All at once the world can overwhelm me,
There is almost nothing that you can tell me that could ease my mind.
Which way would you run?
When it is always all around you and the feeling lost and found you again,
A feeling that we have no control…
Jack Johnson – All At Once
Chapter VIII – First Times
"Brady do you remember what I told you earlier?" The redhead asked and closed the laces of his blue Chuck Taylors. She was still wondering how well he would take it calling her mom and Gibbs dad, since his real parents passed away barely a week ago. From that point on everything happened in a rush and now they were up north in Vermont, more than 500 miles away from Washington D.C.. "About what you call Jethro and me in front of others?"
"Yes, I do." The blonde child replied reluctantly and a split second later he was hugging Caitlin, surprising her with his sudden and unexpected emotional outburst. "I miss momma and dad…"
"That´s totally alright, honey… I miss my family and friends too, but we can only talk about them when we are alone." The red-haired woman replied and hugged the young boy back. "It´s weird for all of us but we have to stick to the story, Brady. I´m sorry for that, but we have to, okay?"
"Ya…" The five-year-old mumbled and pulled away from Kate. Before one of them could say anything else they heard Gibbs opening the front door, peeking into the hall where the two were sitting.
"Hey are you two ready? I found something in the garage you might like, Brady." He had noticed the strange mood and threw the younger woman a questioning glance. But she simply mouthed `later´ and stood up, pulling the five-year-old up with her. "Here it is."
The gray-haired man pointed at a bike and looked at the small boy next to Kate. The redhead kneeled down next to him and tried to make out any kind of reaction in his face. "Do you know how to ride a bike?"
"Dad showed me when we lived in San Diego…" He answered and Caitlin nodded.
"Come on Emmett." Jonathan called and the child went over to the older man. Kate went slowly over as well and watched her `husband´ helping their `son´ adjusting his new helmet right. He still couldn´t bent his knee that far so he was on Brady´s height, but it was slowly getting better and walking caused him hardly any pain anymore or at least he said so the slight limp was speaking for itself. "I´ll hold on to the bike´s carrier until you say let go, okay?"
"Okay…" The sandy-haired boy replied and the trio went to the street. Obviously the Marshals choose a house in a quiet part of Burlington so they could practice on the street. The gray-haired man limped after the bike and Kate watched them from the pavement. She didn´t recognize a blond woman approaching her until she cleared her throat.
"Hey, so you are our new neighbors. I´m Lauren Smith it is nice to meet you." She greeted and smiled at Kate. The redhead needed a moment to recover and then smiled at the blonde too.
"Yes, we are. Hi I´m Kate… Kate Cohen it is nice to meet you too." She replied and the women shook hands.
"Well, I´m Lauren I live in the house next door. So you bought the Peterson´s house?" Lauren said and Caitlin nodded. She assumed that the blond was around the same age she was and was a little taken aback how easy she slipped into her role, without attending the drama class at High School. "It would have been a shame to leave it to decay. But we didn´t see you come, when did you arrive?"
"Last night. It´s easier to drive in the night, though we had to stop a few times. After all it´s quite some time from Miami." The red-haired woman replied and Lauren nodded.
"It is especially for your son, I guess. My older son Gabe just turned five and the younger one, Leon, is two." The blond said and followed the redhead´s glance to the boy on the bike. "He is a good father isn´t he?"
"Yeah, Jon adores Emmett he always did." Kate answered and smiled, at the moment the gray-haired man looked up and their eyes met for a moment. He smiled at her and said something to the boy, before letting go of the bike.
"Look mommy." The five-year-old called and pedaled down the street on his own. When he wanted to turn around he almost lost his balance but caught himself with a foot.
"Wow you did great, Emmett." She said and had to stifle a squeak when she felt Gibbs´ left arm snaking around her waist.
"Jonathan Cohen, it´s nice to meet you." The gray-haired man greeted and shook the blonde´s hand while the child slowly made his way over to the adults as well.
"Nice to meet you too." Lauren replied and smiled at the older man. The redheaded woman noticed her neighbor´s skeptical glance when she saw his gray hair. Kate knew the people looked at them because Gibbs was ten years her senior, they did in Washington and she knew they would do the same here in Vermont.
"Come on say hi to Misses Smith, Emmett." Jonathan said and the boy shyly waved at the blonde woman, before he took his free hand.
"Hello Emmett, it´s okay if you call me Lauren." She said and smiled at the five-year-old who just nodded. "I have a son who is around your age, his name is Gabe. If you want you can come over and play with him and his mates sometime."
"Hey that is good isn´t it Emmett? Well, you excuse us we have to go on practicing." The silver-haired man said and with a peck on Kate´s check he and the boy were on the street again. The redhead was still surprised by his affectionate gestures and would need some time to get used to that behavior, but since last night she was sure that they would find a way.
"He´s a bit shy." Kate said and Lauren nodded.
"Yeah, it´s the same with Gabe but only in front of new people." The blond said and smiled at her new neighbor. "Did you sign him in a pre-school?"
"Yes, this private school in Burlington. I can´t remember the name right now." Kate said and Lauren nodded.
"Gabe´s school Welton Junior Academy." The blond said and Kate nodded, relaxing a little after she forgot a part of their cover story. "Maybe they are in one class then we can share driving. Oh sorry I got to go back, if you need some help just knock on the door."
"Yeah thanks, bye." The red-haired woman said and watched Lauren going back to her house. For the first meeting everything went smooth, none of them seemed to be out of place. "Hey you want to go for a walk? Explore the area a little."
"Yes." The five-year-old stated and pulled over to the pavement.
"Don´t ride too far ahead okay kiddo?" Jonathan called and Emmett remained within their reach. "First contact? She seems to be nice."
"Yeah, well I forgot the name of the school but except for that." Kate answered his question and found herself easing into the arm he had around her waist.
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