"You have to do something about Aaron, stellina."

She looked up from her computer, glancing over her shoulder to see that David was standing in her doorway, a concerned look on his face. Frowning, she turned to face him, indicating for him to take a seat in front of her desk. "I take it that this is in regards to what happened last night, and why you didn't come home?"

He gave her a sheepish look as he nodded, scooting the chair closer to her desk as he picked up the picture of their children. "I had to go home with him, to make certain that he was all right. This case was all sorts of fucked up for all of us. After I talk with you, I have to talk to Penelope because she has concerns that she doesn't want to bring to Hotch right now, because even she can see that he is crumbling under the stress of looking for Foyet over his shoulder at every turn. I know that he wants to feel as normal as possible here at work, but it is starting to affect his job performance."

"What do you want me to do, David? Has he stepped far enough out of line where I can place him on desk duty until you hunt that monster down?" Her hand came down to press against her stomach as she stared at him. "You know that I am just as worried about this whole thing as you are, because of Elise."

He nodded as he stroked his goatee, trying to come up with something to say in response. "Have you thought about reading everyone in to the truth about Elise? That way they know to keep an eye out for you, too?"

"Penelope is already doing that, darling. And I don't need them adding another concern on top of what they have for Aaron. As long as I know that you and Penelope have your eyes on me, as well, I think that everything will be all right in the end." His mouth tightened into a thin line, and Erin shrugged at him before looking down at her stomach. "I need to pretend that everything is all right, so that I don't add any stress to this pregnancy. Do I make myself clear?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

She gave him a quick smile before clearing her throat and allowing her shoulders to sag a bit, knowing that he wouldn't comment on the openness she was displaying. "Thank you. Now, as for our Aaron problem, I think that we should consider having him step down as the Unit Chief. You know, as well as I do, that Director Shepperd is watching your team very closely, and if Aaron is starting to become erratic on cases, and if there are other issues, they could split you all up, and attach you to different teams or departments, and I wouldn't have a say on that. Make it seem like the idea is coming from you, because we both know that he would react poorly if he knew that I was telling him to step down."

"Will it be permanent?"

Erin shook her head firmly. "No. He is the best leader that your team has, and to have him as only an SSA would be a detriment to Alpha. And it would be nice to have you in charge for a few months, too, since I know that I can chastise you at home, if need be."

He chuckled as he shook his head. "For that very reason, even if Hotch agrees with me, I won't be named temporary Unit Chief. The Director would never allow that to happen, since that would be an egregious breach of the fraternization rules. I mean, our relationship is already a bit suspect."

"But no one comments on it because we don't engage in excessive public displays of affection. The only time I allow you to kiss me is when we're alone in this office."

His smile turned a little lecherous, and Erin groaned a little as she realized the door she had just opened wide for him to enter. "Well, we're alone now, and I don't foresee Helen coming in to check on you this early in the morning. I might just need a kiss for courage and a kiss for luck, since I'll have two rather difficult conversations to engage in once I get back to the bullpen."

"You are just lucky that I missed you last night, and am feeling a little vulnerable right now, what with the hormones coursing through my system." He chuckled as he nodded, getting to his feet and coming around to her side of the desk, sinking down onto it before tugging her closer to him by the arms of her chair. "Seriously, if you're going to stay away again, please, at least call and let me know where you are. The text was a little short."

"I'll keep that in mind, stellina," he said lowly as he leaned in kissed her softly. "That one was to say I'm sorry for worrying you last night." Another soft kiss. "That one was for courage in my conversation with Penelope." A third soft kiss, but this time, he allowed his lips to linger against hers as he spoke. "And that one was for luck in my conversation with Hotch. I'll stop by for lunch?"

"That sounds lovely, David. Now go, have your talks, and if they go well, I'll allow you to steal a few kisses in the parking lot of the restaurant we go to for our lunch."

"I'm taking you out now?" he teased, and she nodded before pecking his lips lightly and pushing away from him to turn back to her computer.

"We are going to that delicious French bistro for lunch, and I am going to have a delicious croque monsieur, and dream about when I can have red wine again." Another little laugh burst out of his lips as he pushed aside her hair and pressed a languid kiss to the side of her neck, his tongue tickling what he knew was one of her sensitive spots, before he headed for the door to her office. "Join me back here at quarter to twelve, so that we have a little of a head start on the lunch crowd. I'll make reservations for quarter past, since that should give us enough time to get there," she called out as she heard the door open.

"Yes, Erin," he replied, a smile still in his voice. "I'll be back shortly."

Erin allowed him to have the last word that time, and she let out a small sigh as she turned her concentration back onto the work that she was currently doing, knowing that when she was done with that task, she could work on planning Elise's birthday party a little more fully. There were quite a few small details that she had to work out, and she relished the idea of all of Elise's friends from preschool having pony rides at the stable where they boarded her pony. She knew that it was a bit over the top, but she had made the reservations before she knew that Jack and Haley would be in protective custody, and there had been no good way to tell Elise that their plans had changed. Still, she thought that Aaron and Jessica would enjoy the time spent with Elise and helping her and David wrangle children, and she found herself thinking ahead to next year, when Haley and Jack were with them again, and they could have a joint birthday party to celebrate being together once more.