"We get to fly on a private jet?" Bruce exclaimed as David pulled into the private airstrip that the FBI normally used for their flights.
"Yeah, it was actually cheaper to do it this way, rather than purchase round trip first class seats for all six of us. And this way, your mother didn't have to worry about the liquid limit when it comes to all her perfumes and moisturizers," her partner teased, giving her an affectionate smile.
"What David is trying to say is that he didn't want to worry about not having access to his cologne," she shot back, leaning over and pressing her lips to his cheek. "After all, I have become quite accustomed to how he smells when I'm cuddling him before we sleep."
"Touche, bella," he murmured as he parked the vehicle and slipped the keys into his pocket. "All right, Bruce, if you want to help me get the bags into the hold, we can let the girls get settled on the plane with our carry ons."
"Sounds like a fair trade," her son said as they exited the vehicle. Erin managed to maneuver herself out of the front seat, hating the fact that she was still burdened by the sling on her arm. As she walked towards the private jet, she mused that she only had three more weeks to endure wearing it, and that she would have a wonderful Christmas of freedom once it was off. And that thought led her down the rabbit hole to the fact that she had so much to celebrate that year, and she teared up as she carefully climbed the stairs, not wanting her emotions to overtake her and cause her to have another accident that might delay her recovery.
Once onboard, Erin made her way to the back, near the galley, and sank down onto the sofa like seating. It was awkward to fasten her seatbelt, but she finally managed it as her girls plopped down into seats across from each other in the front of the jet. While she waited for David to join her, Erin grabbed her phone out of her purse and sent off a quick text to Alex, wishing her a happy holiday. Just as she pressed send, David appeared in the doorway of the jet, and she gave him a wide smile as he made his way over to her. "I see that we claimed the back as ours," he whispered in her ear as he settled in next to her. "Were you planning on something?"
"You are a lecher, and there is no way that we'll be doing anything on this jet!" She dug her elbow into his side tenderly, giving him a broad wink before snuggling in close to him as Bruce and Spencer sat on the bench across from them. "Remind me again of where we're staying?"
"At the MGM Grand. I've rented the kids a two bedroom skyloft, and we'll have our own one bedroom skyloft. Since we're going to be here for a week, I thought that we should at least be comfortable."
"That sounds really swanky," Bruce said as the pilot began to taxi down the runway.
"Nothing but the best for my family." David wrapped his arm around Erin's shoulders and pulled her closer to him, dropping a kiss to the top of her head as the plane took flight. "Now, I know that Spencer has called ahead to Bennington, so he can tell us more about what's going to happen for Thanksgiving and the day after."
Spencer looked at her before over at Bruce. "Bennington does provide a meal, but usually, that's just for one or two people. Since there are six of us, I didn't want to impose on them that much, and arranged a meal for us at our hotel. Dave and I are going to pick Mom up at ten and bring her back to the hotel, and we'll eat a traditional Thanksgiving day feast in our room before I run her home. I've also arranged a day pass for Friday, and Dave and I thought that it would be nice if we showed you all where I grew up. If Mom is having a good day, we should get some good stories from her. I wish that I could have gotten more time, but her doctor feels that even this might be a little too much stimulation for her."
"We'll try to be as nice as possible," Tabitha said as she came to the back, sinking down next to David. "Karen said that it was imperative that we do whatever it takes to make certain this was a smooth holiday. I think it will be nice to get to know more of our family. And I'm hoping this means that we get to meet Dave's side of the family soon, too."
David gave a small shrug as he stretched his legs out. "There are things that I will need to take care of before that can happen, Tabby. Especially since I know my mother will have a few choice things to say about the way I treated your mom, and then it will probably take a few months for her to cool off enough to even begin to think about having a family reunion. I hope that maybe by next Christmas we can get together with the Rossi side of the family."
"I suppose that we could live with that, Dave," Karen piped up from her seat. "Now, if you all would please keep it a little quieter, I want to sleep while we fly. I thought taking a private jet wouldn't upset my stomach, but it looks like I was wrong."
Erin let out a commiserating little laugh as she nodded against David's shoulder. "Did you remember the ginger ale?"
"I put some in the galley, yes. Do you need me to get you a can, Karen?"
"That might be nice. And soda crackers?"
"Coming right up. Anyone else want anything?" David asked as he stood, and Erin watched everyone else shake their heads before she shook hers as well. He disappeared behind the curtain for a few moments before returning. After tossing a pack of cookies in her lap, he went up to Karen and handed over the ginger ale and crackers before coming back to them. Erin curled up in his embrace as she listened to the small conversations spring up around them, feeling so blessed to have this opportunity with her family.
"David?" she whispered, rubbing her cheek against his shirt.
"Yeah, bella?"
"Thank you for this. This is more than I could have hoped for when I told you about Spencer. We're solidifying our family, and I just…this is better than my imagination?"
He let out a little laugh before rubbing her shoulder softly. "I will admit, after the way that things started out, I didn't think we'd be taking this step until next year, or the year after. Sometimes, prayers are answered really quickly."
"That is very true, darling. I just wish that those same prayers had healed my arm faster than it is. I cannot stand wearing this damned sling!"
David bent his head to press a kiss to her temple. "Maybe you needed a lesson in patience? God laughs at us sometimes, you know."
"I do know that, David. And I have patience aplenty."
Bruce and Spencer snorted in unison, and she looked up to glare at her sons. Spencer blanched a little, but Bruce glared right back. "If you were patient, Mom, you wouldn't have tried to keep talking to Alex and getting her to accept your amends. You're stubborn and impatient, and at times, it's one of your best personality traits." Bruce gave her a fleeting smile before looking over at Spencer. "I can only imagine the stories that you have to tell about what Mom's like at work. And this is the perfect week to tell us all of them."
Erin raised an eyebrow at Bruce, and he just smiled angelically at her, which told her that this would indeed be an interesting week with her family. But maybe it would also help bring them together as they should have been from the very beginning.