Erin smiled widely as she waved to Jessica and Jack. Her friend had agreed to meet her at the riding center to watch Elise's lesson, since Aaron and David were still working a case in Los Angeles. It wasn't that she couldn't be there alone, but more that she knew Jack liked watching Elise ride, and it would be good to see them in the middle of the dreary winter they were facing. It seemed colder than normal, and she was looking forward to the first hints of spring when they came. "You made it! Elise is just finishing up brushing her horse, and then they'll be in the practice ring. She's starting harder jumps today, and my heart is in my throat," she said as she slipped her arm into the crook of Jessica's arm as they walked inside, Jack running on ahead of them to claim a good spot in the arena.

"Yes, well, it was a great excuse to get out of the house, and we both needed it. Jack has been a little squirrelly for the last few nights."

"Elise and Catherine, too," Erin replied as she adjusted the weight of Catherine in her sling. "I think that there has to be a storm of some sort on the horizon, for them all to act like they're crawling out of their skin." Jessica nodded as they joined Jack on one of the bottom bleachers. Immediately, Jack snuggled in close to Erin, looking down into Catherine's face. Her daughter instantly began to babble away at him, and she smiled indulgently at them before looking at Jessica. "Do you want to come over after this? I'd like to have company, since the children are all over the place today."

"I think that we could make time for you today. What do you say, Jack? Do you want to spend the afternoon with Elise?"

"As long as we can have Chinese! Please, Aunt Erin?"

"Take out does sound really good today. Do you think that if I give you money, you can order for us all?"

Jack beamed up at her as he nodded excitedly. "I can do that, yes!"

Erin met Jessica's eyes, seeing that she was smiling at them, and took a deep breath. "I love lulls in the storm of our lives," she murmured as Jessica scooted closer to her side. She was just about to start a conversation with Jessica when Elise and her teacher entered the ring, and all her attention was on her daughter as she began her lesson. Already, she was sitting a horse much better than six months ago, and from the grin on her lips, Erin knew that she was having the time of her life.

"She looks so confident up there. I would be terrified to jump over even the smallest little log out there."

"Elise has been determined to give me a heart attack since she started jumping higher and higher obstacles. I know that she has to go higher to progress, but I know that horrific accidents can happen. But that's also why she wears a helmet."

Jessica nodded as they turned their attention back to Elise, and Erin let out a soft sigh to hear the happy laughter that slipped from her daughter's lips as she passed by them and Catherine sat up a little taller before turning to watch what was happening. Somehow, Erin knew that sometime after her third birthday, Catherine would be getting her own pony and joining her daughter in the ring, since she was always fascinated with watching her. And since she was fast becoming her daddy's little princess, she knew that she'd get whatever she wanted.

When the lesson ended, Elise's instructor beckoned for them to follow her back into the stables, and she nodded as Jack took off running for the entrance. She and Jessica were a little slower, since she didn't want to jostle Catherine out of her carrier by going too quickly. "I take it that you want your usual order from our Chinese place?"

"Yes, please. Remind me to get you money before you and Jack leave."

"No, I have this today. Okay?" Erin fixed a look on Jessica as they ambled over to the stall where Elise's horse was kept, and watched as she and Jack slowly brushed her horse, taking care of the easy tasks while the trainer took care of the larger tasks, like taking care of the saddle. "Elise! You look so good on your horse! I don't think that I could be so brave as to jump that high."

Elise looked up at them, a pleased smile on her face as she shrugged. "You learn how to do it, Aunt Jessica. I started out jumping over a rail on the ground, which is just like Fred stepping over it. Someday, I'm going to go over the big hurdles like Jenny does, and maybe I'll be able to give lessons to kids like me!"

Jenny looked over at them, shrugging a little. "She's a fast study, what can I say? And a joy to have in our group. Is Mister Rossi travelling for work again this week?"

Erin nodded as she adjusted how she was holding Catherine, letting out a long breath as her daughter buried her face in her neck. "Yes, he and the team are in Los Angeles right now, though I had expected them home earlier. This was supposed to be a routine case, but that's when things usually head off the rails. Hopefully, he'll be home tomorrow, but that means they'll be on back to back cases, which can be so tiring. At least if they came home this evening, they'd have one day to rest."

Just as she said that, her phone rang, and she let out a short laugh to recognize David's ringtone. "Here, give me Catherine so that you can answer that," Jessica said, and Erin nodded as she passed her daughter to Jessica's arms and answered her phone.

"Hello, darling."

"Stellina! Good news, we're going to be home in about an hour. Hotch reminded me that we forgot to touch base with you before we headed home, so this is your warning call. Do you want me to pick up lunch for all of us on the way home?"

She winked at Jessica as she shook her head a little. "I suppose that I can keep the children distracted long enough for you to bring Chinese food and Aaron home. Jess and I already promised that for them, so you two might as well join in, too. Besides, Leelee and Jack have to finish taking care of Fred before we can head home, so we might meet there at the same time."

"Sounds good, Erin. I love you, and I'll see you soon."

"I love you, too, David." She ended the call and put the phone back into her pocket before looking at Jessica. "I can take her back now."

"No, I think she's quite comfortable now. So, they're finally coming home."

"Short notice, I know, but at least they'll be picking up food instead of you having to detour and pick it up. Do you want to drive Elise home?"

"I can do that, yes," Jessica answered as they turned back to watch Elise and Jack finish grooming the horse. A part of her wondered if there would be a time when Jack asked for his own horse, since he always enjoyed spending time with Elise at the stable, when he wasn't playing soccer. And she could only imagine what Aaron would have to say to David when he asked for one for Christmas.