A/N: I know I said this will be the last chapter but when I wrote it out it got pretty darn long so I split it in half. The last, last, last chapter is written and will be posted later on, once editing is finished. There will be a one shot epilogue as a snap shot of life getting back to normal for the group and then we will have sequels and side stories because there is so much to say on this story. Thanks for reading and for reviews!
The opening scene is written for Redwriter as it was her idea. Thanks for the muse!
"He's such a good boy. You would be proud of him, so smart and caring." Penelope was chilled by a passing breeze and she liked to think maybe that was Haley, maybe that was a response of some sort as she spoke to her, staring at her head stone.
She left early in the morning before anyone else woke up to get here and spend some time with Jack's first mom. She felt a sort of kinship with the woman passed on, a loyalty to the person who brought the life into the world that she was going to nourish for all the rest of her days. "He's growing every day. I already had to buy him four new pairs of shoes this month alone."
Lynn and John, Haley's parents, stood off several feet behind her undetected, stopping in their tracks from the waiting taxi when they overheard the conversation this brightly colored almost stranger was having with their daughter's spirit.
"We light a candle for you every Sunday. We have since you passed on. Jack thinks that every time the flame flickers it is you waving hello. I wonder if you see him, see those same smiles that light up his face and mine in turn." She hugged herself, wrapping her arms to warm her body and steal a long breath. "I don't know what you must think of me and Aaron. I hope I have your approval because I love him with my soul. And I can't help but love you too. Now that Jack is officially ours again I just had to come talk to you, tell you how much I feel, how scared I am."
Lynn turned to John. Both were anything but excited to be here and they almost turned back at the airport five times. But with the case closed they wanted to see their grandson, see where he is living and what his life would be like. Jessica had left a message on their machine (they don't answer her calls anymore) saying she would be at Easter Dinner and that they should be adults and put aside their problems to enjoy the time they can get with Jack, when they can get it. "Do you think that's her?" she whispered to her husband. Admittedly, she was a lot less upset over this than he was. He had been very close to Haley and the idea of his little girl being replaced like she didn't matter on this earth destroyed him.
He grit his teeth. He didn't want to think anything positive of 'her' as she was so named in their house. "Maybe."
By silent agreement they continued to listen, stalking closer just a bit to make out more of the one sided conversation.
"I envy you, ya know. You have his past, his beginning. I'll never be able to embarrass him with stories of his toddlerhood or remember every little cry he ever had." She sniffled back a tear. "But I have his future and while I know you are still watching him I can't help but feel bad you won't have any memories of him growing up, sleeping in your arms when he has bad dreams. He's too sweet, so open, and loving. He's just like I remember you and so much his father's son." She swallowed hard and bent at the knees to place a rose on her grave. "But I promise you Haley, I'm going to be the best mother I can to him and you'll always be alive in our hearts." She couldn't stop the tears rolling down her face at that point. She still felt she owed this woman everything. Her son, their son. It was only right she share this moment to mark the turning point in their lives with the woman who brought him to her. With the social services case closed nothing was standing in the way of her adopting him once they are married and last night their lawyer sent them papers so that until that happens she still has some medical and legal rights to him as a secondary guardian. Now, she was becoming his mother in right. It was a massive undertaking.
Lynn chocked up seeing the woman they had cast as their enemy so emotional at this place, where their daughter rests. "John, let's go." She didn't want to disturb this scene.
He shook his head resolutely. He came to see his daughter's grave and he was going to do that Goddammit. Together he and his wife slowly approached where Penelope stood and flanked her on either side which shocked her. She didn't expect to see them at all this weekend, much less run into them here.
"How long have you been there?" She asked aloud but not directed at either of them. She just kept staring at the inscription 'Beloved mother, daughter, sister and friend' cast in granite.
"Long enough." John replied. He wasn't happy to like her at all and hearing how she spoke to his daughter he was starting to. He wanted to hate her, and he still very much disliked Aaron. He blamed him and him alone for his daughter being put in danger's path. If he started liking this blonde he might start forgiving Aaron and he wasn't prepared to do that. "Let's pray."
Both woman swerved their gaze to look at him as he bent his head and began leading the recitation. "Hail Mary, full of grace…" his tone was pleading, as if wishing dearly for prayers for his daughter's soul.
They finished and stood in silence for a few moments and slowly Penelope retreated from between them to give them time with their daughter. She stood back about twenty feet away watching them clasp hands and she wondered what that is like, losing a child. At any age it must be the hardest experience a person can go through. She lost her parents, she understands loss. But losing a child is something she couldn't really conceive. You are supposed to protect them and teach them and she doubts that ends at any age. She is pretty sure her own parents would have been protective of her still to this day if they were around. And she was pretty sure she would be watching over Jack until she's in her own grave. And then, she'll haunt him.
She couldn't be sure how long she had been standing their watching them and she began to feel a little uncomfortable. Should she wait for them so they can follow her back to the house? Where was their car? She looked around and noticed the cab idling and frowned. They shouldn't have to deal with that right now. They were walking back towards her so she figured it was time to actually say something. "I'm glad you both came."
They stopped their progress past her and turned to look. Why was she being so nice to them? They were expecting a fight, expecting anger over opening that case. "We came for our grandson."
Penelope nodded, her sparkling chain to her glasses swaying about. "Why don't you let me take you to Aaron's old place and settle in? Or, we would have you stay with us if you want, but the pull out sofa in the nursery isn't very comfortable. We could do an air mattress though."
They shared a look which spoke 'nursery?' before John cleared his throat and responded. "That would be nice. Let me pay the faire and grab our luggage and I will meet you at the car." He needed to do something to give him a moment to regain his composure. He wasn't right at the moment, he almost liked this woman, darn it he did like her. She was friendly, she cared about his daughter and seemed so devoted to his grandson.
"Ok." She nodded and watched him retreat, turning to Lynn. This was awkward to say the least. She didn't know what to call them and she didn't know if she could trust them. She wouldn't put it past them to be using this time as a reason to find another excuse to pull her family apart but she wouldn't give them reason to. She won Jessica over and she was determined to win them over too. "So, um, Lynn?"
The older woman nodded. "Penelope?" She was keenly aware of the mutual discomfort here. This would have been much easier if they met at her door, not when they had just heard her pour her heart out at their daughter's grave. She had been impressed, impressed at how well this woman seemed to know her grandson. It was so much like a true mother the way she spoke of him and that both pleased her and scared her. "The car?"
"Yes." Penelope walked her over there, seeing that John was finishing paying the driver off. "How long do you think you will be staying?" neutral topics, she had to stick to neutral topics.
"Our flight home is Tuesday. John has a cardiologist appointment the next day he can't miss." Another reason she was less than happy with her life right now was her husband's heart condition and his refusal to take proper care of himself.
"Oh." Great, now she was going to be worrying about him too, like she didn't have enough on her plate. "Well, um. Do you want the old apartment or the nursery?" John's answer wasn't very committal. "We could stop at Wal-Mart and get an airbed. We've been meaning to buy one. You would end up sharing a connecting bathroom with Jack." She sort of wanted them in the house to be honest. She didn't like the idea of them not seeing just how smoothly the house is run and how surrounded by love Jack is. She didn't want them thinking their visits were a show, but rather she hoped to see this was just how they lived. "It's up to you. I have to go there anyhow and get a couple of the things Aaron forgot on the shopping list." Honestly, is it so hard to remember moss, a mega phone and glitter?
Lynn tried to keep her shock from her face. "Aaron? Actually taking time from his precious job to shop?" She was incredulous but come on! Her daughter always told her the man worked and slept and spared rare moments to speak with her. She wasn't sure if her daughter had been exaggerating because she knew full well there were other issues beyond his work in their marriage but she had to go on what she was told.
Penelope snorted a bit, a smile starting to rise on her face. "He's very into this holiday, though not as much as me. Maybe you would like to help decorate the house with us today? We are getting ready for the big Easter egg hunt tomorrow and dinner. Children of colleagues from work are coming for the hunt (like, just about every child we know from the building we work in, so around twenty) and a couple neighbor kids Jack and Amelia played with this week."
"Amelia? She sounds familiar." John slid into the back seat and buckled himself in. "Lynn, is that the young woman Jack was talking about all week when he visited us?"
Penelope was surprised at how well this was going so far. She had imagines a hundred different ways this would end up in some massive argument as she pulled onto the freeway to Wal-Mart, content on listening to them talk about Jack.
Lynn was thoughtful for a moment. "I think so. He said she is nicer than her brother."
Penelope snickered a bit. "Yeah, that's the same girl. Her brother is actually gone to live in California with their father but she's still around. It's young love. Took a week but she's his thick and thin girlfriend and get prepared to watch how adorable they are."
"Oh." Lynn cooed. "Hear that John? Little guy has a girlfriend." She was feeling considerably better right now. She was warming up to this quickly, speaking on Jack. "Remember when we were like that?" She turned to Penelope. "John and I were childhood sweethearts. We've been together since first grade."
"That's so sweet." She was surprised they were opening up and she cautiously wondered if they were starting to like her. She was chalking this going so well up to a miracle of the Easter season. "Her mother is a great woman too. You remember Sean? Aaron's brother? They are pretty heavy on the flirting right now." And she had overheard him promise to take her on a date one night before he goes back to New York if they could get Pen and Aaron to babysit. Like she wouldn't encourage that! She was just amazed to watch a relationship actually take a normal course unlike her own.
"So he will be at this dinner too?" John had actually liked the younger Hotchner brother the few times he met him.
"Oh yeah, and our whole family which is the team. Everyone is coupled up now. Two couples are expecting." She hoped she would be joining the pregnancy club soon too. Tabby and Emily were spending a lot of time discussing birthing plans and what not. She had is patiently waiting until tomorrow morning to test so she could be sure on her answer.
They were pulling into the Wal-Mart parking lot, parking fairly close to the door. "Do you know where you want to stay? I'm going to buy the air mattress either way." She didn't want to put pressure on them but wanted them to know that they had options.
Lynn turned to look back at John. He nodded, a cue that it's up to her. These things were always up to her unless he had a strong objection either way. "I think we will stay in the nursery. It would be nice to see the most of Jack we can."
Penelope nodded, keeping from hugging them. That would be too much too soon. "Alright. Um, do you need anything in there?" She noticed John seemed very tired and was going in and out of falling asleep in the back of Esther.
Lynn noticed too. "Actually, I'll come in with you if that's alright."
"Sure." Penelope forced out. She had been hoping for the opportunity to call Aaron and warn him, she would have to settle for a text.
The two were silent all the way to the camping aisle where Penelope picked out a platformed queen size mattress, intending to make their make-shift bed as comfortable as possible. "In the future we'll be able to have more guests. We're redoing the basement to add an extra room. Sean is staying the week in the downstairs guest room right now." She had to say something to break the silence.
"Well, that's nice." 'We're being invited back?' "Does, um. Does Jack like the house?"
The future Mrs. Hotchner felt relief yet again. These are questions she can answer happily. "Oh yeah. He's got his own custom designed room with a bunk bed and a desk. What kid his age actually asks for a desk?" She had been surprised, even more when he asked for a magnified overhead light for it on a trip to Home Depot with Tabby this week. That woman sure knows how to do a lot around the house, even if she did almost burn down the kitchen just heating up soup.
"And he's doing good in school?" She bit her lip, she hoped her grandson was doing well. He seemed so smart when he came for his visit.
Penelope chucked a large bag of moss from the gardening section into the cart. "Oh yeah. He's doing fantastic actually. He's been recommended to some special program the state has for advanced students and he finally told us last night that he's been having classroom visits in the two grades above him. He's being skipped at least one grade, maybe two at the end of the year. They can't be sure yet." And that had been a miracle of news. Her son was crazy smart! Right as Dave was rummaging in the fridge to gather the champagne to celebrate the end to Penelope's personal hell which was this case, Jack tells everyone the news and it was yet another reason for celebration. "He's looking up to one of his uncles, well our friend he calls an uncle. He's a genius, like an off the charts genius and Jack looks up to him on school stuff, Aaron for everything else."
She decided to rush to check out since it was getting close to the decorating party. "We have a lot of work to do today. Do me a favor though?"
Lynn wrinkled her brow but nodded in agreement. "Alright."
"When I introduce you to a woman named Tabby, just let me or Aaron know if she's working up a storm. She's a working addict and she really needs to rest. She's pregnant, with twins. And got shot in the head a few weeks ago."
"Shot." Lynn blinked her eyes rapidly, wondering how Penelope could so casually state that while swiping her debit card at the register. "In the head?"
"Oh yeah. It was a whole thing on a case. Long story but she's fine. Hard headed though, she's gonna want to push herself more and twice so far she's ended up back at the hospital because of it." She shuddered remembering Tabby's call to her a few days ago while everyone was still on the case. The girl had a massive migraine and that was to be expected. She finally had to call Derek and in addition to being put on Emily's eating schedule she also called Strauss, to call Director Gibbons and force Tabby into a lightened work schedule. Her friend was not happy, but eventually grateful when she negotiated baking as one of her allowed activities.
"Poor woman." Lynn shook her head. She could understand that level of commitment to a job. As she helped load the bags into the trunk of the car she looked to Penelope. "You all really look out for one another don't you?"
Penelope nodded. "We do. Like I said, family."
"That's good to know." And that was something she thought over on the silent ride to the house until they pulled into the driveway and saw Jack waiting in the door.
"Mommy!" Jack sprinted from the house and into Penelope's arms as soon as she stepped out of the car. He turned to her ear and whispered. "Please, I don't want to see them."
Penelope's heart was breaking at the anger and sadness in his voice. "Honey." She used her most composed tone. "Honey, they are your grandparents."
"No!" he backed up from her, slightly hitting her shoulders in protest and looking past them to see his grandfather watching. "I don't like you anymore!" he shouted to them. "You're mean."
"Jack!" Aaron scolded. "Don't talk to your grandparents that way. You have to respect them." His tone was final.
One look back at his father and Jack started tearing up. His daddy only ever used that tone when he did something very bad and so his tears started pouring down his face. "Mommy, please. They almost took me away."
"Oh Jack." She hugged him tighter and sat on the hood of Esther. "Honey, they just wanted what they thought was best for you. Right Lynn?" She figured it would be easier for Jack to accept her than his grandfather. He's the one who Jack seemed to yell at directly.
"Oh Jack." Lynn was now very much regretting letting her husband talk her into calling that social worker again. The first time was enough, they should have known everything was fine from back then."We didn't mean to make you upset."
"Well you did. You almost took me from my daddy and mommy." He crossed his arms and set his lips firmly to show he was not going to be forgiving. Amelia's bullies and his grandparents were his worst enemies. Speaking of which. "Mommy, can I go inside now? Amelia is coming soon and I don't want her to see me cry. She cries when I do."
Penelope looked helplessly at Aaron. They had both hoped this would go much more smoothly, Jack was always a very forgiving child but this had really scared him and even with it over he was still affected. "Alright, go clean up breakfast," he has a habit of leaving his cereal bowl and the box open on the table. "and put on some clothes that can get dirty. We have a lot to do in the yard to get this place ready."
With that she lowered him and watched him walk back into the house then steeled herself to look at his grandparents. "I didn't expect him to react like that. It all upset him very much."
"As it should have." Aaron added, giving a poignant look to his former father in law. He knew full well this had been his idea.
"Aaron, stop." Penelope pleaded. She knew that tone and knew it meant he was in a dangerous mood. "It's over now."
"Are you kidding? No, it's not. Look at how he reacted!" He was fanning his own flames of anger left at this. "I welcome you to my home for this holiday but do not expect me to force my son to speak with you. You're going to have to gain back his trust yourself. I will make him treat you with respect because that is what we do in this house but he doesn't have to forgive you and neither do I."
Penelope palmed her face, glad Dave and Emily pulled up just then. The ire in her fiancée's eyes wasn't quite foreign to her, it meant just a little provocation and he would be throwing fists. "Emily, would you please take Aaron in the house?" She saw the brunette register the situation and do just that, Dave coming up to her side in support.
"Everything alright Pumpkin?" He didn't like these people either but he knew he would have to be Penelope's right hand man in getting everyone to get along with weekend.
"Just, please help me bring all this up to the nursery and set it up. Lynn, John, follow us." She passed bags, luggage and the airbed box into waiting arms and used the time to try to control her emotions. She wanted this to all work out so badly but she was going to have to try to be patient as well. That would be difficult and she was grateful to have Dave by her side. He was a great friend and she vowed if Emily hurt him she would personally punish her. Without him she highly doubted she would manage to keep herself in check with her wild emotions right now, never mind rein Aaron's emotions in. When did that role come to reverse? Thankfully Dave was a pro at reading him like one of the books he writes, and she would use any advantage she could get.
-Criminal Minds—
"So the reunion isn't going all that great I take it." Morgan hooked his arm around Penelope's back as she busied herself in creating a mossy knoll in the front yard with a giant ceramic pink and orange speckled mushroom which would hide at least two dozen eggs in the morning.
"At least Dave was able to talk Aaron out of saying anything else stupid and Tabby talked with Amelia and both with Jack. Good to have someone who reads interactions around huh? She said she'd keep an eye for when Jack might explode. Amelia is sticking close."
Derek snickered for a second which earned him a glare so he had to explain. "Alicia told me Tabby was just as shy as Amelia growing up until one of their father's sisters took them in over a summer, the last before she died. Suffice it to say that she blossomed into that confident woman who we saw at the inquiry that summer and I think Tabby might be up for mentoring Amelia much like Tabby's aunt did for her." And it didn't take a profiler to see Amelia take a liking to his fiancé. She nearly followed her around for an hour helping with every little chore after the talk about Jack's feelings towards his grandparents.
Penelope let herself imagine that. "I have to say, I wouldn't approve of just anyone for you. But Tabby, I really love that woman. And Amelia, she's going to be important in keeping Jack in line today."
Derek helped stick some of the flowers she bought for her holiday landscaping into the ground per her directions. "I already saw her buffer his grandparents once by asking them all sorts of questions about their medical history. That girl is strange but so sweet."
She had to giggle at that, even if she was pissed off that her big plans were being interfered with. "Sean said the same thing."
Derek's grin grew, seeing that 'she's up to something' face set in. "You're gonna push for more with them aren't you?"
She shrugged innocently. "I can't say it wouldn't be nice to see them happy. You know Sean isn't exactly Mr. Commitment so I don't expect anything but they enjoy one another's company and Annette deserves it. Anyhow, you never told me just how you and Tabby got back together." They all knew it happened but he didn't get to have that date with her as planned so she was worried something might still be hanging in the air without being addressed.
"Well," he read her concern and understood it. She had a lot invested in the family happiness and had grown very close to Tabby. "Hotch let, no, he made me take a later flight to Michigan so I could talk to her. We discussed that she had been afraid of losing me for a while now, has dreams I will die in the field." He scratched his chin, uncomfortable that she was so afraid of that. "And I told her how I was afraid that we might not stay together forever because of work. I just, I don't think I could face what Hotch went through."
She sighed and reached to stroke his cheek. "So you both realized that none of that will happen and you were both stupid and overreacting?"
"Yes." He chuckled. "Thanks baby girl for calling us stupid. But anyway, she wants to extend and offer to you. With all the kids popping up, if you ever have to go into the field too she volunteers to watch all the kids."
"Wow, that's really generous. Jessica was probably going to… hey, has she shown up?" She was admittedly throwing herself into the decorating. Everything was going good on that front. The front yard had her knoll, a border of potted plants and little bunny flags along with a cute statue of a bunny rabbit hugging a lamb. That was not to mention the lights and streamers strung up, nor the pin the ear on the bunny game she had ready on an easel. The back yard was coming along great too. Dave brought an extra two tables which tomorrow would be set up as one big thing for everyone's dinner and he took over landscaping back there. Inside was even crazier with cut outs and balloons. Sean and Aaron were dyeing eggs with the kids while everyone else got to work hanging her other decorations in the trees and filling plastic eggs with candy, coins and stickers. It's good to have family to put to work.
"Yeah, she showed up alright. She and her parents are off talking in a corner of the back yard. Dave's keeping an eye on them."
"This is just-" she huffed. "I didn't expect it to be like this when I invited them. There is so much animosity between them and their daughter and for Jack against them and they seem fine with me!"
Derek grabbed her busy hands to steady her. "Easy there baby girl. It will be fine. Amelia got Jack to bring his grandmother a lemonade at least. She's really good for that boy." He took a second to consider whether or not he should say that the men and Jack were going to need their women to push them to get past this but he shrugged internally, that went without saying. "But anyhow, it will take a little time. So, let's give everyone a break and paint some name eggs outside. I brought some just for this. It's a good luck thing Reid told me about."
She put her trowel away in her pink bin and stood to dust herself off, looking around. "Where is he anyhow? I haven't seen him in twenty minutes."
Derek grinned and pointed to something in the back yard as he opened the gate. "He will do anything for Henry, I swear."
Penelope burst into a fit of giggles looking at the skinniest Easter Bunny she ever saw trying to hold a tiny paint brush in his paws to paint an egg with Henry. She patted her pockets trying to find her phone because this was something that had to be caught on camera. "Easter Bunny!" she yelled, prompting Jack and Amelia to look out the kitchen window and then run through the back doors to the deck where the painting was set up.
"Can I paint one too?" Jack asked all excited. He remembered Uncle Spencer telling him that if you find an egg with your name on it during a hunt that it was good luck all year and if you find a friend's then they would your friend for life.
"Of course." Spencer tried to hide his voice and act like a happy bunny. "Everyone gets to!"
Everyone else gathered around and grabbed and egg and some paint. They made their own eggs and some of the adults were tackling the names of other kids that would be in the hunt tomorrow. The only two people not painting were Lynn and John and Jack wouldn't have that. "Come on! Grandma, you can make mommy Haley's too."
They both lit a bit at that, Jack was including them and they just got onto speaking terms with Jessica again. She had flat out told them she didn't give a damn about being in their will or not, Jack was Aaron and Penelope's son and they were going to have to deal with it and over the last two hours seeing this family function they had to admit that was the case. Frankly, they were giving up on this grudge they have. Haley wasn't being replaced, the small shelf in the living room with a few pictures of her on it and a candle which has been lit several times tells them she still matters. And while Penelope might be ostentatious she is also exceptionally personal and considerate. She made them a little suite upstairs among the baby things in wait.
"Can I make an egg too?" John asked Jack and everyone else seemed to hold their breath as Jack thought it over.
He stared straight at his work for several seconds until Amelia's nudge made him answer through grit teeth. "Fine. But it better be pretty."
Everyone exhaled with relief; maybe by doing more things together they would all slowly get past this. It was a good idea to invite them after all.
Henry finished his egg and tugged on Reid's costume to get the bunny's attention. "Mr. Bunny sir."
Emily gummed her lips wanting to laugh so hard at the polite Henry. He was as good a kid as Jack. And Reid, he was a hands on dad. "Yes, young man?"
Henry looked up at him. "I wish my daddy were here. Can I make him an egg?" He was sad because he would rather his daddy be around than anyone else and he started to pout wondering why he had to go to work when no one else did.
Emily could read the question in the bunny's eyes through the suit and gave a nod. "Well, Henry. Did you know that the Easter Bunny is a busy guy?"
Jack chuckled. "Super busy! He has so many baskets to give out and eggs to paint and he has to hop everywhere to do it. Not like Santa with a sleigh and reindeer, that light weight."
Everyone giggled, both from Jack's comment and from the fact that Reid had insisted that if he was going to be a bunny he was going to hop everywhere and stay true to form. JJ snickered too and after seeing the nod of Annette and Penelope she bent to Henry. "Well, your daddy is an extra special guy. He helps the Easter Bunny. See?" She pointed up to Reid who looked nothing if not relieved to be out of that heavy costume's head.
"Wow! My daddy is an Easter bunny!" Henry clutched to Reid's legs. "Does that mean I get a big Easter Basket with lots of candy?"
Spencer looked down on his son and for the first time since he found out he was his in JJ's hospital room he felt like he had finally adapted. "Yes, but you can't eat it all tomorrow." He knelt down and hugged him, then looked to the other kids. "Who wants hopping lessons?"
"Me!" All three kids responded, and Dave and Derek for some reason most likely related to trying to get used to being silly as a father and soon the six of them were off having hopping races across the yard.
Penelope watched with a large smile on her face and turned to see that Tabby was right next to her. "Thank you for talking to Amelia earlier. I doubt Jack would be doing any of this if he didn't have her encouraging him."
Tabby snickered a bit. "No problem, and probably not. But he's moving on. Give it time, and work on Aaron. He has a lot of hurt left from the first case too. Just be yourself, keep us focused on the fun of the holiday and we'll be fine."
Speaking of which, Aaron seemed to be in a heated discussing with John at the moment. "Crap." She ran over there and had to draw Aaron down for a kiss to keep his trap shut. "Sweetie. For me, please don't keep doing this." She turned to Lynn. "I am begging you to make him stop. We have to get along."
Lynn wholeheartedly agreed and turned to her husband with a slight smack. "I won't have any of that anymore. Not on Easter! We've hurt him and you need to apologize. I already did." She had too, and it took a lot for her to come out and admit that Aaron was a good father. Even when he was angry with them and Jack wanted nothing to do with them he still encouraged his son to have a relationship or at least respect.
John grit his teeth. He hated it when his wife was right. "Fine. Aaron, I am sorry."
Hotch stood with his arm crossed and eyes narrowed. "And I supposed I am forced to accept that half assed apology. Ouch! Pen!" He winced at her hard pinch to his side. "Fine." He realized he was being insincere and there was no way his future wife was not letting him out of this. He didn't want her hurting anymore and seeing the threat of tears in her eyes softened him a bit. "Can we agree to try to get along?"
John was starting to feel faint at this point and lowered himself to one of the lawn chairs, happy at least that the tall black man of the group seemed to be keeping everyone's focus off this incident. He didn't want to break down and sound as weak as he was sure his voice broke in front of an audience. "I blame you, for Haley."
"Well at least we are getting somewhere." Penelope muttered, they only had half an hour before dinner and then Mass right after and she didn't want all this animosity during the highest celebration of the church year.
"I-" Aaron sunk into the seat next to his former father-in-law, remembering all the times they had shared on visits with Haley, the first time they met and the man sized him up over and over to judge if he was fit for his daughter, the time he asked for permission to marry Haley and promised he would always keep her safe. "I blame myself too. Or, I did for a long time." He scratched at his hands. "I know that a victim's family often blames themselves or one another on what they could have done different. And I don't know I will ever get passed that fully. Even if she was my ex, I still cared about her. And I don't blame you for hating me."
John sighed. "I don't hate you. I hate that shit head that killed her." He took a moment to consider. "I suppose it makes me feel better that you killed him in return." He scratched behind his ear, aware his wife was listening intently. "I suppose that makes me a pretty bad Christian doesn't it?"
Penelope sat on Aaron's lap, giving him a kiss and reward for doing what she knew was so hard for him. He really would put himself through hell for her, part of it being to talk to this man who made so much trouble in his life over the last year. "No. It makes you human. Just, don't keep blaming him alright? We understand why you reacted this way and I understand why you didn't like me but I love your grandson as my own and I want to consider you family too."
Amelia had been watching the adults from the corner of her eye and when she saw them all seem to be talking calmly, Jack's daddy shaking hands with his grampa, she stopped his hopping and hugged him. Aunt Tabby was really great in giving advice on how to help Jack. "You would do anything for me right Jack?"
He looked at her and leaned in for a kiss. He had been so embarrassed the first time she did that but now he loved hugging and kissing her, and it didn't bother him that Uncle Morgan was egging him on. Just a light blush is all. "What can I do? You look sad now. I don't like you sad."
Amelia smiled inside, knowing he meant that. She's only ever had one friend before him and she was a mean girl now. But with Jack, she got Henry too and soon there would be babies she can play with. She loves babies. "Will you go hug your grandparents, for me?"
Reid stopped in mid hop, making him take a small tumble when he overheard that. He had to hold Henry in a hug to keep him from interrupting Jack's thoughtful consideration of what was obviously a manipulation for Jack's benefit. He supposed if he had a daughter he should expect that to start this young too. Hell, he was pretty sure his daughter would have him wrapped around her fingers at birth.
"Why?" He couldn't imagine a reason Amelia would push him to do something he doesn't want to do.
She held his hand and looked him in the eye. "Because you will be happier when you aren't angry."
With a grunt he let out a cool yell of "Fine!" Jack threw his hands up in the air and stalked up the step to the deck muttering about how he's too young to have a girlfriend and threw himself into a hug with his grandfather, getting the harder task out of the way first, then he hugged Lynn and wanted to pull away but she whispered into his ear. "We love you honey."
He stepped back, his anger starting to dissipate, and gulped. Amelia probably knew this would happen. "But why did want to hurt me? Why did you hurt Aunt Jessica and mommy and daddy?"
John took Jack's hand and drew him closer. "Because sometimes adults do stupid things. But I promise we won't ever do anything like that again. Your mom and dad are cool people." He saw his grandson softening and looking back at his dad.
"Jack, remember when we talked about what you learned in Sunday school? About forgiveness?"
Jack nodded. "Is that like this?"
Penelope lowered herself off Aaron's lap and to Jack's side. "We forgive them, and they forgive us and Uncle Derek forgives Aunt Emily for dumping the water bucket over his head."
Derek looked up confused. "What?" and that second he felt the need to let forgiveness rise over anger as the cold water splashed down over him. "Nice work Em" he gave her a playful glare and pulled her under his arm for a tight squeeze. Everyone clapped at the face Derek wore just then, glad Annette handed a towel over before he got too angry. He laughed too, once he started drying. "See Jack? We can all be a family. Families forgive."
Jack was still a bit hesitant but one look at Amelia who said she forgave one of the bullies that apologized to her and he relented. "Ok. I forgive you too. But I want to sit between Amelia and Henry at church."
Penelope snickered at his simple demand. "I think we can manage that." She kissed his forehead. "Now, go help set the table for dinner."