"Ready?" Rossi asked Lynn as she settled into the front seat of his car and carefully fastened the seatbelt. It was early Monday morning and, as he and Hotch had discussed, he was taking Lynn and Jacob grocery shopping.

"I think so," Lynn replied. "I'm kind of nervous though. You know, I used to help make up the list of supplies that the farm needed but this sounds much more involved. Also, Aaron gave me a plastic card along with some numbers to use to pay for things - ?" She gave Rossi a puzzled look.

"This is not all that different," Rossi assured her. "It's just that you will be working with smaller quantities and a bigger variety of foods. And, you will be purchasing perishables on a weekly basis. As for the card, we'll deal with that when the time comes. Just make sure to keep it safe."

"What about you, Buddy?" he glanced in the rear view mirror. "All belted in?"

"I fastened everything exactly the way Uncle Spencer showed me," Jacob assured him. "So I will be safe in case you have an accident or if you decide to stop in a hurry."

"Sounds good to me," Rossi grimaced. "Let's get going."

"I really need to have a word with Reid," he muttered to himself as he backed out of the driveway and into the street.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Oh My Gosh, Dave – What is this place?" Lynn gasped as she grabbed onto Rossi's arm. "And what is all this stuff?" She looked wide-eyed at the high ceilings, multiple shelfs, and refrigerated cases that filled the huge room.

"Just a typical grocery store," Ross replied as he patted her hand reassuringly. "A place where the average Virginian shops for groceries."

"Now," he continued. "First things first. We need to get a cart and then you, Buddy (he looked down at Jacob) are going to get to ride. Just as a precautionary measure so you don't get lost, okay?"

"Okay, Uncle Dave," Jacob readily agreed. "I'll be able to see better from up there anyway."

"Today we are going to concentrate on getting staples," Rossi explained to Lynn as he lifted Jacob into position in the grocery cart he had appropriated. "And we will also be getting food for meals for the three of you for this week. Now, is there anything in particular that you want?"

"I don't know," Lynn shivered and moved even closer to Rossi as she looked around. "This is all so strange."

"I know, Kiddo," Rossi put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a reassuring hug. "But we are going to take it slow. How about if we start in the produce department? There should be some things there that you recognize. Then, after that, we can move on to the flour and sugar and salt and stuff like that. You probably ordered them for the farm on a regular basis – Right?"

"Right," Lynn agreed. "I remember all the routine items we used to order. Is that what we are going to get?"

"That's a lot of it," Rossi smiled at her. "So, if Jacob is all set, let's get started."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"So, Dave, you're bringing us a new customer?" the cashier at the checkout greeted Rossi with a smile. It was several hours later and Lynn's grocery cart was stacked full of the various food items she and Rossi had decided on.

"I hope so," Rossi replied. "Good Morning Rose, it's good to see you."

"Good to see you too, Dave," was the cheerful reply as she began running items over the scanner. "It's been a while since we saw you – Book tour?"

"Yes," Rossi sighed. "You know I love my fans to death, but lately it seems as if each tour is even longer than the previous one. At any rate, Rose, this is my friend, Lynn, and her son, Jacob. They just moved into the area."

"Good morning Lynn and Jacob," Rose smiled. "Any friend of Dave's is a friend of mine. It looks like you are getting all the basics to stock a new kitchen."

"I am," Lynn replied shyly. "Dave's been helping me."

"And you couldn't get a better helper," Rose told her. "When it comes to cooking Dave here is an expert. Now, do you need any kitchen utensils? We have a really wide selection of those, too."

"I know, I saw them," Lynn told her. "However, I'm not really sure what I am going to need so that is going to have to wait for now."

"I understand," Rose replied as she continued running items over the scanner. "And I suspect we are going to have to set you up with our loyalty program?"

"She can use mine for today," Rossi replied as he began putting his phone number into the console. "We'll take the paperwork with us. She can fill it out and bring it back next time."

After the order had been rung up, Rossi helped Lynn navigate paying for it with Hotch's debit card, and then Rose awarded Jacob a lollypop for being such a good boy.

"We need to come back here," Jacob declared as he sucked on the treat. "I like these!"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"So, how did you do yesterday?" Rossi asked as they carried the bags of groceries into the house. "Any problems?"

"Derek and Savannah brought Hank over to play with Jacob," Lynn replied. "And while Derek and Aaron worked around the house Savannah taught me how to work the microwave. We heated up some of the food left from Saturday and everything worked out just fine. That microwave is amazing - I had no idea something like that existed!"

"It is a great invention," Rossi agreed as he put his bags of groceries on the counter. "However, it will never take the place of old fashioned, hands on cooking. Now, let's make ourselves some lunch and then I'll help you put together a casserole that you can just heat up when the time comes for dinner."

"There is one more thing, though," Lynn said hesitantly as she put her bags down.

"Yes?" Rossi looked at her.

"When Jessica came to pick up Jack she wouldn't come in the house," Lynn reported. "She just stood outside and stared at it. Aaron went out and talked with her and I got the impression she wasn't being very nice to him. Then, when Jack came out, she just ordered him into the car and then drove off. Aaron was kind of upset all evening."

"Jessica is an enigma," Rossi agreed. "I strongly suspect that she's jealous of you and the life you and Aaron are building together. Give her some time. She'll come around."