JJ and Rossi spent the better part of the rest of the day avoiding one another. No contact unless another team member was with them, and they avoided alone time with any team member either. They figured that way, questions wouldn't be raised again, and so they survived the afternoon. It was going fairly well, almost time for them to begin the trip to Little Creek, when some last minute delays cropped up. JJ was going to have to spend some more time at the office, and Rossi figured it might be too obvious to wait for her. He hated to do it, but not wanting to give up the fact that they would be spending some more time together, he left ahead of her. He phoned her on his cell, telling her that he could wait for her if she wished. She decided it would be just better for him to head home, but she told him she'd call him once she began the trip. She so just wanted to be there, out of sight of the prying eyes at work. Prentiss had tried to corner her once, but JJ was too swift for her, and had managed to escape the next inquisition. JJ set down to finish up her work as fast as she could.
Rossi headed for Little Creek, not liking JJ having to drive out here by herself. He'd made her promise to contact him as soon as she could, he just wanted her there safely. He'd also offered to pick Henry up and take him with him, but JJ had figured it would be too much, and that he'd be caught. Besides, everything was in her car, ready for the journey. He arrived at the cabin, and started making dinner. He had a passion for cooking, and was determined to impress JJ. The time past quickly for him, and before he realized it, it was nearing eight o'clock with no word from JJ. He picked up his phone, dialing anxiously, when he seen lights coming in his driveway. He hurried outside to see a very irritated JJ Jareau alight from her vehicle.
"Sorry, Dave, I couldn't get rid of Prentiss for the longest time. It was like she knew something was up. I'm sorry I didn't call, but I was so freaking irritated by her, I just needed some quiet. Plus Henry decided to fuss most of the trip. I am sorry I didn't phone though. It occurred to me when I was almost here." JJ smiled finally, relieved to be here.
Not knowing what to say, although he'd been worried, he just pulled her into an embrace. "I've been wanting to do this all afternoon, hon" just holding her. Henry started to wail then, he wanted out of his car seat. JJ turned to get him out, and Rossi began gathering things from the car to take into his cabin. First thing he set up was the playpen, to give the boy a place to just stretch out. It took him a good 15 minutes to retrieve all the baby stuff JJ needed to survive a weekend at his place with her son. When he finally finished, he seen a very exhausted looking JJ resting on the couch, her son in her arms. Scooping Henry up from her, he told her to stretch out on the couch for a bit, he'd change Henry and get him settled in. When he came back out, JJ had fallen into a light sleep on the couch. Dave decided to take the opportunity to bond somewhat with Henry. He'd never want to step on Will's toes as a father, but if this relationship with JJ was to blossom, he needed to connect with the boy, which didn't seem to be a problem. Henry had taken a shine to Dave, laughing and playing with the profiler, especially his beard, which he enjoyed tugging on. When JJ awoke shortly there after, she was amused to see Dave Rossi blowing raspberries on her sons tummy and the baby enjoying it immensely, laughing at Dave.
JJ smiled, watching Dave play with her boy. This was just all too good to be true, the man she was falling in love with obviously got on fine with her son, the one thing she'd been somewhat afraid of. She'd known that Rossi could change a diaper, but this was the first real interaction between the two men in her life. Knowing that Dave was making an effort, she was delighted at it. She sat up, capturing the attention of both. Reaching his arms out, Henry wanted his mom then, who scooped him up and kissed him. She went about preparing his late supper, and fed him first, before the adults settled in for their late supper.
JJ was amazed at what she ate. A wonderful chicken parmigiana, and some fresh bread, along with a delicious dessert, she looked at Dave in surprise. "This is terrific, Dave! I had no idea you could cook."
Smiling at the compliment, he poured some more wine for JJ, before finishing his glass and refilling his own. "Did I mention I love having you at my place, JJ? I feel like we can relax here. I was worried about you, but I should know you can take care of yourself. Did you have any problems finding your way here?"
"No, it was just Prentiss, she followed me out of the office tonight, wanting to do something. I told her I couldn't, that I had some other things to do tonight, but I was afraid she'd follow me. She's like a freaking dog with a bone, she won't let it go. She's going to find us out, I know she is. She won't let us be, now that she has a hint of something." JJ told him, shaking her head.
"So I ended up going back to my apartment to grab a couple of other things, I thought it might throw her off my trail. I didn't intend to be too long, but when I was there, Will phoned again. He's flying down to New Orleans tonight, and will be back up next weekend to visit Henry." she commented with a trace of sadness.
Seeing that, Dave got up from the table, and went over and knealed down beside her. "Don't be sad, JJ. We're here to enjoy this weekend. Let's just let everything go, and relax."
Getting up from her chair, and following Dave over to his oversized couch, she curled up beside him, snuggling into arms. For the first time in a long time, JJ just relaxed. She wasn't tense, she didn't feel the need to run, she just wanted to be exactly where she was. At some point, Dave turned on the fire, the chill of the evening starting to creep in, and JJ laughed at that. It was so weird, here with him. A week ago, she couldn't have imagined any of this. Now, she didn't want to be anywhere but with him. At that, she wondered what it was about her that had rejected the father of her child, and moved on to this man. She had no regrets, that was for sure.
"Are you happy you are here, JJ? Are we moving too fast?" Dave suddenly blurted out. He was more anxious then he let on, he'd waited til they were away from everything and everyone that he wasn't quite the confidant man he appeared to be. Something about JJ had a way of throwing Dave into a tailspin, not knowing quite what to do or say.
"Very happy, Dave. I don't want to be anywhere else. I just realized I hadn't taken so long to see what was in front of me for so long." JJ let out.
"Do you remember when I came back to the BAU, after maternity leave? We were so at odds on that case, but even then, you came to talk to me. I realized that day, you weren't quite the confident man you like to let out. You take things personally. And that's when I really started to look at you differently. But you came and you talked to me. You didn't soften things for me. Do you want to know something else about that day?" she asked him.
"Anything you want to tell me, JJ, I'm listening."
"You asked me why I'd come in early that day. I said it was the case that was bothering me, but that was only partially true. It was when I got back from that case that things with Will started going downhill. I was affected by the whole mother and child thing, but it was then that Will started to use it against me. He said I didn't have to go back to work, that Henry needed me at home more than work needed me. We fought half of the night over that. I came to work to escape him that day. Running into you, I thought I was headed for another fight. But you didn't condemn me, we just talked. And I've always appreciated it. That's when I knew there was more to you then met the eye, you admitted to me how hard it was for you to come back to the BAU. After that, I think I was a goner, even though I didn't realize it. It almost killed me when we were in Colorado and you laid into me about me not doing my job." JJ confessed all this, hoping it would give Dave some more insight into her.
Looking down at her, Dave couldn't admit the same. He'd wanted JJ for far longer than when she'd come back from maternity leave, but it was after that case that he'd realized that JJ had changed, and would need more time before he could ever, ever come after her. He would have waited much longer than this for a chance to get with her. He'd actually wondered if the JJ of old would ever return, and she had, somewhat. She was damn good at her job, and she'd proven it time and again. The fact that she'd finally just had enough of being treated like she'd been proved that the JJ of old was in there, and had come out swinging. He thanked god for that, pleased he'd finally gotten his opportunity. And he wasn't going to relinquish it. He finally spoke, admitting how angry he'd been that Will kept trying to make JJ feel so bad for doing her job. It was like he was trying to get her fired.
"And I couldn't bear to see that happen, JJ. When you were gone on maternity leave, I missed you like crazy, but knew you'd be back. I couldn't go and visit you, I figured I'd give any feelings I had away. And when you did come back, you'd changed, and I did act like a grump on that case, but you have to realize, you were so close, and I still couldn't have you. You were his, and I was angry about that case, the psychic, the ring you wore. I thought it was an engagement ring, and you were truly his. I thought you just said it was a birthstone ring, because you do like to keep things private. And I thought I'd lost you forever. Everything just came to a head for me, and I broke in Colorado." he finally admitted.
JJ just stared at him for the longest time, holding his hand, surprised at their confessions tonight.
She finally reached up to kiss him, happy for the first time in a very long time. In the midst of the kiss however, she felt a real need to yawn, and it slipped out, even though she did try to hold it in. Dave laughed and said "I didn't know I was that boring, my dear.", taking no insult in it.
Dave knew she was tired, and he simply took her by the hand and lead her to his room. There was no question that she would spend the night in his bed, however, he had no intention of doing anymore for the night. JJ quickly got ready for bed, realizing he'd never seen her in her pj's before. They'd never bothered with them in the two nights they'd spent together. She pulled on a tank top and comfy pajama pants, and turned to look at him. He wore only pajama pants, leaving his chest bare. She went over to him, placing her hands on his chest, kissing him deeply. They crawled into bed, laying in each others arms, happy just to be with the person that both had realized they'd fallen in love with fast.