"I hear that you're having another girl."
Aaron's voice was soft, and when Erin looked up from her work, she could see that he was close to tears. That was unusual, and she couldn't stop herself from frowning as she gestured for him to take a seat in front of her desk, and he gave a small nod as he closed the door and came over to her side. "I take it that this case got to you, too?"
He gave her a jerky nod as he folded his hands over his stomach protectively, looking down into her lap. "Pregnancy should be a happy time. It was with Jack, and it should have been with Elise. But I have the feeling that my actions caused you a lot of stress, which led to you going into early labor with our daughter. I'm sorry."
Her own tears started to roll down her face. "If you say anything to anyone about my crying in front of you, I will blame it on the hormones from this pregnancy. Am I clear?" He nodded. "Good. But thank you for apologizing. I'm sorry, too, for keeping the truth from you for so long, even though we all knew that you knew the truth. I was just desperate to protect myself and Elise that I thought lying would be my best course of action."
"I pushed you to that decision, I can see that now, four years down the road. We were so antagonistic towards each other, and you had every reason to behave that way towards me, especially after our second encounter."
"We both made decisions that were not the best. But we also have a beautiful daughter as a result of our mistake, and since that series of choices led to me finding love with David, and giving him a child, well, I think that there is some merit to the belief that all things work out for good. And I know that they haven't worked out for good for you yet, but I have faith that you will find Foyet, bring him to justice, and then we can see about lightening your work load so that you can try and make things up with Haley. She still loves you, and that love should have a place to go."
He nodded a little, and Erin smiled gently before gasping. "What is it?"
"She's moving. Do you want to feel? You didn't have that opportunity with Elise, and while this isn't your baby…" He hurriedly got to his feet and was at her side in moments, reaching out his hand. Erin took hold of it and pressed it firmly to her baby bump, where this new life was kicking for all she was worth, announcing her presence in their lives. "Elise wasn't quite so active while I was carrying her. I certainly hope this doesn't mean that when she comes, I'll be running around after her on top of all the work I do here."
Aaron laughed heartily as he nodded, settling down against her desk so that he could look clearly at her, the smile on his lips a welcome sight after seeing him so dour and downbeat because of Haley and Jack being away. "At least you have your older children to help with taking care of the littles."
"True, but I don't like to depend on them. They have their own lives to live. Oh, and Elise wants to know when Uncle Aaron is coming over again, because she misses him and her Auntie Jessica. She doesn't really get that Jack and Haley are away, and I keep trying to explain that they're on a trip, but she doesn't understand why she can't talk to him when…"
"She's calling you, too?"
Erin nodded sheepishly as leaned back in her chair. "I tried to tell her that it wasn't a smart idea to call, but she insisted that if she could call her mother, and Jess, that it would be fine to check in with me, too."
"So that's why she was moved, again."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Erin. She's been told numerous times that she needs to not contact anyone until after we find Foyet." He let out a long-suffering sigh before holding his hand out. Hesitantly, Erin clasped it, welcoming his touch. "And since I have something to discuss with you, anyway, given how this case turned out, maybe I could stop over for supper tonight?"
"I think that we would love that, Hotch." Erin looked over Aaron's shoulder to see her fiancé standing in the doorway. "I was just coming to see if you were ready to head home, Erin. Someone thinks that it's time for us to go home."
She frowned a little, only for Elise to come running into the room. "Uncle Aaron!" she yelled loudly, pushing past David to get to their sides. "Pick me up!"
He chuckled as he did so, hugging his daughter tightly to his chest as he gave Erin a soft smile. "How are you doing, princess?"
"Good. I miss Jack, though. Is he and Aunt Haley going to be home from their trip soon?"
"I hope so. But until they come home, we have to keep them in our hearts." Elise nodded as she pressed a sloppy kiss against his cheek. Erin winced at that, hoping that Aaron wasn't bothered by the childish display of affection. From the look on his face, though, she needn't have worried, and it became easy to allow her features to relax into a soft smile as she awkwardly got up from her chair. "All right, it looks like Mom and Dad are ready to go home."
"Papa, Uncle Aaron. He's my papa." They allow laughed a little at her fierce declaration and as Erin packed up her bag, she listened to Aaron and Elise talk to each other. David came over to her side, taking the bag from hands and slinging it over his shoulder before threading their fingers together. "Can I ride home with you, Uncle Aaron?"
"I don't have a car seat, princess, but I promise you that I will be over as soon as possible. Okay?" Elise nodded before kissing his cheek once more and wriggling out of his arms so that she could come over to their sides, taking hold of Erin's free hand as they made their way out to the elevators, Aaron bringing up the rear. For a short moment, Erin felt like they were a family, all of them, and she wondered if that would be a feeling that she could hold onto in the future. She had meant what she said, she hoped that he and Haley would be able to work things out, and she would do her best to see that they could bring that about. Even if it meant that David had to pick up a little extra work, since they could do it together.
"Have a good evening!" She looked up to see Penelope giving them a cheery wave, and she nodded in return before stepping into the elevator. There was something a little freeing about not caring who saw them leave together, especially when Aaron was worried about his family. Everyone knew that he and David were best friends, so it made sense that he would be familiar with her, as well.
"Well, Hotch, I must say that I am a little hurt that you didn't choose me to take over for you," David said as the elevator travelled downwards, and she looked over at Aaron in surprise.
"Is this what you wanted to discuss with me?" she asked as she stroked Elise's hair.
He nodded before shrugging a little. "I can't do this job effectively when I'm so worried about Haley. Dave brought up the fact that I could step down temporarily, until we had dealt with this case and put Foyet where he belongs. And I chose Morgan because he needs the responsibility. You, I can trust to take over for me in the future if anything happens to me. Morgan? He's hotheaded but malleable, and needs something that will mold him into the leader he can be. Plus, it will be nice to have a few weeks where I don't hear him call Garcia all those pet names. I know, it's their thing, and it helps them blow off steam, but it gets to be a bit much." Erin giggled a little as she nodded. "I do have one condition for agreeing with this plan of yours, Erin."
"I didn't…"
"You did, I know you and Dave too well for you to deny it. I just happen to agree with you in this case. And my condition is that I want to spend more time with Elise."
Erin felt her heart clench a little as she nodded, knowing that this was his way of telling them both that he was lonelier than he thought he would be, but couldn't come right out and say it. "That would be fine, as long as you let us know when you want to come over. Plus, it will be nice to have someone around to help with Elise when I get to be too tired." She smiled gently at Aaron as she lifted her hand from Elise's head to touch his wrist gently, letting him know that everything between them was good, even as she hoped that they would find Foyet soon, so that Aaron could shrug off his misery and worry.
