Erin Strauss' Office

"Dammit Erin, why are you being so difficult about this," he wanted to know.

Erin Strauss looked from Emily into his heated eyes. "It is the rules, David. You remember the rules don't you? We made them up so you could break them. We made the no fraternization rules because of you and you ignored them. We made the rule where married couples could not be on the same team and you threatened a discrimination lawsuit… and ignored the rule. And we've always had rules about pregnant agents in the field. You waited until it was very obvious that Emily is pregnant before telling anyone and then kept her in the field. I should fire you both."

David Rossi glared at her across the desk. "So fire me. But let Emily take the family leave and come back to her job."

"Don't think I haven't thought about it," Strauss said ominously. "But I'm not firing either of you...yet. Still, you can't remain on the same team."

Dave opened his mouth but was silenced by the feel of Emily's hand grasping his forearm. "Director Strauss, Dave and I need to talk about this. Could we continue this conversation on Monday, after Dave and I have a chance to think about it?"

"I think that is a very good idea," Erin Strauss replied haughtily. "And Agent Rossi, I suggest you listen to your wife."

"You're not quitting," he barked as he stormed through their front door, Emily following him inside.

"But Dave…"

"No. You love the job. I won't…"

Putting her hand up to quiet him, Emily took a deep breath. "Look, when this baby arrives the boys will be toddlers. I'll have two eighteen month olds and a newborn to contend with. I think my hands will be full."

"We," he gritted out through a clenched jaw.

"What?"

"We will have two toddlers and a newborn. You're not in this alone."

Sighing in resignation, she nodded. "You're right…we. But honestly, I don't think I can go off to work everyday and leave them for Mrs. Henderson to take care of."

"She's been doing alright so far. And if she needs help, we'll hire someone to help her. You're not a stay at home kind of woman, Emily."

"You profiling me, Dave?" Her stare was one of warning.

"No, but your profile looks pretty damned fine, if you ask me," he said as his eyes raked over her.

"David," she warned.

He shrugged. "What? A man can't ogle his wife anymore? Is that against the rules too?"

"Wouldn't matter if it was; you'd ignore the rule," she smiled in spite of her frustration with him. "But I'm trying to be realistic here…"

"Look if anyone is going to stay at home with the kids, it'll be me," he declared. "I've had my career, you're still building yours."

"It is settled then," she said quietly. "I'll take a leave until the baby is born. Then I'll go back to work in a different unit. And you will continue with the BAU."

"What?" he exploded. "I never agreed to that. I don't want you with another unit."

"But Strauss isn't going to let us stay together Dave."

"Which is why I'll stay at home and you will stay with the BAU."

"But…"

"Emily," he said as he stepped closer to her, "I don't trust any other unit to look out for you. If I can't be there to do it myself, then I want you with people I can trust to take care of you. I can't lose you, Honey."

Thinking back to the long hours at the hospital wondering if she had lost him, Emily understood his fear. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. But first we try to both go back to work. If Strauss won't cave, then you can stay home and be Mr. Mom."

Taking her in his arms and hugging her as tightly as the baby bump would allow, he sighed happily. "Just think how much fun it could be, Em. You'd come home every night to your doting husband who has prepared a fabulous dinner and is there only to serve you."

"Serve me? Don't you mean service me?"

That too," he said as his fingers caressed along her back.

"I'm not sure…think I could get a preview of what this service might include?"

"I'll tell Mrs. Henderson we don't want to be disturbed," he offered.

"Meet you upstairs," she said coyly as he let her go.