Erin took one last look at her reflection, unable to keep the excited smile from her lips. After Aaron had found her in New York, after he had called the paramedics and they had arrived in time to stop the effects of John's poisonous little MDMA cocktail, her relationship with David had seemed to just grow all the stronger, and so when he had asked her to meet him at their favorite French bistro, Erin had assumed that he was going to ask her to marry him. Glancing down at her wrist, she adjusted the bracelet that she was wearing in order to cover the scar that John had left her with before leaving the bathroom and heading downstairs.

She took one last look in her purse, making certain that her phone was there, before slipping her lipstick into the little side pocket. Erin just knew that she would need to touch up her lipstick following their meal, as she wanted to make certain she looked her best for when she told him yes. She was ready to stop living alone in her too large house and make a home with him, and have a place for her children to spend time with them. Sighing, Erin placed her wrap around her shoulders and grabbed her keys before heading out to the garage and backing out of her spot.

The entire drive to the restaurant, Erin thought about how she would answer his question. She didn't want to be that stereotypical weeping woman, but she also didn't want to appear as if she was still her ice queen persona. Shaking her head a little, Erin found a parking spot near David's car and made her way inside the restaurant, looking for him as inconspicuously as she could. "May I help you?"

"Yes, my partner is already here, and I was looking to see where he had been seated."

"The name, please?"

She nodded with a small smile. "David Rossi."

The maître d smiled in return as he motioned for her to follow after him, and Erin drew in a deep breath as she was led deep into the restaurant, right to the most secluded table there. It made sense that he wouldn't want to make a scene when he asked her to marry him, and she felt her heart skip a beat or two as she took a seat, allowing the maître d to push the chair in for her before he left them. Erin didn't really need to look at the menu, since she knew exactly what she was going to order, and yet she still picked it up out of habit. "You look lovely tonight, bella."

"Thank you," she murmured in reply as she looked at him over the top of the menu, feeling a slight blush rise in her cheeks. When their eyes met, though, she felt something in her stomach shift slightly, as the smile on his lips didn't quite reach his eyes. "Did you have to wait for me long?"

"No, I was just seated a minute or two ago. How was your day?"

"Long, but rewarding. One of my clients had a bit of a breakthrough, and it was wonderful to watch her connect the dots between her behaviour and her trauma. But I imagine that you had a rather boring day in the bullpen, since I know that you don't care for all that paperwork you have to do when you're home."

He chuckled as he nodded. "Yeah, it was a long day. I had a lot to think about, so Hotch was a bit peeved that I didn't get as much work done as he would have liked. Blake was lucky, she could go teach her class at Georgetown."

Erin gave him a nervous smile, again feeling like something was off with him, and she tried to think if she had done something to upset or anger him. Nothing immediately came to mind, other than the fact that they hadn't gotten together when the team had returned late from the last case, which had been in California, but she didn't see why that would bother him, as they often didn't spend the night together after cases on the west coast. "She does love teaching. I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to go back to that full time in the near future."

David made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat as their server appeared. Before she could say anything to the woman, he had already placed both their orders, and she frowned a little at that. While he had ordered a dish that she enjoyed, Erin had actually wanted to order her other favorite, but before she could tell the server as much, the woman had flitted away from the table and they were left alone again. "I forgot to tell you, Krystall called while I was out on this case, and we had a long catch up chat."

"Is that why you didn't call like you normally do?"

He cleared his throat as he nodded. "Yeah. I know that I should have texted to let you know what was up, but we just got caught up in the conversation that I didn't even have time to do that. Hotch was less than pleased as it was, being kept up with my voice droning on in his ear."

Erin sucked her lower lip between her teeth in an effort to keep from saying something sharp in response. "Aaron can have a short temper when it comes to distractions, I seem to remember."

"Exactly, and since I had already gotten on his bad side, I decided to just not press my luck any farther. But I hope that you did like the flowers I sent to your office the following day."

"I did. I love irises." Erin picked up her glass of water and took a long sip in order to help get her suddenly racing heartbeat back under control. "And I loved that these were still attached to their bulbs, so I can plant them in my garden in the spring."

"It's good to have plans for the future."

Those words were said so sweetly that Erin began to rethink her misgivings with the dinner, and they fell into an easy conversation as they ate their meal. By the time she was setting aside her dessert fork, Erin was feeling much more at ease and wondering when David would ask her the question that had been on her mind for most of the evening. "Are you coming home with me for a nightcap?" she asked as their server cleared away the last of their dishes.

"No. Listen, Erin, there's something that I need to tell you, and I don't really know where to start. For the last few weeks, I've been thinking about this, and trying to think of the kindest way to discuss this with you. Krystall's call was a catalyst that I didn't realise I needed until it came. It's been nearly two years since John tried to kill you, and I have tried to hold on to the magic that was our early relationship, especially after taking care of you when you were released from hospital. Everything just began to feel more and more rote about our relationship, even though the sex was still great, and I just couldn't find a way to let you know this without hurting you."

Erin had always thought that it was fiction when authors wrote that their characters could feel their hearts shatter into a thousand pieces, but that was exactly what happened to her as she stared at David. "What, exactly, is it that you're trying to say, David?" She was proud of the fact that she sounded cold and frosty, as if what he had said wasn't bothering her in the least, and her eyebrow ticked upwards as she watched him swallow in an effort to buy himself some time to reply to her question.

"I want to break up with you. I can't string you along anymore, as it isn't fair to you. You deserve to find someone who can love you the way that you deserve to be loved and that won't let the baggage of what happened in New York to hang around his neck like a millstone."

She blinked in an unsteady tattoo, feeling bile start to fill her mouth as she struggled to keep from reacting. Their server must have sensed something was wrong, as she approached the table with the check, and David hurriedly pulled out his wallet and slipped his card onto the tray before handing it back to the woman. "David…"

"I'm sorry, I tried to do this in a neutral space. I, I'll leave you alone, I'm certain that you don't want to see my face any longer this evening."

Before she could respond, he rose to his feet and hurried after their server, leaving her to sit there in her disbelief. Erin watched him speak with the server for a few moments before taking his card back and signing the receipt before he rushed out of the restaurant, leaving her totally alone. The moment he was out of her line of vision was when her façade began to crack, and the first tears rolled down her cheeks as she bowed her head and stared at the table.

"Did you want a glass of wine on the house?"

She looked up at the server and shook her head. "I'm three years sober, and I won't let this situation destroy something I worked so hard for. Though I wouldn't say no to more water. Please?"

"Of course." The younger woman pursed her lips as she reached out and rested her hand on Erin's shoulder for a moment before turning and heading over to the drinks station and grabbing a pitcher of water. "Take your time, we don't close for another three hours, and I'm certain that our manager won't mind if you stay here past closing while we clean up, if you need that time. I am so sorry."

"It's not your fault, but I appreciate the sentiment."

Erin gave her as large a smile as she could muster, even though she felt like it was more of a grimace than a true smile. Once she was alone once more, Erin pulled out her phone and scrolled through her recent calls log until she reached Alex's name and she touched the screen to dial her before bringing the phone to her ear. "Erin? Is everything all right?"

"No?" she managed to say before having to clear her throat from her tears. "I hate to ask this of you, but I need you tonight. I'm still at our restaurant, and I don't know if I can find a way to move on."

"That little French bistro?"

"Yes."

"I'll be there in twenty."

Erin murmured her reply before allowing the phone to clatter onto the table so that she could bury her face in her hands and hide her tears from the rest of the patrons at large. Suddenly, she understood why they were seated at this table. David had orchestrated everything down to the last detail, and she tried not to weep all the harder at that thought.

"Our chef made you this."

Looking up, she saw that her server was holding out another dessert, something that she had never seen offered on the menu before, and she nodded as the woman set it down in front of her. "Would you mind bringing by an extra fork? My best friend is going to be here in a few minutes to talk me down from this ledge."

"Of course." The smile that Erin gave her this time felt a little stronger, and she sighed as she picked up the fresh fork and broke off a piece of the dessert before bringing it to her lips and eating it. The flavor of the cake was just sweet enough to momentarily take her mind off her situation, and Erin knew that she would have to leave the chef an extra tip, since he had gone out of his way to make certain that she had something delicious to distract herself with.

"I hope that there's a fork for me."

Looking up, Erin tried to smile at Alex as she nodded, only for her lower lip to wobble dangerously before she broke into fresh tears. Rather than take her seat in the chair opposite Erin, Alex came to her side and crouched down so that she was practically at eye level with her. "He left me, Lexie."

"That bastard."

Erin shrugged as she leaned into her friend, hugging her tightly, even though she knew that Alex was still a little touchy about being touched. To her surprise, though, Alex returned the embrace, pressing her lips against the side of her head before she got up and took her seat. "He told me that he was talking to Krystall, that that was why he hadn't called me the last night before he came home from California. He said that he never got over what John did to me. If he can't move on from that, how am I expected to lead a normal life?"

There was a brief pause that cause Erin to look up at Alex, seeing that she was twirling her fork between her fingers as she watched Erin carefully. "Perhaps there is no normal life after what John did to you. He tried to murder you, he scarred your wrist to leave a reminder of that, even though he didn't expect you to live. You battled your way back to functioning, you fell deeper in love with Dave, and now you're learning that the love you gave has evaporated before it could touch his heart."

"You've turned into a poet."

"I've been listening to a lot of Annie Lennox since James left, and she has a way with words." Erin nodded as she took another bite of cake. "I wish that I had a magical panacea for your heart, but there's not anything that will speed up the healing process."

"I know, I knew that when Alan left me. I just, I thought he was going to propose tonight. I was so ready to not be alone in my house any longer. And I don't want to be alone tonight, but who's going to want to spend time with me when I'm like this? Besides, the kids are all away at school."

Alex set her fork onto the plate before reaching across the table and picking up Erin's free hand. "I'll come stay with you tonight. As long as you let me wear one of your nightgowns."

She let out a watery laugh as she set aside her own fork and shrugged. "Maybe I sleep naked these days."

"I highly doubt that you've changed that much since the Academy." Alex gave her a withering look, and to her shock, Erin found herself giggling at the expression. "Am I wrong?"

"No, you're not. But you always teased me for wearing those nightgowns."

"I just preferred to wear shorts and a t-shirt to bed, once I was old enough to choose for myself."

"Whatever."

Alex gave her a wide smile as they finished up the piece of cake. Once their plate was clean, Erin picked up her purse and fished around for some money to give a larger tip to their server and to the chef for their kindness. "What? Dave didn't pay for this meal?"

Erin shook her head. "No, he took care of most of it, I just wanted to leave an extra tip because we've been here so long, and the head chef served me a dessert that isn't on the menu currently, which means it's something that she's working on for future menus. I have to do something to thank them for their kindnesses." Alex's look softened as she nodded. "Are you going to follow me home, then?"

"Yes. I'll meet you there." They got up from the table, and Erin pressed the money she had pulled out of her purse into her server's hand as they passed her. Once outside, Erin still felt overwhelmed by loss, and she turned to look at Alex as they stopped by her car. "Don't look at me like that, Erin. I won't leave you tonight, I promise. We worked too hard on our friendship after New York for me to abandon you right now." She nodded slightly as her eyes filled with tears once more, and this time it was Alex who pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her close as a choked sob tore through her body. "I have you, Erin."

"I know, thank you, I love you." Before she could embarrass herself further, Erin pulled away from the embrace she longed to remain in and slipped into her car, turning it on and waiting for Alex to head to her own vehicle before she started for home. Somehow, they ended up reaching her drive at the same time, and Alex followed her into the driveway, parking next to her in the garage before following her into the house. At some point, Erin reached back for Alex's hand, guiding her through the too quiet house and up to her bedroom without saying a word. There weren't really words to say in that moment, since she didn't want to start crying once more. All Erin wanted to do was change into pyjamas, crawl into bed, and allow Alex to sit next to her until she fell asleep.

"All right, what do you want me to wear?" Alex asked as Erin led her over to the dresser.

"Here," Erin replied as she slid open the top drawer and pulled out her warm flannel Black Watch plaid nightgown. Before Alex could say anything else, Erin turned from her and took the few steps over to her closet, stepping out of her heels before unzipping her dress and hanging it on the hanger and replacing it in the closet before unhooking her bra and tugging the nightgown over her head before going over to her bed and peeling her hose off her legs. "I have to go take my makeup off."

"Okay, I'll get the bed ready for us."

Erin nodded as she set her bra and hose on top of the dresser before making her way into the bathroom. Her mascara had run down her cheeks from her crying bouts, and she sighed as she ran water to warm up before wetting a cotton round and gently removing her makeup before washing her face and then applying a light moisturizer. There was nothing, really, to be done with how puffy and red her eyes were from crying, other than to sleep and that might be a long time coming.

Letting out a long breath, Erin made her way back into her bedroom, smiling a little to see that Alex was already beneath the sheets, scrolling through her phone as she waited for Erin to return. "Anything interesting?"

"Not really, but I wanted to send a quick message back to James, since he did reach out to see how I was doing. The divorce finalized this week."

"Oh, I hadn't realized that it was that time," she replied as she joined Alex in the bed, pulling the sheets up to her chest as she turned on her side to look at Alex. "So, I guess we're both alone now."

"No, we're both without partners at the moment. But we still have each other." Alex gave her a small smile before rolling over onto her other side and plugging her phone in. Then she was shifting her body so that she could look at Erin once more. "Though having a best friend doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world right now, especially when I can comfort her and let her know that even though her partner was an ass to leave her alone in a restaurant with a broken heart, she will eventually find a way to move on and grow stronger than she thinks she in in this moment. Especially when she'll have her best friend by her side."

Erin nodded as she scooted closer to Alex, leaning her head forward until their foreheads touched, and then she was sighing as Alex snaked her arm around her waist and spread her hand out on her back. "I'll be glad to have my best friend by my side. Because I know that I can't do this alone. You picked up the pieces right where he left me, and now the hard part of life begins."

"Harder than clawing your way back from death's door?" Alex teased, and Erin shrugged. "Don't give Dave that power over you. You defeated death to live again, you can get over a measly man. All right?"

"All right." A small yawn interrupted her next thought, and Erin listened to Alex chuckle a little. "I think that I just need to sleep now, we can talk more in the morning?"

"Of course. Hopefully, it's nice enough where we can head out for a walk, since I seem to remember that you love those. Fresh air is the best thing for a broken heart." Erin nodded before moving down on the mattress so that she could rest her head on Alex's chest, listening to the steady thumping of her heart and letting it resonate in her head as Erin slowly drifted off to sleep, safe in the arms of her friend.