A.N. - I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has read and/or reviewed this story. Hope you enjoy this very long awaited chapter.

CHAPTER 8 - The Weekend

As Erin stood watching the kids talking on the back deck she felt David's arms wrap around her waist and place a protective hand on her stomach. He had been doing that subconsciously since they found out about the baby.

"Don't worry so much sweetheart. It's not good for your blood pressure. Everything will be fine."

"I can't help it. What if they don't get along with the kids? I'm not sure if I can do this David." said Erin as she turned to embrace her husband.

"You are the strongest woman I know. Look at everything we've been through. Compared to that you can make it through one afternoon with the team."

"This is different David and you know it." snapped Erin as she left the comfort of David's arms. "What if they can't see past everything that I've done. I couldn't bare it if this caused a rift between you and your family."

"You and the kids are my family Erin. If the team can't accept that it's their problem. I've made my bed and I'm quite happy to lie in it, as long as its the same bed as yours." replied David whilst giving Erin his trademark cocky grin. No matter the team's view on Erin, he was never going to leave or intentionally harm her. He loved her and his stepchildren too much to hurt them that way.

"Why don't you go and do your duties as grandma and spoil our adorably cute grandson with your attention?" questioned Dave. He knew holding Philip would cheer her up. "I'll finish up here."

"Okay. Shout me when they start arriving." replied Erin as she left to go steal her grandson from his father.

Not 5 minutes after Erin had left, Mudgie started barking signalling to Dave that a car was pulling up. Following the dog to the door he wondered who would be first to arrive. His money was on Garcia as she always had a weak spot for babies.

As Dave opened the door he was greeted to the unmistakable sound of Kevin Lynch whining about why he had to come as he wasn't even part of their team.

"You are here because it's a family barbeque and you just happen to be my boyfriend Kevin. Plus, I didn't want anymore complaints from my neighbours about you playing video games too loud."

"Fine. Fine. I'll let it drop, if only I had an incentive to be good." mused Kevin.

"I'll give you an incentive." said Dave from the porch. "I'll forget I ever saw you naked."

Kevin's face turned a lovely shade of red whilst Penny burst out laughing.

"Are we the first here?"

"Yes all knowing one but I had a feeling you'd arrive first. Everyone is out back cooing over Philip. I can already tell he is going to be quite the ladies man when he grows up." said David as he led them both through the house to the back.

When they arrived Erin was sitting between Anna and Lizzy with Philip fast asleep in her arms. Tom and James (Anna's husband) were trying to start the grill.

"Put down the matches and step away from the grill. You both know that no one touches Bet but me." said David as he raced over to stop them from damaging his precious grill.

"Oh brother. I knew having a barbeque was a bad idea. Looks like we are having pizza for lunch again." said Erin which caused both her daughters to laugh.

"I'll get the takeout menus from the kitchen just in case mum." replied Lizzy.

"You never know. One of the team might be able to pry him away from it." mused Anna after her laughter had died down.

"Hang on. Who's Bet?" asked Kevin. He was completed lost on the inside joke and Penny looked the same.

"Oh. Penelope, Mr Lynch I didn't realise you'd arrived. Where are my manners. These are my daughters Anna and Lizzy and the blonde man being shoed away from the grill is my son Tom."

"The other man hiding behind the grill is my husband James." commented Anna as she stood to greet the couple. "Bet is what we named the grill. It's short for ..." the rest was drowned out by the doorbell ringing and Mudgie barking his head off which caused Philip to stir.

"I'll get it." said Anna as she was closest. "Will you be alright with him mum?"

"I've got him. Don't worry. I managed you three didn't I." replied Erin as she continued to rock Philip who had already started to calm down.

The sight that greeted Hotch, Morgan, Reid and JJ was not what they expected. The woman who answered the door looked like a younger version of the section chief but with a slimmer figure and dark brown hair.

"Come in. Everyone's out back." greeted Anna. "You must be the rest of the team. Pleased to meet you ..." she began as she shook each of their hands and welcomed them by name.

"You have us at a slight disadvantage." said Hotch. "Are you Anna or Lizzy?"

"Sorry. I'm Anna. We're non-identical twins thankfully. Lizzy has blond hair just like mum." replied Anna as she led them through the house. They entered the back yard to lots of laughter.

"What did I miss? Has he realised he never cleaned Bet after the last barbeque we had?"

"He's just figured that out. You might need to get those takeout menus now." replied Erin as she stood to pass Philip to his mother so she could greet the team.

After proper introductions had been given and the drinks handed out Garcia was still wondering about Bet.

"You know, you never finished explaining why Tom and James weren't allowed to touch Bet." commented Garcia to Anna. She had been itching to hold Philip since she first lay eyes on him.

"Who's Bet?" asked Emily. She had noticed the two women had been chatting quite happily and wanted to get involved to see what Strauss's kids were really like.

"Bet is the name these kids gave the grill." said Dave as he cut into their conversation. He was happy the team seemed to be making an effort, even Emily.

"But why is it called Bet?" asked Kevin again.

"Because it is short for ..." began David.

"Better not be burnt again." said everyone at the same time.

"Once." shouted Dave. "I burned the food once and you lot are never going to let me live that down."

"It was more than once and you know it." laughed Lizzy.

"But we let you away with it because you know where to get the best pizza." continued Erin as she leaned over to give him a kiss. The intimacy of her action not going unnoticed by the team.

"I've always wondered why you kept me around." replied David as he pulled Erin closer to him.

Whilst waiting for the pizza to arrive the team started to split up and socialise with different members of the Strauss/Rossi family. Hotch and JJ were giving Anna and James advice about their new son. Little tricks to help with the sleepless nights. Garcia had finally gotten her hands on Philip and was rocking him whilst talking with Erin and David on the deck. David thought they were going to fight over the poor boy, as Garcia refused to hand him over to Erin claiming she had lots of missed hugs to catch up on.

Morgan and Kevin had taken the hint from Reid and left him alone with Lizzy. The young genius found the even younger doctor to be quite interesting. Who knew one of Erin Strauss's kids would be a fan of sci-fi and Doctor Who or that they already had tickets for comic-con. His perfect woman was standing in front of him. Beautiful, intelligent, funny and a lover of sci-fi. If only she wasn't the daughter of his boss. God had a sick sense of humour sometimes.

Emily noticed that Tom didn't engage in any of the conversations. If she didn't know any better she would have thought he was trying to be invisible. She decided to make the effort and see what was troubling him.

"Hey Tom. What's up?"

"Oh hey. Nothing much. Just got some thing's on my mind."replied Tom as he sipped his coke.

"Anything I can help with? It sometimes helps to talk about it, especially with someone outside your family as they won't have a personal view."

"I got my dream job but it would cause my mum so much more stress than she needs right now. We all agreed to keep an eye on her but who wants to hear that their son has been accepted into the FBI. She will totally flip out which is really not good for her or or... I should so stop talking now."

"Wow. You got excepted into the Academy? I think she will be very proud that you are following in her footsteps." replied Emily. She wanted to ask about Erin's health but decided to ask Dave instead. She didn't want Tom to think she was fishing for information.

"You could be right but your talking about the woman who never let any of us go anywhere without hourly update calls and a full itinerary of our plans if we went out with friends. She has always been overprotective of all of us. She says it's because she saw what evil there is in the world when she was in the field. I understand that but she won't like me being in the field if she's stuck behind a desk."

"I see your point but every parent has to learn to step back from their child's life. She might find it hard but if she loves you she'll support you no matter what." replied Emily. "Anyway, I didn't realise you mum used to be in the field?"

"She was a field agent till I was about 3. She took the desk job after she was shot in the shoulder by a suspect she was chasing. The desk job was Dad's idea, as he didn't like Mum's job, so they compromised. She could stay at the FBI as long as it was behind a desk. She always preferred the field though."

Emily couldn't believe what she was hearing. Strauss had been in the field before and she had never wanted a desk job. She did it for her family. Wow was all Emily could think. Erin was a different person from Strauss.

"You need to tell them both Tom as they deserve to hear it from you."

"What do you mean? Where else would they find out?" asked Tom. He knew he shouldn't have told Emily anything.

"They both work at the FBI. Not only that but the BAU gives a report on who they don't think will make it and Strauss isn't a common surname either. Everyone will guess that you are related."

"I guess your right, they should hear it from me. Thanks for the advice Emily. Do you fancy a game of pool? I warn you. I take Dave's money off him every time."

"Sounds good but Dave is rubbish at pool so stop trying to psyche me out. Your against a pro here." replied Emily as she followed Tom to the den.

"Whatever. Fancy putting you money where your mouth is?" asked Tom

"Your on." replied Emily as they shook hands.

"Well, I think that went very well." said David as he put the last pizza box into the bin.

"Don't let it go to your head, but I think your right."

"Everyone seemed to get on rather well but I'll need to have a talk with Reid on Monday."

"Oh. Why is that?" asked Erin. She hadn't seen him do anything that would upset

anyone.

"No need to worry. It's just the protective father talk. He seemed to REALLY hit it off with Lizzy. If you know what I mean."

"I must be losing my touch. I never noticed." mused Erin as she thought about Reid's behaviour.

"He did sit beside her the entire afternoon and he glared at Morgan when he tried to start a conversation with her."

"Just point out to him that I could become his mother-in-law. That should be enough to get him to rethink his advances on Lizzy." laughed Erin as she thought about Reid dating her daughter. "Anyway. I'd like to get back to what we were discussing this morning."

"Oh. What was that?" asked a puzzled Dave.

"I think it involved a bed which we were both lying in." replied Erin as she wrapped her arms around David's waist.

"Well I wouldn't want to upset a pregnant woman. So where should we have this talk?" asked David as he pulled Erin closer.

"I think the bedroom is a good place to start." replied Erin as she left the comfort of David's arms and headed to the stairs. "Are you coming or not?"

"Oh I'm coming." said David as he bounded up the stairs after Erin. "Even the most dangerous unsubs couldn't keep me from you."