Six months. It had been six long months sense Spencer had left the hospital with Luther, Diego, Allison, Five (who now had an actual name), Klaus, and Vanya. Morgan and Ben had joined them in their home a week later. To say that life had been a whirlwind sense they adopted the seven children would be an understatement. The new family had to move to a house instead of living in the apartment that Morgan and Spencer had been sharing, start therapy for the children (which was going a lot better now than when they had first started the weekly sessions with the kids), start physical therapy for Allison and Ben, start family therapy for everyone (which he and Morgan had both struggled with at the beginning, but were very happy with the continuing results), go through the adoption process with all seven children, and on top of all of that they had to work through the court case and make sure that Luther's actions with Hargreeves wouldn't be on his record in any negative way. The six months felt like six days with how busy it had been. But things were calmer now, and Spencer couldn't hide his grin if he wanted to as he sat on the front porch of their three story home in a peaceful neighborhood, only a 20 minute drive away from work, and only five minutes away from JJ's house. Vanya and Ben were sitting with him on the front porch, the boy reading a book in Spencer's lap while Vanys was practicing her violin, the music carried by the wind of the beautiful spring day. "What is this word?" Ben asked looking up at Spencer, pointing to the word 'encounter' in his book. Spencer looked away from the other children who were playing some type of game in the front yard and sounded out the word with Ben, then explained what the word meant. "Hey! Come on Luther. That's not fair!" Klaus called out as Luther kicked the soccer ball over his head, and into the make shift goal that the kids had made with sticks and twigs from the tree in the front yard. "How is it not fair? I didn't break any rules." He said with a grin as Allison grabbed the ball. "Yea Klaus, that was a fair play. Don't be a sore loser." She said, Spencer grinning as the sound of her voice. He could still remember the first time she spoke to him like it was yesterday.
-Five Months Ago-
She had been in physical therapy for almost a month and the doctor was starting to lose hope that she would ever talk again. But Morgan and Spencer didn't let their disappointment in the situation show in front of their daughter as they drove her home from the therapists session. As they pulled into the driveway Allison started to unbuckle her own seat belt and Spencer was jsut glad that she was alive, voice or no voice. That day so long ago could have been so different if not for Hotch's actions. Allison had run inside the house after Morgan opened the car door for her, eager to see her siblings after being away from them for a few hours while Spencer and Morgan took their time walking into the house. Morgan walked into the kitchen where his mom, the kids grandmother, was cooking dinner while Spencer went to check in on the other kids who were finishing their homework in the living room. The kids weren't nearly ready to go to any form of public or private school after only a month of adjusting to their new lives. So the couple had decided the a home tutor and homeschooling would be the best for the time being. He walked into the living room to see everyone working, except for Klaus and Allison. "Luther, where are your brother and sister?" Spencer asked. "Klaus went upstairs to get his notebook awhile ago and Allison went to go check on him and get her homework from her room." The boy said without looking up from his math sheet. Spencer thanked him before walking up the steps, but before he made it all the way to the second floor he could hear some sort of commotion. "Dad!" He heard someone cry out and he started running, taking the steps two at a time, hearing the fear and shrill sound of the voice calling for him. He didn't even think as he threw the door open to to bedroom where he could hear crying. Allison was kneeling next to Klaus's bed and looked worried as Spencer ran over. This wasn't the first time that Klaus had some form of anxiety/panic attack and hidden under his bed, but it was the first time that Allison was a witness and it clearly had scared her as well. "It's okay Allison, it's okay." He said gently as he lowered himself to the floor and tried to get Klaus's attention. The scared boy sobbed when he saw Spencer and practically jumped out from under the bed and climbed into the mans arms. "I'm here now Klaus. Breath, feel my chest and breath with me." Spencer said gently petting the boy's messy hair down with one hand while running the other hand over the boys back, the man could feel the boys heart racing against his hand as Klaus struggled to get his breathing under control. It took a few minutes, but soon enough Klaus was breathing normally and slumped against Spencer, his legs wrapped around Spencer's waist and arms around his neck. The sudden attack had taken any energy the boy had left from the day as he snuggled his face into Spencer's neck, resting in one of the few places he knew was safe. "Dad, is he okay?" Allison asked sitting on her knees next to the two boys. Spencer blinked, his mind blanked out for a second at the shock of two things. 1) Allison finally calling him dad, and 2) she was using her voice! It was a whisper, but he could hear her beautiful voice coming out of her. "Dad, why are you crying? Do I need to get Papa?!" She asked going to stand up, but Spencer wrapped his arm that wasn't supporting Klaus around her and pulled her into his side in a hug. "No, I'm - I'm just happy. These are happy tears. Klaus is fine...your voice is beautiful honey." He said looking to the young girl as she blushed. She seemed confused for a few seconds before her hand hovered above the scar that was on her neck. "I - I did it!" She said, her voice a whisper again, but they had heard it. She had talked. "I'm so proud." Spencer said kissing her cheek. "Now let's go tell Papa that you said 'Dad' before 'Papa'. It will be entertaining." Allison smiled and stood up, before helping Spencer stand with a tired Klaus still slumped against him. Klaus was fighting a loosing battle with sleep in Spencer's arms as they walked down the steps together, Allison rushing into the kitchen. "Your sister must love you very much to use her voice to help you, right Klaus?" Spencer whispered as the boys eyelids fluttered shut. Spencer got a sleepy grunt as an answer and he smiled as he heard Morgan say "You've gotta be kidding me! But I'm the cool Dad!" from the kitchen.
-Present-
"Papa's and Grammy are home!" Diego called from the yard, snapping Spencer out of his memory as he saw the car pull up into the driveway, coming back from a much needed grocery trip. "Let's go help them with the groceries." The dad said gently pulling Ben up off of his lap and Vanya closed her violin case with everything inside of it and handed it to her dad for safe keeping. The two ran down the steps and up to Morgan's mother as she got out of the car with a big grin on her face. Morgan's mother had been nothing short of a life saver in the whole process of starting this new family. Morgan's other sisters had moved out, so she was living on her own in Morgan's childhood home, so when Morgan called to tell her the news of her new seven grandchildren days after the case had closed. The woman insisted on coming up and helping her son and husband, and after she had been living in the guest room for a month she had decided that she wanted to move into a house a few blocks away from our house. Morgan was scared at first that she was doing this out of some kind of obligation, but she had insisted that she wanted to be as close to her grandchildren as possible (because it was impossible to not fall in love with them instantly) and she was all alone in the town that she had raised her family in. And all seven kids had taken a liking to her instantly, and it helped that she was over at least three times a week. Mostly for Allison and Vanya to have a woman role model in a house full of men. But Diego had also formed a strong relationship with Morgan's mom as well. Spencer sighed, remembering that the family had an upcoming trip to see his own mother soon. Morgan and Spencer had explained to the kids the best they could that she was mentally sick, but she was in a good place and that she would love all seven of them, even if she couldn't remember them all the time. Spencer felt Morgan kissing the side of his head, pulling him out of his thoughts again. "Sorry. I spaced out." Spencer said standing up and taking a few bags full of food out of Morgan's hands. "It's okay. Thinking about the trip?" Morgan asked. Spencer nodded, confirming his thoughts and Morgan smiled, sharing a quick kiss with his husband. "It will be great, but come help me with the kids and take your mind off of it." Morgan said pulling the man inside. It had taken awhile for the large house to feel like a home to the family, and one of the first things that Morgan had done to decorate was put up a few pictures of his dad on the wall in the main hallway.
-Four months Ago-
Klaus ran into the hallway where Morgan was hanging up pictures, one of the first things that he was doing to decorate their new home. "Papa, is it true that licking a battery will give me pubs?"Morgan paused and looked down to his son standing at his side. "Which one of your brothers told you that?" He asked with a smirk. "Diego, is it true?" Klaus asked. "No, it is not true. Please do not lick a battery." Morgan told the boy before ruffling up his hair and sending him off. He focused back to the wall for a few minutes before another child interrupted him. "Who is that?" Five asked as Morgan hung another picture on the wall. "It's my Pops. Remember when I told you he died in action as a police officer?" The man asked kneeling down and pulling the boy into his side. "Yea, but I've never seen a picture of him. Was he a good dad?" Five asked, leaning into Morgan's side. The kid usually wasn't so cuddly, but he was nervous because he would have to pick out a name to go by soon. The court and his dads said that he couldn't be called 'Five' for the rest of his life. And that he needed a real name like his other siblings. He didn't know what he wanted his name to be. In an earlier therapy session he had admitted to his therapist that he didn't feel as if he deserved a name, and the two dads were working on showing the boy that he deserved everything in the world. "He was a great dad. I wanna be just like my dad when I grow up. Because he helped people, he was selfless, and he had one of the biggest hearts I had ever seen." Morgan said, looking at the picture. Five tilted his head to the side (something he did when he was thinking deeply about something, his dads had noticed) and looked at the picture as well. "Wanna hear a few stories about him?" Morgan asked, more than happy to share some stories about his own dad with one of his own kids. Five nodded and looked over the other pictures as Morgan hung them onto the wall of their new home. And later that night Five, and all the other kids, were on the edge of their seats as Morgan told stories of his dad in the police force. Helping people and saving lives.
The next day while Spencer was looking over the kids homework with their tutor. Five walked into his office and asked what Morgan's father full name was, and the man didn't think about it much as he said "Hank Morgan" without looking up from Ben's math quiz he had almost failed. Talking with the tutor on how he could help Ben improve his grade.
And when the family went to the courthouse a few weeks later and Five said he wanted his official name to be "Hank Morgan-Reid" Their Papa couldn't hold back the few happy tears that fell down his face even if he tried.
-Present Day-
Morgan hadn't realized he had stopped walking and was looking at the picture of his dad on the wall till he heard Ben and Klaus calling for him from the kitchen. He smiled and followed the voices calling "Papa!" into the kitchen and set the bags of food down, grabbing each boy by the torso and pulling them off the ground. They both laughed as Morgan spun around the kitchen, a boy in each arm. He was the dad who would rough house with the kids playfully, but he always had to be a bit more gentle with Ben. His healing process was going really well, but he was still on his special diet (probably would be for the rest of his life) and was a bit skinnier and weaker than his other siblings because of it. But if you would have told Ben's doctor that he could run around and be as active as he is six months after everything that happened he would have laughed. But the boys progress was incredible, and the doctor made sure the never forget to tell the boy that whenever he was discouraged during his physical therapy.
-Three months ago-
Ben sat on the back porch of Uncle Rossi's house, chin in hand as he watched everyone playing in the back yard. But he wasn't allowed to. Not yet. It wasn't fair, even his uncles and aunts kids were here and everyone got to play together except him. He couldn't do anything too physical so he was stuck on the porch with the boring adults. Morgan noticed his son pouting on the porch, watching the other kids playing and got Spencer's attention. The man smirked as Spencer walked over to Ben. "Hey, I'm sorry you can't go out and play with them...but do you wanna do something else that is really cool?" He asked. "There isn't anything cool up here. It's boring up here." Ben said, and Spencer had to resist the urge to pinch the child's adorable pouty lip. "Oh yea? How about I show you something cool." Spencer said before starting a small magic show with the boy. Ben was immediately interested, and asked the man if he could show him how to do a magic trick. Later that night when the kids were tired from running around the yard all night Ben got to show them all a few magic tricks he had learned from Spencer and was glowing with pride as everyone watched him. Morgan felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Hotch standing behind him with a smile. "you two are doing really good with them." He said watching the group. "Some days are better than others, but after three months I'm starting to feel like we can actually do this." Morgan said with a smirk. "Don't doubt it. Those kids love you two, it's obvious." I smiled looking back at the kids as they all cheered when Bed pulled out Jack's card out of the pile. "God we love them so much, it's crazy. I didn't think I could ever love a human so much...it's going to be a rough adjustment when we go back on the field." Morgan said. "It makes you better at the job in some aspects, if you let it. But you still have three more months before you have to worry about any of that. Take this time you have now to really spend with your family." Hotch said, knowingly. "Yea I know. I'm not wasting a moment of these six months, how is the case going with the baby black market?" Morgan asked. "Good, Hargreeves files gave us the perfect leads, and we have almost shut the whole thing down. It will be terminated by the time you and Spencer get back." I congratulated him, before everyone started cleaning up and getting ready to go home. JJ, Prentiss, and Penelope kissed all of the kids cheeks and gave them hugs while Rossi and Hotch each demanded a high-five as Spencer and I lead them out of the house. It was good to see the team again, we hadn't seen them sense the Hargreeves case ended. We had taken our sabbaticals and vacation days and put them to good use, and the team had been busy shutting down the baby black market, so when Rossi offered to host dinner at his home we were more than happy to agree. After all the kids said their goodbyes to the team we were loading the kids into the cars, most of them so tired from the night that they were falling asleep as we buckled them in their seats. "Thanks for showing me magic tricks dad." Ben said, one hand rubbing his eyes sleepily while the other was holding Spencer's shirt as the dad buckled him into his seat. "Anytime kiddo." Spencer said, kissing the boys forehead. And as I started the car and drove out of Rossi's driveway Spencer grabbed my free hand in his and we sat in silence, listening to the quite sounds of Klaus's snoring, and our kids sleeping in peace.
-Present Day-
"You better not be throwing my grand babies across the kitchen now!" Morgan's mom said as she walked into the kitchen with Vanya and Allison on her tail. "Grammy help!" Klaus called out dramatically as Morgan sat him and Ben on the ground. They both ran over behind her and she grabbed a spatula from the kitchen bar. "You better get out before you get a whooped." The woman said, putting on a show for the giggling children behind her. Morgan smiled and accepted defeat, walking by her and dodging a whack from the spatula as he left the kitchen. "Alright, who wants to help with dinner?" Grammy asked the kids, Klaus and Ben both ran out of the kitchen before she could even finish her sentence and she laughed at their goofy shenanigans. "We wanna!" Allison said holding Vanya's hand in hers. Morgan's mom told them to get their cooking aprons and they ran over to the closet to grab theirs while the woman got the food out for tonight's dinner to cook. She could remember when she first met her grand babies. How different they were now from when she first met them. Especially Vanya. Six months ago the girl never said a word around anyone unless she was talking to her siblings, or her dads. It took a lot of reassurance from Spencer and Morgan that the girl was just adjusting, and she would open up to her Grammy when she was ready. Vanya was the last child to call Spencer and Morgan Dad and Pops, and the last child to call her Grammy. She could still remember the night it had all happened as well.
-Two months ago-
Morgan's mom was sitting in the living room, it was around 10pm and she had just settled down after cleaning around the house a bit and putting the kids to bed. It had taken everything in her power to convince Morgan and Spencer to go out on a date tonight and leave the kids in her care. Obviously they were nervous about leaving the kids, but not having a night to themselves in so long was starting to strain on their relationship, so with an extra push from the girls on the boys BAU team they were finally able to convince the two that a date night was long overdue. Leaving the seven children in the care of their reliable Grammy. It was now the easy part of the night where she waited for the parents to return, so she could give a full report of how wonderful the night had gone to the two dads before going to her own home that she had recently moved into so she could be closer to her grand babies. But that peace was disturbed when she heard the all to familiar sound coming from upstairs. The sound of a child throwing up. "Oh no," She said with a sigh before quickly going upstairs. Thankfully, which ever child was getting sick had made it to the bathroom which was indicated by the open bathroom door and the light that was filling the otherwise dark hallway. She had expected Ben to be the one in the bathroom, considering he got sick a few times a month when his diet was adjusted. But it was Vanya who was holding onto the toilet with tight hands as the contents of her stomach were flying out of her mouth into the bowl. "Oh darling." The woman said walking over and taking the girls long hair into one hand and keeping it out of the mess as much as possible while she rubbed a comforting hand on the girls shaking back. If the girl noticed the actions her Grammy was taking she didn't show it as she continued to throw up. "Vanya? - oh no." Grammy looked up to see Luther entering the bathroom in his PJ's the sleep in his eyes slowly fading as he knelled next to his sick sister, always the protective brother. "She hates throwing up. It scares her." He said as he didn't even blink at the gross smell of barf starting to fill the bathroom, or the sweat that he brushed out of his sisters wet face. "Honey I know you want to help, but I don't want to expose you to her if she is contagious." Luther frowned and the woman sighed, knowing that he wouldn't leave his sick sisters side without a fight. "But I do know how you can help. Go downstairs and get my cell phone off of the couch and bring it up here for me." Luther seemed satisfied enough to get up and do as he was told. As long as it was helping his sister. The boy's heart was so big, always wanting to help one way or another. Vanya's coughing snapped the woman's focus back on the girl as she slowly sat up, her face sickly pale and her bangs soaked with sweat sticking to her forehead. "I-I'm sorry." she said, her voice weak as her arms shook from holding herself up above the toilet. "Don't be honey. Everyone gets sick. Were you feeling bad when you went to bed?" The girl nodded, and Grammy sighed. Of course she didn't tell anyone. She probably thought she would be ignored or in the way if she told anyone she was feeling bad. The girls self deprecating thoughts were really unhealthy, but much better than when she had first arrived months earlier. "Here you go, and I got some water too." Luther said walking back into the bathroom. Grammy took the phone while Luther told Vanya to wash her mouth out and drink some of the water. The girl was still ill stricken, and there would probably be more throwing up as the night progressed. It was easy to see from how Vanya's body was shaking and her pale skin as Grammy called Morgan.
"Hey Ma, how is everything?" Morgan asked.
"Well the night was going perfectly well until Vanya got sick. I think it's some type of flu or virus. I haven't taken her temperature or anything but it's pretty bad." The woman said, looking over the pale girl as she leaned over the toilet again, her arms shaking more as her body seemed to fight the oncoming vomit.
After explaining what was going on Morgan said that they were almost home from their date night, 'Damn it Spencer who cares if the speed limit is 30? Our kid is sick!', and thanked the woman before hanging up the phone. Luther was holding Vanya's hair as she got sick again and the woman sighed. It was going to be a long night. Twenty minutes later Morgan and Spencer both ran into the bathroom and frowned at the sight in front of them. "I'll go get the living room ready and some medication, probably best if she stays there so she doesn't get the other kids sick." Spencer said before taking Luther's hand and pulling the boy down the steps with him, knowing that the boy wouldn't be able to sleep himself until he knew that Vanya was taken care of. Morgan knelled to the ground beside the poor kid. "Thank you so much Ma, we got it from here." He said pulling the sick girl into his arms once he was sure that she was done throwing up for the time being. Vanya buried her face into Morgan's chest and grabbed two handfuls of his dress shirt that he had worn for his date. "I know girl, were going to help you feel all better okay?" He whispered comfortably into the girls ear. She looked up from Morgan, her eyes a bit watery from all the sickness and said. "Thanks Grammy." in a weak voice before Morgan left the bathroom. The woman, despite how bad she felt that the girl was sick, smiled at finally being called Grammy by the last kid.
Morgan sat on the couch with Vanya in his arms as she shaking girl rested against him. Her legs were resting on either side of his waste and her arms were wrapped around his neck, her hands full of his shirt as her head rested against his chest. Morgan didn't need a thermometer to tell him she was running a fever. He could feel the heat from her body against his chest as she lay on top of him. "Where is Dad, Papa?" She whispered. "He is getting some medicine to help you feel better. Do you want anything?" Morgan whispered as he rocked back and forth with the girl. "Stay. I want you to stay." She said blinking up at him. Morgan sighed, trying to deal with the bundle of love that was bubbling in his chest as he held Vanya closer to himself. "Or course." He said kissing her sweaty forehead as Spencer and Luther walked back into the living room. With an empty bucket, blankets, pillows, water bottles, some wet cold clothes and medication. "It's going to be a long night." Spencer said draping the wet cloth over the girls forehead, Vanya instantly sighed with relief at the cold touch to her forehead. "We'll be alright. Right Luther?" Morgan asked as Spencer got some medicine ready for Vanya to take. The boy nodded, his eyes not leaving Vanya as she sipped the bitter liquid out of the spoon that Spencer held up to her lips. "That's going to make you sleepy, so drink a little bit of water and just relax okay?" Spencer said with a gentle voice as he opened a water bottle for the girl to sip from. "Okay, thanks dad." The girl said, her eyes already a bit droopy. She missed the big smile that Spencer had on his face, but Luther didn't and he sat on the recliner with Spencer while Morgan lay on his back on the couch, Vanya's cheek resting against his broad chest. She let the medication, and her Papa's warm chest pull her into blissful sleep. The last thing she heard was the thumping of her Papa's heartbeat against her ear. Shortly after Luther watched Vanya fall asleep he too fell asleep in Spencer's lap. It was hard not to with Spencer running his hand through the boys blonde hair, and his hand running up and down Luther's back. After 30 minutes passed and the two dads were sure that the boy wouldn't be waking up again Spencer carried him to his own room. It was sweet that the boy wanted to help his sister, but he needed his own rest as well. They knew that Vanya was going to be sleepy and sick all day tomorrow, and maybe even the rest of the week. They didn't want to have to worry about a second sleep deprived child on top of the chaos that was sure to ensue tomorrow. Luther didn't stir from his sleep one bit as Spencer tucked him into his own bed, and he left the boy to his own dreams with a kiss on the forehead while brushing some of his blonde hair out of his face. He went back downstairs to the sight of Vanya awake and throwing up in the bin beside the couch. Morgan holding onto her as she was bent over throwing up whatever was left in her body, so probably just water and stomach acids. "Yep, it's going to be a long night." Spencer said to himself as he walked over to the two and pulled a hairband off of his wrist to tie the girls long hair up with. More than ready for a night of sickness if it meant that the girl called him "Dad" for the rest of her life.
-Present Day-
"Grammy what do you want us to do first?" Vanya asked as she helped Allison tie the back of her apron so it would stay on. "Grab a few pots and start boiling some water okay! Then wait for me." Grammy said as she got ready to start cooking dinner with her two girls.
While the women were in the kitchen the boys had moved back outside to finish their game that they were playing earlier. Morgan taking Allison's spot on Luther and Hank's team, while Diego, Klaus, and Ben were on the other team. Spencer was back on the porch, watching Ben closely to make sure he didn't over exert himself. It was a peaceful and sunny day. The wind blowing just enough to keep it from being unbearably hot. Spencer smiled, watching as Morgan kicked the ball around Hank, but let Diego steal the ball to make a goal. The boys cheered and Klaus pulled Diego into a hug while the other boy pretended to be annoyed. But everyone knew better, Diego adored the attention he got from his siblings. They all loved each other. They didn't like being apart for very long. They were all attached to each other and still seemed to have some fear of being separated, even though they took time in each therapy session to assure the kids that they wouldn't be taken away by anyone ever again. And that Spencer and Morgan loved them, they weren't like Hargreeves. The kid who seemed to struggle the most with understanding that was Luther. But Luther had been the most damaged by Hargreeves as well. Hargreeves had sexually and emotionally abused him more than any of the other kids, and he used his number system to put so much pressure and responsibility that should never be on a child's shoulders. While Ben, Klaus, and Hank had taken most of the physical abuse, there wasn't any doubt that Luther was the most mentally abused. It was evident in Luther's every day behavior, and while he was getting a lot better. There were still rough days for him.
-One Month Ago-
Morgan felt himself get pulled out of what he would call a very delightful dream of his husband. He grunted, wondering what was waking him up. When his mind registered a small hand on his chest he forced himself to wake up, knowing that one of his kids wanted him. He opened his eyes to see Diego at the side of the bed, smiling sleepily when he saw his dads eyes open. "Sorry, Luther is having another nightmare." He whispered. Morgan nodded, sitting up in the bed. This had been a common occurrence. Less frequent now that the kids had been with them for months now, but Luther and Diego shared a bedroom. And the first few months the two boys kept Luther's nightmares a secret, scared that their dads would be mad at them. When Spencer and Morgan found out the boy was being kept up in the night by his fears they told Diego to get them when Luther was scared. He had agreed, knowing that Luther wasn't getting enough sleep, and happy that the two dads weren't mad at his brother for having nightmares. The two had a rough relationship, but Diego and Luther did care for each other, despite Hargreaves trying to divide them with silly numbers and rankings. Morgan pulled Diego up into the bed and he let the boy lay where he was once sleeping. Spencer, barely awake turned over and pulled Diego to his chest, and Diego was just tired enough to snuggle into his Dads embrace without caring about the action. Both were asleep again in each others arms before Morgan even left the bedroom.
Morgan walked into Luther and Diego's bedroom, hearing Luther whimper in his sleep. Morgan let out a heavy sigh before sitting on the side of the boys bed. Luther would toss and turn every few seconds, fighting some kind of monster (or man) in his sleep. "Hey Luther, come on now." Morgan whispered putting firm hands over the boys shoulders. It took a few minutes of gentle nudges and whispers before Luther jumped, his body waking up suddenly. He was breathing heavily and it took him a few moments to see Morgan through his blurry vision. "I-I'm." The boy said, struggling to breath. Morgan silenced the boy before he could even try to stumble through an apology. "Remember what Dad and Papa told you? Don't be sorry for nightmares." He said rubbing the boys arms. His body was still stiff, but Luther's eyes were already fighting to stay open. Unlike most of his other brothers Luther was very open about enjoying cuddles and physical affection. So when Morgan pulled him into his lap he didn't fight it at all. Instead he sank into his Papa's chest as the man held him close. "Tell me about your dream." Morgan said, his voice both demanding and gentle in a way that only a father could execute. Luther frowned, knowing that his Papa wouldn't let him keep it to himself. Luther tried to hold back the tears as he started reciting the nightmare (and memory) "I was back with Hargreeves...he was taking Allison into the training room- and - and I told him to take me instead. Because that's what I'm supposed to do. And Hargreeves - sniff- he got the belt out- and - and I." A sob escaped his mouth and Morgan didn't push anymore. Luther had that dream enough times to know how it ended, and it made his blood boil. The thought of what happened to him as a kid also happening to Luther. But that would never happen to him again. "You don't need to be scared of Hargreeves anymore. Because that's never going to happen to you again. You remember why?" Morgan asked, rocking the boy in his arms back and forth. "Because -hiccup- Dad and Papa will protect me." Luther said from memory as he let his eyes close. "Yea, Dad and Papa will always protect you from evil men." Morgan said as he wiped the tears off the boys cheeks. Luther didn't say anything else, but he let Morgan hold him in his arms. His Papa supporting his legs and back while his head rested against his chest. Minutes later Luther was asleep again, but this time without nightmares and in Papa's arms. Morgan slowly leaned back in the bed, and although the bed was too small for his body, he held Luther in his arms and got as comfortable as possible before falling asleep as well. Ready to be by Luther's side, ready to comfort him and reassure him if another nightmare happened.
-Present Day-
Spencer couldn't remember how many times he had waken up to Diego in his bed and Morgan in Luther's room, but he never minded. And as he watched Luther run across the yard with a smile on his face he knew it was all worth it. All the restless nights, all the hard times, and all the days to come would be worth it. Because he loves these seven kids more than he could even comprehend. Vanya and Allison opened the front door to the house and called everyone in for dinner. And while he made sure the boys went to the bathroom to wash their hands before running to the kitchen he couldn't help but worry, he and Morgan were going back to work next week. And while Morgan's mom was able to take care of the kids while they were gone on cases, he couldn't help but be wary. The therapists and doctors had given him assurances that the kids would have to adjust, but would be okay with their dads going back to work. Part of Spencer was worried about the kids, but he was also worried about himself and Morgan. JJ and Hotch were already giving them advice about being on the road so much as a parent, but it wasn't doing much to ease Spencer's worries. "Dad! Come on, we're waiting for you!" Allison called from the kitchen door. Spencer smiled and walked into the kitchen to see his family all sitting around the table ready to enjoy another meal together. They had made it this far hadn't they? If someone would have told Spencer years ago that he would have seven kids the same age, married to Morgan, and living this domestic lifestyle he would have laughed in their faces. But here he was, and they had overcome every other obstacle so far, they would overcome this one too. And anything else that came in their families way. "Dad, can you pass the potatoes?" Klaus asked from across the table. Spencer did as asked and he caught Morgan sending him an assuring smile across the table. Spencer nodded to Morgan, smiling as the family ate together for dinner after another good day.