"So, when are you going to commit to one place to live?" Jessica asked as she set the bowl of potatoes down in front of Erin. A slightly panicked look crossed her face as she looked over at Aaron, waiting for him to give her some guidance. Instead, he just looked at her, giving her that maddening smile of his that always indicated that he was enjoying watching her squirm.

"We haven't really thought of that, yet, Jessica. There are a few matters to take into consideration here, since we have to have a place that allows for my children to visit, if they ever relent and decide that this relationship is not just some passing fancy of mine. And we have to talk to Director Shepperd, since Aaron is technically my subordinate, and our relationship isn't exactly common knowledge at work."

She felt like she was just giving excuses, and from the look on Jessica's face, the younger woman felt the same way. "And I'm not certain that Jack would want Erin to live with us…"

"Yes, I do, Daddy."

They all looked over at Jack, seeing the wide grin on his face, and something in Erin's heart trembled with joy. "Really?" she whispered as she reached out her arm. Jack nodded as he ran over to her side, giving her a tight hug before scrambling up onto the seat next to her. That sweet acceptance was all it took to firm her resolve, and she looked over at Jessica, a warm smile curving her lips up. "I guess that I have my answer, then. This is my life, and I have to have the courage to live it, without fear of what others think."

Aaron sat down across from her, his smile softening into something that looked so much like relief that she sighed gently. "I don't want you to feel like we're pressuring you into something that you don't want," he said, trying to give her an out to her impulsive words, and she shook her head.

"No, I don't think that you understand. I'm choosing you and Jack and Jessica. I want the family that wants me, and since I've never taken the time to be this free in the twenty years I've been with the FBI, I want to do so now."

She cocked her head to one side, letting the tears that were locked inside her heart glisten in her eyes. Aaron reached across the table and clasped her hand tightly, squeezing to let her know that he understood completely. "All right, so the next move is finding our place. This apartment won't be large enough for our needs."

"And I would really like a new place, somewhere that we can build memories of our life together, with Jessica close by."

The younger woman blushed a little as she started to pass around the food. "You're not going to need me any longer."

"That is where you are completely wrong. I pull just as long of hours as Aaron does, even if I'm not out in the field. We're going to need you here just as much as ever." Jessica nodded, pursing her lips together firmly in an attempt not to cry. Erin knew that move quite well, having used it a lot while she was in rehab, and they both let out a tiny, high pitched, sigh.

"Okay. Okay." They shared a smile as the dishes were passed around the table, and Erin felt content enough to listen to Jack and Aaron jabber on about their day. Soon, the meal was over, and Erin went to clean up the dishes.

"Jack and I have this. Why don't you and Jess try to find some houses for sale? We'll need a four bedroom place." She frowned a little, thinking about how much that would cost, and Aaron just shrugged a little before looking pointedly towards the living room. Erin finally nodded and made her way to the living room, picking up Aaron's laptop and calling up Firefox. Not really knowing where to start, she searched for houses for sale, and was bombarded with results.

"I think there's a website called Zillow, and you can research houses in the area," Jessica murmured, and Erin nodded and she searched for the website, curling up against Jessica as the page loaded in. "Remember the specifications."

"Yes, at least four bedroom," Erin said as she searched their current area for homes for sale. Quite a few popped up, and she quickly filtered out the ones that would not work for them, and then scrolling down the list until her eye was caught on a pale yellow house with a large front porch. Even before she looked at the specifications, she knew that this was home for them.

"That's it, isn't it?" Jessica asked as she drew in a sharp gasp. Erin nodded and only then looked at the price.

"It's a pipe dream, though, Jess. We can't afford a home that's almost six hundred thousand dollars. Even if we were to sell my place, it won't fetch half of that price, and we're both nearing retirement age, and …"

"Nothing this perfect has ever happened to you in your life," Aaron finished. She looked up at her lover, wondering how he had managed to peg her inner most heart so quickly. She pursed her lips as she gave him a small nod. "Well, I do have some money set aside from when…from some time ago, and if this is the place, if this is home, we'll make it work somehow."

"Oh, Aaron," she breathed out as she set the laptop aside and twisted around on the sofa so that she could wrap him in a tight hug. "You don't have to spoil me so. I'd be happy to live in a shed, as long as I'm with you and Jack, my children, Jessica. I love you," she whispered fiercely into his ear.

"I love you, too," he replied before pulling away a little, kissing her possessively. "And look, there's a large lawn for Jack to play in. This really is perfect," he said as he looked over her shoulder to watch Jessica scroll through the pictures posted.

"Really, you two, I would jump on this as soon as possible. I have no idea why someone hasn't snapped it up already." Jessica gave them a warm smile as she stood up and rested her hand on Jack's shoulder. "And now I think that Jack and I are going to have a slumber party at my house."

Erin blushed at the teasing note in Jessica's voice, nodding absently as the two made their way from the living room. Aaron came around to her side of the sofa, taking a seat and pulling her down onto his lap, his arm snaking around her waist to hold her tight. "There are so many ways to christen this step forward. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a traditionalist, and I can only hope that…"

Erin interrupted his words with a gentle finger placed to his lip. "I think that I know what you're going to ask, and I know what my answer will be. But it's too soon to talk about that. We have all the time in the world to burn the midnight oil, and I want the others to become used to our relationship before we take that next step."

Aaron smiled a little as he kissed her finger, pulling out a ring box from his pants pocket. "Will you at least humor me and wear this?"

"Yes." She smiled a little as she held out her left hand, looking at it in horror as she realized Alan's rings were still on her finger. "I never got around to taking that off. Would you do the honor? The engagement ring will go to Bruce, for when he chooses the person he can't live without, but I don't need the band."

He nodded as he set the box in her lap and gently tugged the rings off, setting them on the coffee table before picking up the box once more and opening it. Erin gasped as she saw what Aaron had chosen for her, a wave of pleasure sweeping over her as she took in the large amethyst that was flanked by two diamonds. "I wanted to pick something that wouldn't necessarily read engagement ring to the masses, but that also suited you. I hope you like it."

"I love it, Aaron," she said as he slid it onto her finger. The heavy weight of the band drove home the fact that they were cementing the foundations of their relationship, and she teared up before kissing her fiancé passionately.

Jessica cleared her throat, and they looked up at her and Jack. "We're taking off now, guys. Have a wonderful evening."

Erin nodded as she slipped off Aaron's lap and opened her arms to the young boy. He ran to her with a grin on his face, hugging her tightly. "I'm glad that we're going to be a family, Miss Erin."

"I am, too, Jack. You and your father have made me so very happy. I just hope that my children will be able to see that as clearly as you do." Erin lowered her head and kissed his cheek softly. "Now, be good for your auntie, and tell us everything that you did. I want to hear every word."

"All right!"

Jack squirmed out of her embrace and rushed over to Jessica's side. The younger woman gave her a knowing smile before leading Jack out of the house, leaving Aaron and her alone. "So, we have a house, and a future."

"That we do, Aaron. I love you." He nodded before claiming her lips in a tender kiss. And for Erin, everything fell into place as she plastered herself against his body, knowing that she had come home at last, the need for burning the midnight oil finally over.