Maggie had spoken to Isobel on Sunday about going back to work on Monday but Isobel had told her that the Gold Medal ceremony was on Monday so to wait and come back on Tuesday. Maggie was still feeling a little nervous about the Gold Medal ceremony she knew that it would put her back in the same room as Nestor and honestly she was happy if she never saw him again. She had told Jubal to go to work that she was happy to go to the ceremony on her own, she said she would be collecting her medal and then heading back home but now as she headed to the event she really wished that she had of asked Jubal to join her.
Maggie walked into the small room that it was taking place in and she smiled when John Beckett, the agent that ran Operation Powder was the first person she spotted. John made his way over to Maggie and hugged her gently not sure about how her ribs were healing.
"Maggie it's good to see you, I know that you were hesitant about coming to this and we did put this off for as long as we could."
Maggie smiled honestly as she hugged John back and then stepped back a little "I really appreciate you and Isobel changing this for me, I just needed time with my family last week."
"How are you doing? You went through a lot on this assignment Maggie, so it's okay to take some time."
"I'm doing much better after having time with family, I've decided to go back to work tomorrow, I feel ready and I don't want to put it off any longer."
"Jubal didn't want to join you here today? We had him on the list of guests allowed into the room." Since it was an undercover assignment names had to be put on a list in order to be allowed in to the room. This was to protect the agents as not everyone knew who all was involved with Operation Powder.
"He did but I told him that I was happy to come on my own, I'm planning on just collecting the medal and heading back home."
John nodded, he understood that a lot of agents didn't really like the 'glory' that was associated with getting an award like this and he knew Maggie was one of those agents. Nestor however was the opposite and he wanted everyone to know about his involvement in Operation Powder and that they were getting the gold medal. John had to excuse himself as he had to go and talk to some other people in the room, that was when Nestor took his opportunity to come over to Maggie.
"Maggie, it's so good to see you, you are looking good." He had that smirk that was always on his face when not talking about work "Your boyfriend didn't bother joining you? Or is that all over?."
Maggie noticed that he sounded hopeful when he asked her if her relationship was over "That really is none of your business Nestor."
Nestor titled his head to the side watching her as his smirk grew "Avoiding the question, so things did fall apart? Only natural after hardly seeing each other for five weeks."
Maggie was glad that she was saved from answering Nestor when they were all asked to take their seats, she had to sit in the front row and sighed when Nestor sat down beside her. She really hoped that they got through this ceremony quickly as she really wanted out of that room. John Beckett got up to speak a little about Operation Powder, he had called the other agents involved up first saving Maggie for last.
"We had to fight a little with Agent Bell to accept this award." John chuckled softly as did others in the room "If you have had the pleasure of working with her then you will know that I'm really not lying when I say that Maggie is the best agent that we could have asked for on this case. Maggie I know you aren't about awards or glory but you have earned this Gold medal, your work on Operation Powder is the reason that we were able to make sixteen arrests. So it's an honour to be the Agent that gets to award you the Gold Medal for you extraordinary and exceptional service on Operation Powder."
When Maggie stood up to walk up to John Beckett she could hear a lot of clapping but the whistle caught her attention as she looked to the back of the room and that was when her eyes landed on Jubal. He was standing at the back of the room with Abby standing on one chair and Tyler on another and Isobel was standing with them as well. She couldn't help the large smile and tears that appeared in her eyes when she saw Jubal and the kids clapping so much and cheering as John presented her with the Medal.
John smiled as he presented Maggie with the award "I see your family decided to surprise you. They are very proud of you as they should be."
"Thank you, for everything you done for us on the case, and for your words it made today a little less painful that I thought it was going to be." She chuckled softly.
John patted Maggie on the arm gently before standing back to let her step aside so that she could go see Jubal and the kids, but as she went to move Nestor stepped in front her. "So he's trapping you with kids? I didn't think you were really interested in someone with kids." He smirked looking at her.
"Not being interested in you has got nothing to do with you having kids, I read your file." She knew Nestor was about to ask how she knew about his kids. "You really need to let it go Nestor before you really do regret your words and actions, now excuse me while I go see my family."
Jubal was watching Maggie with Nestor, he had seen him step in front of her and the way that he was smirking at her, but he knew that Maggie could handle herself and he didn't want to cause a scene especially when the kids were there. He smiled as he saw Maggie step away from Nestor and his smile grew when he saw the way her face lit up when her eyes landed on him and the kids again. Jubal lifted the kids down off the chairs so that they were standing safely again on the floor, they stood with Isobel as Jubal stepped towards Maggie.
Maggie smiled as she threw her arms around Jubal's neck hugging him tight "What are you doing here?." The smile could be heard in her voice as she spoke.
Jubal pulled back so that he could look into Maggie's eyes "You really thought that I was going to miss this baby? The only reason that I didn't put up a fight this morning was because I had to go and collect the kids to make it back here in time."
Maggie shook her head smiling "I can't believe you brought the kids, that you three are here. Thank you for coming and for bringing them, I really regretted not asking you to be here."
Jubal leaned in as he kissed Maggie softly, keeping the kiss short as they were in pubic, he lay his forehead gently against hers "Mags there was no way on earth that I was missing today, and I knew that the kids would want to see this. They love you and are so proud of you, the only person that loves you more and is prouder of you than them is their dad."
Maggie smiled lifting her free hand to Jubal's cheek letting her thumb caress his cheek gently "I guess it's really good then that I love their dad more than anything." She smirked playfully as she leaned in stealing a quick kiss from his lips just as she felt someone wrap their arms around her legs making Maggie laugh softly as she leaned down lifting up Abby "Hey sweety."
Abby smiled wrapping her arms around Maggie's neck "I couldn't wait any longer to come say hi."
Maggie chuckled as she looked over Abby's shoulder to see Tyler still standing with Isobel "It's okay sweetheart you can come join us." Maggie handed her medal to Jubal as she reached her free arm out for Tyler who came over straight away hugging Maggie which just made Maggie smile even more. "Aren't you two meant to be at school?." She raised an eyebrow playfully looking at them both.
Abby giggled nodding as Tyler laughed watching his sister before looking at Maggie "Dad said that you were getting a big award today that not many agents get and that we were allowed to come watch and then celebrate with you."
"Well today has been made extra special now that I have you both here with me." Maggie smiled kissing Abby's cheek and Tyler's head.
Jubal had stepped back a little to take a picture of Maggie holding Abby with her other arm wrapped tight around Tyler's shoulders. Isobel came up beside Jubal as she watched Maggie with his kids "I know you told me and Jess about the relationship between Maggie and your kids, and you showed me the picture of Abby and Maggie but seeing it today, you do realise the three of them absolutely adore and love each other?."
Jubal nodded hearing Isobel, glancing at her before back at Maggie and the kids who were talking to her about something, they couldn't hear exactly what was being said. "My sister was right I am a very lucky man to have found someone that my kids love as much as I do. Thank you again for getting the kids added to the list for today, I just couldn't imagine this day for Maggie without them."
Isobel shook her head gently "You really don't have to thank me, seeing Maggie's reaction when she realised that you three were here just showed me that you had made the right call. You really do know her better than anyone else, you knew exactly what she would need today. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it, I know you like to keep your kids out of work related things."
"You went out of your way to help me and Maggie while she was undercover, you gave me time off so that we could be together Thursday and Friday, I know that Maggie would want you here today. We both really do appreciate everything that you have done for us Isobel." Jubal smiled as he watched Maggie walk towards him still carrying Abby and her arm around Tyler.
Maggie smiled looking at Isobel "Thank you for coming today Isobel, it really does mean a lot even though I told Jubal that none of you had to be here." She shook her head laughing looking at Jubal.
"We don't have to be here Maggie, we wanted to be here." Isobel smiled honestly "It's not everyday a member of our team gets awarded the Gold Medal and nothing was stopping Jubal and your two extra cheerleaders here." Isobel smiled looking at Abby and Tyler.
"I do have the best cheer squad I'm not going to argue with you about that." Maggie had such a large smile on her face as she kissed the top of Tyler's head and then Abby's cheek. She still couldn't believe that Jubal had taken them out of school so that they could all be here today, this man was making her fall in love with him even more and she honestly didn't think that was possible.
"I think they were definitely the loudest cheer squad here today." Isobel laughed softly as she watched Maggie, she couldn't stop watching the way that Jubal's kids were snuggled in so tight to her. "Well I'm going to head back to work and let you all enjoy the rest of your day celebrating."
"You are welcome to join us, we are going to take Maggie out for some food and my sister is joining for dessert." Jubal looked at Isobel.
"Aunt Jenny never misses dessert" Abby giggled as she kept hugging Maggie tight.
The adults laughed softly hearing Abby, and Isobel shook her head looking at Jubal "Thank you for the offer, but with you out of the office I need to get back there and you guys should enjoy this day as a family."
Maggie had noticed that Jubal, Isobel, and herself included had been calling them a family a lot the last few days, she knew she saw the kids as her own family, but to hear Jubal and Isobel see them as the same way made her so happy. Maggie took her arm from around Tyler briefly so that she could step forward and hug Isobel thanking her once again for everything.
Isobel headed back to work and Jubal took Maggie and the kids out for dinner, they had gone somewhere kid friendly and Maggie was more than okay with that as it meant she was getting to be with three of her favourite people. She hadn't stopped smiling since she had spotted Jubal and the kids at the ceremony. They had decided to pick up dessert and head back to their apartment where Jenny joined them to join in the final celebrations.
Jubal had dropped the kids back to their mums while Jenny had stayed with Maggie to keep her company as they chatted about Maggie going back to work tomorrow. When Jubal had come back home they said goodnight to Jenny and they called it a night as it had been a long day and they wanted to curl up together and enjoy their time together before having to fall asleep.