Author note:

Hope you all enjoy!

CH 3-Unwelcome Visitor

Emma walked downstairs and flopped on the couch with a deep sigh. It had been a tiring week. It was her first week back at work from her leave after having the baby. The time at home had been exhausting and chaotic, adding a newborn's schedule to running after a busy toddler. Now she was back at school three days a week. Thank goodness Clay had only been spun up a couple times for short Ops and helped as much as he could.

She had somehow been able to get both children down for naps at the same time and now had a few moments of quiet. There were plenty of things to take care of around the house, cleaning, laundry, dishes etc. She sat down just intending to catch her breath before tackling the ever-growing list. She hadn't meant to fall asleep but found herself jerked awake by someone pounding at the front door.

"Crap!" She was mad at herself for nodding off and would be completely pissed if the commotion at the door woke up the kids.

She tore open the door without even checking first to see who it was. "Yes?!"

It took her a moment, but she recognized the man on her doorstep.

"Where's Clay?"

"Excuse me?"

"Clay Spenser. I know he lives here. Is he inside? Clay!"

Emma detected the lingering scent of alcohol on the man and his agitated demeanor was making her nervous.

"Clay isn't home right now. He's at work. So, I'm going to need to ask you to leave."

She started to close the door, thinking that was the end of it. But, he pushed past her and stumbled into the living room, calling out as he went.

"Clay! Clay!"

Emma grabbed her phone and texted her husband, hoping that he wouldn't be running drills, or in a briefing and would see her message ASAP.

"I said you need to leave. I have children asleep upstairs and you are going to scare them." Not to mention her own fear which was rapidly building.

At the mention of children, he stopped and looked around for a minute. He took in the toys, the stuffed animals, and the baby blanket draped across the back of the couch. Then he wondered over to the bookshelf and picked up a photo and studied it. It was a picture of Clay and the woman standing in front of him. Clay was holding a little girl up on his shoulders and she had a baby bundled in her arms. He started to put two and two together.

"Who are you," he demanded.

"What do you mean, who am I? You barged into our house. You need to leave, now!" Emma's voice was shaking. She was genuinely afraid for herself and the children at this point. "I am going to call the police if you don't get out right now!"

He reached out and grabbed her hand and looked down at the ring on her third finger. "You're his wife, aren't you? My son got married and had a family and didn't see the need to tell his own father!"

"Let go of me!"

A small voice called. "Mama? Mama…"

They both turned at the interruption. Ash started in the direction of the stairs and Emma blocked his path, putting herself between him and her children. He put his hands on her shoulders to move her out of his way.

"I'm just gonna go up and see my grandchildren. I bet their Daddy didn't even tell them about me."

Emma shrugged his hands off her shoulders and placed her palm in the middle of his chest.

"You aren't going anywhere near my children."

"You can't tell me what I can do."

Quinn called out again, crying. Emma could hear the fear in her voice. He started to shove her out of his way when they both heard tires squealing into the driveway. In a matter of seconds Clay burst through the door and took in the scene in front of him.

"Don't you lay a finger on her!"

"Oh, there he is! Gonna introduce me to your family," Ash asked with venom.

Clay instantly stepped between his father and Emma. He motioned with his hand to her.

"Em, go upstairs."

She was afraid to leave him. He turned to face her. "Honey go on up…please. Go to the kids. Quinn's crying, she needs you."

"Do you, do you want me to call the police?"

Ash laughed derisively at her question and Clay turned to glare at him. "No, I'll take care of this."

Emma nodded woodenly and started up the stairs. She got up to Quinn's room and picked up the little girl to calm her. "It's okay baby. Everything's going to be okay." She carried her daughter into the baby's room to check on him.

Back down in the living room the two men stood toe to toe, unblinking.

"What in the hell are you doing here? How dare you come into my home and threaten my family!"

"I was just in town, checking up on my son and decided I'd drop by and offer my congratulations."

"Congratulations?"

"Yea," Ash sneered. "I heard you got named Bravo one. My boy's a big man now, leading a Tier One team."

"You heard? That happened years ago."

"Well," he sniffed, "I just found out."

"Get out Ash! You're drunk."

"Looks like more congratulations are in order. You got yourself a pretty little wife…and a couple kids too. Weren't you going to tell your old man?"

Clay bristled at the mention of Emma and the kids. "There's a reason I haven't contacted you. I don't want you in my life…in our lives."

"Ouch." Ash put his hand up to his chest. "That hurts," He mocked.

"Ash, if you don't get out, I'm going to throw you out."

"Ha, that's rich. You're just a scared, sniveling little shit, like you always were."

Clay just barely stopped himself from laying his father out on the floor. He knew that Ash still had a few friends in DEVGRU and any dust-up between them could make its way back to Command. He didn't care about himself, but he needed his career. He needed to be able to take care of his family. He stepped up in Ash's face and took him by the arm.

"I'm not scared of you. I haven't been in a long time. You're just not worth it. Now leave and never, ever contact me or my family again."

"And if I do…"

Clay hissed through clenched teeth. "They'll never find your body."

He actually saw a flash of fear in his father's eyes. Clay "helped" him out the door and slammed it in his face. Then he rushed upstairs to Emma and the kids. He found her clutching Quinn to her, huddled on the floor by the baby's crib. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around them.

"It's okay. He's gone now. It's okay."

Emma laid her head on his chest and he kissed her head and Quinn whimpered quietly. Clay reached for his daughter and she went into his arms, clinging to him. He rocked her back and forth, rubbing her back to soothe her. Emma knew the contact was as much for him as it was for their daughter. He needed to assure himself that she was okay.

"Bad guy Daddy?" Quinn surprised them with her question. Emma didn't know how to answer, but Clay didn't hesitate.

"Yea, he was a bad guy. But Daddy took care of him and everything is fine now baby."

Clay stood up and helped Emma to her feet. "How's little man?"

Emma chuckled. "Would you believe he never even woke up? He's like his daddy. He can sleep through anything."

Clay smiled fondly at his boy. "I'm gonna go get this one back to sleep." He kissed Quinn's curls.

He went toward their daughter's room and Emma turned to go back downstairs. He caught her hand and stopped her.

"Em…you okay?"

She forced a smile and nodded. "I'm fine."

About ten minutes later Clay descended the stairs to find Emma in the kitchen scrubbing the dishes. He walked up and reached an arm around her shoulders and she jumped.

"Whoa, whoa, babe. It's just me. It's okay."

"Sorry."

"Hey, it's okay. Come here Em."

She continued washing the already clean skillet in her hand.

"Emma, come on. Come talk to me."

"I'm fine."

"Well, I'm not babe." He turned off the water and grabbed a towel to dry her hands. "Come sit with me."

He led her over to the couch and pulled her down onto his lap. Within a minute, he felt her body shake and heard her crying.

"Shhh. Baby, it's okay."

He knew her well enough to know that she needed to cry it out. He just held her, rubbing her back and kissing into her hair. Once the storm had passed she took a deep breath and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? You don't have to be sorry for being upset."

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry for letting him in, for opening the door. I was just tired, and he was making such a racket. I didn't want him to wake the kids."

"Baby, none of this is your fault. If anything, I should apologize. Ash is my problem. I never thought he would come here. I don't even know how he knows where I live. I'm sorry you had to deal with him."

"I was so scared," she finally admitted.

"You didn't seem scared when I walked in." He remembered how she had been standing there, defiant, bravely putting herself in harms way to protect their babies.

"I remembered what you told me, about…what he did to you when you were little. There was no way I was letting him near our children."

When she mentioned the past, his abuse, she felt him shiver slightly. She put her arms around him and squeezed him tight. She knew that he didn't like to talk about it and had never really dealt with his feelings. Clay sniffed, and tears came to his eyes.

"Damn it! I can't believe that bastard can still get to me."

"Honey, you're human and no matter what he did to you…he is your father."

He swiped at the tears that had escaped down his cheeks and took a deep breath.

"I don't think he'll bother us again. Ash only likes it when he feels like he can scare or intimidate the other person. He likes the power."

"Well, he knows you're not scared of him anymore."

"And you don't need to be either. I mean it Em. I won't let anything happen to you or the kids."

"I know that."

Emma gathered herself and started to stand up.

"Where are you going?"

"Don't you have to get back to base?"

"Nope. I told them that I had a family emergency. I don't have to report back today."

"Good. So what now?"

"Let's go check on the kids."

"They're not up. I haven't heard a peep."

"I know. I…I just want to see them…"

Emma leaned and gave him a kiss and then reached for his hand.

"Okay, let's go check on them."

Clay squeezed her hand and she sent him a smile.

"I love you Em."

"I love you too."