Chapter 140
AN: Thank you for the support. I really hope you like this chapter.
Having spent the afternoon and evening at Rossi's place Penelope and Emily spent their Sunday morning at the park with the kids. During their time at the park Emily kicked around a soccer ball with Noah, took Connor down the slide and then held Casey as she went down again, while Penelope took all three of the girls on the swings, and helped Kenzie on the monkey bars.
As they have been home for a while, had lunch, and the three younger kids are taking naps, Penelope and Emily know it's time for them to have one of two serious conversations they have to have. In the living room Kenzie is reading while Maddie is playing on the kids tablets so Penelope and Emily walk over to them.
"Is everything okay?" Maddie asks concerned, her mind going straight to the fear that they have done something they shouldn't have.
"Yeah, Sweetie, we just have to talk to you about something," Emily explains, and once she does Kenzie puts her book down while Kenzie puts the tablet down. "Tomorrow there is going to be a funeral for your parents," Emily explains. "We completely understand if you don't want to go, and if you don't want to then we're not going to make you," Emily explains.
"Like Em said we're going to support whatever you decide, but you should know that this would be a chance for you to say goodbye, and get some closure," Penelope explains. "And if you decide to go and then change your mind you just have to tell us," Penelope explains.
"Will we have to see them?" Kenzie asks.
"No," Emily says, shaking her head. "They are in coffins, you won't see their bodies, but just seeing the coffins can help you comprehend that they are actually gone; that they can never hurt you again," Emily explains.
"Can we think about it?" Maddie ask, as she isn't sure what to think.
"Of course, Honey," Penelope tells him.
"I'm going to go to my room," Kenzie says, getting up.
"Me too," Maddie says, and both girls head upstairs.
"That's the first time they've called them their rooms," Emily says, wanting to be happy but concerned about the effect tomorrow is going to have on them.
"Yeah, it is," Penelope responds, feeling similar to Emily.
After leaving Penelope and Emily, rather than Maddie going to her own room, she followed her sister to her room, and they both sat down on the little, dark purple, two-seater couch that is up in Kenzie's room, across from her bed.
"Are you okay?" Maddie asks her sister concerned.
"Of course," Kenzie responds.
"You're lying," Maddie tells her sister, knowing that because she knows her sister so well. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking I want to go," Kenzie admits.
"Really?" Maddie asks her sister surprised as she was not expecting that.
"I need to make sure they're gone, that you, Connor, Noah and Casey are safe," Kenzie admits. "But if you don't want to go…." Kenzie starts to say.
"I'll think about it," Maddie responds, as her sister puts her arm around her, and Maddie moves closer to Kenzie, and just like so many nights when they would listen to their parents yelling Kenzie makes her feel safer.
Hours later the kids have just finished helping Penelope and Emily clean up after dinner, and having already put Casey down for the night Penelope and Emily have lead the girls over to the main couch area and are sitting in front of them so that they can have their second serious conversation.
"Do you remember when we went to the mall? How we told you not to go with anyone you didn't know?" Emily asks the kids.
"Yes," Noah says, as his sisters and Connor nods.
"It's important that you always remember that; that you never go with someone you don't know," Penelope explains to the kids. "It's also important that you don't open the door if you don't know who it is, always look first," Penelope explains.
"And if anyone ever hurts you or wants you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable you tell me or Pen right away," Emily explains. "Okay, it is beyond important to us that you are all safe, that you're not hurt," Emily admits. "We want to do everything we can to make sure you're safe," Emily explains.
"Kenz, Maddie, on Tuesday you'll start at your new school, Noah after spring break you'll have Pre-K three days a week, and Connor will have day care as well. Once Em and I return to work Noah will be at childcare when he's not at pre-k," Penelope explains. "Kenz, Maddie, the childcare is a part of your school, so is Noah's preschool, so there will be times where you will go there after school for a little while," Penelope explains, knowing that will depend on hers and Emily's schedules, but they will work that out once they are back at work and no more about how things practically work.
"Pen and I have talked to the school, the preschool and the day care to make it so only me, Pen, Dave, Stephen, JJ, Spencer, Matt, Tara, Luke, or Miss Becca do you remember her?" Emily asks as JJ's old nanny came to meet the kids a few days ago, and the kids nods. "Can pick you up," Emily explains. "If anyone else says they are there to pick you up, even if they say we told them to come pick you up, or even if they show you a badge, even if it looks like this, it's really important you don't go with them," Emily explains, handing the kids hers and Penelope's badges so they can have a look.
"The only people who will come to school to pick you up are us, my Dad Dave, Stephen, JJ, Spencer, Matt, Tara, Luke, or Becca, no one else," Penelope explains, knowing that she and Emily have had the conversation the team and Stephen to explain this, as the kids hand back the badges. "So, if anyone else says they are there for you they will be lying, and you can't go with them, you need to get away from them, and tell someone," Penelope explains.
"I understand," Kenzie says, and the others nod.
"Good, it's really important you remember this," Penelope says.
"Penelope, Emily, Kenzie and I want to go tomorrow," Maddie says. "We think it's important," Maddie explains.
"Okay," Emily says. "If at any time, any of you, don't want to be there anymore, just tell us and we can go," Emily explains.
"We will," Kenzie says.
"The service is at ten tomorrow, so we'll leave just after nine," Penelope explains, and the kids nod.
"And look at the time, Connor, Noah, it's time for bed," Emily says, and she and Penelope proceed to put the boys to bed.
The next morning there is a pretty tense feeling around the Prentiss house, as even though the kids eat breakfast it is clear that they are nervous about the day. Just like Penelope said the night before Emily, Penelope, and the kids are out of the house a little after nine am.
When they get to the cemetery Penelope and Emily aren't surprised, but glad to see their team, Stephen, Kristy and Will waiting for them.
"Thank you," Penelope says to her father, feeling grateful towards him.
"No need Kitten, no need," Rossi assures her, putting an arm around her and kissing her head.
"Remember, if you don't want to stay anymore you just have to tell us," Emily says, looking between Kenzie, Maddie, and Noah, not sure how much Connor understands.
"We know," Kenzie says.
About ten minutes later Penelope, Emily, the kids, the team, Kristy, Will and Stephen are all standing together. While there are about two dozen other people, they are not people the kids no as their 'parents' worked really hard to make sure their kids were not a part of their lives. As Rossi wanted to help he is holding Casey while Penelope is holding Connor, Emily is holding Noah, while Maddie and Kenzie are standing between them. As the service starts Penelope takes Maddie's hand, wanting to help her, and Emily does the same for Kenzie.
During the ceremony both Emily and Penelope watch the girls, waning to help them if they need it. While the girls show no signs that they want to leave more than once Emily feels Kenzie squeeze her hand extremely tightly. Finally, the funeral comes to an end and eventually the only ones near the coffins are the members of the BAU and their family. As the crowd dispersed all members of the BAU realized that no one came to offer their condolences to the children.
"Can I go say goodbye?" Kenzie asks.
"Of course, Sweetie," Emily says. "Maddie, would you like to?" Emily asks.
"No, I know they're gone, I have nothing I want to say" Maddie responds.
"Okay, we can stay back here," Penelope assures her, looking at Connor who seems like he doesn't want to.
"Noah?" Emily asks, looking at the boy in her arm and he just looks afraid, and shakes his head. "Okay, Sweetie," Emily says. "JJ," Emily says, gesturing to the little boy.
"Of course," JJ says, as she gently takes Noah from Emily so that Emily can take Kenzie up to the coffins.
Once JJ has Noah Emily takes Kenzie, who seems to be holding onto her hand for dear life, head towards the coffin.
"You don't have to do this, Kenzie," Emily tells her, as she doesn't want Kenzie to do anything that she is not comfortable with.
"I want to," Kenzie says.
"Okay, I'm right here, Honey," Emily tells her and the two of them walk the rest of the way to the coffins. Once they get to the coffins Kenzie let's go of Emily's hand and walks up to the coffins so that she is standing between them; looking between them.
"We didn't deserve what you did to us," Kenzie says, looking between the two coffins. "You never get to hurt us again. we're going to be okay. You not going to get to control who we become," Kenzie says, and once she does, she walks back over to Emily.
"I'm really proud of you, Kenzie," Emily tells her, meaning her words, and in response Kenzie just hugs her.
Once Kenzie and Emily break apart, they walk back over to where the others are.
"Kenz, are you okay?" Penelope asks concerned.
"I think so," Kenzie admits. "I needed to do that," Kenzie reveals, and once she does Penelope walks over and hugs her, a hug which Kenzie responds to.
"Then I'm really proud of you," Penelope says to Kenzie once they break apart. "And I'm really proud of you Maddie for saying that it was something you didn't want to do," Penelope says to Maddie who walked over to her sister.
"How about we go to lunch," Rossi suggest, and Emily looks between Kenzie and Maddie, both of whom look interested
"Sounds good to me," Emily says and after lunch Penelope and Emily proceed to spend the rest of the night, and early evening, having a movie marathon with their kids.
The next morning Penelope has made a big breakfast for the kids so that Kenzie and Maddie are all ready for their first day at their new school; something which both girls are a little nervous about even though they both love school.
"Maddie, Kenz, it's almost time to go, do you want to go get your schoolbags and put on your shoes," Emily says to her girls, as she and Penelope start to clean up their dishes.
"Yes Emily," Kenzie says.
"Yep," Maddie says, and both girls hurry upstairs.
Above five minutes later Maddie and Kenzie, both now fully dressed, and carrying their backpacks, walk back into the main living area.
"Lunches," Penelope says, handing one to each of the girls, who put them in their bags, as Emily finishes getting the three younger children ready.
"Okay, everyone ready?" Emily asks, looking between Noah and Connor.
"Yep!" Noah says, and Connor nods.
"Okay, let's go," Penelope says, and they all head ot the garage, Emily carrying Connor while Penelope has Casey.
A little while after Penelope, Emily and their kids left the house they have gotten to school, unloaded al the kids, and are walking into the front office as they have to have a meeting with the principal.
"Hi, we're here for a meeting with the principal," Penelope says to the receptionists.
"Last name?" The Receptionist asks.
"Prentiss, children's last name is Bennett," Emily answers.
"Of course, I'll see if the principal is ready," The receptionist says, lifting the phone. "Go right in," The receptionist says about a minute later and Emily, Penelope and the kids head into the office.
"Emily and Penelope," The principal greats.
"Yes," Emily says as she and Penelope both shake the hands of the Principal.
"And this must be Mackenzie and Maddison," the principal says, looking between the girls.
"Yes," Kenzie says.
"Welcome to our school, I'm principal Wood. Maddison, you're going to be in Ms Altamura's first grade class, and Mackenzie you're going to be in Ms Nelson's third grade class," Principal Wood explains "I hope you enjoy your time here," Principal Wood explains. "I have these for both of you, they explain everything you need to know about this school," Principal Wood says, handing both Emily and Penelope welcome packs. "We have also have the list of names and pictures of the people who are able to pick up the children and they will not be signed out to anyone else," Principal Wood explains.
"Thank you," Penelope says.
"If you're ready to say goodbye, I will take Maddison and Mackenzie to their classes," Principal Wood says.
"We'll see you this afternoon," Emily says to the girls. "Have a good day," Emily says, before hugging each of the girls.
"You're gonna do great," Penelope says. "Have a great day," Penelope says, before hugging both the girls, just like Emily did. Once Penelope and the girls break apart Kenzie and Maddie go with the principal while Penelope, Emily, and the younger kids head back to the car.
For the rest of the day Penelope and Emily enjoy time with Noah, Connor and Casey. While they enjoy their time with their younger children, they can't help but wonder how their older girls are going with school.
While Emily is sitting on the couch reading to Noah and Connor Penelope is getting ready to go pick up the girls while Casey is upstairs having a nap.
"I'll see you when I get back," Penelope says, giving Emily the baby monitor that she made sure cannot be hacked, and she gives her wife a quick kiss.
"Say bye bye to Pen," Emily says to the boys, and Noah waves.
"Bye Bye Pen," Connor says.
"Bye Connor, Bye Noah," Penelope says, kissing each of the kids heads before leaving.
A little while after she left the house Penelope is waiting at the parents pick up when she sees Kenzie and so she waves to her.
"Hi Penelope!" Kenzie says, sounding excited.
"Sounds like you had a good day," Penelope says, sounding glad.
"It was great!" Kenzie says. "My teachers were really nice, so were the other students, and I got to try a guitar in music! It was great," Kenzie says, feeling beyond happy as for the first time she didn't have to worry about hiding what was going on at home, she was able to just enjoy learning which she loves.
"That's great Honey," Penelope says, and as she does she sees Maddie so she waves at her too. "How was school Mads?" Penelope asks her.
"It was awesome!" Maddie says excited. "Everyone's soo nice and I got to spend lunch in the Art room, it was sooo cool!" Maddie says, looking amazed.
"That's great Sweetheart," Penelope tells her. "Do you girls have homework?" Penelope asks.
"Yep," Maddie says and she is also looking forward to ding it.
"A little bit," Kenzie says.
"Okay, let's sign you both out and go home," Penelope says, as the teacher who is in charge of sign out walks over.
After a car ride where Maddie and Kenzie spent the entire time telling Penelope all about their days the trio are arriving home. Once Penelope parks Emily's car in the garage girls go running into the house.
"Emily! Emily!" Kenzie and Maddie says, both sounding excited.
"Hey Kenz, Maddie," Emily says, feeling beyond glad that they sound more excited and even that it may help them come out of their shells a bit. "How was school?" Emily asks.
"Incredible!" Kenzie says.
"Amazing!" Maddie says.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" Emily asks, assuming that they do.
"Yes!" Kenzie says, and she and Penelope proceed to excitedly tell Emily all about their school day, causing both Penelope and Emily to feel overwhelming joy as they hear how happy their girls are.
The next morning the girls get up even earlier than they have to because they are so excited and so the school drop off occurs without a problem. As they have to pick up Penelope's car in a few hours Penelope and Emily are doing some shopping for things they wanted to be a surprise. As Kenzie and Connor are in the stroller Noah is walking and holding onto Emily's hand.
"Okay, we've got the second set of car seats, and travel bassinets and cots for each of our cars," Penelope says, checking the list she and Emily made. "Next up, the toy shop to get the learning toys we wanted to get and other things, plus the comic books for everyone," Penelope says, knowing they wanted to get some toys for the yard so that the kids could spend time outside.
"Then the arts store for the easel and paints for Mads, and the music shop for Kenz's guitar," Emily says as she and Penelope realized that they were things the girls really wanted but were too afraid to ask for.
"Yep," Penelope says, and once she does Emily stops walking and squats down right in front of Noah.
"Hey Bad, what is something you really want? like really really want?" Emily asks, as while she and Penelope don't intent to spoil the kids, they want to assure they have things that they want, but have never had, and especially things they need.
"A bike!" Noah answers. "I never learnt," Noah reveals. "Kenz got an old bike," Noah explains. "Maddie used it, I didn't," Noah explains. "I wanted to," Noah explains and as he does Penelope and Emily exchange looks.
"Bike huh, I think we can arrange that," Emily says, and in response Noah just hugs her.
Hours later Penelope and Emily have gotten everything they wanted for the kids, have picked up Penelope's car, and put together the bikes. As she went to pick up the girls Emily is jut getting home with them.
"Whose car is that?" Maddie asks, as she sees an unfamiliar bright Red SUV in the garage.
"Pen's new car," Emily explains, as they head into the house, and as they head inside the girls go to head upstairs. "Maddie, Kenzie before heading upstairs can you come into the living room," Emily requests, and after exchanging looks Kenzie and Maddie follow Emily into the living room where the boys are playing on the ground, and Penelope is on the couch holding Casey.
"is everything okay?" Maddie asks concerned.
"Everything's fine, Sweetheart," Penelope assures her, as Kenzie and Maddie sit down.
"We have a couple of things for you," Emily explains, as she grabs one of the presents that Penelope couldn't resist wrapping. "Mads this one is for you," Emily says, handing the gift to the younger girl, before going and grabbing the second one. "Kenz this one is for you," Emily says, handing Kenzie hers before sitting down.
"Open them," Penelope says encouraging, and both girls open the presents. As Kenzie is more excited than her sister, she quickly opens hers to reveal her easel, paints, and a new kids digital camera.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Maddie says excited as she puts down what she unwrapped and hurries over to Penelope and Emily to hug them.
"You're very welcome," Emily says, as she hugs Maddie and kisses her head.
"OH my god!" Kenzie says excited. "A acoustic guitar! And a softball glove and bat!" Kenzie says excited, not noticing the bag to keep the glove and bat in, which has balls. "This is mine?" Kenzie asks amazed.
"Yeah, Sweetie, it's all yours," Emily assures her, and like her sister Kenzie puts the stuff she is looking at down and hurries over to Penelope and Emily to hug them both.
"Thank you!" Kenzie says amazed.
"You're welcome Honey," Penelope tells her. "Now, if you'd like to follow us outside, we have something else to show you," Penelope says, and she and Penelope lead the girls outside.
As they walk outside the girls see, on the deck, a purple bike, a pink bike, a red and blue bike, and a green tricycle. Emily also brought herself a bike which is in the garage; Penelope didn't want one. They also see, in the backyard, a swing set with slide.
"Noah said that you like bikes," Penelope explains.
"We do," Maddie confirms.
"I was thinking we could go for a ride this weekend," Emily explains, knowing it would likely just be.
"Yes please," Kenzie says, looking interested.
"Do you girls have homework?" Penelope asks.
"Yes," Maddie says, and Kenzie nods.
"Then go get it done, you can use your guitar and paints once your homework is done," Emily instructs.
"Yes Emily," Kenzie and Maddie say, before heading back inside.
The next day, after dropping the girls at school, Penelope and Emily are arriving at a local park with Connor, Casey and Noah who they are unloading from the car.
"Ride my trike?" Connor asks Emily as she unloads him from the car.
"Of course, Bud," Emily says, smiling as she has realized that Connor, while still very introverted, is starting to open up a little more.
About five minutes later Penelope, Emily, and the kids are in an area of the park where there are swings. While Casey is in her stroller Connor is on his trike, riding around in a circle, and Noah wants to get on his bike, which has training wheels, but Emily is checking various things.
"Let me check your helmet, make sure it's on right," Emily says, as she goes to check that.
"Em, you've already checked Amore," Penelope says, sounding a little amused, as she likes to see Emily being overprotective towards their kids.
"I just want to double check Babe," Emily says, without looking back at Penelope. "You sure you ready?" Emily asks, as she triple checks to make sure Noah's pants are tucked into his shoes.
"Yes!" Noah says.
"Okay, climb on," Emily says, and Noah does just that. "I'm going to jog right next to you at first, just in case you need me," Emily says, Noah nods before he starts to peddle. As Noah starts to peddle, with Emily jogging beside him, Penelope pulls out her phone and records Emily, Noah, Connor, and even Casey in her Stoller.
Three days have passed since Noah road a bike for the first time and in that time, Casey has officially become two months old, and the kids have had their second therapy appointment. It's a Sunday morning and the entire family is in the kitchen. While Casey is watching what's going while sitting in the capsule which is on a bench the rest of the family are making breakfast together.
"Good boy, Connor, that's how you stir," Emily says, as she helps him, stir the pancake mixture.
"Kenzie do you want to try the flip?" Penelope asks.
"Can I?" Kenzie asks excitedly.
"Sure," Penelope says, and Kenzie walks over to her. "Don't get too close," Penelope says, as she hands Kenzie the spatula, and Kenzie perfectly flips the pancake. "Well done Sweetheart," Penelope says.
"Can I give it a try?" Maddie asks.
"Sure," Penelope says. "How do they taste?" Penelope ask Noah, who is sampling the pancakes.
"Good," Noah answers, as he gets syrup all over his face.
About ten minutes later all of breakfast has been cooked and everyone is in the dining room, rather than the kitchen, eating it.
"Does everything taste good?" Penelope asks the kids.
"Yes!" Maddie and Noah both say.
"It's really good," Kenzie says.
"Really," Connor says, and it is unclear if he is just copying his sister or if he really understands.
"That's good," Emily says. "So, I was thinking we could go on a bike ride, or if you don't want to, Pen has an craft idea we could do that sounds really cool," Emily explains. The reason she is saying both the suggestions is because she and Penelope are trying to encourage the kids to actually say what they want.
"I want to go on a bike ride," Kenzie says, as she has been looking forward to that for days.
"Me too!" Noah says.
"I would like to do crafts but if that's not okay…" Maddie starts to say.
"Of course, it's okay," Penelope assures her. "You, me and Casey can stay here while Em, Kenzie and Noah go on their ride," Penelope explains. "Connor, what would you like to do?" Penelope asks, knowing that Emily has the attachment on her bike to take Connor if he would like.
"Craft!" Connor says.
"Okay. Kenz, Noah, we'll leave after breakfast," Emily says, both kids nod, and they continue their breakfast.
While Emily, Penelope, and the kids spend the morning apart they all spend the afternoon and evening together and they have an incredible time. Even though it has only been two weeks since they met the kids neither Penelope nor Emily can imagine life without them.