Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews and story alerts. Here is the next chapter. We will get into what happened to Gracie but here is a little Garcia fun and some cute Emily and Gracie stuff. It is much longer than the first so enjoy!
Chapter Two: Welcome Home
On the way home aboard the BAU jet the team was gathered around the laptop screen in front of Morgan retelling the events of the trip to Penelope Garcia the team's resident computer whiz. Everyone was pitching in with their own encounters with Gracie. Everyone except Hotch. He sat in the back listening to the laughs and happiness. He just hoped it wouldn't turn out badly.
JJ told Garcia that Emily would be taking the girl which Garcia squealed in delight. "She is shy but also very smart. Between all the aunts and uncles she is gaining she is going to be so spoiled." JJ laughed thinking of her little baby boy at home who has so much stuff she had to fit in the spare room and he was still a baby. Garcia spoils Henry and Jack, Hotch's son with gifts almost weekly but bringing a little girl for her to shop for. Watch out Toys R Us! Garcia on the loose! The children adore the tech queen though, so JJ never tells Garcia no.
"So JJ we are going shopping right? Oh wait, of course we are! Silly question. So our little Prentiss will need a bedding set. Pink or purple? Pink! And then clothes. JJ, how big is she? Normal run-of-the-mill six year old or is she smaller? Derek quit looking at me like that! Auntie Penny has to know these things."
"Baby Girl don't you think we should wait till Em says to buy all that stuff?" Morgan asked cautiously. JJ glared at him and Reid shook his head. You can't tell Garcia no shopping.
"Oh my fine piece of meat, NO! She is going to love me for doing all this and that way she can spend her time with our newest BAU kid and not at the mall." The blond knew she made a good point and could tell by the look on her colleagues faces she was right.
"Are we even sure Emily wants us in Gracie's life? I mean the kid is going to have a hard time ahead of her as it is adjusting to a new city and bonding with Emily. Does she want us to be a part of it?" Rossi asked. He knew as well as the others that Gracie had a hard road in front of her but he wasn't sure Emily would want more for the kid to adjust to. The smiles on the teams face's dropped as each thought over the question.
"Of course she would. We're family. We all help out with Henry and Jack so Gracie shouldn't be any different." Garcia said with an unsure smile. They all said they were a family but they also knew Emily was a very private person. She didn't talk about personal problems with just anyone. The girls did share with each other but there was always a part of Emily no one knew. The feisty brunette had a few boyfriends since she joined the BAU but she never introduced them to the team. That was a part of the woman they didn't know. The venerable part she kept well hidden. All the relationships that could make her weaker were not talked about with the team. Some of the team met her mother but it was not a social call so it wasn't like they got to see the interaction with the mother daughter duo.
"Well whether she wants our help or not she will need it. Being a single parent and this job doesn't mix well. She'll need us." Hotch sighed thinking back to when he had a family. Before Haley took his son and left him. Now he lives in a bachelor apartment alone and only sees his son on the weekend if the job permitted it. He missed coming home seeing his wife then hearing his son running down the stairs screaming for him. He missed the time he spent reading a bedtime story to Jack. The small things that made his day he missed more than anything. But then Haley left and took his son. Now he goes home to no one.
That was one thing that worried Hotch about Emily's situation. The pain of losing his son was like no other. He didn't wish that on any parent. Adoption these days was a long and painful process and because Emily and Gracie had already bonded was not a good thing. What if it didn't work out? Emily would be crushed and the kid would be without a mother again. He didn't want that for the agent or Gracie. Emily was a resilient woman but he wasn't sure she could handle the pain of losing the child would bring.
"Well my little mopers, I'm going to believe she does want us to help and as soon as my blond sugarplum gets off the plane with you we are going shopping. When is Em due back Boss Man?" Garcia piped up.
"In two days or so. She has to get a judge to sign off on Gracie moving states." Hotch replied smirking at the optimistic woman on the screen.
"Gives us a time frame! Garcia out!" the screen went black and Morgan closed the laptop. Everyone slowly relaxed into their seats. Silence filled the jet as each thought over the previous week. From getting the call to North Carolina, to meeting with the lead detective and the first time they met the brave little girl that helped them get the un-sub. It was a long week but hopefully it would end on a good note.
-CM-CM-CM-
Emily sighed as she opened to door to her condo and shuffled the little girl inside. It was a crazy week and she was glad to be home. She ended up staying four extra days after the team left to get all the paperwork squared away. She tossed her duffle bag to the couch and helped Gracie with her suitcase. "This is where you are going to stay Gracie." She smiled taking the girl's hand and walking into the kitchen. "Here is the kitchen. Not much food but I will go to the store tomorrow for some stuff that you like. And over here is the hall to your room and bathroom." She said dragging the girl along.
"I get my own room?" Gracie shyly asked. She shared a room with her mother in her old apartment.
"Yes and your own bathroom. My room is up the stairs." She said pointing to the staircase at the end of the hall as they walked into Gracie's room. "My friends called and asked what color you'd like for your bedding and wall color. I thought purple would be best but if you want something else just let me know." Emily watched the girl's face go through many different emotions before smiling brightly and hugging Emily's waist.
"Thank you. It's like a princess room!" Gracie ran to the doll house on a short table near the closet door. She ran her hands over the painted wood frame of the house and smiled brightly. She turned in a circle taking in the room and tried to hold back a squeal. She knew her mother had tried her best to make sure she was taken care of and had toys to play with but she never had anything quite as beautiful as the things in this room. Gracie turned back to the doll house and picked up a small figurine that sat on the table.
"That was mine when I was little." Emily moved to her. "I had Derek, one of the agents you met; get it out of storage for you. My dad gave it to me when I was about your age." Emily had loved the doll house as a child. It held one of her favorite memories of her mother. The day her father brought it into her room, her mother decided to stay home with her. Emily was surprised but thrilled at the same time. It was one of the days she truly believed her parents loved her. Not because they bought her the doll house but that day both her parents had stayed with her playing and laughing. The day was filled with smiles and hugs that were not the normal way of the Prentiss household. It was also the first day she had seen her mother truly smile. Not the political smiles she wears at dinner parties and formal functions but a love filled smile all directed at her. Emily treasured that day for it was one of the last happy memories she had of her family.
"It's so pretty. I love it." Gracie's smile dropped and a frown appeared. Emily pulled her into a tight hug.
"Sweetie what wrong?"
"I wish my mommy could see it. She would like it too." Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Me too, Grace. I'm so sorry she isn't." Emily whispered. She really was sorry for the girl. Though she was thrilled to have Gracie with her, she knew Gracie would always want her mother. Gracie had cried herself to sleep several times in the past week, not the mention the nightmares as Emily did paperwork and interviews trying to apply to be her foster parent and eventually adopt the girl. "Why don't you get settled in and ready for bed and I will go get us a snack."
"Can you stay with me?" Gracie asked not wanting to be alone when the bad man comes back into her dreams.
"Of course, Sweetie. But you know my team got him. The man who hurt your mom is never going to hurt you. I promise." Emily reassured the girl. "Go get your jammies on then I'll read you a story." Emily nearly cried when Gracie wiped her own tears away. Grace had been through so much in the past few days she never wanted to be alone. It didn't surprise Emily at all but it still shook her to her core. Gracie was shy and timid but add in the uncertainty and pain caused by losing a parent and it turns into a very sad child.
Soon Gracie was asleep and Emily went about child proofing her apartment. Removing all her collectibles and family heirlooms, she also unpacked the few toys Gracie had from her apartment. Emily was thankful when Garcia had called her three days ago asking if she could shop for Grace and put her room together. Sure she loved shopping but with Gracie she wanted the first few days to spend solely with Gracie and not having to worry about the room and toys for her was a nice gift. Garcia and JJ had done an amazing job. They got bedding, toys and clothes for Gracie. Emily was also relieved when Hotch had called and told her the teams was on stand down for the next week so her presence at work was limited. He said to just come in when she had time to fill out new paperwork regarding Grace and then she could go home.
JJ had also advised Emily to start looking for a nanny right away for the cases out of state. She hated that her job would take her away from Grace but she also knew JJ herself was away from Henry and Hotch with Jack so she could do this. She had told Gracie at the adoption office about her job and how she would have to be away sometimes but the girl still wanted her. The adoption was not finalized by any means but she was allowed to take Grace across state lines, due to a few personal favors called in to some friends in high places before the adoption went thru. A social worker would be stopping by in the next few months to make sure Gracie is happy and then after a report is made the court date will be set and then Gracie would be all hers.
Gracie would also need to see a therapist because of the trauma endured watching her mother's death. The crazy man who killed Cameron Bennett made young Gracie watch the whole thing. He tortured, stabbed and killed the woman. Gracie said after the first few stab wounds her mother passed out but the man kept going until he shot her and left. Gracie was also left unharmed physically but her mother was dying in her arms. A neighbor luckily heard Gracie screaming for help and called 911. After the police came the child shut down. She didn't move or talk. The officers tried everything but no luck. She sat staring into space until Emily walked into the room. For some reason Emily broke down the girl's walls. Gracie opened up and was able to give a description of the un-sub to the BAU. She still only talked to Emily but wasn't as skittish with the others. The social worker gave Emily the phone number of a great therapist in the area who would take Gracie. She hoped this would help Gracie heal.
Emily sighed as she crawled into bed, happy that she found her kid. When she first met Gracie she somehow knew in her gut the tiny girl was her kid. And she was hell bent on keeping it that way.
