"Already?" Helen asked when Erin handed her the information to change her address, and she nodded at her assistant. "I was not expecting that to happen until you were well into your second trimester."

"David wants us to bond as a family for as long as we possibly can, and the easiest way to do that is if we're under the same roof. By the time I arrive home tonight, everything that we need will be moved over to his place. Karen and Tabitha are in love with it already, since they're finally getting their own rooms, but we're now out of guest rooms. Which means that one of us will have to sleep on the sofa when we get into a fight."

"Or you could not go to sleep angry? That's what my mom always told me was the key to a successful relationship. Oh, I'm so happy for you, Erin. You finally have that pregnancy glow, and that happiness is so good to see after how rocky things began."

She nodded as she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. "It has been nice to find an even keel in everything. Though I'm sort of dreading when Agent Gideon returns, since I know that he and Aaron have a rather tight working relationship. But I'll be six months pregnant at that time, God willing."

"Don't talk like that."

"I have to think like that, since this is a high-risk pregnancy. Yes, I'm fourteen weeks along this week, which means I'm out of the immediate danger zone, but I don't want to grow too complacent with things, because that's when the worst seems to happen."

Helen rose to her feet and came around to her side, resting her hand on Erin's shoulder as she looked into her eyes. "All right, I'll be the happy ray of optimistic sunshine, only with less of Penelope Garcia's over the top zaniness, you can be the realist." Erin nodded before taking a deep breath. "I'll file this change of address before I leave for the day. You go home and get used to your swanky new accommodations."

She giggled shortly as she nodded. "I will do just that." Helen gave her a small wink before Erin turned and left her office, heading over to the elevators just as Aaron was stepping out of the bullpen and headed for the same destination. Her spine stiffened as she pressed the down button before she pressed her hand to her baby bump in an effort to calm her suddenly racing heart. "Good evening, Agent Hotchner."

"Chief Strauss. Headed home?"

"Yes. How is Haley doing?" The elevator doors slid opened, and they stepped inside it, Aaron pressing the button for the ground floor.

"The morning sickness hasn't passed for her yet, which is common for some women. How are you doing?"

"Luckily, my stomach seems to have sorted itself out, as I no longer get any morning sickness. You'll be able to find out the sex of the baby at her next scan. What are you hoping for?" This was the most civil conversation that they had had in weeks, and she wanted to keep it light and focused on Haley so that it would not turn to her.

"I think that we both are wanting a boy. What do you want?"

"A little girl. I have this feeling that I'm going to be blessed with another daughter," she said lowly as she absently caressed her baby bump. "Though I won't know for six more weeks what we're having. The nursery that David has had created is absolutely perfect, no matter if it's a girl or a boy." She saw, from the corner of her eye, that his jaw had stiffened at the mention of his best friend, and she took a deep breath before turning to look at him. "Look, I know that this is awkward for you both. He's your best friend, and the father of my baby. Please, for his sake at least, don't shut him out."

"I'm trying, Erin. Even though we all know the truth of your pregnancy." She frowned. "No, don't look at me like that. You know that I abhor lying in anyone, but I understand why you and Dave are holding to this story, as it would look bad on you to be pregnant with my child. So I'll accept it for the moment. Especially since Haley is getting a little clingy as her pregnancy progresses. I make no promises of what the future will hold, however. Keep that in mind."

"I suppose that I'll have to, Aaron," she responded smoothly as they reached the ground floor, and she stepped out of the elevator, only for him to take hold of her elbow as he guided her out to the parking lot. "Aaron?"

"Our conversation hasn't finished yet, so I'm going to escort you to your car." From the way that he was gripping her arm, she knew that she couldn't easily shake it off. "Now, are you taking all your prenatal vitamins?"

"This is my fourth pregnancy, Aaron. I know how to take care of myself and my baby. Do you have any other questions I might be able to answer for you?"

"Do you have a birth plan yet?"

Erin fought to keep from rolling her eyes as they walked along, and cleared her throat before answering as sarcastically as she could. "My obstetrician and I have decided that the best course of action is for me to have a home water birth. It's supposed to be quite soothing, and one of the least stressful options available to women." His hold on her elbow tightened and she glared up at him as she planted her feet into the ground, refusing to go any farther.

"You will have the baby in a hospital. Understood?"

"You're not my husband, you're not my partner, and this is not your baby. You can't possibly think that you can dictate how I and my doctor determine what my best course of action is. Believe me, we are talking quite frequently about the next weeks of my pregnancy at each appointment, and I am determined to not look any further ahead than that. I will do whatever Doctor Brunner says is best for this baby, in order to make certain that this pregnancy sticks for as long as possible. But I know damn well that added stress is the last thing that I need. So please, if you care for my baby, even in the slightest bit, do not cause me any extra grief."

She hated herself for tearing up in his presence, though she knew that it was the hormones making her more emotional. Blinking furiously, she stared into his face, willing him to open his mouth once more, to let her know that he had heard and understood what she was driving at. "Haley cries at the drop of a hat these days."

"Yes, that's what the hormones do to a woman."

"Fine, I will try not to interfere with your pregnancy. But you will let me know anything important?"

The fact that he had asked rather than demanded she keep him in the loop allowed her to be a bit gracious, and she nodded as she was finally able to shake her arm free from his hold. "Of course, though I'm certain that David would also be glad to fill you in on everything that you need to know." Erin gave him a small smile before hurrying over to her car and climbing behind the wheel, pulling out of her spot as quickly as possible so that she couldn't be detained by Aaron again.