"You wanted to see me, Erin?"

She looked up from the report that she had been reviewing and gave Aaron a tight nod, gesturing for him to take a seat in front of her desk. There was a brief pause before he complied and she took a deep breath as she tried to prepare him for the news she was about to give. "I know that we've all wanted time to heal from Jason's abrupt disappearance from the BAU, but the Director and I both feel that it is time to fill the hole that he has left on the team. I originally was considering Katie Cole for that position, but she told me that she feels like she can do a better job remaining where she is, but was grateful for the consideration."

Aaron arched an eyebrow as he gazed at her, and she had a hard time reading the expression on his face, since he had that inscrutable look there that she hated to see. "Then just who are you and Director Shepperd considering to fill Jason's position?"

"The Director feels like it would be best if we had someone with experience to help lead the team through this time of crisis, and I happen to agree with him. It was easy to discuss our plans with this person, since we're in close contact every day."

The mask on Aaron's face dropped as he stared at her in disbelief. "What about the fraternization rules? The Director is willing to overlook this rather large breach of etiquette?"

"He believes that we can separate our work and home lives, yes. And right now, the only people who are aware of our relationship are you, Helen, and Ms. Garcia. We'd both like to keep it that way, at least for the first few months, to allow David to have a smooth transition back into the FBI."

Aaron frowned at her as he leaned back in his chair. "I still find it difficult to imagine that Director Shepperd signed off on this."

"He was actually the one who suggested it, Aaron. I wanted to ask Andi Swann to fill the position, once Katie had turned me down. Both women are fine agents and would help balance out things on the team. The Director was quite adamant that he wanted someone with more experience to fill the role, and given the disaster that Max Ryan caused when he assisted with one case, we both knew that it couldn't be him. Alex Blake never got back with us, which doesn't surprise me, as she's busy teaching at Harvard, and I'd be loathe to give that position up. And we both felt that John Curtis would be too unstable a fit to ask back into the fold. Which left my fiancé. It took a while for him to get behind the idea, which is why I haven't brought you into the loop until now, but he is willing to come back and work with you, if you agree."

There was a long pause before Aaron threaded his fingers together over his chest, tapping his thumbs against his sternum. "And if I don't agree?"

"Then I have to send you to Director Shepperd, and he would have a few words for you." She picked up her cup of tea and took a long sip. "I think that this was more his decision than mine, since David and I never worked well together. Though it appears that we can get along outside of the office, I'm not entirely certain that we can bring that energy from the home into the office."

There was a slight blush on Aaron's face as she said that, and she wondered what thoughts were running through his head as he took a few deep breaths before clearing his throat as he looked at her once more. "Neither of us can say no, then?"

"I'm afraid not. So, can I count on you to welcome him back into the fold here and not let it be a sticking point between us? I really need one less worry in my life at the moment, since Elise's birthday party is turning out to be a larger headache than I thought. She's two going on twenty-two."

"Jack is the same, I swear. I just want to hold him close and tell him to stop growing, because it's happening too quickly." There was a soft smile that spread across his face as he talked about his son, and Erin felt that same blossom of love in her heart for Elise. "Every time Haley allows me to see him, I feel like he's changed so much. I know that that's what happens with toddlers, but I already…never mind, you wouldn't understand."

"I think I would, Aaron. Because I do miss out on so much with Elise, being here so often. It's not quite what you go through, but we both miss large chunks of our children's lives due to the careers we've chosen." She pressed her lips together as she tried not to think about all the dinners she'd missed with her older children. There was so much that she had to make up for, and while she wanted to make things right with Elise, she knew that it would be difficult to do so, as she was loathe to give up her position here. And with David returning to work, well, that just meant they would both lose time with her. "All right, thank you for agreeing to try and work with him. It will be a difficult change, I won't deny that, but I do think that this will be a good fit for the team as it currently is."

Their eyes locked for a moment, and then he gave her a sharp nod before getting up from the chair and leaving her office. He didn't slam the door, which was a good indication that while he wasn't entirely happy with her, he wouldn't cause a ruckus when David joined the team, and she slumped in her chair as she let out the deep sigh she had been holding in the entire meeting. "Did things go well, then, Erin?"

She glanced up at Helen and gave her a small smile. "I think that they did, and it looks like David will be joining us tomorrow. I'm just hoping that he'll be back in time for Elise's birthday party, as I do not relish having to wrangle a bunch of toddlers from the playgroup that he's joined with her."

"We'd be glad to come and help out, Erin, if it comes to that. And your kids seem to be pretty good helpers, too."

"There is that. If I get desperate, I will gladly welcome you and your wife helping us out. Now, I have to see about getting David new credentials and requisitioning him a firearm."

"I can do that for you. You look like you need to relieve some tension."

Erin smiled as she nodded. "I think that you're right. I'm going to head down to the basement and do some target practice. I need to keep up on my qualifications, after all." She gave Helen a slightly feral smile as she opened her bottom drawer and pulled out her sidearm, slipping it into its holster before heading out of the office, ready to take out some of the adrenaline that was still coursing through her veins on some poor, unsuspecting, paper targets.