"Okay my babies, let's get in the car please," Emily said as she finished restocking the diaper bag.
"What about momma?" Oakley asked.
"I'm right here, Oakie-bear," JJ said with the twins in tow.
"Car please, let's go," Emily said again, scooping Lily up this time. She knew if Lily had it her way, she'd be playing still as opposed to getting in the car.
"Ware we doin', mommy?" Lily asked.
"Clarke's adoption is tomorrow, bug. We're going to pick out a pretty dress for you to wear."
"Not for me and Brooks though," Oliver said with a giggle.
"No baby, of course not. We'll get you two a handsome outfit instead," Emily winked, buckling Lily in.
Clarke smiled thinking about tomorrow. She had been at the Prentiss home for a little over a month and a half now and loved every minute of it. Clarke was there to celebrate Christmas, Lily's birthday, and was involved in planning her adoption celebration.
Emily had gone all out for the party, the same way she did with everything. This was Clarke's big day and even though she didn't know that many people besides their family, the party was still going to be amazing. She had attended school for about a month now and in that time, she made a few friends for the first time in her life.
Hannah and Claire became her besties—the first day she started at Brookwood, Emily had said to Clarke that what she told her new friends was completely up to her. Emily of course gave Clarke multiple options however, it was Clarke's decision to make, the mothers wouldn't take offense.
Clarke thought it was easier and less complicated to tell people she had two moms, six siblings and transferred from one of the other private schools. Clarke was surprised at how accepting the kids were, and not just the friends she'd made but anyone she had spoken to. They were so interested in learning about Clarke and her family, and in return she was able to be just as interested in their lives too.
Even though she felt beyond happy to have friends, Clarke didn't want them at her adoption party because it would most likely cause too many questions she wasn't ready to answer yet. Maybe one day, just not right now. And to her surprise, Emily understood completely.
"What do you think, honey? Lavendar and navy blue, or did you have something else in mind?" Emily asked.
"I get to choose?" Clarke questioned.
"Yeah, it's your party," Amelia said with a smile. "We all got to pick for our parties too."
Amelia and Oliver remember theirs vividly however, Oakley doesn't because she was still so young. Her party was pink everything because it's her favorite, Oliver's had a green and blue theme, Amelia's was peach and turquoise—the kids all wore matching outfits and now it was Clarke's turn.
Emily wanted the adoption parties to stand out the same way birthdays did while being special at the same time; so, while the birthday parties had real themes, the adoption parties had colors instead.
"Umm, yeah that sounds good. But I thought we were going to wear jeans for the party."
"This is just for court," JJ smiled. They were still in the car talking because once the mothers got everyone out, they knew they'd be bombarded by the constant wow you have so many children comments.
"Oh, okay then. I've just never picked much out before," Clarke said. Granted, she had picked out more clothes than ever recently, however, that was new to her. She had never picked out clothes for anyone else before though.
"We'll be here to help you the whole time," JJ smiled.
Two hours later the family had successfully picked out matching outfits for everyone—it took six stores however, it was worth it because they all looked so adorable. The girls had lavender-colored dresses, and the boys had lavender dress shirts, navy pants and navy bow ties.
So, so cute!
"…It is with my great pleasure placing Clarke with the Prentiss family. Clarke, you are one lucky little girl to have Emily and Jennifer as your mothers, they are some of the best I've ever come across. And look at all these siblings and family members you have here to support you today," the judge smiled. It seemed as if each time he saw the Prentiss family they took up more and more of his courtroom.
"Clarke Collins Prentiss, welcome to your forever family." And with that, the courtroom erupted. He didn't even bother trying to get them to simmer down as there were too many of them, plus, they deserved it.
Emily and JJ wrapped their arms around Clarke and their children besides the twins who were in Sandy and Elizabeth's arms, "We love you, sweet girl."
"I love you too…all of you," Clarke said, making eye contact with Emily, JJ then her little siblings.
After pictures were taken with the judge and the entire family, they headed back to the Prentiss residence for Clarke's party. She was really happy her mother's put them in matching outfits for court because it made Clarke feel super loved, supported, and even more like a part of the family.
Due to the fact it was still very cold outside, the inside of the house was decorated in lavender and navy-colored balloons, streamers, and banners—Emily also got a cake with the colors Clarke chose and picked out some cute pool floats seeing as the kids would most likely end up swimming at some point.
"How does it feel?" Garcia asked with an arm wrapped around Clarke.
The girl blushed because of all the listening ears in the room, laughing when JJ tickled her side. "It's just family here, honey. You can tell them to backoff," she winked.
Garcia gasped, feigning offense. "I'll have you know I'm not one to backoff."
"Don't listen to her, Clarke, she's all talk," Morgan smiled.
"Do you appreciate your credit score, chocolate thunder?"
Clarke giggled hearing her aunt and uncle bicker. Even though she took to calling Emily and JJ mom and referred to the kids as her siblings, she still felt a bit weary calling the adults aunt and uncle.
The grandparents were the same as the mothers though, they got a new moniker too—Emily and JJ weren't huge fans of mom as it truly showed what was in store for them as the children got older however, loved how comfortable Clarke was using the moniker. Oh, if they could only keep their babies little.
"Come on, Clarke. We have a surprise for you," Amelia and Oliver said, taking Clarke's hand and leading her into the playroom.
"Leave her be, Pen," JJ said once the kids were gone.
She understood how excited her best friend got however, also understood how overwhelmed Clarke was with everyone paying her so much attention. It was one thing when they were spread out through the house and another when most of the adults were surrounding her in the kitchen.
"I just wanted to know if it felt different," she said with a shrug.
"I know that, but you're not exactly quiet and everyone in this room was expecting an answer," JJ explained.
"I'll talk with our little gumdrop later."
In the other room, Clarke was hugging her siblings for the pictures they drew for her. Amelia and Oliver also wrote her a little note on the back which was really sweet. "I love them all. Thank you so much."
It had now been about two months since Clarke's adoption and the family was thriving. JJ and Emily often found themselves talking after the kids were in bed about the lack of drama they've experienced lately.
It felt as if they were living from one trauma to the next for far too long—the mothers weren't naïve though, they knew with JJ's current job, the ones Emily had in the past and their life in general that evil was never far.
Emily should have known things would take another turn; she just didn't want to believe it was possible. I mean, for goodness sakes, haven't her babies been through enough.
While waiting in line for school drop off, Emily kept looking in her rearview mirror at a car that had been following her almost the entire way to Brookwood. When a horn honked so she'd move forward in line, Emily decided to alter courses after sending a quick text to JJ.
Hey babe, can you have Pen run this plate please. VXE-7913. Keeping the kids home today, we might stop by later. Call you soon, I love you.
Emily turned around in her seat to look at the kids with a calm smile to mask the fear she felt, "Who wants to play hooky today?"
The littles cheered immediately even though they had no idea what hooky meant while the big kids were quick to ask their mother questions. Emily answered them all and got out of the drop-off line, taking the long way home to ensure she was no longer being followed.
Part of the appeal of living in their gated community was the added measure of security and the fact you needed a code to get in. Not only that but you needed a second code to get into the gate surrounding their estate as well so Emily felt confident that as long as she lost the tail before going through the first gate, they'd be safe.
By the time Emily got everyone back in the house she had ten text messages from JJ as well as five missed calls. "Is something wrong, mommy?" Amelia asked, always one to sense things unlike her siblings.
"No baby, everything is fine," Emily lied. There was no reason to ever involve the children unless it directly affected them the way it did when JJ got shot, or Emily was kidnapped. For all Emily knew she could just be overacting. "Can you two help me with something, please?" she asked Clarke and Amelia.
When they nodded, Emily continued. "I was thinking we could do something extra fun today, but you know how your little siblings can be. I think it would help if you picked a few different activities and then ask the littles which one they want to do. Sound good?"
"Yeah," they nodded, then ran into the playroom. While the kids were in the other room, Emily called JJ.
"What's going on, Em? Are the kids okay?"
"They are," Emily began. "We're fine, Jen. That car followed us almost the entire way to school though, it didn't feel right to leave them there. I'm sorry, I just couldn't do it."
"Don't apologize, babe. I trust your gut more than anything, if something felt off, you're probably right. You're not going to like this but the plates came back stolen, did you get a look at the guy?"
"Dammit," Emily cursed; of course it wouldn't be that easy. "Umm, yeah. White, early forties, brown hair, glasses. I didn't think much of him until I pulled into Brookwood because he was alone in the car, there would be no reason for him to be there."
"Could he have been a teacher?"
"No way, I know them all Jen. Mark even sent me the substitutes he has on staff from when—"
"Amelia," JJ voiced. Emily had given the staff pictures to the kids details along with pictures of Palmer and Doyle. "Let me see what Pen can pull up on the security cameras. If the car was stolen, maybe that can help us figure out where he came from too."
"Thanks babe. I'm going to take the kids out a bit later to do something fun, how about we swing by for lunch?"
"I'd love that, honey. Do you know where you're going to take them?"
"Amelia and Clarke are sorting that out now with the littles, I'd assume the trampoline park or Plaster fun time is in their future."
"I'm jealous, you know how much I love both of those places."
"You're more than welcome to come with us, Jen."
"You know what? I'm going to go talk to Hotch, let me call you right back."
JJ hung up before Emily could say anything else and then Clarke carried a crying Brynley into the kitchen. "Oh my, look at all those tears," Emily said, accepting the baby from Clarke. "You're okay, peanut," she soothed. "What happened?"
"Brooks took her toy and she didn't want another one, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, honey. This one is a little oversensitive, aren't you?" Emily said, kissing the hand Brynley waved in her face.
The baby was all smiles the second she was in her mother's arms—and what Emily said was true, Brynley was a little oversensitive. Granted, her other children never tore toys from one another's hands but with twins or toddlers around the same age it happened often. Brynley also loved to start fussing the minute she saw nobody was looking and then point the finger towards her twin.
Emily got a bottle out of the kitchen cabinet and then filled it with some water from the dispenser in the fridge for Brynley—all the Prentiss children drank more than the recommended amount of water each day, something Emily prided herself on. When Emily heard her phone ring, she asked Clarke to get it as she was juggling the baby and two bottles because if Brooks didn't get one too, he'd fuss.
"Hi mom," Clarke smiled into the phone after seeing the caller ID.
"Hi sweetie, I heard you're playing hooky today. Have you and your siblings decided what we're going to do yet?"
"You're coming too?"
"Of course I am, you can't have all the fun without me."
"But what about work?"
"I'm going to play hooky too, honey. Where are we heading?"
"Umm, I think to paint. Brynley started screaming so I'm in the kitchen with mom, but Oakley and Oliver wanted to paint. Lily wants to go to the trampoline park," she laughed. Even Clarke knew Lily loved the trampoline—when they did the construction on the upstairs, Emily also had them add an enclosed area connected to the game room where an indoor trampoline and gymnastic mats were laid out.
"And what do you want to do?"
"Umm, paint. We have a trampoline at home so it would just seem more fun to go paint," Clarke said with a shrug before realizing her mom couldn't see her. Emily smiled hearing Clarke call their house home, as did JJ.
"I agree. Clarke honey, is mommy there?" JJ asked. Garcia had just come running into the bullpen with her laptop in tow and she needed to speak with Emily.
"Yup, hold on. Mom wants to talk to you," she said, handing Emily the phone.
"Can you bring this into Brooks please? Brynley will follow you, go with sissy Bryn," Emily prompted, leading the girls out of the kitchen—well, more so leading Brynley out. The twins were like Lily, they took their first steps on their birthday and have been running around ever since.
"Come on Brynley," Clarke called, walking a bit ahead of her sister and waiting for her to catch up.
"I hear you're joining us," Emily said into the phone, smiling at Clarke's patience with her little sister. The four littles got distracted by everything, even in their own home, which meant it took them longer to do anything like getting back to the playroom.
"Yeah…"
"Jen, what's up?"
"Did you get the impression Christopher Hayes wanted anything to do with Clarke?"
"Excuse me?"
"Sophia didn't tell us much about him. I know Clarke's spoken to you about the abuse, but she's never really said much about their relationship otherwise…"
"Jen, spit it out babe. What's going on?"
"Garcia pulled the street cameras and Christopher Hayes was the one following you. I don't know why I never thought something like this may happen—it was one thing with Lily's sperm donor but…"
Emily took a calming deep breath to center herself while figuring out what the heck their next steps should be. Legally, Clarke is theirs—no judge in their right mind would give Christopher visitation rights nevermind anything else. Plus, according to Sophia and the extensive check Garcia had run, he was in jail for child abuse.
Emily didn't know how she missed this. She knew what Christopher looked like from his mugshot, he even looked familiar today, the glasses threw her though because he didn't need them. They weren't the best disguise; it wasn't as if he went through great lengths to change his appearance.
"How the hell did he get out of jail?" Emily whispered sternly.
"We're trying to figure that out, now. I'm going to come home, the team can keep us updated over the phone."
"No Jen, stay for a while and see what you can dig up. I'll bring the kids there around 11am to visit then we can head out for lunch before going to paint. You know the minute we get there the kids will be scooped up," Emily said. It didn't matter the women had seven children now, somehow JJ always ended up with none when Emily brought the kids to the office which made her laugh.
"I can do that. You're right, I'll be able to help more from here. Call me if anything else happens babe, promise?"
"We'll be fine, Jen."
"Promise me!"
"I promise. I—" when Lily and Oakley ran into the kitchen screaming her name, she quickly said, "I've got to go babe. See you soon, I love you."
"Mommy, tan we have wata too pwease?"
Emily hid her eyeroll and nodded. She thought something was actually wrong, my goodness. "Sure babies." Emily filled two sippy cups and sent them on their way—water wasn't a big deal however, when it did spill and soaked the carpet the kids often stepped or sat in it, something she wanted to avoid.
"I don't get it, I thought he was locked up. Did you have any idea he was this smart?" Morgan asked, trying to envision the man escaping lockup. He took any threat to his family incredibly seriously and as the godfather to all seven children, he was freaking out.
"No way. Sophia told us he was behind bars and we took that at face value, why wouldn't we? He abused our little girl, he's lucky to be breathing," JJ answered.
They never had to worry about Amelia's stepfather because he died with her mother in the house fire. There was no way of knowing who Oakley's parents were and vice versa as she was a newborn when she was left and wouldn't look the same. Doyle was now dead, the donor they used for the twins would never know who they were, and during summer vacation Oliver's mother overdosed.
JJ then found herself wondering if Emily thought about Christopher, as she was never one to take answers like that at face value—she preferred to be prepared for all scenarios especially when JJ and their kids were involved.
"Jayje?" Garica said, rubbing her hand up and down JJ's arm.
"I umm, sorry. I was just thinking about Em, I'm not sure she accepted what Sophia told us the way I did. She only seemed pissed off he was out of jail not shocked, but it's not as if she could really talk because the kids are home."
"Has Clarke said anything?" Rossi asked.
"About Christopher?" JJ questioned and Rossi nodded. "Not to me. She's spoken with Emily a bit about the abuse and when it started, not much else though. She did say he liked to drink, Em and I assumed he was an alcoholic from what Clarke described."
"Do you think someone would help him break out of jail? Do you have any idea why he would come after Clarke?"
If you had asked Hotch three years ago if he'd consider the team to be his family, he would have said no. He enjoyed spending time with them all outside of work however, he wouldn't have used the word family. Then something changed for him, even before Hayley got kidnapped although, that confirmed the love he felt for everyone. Emily and JJ held a special place in his heart and so do their children, he loves being Uncle Hotch.
He doesn't know if it's everything that's happened, the extra time he's been able to spend with his family, the birth of his daughter, or something else that's softened him but everyone has seen and enjoyed the change—they became used to their stoic boss offering smiles and comfort to them like right now. He had a hand on JJ's shoulder while asking her his questions because he could tell how stressed she was.
"Garcia, see what you can dig up on his associates. I want to know anyone he's come into contact with in the last five years. We're going to keep Clarke safe, JJ," Hotch assured with a smile.