When they arrived at the Rossi home, Aaron jumped out of the truck and went inside. He found Penelope and Jack making supper in the kitchen. "Welcome back, Boss Man. She's in the living room, holding Irene while we cook."
"Thanks, Penelope." He went to the living room, Emily shadowing him. "Eager to spend some more time with us, Emily?"
"A little. Um, I thought she only had three kids? The pictures on her mantle had a young woman who looks strikingly like her, more so than her other kids."
"That's her daughter with Dave. She was given up for adoption the minute she was born."
Emily looked at him in shock. "Is there anything else you need to tell me? Like, I don't know, JJ having a melt-down or something scandalous like Rossi and Strauss having a love child!"
He reached out and touched Emily's shoulder. "Em, we're not intentionally keeping secrets from you. Some things that have become common knowledge to us happened during your time as Rachel."
"I know," she sighed as she hunched her shoulders. "Someday I'll fit in again." They continued on into the living room and Emily laughed lightly as she looked at the couch. "I never thought I'd say this, Hotch, but she looks adorable."
Aaron followed her gaze and saw his lover lying on the couch, Irene cuddled close to her chest. Both were fast asleep, and he smiled slightly at the sight of them. Quietly, he pulled out his cell phone and took a picture, turning it into his new wallpaper before putting the device back in his pocket. "Rin."
Blinking, she opened her eyes and looked at the two of them. "How long have I been asleep?"
"I don't know, love. We just got back from our errand. Are you feeling any better?"
"Much. I think losing the contents of my stomach helped immeasurably. Emily, do you want to hold Irene for a little bit?"
Hesitantly, the other woman nodded and Erin stood carefully before handing the baby over. "She's so tiny. I always imagined she would be more substantial, but here she is, weighing barely a whisper."
"She's managed to put on seven ounces, so she's broken the six pound mark, but she's still playing catch up to the other babies." Erin moved closer to him, letting him wrap his arm around her waist.
"We could call her Thumbelina," Derek said as he joined them. "Baby Girl kicked me out of the kitchen."
"Making a mess instead of helping, huh?" Emily teased, to which Erin giggled lightly.
"So, you find that funny, do you?" He turned towards the couple, smirking as he advanced. "Have we officially made her a member of our family yet, Hotch?"
Aaron shook his head as he backed away, fighting to keep the grin off his own face. Erin narrowed her eyes a bit at him. "Hotch, you'd best not let anything untoward happen to me. I hear my couch is really comfortable."
Emily laughed quietly as Morgan stopped a few inches away from Erin's face. "You should have picked me. I'm the fun one, not old fuddy-duddy Hotch." He brought his hands to rest on her shoulders, and Aaron saw her stiffen quickly. "We could have had a real good time," he said lowly as he bent his head.
Erin bolted from the room and they all heard the strangled sobs as she slammed the door behind her. Aaron bit his lip as he looked after her. "I have to go make sure she's okay."
"I'll go, Aaron. This calls for a woman's touch." Emily handed Irene to Morgan and went after Erin, a pensive look on her face.
"What the hell, Hotch? I was just teasing her!"
"I know. I should have seen that coming, though. Dammit, I know being overly aggressive is one of her triggers. Why would I be so stupid?" He sank down on the couch, burying his face in his hands. "She's going to be so upset with me."
"I'm sorry for whatever I dredged up. Do you think it would help if I apologized to her?"
"After she's calmed down a little, yes." Aaron sighed, running one hand through his hair. After a few moments had passed, he stood up and moved to the door. "I have to see if she's okay." He strode up the stairs with purpose, turning into the guest room.
Emily was sitting on the bed next to Erin's prone form. With a tenderness he'd never seen before, she stroked Erin's hair, murmuring lowly to her. He stepped further into the room, and she looked up at him, her eyes pooling with tears. "He's here now, Rin. You're going to be okay."
She got up and stopped next to him. "Thank you, Emily."
"Is the creep who raped her behind bars?"
"Yes. But how did you…?"
"That's personal, Sir." Emily brushed past him and he went to Erin, sitting in the spot Emily had just left.
"Honey, I'm here." Erin turned onto her side to look up at him. "Oh, Rin, I'm sorry. I should have…"
"No! I overreacted. It's just…"
"I know." She curled up into his lap. Resting her head on his chest as she played with the buttons on his shirt. "Derek wants to apologize to you."
"He probably thinks I'm going to fire him. I'm not, it was just a joke. Oh, Aaron, why can't I move on?"
"You're going to hate this suggestion, but maybe you should see someone, just for a little bit. I don't have all the answers you need. And though I love you with all my heart, you need something more solid than my declarations of adoration."
She looked up at him, cupping his face. "Maybe, maybe, I should. I'll have Penny find me the best one available."
He bent down and kissed her gently and then prodded her up. "Supper was almost ready, from the smell of things. Let's go put our appearance in." Erin nodded and took his hand. Together, they went to the dining room, finding the table set. Penelope bustled in from the kitchen, a sad, knowing, smile on her face.
"Just in time. Take a seat and I'll bring the others in." She moved into the den, and soon Derek was joining them at the table. He sat next to Erin and took her hand in his.
She turned her head to look into his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ma'am. I took a joke too far."
"I know, and I overreacted a touch. I forgive you. What were you going to do before I bolted on you?"
"Give you a nickname, I give everyone one."
"And what is mine?"
"Buttercup."
Erin looked over at Aaron, a wicked smile on her face. "That makes Aaron my Westley."
"As you wish, Princess Buttercup." He leaned in and kissed her, catching Morgan's eye. The other man grinned and nodded.
"I knew I'd picked the right nickname for you," Morgan said as the others joined them.
On the drive home, she was quiet, watching the scenery pass by as they listened to Jack chatter on about how much fun he had had during his day at Aunt Penelope's. It was only when he pulled into her driveway that she seemed to register something odd. "Aaron? Why are we at my house?" He heard the note of panic in her voice and reached out to hold her hand.
"Don't you mean our house? Ten hands make for quick work on a lazy Saturday. We're home, Rin." She looked into his eyes, a gorgeous smile on her lips. "Forever and ever, if you'll have us."
"This is home, the place where we belong,." Erin leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Let's head inside." They got out of the car and Jack plastered himself to her side. Aaron unlocked the door and they went in.
"I put Jack in the guest room at the end of the hall upstairs." Jack wriggled free of his hold on Erin and ran upstairs to find his room. "Care to christen our bedroom?"
"I would love to, darling." She took his outstretched hand and let him lead her up to their room. He opened the door and was overwhelmed by the scent of roses. "Honey?"
"I don't know, Rin. I was the last one out of our room, I thought." Aaron flipped on the lights and she gasped in happiness. The covers of the bed were pulled back and rose petals were strewn over the exposed surface.
"Aaron, this is so lovely. Who's the romantic on your team?"
"Probably Emily. She was the only one who disappeared for a little bit today." He squeezed her hand gently and shut the door before leading her over to their bed. She leaned up and kissed him sweetly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Without breaking the kiss, he rucked up her skirt and then cupped his hands under her ass, pulling her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carefully firmed his grip so she wouldn't fall. Erin broke the kiss, panting heavily. "Oh, Aaron," she moaned as she threw her head back. He used the opening to bite and suck at her neck. "Yes," she hissed and he pulled her back onto the bed.
Erin straddled him, staring into his eyes. He tugged her blouse out of her skirt and pulled it over her head, throwing it to the floor. Her breasts thrust out invitingly and he ran his hands up along her sides to cup them, thumbing her nipples to erect peaks through the lacy fabric. "Does that feel good, Buttercup?"
"Oh god, Aaron, yes. Please," she mewled and he turned her onto her back, quickly pulling her skirt off. As he sucked on one nipple through the fabric of her bra, he quickly disrobed. Reaching over to their nightstand, he coated his fingers with her preferred lubricant and tugged her panties off with his free hand. In moments, he had her approaching orgasm and he swiftly entered her. They came together and he collapsed on top of her. "Welcome home," she panted out.
Aaron kissed her softly and rolled onto his side, pulling her close. He finally took the time to remove her bra, needing to feel her skin flush against his. "I love you, my Erin."
"I love you, my Aaron." She threw a leg over his and seemed to meld herself to him as he pulled the covers up around them. As they drifted off to sleep, he let his chin come to rest atop her head as he breathed in the delicate scent of her perfume.