Chapter 151
AN: Sorry about the break, I will try to be more regular with updates, but I can't make any promises. Hope you like this chapter.
Two days have passed since Emily returned from the latest case and ever since the family of seven have been doing their best to enjoy their time together.
It is Sunday morning, that also happens to be Noah's fifth birthday, even though Noah's park birthday party isn't going to be for a few hours Penelope and Emily are both awake, and heading to Noah's room, carrying the birthday presents they got him.
"We didn't get too much did we?" Emily asks, as they walk towards Noah's room.
"No, not at all," Penelope says, as they get to Noah's room; though her wife should know that in her opinion there is no such thing as too much.
As Penelope and Emily get to Noah's room they quietly enter and head towards Noah's bed. Once they are close enough, they both gently put down the presents they are holding, Emily turns on the light next to Noah's bed, and Penelope sits down on the edge of the bed.
"Noah, wake up, Bud," Penelope says, gently shaking him.
"Mama? Mom?" Noah asks, as Emily squats down next to him.
"Yeah Bud, Happy Birthday," Emily says, sounding excited.
"It's my birthday," Noah says, sounding shocked as usually Kenzie does something for him for his birthday but that's it; he's never really had a real celebration.
"Yeah, it is," Penelope tells him. "Do you want to open your presents?" Penelope asks him.
"I got presents?" Noah asks, and Emily and Penelope both hate that there is so much amazement in his voice.
"Yeah, you did," Emily assures him, and then she moves slightly. "See," Emily says, showing Noah the presents that are all wrapped in Avengers wrapping paper.
"All mine?" Noah asks amazed.
"All yours," Penelope assures him, and once she does Noah quickly climbs over Penelope, hugging her as he does, then he hugs Emily and hurries over to his presents which he hurriedly starts to open while Penelope and Emily watch on; and in Penelope's case take photos and video.
A couple of hours after Penelope and Emily woke up Noah the three of them, Kenzie, Maddie, Casey, and Connor are at the park setting up everything for Noah's birthday party.
"This looks so amazing," Noah says amazed. "Thank you, Mom," Noah says, hugging Emily. "Thank you, Mama," he says, hugging Penelope.
"I've got to agree with Noah, everything looks great," A voice says, and they turn to see Rossi with, Joy, Shawn, and Kai. It having been Rossi who spoke. All three of the adults are carrying extra food that Rossi made.
"Kai!" Noah says excited.
"Glad you think so, Dad," Penelope comments.
"Happy Birthday," Kai says as he hands Noah the present.
"What do we say Bud?" Emily asks, as Penelope and Joy hug.
"Thank you," Noah says, as he accepts the present. "I have a present table," Noah says to Kai. "Want to see?" he asks and Kai nods so the boys head over to the nearby table where Noah is putting all his presents.
As Rossi and Penelope start to put all the food in suitable positions Joy walks up to Emily.
"I'm glad you made it," Emily says to Joy.
"Me too," Joy responds. "So, any word about whether Stephen is going to come?" Joy asks curious, as she has been getting some updates about what's been going on, and while she doesn't know everything she knows enough to be concerned about her big sister.
"Honestly, I'm not sure," Emily admits. "But I think he will," she reveals, as she suspects that Stephen won't let Noah suffer because he's not talking to Penelope. In fact, she would be pretty sure of that considering the beliefs he has about children of BAU members.
"We'll see," Joy says. Honestly, after the way he acted in San Francisco Joy isn't as sure as Emily.
"Morgan!" Maddie's excited voice says and Emily and Joy turn to see Morgan, Savannah and Hank walking towards them. "Mama, Mom! Morgan's here," Maddie says excited, and Morgan who heard what Maddie referred to Penelope and Emily as can't help but smile.
"I see that Mads," Emily says smiling, as she walks over to the Morgan's. "Hi Savanah, Hi Hank," Emily greats.
"What? Don't I get a hello?" Morgan asks in a teasing voice.
"Of course, you do," Emily says, giving Morgan a hug, as Penelope walks over to great the Morgan's family too.
Over the next fifteen or so minutes the other members of the BAU, their children, and some of Noah's friends arrive and Noah's party can get started.
A little while after Morgan and his family arrived Noah's fifth birthday is in full swing. Just like Emily suspected Stephen does arrive, but by the time he does Penelope and Emily have been so busy that they haven't had a chance to talk to him. Something that isn't helped by the fact that Stephen is avoiding both of them.
While most of the kids are running down and having fun, Connor isn't. He is sitting with Reid, and Reid is reading him a book, which is fun for him. As Reid reads, he is distracted by a yell, so he looks up, but he sees that it's just Kenzie, Henry, and Jake playing chasey.
"The day is over…" Connor says, and for a few seconds Reid is confused about what Connor is saying, but then he realizes.
"Connor, did you just read?" Reid asks amazed.
"Yep," Connor says. "I can read," Connor reveals. "and Tom asked if he could run, he wanted to run," Connor reads perfectly.
"That's right," Reid says, feeling incredibly proud. "Let's go find your moms they're going to be so proud," Reid says, closing the book.
"Really?" Connor asks, sounding disbelieving.
"Really," Reid says as he stands up, carrying Connor and the two of them go in search of Penelope and Emily.
After a little bit of looking, as there are a lot of people around, Reid finds Emily and Penelope getting Noah's cake ready.
"Emily, Penelope!" Reid says excited as he hurries towards them.
"Reid? What's wrong?" Emily asks concerned.
"Connor can read!" Reid says excited.
"What?" Penelope and Emily both ask, both sounding confused, as they exchange surprised looks.
"I was reading to Connor, and I got distracted, so he decided to read to me, and he can read!" Reid says excitedly. "And not just an easy passage!" Reid says excited.
"Oh my god," Emily says amazed, as while they have been suspected that Connor is gifted it is something else to get it confirmed like this, as Penelope takes Connor from Reid.
"Oh, I'm so proud of you Bud," Penelope says, as she holds Connor and kisses his head.
"Me too," Emily assures her son, also leaning over and kissing his head.
"Thank you," Connor says, with a proud look, as Penelope continues to cuddle him.
"You look really busy," Reid realizes. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Reid asks curious, and Penelope and Emily exchange looks.
"There really is," Penelope says.
"Can you tell everyone that we're going to do the cake in about five minutes," Emily requests.
"Sure," Reid says, and he goes to do that, while Penelope and Emily both get everything all set up.
About five minutes after Reid went to let everyone know that it was almost time for the cake everyone is standing around the table. As the group stand around the table Noah in the middle, right in front of his Avengers cake, with Penelope and Emily standing either side as Rossi holds Casey and Joy holds Connor while Shawn is holding Kai. Kenzie and Maddie are also standing close to their brother as they want to help him celebrate; both feeling thrilled that he is getting the party he has never gotten before.
"Okay, we're going to sing and then you get to blow out your candles," Penelope tells Noah.
"And when you blow out your candles you make a wish, for whatever you want, but you don't tell anyone," Emily tells Noah, and as all of the adults understand why Penelope and Emily would be explaining the process to Noah they can't help but feel sad.
"Okay! I know what I'm going to wish for!" Noah says, sounding determine.
"That's great Bud," Penelope assures him.
"Happy Birthday to you," Rossi starts and everyone else joins in. "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday dear Noah, happy birthday to you," Everyone sings and once they do Noah blows out his candles. After Noah blows out his candles both Penelope and Emily hug him and JJ gets and perfect picture of the three of them. After breaking apart from Penelope and Emily Noah hugs both his big sisters, both of whom are extremely happy for him.
"Okay, who wants cake?" Emily asks.
"Me!" Basically, everyone yells, as unknown to everyone but Tara, Stephen leaves, and Noah gets hugs from all the members of the BAU, plus Will, Kristy, Joy, Shawn, Morgan, and Savannah.
After a night where Noah didn't want to go to bed because he didn't want his birthday to end. Penelope, Emily, and all of the kids are having breakfast on what is the first Monday of school holidays. As they eat breakfast Kenzie and Maddie realize that they have no idea what's going to happen today.
"Mom, what are going to do today?" Kenzie asks curious, deciding to ask.
"Well, you're all going to come into work with Mama and I," Emily answers.
"Really?" Maddie and Noah ask, sounding excited.
"Really," Penelope confirms, as they weren't able to get alternative care until later in the week. "But there are some rules you have to follow," Penelope explains.
"What kind of rules?" Noah asks.
"No running off, or going somewhere without telling me, or Mama," Emily explains. "If Spencer, Dave, JJ, Matt, Tara, or Luke tell you to do something listen to them like it was Mama or I telling you," Emily explains. "But don't go anywhere with anyone other than them or us," Emily explains, as they are the people she trusts.
"Yes Mom," Noah, Kenzie, Maddie, and Connor answer.
"The BAU is where Mom and I work, and there are a lot of other people who work there, so remember inside voices, and try not to run around," Penelope explains to the kids.
"Yes Mama," Kenzie, Maddie, Noah and Connor answer.
"Can I read with Spencer?" Connor asks curious.
"Of course you can, and he is very much looking forward to doing that with you," Emily reveals, knowing that for a fact.
"I want to show Tara my pictures," Maddie reveals.
"I want to talk soccer with JJ and Luke," Noah reveals.
"That all sounds like great ideas," Penelope says. "What about you, Kenz? What do you want to do?" Penelope asks.
"Can I learn more about the BAU?" Kenzie asks curious, sounding a little nervous. "See what you both do?" Kenzie asks, causing Penelope and Emily to exchange looks.
"Sure," Emily answers.
"And you know, if you ask him Dave might be willing to tell you all about the history of the BAU," Penelope reveals.
"Really?" Kenzie asks, looking excited.
"Really," Emily confirms, being pretty sure Dave would love that, and everyone continues breakfast, all of the kids feeling incredibly excited about going to work with Penelope and Emily while Penelope and Emily are a little nervous about how things are going to go.
A little while after they told the kids that they would be spending the day at the BAU Penelope, Emily, and the kids are walking out of the elevator and onto the sixth floor together.
"Remember what we said, don't run off," Emily, who is carrying Casey, says as they walk towards the glass doors,
"Yes Mom," Kenzie, Maddie, Noah and Connor say, as they get to the doors and walk through.
Despite Emily's words as soon as they walk through the glass doors the kids hurry off in different directions, but to their credit they don't run. Connor goes straight to Reid. Noah goes straight to JJ and Luke, Maddie goes straight to Tara and Luke, while Kenzie hurries up to Rossi's office.
"So much for not running off," Emily says, sounding amused.
"They didn't run," Penelope points out, sounding amused.
"True," Emily admits.
"Do you want me to take Case?" Penelope asks.
"Yeah, I have a meeting," Emily says, handing the carrier over to Penelope. "We did the right thing bringing them in, right?" Emily asks concerned.
"Yeah, we did," Penelope says, believing that and she and Emily head in different directions. Even though Penelope has to spend time in her office she plans to make sure she is checking on the kids a lot.
After a day where the kids spent time with various members of the BAU, and time in both Penelope and Emily's offices, they are all driving home in Emily's car.
"Mama, your office is so cool," Maddie says amazed as she absolutely loves Penelope's office.
"Mom, did you know that Dave started the BAU in a basement?" Kenzie asks, sounding amazed.
"I did actually," Emily says, exchanging looks with Penelope.
"Dave said that tomorrow he would give me a tour of where the BAU started, is that okay?" Kenzie asks, and Penelope and Emily exchange looks, having a conversation without words.
"Sure," Penelope answers.
"Awesome," Kenzie says, sounding glad.
"Mom, Luke and Matt told me about all the cool places they have been, have you been to cool places?" Noah asks curious.
"We have," Emily confirms.
"Can you tell me about them?" Noah asks.
"Sure Bud," Penelope tells him. "How about you Connor? What did you and Spencer get up to today?" Penelope asks curious.
"Spencer and Tara are teaching me chess, it's really fun," Connor reveals.
"It is," Emily confirms.
"Do you play Mom?" Connor asks.
"I have," Emily answers. "Mama has too," Emily explains.
"We have to play," Connor says.
"I'm sure we will," Penelope says, amused. "So how does Pasta sound for dinner?" Penelope asks curious.
"Yes!" the four older kids say, sounding excited, as Emily continues to drive.
After spending a second day with Penelope, Emily, and her siblings at the BAU, an experience Maddie has loved, she is sound asleep in her bed. However, her peaceful sleep is soon interrupted by horrible dreams. In her dreams Maddie experiences losing Penelope and Emily repeatedly.
"Mama! Mom!" Maddie yells, finally waking up after experiencing multiple iterations of losing Penelope and Emily. Even though she realizes that she is in her room, and therefore everything she just experienced was a dream, Maddie can't believing it and so she hurries out of her bed, out of her room, and goes straight to Penelope and Emily's room. "Mom? Mama?" Maddie asks as she opens the door to Penelope and Emily's room a little.
"Maddie? What's wrong sweetheart?" Emily asks, as Penelope turns on the light and in response Maddie just runs towards the bed, climbs on and climbs up to where Penelope and Emily are and hugs them both as she starts to cry; an action which causes both Penelope and Emily to exchange concerned looks.
"Mads, talk to us, what happened?" Penelope asks concerned.
"I had a nightmare that I kept losing you and Mom," Maddie explains through her tears.
"Oh Sweetie, we're not going anywhere. We're right here," Emily promises, as she moves closer to Maddie, hating that she is in so much pain, and putting her arm around Maddie.
"Mom's right Mads. We're not going anywhere," Penelope promises, as she also puts an arm around Maddie.
"Can I sleep in here tonight?" Maddie asks curious.
"Of course, you can," Emily says, moving the blanket so that it covers Maddie too. "You're safe, Maddie, we're all safe," Emily assures her before kissing Maddie's head, and over the next few minutes Maddie calms down before finally falling asleep.
After a night where neither Emily nor Penelope got much sleep due to both of them being worried about Maddie, the kids are at the BAU for the third time.
While Penelope is in the roundtable room with the four older kids doing a craft activity with them, and also working on her laptop, while Emily, who just fed and changed Kenzie, is standing just outside the glass doors near the elevator watching Penelope and the kids.
"Emily?" Tara's voice asks, and Emily turns to see her walking towards her.
"I'm not spying," Emily says, as she knows what the look on Tara's face means.
"Then what are you doing?" Tara asks curious, as she smiles at Casey and plays with her hand.
"Okay, I'm spying," Emily admits, with a sigh.
"Do you want to talk about why?" Tara asks curious.
"Yeah, I really, really do, but Penelope isn't talking," Emily admits, a level of frustration to her voice.
"What do you mean she's not talking?" Tara asks curious, as from her perspective Penelope seems to be talking a lot.
"Ever since the abduction Pen isn't okay, but she won't talk about it," Emily admits. "She's barely sleeping, but insists that she's fine," Emily explains.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize," Tara admits.
"That's because Pen doesn't want anyone to know she's not okay," Emily admits. "Tomorrow the kids will be with the Nanny, and Friday Reid's class has been cancelled so he wants to be babysit, so I am hoping that I can actually get Pen to talk to me," Emily admits; honestly it does help her to be able to talk about how concerned she is.
"If there is anything I can do, let me know," Tara requests.
"I will, thanks Tara," Emily says gratefully, and Tara reaches out and squeezes Emily's shoulder in support before walking into the bullpen. After Tara walks away Emily just continues to watch her wife, feeling amazed that Penelope can see so okay when she is with their kids, when Emily knows that she is so far from okay.
Two days later Emily's plan to talk to Penelope when the kids are at home didn't exactly work as they ended up getting busy with a local case. After a couple of long days Penelope and Emily are arriving back home. As soon as they get out of Emily's car in the garage, they hear the sounds of all the kids laughing.
"That's a really good sound," Penelope comments.
"It really is," Emily confirms, and the two of them head into the main house.
As Penelope and Emily walk into the main house, they find Reid, and the older kids playing around in the main living area while Casey looks on.
"This looks like fun," Emily comments, sounding amused as Reid is tickling Kenzie and Maddie, while Noah and Connor are grabbing onto his legs; Noah looking very much like he is trying to climb Reid.
"MOM!" Kenzie and Noah yell.
"MAMA!" Maddie and Connor yell, and all four of the kids run over and hug Penelope and Emily.
"Spencer is so cool!" Kenzie yells.
"Can he stay with us again?" Maddie asks curious.
"I think that's up to Spencer," Penelope answers, as she and Emily would be more than oaky with that, as Reid nods enthusiastically. "Spence, you're staying for dinner, aren't you?" Penelope asks.
"Definitely," Reid answers, and all the kids look excited, and hurry back over to Reid.
As the kids continue to play with Reid, something which seems good for all of them, Penelope and Emily head over to the kitchen and get started on dinner.
After their usual Saturday of Therapy Morning, and movie night, Penelope and Emily have gotten all the kids to bed and are in their room together. As Emily walks into their bedroom from their shared bathroom she sees Penelope sitting on their bed, staring at her postcard wall.
Being able to tell the look on Penelope's face that she isn't okay, something which doesn't surprise Emily, she walks over and sits down next to her wife, taking her hand.
"Are you going to talk? Or are you going to keep pretending that you're okay?" Emily asks her wife.
"I'm fine," Penelope says, standing up.
"No, you're not," Emily tells her.
"Really? I think I would know," Penelope says, sounding annoyed.
"Well you know what. I know you Pen," Emily tells her. "I know you better than I know myself; so, I know when you're not okay," Emily admits. "And it hurts to know that you're not okay, and that you're not talking to me," Emily admits.
"Maybe I don't want to talk because it will just make things worse," Penelope says annoyed.
"We both know that's not true," Emily says.
"And now you're being a hypocrite, because we both know that if the situations were reversed you wouldn't talk," Penelope tells her wife.
"I'm talking now," Emily responds. "I'm admitting that I'm worried about you," Emily says. "I'm not the one shutting down, Babe," Emily says.
"This isn't me shutting down," Penelope tells her wife. "This is me, not wanting to dwell on the bad," Penelope says. "Why can't you understand that?" Penelope asks, raising her voice a little.
"Because I love you," Emily says, and as she does Casey wakes up and starts to cry.
"I've got her," Penelope says, knowing its time to feed Casey, and so she walks over to her.
"Pen…" Emily starts to say.
"Casey needs a feeding," Penelope says, picking up Casey and heading out of their room. As she watches Penelope go Emily can't help but sigh, as that got her nowhere and she isn't sure what else to do to get Penelope to open up to her.