Synopsis: Twenty year old Emily Reid is trying to balance motherhood to her siblings while working, taking online college courses, and trying to plan a wedding. She's finally getting married to the now twenty-one year old Robert Synder. What happens when Emily discovers that she's pregnant? How will she cope? Will she decide to tell Robert and have the baby? Or will she decide that the timing isn't right?

This was supposed to be the sequel for To Protect You

Ch. 1

"Our family is just the right mix of chaos and love." -unknown

1990

Twelve year old Jennifer and nine year old Spencer are supposed to be getting ready for bed, but instead Spencer is reading his theoretical astrophysics book and Jennifer is flipping through the pages of her science of butterflies book.

"Jennifer Joy and Spencer Emilio, I won't ask you again." Emily said firmly, "It's time for you to get ready for bed. It's a school night."

On school nights their bedtime is 9:00 pm. It was currently 8:30 pm, but Emily knew it took the kids a little while to fall asleep so she liked for them to be in bed by 8:45 pm.

Jennifer slammed her book and stormed off to her room, but not before looking at Emily, "Ah! Ma, I'm twelve. I should be able to stay up half an hour later. At least."

Emily just ignored that comment. Jennifer knew the rules. When she turned thirteen then she could stay up until 10:00 pm.

"Just five more minutes, Mama. Please? I want to finish this chapter." Spencer pleaded without looking up from his book.

Emily shook her head, "No. You know the rules, Spence."

"Fine." Spencer huffed, "Dad would let me finish the chapter."

"You know that's not true. Dad and I are on the same page." Emily replied, "Now go."

Spencer bookmarked his page, placed the book on the bookshelf and then headed to his room to get ready for bed.

Emily ran a hand through her hair as she read the chapter for her business and financing class so she could do her homework. She had no interest in business whatsoever, but it was practical. 'Only one more year.' Emily thought. She already had her bachelor's. She was going after her master's now.

A couple of hours later, Robert arrived home from work. Emily was still sitting at the table doing homework. Robert walked over and greeted his fiancée with a kiss.

"Hey love, how were the kids?"

"The usual. Good until bedtime. Especially Spencer. He always fights going to bed. He wanted to stay up and finish his chapter in his theoretical astrophysics book." Emily explained

Robert smiles, "Oh Spence. That little rascal."

"But you love him." Emily countered

Robert nodded, "That I do." He looked at the book, "So how's the homework coming?"

Emily sighed, not looking up, "It's fine."

"Hey Em, look at me." Robert said. He waited until Emily's eyes met his before he started talking again. "I know you are not doing what you want professionally. Maybe it's time to just quit school."

"You know I can't, Rob."

Robert took a breath, "Okay. Well what do you want to do? What do you really want to do?"

"I can't think about that. I have JJ and Spence to think about." Emily told him

"The kids are getting older. Spencer is graduating high school in three years. JJ is almost a teenager. They don't need you as much." Robert explained

Emily shook her head, "They still need me."

"Remember you and the kids have me." He added, "Just name something. What have you always wanted to do?"

"I wanted to help people when I was younger." Emily paused and Robert gave her an 'and' hand motion. Emily sighed, "I wanted to be an FBI agent."

Robert nodded, "Okay. Why?"

Emily blinked as she thought back to April 5, 1982. Spencer was only one years old and Jennifer was four years old. Neither of them remember this incident, but Emily remembers it as if it happened yesterday.

"What happened, Em?"

Emily just breathed out. She couldn't find the words to say as her mind retreated into the memory of that day.

-Flashback: April 5, 1982 -

Twelve year old Emily is locked in a closet room with her baby sister and brother. Jennifer and Spencer are laying down behind her sleeping, but she can't sleep. How can she?

The house is quiet, because everyone else is asleep. Then there is a loud banging on the door. Emily doesn't know which door the banging is on. She wonders if any of the other kids in the house are in trouble. If the banging is their foster father coming with his belt, but then she hears a voice.

"FBI! Open up!"

'FBI.' Emily thinks, 'What are they doing here?'

Spencer wakes up crying, and Emily feels Jennifer clinging tightly to her. She wraps her arms behind her to hug Jennifer briefly before turning around and picking up Spencer, bouncing him in her arms.

"What's going on, Emmy?"

"It's gonna be okay." Emily assures

At this point there isn't anything that Emily could do, but wait for a rescue that she isn't sure is actually coming. Jennifer crawls around in front of Emily, laying her head on her big sister's lap.

"Emmy, can you sing please?"

"No, we have to be quiet." Emily replies

Jennifer sighes, "I'm scared, Emmy."

'Me too.' Emily thinks.

A series of footsteps are heard getting closer and closer. Emily hands Spencer to Jennifer and pushes them behind her as she closes her eyes, preparing for the impending pain. However when the door opens, she looks up and sees 'FBI' on the man's chest vest.

"Come on, kid. I'm getting you out of here. One of the other agents already arrested your foster parents." The agent told her

"Jayje, it's okay. We're safe." Emily says to her sister

- End of flashback-

"I never found out what the charges were, but I will always be grateful to that agent who rescued me." Emily explained

"What was his name?"

Emily smiled as she thought about the agent that rescued her, "His name is Agent Rossi. David Rossi."

"You know that Jennifer and Spencer think the world of you, but how will they learn to go after their passions - their dreams, if you don't?" Robert asked

Emily just stared at him as she sighed. 'He has a point.' She thought

"Your children will become what you are; so become what you want them to be." -David Bly

Ch. 2

"Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a mother." -Unknown

Over the next couple of days Emily thought about what Robert had said, and she decided that he was right. She had to follow her dream, so she headed to the FBI's Las Vegas field office. She needed to find out how she would go about applying to the FBI academy.

When Emily arrived and walked into the FBI field office, she looked around and knew that this was where she was supposed to be. It somehow just felt like home.

"Can I help you?" A voice asked

"Oh...um….I'd like to find out about joining the FBI." Emily said, "How do I apply for the FBI academy?"

Emily was thinking about David Rossi - that agent who rescued her and her siblings eight years ago - but she didn't even know if he was still in the FBI, if he was alive or even how to find him. If she could find him though, she would thank him for saving her and her siblings, and for inspiring her to want to help others.

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.