Father for Christmas
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Disclaimer: This is a Rossi/Strauss story, I love Rossi, I love Strauss and therefore I love Rossi and Strauss. I don't own the characters or anything dealing with Criminal Minds, except this story. I don't like the way they killed off Erin, so I change it to suit my own twisted mind. I like writing Erin's kids into my stories, so they will be in a lot of them. I also think I am going to like writing Joy, her husband and Kai into my stories.
Reviews are appreciated
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"Erin, the house looks fine, stop fussing we need to go."
Looking at her husband like he had lost his mind, "David, their plane isn't due to land for another 3 hours and it's a less than an hour to the airport."
"I know but I told them we would meet them at the baggage claim."
"Relax, it still won't take us more than an hour and fifteen minutes to get there, park and go inside. You also know that once the plane lands it'll take a good twenty minutes for the bags to come down."
Sitting on the couch, pulling her down beside him, David Rossi wrapped his arm around his wife. "I know I'm just excited and nervous all at the same time."
"I understand the excitement, but what are you nervous about?" Erin asked turning to look at him.
"Baby, I've been a friend and a bonus father to your children, but this is the first holiday I've been a real dad. What if I mess it up, what if everyone's miserable? I just want this to be a wonder Christmas and experience, not just for Joy, Tony and Kai, but for you, Kate, Dan and Jess. "
Resting her hand against his cheek, she kissed him softly, "David, relax. If everyone will be themselves it'll be a good week. You are a wonderful man. I've seen you with my kids; you are going to be a fantastic father and grandfather." Standing she pulled him to his feet. "Now let's get ready to go, we don't want to be late, do we?" winking she headed for the door.
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Dave and Erin stood at the foot of the escalator, watching for his daughter and her family to emerge. Smiling to himself as he felt his wife run her hand up and down his back in a comforting motion, trying to help him relax. Turning to look at her he kissed her temple, looking back at the moving steps when he heard "Papaw"! Coming into view was Joy and Kai followed by Tony.
At the bottom, Joy Struthers sat her two year old son on the ground and he immediately ran to Dave. "Papaw, me missed you." The toddler said hugging his grandfather.
"I missed you too, piccolo." Turning to his daughter, Rossi kissed her cheek, shook hands with Tony. "Joy, Tony, this is Erin." He told them, turning to Erin, "This is my daughter Joy and her husband Tony."
Erin extended her hand, but was pulled into a hug by her new bonus daughter. "Dad's told me a great deal about you. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and the kids."
Standing around the baggage carousel, Erin and Joy talked about plans for the week, while Dave and Tony played with Kai. Finally Erin looked at her husband, "David, hand over that child. It's time I got to know him and he got to know me." Kissing the child once more Rossi handed him to Erin.
Erin was nervous the boy might be afraid of her, but he wasn't. He went right to her, questioning, "Are you my Nana?" Smiling she looked over to the young woman standing next to her.
"Tony and I want him to call you Nana if it's okay with you?" Joy told her questioning in her eyes.
Tear began to form, "I'd like that, I'd like that a lot." Turning her attention back to Kai, "Yes, Kai I'm your Nana."
Hugging her, "Momma said you married to Papaw, I love Papaw. He funny."
Both women laughed. "Yes, little one he is." Erin told him, as he began to squirm. She'd forgotten just how energetic a two year old could be. Sitting him on the ground she watched as the guys brought over the luggage.
"Ready to go?" Dave asked as he took Erin's hand and headed for the exit.
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Erin showed Joy to the bedroom that would be theirs, while Dave and Tony brought in the luggage. "This will be your room. David has a decorator coming on the 26th that way you can have it done the way you and Tony would like." Opening the adjoining door, "This is Kai's room; we thought it would be best if he were close to you." They entered the room Rossi had decorated in Ninja Turtles, which he already knew the child loved more than anything else. "Our room is through that door on the other side."
Joy turned around in awe, "This is amazing! You and Dad did all this for Kai?"
"He is David's, well if it's okay with you, our first grandchild. We have to spoil him, it's a grandparents right." Erin chuckled.
"Of course we don't mind. Kai is lucky to have grandparents that love him and want to spoil him." Joy looked straight at Erin. "Honestly I wasn't sure how you would feel about this whole situation. I knew it came as a shock to Dad, and then to lay it all on you, I wasn't sure if you would accept us or if you would want to be a part of our lives."
Sitting on the small bed patting the spot beside her, "Sweetheart, let's set the record straight right now, David is my husband. He's also your father and Kai's grandfather. Anything that's important to him is important to me. From the conversations you and I have had on the phone, plus the hour or so we've been together, I know I'm going to love you as much as David. You are family."
"So you're really okay with a stepdaughter…"
Before she could finish, "in our family we don't use step, that's a nasty term, we like bonus." Stepping into the room they were greeted by a smiling teenager. "Hi, I'm Jessie."
Smiling Joy stood, "His Jessie, I'm Joy, I guess I'm your bonus sister?"
"No guessing to it, Dave's our bonus dad that makes you our sister." Turning to the other teen next to her, "this is my best friend Amy."
"Hi Amy."
"Hello, Joy. You're going to love being in this family." Amy told her picking up one of the action figures off the dresser, then putting it back before both girls turned and left.
Sitting back down next to Erin, "Jessie, she's the youngest?" Seeing Erin nod, "Dan is the middle and only boy and Katie is the oldest, she's engaged to Josh, and Dan's girlfriends name is Taylor, do I have all that correct?"
"Yes, you must have a good memory." Erin told her standing.
Following the older woman out of the room Joy commented, "Not only that, but Dad talked about all of you the whole time he was in California. He really loves you and the children."
Erin turned to look at her daughter in law, "Yes he does, but he loves you also. Don't ever forget that. It's a new love but it's just as strong."
"I'll remember that." Joy told her smiling as they wrapped an arm around each other and headed to find the men.
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After dinner, everyone sat in the family room. Jessie and Amy sat on the floor playing Ninja Turtles with Kai, while Dave and Erin talked softly to Joy and Tony. Leaning on her knees, Joy looked at Dave and Erin, "Tell me how you met, fell in love and married."
"Oh that's a very long story." Dave chuckled.
"Great, let me get Kai settled and I want to hear it all, every last detail." Joy said standing, picking up her son. "I'll be back in 20 minutes."
Tony smiled as Dave rolled his eyes. "Guess I'll go put on some coffee." Erin commented standing and heading for the kitchen.
