Erin knew that she needed to go to sleep soon, but she was in the middle of a really good part in her book, and this was her only time, really, to read. She was surprised that David wasn't home yet, since the case had been close to home, but she hoped that he was safe and coming home soon. Finally, her eyes felt too heavy to read another word, and she replaced her bookmark before turning on her side to set the book on her nightstand, her eyes widening a little to see that it was nearly midnight. Frowning a little, she picked up her phone, not seeing any messages from David, which worried her even more.

A soft sigh slipped out her lips as she flopped onto her back, staring up at the ceiling as she tried to think about happy thoughts, to not let her worry overwhelm her senses as she tried to relax into sleep. It seemed like all intents to fall asleep had vanished when she saw the time, but she still closed her eyes, knowing that even if she didn't fall into sleep, she could still get some rest. About five minutes later, though, she was wide awake once more, hearing footsteps on the stairs. Knowing that it was her husband, she sat up and hugged her knees close to her chest as she waited for him to come into the bedroom.

"Why are you still up, Erin?" he asked tiredly as he entered the bedroom, and she shrugged a little. "Miss me that much?"

"No, I just finished up my chapter and was about to sleep when I heard you on the stairs. My body decided to just wake back up again so that I could spend a little time with you now." Erin cocked her head to one side as she watched him undress, a smirk dancing across her lips the closer he got to naked. "Are you going to change into pyjamas, or just sleep in your boxers tonight?"

"What would you prefer?"

"Boxers. I've been missing your body all day."

The frankness in her words surprised him, since he paused before turning and giving her an answering smirk. "Well, I could definitely consider sleeping au naturale, if that would make you even happier." Waggling his eyebrows at her, he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his boxers, and she giggled as she nodded. Within moments, he was completely naked and making his way over to the bed, bouncing down on the mattress as he looked up into her face. Behind the amorous look on his face, Erin could see that he was worried about something, and she felt her mirth slip away as she leaned down to kiss him tenderly.

"There's something bothering you, and you need to get it off your chest before we go to sleep."

"Like you do?" he teased, trying to deflect back to her once more.

Shaking her head, Erin stretched out along his body, resting her forehead against his as she took a deep breath. "You knew, getting into this relationship with me, that I don't open up all that easily. I've gotten better over the years we've been together, but you have always worn your heart on your sleeve with me. So when I see that you're worried about something, I'm going to ask, and I know that I'm going to get an answer. What is bothering you?"

He sighed as he lifted his chin to kiss her sweetly before wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close as he nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck. "When you came home from work today, did you notice anything out of the ordinary?"

Erin shook her head as she thought about the journey home, and how uneventful it had been. "Jessie had hot chocolate waiting for me when I got home, since it was so bitingly cold from the wind, and we talked for a little bit in front of the fireplace. Everything was normal when I gave Catherine and Elise their baths, and the older children were home at their usual times. Why?"

David drew in a deep breath as he began to stroke her hair softly. "When I was driving home, I passed a car parked on the street."

"And? There are a lot of cars parked on the street," she replied, tugging on his chest hair lightly as she waited for him to answer.

"It's not a car I recognize for our neighbourhood. And I know, it's not like I know every single car that belongs to our neighbours, but this was a car that doesn't fit in with the rest of ours. Does that make sense?"

Erin nodded as she moved her body downwards, so that her head was now resting on his chest. "It does. But it could be coincidence?"

"As much as I would like to believe that, given what's been happening with the team, with you, I don't think that that's true."

"We could make it true, for now, since we don't know. Please?"

David spread his hand out on her back as he let out a long breath "For tonight, yes, we can. But if either of us see that car again, then we'll have to start considering it more than mere coincidence." Erin nodded as she felt him begin to ruck her nightgown up her back. "If I have to be naked as the day I was born, then so do you," he murmured in her ear, and she nodded as she lifted her body upwards so that he could pull the garment off, dropping it onto the floor before contorting his body enough so as to grab the covers and pull them up to her shoulders.

"This is probably the most perfect way to end a long night spent worried about you. I wish that you had texted to let me know that you were running late, though."

"I'll try to remember for next time. This case was just a little too harried for me. I'm sorry." He bent and pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head. "Now, do you want to go to sleep or have a little bit of fun beforehand?"

Just as she was about to answer, Erin let out a wide yawn before shaking her head. "I wish that I could say yes, but I think that I am too exhausted to think about that. If you come home early tomorrow, though, we can definitely plan for a bit of adult fun. Anticipation does make things all the better after all."

"I love the way that you think, stellina," he said as one hand slid down her back to cradle her ass, holding her closer as he rubbed his cheek against her head. "Sleep well, my beloved."

That was a new nickname for her, and she let out a heartfelt sigh as she nodded, tightening her hold on his shoulder as she felt herself start to finally drift off sleep. In the fuzzy time between wakefulness and sleep, Erin heard her husband murmur something lowly to her, and she couldn't make out what exactly he was saying, just that it made her feel safe and loved, and she wished that there would always be time for moments like this in their marriage in the future.