"All right, remember the ground rules. None of your ribald humor, no strong language, and for goodness sake, don't hit on Jessica. She's seeing someone."

"Oh? When did that happen?"

"Shortly after we returned from your cabin. She seems happy, too, and I want to keep her that way, since Erin relies on her presence so much."

Dave nodded as he rubbed his hand over his goatee. "I hear you, Hotch. And don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior."

Hotch nodded as they stepped out of the elevator. "I will see you at my house then. Jess texted to let me know that the food should arrive in forty minutes, which should give us enough time to get there without them having to wait on us." Dave nodded as he went over to his car, and Aaron smiled as he pulled his keys out of pocket and unlocked his car, hurrying over and throwing his bag in the passenger seat before leaving the parking lot and heading home.

The drive was quiet, and he found himself humming along with the radio as he drove, finding his heart lighter in his chest than it had been in ages. Penelope had wanted to come to this little dinner party, but he had quietly told her that it was better if this happened in a smaller group setting, that there would be time to spend with Erin later. She hadn't been the happiest with that news, but he also knew that Erin was calling her quite often, so it wasn't like he was cutting off contact between them. Finally, he was home, though, and as he pulled into the drive, he saw Erin and Jack in the front window, obviously waiting for him.

Aaron waved at them before parking in the garage. As he closed the door, he saw Dave pulling in, and then he went inside. "Daddy!" He heard Jack's feet pounding on the floor and braced himself for the whirlwind that was his young son. Soon, Jack was skidding to a stop in front of him before wrapping his arms around his legs and hugging him tightly. "Aunt Jessica said that she'd wait for the food, if we wanted to bring Uncle Dave into the living room and talk before the food gets here. Do you know what we're having?"

"Uncle Dave did not tell me what he ordered, but if I had to guess, it's probably Italian."

"Ooh, spaghetti! Nice!" Jack took hold of his hand and dragged Aaron into the living room, where Erin was waiting for them on the sofa, Jack's quilt spread across her lap. "Miss Erin! You'll like Uncle Dave. He tells the best stories."

"I'm certain that I'll like all of your father's friends, Jack. He has good taste in people." She smiled up at them before bending back down over her work. Aaron was still amazed by the quick, small, stitches that she made in the fabric, the results looking like she had used a machine to sew the fabric together. "I think that I'll have your quilt done in a week, Jack, and then I can start on ours."

"I can't wait, Miss Erin!"

Dave cleared his throat, and Erin looked back up, a dazzling smile spreading across her face. "You must by David Rossi. Aaron has told me so much about you." She set aside the quilt and elegantly rose to her feet, instantly slipping on the persona of charming hostess as she crossed over to the doorway, holding out her hand to him. Aaron watched Dave clasp it lightly before gently kissing the back of it, and Erin blushed a little as she shifted on her feet.

"And you, of course, are his Erin. Though I only recently found out about you, so you have me at a distinct disadvantage. Something that I hope will be rectified by the end of the evening."

"Perhaps," she softly replied before pulling her hand away and slipping her arm around Aaron's waist. "Now, before Jack's stomach growls any louder, perhaps we should head to the dining room and eat? I believe that he said something about spaghetti?"

From the way Erin said that last word, he knew that she had no idea what the dish was, and he smiled to think that this would be another first for her to experience. "I did bring spaghetti for you, kiddo. But I went with lasagna for the adults. Along with a nice bottle of Pinot Noir that should pair well with the dish. I hope you drink wine, Erin."

"I do, though I am still growing accustomed to the sheer amount of varieties available. Penelope introduced me to one called Shiraz, and I fell in love with the taste. Aaron has been most kind in making certain that we always have a bottle of it on hand."

Aaron chuckled a little as he led them into the dining room, still in a bit of shock at how easily Erin could put on a different mask. He wondered if this was how she had hosted parties with her husband, before the War had separated them and changed her entire life. "I like to make certain that the people in my life are well taken care of, what can I say?"

Dave nodded as Aaron brought Erin over to the foot of the table, pulling out the chair for her before he took his place at the head. He wasn't surprised in the least that his best friend chose to take the seat closest to Erin, since that is exactly what Aaron would have done if their roles were reversed. "You seem to have made this house come alive again, Erin. I was worried that this place might never feel like home for them again."

"I have done my best to fit in as naturally as possible. I know that it will always be a little difficult, since Haley hasn't been gone that long, but from my point of view, Mark has never really been gone. He just went off to war and I woke up in the presence of a whole new world. I think that we're both learning to live again after the traumas that we've been through." Erin looked away from Dave to stare into Aaron's eyes. They weren't so far apart that he couldn't see the microexpressions on her face, and he nodded a little before picking up his wine glass and taking a small sip. Erin copied his movement and then glanced at Jessica. "And it truly helps to have women like Jessica and Penelope who are so willing to help guide me, so that I don't make any major missteps."

Those words made Aaron feel a little guilty, since he had discouraged Penelope from joining them that evening, and he let out a little sigh of frustration as Erin and Dave began to speak lowly to each other. Jessica caught his expression, giving him a tiny smirk as she dragged him into the conversation, making him feel like a part of things. "I don't think that you're making any mistakes so far. Penelope is a great teacher of technology. Even if you don't care for laptops and the internet."

"Yes, well, there are just some things that don't come natural to me. I was surprised that I took to the cell phone as easily as I did. Oh, darling, I was going to ask. Would it be possible for us to purchase a piano? I need something to do with my hands besides sew, and Jack is of an age where he can learn to play, as well. I know that it would be a rather dear purchase, but…"

"But we have a weekend to look." The smile that spread across Erin's face stole his breath, and he knew that he had given the right answer. "My mother played as well, so it would be nice to have music back in the house."

"Thank you," she murmured, a faint blush staining her cheeks as the conversation shifted onto another topic, and he gave her a small nod before answering Jack's question and continuing to eat his meal.