A/N: Hi again! I know I've been busy writing my OC's and I truly appreciate the fans that follow them. But it's time to get back out in the mainstream of the CM FF world.

All rights to Criminal Minds and its characters belong to Mark Gordon Productions, CBS and ABC Studios.

As always, this is a completely written FF. You will get a chapter a day, with the usual note about FF gremlins.

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

On a Wednesday morning, Jennifer Jareau, sitting at her desk in the bullpen, going over case files, watched David Rossi walk up the steps of the BAU to the upper tier and noticed, again, the swagger in his step was still not there.

Normally, Rossi would saunter into the Unit like he owned the place. Hell, JJ thought, he started the Unit so he probably does in a way. But her mentor was off his game in his personal life and it showed. He was still feeling the loss of Erin Strauss and that worried JJ.

After Dave got into his office and got heads down with his email, JJ grabbed the nearest case file and headed for the office door at the top of the steps, which was open. She knocked on it, sticking her head in with a smile. "Gotta sec Hotch," she asked, her file in hand.

"Sure JJ," he smiled. "Come in." When JJ shut the door, Aaron Hotchner knew something more was going on than her wanting to discuss a case. He waved her into one of the chairs in front of this desk, softly smiling, as JJ sat down. "The file is a smoke screen for someone in the next office," he nodded towards Dave's office, "isn't it?"

JJ shook her head. "That's why you are the Unit Chief," she smiled.

Aaron softly laughed. "That was mentored and trained by that same man," he paused, looking out his window for a second. "I'm a little worried about him too JJ," he admitted. "He says all the right things to me, but I know differently."

"Hotch," JJ started, presenting her case, "Alex has been with the team for what now, almost a year?" Hotch nodded. "She made a comment in passing the other day when we were all standing around in the breakroom. 'Has anyone besides me noticed that Dave hasn't talked about his gaming abilities lately?' Hotch, if she's picking up on that, less than a year here and still trying, over trying," she smiled, "there's something wrong and I'm worried."

Hotch smiled. He knew that JJ and Dave had developed a strong bond during her days as the team's media liaison. That was why when the Unit was a person down after Emily's "death" Dave had called her to join the team. And Dave, like himself, had mentored her into the team; which didn't take much given her history with the team.

"So am I," Hotch confessed, "but I don't see him eating his gun. He just needs some time."

"Hotch," JJ said, "it's been four months. How much more time does he need?"

Hotch eyed her deeply. "Agent Jareau, are you plotting something?"

JJ smiled. "I've got an idea; but I really could use a co-conspirator to bring it to a plan."

Hotch smiled. "I'm in; let's talk."

-00CM00-

Dave was in the Round Table room first for the Friday briefing. That was usual for him. Hotch came in the door and stood next to him, pulling the chair out. That was not unusual. Sometimes they would meet early in there to discuss profiles and team assignments. As he was about to sit down, his cell buzzed in his suit pants pocket and he pulled it out. He looked at the text and grumbled a "shit" under his breath as he sat down.

"Aaron?"

Hotch shook his head. "Beth is coming down for the weekend; again." He looked at Dave. "It's easier for her to come here than for me and Jack to go there. I help her out with the ticket costs," he smiled. Dave smiled his agreement with the arrangement. "But the last three weekends she's been down, it's been the three of us."

Dave looked at Aaron. "Don't get me wrong Dave; I love my son and so does Beth. But we desperately need a date night. Jess is out of town and I can't find a sitter to save my soul. All the kids in the area start school on Monday. It's their 'last big weekend together'," he said, using quote marks in the air, shaking his head.

"I can take Jack," Dave said smiling, "for the night. Us guys can hang out together. You and Beth can hammer the headboard of your bed into the wall as loud as you want," he smiled devilishly. "And Mudg and I would love the company."

"You sure about that Dave?"

"Sure, I'm sure; send Jack over with his latest favorite DVD. We'll swim, I'll cook for him and then we'll snuggle with popcorn and the movie. Sounds like a perfect night to me with my best bud," Dave smiled. "And btw, this is my way of kicking you in the ass that I support you and Beth. 'Bout time you got some lovin' again," Dave smiled, rubbing his shoulder.

"Dave, that is incredibly kind of you, but you're really sure?"

"Hell yes Aaron; just promise me you two will stay for drink at my place when you drop Jack off."

Hotch looked at Dave. "If you really mean that, you have a deal my friend," he smiled, as JJ walked in.

She raised her eyebrows. "You two are making a deal? That sounds ominous," she smiled.

Dave shook his head. "I letting Aaron and Beth have a date night," he smiled. "I'm taking Jack for the evening." Dave couldn't resist. "I just hope they put it to good use," he smiled devilishly at JJ, giving her a wink. Hotch just shook his head looking over the files in front of him.

JJ plopped down in the chair and put her arm on the table, leaning in a bit to look at Dave. "What the hell is a date night?" Dave looked at her as Aaron did from his files. "Seriously; Will and I haven't had one since Henry was born."

"Well then Mrs. LaMontagne, I suggest you start thinking about how you're going to dress tonight. I've got one munchkin, might as well have two," he smiled.

"Dave that is really sweet of you, but….."

"No buts JJ; I've did it before; remember?"

JJ looked at him. "With two boys that were five and three at the time; there's a big difference between that and soon to be six and eight that will be staying the night. The energy level is way different." The rest had begun to filter in.

Dave smiled his swagger smile. "I have a pool and it's not fall yet."

"Sounds like some betting action to me," Morgan smiled.

"Yeah and the last time we followed you on that, you, Emily and I were out a hundred bucks," Reid said. JJ and Garcia shared a smile as Emily roughly poked Morgan in the shoulder.

Alex, sitting down last, looked perplexed. JJ gave her the short version of Dave taking care of the boys while she and Hotch had to attend an embassy party representing the BAU a couple years back.

When JJ finished, Reid looked at Blake. "I will not bet against Rossi this time." He smiled at JJ. "Take him up on it JJ; you and Will deserve a night out."

Dave pointed at him, looking a JJ. "You're going to argue with a genius?" he smiled.

Hotch looked at JJ. "We're meeting at Dave's for a round of drinks at five-thirty. Let's get started."

By 4:01 pm, the senior team of the BAU had left for the weekend. Agent Anderson looked around and smiled to himself. Elvis has left the building.

-00CM00-

The two families pulled into the driveway at the same time. Will got out of his SUV, grabbing Henry's bag from the back seat as JJ opened the back door on her side to let Henry tumble out in anxious anticipation. "Mama, this is really happening?" he smiled.

"Yes Henry, it is," she smiled. She loved the thought that her son was so anxious to spend the night with Jack and Uncle Dave.

The feeling was mutual in the Hotchner vehicle as Aaron grabbed Jack's bag as he undid his seatbelt. Beth, walking around the front of Aaron's vehicle smiled at them both. They walked up the sidewalk to Dave's back door and Aaron opened the door for Beth and let JJ in as well. They smiled at Jack and Henry, walking up the sidewalk, arms linked across their shoulders with Will walking behind the boys, smiling as well. Dave looked at them walking in.

"Hurry up guys; I'm just draining the spaghet noodles off now," he smiled.

Jack looked at him. "Uncle Dave?"

Dave looked him in the eye. "Jack, you're ol' Uncle Dave can read a clock," he pointed. "I thought we'd eat first so you'll have room for the popcorn later."

Jack shook his head. "Uncle Dave, I told you before, you'll never be too old to us," he seriously said. Henry added a sincere head nod to that. They have grown up a bit on me Dave thought.

Hotch smiled at Will. "I smell pancetta cooking."

Will smiled back. "JJ explained that to me; bacon in my southern world," he smiled, slapping Hotch on the back following him into David Rossi's mansion.

The boys wrapped their arms around Dave's legs and hips. He kissed them both on the head. He looked at Henry. "Dude! I love the haircut!" Henry beamed and they shared a high five. Dave looked at the four adults. "I'm cooking for the boys; Aaron, you're bartending."

Aaron took the drink orders and moved to Dave's bar, pouring the drinks.

Jack eyed his uncle. "You gotta plan for tonight, don't you Uncle Dave."

Dave smiled. "Yup Jackster, I do. The three of us are going to eat; then were going to play the memory game. I owe the two of you," he wickedly smiled. "Paybacks are not fun; and I'm not going to lose this time." Henry and Jack shared smiles, much like JJ and Will and Beth with Aaron as he handed the drinks around. "Once our stomachs are settled, we're hitting the pool. After dat," Dave said with his New York accent, "it's clean up time and then we all snuggle together and watch DVDs."

Henry tugged Dave's cargo shorts. "Uncle Dave, aren't you forgetting something?"

Dave smiled. "You mean the bowl of buttered popcorn?" Dave pointed at the large bowl he already had on his kitchen counter top. "Whadda ya think Henry?"

Henry looked his mom in the eyes, as JJ sipped her drink. "Uncle Dave is all over this momma." The four adults roared with laughter. Beth and JJ got the boys up into Dave's lunch counter stools as he started to make Carbonara for them.

The four, looking forward to their date night, quickly polished off their drinks and said their good nights to the boys. JJ looked at Henry. "Promise me, you'll help Uncle Dave out."

Jack smiled. "JJ, Uncle Dave is the bomb; he's got this," he beamed. Beth kissed the top of his head. JJ shook her head at Hotch; the two boys knew him better than they knew.

The couples said their good-byes to the boys as Aaron put their drink glasses in Dave's dishwasher. He looked at Dave, finishing the first dish of Carbonara for Henry. "You sure?"

"Aaron, get you're a-double-s out of here." He looked at the two couples. "Brunch is at ten," he smiled. He waggled the Dave Rossi index finger at them that he only could do. "Don't be late. I might be helping out in the love department; you all will just have to get it done before then," he wickedly smiled. "It's my weekend too."

Dave, filling a plate full of Carbonara for Jack, setting it in front of him, accepted Beth's hug. "Thanks Dave; we appreciate this."

He softly smiled, kissing her temple, pulling her into a hug. "Have fun tonight; and get that idiot to do the same. I will as well." Beth looked him in the eye. "Promise sweetheart," he smiled, kissing her cheek.

Aaron pointed at him. "See you in the morning," he smiled. "Thanks Uncle Dave," he wickedly added.

"GET!" Dave commanded. The boys roared as the four of them exited.

Dave finished his own plate and sat down next to the boys. Henry eyed him. "You're the bomb Uncle Dave," he smiled.

"Yup kid, I am."

###

A/N: The other time Dave took care of the boys goes back to my FF In Over His Head. I didn't want to mention that up front because this is a very standalone piece. Yet, if you want the full JJ story about Dave sitting with the boys the first time; guess what? I'm bad; just a total huckster for my past stories.

But psssst; it's only one chapter long. I know short for Rockie standards. ;)