A/N: Hey guys, I was super psyched about the premiere of Criminal Minds so it motivated me to write this story faster! I have several chapters completed so far and I will update weekly. This is a continuation of Another Side of Emily. This story takes place four years after the last one ended.
And just a little fyi I will be writing continuous stories that will go back in time to delve into the lives of Emily and JJ and what transpired in between these four years. I just started writing this story first and wanted to finish it. Then I will hopefully write some stories on the in between years.
Ch 1
Emily and JJ couldn't believe it was summertime again already. They both left work early to pick up the kids from school. It was something that they tried desperately to achieve. Taking the kids to school on their first and last days of school, as well as picking them up on those days. The only problem was that this year the schools had changed their start time, as well as their ending time. The start time worked out fine because there was still enough of a time difference between the elementary school where Henry and Ethan were, to the high school that Declan was at. The problem was the school's got released at the same time. So on a day like today Emily decided she would pick up Declan, while JJ got the other two boys. Next year would prove an even bigger challenge because all three boys would be at a different school.
As Emily sat outside the high school she couldn't help but smile at how wonderful the past four years had been. There had definitely been some trials and tribulations, but she was honestly happier than she had been practically her entire life. The only thing she regretted was that the last four years seemed to fly by. She couldn't believe that Declan was turning sixteen next month. She was brought out of her daze when the passenger door swung open and a wavy blonde headed teenage boy climbed in wearing khaki cargo shorts and a royal blue t-shirt with the DC skateboarding logo on it.
"Hey handsome" she said as she smiled at him
Declan turned to her with a mortified look, "Mom, seriously, don't call me that in public"
Emily bit back a smile as she replied, "Right sorry"
"Can we just go…please" he begged as his blue eyes stared at her
"Of course" she answered as she put the suburban into drive, "So how was the last day?"
"Pointless" he replied as he propped his royal blue and white DC skateboarding shoes onto the dashboard and leaned his head back against the headrest
"Of course it was. Why should I not be surprised" she smiled as she shook her head at him
"JJ picking up the other two?" he asked as he stared straight ahead
Emily nodded, "Which means you and I have toddler duty"
Declan flung his head to the right to get his wavy blonde bangs out of his eyes as he smiled at Emily, "Of course we do"
Emily returned the smile as she turned into the daycare center parking lot. She parked the car before she and Declan got out and headed inside. As Declan held the door open for Emily she marveled at how much he had grown. He now stood as tall as she did, without heels on, topping out at 5'8, a growth spurt that he had hit just in the past year. Emily swore he needed new clothes every week. And she was afraid that he wasn't finished growing. He had also put on a lot of muscle the past year. He was now tall and solid, like Morgan rather than lanky like he had been previously. She smiled and thanked him as they walked inside.
As soon as they walked inside a little girl with blonde pigtails came running up to them.
"Mama" she shouted as she jumped into Emily's arms
"Umph" Emily let out as she caught the flying two year old
"Hi Penny. I missed you" Emily said as she looked into the same blue eyes as JJ
"Miss you" the little girl replied
Emily smiled as she kissed her daughter on the cheek. Then Penny turned and saw Declan and her arms flew out towards him.
"D" she cried as she wiggled to get out of Emily's grasp
Declan held his arms out and took her from Emily.
"Hey brat" he said playfully, causing her to giggle
Emily smiled at the two as she walked up to one of the workers to gather Penny's things.
"Hi Susie" Emily said with a smile as she picked up Penny's baby bag
"Hi Emily" Susie said, returning the smile, "JJ's not with you?"
Emily shook her head as she accepted Penny's blanket from Susie, "She was picking up the other two boys"
"Ah, last day of school" Susie stated as she continued to smile at Emily
"Yep" Emily replied with wide eyes, "I'm not sure if I'm excited or petrified"
Susie laughed as she touched Emily lightly on the elbow before turning to walk with her back over to her kids, "I'm sure it will be a wonderful summer for you guys"
Emily nodded as she stepped up next to Declan. Susie looked at the teenager and smiled, "Hi Declan"
"Hi Mrs. Thomas" he responded with a smile
"You know Emily, you really are lucky. You have a beautiful family" Susie told her
Emily smiled, "Thank you Susie"
"Well you guys have a wonderful summer" Susie said with another smile as Emily and Declan turned to walk out of the daycare center
When they got to the suburban Emily opened the back door behind the driver's seat to put the baby bag in while Declan opened the other door to place Penny in her car seat behind the passenger seat. As Declan was strapping Penny in he looked across the back seat and smiled at Emily.
"What?" she asked as she looked down at her red shirt thinking there was something on her
"You know, I think Susie has a little crush on you" Declan stated
"Excuse me" Emily replied slightly mortified
"Oh come on, she's always all smilie around you and she always has to talk to you about something" he told her
"She's just being friendly" Emily told him
"She's not that friendly with JJ" Declan pointed out, still smiling
"She's married" Emily stated as she glared across the back seat at her son
"Doesn't mean she wouldn't wanna tap that" Declan said as he nodded towards her
Emily's jaw dropped before she said, "Declan Michael Prentiss, you watch your language"
Declan laughed as he shut the back door before climbing into the front seat. Emily then shut the back door on her side before climbing into the driver's side and shutting her door. She started the car before pulling on her seatbelt.
Declan smiled as he pulled his seatbelt around him, saying, "Would it be better if I said that I think she wants to do the pretzel with you"
"Declan!" Emily exclaimed as she turned to find the blonde teenager staring at her with a wide smile
"What?" he replied as he shrugged, "Why is that so hard for you to believe?"
"Declan I am not having this conversation with you" she told him, blushing slightly, as she put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking space
"Okay but I'll just bring it up later" he told her as she pulled out of the daycare parking lot
Emily shook her head at the almost sixteen year old boy. He did have a way of making her talk about things she didn't want to. And they had always had an open and honest relationship. They also liked teasing each other about girls that found Declan attractive and women and men who were obviously attracted to Emily. And this apparently was one of those times.
"Dec I really don't think we should talk about this"
"Oh come on mom. Why is so difficult to for you to believe that you are still attractive" he questioned her as they stopped at a red light
"Declan that's not what this is about" she said as she turned to look at him
"Yes it is. You always get uncomfortable when someone mentions that you are pretty" he told her
"Declan I am forty five years old, I chase bad guys all day and then come home to four kids. How is that attractive" she questioned, playing along with him
"Exactly" he replied as he turned to look at her as he threw his left arm up onto her headrest and throwing his bangs out of his eyes again
Emily stared at him dumbfounded.
"You do all of that which makes you pretty amazing. But you are also still compassionate and loving and hardly ever have a mean thing to say to anyone unless they threaten someone you love. And on top of that you are still beautiful mom, even if you don't think so" he told her sincerely
She studied his face for a moment and could see the truth of what he said in his eyes.
She smiled before she said, "Well I find that pretty stoic of you to admit. You being a teenage boy and all."
"Mom I have friends that have eyes, if you know what I mean" he told her as he gave her a weird look
"Ohhhh" she replied as she caught on and bit her lip to stop from smiling
"Yeah so it would be helpful, if from now on, whenever you and JJ come to any school functions you could wear like super baggy pants and incredibly huge sweatshirts" he told her seriously
"Right" she replied still biting her lip
"It's not funny mom, it's embarrassing when your friends think that your moms are hot" he told her
"Well I'm sorry that we embarrass you" she told him
He rolled his eyes, dropping his hand from her head rest and throwing his head back into his own head rest, "It's not like that. I'm glad you guys are my parents, it's just…not everyone else's parents look like you guys"
Emily nodded, "I'll try to remember that"
"And don't mention the fact that I said you guys were beautiful, EVER, especially in front of my friends…or in public" he told her as he turned to look at her
"Awww you think we are beautiful" she said in a cooing voice as she reached across the seat to brush some of his bangs out of his face
"Mom" he whined as he batted her hand away
She laughed as she put her hand back on the steering wheel, "I'm kidding Dec. Your secret is safe with me okay"
He let out a sigh of relief as he leaned back against the seat again and propped his feet back up on the dash board.
A few minutes later Emily broke the silence saying, "Smilie…really?"
Declan turned to look at Emily as she brought up the earlier conversation. He smiled and nodded.
"Do they not teach you proper English in school? Or do you just choose not to listen?" she asked with a smile as she turned into their neighborhood.
"Neither" he answered, "I listen to everything they say, I just choose when I actually want to put what I've learned into practice"
Emily looked at him as he let out a huge smile before they both burst into laughter.
Emily turned into the driveway of their house, pulling up next to JJ's four runner. They had bought this house three years ago after they talked about adding a baby to the family. Both JJ and Emily fell in love with the early 19th century neighborhood, especially this particular house. It had a huge front yard, as well as a large backyard. It also had a very large front porch with a wooden front porch swing that reminded JJ of the house she grew up in. It was painted an almost gold color with burgundy trim and shutters. The inside still had original wood floors dating back to when the house was built. It had a large fireplace and sitting area that was now open to the kitchen, which had been updated with new stainless steel appliances and dark granite counter tops. The front door was a large wood door with a beautiful glass setting in an oval shape. When you walked through the front door the living room and kitchen are off to the right, while to the left is the staircase, which curves slightly up the stairs. The stairs were wood as was the banister all the way up. You could also get to the kitchen by just walking straight ahead once you come in the front door. The study and extra family room is just to the left of the stairs. When you get to the top of the stairs there's a hallway to the left, where two bedrooms and a bathroom are located. To the right of when you come up the stairs there's a bathroom to the left and then another bedroom. At the end of that hallway, past where the banister ends is the master bedroom with French doors that open onto a small balcony which overlooks the backyard. In every bathroom there is a large claw foot tub, all of which have been updated to showers as well. All of the floors upstairs were also old wooden floors.
As Emily walked into their house Penny practically lept out of her hands as she shouted "Mama"
Emily set her down and made sure the baby gate was across the stairs before she walked through the downstairs rooms looking for JJ.
"JJ" Emily shouted
"No shouting, remember mom" Declan told her, reminding her of when she had told all of the boys to stop shouting for one another a few days ago.
Emily glared slightly at him as she watched him drop his bags in a heap on the floor next to a few other bags at the bottom of the stairs, before he placed his right hand on the banister, leaping easily over the baby gate.
"Yo Dec" she said catching his attention, "The bags belongs in your bedroom"
"Okay but seriously don't ever say yo again, okay" he told her before he smiled and winked at her before grabbing his bags and taking them upstairs
She shook her head as she stood at the bottom of the stairs. Moments later she heard footsteps behind her and she turned to find her skinny brunette preteen son traipsing down the stairs. She shook her head at his attire. He was wearing a brown and khaki plaid button up shirt with a pair of khaki cargo shorts. She looked down and saw that his brown plaid high top converse shoes were untied, the strings dragging the ground. And to top it off he was wearing a brown Flat hat with the lip slightly off centered.
"Hey little man" she said with a smile
"Hey mom" he replied as he stood two steps above her
"What's wrong kid?" she asked as she looked into the same brown eyes as her own
"Nothing"
Emily put her hands on her hips as she stared at her eleven year old son, "Well you're bummed about something"
He shrugged his shoulders before saying, "Well it's summer now and it's gonna be super boring. What are we supposed to do all day?"
"Gee I don't know. Try being a kid…get into trouble…you know the good stuff" she told him with a smile
He rolled his eyes at her, "We can't get into trouble when you aren't here to see it…or yell at us"
"What are you talking about?" she asked
"I just mean you and JJ are going to have work all summer, so it's not like we are gonna get to do anything fun. Jake's parent's are taking him surfing and he said it's gonna be wicked" Ethan told her
Emily cocked her head to the side, "I promise, E, this summer is going to be better. JJ and I are trying to come up with a good vacation to take you kids on"
"You always say that and then you're gone all the time" he told her
"Hey" she said as she lifted his chin so that she was able to look into his eyes again, "We won't be gone all the time"
"You always say that" he told her sadly
Emily's heart broke because she knew that what he said was true.
"I'm sorry E" she told him as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into her
He wrapped his arms around her waist as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I love you so much little man" she told him
"I know. I love you too" he replied
Emily then pulled back enough to kiss him on the forehead.
"Wanna know how much?" he asked her as he pulled away from her slightly
Emily looked at him confused before she figured it out, but before she could respond he had already grabbed her shoulders and lept over the baby gate, wrapping his arms around her neck and his legs around her waist, his hat falling off in the process. She stumbled backwards but was able to catch herself as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Ethan Tyler Prentiss" she said biting back a smile, "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that"
"Aww, come on mom, I know you think it's funny" he said as he leaned back slightly to give her his big Prentiss smile, to which she couldn't resist.
She returned the smile before hugging him tightly just as Declan appeared at the bottom of the stairs, rolling his eyes.
"I'm taking Penny upstairs to JJ" he told Emily as he picked up the two year old who had been sitting on the floor after not being able to find her blonde mother
"Okay, you sure you don't want in on this?" Emily laughed
"Uh, no, I think I'm good" he replied with a smile as he stepped over the gate and carried the girl upstairs.
"Okay kid" Emily said to Ethan
He smiled as he jumped off of her, now barely standing chest level with her. She ruffled his straight brown hair, which this past year had seemed to not be as thick as it had been when he was younger. Whereas before it would curl up on the ends past his ears, the way Declan's still did, Ethan's now hung perfectly straight.
"Where's your brother?" Emily asked as Ethan picked up his hat, replacing it on his head before walking towards the kitchen
"You just saw him" he pointed out
"Funny. I meant your little brother" she stated as she rolled her eyes as her son
"Upstairs" Ethan responded before he disappeared into the kitchen
Emily turned and stepped over the mound of bags on the floor before stepping over the baby gate and walking up the stairs.
As Emily headed up the stairs she could hear giggling coming from her and JJ's bedroom. When she got to the top she turned to the right and walked down the hall to peek her head into the master bedroom and found JJ tickling Penny on the bed. She smiled before she turned around looking for the one remaining child she had not seen.
She got to the other end of the hallway where his bedroom was and saw that his door was half way open so she swung it open the rest of the way. As soon as she did a soccer ball came flying at her face. Luckily she was quick enough to dodge it, but the picture behind her wasn't as lucky. Henry immediately covered his mouth with his hands, his light brown eyes wide in terror.
"Well hello there my handsome little man" she said with a smile
"Hi Mama Em" he replied with his hands still over his mouth
"Henry I can't understand you when you talk like that" she told the seven year old
He removed his hands and looked down at the floor. Emily walked up to him and removed the black baseball cap that he had on backwards, before brushing some of the sandy blonde hair out of his eyes. Then she knelt down so that she could look him in the eyes. She smiled noticing that he was wearing almost the exact same outfit as Declan. He was sporting a royal blue DC t-shirt and khaki cargo shorts. The difference was he was wearing a pair of black plaid high top converse shoes.
"So Henry remind me of what the rules in the house are regarding sports" she asked
He sucked in both of his lips before answering, "No playing any sports in the house without permission"
"And without your mom" she smiled as she grabbed him around the waist and flung him over her shoulder, running out of the room and getting the soccer ball before kicking it back into his room.
Henry laughed hysterically as she tossed him onto the top bunk before running back to get the ball. He shouted as he jumped down and ran over to her trying to get the ball from her feet. Moments later JJ was standing in the doorway with one hand on her hip and the other holding Penny as Henry tackled Emily to the ground. Emily looked up as she lay on her back with Henry on top of her, both of them laughing.
"Hey JJ" Emily said as she looked up at her
"Are you two enjoying yourselves?" she asked
"As a matter of fact, yes" Emily told her with a smile
JJ rolled her eyes and shook her head as she smiled, "Sometimes I feel like I have five children instead of four"
"But you wouldn't have it any other way" Emily told her, returning the smile as she sat up, taking Henry with her
"Maybe" JJ replied jokingly
Emily stood up from the floor, still holding onto Henry as she walked up to JJ and kissed her on the lips.
Henry covered his eyes saying, "Gross"
"Don't worry babe, I know the real reason you keep me around, and I'm okay with that" Emily told her with a wink
JJ blushed as she watched Emily set Henry back down.
"Dinner in two hours" Emily told the seven year old as she replaced his backwards hat before walking out of the bedroom, brushing against JJ as she did
JJ smiled as she turned and followed Emily back downstairs. She placed Penny in her playpen before following Emily into the large kitchen.
"Ethan Prentiss, what are you doing?" Emily questioned the eleven year old
JJ walked in at that moment to find the eleven year old brunette boy eating a large chocolate sundae with m &m's on top. She had to bite back a smile as she watched the interchange between the two and the fact that Ethan was giving Emily the same look Emily gave JJ the night before when she had found Emily eating the exact same thing at 2am.
"I was hungry" he stated obviously
Emily rolled her eyes at the preteen, "You act like we don't feed you. Dinner will be in a couple of hours"
"But that's too long. I was hungry now. Trust me mom I'll be hungry again in a couple of hours" he told her
Emily shook her head as she replied, "At the rate you and Dec are going we are going to be out of food by tomorrow"
Ethan smiled as he took another large bite of the sundae.
"Are you really going to continue to eat that?" JJ said, jumping into the conversation
"What else am I supposed to do?" he questioned, "You guys don't like it when we waste food"
JJ smiled at his remark, "Well can't you just put it in the freezer for later?"
Emily and Ethan both stared at JJ like she was crazy.
"What?" JJ asked looking from one to the other
"You cannot just put an already made sundae back in the freezer" Emily told her, flabbergasted that she would suggest such a thing
"Ya JJ it's totally not the same" Ethan added with his mouth full as he stared at his blonde mother
"Okay I'm sorry I suggested it" JJ said throwing up her hands with a smile
Emily then took out a spoon and walked over to the island to sit next to Ethan, sticking her spoon in his sundae and taking a bite.
"Mmm, that's good, but it could use some more chocolate syrup" she stated as she got up and retrieved the bottle out of the fridge
JJ stared at Emily with her mouth open, "Honey, weren't you just telling him not to eat that before dinner"
Emily squeezed more chocolate onto the sundae before setting down the bottle and spooning another big bite into her mouth.
"Yes but like he said we can't let it go to waste" she told JJ with her mouth full
"Right" JJ said as she turned to grab a glass of wine
Not a minute later Declan came into the kitchen and his eyes lit up, "Chocolate sundae"
He walked up to the island and grabbed Ethan's spoon out of his hand, shoving a huge bite into his mouth.
"Mmmm, that's good" he stated with his mouth full
"Well at least I know where you two learned your manners" JJ said as she glared at Emily
"Hey that's my spoon" Ethan stated as he reached over and took it back out of Declan's hand
Declan then attempted to take Emily's but she pulled her hand away saying, "No way kid, get your own spoon"
"But it's my sundae" Ethan said in a whining voice
JJ and Emily both stared at him before Emily said, "Are you seven or eleven? Besides if you decide to eat something like this before dinner then this is what will happen"
"Man this sucks eggs" Ethan said as he watched Declan and Emily dig another spoonful out of his sundae
Ethan then shrugged and dug his own spoon in for another big bite. Not two seconds later all three of them dropped their spoons and grabbed their head.
"Brain freeze" they all said simultaneously
JJ rolled her eyes and laughed at the three of them just as Henry came into the room.
"What's going on?" he asked as he stared at Emily and his two brothers
"Your mama Em and brothers are crazy" JJ told him as she walked over to her seven year old and patted the ball cap on his head
"Is that ice cream?" he questioned with a smile
"Yes and you do not need any" JJ told him
"But they are eating it" he pointed out as he looked sadly up at JJ
"Why do I even bother" she said right before he ran over and climbed up on Emily's lap
JJ watched as Emily handed him her spoon and he scooped up a heaping amount of sundae before shoving it in his mouth, getting most of it on his face rather that inside his mouth and she couldn't help but roll her eyes and shake her head before walking out of the kitchen and back into the living room, picking Penny up out of her playpen and sitting down on the floor with her.
"I think we are greatly outnumbered baby girl" JJ said to the two year old with a smile
"Promise me you will have better manners than your mother and brothers" she said looking at the two year old
"Okay mama" the blonde girl said before going back to playing with her toys
JJ smiled as she sat and watched her daughter, as she also listened to the laughter that would echo from the kitchen occasionally.
A/N: Let me know what you guys think. The first few chapters will deal mainly with the family before I get into the suspenseful chapters which will deal with someone trying to get revenge on members of the BAU team!