"I wasn't certain if you'd be up in time to make tea for the game, so I brought an extra thermos for you, Erin," Jessica said as she herded Jack into the kitchen the next morning. Aaron looked over to see a pleased smile spread across the other woman's face as she accepted the flask from Jessica's hands. "And don't worry, I have a few extra blankets in the car, too, since it's chilly this morning. Did you think to bring a sweater along with you?"

Erin shook her head, stepping closer to Aaron's side. It was in that moment that he realized she was shy, and that most likely came from the fact that Jessica had never introduced herself to Erin. Clearing his throat, he caught his sister-in-law's attention and gave her a look. "I think that you might need to back up a few steps, Jess. Like, to the part where you introduce yourself to Erin?"

Jessica's mouth dropped open in shock as she nodded, taking a step towards Erin before holding out her hand. "Aaron's right, I've just heard so much about you that I forgot we haven't truly met yet. I'm Jessica Brooks, Haley's sister, and it is a pleasure to finally meet and interact with you, Erin."

She shook Erin's outstretched hand gently before they took a seat at the island. "And it is a pleasure to meet you, Jessica. Or do you prefer Jess?"

"Whatever you feel most comfortable with, actually. And going back to my previous question, did you bring a sweater? It's going to be chilly outside with just a long sleeved shirt."

Erin shrugged a little as she looked up at Aaron. "I guess I didn't think about that."

"Well, it's a good thing that Aaron has extra. Why don't you run up and grab one for her before we head out?"

Aaron could tell when he was being shooed from the room, and he rolled his eyes a little before quickly heading up to his room. It didn't take long to find a sweater that would suit Erin well, and as he brought it back down to the kitchen. By the time he returned, Jessica and Erin were talking quietly, and he smiled at the sight, glad that they were getting along, since they would spend a lot of time together, if this relationship worked out. And he wanted it to work out, moreso every day. "Here, Rin, this should work well today."

She glanced up at him, a smile of pleasure on her lips as she accepted the garment from him, hurriedly tugging it over her head before burying her nose in the fabric. "He does wear the nicest aftershave," Jessica teased as she got to her feet and held out her hand. Erin clasped it and allowed Jessica to pull her up. "Now, we need to get going, or Jackers will be late. Are you ready, Aaron?"

He nodded, feeling strangely left out as they trooped out to where Jessica was parked in the drive. "I suppose that Erin will sit up front with you?"

"That was the plan, yes. Unless you want her to try and squeeze into the back with you and Jack."

"This will be fine," he replied with a small pout, listening to Jessica laugh. The drive to the soccer field was filled with quiet chatter between the two women while he and Jack spoke about the upcoming game and how he was feeling about playing. As soon as they were parked, Jack tumbled out of the car and ran pell-mell towards his friends, joining in the warmups while he led Erin and Jessica over to the bleachers. Once they were settled, he went back to the car and brought over a few blankets for the women, and Erin gave him a grateful smile as she wrapped one around her legs before snuggling close to his side, letting her head come to rest against his upper arm.

"How long are these games usually?" she asked, and he took a deep breath. "That long?"

"Usually about ninety minutes. Why?"

"I'm already cold. I had thought that Lauren kept the facility a little on the cool side to keep our focus, but I think it's me?" He nodded as he sat up a little. "Aaron?"

"I'm going to wrap a blanket around us, to keep some of that warmth trapped inside. Don't worry, you can cuddle in close to me once more in just a moment."

"Aaron."

He could hear the warning in her voice, but he just shook his head a little as he unfurled a larger blanket and spread it around their shoulders. As soon as it was around them, Erin did move closer to his side once more, this time resting her head against his chest as his arm fell into place around her waist. As they watched Jack play, he kept up a running commentary on what was supposed to happen, even if the kids didn't always go according to plan.

After Jack scored a goal, he was surprised to find Erin jumping to her feet and cheering for him, and he grinned as he copied her. "I saw the other parents doing that for their children, and it felt right," she murmured as she sat back down, bringing the blanket back around her shoulders. "I know, I'm not his mother, but I was so caught up in the moment, you know?"

He nodded before letting his head rest against his cheek against the top of her head. "Haley loved watching him play, too. They're not very good yet, but it's almost more fun this way, since it's all so new to them."

"Bruce tried soccer and football, because Alan wanted him to be a sports kid, but it never really took in him. Instead, he settled on tennis, and there's not much fun about watching tennis, even if your child is good at it. Alan thought it was too effeminate a sport for his son, though, and discouraged him continuing in it."

"And you didn't stop him?"

Erin stiffened before turning her head into his chest, no longer looking at the game as she curled one hand into the fabric of his sweater, which told him that something bad must have happened to cause that reaction. "I can't talk about that here, now, I'm sorry. I want to enjoy the game. Perhaps tonight? You can join me in my bed and we can talk before you go to your room, since I don't want to set a bad example for Jack."

"I can wait, yes. Have you talked about this in your group?"

"No. I didn't want to open myself up and be vulnerable like that just yet. Somehow, I have the feeling that you'll be safer to talk with, and if I can get the story out of my heart with you, maybe I can find a way to tell it to the others. I know, you're not a therapist, you don't have the training that Lauren and the others who run the facility, but there is something about you. I wasn't certain until we kissed, but I feel safe with you, something I haven't felt in far too long. Maybe hitting rock bottom was the right thing to get me to see the best that could happen in my life. And I know, I'm pinning a lot of hopes and dreams on my own strength, which isn't very much, and your fidelity. But somehow, I just know that your constancy is exactly what my heart needs to heal. Thank you."

She quickly leaned up and kissed his cheek before returning her head to his chest and staring out at the game once more. There would be many moments like this in the future, Aaron could feel it in his bones, but this first time was sweetly special to him, and he would remember it for years to come.