Part 18

"So you told her that we'd been witnesses to all father's brutality but that we won't allow her anywhere near her grandchildren," Sean summarized.

"Exactly," Aaron agreed with a rather grim expression. "She's changed considerably at least from what I can remember, but then again, I would have changed to if I had just murdered someone no matter how abusive they might've been. I won't say she feels guilty, but she does feel remorse for her actions."

"Don't you think you should give her a chance?" Penelope suggested. "Now that she's finally free of your father don't you think you should give her a chance to prove she's changed?"

"Even if she's has there is too much history between us to ever truly trust her," Sean said. "I would never trust her enough for her to babysit for example, if Emily and I were on a date or something. I'd be to afraid of what she would do to our children while we were gone. Yes, I understand, that it was father that was so brutal. I also understand, why mom never did anything to help Aaron and me, as I know he likely would have beat her up to if she had interfered, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of painful history that I don't believe I, at least will ever be able to completely get past. I think Aaron is being more than generous offering to put a roof over her head and food in her belly, but only if father didn't leave her anything. Where he got his compassion from, for a woman who was never there for her children, is beyond me."

"It's partly because I understand that she is the classic battered wife," Aaron said, "and whether you admit it or not Sean you would feel guilty if you left her with nothing to where she was living on the street or in a shelter."

"I suppose," Sean said noncommittally.

"You would, as you're a compassionate, generous loving guy, despite what your father tried to make you become," Emily said, placing a gentle hand on Sean's arm.

"Besides, dad, might have left her everything as far we know, so we might not have to worry about providing for her," Aaron said.

"No, he probably gave it to his law firm or something as a final act of uncaring cruelty," Sean snorted his opinion of his father clear. "I'll be surprised if father left his wife anything, much less his two sons. I think he'd rather throw his money in the ocean then give any to his family, so they would not have to worry about starving. Now, for Aaron and I, that's not a problem, but mom, is a different matter, as she's never had a job and she's to old to start most careers at this late date."

"Father never would have allowed her to work and she only has a high school education as grandfather never saw the point of her going to college," Aaron added.

"Yeah, I met people like that before," Emily agreed shaking her head looking rather disgusted. "If someone wants to be a homemaker then that's just fine, but a lot of times it's kind of forced on them, because their other half is abusive and demands it."

"You sure you don't want to give her a chance?" Penelope asked for a second time and both Aaron and Sean shook their heads so she dropped the subject.

"Too big a risk," Emily told Penelope. "Their mother might have truly changed now that the husband is dead and gone, but she also might not have. Also, what you didn't consider is that just being around her would bring up plenty of bad memories for both Aaron and Sean, who have put their past behind them for the most part. Having someone around that is at least partly at fault for a lot of those bad memories will bring them back to the surface."

"We've been so happy for a long time without our mother making us remember our childhood, simply by constantly being around," Sean said.

"We have very few good memories of our childhood, as it was mostly just one massive nightmare. Not a week went by that we weren't be beaten for something," Aaron added. "It was a record if we could both go three or four days without bruises at least and Sean was beaten so badly on several occasions that he nearly died."

Emily went completely white at that and Sean kissed her cheek in silent reassurance.

Penelope winced, but stopped trying to persuade Aaron to give his mother a chance. It wasn't that their mother had beaten them, but that she had done nothing, not even once to try to prevent the beatings and while intellectually she could understand why she had not it was still wrong of her to not try and intervene.

"No, after the trial tomorrow I plan to never think about my mother again," Sean said firmly, giving Emily's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Me neither, as I've been much happier without her in my life, then I was when she was always there," Aaron agreed. "No, I have a good life with you, our children and our friends and that's more than enough for me."

"I understand," Penelope said, though she looked kind of sad that there would be no attempt at a reconciliation. She did understand though, that some times a reconciliation wasn't possible or even desired, so she would support both Aaron and Sean in this.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

Elizabeth Hotchner was cleared of all charges relatively quickly with Aaron and Sean being the main witnesses and once it was all over Aaron invited Elizabeth's lawyer out to lunch.

"I have a few questions for you sir, about father's estate if you have time."

"Of course," Arthur answered.

"The sooner that we get this cleared up the sooner that all of us can get home to our children," Sean added.

"Yes, I'm anxious to get home to my children to," Aaron agreed.

Arthur definitely understood that, as all of them walked out of the courtroom.

"So how old are they?" Arthur asked curiously.

"Not quite two as I didn't mate until recently," Aaron answered.

"Mine are not quite a year older," Sean said. "My wife inherited this nice big house from an aunt, so we had children before Aaron here and that's even though he met Penny first."

"Yes, well, you got lucky, that Emily inherited a nice big house while Penelope and I had to have something built," Aaron said smiling.

Aaron and Sean ignored their mother completely and Elizabeth couldn't really blame them, because to her sons it was it is if she didn't really exist. She was a non-entity to them. Elizabeth was sad that both her sons thought of her like that, but she knew she only had herself to blame, as she had done absolutely nothing to defend her sons and had not even bothered to doctor the bruises that they both often had. Both of them had been looking after themselves ever since they were small children.

All four of them picked a restaurant that was close by where the food was supposed to be stupendous.

"Now I understand that you want to know how your father arranged his estate," Arthur began.

"It's not for us, since Sean and I make a good living," Aaron said. "We just need to know if father left mother anything. If he was the same selfish bastard I remember then I'll make arrangements to make sure that she doesn't starve at least.

Arthur winced at that technically correct term, as Samuel Hotchner had been a right bastard and he had always suspected that he beat his wife and children, but had never had any proof. He could definitely see though considering both sons reactions that Sam had indeed beat his sons on a regular basis. He was also assuming that because of the brothers reaction to their mother that Elizabeth had done absolutely nothing to stop her husband from abusing his sons, probably on a regular basis. While intellectually he could understand why Elizabeth had done absolutely nothing for her sons, it still wasn't right. Arthur wasn't naïve in the slightest and knew that Elizabeth had likely done nothing for her sons so that her husband wouldn't beat her as well. Unfortunately, that was often the way that it worked out, a mother or father not defending their children from being beaten on a regular basis, all because they were afraid that their spouse would turn their attention onto them. It was mostly men that were so abusive, but women as well, just not as large a percentage.

"Your father Samuel Hotchner left your mother the house, but she is forbidden to sell for at least five years," Arthur said.

"I never want to see that house again," Elizabeth said. "It is a place of misery and pain not happiness."

"Anything else?" Sean asked.

"Just her clothes and jewelry that he has given her," Arthur answered.

"He hardly gave me any jewelry and never remembered my birthday or our anniversary," Elizabeth snorted. "To him, I didn't matter at all, as I was an object, not a sentient being."

"So basically you're destitute at least until you can sell the house in five years," Aaron said.

"That's right and unfortunately, the house is also heavily mortgaged I'm afraid," Arthur said.

"I do have a couple of pieces that he gave me in the beginning before you were born and things really started to disintegrate, but I don't know how valuable they are," Elizabeth said.

"We'll get them appraised and see how much they are worth if that's what you want," Aaron offered. "They might not be worth much at all, but you never know."

"You're welcome to them Aaron, I never want to see them again. It's not like I have some sentimental attachment to them considering. Somehow I can't see them being worth much more then he paid for them, but I don't really know," Elizabeth said.

Arthur internally winced at the rather stilted conversation between a mother and her son, but he also understood it. Alphas in particular, could hold a grudge until the day they died and even if that wasn't the case here, that didn't mean that either of the Hotchner sons wanted anything to do with the mother who likely hadn't done a thing for them when their father was beating them black and blue.

"So I'm wondering how much do you think the house is worth?" Sean asked. "I know we can't sell it for five years, but when we can't how much do you think it's worth?"

"Well, I would have to check the house listings to be sure, but I would estimate several million at the very least," Arthur said. "That price could go up or down in five years, but I would conservatively estimate around 5 or 6 million. It's in a very good neighborhood and is well-maintained. Of course, it could be worth up to 10 million or so depending on the buyer."

Elizabeth blinked at that for she had no idea the house she had lived all the married life in was worth so much."

"It's also heavily mortgaged as I said earlier and that mortgage will probably likely take at least half of my estimate, but that will still give Ms. Hotchner more then enough to live on once we can sell. There's also taxes to consider," Arthur answered.

"So the mortgage will take a nice big greedy bite out of the money that could conceivably be gotten for the house in five years," Aaron said.

"I'm afraid so. It's never easy to maintain the house of that size," Arthur agreed.

"I'll set up an account for you," Aaron finally said once the lawyer had given them all the details to the Hotchner estate. "That'll be enough for you get an apartment and for clothes and food."

"Thank you, Aaron, I'm grateful," Elizabeth said.

Aaron said nothing, but waved away her thanks.

Finally the meal ended and they all parted ways. Both Aaron and Sean were anxious to get back to their mates and return to Boston to their children.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

Epilogue

"Well, home again," Sean sighed.

Sean had been rather quiet on the plane flight home and Emily knew that he was still processing the events of the last few days. Emily wouldn't be surprised to learn that Sean was wondering what his childhood would have been like if his mother had actually defended him and Aaron from their father. Having to get their mother off a murder charge was bound to have brought up a lot of bad memories not only for her mate, but for Aaron as well. Still, she would help him as best she could to put them back in their box.

Emily was actually glad she had never met the woman, because she would've wanted to punch her at the very least, so it was just as well that she and Penny had done other things while their mates were busy.

Emily was well aware that Sean and Aaron hadn't been children for a very long time, but that didn't mean the damage didn't still remain and always would to some extent.

"Let's go check on the children," Emily gently suggested.

"Good idea," Sean said brightening. "I know they're asleep right now, but still, I really want to see them. I've missed them so much over the last few days."

"That's not surprising," Emily smiled. "I missed them just as much as I never imagined I'd meet anyone I could start a family with. I admit, I could've had them, even without being mated and I might've done that if I hadn't met you."

The two of them headed upstairs to look in on their children before they headed to their bedroom.

They peeked into the nursery and saw all their children sleeping peacefully in their beds and they just stood there for a few minutes wanting to hold them, but also not wanting to wake them.

"Let's go," Emily said quietly, so she wouldn't wake the children.

Sean nodded and the two of them walked quietly out of the room and shut the door very softly behind them.

"Are you doing okay?" Emily asked once they were far enough away.

"I'll be fine, honey," Sean assured her. "Having to testify at that trial and then having to see my mother after so many years did bring up a lot of bad memories. Still, Aaron's right, we really couldn't allow her to go to prison for killing the bastard, though I think it would have been justice if our father had ended up in prison instead of being murdered by his wife. It would've been true justice if such a prominent lawyer ended up in prison for child and spousal abuse and then the inmates learned what he was in prison for and they would make him suffer. A lot of those people take a dim view of child abusers, because despite their crimes they tend to love their children. The other prisoners could've made dad's life hell for a very long time."

"You and Aaron should have reported him then at least when you went to college," Emily said.

"Even if we had got anyone to listen to us our father was a powerful man and I don't think we could've won, as I doubt our mother would've backed us up, not at that point in time. I have no doubt that any charges would've been reduced to the point that it wouldn't've been worth it and then he probably would've hunted Aaron and I down for all the trouble we caused. If we had done that I have no doubt at least one of us would be dead now. No, trust me, it's better if it happened this way. He was a truly sadistic and cruel man," Sean said.

"Well, he's dead now, so there's no point in on what happened in the past," Emily said firmly. "I'm going to make you forget him entirely or at least help you put the memories to back of your mind where you aren't thinking about them constantly."

"I'm looking forward to it," Sean said eagerly knowing exactly what Emily meant.

"Into the bedroom then," Emily ordered and Sean obeyed immediately.

Emily followed him and shut the bedroom door gently behind her knowing that one of the only ways to get Sean's mind off what had happened just recently was to distract him, so that was exactly what she intended to do.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"It seems like we have been gone more than a few days," Penelope said.

"Yes, it does," Aaron said taking his beautiful mate into his arms. "I'm glad to be home."

"As much as I enjoyed traveling with you I'm glad to be home to," Penelope said. "It's not that I mind taking a vacation it was the reason for the trip that makes me glad that it's over."

"Still, this is where we've been so happy," Aaron pointed out. "I know we haven't really lived here very long, but it's certainly more of a home then my apartment ever was."

"I have to agree with that," Penelope said smiling. "I think it's because this is where we started our married life and because we live here together, instead of in two separate places. Life tends to be much happier when you have someone you truly love to share it with or at least that's what I believe."

"I have to agree with you there," Aaron said smiling hugely putting his mother to the back of his mind. While he didn't hate her, he still never wanted to see her again. She might not technically have had anything to do with the misery that his father had put him and Sean through, but she had certainly done nothing to stop it either. "I kind of promised to at least send her photos of the children every year as they grow, but I said that was as far as I was willing to go."

"I think that's very generous of you personally," Penelope offered. "For a mother to not defend her children is an unpardonable sin to me."

"I understand why she didn't, as father would've had no problem beating her just as badly as he did Sean and me," Aaron said trying to be philosophical.

Penelope said nothing simply cuddled into Aaron's arms, as she had made her opinion plain and there was no point of rehashing it, as that would only upset the love of her life.

"So let's go check on the children and then I have plans for us," Aaron said leering at her playfully.

Penelope simply laughed knowing what Aaron was thinking immediately. She knew very well that he thought about making love to her constantly and she didn't mind that at all.

"I don't mind that at all," Penelope said. "It will help relieve the stress of the last few days."

"That it will," Aaron chuckled. "I'd much rather make love to you then have to deal with my mother, no matter how reasonable she's being."

"I can't blame you there," Penelope admitted. "Let's go see the children. I know Janice and Jessica would've called us if there was anything wrong, but still, I'm anxious to check on them."

"Yeah, this is the first time week in anyway without the children for a few days instead of just a few hours," Aaron said. "I believe it's called separation anxiety. It's something that we will have to get used to now that we have kids, because we can't not take vacations or just go somewhere for a few hours just the two of us."

"It wasn't so bad when you took me out to dinner a few weeks back, but then, that was only for a couple of hours," Penelope said.

"It'll only get worse once we have some more just like we're planning to and another year or so," Aaron said.

"I'm looking forward to it," Penelope said grinning happily.

The two of them headed upstairs anxious to check on the children.

"I'll contact Dave tomorrow and tell him that we are back," Aaron said.

"That's a good idea," Penelope said. "Those children of his and Alex's are so adorable."

Dave and Alex had six children, two sets of triplets that had been born one right after the other and as he had promised Dave had let Alex go through an operation to have her ovaries removed, so she wouldn't have to worry about going into heat anymore. Going through her heat was one problem that Alex wouldn't have to deal with anymore and she was very happy for her friend. Of course, in another couple of years once their second set of children was born she was going to do the same as Alex had already done, but that was still sometime away.

"Yes, they are, but so are ours or Sean's and Emily's," Aaron said smiling. "I've never seen Dave this happy. Alex is good for him."

"Well, your friend is certainly good for Alex," Penelope said smiling. "She's a much happier person now that she and Dave are mated. Having children doesn't hurt either."

"It was mutual then," Aaron said smiling.

"Definitely," Penelope said giggling. "I'm very happy that they met actually, even if neither one of us intended to play matchmaker."

"We might not have intended to that's just the way it worked out," Aaron said, as he led Penelope into the nursery.

They looked down on their children observing how they were deeply asleep before they headed for their bedroom.

"I sure have missed them," Penelope sighed quietly once they were in the hallway.

"So have I," Aaron admitted, "but then again I never imagined I'd have a family to lavish my affection on until I met you. At least Dave had been mated before so he had a chance to experience the happiness that comes from being mated to someone you love, even if it was of short duration. I never had a chance to experience the happiness of being mated myself, until I met you."

"Well, in a year and a half or so I'll be pregnant again and soon after that you'll have even more children to lavish your affection on," Penelope said.

"I can hardly wait," Aaron grinned, as the two of them entered their bedroom.

"I could get pregnant with my next heat, in a few months," Penelope offered.

"You don't have to do that," Aaron said, as he closed the bedroom door. "It's really nice of you to offer, but we agreed, to wait at least three years before we had anymore."

"I know but I'm offering," Penelope said. "My heat is in a couple of months and if you want to get me pregnant I won't object."

"Well, if you're sure you don't want to wait," Aaron said thinking about it.

"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to do it," Penelope said. "I'm more than ready to have some more children before I get myself fixed so I won't go into heat anymore."

"Alright then, if you're sure I'll be perfectly happy to get you pregnant again," Aaron grinned at the thought.

"Good, because I'm ready for my heats to stop, which is one of the reasons I suggested that you get me pregnant sooner, but also because I'm more than ready to have a few more," said Penelope.

"Well, you should go into heat in about 6 or 7 weeks if I'm counting right," Aaron said.

"Probably about six," Penelope said "but we'll see. You can always tell within a few days how soon I'm going to going to heat."

"Well, you certainly cheered me up," Aaron said smiling at the thought of having more children with his mate.

"That was my intent," Penelope said that she kissed his cheek. "I don't like to see you so sad and melancholy, though I realize that dealing with your past is never easy, especially if it was painful."

"Well, with you around I certainly won't have a chance to be sad for very long," Aaron said. "Now I think it's time we start practicing making babies at least until you going to heat in a couple of months where it will no longer be practice," Aaron suggested.

"That's a very good suggestion," Penelope grinned, glad to see that her mate had cheered up.

"Well, let's do our nightly routine and then I plan to make love to you for the next several hours at least," Aaron suggested.

"That's more than okay with me," Penelope smiled, as she hurried into the bathroom that was part of the master bedroom, so she could brush her teeth and use the toilet not bothering to get dressed for bed.

Aaron watched his mate head into the bathroom and couldn't help grinning happily, as he watched her walk sexily out of sight.

Despite what had happened just days ago he couldn't help, but think about how happy he was ever since he had met one Penelope Garcia, as a lot of good things that happened, ever since the two of them had got together. He could hardly wait to get her pregnant again, as just the thought of doing so made him grin rather sappily before he followed her into the bathroom. He could hardly wait to start making love to her and he would never get tired of doing so for as long as he lived. He knew with absolute certainty that he had finally met the perfect mate for him and he would be thanking fate for allowing them to meet every day for the rest of his life.