Title: Baking Cookies
By: Daisyangel
Pairing: Rossi/Strauss
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: PG-13
Summary: 2013 25 Days of Christmas story.

***

Dave Rossi smiled as he entered his house to the sound of laughing and the smell of cookies baking. After all the years of not having a family, David Rossi thought he'd never get to have one, but he was glad he'd been proven wrong. Taking off his coat he hung it up before removing his boots that were covered in snow as it had started falling a couple of hours before. Having done that, he made his way into the kitchen to find his wife and their kids baking up a storm. He beamed as he saw them all working together so well. After Erin had caught her ex-husband Mark cheating on her with another woman in her bed, Erin had filed for divorce, and all three kids had told the judge they wanted to live with their mom and have nothing to do with their father. The judge granted their request, but had given Mark the chance to see them with the express understanding that he was to give them at least two days notice before wanting to get together with any of them. That had been a year and a half ago and so far, he'd only reached out to them once, much to Dave's chagrin, they were great kids, and it was Mark's loss if he couldn't see that. Shaking his head to rid himself of those negative thoughts, he turned his attention to the people in front of him and the cookies covering the counter.

"Hi everyone, looks like you've been working hard," he said greeting Erin with a kiss before hugging Maggie, Elizabeth, and Jacob.

"Hey, Dave," the kids greeted.

"Hi there, sweetheart, how was the drive home?" Erin asked. She'd taken the day off to spend with the kids since they were out of school for Christmas break. The BAU was on stand-down after today anyway so she didn't see the big deal in taking the day off.

"The roads are getting kind of nasty, but I did fine."

"How much snow do you think we have?" Lizzy asked.

"Oh, I'd say about three or four inches," her step father answered. The kid's eyes lit up and they shared a look before turning pleading eyes on their parents. Never mind that they were all teenagers, they looked like excited children about to experience their first snow.

"Mom, can we?" Jake, their youngest asked.

"Yeah, Mom, can we?" the girls asked in unison. Both Dave and Erin laughed at their antics.

"Yes, go on, get out of here. Dave can help me finish these," she answered. With a joyful yell, the kids ran to get on their coats and other warm weather gear before heading to have a little fun in the snow.

XXXX

"You'd think they're five, not 13, 15, and 18," Dave said with a chuckle as he made his way over to Erin and wrapped his arms around her.

"MMM, yeah, I know," she murmured happily as she leant back into him. She couldn't imagine her life without him in it. She'd fought tooth and nail to get where she was now, including being sober for a little over two years now. A giggle escaped her mouth as she felt Dave kiss her neck.

"Like that, do you, Bella?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yes, very much, but we have cookies to finish so we can give them out to the carolers tonight, remember?" she protested weakly.

"The ones in the oven still have five minutes left," he replied as he turned and pushed her back against the island and plundered her mouth. Her mouth opened eagerly and she granted him access. Their tongues danced perfectly together. Moans escaped both their mouths as the kiss grew more heated. Dave then trailed kisses down her face to her neck where he licked and bit gently at the pulse point, knowing it would drive her crazy.

"Dave," she whimpered. Dave chuckled against her neck causing a shiver to go down her spine.

"Yes darling?" he whispered in her ear as he ran his tongue around the shell of it. Erin could feel her resolve weakening a few minutes in-between batches of cookies wouldn't hurt; besides the kids were outside. Just then the oven timer went off, dragging her back to reality. Reluctantly she pulled away and went to remove the pan of cookies, all the while blushing and trying to get her breathing back under control.

"On second thought, why don't you go relax while I finish these? Otherwise they won't get finished," she explained as she smiled at him. The Italian laughed at the look on her face.

"Yes, Bella, whatever you say. I think I'll go do some reading," he said as he kissed her on the side of her head before leaving her to finish the cookies, a large smile gracing her face.

XXXX

"The carolers are coming," Maggie called as she and her siblings stood at the front window watching the group of singers who were all bundled up make their way towards their house.

"I've got the hot chocolate, why don't you guys help your mom grab the bags of cookies?" Dave suggested as he walked into the room with a tray full of disposable cups full of Hot Chocolate. Nodding the kids went to the kitchen to help Erin grab the cookies. They got back into the living room just in time for one of the carolers to ring the doorbell. Dave opened the door and greeted them with a smile.

"Good evening, how is everyone tonight?" Various responses of fine and great came back to him. The leader of the group started them singing Joy to the World and the Strauss-Rossi's joined in. Dave smiled at Erin's musical voice. When the carolers had finished singing their songs they took the cookies and the Hot Chocolate gratefully.

"Happy Holidays," they chorused.

"Happy Holidays to you as well," Dave, Erin and the kids replied.

XXXX

Closing the door and locking it, Dave turned to his family.

"I don't know about all of you, but I'm exhausted, I think I'm going to go read for a bit before turning in," he said as he glanced at the clock which read 9:00.

"Okay, Dave, I'll be up in a bit once I finish doing the dishes," Erin responded. The kids shared a silent look before Maggie spoke up. They knew their parents had missed each other lately. Dave had been on a case until two days before and he'd worked late yesterday to finish all his paperwork so he would be able to get off a bit early today.

"Don't worry about the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, we'll do that you go ahead and head on up to bed, Mom," Maggie told her mom.

"Are you sure?" Erin checked.

"Yes, go, Mom. Its fine," Lizzy assured. Jake nodded in agreement.

"Well then, I will, thank you three very much," she said kissing each of them before heading towards the stairs, Dave hot on her heals. He planned on finishing what they'd started in the kitchen and now there weren't any baking cookies to get in their way.

***