JJ took Henry to choose his lunch. Henry loved fried chicken so JJ took him straight to that counter and told him to pick whatever he wanted for lunch.

Henry looked so adorable, looking at all the choices through the glass his eyes getting bigger by the moment. "I wanna have French fries and gravy and chicken fingers and a chicken leg…and sweet tea. Ok mommy?"

"Sounds good. Mommy is going to have the same thing too."

"How about Unca Dabe?"

JJ turned around to see Dave standing right behind her. "Henry, please ask Uncle Dave what he'd like to eat."

In a dare, Dave leaned in, "Why don't you ask me Bella?"

Shooting him a dirty look, JJ turned to the man behind the counter and ordered 3 of the same thing. Trying to take out her wallet, Dave shooed her away. "Please add a couple of extra pieces, two salads and 3 of whatever dessert you have."

Picking up the tray in one hand while balancing his purchases in the other, Dave led the group over to a quieter area in the food court. Setting everything down, he sorted out the lunch and began to dig in. They ate in relative silence, taking in the noise from the surrounding tables. The toddler at the next table, enjoyed kicking the side of his and JJ's seat until Dave finally said, "Ma'am, while I'm all for children exploring their environment, I would really like to enjoy my first time in a food court. So do you think you could find something for this little munchkin to do that does not involve kicking of any kind?"

The mother apologized profusely and left shortly after, giving the trio some much needed peace. "Well that was an experience." Dave said dryly.

He D

JJ just smiled at him, biting back all the questions that were on the tip of her tongue. Instead she told him that he needed to get out in the real world and experience life.

Alternately speaking to Henry, Dave and JJ refrained from saying anymore to each other. Henry quickly finished his lunch and looked over at the tray in front of Dave which held only the bones. "Unca Dabe, you like your lunch?"

Ruffling the hair on Henry's head, Dave smiled fondly at Henry, "My boy; that was the BEST lunch ever! Good choice." Patting his full stomach, Dave leaned down and whispered in Henry's ear. "How would you like to stay here all day?"

Henry looked at Dave and scrunched his nose in answer.

Dave nodded and then continued to whisper his plan, at which point, Henry jumped up into Dave's arms and whispered loud enough for JJ to hear. "I promise."

It was killing JJ that she couldn't ask or she would lose that stupid bet so she plastered another damn smile on her face and told the boys to get a move on.

The spent the next several hours going from store to store, where Dave pointed out a nice outfits that he insisted JJ should try on. At first JJ refused but when Henry begged her too, she found that she didn't have the energy to fight them both. JJ felt like that woman in that movie, trying on different outfits, shoes and jewellery. The only thing was that she wouldn't let Dave buy them for her. After JJ grew tired of trying on clothing, she purchased a sweater set that she could use at the office and paid for it herself.

Taking Henry's hand, the trio continued walking along the mall hallway until Dave stopped in front of the Sanctuary Spa. "Hello Wanda,"

The girl behind the desk recognized him right away. "Good Afternoon Mr. Rossi. I have everything ready for you." Addressing JJ, Wanda indicated the open doorway, "Ms. Jareau, please follow me."

JJ eyed Dave but refused to question what was happening. She released Henry's hand and hesitated slightly before following. "We'll be at Lucky Strikes when you are done. See you soon." Dave smirked "and have fun".

JJ refused to answer and walked away, his chuckles resounding in her eye. "Oh that man! He did this on purpose! Well, I'm just going to enjoy this and not ask." After changing into a silky robe, JJ turned to the young lady and informed her that whatever Mr. Rossi had planned, she wanted the works on his tab.

The young girl nodded in agreement and smiled secretly as she closed the door behind her. Motioning to the masseuse that her client was ready for her, she then confirmed with the other beauty technicians that all the treatments Mr. Rossi had booked would be used this afternoon.

While JJ was getting pampered, Dave and Henry did a little bit of shopping and then headed over to bowling alley for an afternoon of fun. They had a great time and more than once that afternoon Dave felt that twinge of regret for never having children. It wasn't that he didn't want children but after his son, James David died during childbirth, he made sure that there were no opportunities to feel that pain again.

Only every once and awhile, he felt that paternal pull and he was lucky enough to have nieces and nephews and children of his friends to spend time with. It was why he agreed to help coach Jack's soccer team with Hotch. He found that for all the gruffness that he portrayed at work, he was a softy when it came to children. It was another reason that he was glad that JJ had agreed to a Spa treatment. There was no question that she both deserved and needed some pampering but it also gave Dave the opportunity to spend man to man time with Henry.

When they were done with the game, Dave and Henry shared a milk shake and pie and talked about all the things Henry liked to do. After they were done, Henry scooted off the chair and toddled over to Dave and held up his hands. Dave picked him up and immediately Henry wrapped his arms around Dave's neck. "Unca Dabe. I love you!" Squeezing the little boy back, Dave could feel the little boy trembling in his arms.

Pulling him back, Dave searched his face, "What's wrong buddy?"

"I dunno."

"Why are you so sad then? We were having fun, weren't we?"

Nodding his response, Henry wiped the tears coming down his cheeks. "I used to have fun with Daddy too. But now he's gone."

Dave swallowed the bile that rose in his throat at the boy's pain. If he could strangle the man, he would but instead he had to reassure his son.

"Oh my boy, sometimes that happens. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you."

"I know, Mommy told me. But why doesn't he want to live with me anymore."

Sitting Henry on the table in front of him, Dave took a deep breath before he lied through his teeth. "Henry, sometimes, things happen and sometimes we don't have a choice. Your Daddy had to go away because…because his work made him. And..and the plane is broken to bring him back. When he fixes the plane, he'll come back to see you. But it might take a long time. He told me to tell you that he loves you no matter what.

"I know. Unca Dabe, I love Daddy and didn't want him to go, but he did anyway. And I love you. Are you going to go too?"

JJ's heart almost exploded as she eavesdropped on her son and friend having a heart to heart discussion. She knew that Will's behaviour was going to affect her son, but she didn't realize just how much until that exact moment. She just wanted to run and grab Henry and hold him forever but she also wanted to hear what Dave would say. Biting her lip, she listened as Dave responded.

Dave melted at that hearing the fear in the little boy's words. He grabbed him and gave him a hug whispering that he wasn't going anywhere. "Henry, I promise you that unless I have to go heaven like Jack's mommy, I will never leave you my boy. You and your Mommy are stuck with me. I promise that I will come over to play and take you out any time Mommy says I can. And if you need to talk to me, you can call me any time of the day or night. I'm not leaving, you understand."

Henry nodded and wiped away the last of his tears. Setting the boy down beside him, Dave handed him the milk shake. "Here finish this up before Mommy gets here or she's going to finish it instead."

Dave never noticed JJ in the corner, wiping away her own tears. Nor could he see her heart opening to the possibility of a future without Will. But somehow that day, Dave made her see that there were enough people surrounding her that would help both herself and Henry heal the hurt that Will had caused.

He also didn't know that she had decided to give in on their little wager. "Hi boys", JJ said announcing that she was there, "So what are we doing next?"