It had been two weeks since Erin's discussion with Emily, and she still felt a sense of impending doom lingering in the air whenever she caught sight of the woman in the hallway. She knew that David had also picked up on her unease, as he had asked her a few times if there was something that she needed to get off her chest. Knowing what little Emily had told her was not enough to truly get David looking into the situation, she had kept quiet, choosing to tell her fiancé that she was just a little tired from everything going on at work along with weaning Catherine. And to her surprise, he had bought it, though somewhat reluctantly.
"Penny for your thoughts, stellina?"
Erin looked up from her computer screen and took a long breath as she smiled at him. "I was thinking that life continues to be a whirlwind of stress and chaos. How is your case going?"
"It's another weird one, and I don't think that we're going to be home until late, so why don't you head home and spend time with Jessica tonight? One of us at least deserves to have a good evening."
She smiled sadly as she got up from her chair and went around to his side, hugging him tightly as she let out a little sigh. "If you do happen to get home at a good time, please wake me so that we can talk a little. I feel like you've been putting in so many hours lately with these awful cases, and I miss hearing your voice."
David pressed his lips against her forehead before nodding. "I miss you and the kids, too. I've been trying not to wake them when I come home, but I check on every one of them before I come to you."
Erin chuckled a little as she nodded. "Tabitha may have caught you doing that a few times, since she's my light sleeper, and I have to tell you that she loves when you do check in on her. It makes her feel loved to have her Papa Dave tuck her in and kiss her forehead, even if she is entering her teen years." Pulling away from his side, she looked up into his smiling face. "I don't think I've ever told you just how much it means that you would love my children as if they were your own."
"They're our children, Erin. The moment I threw my hat in the ring with you, I knew that I couldn't treat them as different from Elise and then Catherine. We're going on seven years together, stellina, and I love you and the children more with every day that passes."
Erin blinked back fresh tears as she nodded. "Just as my love for you grows. All right, I'll head home and spend time with Jessica and Jack. Give Aaron our love, too."
David smiled before giving her a soft kiss and then stroking her hair lightly. "He'll give me no end of shit if I do that, Erin."
"Yes, but he needs to know. And…"
She took a deep breath as her partner looked at her, obviously wanting her to finish her thought. When Erin wasn't forthcoming, he reached up and cupped her cheek, tapping his thumb against her lips as he continued to look into her eyes. "And what, Erin?"
"Take care of Emily. Aaron asked me to probe a little into what was bothering her, and I never got a clear answer, but I do know that she is struggling in some way. Try not to let her know that you're keeping an eye out for her, please. She was quite adamant that she would be fine, but I still worry about her."
He nodded before kissing her once more. "I will do my best to do just that. I'll see you at home." Erin smiled, feeling tears gather in the corner of her eyes as she watched him leave the office. For some reason, she felt like there was something looming in the air that would mean disaster for her little family that was forming, and she didn't want to think about how it might affect them from here on out.
Once David was gone, Erin packed up her bag and then slipped into her coat before heading out. Thankfully, Helen had already gone home for the evening, so she didn't have to tell her to head home. Locking the door, Erin headed out to the elevators, peeking in the bullpen to see that the team was gathered around Emily's desk, talking about something. Another sad smile graced her lips as she stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button for her floor.
She was grateful to find there were no other people on the elevator, since she really wanted a few moments to herself and collect her feelings before she stepped out of the elevator and made her way to their car, knowing that David would get a ride home from Aaron. After driving home, Erin parked in the garage and took a few deep breaths in order to feel somewhat centered before she entered her home. As she stepped up to the door, Erin felt a true grin spread across her face as she heard Jack and Elise thundering towards her, and before she could get it open, they tore it open, looking up into her face.
"Mama! You're home! Where's Papa Dave?"
"He and Uncle Aaron are still at work, since their case is a little rough. I don't know what time they'll be home."
Jack nodded, a tiny pout on his lips, and Erin sighed as she wrapped her arms around the children, hugging them tightly. "Can we stay here until after they get home?"
"That will be up to Aunt Jessica. What did you all make me for supper?" she asked as she led them inside, stepping out of her shoes before following them into the kitchen. Jessica was stirring something that smelled absolutely delicious, and Erin let out a low groan as she sank down onto one of the kitchen stools. "Hello."
"Erin, hi. Aaron called while you were driving, and let me know that it would just be you for supper. I made cheesy potato soup for us."
"Please tell me that you made extra, because I have the feeling that I am going to need comfort food in the days ahead."
Jessica gave the pot one more stir before she turned to look at Erin. Frowning a little, she went around the island to pull her into a warm hug, and Erin rested her head on the younger woman's chest as she took a few deep breaths. "Is this something that you want to share with me?"
"After the littles go to bed? If you don't mind staying the night, that is. I have the feeling that I need to unwind with a good friend."
Jessica let out a soft murmur of agreement before rubbing Erin's back gently. "I think that we can arrange that, hun. What do you say, Jack? Sleepover at Elise's?"
"As long as we can go to the stable together tomorrow morning, too," he countered, and Erin chuckled, wondering if he would become a lawyer like Aaron when he grew up. It would be wonderful if he kept up the family tradition, and maybe Elise would follow along as well.
"I suppose that that can be arranged, yes. Now, how about you and Elise tell the others that supper is ready before setting the table." The patter of feet told Erin that they were doing as told, and she sighed a little as she relaxed against Jessica all the more, hoping that there would be time to rest later on that evening.
