RUNAWAY
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO...!

❝ NOSTALGIA , SEASON EIGHT ❞

DUE TO the sudden turn of events, Jennie and Grayson's plans to stay in an Airbnb for the previous weekend had been post-poned.

Luckily, just three weeks later, both had free-schedules, ultimately allowing them to meet in Quantico. That weekend, they sat on Jennie's bed, as the girl scribbled numbers and calculations on a piece of paper.

"Okay. . . So, assuming I keep making the same amount of money I do now, and save it accordingly, I will have enough money for a cat in—" Jennie circled a certain number on the page, that coexisted with many scattered multiplying and long-division problems, "A month and two weeks."

Grayson had watched her through her entire mathematical process, with his eyebrows slightly raised, as he held onto a bowl of popcorn.

"And uh—" He paused for a second, popping a piece of popcorn in his mouth, "Where exactly do you plan on keeping this new cat? Considering your dorm has a no-animal policy?"

"Gray, there are kids who punch holes in their walls, and host parties every night, solely for the purpose of underaged drinking." Jennie informed the man, placing the paper she had done her calculations onto the floor, "I'm sure a little kitten will be the least of Columbia University's worries."

Grayson could only shake his head with a laugh, before leaning into the girl for a kiss, mumbling under his breath before their lips met, "You're so cute."

Jennie's face reddened at the compliment, melting into her boyfriend's touch as he cupped a hand on her face. Moments like these were undoubtedly her favourites. Just her and Grayson — no one else.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the girl's bedroom door made the couple pull away, as Jennie immediately sighed. Swiftly, she hopped off of her bed, and opened her door, to see the ( very expected ) sight of Aaron Hotchner.

The father paused for a second, before speaking up, "Hi."

"Hi." Jennie gave him a knowing look.

This wasn't the first time he had knocked.

"How. . ." The man attempted to speak innocently, as if he hadn't been intentionally slowly walking past the bedroom door for the past couple minutes, "How are you guys doing?"

"Good. Really good." Jennie nodded, slightly tilting her head to side, "Just like the last time you asked us that. Five minutes ago."

"Good. That's, uh—" Aaron cleared his throat, with a quick nod, "That's good."

"Yeah."

The two fell into a silence. Jennie had stayed silent due to her expecting her father to say something else. Aaron had stayed silent because he really had nothing else to say — but he didn't want Jennie to shut the door just yet.

After an extended moment, he finally spoke up, "Jack wants to come in."

For an FBI Profiler, Aaron Hotchner was a terrible liar at times.

"Jack's still asleep." Jennie reminded the man, immediately recognizing what the man was trying to do.

"Yeah, well—" He cleared his throat once again, "When he wakes up, he's going to want to come in. You know?"

"I highly doubt that, dad." Jennie told the man, her lips pressing into a thin line, before sighing softly, "But, if it makes you feel any better, I'll just keep my door open. Okay?"

"Good. That's good." Aaron nodded quickly, scratching the back of his neck, "For Jack."

Again, a terrible liar.

But Jennie knew keeping her door open would give him some form of comfort. She owed it to him, really. After all, he did let Grayson to sleepover for his weekend in Quantico. Although Jennie had to practically beg for it, she was still surprised when he eventually agreed. Surprised and grateful.

So she let a small smile form on her lips, as she opened the door wider. "For Jack."

The man nodded once again, before taking a quick ( not-so-subtle ) glance over at Grayson, before shuffling down the hallway. Jennie's smile only remained as she rolled her eyes playfully, making her way back to her bed.

"I'm still shocked your dad let me stay over for the weekend." The girl's boyfriend admitted, as she sat next to him, his voice a bit quieter, "Since he kinda hates me and everything?"

"Stop, he doesn't hate you." She assured him, placing a hand over his, "He's just— not that expressive. Plus, I'm his daughter. He's bound to be a little rough with you at first, but he'll soften up. He always does."

Grayson smiled softly at her words, "I guess he did say my shoes were nice yesterday."

"See!" The girl immediately grinned, "Softening up! And it was about shoes, too! That's, like, a big compliment for him."

The boy only laughed, finding his girlfriend's constant attempts to reassure him utterly adorable. It was something he noticed her doing a lot during his stay at the Hotchner Household. While him and Jack were getting along amazingly, there was still some uneasiness in the air whenever Aaron and him were in the same room. Their conversations would be brief; never lasting longer than a minute or two. The following moments after whenever Grayson and Aaron would 'talk' consisted of Jennie pulling her boyfriend aside, and reassuring him that her father didn't 'hate' him.

Grayson appreciated it, but he still wasn't quite convinced. He had learned quite quickly that it would take a long time for Aaron to accept him wholeheartedly.

But the day would come eventually. He would make sure it did.

He knew he'd have to be patient, but honestly? — Every time he looked back into his girlfriend's face, he further realized something. Looking into her eyes, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, it all made a certain fact so clear to him. That is, that he would wait years, decades, centuries — however long it took for Aaron Hotchner to accept him.

Just as long as Jennie was promised in the end.

—

THE FOLLOWING Sunday was Jennie and Grayson's last day in Quantico before they had to go back to college. That night, a few hours before they were supposed to be at the airport, Jennie decided to quickly visit the BAU Office beforehand so she could say goodbye to her father.

And also to give him a plate of cookies that her and Grayson had baked earlier.

As the girl entered the bullpen, Jennie's eyes looked around to see barely anyone within the room. Barely anyone — except an unfamiliar face sitting at her desk.

It was a woman. Shoulder-length hair. Beautiful, but slightly intimidating look on her face.

Jennie paused for a second, gripping tighter onto the plate of cookies in her hand, before making the decision to go up her. When the woman noticed the girl at her desk, there was no extreme change in her expression, but her eyebrows had swiftly twitched in confusion.

Jennie only grinned at the woman, "Hi."

". . .Hi?"

The teen paused for another second, before clearing her throat, her smile slowly faltering in realization, "I'm now realizing how confused you must be. Random girl, walking up to you while you're trying to do your work, holding a plate of chocolate chip cookies."

As the girl let out an awkward chuckle, the woman only continued to look at her with the slightly puzzled expression.

"I'm Jennie. Hotchner. Jennie Hotchner." The girl finally let out. She was quickly realizing how first-impressions was something she was not skillful in. The woman, on the other hand, let out a small 'oh' in realization at the fact that she was Aaron's daughter.

"Alex Blake." The woman finally introduced herself after a pause, extending out a hand, "Nice to meet you."

At that, the girl's grin widened again, accepting the offer to shake the woman's hand. When their hands separated, there was a small silence, before Jennie spoke up again.

"Want a cookie?"

A hint of nostalgia suddenly washed over the girl's body as soon as she asked that question.

"Oh. . . Thanks." The woman slowly took one, a bit awkwardly, placing it on a tissue on her desk. She then looked up at the girl, quietly clearing her throat,  "Uh, if you're looking for your dad, he's in his office."

"Oh, cool. Thanks." Jennie nodded towards the woman, beginning to walk away from her desk. As she made her way to the small set of stairs that led to his office, she spoke with another small smile, "Have a good night, Agent Blake!"

Alex only smiled, a bit wider this time, with a small nod in return. The woman found herself keeping that smile on her lips, even when the girl had left her sight. The interaction was sorta— heartwarming, in a way. A wholesome way to end the night.

Despite Jennie finding herself poor at first impressions, Alex Blake thought otherwise.

Jennie seemed like a pretty cool kid, she thought.

Later that night, after Jennie left the office, her and Grayson drove to the airport. There, they exchanged their goodbyes, which consisted of a long, overly-tight hug. Grayson had wrapped his arms around so tight, that Jennie could feel her feet slightly lift from the ground. Just some time afterwards, the teen girl had gotten on her flight back to New York, and fell asleep on the plane ride.

When Jennie Hotchner finally made it back to her apartment in New York, she immediately plopped onto her bed.

The hint of nostalgia still remained in her body.

She looked over at her digital clock, that sat on her nightstand, reading 2am. A small sigh escaped her. It was a long day. Her eyes were barely staying open. She was tired; exhausted.

And yet, somehow, she found herself still dialing a certain number just a few moments later.

It didn't take long for the other person to answer.

"Hey, Em. How's everything in London?"

Her and Emily Prentiss spent the next two hours talking to each other on the phone, despite both of them having work and school later that morning.

—

AUTHOR'S NOTE |

we're on season 8 now!! aka the last season i can call jenjen a 'teen' bc she'll be turning 20 😭😭 they grow up so fast

anyways thank u soso much for reading this very short chapter!! see u next time!!

word count .
1722.