To Love and Be Loved
Disclaimer: This is a Rossi/Strauss story, I love Rossi, and therefore I love Rossi and Strauss. I don't own the characters or anything dealing with Criminal Minds, except this story. I do not like the way they killed off Erin, so I am changing it to suit my own twisted mind. This may or may not be several chapters, depends on where my mind takes me.
Chapter 1: The End…or is it?
David Rossi sat on the bench looking at the grave with the little sign that simply read "Erin Strauss". She'd only been dead 5 days. The funeral had just taken place yesterday, but here he sat as if staring at her grave would ease the pain he felt, it didn't. He took an envelope from his shirt pocket, the envelope that Daniel, her son had given him just before they made their way from the grave site to the waiting limos. Daniel told him, Jessie found it when she was looking through some of their mother's things. He put it in his pocket for later, but couldn't bring himself to open it, he still wasn't sure he wanted to open it now, but he knew if it was from her, it had to be something he should see. He turned the envelope over and over in his hand. On the front in her handwriting was simply written, "David". No last name, no other information, just "David".
He began to tear open the envelope, he looked around, sensing someone was watching him, but he didn't see anyone. Pulling the single sheet of paper from its holder, and unfolding it he noticed it was hand written on her private stationary. Slowly he started to read:
David,
My sponsor told me one of the best ways to deal with emotions is to write them down, in a journal or in a letter to the person they are about. When it comes to you, I have many emotions and I was not sure I want to deal with them or what to do with them. A year and a half ago I would have just walked away from what I am feeling and hid in a bottle, but thanks to Aaron, Derek and you, I don't hide behind the bottle.
You and I had flirted some before Rehab, but I never thought it would go beyond that. I thought the fights would over shadow and kill the little spark that was there. Boy was I wrong. I was completely shocked when you walked into the center to visit me that first day. I thought you were there to gloat, but you didn't. You supported me and showed me what a good friend you could be. You never missed a visit; I don't think I ever thanked you, thank you.
When I came out, you were there to pick me up and bring me home, still giving me support and strength and the determination to make it without the booze. You told me to take it one day at a time and that you would be there, day or night and you were, you still are. The flirting began again. This time I realized we could flirt and fight and keep them separate. The more time we spent together, the more I enjoyed being with you. I knew I was falling, David, I was falling hard.
The first time you kissed me I thought I would pass out. Your kisses are intoxicating, I would be happy to spend the rest of my life kissing you or I thought until we got a little more physical. We began to explore each other, when you touched me, my skin was on fire, and my senses went haywire in a good way. The night we made love for the first time, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I'd heard stories of the famous David Rossi, but none of them compared to what I felt that night and every night, none of them were even close to what I experienced. I couldn't get enough of you, I still can't. I want to spend the rest of my life flirting with you, fighting with you, kissing you and making love with you. I want to love you and be loved by you. Just thought maybe you would like to know. I love you, David.
All my love always,
Erin.
He read and reread her note, feeling the sting of tears forming in his eyes. He knew he would never feel her lips covering his or her body pressed against his. Still knowing she loved him as much as he loved her, helped…a little. Again he looked around, that sense that someone was watching him growing, but who would be watching him as he sat in a cemetery?
