"I know that something is bothering you, David. You've been quieter than usual, and I'm starting to think that it's something I did."
He looked up from his laptop and stared at her in disbelief. "Stellina, I am so sorry that I've made you feel that way. No, it's nothing that you did. Or rather, it's nothing that you did in our personal relationship that has me feeling off kilter. No, it's just that after finally being comfortable enough to put up a Christmas tree and decorations, I keep thinking about that old case I worked. We never found the unsub, and I always think about those children that were left behind. In a way, they're reminiscent of our family, at least before we added Elise, since there were three children then, too. Their birth order was even the same. And even though it didn't happen anywhere close to Christmas, it was enough to just put me off the holiday for twenty years. Until you and the children came into my life."
Erin nodded as she took a seat next to him on the floor resting her head against his knee as she stared into her lap. "Do you want to talk about that case?"
"Maybe after I go there and try to get some closure? Twenty years is such a long time to hold on to this open wound, but things have changed, we've changed as a department, and there might be a way to find out who killed their parents, and bring them peace."
She let out a little sigh as she threaded her arm around one of his legs. "You do realise that this is partly why I fell in love with you, right? You have this wonderful sense of doing what's right and helping others find peace." Erin rubbed her cheek against his calf as she allowed her eyes to slowly close. "How is Aaron doing? I know that it has to be hard with Haley living with her sister."
"And how do you know that?" he teased as he reached down to ruffle her hair.
"Because we met up for lunch when you all went to Philadelphia for that brutal case. I still shudder at the thought of those pictures." Leaning back against the sofa, she looked up to see that he was looking down at her, giving her a soft smile as he gestured to the spot next to him on the sofa. Nodding, she boosted herself up onto the sofa and curled up close to him as she rested her head on his chest. "Anyway, Haley and I are strangely becoming friends, which I know will anger Aaron, if he finds out how close we are. I just find that, as Elise and Jack get older, it's nice that they can get to know each other and be friends. It will be easier to explain things later on. When we're ready to tell Aaron the full truth."
David hummed beneath his breath as he nodded before kissing her temple. "I'm glad that you've mended that fence, even if things are still rocky between you and Hotch. Though I think that having me on the team has started to ease his concerns about things, or at least, there's not as much hurt and frustration in his voice when we talk about Elise and Jack with the others."
"That is so good to hear," she murmured as she rubbed her cheek against his chest listening to his heart. "So, why are you going for closure now?"
"It's been about six months, I'm comfortable with Garcia and can trust her not to blurt out my personal information to all and sundry when I tell her not to, and Hotch and Reid are going to be interviewing someone before he's executed."
"So, you're going to use the fact that the rest of your team is grounded to go out on your own?" David's hand tightened around the ball of her shoulder, and Erin knew that she had most definitely hit a sore spot with him. "That is why you have a team now, David. Use them while Aaron and Doctor Reid are occupied elsewhere. I'm certain that they'll be bored, too."
"Erin, you will never cease to amaze me with how much you care and how much you hide it from the rest of the team."
"Do you blame me? Truly? I've interfered with the team for a good number of years, I have a child with their leader, and I'm tough on them. Those three things do not exactly endear one to their subordinates."
He chuckled a little before kissing her temple once more. "No, but I don't think that they would object to your presence if you came to visit me a little more often when we're in the office. That might help normalize who you really are."
"Maybe one day," she replied as she pulled away from him a little so that she could look up into his eyes. "Everyone is asleep, you know, except for us."
"I like where this conversation is going."
She giggled a little as she stood up and held her hand out to him. "I've missed having you in our bed the last two weeks. That last case took way too long for you to close."
"Yes, well, it hurt us when the media released the fact that we had been called in, causing the killer to go dormant for a week before his compulsion grew too strong to resist." He kissed her as he stood up, and Erin closed her arms around his waist, holding him close as he deepened it. "I'm going to check in on the kids before I join you in the bedroom."
"All right, I'll see you in a few moments." Stepping away from him, she made her way upstairs, listening as he closed the house down for the night, a happy smile spreading across her face. By the time she was in the master bathroom, her blouse was completely unbuttoned, and she slipped out of it and the rest of her clothes before washing her face and brushing her teeth. Smiling at her reflection, she slipped into David's robe before picking up her clothes and taking care of them before padding over to the bed and dropping the robe onto the trunk at the end before pulling back the covers and stretching out on the mattress.
"Sorry that it took me a little longer than I thought, Erin. Elise started to stir while I was in her room, so I had to be quiet and wait for her to settle back down again." He gave her a small wink as he stripped out of his clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. "I'll take care of them later, you know I will."
"I know, and I'm still learning to adapt to that quirk of yours. Maybe in time, I'll be less uptight."
"Oh, but I love it when you're all wound up, Erin, because then I get to help you unwind," he growled out as he shucked off his boxers and stalked over to the bed, straddling her body as he leaned down and kissed her deeply. Erin sighed against his lips as his hands roamed up and down her body, teasing her in order to build up her anticipation for what was going to come. Spreading her legs, Erin welcomed him into her body before wrapping one of her legs around his hips and pulling him in deeper as he set a fast pace for their lovemaking.
"We are both in the same mood tonight," she gasped as she arched up against his chest, the feel of his wiry chest hair against her breasts teasing her even more. "It has been too long since we have made love."
"Yes." He smiled and thrust a little deeper before sliding his hands up her torso to cup her breasts, his thumbs brushing against her nipples in order to heighten her pleasure. Soon, they were both gasping for breath as they drove each other onwards to orgasm. Erin muffled her cry of release by pressing her mouth tightly to his shoulder, and then they were collapsing back onto the bed, David's hands stroking against her skin as they relaxed together. "I love you, Erin."
She smiled and nuzzled her nose into his shoulder as she nodded. "I love you, too. Now kiss me again before I fall asleep." David chuckled as he complied with her wishes. A soft sigh slipped from her lips before she kissed him once more as her eyes closed heavily, sleep soon stealing over her as they continued to kiss.