Undercover Family

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I do not own or have connection with the "Criminal Minds" program or its characters.

Chapter 23.

It is a several weeks before school starts and our family is going on vacation to Washington DC. They are going to visit grandma and grandpa. But they are not taking the car; they will be flying a commercial flight leaving from Rockford. Momma packs the big suitcase with her clothes as well as the two little boys, she had bought a new suitcase for Emily when the family celebrated her birthday, the girls are taking their American dolls and packs as well as their own suitcases, Penelope has been reduced in age again in order to be able to get a less expensive seat on the plane. David and Derek have their own suitcases and backpacks. Uncle Bob will be going with the family to DC and is bringing his own suitcase. Before they left for the airport, momma had a talk with Spencer again about using pull-ups while flying, he hates the idea of using pull-ups during the day and the fact that there have been times when momma has been right and needed to use them is frustrating and irritating to him. He agrees to travel in them but that doesn't mean he likes it. She gives him a big hug for being such a big boy. As he says, "If I am such a big boy, why do you make me wear pull-ups." Her response, "Because I like having you as my big little boy."

They get on the plane first because they need extra time to settle in. They will sit in row sections of three seats, with the boys in one row, girls behind them and momma with Aaron and Uncle Bob. Because Aaron is under two, he has to sit on momma's lap during takeoff and landing, she actually has purchased a harness seat belt for him to sit on her lap. We do still have to be careful of Spencer, because he still has a broken arm.

When they arrive in DC, they are met by a large van that grandpa has rented for the time when the family is there. In the van there is a booster seat for Spencer and a car seat for Aaron. Emily gets to sit in a regular seat with a lap belt. They load up the suitcases and the kids get into their seats. Grandpa did not drive but actually had a driver pick them up and will be bringing them to the house. When they arrive at the house, no one is there to meet them, but that is because they have not yet been placed under the illusion of being grandparents. Momma will meet them later to place the devices upon them. The family goes into the house and their bags are taken to the appropriate rooms of girls, boys, momma and Bob. The interesting twist will be the people that have been hired for the vacation time seem to be people that our agents know. It is late when they arrive, so the kids just get ready for bed and to sleep. The boys' room has a triple bunk bed and a crib in it with two large dressers, changing table and a deep closet. The girls' room has a triple bunk bed and two large dressers, vanity table and a deep closet. Momma's room has a full size bed, large dresser, vanity table and closet, while Bob's room is similar to hers, except with a desk not a vanity table.

The next morning, Aaron wakes first and is about to call to wake momma, when he realizes that he is in a different crib and momma wasn't anywhere he could see. He doesn't remember when they got to the house or being put to bed. Suddenly scared, he closes his eyes and screams. Three bodies jolt out of bed and rush over to the crib.

David touches Aaron, who screams louder, "Aaron, open your eyes, you're okay, it's David. Come on buddy, open your eyes and look at me." David's voice begins to penetrate and Aaron opens his eyes, once he sees David and the guys, he stops screaming.

He says, "Oh, hi guys, I'm sorry I woke you up. It was the strange place and I didn't see momma sleeping and I just got scared."

"Yeah, we figured the baby took over. We are in grandma and grandpa's house. We got here last night, you were sleeping and they just put you to bed. Momma doesn't sleep in here with us and you are with the boys now." The door opens and momma comes in, with the girls, Bob and Grandma and Grandpa not far behind. Aaron feels bad now because he woke the whole house up. Momma picks him and cuddles him; she hugs each of her boys as well and turns to meet her 'parents'.

"Good morning, not quite the way I wanted you and the children to meet."

"To Meet! I sent these agents on this undercover assignment. Of course, we really had never planned on meeting as a family."

"Yes, director that you did and no you hadn't planned on meeting them as children." Grandma and Grandpa are the Director of the FBI and Section Chief Erin Strauss. "But I had."

"That's why we set all this up. Who woke me up?"

Aaron, still in momma's arms, says, "I did sir."

"Agent Hotchner," Aaron stiffens up in momma's arms, "I hope that is not going to be our normal wake up call. I do prefer my alarm clock."

"I shall try not to do it again sir."

Spencer pipes up, "It is not really his fault, I mean he just woke up in a strange place and things were different that's all and the … um… device took over. Yeah, the device."

"The device took over." Says Grandma.

"Yes, ma'am, sometimes the device causes us to do things that we would not normally do."

"Like scream."

"Yeah, like scream when you are scared and don't know where you are."

Momma says, "Okay, before we start saying things we don't need to say, let us get dressed and meet downstairs for breakfast. We can talk about things then." She turns and takes Aaron to the changing table. This is one person who doesn't get intimidated by powerful and political people. Remember, she's the boss. The other members of the family leave to go to their rooms and get dressed.

Downstairs, there is a breakfast of crepes, Belgian waffles and juice. Momma puts Aaron in the high chair and set up a small plate of crepes for him. She ate some herself and made sure that Spencer had a good amount to eat, since he has only one hand to eat with.

Momma looks up and addresses the director, "Director, don't ever do that again." Every face looks toward her.

"Excuse me, Rebecca."

"Do not forget your role in this assignment again."

"I forgot my role?!?"

"Yes, when you called Aaron, Agent Hotchner, you forgot the role that you are now his grandfather, not his boss or the director of any agency that he may be a part of. Do not forget that role again with any of these children. Remember, you are not wearing a illusion device because we felt it would not be prudent for you to change your appearance and go deep undercover, but do not make the mistake that these children are not under an illusion. You do see them as children, not adults, remember that perspective and do not forget your role. They can serve you well right now as they perfect and live their roles. Aaron has had a difficult time in trying to keep that baby that he portrays from overcoming him completely, do not push it. Each one of them has strengths and weaknesses that can be exploited and used for your purposes, let us try to utilize that knowledge and remember why you agreed to this assignment for them and for yourself." The director looks strongly at this woman berating him and yet knows that what she is saying is accurate.

"You are correct and I am sorry Aaron, I must remember that each of you in actually acting the ages that you look like to me. In using your title, I was trying to assert my boss authority over you and remind you of whom I am instead of me remembering who I am to each of you young people and I am sorry Aaron."

He replies, "It is okay sir, no harm done."

"Call me grandpa."

"Okay, grandpa."

Grandma speaks up and says, "We are having a party this afternoon, to celebrate the arrival of our daughter and grandchildren. The party starts at 3:00, I want everyone well rested and looking like the sweet wonderful children I know you are. Aaron, I would suggest a nap right after lunch."

"Don't worry Aaron and Spencer always have naps after lunch."

The rest of the morning was a time of getting to know you between the children and grandparents. The kids told them about what they did over the summer, the games they played, the places they went to and the toys and stuff they bought. Spencer showed his Spunky to grandpa, who liked the frog magician. The children were teaching how to be grandparents to them and to show how they have been able to work on their roles and be the children that the illusion created for them.

At 11:30, the family sets down for a lunch of macaroni and cheese and sandwiches. After lunch, Spencer, Aaron, Emily, and Derek are put down for naps and the other children begin to prepare for the party by cleaning up and working to stay clean. After thirty minutes, Derek gets up and cleans up and begins to dress. The boys will be dressed in dark blue suits that are identical to each other, except that Aaron's will have snaps down the interior leg. The will wear a light blue button down shirt and a tie that is similar in style but different in color for each boy. The girls will be dressed in a royal blue dress with three ruffles all along the edge of the hem and a sash around their waist. There will be a ruffle around the neckline which sits just above the breast. The girls' hair is curled and styled into genie style ponytails and banana curls. Each child that was napping gets up and is dressed with Aaron waking last and dressed just before the start of the party. Each of the adults is also dressed in similar colored suits and dresses, although the women's dresses are less ruffled, they do match with their girls.

A photographer has been hired and pictures of the family are taken just before the arrival of guests. Pictures of the children with momma, with their grandparents and as just children are taken. Cameras and videos are fooled by the illusion devices only by the addition of a special lens that is attached to the camera; otherwise they show the actuality of the situation, except that the proportion is maintained as the illusion. After the pictures, the children are introduced to the guests and people begin to mingle around the large garden area. Along one side are tables of food and eating utensils, with servers standing there and mingling through the guests. There are seating arrangements spread around the garden.

The children are mingling around the area and Aaron goes over to the food table and looks at all the food spread around the table. His problem is that he can barely reach the top of the table, let alone get any of the food on it. But he is hungry. He pulls down on the skirt on the table to see if he can pull any food closer.

When a hand reaches out and stops him. He turns his head and looks at a familiar pair of eyes.