Love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you.

-Loretta Young-

"This is better than a concert." Paul said,in awe and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand. His hair stuck to his face and Erin saw the light in his eyes as he regarded Dave, who stood hovering over the plastic drum kit, his head banging to the beat of the music and his eyes shut. He was lost in his own world and nobody wanted to drag him out. For the last thirty seconds of the song, David Rossi, FBI profiler and bestselling author, had transformed into a full-fledged metal-head.

Even Mudgie watched his master intently, from his spot on McKenzie's lap.

"You're damn right, it is," Dave panted as the song came to an end.

"How did you go from barely able to walk across the parking lot at Walgreen's, to a punk rocker?" Erin asked and passed him a water bottle from the coffee table.

"I bounce back," he breathed as his heart slammed against his breastbone. Crouched at the waist he tried to ignore the burning sensation in his ribs.

"Not that quickly," Erin said as he unscrewed the cap and took a slug of water. "You're fresh out of the hospital."

"Woman, I said I'm fine," He growled.

"Right." She stood up and moved closer to him. "Take five steps towards me."

Why did she choose now to start a pissing match in front of the kids? When he didn't have a shot in Hell of winning.

Straightening his spine, he exhaled and pushed the pain to the back of his mind. He was just fine, maybe a little tired, but he'd aced his stress test and doctors said he was well on his way back to normal.

But it still hurt. A lot.

Pushing back on his feet, he knew the kids were watching him, he could feel four sets of eyes on him, before he ever turned around. Dammit. Look away, Guys

"I swear I'm okay," He tried to argue as he faced her, with one foot in front of the other.

"So come on." She moved closer, to give him an advantage and held her hand out until they were directly in front of the recliner.

Dammit. He couldn't stop the trembling in his knees and the anxiety in his chest wouldn't let up.

He sat down hard in the recliner. "I just need to catch my breath, Babe."

Jesus Christ, was he trying to murder his heart? Erin knelt down in front of him, sweat poured off his forehead and his shirt was damp. She grabbed his wrist and stuck two fingers to the pulse point, his heart was ready to explode. "We need to get your blood-pressure down." She turned to the couch, "Paige, help me lay him back. Paul, get an ice pack and a towel.

Paul scurried towards the kitchen and Paige knelt next to her mother and pulled the lever on the side of the chair.

Dave shook his head. "Don't scare them," he tried to argue.

"We're not scared," McKenzie piped in, "what can I do to help?"

Just then, Paul barreled into the room with a dish towel slung over his shoulder, a box of crackers in one hand and a bottle of orange juice under one arm. "What? I thought he might be hungry." He answered Erin's unspoken question and plopped down on the other side of Dave.

Cracking open the juice he passed it to Dave while Erin wrapped the ice pack and stuck it to his forehead.

"Thanks, Buddy."

McKenzie unfolded the blanket off the back of the couch and covered Dave with it and Erin checked his pulse again. "Take some deep breaths."

He winced on the exhale. "Where are your pain meds?"

"Tell the next guy who does CPR on me to be more gentle next time." He grouched, "I-I hate this shit."

"Where's your medicine?" She asked again and stood up. "I'm trying to help you, so shut up and let me."

"Or what?" He goaded, "You'll change your mind?"

"You wish."

"They're in the kitchen, above the sink." He relented.

"Erin, I told you, I don't need anyone's help getting upstairs." Dave grumbled, having been thoroughly medicated and out of pain. He didn't want to be anymore of a hassle for his new family than he needed to be; and right now, he didn't need or want their help.

" Paul go with the girls and pick out your room."

"Look, Man, I know you're fine." Paul stage-whispered as they stepped higher on the staircase. "But do this for Mom. Let her think I'm helping you."

"Yeah." Dave breathed out slowly. "Okay," He leaned further into him. Paul was surprisingly strong and he supported most of Dave easily. Paul kept his arm steady around his waist. "Mom would kill me if I let you fall." He said and winked.

"I think you could take her," Dave said and returned the wink. "She's down one arm."

"You better not even try!" Erin cut in.

"Yes Ma'am." They echoed.

"Forgive me for trying to make sure you don't keel over on the way up," she said blithely. "When's the last time you've been up here?" She asked, taking note of the freshness of the carpeting but the staleness in the air.

"Since before the heart attack, the cleaning service comes in once a week to keep the place fresh, but they could have repainted the whole house and I wouldn't have noticed until they got to the living room."

"I'm sure you're looking forward to your own bed."

"Like you wouldn't believe," he bit back a yawn as they stepped onto the landing. "I feel bad though, there's no furniture in any of the bedrooms."

"We'll be fine," McKenzie poked her head out the door across the hall from the master bedroom.

"Did you find your room?" Dave beamed and pulled away from Paul.

"Yup, sure did!" She turned the doorknob until it stopped and then she let go. The wrought iron tumblers clanged in the quiet of the house. "I really like this door," she said and leaned against the heavy, antique door.

"Well, what colors do you think?" He asked and followed her inside the room in question.

"Hmm..." she rubbed her chin thoughtfully and surveyed the beige walls and pale carpeting with a keen interest. "Are you sure we can paint it?"

"Just decide on the color."

She moved towards the window and gazed outside, the big backyard looked back at her. "What about bright purple?"

"How bright are we talking?" Dave asked, one eyebrow lifted in suspicion.

The room needed some color, hell, the whole house could use a coat of paint. Maybe then it wouldn't feel so empty when he was there alone. He didn't realize how barren his home was until he spent two weeks virtually alone in only half of his mansion.

"I don't know," McKenzie shrugged. "You pick."

"We can get some samples and pick one out together."

It wasn't natural, yet, but it was close. Erin decided as she closed the door to the master bedroom, she could hear Dave and the kids as he showed them around the house and helped them pick out their rooms. He was 'cool' enough without showing off and the kids genuinely liked him as much as he liked them. She wasn't worried for them, they seemed to fit like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle and they would be fine in the long run. She turned down the covers on the bed and fluffed the pillows. She flipped the switch on the lamp and closed the curtains. It was a big day for everyone and it would take time to adjust, but for now, she just wanted to crawl into bed.

"Alright, everybody." She called and met Dave at the door, her hand wrapped naturally around his arm. The kids huddled next to him; "I think we all need to get some rest. It's been a big day for all of us, I'll come downstairs in a minute and help you get settled."

"We're fine," Paige said, "Just get some sleep, the alarm is set and Mudgie won't leave 'Kenzie's side." Just then, the dog in question bounded up the stairs and planted himself next to the ten year old.

"I'd say we're safe," Paul said and scratched the dog behind the ears.

"Alright, don't stay up too late."

"Erin," Dave cut in, "They're absolutely fine."

Suddenly, Paige's arms were around her mother, she pulled back to look her in the eye. "Stop, worrying. Go to bed." She pushed the door to the master bedroom open, "Go to bed, go to sleep, make more babies. I don't care, just stop worrying," the door slammed closed as Paige disappeared behind it. Erin briefly considered checking the lock.

"I like her suggestions," Dave said saucily.

"Rock Band nearly took you out. When you can take a flight of stairs without getting winded, then you can take me."

"Is that a promise?" He asked and pulled the bed covers down.

"It could be," she said and crawled in bed beside him. His chin nestled against her shoulder, his hand found it's way under the waistband of her yoga pants. She fell asleep with the sound of his breathing in her ear.