RUNAWAY
CHAPTER SIX...!

❝ BABY PHOTOS , SEASON FOUR ❞

JENNIE sat in Rossi's office with him. He was filling out paperwork, while Jennie sat in front of his desk, staring off into space. She even didn't realize that she was tapping her fingers rapidly on the table in front of her, as she was too zoned out.

After a while, Rossi looked up, to see the girl's odd stare.

"What's on your mind, kiddo?"

Jennie snapped out of her daze, stopping her finger tapping, as she looked at the man. She shrugged, speaking a little too quickly, "Nothing."

"I've been working here longer than you've been alive. You really want to lie to me, Jennie?" He asked, causing the girl to sigh.

She paused for a moment, not knowing how to word what she was about to say, "You've been on a date with a woman before, right?"

She quickly noticed the man's expression become somewhat offended at the question.

"No-No, I mean— obviously you have but, like, teenage women? You've been on dates with teenage women?"

"I'm not a hebophile, Jennie."

The girl groaned, "You know what I mean."

Rossi found amusement in the girl's obviously agitated state, "Yes. When I was a teenager, I did in fact go on many dates with teenage women."

"And like— what did they wear?" Jennie asked him, eagerly, "Like, let's say, for example, when you wore a button up with nice shoes, did they wear a sundress, or did they have some jumpsuit action going on—"

"What's gotten into you?" Rossi interrupted her, furrowing his eyebrows at the teen, "Because I know for a fact that Jennie Hotchner is not one to care if she shows up to a date in sweatpants. So, why the change?"

When Jennie only stayed silent, the older man let a knowing smile form on his face.

"Oh— you really like this guy, don't you?"

"I do not."

"Then why are you blushing right now?"

"Because," Jennie used her hand to fan her cheeks, letting out a breath, "I'm having an allergic reaction. I'm allergic to you, Rossi."

He chuckled, handing the girl a bottle of water from the mini-fridge under his desk.

"Anyone who gets to take you out is the luckiest person in the world, Piccola. If this guy ends things because he cares more about what you wear, rather than you as a person, than he's not the one for you." Rossi told her, as she downed her water, "And you'll be grateful you dodged a bullet."

Jennie looked down at her bottle of water, a small smile on her face.

He always gave her some of the best advice.

"You're the best, Uncle Rossi."

—

      JENNIE never thought she'd be one of those people who'd smile so hard at a text message that she couldn't wash it off.

At least, not until she met Grayson.

The two were supposed to go on their first date the following day. Jennie laid in her bedroom that night, trying to fight back her smile as she reread her and Grayson's texts. She originally had tried focusing on her essay she had to write for school, but ended up too distracted.

When she heard a knock at her door, she looked up to see her dad standing there, leaning against the doorway.

"How come Rossi is the one informing me about your date tomorrow?"

At his words, Jennie paused for a moment, before groaning, "That man is such a snitch."

The man let out a chuckle due to his daughter's embarrassment, as he walked over to sit on the edge of the girl's bed.

"Jennie, you could've told me." He told his daughter, his voice softening.

"I know, but, I—" The teen sighed, before shrugging, "I don't even know if I like him that much."

"Rossi says you seem to like him very much."

Jennie let out a dry chuckle, "That's a big lie. I mean— he's so sarcastic, and witty, and he thinks he's so funny, and— why are you laughing?"

"Jennie." Her father began, a small smile on his face, "I think this guy sounds a little bit like you."

"What—?" Jennie took offense to the statement, "I am nothing like him. My jokes are actually funny, his are just— dumb, and stupid. And— dumb, and stupid."

"And you've said that." Hotch spoke, in response to the girl repeating herself, "Honey, it's not the worst thing in the world to let yourself feel for someone."

The teen buried her head in her hands, muffling the groan she let out, "I feel stupid."

With that, he let out another chuckle. He had never seen his daughter like this before.The father stood up from the girl's bed, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

Afterwards, he stayed there for a second, looking down at her.

"So, should I show him the embarrassing baby pictures before or after your guys' date?"

Jennie groaned, "Dad."

"Okay, okay— how about the ones from when you got your wisdom teeth taken out?"

"I told you to burn those ones!"

"Oh, but they're so cute."Aaron teased, causing Jennie to collide her pillow to her face. He let out a small laugh, before speaking up again, "Okay— goodnight, Jen-Jen."

"Goodnight."

He began to make his way to the door. However, before he reached the handle, he wanted to pique her embarrassment one more time.

"Just one baby picture?"

"Dad!"

"Okay, okay. Goodnight."

With that, he left the room, gently shutting the door behind him. He stood there for a moment more, letting out a breath, before walking over to his own room, a bittersweet thought roaming in his mind.

His baby was growing up.

AUTHORS NOTE |

okay amazing ppl, real talk— what should jennie wear for her date?? like something not to much, and easy to sit in 🙏

word count.
979.