Penelope had been absolutely luminous in her play, and Erin couldn't wait to congratulate her on a job well done. Still, her head swam a little as she got to her feet, and she had to lean on David in order to steady herself. "All that over one drink?" he teased, and she shrugged. "Are you feeling all right?"
"I think so. I have been pushing myself a little harder, and Catherine is being so clingy right now that it's hard to sleep some nights when you're gone, because I let her sleep in the bed with me, and then I don't get the best sleep." She didn't tell him that she might be coming down with a bug, because she didn't want to admit that she truly did need to slow down. "Would you mind taking Elise to her riding lesson tomorrow? I am going to try and sleep in and maybe catch up on some sleep."
"Of course, and I'll ask Tabitha to look after Catherine in the morning, so you don't have to worry about waking up to get her when you should be sleeping." He caressed her face gently before wrapping his arm around her waist as they followed after Aaron. It surprised her just how much he knew about the playhouse and where to go, but she supposed that was what made him a good unit chief. "So, did you think to bring flowers for Kitten?"
"I had a bouquet from the three of us delivered, actually. It's rather difficult to hold on to flowers for an entire performance." He looked back at them, giving Erin a warm smile, and she returned the expression before stepping closer to David, wanting their thighs to brush at times as they walked. "All right, let's find our way backstage."
Erin nodded as they followed a small group of people in what she hoped was the correct direction. "Hotch! I thought I told you that I didn't want anyone else here?" The smile on Erin's lips slowly died as Penelope approached them, still in her wig and stage makeup. "But I suppose I can forgive you for that gorgeous bouquet you sent me." She hugged Aaron close for a moment, her expression sadder than any she had seen on the younger woman's face before, and Erin felt her heart lurch a little. "And the fact that I get to see Chief Strauss all dressed up is definitely a point in your favor, too. You look amazing, if tired."
Erin nodded as she stepped away from David, knowing that the woman would want to hug her, and within moments, Penelope had wrapped her arms around her in a warm hug. "You were amazing, Penelope. I could never have that sort of courage."
"You'd be surprised, actually. I didn't think that this would go as well as it did." Penelope ended the hug before taking firm hold of her hand, which surprised Erin. "Now, it is tradition for the cast and their friends to head out to a greasy diner for horrible food and lots of laughs after a Friday night performance. I thought that I'd have no one to drag with me and introduce to the cast, but here you three are! Do you have the time?"
"Yes, we do." Erin knew it was the right answer from the moment the words left her mouth, and Penelope gave her a wide grin as she nodded, squeezing her hand a few times before tugging her closer to her side. "Penelope?"
"You agreed, so I'm going to kidnap you to make certain that my sweet Italian Stallion and the Boss Man follow after us! Okay?" Erin rolled her eyes a little as she shook her head in consternation. "You know that you can't say no to me. I am far too adorable, Erin."
"Only when we're out in public, Penelope. At work is a different story," she drolly replied as she took her purse from David's hand and slung the strap over her shoulder. "I suppose that we'll see you at…?"
"Jody's. They're expecting us, so we'll meet you there." Before Erin could protest, Penelope was pulling her gently towards the door, and she threw a small wave to her fiancé before jogging a few steps to catch up with Penelope. "I hope you don't mind my commandeering you like that. I was just a little bothered by the fact that Hotch showed up with you two, and needed to get some space. Did you really enjoy the play?"
"Truly, it was great. I have to warn you about one thing, though. I might fall asleep on you during the drive over."
"Well, it is a twenty minute drive, so that would be the perfect cat nap for you. Do you fall asleep to music?"
"Not usually," Erin murmured as they made their way out into the parking lot.
Penelope nodded, bringing her over to her vehicle. "I'll just turn on some smooth jazz, then, since that always seems to lull me to sleep. Feel free to recline the seat while we drive, as that will help you sleep." Erin nodded as she took a seat on the passenger side, fastening her belt before making herself comfortable, reclining the seat slightly as her eyes fluttered closed. True to her word, a light strain of smooth jazz began to stream out of the speakers the moment Penelope started the car, and Erin soon found herself lulled into a light, easy, sleep. "We've arrived, and let's head in to claim good spots at the table."
Erin sat up with a yawn, nodding a little as she unbuckled her belt and followed after Penelope into the restaurant. "I feel so much better for that quick nap," she said as she reached out for Penelope's hand, wanting the contact, since she seemed all right with that. And from the way Penelope's hand tightened around hers, she knew that she had made the right decision.
"So, when are you and Rossi going to make things official? It seems like you've been engaged forever."
"I haven't really thought about that, actually. I am so happy with the way things are right now, and I don't want to rock the boat. I know that we're solid, as far as couples can be, and I don't want to make him feel like he has to be legally attached to me for me to stay in his life."
"You love him."
Erin nodded, feeling a deep blush stain her cheeks as she took a seat next to Penelope, knowing that the men could sit across from them when they arrived. "I do. I have from the moment he chose to walk into my life and not walk out when he found out the whole truth of matters. And that will probably be the most that you get out of me, Penelope."
"Hey, I had to try! And I've been learning things about you over the years, too, even if you don't say anything." Penelope gave her a broad wink before handing her a menu as she turned to speak with someone that she knew. Erin was glad for the buffer zone that provided, scanning the menu as she thought about her David. She didn't need a piece of paper to tell her that she belonged only to him, but she wondered if he would like that feeling of permanence from her. That might be something to bring up to him soon, just to see where he stood, before she backed off or started planning for something in the near future.
