Becoming a Rossi
By Jessica Strauss (Rossi)
I was a Strauss.
Born and raised.
Or so I thought….
On my fifteenth birthday, my mom told me the truth. And the truth was I was a Rossi.
I was now 16. So I decided I was going to get to know my dad. Mom set it all up. We were going to have lunch together in the school holidays and 'bond' as she put it.
The Lunch date day came and I was in my room getting ready. I put my hair in a half ponytail and put a hair clip in. I was wearing nothing fancy. Just jeans and a hoodie, my usual attire. Oh and my sneakers that Spencer bought me. I picked up my bag and ran downstairs. Dave was waiting for me at the bottom (he lived with us).
"Hey Kiddo, you ready?" he asked.
"Yeah!" I said.
"Jess, be good for Dave," mom said smiling and kissing me on the cheek, "And have fun!"
I smiled back, "I will!"
And we left the house.
It was a short journey to the restaurant. Dave was keen in my school work and wanted to know what I wanted to do with my life. Let's just say he was surprised when I told him I wanted to be a midwife. I think he was hoping I would join the BAU.
We arrived at the restaurant and we got seated.
"So tell me about you Dave." I said.
"What's there to tell? I was born in Commack, Long Island New York in 1956. I'm American Italian and was born to Catholic parents. I served in Vietnam and was awarded the purple cross and many other. By the time I left the Marine Corps I was a Sargent Major. After I left, the FBI picked me up and along with Gideon we founded the BAU."
"Wow!" I said, "That's one heck of a life."
"I know!" Rossi smiled at me, "What about you?"
"I was born in Bethesda, Virginia, 3 days after my mom's birthday in 1997, which is the year you left the FBI. I have two elder siblings Amber and James but I don't see them all that much. I go to school, I have a few friends and I like to sing."
"Sounds cool kiddo." He said.
We ordered our food and chatted a bit more. Dave was so interesting. He told me about the team, some of whom I knew and had met before.
"Do you have any family, Dave?"
"Yes, but they live in Italy. I have an elderly mother and father and my sister, Anthea lives out there with them and her family. I try to get back and see them every summer."
"My mom's quite good friends with Anthea." I said.
"Yes. I know and I must say, you look quite like her."
I blushed. "Mom told me that when she told me about you."
Dave smiled. "I'd like to take you to Italy one day. So you can meet them."
"I'd love that!" I said smiling.
Just then my phone rang.
"Sorry, it's Seaver." I said answering it. "Jess Rossi."
Dave gave me a look of surprise.
"Hey Seaver, Yeah... no ... That's cool... of course... I'm sure it will be fine with mom... ok...see you at home... bye."
"Jess Rossi?" asked Dave, his voice becoming emotional.
I blushed, "I didn't get to uses the name Rossi growing up so I thought that's what I'd go by now… Mom's in the process of getting it changed legally. What do you think?"
Dave looked at me for a few seconds. "I think it's perfect." He said, smiling.
And that's how I came to use the name Rossi. Seems like a perfect ending.
THE END