"Dammit, Dave! Why didn't you tell me he'd been shot?" Erin bit out, her gaze hard and narrow.
"It was only a flesh wound, Erin. He's fine. In fact, he wants to see you up in your office." Dave smirked at her, as if he knew why she was so upset. "I told him once he found you to go home. Jessica's going to keep Jack for a few more nights. Find your peace, okay?"
Her shoulders slumped a little as she nodded. "Thank you."
"You're good for him, babe, just like he's good for you." He closed the distance between them and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, he told me about your relationship. I'm the only one who knows, so I know to keep it under wraps."
"Thank you, again, David." He squeezed her shoulder gently and she smiled a little at him before stepping away. "I'll go see him now." Erin walked back to her office, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. Opening her office door, she saw Aaron standing behind her desk, looking at the picture of him and Jack. "Aaron."
He raised his head to look at her and took a step forward. Erin couldn't stop herself, she launched herself into his open arms, hugging him tightly. Aaron's hands tenderly stroked her hair and she burst into tears. "Shh, Erin. I'm okay." She felt him kiss her forehead before cradling her head close to his heart.
"I had to overhear about it from Ms. Garcia. Do you know how hard it was not to cry or yell at her? I could have destroyed us both. I'm sorry." She pulled back to look at him and he rubbed his thumb across her cheek. "Kiss me?"
"Of course, darling." He bent down and gently kissed her and she wrapped her arms around him once more. "Come home with me? I have to take some time off, due to the gunshot."
"Yes," she whispered, resting her head on his chest. "Just let me grab my bag." Reluctantly, she let go of him, going over to her desk. She shoved her phone in her pocket before grabbing her briefcase, purse, and go bag.
"Erin, come here." She smiled a little and cuddled close to him. "We might have to talk when we get home."
A little shiver of fear ran through her and her heart clenched painfully. "A-all right." Then he kissed her once more, passionately, and she felt her fear melt away.
"I can't say what I want here," he whispered as he took her bag from her hands, slinging it over his good shoulder. They walked out to the elevators and met Rossi there.
"Are you two finally headed home?" he asked kindly.
She nodded and felt free enough to hold Aaron's hand in front of him. "Would you speak with the Director tomorrow and tell him that I'm going to take a few days off? He listens to you." She bowed her head and tried not to cry.
"What's wrong, Erin?" Aaron asked kindly, leading her onto the elevator car.
"Director Shepperd warned me that I need to stay on the straight and narrow, and if he thinks I've slipped, even the tiniest bit, he'll replace me." She looked up into Aaron's eyes. "But I want to take care of you and perhaps get to know Jack and Jessica."
"I'll tell him you went home ill tonight, and I took you home. It will give you three days before you need to have a doctor's note." Dave rubbed her shoulder gently and she turned her head to stare at him. "I know we've sparred in the past, but you've changed recently, for the better. If being with Hotch facilitates that recovery, I will do anything to keep you two together."
"We haven't even gone on a proper date yet, Dave."
"Then use this time to rectify that, Hotch. When you're trying to keep the heart of a beautiful woman, you have to woo her." He winked at Erin and she felt herself blush. "Now, I'll see you both back here on Friday."
Erin took a deep breath and felt another round of tears catch in her throat. "David, I do not know how to thank you enough," Aaron said, tightening his arm around her waist. The doors opened and Erin surprised herself by reaching out and hugging Dave quickly.
"We'll see you Friday," she said softly before stepping back into Aaron's warm embrace. "I want to spend all night in your arms, Aaron."
"I think that can be arranged. Do you mind if I call you darling? Haley wasn't really into pet names." He opened his passenger door for her and she got in, buckling up as he closed the door.
"I rather like darling. Is there a particular name you like?"
He fell silent as he backed out of the spot and began to drive. "I can't think of one, really, so I guess it's up to you to give one to me." He smiled at her and she felt her heart flutter a little.
"It will give me something to think about during the next seventy two hours." Sighing, she sat back and watched the sky from the window in front of her. "I wish this could last forever," she whispered as she picked out her first star of the evening.
"If we work at it, perhaps it can."
A sweet, blossoming, hope bloomed in her chest and she smiled widely. When they finally reached his apartment, he parked and took hold of her bag before leading her up. "So, this is home," she murmured, leaning back against him.
"Yeah. Do you want something to drink?"
"Water, please." She set her briefcase down on the table and watched him pour a glass from a pitcher in the fridge. "You said you wanted to talk?"
"In the living room," he replied, placing his hand on the small of her back to guide her into the other room. Together, they sat and he took hold of her hand, threading her fingers through hers. "Getting shot has caused me to look at things in my life, Erin. I find myself being unable to imagine life without you. I want to make our relationship exclusive and more than just random sessions of making love. You deserve more than that."
"So do you." She brought his hand up to her lips, kissing it softly. "Aaron, I've found myself falling in love with you. Life is too short to not let you know. But I don't want you to feel trapped, honey."
"I won't feel trapped, Erin." He let go of her hand to cup her face. "I think I might be falling in love with you, too. But after Haley, I've found myself being cautious. Beth didn't help anything, either."
Erin took a deep breath. "You should know something, then, before we cement this relationship of ours. Back when I started at the Bureau, my ex felt jealous of my success and he started cheating on me. To get back at him, I slept with Dave, once. I felt horrible about it immediately, and that's where the animosity arose from. I would never do that to my partner, now, knowing how awful it made me feel. Can you accept that?"
She couldn't look at him, afraid of his rejection. "Darling," he whispered, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone. "That was your past, right?" She nodded. "Then I accept it and appreciate your honesty." He gently raised her face and kissed her.
"Oh, Aaron," she whispered, sipping her water as she tried to control her wildly spinning emotions. "Thank you."
He took the cup of water from her hands, setting it on the coffee table. "Come to bed with me." She nodded and let him help her up. They went to the bedroom and she smiled at the masculine feel of the heavy, dark, furniture. Turning her to face him, Aaron undid the buttons on her jacket and slipped it from her shoulders.
She reached out and unbuttoned his shirt, tugging it from his pants before stepping forward and resting her cheek on his bare chest. "Could we just cuddle tonight, honey? Please?"
"Yes, darling." She smiled as he kissed the top of her head. Erin felt her skirt zipper come undone and she shimmied her hips to let it fall to the floor. Stepping back a little, she undid his belt and zipper, pushing his pants down to join her skirt. Aaron tried to tug her shell over her head and she heard him gasp in pain.
"Let me." Erin pulled off the shell, tossing it to the floor as he fumbled with her bra. "And into bed we go." She pulled back the covers and climbed in, waiting for Aaron to join her. Erin plastered herself against him, loving how his body warmed her. "I love this."
He kissed her gently, running his hand down her back so he could cup her ass. "I love this, too." He buried his nose in her hair, breathing in deeply. "I love how you smell. Always so fresh and clean, like a beautiful spring day."
Erin sighed happily. "I love how you smell, too. Woodsy and masculine. May I have a good night kiss?"
"All you had to do was ask." Aaron turned his head and kissed her sweetly. "I love your heart."
"And I love your heart." Erin kissed him once again. "You're my beau."
"You're my sweetheart." They exchanged another kiss, and then she yawned. "Go to sleep, darling. I'll be here in the morning." She nodded and snuggled close to him, feeling his hand slide up to curl around her waist protectively. This was going to be a wonderful relationship, she could feel it in her bones.