Erin smiled at the gift Helen had brought her a few moments ago. "He is determined to shower me in presents, I swear."

"I think it's sort of sweet, honestly. Though I notice that he's changed from over the top ostentation in presentation to something more muted." Helen smiled as she took a seat across from her desk and waited for her to open the box in front of her. "How are you truly feeling? I know that you've been out of the hospital for four days, but you're still acting a little rundown."

"Did David put you up to asking that?" she replied a little archly as she pulled the lid off the box, smiling to see that he had given her a new rain jacket, one that would accommodate her growing baby bump.

"No, I truly want to know. You're my responsibility, after all." Helen gave her a small, quick, wink that caused her to giggle even as she shook her head. "Listen, I come by my mother hen capabilities honestly. My own mother always was looking out for me, and since I was an only child, I sort of slipped into the mom role with my friends. And it's stuck to this day."

Erin nodded as she pulled the jacket out of the box, and taking a good look at it. The light pink would complement her skin tone, and she sighed with pleasure to feel the softness of the fabric. "I will try to keep that in mind. Did, did Aaron give you any grief about the way you spoke to him last week?"

Helen's smile grew a little tight as she shook her head. "We've come to an understanding. He stays in the bullpen, I don't get in his face. So far, it's been working, and Ms. Garcia has been dropping off the completed reports to me. I'm assuming that will continue now that you're back in the office. I must say, she's nice, but a little over the top. Why do you allow her to wear the things she does?"

A light chuckle slipped from her mouth as she shrugged. "It's better than the all black and metal look that she was wearing when Aaron caught her out as the Black Queen. And I would rather there be someone in the BAU who adds a spot of color to the environment, but don't let anyone else know that."

"My lips are sealed." They shared a smile before Helen got to her feet and held out her hand. "I'll hang that on the coatrack before getting back to my work."

"Thank you, Helen. For everything." Her assistant nodded as she took hold of the coat and hung it up before going to the outer office. As soon as she heard Helen's fingers tapping away on her keyboard, Erin pulled out her phone and dialed David. "I love the new coat, David."

"It's not too large?" he asked, sounding a bit nervous about it.

"No, this will be perfect for when I truly get a baby bump. Though Tabitha's pregnancy didn't see me gaining much weight."

"If your doctor thinks that you're not gaining enough, I will start cooking the most delicious Italian food that I think will tempt you into eating second servings."

"I think the kids would like that as well. They really seemed to take a shine to you over the weekend, and that has made me feel a little more settled with how things will progress in the future. Oof." She rubbed her side absently, feeling a dull throb kick up there.

"Are you okay?"

"I think so, this feels a little like a charley horse in my side. I got them with all my pregnancies, and my doctor always said that it was a side effect of my body changing to house my sweet little babies." Again, she rubbed her side before standing up and walking around, still on the phone with her David. "I'm going to have to schedule in time to pick up a few new pieces for my wardrobe. I don't want to get too much, since that would be wasteful, but a few maternity skirts and blouses to go with my suit jackets should hold me over until the baby is here. I tend to wear my sweaters large, anyway, so once the weather turns cooler, I can just wear those more often as well."

"I think that we can find time to do that, Erin. Especially since Shepperd and I had a long chat about what happened in your office the other day. He's a bit mortified at my best friend's actions, and will be willing to give you carte blanche in the months ahead as a result of your being so kind to Hotch."

Erin rolled her eyes a little at that bit of knowledge. "I don't need you to micromanage this, David. I care for you, but I am still my own person, and can fight my own battles."

"I know that, stellina, but he had heard about the outburst from someone, and was asking if you had said anything to me. I was honest, but fair. I hope. Are you really angry with me?"

Letting out a light sigh, she shook her head. "No, though God knows I should be. It is sort of nice that I can have someone like you to rely on in the hard times ahead. Because, let's face it, David, the fact that I've already been to hospital with minor complications does not bode well for the rest of the pregnancy."

"You have to stay optimistic."

"You can be my optimism, David. I need to be realistic. Do you think we can make that work?"

There was a small pause before he responded. "I think that we can. Has Aaron been by to talk to you at all?"

Erin chuckled as she shook her head. "And we circle back around to the real reason you wanted to talk to me. No, Aaron has not been by to talk to me. Helen said that Penelope has been the one to drop off all the reports for the team while I was away, and I don't think that that will change anytime soon. Or at least, I hope that's the case. I don't relish seeing him right away."

"I can pressure Shepperd…"

"No, David. I will handle it as I see fit, if he should come see me, and if things should get out of hand. While I would love to have you come to my rescue every single time an issue arises, I know that's not possible, so I need to learn how to deal with it in my own way. Please?"

"Of course, Erin. This is just so…"

"New? Yes, for me, too. And I know that it will be bumpy for the first little while, but as long as we keep the baby in mind, then I think everything will be all right."

"Yes. All right, one thing I never asked because it always slipped my mind. And don't even wisecrack that I'm getting old. I am fully aware of my age! Why do you think that you're having a girl?"

"I have two daughters already. And…I would like another. I love Bruce, so much, but this will be my last child, and I'd love to have one more little girl to spoil and dress up."

"Well, I'll pray that you get your wish, then, Erin. Now, I should let you get back to work, wouldn't want Hotch to accuse me of dividing your attention." She laughed softly as they wound up their conversation, and by the time she hung up with him, her heart felt lighter than it had when she had arrived at work, which she hoped was a feeling that would last for the rest of her pregnancy.