Italics is a flashback to the team working the case as a lot of the work wasn't shown in the first few chapters. The family's trip will continue progressing during this time as well, there will be a flashback to the phone call with Emily and Rossi too, it will be in bold to avoid confusion. Thanks.
"Garcia, is there a match in the system for the paternal DNA?" Rossi asked.
"Jacob Richards, he died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head…wait—" she paused, using her fingers to quickly count. "If my calculations are right, they used him to get Michele pregnant, and once she was, they killed him."
"So, the Greenburg's committed a double murder for one child, had another naturally, all while in the public eye. Let's shake the tree and find out who else knew," Rossi said.
"What tree?" Reid questioned, not understanding.
"Politics Reid, it's pretty much all one big cover up," Morgan said to him.
"That's fundamentally incorrect. Politics by de—"
"Kid, kid, we don't mean it literally," Morgan assured. "You know how Em hates politics because she believes it makes people distrustful, hate themselves, tears families apart and damages people. Well, that could not be more true about politics in general but it perfectly describes the way she was raised by her mom, and the Greenburg's. Look at this crazy family, murder, rape, a woman kept hostage for a year, Stratton has all his own problems and who knows what Samuel has wrong with him," Morgan said.
"Oh. Well, that is true," Reid agreed. "But what tree?"
"All of these families are in the public eye," Rossi began.
They had pulled up everyone who was close to the Greenburg family and laid them out on the table—the parents, the children, acquaintances, nannies, butlers, staff, anyone who worked for or knew them and that included the Prentiss family although, Emily would be an easy phone call because she wouldn't hide anything.
Also, before leaving on their trip Emily and JJ had explained to their parents what was going on—more so Emily with her parents because it was their world and while the Jareaus were targeted in the photos, they would be easy to protect. Emily had a separate conversation with her parents that wasn't so pleasant, letting them know if she pulled them aside at any point asking them for information or about something the team had dug up, she needed the truth, not some bullshit response.
Emily knew her father had never lied to her besides when she was little and he played along with the fairies she believed in, but that was entirely different. Her mother was another story. If she didn't have pictures from when she was pregnant, Emily would wholeheartedly believe Elizabeth wasn't her mother at all. She had changed for the better a lot in the last three years though and Emily will give credit where credit is due; Emily's grateful her babies get to experience a side of her mother she didn't know existed.
"And because of that, whatever they do is known by everyone. There's no way Sanders and Shelly could commit two murders and have a baby without anyone knowing, especially their staff," Rossi continued. "There would be payoffs for silence, deportations, change of staff, and not just for the Greenburg's, other families would be doing the same thing as well."
"Why?" Garcia questioned.
"How do you know this, Rossi?" Morgan asked. He was a very intelligent man, but this wasn't something he'd just know because it wasn't his world. "Wait, I thought you said we couldn't call Em!"
"I said I didn't want you bothering her," Rossi winked, because there was a difference. He knew where things were heading with the case and asked a few questions before they came up to help the team. "Garcia to answer your question, staff members from different households talk and because of that, when something like a murder happens—"
"Ahh, got it. Okay, checking for big payoffs, who changed their staff, and who sent people packing," she said, focusing back on her laptop.
"Do you guys talk with other security guys?" Morgan asked Matt and Luke. He wasn't rude about it, just curious. Emily didn't have typical staff as hers was more family than anything, and the only people who lived on the property had their own house, entrance and driveway.
"Our jobs are different because of Emily," Matt answered truthfully. "And JJ of course."
"Yeah, we know. Em's the one who hired you," Morgan smiled, not at all offended that JJ was a quick afterthought.
"We both came from the bureau," Matt continued, speaking for himself and Luke. "I was hired three days after Oliver was brought into the family, most of us were brought in for special assignment. We're all friendly with the guards at the Prentiss and Jareau residences, but only truly friends with one another. There's twelve of us who work at the house."
"Yeah," Luke agreed. "I also have two buddies at the Jareau residence I was in the rangers with too, I got them the job. I can see why other people would interact with one another in similar positions though, any other family would most likely be pretty dull," he said, referring things back to the case.
"Are you saying your days are full of drama?" Morgan teased.
"Matt can tell you how many times I've said to him how surprised I am by the lack of drama at the Prentiss house. Most of the time it's loud, there's always a million things going on, the kids are constantly running around, chaos is inevitable, patience is endless, but there's no drama," Luke answered honestly.
"Well, if doe-doe somehow goes missing there's major drama," Matt added, causing everyone to laugh because of how true it was. Lily knew how to bring the drama, but it didn't count—that's not drama to be gossiped about. They were referring to true adult drama, not a misplaced stuffy.
"Guys, I know we've been over this a million times but what is Greenburg's endgame here?" Tara asked the team. "He's hyper focused on Emily and Hotch, he's included their children…is it just me or does it feel like we're missing a piece?"
"I think Tara's right. Things seem unfinished for him. It's unclear if he'd wait to see them come home to see whatever happens or not, but there's definitely more," Matt agreed.
He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down his thoughts—birth mother: deceased. Birth father: deceased. Adoptive mother, adoptive father, brother: alive, no relation. Target: Hotch, Emily—cares about who is related and who isn't re: children.
"What do you think you're going to see this time?" Tara asked Matt looking down at the sheet of paper. They had gone over these details' countless times already, but they'd try anything at this point and if this worked for him, so be it.
"Where are the pictures of the family?" Matt asked. The round table was a mess; paperwork they had written regarding the case so far, the family trees they had made, information on staff members, drivers, kids, friends, schools, literally everything.
"Right here," Garcia said, handing them to Matt.
He flipped through them once again, seeing the way Emily and Hotch's faces were framed, the squiggles next to the biological children, slashes through the adoptive children then he saw what he was looking for and felt so stupid for missing it in the first place.
"Garcia, can you pull up the family photo of the Greenburg's again and zoom in please?" he asked. Once she did, things suddenly clicked for Matt. "You said Mrs. Greenburg has all their family portraits professionally painted from a picture, right Garcia?" Matt questioned.
"That's correct. Why, looking for someone to paint a picture of you?" she teased; it was late and they were all very exhausted.
He laughed and shook his head no. She had already put the picture on the big screen, and he pointed to a mark on Stratton's wrist that nobody would notice unless actually looking for it, "What do you want to bet that's not an oil-based paint and he drew it on there with a sharpie?"
"How the hell did you figure that out?" Morgan asked.
"Stratton sent his notes one after the other, and we haven't heard from him since. Luke's tailed him, and Garcia's done her deep dive—he's lying low, real low. That leads me to believe he's sent all the clues he wants us to have, but like Tara said, it feels very incomplete. So I started from the beginning again but used the information we've learned since. He's an adoptive child with dead biological parents; why would you put a slash through children like yourself unless they mean something to you. Some believe a slash represents faith, hope, or new beginnings—"
"If that's true, why put one on himself?" Garcia questioned, interrupting Matt. She also didn't understand why Stratton had to be so drastic by putting a slash through her godbabies faces either, but that was another story.
"He just found out he was adopted, this is his new beginning," Morgan answered, catching onto what Matt was saying along with the rest of the team. They were starting to see where things were going, his endgame was still unknown, but they'd get there.
"I think we should wear them, babe," Emily said, finishing Clarke's second braid. It was uncommon for Emily to do different hairstyles for the girls but today, they all requested something unlike their sisters; the mother loved it though because it showed their individuality.
"It's going to be at least three hours, Em," JJ answered, making a face that caused Clarke to laugh.
"At least it's not Lily or Oakley, mom," Clarke chimed in. "Brooks and Brynley are just babies."
"Brooks is a chunker," JJ mumbled.
"I'll take Brooks," Emily assured. "It will be much easier than lifting the stroller constantly while trying to keep up with our crazy kids."
"Hey!" Clarke exclaimed.
"Not you sweet girl," Emily said, kissing the top of her now complete hair. "You're all set here, go put your shoes on please. We're leaving in five minutes."
Emily accepted the hand JJ was offering to help her stand up from the floor and then they shared a chaste kiss, "I promise, it will be much easier honey. Hotch is carrying Harper as well; the strollers will be waiting for us outside when we're done."
"Oh gosh, his arms are going to be shot," JJ said, eyes wide thinking about it. At least she and Emily could wear the twins in the carriers, Harper had grown out of hers—she could however walk for a bit unlike the twins who would run off in different directions, something they couldn't have.
"Who's ready to go to the Colosseum?" Emily and JJ heard Gerald ask the kids.
"Me, me, me!" the kids cheered.
"You'd think he snuck them sugar after breakfast," Emily whispered to her wife.
"Maybe he did. I wouldn't be surprised if my dad was in on it too," JJ added.
The grandfathers were little sneaks. They loved to give the kids sugar or say yes when the mothers or grandmothers had said no; Gerald and Allen felt like it was their right as grandpas. Gerald cherished the second chance he never truly had with Emily to spoil his grandbabies, and Allen loved having the same special secrets with them that he had with JJ. Most of the time it was sharing a popsicle, sometimes it was sneaking some chocolate chips, or having a lollipop appear out of nowhere; the same things Allen did with only JJ growing up.
"Does everyone have shoes on?" Sandy asked.
"Yeah, we all do grandma!" Oliver smiled.
"Oop, it looks like this one needs a little help," Allen said, kneeling in front of Lily.
"No gwanmpa, me do it!" Lily assured, stomping her little foot. She was a big girl; she didn't need any help.
"You did so well, peanut. You're right," Allen told her. "But can you tell me, which side is this pretty zipper on?" he asked to help so she wouldn't get so upset.
"Umm, dis ham," Lily answered, holding her hand up not fully understanding the question. It worked though and Allen went with her answer; Emily and JJ were so grateful for their parents who took the time to help her instead of just putting the shoes on for her.
"So, the zipper is on the right side of the shoe, but on your left foot," Allen stated, showing Lily by leading her little hand down to her shoe that she would see by looking from one to the other, they belonged on the opposite feet.
"No, dis ippah gotta be ovah dare," Lily said, holding her hands up in the air and doing her signature shrug. "Me no-no how do it."
"Yes you do, cutie. You're a big girl, I know you can do it. You put on your shoes all by yourself the first time, I know you can do it again. I'll help you," Allen said with a smile.
"Otay. Wet's do it!"
"Let's do it," Allen laughed.
Everyone watched on as the two corrected the sneaker mishap with smiles on their faces. Emily was right, the summer had barely started, and Lily was already making so much progress—she was so proud of her little bug. Three of the nine children had everything done for them because they were still too young, five were old enough to know how to do plenty themselves to get by, Lily however, she was at that age where you're given more freedom yet, you still need help with so much even though you want to do it yourself.
"How are the photos coming?" Hayley asked Clarke.
"So good. Do you know what you're looking for yet?" Clarke questioned.
"I have no idea, honey. What do you think?"
"I don't know, it's for Uncle Aaron. You know him best," Clarke answered with a laugh.
The two continued to walk and talk for a while and then Clarke said, "Actually Auntie Hayley, maybe it will just come to me after I take a few more pictures. It looks like Harper needs you," she said, pointing to her uncle and cousin.
After Hayley walked away, Clarke went up to Jack and asked him to help her with something—what Jack didn't know was he would be posing for the perfect pictures with his mom and sister as Clarke had thought of the idea before sending her aunt off to get Harper. Candid photos were some of the best, especially with her family because sometimes her siblings and cousins got a bit crazy when constantly posing.
Hayley had asked Clarke to capture some photos while on this trip as they didn't have nearly any photos as a family since Harper was born which was crazy to her. Life completely got away from them and she was going to make up for it by having some professional pictures taken by her niece.
Hayley told Clarke she'd pay her, but Clarke said she didn't want that, she just liked the experience. Clarke said if anything, she'd accept some ice cream for her photos or maybe they could go see a movie sometime because that was a rare thing to do in the Prentiss household. Hayley was all for it, Hotch was as well although, he didn't know why they were offering to take Clarke to the movies—any excuse for popcorn though.
Clarke smiled into the camera as she snapped multiple shots. Jack was holding Hayley's hand as they looked up at the colosseum and the mother was angled just right where you could see Harper snuggled perfectly in her arms—the sunlight, blue sky, green trees, walkway, contrast between the outfits the family was wearing, it was just perfection. Clarke knew her uncle would always look at the picture and smile which made her smile.
She had documented their entire trip, even capturing herself on film because of the tripod and clicker Emily insisted on purchasing. She wanted her daughter in all the beautiful pictures she took as well and was very, very happy to see how many the entire family made it into. There were some of just the kids, just the girls, and lots of Amelia and Clarke that make Emily and JJ smile—they've made such precious memories together.
"Rossi, what happened?" Morgan asked him. "You look like you've seen a ghost, man. You good?"
Rossi had gone out to get everyone something to eat and when he had gotten back to his car, there was a note left for him. When Emily had seen the words weapon and poisonous, she obviously thought of Doyle first but then the abortion her mother forced her to get. She honestly believed nobody could have known, Emily knew Matthew wouldn't tell anyone and her mother was so horrified and ashamed, she'd rather die than tell anyone.
Somehow, Stratton had known though. That much was clear by the note Rossi had in his hand. Whether he knew the past 18 years or not was unclear, it was quite possible when he found out about his own past, something triggered inside him, and he recalled the memory. Either way, he knew about the abortion, and he made up his own paternity in his mind. He also shared a family tree in the note he left for Rossi—if it was true or not was also unknown.
Rossi would need to go to the director to get an answer for that question because he wasn't going to involve the team or call Emily and Hotch until he had some type of answer to go on first. The note was folded up in his pocket so the team wouldn't see it and he put the food down on the table, "Everyone, eat up. I'll be back in a bit."
And with that, he was gone leaving the team to speculate what the hell was wrong with him.
"This better be important, Dave. It's 2:30am," Sam said, turning on his computer with a yawn.
Strauss wasn't needed and that was fine by Rossi, he didn't care who he offended or woke up in the process, if this accusation got into the wrong hands, it could ruin his family's lives. And that, Sam would never hear the end of—truth be told, Rossi was sure Gerald could get the man fired with one phone call if he wanted to.
"You have no idea, Sam. I need personnel records for Aaron and Emily," Rossi said, not even batting an eye.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I don't have all day here, Sam," Rossi said impatiently. This note had him on edge, there was no way it was accurate—it was impossible, it had to be. But there was also a part of it that Rossi couldn't shake so easily, things that made sense to him somehow.
He was taken from his thoughts by Sam handing him two files. "Can you tell me what you're looking for now?"
Rossi ignored the man and read the files, looking at a particular section of each file; in Emily's he only cared about one piece of information, in Hotch's he needed two pieces and found himself unsatisfied with the answers because they matched. "Thanks Sam."
"Wait a minute, Dave. You call me into the office at 2:30am to access personnel files on your own team, and you're not even going to tell me why?"
"Classified, remember?"
While the case wasn't technically classified from the director and Strauss, they did put an extra layer on it which meant unless they were working on the case around the clock, there was no reason for them to be briefed. It protected everyone involved.
Rossi left Sam's office and went to show the team the note Stratton had left him. "Before you say anything, I know, I'm sorry. I should have brought this to everyone right away, Emily is like a daughter to me though," he said.
They all knew how he felt and understood. Rossi and Em had the whole Italian thing going for them, they'd spoke to each other in Italian and she opened up to him when Matthew died before her parents came back into her life and the team found out about the fact she was dating JJ and had a daughter.
"What does it say," Reid asked. It's not that he was clueless to emotions, he just wanted to solve this case.
Rossi pulled the note out of his pocket and before handing it over said, "I want you all to know something before you read it. What Stratton wrote isn't true, there's a 9-year age difference between Hotch and Emily; she was still a child when they first met. You hear me, a child!"
"Rossi, what are you talking about man?" Morgan questioned, then looked into his eyes and clenched his fists. "No freakin' way…there's no way. He wouldn't!"
"What is happening?" Garcia asked.
"May I?" Reid said, calmly holding his hand out towards Rossi.
Reid accepted the note and read it aloud. "She thought she could hide, even make up for what she did by picking more to take home. But do you know she killed her own just because her brother was the baby daddy? Now you know her secret, will you figure out mine? I'll give you a hint."
"So, Stratton thinks Hotch is Lily's father?" Luke asked, not knowing about what happened when Emily was fifteen.
"But she's alive and well," Matt added.
"Don't forget feisty as ever," Luke laughed. She was seriously the cutest little spitfire and always had him laughing.
"Oh sweet newbies," Garcia smiled, then frowned thinking about what her little cupcake Emster had been through. "No, not Lily. When Em was fifteen, she lived in Italy and got pregnant to which, the Ambassador," Garcia said, pretending to be all high and mighty, "freaked out and forced her to have an abortion because she was a big meany jerk person back then. But, what I can tell you is that it's impossible for this icky bit of false made up-ness to be true because boss man was in the states attending George Washington University at the time. Not to mention the obvious, he's totally in love with Hayley."
Of course Rossi knew all of that, however, he didn't need any help with that part of Stratton's work. It was the family tree Rossi was worried about. Again, not the unborn baby—that was never a question. He needed to wait for the time difference to call Emily and Hotch though because interrupting sleep wouldn't be good, especially not for a mother of seven.
"What's the hint?" Reid asked.
"I don't know, kid. Maybe he'll leave it on one of our cars the next time we go out," Rossi lied.
"Yeah, I guess," Reid agreed.
Rossi knew he should feel badly keeping this from the team, but he didn't. He knew if there was any truth to this, Emily and Hotch had a right to know first. And while it wouldn't last long because the team would know soon enough, at least they'd know and be able to sort through their emotions while away from the world for a bit.
Rossi called Emily once he knew the team was busy and wouldn't come knocking on his door as this was a sensitive phone call and he didn't want to be bothered.
"…You've told me a few times in the past few years you'd never seen them this happy before. Do you think either of them had affairs before you were born, when you were young, or when you were off at school?" Rossi asked.
"My father would never. It wouldn't matter how upset my mother made him or what she threatened him with, he'd never dishonor his vows. I can't be certain about my mother. I wouldn't be surprised, she used to be a ruthless woman. Why?"
"Emily, would it be possible for me to speak with your father and then to you and Hotch once the kids are in bed?"
"Rossi, you've got to give me more than that. I deserve more," Emily said.
"I know you do, kid. Believe me, I know. I'm doing this for you, honey," he said, and Emily could tell he was getting choked up. Rossi also never called her honey which completely gave him away.
Emily agreed but told Rossi it would be later because her father was helping Lily paint her butterfly mask which made her smile. "Em, he's still the same man you love."
"We'll see."
Emily carried on with her day but couldn't shake the feeling her father wasn't the man he said he was. She was grateful for her children's sake that her mother was in their lives, but Emily still didn't trust the woman the way she trusted Sandy. When Emily left the kids at her parents' home, it was because her father was there and because her mother had a full staff.
Emily didn't want to lose the feelings she had towards her father. It was different with her mother because she never had any for her. But even when Emily didn't speak to her father for years she still had that love for him, she carried the positive memories they made together, the love he had for her—she would truly be broken if he wasn't the man she thought he was.
JJ could tell her wife was a bit off but that's only because of her years of practice, nobody else noticed anything different. Emily assured her she'd tell JJ later and they continued painting with the kids. Hotch was next to check in with Emily, but only because he knew a phone call meant the team was calling and she gave him a look that said they'd also talk later.
"Harper, I love your kitty cat honey. I think daddy is getting more paint on his face though," Emily pointed out.
Harper turned her attention from the mask to her dad's face and giggled, pointing with her finger at all the pink and purple covering his face. "Daddy!" she exclaimed.
"You needa wipe, Uncle Aaron. You're a mess!" Oakley said, causing all the adults to burst out laughing.
"You're right, Oakley. He is a mess," Hayley agreed, handing her husband a wipe. Kids say the darndest things.
"Dad, I need you to talk to Rossi," Emily said when they returned home, and the kids were outside playing. They didn't need much to have a good time, their imaginations took them everywhere and because there were so many of them, they enjoyed a ton of games just by being outside.
"Me?" he asked.
"I told you and mom no matter what they find, you need answer honestly," Emily said, beginning to get herself worked up.
"Calm down, Emmy-bear. I'll tell him anything he needs to know. I just figured if they needed to speak with someone it would be your mother because of her job," he responded.
"Oh. Well, no, not yet at least," Emily said. "Rossi, you still there?" she continued into the phone. When she received a yes, she handed the phone to her dad, "Here you go."
Emily had already told JJ and Hotch what was going on although it wasn't much considering she didn't know either. She had been wracking her brain since the conversation she had had with Rossi earlier to figure out what led the team to the possibility of her father having an affair.
Stratton was born about a month before Emily was but it's not as if any politicians kept pregnancy pictures around their homes so you either remember someone being pregnant or you don't. And because Emily wasn't born yet, it wasn't possible for her to remember—not to mention Michele Thompson carried Stratton, not Shelly Greenburg.
If it wasn't for Stratton, Emily couldn't fathom her father being brought up into any conversation regarding an affair. There wasn't a reason seeing as the case was put together to catch Stratton for targeting her family, Hotch's and the team. It didn't make sense to her.
Gerald had to sit down when Rossi asked him the same question he had asked Emily. "Excuse me?"
Rossi asked again and took in Gerald's answer. He truly had no idea and that thought provided Rossi with comfort. At least for Emily because what he said to the team was true, he did think of her like a daughter and did not want to see her get hurt by the one person she's been able to count on since childhood.
"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
"Not a clue," Gerald answered.
"Okay then, let's solve this puzzle together then," Rossi said, and the two settled into their respective chairs.
"Well?" Hotch asked when Emily came out with a tray of lemonade for everyone.
"No idea, they are still on the phone."
Hotch looked at his watch and then said, "It's been nearly a half an hour."
"Thank you, I learned how to tell time in school too," Emily said with an eyeroll.
"You two bicker like no other," JJ commented after the two had been going back and forth for a good five minutes or so.
"You're not one to talk, my love," Emily smiled, pulling JJ into her lap once she had taken a seat.
"Oh yeah, and why's that?" JJ questioned.
"Umm, the adults were talking here," Hotch continued, teasing JJ.
"I'm surprised you can even hear us, old man," JJ countered.
"Oo, good one babe," Emily smiled. She looked at the kids and then questioned, "Freeze tag?"
"Oh yeah, we have a few rule breakers though and a couple rule enforcers," JJ laughed, referring to the twins who just loved running around; Harper also liked to run around, Lily and Oakley wanted the twins to follow the rules, one more than the other.
"One of your rule breakers is eating grass," Hotch said, hoping to gain the women's attention.
"Ha-ha, very funny," JJ said, refusing to pay him any attention.
"Brooks, we don't eat grass honey!" they heard Sandy call out, and JJ turned around suddenly to see her mom picking him up, then she faced Hotch and said, "Oh, shut up."
"Hey, I just didn't think he'd enjoy it. Little chunk went back for seconds though," he laughed.
"I'll have you know—" JJ said, even holding up her finger as if she was going to make a point however, couldn't because he was right. Brooks was a chunk.
What they all failed to realize was the obvious…