Buried Emotions

Disclaimer - See Chapter Eleven.

Hopefully, I answered all reviews. But I wanted to post this as some folks may need the escape from all that family togetherness. Me? Church with all the twice a year Catholics? Done. Easter dinner? Cooking and will eat shortly. Annual Easter movie with my daughter is now with daughter and hubby, which is why it went from Muppets Most Wanted to Captain America: Winter Solider. So Happy Easter if you celebrate (or accept the wishes with the intent it has without getting hackles up). Otherwise - have a nice day as I yearn for the days of non-rampant political correctness.

Chapter 12

Going back a few days from the wedding, but two days after Keith's birth…

Emily Tracy looked up through sleepy eyes and smiled at the sight of her husband curled up in a sleeper chair, their newborn son cuddled in his arms.

"I wondered which of them would wear out first," Scott murmured as he pulled his nephew from his brother's arms. Seeing Emily awake, he smiled.

"Well, hello Sleeping Beauty. Would you like to meet your son?"

Emily nodded and let Scott adjust her bed before gently placing the baby in her arms. "Dang, he looks just like Johnny at that age," Scott whispered.

Raising an eyebrow, Emily asked, "You remember that?"

Scott shrugged. "One of my first clear memories is Mom holding out a baby to me and saying I was a big brother now and it was my responsibility to look out for him." Chuckling, he shook his head. "Got that speech four times."

"Where's Dad?" John asked sleepily as he woke up, beaming at his wife before slipping carefully onto the bed so he could hold both his wife and son.

Frowning, Scott motioned to John to leave the room but Emily put her foot – figuratively – down. "What happened? I'll be more mad later if you hide it from me."

"Ana Nevada found out Elizabeth accompanied Kate as well as the boys to Kansas," Scott sighed. "Instead of saying that she was there to hang out and play with her closest cousin, Nevada used her limited facts that 1) You gave birth in the hospital instead of on the Island, 2) that Keith's birth announcement was not accompanied by a picture like how we did the other ones, and that 3) Dr. Henrichs handles high risk pregnancies to conclude "poor Dr. Tracy had died or was about to in order to fulfill her husband's selfish desire for a son" and that Elizabeth had been sent away so she wouldn't "be there when Mommy died. " So Dad first off called a family tele conference to assure them you were fine, pictures would take place once you were awake and that yes, he was siccing our lawyers on Ana Banana."

"Did Elizabeth hear? Was she upset?" John and Emily both spoke at once.

Scott grinned. "Yes, she heard but my son says that even they knew Ana was an idiot cause his mommy says so and your daughter assured everyone that she knew her mommy and little brother were ok because Daddy promised and Daddy always keeps promises to her."

"So let me get this straight," John laughed. "What you said to Jason was not half as important as what Kate said, right?"

"And Daddy would never disappoint his princess," Emily muttered.

Scott and John both laughed, a sound that only increased when Keith made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.

Pulling out his smart phone, Scott grinned. "OK, first photo op," he crowed.

"Scott!" Emily protested. "I must look a sight."

"You look beautiful, right Keith? Doesn't Mommy look like an angel?"

Emily laughed slightly when Keith grunted in apparent agreement. The shared looks of love made the moment perfect and Scott snapped the picture that was quickly sent to anyone with the last name Tracy…and a few other that would have had his head if they hadn't gotten one as well.

Back to the wedding…

"Unca Allie!"

The two childish voices rang out even as Alan dashed towards the scene. In a moment, Alan was grabbing the man who had both pushed down Jason and grabbed Elizabeth, the blonde pinned the assailant by the shoulder before punching him in the jaw. The attacker recovered and swung at Alan who ducked, his fist brushing past Alan's shoulder. Quickly, Alan did a roundhouse kick, laying the man flat. Before the assailant could get up, the sound of four guns made the man become very still.

Jason Tracy moved between his grandfather's legs, kicking the man in the testicles. "Bad man! Leave Lizzie alone!"

Elizabeth slid in next to her partner-in-crime, kicking the now-groaning man in the butt before glaring at Jason. "Don't call me Lizzie!"

Alan chuckled and picked up the two tiny warriors. "You guys ok?"

"Alan," Kate coolly spoke up. "Back away with the kids."

Turning slightly, Alan saw Kate, Don, David and Colby all standing behind him with guns drawn.

The man looked up from the ground and groaned. "My client just wanted to talk to the kid. She wouldn't have hurt her."

"Who is your client?" Kate coldly asked.

"I can answer that," a new voice added.

An older couple, the woman being dragged by her elbow, approached the group. Before anyone could speak, he looked startled at Elizabeth, beginning to reach out to touch the little girl. But Alan yanked the children back and handed them to Robin who quickly headed into the reception hall.

"I apologize for my wife," he began before the woman pulled her arm away angrily.

"We have done nothing wrong," she huffed. "I have every right…"

"No you don't," Kate snarled. "Emily has a restraining order or did that slip your mind?"

"Emily?" Alan asked in confusion.

"Alan," Kate calmed down. "This is Susan and Gerald Haas."

"Oh," Alan said in comprehension. "The Bitch." At Kate's wide eyes, he shrugged. "It's what you call her." Looking Susan up and down, he snickered. "I just happen to agree."

"That is my granddaughter, and if my daughter is unable to care for her, I should be doing so," Susan huffed.

"Emily does not acknowledge you or want anything to do with you," Kate snapped. "And if anything, God forbid, did happen to Emily, Elizabeth has her father, grandfather, four uncles and two, soon to be three, aunts. Tracys take care of their own."

"That is my only grandchild," Susan snarled.

"Temper, temper, dragon lady," Kate smirked. "And since you and Emily disowned each other, Elizabeth is of no connection to you. And now there is Keith."

"We heard that Emily had another baby," Gerald said softly. "A boy. But they didn't give the name. Keith, was it? Is Emily alright? The news said…"

"It was Ana Nevada," Alan quickly said, moved by the sadness in the man's eyes. "Take anything she says with a pound and a half of salt. Emily is going to recover but it was close."

"Considering you never got that heart problem corrected when Emily was little you are a fine one to be playing concerned parents now," Kate growled, making sure her father and his friends – especially David, the only active law man of the group – had the would be attacker secure.

"What problem?" Gerald asked. "Emily never had any problem with her heart."

"Emily was diagnosed with a valve defect at age six," Alan said in confusion. "Her medical records said it was found when she had her tonsils out. John said the records show her parents knew about it."

"No," Kate muttered, the puzzle pieces falling together in her mind. "The records said her mother knew about it. But you didn't, did you Mr. Haas?"

Gerald shook his head in dismay.

"It's hereditary," Alan said. "Your mother? She died carrying her second child, didn't she?"

When Gerald nodded, Alan continued.

"Emily has the same problem. She and John aren't having more kids, because even with the surgery, since it will be done as an adult, Emily could still die from complications. But Elizabeth will have the surgery within a year. She should be fine."

Feeling sorry for the man, who was obviously devastated by this revelation, Alan pulled out his cell phone.

"My brother Scott took this picture a couple of days ago," Alan explained, showing it to Gerald. "First picture of Keith, with Emily and John."

"He looks perfect," Gerald said sadly. "Emily…she'll really be alright?"

"Yes, sir," Alan softly answered.

Susan Haas had been drawn away from the group by the local police who had been called to the scene. Kate rolled her eyes and slipped her weapon into her purse before pulling out her phone in order to bring up a copy of the restraining order and other legal information.

"I – I didn't know," Gerald stammered. Straightening, he sighed as he eyed his wife. "We won't bother Emily again. It's just…Our son and his wife had a miscarriage last year. They tried again but the baby…and then the doctors had to do a hysterectomy to save my daughter-in-law. Susan has been obsessed, ranting that she will not be denied a proper grandchild. When the children started discussing other options, Susan seemed more determined, saying a child by adoption or surrogate wouldn't be proper. Then there was a picture of you, with your niece and nephew…Susan started saying that it wasn't fair, that Jeff Tracy had so many grandchildren and she was being denied her granddaughter."

Sighing once more, Gerald murmured, "Elizabeth. It was my mother's name. Is she named for…"

Alan shook his head. "My mother's name was Lucille Elizabeth. John and Emily reversed the name, so she'd Elizabeth Lucille Tracy."

"I wanted to name Emily Elizabeth," Gerald said. "Susan was worried she'd get nicknames like Liz or Bessie."

Alan smiled. "The only one allowed to call her anything but Elizabeth is John. She's his "Little Bit". It's a play on her name but also on how much she looks like Emily."

Gerald smiled sadly. "She does. I felt like I had been thrown back thirty years." Straightening, he nodded. "I'll do my best to keep Susan in line. Emily doesn't deserve this nonsense. Take care of them, please?"

"Of course," Alan said simply. "They're family."

Seeing Alan walk back towards the reception, with two tiny forms running joyfully towards him, Gerald nodded once more. Jeff Tracy had definitely raised his boys right.

Sighing one more time, Gerald shook his head and pulled out his own phone.

It was beginning to look like Susan would need a lawyer.

"Dammit," Kyle cussed as he watched the fuss being stirred up because of some woman who was currently being placed in the back of a state police car. The kids had been so close…

"We have to get Alan Tracy separate from his family," Jackson assured his brother. "You saw how many members of law enforcement were close by. Besides, I have a back-up plan."

"Like what?" Kyle snapped.

Jackson held out an ID to Kyle. "Some fake IDs, I got an old friend to make for us. With these, we are being hired through a temp agency. I hacked into the agency's files and gave us a phony security background. The agency places temp employees at numerous area hotels – including the one that the Tracys and Eppes are staying at."

Kyle took the ID from his brother. "Kyle Smith? Who are you – Jackson Jones?"

"Nope," Jackson sighed. "Mitchell Smith. Jackson is a bit more distinctive and I am used to people calling me Mitchell rather than Jackson. And yes, we are brothers so no one will be surprised that we are together."

Kyle nodded. The opportunity for revenge would be there soon.

The near abduction had made the Tracy-Eppes party reluctant to stay at the reception, so they headed back to their hotel. Once the two youngest Tracys were down for a nap – as were the Eppes – Kate started to work off of a report Julie had forwarded to her, all of which left Alan at loose ends. His sister-in-law hadn't wanted him to be alone too much, since he would be sharing the suite across the hall with Julie and Gordon – Kate having her parents and the kids in this one – but Alan was getting bored. A bored Alan, while not as bad as a bored Gordon, still wasn't a good thing. But knowing how stressed out Kate was limited anything Alan could do to relax himself.

Finally, he grabbed the keys to the rental car and called out to Kate.

"Kate," he smiled. "I'm heading out for a while."

"Alan," Kate frowned as she looked up from her lap top. "I don't know if it's such a good idea for-"

Alan sighed. "Kate, I'm a big boy and I…I want to go to the house."

"What house?" Robin asked as she came out from the room where she and Don had drifted off while trying to get the two kids to nap.

"My family's house," Alan said softly. "Dad locked it up when we moved to the Island more than a decade ago. I – I just really want to see it."

Robin glanced at her daughter before smiling at Alan. "Of course you do. Kate, honey – tell your father when he wakes up that Alan and I will be back in a little while and to behave himself while I am gone."

Alan looked to protest but Kate beat him to it.

"Mom, Alan needs to be protected…"

"I do not!" Alan protested.

"Of course you don't sweetheart," Robin patted him on the cheek even as she picked up her purse. "And I would love to see your childhood home. You don't mind, do you?"

Alan relaxed, having long had a soft spot for Kate's parents.

"Of course not, Mrs. Eppes," Alan smiled.

"It's Robin," she sighed.

"Sure, Mrs. Eppes," Alan grinned, winking at Kate.

Robin caught her daughter's eye and nodded. Of course she would look out for Alan…Duh.

Keifer Dutton strutted down the halls of the hotel, glad that the person he was visiting had chosen not to stay in the one closest to Bailey. He couldn't blame anyone for choosing a hotel in Kansas City instead…

Knocking quickly on the door, Dutton ran hand over his hair and glanced at a decorative mirror nearby. In his black jeans, button down shirt and cowboy boots, the deputy was sure he was looking good – then the door opened and he swallowed, knowing he was seeing looking good.

Ana Nevada leaned against the door frame, her full-length lingerie revealing far more than it concealed. While she may not have been a nice person she knew what her physical assets were – and she wasn't afraid to use them.

"My, my, my…when I told you to dress comfortable, you certainly did," Ana cooed. "But I think someone is wearing far too many clothes."

Pulling Keifer into the room, Ana began to peel off his shirt, one button at a time, even as she "accidently" rubbed various body parts together.

"I – um – on the details…" Keifer groaned as Ana reached down to slide his pants over his hips.

"You can tell me all about it later," Ana murmured, pressing her lips over his chest. "For now, let's get you relaxed…I can make you feel so good, baby."

Keifer allowed himself to be pulled onto the bed and decided he would tell Ana that he wasn't on the security detail for the Tracy wedding – later. Much, much later…

Alan walked up the stone path leading to the two story house, noting absently that the lawn and surrounding gardens were well-kept. He knew from family stories that Lucy Tracy had planted most of the flowers by herself and that she and Jeff would plant the trees and shrubs on his rare days off, often getting covered in mud as they played and laughed like children. A flash of a happy memory from the last Easter before his mother died flashed into Alan's mind, of finding Easter Eggs hidden throughout the yard, his brothers and honorary sisters of Sarah Jane and Jeannie searching yet spending most of their time helping Alan find eggs for his basket. If he looked at the house just so, he could see his mother and Miss Millie smiling as they stood in the sunlight, his grandparents watching with doting smiles from rockers long removed from the front porch and his father - the biggest kid of the bunch - out with the rest of the kids.

Robin Eppes carefully watched Alan since they had emerged from the rental car. His eyes had glistened with unshed tears before he shook himself with a sad smile and began to approach the house. Alan had occasionally paused, looking at the gardens, the swing-set partially visible from the front but located in the back, and up at the house itself. He finally stopped at the front door, pulling a key on a floral key-bob out of his jean's pocket and used it to open up the house.

Alan and Robin entered the house, Robin looking around in curiosity, while Alan immediately headed for the stairwell. Robin examined the furniture, secured under air-tight, clear coverings with a wry smile. It was obvious that Lucy Tracy had a greater say in decorating this house than Jeff had.

She had heard about the bright orange couch.

Everything in the house was of good quality but nothing screamed "home of a billionaire". Personal items and nick-knacks, mementos that made a house a home, were lacking, probably removed when the family made it's exodus from Kansas years ago. It looked clean, well-kept and absolutely impersonal. Robin was sure these all resided now in either the family's island home or the New York penthouse. She could see markings still visible in the floor or the layout where certain pieces of furniture must have been removed.

Emerging from the too-silent kitchen, Robin looked around to see if Alan had come back. Seeing no one, she called out.

"Alan?"

Nothing.

Heading towards the stairs, Robin called out again. "Alan?"

From the second floor, she heard a small sound.

Alarmed, Robin ran up the stairs at a speed that should not have been possible for her age.

At the top of the stairs, Robin noted the rooms were all closed, giving her no clue as to where Alan could be, before she finally spotted a door at the end of the hallway partially open. Heading quickly towards it, she paused at the sight in front of her.

Alan was sitting on the floor, a small box in his hands and tears streaming down his face. When Robin made a small noise, he looked up at her and wiped his face with one hand while clutching the box with the other.

"It's silly," Alan murmured.

Curious, Robin sat down beside him. "What is it?"

Alan held the box out to her. Small toy cars, a yo-yo, two crayons…things of no value to anyone but a little boy – but treasured no doubt.

"Mom made us each a "treasure box"," Alan explained. "She was talented, wasn't she?"

Robin examined the box, surprised that it was indeed hand-made, with intricate artwork and detailing. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

"When I was little, after – after Mom…well, you know," Alan sighed. "I guess I liked to hide things that had to do with my mother. Scotty said I used to make a game of it, hiding stuff for her to find before, so I tried to do it, thinking she would come home and find them for me. In the years between her…accident and us leaving, we found almost all of my hidey holes. But I never found this again. Last night, I woke up and remembered where I put it."

Behind Alan, Robin saw the loose board on an old-fashioned window seat. Inside were some dusty blankets.

Alan followed her gaze and smiled sadly. "Dad must have forgotten about that spot too. The blankets are moth-food."

"Well, now that your treasure is retrieved, do you want to go back to the hotel or do you want to hang around here any longer?"

Smiling sadly, Alan looked around his childhood bedroom.

"No," he sighed. "There's nothing for us here anymore. I can understand why Dad won't sell the house, but at the same time it's like the loss we suffered here overwhelms any of the joy. Let's go and we can save Kate and Mr. Eppes if the terror twins have awakened."

Robin chuckled as Alan helped her to her feet before she let out a small scream when a dark shadow approached the open door…

A/N - no convo. Just wanted to post. Laters, gaters...