Disclaimed!
Hi to everyone who is still taking the time to read this story, I'm nearly finished writing it and there's a bit of a bumpy road to go.
Thanks for reading.
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Another Friday night saw JJ and Rossi's weekly dinner in Rossi's favourite Italian restaurant in the city.
For Hotch, the father/daughter outing meant he got to spend some alone time with Jack. They'd have pizza, play games, go to the cinema or go on a city based adventure to the park, zoo or aquarium, depending on their moods and the weather.
Henry would spend the night at Will's house on Friday. The father and son had remained close as they could even though Will's career was suddenly on the fast track and his relationship with Sheena, was starting to become serious. Will would call the little boy every night before bed and every Friday was their night to have fun.
Erin had begun Friday night dinner for her children at the house she shared with David, and her partner would usually join them for dessert by the time he drove JJ home to her boys.
While the rest of the team, did their own thing, when a case wasn't taking priority. For Blake that meant joining her husband James at Harvard where he was teaching. Morgan would usually catch up with friends from his ATF days or be on dates with Megan, his new girlfriend who had lasted the longest out of every woman he'd ever introduced to the team. Reid was blissfully in love with Lena, even though he'd never admit it out loud in fear of ruining it, but since Maeve, he hadn't been happier, even when they went on double dates with Lana's sister Megan and Derek Morgan. Meanwhile Garcia was suddenly talking weddings with Kevin, after years of deterring his proposals, as the two reunited technical analysts were seemingly blissfully in love.
In the busy, yet still atmospheric Italian restaurant Rossi beamed as he watched his daughter finish her dessert.
JJ licked the back of the spoon, grinning in contentment. "God Dad, you should never have ordered me a Crème Brule the last time. I'm addicted now."
"Eat up, you deserve to indulge." Rossi passed his half finished dish of Crème Brule over to his daughter's side of the table in defeat.
The pregnant, mother of soon to be three, dug into the dessert happily. "Thanks, I really do."
"How is everything coming along with the new place?" The profiler asked as he watched her in pleasure.
JJ licked her lips. "We're getting the keys to the house in a few days and then we can finally move in."
"Perhaps you should go away for a few days and let us move you all in. You could go and visit Sandy?" Rossi suggested feigning innocence.
She sighed knowingly in response. "Dad, I'll be fine. I promised Aaron that I'd just sit and watch you all do the hard work. I'm very efficient at just sitting around giving out orders."
"I'm sure you are." He chuckled lightly.
"Have you decided on the colours for the boys rooms? I know Henry wanted a jungle room." The grandfather asked, changing the focus onto the young boys.
JJ rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Yeah, and Aaron the push over he is, has relented. Lindsay, Sean's fiancée, is going to come over at the weekend and paint a jungle scene for him and racing car themed wall for Jack."
"What about the baby's room?" He prompted hesitantly, never really knowing, his daughter's mood when discussing her pregnancy.
JJ smiled warmly, touching his hand in appreciation of his soft tone. "We're going with different shades of blues and framed prints for now. I'm more concerned on getting the older boys settled at the moment."
"Only two and bit months to go, now until we get to meet Bernard." He mused with a smirk.
"I can't wait. And we're so not calling the poor boy, Bernard." She remarked dryly.
"So no ideas for names, yet?" Rossi asked with a little frown on his forehead.
JJ shrugged her non commitment. "I like Noah, oh and Carrick after my Mom's father, while Aaron likes Thomas, Joseph or Jamie. I don't know though, maybe we'll just wait and see what he looks like before we name him."
"Was it this difficult to name Henry?" He asked curiously.
"No, but the first time was different. It was new, unknowing and I seemed to have ages to prepare. This time everything seems a little I don't know, different." JJ explained unsurely.
Rossi rested back in his seat and raised an eye. "Different good or different bad?"
"Just different." She sighed. "I'm more nervous this time about giving birth. I thought I wouldn't be, with knowing what's going to happen, but because I know what's expected, it terrifies me."
"Sweetheart, you're going to be great, and surely the second time is easier." He stated comfortingly.
JJ stared at him in disbelief. "Sure, says a man."
"But you're happy right?" He questioned in concern.
"Very. I thought I would be a complete mess but as nervous as I am, I am happy. Aaron and the kids make me happy and once the baby gets here, I'm sure everything is going to be great." She exclaimed positively.
"Good." He beamed.
JJ raised her own eye in response. "Are you happy?"
"I erm..." He straightened uncomfortably. "I have something to run by you."
"I should have known there were ulterior motives for ordering dessert." JJ mumbled as she pushed her plate away from her.
He ignored her quip before steeling himself with a fortifying breath. "I bought a ring. For Erin."
"No way. An engagement ring? You're proposing?" Her eyes remained wide as her father nodded bashfully.
Rossi smiled at her shock. "Do you want to see?"
"You're carrying it on you?" Her voice lowered as she glanced around the busy restaurant.
Rossi shrugged sheepishly before reaching for the box in his jacket pocket. "I worry that Erin would find it if I hide it at home, so I took it to work, but what if the office gets broken into and it gets stolen?"
"You mean your office in the secure FBI building?" JJ retorted in humour.
He looked perplexed momentarily before laughing lightly. "You're right. I should hide it in Aaron's office, that way it's his fault if it goes missing."
Rossi passed the small box over the table and waited in anticipation as his grown daughter examined the $10K, princess cut sapphire he had custom made for his blonde, ice queen.
"Dad, it's gorgeous." JJ whistled her approval.
"You think?" He pressed.
She nodded once. "Erin will love it."
"Do you think she'll say yes?" Rossi wondered nervously.
"For this bauble of a stone, I think Aaron would say yes to marrying you, never mind Erin." She responded with a mutter.
"I was going to wait until we went to Italy to propose, but now that's off the table this year, I was thinking of taking her away for a weekend to the beach house, in a couple of weeks when work slows down for her and propose overlooking the sea. My Erin loves the sea." He grinned in thought of his plans.
JJ closed the box and handed it back to him. "You're really excited about this."
"Love is a wonderful drug." He mused gleefully.
"Why wait?" The former liaison turned profiler quizzed.
"I want the proposal to be perfect." Rossi deduced with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"I'm sure it will be." JJ ensured with a smile.
Rossi nodded as he placed the ring back into his pocket. "Besides, I don't want it to conflict with the baby's birth or work stress. This way we'll be engaged before the baby's born but after Erin's work commitments are done with."
"Are you sure you want to go through another wedding?" JJ prompted mischievously.
"I love weddings." He answered simply.
She giggled. "Yeah I know. You've already had three and you organised mine."
"You're onboard with me proposing to Erin, right? You realise you have a say in this." Rossi stated reassuringly.
JJ tilted her head to the side, hoping she hadn't altered anything in his life because he was afraid of her reaction. "Seriously Dad, this is your choice and Erin's alone. I'm happy if you're happy."
"I am." He let out a shaky breath before lifting his water glass to his lips.
JJ stopped him quickly before raised her own glass. "Congratulations, Dad. Look at you, all grown up and settling down."
"She hasn't said yes, yet." He mumbled worriedly.
JJ shook her head slowly. "She will."
He exhaled slowly, his eyes glittering with anticipation. "I hope so."
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Let me know what you think!
