"Aunt Jessica is here!" Tabitha called out, and Erin nodded as she finished her makeup, even though she knew her daughter couldn't see her. She didn't know why she was so far behind that evening, since she had been able to nip out of work a little early in order to get ready for the night ahead. And here she was, running behind, and wondering if they would show up on time at the theatre. At least they didn't have to worry about sending the others home when the play was over, since she had convinced Aaron and Jessica to just spend the night. She was pretty certain that the added enticement of taking Jack to Elise's riding lesson the next morning had helped convince Aaron that it was better this way.

Finally, she felt that she was fully dressed and after smacking her lips together a little, she smiled at her reflection and stepped out of the master bathroom to make her way down to the living room. "Whoa, Mom, you look great!"

She smiled at Karen as she shrugged a little. "I haven't really had a night out since Catherine was born. It feels good to dress up and have something to look forward to, just for adults. Especially after this last case." Karen nodded as she wrapped her arm around Erin's waist, and it was so easy for Erin to rest her cheek against her daughter's head. "Now, I've expressed enough milk for Catherine's bedtime bottle, Karen and Bruce know what she likes to eat for supper, if she starts fussing at what you give her. And Elise and Jack have to get right to bed if they want to go early to the stable tomorrow."

They pouted a little, but Erin shook her head, arching an eyebrow that she hoped they knew by now meant she would brook no sass back, and finally, Elise nodded before dragging Jack over to the corner to play with their toys. "I think that you have everything under control, Erin." She gave Aaron a pleased grin as she nodded. "Well, let's head out. I think that we'll have enough time to get to the theatre and have a drink before we are seated if we leave now."

She nodded with pleasure as she allowed David to help her into her wrap before saying goodbye to all of her children. Once that was taken care of, she slipped her hand into the crook of David's arm as they followed Aaron out to his car. "Here, sit up front," her fiancé said as he opened the passenger door for her, and she gave him a thankful smile as she slipped inside, making certain that her skirt was inside before she closed the door. "All right, do you know what this play is about, Aaron?"

"Not really, just that Penelope is starring in it. And…"

"Yes?" Erin asked as she contorted her body to look at him, wondering what he hadn't told them about the evening ahead. "Aaron?"

"She doesn't know that we're coming. She was embarrassed about the fact that I even accidentally mentioned that she was in this play to begin with, as if she thought that we would mock her for doing something like this. I just wanted to support her, and since you are so close to her, and need a night of relaxation, I invited you and Dave to come along. And here's hoping that the fact you're both here will help her feel like she doesn't want to send my credit back to the stone age."

Erin giggled as she nodded. "So, you're making us your buffer zone." Aaron nodded sheepishly, and she listened to Dave chuckle in the background. "Well, I think that means you're buying the drinks tonight. Though you won't have to worry about how much I put away, since I have to be careful what I drink still. And given that it's been quite a while since I've had alcohol, too many and I'd be drunk quickly."

"I'll spring for the nonalcoholic drinks, too, Erin," he replied and she smiled as she made herself a little more comfortable in her seat, turning her head to rest her cheek against the soft fabric so as not to muss her hair. Somehow, during the short drive, she fell asleep, as the next thing she knew, two warm hands were shaking her gently, and she let out a low groan after drawing in a deep breath. "Do you think that you'll make it through the play, Erin?"

"Of course I will! I already took my nap while you were driving. I guess I'm just a little run down." She smiled and allowed David to help her from the car. "Though perhaps we could see if they have coffee instead of alcohol?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." David wrapped his arm around her waist and they followed Aaron inside the playhouse. After checking her coat, David joined Aaron at the bar, which allowed her to watch them. She could tell by the set of Aaron's shoulders that he was struggling just as much as she was, since they were fast coming up on the year since Haley had been murdered. But she had the feeling that neither were talking about the miasma of feelings that were swirling around in their hearts, because they were too proud to ask for the help that they might desperately need.

A sad smile curved her lips upwards as she welcomed them over to her side once more, taking a warm glass from Aaron's hand. "You are in luck, they had a few alcoholic coffee drinks, and I went with the sweet one for you, since you've been on a sugar kick lately." David leaned in and kissed her cheek softly, as if he had seen the look in her eyes before she had thrown up her mask.

"What's this called?" she asked before taking a sip, relishing the decadent taste of it.

"Funnily enough, Hot Boozy Coffee," Aaron said with a slight chuckle as he reached out to touch her shoulder, causing her to look at him. There was true understanding in his eyes, and she gave him a tiny nod as she pursed her lips together tightly. "We'll need to talk when we get into the office on Monday. I have a small request to make."

"If I can grant it, I will," she replied as she stepped closer to David, easily resting her cheek against his shoulder as she nursed her drink. "This is really strong. What's in it?"

"Brandy, Grand Marnier, and Kahlua."

"And here I thought I was going to be the designated driver home," she muttered. "This is going right to my head!"

"Well, there are a few hours before the play is over, so we'll have to see how you feel after that. And of course, we're going to go back and see Penelope, to congratulate her." David squeezed her waist familiarly, and she nodded as she took another sip of her drink. It was absolutely delicious, and she wanted to have another, but knew that that was the last thing she could do, since it really had been too long since she had drank. The doors to the auditorium opened, and Erin hurriedly finished her drink, knowing that they couldn't take them inside. Her eyes watered a little at the strong taste of alcohol burned its way down her throat, but the buzz it left behind was quite pleasant, and she smiled as she handed David the empty glass, watching him bring them back to the bar.

"When we talk Monday, we're going to talk." She looked up at Aaron and gave him a small shrug. "Yes. We are. Because we're both feeling it, and if we won't talk to others, we can talk to each other. All right?"

"Fine," she muttered as David started back towards them, and she plastered as bright a smile as she could muster on her lips as Aaron pulled out their tickets and they entered the auditorium together. While she wasn't happy about the ultimatum, she knew that it had to be done sooner rather than later. Still, she knew that she would try to put that all from her mind as they watched Penelope's play and deal with it when the time came.