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A Strossi Christmas
Chapter 1
It was late when the Alpha team got off the plane. They were ready for the ride to the office, get the reports finished and head home for the holidays. Christmas was 2 days away and they each had things they needed to finish. The team had spent the last week in some small town in rural Montana helping solve their serial murder. Now they were just glad to be home. The Director had promised them no matter what they wouldn't have to go back out until after the New Year.
Derek was trying to get finished, he had a plane to catch, this would be the first Christmas in several years he would be with his family. Entering the bullpen he sat down, pulled out the folder, before he could start, he saw a hand take the folder from him. Turning he saw who was there, "What are you doing, Rossi?"
"I'm going to do this report for you, get out of here." Dave knew how it felt to want to be with your family. He wanted his BAU family to have a great Christmas and if he could help in some small way he was going to. "Have a great time in Chicago."
"Are you sure? I can get it done quickly." Derek was out of his chair as he saw Rossi nod. "Merry Christmas everyone, see you at Dave's on New Year's Eve." He was gone.
Smiling Dave made his way to his office, settling into his chair he opened the folder and began to write Morgan's report. He looked up to see Aaron standing in his doorway. "Hey, what's up?"
Hotch sat down in the chair across from him, "That was nice of you to do Morgan's report."
"Well I know what it's like to want to get somewhere and something standing in your way. Besides it's not like these reports are rocket science." Dave said leaning back in his chair.
"Anyway it's still a good thing. You're a good man and friend, Dave." Hotch commented.
"Don't you think you should get going too? When is Beth getting here?" Rossi asked
"Jack and I pick her up in about 2 hours." Hotch stood, "Don't stay here too long. Remember you have someone at home who is waiting. Merry Christmas, Dave, we'll see you New Year's Eve if not before."
"Merry Christmas, Aaron," Dave said. The team had decided they would observe Christmas as a family on New Year's Eve at a celebration at Rossi's. Once Hotchner had gone, he went back to the reports. He laid Derek's file on the corner once done and picked up his own. It was getting late when he rubbed his eyes. He refused to leave before finishing, once he left this building tonight he wasn't coming back until January 6th.
Penelope was walking through the bullpen, thinking everyone was gone, until she saw the dim light coming from his office. As she approached the dimly lit room, she saw him leaning over a folder filling out reports. Softly knocking, he looked up at her and smiled.
"What are you still doing here; I thought I was the only one." He asked.
"Had a couple things to finish for Sam's team, what are you doing here?"
"Reports" was all he said, looking up he saw something in her eyes, sadness. Putting the pen on the desk, he motioned for her to sit. "Are you okay, Penelope?"
"Yeah, I'm okay, I love Christmas, I'm just not fond of Christmas alone." She said.
"You're spending the Holiday's alone? No one should be alone at Christmas." Dave was surprised when she told him.
"Everyone I usually spend holidays with are going away, Derek, JJ and Reid all going out of town. Emily is in London." The normally perky tech commented sadly.
Dave stood, walked over to Garcia and smiled. "I repeat no one should be alone on Christmas, we have a big house with lots of room. Erin's kids will be there and so will you."
"No, no, I can't invade your family holiday. I'll be fine." She protested.
Dave stood his ground. "I won't have anyone I care for alone, when there's no need to be. Erin and I would love to have you with us. Plan on coming tomorrow, pack enough stuff to stay until New Year's."
"Are you sure, I don't want to interrupt anyone's holidays." She asked secretly happy to be spending the holidays with people she cared about and cared about her.
He kissed her on the forehead, "I'm sure, now get out of here and I'll see you tomorrow." Dave finished his reports, put them in the out tray in the bullpen, grabbed his briefcase and headed home.
David Rossi pulled his car into the garage, noticing Erin's was there. He thought she was going shopping. He made his way into the kitchen and was instantly hit with the smell of fresh baked cookies. Putting his briefcase on the chair he saw his soul mate taking sugar cookies out of the oven. He waited until she was finished before walking up behind and kissing her on the neck. "I thought you had plans to go shopping tonight?" He asked turning her so he could get a proper kiss.
"Katie and Jessie wanted to stay in and bake, we decided we would finish up tomorrow." She answered wrapping her arms around him in a hug. It had been over a week since she had seen or felt him and she wanted to be wrapped in his arms for a little longer.
Keeping his arms tight around her waist, Dave leaned back so he could look in her eyes. "I hope its okay, I invited Penelope to come and stay for a few days. She was going to be alone for the holidays. No one should be alone at Christmas. You and the kids showed me that."
Erin stared at him for a minute and he was beginning to think he had messed up, "Of course it's okay. David this is your house you can do whatever you want."
"NO, Erin this is our house, our home, mine and yours, together. I should have called and asked first, she just seemed so sad. Derek is in Chicago, JJ went to Louisiana with Will and Henry, and Spencer went to Vegas to visit his mom, so she didn't have anyone she normally spends holidays with here." He said.
"Penelope is family and I am happy she will be spending the holidays with us." Erin told him, kissing him after every word.
"You two need to get a room." Daniel said as he entered the kitchen, stealing a warm cookie off the tray.
"Stay out of those, Daniel Eric." Erin scolded. "And we have a room thank you, actually we have several and we will kiss in each one of them if we choose." She couldn't help but laugh at the look on her son's face.
"Welcome home, Dave." Daniel said, giving the older man a knuckle bump, before heading back to his room.
Erin and the kids had already eaten so Dave made a sandwich, taking it into the family room. Erin, Katie and Jessie joined the men once the kitchen was cleaned. Everyone did their own thing. Katie was texting, Jessie playing on her tablet, Daniel watching a football game while Erin and Dave talked quietly, about things that had happened the past week.
The evening was getting late when Jessie stood, "I'm tired I think I'm going to bed," leaving her tablet and things in the middle of the floor.
"Jess, would you put your tablet and things on the table so they don't get stepped on please?" Dave asked.
The teenager looked at him like he had 3 heads, "You want them picked up, you pick them up."
"Jessie what is your problem?" Katie asked, "That's no way to talk to Dave."
Screaming now, Jessie went on, "He is my problem. You all love him, think he's so wonderful, great, but I don't. He's not our father; he's just a man who is playing family to screw our mother." She ran from the room.
Everyone looked at the girl in shock, Erin started to stand, but Dave held her still. "Leave her alone. Let her work out what's bothering her and when she's ready she'll talk to you."
They all knew something other than Dave was bothering her. She loved Dave, she loved helping him in the kitchen, loved the cooking lessons, loved just sitting and talking to him.
Neither Dave nor Erin slept well, Jessie and her outburst weighing on both. Dave tried to figure what he had done. He'd been away for a week and things were fine when he left or he thought they were. Not wanting to disturb his lover, he got out of bed, slipped on some sweats and went to the kitchen to make coffee and start the day. It wasn't long before Erin a followed. She looked tired.
Dave handed her a cup of coffee, "you look tired, didn't you sleep?"
"About as much as you," She commented looking over the rim of her mug. "I just don't know what has gotten into that girl."
"Leave it alone, Erin." He said sadly as he leaned on the island. "Do you want some breakfast?"
"Not right now, it's too early to eat." She answered sipping her coffee.
The kitchen door opened and in walked Jessie. She glared at her mother, then at Rossi. Moving to the refrigerator, she pulled out a bottle of juice. When she shut the door she noticed her mother watching her, but Dave was looking at his cup sitting on the counter. She knew she had been wrong last night, her outburst had been directed at her mother's boyfriend and he had nothing to do with her attitude. It was just easy to take it out on him. She knew she had hurt him when all he had ever done was be there for her and her siblings.
Erin continued to look at her daughter, "Jessica…"
David interrupted, "Leave it alone, Erin."
Jessica watched the exchange between the adults. She saw Dave look up at her mother, then back to his cup. Erin sat back down taking another sip from her mug. Tears formed in her eyes as she realized Dave wasn't going to look at her, he wasn't going to give her the chance to yell at him again. She knew she needed to apologize to him and try to fix what she had done. Moving to stand beside him, looking at him, he still wouldn't look at her. Finally she put her tiny hand over his. "Dave, I'm sorry. I was angry last night and I took it out on you."
"It's okay." He said still not really looking at her. He wasn't sure what to do he'd never been in this situation before.
"No it's not, I am mad at my dad, and I took it out on you. You've never done anything but be kind, thoughtful, loving and generous to me. You make mom happy and you support and care about all of us. I know you love us all and you don't have us around so mom will sleep with you. I'm sorry I said all that." The tears were streaming now.
Dave pulled her into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "It's ok Bambina. It's okay." He turned her face to look at him. "Do you want to tell me or your mother what you are mad about?"
"I'm mad at Dad. We are spending Christmas with mom, and we were suppose to spend from Saturday until after New Year's with him, he promised us a special weekend, but he'd rather take Stacy on a ski trip. They left yesterday so we get no time with him." She said crying more.
Dave hugged her tighter, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry he decided to cancel your time together. We can't make him stay here, but mom and I can try to make it a special holiday for all of you. If you'll let us?"
Jessie looked into his eyes, as he wiped the tears on her cheeks with his thumb. "I'd like that." She hugged Dave before moving to her mother. "I'm sorry, mom."
"It's okay. Thank you for telling us what was really wrong and apologizing to David." Erin said hugging her daughter.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" Jessie asked looking at Rossi, then back to her mother. Erin nodded, "Why do you always call him David? Everyone else calls him Dave or Rossi. You always call him David."
Erin smiled and Dave chuckled. "I like David; I've always called him that. When I use Rossi it normally has Agent in front of it. David is just my name for him."
As the trio talked, Dan and Katie came in. Jessie apologized to them as well. Finally Daniel said, "Okay, its Christmas Eve what's for breakfast?"
Dave smiled, "You guys set the table, and Jess and I will get food started. Oh by the way, Penelope is going to be spending Christmas with us, okay. She will be here this morning and is staying until after New Years."
All three kids were good with that, they like Garcia. She was different and could get on Dave's nerves after a while. They thought it was fun to watch her and watch him try to pretend he was okay. In the end he was usually okay, he loved Penelope and she could always make Dave Smile.
Penelope arrived a little after 10, just as the ladies of the house were getting ready to go shopping. Erin showed her the two guest rooms and agave her, her choice. Once settled the women left for the day to finish Christmas shopping.
Dave and Daniel were thankful they weren't dragged along. They both had some last minute things to do, but didn't want to be out all day. "Dan, I need to run out and pick up a couple things, you want to tag along? Do you need any last minute gifts?"
"Yeah I do, I thought I picked something up for Katie, but I can't find it, I need to get her something. I just get something for Penny too." Daniel said.
"Grab your coat. We'll go the opposite way as Mom and the girls. I need to stop at the jewelry store and pick up Erin's gift." Dave said grabbing his keys off the entry table.
"What did you get her?" Daniel asked.
"You'll see when we get there." Dave chuckled.
Daniel and Dave entered Jewelry by Design in Woodridge, "May I help you?" asked a young sales girl.
Dave grinned, "Is John or Jenny in?"
"May I tell them who is asking for them?" The girl asked.
Dave looked at her name tag, "Kathy, just tell them David Rossi."
She left and it was less than a minute when a couple came out from the back room, "Dave!" Both came around the counter to give Rossi a hug. "How are you doing, keeping busy?"
"It's nice to see you both and yes I've been keeping real busy, just got back in town last night." He turned to Daniel, "Daniel, this is John and Jenny Caro, they own this Jewelry store." Then turned to the couple "John, Jenny, this is Dan, Erin's son." They shook hands.
"So Dave, would you like to see what we came up with?" He nodded and Jenny went into the back, coming out with a long narrow box. Sitting it on the counter, she slid it to Dave. Opening it, he smiled. It was exquisite, just what he had wanted.
Daniel stood next to him, mouth gaping open, "Dave, is that for my mom?"
"Yes," Dave said amazed at the look on the young man's face. "It's beautiful, she's going to love it, I bet she cries when she opens it." Erin's son couldn't take his eyes off the sparkles.
"Well, if she cries I hope it's because she likes it." David said sliding it back to the shop owner. "That's better than I could have imagined."
Jenny took the box, "would you like me to wrap it for you, Dave?"
"That would be great." He then turned to Daniel, "would you like to see if we can find something for Katie while we are here?"
"I think this place is a little out of my price range." The boy said.
"Just look around, I got you covered." Dave commented looking into a case of necklaces.
"But Mom said…" He started to say but was interrupted.
"Mom's not here and what happens when us guys are away from the women, stays with us guys." Dave put his hand on the young man's neck leading him to the counter with bracelets he thought Katie would like.
An hour later, Dave and Daniel left the store with gifts from Dave for all the females including Penelope, and Daniel had a bracelet for Garcia and earrings for Katie. He'd already bought his Mom's and Jessie's presents.
Once in the car, Erin's son, turned to Dave, "You really do love mom, don't you?"
"Yes I do." Was all Dave said.
"I'm glad, you are good for her and you are good to her. You treat her so much better than Dad." The young man looked at his hands. "She deserves a good man like you."
"She deserves a better man than me, but I'm glad she wants me. Dan, your mom and dad had their problems, it takes two to make a marriage and two to break one, but no matter what you and your sisters hopefully know that your mom and dad love you and will always be there for you." Dave tried to sound convincing.
"I know mom does, Sometimes I wonder about dad. Like this upcoming weekend, he was supposed to spend it with us, but he decided he would rather take Stacy skiing. He does things like this all the time, and he thinks we shouldn't get upset. Well we do." Daniel said staring out the window. "Mom has been the stable one the past couple years. I'm glad she got sober; I know it's hard for her, but I know she has you helping her." He turned to look at Dave, "You know you are there for us more than our dad."
"I don't know about that, I'm away more than I am here." Rossi said.
"Maybe, but even when you aren't here, if we need you we can always call you. We can always talk to you, that's more than I can say about Dad."
Dave took Daniel to a sports bar for lunch; it was before 5 PM so kids could go in. They enjoyed burgers and watched some football. After lunch they finished what little shopping they needed to do. Daniel saw a sweatshirt he wanted, but he'd spent all his money on other gifts. Dave bought it for him and the guys headed home to put their purchases under the massive tree.
It was several hours later when Erin, Katie, Jessie and Penelope arrived back at the Strossi house, carrying all kinds of bags. Dave looked over his shoulder as they came in the front door. "Do you ladies need help?" he asked.
"I think we've got it." Erin smiled before leaning down and kissing him. "What did you two do today?"
Daniel looked up from his video game, "Not much, goofed off, had some lunch, played some games, drank some beers, smoked some cigars."
"What? David?" Erin's head shot from her son to Dave.
"Just kidding mom, was making sure you were paying attention." Daniel laughed. "We just goofed off. No beer, no cigars."
"Are you finally finished?" Dave asked as the last of the packages were places on the floor.
Garcia plopped down in a chair. "Done shopping, now just have to wrap it all. Are you done with your shopping and wrapping?"
"Yes, I am. It's all bought, wrapped and under the tree. If it isn't there now it isn't getting done." Dave said very matter a fact. He knew there were three gifts not here yet; they would be delivered sometime in the night since tonight Christmas Eve.
Dave and Daniel stayed in the living room playing video games and writing, while the ladies went to various rooms to wrap gifts. Once in a while someone would wander in and ask for tape or scissors. Dave always directed them to the top left desk drawer in the den where he kept extra of all office supplies.
Sometime after 6 everyone had filtered into the living room, putting gifts under the tree and sitting somewhere. Dave had put Christmas music on and built a fire. They had decided to order pizza's which was due to be delivered at any moment. The kids knew all they had to do was get them, Dave always paid for them with his credit card adding the tip so they didn't have to worry about having cash. When the food arrived, Jessie and Penelope went to get plates, napkins and parmesan cheese. Katie and Daniel brought in sodas for everyone. Katie sat between Dave and Erin, while the others sat in chairs or on the floor. Eating and talking like a family. Once they finished eating everyone helped clean up and returned to the living room to watch a Christmas movie.
It was a little after 10 when the three kids decided it was time to head to their rooms, each had someone they wanted to call or text before going to sleep.
Dave, Erin and Penelope stayed downstairs talking for a couple hours more. "Thank you for having me," Garcia said, "I've had such a great day."
"We are glad you're here, we love having you." Erin said. Then she turned to Dave. "Do you know what time the big gifts will be delivered?"
"Bob said he would put them in the driveway sometime after 2 AM. Wants to make sure the kids are all asleep. I already have two sets keys for each one and the sets he has, I'll pick up next week so there will be a third set." Dave answered.
Garcia looked at the couple chatting wondering what they were talking about. Finally seeing the curiosity on her face Erin smiled. "Dave and I bought the kids cars. They're all over 16, have their license. Katie's car is on its last leg; Dan and Jessie always want to borrow mine and most of the time I'm at work. I wanted to get them vehicle, but wasn't sure, Dave convinced me; together we get them good used safe cars. So we got them transportation for Christmas. They are going to be so surprised"
Dave winked at Penelope, "I think this is going to be a great Christmas for everyone.