Because Halloween is just around the corner(okay, it's at the end of next month), I thought this chapter would be appropriate. Thanks to all my readers.
The summer months passed quickly. It seemed like the team was spending more time away than they were at home. They did manage to have the Fourth of July off. Hotch hosted a cook-out at his house. They were able to see fireworks from there when it got dark.
Skylar was doing very well in her schoolwork. She picked up on the subjects quickly, even reading, and her tutor was sure she would have no problem keeping up. Ms. Henderson would have her write short sentences about what she read to make sure she was actually reading and understanding what she read. She also developed a way for Skylar to participate on her online classes.
It was the first week in October and the trees in the area were beginning to turn different colors. It wasn't cold but one could definitely tell fall had arrived in town. It was what Mrs. Nichols called sweater weather.
That Friday afternoon, Skylar was sitting in Penelope's office. Dave had taken Wednesday and Thursday off because Mrs. Nichols was sick but couldn't get out of a meeting Friday afternoon so he had brought Skylar with him. The tech analyst had agreed to keep an eye on her until he was through. At the moment, the little girl was practicing her writing.
"Very good," Penelope said as she watched. "You are going to be a champion speller. Are you through?" Skylar nodded and closed her book. "Good," she said, standing. She pulled a box from under the table. "You can help me decorate." Skylar looked confused. "For Halloween," she explained. She started pulling things out of the box.
Skylar watched with wide eyes as spiders, witches, black cats and skeletons came into view. She had never seen anything like it before. She knew what Halloween was but the institute hadn't been big on holiday celebrations other than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even those weren't big deals because most of the patients went home for the holidays. The only holiday she had really celebrated was Independence Day and that was after her father had found her.
"Do you know what you want to be on Halloween?" Penelope asked when she took a break from decorating for a few minutes. That got another confused look. "Didn't you dress up in that place?" Skylar shook her head. It took everything Penelope had not to let any tears run down her cheeks. "Well, on Halloween, everyone dresses up in costumes. The kids go around to different houses and parties and people give them candy and treats." Skylar's eyes went wide and her mouth formed an 'O'.
"Now," Penelope continued, "we have to figure out what you would like to dress up as. Any ideas?" Skylar thought for a few moments, a look of concentration on her face. Suddenly, she smiled. "Figured it out?" she asked. The little girl nodded and pointed at her. The woman looked confused. "I'm not sure I understand," she said. Skylar pointed at her again and Pen's eyes went wide. "You want to be me?" Skylar nodded. "Okay, if that's what you want," Pen said. "We'll go out this weekend and see if we can find you a costume."
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Enter if you dare, mortal," Pen called out.
The door opened and Dave walked into the lair. "There's my favorite lady," he said.
"Thank you, Super Agent," Pen smiled. That made Skylar giggle.
"Very funny," Dave said with a smile. "Thanks for watching the monkey here while I was in the meeting." Skylar huffed at being called a monkey.
"Not a problem," Pen said. "We were just discussing Halloween costumes."
"Oh?" Dave said. "And what did you decide on?" Skylar just crossed her arms and shook her head. "You're not going to tell me?" he asked. She shook her head again. He looked at Pen. "What about you?"
"Evidently, it's a surprise," Pen said.
Skylar holds out her hand and makes a gimme motion. Dave sighed and pulled out his wallet. "Why do all the females in my life want credit cards?" he asked, taking out the one with Penelope's name on it and handing it to his daughter. She, in turn, handed it to Pen.
"If it's okay, I'll take Skylark out tomorrow to go costume shopping," Pen said.
"It's okay with me," Dave said. He looked out his daughter. "You ready to go?" he asked. Skylar nodded and shoved her things into her bag. Getting up, she gave Pen a hug then walked over to her father. They said their goodbyes and left.
Costume shopping was not going well. None of the stores Pen and Skylar visited had anything either of them liked. Both of them were getting frustrated. Finally, they were sitting in the car, wondering what they would do next. Suddenly, Pen snapped her fingers.
"I have an idea," she said. "Let's go to lunch then head to another store I think would be perfect."
The store Pen had in mind was a sewing store. Pen decided it would be easier for her to make Skylar's costume than search any more stores. By the time they left the store, they had everything they needed for her costume as well as a surprise for everyone else as well.
The community center near Penelope's apartment was having a Halloween party a couple of days before the actual holiday. She managed to talk the team into attending. Hotch, Dave and JJ weren't that difficult since they had kids but she had to plead hard to get Derek, Spencer and Emily to come.
The evening of the party arrived and everyone but Skylar and Penelope were sitting at a table in the community center. Jack had come as a pirate and Henry was a cowboy. They were more than ready for the party to start.
Derek looked around. "Rossi, where's your daughter?" he asked.
"With our favorite tech goddess," Dave said, "wherever that is."
"So what is Skylar's costume?' Emily asked.
"I have no idea," Dave admitted. "They wouldn't tell me or let me see it. It's a surprise. She won't even give me the receipts until tomorrow."
"The receipts?" JJ asked as she checked Henry's costume one last time.
"Skylar has a trust fund from her maternal grandparents," Dave explained. "It doesn't matter what it gets spent on as long as it's for her and I have the receipts. I have a credit card for the account so does Penelope and my housekeeper." The others looked at him. "They don't keep them, I do. They take them when they need them."
Just then Derek looked over and smiled. "There's Baby Girl," he said.
The others followed his line of sight. Penelope was walking toward them and she was definitely dressed for Halloween. Her skirt was black with orange polka dots and her top was orange with black polka dots. She was wearing a black sweater and black heels with orange bows. She had a clear headband with black and orange ribbons in her hair. Even her glasses were orange. What they didn't see was Skylar.
"Mama, you are definitely ready for the holiday," Derek said. "You do look good."
"Thank you, my Chocolate God," she smiled back. "I do have fun with the holiday."
"Kitten," Dave said.
"Yes, Super Agent?" she asked.
"It's a small thing," he shrugged, "but where's my daughter?"
Penelope turned and waved at someone standing at the door who waved back then opened the door. "Here she comes," she said. A moment later, the little girl walked through the door.
The group watched silently as Skylar made her way to the table. She was wearing an duplicate of Penelope's outfit. The only difference was that, instead of heels, she was wearing black patent leather shoes with orange bows and orange and black socks. She walked up next to her twin and slipped her hand into hers. Both females gave the table a big smile.
"So what do you think?" Penelope asked.
"You two look great," Emily said.
"Penelope, you have outdone yourself," Hotch said, giving them a small smile.
"Thank you, boss man," she said with a small curtsy.
"Mama, did you find a cloning machine?" Derek smiled.
"I've always wanted a mini me," Pen chuckled.
Skylar walked over and stood in front of her father. "This is definitely not a costume I was expecting," he said. "You look great." She threw her arms around him and they hugged.
"Daddy, is it time to play games now?" Jack asked.
"I think so, buddy," Hotch said.
"The games are in here and the next room," Penelope said. "There's a band in another room. If you're hungry, they're selling hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and the like in the dining area. That's the only thing they charge for. The games are all free. Be free, my loves." The group got up and headed for the games.
Dave stopped next to Penelope. "Thank you," he told her.
"You're more than welcome," she said. "I'd do anything for that little girl." Dave gave her a smile and a kiss on her cheek before heading for the games.
The next morning, when Penelope walked into her lair, she gasped. Sitting on her desk, there was a small, colorful bouquet in a Cinderella vase. She walked over and picked up the card. Opening it, she read it and smiled.
Every girl needs her
own fairy godmother.
Thank you.
Dave
TBC...
Okay, in the next chapter, the defecation begins to hit the rotating oscilator. See that little button down there? It needs some lovin' and would loved to be stroked.
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