A/N: And we're back! I actually made a decent sized chapter this time! This chapter, as well as the next one will be more Spencer/Derek centered, because I have been SERIOUSLY neglecting them. I just get so caught up in my badass Elle/Emily-ness! This story is ending TONIGHT, because I'm going to be in a place with no service for the next 2 weeks, and you guys need an ending. So I'm just going to stay up until we leave at 4 am, and we're going to finally tie a bow on this thing! Woop woop!
"Alright, do we want humor or horror?" Penelope asked, flicking between John Mulaney and Train to Busan on her Netflix list.
"Train to Busan makes me cry, and I'm pretty sure that you definitely don't want a horror movie, so John Mulaney sounds good," Kate said.
"Oh thank God. I know that I offered it, but I really did not want to watch it. Horror movies are scary."
"Train to Busan is one of the best movies produced, and I will fight that," Emily argued from her place on Penelope's bright pink-and-yellow beanbag.
"Yeah, that's because you don't get scared Gumdrop." Penelope poked her in the shoulder as she walked behind her.
"I get scared, just not at movies. I will cower behind any of you if you drag me into a haunted house or anything related to that."
"I find that hard to believe," Elle laughed.
"It's true! None of the real monsters in the world scare me, but God, I hate jumpscares. Clowns in particular."
"I have a fear of clowns too. Just… ugh."
"Coulrophobia. Abnormal fear of clowns," Kate announced from her spot across the room.
"Why do you know that?" Emily mumbled.
"There's nothing abnormal about it Katie-pie. Two years ago I was at a birthday party and a birthday clown groped my breasts. He made this weird honking noise while he did it. Apparently making it funny makes it ok." The room justifiably went silent. Kate looked surprised, Elle looked sympathetic, and Emily looked downright pissed.
"Anyways, let's watch this!" Penelope broke the air and played the great comedian John Mulaney. The air was soon filled with laughs and smiles.
CMCMCM
"JJ, what am I supposed to do?" Spencer whispered to his sister and friend.
"It's a pinata Spence! Have you never hit a pinata before?" Spencer just shook his head. JJ sighed.
"Ok, so you put on this blindfold, and they spin you around 3 times, and then you try and hit the pinata so candy falls out!" Spencer just looked confused.
"But… why?"
"Because it's fun! And you get candy."
"But getting spun in a circle while blindfolded and swinging a stick around with no idea who or what you're about to hit sounds like a really easy way to get hurt! Why would you do it on purpose?!" He exclaimed, thoroughly puzzled.
"That's not… ugh. It's fun, you'll see."
"JJ, I don't want to see! I am a 6 year old, small, underweight child. If I get hit with that stick I could get a broken bone! Or a bruise! Or a concussion! That's brain damage JJ! I don't have anything but my brain. What am I supposed to do?"
"Spence, I don't know what you're saying. Just watch me! It'll be fine." Spencer was not convinced, but he didn't say anything. When JJ's turn came, Reid waited anxiously on the sidelines as they spun his sister in a circle.
She started swinging the bat around, and almost hit it, but the parent on the sidelines pulled the rope up so the pinata raised up above her head. Spencer was shocked. That wasn't allowed! He stepped forward towards the man in charge of the pinata.
"Hey that's not fair!" He didn't see JJ swinging the bat again- and it hit him right in the head.
"Kid!" The dad yelled and let go of the rope holding onto the pinata- making a still very much filled pinata of candy fall right onto JJ's head.
So that was how Haley and Aaron Hotchner ended up taking home two kids with sore skulls home early from a birthday party. They'd picked them up some ice cream since they didn't get to eat any birthday cake.
Walking into the living room of their house, Derek instantly hopped off the couch.
"Are they okay?" He asked frantically before Haley shushed him softly. She had a tired and very grumpy JJ resting on her shoulder. Drek immediately looked slightly sheepish. He was greeted by two tiny arms reaching out to him. Spencer was barely awake enough to realize his surroundings, but he did know that while Hotch was warm and comfortable, he wasn't Derek, and he wanted Derek to hold him. Morgan immediately reached out and took the drowsy child from Aaron's arms.
"They don't have concussions, just a nice goose egg. I'll get them some ice packs but they should be fine in a day or two." Haley disappeared into the kitchen to get the packs, but not before passing JJ off to Hotch.
"Want Em'ly. Where's Em'ly?" JJ mumbled from Hotch's shoulder. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Why did all of his children want their siblings? What was he doing wrong?
"It's not you, man." Derek seemed to read his mind. "In Spencer's case at least, he and I have been to hell together. JJ latched onto Emily as soon as she met her. It's just they've been latched onto us for so long that they just don't know how to let go." Hotch nodded and picked up his cell. Emily was supposed to be home in 30 minutes anyways, so it wasn't that bad.
"Emily."
"Hey Em, it's Aaron. Look, long story short, JJ and Spencer both got their heads hit and JJ's asking for you. If you don't want to, you don't have to, but I thought you'd want to know."
"Jesus. Yeah, of course, I'll be there in 2 minutes. Did you get her bear?"
"What bear?"
"When family court first places you with a foster family, they give you a bear. One for every house you go to. JJ adores the first one she got. It's light brown with a blue ribbon around its neck, and it's very well loved. It should be on her bed. That should keep her happy until I get there."
"Got it, thank you Emily. See you soon." He hung up the phone. Haley came back into the living room laden with ice packs.
"Haley, can you grab JJ's bear from upstairs? It's worn and light brown with a blue ribbon on its neck."
"Sure baby. We should probably put them to bed now anyways, it's past ten." The 5 of them- Spencer and JJ half asleep in Morgan and Hotch's arms- made their way up the stairs and into their respective rooms.
"Here you go sweet girl, I'm going to put this on your head to make it feel better, ok?" JJ just nodded.
"Where's Em'ly? I want Em'ly," she mumbled grumpily into her bear.
"Emily's coming baby." Like magic, the front door opened and within seconds Emily had run upstairs and scooped JJ into her arms.
"Hey papillon, I got you. I'm here. It's ok," she instantly soothed her.
"Will you sing?" She asked tentatively.
"Sure honey, I'll sing." Haley melted into the background of the room as she listened to her eldest daughter sing to her youngest daughter.
"You had your maps drawn
You had other plans
To hang your hopes on
Every road they let you down felt so wrong
So you found another way
You've got a big heart
The way you see the world
It got you this far
You might have some bruises
And a few of scars
But you know you're gonna be okay
And even though you're scared
You're stronger than you know
If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home, home
If you face the fear that keeps you frozen
Chase the sky into the ocean
That's when something wild calls you home, home
Sometimes the past can
Make the ground beneath you feel like a quicksand
You don't have to worry
You reach for my hand
Yeah I know you're gonna be okay
You're gonna be okay
And even if you're scared
You're stronger than you know
If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home, home
If you face the fear that keeps you frozen
Chase the sky into the ocean
That's when something wild calls you home, home
If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home
If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home, home
If you face the fear that keeps you frozen
Chase the sky into the ocean
That's when something wild calls you home, home"
She shut the door softly after seeing her tuck a now sleeping JJ under the covers before moving towards her own bed. Moving across the hall, she walked into her sons' room.
"Hey guys," she said softly. Derek's immediate reaction was defensive, but he calmed down when he realized it was just her.
"Hey Haley. He fell asleep a few minutes ago, but whether that remains the case is to be seen." Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"He's been having nightmares, they're not common but the little guy wakes up in a cold sweat occasionally."
"Oh," was all she said at first. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Honestly? I didn't think about it. We've just had to rely on ourselves for so long, it's strange to have someone to fall back on." She nodded. It made sense, as much as it saddened her. Trusting someone was new to both of her older children. Her mind flashed to the time when Emily thought that they were sending her back into the system, and the look of betrayal she had seen in her large dark eyes.
"If you need us, wake us up. I mean that. Goodnight Derek." She closed the door slowly and made her way back to her own bedroom. Derek sighed as he leaned against his bed. Spencer had gotten hurt. He knew that it wasn't serious and there was nothing he could have done, but it didn't stop him from feeling guilty. He climbed into his own bed with a heavy conscience, and reluctantly fell asleep.
A/N: PLEASE review this! Please? For me? It would make me really happy! I know you see the box... so go type some stuff... please?