"I can't fixate world's problems. But I will do what I can do to make a difference where I can." -Unknown
The next day, David woke up and got ready for work. He made some pancakes for breakfast, and then heads into Emily's room.
"Hey Em, you don't have to wake up now, but I just want to tell you that I have to head into work. You and Derek are in charge while I'm gone." David explained "I made pancakes. They're in the kitchen. Spencer will be up soon, so when you hear him you'll have to get up."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Emily mumbled, "Okay Dave. Bye."
David smiled softly, "Okay bye, Em. I love you. I'll see you tonight." Then he exits the bedroom and heads to the front door. He hears little footsteps pitter-pattering on the floor. He turns around to see not Spencer like he was expecting, but Penelope instead. "Hey kiddo." He greeted with a smile, "Good morning."
Penelope stood staring at David for a few moments, "Why are you leaving, Mr. Rossi?"
"I'm going to work, sweetheart." David replied, "And you can just call me Dave. You don't have to call me Mr. Rossi."
"That's what daddy said, but then he didn't come back." Penelope said softly "Are you going to come home, Dave?"
David nodded, "Yes, I will. I promise, Penelope. I will always come home to you, Jennifer, Spencer, Derek, and Emily."
Penelope gave a small nod, "Okay." She headed into the kitchen where she say the pancakes and smiled. She got a plate and put a couple of pancakes on the plate before driving some syrup on top.
Then David headed out the door and then got into his car and drove to work. Upon arriving at work, Gideon greats David with a smile.
"Hey Dave, how's life at home with the kids? How are Emily and the twins doing?" Gideon wondered
"Well Emily's good. A couple days ago she ran away again, but after a long talk we had a major break through. I think she finally understands how dangerous running away is. I don't think she's going to be running away again." David explained "Jennifer is still very guarded though. And Penelope, well she talked to me today. It's the first time she talked to anyone other than her sister, so that's very big."
Gideon smiled, "Wow! That's amazing."
"Yes it is." David replied, "So do we have a case?"
Gideon nodded, "Yes." He showed David the case file.
Meanwhile back at the Rossi residence, Penelope is sitting at the table eating her pancakes while drinking a glass of milk. Emily woke up and headed out of her bedroom.
"Hey Pen. Good morning." Emily greeted as she headed towards the kitchen
Penelope looked over at Emily and smiled, "Hi Emmy."
Emily smiled to herself. Penelope talked! She didn't want to make it seem like a big deal, but on the inside she was doing jumping jacks and somersaults, because Penelope talked to someone other than Jennifer for the first time.
Emily's thoughts were soon interrupted by Jennifer's shouts of 'Penny! Penny!'.
"I'm in the kitchen, Jenny!" Penelope called back
Jennifer was heard racing into the kitchen. She looked at her twin, then at Emily, and then back at her twin, "Penny, why'd you leave bed without waking me?"
Penelope shrugged, "I heard a noise."
"I thought we had an agreement, Penny. You don't leave the room without me." Jennifer said
Penelope nodded, "I'm sorry, Jenny."
"Hey Jennifer, you know that you and Penelope are safe in this house." Emily assured, "I promise."
"I just want Penny to be safe." Jennifer stated
Emily gave a nod, "I know. I can understand that feeling. I don't have siblings, but I have had younger foster siblings in abusive foster homes before, and I always protected them. So I understand your desire to protect Penelope, but you don't have to do that here. You can let your guard down. It's safe here. I promise."
"I'll try." Jennifer replied
"That's all I want. It all starts with the decision to try." Emily responded
Derek, who has Spencer on his back, comes galloping in the room and neighing like a horse.
Emily shook her head, "Derek, what the hell are you doing?"
"Hell is a bad word, Emmy." Spencer added as he jumped down and then headed into the kitchen.
"No it's not, Spencer." Emily informed
Derek spoke, "I'm having fun with my brother."
"Well you're acting like a child." Emily stated
"So it's a crime to have fun?" Derek asked
Emily gave a soft sigh, "No, it's not a crime to have fun, but you're supposed to be responsible. You are the second oldest. When Dave decides he's had enough of me and sends me away, you will be the one in charge."
"So what, I should be like you? Acting like an adult?" Derek wondered
Emily shook her head, "No. Just act a little less like a five year old."
"Yes mom." Derek replied sarcastically.
"Don't fight." Penelope said as she looked up at her older foster siblings
Jennifer hugged her twin and whispered, "It's okay, Penny. Emily and Derek are not mama and daddy."
Emily looked over at Penelope, "We're not fighting, Penelope. We're just having a discussion."
Penelope gave a slow nod, "Okay."
Later that day, Penelope and Jennifer are playing with some barbies and Spencer is reading a book. Emily and Derek are sitting on the couch. Emily is texting on her phone and Derek is staring off into space.
"Hey Em?" Derek called as he looked over at Emily
Emily glanced over at him, "Yeah?"
"What you said earlier about Papá sending you away, you know that won't happen, right?" Derek wondered
Emily shrugged, "Sure. Whatever."
"He won't. I thought the same thing at first, but he never did." Derek stated, "He didn't do it with me, so he won't do it with you. I promise."
Emily looked at him blankly, "Okay. Whatever you say."
"Also Spencer was really upset when you ran away again two days ago. He asked me why you kept running away, which got me thinking." Derek explained, "I'm curious. You're safe in this home. Papá isn't going to hurt you, so why do you keep running away?"
Emily shrugged, "I don't know, Der. Can we just not talk about it?"
Derek nodded, "Sure, but can we talk about why you're in foster care. What happened to your parents? What's wrong with them?"
"Nothing. Now don't talk about my parents." Emily warned him
Derek took a breath, "My dad died when I was nine. He was killed in front of me. My mom couldn't cope with the loss of her husband. She died of a drug overdose a year later." Then he asked, "Are your parents dead?"
"No." Emily replied as she scrunched her nose "Nothing like that. It's just…I don't like talking about them and I don't want people taking bad about them either."
"That's understandable." Derek told her, "So your parents are alive and they don't want you? That must hurt."
Emily gave a nod, "It does. They left me behind. My mother is the diplomat Elizabeth Prentiss. We were always moving. I was eleven when we moved to DC. We had been here for less than a year when my mom got a new assignment. I had a friend that I didn't want to leave behind, so my parents left me behind. They told me if I didn't want to leave they wouldn't force me." She took a breath, "I was barely twelve years old."
"I'm sorry, E. I didn't know." Derek apologized
"Maybe that's why I keep running away, because I figured if my biological parents could leave me why would anyone else want me. I thought it would be easier for me to leave if I left on my own terms." Emily declared. Then she shrugged, "It worked with all my other foster parents. They all just gave up on me. I thought Dave would give up on me too."
Derek shook his head and then he hugged Emily, "That would never happen. Papá doesn't give up on anyone. I tried acting out to get him to give up on me the first few months I was with him."
Emily hugged Derek back, "Thanks for talking with me, Der."
"You're welcome, E. It's no problem. That's what brothers are for." Derek replied
Emily smiled, "I've never had a brother before."
"Well get used to it, because I'm going to be your brother for the rest of your life." Derek assured
Emily laughed slightly, "Okay."
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." -Helen Keller
Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.
What would you like to see happen next?