"Where did Dad go?" Jack asked as he raced up to Erin's side, giving her a tight hug before looking up into her face.
"He went to go pick up Beth, since he thought she wouldn't want to be here during the setup of your party, honey. I know that he'll be back soon. Are you having fun so far, though?"
"Uh huh! I can't believe that Uncle Dave rented ponies for everyone to ride today! All my friends think that this is so cool that my sister's dad is richer than God."
Erin giggled as she nodded, still wondering at the fact that Jack and Elise had taken so easily to how their blended family worked and how accepting they were of the truth. A part of her wondered if she should have been more open to this reveal earlier in their lives, but it was too late to change the past, even if she wanted to. "We're not quite that rich, Jack. It's just that Uncle Dave has a very successful career as an author outside of the BAU."
He grinned, nodding enthusiastically before running off to one of his friends, Elise waving them over to the pony she had picked out as her own that morning. As she was thinking about what to do next, she made her way back up to the patio to wait for Aaron and Beth to arrive. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see David guiding the man in question out to the backyard, a very beautiful young woman on his arm. "Good afternoon! I'm so glad that you were able to come with Aaron."
She made certain to add more warmth to her smile as she extended her hand towards Beth, trying to ignore the limp fish handshake that she received in return. It would take time for the woman to get accustomed to them, after all, and be comfortable with their family dynamic. "I am always up for a party, especially at a famous author's house. Did you rent out a circus for this event?"
Erin laughed as she shook her head. "No, Jack and Elise wanted ponies for their party, and my fiancé cannot say no to his child. Catherine is a little too young to make executive decisions about what she wants for her birthday."
"Were they all born around the same time, then?"
She nodded as she guided them over to the refreshment table. "Jack and Elise share a birthday, actually, and Catherine's birthday is a week later. One of our other colleagues, her son was also born in this same three week time span. Which is great, but makes Christmas that much more interesting."
Beth gave her a little smile as she nodded, picking up a cup of warmed cider. "That's good to know. Will you introduce me to everyone, honey?" Her voice was a little syrupy, but Erin tried not to pay that any mind as she focused on the happy shrieks of the children running around the yard. The party was going off without a hitch, to her pleasure, and she knew that the memories made that afternoon would last them for years to come. Turning her attention to what Beth and Aaron were doing, she watched as Jessica quickly tried to hide her reaction to the woman, and she had to wonder if she had gotten the same sort of weak handshake.
Jessica met her eye, and Erin gestured for her to come over, which only took a few moments, and then her friend was letting out a soft giggle. "That is one prissy woman, Erin. I know that she's been good for Aaron, but I think that she's going to have a little trouble fitting in with the rest of us."
"Did you get that same limp handshake?" Erin hated feeling like a gossip, but there was also something a little bonding about that, since Jessica gave her a conspiratorial little grin as she nodded. "What is up with that? I can see that she's totally twitterpated with Aaron, but can she really feel threatened by the two of us?"
"Maybe? I don't think that Aaron's told her about me quite yet, because he thinks that should be my place. Which is sweet, but I don't care if he tells her or not. It's not like it's some huge secret, after all."
Erin nodded as she reached out for Jessica's hand, giving it a soft squeeze as they both sighed in unison. "I understand, but he just wants the agency to be in your corner." Jessica returned the squeeze before they looked out at the children running around the yard. "I am so glad that this came together as well as it did. I was a little worried about the ponies, honestly."
"Live animals and children are a weird mix, yes. But thankfully, our little ones know how to behave around them, and so can show the others what to do." Jessica sighed a little before moving closer to Erin's side. "How are you doing?"
"It's been a weird few weeks, I'm not going to lie. But knowing that I have your support, and Aaron's, alongside David's has made all the difference. I don't think that I'll be drinking quite as much as I have in the past, but I also feel like there's going to be no cause for concern, since we are good at looking out for each other. If I didn't have all of you in my life, I think that there would have been a much different outcome to everything that happened. In another life, I might have been a full blown alcoholic."
They turned their heads to look at each other, and Jessica had tears sparkling in her eyes as she shook her head. "Thank God, then, that we were here for you."
Erin felt her breath catch in her throat as Jessica turned and hugged her tightly. "Yes, indeed," she managed to gasp out before rubbing Jessica's back a little, letting her know that she appreciated her support.
"Mama!"
She pulled her head away from Jessica's shoulder to look over at Catherine, seeing that Bruce had her up on a pony and was carefully guiding her around the yard, one hand on her back to keep her stable. "Don't you look regal, darling?" she called out as she dragged Jessica along with her over to her youngest daughter.
"I'm like Leelee!"
Erin nodded, thinking that it was indeed a good thing that David had purchased a pony for Catherine for her birthday. It was clear that she had picked up the love for horses from her sister, and it would be lovely for them to have a shared hobby as they grew up. "You are, darling." She gave Bruce a small wink as he lead her away from them to rejoin the others, and Erin let out a deep sigh as she made her way over to the refreshment table, checking to make certain that everything was still full before setting out to mingle with the guests. David was busy talking to one of the parents, and she sidled over to his side, slipping her arm around his waist as she rested her head on his chest, knowing that this party was going off without a hitch. A feeling of accomplishment filled her breast at that knowledge, though she knew that the next hurdle would be in winning Beth over.
