Aaron glanced at his phone, wondering who was calling him. A small smile spread across his lips to recognize the number for the facility, and he answered as he looked up at Jessica. "Hello, Erin."

"Aaron! I am so glad that I caught you at home. I know that you said you were going to spend this weekend with Jack, so I didn't know if I'd be interrupting anything important."

"No, you're fine. He's making lunch with Jessica right now. What did you need to talk about?" he asked as he made himself more comfortable on the sofa.

There was a momentary silence on her end of the phone, and he wondered what she was going to ask him. Finally, she took a long breath and then spoke once more. "I have been approved to have a weekend away from the facility, and I would like to spend it with you, if possible. If I go home, I'll be alone, and I don't want to tempt myself in that manner. Alan will not allow the children to spend time with me until I am fully through the program, because that's just who he is. I know that it's a huge imposition, but may I?"

"Of course," he answered before fully thinking through the implications of what such a visit would entail. "When would you need me to need me to pick you up?"

"I'd like to spend as much time out of the facility as possible, and Lauren said that I'm free to leave as soon as you arrive, if you agreed."

Aaron took a deep breath as he thought about what he would do. "Well, since I'm acting Section Chief, I suppose that I can ground the team for the next week and leave early on Friday to pick you up. That is, if you don't mind spending time with Jack on Saturday?"

"That would be fine, Aaron. I, I need to go. I'll see you next Friday."

He wasn't surprised when she hung up before he could say goodbye, as he could hear the tears clogging her voice at the end there, but he wondered what had made her so emotional. Shaking his head a little, Aaron made a note to ask her more about that when she was at the house next week, and they were alone, away from large ears and peeping eyes. As he slipped the phone into his pocket, he went out to the kitchen to find Jack and Jessica making supper for them, and he smiled at his sister-in-law as he took a seat at the island, reaching out to snag a carrot stick to munch on as he listened to their conversation. "You look like you have a question for me, Aaron."

He swallowed quickly before nodding, looking over at Jack. "After dinner, I'm going to need help airing out the guest bedroom. I'm going to have a visitor next weekend, and I want to make certain everything is perfect for her."

Jessica gave him a quick smile and nod before she set out the plates in front of them all, helping Jack up onto a stool next to Aaron before taking a seat across from them. "I can help you do that, yes," she replied before they started to eat. When the meal was over, he sent Jack into the living room to play video games while he and Jessica went upstairs to the guest room. "So, who is visiting, and do you need me to take Jack for the whole weekend?" she asked as they stripped the bed and bundled up the sheets into the corner of the room before replacing them with fresh.

"It's Erin, and no. I just need you to take him Friday after school until Saturday morning. She, she's getting a weekend pass from her rehab facility, and she didn't want to be alone, as her ex-husband won't allow her kids to spend time with her until after she's completed the program, which won't be until closer to May."

"And she's the woman that you're always going to see?" He nodded. "She's your boss, isn't she?" Again, he nodded, and Jessica smirked a little as she shook her head. "Haley has to be laughing at you up there in heaven. She worked so hard with Erin to get you to take a white collar job, and then you turn around and start a relationship with her. Are you happy?"

"Surprisingly, yes."

"Then that's all that matters, as long as she's happy as well."

"I think that she's becoming happier. I honestly never expected to end up in a relationship with her, but somehow, it just happened. It might be love, but I think that we're both shying away from that word, because we're still healing from what life has thrown at us." Jessica finished changing the pillow case before placing it at the head of the bed before coming over to his side and resting her hand on his upper arm, looking up into his eyes. "I want her to be comfortable, and well. That comes first."

"You are such a knight in shining armour, Aaron." He shrugged a little as he fluffed the pillow in his hand once more. "That is the man that Haley fell in love with." She moved her hand to his chest, spreading out her fingers as she smiled through a sparkle of tears. "Erin is lucky to have someone like you in her life, willing to put himself on the line for her needs first and foremost. And I cannot wait to meet her, even if I have a vague sense of who she is, from Haley's funeral."

He chuckled a little as he chose a spread for the top of the bed, smoothing it out on top of the sheets before taking a look around the room. "You have to give your sister stamp of approval?"

"Exactly! And I would suggest that before next Friday comes around, you do something to make this room a little more homey. Maybe some fresh flowers, a few candles, and some of her things to ground her, rather than coming into an unfamiliar situation with nothing to hold on to."

He nodded, giving her a warm smile. "Would you mind coming with me to her home? I'd feel a little more comfortable if you helped me choose some things to bring back here? We could take Jack out for ice cream afterwards, too."

"You had me at hot fudge sundae!" Jessica gave him a wide smile as she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. "I think that you should also let Erin know that you're bringing some of her things over to the house, because you wouldn't want to her to feel unsettled when she shows up and finds home in a place that isn't really home for her yet."

"I didn't think of that," he replied as they entered the living room. "Hey, Jack! We're going to head out for a ride, as I have an errand to run. We're going to have ice cream afterwards, to make up for my dragging you out in the middle of your game."

"Where are we headed to?" Jack asked as he saved his game, getting up and bounding over to their sides.

"I'm having a friend over next weekend, and want to make her feel a little more welcome, so we're going to bring a few of her things over to make it easier for her. I know that you'll like her, because she loves children."

Jack nodded as he took hold of Aaron's hand, and she gave a small smile to Jessica as they made their way out to the garage, his heart feeling so light at the idea of having Erin in his home, getting to know his family a little better.