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𝑹 𝑬 𝑴
❝ 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝚘𝚗. 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛. 𝚊𝚜𝚜. ❞

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ㅤ𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋, until it suddenly wasn't.

When September rolled in, Alina thought that the only thing she had to worry about was her and Helen's project. With Jack staying at his aunt's for the time being as she worked, it was as though there was nothing that could've stopped her from finalizing the Regeneration Machine—dubbed 'REGEN'—on schedule.

But then she got the call.

Gwen's words were incomprehensible, with Alina only hearing the loud sobs of the Filipina as she struggled to explain her predicament. The biophysicist tried her best to get her best friend to calm down, but she was inconsolable.

"Gwen?" Alina worryingly asked, leveling her voice to project an aura of calmness that could help with the situation. "What's going on? Why are you crying?"

A hiccup, a sniffle, and another heart-wrenching sob was heard before Gwen finally calmed enough to say, "Emily's back, and Spencer knows. He- he knows!"

"Oh, Gwen."

Alina made sure to keep Gwen on the line as she bid her colleagues a rushed goodbye as she hurried out of the labs, into the garage, and straight into her car. It's been a while since she's used to full capability of her sports car, and she was not about to hesitate. Turning on her engine, she zoomed out of the compound, her phone securely on a phone stand clipped onto her car AC, continuing to console her best friend even as she drove.

The typical five-hour drive was nearly cut in half as she broke several speed limits and traffic laws for her very pregnant, very hormonal, and very sad best friend. If anyone dared to pull her over, she'd willingly lie and tell them it was a medical emergency, and would risk just about everything to make sure she'd get to Gwen as soon as possible.

Normally, she'd turn on her music, something upbeat, to make her drive more enjoyable, but the only sound that filled her cabin was the sound of Gwen's trying to regulate her breathing as she finally calmed just enough to explain.

"Jen- Jen called," Gwen hiccuped. "From- from what I-I could tell, Derek's been," hiccup, "Derek's been looking to find D-Doyle's son. Apparently, he- he wanted to f-find Doyle, for- for Emily," sob, "t-they found him, the boy, b-but someone took him, and- and now they're trying to get D-Doyle to talk but the only person who- who," hiccup, "who could get him to talk is--"

"Emily," Alina cut her off with a grimace, almost as if she was the one who could feel how difficult it was for Gwen to speak. "How'd Spencer find out?"

"A-Aaron flew back as- as soon as Derek told him ab-about how they found the son," Gwen let out a shaky breath, blowing into what Alina could assume was a tissue. She fought the urge to ask about Aaron, knowing how delicate the situation was. She'll get to that later. "Declan, I think. Th-then," hiccup, "Well, Emily got a call from Declan and w-was already on- on her way back, a-and Aaron...Aaron took the blame, b-but he told them he had h-help. And they knew."

Alina took a deep breath. She'll be giving Aaron a stern talking-to. She shook her head as she stepped on the gas harder. "Did Spencer call you?"

"N-No, but Jen told me that...that he was too calm," she blew onto a tissue again. "I'm terrified, Lina."

"Of what? Of Spencer?" Alina scoffed. "Gwen, you can take him on, pregnant or not. Plus, you've got the snakes on your side. If he ever lays a hand on you--"

"Alina, you know very well that Spencer's not that kind of person," Gwen cut her off, her voice suddenly steady and assured. "He will not do that, not to me, not to my babies." She sniffled again. "I'm terrified that...that he might never forgive me. I...he's...I love him so much, and I can't bear the thought of him leaving me...I can't. Not...I don't..."

Sighing, Alina nodded to herself. "I'm sorry for assuming the worst. I know Spencer isn't like that either, I just...I want you to know that whatever he decides on doing, I will be there to stay with you, no matter what. You're my best friend, and no one's allowed to hurt you. I just hope Spencer realizes that it's not me he has to worry about, and it's not just me he has to answer to if he decides to be an asshole. He'll have to answer to a group of superpowered individuals, plus my brothers, Viktor..." She rolled her eyes. "He has to realize that this is not about him. The decision," she sighed, "it wasn't about any of us. It was about Emily, and if he...I will kill him if I need to. Just say the word and he won't ever be found."

Gwen let out a small, shaky laugh despite her tears. "He's still the father of my kids and the love of my life."

"Well, then he better start acting like it before I get my hands on him."

Soon enough, Alina arrived at the safe house in record time, and Viktor himself was there to greet her at the entrance.

He waved at her as she rolled her window down. "You better get up there, Gwen's..." He shook his head, a deep frown on his face as he clenched his jaw. "I'll park your car for you...hopefully I can fit."

Alina sighed. "Thanks, Vik."

In her haste, the only things she brought with her was her wallet and phone, and so she quickly grabbed both of them got out of her car. She gestured for Viktor to hop inside, fighting the urge to laugh as he struggled; with his large stature, it was always difficult to ride small cars, as most sports cars are.

Viktor rolled his eyes at her, shooing her.

Finally, she let out a laugh and stepped inside, greeting FRIDAY a good evening as she hopped into the elevator. She looked down at her hands, frowning a little at the emotions that were firing at her all at once; sadness, for her best friend; anger, at her best friend's boyfriend; apprehension, at how she was going to approach the situation; happiness, at the fact that Aaron's back. She wasn't sure what to prioritize, but before she could make the decision, the elevator doors opened.

She knew that when Gwen was conflicted about something, she'll always seek out fresh air—as fresh as the air can be in a city, at least—and figured she'd be out at the terrace. And she was right. Walking up the stairs, she made her way past Bakunawa, Medusa, and Ladon, before finally making her way towards Gwen, who was leaning against the glass railing, staring out at the DC skyline.

"Gwen?" She called. She watched as the usually hyper-aware Gwen Chase, jump at the mere sound of her voice, and she held herself back from exploding at Spencer who wasn't even home. She clenched her jaw and moved closer, hugging Gwen sideways, avoiding her large baby bump. "Hey, you guys okay?"

"Not really." Gwen admitted, her lower lip trembling as she hugged Alina back, one arm wrapped around the smaller woman's shoulders, and the other cradling her baby bump. "They're restless. The babies, and the snakes," she gestured inside, and both women turned to see the snakes' uneasiness. Then she sighed, "I...I'm thirty-two weeks pregnant, five weeks away from giving birth and this happens."

Alina looked up at Gwen—given her rush, she was still wearing her lab attire, which included regular sneakers—and saw her tear stains, and her still-watery eyes. She sighed, hugging the taller woman tighter as safely as she could, and said, "I'll make sure he regrets the day he was born."

"Alina," Gwen warned, although her eyes held mirth, and it was obvious she was trying not to smile. "Please don't traumatize him."

"He's lucky if that's all I do to him," she rolled her eyes. "I have three older brothers."

As if on cue, FRIDAY called both their attentions, announcing Spencer's arrival.

"Alina, I'm serious," Gwen looked down at Alina as she unwrapped her arm around her. "I honestly would prefer if I was the one to talk some sense into him, but you two...are scarily similar. I think he might listen to you more."

"He shouldn't," Alina scoffed. "I'm just his girlfriend's best friend. You're his girlfriend and the mother of his kids, he should listen to you. But I'll be doing my part still, so I'll talk to him."

"Thanks, Lina."

"Anything for you, Queenie."

With a wave, she walked back inside, and was surprised at how the snakes were quick to follow her. She giggled a little, leaning down towards them. "It's better if you stay with Gwen, I'll deal with Spencer first. You guys can have second dibs. Agreed?"

It seems as though the snakes agreed, as one by one, they made their way back to where they were watching Gwen. But unsurprisingly, Medusa kept delaying her movements, looking back at Alina every few seconds as if calling out to her.

"Medusa..." Alina sighed. But Medusa only lifted her upper body and tilted her head, as if saying 'Try me'. "Oh, fine. But no biting. You'll kill him."

Sighing—both in slight annoyance at Medusa, and to hold herself back from literally pouncing—she made her way over to where Spencer was, according to FRIDAY. He was sat in the dining room, staring blankly at the oak table. Alina let herself linger at the doorway, reminiscing back to the time Gwen first took them to this penthouse, this room, when everything unraveled.

She could still remember her first time meeting the BAU team, first time she saw Spencer. She knew right then and there that he was going to be a part of their lives for a long time. From the way Gwen looked at him, to the way he looked at her. Then, she remembered, her first time meeting Aaron.

"Hey," Alina greeted, standing up from where she knelt as she played with the kids. She waved awkwardly. "I'm Alina."

He couldn't help himself from noting the fact that she didn't offer a handshake. He nodded in greeting. "Aaron Hotchner. You can call me Hotch."

"In that case, call me Lina," she smiled at him, fidgeting slightly, refusing to offer a handshake given how dry her skin had gotten after disinfecting her hands way too much. She had always been a bit intimidated when meeting new people, and for Gwen's sake, she had to make sure the entire BAU team would like her, even if she had to tone down her loud and honestly personality for once in her life. She stood beside him and tried to match his stance. "You know, Jack kept talking about Gwen. Bragged about knowing that she was friends with Captain America."

The corners of his lips lifted slightly. "He knew?"

"Gwen must've told him at some point," Alina shrugged. "At least we know he can keep a secret." She giggled slightly, craning her neck to meet his eyes. The height difference was very apparent. "Gwen's always been good with people. We call it the 'Gwen Effect'."

He chuckled under his breath, relaxing against the door frame, unabashedly meeting her gaze. "We noticed. We actually called it the 'Finn Effect'. I guess 'Gwen Effect' is more accurate, huh?"

She nodded as she grinned at him adorably, letting a bit of her playful side shine. "Definitely." Then she turned serious. "Look, despite not being completely honest about who she really was, it's very clear to me how much she considers you guys a family. She likes being with you guys. And it's really beautiful to see, because she's just...she's just always so closed up you know? I just hope you guys can see past her so-called betrayal and realize that she was just following orders."

Alina allowed the man—Hotch—to scan her face, knowing of his occupation as a profiler. She didn't care what he might see, what he might profile about her. She was sure he was going to get a few things wrong, considering they've just met and haven't even held a proper conversation. But that doesn't mean she didn't feel a little uncomfortable under his curious gaze, fidgeting slightly as she was suddenly reminded of how her professors used to analyze her back in the day.

Especially if she had a crush on her professor.

She cursed herself and turned away, turning her attention back to the boy who'd introduced himself as 'Jack'.

"Are you gonna just stand there?" Spencer's voice broke her out of her stupor, his voice thick with emotions. It sounded raspier, as if he was about to have a breakdown. "Why, Alina? Why'd you...and Gwen? How could you--"

"Mhmm, okay, first off, get it through your thick skull that this isn't about you, Pretty Boy," Alina cut him off, already taking the part of offense as anger and annoyance coursed through her veins. "This isn't about you," she repeated. "This is about Emily, and how she could've actually died If not--"

"Then why couldn't you have told us?!" Spencer stood up from his seat and slammed a hand down to the table. He watched, fuming, as Alina rolled her eyes at him. He ran a hand through his hair as he began pacing. "Why...couldn't you have told me?"

"I just said, this isn't about you," she mocked, walking closer to him with a hissing Medusa in tow. She smirked in satisfaction when he took a step back as the black mamba hissed louder. "Don't mind 'Dusa, she's really pissed at you for hurting Gwen."

Spencer scoffed. "My own girlfriend...was in on this and she--"

"She never told you?" Alina mocked again. "I repeat, this isn't about you."

"Why was it okay for you and Gwen to be in on this, huh? You-" he scoffed, "you guys don't know Emily look I do. You guys were never even part of the BAU yet--"

"You think Gwen's never been a part of the BAU? Good job, idiot."

"You do not get a say--"

"I GET A SAY WHEN IT'S MY BEST FRIEND—MY PREGNANT BEST FRIEND—IS THE ONE YOU'RE HURTING!" She screamed, relishing in the way he jumped back. "Do you think it was easy for Gwen to have kept this from you?! JJ and I had to talk her down because we knew if more people knew that Emily was alive, she'd be in even more danger than she was before. Even if her identity was need to know, there were still so many people that saw her face that day. Do you understand that?

"The only reason Gwen and I were involved was because we were some of the only people in the world who could've made it as believable as possible. And mind you, Gwen and I knowing already put us in danger, and Gwen, your loving and mindful girlfriend, had to make sure you were safe too. Because if she were to be put in danger because of her part in this deception, she..." She cut herself of for once. She hesitated to continue, given how sensitive Gwen had gotten after admitting this to her.

"What?" Spencer breathlessly asked as if he was the one that was ranting.

"If she were to be put in danger because of her involvement, she..." Alina sighed. "She needed someone to take care of the twins. A steady parent."

Spencer's hardened expression fell, and all that was left was a look of anguish on his usually innocent-looking face. His hazel eyes looked glazed over, and his lips were pressed into a straight line. "I..." he trailed off, stopping his pacing as he stared at his shoes. "I didn't realize...I..."

"That's why you better not make this any harder for Gwen. She's about to pop, for fuck's sake," Alina cursed. "Don't make the environment any more stressful than it already is. Think of your children. And, I swear to any god that people worship, may it be God, Yahweh, Allah, Zeus, or even Thor, if you hurt her, I will let Medusa have her way with you." She pointed down at the still hissing snake whose inky black mouth was on full display, ready to strike. "If not Medusa, you'll have the Avengers. On. Your. Ass."

Alina then dramatically turned away from him, walking out of the penthouse, and down to the basement, ready to drive herself to Aaron's apartment.

Arriving outside of Aaron's apartment complex, she felt herself tense as her heart started rapidly beating in her chest. It's been months since she's seen him in person, and she genuinely doesn't know what to do once he's standing there in front of her.

She sighed and turned off her engine. She'd already shed her lab coat, and in the cool breeze of a September night in DC, she felt goosebumps arise on her arms. But she shrugged it off, and after a few seconds of pacing near the building's entrance, she finally gained the courage to step inside.

Each step she took up the stairs felt heavier and heavier as she rose up to Aaron's floor, and the closer she got to his apartment, the more she wanted to run back down to her car. But the urge to see him after so long outweighed whatever hesitation she felt, and soon, she was knocking on his door.

The familiar sound of his heavy yet calculated footsteps filled her ears, and she swore she could smell the husky scent of bergamot and cedar, with a hint of gunpowder, even through the thick wooden door. She remembers his scent distinctly, triggering her memories of him pressed against her body, enough to overwhelm her senses, to the point that the only thing she could see, hear, smell, feel, and even taste, was him.

Biting her lip, she felt heat rise up to her cheeks as she tried to push back her thoughts, when suddenly, the lock clicked, and the door opened, revealing a deliciously disheveled, bearded Aaron Hotchner.

Her words got stuck in her throat, and the only thing she could let out, was a single, breathless, "Hi."

His stern expression faded away and a small smile replaced it as he assessed her flushed form. "Hello."

All Alina could do was pull him into her arms, smiling as she felt him reciprocate, strong arms wrapping around her torso. She pulled him in tighter, pressing a kiss to the underside of his jaw as she basked in the warmth she had longed to feel. She sighed in content, and let herself live in the moment.

She missed Aaron Hotchner, and she was glad to know that he missed her too.

author's note: the next couple of chapters will be filled with time skips, as we're very, very close to the end. it will be a rollercoaster from here on out as i will be toying with your emotions as much as i can lmfaooooo. 

on a serious note, thank you guys so much for your kind words in the last chapter when i opened up about hermes. it was very sweet, and i'm happy to let you guys know that they certainly helped. and that i was actually gifted a new puppy as well, and she's been a great help. her name's luna, and she's a shorkie.

anyways, i guess you can say this is a bit of a surprise update, because even i was surprised i updated lol. but i'm just so motivated because other than the fact that alina and aaron's love story will soon come to a conclusion, the continuation of gwen and spencer's story will also soon be published.

i hope yall stay tuned for that!!

love all of you so much. stay safe and healthy <3

also, i hope you guys enjoyed that lil flashback moment when alina and hotch first met. it's essentially the same as when it was in pov, but i modified it to make it from alina's point of view hehe.

[random headcanon, but the 'scent' i based hotch's off of is this perfume called 'sauvage' from dior. it smells so good and i genuinely think that hotch would love it and would wear it idec. like, he seems like the type to wear expensive-ass perfume, and sauvage is a good choice.]