"What about Delilah?"

"Delilah?" he sounded disgusted. "That's a horrible name!"

"I had a great aunt named Delilah, you asshole."

"I'm just being honest with you. It's more like a song than a child's name."

"It is a song."

He extended his hands up and she rolled her eyes. "See what I mean!"

"You're an imbecile," she shook her head and went back to chopping up tomatoes. "All right, what names have you thought about?"

"Aha, wait til you hear this," he said in triumph, picking up the book of baby names they got from the library that morning. "For a girl, I like Caterina, after my mother. And for a boy, I like Lucca."

"Do they have to be Italian names?"

"I feel I should take offense to that."

She put down the knife she was using and rinsed her hands off in the sink before walking around the kitchen island to wrap her arms around him. "I'm not opposed to Lucca, as long as you allow me to call him Luke."

"Fair enough," he circled his around her back and kissed her lightly.

"But I have to say no on Caterina," she continued.

He pouted. "Why not?"

"I know that it was your mother's name, but when she gets older, her friends will want to call her Cat and I really don't want to name my daughter after an animal."

He pondered it for a moment and then nodded. "I see your point. We can still use it as a middle name though?"

"That," she kissed him soundly. "I am 100% on board with."

Erin removed herself from his arms and went back to her task of making a salad for lunch. David watched her move about his kitchen with ease, like she belonged there. The long maxi-dress she wore was a teal blue that set off her piercing eyes and complimented her glowing, tanned skin. They had spent the morning walking around town in the nice summer weather, enjoying their Saturday work and kid-free. They knew days like this would be limited if not completely gone by the time their little bundle of joy arrived the coming January, so they spent as much time as they could together now.

"What time is the doctor's appointment on Monday?" David asked her, popping an olive in his mouth as Erin got plates down from the cabinet.

"8:15. Will you be able to make it?" she asked.

"As long as we don't get a case."

She nodded and they sat down to eat their lunch in a comfortable silence.

"I like the name Eleanor," she blurted out when they were done.

David looked up from his empty plate and gazed at her. "Eleanor?"

She nodded. "Nellie, for short."

"Eleanor Caterina Rossi... I like it."

Erin stared at him as he nonchalantly drank some water. "Rossi?"

David placed his cup down and swallowed, his eyebrows furrowed. "Yes?"

"You want our child to have your last name?"

"Well, I- we never- we can combine-"

"No," she put her hand up and smiled. "No, I want him or her to have your last name."

"Are you sure?" he asked, his hands fidgeting uncharacteristically with his napkin. "I don't mind combining our last names."

"I'm sure," she reassured him. Suddenly, a small yawn broke out and Erin rubbed her face tiredly. "Do you mind if I take a nap?"

"Go right ahead," he told her as he stood. "I'll do the dishes and join you in a few minutes." He watched her as she maneuvered herself up from the chair with slight difficulty and then walked barefoot out of the kitchen towards his room. David felt his heart flutter a bit at the sheer domesticity of Erin being in his home and them eating lunch together before taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. He was easily getting used to being the doting partner and he was absolutely ecstatic about becoming a father. He found himself praying every day for God to watch over Erin and his unborn child. He already lost James and Caroline and he didn't think he would be able to handle another loss that big in his life again. He loved Erin, even though he was terrified to actually say the words, he truly loved her and he was ready to commit to her fully if she let him.

David put the now clean dishes in the cabinet and made his way to his bedroom. Erin was already laying in bed with Mudgie molded against her back. Erin didn't necessarily like big dogs, but since the day she and Mudgie met they had become almost inseparable. She had changed from her dress into one of his t-shirts. The particular shirt she now wore used to make her look like she was drowning in it, but with her growing tummy she was starting to fill out the material.

As if sensing his gaze, Erin peeked one eye open and reached her arm out for him. David smiled slightly and began removing his clothes, only leaving his boxers. As he approached the bed, Mudgie moved from behind Erin to the end of the bed where he usually slept. David climbed under the covers and pressed his chest against Erin's back, much like the dog had earlier. Their legs tangled together instantly, Dave's knee fitting perfectly between Erin's thighs and their hands laced together over her stomach.

"I could get used to this," he mumbled in her neck.

"Get used to what?"

"Spending the day together, cuddling in the afternoon, making sweet love when we wake up..."

"Who said anything about making love?"

"It's always implied when you're in my company. You should know that by now."

She snorted in laughter and he grinned at the sound, nuzzling his chin against her shoulder. "Erin, there's something I've been wanting to say for a little while now, but I'm not quite sure how you'll react."

She turned so she was laying on her back and looked up at him, noting the serious tone of his voice. "What is it?"

David opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to form the words. His gaze was anywhere but her face and Erin was growing more nervous by the second. "I don't want you to think I'm saying this because of the situation we find ourselves in - you being pregnant and all. I actually felt this way before we found out, when I hurt my leg and you took care of me."

"David, you're scaring me," she interrupted. "Just spit it out."

"I love you."

Erin stared at him blankly for a few moments. David felt blood rush to his face and he held his breath in anticipation when suddenly he heard the blonde burst out in laughter beside him.

She couldn't help it. Her initial reaction was to laugh. She didn't know why, but she couldn't stop once she started. Tears gathered in her eyes and she was sure they were from her laughing so hard, but then suddenly she let out a sob. David stared down at her in shock. He had no idea what to do so he just rubbed her back and kissed her forehead.

"This is so not the reaction was hoping for," he said.

"You idiot," Erin choked out, shoving him a little. "I love you, too."

David smiled. "Then why the hell are you crying?"

"Cause the baby is fucking with my hormones! Jesus," she wiped her face and reached up to kiss him softly. "I love you, I really do."

He kissed her again and placed his hand on her tummy just as a soft pressure hit his hand. David scoot himself down on the bed so his face was level with her tummy and kissed it tenderly. "I love you, too, little one.


"Good morning, Mrs. Strauss!" Doctor Briggs greeted as she walked into the room. "How are we feeling?"

"Great, Claire, how about yourself?" Erin replied with a grin from where she lay on the table in only her medical gown.

"I'm well, thank you." She walked over to David and reached her hand out to shake. "Hello, I'm Claire Briggs, and you are?"

"Incredibly nervous," David replied as he shook her hand. "But most people call me Dave."

"First time father?" Claire asked with a knowing smile.

"It's just been a very long time since I've found myself in a situation such as this," he replied honestly.

"You should really stop referring to my pregnancy as a situation," Erin said. "It's not a situation. It's a surprise."

David stood from his chair and took her hand, kissing it gently. "So, doc, are we going to find out the baby's gender today?"

"Yes, sir," Claire smiled. She set Erin's file down and raised the gown up to reveal her belly. "Remember, the gel is cold..." Claire pulled the machine over closer to the bed and turned it on. "All right, I see two little hands... This is the head right here," she pointed to the screen as Erin and Dave peered closely with smiles. "And congratulations, it looks like you're having a little girl."

David's face felt like it was going to split in two from his wide grin. "A girl? We're having a girl?"

"Congrats, you guys," the doctor said. "I'll print these pictures out for you, Erin."

She left the room and David looked down at Erin who was silently crying. "Can you believe it?" he asked. "A girl!"

Erin laughed and reached her hand up to pull him closer, kissing his lips sweetly. "Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For all of this," she gestured to her stomach. "I wasn't sure at first, but I'm so incredibly happy. You've made me happy and I love you so much for that."

David kissed her again. "I love you, too."


David strolled into work a few hours later, whistling happily, a slight bounce in his step. His coworkers peered at him as he climbed the steps to his office and exchanged glances. Without a word, they all rose from their seats and raced to follow after him.

"Okay, what's going on?" Emily asked as she entered the room with Derek, JJ, and Reid following behind.

"What?" David replied, the grin still evident on his face.

"Come on, Rossi," Derek urged. "What's got you so happy this morning?"

"It's a secret," he said simply, taking a seat behind his desk.

"We're not buying that," JJ told him. "It has something to do with a certain Section Chief, I presume?"

David felt his face get warm and he lowered his gaze for a second before flicking it back up to their curious eyes. "All right, I know she'll kill me for telling you all this, but I can't keep it in any longer." He stood up and walked around the desk to face the profilers. Just as he opened his mouth to tell them he was going to be a father, Hotch walked into the room.

"We have a case, conference room in five minutes."

Everyone's faces crumbled, upset that they'd have to postpone Rossi's news. After the case briefing, David slipped into his office to gather his go-bag and called Erin.

"Hey," she answered.

"Hi, baby. I'm about to leave for North Dakota on a case, but I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with the team when we get back?" There was a slight pause and he bit his lip in waiting for her answer.

"They're pestering you about why you're so happy, aren't they?"

"Maybe."

She laughed softly. "I know they know about us, David. Set something up and tell me where and when. I know you're dying to tell them about our little girl."

"I am," he agreed. "I gotta go, Erin."

"Call me when you get settled please. And be careful."

"I will. Bye, baby."

"Bye."

David hung up the phone and met the rest of the team in the bullpen as they finished gathering their things. "So, I can't tell you all quite yet," he began. "But Erin and I would like to invite you all to dinner when we get back."

"Seriously?" Derek questioned. "I'm in if you're buying."


Author's Note: Could I get any more corny with this chapter? Holy crap! haha Please review!