Finally here is chapter 4 i hope everyone likes it
*I also rewrote the first chapter if anyone wants to reread it.
*I Don't Own Criminal Minds Or Scandal
Nicknames
Giuliana: GIGI, Jewels, Ana rose
Lacey: Lacey Beth, Lace
The next day flew by quickly and before lacey knew it, five o'clock had arrived. She was due at the Rossi residence at six so she had to be on her way. Before leaving she did a once over in the mirror, her hair was curled and pulled in to an up-do with two loose curls in the front of her face, she had on a light amount of makeup just some eyeliner and a touch of lip stick. The new dress she bought for the occasion was a red lace shirt dress it was fitting at the top and flowed at the bottom and stopped just below her knees. Paired with black heels, a beaded necklace, dangling earrings and a diamond tennis bracelet. Lacey took extra time in her look for tonight not to just impress the new people she was about to meet but to hopefully avoid anyone noticing the bruising and swelling on her hands due to the few tough rounds with the punching bag last night. When it usually was that bad Giuliana tended to worry and that was something lacey didn't want or need from her at the moment. After a quick double check lacey grabbed her bag, keys, phone, and jacket and headed for her car. She put the address Giuliana sent her into her GPS and left in search of the Rossi house. Forty minutes later lacey arrived at a beautiful three story home in an upscale part of town lacey parked her car in front of the house noticing the other cars hoping she wasn't the last to arrive. After a quick check in the rear view mirror she got out of the car and headed up the little path way that lead to the front door. She took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.
Giuliana came to the door in a gold and red sundress and her hair braided in to an up do with a high pair of yellow pumps.
Lacey couldn't help but smile at her friend trying not to laugh.
"You look nice Ana rose" lacey said to the best of her ability while trying to hold in a laugh
"Thank you I went shopping with Penelope today and she picked it out for me "Giuliana said while giving lacey a look
lacey guessed by the look whoever Penelope was she must have been inside the house so as to not hurt anyone's feelings she said the first nicest thing that came to her mind "Well she has a very unique sense of style its adventurous" a reply that's not a lie and not mean lacey thought to herself, good enough.
Giuliana grabbed lacey by the wrist and dragged her into the house she took her jacket and bag and hung them in the closet near the front door
Giuliana turned with a wide grin and stared to lead lacey towards what seemed to be the living room "We're still waiting on two more people but everyone else is here and I can't wait for you to meet them especially spencer I can't believe it has been almost a year and you haven't meet him yet"
As they moved further into the house lacey admired the art work and décor of the house it was beautiful, elegant and antique. Lacey was brought out of her thoughts by a high pitched scream
"Oh My Gosh you're Lacey Devero I can't believe it all giuliana said was your name was lacey but she didn't mention you were the lacey devero I wish I could have known I would have worn my favorite dress it's from your winter collection last year it's the one with the stars and the moon print I just love it and"
"Calm down baby girl, you probable scared the poor woman"
Lacey was hit with a lot at once the scream had come from a woman in a bright pink mini dress with a purple jacket and a pair of sparkle like shoes with some kind of flower or maybe it was leaves sewed in to her hair she didn't need help guessing this was the Penelope mentioned earlier and then there was the man that had told her to calm down he was tall and well-built the dress shirt he was wearing was loose but stuck to his toned arms as lacey observed the rest of the occupants in the room there was a man with dark hair sitting on the couch laughing with a brunette woman, at the ordeal and then sitting across from them was a tall man with long blonde hair with his hand over his eyes shaking his head as if embarrassed. From pictures lacey knew he was Spencer.
Once she had her thoughts back together Lacey turned and smiled brightly at the bubbly blonde woman "The scream was enough I can see you're a fan but sadly I'm not as amazing as you may have come to believe" and you may have made me deaf lacey thought to herself
"Oh no you are amazing all the things you have accomplished and you are only 32 it's amazing and your last book I loved it the character of char he was amazing do you plan on writing a sequel soon"
Giuliana walked up behind lacey and placed her arm around her "No she is not lacey is on a break from working and taking personal time at the moment and will continue at a later date"
Lacey laughed and placed her arm around giuliana and leaned her head on her shoulder "mama jewels makes the rules and I must follow"
Giuliana placed a kiss on lacey's forehead and laughed along with her friend "now that I have that settled Lacey this very rambunctious lady here is Penelope Garcia, and the handsome man beside her is Derek Morgan over there on the couch is Aaron Hotchner and Emily Prentiss and last but not least my Spencer"
"It's very nice to meet you all I have heard a lot of good things about you all" lacey smiled at all the occupants in the room.
Just then lacey noticed a man wearing a white button down shirt and black slacks come walking into the room although he appeared a bit older than the other men in the room he was very attractive.
"And that handsome devil there is my dad David Rossi" giuliana gloated with a smile
Oh shit I just checked out my best friends dad lacey thought to herself
David smiled at lacey before looking at Penelope "What was with all the yelling in here I don't want the neighbors to think I'm having some wild party over here or anything"
Penelope pointed at giuliana then turned to Rossi
"Your daughter here has been keeping a very important detail from us. Her best friend isn't just some lady it's The Lacey Elizabeth Devero"
Giuliana pointed a thumb at lacey "You make her sound like some goddess or something I lived with this girl for two years she's not that special"
"Hey if she wants to think that let her don't be bursting my bubble" lacey said while playfully hitting giuliana on the arm.
Everyone in the room laughed at how lacey and giuliana interacted
Spencer walked over and offered a hand to lacey "It's a pleasure to finally meet you and I just want to thank you so much for all you are doing for giuliana and I for the wedding and all"
Instead of accepting the hand shake lacey separated herself from giuliana and embraced spencer in a hug. " you are about to marry the only family I know which makes you a part of my little self-made family and so I will do anything and everything for the both of you so please there is no reason to thank me" spencer being speechless just hugged lacey back
Lacey released spencer from her hug and turned to the person she had yet to meet "And you must to be the one and only David Rossi I have heard a lot about you"
David smiled at giuliana and walked toward her "So since I'm family of Giuliana's do I get a hug too or just a hand shake"
Laughing lacey walked over to David and embraced him in a hug similar to spencers "I love giving free hugs I should just wear a giant sign advertising it"
Everyone began to laugh at lacey just then the doorbell rang
"That must be JJ and will I'll go let them in "Spencer answered as he headed toward the door
Lacey released David from their hug although for some odd reason she felt as though she could hug him for a little bit longer but ignoring the weird thoughts racing through her head. She introduced herself to the new comers as they walked into the living room and soon they all headed to the dining room for dinner.
The meal was served by caterers hired for the night serving a five course Italian meal. during the first three courses lacey spent time getting to know everyone and could see why giuliana loved them all so much. They were like a family and lacey loved the way they interacted and the warm hearted feelings that radiated off of them. When the fourth course which consisted of a frozen lemon sorbet was served the questions quickly shifted to lacey which she had anticipated but wasn't sure she was ready for.
The man lacey had now come to know as Derek Morgan began the questions "So lacey Penelope mentioned earlier that she liked a dress from your line so are you a designer cause I though giuliana had said the two of you meet at school in the same program" although an innocent question lacey wasn't sure how to begin to answer she took a sip of her wine before answering "We did meet in school we were roommates for two years at UCLA we were studying in the same field but actually its quite funny because we had previously crossed paths when we meet during a summer school program in France about"
"Ten years ago but we didn't really connect until UCLA" Giuliana finished for lacey winking at her best friend the girls shared a laugh before Emily spoke up
"So how did you get into designing then?"
Giuliana answered quickly before lacey had a chance "It was a side job she got into"
The group noticed how defensive giuliana had become with the questions of lacey's work. Lacey turned to Giuliana who was sitting beside her and gave her a one arm hugged "It's OK" she whispered to her as the rest of the table tried to figure out what was going on Penelope spoke up next "I really enjoy your books what about those" she asked trying to evade the unanswered question left up in the air.
Lacey had learned that Penelope was a computer genius and since she was also a huge fan lacey knew that she too understood what giuliana was trying to avoid and lacey could tell by the nervousness in poor Penelope's voice. Lacey faintly smiled at her before releasing a small laugh trying to ease the oddness that had filled the room. With an arm still wrapped around giuliana lacey took her wine glass in her other hand and took a big gulp and a deep breath to follow before turning to Emily "to answer you and Derek's question I got into retail and designing about six years ago I married into it actually it was my husband's family business"
"Oh who was the family if you don't mind me asking "jj's innocent question caused giuliana to choke on her wine and Penelope to take a noticeably deep breath the rest of the dinner party becoming more curious by the moment. Lacey just avoided the reactions and the stares and answered JJ
"It's the retail chain Dev. Created and operated by the Devero family it was first started in London now it's expanded but mainly in malls around this area we sell clothing, accessories, cosmetics, beauty items and a few other little things each store depending on area is different I operate the stores from here to as far as Florida" lacey told JJ
Emily looked at lacey amazed "Wow that's amazing but I mean it must be a lot because you also write books don't you"
"I do but I have always enjoyed writing so it comes pretty easy it's not as hectic as running a retail chain" lacey smiled and replied to Emily
David who had been fairly quiet finally asked lacey a question that had been on his mind for a while "So you and my Gigi went to school together when did the two of you cross paths you both obviously studied in different fields" David looked at lacey waiting on a reply while taking a sip of his wine.
"On top of all you already know I also have a PHD in psychology like Giuliana as well as a bachelor of music degree I had originally wanted to be a child psychologist and use music as a foundation in the therapy sessions but apparently life had a different plan for me" lacey smiled at David waiting to see if that answered his question.
"Well it must have been some big revolution that made you change your mind on such a promising career because retail and writing are very different from psychology" David added to his previous question.
Lacey was about to reply when she looked beside her at Giuliana who had just chocked but being as it was her best friend lacey knew when her friend was really chocking and when she was trying to move on from an embarrassing conversation.
David forgot his question and turned to check on his daughter "Are you alright GIGI" he asked with a hint of concern in his voice
Giuliana took a sip of water and smiled at her dad "yea I'm fine just had a little tickle in my throat" after placing her glass back down she turned and gave lacey a look that told lacey to drop the conversation while they were ahead but lacey looked up at the group at the table and by the looks on their face and the fact of what they did for a living she knew that they knew something was up.
Getting her thoughts straight lacey decide to just let it all out and put everyone out of their miserable curious minds. Taking a large gulp of her wine she looked at no one in particular before speaking
"So Giuliana has mentioned a time or two that you all are the best BAU team the FBI has seen in a while so please tell me that you all are not falling for Giuliana's little show and know she is trying to stop us from talking"
After a moment of silence Emily spoke up "We noticed something but it's none of our business to intrude you and Giuliana go way back so we know that there are certain things you would want to keep between the two of you"
Lacey smiled at Emily and gave her an appreciative look "That's really sweet Emily but Giuliana is being ridiculous because it's public knowledge that my husband died almost two years ago it's in newspapers and magazines because his family accused me of killing him he went out on his boat one day apparently with his mistress and they never returned to shore coast guards found them two days later on the ship Carlos that was my husband had been mutilated and his girlfriend Elena was still alive on drugs or something it looked like she had did it during her drug high or something but apparently she had never done drugs so Carlos's family said I must have drugged her and made it look like she did it or something its actually quite funny they never really liked me anyways we had a thirteen year age difference so they always thought I was after his money and the company its actually quite funny when you think about the whole situation like a bad episode of Jerry Springer"
Lacey finished off her glass of wine not really looking at any one after her very informative and honesty revelation. Luckily a welcomed distraction came when the waiters came and took away the sorbet bowls and replaced them with a small plate of desserts and a cup for either coffee or tea. The plates had mini versions of Tiramisu, Zeppoles, Italian Cookies, Double Chocolate Biscotti and fresh fruit filled Cannoli's just enough of each to get a taste of it but not be over stuffed from the rest of the large meal. Lacey thanked the waiter and told him her drink preference of coffee over tea as did everyone else but the anxiety of the information lacey had just shared still encircled the atmosphere in the room finally David spoke up after what seemed like forever of silence
"We apologize for your loss and snooping into your life lacey it was not our intention" David sincerely told her while looking toward her
After a moment lacey finally returned a smile to David and looked his way "you all didn't pry honestly its fine I'm used to talking about it and time has healed all wounds"
Finishing up the desert JJ and will were first to say their goodbyes having to get home to their son henry followed by Aaron who had to do the same as his son jack was waiting on him. Lacey mentally drained from the whole evening thanked David for the evening and said her Farwell to the remaining guest. Giuliana walked lacey out to her car. Lacey unlooked the car and tossed her purse and jacket into the passenger seat
"You should really put that thing on its a bit cold out here" Giuliana said while rocking back and forth with her hands in her pocket
Lacey gave her friend a faint smile "I'll be fine I like the cold weather but I am really sorry about dinner I should have thought about what I was about to say I didn't mean to ruin it"
"Trust me you didn't do anything wrong we have had worst dinners here its ok I'm not worried about it but I am worried about you are you doing ok I know being back here is a big deal and I really appreciate you being here for me but if it is too much I will understand"
Lacey grabbed Giuliana and pulled her into a hug "Jewels I can't keep running I have to face the music sooner or later and honestly considering what we know now about Carlos's death I think I'm doing pretty good don't you"
"Yea I do lacey Beth I'm very proud of you because if it was me I don't know what I would do"
Giuliana gave lacey another big hug before allowing her to get in her car and go home. The usual forty minute drive took lacey an hour but that was because lacey took her time and drove slow enjoying the music. It was almost eleven thirty but lacey needed a shower now to help her relax. She stripped out of her clothes throwing them in a chair by the bathroom door and went into the shower Turing on the radio as she went. Lacey let the voice of Luther Vandross soothe her along with the hot water as she washed away her day.
so hope this was good this chapter took me the longest but Any advice or something you want to see add a review
The some of the deserts from dinner
o Tiramiso: espresso-spiked treat is the ultimate dessert. It means "pick me up" in Italian
o Mini Zeppoles: quick-fix dessert uses just three ingredients. Fry store-bought pizza dough and sprinkle it with confectioners' sugar
