Chapter Nine

Grow old with me, the best is yet to be

-Robert Browning

"All I've done for two weeks is cry and throw up," Erin said, accepting the handkerchief Dave offered. As he pulled away from the restaurant he threw a glance at the woman beside him. "I reek of a bar and I can't go home without an argument breaking out," she continued as she mopped her eyes.

"Maybe it's hormones," Dave offered cautiously. "It takes a while for your body and emotions to get in sync." At least he hoped it was true. But what did he know? The last woman to have their hormones change filed for divorce two weeks after leaving the hospital.

"No, no," she sobbed, shaking her head in disagreement. "It's more than that; I know hormones. He knows."

"Who knows?" Dave asked, concern laced his tone. "What is it?"

She swallowed hard, trying to reign in her emotions, "If I had any doubt of paternity, I don't now."

In answer to his blank look, Erin continued, "Your child is trying to torture me from the inside. All because I'm not in love with you."

He tried not to let his heart crack as her words hit him hard. He already knew she looked at him the way he saw his back yard after Mudgie's found a rubber ball and destroyed it. But it was a hell of a lot harder to deny something after it was confirmed. He tried not to take it personally by reminding himself that she was under emotional duress. He took a calming breath and tried to stomp the hurt out of his ego.

"I think you're right..." he muttered, after a long stretch of silence. "You can't help whom you love or, in your case, whom you don't love...but I don't think it's the baby. It's your conscious."

She hadn't realized the car had stopped in his driveway. "David...I have nothing to feel guilty over..."

"You slept with a man you weren't married to and you got pregnant. Erin, face facts: It's your guilt because you refuse to put any effort into a relationship with me." he continued in the same soft inviting tone she'd heard him use to glean information from criminals. "And the only way you're going to feel better is to try."

He turned off the headlights and reached for her hand, "Come inside. I have stain lifter; we'll get that out." He motioned to the ugly violet patch against the pink material of her dress. "Then I'll take you home."

He never looked at her, but the gentle sincerity in his voice was undeniable. He was always felt the urge to rush right into things, she preferred to dip a toe in the water before diving in head first. But maybe this time jumping in and landing with both feet was exactly what she needed?

"Okay," she muttered and reached for the door handle.

He came around the car, and this time, she let him hold the door.

"Be careful on the steps," he warned, reaching for his keys and unlocking the door. "Watch out for Mudgie too." Excited clicking of nails on hardwood floor sounded and the black lab rushed towards Erin at breakneck speed. With his pink tongue wagging.

"Whoa-no, Boy." Dave caught the dog around the collar before he could jump. "You could sit down or Mudgie could plow you down. And- we can add dog drool to the list of stains."

Erin glanced down toward the warmth against her hip in disgust, "Well it used to be pretty..."

"Come on," he offered, reaching for her hand, "I'll give you the grand tour." He slipped his shoes off against the wall at the foot of the stairs.

"No shoes on the carpet, huh..." she quipped, stepping out of her heels. "I knew you were picky, but that's pushing it."

"When I'm home, I'm lazy, and these," he picked up her shoe and let it dangle off his finger sniffing in distaste, were not meant for pregnant women on the stairs."

"Are you going to show me the house or complain about my wardrobe?" She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.

"I'm multitasking." His eyes flickering with hidden amusement.

"What is so funny?"

"Well, if someone had told me that we would be doing this again, I would have laughed in their face."

"You?" She poked him in the chest. "How do you think I feel?"

He led her up the stairs and down the hall, the plush carpet felt like heaven against her feet. "What do you think about this room for a nursery?" Dave pushed open a door on the left of the hall and led them inside. "A coat of paint and some furniture..." He let the offer hang as she surveyed the room.

Hard wood covered the floor and the double windows offered plenty of natural light against the beige walls. "Dave..." she started, for the third time that night, she didn't know what to say. "This is all happening so fast..."

"I don't expect you to live here if you don't want to, but our child deserves a nice place to sleep. And if you don't like this room, I have five others."

"I never thought an empty room, with bare walls, could seem girly; but this one does it." He opened another door. Pale carpet covered the floor and moonlight reflected through the bay windows."That's storage, too." He stepped inside and pulled out the empty drawer under the window seat, "see?"

"It's a beautiful house," she thought back to the arched entrance to the living room downstairs and the way the stairs curved in a way that brought her back to another time. "It's almost like it's from another world."

"It's not what you expected?"

She shook her head, "No, you've always had an eye for details."

"Were you expecting suits of armor?" He joked.

"Maybe a torture chamber."

"That's the wine cellar. But," he put his hand up, "I'll sell the wine if you decide to move in."

She took in a breath, that was not what she expected, "You don't have to."

"I saw your face when that bimbo spilled that on you," he bit out. "Max shouldn't have..."

"Max had nothing to do with what happened," Erin interrupted. "He had no idea that I am a recovering alcoholic, and he was being polite. You owe him an apology."

"I was only watching out for you," Dave protested.

"And I am a grown woman who can take care of herself. The wine dumping on me was no big deal. If you think it is, then you haven't been puked on by a baby."

"I will have my chance...soon."

"Not unless you apologize to him and the waitress. And that apology includes me staying here tonight." She felt her second wind coming back.

"Okay," Dave conceded. "I will make it up to him tomorrow. I promise."

"And the waitress."

He nodded. "I will send her flowers. Damn, woman, you drive a had bargain," he groused.

"That is why I am the BAU Chief, and you are still working under Agent Hotchner," she replied glibly. "Now which room is this?"

"This is the master suite." He led them inside and leaned against the cherry four-poster. "Let me help you out of that dress," he offered with a mischievous smile.

"I'm fine." She glanced down at her soiled dress and bare feet and laughed. "I look like Cinderella at the end of the night," she said. Dave rummaged through the dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of silk pants and an old Marine Corp T-shirt.

"Did you land the prince?" he asked, passing her the clothes.

She turned towards the bathroom and said, "It's too soon to tell..."

He shook his head, watching her move. Who knew pregnant women could still flounce?