Oh, it's on the warmest night
It's in the brightest light
It's when the world is moving
Oh, it's in the faintest cry
It's in the lover's eye
Is when I need you most
And don't you know?
Is it my fault, is it my fault?
We've been missing each other
We've been missing each other
My fault, is it my fault?
We've been missing each other
We've been missing each other. (My Fault by Imagine Dragons)
2010 (3 years ago):
She held the scrapbook in her shaking hands and walked slowly down the hallway to Agent Rossi's office. It was stupid, but she felt everyone's eyes on her and it made her want to throw up from the nervousness running through her blood. Erin Strauss wasn't a woman that got intimidated or nervous, but she knew what she was about to do would change her life forever. Last night, as she sat in her studio drinking brandy, she realized it was time to tell the truth. She had been lying for nineteen years and both, David and Kate, deserved the truth. Edward couldn't hurt her in any kind of way and she couldn't keep hiding the truth from the world.
"Yes, I will send the manuscript tomorrow." David said into the phone, ignoring Erin's presence. "Don't worry."
"Working on another book?" She said as she took a seat.
"I was supposed to send it to my editor last week but I've had no time between cases. We're publishing it next month."
"I'm sure it will be as good as the rest."
"It will be even better." He laughed. "I worked really hard on this book."
"You are a good writer; you don't have to work that hard. It's a talent you have."
"Being a leader is in your DNA but you still work hard for it."
"I guess you are right."
In the last year, David had managed to walk into Erin's life without making mistakes and she had opened her heart to him. Since their last fight, over their anniversary, they hadn't fought again which made both of them happy. He had been trying his best to show her how much he truly loved her. Although they weren't officially dating, they went out together and he would give her presents once in a while, because he knew women loved that. Their relationship was rocky and they had to work hard every single day to make it work, but it was worth it.
"So, Bella mia, what brings you to my humble office?"
"There's something I have to tell you. Something I've been keeping from you for a really long time and I just can't hide it anymore."
"Woman, you sound really scary." David laughed trying to break the tension that was floating in the air. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"I don't want you to be mad at me. I don't want you to hate me."
"Erin, I could never hate you."
"After you hear what I have to say, you might start hating me."
"Just tell me."
"Before I tell you, you have to know something else. I couldn't tell you earlier because I had been threatened. If I had told you when I wanted to, I would have lost Allison and Eli."
"What are you talking about? You have to give me more than that for me to understand."
"This is really hard for me to say, Dave."
"Just say it, Erin."
Strauss pressed the scrapbook to her chest and closed her eyes. She had a scrapbook for each of her children with photos since they were born up to the minute they had started college. In her hands, she held Kate's scrapbook that contained all the precious moments in the girl's life. Erin had brought it with her because after telling him the truth, she wanted David to see the scrapbook and through the photos live their daughter's life. She also wanted him to know that she had been the one to ask Andrea to keep the secret and he shouldn't be mad at her for that reason.
"I'm waiting, Erin." He looked straight into her eyes. "Tell me."
"Do you remember that night many years ago when we slept together?"
"Yes, you were still married to Edward."
"Well…I got pregnant that night."
"Are you saying…"
"Yes," she interrupted him, "Kate is your daughter."
"I knew it! Lo sapevo!" A proud smile was plastered on his face. "Since the moment you announced you were pregnant I've had a feeling she was my daughter. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment."
"I have an idea, nineteen years. But…aren't you mad at me?"
"I am furious but I can't let that ruin my happiness. I have a daughter. We have a daughter! That was all you ever wanted and, even after all the pain I caused you, I was able to make your dream come true."
David couldn't believe what was happening. Erin Strauss was actually sitting in his office confessing that her youngest daughter, Kate, was indeed their daughter. Yes, he should be mat at Strauss, but he couldn't. All Erin had talked about when they were together was having a baby. He had constantly said he couldn't because he had already lost a son, but now he realized he was a father. He was the father of a beautiful wonderful young woman. David felt the happiest he'd been in a really long time…until he remembered the threat.
"Wait. What was all that about someone threatening you to take Allison and Eli away?"
"That night, after we had sex, I got back home and Edwards knew. I could see it in his eyes. A month later, I found out I was pregnant and he made me swear I wouldn't tell people the baby was yours. He said if I did, he would take my children away."
"Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you?"
"I was afraid of what he might do. I knew he couldn't really take them but he is a powerful man who has resources. Everything in me told me to go ahead and let you know the truth, but I couldn't risk it."
"Look, I know I should be mad but I can only imagine what you went through. Having to lie to your own daughter and keeping such a huge secret from your family."
"I was able to do so because I had someone to talk to."
"My sister, right?"
"Yes, she's known about Kate since the beginning." Erin looked at him. "I asked her not to tell you so please don't be mad at her."
"I'm just glad you had someone on your side that you were able to talk to."
"Andrea's been the best. And Kate does look like her."
"Yes, a lot!"
Erin felt more alive than she had in many years. She was finally able to breathe and didn't have to live her life with a heavy burden on her shoulders. David had accepted the truth and instead of being mad, he had embraced being Kate's father. He was a good man and she was sure, in time, Kate would learn to accept the truth and love Rossi as her father. Telling the truth to him hadn't been as hard as she thought would be, but she knew talking to their daughter was going to be difficult.
"I brought Kate's scrapbook. It has photos from her entire life, since she was a baby up to last year when she started college. Maybe, if you go through these pictures, you will feel closer to her." Erin tried her best not to cry. "But before I show you, I want to ask you a favor."
"Sure, Bella mia, whatever you need."
"Tonight I'm having dinner with Kate and I would like you to join us. She deserves to know the truth and I believe it's a great opportunity for both of you to start bonding."
"It would be an honor to join you and our daughter for dinner."
"Thank you!" She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Dave."
"I love you too, Erin."
They both sat on the couch in his office while Strauss showed him the scrapbook photos. He made questions about certain moments and she pointed out which were Kate's favorite things and who were her favorite people. David listened carefully trying to learn everything he could about their daughter. He found out she was allergic to strawberries and loved dancing; she was currently trying to be accepted by a prestigious dance school while studying arts at a college in Washington. Every time Erin spoke, he could see the sparkle of love and pride shinning in her eyes. Although Kate looked exactly like Andrea, you could see it in photos of them together, her expressions were all Strauss and that made him happy. He had yet to talk to Kate but he knew, no matter what, he already loved her as thought he had spent his entire life raising her.
"This is my favorite photo." Erin said as they looked through the photos of Kate's Sweet Sixteen. "She looks so happy entering the room and having everyone clapping and smiling at her."
"I'm sure she felt like a princess."
"Well…she has never been the kind of girl that wants to be a princess. But she sure as hell loves the attention, especially when she dances."
"What was she dancing here?" He asked pointing to a picture of Kate dancing.
"She was dancing to a mix of Madonna songs. All girls do a performance on their birthdays and she chose to dance."
"She looks so happy."
"Dancing makes her happy. She is dancing with her group on Saturday, you should come with me and see her dance."
"I would love that."
By the time they were done with the scrapbook, they were snuggled closely together. Her high heels were on the floor and her legs were resting across his lap. He had an arm around his shoulders and with the other he ran his fingers along her left thigh. It had been a really long time since they had last been that intimate. Yes, the last year had been great for them, but they hadn't crossed the line between kisses and sex. Strauss had established early on that she didn't want to have sex until they figure their relationship out. And David took that as an opportunity to show her that he wanted more than sex from her.
"Hey Dave, do you have your paperwork?" Hotchner said as he entered the office without knocking. "Oh, I should have knocked."
"That's okay, Agent Hotchner. I was just leaving." She put her high heels on and kissed Rossi's cheek. "I will see you tonight, And, Aaron, I trust you will be discreet."
"So it is true, Strauss and you are dating."
"We…I don't know what we are." David said as he closed the door. "You know about our past and, well, we never got over each other."
"You were snuggling on your couch with Erin Strauss. No one else does that in the office, so I'm pretty sure you are dating her."
"After what she told me, I guess we are."
"Congratulations, you finally got her back."
"Can I confide something on you?"
"Yes, of course."
"Years back, Erin and I slept together cheating on her husband. Today she finally confessed to me that the bay she had nine months later was mine. Her youngest daughter is my daughter as well."
"Wow. Did you ever suspect she was yours?"
"Yes, all the time. She looks exactly like my sister. But whenever I asked Erin about it, she would deny it. I have no idea what made her tell me. She just showed up with a scrapbook full of photos of Kate, told me the truth and shared Kate's life with me."
"Knowing her I'm sure it was hard for her to talk to you. But, how do you feel?"
"I am happy. You probably think I should be mad at her but I can't. When we were younger and together, all Erin would talk about was having my kids. I had lost a son and was too afraid to try again. But today, when she told me about Kate, I felt like, despite the cheating and the pain I've caused her, I was able to make one of her dreams come true."
"Dave, that woman loves you and I am sure nothing has ever made her as happy as having your daughter."
Kate was sitting at a table when she saw her mother walking in with David Rossi. Last time she had seen him, he had told her about the love he had once shared with her mom and she ended up in tears. In her family the name David Rossi was forbidden. Her grandma, Erica, hated everyone that brought up his name in a conversation which only allowed her to believe that her mom and David had a very meaningful past.
"I hope you don't mind I asked David to join us." Erin said in the middle of their meal. "I have something to tell you and, since he just found out today, I thought it might be a good idea to have him here."
"What is it, mom?"
"Remember all those times you asked me why Edward didn't treat you the way he treated Allison or Eli?"
"Yes."
"I can finally tell you the real answer." She felt David squeezing her thigh under the table. "Edward had always acted that way towards you because he knew you weren't his daughter. Kate, you are David's daughter."
"You've got to be kidding me." She looked at Rossi. "Did you know about this?"
"Like Erin said, I found out today."
"You are the worst mother anyone could have. How could you do this to me? Didn't I deserve to know the truth?"
"You did, but I couldn't tell you."
"I grew up believing I wasn't good enough because my dad never loved me only to find out he doesn't love me because I'm not his daughter. You cheated and kept me away from my real father."
"I am so sorry, Kate."
"Sorry doesn't fix things!" The teenager said before she ran out of the restaurant.
Erin had been right. Telling David the truth had been ten times easier than telling Kate. She was disgusted with herself for keeping such a big secret for so many years. But at the same time she was afraid. Afraid that, even though her relationship with Rossi was stronger than ever, she might end up losing her daughter, her precious baby girl.
