Chapter One

This was it; I was finally going to Italy. Dad had been talking about taking me and mom across for a few years now. He was really keen for me to embrace the Italian side of my family;

"You are Italian, bambina." He had said to me one evening when he was showing me photos of him growing up, "you need to be proud of that!"

And I was, I didn't have much in the way of family, so any bit of it I was proud of. I knew that, through my Dad, I had a Grandmother, who was very old and lived in Italy. Dad had told me how she had moved back out there after his father had passed away while Dad was serving in Vietnam with the Marines. He also had a sister who was 10 years his junior. She was called Anthea, which was my middle name. Anthea lived in Rome and was a curator for one of the historic churches in the city. Nanna lived in the country, in the peace and quiet as she called it. I loved listening to stories about her and her life.

"Dad?" I had asked one day, sitting on the sofa in his den.

"Yes?" he had replied, not looking up from his work.

"What's nanna like?"

Dad had put his pen down and looked at me. He thought for a minute and then smiled, "She's a very strong woman. Very strong and fiercely protective of the ones she loves. I remember she tried to talk me out of national service, but I refused. Everyone else I knew was joining up and plus, it kept me out of joining the organized crime ring that seemed to be growing in Commack."

"Is that why she moved back to Italy?" I asked.

Dad thought again for a minute, "Partly, but she also couldn't bear being in America without my Dad. She moved out here when they got married, but her home was always Italy. Some of my earliest memories of her were her talking about her love of the country she was from."

I smiled, "She sounds like an incredible woman."

Dad nodded, "Oh yeah! She is! I'd love for you to meet her one day."

"Does she know about me?"

He nodded. "I told her just days after your mom told me! She's always wanted grandbabies. She came close when Caroline and I were expecting James but… things happen for a reason. Who knows, if James had lived, I might not have you in my life!" He had smiled sadly and walked over to the couch.

"Do you think we could take a trip out there one summer?" I asked, as he had sat next to me and put his arm round my shoulder, pulling me in close.

"I think that's a possibility bambina." He said softly, kissing the top of my head.

It wasn't until the summer before I turned 18 that we made plans to go over to Italy. This was the year that Peter Lewis was tormenting the BAU. Aaron and Jack had been in the program for 6 months now, Dad and Mom were stressed at work and felt that I needed to get away from the states and worrying about Jack. They managed to get three weeks off together, Mom using her weight in the BAU to influence the decision. I had gone to the BAU after school on their last day before we headed out to Italy. The whole team were there, apart from Spence, which was rare these days. I poked my head in the bullpen. Tara, Stephen and Luke were sat working at their desk, Dad was sat at his desk in his office, Emily was in the conference room with Penelope. My eyes landed on Luke again, his head was bopping along in time with music, so he had his headphones in. Quietly, I walked over to where he was sat and placed my hands on his shoulders.

Luke jumped about a foot in the air and swore. I was bent double laughing.

"Not funny, Jess!" he said, but he was smiling.

"I'm sorry!" I replied when I had composed myself, "You were in your own little bubble, I couldn't help it!"

Tara looked up from her notes and smiled, "Someone scare Alvez?"

"I wasn't scared!" Luke replied, defiantly, "She just…"

"Scared you?" added Stephen.

"Man, whose side are you on?"

"Hers." He pointed at me, "Her mom is our boss, I'm not stupid!"

I gave Stephen a thumbs up and winked.

Luke poked his tongue out at me and paused his music, "What are you doing here anyway, Jess. I thought you would have been at Ashley's or at home?"

"Can't go to Ashley's after school because of the whole Scratch thing." I rolled my eyes, "Dad doesn't want me putting anyone in danger."

Luke shrugged, "That's understandable…"

"It's stupid is what it is." I sighed, putting my backpack under the desk and perching on the edge of his desk, "I can't see my boyfriend, hell, I can't even talk to my boyfriend, Spence is locked up for a crime we all know he didn't commit and to top it all off, I can't even hang out with my best mate."

"Jess, you know that your parents are doing it because they love you and they are worried about your safety, we all are." Said Stephen, smiling at me.

"I know, it's just so annoying!"

Tara smiled, "I'm pretty sure parents are meant to be at your age."

I laughed.

"Anyway, how come you're not at home?" asked Luke again.

"Oh. Mom wanted me to meet her here so that we could all go home together and start our holiday properly."

"Of course, it's the big Rossi vacation!" smiled Tara.

"You excited?" asked Stephen.

I nodded, "I've been asking Dad for ages if we can go and now, we are!" My smile faltered a bit, "I'm nervous though."

"Why?" asked Luke, looking puzzled.

"I'm going to meet my nanna for the first time, and I'm worried she won't like me."

Tara scoffed, "She's going to love you, girl!"

"You're family, my guess is she loves you already." Added Stephen.

"Jess, there's nothing anyone couldn't love about you. You've got this!" Luke winked and me and squeezed my hands.

I smiled, "Thanks guys!"

Before they had a chance to reply, there was a squeal from the catwalk. I looked up and Penelope had come out of the conference room, spotted me and was heading over. Emily followed, shaking her head amused.

"Baby Rossi!" she squealed, making her way over.

"Hey Penelope!" I chuckled, sliding off the desk and making my way over to her. She hugged me tightly.

"How is my favourite mini-Italian Stallion doing?"

"I'm doing fine."

"Missing that boy of yours?"

I nodded, "And Spence."

"Ah, we all miss the boy wonder, but we're working our hardest to get him out of there."

I smiled, "I have a letter for him. Could you take it the next time you go see him? I would take it myself but, we're going away."

"Sure thing, sweet cheeks." She took the letter, "I will give this to the boy wonder the next time I see him!"

I smiled, "Thanks Penelope!" and I hugged her.

"When do you guys leave?" asked Emily.

"Friday." I replied, "We're packing up the house tomorrow and then Jack Garrett has offered to drive us over to the airport so that we don't have to leave the car."

"Sweet. What time is the flight?"

"Seven in the morning!" I laughed. "It's going to be interesting seeing my dad be up at three in the morning!"

"Oh, that I have got to see!" laughed Penelope, "Please take a photo!"

I laughed, "I'll try and remember!"

"Remember what?" asked Dad, coming out of his office having heard all the noise.

"Nothing!" and I smiled innocently at him.

"Hmm…" he looked suspicious.

"All ready for the holiday, Dave?" asked Stephen, smiling.

"I don't think I've ever known Dave take a holiday!" said JJ.

"Didn't you give all you vacation days away last time?" asked Penelope.

Dad nodded, "Yeah, but I think its about time a grandmother met her grandbaby. She's been dying to meet Jess for two years now and well, with all that's going on, two weeks in Italy sounds pretty safe right now."

The team smiled sadly.

"It's going to be fun!" I said, ginning from ear to ear. "I get to meet my family, see the sights, drink some Italian wine…"

"Er, what was that last one?" smiled Dad, putting his arm round my shoulder.

"Nothing!" I said again.

"That's what I thought!" smiled Dad and he kissed the top of my forehead.

"There you are Jessica!" said Mom, as she walked in through the doors.

"Sorry, I came straight in here today!"

"I can see that!" she smiled at the team and then looked at Dad. "I've got some paper work I need to send off to the director and then we're good to go."

Dad smiled, "I've got some reports I need to sign off on and then I'm all good!"

"Meet you in the lobby in five?" she asked.

Dad nodded and went back to his office.

I couldn't believe it. This was really happening. I was going on holiday.

"Someone say hi to Spencer for me when you go and see him?" I asked, picking up my bag.

"Sure thing." Said Emily.

"Have fun!" said Matt.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" called Luke as I walked out the door.

"Yeah, what's she supposed to do, sit on her hands all day!" I heard Penelope say, as I entered the lobby. I shook my head laughing.

"What's so funny?" asked Mom.

"Something Penelope said." I replied. "You ready for the off?"

She nodded. "How does takeout sound for dinner this evening? I can't be bothered to cook something, and I think your dad would feel the same."

"Sounds good to me." I replied, smiling.

"What sounds good?" asked Dad.

"We're getting takeout for dinner!" I smiled.

"Sounds good!" he smiled, placing his arm round my shoulder again.

"Come on, we've got a holiday to start!" said Dad, as he pressed the lift button to go down.

I linked hands with mom and smiled. She smiled back and we all walked into the lift together. As we turned around, the team were stood behind the doors in the BAU, waving. I waved back and smiled. I would miss the team, but I was more excited for the adventure that lay ahead.