DISCLAIMER - I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR THE CHARACTERS.
AN - All non Criminal Minds characters are my own.
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Work got out of hand. Will try and update quicker next time.
Hope you enjoy this chapter. Reviews and opinions are always welcome.
CHAPTER 6 - The fairy godmother
The rest of the day passed with relative ease for everyone. Nothing more was said about David and Erin's relationship but just because they weren't talking about it didn't mean they weren't all thinking about it.
David and Erin were just glad to get on with the rest of their day as they had a lot to talk about since their meeting with the Director. Both knew they still had lots of questions still to answer but they would get through it together.
Erin was trying to focus on her paperwork instead of lunch as her stomach had been unsettled all day, even before her dizzy turn in front of Penelope. Erin found it funny that she had divulged so much of her life to someone she didn't really know so quickly but put it down to the hormones making her a bit crazy.
"I think that's enough work just now. Someone needs to remember and eat as they are eating for two now." said David as he entered her office holding a plastic bag.
"Whatever it is, get rid of it." said Erin as her hand shot up to cover her mouth. She had forgotten how her appetite changed when she was pregnant.
Noticing the strange look on his wife's face he opened the door and placed the bag outside. "Okay. Offending smelling food gone but you need to eat something as you brought your breakfast up this morning and I doubt you've eaten since then."
"I'll admit I haven't eaten anything since then but my appetite seems to have left the building." said Erin trying to lighten her husbands mood.
"You need to eat something sweetheart. I'll get you anything you want." said David. He was willing to go to the ends of the earth to make sure nothing happened to Erin or the baby. He didn't know if he could survive the loss of of another child.
Deciding to placate her husband she said "If you really loved me, you could get me a chilli cheese burger with fries. Oh and mayo to go with the fries and a large chocolate milkshake." Once she thought about it she realised her cravings had kicked in. She had been thinking about the burger since the meeting this morning but decided not to mention it as David would drop everything to get her one.
"Okay." replied David. He knew women had strange cravings when they were pregnant but something so unhealthy was strange for Erin. "Anything to keep you happy."
"You could just erase the past 5 years then." mumbled Erin.
"Honey. You and I both know you did what you had to to save the team. They don't understand yet that you have been helping not hindering us. Give them time. They'll come around eventually."
"Before or after this child goes to college?" came Erin's witty reply.
"There's the Erin I know and love. My sources tell me you have manged to win one of them over already." replied David as he sat on the edge of Erin's desk.
"Oh and who would that be? I know Aaron and Morgan understand what happened, but understanding and accepting are two very different things."
"Our bubbly tech goddess came to me with some concerns about you after the meeting this morning. She was worried about you after your little turn." said David as he studied his wife.
"Stop trying to read me David. You know I don't like it." snapped Erin. She could always tell when he was just looking at her or trying to read her. The latter being the case this time.
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried okay. I knew if you were worried about the baby you would have told me about it but you should keep a note of any other turns and please tell me about them. We are supposed to be in this together." said David as he knelt in front of Erin. He was only being the typical overprotective husband.
Looking into David's eyes Erin knew she could never stay mad at him. It was that lopsided grin that pulled at her heart strings every time.
"I'm fine. It was just a dizzy spell. Nothing to worry about." replied Erin as she gently caressed David's cheek.
"I was thinking." began David as he broke the moment to retake his seat on the desk. "What if we held off telling the team till it became a must. You know, just so they have a chance to see you as more than their Section Chief?"
As Erin thought it over she realised it would give them time to decide about her new job and hopefully get further through the pregnancy as well. 38 weeks was the goal she was to reach. Her doctor had advised them that carrying to full term might not happen due to her age and the fact it was a high risk pregnancy.
"I think I agree with you about not telling them. I don't need to be worrying about what the rest of the team is thinking. It's stressful enough. I'm just glad Eric decided to be so generous with my work hours."
"He's only concerned about you like I am, and Penny. How would you feel if I told her about the baby?" asked David. He wanted someone he could trust to keep an eye on Erin when the team was away and knew that Penelope was the one for the job. When she got going no one stood in her way and he needed someone who could stand up to Erin when she needed to take a break.
Erin understood what her husband was asking and was happy that he had thought of Penelope. "Deal. If you want we could tell her after lunch as I suspect that Agent Morgan won't be able to withstand an interrogation from her."
"You're right there." laughed David. "I'll go get lunch. Be back in about half an hour." said David as he gave Erin a quick kiss then headed out to get the food.
"Knock, knock." said David as he stood at the entrance to Garcia's lair.
"Enter mere mortal." came the reply from within.
"I was wondering if I could borrow you for a short time?" asked Rossi. He didn't want her to think she was in trouble if Erin summoned her to her office.
"Anything for one of my lambs. You know that." replied Garcia as she removed her headset and pushed away from her desk. "What do you need?"
"I actually need your help but I can't explain it here. Do you mind coming with me to Erin's office as it concerns her as well."
Thinking the worst after her dizzy turn this morning "She's not ill is she? She might not be my favourite person but you care about her and if she's ill then you'd be unhappy and I don't like it when someone I love is unhappy." started Garcia.
Realising he needed to stop the runaway train that is Garcia's mind "No. It's nothing like that. Trust me it's good. We'll explain all."
"Okay. Let me transfer my calls and I'll meet you there in 5 minutes." said Garcia as she picked up the phone to call Kevin to take her calls for a while.
As she approached Erin's office she felt very apprehensive. Sucking up her courage she knocked on the door as the secretary was no where to be seen. David opened the door and welcomed her in. What she saw made her mouth drop open.
Laying on the couch, fast asleep, was Erin. She looked so very tired but peaceful. It was strange to see such a different side to the usually closed off woman. Sending a questioning look to Rossi he nodded his head towards the corner of the room. "
Sorry about this. When I came back up she had fallen asleep and I didn't have the heart to waken her." said Rossi as he sent a loving look towards his sleeping wife.
"I thought you said she wasn't ill. She looks exhausted. What's going on?" questioned Garcia. Her worries about Erin were being fuelled by Rossi's lack of answers.
"We were going to tell you together but I don't want to waken her just for this. Only Hotch, Morgan and the Director know about this so we are trusting you to keep this quiet."
"Just tell me already. The possibilities that are running through my head are endless and not all are good."
"We're having a baby." said Rossi as he raised his hand just in case she screamed. He really didn't need Erin having a heart attack by Garcia screaming the place down.
"O. M. G! Wow. I didn't realise you two wanted kids." came a very subdued reply.
"Neither did we." said Erin as she rose from the couch.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to wake you."
"No need to apologies Penelope. You didn't wake me and please call me Erin."
"I thought you were asleep sweetheart." said David as he sat down beside his wife. "Maybe you should call it a day and go home?"
"Don't get used to this but I think your right." said Erin after yawning into Dave's shoulder. "I'll stay though until Penelope gives you her answer."
"Answer to what?" asked Penelope as she took a seat across from the couple. She couldn't help but see the unguarded side of Erin Strauss. Here sat a woman in the arms of the man she loved who looked to be content to stay there forever. The looks of pure love that were on both faces was enough to melt Garcia's heart. She knew this woman in front of her was going to be a permanent edition to their lives and she was strangely happy with that.
"I would consider it a personal favour if, when the team is out of town on a case, you could keep an eye on Erin. I know she is not the easiest person to get to listen but you seemed to have it cracked without realising it. After what happened this morning I know she would listen to you if I'm not here."
"I would be honoured to help look after the next generation of our wierd but wonderful family which, by the way, you are now part of Erin."
"Thank you Penelope but you don't have to welcome me with open arms just because I'm pregnant." said Erin.
"I'm not. I see the love you two share and can't believe I missed it before. They way you look at each other, even when you were asleep, is the kind of love every little girl dreams of. I can tell you two are soul mates, so what's the point in not welcoming you into our family sooner rather than later." said Garcia. She needed Erin to understand she was doing this because she wanted to and not because she felt pressured to babysit her boss.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me Penelope." replied Erin. "Do you have much work left David or can you get away?"
"Nothing that I can't do at home. I take it you want me to drive you home then?"
"Please. I'm not sure I can stay awake." replied Erin as she stood and started collecting her belongings.
"Don't worry about your files Erin, Rossi. Let your fairy godmother take care of them. If there's anything super urgent I'll forward it to you." said Penelope as she left the office with a flourish.
"Wow. She really is one of a kind." said Erin as she rested her head on David chest.
"You have no idea sweetheart. No idea." replied David as they made their way to the elevator with his arm around her waist. The rumours about them had started already so he decided to throw caution to the wind and show everyone just how much he loved his wife.
Hope you enjoyed reading this. Not sure if I grasped Garcia's character right. Hope I did her justice though.