Thanks to everyone who reviewed and alerted this story, you guys made my day!

I still don't own Criminal Minds. It'd be awesome if I did though.

There were a lot of things that David Rossi knew for certain: he knew that he loved his family, he knew he loved his job, and he knew that Mia was protective of Matthew - just like any older sister would be.

She really couldn't help it - she had been born with his fierce loyalty to family and her mother's temper. It was inevitable that she would stand her ground and defend her brother's honour. So, he really should have expected something like this to happen; after all, she was half Prentiss, but he never expected it to happen like this:

"Can I play?" Matthew asked as he watched Mia, Jack and Henry play kickball in the backyard while their parents were inside talking about parent things.

"Sure," Mia said as Henry nodded.

"No," Jack answered at the same time as Mia.

"Play with me!" Henry said and grabbed Matthew's hand.

"Why can't Mattie play?" Mia asked furrowing her eyebrows, her hands on her hips.

"Cause babies can't play soccer," Jack stated turning back towards Henry.

"I'm not a baby," Matthew protested.

"Mattie's not a baby!" Mia said crossing her arms across her chest.

"Yes, he is!"

"No, he's not!" Mia shouted as she got in Jack's face.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"My little brother is not a baby." Mia said through her teeth as she stepped forward and shoved Jack with all her might. His dad may have told him to never push a girl but this was Mia, so Jack pushed her back.
***

Henry threw open the back door and ran towards the kitchen as fast as his little legs would carry him.

"Uncle Dave! Uncle Dave!" Henry shouted as he ran around the corner. "Mia and Jack are fighting!"

Immediately after the little boy finished his sentence, Dave and Hotch were already halfway to the door.

Pushing open the door, Dave saw Mia and Jack in the middle of the backyard and both children were shouting at each other.

Then it happened, Mia's little fist made contact with Jack Hotchner's nose and then the blood started to flow along with young Jack's tears.

"Mia Elizabeth Rossi!" Dave said sternly as he and Hotch approached the two children. As Hotch was checking Jack over, Dave knelt down in front of his daughter.

"Mia, you know that we don't hit."

"He deserved it." Mia said crossing her arms. She cast a tempered glance at the little boy who dare insult her brother.

Dave thinned his lips in thought. "That is a pretty big accusation. Now you need to explain to me why he deserved it."

"You'll get mad." Her lip trembled slightly. It was one thing to defend her brother and hit Jack - who rightly deserved it - but it was quite another to disappoint her daddy.

"Maybe, but I'll be angrier if you lie to me," Dave said as Hotch ushered a crying Jack inside to get cleaned up.

"Jack wouldn't let Mattie play with us because Jack said he was a baby."

Dave nodded his head in understanding. "Jack called Mattie a baby, so you punched him?"

"Yep," Mia said proudly as she nodded.

"That's my girl," Dave muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?"

"I said that you not only have to apologize to Jack but you have to tell your mother what you did."

"No, you didn't; you said 'that's my girl'," Mia corrected. Dave shot a hard snort thru his nose as his hand covered his mouth. Turning his back toward her, his shoulders shook for a moment. Recovered, he looked back at his daughter, his eyes twinkling.

"Go make your apologizes, young lady. Now," he ordered sternly.

"But Daddy, I'm NOT sorry. I will NEVER be sorry. He was wrong," the little girl stated passionately.

"Mia...you have to say you're sorry. That is how it goes. You do something wrong and then you have to apologize." His tone left no room for argument.

"Well, I won't and you can't make me." Mia stamped her foot.

Dave sighed. He was supposed to be a renown negotiator but criminals holding a bank full of people had nothing on a six year old girl with his genes. 'Think Dave, think…' What was that saying? 'You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' .

"How about you apologize instead of saying you're sorry. That way you make me and your mom happy and you aren't lying."

"I won't." Her eyes filled with tears.

Dave brushed her black curls from her forehead. With his heart in his eyes, he whispered, "Mia... do it for me. Okay?"

"Only for you, Daddy. But I'm not happy about it." Mia said before walking away from her father mumbling something about fairness under her breath.
****

Sitting on the couch with his arms wrapped around his wife, Dave thought about the day's events. He let out a short chuckle.

"Dave, can you believe that Mia punched Jack?" Em asked.

Letting out a long breath, Dave sighed and sipped his aged scotch. "It happens Em; kids fight."

She cocked her head in disbelief. "You're actually defending her actions?"

He twirled the amber liquid around before replying. "Well…after all, she is your daughter."

Shooting him a stare that could freeze an UNSUB on the spot, Em grumbled. "I still can't believed you praised her for punching Jack."

Dave gave her a half smile. "I guess we can rule out that Rossi/Hotchner merger we were hoping for," he groused and downed the remainder of his drink.

Em gave a short laugh and snuggled into her husband. His arm went around her shoulder. "I wouldn't rule that out…after all, she is my daughter."