Moving Forward

Part 5

David Rossi's POV

I'm back home. I open the door and I hear Zoe crying. Joy walks over to me with Zoe in her arms. She looks exhausted.

"Dad... Can you please hold her and try to calm her down? I rocked her, I sang her lullabies, I tried to breastfeed her, her diaper is clean but she doesn't want to stop crying! I don't know what to do! I need a little break!"

I hold Zoe.

"It's okay. But tonight, we organized a dinner at Emily and Aaron's house. We want you to come."

"Okay. I'll be there. I'm gonna dress up and I'll be ready."

She goes to her room to dress up. I hum a lullaby to Zoe and she stops crying.

"Dada!"

Even if she's only 6 months old, she talks a bit. She says 'Mommy' and 'Dada' for Dave. I'm not ready to be called by another way!

A few minutes later, Zoe is asleep in my arms and Joy gets out of her room.

"I'm ready!" She declares.

She takes Zoe's bag and looks at me.

"How... How did you do that? I mean, she didn't want to sleep when I tried to make her sleep!"

"Daddy's secrets," I laugh.

I lean to put Zoe in her seat. Then, I take the seat and we go to the car. I put Zoe's seat on the back seat and Joy sits beside her. I sit in front and I drive to Emily and Aaron's.

We arrive at Emily and Aaron's. Zoe is still sleeping, but I know that it won't last.

I take Zoe's seat while Joy takes her bag.

I knock at the door. Emily opens to us.

"Grandpa Dave!" Emily says.

"It's so funny... I'm dying of laughing."

"C'mon Dad!" Joy exclaims.

I don't answer and I enter the house, followed by Joy. As I said, Zoe wakes up.

"Hey, Sweetheart," I say to her.

I put the seat on the floor and I hold her while Joy is putting Zoe's bag in Emily and Aaron's room. And she also takes the time to go to the bathroom to do what she has to do!

I go to the kitchen. I see Morgan with a baby in his arms. I suppose that it's Lacey.

"Hey, Grandpa Dave!" He laughs.

I don't answer.

"Graba Dada!" Zoe says.

This time, I laugh.

"How old is she?" I ask Morgan.

"2 months. And how old is Zoe?"

"6 months."

"And she already began to talk?!" JJ says, surprised.

"She's saying a few words."

"She talks more than Hope and Jaeden!" Spencer laughs.

"They will talk," JJ says to Spencer.

Joy arrives and holds Zoe.

"Thank you," she says.

"Congratulations," Morgan says to her.

"Thank you."

Desiree enters the kitchen too and takes Lacey.

"Congratulations," we all say to her.

"Thank you!" She responds.

"The dinner's ready!" Hotch declares.

And we all sit around the table to eat.