Chapter 3: Watching him with Family
Erin Straus woke and stretched, every muscle in her body screaming. It had been almost two long months since she and David had made love, his schedule kept him away, and last night they had made up for lost time. She watched him asking herself was the soreness this morning worth it? Oh yeah! Would she do it all over again? Yes! If he woke up and wanted to make love again, would she. Yell yeah! The things he could do to her and make her body do with a single touch or kiss. Just the thought made her tingle.
She watched him as he began to awaken; she saw the look on his face when he realized he'd used muscles that he hadn't used in a while either. Opening his eyes, he groaned, "Oh, what did you do to me last night?"
She giggled and sat up a bit. "I seem to remember you started it."
"I don't recall hearing anyone say stop." He teased, "Actually, I think I heard Don't Stop several times." David Rossi pulled her down next to him and kissed her. It was a slow gentle kiss full of promise. He knew that was as far as he could go for now. He wasn't twenty-five, his fifty something body need a rest. Slowly he disengaged himself from her arms, and rolled out of bed with a soft whimper.
She watched him as he slowly walked into the bathroom, before getting out of bed herself.
They couple was sitting in the living room, enjoying coffee together. She was reading the fashion section of the paper while he checked up on sports, when the doorbell rang. They looked at each other; it was barely 8 AM, wondering who it could be. The team wasn't supposed to be here for several hours yet. Dave stood, walked to the door and opened it.
"What are you doing here?" She heard him ask with genuine surprise in his voice. "Come on in. She's in the living room."
Just as she was about to get up she spotted her children come bounding into the room. Dropping their bags on the floor all three piled down on the sofa next to their mother. "What are you doing here? I thought you were with friends or your dad?"
"Well, we were, but when I talked to Dave yesterday, he told me about this little family get together and said he wished he could surprise you and us all show up. I told him as much fun as I thought it would be I thought it was too late to arrange it." Katie, Erin's oldest child said. "But after thinking about it, I called Danny and Jessie, we talked it over and decided to surprise both of you. Besides it's been months since we've seen Dave."
"I was just about to fix some breakfast," Dave said, "You kiddos hungry?"
"I'm always hungry." Daniel stated. The girls nodded.
Erin stood hugged her kids, picked up the empty mugs and started towards the kitchen to help. Calling over her shoulder with a smile, "Put your bags in your rooms, the floor isn't where they belong."
The kids picked up the suitcases they had dumped in the foyer and headed to put them away. When Dave and Erin told the kids about their relationship and the children started spending more and more time with them, Dave made sure that each one had a room at his house they could call theirs, a place they could go to have time to themselves. He even had his decorator work with the kids to redo the rooms.
It wasn't long before the three teens were sitting at the kitchen table talking and watching breakfast being made. Jessie stood, walked over to Dave "Can I help?" She loved to cook and one of her favorite things was helping in the kitchen. She especially like to help him, because he explained things and didn't get upset when she did it wrong.
"Sure, why don't you wash and slice those berries." He said pointing to the colander in the sink.
Erin finished what she was doing, sat the table, before sitting down with her older two.
She watched as he showed her daughter how to slice the berries so they didn't smash and mix the eggs so they stayed fluffy as they were being scrambled. She watched as he explained to the 16 year old, how to cook bacon so it was crispy, but not burnt and she watched as he showed Jessica what seasonings made them taste just right and what ones weren't really good on eggs. She smiled as she watched him teach her daughter things that a father should teach a child. She knew her ex never had the patience that he had with her children. She watched as the duo finished up breakfast and brought it to the table for the family, taking their own seats.
As soon as they were seated, Erin reached for Daniel and Jessie's hand and everyone followed. They knew what she was doing, they were not catholic, but Dave was and they had learned the prayer he recited before meals. Together, they prayed. "Bless us, O Lord! And these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. "
She watched as her children enjoyed talking to each other and to Dave. They were telling him about their lives since they'd seen him last. She knew her kids liked him and he liked them. She watched as he took in everything they had to tell him. She watched as he laughed at them teasing each other. She loved times like these; they didn't have many of them, with her schedule, his schedule and the children's, but the teens knew he was good for their mom, that he cared deeply for her and he was there through everything the last couple years. She watched as the two older kids got up, cleared the table, putting dishes in the dish washer.
"Thanks for breakfast, Dave." Daniel said as he moved to leave, stopping in the doorway. "You want to play a game of Mortal Combat?"
"Sure, get it set up and I'll be there in a couple minutes." Dave replied, looking at Erin with a raised eyebrow.
Erin sat in the overstuffed chair in Dave's den pretending to read, but was actually listening to her girls talk about boys, while texting and watching the men in her life battle each other in what she thought was a very dumb video game. David saw so much death in his work, why did he want to play a battle game in his free time. She remembered Danny had tried to explain it was a way to release stress and tension. She wasn't sure she was buying it, but he seemed to enjoying playing, especially with her boy, so who was she to question. She watched as Daniel would win and tease Dave, then Dave would win and hand it right back to the teenager. She laughed out loud when Danny got so excited he slid right off the chair, dropped his controller and with one final kick Dave beat him.
"Rematch!" Daniel yelled resetting the game for another round.
Dave stood, stretched and prepared for the next round. He looked over at Erin, to see her watching them with a huge smile on her beautiful face. He knew she was happiest when her children were around and today would be a good day for her. Sitting back down, he winked and saw her blush.
The pink glow on her mother's face didn't go unnoticed by her oldest daughter. Katie moved over to sit with Erin in the large chair, "Mom is there something I need to know?"
"Why would you ask that?" Erin questioned, looking away from Dave to her daughter.
"Well, you can't take your eyes off Dave today and when he winked at you and I saw him wink, you blushed like a school girl." Katie stated.
Erin sat up a little straighter, "I'm not sure what you mean. If I am looking at him, it's because I'm watching him play a game with your brother."
Katie wasn't buying it. "No, that's not it. We know you like him, and he likes you. The two of you have been together a while now. You still aren't comfortable with showing that you care about each other in front of us, are you?"
Erin started to say something but closed her mouth instead. She knew her wise 19 year old was right. She cared deeply for David Rossi. They had officially been a couple for the last 16 months and she knew he was the man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. She wanted to be with her David. Not the one that she had heard about or knew of in the past, but the man he had become. He had changed so much since she first met him all those years ago. Then he was a ladies' man, doing a different woman as often as he could. Now he was a one woman man and he chose to be her man. She knew he only had eyes for her and she only wanted him, in her bed and in her life. So why was she so afraid to let her children see it? "I, we, I just don't want you kids to be uneasy."
"Mom, relax. We all know what happened between you and Dad. We know he was unfaithful." When Erin started to protest, Katie held up her hand to stop her mother. "Yes you say it's your fault, but it takes two. You are a great mom and you deserve to be happy. Dave makes you happy, we all see it. He is good for you and he is good to you. Since you started seeing him, you smile more, laugh more and enjoy life more." Taking her mother's hands in her own, she went on. "All three of us like Dave, so if you want to touch him, cuddle, hug or even kiss him when we are around, do it. Don't be embarrassed. Its part of the process of falling in love and Mother, you are falling in love with David Rossi."
"Honey, there is no falling to it. I am completely head over heels in love with David Rossi." Erin said very softly.
"Does he know, have you told him?" Katie asked lowering her voice.
Erin looked at Dave playing video games with her son, then back to her daughter. "Does he know, I think he suspects, he is a profiler and the best there is. Have I actually said the words to him, no."
Katie stood up, leaned in and hugged her mother, "Tell him!" Then returned to sit with her little sister.
Erin watched him as he continued to play the game with Daniel. She thought about what her daughter said, as she watched him. Yes she had fallen completely hopelessly in love with him. She loved everything about him. They way he walked, talked, and smiled. She loved the way he kissed her, the way he touched her, the way he said her name when they were making love. She even loved the way he fought with her at the office when he thought she was wrong. He kept her on her toes and she loved it. She loved him.
She watched him as Danny, beat him one more time. She watched as the two stood, and congratulated each other on game well played. She watched as they talked while cleaning up the controllers and putting things away. She watched as her son patted him on the back and headed to the stairs. She knew he was going to his room to listen to music before the others arrived. She watched as Dave stretched, she knew he still had to be sore from last night and then to set on that one position for over an hour couldn't have helped his screaming muscles. She saw him flinch a little, but quickly cover. She watched as he turned to see her watching him, and then look at her daughters and back at him.
He was the first one to speak looking at the clock. "I guess I should go get things ready for the team to get here." Erin started to stand but he stopped her. "You relax, enjoy the kids. I got this."
He was a little surprised when she reached for his hand holding it in her own for a few minutes. She blew him a kiss that shocked him even more. "I'll be in to help in a while. I want to straighten up here some." They both knew the den didn't need tidying. No one except Dave went in there, unless he and the kids were playing video games. Sometimes she would go in there when he wasn't home just to be near him, this was where everything inanimate that was important to David Rossi resided.
A little before three, members of the team and their families started showing up. One of the girls or Erin would let them in. Most went to the back yard where Dave, Daniel and Jessie had set up tables and Dave was playing host. He loved Jack and Henry, so he had a swing set put in one corner of his yard for the boys to play on when they came. Of course Uncle Dave didn't just put up any swing, it had a rock climbing wall, swinging bridge, large slide and tree house all attached.
She watched from the French doors as he interacted with Hotch, Beth, Derek, Reid and the boys. She watched how relaxed he was with them. She hoped someday she would be as well. She knew his team knew all about their relationship and they had all socialized many time, she just always felt a little out of place. She knew until she started her relationship with David that they all thought she was a cold heartless bitch.
She heard the doorbell again and turned to see JJ, Will, Henry and Penelope. She welcomed them, telling them everyone was out back. She watched as they went to join their team mates. She watched as her children joined the celebration. Daniel was in the tree house with Henry and Jack entertaining the little ones. The girls were sitting by Dave's pool talking to JJ and Beth. She watched the scene in the backyard wondering if she should just go curl up by herself. Then she noticed Beth heading for the house. Opening the door Beth entered.
"Why aren't you out there with the rest of us?" She asked.
Erin looked out the window watching Dave with his family. "I know how they feel about me or at least used to feel. I don't want to spoil David's party."
"Erin, the only way you will spoil Dave's evening is if you don't come out and join us. If he didn't want you here, you wouldn't be here. The team doesn't think of you as the Ice Queen any longer. They know you've changed and they know how important you are to Dave." She stepped closer to the older woman and took her hands in her own. "Aaron and I have been with you and Dave from the beginning of this journey. We've watched this relationship blossom and Dave cares very much for you. I even think I heard him use the L word the other day when he was talking to Aaron. Relax, be yourself. Let these guys see the Erin Strauss that Aaron and I have gotten to know, the Erin that puts that smile on Dave's face."
Erin looked out the door one more time, smiled at Beth and followed her out into the backyard. She walked over to where Dave stood talking to Aaron and Derek. He wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her temple. "There you are, I was wondering if you were going to join us."
"I was just checking on thing, I wanted to make sure everything was ready for later." She said smiling at Beth who was now standing by Aaron.
Derek leaned over and kissed Erin on the cheek, completely surprising her. "Hello, pretty lady. Glad you decided to join us."
Erin smiled, blushed a little. "Thank you, Agent…Derek." She leaned into Dave a little more, still a little self conscious being with his team.
She watched the team as they interacted with each other. She watched them as they accepted her children as part of their family. She watched David as he played the perfect host moving from group to group making sure everyone was happy and having a good time. She watched him as he smiled and laughed. She loved his smile and his laugh made her melt. She watched him as Daniel tried to throw him in the pool, but the youngster found out he was stronger than he might appear. With a quick duck and turn movement, Danny found himself falling into the deep end. She laughed as she watched him; it did her good to see him with her kids. She watched as her girls cheered for him, teasing their brother.
JJ and Penelope soon joined her on the wooden swing; Dave had put in his garden. "Why are you sitting over here all by yourself?" JJ asked.
"Just watching." Erin said.
"Watching Rossi?" Garcia asked.
Erin smiled, "Watching all of you and how well you all get along."
JJ reached over and patted her hand. "I've never seen Dave this happy. We know it's because of you. You can see it all over his face when he looks at you, when he talks about you, when he sees you. You're good for him Erin."
"And he's good for you." Garcia said. "You have mellowed since the Replicator. You just need to relax around all of us, when we are out like this. The team wants to get to know the lady that means the world to Dave, please let us?"
"I'll try." Erin said. "It's just hard; we've not had the best of pasts."
"That's just it, it's the past. We all just want you and Rossi to be happy." JJ commented.
The 3 women sat in the swing talking for a long time. Erin's eyes seldom left Dave. She knew she had just made two new friends and she knew it would mean the world to him that she was trying. She watched him play with Jack and Henry. She watched as he picked up Jessie and pretended he was going to throw her in the pool. She watched as he turned to see her watching him. He threw her that cheeky, I know what you're doing grin and she blew him a kiss. She knew she was making progress and she blushed a little when she heard Katie yell "Way to go, Mom."
Dave called everyone that wanted a cooking lesson into the kitchen. Daniel and Katie said they would stay outside with Henry and Jack so they could play and swim, while everyone else gathered in the kitchen.
"Erin, your children are wonderful." J.J commented.
Pride written all over her face, Strauss answered. "Thank you, they are really good kids."
"They seem to like Dave." Jennifer said looking at Jessie standing next to Rossi.
Erin watched them for a couple minutes before responding. "Yes they do. Actually I got a lecture from Katie today, that we need to show a little more affection towards each other when they are around."
"You should." The younger woman exclaimed. "There is nothing wrong with showing family and friends that you care."
Erin saw the twinkle in JJ and Penelope's eyes. Garcia was the one to speak for both women. "We dare you sometime before the night is over to plant a wet one on him."
"I don't know." She started to protest.
"It's a dare, you're not afraid of a dare are you? I didn't think Chief Strauss was afraid of anything." JJ teased.
Erin knew, if she was going to be accepted as part of the family, as David's other half, she needed to play their games. "Okay, I accept your dare. Sometime before the nights over I'll kiss him."
"Not a little peck, Erin, a full blown on the lips, tongue down his throat, Rock his world kiss." Garcia challenged. "Oh and you can't tell him it was a dare."
"Challenge accepted." Erin said, watching David.
Erin sat on a stool off to the side as the others gathered for their lesson. She told them she didn't need a cooking lesson, she had the Master Chef to cook for her. Everyone laughed at that comment. She watched as he began explaining everything slowly. Making sure everyone understood. Letting them ask questions as they went and him answering them. They knew when they cooked with Rossi, they made their own and they ate what they cooked. Erin watched as Dave poured non-alcoholic wine for everyone. She watched as no one seemed to mind. They all knew she couldn't and wouldn't drink. She told them it was okay if they all wanted wine, but had agreed for this family evening alcohol was out. She knew then that they were recognizing her as one of them. She watched him as he tossed pasta and chopped veggies. She watched him as he stepped up behind Penelope and showed her how to hold her wrists so that the pasta would come out just right. She watched him as he laughed so hard at Beth; wine came out of his nose. She watched as he settled in next to Jessie giving her special attention. She watched him and thought what a great father he would have made. She watched as he prepared dinner.
Everyone ate and enjoyed their food. Dave had made extra for her and the children that didn't participate in the lesson. She watched as he placed the food on the table and everyone gathered around, eating together like one big family. She watched as they all talked and laughed. She watched him, she loved watching him. She loved the way he would get little wrinkles around his eyes when he laughed. She loved that he was so relaxed with these people. She watched as he played with his wine glass as he talked to Derek. He had little habits like that, that she saw more and more as she watched him. She watched him as everyone finished their food and began to clear the table. Will and Aaron said they would do the clean up. Katie agreed to help them, putting all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, before cleaning the pots and pans by hand. When it was all done, the trio when outside to join the others.
Erin Strauss watched David Rossi, as he stood next to her son and Spencer Reid. She watched him as he talked animated, his hands moving the whole time. She noticed the jeans he had on, they were the ones she had bought for him just a few days before, and he wore a light blue polo shirt and white sneakers. She knew he seldom wore athletic shoes, but they looked wonderful on him tonight. She watched him and thought how sexy he looked. How if all these people weren't here she might just have to jump him. She knew all she would have to do is run her hand down his arm and give him the look as he called it and he would be putty in her hands, not to mention he would be hard in no time. She loved that she could do that to him. She also knew he could so the same to her. All he had to do was smile that sexy Italian smile and she would melt. She loved that he knew exactly where to kiss her on the back of her neck that could get her hot every time. She watched him and knew she needed to change her thoughts or she wouldn't be able to walk in just a few minutes.
She watched him as he moved toward the house to grab some towels for the kids in the pool. She watched him as he stood there with the men looking just so delicious. She watched him and knew now was the perfect time to meet the challenge she has accepted earlier. Standing up she shot Garcia and JJ a look that told them she was about to make history, she was about to stun the entire team. They stood and followed her so they could see the full show.
Erin Strauss walked up beside David Rossi, stood for a minute, and then reached around, placing her hand on the back of his neck, pulling his head down so his lips met hers. She kissed him slow and sensual. Opening her lips a little she licked his lower lip and he opened his mouth to accept her tongue in his. Their tongues dance a slow sexy dance. Needing air she broke their kiss, let go of his head and started to walk away, before he caught her hand stilling her movements. Both blushed as the entire team whooped it up and cheered. Even her children were cheering.
Dave kissed her on the side of the head and whispered, "Want to tell me what that was all about?"
"Later" she said as she walked away. Watching him as he stood there speechless.