2013

'She is frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel. She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool. But she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree. And the most she will do is throw shadows at you. But she's always a woman to me.'

Six years had passed since David Rossi had joined the BAU and in that time, he had lost a friend, had that friend come back from the "dead", hosted a dinner for his adopted family, lost his first wife to ALS, seen a woman he loved greatly battle alcoholism, host a wedding and he had finally gotten the woman of his dreams. He still couldn't believe it. The morning where he found himself waking up with Erin Strauss in his arms were the best mornings. And Jess was a great kid. Erin had explained to him what Jason had done to her and he saw red every time he imagined or attempted to see what Jason had done to her. He treated Jess as if she was his own. He loved her and cherished every memory that he made with her.

Erin couldn't believe that she had let David Rossi back into her life. Had she not learnt her lesson? But she couldn't help it. There was something about David that sent her crazy. And he really seemed to have changed. He was loving and doting and he was great with Jessie. He had even cried when she told him what Jason had done to her. His heart was definetly in the right place this time. She loved the mornings that she would wake up in his arms, she loved the nights even more. It was like nothing had changed. It was like they were back in the eighties and falling in love all over again. But she knew she would have to burst the bubble. She would have to tell him eventually. Sometimes, she could swear that she caught him looking at Jessica strangely, as if he were trying to figure something out. It was the look he gave when he was trying to profile a suspect. She couldn't leave him hanging anymore. She just had to get up the courage and do it. But she had to tell Jess first.

She made her plan. The team were away on a case in Missouri. She figured they would be gone for a while. She decided that she would pick Jess up from school on the day she would tell her. They would go for coffee together and Erin would tell her. It was that simple. Or at least, she hoped it would be.

The big day arrived and Erin was at the school gates to meet her daughter. Jess had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her dark brown hair bounced in natural curls as she walked towards her mother, school bag over her shoulder, the latest book she was reading tucked under her arm. She smiled as she saw her mom and she embraced Erin in a warm hug.

"Hey, mom!" she said.

"Hey!"

"Why are you picking me up? I usually head home or to Dave's and then Ashley's mom drives me down to the bureau."

Erin smiled, "I thought we'd go for coffee together. There's something I need to talk to you about." She walked back towards the car.

"Sounds ominous!" Jess smiled, "It's nothing to do with David is it?" she asked, "You guys are still good, right?"

"Me and Dave are fine!" Erin said, getting into the car. Jess dumped her bag on the backseat and joined her mom. "But it has everything to do with David Rossi." And they drove off.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up at a Starbucks and headed in. Erin ordered an espresso and Jess got an iced latte. They headed over to a seat by the window and sat down.

"So, come on mom. What's this all about?" Jess asked, impatient to see what the big news was.

Erin sighed. "Almost sixteen years ago, to the day, I found out I was pregnant. I was surprised to say the least, I was almost 38, I thought I was too old to have any more kids, but there I was, pregnant. I was happy, I had always wanted a big family but Jason… well, Jason was happy the way we were."

"I bet he was surprised when you told him?" Jess asked, looking down at the table. She didn't like to think about Jason if she could help it.

"Just a little." Erin smiled at Jess. "But that didn't matter because I was happy. So happy. And then, nine months later, I was holding this beautiful bundle in my arms, my very own Jessica."

Jess smiled, "I know all this mom, what's it got to do with David?"

Erin smiled, "Everything." She said, "Haven't you wondered why you look so different to Amber, or to James? Why you have dark hair when they have blonde? Why your skin is slightly darker than theirs, especially when you tan?"

Jess put down her drink and looked at her mom, "What are you saying?"

Erin sighed and looked dead at Jess, "I'm saying that David Rossi is your father."

Jess sat there, stunned. David Rossi was her dad, her actually biological father. "He's my dad?" she asked, not sure whether to believe it or not.

Erin nodded, "David and I had an on again, off again affair all the way through the nineties. We were always careful and then one time we weren't."

"David is my dad?" she asked again, somehow thinking that if she continuously repeated the fact it would sink in and become real. "He's my actual dad?"

Erin smiled, "I know this is a lot to take in and I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but…"

Jess looked up at her mom, "Jason?" she asked.

Erin nodded, sadly, "He found out when you were six, when we went on that trip to Florida."

Jess' eyes widened in shock, "Is that why…"

Erin nodded, "I had no idea that's what he would do, Jess. I promise. If I had known, I would have moved us out as soon as I told him."

Jess smiled, "It's not your fault, mom. Jason was an evil man. What he did was neither your fault nor Dave's."

Erin's eyes welled with tears. Jess always managed to surprise her. It didn't matter what she had been through, she always saw the best in people.

"Does Dave know?" Jess asked.

Erin shook her head, "I wanted to tell you first."

Jess smiled, "Thanks mom!"

Erin breathed a sigh of relief.

"What?" asked Jessie, smiling.

"I'm just relieved that you are talking all of this so well."

Jess smiled, "Well, it's the best news you could ever give me. I have a father, not just Jason, but an actual father, who despite not knowing that he is my father, treats me as though I was his daughter."

Erin smiled, "Well, thank you anyway!" she took a sip of her coffee. "So, tell me all about your day. I want to know everything. Unless it involves Jack, you can leave that bit out!" and they both laughed.

The rest of the week passed smoothly. Jess asked all sorts of questions about Dave. What he was like back in the day, what his favourite things were, etc. She was just burning with questions. And Erin tried to answer them, smiling at her daughter's enthusiasm for her dad. They had made plans for when Dave got back. Jess had arranged to stay at Ashley's after spending the day with Jack (Erin and Aaron wouldn't let them stay with each other, much to their annoyance!). Erin had gotten all the photos of Jess that she had down from the attics, ready to show Dave. She was excited but nervous. She knew she was doing the right thing, but at the same time she was worried of how he would react. Would he be mad at her for not telling him? Had he already figured it out? He was one of the best profilers on the team, surely, he worked it out. She had been so emotional that day, and he knew how old Jess was, he could have counted backwards and figured it out. She was being silly. Dave would be the same as Jess, he would be happy, wouldn't he?

She was about to find out.

Erin dropped Jess off at school that morning and dropped her overnight bag at Mrs Seaver's on her way into work. It saved Jess carrying it around school all day. Then she began the hour-long drive down to Quantico. She knew she could have found somewhere closer to the office, but there was a chance that Jason might find them there. She didn't mind the drive actually. She would put the radio on or some CD of Jess that was lying around in the car. One day, she had gotten in the car and put the CD on, only to have someone start rapping at her. Jessica's taste in music was eccentric to say the least. Anyway, this time she was safe. She got in the car, turned the engine and found that the 'Backstreet Boys' were the last thing her daughter had listened to.

An hour later, she found herself pulling into the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia. She walked into the building, put her bag in her office and headed out to the bull pen. Dave had text to say that they were on their way back but had not text to say if they were back. She looked through the glass doors and saw that the bullpen was indeed, empty. She retraced her steps and headed off to Penelope Gracia's office. It wasn't too far from Erin's, so it wasn't out of her way. She rapped on her door and opened it.

"SSA Strauss!" Garcia said, a little surprised.

"Ms Garcia." Replied the Erin, smiling. "Do you know the team's ETA yet?"

"They left Kansas City airport four hours ago ma'am, they should be here in around 2 hours."

Erin smiled at Penelope, "Thank you. Could you send Agent Rossi to my office, as soon as he gets back?"

"Sure thing." And Erin left her to it.

2 hours later, David Rossi and the rest of the BAU entered the familiar building, entered the familiar lift and rode it to the sixth floor. When the doors opened, there was the familiar sight of Penelope waiting for them.

"Hey baby girl!" Derek smiled when he saw Garcia stood there.

Garcia smiled, "Welcome home, family!"

"Good to be home!" said Reid.

"I'm starving!" said JJ.

"Ooh, me too!" said Blake.

"I'm buying!" said Rossi, looking at his honourary family.

"Oh!" said Garcia, remembering, "Strauss wants to see you in her office!"

Rossi smiled, "Thanks, Penelope!" and he headed off in the direction of her office,

"Don't have too much fun!" Morgan called after him. Rossi just waved as he rounded the corner.

He wondered what was up as he walked the familiar route to Erin's office. They had made plans to meet at his house in Potomac Heights. She wasn't even supposed to be in today. He racked his brain to see if he had forgotten an anniversary or something but he couldn't think of one. His thoughts brought him straight to her door and he let himself in.

"Hey honey, I'm home!" he smiled. He couldn't resist using that line.

Erin smiled, "Hey, welcome back!"

"It's good to be back!" he smiled.

"Bad case?" she asked, going and sitting on her sofa. Rossi joined her.

"Not really. I just missed my girls!" and he kissed her softly. Erin returned the kiss. "So, what's up?" he asked.

"Nothing's up. Why do you ask?" she replied, smiling.

"We made plans to meet at my house tonight and your not supposed to be in today."

"Well, I thought I would surprise you!" she replied.

"Consider me surprised!" and he kissed her again.

"There was one thing I wanted to talk to you about." She confessed, once they had broken apart.

"Aha!" Rossi exclaimed, "I knew it!"

Erin smiled, "It's about Jess."

"What about her?" he asked, concerned.

"It's about her father…"

"Jason? Why what's he done? I swear to God, if that son of a bitch has touched her again…"

"David, calm down. It's not about Jason."

Rossi looked confused, "But you just said it was about her father?"

"Jason's not her father."

"Jason's not her father? But… I don't…" he spluttered.

"Dave," Erin sighed, "You're her father."

Rossi just looked at her.

"Dave?" Erin was worried now, "Dave say something?"

"I'm Jessica's father?" he asked.

"Yes."

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"Since I found out I was pregnant. I was only sleeping with one man, so I knew who it was."

"So that's why you broke things off?" He asked.

Erin nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he said, holding her hands, "We could have worked things through!"

Erin sighed, "I couldn't tell you. The David Rossi of 1997 wasn't like the David Rossi now. You were busy with your job and I knew you had been writing books in your free time. A kid would have held you back. I was also trying to keep my family from falling apart, and I thought that if Jason thought Jess was his, he might stick around. As it turned out, he was a jerk anyway!"

Dave looked at her, amazed.

"I'm sorry that I kept that from you, that I prevented you from being a father, but I had to make the right call for my family."

Dave kissed her. Erin was taken aback. She had expected shouting and fighting, not this.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"You did an amazing job with Jess. And you're right. I would have made your life ten times harder. But thank you for telling me." He kissed her, "I'd like to be her dad now, if you'll let me."

Tears fell out the sides of Erin's face as she smiled, "Of course! I'd like that more than anything, and I think Jess would too!"

"I love you, Erin Strauss."

"I love you too, David Rossi!" and they kissed again.

They were like that for sometime, both enjoying the moment. When they broke apart, Erin rested her head on his shoulder.

"Dave?"

"Yeah?" he replied.

"I got the photo's of Jess growing up if you want to see them?"

Dave looked at her, "Of course. Do you have them here?"

She nodded and went over to her desk draw. She opened it and pulled out three big photo albums.

Dave opened the first one. Inside the front cover was a picture of his daughter, only a few hours old. Dave looked at her birth information;

My name is: Jessica Andrea Strauss.

I was born on: December 17th 1997 at 05.55

My parents are: Erin Strauss and David Rossi.

I weighed: 6lbs 15oz

David looked at her.

"Jason never saw these, so I knew I could put who her real father was." Erin explained.

"You named her after my sister?" he asked.

Erin nodded, "I wanted to be reminded that she was your kid and not Jason's."

Dave touched her arm and smiled, "Thank you." He said simply, and Erin knew in his heart that he meant it. They spent the next few hours, pouring over photo's of Jess' life. David felt like he had known Jess all her life. She never seemed to stop smiling, lighting up every photo she was in. Erin was glad that David had taken it so well. She couldn't stop smiling, watching David look over the photos, smiling and laughing. She felt in her heart that all was well, everything was as it should be. She had her man, she had her daughter. It felt like her life was complete. If you had told her after Jason that this is how her life would be, she wouldn't have believed it, and now she was living it.