Disclaimer: This is a Rossi/Strauss story, I love Rossi, I love Strauss and thenh refore I love Rossi and Strauss. I don't own the characters or anything dealing with Criminal Minds, except this story. I don't like the way they killed off Erin, so I change it to suit my own twisted mind. I like writing Erin's kids into my stories, so they will be in a lot of them.

Reviews are appreciated

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Chapter 13 ½ rest of London: Day 1

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Once all the kids had joined the adults, everyone headed back to the car for the ride to Bath and two other stops before heading back to London. Stopping along the way for lunch, as the others entered the restaurant Erin stopped Dave from going in.

"Amante, is everything okay? You've been really quiet since we left Stonehenge and you've barely spoken to Emily. I know she senses something."

"Erin, in some ways this has been the strangest vacation I've ever taken."

"That doesn't explain your distance." Erin said placing her hand on his cheek.

Dave sighed, before kissing his wife. "When Michael and I went into the coffee shop, he asked me what was going on between Emily and I. He thinks I want to as he put it Bang Emily."

Erin started to laugh, "Bang Emily? Where would he get an idea like that?" Then raising an eyebrow, "Do you want to bang Em?"

Dave kissed her again, chuckled, "The only woman I want to bang is you baby, and if I could figure a way I'd take you right here."

"You're impossible. I wouldn't give it another thought. I'm sure she talks about you and the team a great deal. He's probably feeling a little left out. I can understand. It took me a while to fit in." Erin reassured him.

"You're probably right, you're always right. Let's go join the other, I'm hungry." Opening the door and escorting her to the table where the others were already seated.

As Dave pulled out the chair for Erin, Emily asked. "You guys okay, everything fine?"

Jessie looked at Dave then Erin and giggled, "I'll bet everything is fine. They just needed a minute to be all lovey dovey. They do that a lot."

Emily smiled, "I think its sweet you two still want to hold hands and make out."

"We've only been married a few months." Erin told the others.

"Yeah, but you've been dating and together for a couple years and you've known each other forever," Katie piped in.

"When you find the one person who completes you, who's your soul mate you want to touch and be with them. I hope we never get tired of holding hands, kissing, touching and loving each other." Erin said, leaning into Dave's side as he kissed her temple.

"Anything you want to add, Studly?" Emily asked.

"No, Erin said it just fine. I might add that I love this woman more than I think I could ever express."

Emily smiled at Michael then turned to Dave and Erin, "Katie said she and Josh were getting married. That's great, but if you had to give them one piece of advice what would it be?"

Erin looked over at her husband, she knew after the conversation they had outside what his answer would be. "David, you want to answer that."

"Sure," he looked at Emily, Josh, Katie and then at Michael, before turning back to Emily. "The best piece of advice I would give any couple is that you have to communicate and you need to trust each other. Communication is the most important thing between two people, and if you communicate then you have no reason not to trust. Erin and I have learned and we talk over everything. I trust her and even with my past and all the rumors, she trusts me."

Before more could be said the waitress came and took their orders. All through lunch Dave was quiet, answering questions that were asked, but not adding much to the conversation. He watched all the things and sub-conversations going on around him. His lack of participation didn't go unnoticed by Emily. As the others headed either to the restrooms or outside, she moved seats so she was sitting next to him as he paid the bill.

"Out with it Rossi, what's on your mind. You've been entirely to quiet since we left Stonehenge."

Dave looked up at her then handed the check and his credit card to the waitress. "Emily, I'm okay. I'm just enjoying listening to my family enjoy themselves."

She watched him, she knew he was not telling her everything, but Emily knew him well enough to not push. She would find out sooner or later. "Okay, I won't push, but you aren't fooling me Rossi."

They stood and walked out of the restaurant together, as they climbed into the limo, Dave squeezed her hand letting her know it would all be fine.

After stopping at another old village, the group headed back to London. Dropping Michael and Emily off at her place, with an agreement they would pick them up at 6:00 PM for dinner and their reservations for the London Eye. This gave Dave, Erin and the family two hours to rest and clean up.

/

Back at the apartment, Dave went straight to the master bedroom, toeing off his shoes before sitting on the bed. Erin crawled up behind him, kissing the side of his neck and messaging his shoulders. "David, this is supposed to be a vacation, a time to relax, you're so tense."

"I'm trying baby. I was looking forward to seeing Emily and spending time with her, but now I just want to go home. How am I supposed to enjoy the next three days, when I feel like I have to watch every move I make, every conversation I have with her so that asshole she calls a boyfriend doesn't think I'm after his girlfriend. Does he honestly think if I was interested in Emily I would've brought my wife and children with me?" Dave stood and started to pace.

"David sit down." She told him patting the spot next to her. "Don't let him get to you, or ruin your time with Emily. If he's that insecure and jealous then he doesn't deserve her."

Hugging his wife, "He doesn't deserve her, but I might be jealous too if that was you and I thought another man was interested. If I thought there was any chance someone could take you away from me."

Pulling back to look at him, "David, you don't have to worry, I love you, and I don't want another man. I want only you and since we're on the subject, Michael should know Emily will never have your heart that belongs to me. I have you, heart, mind, body and soul. From what I've seen Michael is a David Rossi wannabe, I have the original and I plan on keeping him."

Wrapping his arm around her, laying back on the bed, Dave kissed her. "How much time do we have Miele?" Hearing her giggle, "I love you, baby."

"As much as I would love to lay here and cuddle with you, we both need to shower and get ready for dinner." Erin stood, pulling him up with her. "Come on Romeo, we can have a little fun and shower together. Maybe I can help you relax."

Walking out of the bedroom holding hands, Dave and Erin sat in the living room waiting on the others. Josh and Katie were the first to join them.

"Dave, do you really think trust and communication are the keys to making a marriage work?" Katie asked.

"Yes, I do. I'm pretty sure that's why I have three failed marriages. I didn't communicate with my ex-wives. I didn't talk to them, tell them things, explain my job and why it is so important. I didn't talk about my feelings and what upset me, I kept everything inside. They didn't trust me. They all knew of my reputation and all the rumors. So we me not talking they let everything they heard get into their heads and they would believe the gossip."

"Do you and Mom communicate?" she asked Dave, then turned to her mother. "You know his past do you trust him?"

Erin answered both questions. "Sweetheart, yes I trust David. If I didn't I wouldn't have married him and I wouldn't give him access to the most important things in my life…you, Dan and Jessie. Also David and I talk about everything, and I mean everything. We know what our careers mean to the other and we know how to handle it when the others job comes first. We also, discuss when something is bothering us. We've learned to read each other and help the other through whatever may be bothering them."

Katie seemed content with her mother's answers and moved to the next topic. "I know this might be a strange subject for a daughter to ask her parents, but I'd really like to know."

Erin and Dave looked at each other, "go on kiddo, there isn't anything you can't ask." Dave told her.

"How do you keep the romance alive, keep the sex from getting boring. I've heard after you get married it's all downhill, that sex gets stale, but you two seem to have found a way to not let it get dull. I've seen the way you look at each other and heard the sounds that come out of your room. How do you do it?" Katie blushed as she asked.

"Don't always believe everything you hear. I'm sure in some marriages the romance and sex can deteriorate, especially if they don't try to keep it alive. Your mom and I decided back when we were just sleeping together, before we got serious, that we never wanted things to get monotonous in our relationship. We find little ways to spice things up. I think if you truly, deep down, reach for the stars, over the fence, love each other, you'll always desire that person. You want me to be completely honest with you?" Dave asked, both young adults nodded, "Erin can make me hot just walking into the room, but little things mean the most. Touches, looks, learn what makes the other feel good. Don't make it all about your gratification; I get the most pleasure when I know Erin's satisfied. You can make love to someone without the actual physical act. When you learn what pleases the other, what makes them scream your name in ecstasy then you'll know how to keep the sex magnificent. When it comes to romance, have a date night once a week, even if you just stay home and have pizza. Find the little things that show the other they're important. I'm not going to tell you it's easy, marriage is work sometimes, but what I get back from Erin is worth a million times what I put into it. Also don't believe it when they tell you marriage is 50-50, marriage is 100-100."

Erin smiled at her daughter, "Honey we can tell you what works for us, but you have to tailor it for your relationship. My best advice is to love each other."

"Thank you both. You've given us some things to think about." Josh said kissing Katie.

Dave looked at his watch, stood went to the hall and told the others it was time to go. Their dinner reservations were in 20 minutes and they still had to pick up Emily and Michael.

/

After picking up the other couple, they headed for the restaurant Prentiss had suggested. Getting out of the limo everyone entered. Emily put her hand on Dave's arm. "Rossi wait, I want to talk to you."

Erin stopped at the door, looking back. Dave motioned for her to go ahead. "What is it?"

"I want to apologize for Michael. He told me what he asked and said to you earlier. I have no idea where he came up with the idea you and I are more than friends."

"I don't either. I love you, Em, but as a friend and I told him that. I am completely hopelessly in love with Erin."

"I know you are and I'm not making excuses for him; I think he feels like he can't compete with you and your prominence. I've tried to reassure him that he has my heart." Emily told him.

"He doesn't need to compete with me. He needs to find his own way to make his mark in life. I just do what I can; I strive to be the best husband, friend, writer, profiler and FBI agent I can. Sometimes I fail, but I get back up and keep going. I'll keep an open mind and see how he acts the next few days."

"Thank you for at least keeping an open mind; he's not usually the jerk he was to you today." Emily hugged him and they went to join the others.

Dave took the seat between Erin and Taylor. Erin leaned over and whispered, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine." Dave answered with a look that let her know he'd tell her all about it later.

/

After dinner they headed for the Eye of London. Dave had reserved a private capsule so the family could enjoy the event without a lot of other people. He booked the Hotel Chocolat capsule, where they were treated to a chocolate tasting. They learned the best way to taste, explore and enjoy chocolate. They also sipped chilled Prosecco. Rossi made sure there were also non-alcoholic bottles so Erin could join the festivities. Dave chose to drink the non-alcoholic version as did Katie, Taylor, Dan, Jessie and Amy. Erin told them all they could have the real Prosecco, but they declined. Katie, Dan and Taylor did taste the alcoholic version, but preferred to join Erin and Dave.

Rossi was standing at one end of the capsule watching the sunset, when Michael walked over to him. "I want to apologize for my earlier behavior. I was out of line and I'm sorry. I told Emily what I said and what I thought,"

"Yeah she told me." Dave said keeping his eyes on the horizon.

"I was sure for a few minutes as she was blasting me, she was going to break up with me, but she didn't."

"I'm surprised she didn't kick your ass." Dave said smiling.

"Yeah, well I'm glad she didn't. Anyway, I am sorry; I hope we can start over." Michael offered Dave his hand. "No hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings, but if you ever put Emily through something like that again, I'll kick your ass and don't think because I'm older than you, I can't do it." Dave said shaking his hand.

When Michael moved away to sit with Prentiss, Erin sauntered up behind him wrapping her arms around his waist. "Hey sexy, you okay?"

Moving her so she was now standing in front of him, with her back to his chest he kissed the spot on the back of her neck he knew would make her purr. "Yeah, baby everything's fine. He told Emily what he said and apologized."

"I know, Emily told me he told her. She was very pissed at him. She almost broke it off."

"If she really cares about him, then I'm glad she didn't. I'm going to be open minded, but cautious too." Rossi told his wife, again kissing that spot on her neck.

"David, if you keep doing that we'll never get to enjoy the sunset or the chocolate and truffle tasting. Not to mention I would rather not put on a show for our children." Erin chuckled, leaning back into him as his hands wrapped around her waist.

"Can we join you?" Taylor asked as she and Dan stepped up beside them.

"Of course," Erin told them, reaching for Taylor's hand. "We haven't talked much today. Are the two of you enjoying yourselves?"

"We're having a great time, but we did notice Dave, you seemed a little quiet today." Dan answered.

Dave smiled, "I'm okay. A little misunderstanding with Michael, but it's all good now."

"He's acts like he wants to be like Dave, he's a little strange." Taylor commented and everyone laughed.

"He can try to be like David all he wants, no one can ever be like Rossi. They broke the mold when they made him." Erin said bringing their joined hands to her lips and kissing his.

"Frankly I don't know why anyone would want to be?" Dave said softly.

Dan patted him on the back, "because you're badassical, Dude!" Erin just stared at her middle child and Dave shook his head, while Taylor laughed.

An hour later, the group got out of the capsule with a goodie bag full of chocolate for each of them. Heading for the limo, dropping off Em and Michael, the family went straight back to the apartment. Jessie and Amy said good night and went straight to bed. Dan, Taylor, Katie and Josh decided to hit the local night life promising to be back before 1AM.

Erin changed into something more comfortable, before checking in on the girls. Walking back into the living room she stood in front of her husband. "Come on David, it's been a long day. Let's go bed."

Looking up at his wife, "Baby, this has been one of the strangest days I've had in a very long time."

Pulling him to his feet, Erin wrapped her arm around his waist. "That it has, let's see what we can do to fix that." He saw the look in her eyes, smiling he let her lead the way. Laughing, "I think we both could use a little pleasure."