Disclaimer - I don't own anything you recognise :)
AN - More or less AU from the beginning of Season 6 ish. Enjoy :)
It Can Only Get Better
Dave Rossi loves his job. He loves catching the bad guys. He loves saving lives. He loves helping the victims. Above all, he loves his team. He's been back in the BAU for five years, and in that time, they've had highs and lows, shared laughter and tears, and somehow, become a family. Oh, they argue, and usually, it's explosive, but they come back together, and they forgive and forget.
Aaron, the team leader, stoic, serious, stern. He's a good leader, and Rossi is proud of the younger man. In the last two years, Dave and the rest of the team have seen a happier side of Aaron, a more open side of him. He laughs easier, makes it to most of the team gatherings, and seems lighter. Dave is sure JJ has everything to do with the changes in Hotch, and he couldn't be happier for them both.
Derek Morgan, the young, muscled, man about the bullpen. Dave enjoys the banter the two of them frequently engage in, though in the back of his mind, he knows that Morgan is probably the one he is least close too. Perhaps it's the similarities in them that keeps them from bonding too much. No matter, he would trust Derek with his life in a second, and he knows that feeling is returned.
Spencer is... Dave feels paternal angst where Spencer is concerned. He is the baby of the family, and Dave worries about him. He's smart as a whip, too smart on occasion, but his social awareness is... little more than nil. He hopes to see Spencer settle down with a nice young lady, someone who will understand him, and look after him. He knows the rest of the team feel the same way about Spencer. He is their baby, no matter that he's a grown man.
Dave loves Penelope Garcia. She has buried her way into his heart, and he would do anything for her. She brightens up the room with his bubbly chatter, her vibrant nature often enough to take the darkness away for all of them. She is their sun, their bright light, and he doesn't want to know how they would manage without her.
No matter how much he loves every member though, she has always been special. The first time he realises she is special is in Indianapolis. He had given none of them any reason to like him, had kept them at a distance on purpose, and yet she still came. She didn't come alone of course, and he is grateful to Morgan and JJ, but he knows she was the driving force behind their appearance.
The connection he felt to her during those few days has grown significantly over the years. No matter the reason, she is there for him, ready to listen to him, ready to comfort him. She is there during cases when he finds the darkness threatening to overwhelm him. She is there during stand down when he prowls restlessly in his too large home, the loneliness creeping in.
Dave has never once in his life admitted to needing anyone or anything, but he can admit now that he needs her.
He is, by nature, a tactile kind of person. He has never been one to hold back his affection, and he doesn't shy away from physical gestures. With her, the strength of the need to touch her is overwhelming.
It feels natural to wrap an arm around her shoulders, feel hers snake around his waist in return. She is a tactile person as well, though he has learned over the years that she is only that way with people she trusts. He doesn't think twice before taking her hand in his own, or reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind her ears. He massages her shoulders in the conference room, rests a hand on the small of her back as they walk through police stations in whatever state they've been called to at any given time.
Hotch has spoken to him a few times, and he see's the looks the others give him, but he doesn't care. She doesn't seem to mind his touches, and as long as it is okay with her, he isn't going to stop. She is his comfort. She is his air. She is his heart.
She just doesn't know it.
xxxx
"Wine?" he offers, as she takes a seat at the breakfast bar in his kitchen.
She nods her head, and he can see she is tired. The team has convened at his house, knowing they wouldn't have to drive home, he had more than enough room for all of them to stay the night. The case they've just returned from had been horrendous, and they'd all been in need of relaxation, of laughter, of family time. The others are in the sitting room, as far as he knows they are still laughing at Derek beating Spencer on the Wii.
He pours her a fresh glass along with his own, and moves to stand beside her, pulling her into a half embrace, his hand stroking lightly up and down her back. She leans into him, releasing a breath as she relaxes. He knows they don't have long before someone comes looking for them, so he enjoys the quiet of the moment while he can.
"Stay the weekend?" he asks quietly as laugher emerges once again from the lounge. "The team will leave in the morning, we can take Mudgie for a walk, maybe go to the flower gardens you like?"
She pulls away to look up at him, a small smile on her face. "Sounds perfect," she agrees. He drops a kiss to her hairline, before holding out a hand to help her from the stool.
Moments like this one often make him feel like they are in a relationship, despite the lack of anything sexual. She is the only one he can ever imagine wanting to see first thing in the morning, the only one he thinks of last thing at night. He knows that even if they never progress from this point, he will live a happy life, because she is there, and he loves her, and while he wants her desperately, what they have is enough.
He follows her into the lounge, and sits beside her on the love seat. Again, he see's the looks aimed their way as she leans into him, tucking her feet up under herself. He doesn't care, and he smiles as he wraps his arm loosely around her back. Morgan is once more looking suspicious, Hotch, JJ and Penelope just look amused.
Dave doesn't know if Emily even notices, but if she does, it's obvious she doesn't care either.
"Shall we watch a movie?" Penelope asks, interrupting the umpteenth game on the Wii. There is a general agreement, and Morgan smiles easily at her as he puts the console away.
"What do you wanna watch, Mama?" Derek asks, and Rossi wonders when Derek decided it was okay to take over the night. Not that he is bothered, he want's them all to feel at home is his home, but it amuses him.
"Will you protect me if we watch a horror?" she asks, making them all laugh.
"Of course," he replied, looking affronted that she even has to ask. It is quickly decided that they will watch a horror movie, and within minutes, the opening scenes are running on the large television. JJ is sitting almost completely on Aaron's knee, and Penelope is already clutched into Derek's side. Reid has made himself at home in the large chair, and Dave can see the young genius is already fighting to keep his eyes open. Dave knows he will be fast asleep by the halfway point of the movie.
Emily has shifted so her back is against his side, his arm resting around her. She is holding his hand loosely in hers and he doesn't think he has ever been so comfortable.
The movie is almost over when Dave feels his eyelids are too heavy to hold open any longer. Emily has been asleep for a while, and he allows his eyes to fall closed, his head resting against the back of the seat they're sharing. He should probably be a better host, but he knows it's not something he needs to worry about. They all know where their rooms are, and they know they are welcome to use anything they could possibly need.
xxxx
When he wakes, the tv is still on, but the volume has been lowered and there is a commercial playing. He blinks a few times, and turns his head, finding none of his team members still in the room. Emily is still asleep against him, but his shifting seems to have disturbed her. He watches as she wakes, sitting up slowly to look at him through sleepy eyes.
"What time is it?" she asks, and her voice is husky with sleep.
He glances at the clock on the wall, the light from the television allowing him to make out the time.
He groans. "Three thirty," he replies sitting up and stretching his back. His body protests the movement, crying out for his soft mattress.
"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
He smiles, cupping her cheek. "You aren't the only one who fell asleep. No apologies."
She returns the smile before she stands, stretching her self out fully. He can't take his eyes away from the skin it reveals when her top slides up her stomach. She holds out her hand to help him up, and he takes it, stumbling to his feet.
"Bed is definitely calling," she chuckles. She waits while he double checks the downstairs is locked up, and they climb the stairs together. He leads her to the room she has long since claimed at her own, and kisses her cheek as she opens the door. He waits for her to enter, and when she doesn't, he frowns. He looks over her shoulder into the room, unable to stop his laughter when he see's Derek and Penelope entwined around each other in her bed.
She closes the door quietly, rolling her eyes at him. They both know that there is another room for her, but they are hesitant. She doesn't want to sleep in another room, and he wants her in his own. Taking her hand in his, he leads her to the master suite, opening the door. He drops her hand, allowing her to make her own choice.
It would not be the first time they'd shared a bed, and he doubts it will be the last. She has admitted to him that when her nightmares get too bad, he is the only one who can keep them away long enough for her to rest. He watches her eyes carefully, happy when he sees the relief in them.
"Are you sure?" she whispers, and it is his turn to roll his eyes.
"Get in bed, Emily, I'll be there in a minute," he tells her, moving into the bathroom. When he comes out, she is snuggled down under the quilt, her eyes on his as he climbs into bed. He doesn't hesitate to pull her towards him, and he smiles when he realises she has changed her jeans for a pair of his sweat pants. She presses into his side as he wraps his arms around her.
"Good night, sweetheart."
"Night, Dave," she murmurs in reply. Sleep is already pulling her down and he tightens his arms slightly. He knows it won't be long until he joins her.
xxxx
He wakes up slowly, the warmth and comfort welcoming him into consciousness. She is still in his arms, but her eyes are open, and she's watching him with fondness in her eyes. He later blames it on the fact that he wasn't quite awake, when he follows his instinct to press his lips gently against hers. He feels her kiss him back immediately, and fireworks seem to explode in his chest.
When he pulls away, she is watching him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to do that," she tells him, and he cannot stop the laugh from leaving his mouth. He kisses her again, rolling them over so he is lay above her.
"What happened to you being a modern woman, Emily? You couldn't kiss me first?" he asks, and she grins, shaking her head.
"I'm glad I didn't."
He nudges her nose with his own. "Why?"
"Because your way was perfect," she whispers, pulling his head down to meet hers in a kiss that was more intense, passionate, filled with everything they'd had between them over the years.
He pulls away once more, looking at her tenderly. He brushes loose hairs away from her face, and she smiles at the light caress.
"Ti amo, Emily."
The smile she gives him melted his insides with its beauty and he takes a second to take a mental picture of it for whenever he is feeling down.
"I love you too," she tells him.
In that moment, his life is perfect, but he knows that with her by his side, it can only get better.