Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even Samantha and Diane.
A/N: So, here's the deal. As I was watching the episode "Lauren", during the scene where Morgan has Emily in his arms, a plot bunny was whispering in my ear,"he should say you have to stay here for your girls."
I turned to him and asked,"What girls?"
"Samantha Rose and Diane Elizabeth. You know, from "Mommy and Daddy's Love Story." And don't forget, you mentioned a fiance that we never got detail about. Could that be Doyle?"
So, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the sequel to "Mommy and Daddy's Love Story"
In a house in Quantico,Virgina there lived the Prentiss-Reid family. The family consisted of a husband named Spencer, a wife named Emily, two girls, Samantha and Diane, and a little boy named Matthew. In many ways, they appeared to be like any other family, but they were very different.
To begin with, Emily and Spencer were heroes. Oh, all mothers and fathers are heroes in their own way, but these two were really heroes. They were FBI agents working for the Behavior Analysis Unit. This is an agency that recruits the best of the best to chase the worst of the worst. This meant the children grew up listening to different stories than most children. Oh, Spencer and Emily read to the kids stories like "Cat in the Hat" and "Ferdinand the Bull" but they also told them stories about their adventures in the BAU.
They heard about the Foyet monster, who once terrorized the city of Boston and killed Haley Hotchner. They heard about the Henkel monster, who kidnapped Spencer got him addicted to dialud. They heard about the Cyrus monster, who held them both Mommy and Daddy hostage. They heard the story of how Emily's childhood friend was killed by a vengeful priest. Just before Matthew was born, they even got to hear how their parents fell in love and became their mommy and daddy.
There was, however, one story Spencer and Emily never told their children. It was a story about a monster named Ian Doyle. It was a story that both Emily and Spencer didn't like to even think about. It was a story they never intended to tell. One night though, when little Matthew was four and his sisters were both 10, Spencer and Emily finally told the story.
It happened like this:
"Daddy," little Matthew said at dinner one evening," why don't you ever tell us about the Doyle Monster?"
Both Emily and Spencer stopped eating. Spencer's fork was part-way to his mouth.
"How did you hear about the Doyle monster, sweetie?" Emily asked, but she was looking at Samantha.
Samantha was the one who always angled for stories. She asked her parents to tell them new stories. She asked them to retell old stories, always trying to get more details. She had recently learned that her parents were more willing to tell stories if Matthew was the one who asked for them.
"I didn't do it." Samantha said. She said that a lot, ever since Matthew was born.
"Really?" Emily said, her tone was velvety, but Diane recognized the venom in it.
"It wasn't all her fault," Diane said.
"Oh?" Emily said.
"Di," Samantha hissed. "Stop helping me." Samantha steeled herself for what was going to happen next. For two years, Samantha had been trying to get her parents to tell them about the Doyle monster, ever since Aunt Penelope inadvertently mentioned him. But her parents were resolute on the subject. Not even her grandparents could change Mommy and Daddy's minds.
"We've talked about this young lady." Emily said.
"It's not Sammie's fault," Matthew said. "I heard you and Daddy talking about it with Uncle Aaron. I asked her about it. But she said you never tell the story."
"Sweetie, there are some stories aren't meant to be told."
"Maybe it's time to tell this one," Spencer said.
Emily looked at her husband. Sometimes, when he agreed to telling a story, he had a slight mischievous look on his face. Sometimes he looked like he had been defeated and worn down. This look was different, it was contemplative. It almost seemed to her like this was a question he had been going over in his mind for quite some time.
"Spencer," she said. Then she got up and went into the kitchen. This was her way signal to him that they needed to talk about whatever decision he had just made. The children knew it well.
Spencer looked at his children and said, " We'll be right back. Don't make me regret this." Then he stood up and went into the kitchen.
"Way to go Sam," Diane said in her most withering and disapproving tone.
"What? Mattie asked." Samantha said in her most innocent tone.
"I heard you two talking about it last night."
Sam scowled at her little brother.
"Didn't I do it right, Sammie?" he asked.
In the kitchen, Emily looked at her husband for several moments without speaking.
"Did you have something you wanted to say, dear?" he finally asked.
"Don't you try to charm me. Or act like I'm overreacting."
"I'm not. But we did just leave the kids alone, so..."
"Are you serious about this? Do you really think this is a good idea?"
"I think we made a decision not to keep secrets. Remember, we said we would tell the kids about everything."
"When the time was right."
"It's been almost 10 years."
"This is Hotch's fault."
"Not really."
"He was over here last week wanting us to include Doyle in the seminar. I knew we should have held firm on the rule about talking business when we're at the house, but no, you just had to talk about it with him."
"We both talked to him about a lot of things regarding that seminar. here. Look, I know this is hard for you. I know you don't want to think about it."
"It wasn't our finest moment."
"In some ways. In some ways it was our best."
"Your best maybe. I didn't act very well."
"I think you're wrong. Maybe this is something you need to talk about and come to terms with."
"No."
"Emily, remember when Matthew was born."
"You mean when you got shot and I was on bed rest? Yes, I remember. Vividly."
"I meant when I was bothered and thinking about Dad. You insisted he and I talk and try to resolve some issues. You were right to do it, and I'm right about this." He reached out for her hand and grasped it. Then he pulled her to him. "This is the right thing to do. You know it. It will be okay. Trust me."
"I do. I just don't want to do it."
"I know. But no secrets means no secrets. And maybe we've kept this one for long enough."
"Fine."
They walked back to the dining room and sat down.
"So," Spencer said, "we will tell you about the Doyle monster. But, I want to make it clear this is a privilege. That means, three children need to behave themselves while we're telling it. Understood?"
The children all nodded.
"All right. Now, you all know that your mother and I didn't always work together. There were many years your mother had adventures without me. She was part of a team that fought terrible, terrible monsters. The thing is, sometimes they had to do very hard things to catch them. Sometimes they had to pretend to like the monsters. Sometimes they to pretend they were monsters too."
"Did she have to do that with the Doyle monster?" Diane asked.
Emily nodded. "It was a very hard thing sweetie. You see, I did much more than that. I pretended to be someone else. I used a different name. I was a different person. The hardest thing of all, though, was that I pretended I loved Ian Doyle."
"What?" the words were out of Samantha's mouth before she could stop them.
"Sweetie, for a long time, Doyle and I lived like we were husband and wife."
All three children's eyes got a big as saucers. The look of shock on their faces was almost overwhelming. Spencer looked at his wife, and saw a haunted look of shame there.
"I think that's enough for now."
Samantha regained her composure first. "But Daddy!"
"No more until after supper and the three of you have bussed your plates to the kitchen."
"But Daddy!"
"Or we can just not tell the story anymore tonight."
All three children ate diligently.
A/N: Obviously, this will be an alternate version of the Doyle saga. As always, feedback is appreciated.
