"Is today the day that you talk with Aaron?"

Erin looked at David in the mirror and gave him a small nod. "I know, I'm leaving things until almost the last minute here, but I kept hoping that somehow, I'll get word that Director Rosenthal has changed his mind and found someone else to take the open position, rather than headhunting Agent Jareau. But seeing as how that hasn't happened yet, I suppose that I have to grab the bull by the horns and broach the subject. Wish me luck, because I don't think that it is going to go well. No matter how much Aaron and I have managed to find a little bit of common ground over the last few months."

He nodded, leaning in to kiss her cheek as Catherine began to cry. "Do you want to get her, or me?"

"I will," she replied as she shoved the last bobby pin into place, anchoring her French twist into place before taking a deep breath and slipping out of the bathroom. She wasn't surprised to see Tabitha heading towards Catherine's room, too, and she smiled as she jogged over to her daughter's side. "I have her, Tabby. Make certain that Elise is dressed?"

"Of course, Mama." Tabitha gave her a small smile before continuing down the hall to Elise's room. Erin watched her disappear inside before opening the door to the nursery and heading inside. Catherine was definitely awake, and she glided over to the crib and picked her daughter up, cradling her close to her chest as she made her way over to the rocking chair. Lowering herself into the chair, Erin unbuttoned her blouse and brought her daughter to her breast, letting out a little sigh as Catherine began to eat. Once her daughter was satiated, Erin brought her over to the changing table and put a fresh diaper on her before pulling one of the dresses that Penelope had originally given to Elise.

"All right, little one, let's see where our family is on breakfast for me." Erin smiled as Catherine snuggled against her, and she carefully carried her downstairs to the kitchen. "Is the diaper bag ready to go?" she asked when she stepped into the room and saw that nothing was done.

"Yes, stellina, it's hanging next to your purse. Here, eat, so that we can drop Elise and Catherine off at Jessica's. Apparently, Hotch is already on his way to work."

Erin nodded as she took the plate of waffles from his hand, sitting at the table and eating with one hand so that she could smile and coo down into Catherine's face while she quickly ate. "All right, darlings, I trust that you can get off to school all right. I hate to rush off this morning, but I have a spot of business to attend to at work." Erin gave her children wide smiles as she got to her feet once more, heading over to the coat rack and struggling into her coat while David helped Elise into her own jacket. After hurried kisses to everyone, they were in the garage, and getting the girls into their car seats before she slid behind the wheel.

"Hey!"

"I need to drive today, David." He nodded before getting into the passenger seat, allowing her to back out of garage and get underway in short order. "Have a wonderful day at preschool, Leelee!" she sang out as Jessica came up to the car and helped David with the girls, which allowed Erin time to think about what she was going to say to Aaron. She still had no good ideas, other than to just blurt everything out, but that was not a great idea. Sighing, she looked over at David as he took his seat once more, a soft smile on her lips as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Everything is going to be fine, Erin. I promise."

"You say that now, I'm just looking to the future, when it becomes common knowledge that I allowed Agent Jareau to be stolen from us." He chuckled as he shook his head, kissing her cheek once more before settling back in his seat while she began the drive to the office. There was a spot close to the entrance, which she was grateful for, as she wanted to get up to her office as quickly as possible. "I'll come to see you as soon as I'm finished with Aaron?" she said as she grabbed her bag from the backseat, and David nodded a little as she left his side to scurry into the building and up the stairs to the sixth floor, knowing that she needed the workout to rid her body of some nervous energy before she went to see Aaron.

"Good morning, Erin. You look harried this morning."

"Because I have to talk to Aaron about the transfer. Would you mind taking my things into the office this morning so that I can get this over with?"

"That's fine," Helen replied as she got to her feet and took Erin's bag and coat. "And don't worry, he'll understand that this is not your doing."

"I pray that you're right." Erin welcomed the feel of her assistant's hand squeezing her shoulder gently, nodding a little as she turned and left her office once more. Thankfully, none of the others had arrived yet, and she walked at a measured pace through the bullpen and up the stairs, pausing in front of Aaron's office to take a deep breath before heading inside. He was at his desk, bent over some paperwork, and she closed the door with a thud so as to get his attention.

"Erin? What brings you here this morning?"

She took a deep breath as she made her way over to the chairs and took a seat, nervously smoothing out invisible wrinkles in her skirt, and wondering if that was her tell. From the look Aaron gave her, she was more than certain it was, and she lifted her chin upwards as she coolly regarded him. "While you were away in California, I was called into a meeting with Director Shepperd and Director Rosenthal." Aaron lifted his eyebrows at the mention of that name, and Erin nodded a little. "I've been looking for a way to say this since that meeting, but I kept hitting a brick wall. I apologise in advance for my bluntness, but there's no way around it. Agent Jareau has been chosen to join the State Department."

His head cocked to one side as a flat expression shuttered over his face. "That's impossible."

"Precisely what I said. However, it was heavily implied that I would be out of a job if I couldn't convince her to take the prestigious job opportunity. I thought that, perhaps, we could talk to her together about it, impress upon her the fact that this would be more money, along with more time at home for her."

"You can't be serious."

"I wish that I wasn't. But you can help me convince her that this is the way things have to be."

He let out a long, frustrated, breath as he stared at her. "And when is she supposed to start this new job of hers?"

"Monday."

"Mon…Monday! As in five days from now?" She nodded. "Jesus, Erin, that is cutting it fine."

"I told you, I didn't know how to broach the subject with you or her. That's why I came to you today, so that we can come up with a strategy and tell her tomorrow. That way, she has the weekend to prepare for her new job." Aaron shook his head. "I know, I know. I'm going to be considered an even larger bitch than I am now by your team, but this has to happen."

"All right, I'll support you, but you're the one who has to do the talking. And I am going to remain as neutral as possible." She nodded, knowing that this was the best that he could give her, her mind wandering to tomorrow and wondering just how badly Agent Jareau would take the news.