Disclaimer: No infringement intended!

Rated T

Summary: Aunt Connie pays The Goren's a visit and has a request.

Title: Aunt Connie, Marzipan and Family Ties.

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A Surprise Visit

There were a lot of things in life a person could hate and hate was a strong word. Alex always found it strange, that Bobby, her husband and father of her precious triplets, could hate such an odd thing … Marzipan. The thing is … is … you can't even say the word around him. Early on in there partnership, they worked a case … the Brother Jerome case. The victim liked Marzipan. Apparently, when she was down about something, according to her daughter, she would reach for Marzipan. That's when Alex found out about Bobby's deep seated hatred for the stuff.

"God … Marzipan? Why Marzipan? Why not chocolate or ice cream like a normal person or even booze for Christ sakes? Marzipan? That stuff sucks! It's putrid … I hate that stuff!"

That's how it went down all those years ago. Alex gets the same reaction from him every time somebody brings them a box of "that God awful stuff." It ends up in the trash before she can even tell him that she likes it. At this point and because of his very odd reaction … she wouldn't dare.

Fade in … Aunt Connie … Mark Ford Brady's sister … yeah, that Aunt Connie. She didn't make the trip for Memorial Day with her niece Mia and her family, so she thought she would surprise him. Despite who she was and who she was related to … Bobby was very fond of her. She was a kind, warm hearted person. Mark had sent his sister a letter from death row … an apology and Bobby's name and how she could get in touch with him. They had an instant connection and Bobby was thrilled to have her in his life. When Alex called him at work … to the rest of Major Case, it was the dreaded "Eames day off," he was very excited to find out that Aunt Connie had surprised them with a visit. He cut out of work early and headed straight home.

Aunt Connie had gifts for the Trips as well as for Bobby and Alex. Bobby's gift … Marzipan. Alex had to suppress a laugh. She covered up badly with the old, cover your mouth and cough routine. Bobby shot her a look knowing what she was doing. She had to look away from his death stare which made her want to laugh even harder. Aunt Connie … not being born yesterday … asked … "Is there something wrong, Robert?"

"I'm sorry Aunt Connie, but Bobby has this thing about Marzipan."

Once again Bobby shoots Alex a look, but this time the look is telling his wife to stop. He doesn't want his Aunt to be insulted.

"What sort of thing?"

"Sorry Honey … he hates it … despises the stuff … if he was starving to death locked away in a dungeon without food for weeks and was offered Marzipan … he wouldn't eat it!"

Aunt Connie started to laugh. She had a big smile on her face … "Robert, I know that monster of a man was your biological father, but the two of you … well … she shook her head … night and day. That man … did you know that he would send me a box of Marzipan for my birthday every year. I rather like it … I only brought it to you because it was something my mother used to like … sort of a family tradition. My father hated the stuff too … Mark of course … liked it."

"Why do you say it that way?"

"Mark would like anything my father would hate. You remind me of my dad … he was a good man. I'm sure you were thinking he wasn't."

"No … I wasn't thinking that."

"Robert, I know that you are a Profiler and I've been reading a little bit about what Profilers do. Ask away."

"I'm sorry? What do you mean?"

"You want to know why your father turned into the monster that raped and murdered all those women. Maybe I have the answer … maybe not, but I want to know, he was my brother. I'll eat the Marzipan if you Profile our family … what do ya say?"

"Well … I sure is hell ain't eatin that shit!"

Alex rubbed her husband's back knowing he was trying to make light of a heavy situation. He glanced over at his wife and she knew that Marzipan wasn't the only thing in life her husband hated … sometimes he hated being a Profiler … times like these.

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So, you ask why would I have Bobby hating Marzipan? ... I dunno ... just popped into my head! Thanks for reading, Judy