Sorry to everyone! I accidentally replaced Owen's name with Oliver. I feel like an idiot for doing so... -_-' Went back and changed it in the last chapter.
Anyways, thanks for all of you who are sticking with this story. It really means a lot that there are people out there who are enjoying this. As usual I do not own Criminal Minds.
In other news, who else is excited for the new episode tomorrow?!
Penelope leaned back in the lounge chair and picked her book up. Taking the pages she opened to the place she left off at. In front of her, in the Rossi back yard, most of the BAU family were finishing a round of football while David cooked up the burgers.
"Hey Kitten," She looked up from her book at David. "having fun?"
"Yeah, though I am beginning to think bringing this thing wasn't the best idea. Should have known better." She remarked her spot and put the book back down beside her on the table. "You know David, you didn't need to do this. I would have just been happy having coffee or something with all of you."
"I know," David flipped a burger. "but we've all missed you three. And what better way to mark your first week back than a family bbq? It's a shame though that Ricky will be heading off to med camp tomorrow. Really missed having my boy here."
"And he missed being around his family. Ricky was rethinking the whole med camp idea but he knows how beneficial it will be. I'm apprehensive about letting him out of my sight, after everything that happened last year it is hard. But I know this is something he needs to do. And it is not like he will be states away... only a few hours by car.
"My poor boy is such a homebody. He finds it hard to be away from everyone, and I find it hard to let him go. Don't know how he will cope next summer when you uproot him and Grace for their Italy trip."
"We'll manage. The both of them will be having soo much fun they will not think about home. Well, aside from their mother." He put cheese on a few of the burgers closest to being cooked. "I'll make sure of it."
"I haven't told them about the trip yet." Penelope sipped on her martini. "It's still an uber sweet secret that they have no clue about. When do you plan on telling them?"
"I don't know." A small grin crept across David's face. "Maybe it will be a nice birthday or Christmas present for them. We'll see. Now, Ricky told me in passing you met your brother while in San Francisco. How did that go?"
She smiled "Good. It was nice to see him again after all these years. And it was wonderful for the kids to meet some of my family and to see into my past." Penelope's eyes glazed over momentarily. "The whole time we spent in San Francisco made me realize how much I miss the life I had there. No matter how much I love this life and you guys. The ocean, hot summers, my parents... everything. Do you ever miss your family over in Italy?"
"Not very much. Wasn't very close to them and after my parents passed away I had no need to stay in contact with them. Most of the trip I am planning surrounds historical sights, food, and such. Only family thing I plan to show them is the villa where my father was raised."
He plated a few burgers. "Kitten, do you want one before I call the crowd over?"
"Sure." She got up from her seat and grabbed a paper plate. Do you have a veggie burger for Jane?"
"Of course." David placed a burger on Penelope's waiting bun. "But I still think that kid is nuts for not eating meat. But then again, my opinion is that all teenagers are slightly crazy."
"Well," Spencer popped up behind them, startling David. "all teenagers do profile as sociopaths. And being the father of three girls I can safely say from observation that it is true. Especially when all of them are at the point in their cycles where they are menstruating. Hormonal withdrawal has the same symptoms as drug withdrawal, it-"
"Stop right there kid." David put a hand up. "The last thing I want to talk about before eating is..." He cringed and made a face. "menstruating."
Penelope wrapped an arm around Spencer's waist. "Remember when this guy found women a mystery? Guess living with four women has made things a little less awkward?"
"A little." He cracked a small sideways smile. "It has solved a few questions I had."
"Like what?" David smirked. "Let me guess, it opened up the mystery of sex?"
"No it did not." Spencer shrieked, glancing over worriedly at the rest of the team who were just finishing up their game. "I meant to say I was not a thirty year old virgin. I had my fair share of conquests. Like Lila for example."
Penelope grinned. "I knew it. I could tell by that smug look that you got some tail in LA. So, was she good?"
Spencer pursed his lips. "My mother always said a gentleman does not kiss and tell. And frankly, my mother raised me to be a gentleman."
"That's the thing though." Penelope poked his chest. "If what you are implying is indeed correct you did much, and I mean much, more than kiss."
"As I said. A gentleman never tells." He looked down at Penelope. "Your overactive mind will just have to spin the details itself. Hey David, if those are done I would like one."
"Sure kid. Get yourself a bun." He waited until Spencer came back and tossed a burger onto the younger man's bun. David then turned to the game being played.
"Hey! Food's ready!"
Instantly the game was stopped and the group crowded around David. All eager for one of his famously good burgers.
Grace stood in the back and waited her turn. Before she could get her food she felt a hand on her arm dragging her inside the house.
"What's up with you?"
She looked up at Kat with hard eyes. "Nothing. Why do you ask?"
"You've been acting... strange. Grace, you usually text Owen all the time. Or call him. Not once have I seen you do that. Hell, I haven't seen your phone ring or vibrate once. Now spill."
"I guess this is a hazard of having a family of profilers." Grace sighed and leaned against the counter. "The thing is... I don't know what is going on. One minute things between us were great. The next... the next moment he texts me to say it is over. He hasn't answered my texts, emails, or my phone calls. It's like... it's like he dropped off the face of the earth."
Kat gasped. "He did what? When? No! When did this happen?"
"The first night we were in San Francisco." Grace shook her head. "I could accept it if he would give me a reason. If there was some sort of sign... But there was nothing."
Her friend thought for a moment. "That would mean July 16th, the night after Alex Foutley's house party. I couldn't go. Papa wouldn't let any of us go... But Andrea went and I know Owen went there too with his friends. Oh, don't tell Aunt Em about Andrea. She doesn't know." Kat's eyes shot open in shock. "The day after Andrea seemed upset but wouldn't tell us anything. I just thought her date bailed on her or something. Do you think something could have happened that night with Owen?"
"I don't know." Grace clenched her jaw. "But I am going to find out." She then stalked off to find Andrea.
Andrea had just found a seat and was beginning to eat her burger when she heard someone clearing their throat behind her. She put her food down and turned around to see Grace standing with her arms crossed.
"Spill."
"I don't know what you mean Grace."
"Alex Foutley's party. You were there, Owen was there, and the day after he broke up with me without a reason and will not talk to me. Did anything happen at that party? And keep in mind if you lie to me and I find out, I will tell your mom and you will probably be grounded until Graduation." She cocked her head to her side. "Did you do anything with him?"
Andrea grimaced.. "No. God no." She sighed and bit down on her lip. Something did happen though. Something bad. Are you positive you want to know." She placed a hand on Grace's arm. "Once you know it you can never unknow something like this."
Grace gasped. "He didn't kill anyone at the party, did he?"
"No. God no. That little weasel doesn't have the stomach for that, " Andrea shook her head. "He... again, do you really want to know?"
"Yes, now spill it." Grace leveled a glare that beckoned no resistance.
"Alright. You asked for it." Andrea began to pick at her finger nails. "I was at the party and was chatting with some girls from my chem class when I needed to go to the bathroom. Well, someone was already in the main bathroom so I decided to use the one in her parent's bedroom. I go in without knocking because I thought 'it's her parents room, who would be in there'. I wish I did knock..." Andrea shifted her feet.
"Owen was in there... and he was with Sandy Johnston."
"Now what do you mean exactly by 'with'?" Grace clenched her jaw and squared her shoulders.
"I mean with with. As in they were having sex. Full blown sex. I ran out of the room and he followed me. I told him to tell you or I would tell you myself because the last thing any girl needs is her man cheating on her behind her back. He said he would and when you got home and were not talking to him I assumed he told you and that you did the right thing and broke it off with him."
"No. I didn't. Instead, like I said, he broke up with me without saying anything aside from 'it's over'. You are positive that you saw what you saw? That it was him and not someone else?"
"Oh I am sure. And for the life of me I wish I could unsee and unknow this. Grace, if you need help kicking his ass I will help you. I swear to god I will help you." Her heart broke as she saw Grace unraveling. "Here, let's get you home." Andrea made a move forward to hug Grace.
"No. I don't need sympathy or help." She shoved Andrea away and briskly walked to Penelope.
"Hey Mom. Can I go home? I'm not feeling too hot."
Penelope looked at her daughter with concern. "How so? Is it your tummy or do you think you have a fever? Here, let me feel your forehead." Grace leaned down and Penelope put the back of her hand against Grace's forehead. "No. No fever. What's wrong Sug?"
"Mom," Grace cracked a small smile. "stop worrying. I think it's the heat and the football game. Laying down for a while should help. So, can I go home?"
David glanced over at the pair and tilted his head so he could better hear the conversation.
"Sure. I'll just grab my purse so I can drive you." Penelope put her martini down and began to get up.
"No you aren't." David put down his burger. "You've had a few too many martinis Kitten. I'll take Grace back home. You stay here and man the bbq while I'm gone."
"No David." Penelope protested. "This is your party. I can't have my daughter drag you away just so you can take her home. If you say I've had too many I can get Anna or Spencer to take her."
"Or I can take myself home..." Grace muttered. "I do have a learners permit..."
"It is no problem Penelope. This is not my party, I am throwing it for you and the kids. And besides, she is my granddaughter. How about it Gracie? How would you to spend a few minutes of good quality time with your Nonno?"
Grace cracked a smile. "I could never say no to you..."
/
He put the car in park outside of Penelope's house. "Alright Bambina. You and I are going inside and we are having a nice talk about what is going on with you."
"Nothings going on..." Grace unbuckled her belt and put a hand on the door. "Like I told Mom. I'm just feeling sick right now." She opened the door and got out, and briskly walked to the door.
David got out and followed her into the house. Inside he put his keys in the bowl. "Grace, you are talking to a seasoned profiler. You have to do better than that if you wanted me to believe you. Now sit." He took a seat next to her on the sofa. "What's up with you? You've been acting strange since your family got back and you have your mom and everyone else worried." David placed a hand on Grace's knee.
"I know being a teenager is hard. I was one myself at one point... many years ago. You feel as if you are the only one that can fully understand what is going on and telling someone will make no difference. Sweetie, it will make a difference. Whatever you are going through you do not need to do it alone. We... I... am here for you. I love you Grace, you're my Granddaughter, my little Bambina. Always will be." He wrapped an arm around her and brought her head down on his shoulder.
"And I know that you are not sick. If you were... you wouldn't have tackled Uncle Aaron so hard."
"You saw that?..." Grace sniffed. She could feel her emotions beginning to bubble to the surface.
"Of course I did. I also saw Kat tackle Ricky to get the ball. That girl is a force when she wants to be. I worry about you kids... I worry about you Grace. You try so hard to be like your father and to be your own person, all at the same time.
"Sometimes I fear that the want to fill the void your father left will inhibit your ability to be yourself. Grace, there was only one person who could fill that void and that was Derek. Not you. Now, tell me what is going on or else I will do some more profiling. Let it out, don't be like your dad this time, don't hold it all in."
The tears that had been pricking Grace's eyes began to fall. "Owen... he broke up with me... at first I didn't know why because it came out of nowhere. I mean one moment we were fine and the next moment we weren't." She buried herself in David's shoulder. "And then tonight I find out from Andrea that he cheated on me and that is probably the reason why. Nonno... he asked me to... you know. But I didn't. I wasn't ready. He said he'd wait but he didn't." By now the tears had given way to sobbing.
"Shh..." David tenderly rubbed Grace's shoulder. "It will be alright. Owen was an idiot."
"You think so? Grace sniffed, she sat up and looked at David. Her cheeks wet with tears.
"I know so. He was an idiot not to see what a beautiful, bright, strong, and wonderful, young girl he had." David brushed a strand out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "If he couldn't wait until..." He grimaced slightly at the thought. "you were ready then he is not worth your time nor your tears. There are far better men out there waiting for the chance to be with a great girl like you."
"Thanks Nonno..." Using the back of her hand she wiped some of the tears off. "I feel a little better..."
"No problem. I should be getting back now. Will you be alright?"
Grace feigned a small smile. "Yeah. Just please... keep this between us for now. I'm not in the mood for everyone fawning over me..."
"As you wish."
An hour later Grace found herself not at home but at the park down the street. Her mind was weighing heavily on the events of the past two hours. She had gone from having a great day to finding out the boy she really liked cheated on her and broke her heart. To confessing the feelings she wanted buried deep.
The silver lining her mom said was on every cloud did not seem to be there.
She sat on the swing nearest to the edge of the set and swung. Her heart leaped every time she went back down and the weightlessness lifted her slightly off the seat. No matter how old she was the feeling still brought on a small feeling of danger.
She had heard gossip in the girls bathroom about girls who had been forced into sex. About girls who made the choice not to. About boyfriends who broke a relationship up over trivial things. Grace never thought she would be put in that position. She never thought she would be one of those girls who would be slighted for a choice she made. She never thought she would have been blinded to Owen's dark side.
"Thought you would be here."
Her eyes shifted to in front of her. "Yeah, so what? Aren't you supposed to still be at the bbq?"
"I wanted to see if you were alright." Henry took the seat next to Grace. "Saw you after you were talking to Andrea and you looked... upset. Somethings up with you and I'm worried."
"Really?" She stopped the seat with a foot. "How kind of you Henry. Not. No offence but I just want to be alone right now."
"Is it something that happened on vacation? Or is it Owen?" Grace turned her head away. "It is Owen. What did he do?"
Grace began to think up a lie but caved. Henry would know soon enough; once she told her mom everyone in the BAU would know. It wouldn't do her any good to lie now and have to explain herself later. "He broke my heart. I trusted him and he betrayed me... I just don't understand..." She bit her lip. "I just don't understand how someone can go from saying that they love you to cheating on you and then breaking up with you. I just don't understand."
"I don't understand how he could hurt you."
Grace looked away. "Before we left... we got into a fight. He wanted to push further, if you know what I mean... I told him no. That I wasn't ready. It was hard..." She pursed her lips. "I can't help but think that has something to do with this... I refused him so he went for the first bit of tail he could get... Do you think that is why?"
Henry clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on the chains. "It doesn't matter. He's a cheater and not worth your time. And if you want me to rough him up for you I will."
Grace scoffed. "And risk your career with the BAU? I wouldn't have you do that."
"Grace..." His tone beckoned her to look at him. "I would do anything for you. No questions. You know that. Nothing is worth seeing you cry and hurting." He wanted to say more, wanted to say that he would still wait for her. But Henry knew the situation did not call for it. And saying such things would make it worse.
"Why don't we take you back home? Your mom will be back soon and will probably shit bricks if you aren't home."
"Alright..."
