My mom and SSA David Rossi began dating when I was thirteen. I was happy for her. Dave seemed to give her something that Jason couldn't, and she was happy, so happy. I didn't know then that mom and Dad had had a secret love affair back in the 90s before I was born.
And then the bombshell dropped. When I was 15. Mom revealed that David Rossi was my father and suddenly the majority of my childhood made sense. The abuse, James and Amber turning on me, the reason I looked different from my siblings., everything made sense. From then on, I had a good relationship with both my parents, with Erin and David. Mom and Dad finally made their relationship public in 2013 after dealing with The Replicator. Mom ended up in hospital for two weeks due to being dosed with a lethal amount of MDMA or 'Doctor Death' as it was known as. Aaron and Dad would always say that they were lucky they found Mom when they did, otherwise she wouldn't be here.
Mom knew that Dad wasn't interested in getting married when they got together, and I don't think she was either. Dad had been married three times before. He believed that he and marriage were not destined to be buddies, and he would settle for a long term relationship, which is what he and mom had. Mom knew this but she was just happy to finally be able to be with Dad. I don't think she ever really got over him. But then, almost one after another, Harrison Scott, Jason Gideon and Stephen Walker died. It seemed to strike a cord with Dad, he wasn't immortal, he would die one day. Gideon's hit him the hardest. They had been partners for the best part of 30 years. Stephen, Gideon's son, shared his middle name. And now he was dead. He and Mom weren't getting any younger and something seemed to change.
Then, in the summer of 2018, Dad asked mom to marry him. I was coming to the end of my second year at Princeton and they invited me and Joy down to the house and told us together. I was unbelievably happy. Having grown up in a broken home that was devoid of love and affection, it was so nice to see and experience the love that my mom deserved.
They set the date for the following summer. It wasn't going to be a big lavish ceremony. They were going to get married in the back garden, like JJ and Will had done. Mom wasn't going to have the big white dress, she had done that when she married Jason. Instead, she bought a new dress. It was peach in color and had a matching scarf that would wrap around her shoulders. We ordered flowers and food. I got a new dress too. Mine was navy blue and had pink and white floral print on it. Mom had asked me to walk her down the aisle.
"Jess?" she had asked one evening, when we were sat in the living room. Dad was still in Quantico.
"Yeah, mom? I had replied.
"I'm not going to have any bridesmaids at my wedding." She had said.
I had looked at her. "I know. It's not really a bridesmaidy wedding mom."
She smiled, "But I have a special job, just for you."
I looked at her, confused. "Oh, yeah?"
Mom had looked right at me, "I want you to walk me down the aisle."
I blinked and looked at her. None of mom's family were alive anymore, so she only had me, Amber and James left, and we were both doubtful as to whether they would come.
"Me?" I had asked her.
Mom smiled widely, "Well, of course, Jess. Who else was I going to ask?"
"Hotch…Morgan…hell even Spence!" I smiled, listing off the male members of the BAU.
Mom smiled and then she laughed, "Yeah, somehow I don't think so. Besides, who else do I know who has gone through everything with me? Jess, I want you to walk me down the aisle to meet David. I want you to walk me from my old life into my new life and I hope that by doing that, you will know that you are also a part of that life."
I blinked back tears but a few leaked out the side of my face. Mom cupped my faced, "Seriously, Jessica, there is no one else I would have by my side on the day that I marry David Rossi!"
I smiled at her, "Well, if that's the case, then how can I possibly say no!" Mom smiled widely and she hugged me tightly.
Wedding day was approaching quickly. Everyone was totally chilled out bar me. Why, you ask? Well, a few days ago, Dad came to Princeton to ask me to do something important. I was sat in my dorm room with Jack, strumming a few songs on my guitar. There was an open mike contest at the student union that night and I was planning to do a few songs. Jack and I were running through which ones I should do when there was a knock at my door.
"I'll get it!" smiled Jack, rolling off the bed, kissing me on the cheek and running over to the door. He opened it and smiled when he saw Dave in the doorway.
Dad laughed, "I should have known you'd have been here, Jack. Do you ever go to your own place?" he smiled, shaking Jack's hand.
"Sometimes…" Jack blushed.
"Don't pay any attention to him, Jack!" I said, joining them and looping my hand through his.
"Hey, kiddo!" Dad smiled.
"Hey, Dad!" I replied, walking over and giving him a big hug, "What bring you all the way out here the week before the wedding? Not getting cold feet, I hope?"
Dad laughed, "No way!" he looked at me, "I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure." I replied, leading him into the little common room place we had. I was sharing a room with my best friend Ashley, but she was out at soccer training and then I think she was heading out with her boyfriend this evening, hence why Jack was over.
"Can I get you a drink, Dave?" asked Jack, smiling.
"Can I have a coffee please, Jack?" asked Dad.
"Sure thing, Uncle Dave!" replied Jack, smiling widely. Dad smiled back, Jack hadn't called Dad 'Uncle Dave' since we started dating.
"So, what's up Dad?" I asked, inviting him to sit down.
"You know I want to make this day special for your mom…"
"I wouldn't have imagined anything else!" I smiled.
Dad smiled at me, "I was wondering if you would perform our first dance song?" he asked me.
I felt my mouth fall open, "Dad, the wedding is in a week!" I gasped, not sure whether I would have enough time to learn whatever song he had planned.
"I know its last minute…" he said as Jack handed him a coffee, "But I know you can do it Jess, if anyone can, it's you!"
"What's this?" asked Jack, squeezing my hand as he passed me a cup of tea.
"Dad would like me to sing at mom and dad's wedding, their first dance!" I explained to Jack.
"Jess, that's amazing, and yeah, I totally agree with Dave, if anyone can do this, its you!"
I smiled at him and squeezed his hand, "Thanks Jack." I sighed, not knowing what I was letting myself in for but I didn't want to let Dad down. "What's the song?"
He grimaced, almost braced for my reaction, "I Have Nothing, Whitney Houston…"
I just looked at him. "Right… sure, I'll get right on it!" I smiled, "I won't let you guys down!"
"Thanks, Jessie!" and Dad hugged me tightly, "Don't tell your mom, let it be a surprise ok?"
I nodded, "Oh, Dad?"
"Yeah?" he replied, pulling out of the hug.
"Can I make a speech at the wedding meal?" I asked, "I just have so much to thank you and Mom for and I can't think of a better setting…"
Dad smiled at me, "Of course you can, kiddo!"
I smiled back, "Thanks!" Then his phone went off in his pocket, "I'll let you get back to the team!"
Dad looked at me, "How did you…"
"There's no way you would have driven three and a half hours to ask me something you could have on the phone. What's the case?"
He smiled, "Four rape-murders in Trenton. We wrapped it up yesterday and I asked Prentiss if I could come over here to see you."
"Yikes, but thanks for coming over. It was great to see you!" I hugged him again, taking him aback. He chuckled and hugged me back.
"It was great to see you too, kid." He sighed, "Well, I should be heading back. Your mom wants to go cake tasting tomorrow and I promised I would be there with her."
I smiled, "Sure! Send home my love!"
"I will," he replied, "When are you coming home for the wedding?" he asked, heading to the door.
"Mom wants me home the night before so we can have one last girls night, but Matt has asked me to babysit for him the night of your bachelor thing so I'll be home three days before the wedding. We're going to drive down together…" I said, looking at Jack and smiling at him, "So you can tell Aaron when Jack will be home too."
"Sure thing. Drive safe won't you kids!" he smiled, hugging me and shaking Jack's hand.
"You too!" said Jack, "We'll see you soon!" he smiled, as he put his arm around my shoulder.
Dad just waved and headed off to his car. Jack and I followed to wave him off.