It had now been twelve weeks since Aaron had been reassigned to Afghanistan, and Erin was even less happy that he was there than when he had first gone over there. After the last phone call with Elise, he had asked to speak with her alone, and that was when he had told her that since things were going so well, it was possible that he would be going back out there after having a short break over Christmas. Though she had wanted to break down and cry, she knew that she had to be strong for the children, so she kept her cool, only crying when she had changed for the night and was safe in David's arms.

Work the next day had been difficult, and she had fought off a headache all day before letting Jessica drive her home, since the team had gone out on a case in Texas. "I keep expecting to hear Aaron walk through the door to pick up Jack, or to hug Elise and Catherine. Did he tell you about the possibility of his being out there longer?"

Erin nodded. "After the call he had with Elise on Sunday. I tried to be strong, but I still ended up crying myself to sleep in David's arms. I hadn't realized how close we had all grown until he was gone for so long. The team dynamic is off, even though they're closing cases well. It's like their heart's not in it, and I truly think that losses of Emily, Ashley, and Aaron in such quick succession has done something to us all. Though you'll never hear me admit that I miss Emily."

Jessica laughed as she nodded, pulling into their driveway. Erin saw Elise and Jack peek out the front window, and she waved to them before unfastening her belt and getting out of the car. "So, how are things between you and your girlfriend?"

"They're going okay. I think that we're having a few growing pains, because she doesn't quite understand my dad and his gruffness. She's a little miffed about that fact that when I bring Elise and Catherine by to see my parents, that they always ask after you and David, like you're part of the family. She knows about Elise, but doesn't understand why she would be treated like my family, since she's not related to us biologically."

"If you love her, we can make different arrangements. I would hate to come between you and love, Jess," she murmured as she unlocked the front door and entered the house.

"And leave you in a lurch while Aaron's halfway around the world? I don't think so, Erin. Besides, you are family to me, and my parents, and I'm not about to cut you out, not when you're such a good friend to me." After Erin had stepped out of her shoes, she felt Jessica's hand on her shoulder and she turned to look at her, seeing that there were tears sparkling in her eyes. "You've become my sister since Elise was born, and I won't lose that for really great sex. I can find someone else who has magical fingers, after all."

Erin swallowed her laugh as she nodded, hearing the thunderous feet of the younger children galloping towards them. Crouching down a little, she opened her arms and braced herself as they launched themselves into her arms. Thankfully, Jessica was able to steady her so that she wouldn't end up on her arse, and she cuddled them close to her chest as she took a few deep breaths. "Were you good for Aunt Jess today, girls?"

"Yes, Mama," they chorused out as she got to her feet, following them into the dining room, Jessica at their heels. "We made your favorite for supper, since Papa won't be here, and Aunt Jess said that it would make you happy."

"She's right, having our favorites does make us happy." She smiled to see that her other children were already at the table, the plates filled with food already, just waiting for her and Jess. The meal was over all too soon, and she found her mind wandering to what she was going to do with her family. It was so clear that they loved her, and it was honestly something that she hadn't expected to find after everything she had done in her life to that point.

"Why are you crying, Mama?" Karen asked, and she shook her head as she reached up to swipe away the tears that were falling down her cheeks without her notice. "It's not nothing."

"I just miss Uncle Aaron, and Papa Dave, and yet I'm also filled with such a deep love for you all. You're my family."

"We are!" Bruce exclaimed as he rose to his feet and began to clear away the empty plates. "Tabby and I will do the dishes, since Karen has to finish that paper she's been procrastinating over for the last week."

Erin laughed at the outraged look Karen shot her brother as she nodded. "Thank you, Bruce. All right, Catherine, it is time for you to take a bath, so say goodbye to Aunt Jess and Jack, since they'll be home by the time we finish."

Erin got up from her chair and picked her youngest daughter up. She was already so tall for her age, and she wondered what would happen when she hit her next growth spurt. Smiling at Jessica, she brought the toddler over to her side, letting her youngest hug her tightly before kissing her cheek before she brought her over to Jack, again, letting Catherine hug him before she carried her upstairs, Elise at her heels. "Mama, why does Jack have to go home? Can't he and Aunt Jessica just live with us?"

"I wish that they could, but Jack has his own home, with his Papa, and Aunt Jessica needs her own place, too. I don't live with my grandparents, and Papa Dave doesn't have his sisters here. When we grow up, we form our own families, so when you get to be an adult, you'll go to college, or trade school, and find the person who makes you happy, like Papa Dave makes me. Are you going to take a bath with us, or afterwards?"

"I guess that I can take it with Cathy, as long as you read me an extra story."

"We'll see about that, darling," she replied as she brought them into the bathroom. "You might get more leverage if you picked out pyjamas for Catherine and yourself."

Elise gave her a wide grin as she nodded, running out of the room. Erin heard her feet rumble across the floor until she was in her room, and then she chuckled a little to hear her door slam moments later before she started running the bath water. Once it was the right temperature, she let the tub fill as she stripped off Catherine's clothes before setting her on the potty chair while she tossed the dirty clothes into the hamper, before putting the diaper in the trash. Elise had just reentered the bathroom when Erin was pulling out a fresh diaper for Catherine to wear under her pyjamas, and she smiled indulgently at her daughter as she hastily pulled off her clothes and tossed them into the hamper before clambering into the tub. "Come on, Cathy, the quicker we take a bath, the more likely we'll get two stories tonight."

"Stories," her youngest repeated as she wriggled off the potty chair and toddled over to the tub, looking up at Erin expectantly. "Mama, stories."

Laughing, she nodded and lifted Catherine into the tub, starting the first of their stories as she gently washed Catherine, knowing that Elise could most likely take care of her needs. Though neither child was particularly dirty, Erin knew that they enjoyed splashing around in the water, and so she decided to let them have a little extra time that evening, as she was loathe to make them give up this happy moment, knowing these were likely to be fleeting in the weeks to come, until Aaron was home.