Thanks for the wonderful feedback. And the favorites and follows. This chapter is a bit of filler. Next chapter will jump forward in time a bit.

Into the Grey

"On second thought I will take that drink." Aaron crossed the room to the dry bar. "It's been one hell of a night."

"You're deflecting."

He took the top of the bottle of gin. "Erin's had a rough couple of months." he replied. "Before what happened tonight."

Rossi shook his head. "No, it's more than that."

He crossed the room to sit on the sofa. "I helped her check into treatment, Dave. I've been there for her these past few months."

"And you've gotten close." he took a sip of his drink. "Really close."

"We're friends."

"Oh, come on, Hotch." he said. "She asked for you immediately after the accident. You've barely left her side all night."

"What are you getting at?"

David was silent for several long moments. "You're sleeping with her."

Aaron just shook his head. "You've got in all wrong, Dave." he told him. "We're just friends. And her husband did just die."

"They were on the verge of separating before she went into treatment." he said matter of fact. "Things have been rocky for a while." he studied his friend closely. "You shouldn't be so surprised, I am a profiler after all."

"Well, you're wrong on this one." he sat his glass down on the cocktail table. "I'm going to check on Erin." he got up and headed for the stairs. "I hope you're not going to railroad a grieving widow with these types of questions."

"I would probably get more straight forward answers out of her."

/

Erin pulled David's plush robe over her shoulders and tied it loosely above the swell of her abdomen. There was something about warm water rushing over her that was not only cleansing but comforting as well. She felt refreshed, as refreshed as she could be in the situation, and ready to face her children.

There was a slight knock on the bathroom door. "Are you okay?"

Erin pulled the door open. "Fine." she told him. "I'm feeling...a little better. It's less foggy."

"Do you want to rest?" he asked her. "Just take a few minutes to re-energize? I know that you're pretty high on adrenaline right now."

"It's starting to dissipate." she said, softly. "I just feel so numb."

"You're still in shock." he pushed a lock of wet hair out of her face. "Don't rush anything. There's no set way to handle any of this."

She found her way into his arms, she felt like burrowing as far down into his embrace as she possibly could. She just wanted to be able to breathe easily without anyone's expectations or judgement of her. And, God, she wanted to feel something other than heart wrenching anguish.

Her lips sought out his. And she sighed in relief against his bottom lip when he returned her gesture instead of pushing her away. The kisses that came next were slow and tender and comforting.

"I'm sorry." she apologized, easing back from him. "I just needed...something...to feel human I guess."

"No apologies necessary." he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'm here for you, always. You know that."

"I do." she said. "But not to take advantage of. I never want you to feel obligated, Aaron. This is a delicate situation we're in and we still have a lot to figure out."

"And in time we will." he assured her. "Right now though we need to focus on you. Why don't you rest for a while." he suggested. "It's three in the morning. I've spoken to your mother in law, the kids are sleeping. You should sleep too."

There was a slight knock on the ajar bedroom door. "I found some pajamas." David announced, pushing the door open. "Might be a little big."

Erin graciously took them from his hand. "There's more of me these days so they'll probably be fine." she told him. "Thank you."

"Why don't you sleep in here." he suggested. "I'll go to one of the guest rooms."

"I don't want to take your bedroom." she argued. "That wouldn't be fair."

David shook his head. "I'll think you'll be more comfortable in here." he told her. "I'll be right down the hall if you need anything."

Sleep surprisingly came easily for Erin. Between her adrenaline crashing and the tiredness from her pregnancy she quickly drifted off into nothingness. And it helped having Aaron next to her. She somehow felt safer. Comforted by his presence. Then steadiness of his hand lightly holding hers.

/

David looked up from his cup of coffee to see Erin coming into the kitchen. "Up already?"

"I could ask you the same thing." she said, sitting down on the stool next to him at the island.

He slid his cup over to her. "It's decaf."

"You've gone soft." she took a sip of the warm liquid. "Hazelnut?"

He nodded. "I've gotten old."

"Your type doesn't get old, David."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment."

She took another sip of coffee. "I meant it as one."

"Hungry?"

"Not really."

"You should probably eat something." he suggested. "If not for you then for the baby." he told her. "Let me make you something."

"Nothing heavy." she agreed.

"How about some toast and fruit?" he asked. "Fruit is good for the baby, right?"

Erin nodded. "Yes."

David put the bread in the toaster oven and then pulled out a cutting board and a knife. "When is the baby due?"

"December 22nd."

His plucked an orange out of the bowl of fruit behind him on the counter. "Just in time for Christmas." he said. "Do you know the gender?"

"Not yet." she replied. "My next appointment is in three weeks. We're suppose to find out then."

The knife slid through the orange, effortlessly. "Your kids excited?"

Erin laughed. "Horrified." she told him. "My youngest not so much. Grace, however, is completely disgusted by the whole thing."

He went back to the toast, pulling it from the oven and placing it on a plate. "And Dashiell?"

She shrugged. "He's a teenage boy. If it doesn't involve sports and video games he's not that interested."

"Babies have a way of bringing the best out in everyone." he placed the orange slices on the plate with the toast. "Bon appetite."

"Thank you."

"Butter or jam?" he asked, opening the refrigerator door.

"Both."

"A girl after my own heart." he sat the butter dish and the jar of jam down on the counter in front of her. "Milk?"

"No thanks. I'll drink the rest of your girlie coffee."

David chuckled as he sat back down beside her. "You wound me, bella."

"Someone has to." she took a bite of an orange slice. "May as well be me. Besides you're a good distraction. You always have been."

"Glad I could be of service."

"You've really been helpful." she told him. "You've kept me grounded so far this morning. You're not treating me like glass and you have no idea how much I appreciate that."

"I'm just taking your lead." he said. "Aaron still sleeping?"

She nodded. "I didn't want to wake him." she replied. "He's really been there for me the past few months. I don't know what I would do without him. Especially now that..." she let her words fall away.

"You're not alone, Erin." he assured her. "I know that our past is...rocky...at best. But I think you'll find that I make a pretty good ally."

tbc...