Well, folks, the last chapter in the JJ/Rossi series is officially up. Dave is back from New Orleans and now he has to face JJ. Will she understand his reasons for going behind her back? Will he plead his case successfully? Meanwhile, Henry has a request of his own for Dave. Will he be able to deliver? To find out you have to read on.

Special thanks to Tracia who gave me the inspiration to tackle this pairing. It may never be my "ship" but I've learned to appreciate them. Please, oh please, let me go back to Dave/Em now.

I don't own Criminal Minds.

Song prompt: "Look What Love's Revealing" by Vince Gill

Look What Love's Revealing

Dave pulled his truck into JJ's driveway and turned off the engine. Glancing up at the house, he noticed the living room light was burning. At least she was still awake. Hopefully Henry would be in bed so they could have their talk. Plus, if she was going to slaughter him, Henry didn't need to witness that.

Grabbing the papers and the gift off the front seat, Dave got out and opened the back door of the cab to let Mudgie run free. Aware of his surroundings, Mudgie began running around and jumping for joy. Heading toward the front door, he jumped on the porch and barked excitedly.

The porch light came on. As the front door opened, Henry appeared. It only took him a second to realize who was calling for him.

"MUDGIE!" Henry yelled out and tried to grab the black lab who was twice his size. "Mommy! Mudgie is here! Mudgie is here!" Suddenly he went down as the dog began licking his face. Belly laughs could be heard all the way to the truck. A smile tugged at Dave's lips. Maybe there was hope JJ could forgive him.

Stepping over to the porch, Dave walked on to the porch and called to Mudgie. "Okay boy, that's enough. Let Henry get up."

Henry stood up. "Daddy Dave! You're here!" Throwing himself into Dave's arms, Henry hugged tightly and placed happy kisses on his cheeks. "I thought you gone forever."

"I was only gone two days," Dave corrected and hugged the boy tightly.

"Too long. I wanted to watch baseball."

"We can watch baseball later."

"Mommy was crying," Henry whispered. "I think she was sad 'cause you weren't here."

"Really?" Dave asked. Henry nodded. "Is she crying now?"

"No, but she's pissed as hell," came the dulcet toned voice from the other room.

"Hi Cara," Dave greeted.

"You have a lot of nerve coming by here after what you did." JJ appeared in the living room.

Dave shrugged. She wouldn't hurt him as long as Henry was in his arms. He hoped. "Mudgie wanted to see Henry. And you and I need to talk."

"Damn right on that one."

"Mommy said damn," Henry whispered loudly to Dave, his eyes wide as saucers.

"Henry." JJ reprimanded.

"I not supposed to say damn. It's a Mommy word."

"And a Daddy word too," Dave confirmed.

Henry shook his head. "But you're not a daddy, so you can't say it."

"Maybe when I finish talking to your mommy that might change." Dave whispered for Henry's ears only. Giving him a kiss, he set the boy down. "Why don't you do me a favour and take Mudgie outside."

"Okay."

"Oh Henry," Dave called out. "I have something for you." Reaching down, he picked up the small package in wrapping paper.

Running over, Henry grabbed it and ripped it open. "A hat!" He put it on his head. Too big, it flopped over his eyes. "I can't see! Mommy, can you see my hat?"

"I see it Munchkin." JJ adjusted the size to fit. "Much better. Now go outside."

"Come on Mudgie!" Henry ordered. Together they went out in the backyard. The delightful sound of barking and laughter rang out while inside the two adults stared each other down.

"I guess you heard," Dave tried to look contrite.

"Hotch told me."

"Good. I told him not to lie to you about where I was going."

"Why couldn't you tell me?"

"Because I needed to do this without you trying to stop me."

"I think I had the right to know."

"Would you have tried to stop me?" Dave leveled a gaze at her.

Crossing her arms over her chest, JJ glared back. "Yes, I would have. You had no right going down to New Orleans and confronting Will."

"Yes, I did," Dave retorted.

"No you didn't!"

"The fuck I didn't Jen! I had every right to go down there! He, on the other hand, had NO right saying what he did to you."

"It's just words, Dave. It's nothing I haven't heard before."

"So that makes it right?"

"It's what it is."

"Well, as long as I am in your life and in Henry's too, NOBODY is EVER going to talk to you like he did. So help me God, I will break their fucking legs."

"I appreciate that Dave, but…"

"I don't think you do. I really fucking think you don't Jen."

"I do."

"No. You. Don't. Do you know why I went down to see Will?"

"No."

"Because I wanted to get to the bottom of why he was treating you the way he did. And I wanted to let him know that I didn't appreciate the way he treated Henry. No little boy should ever have to hear his mother called what Will called you." He waited for a response, but JJ stayed silent. "I told you that I would do anything for you and that little boy."

"It was my fight. It was between me and Will. This didn't include you."

"The hell it didn't. The moment you let me make love to you, you included me in your life. I don't care how Will viewed you out of the bedroom or in the bedroom; when I make love to a woman, I give her my heart and soul and I hope and pray she does the same for me. Giving someone their heart and soul means going to the edge of the earth for that person and taking on their burdens. It means making sure no one or nothing ever hurts them."

"Dave…"

"I love you Jen. I love that little boy. There is nothing I won't do for the both of you. I'll walk on hot coals, I'll fight the devil in hell…I'll take a fucking bullet if I have to." Dave paused. "And I will go behind your back and confront Will for being an asshole."

"Even if it means you couldn't tell me?"

Dave stared her down. "Yes. It was something I needed to do. Man to man."

"Did you beat him up?"

"What?"

"It's a simple question: did you beat him up? I know your temper and I know how you feel about Will."

"No. I didn't hurt him."

"Are you sure?"

"His captain was in the room the entire time and can verify it. Why are you worried about me hurting Will?"

"Because he's Henry's father. Right or wrong. Good or bad. Will La Montange is my son's father and always will be."

"He's not Henry's father," Dave argued. "A father is more than a sperm donor. He watches baseball and teaches his son how to pee. He reads books at night and teaches his son how to ride a bike. And most of all, a father shows his son how to love and respect women by loving and respecting his mother first."

JJ felt her eyes fill up with tears as her heart began beating frantically. "What?"

"I know that Will yelled at you. I know that he yelled at Henry. I know everything. Even the affairs he tried to hide."

"He told you?"

"No. I had Garcia pull up your phone records and his too and list the numbers. I confronted him with the evidence and he didn't deny it."

JJ wiped her eyes. "I thought it was just my imagination."

Dave shook his head. "It wasn't you Cara. It was him. He was the inadequate one and he tried to make you feel bad."

"Dave…I…"

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No Jen. Lay it all out. You have something to say and we need to clear the air before we move on."

"First, let me say: Thank you."

"You're welcome. What's the second thing?"

JJ tried to look Dave in the eyes, but couldn't. "I feel betrayed."

"I know."

"You didn't tell me."

"I'm telling you now because I love you and I don't want anything coming between us at a later date."

"Will was okay with you going down there?"

Dave cocked his head slightly. "Not really. But once I laid it all out for him, he started to see…the error of his ways."

"Really?"

"Infact, he wanted to give you an early wedding present." Dave reached into his coat and pulled out the papers. Handing them to her, he waited for her reaction.

"What is this?" JJ's eyes scanned the words. Slowly their meaning dawned on her. "He signed over his rights?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know. What I do know is that this paper clears the way for me to adopt that little boy as quickly as possible and make him mine."

JJ's hand covered her mouth. "This can't be for real."

"It's very much for real Cara. That little boy will be mine as soon as I can get you to marry me."

"What do you mean?" The tears fell fast from her eyes.

"I mean…" Dave dropped to one knee and took her hand in his. "Jennifer Jareau, I'm asking you to marry me." JJ felt something cold and heavy slide over her ring finger.

Looking down, she saw the carat diamond encased in white gold. "Dave…I don't know what to say."

"Yes is usually the appropriate answer." He watched her face. "I love you Jen. I love you more than any woman who has come in my life. I love Henry and I want to be his daddy in every way. And when God decides it's the right time, I want us to give him brothers and sisters. Say yes and make me the happiest man alive."

Before JJ could answer, Henry came running into the room with Mudgie hot on his heels.

"Daddy Dave, are you okay?"

"I'm fine Henry."

Henry looked at Dave and then to JJ. "Why are you crying Mommy? Are you hurt? Did Daddy Dave hurt your heart?"

"No Munchkin. He didn't hurt my heart. My heart feels really good right now."

"I asked your mommy to let me be your daddy."

Henry's mouth dropped open. "Like my daddy forever?"

Dave nodded. "Yes. Forever…if she'll let me."

Henry started tugging on JJ's free hand. "Say yes Mommy. Say yes!"

JJ looked at the two men she loved more than anything. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you."

Rising up, Dave took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. Well aware that Henry was in the room, he tried to keep it simple, but he wasn't sure if his restraint was that strong. He loved this woman more than life itself.

"Let me see. Let me see," Henry demanded and tried to get between them.

JJ pulled back. "What do you need to see?"

"Your ring." Carefully he watched as JJ showed him her left hand. His eyes wide, he stared up at her. "Mommy, you got the diamond!"

Wiping the tears, she smiled at him. "Yes I do."

"Daddy Dave, you gave Mommy the diamond."

Dave looked at the boy who was so close to being his son. "I have some bad news Hank; you can't call me Daddy Dave anymore."

"Why?" Henry's face fell.

"Because as of your mommy saying yes, I am now your daddy for real. You will have to call me Daddy from now on."

Henry's face brightened. "For real?" Dave nodded. "Does that mean Mudgie is mine, too?"

"Yes it does son." Lifting Henry up, Dave hugged him and gave him a kiss. "You're mine forever. And so is your mom."

"I love you Daddy."

"I love you too." Dave set Henry down.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask me anything?"

"Can I have a brother?"

"I'll tell you what; go outside with Mudgie so Mommy and I can talk about it. Deal?"

"Deal shmeal." They touched thumbs quickly. Henry ran out of the room and stopped. Turning around he looked at Dave. "Since you're my daddy now, you can say damn."

"Yes, I can," Dave confirmed. Watching Henry leave, he turned to JJ. "Well, Jen, can Henry have a brother?"

"I don't know…two Rossi men are hard enough to deal with; I don't know about a third," she teased. Looking at Dave, she got concerned. "Dave, what's wrong?"

"You said two Rossi men." His voice choked with emotion.

She looked at him lovingly. "Why wouldn't I? You are Henry's daddy."

Dave didn't try to hide his tears. "Yes I am."

"Forever," JJ breathed as Dave's lips hovered over hers.

"Damn right."

Then he kissed her to seal his promise.