If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.

-Winnie the Pooh

The weather outside the Rossi mansion left much to be desired, heavy gray clouds hung in the sky, threatening the entire state of Virginia with a snow storm; but inside, a cheerful fire burned in the fireplace and love grew inside the house.

"Thank you all for your help today," Dave took a long look around the living room with his coffee cup high in the air. Aaron Hotchner, Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid and Paul followed suit. Maybe a toast over moved furniture was dramatic, but they needed something to celebrate. He would do or give anything to keep Erin and the children safe, and he hoped she knew that.

"To a healthy family," Aaron chimed in, scotch would have been better but it was the middle of the day. The roaring fire at his back was enough to make him sweat, toasting with water was the better option.

"Here, here!" The group said in unison.

"To…" Paul froze, he'd never given a toast before. "Not having to move furniture again!" He blurted out.

"HERE HERE!"

A deep 'Woof' broke through the air and Hotch looked out the window, "They're here." He said as J.J.'s Honda Pilot pulled in the driveway.

Dave rushed out the front door, towards the driveway, with anxiety in his chest. He'd spent the better part of the day renovating the 'man cave' into a master bedroom. He didn't realize how much he missed Erin until he had to spend the night without her. They spent almost every night together since she moved in. While he'd been on medical leave from the heart attack, he missed waking up without her. On that thought, he yanked the passenger door open.

"Hi!" Erin gasped, with her hand over her chest, there was a fire in his eyes she couldn't place. Her heart galloped in her chest as he reached across her lap and released her seat-belt. "I missed you," he said lowly. He wanted to take her in his arms and carry her over the threshold but J.J's voice cut off his train of thought.

"Hey, Rossi," J.J. appeared from the other side of the car, he hadn't seen her get out. "The hospital sent us home with a wheelchair." J.J's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "I don't think she'll use it." She opened the trunk and grabbed the handle of the chair.

"Probably not."

"Look, Rossi, full disclosure; if it were me, I wouldn't love being put on display in my own home." She crossed her arms across her chest and shivered as the breeze picked up.

He had his work cut out for him. "Go inside," he said, he could see their breath in the air. His cold toes made him wish he had thought to grab a pair of shoes. He took the chair and unfolded it. "Can I take you for a spin?" He asked Erin, coming around to the passenger side.

"You can't make this romantic, David." Erin said, with a smile.

He raised an eyebrow, "are you challenging me?"

"Yes."

He leaned in close, his breath hot on her cheek. "Would you prefer I carry you over the threshold?"

"No," she shook her head, her ponytail swished across her shoulders, "that's a terrible idea. I will walk."

"Nope, sorry Love. Doctor's orders trumps your pride."

"Only because you're barefoot," she grumbled, putting one slipper clad foot on the ground. He pushed the chair close to the car and took her hand. "Your chariot, Madam." She sat down and he pulled the foot rests out. "I have something to show you," he said, "I'm throwing everyone out and we're having dinner. I made lasagna."

"I was gone for one night, why did you throw a party without me?" She asked, "what the hell could you be celebrating?" Her face felt hot despite the bitter cold, her hands shook in anger. Vivid thoughts of wrapping her freezing hands around Dave's throat filled her mind. She and their children almost died and he threw a party! What kind of man had she stuck herself with? The sheer idea of their home being turned into a frat house made her stomach twist. He ignored her comment, "Hold on to your hat," he said and brought the wheelchair up the temporary ramp over the stairs.

He pushed open the door and wheeled her inside. Hotch grabbed his coat and patted Erin on the shoulder. "I'm glad you're home."

"Thank you...:" her voice trailed off. "For everything. You saved my life and I can't repay that."

"You don't have to." He said, "Call if you need anything, we're getting out of your hair." He turned around towards the team, each was getting their coats or pulling them on. "If you rode with me, we're leaving before the weather gets bad."

"Let us know when you get home," Dave said as they filed out the door. As usual, Reid was at the back of the line. He threw his messenger bag over his shoulder, "You bet." he said and followed Derek outside.

The front door closed, leaving Erin and Dave alone in the living room. She surveyed the room for traces of debauchery, the carpet was clean and there were vacuum lines to prove it. The pictures of her and the kids on the mantle were dusted, in truth the living room looked better now than when she left. "It's so clean."

"Yeah," Dave said, coming closer to the fireplace, his feet felt like blocks of ice attached to his legs. "It's not too shabby for a flop house."

"I didn't say that-" she argued with shaking hands; her cheeks blazed with frustration.

"You thought it." He said tightly. With his back to her, "It was all over your face when you knew the team was here."

"I didn't mean it." her voice rose as more frustration flooded through her. "You can't be upset with me over a facial expression!"

His long strides covered the distance between them and he knelt in front of her. "I'm not upset." he took her hand in his, "please don't get upset." He paused, squeezing each of her fingertips. "It's not healthy."

"Don't lecture me," she hissed, "You had a heart attack and died because you can't be bothered to eat a vegetable!"

He stood up, rubbing his knees and walked to the kitchen with his heart in his throat and pulse hammering in his wrists. The silence was palatable, you could slice the tension in the room with a penknife.

His hands shook as he opened the oven and pulled out the pan of lasagna. Tomato sauce bubbled over the glass and cheese trembled against the glass dish.

"Where are you going!" She shouted, so he could hear her. "How dare you leave, you know I can't chase after you!"

He rounded the corner, a kitchen towel flung over his shoulder. "You still can't see the forest for the trees here, Erin. No matter what I do, you're still mad at me! I can't sit here and fight with you." He moved to stand behind her and grabbed the wheelchair.

"What are you doing?" She snapped, any leverage she had to carry an argument vanished. She had no control of her circumstances. Dave could decide to relocate her, and she couldn't stop him.

Silence stretched between them, he turned the knob to the man-cave with a trembling hand. "Erin, I'm not going to argue with you."

"Why?" He opened the door and brought her inside. "What else do you have to do?" She hissed, being petty wasn't her style, but it felt damn good to lash out.

He let down the brakes on the wheelchair, leaving her next to the bed. He stood in front of her, his big body looming over her, had he been anyone else, she would have been afraid. His eyes were cold and harsh with practiced apathy he said, "I'm going to feed your children. They worked hard today too."

The door slammed, reverberating through the house, leaving Erin alone.

Dave stalked through the kitchen, leaving cupboard doors open just so he could slam them shut. When the fuck did Erin turn so bitter? It didn't make any sense, they were so in love in the hospital but as soon as they had some hope that everything was going to be alright, she froze. He grabbed a plate from above the stove and slammed the cabinet sending shock-waves through the kitchen. The silverware drawer rattled as he stomped to the refrigerator to get the salad and set it on the counter. How the hell do you love someone when they don't want to be loved? He pondered this as he retrieved a glass from the dishwasher. "Oh dammit!" He roared as his trembling hand missed the edge of the counter and sent the glass to the floor. The weak winter sun filtered through the blinds reflected off the shards scattered on the tile.

The sound of footsteps on the staircase reverberated through the house, Paige came into the kitchen on a run. "Are you okay?" she asked, breathless from running she had a baby onesie flung over her shoulder; a byproduct of organizing the nursery.

"Don't come in here," he commanded, holding up one hand. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I got this," she moved past him and took the salad from the counter. "Is mom home?"

Dave nodded and began sweeping the glass into a pile. "She's home," he said tightly.

"But?" Paige pushed. "What's wrong?"

Dave spread his arms wide, "I have no idea why she's mad at me!"

The smell of freshly cut flowers permeated the room, she could hear a muffled conversation between Paige and Dave, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

She reached out and touched the bedspread, she recognized it from her Amazon wish-list. The platform bed was new, too. It sat just low enough from the floor that she could enjoy it without climbing in. Embarrassment crawled over her, as she realized what she had done. She grabbed her phone and sent a text.

Dave checked his phone, read the text and flung his phone on the counter. "Is it from Mom?" Paige asked, as she sat the salad on the dining room table.

"Yup."

"Want me to go scope things out?"

"I can't ask you to do that." No way was he about to sacrifice the kid to Erin's horrible mood.

"Who's asking? Where is she?"

Dave pointed towards the man-cave, "she's in there."

Paige shot him a look, raising one eyebrow she said, "did you put my mom in time-out?" Without another word she flounced passed him. Dave watched her turn the knob and let herself in.

"Hey," Erin said, as Paige entered the room.

"Hey," Paige shrugged, "are you okay? Dave said you have to stay in bed for a while."

"Eh, we're okay." Erin said, "what did I miss?"

"Not much," Paige moved further into the bedroom and sat down on the bed. "Dave's friends helped us move stuff around so you don't have to climb the stairs."

"I think I figured that out a little too late, Paige, I've been horrible!"

"Why?" Paige asked pointedly. "You can't yell at someone and expect everything to be fine once you're done yelling."

"Oh God, you heard that?" Erin whispered. "I never wanted you guys to hear that." A heavy current of shame flowed through her. Her children had been around enough yelling and fighting to last 10 lifetimes, she didn't want to put them through that again. "I'm so sorry, Paige."

"Don't apologize to me," Paige said, dropping her shoulders. "Dave's the one losing his mind in the kitchen."

Erin took her daughter's hand and squeezed, "will you go get him for me?"

Paige nodded, "only if you're going to make it up to him," she said, glancing out the window, snow fell heavily on the back lawn.

"I'm going to try." Erin picked up her phone again and pulled up Dave's number out of habit, what could she say to make things right? There weren't enough words in the whole English language to describe how terrible she felt; and if there were, she didn't know how to string them together.

Paige moved to the door and stuck her head out, "you can come in now." Dave got up from his seat on the sofa and walked into the bedroom. "Can we talk?" he asked Erin as Paige slipped out the door.

"David-I'm sorry- I shouldn't have been so hard on you."

He held up one hand, "hold on. Is this the part of the story when I'm supposed to be okay with you yelling at me for no reason?"

"No," she shook her head. "I wouldn't be okay with it and you shouldn't be either, but-"

"No." He crossed the room and sat on the bed. "You don't apologize to me the same shitty way you do it to everyone else." He paused and picked up her hand. "I know you're sorry and I am too. I should have listened to J.J. and let you walk inside." He said, mentally crossing his fingers behind his back. "I wanted everything to be perfect when you came home."

"Everything is perfect." She said and gave his hand a squeeze. "There's just.." she paused for emphasis. "One thing."

"What?"

"Give me a kiss."

He leaned forward, hot breath mingling in the air, "you never have to ask me twice." He said, their lips met in a timid dance and his hands roamed across her belly. For a man, there was nothing more satisfying or alluring than touching the woman carrying his children.

"I love you," he said as they broke apart to take a breath.

"I love you too, but I'd love you more if you brought me some lasagna."

"I'll throw in the salad and bread," he said, getting to his feet.

"I was wrong." She said softly, drinking him in as he walked away.

"About what?" He said with one hand paused on the door knob.

"You can make bed rest romantic."

"What can I say? I'm a man of many talents."