear that they had a) just witnessed their exchange, including the short kiss, and b) they were definitely not happy about it. There was no doubt Dave had noticed it, too.

He just stood there and stared at them.

Aaron was about to just introduce himself, hoping to be able to relief the tension, but Dave's father began to speak before he got the chance.

"You're always telling us about this coaching thing you do, so we thought we'd come by and watch a little. We certainly didn't expect this."

The man's voice was hard and not at all what Dave had told Aaron he normally sounded like.

Father and son continued to glare at each other, ignoring Aaron's presence, while Dave's mother stood there and looked like she was ready to burst into tears. Dave was the first to break the eye contact after several long minutes, turning his look to his mother, his eyes pleading with her to say something.

When she didn't, his whole world crumbled.

This was the reaction he'd feared yet never actually thought he would get from the two people who, besides Aaron and Jack, meant the most to him.

Every time Aaron had asked about what kind of reaction he anticipated from them, there had been this tiny voice in his head that warned him to be careful. He'd hated himself for having those doubts in the people who had raised him, told himself over and over again that he knew them, that they'd always been loving and supportive and the opposite of judgmental. But whoever was talking in his head wouldn't shut up.

And now he wondered if he ever really knew them at all.

As the silence was becoming almost unbearable, Aaron started a new attempt to introduce himself.

Again, Dave's father cut him off.

"We've had enough," he said roughly.

"I hope this is just a mistake, David," Dave's mother added.

Aaron felt the anger build inside him and protectively wrapped an arm around Dave's waist.

"I can assure you that it is not," he stated as calm as possible considering the fact that he felt the desperate urge to smack some sense into them.

Without another word the two elder Rossis turned around and walked away, leaving their shocked and speechless son behind.

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