A/N

The scene came to me when I was just about to fall asleep. Had to write it down.

"Dave."

He looked up to see Blake leaning against the doorpost. He hadn't even noticed that his office door was open. So much for picking up on subtle details.

"Isn't it time you go home now?" she continued. "Everyone else already left for today. Even Hotch."

"You're still here," he pointed out. Blake tilted her head a little.

"Yeah. Someone has to keep an eye on you."

"You don't have to do that."

"But I do. I miss her too," Blake said. "We had a complicated past, but it was getting better. It was starting to heal. Now this."

Rossi heaved a deep sigh.

"Yeah. Now this."

He rubbed his face with both hands, and Blake could see how tired and consumed with grief he was.

"Come. Let's go get something to eat."

He considered, almost told her to go without him, then felt almost as if something nudged him, telling him that he should go.

"Alright. But I'm buying."

"Not this time," Blake said. "Whenever the team goes anywhere, you're buying."

"I can afford it," he said.

"Yes, I know. Doesn't matter tonight though. I'm buying. Don't argue with me, David. I'm as tired as you are."

He looked at her again, really seeing her this time, seeing the deepened lines of exhaustion around her eyes and mouth that her makeup couldn't quite conceal. He also saw the look of bottomless sorrow in her dark eyes.

"You loved her too, didn't you?" he asked.

"Long ago, in another life, yes," Blake replied quietly. "Yes, I did. Would you hate me for that?"

He gave her a surprised look.

"Why would I do that? I should love you simply for seeing that side of her. Most people never did."

Blake shook her head and swallowed. Her voice was somewhat thicker when she spoke:

"Come on. Let's get out of here."

He nodded and collected his things.

Meanwhile, neither saw the misty silhouette of a departed woman sitting on the couch, or how she smiled when David Rossi and Alex Blake took each other's' hands for a brief moment, only to exchange strength. To exchange energies.

The lingering spirit of Erin Strauss silently put a blessing on the friendship that, with time, would blossom into true love.

Then she rose and walked into a ray of light, which seemed to shine through from nowhere. It was shining bright and steady until she was gone… then the light vanished, too.