*Thank you everyone for the follows and favorites! This is my first story here so I'm in the trial and error process still, but the reviews and reception really help. I apologize for that horrifying mistake in POV in the last chapter, it was a late night of writing and I guess I wasn't paying attention when typing. Thank you all who pointed it out, I have fixed it and replaced that chapter with a corrected one. And I also apologize for the long wait, I got back from vacation and am getting back into the swing of work and stuff. I hope all is forgiven with an update of two chapters! Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 4
Cat's POV
Cat headed home that night with a smile on her face. She had saved a life, made a new friend, and gotten off work in time for weekly dinner with Rosie and Michael. It was a longer drive to their house than she liked but they always made it worth it. A delicious scent filled her nostrils before she even entered the modern Victorian home in Fredericksburg. After ringing the doorbell, Cat waited on the porch for the familiar sounds of laughing and singing to come to the door. It was only a few seconds before a familiar face opened the door to greet her.
"Catrina! You made it! Oh it's so good to see your darling, come in!" Rosie pulled her into a crushing hug and the smell of perfume consumed her. The comforting smell brought back soothing memories from her childhood. Seeing Rosie was always a comfort.
"Is that my flighty niece at the door?" A deep voice called from the direction of the kitchen. "Where is that rascal?"
"Hi Uncle Michael!" Cat yelled back when she was released from Rosie's hug. A muscular figure emerged in the doorway and pulled her into the biggest bear hug she had ever received. With the amount of affection she was receiving, it felt as if the two hadn't seen Cat for years. However they had all been together last week when Rosie had received news that her cancer had not progressed any farther from last year. According to the doctors she most likely had another year or so, but that was better than the first prediction of six months when Rosie had been diagnosed last year.
"Maybe we should change this meeting to twice a week. I feel like I never see you," Michael said as he finally released Cat.
"I believe if we did that you would most definitely get sick of me. I already call you every night along with weekly dinner," Cat laughed as she pushed past him to get into the air conditioned parlor.
"Oh we could never be sick of you Kit Kat. Now, dinner is almost ready so why don't you help Michael set the table?" Rosie pushed her husband in the direction of the dining room while she headed back to the kitchen.
"Alright alright, I guess we could manage that," Michael smiled as he and Cat went over to the large dining room on the left. The room was an open space with large glass windows covering the two walls. Beige curtains complimented the pale blue walls and white fireplace in the back. A mahogany table sat in the middle of the room under a beautiful glass chandelier. It was a simple but elegant room that matched the personalities of Cat's aunt and uncle. They were very wealthy, coming from Michael's work with the government and Rosie's popular wedding planning business. Two unlikely people coming together in the wake of tragedy and finding happiness. Their story always made Cat happy and gave her a sense of hope, but she knew it was rare. She looked at their wedding picture, which hung above the fireplace on the back wall and smiled. It was her favorite picture of the two of them. Michael followed Cat's gave and murmured, "That is my favorite picture of her."
"It's my favorite picture of the two of you. That was the first day I was genuinely happy after everything that happened. We got to start over, become a family again. I can't thank the two of you enough for what you did," Cat leaned into Michael as he put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "We should set the table before Rosie decides to replace dinner with another vegan experimental dish.
"I just might!" Rosie's voice carried over as she entered with a platter of steaks. "What have you two been doing in here?"
"Testing how fast you can cook apparently," Cat laughed as she pulled out placemats and napkins.
As soon as they finished the table Rosie had brought out a pasta salad and asparagus, along with a very expensive bottle of wine. Dinner was delicious as it always was with Rosie's cooking; the conversation was filled with updates from everyone's week and Michael's hilarious commentary of Rosie attempting to try dancing to hip hop. He promised to film it next time and send it to Cat as a pick up on a rough day at work. She agreed it probably would help and went into her update about the successful surgery she had today.
"So Cat, anything happening in that other part of your life you seem to forget about?" Rosie asked, a sneaky gleam filling her eyes.
"Actually, I met a really nice guy at the bookstore today," she responded as she took a sip of wine.
"Wait, really? I never expected to get a response to that question," Michael almost spit out the food he was chewing, so in shock to forget about manners.
"Yes, surprisingly I am a girl who likes to have conversations with new people. His name is Spencer and he is actually a very interesting person. From what I have observed at the bookstore we have the same taste in literature."
"Of course the detailed response would sound like a lab result," Rosie shook her head but was clearly happy for her niece.
"What does this Spencer guy do exactly?"
"He works for the BAU. Do you know him Michael?"
"You said his name was Spencer, right?"
"Yes."
"I don't know him personally but I have heard of him. Supposedly a genius from what the guys at work say. And a very genuine guy, a little awkward though. And yes, you two would get along very well. I can have some of my guys do some more digging on him." Michael nodded to Rosie to calm her a bit; she was definitely worried about her niece getting involved with anyone.
"Are you sure it's okay, Cat? Knowing someone who works with the FBI after everything that's happened?" Rosie was worried for her niece, their history with the FBI was not exactly picture perfect, and digging up painful memories was not something she was sure Cat would be okay with doing.
"I'm fine Rosie. He seems sweet and it's been sixteen years, I doubt he knows anything. I'm ready for a friendship outside of work," she took her aunt's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Okay, but only if you're sure. The first sign of anything out of the ordinary, you give Michael a call and he'll get you away from here."
"I doubt it will come to that, but I promise I will."
"Good girl," Rosie smiled and took her hand back so she could cut some more steak.
"Of course the first guy she actually seems excited about is for friendship," Michael laughed thinking about Cat's last comment on Spencer.
"Hey, I said I'm ready for a friendship, romance has never been a part of my life plan. And I don't think I'm ready to let someone in that much yet. You guys are like a miracle after what we've been through."
"But you shouldn't take it completely off the table. Give it a chance if something does blossom out of whatever you and Spencer are starting here."
"You two are ridiculous. Why do I still come to these dinners?" Cat shook her head and stabbed her last piece of steak.
"Because our ridiculousness keeps you from turning into a robot." Michael and Rosie laughed while Cat watched them and smiled. She loved her aunt and uncle but they were almost too much for her. They were the bright light in her messed up world. She wished so much she could trust someone with her life as much as Rosie did Michael. Could Spencer actually be that person for her?
