So sorry this took so long. I had a massive schedule change at work that hasn't left much time for updating lately.

Rossi was already at his desk when the rest of the BAU team arrived in the morning, a fact that did not go unnoticed, particularly by Agents Reid or Morgan.

"Hey Reid...what's up with Rossi?" asked Morgan under his breath so as not to be overheard

"No idea" replied Reid with a rather perplexed look on his face "And did you notice the look on his face? He almost seems giddy, which, by the way is not normally a word I would use to describe Agent Rossi...He is usually more..."

"Yeah I get it Reid, his whole demeanor is just plain odd," replied Morgan

"Well odd would imply that..."

"Hey guys, what's up with Rossi? He's hardly ever here before us" asked JJ as she glanced up at Rossi's office "Is he working on a case?"

"The last thing I heard was that Chief Cruz had him working on a special assignment" chimed in Agent Alex Blake as she sat down and pulled her chair in closer to the group

"Well whatever he's doing seems to be agreeing with him. I haven't seen him smile like that since before..."

"Shhhhh...Here he comes," said Morgan quietly while the others quickly turned and attempted to look busy

"Morning all" said Rossi as he descended the steps

"Morning Rossi...What brings you here so early?" asked JJ nonchalantly

"Oh just a few reports to sign off on" he replied as he looked suspiciously around the room "Did I interrupt something?" he asked while he tried to read their expressions

"Oh nothing special, just normal morning chit chat" replied Blake

"I see, well then carry on. I have an appointment this morning. If you need me just call" he said in an unusually cheery tone as he headed out the door, brushing past Agent Hotchner in the process "Morning Aaron"

Hotch took a few steps before he turned to watch Rossi disappear down the hall.

"What's up with him? And was I just imagining it or was he...humming?" asked Hotch in a rather puzzled tone

"We were hoping you could tell us," replied Morgan with pretty much the same puzzled expression on his face

"All I know is that he's working on a special assignment for Chief Cruz"

"Well whatever it is, it's nice to see him smiling again," replied JJ as she turned her attention to Hotch in anticipation of their next assignment.

Dave made his way to his car and started toward Karen's house. He kept reminding himself over and over "Karen not Erin...Karen not Erin." As he pulled into the driveway, he could hardly contain his excitement. He was going to get to spend the entire day with HER again, and even though he knew it wasn't his Erin, she was the next best thing. Karen was waiting for him when he arrived, and he could tell from the incredible aroma wafting thru the house that she was a good cook.

"Good morning Agent Rossi. I wasn't sure you would find the house since it was rather dark when you brought me home last night," she said with a smile as she ushered in inside

"The marvels of modern technology. The GPS does not care if it's day or night. It always finds its target or rather it's usually pretty darn close," he said with a laugh

Karen smiled as she closed the door and led the way to a little breakfast nook just off the kitchen.

"I hope this will be alright? Lunch has a few more minutes, so I thought we could either begin looking at these proposed tests of just talk until its ready," she said

"Whichever you prefer is fine with me," he replied as he found himself staring at her and practically hanging on her every word

"Forgive me for asking, but...Why do you keep staring at me? You did it a lot yesterday, and you're doing it again today," she said hesitantly

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was doing it. It's just that...well..."

He didn't quite know how to answer her without sounding like a complete idiot, and he certainly didn't want to offend her. In spite of her remarkable resemblance to Erin, he really did enjoy being with her.

"It's her...Erin isn't it?" she said quietly

"How do you know her name? I don't believe I told you yesterday?"

"Did you really think I wouldn't do a little research on you? After we talked yesterday, I thought I would see just what it is that you really do for the BAU and in the process, I found her picture. I guess they haven't had time to update their information..."

"But how did you know it was her I was speaking about yesterday?"

"Oh please, I saw the picture and even I have to admit that there is a strong resemblance. It didn't take a genius to figure it out, so I guess the real question here is who is profiling who...exactly?"

"I'm not sure I follow?" replied Dave with a rather puzzled look

"Let's be realistic. At first I was flattered that they would ask for my opinion given my history with the National Security Council, but let's be honest, they really don't need either of our opinions on these so called tests they want to administer, so that begs the question of what they really want to know..."

"Which is?' he asked, almost intrigued by her sense of deductive reasoning

"Well, the way I see it, they either want to know if I would be willing to come back to work for them, which by the way the answer is a definite NO, or they want to know how you are really coping with her loss, and is it effecting your productivity" she replied rather bluntly

"Are you always this suspicious?" he asked inquisitively

"It was my job to be suspicious, and honestly I'm surprised that you aren't, given what you do"

"To be honest, I did think it was a bit odd that they wanted me to do this..."

"This what? Look at their ideas or profile me?" she asked quietly

"Karen" he said as he reached across the table and took gently took hold of her hand "You are correct. I was asked to find out if you would be willing to entertain the idea of returning to public duty, but after I met you, I found that I like you. I like talking to you, I like being with you..."

"Because I remind you of her..."

"In part. Erin Strauss was an amazing, beautiful woman, I loved her very much, and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and miss her terribly. That being said, I never thought I would ever meet anyone like her again, and then I met you, and I thought to myself how incredibly lucky I am to have been given the opportunity to meet two amazing, beautiful women who just happen to bear a rather striking resemblance to each other."

"I see," she said as she pulled her hand back "So you see me as some sort of replacement"

"No I don't see you as a replacement. Karen, I know that you are not her, there will never be another Erin, but I would like the chance to get to know YOU. I can see that this was a mistake. I should have just told you in the beginning. It was wrong to try to deceive you and I apologize," he said as he stood to leave

"David, wait, please don't go. I have a confession of my own," she said as she gently put her hand on his arm

TO BE CONTINUED...