A week later, the Elder Rossis left and everyone, especially the children, were sorry to see them go.
Now it was time for the promised visit for Emily and Aaron and their children to their family in New York.
It was hard to believe how the time had seemed to literally fly by.
"We'll see you when you get back," Dave told Aaron and Emily, even as he kissed the children goodbye on the cheek. "You know you can contact us if you need anything before you return."
"We'll see you in a week," Aaron said giving his friend a manly hug.
"You go enjoy yourselves, even if I know seeing your mother isn't something you exactly relish," Dave told Emily.
"I might not enjoy seeing my mother, but since we all mostly spend the time with my brothers I don't mind making the trip so much," Emily shrugged. "I just need to have one more kid to go before I can get my inheritance and I can hardly wait."
"I know you can't," Dave agreed, as he kissed Emily's cheek and then watched the family got into their van where they would park in long term parking at the airport and fly to New York. Flying was just faster than driving, even if it was more expensive, especially with so many kids but Aaron always chartered a private plane so at least they didn't need to worry about a ticket for each member of the family. Chartering a private plane was actually cheaper than flying commercial first class when you had so many people.
Driving would've been far cheaper of course, even if they would've had to stay in a hotel overnight but it would also give them less time with Emily's brothers before they had to come home. It wasn't like Aaron couldn't afford to fly his entire family wherever they wanted to go once every few weeks if he cared to so that's what they did. The expanse didn't matter.
"I can't wait to see Uncle Theo," said Emily and Aaron's oldest child Natalie since she had been born near Christmas on December 19 actually. The name actually meant Christmas which was why she had ended up with it. That time of year was always doubly special for Aaron and Emily's daughter, because not only did she have a birthday, Christmas was only a few days after that so she ended up getting a lot of presents for both those holidays.
Natalie and her Uncle Theo were really close and shared a special bond. The two simply adored each other and Natalie always looked forward to seeing her favorite uncle.
"Do we have to visit grandmom?" Natalie asked her parents making a face. Her grandmother just came off as cold. She didn't even seem to like children so why did they have to visit her, even if she was their grandmother. "It's just that she's so cold," Natalie decided.
"I'm afraid so sweetie," Emily told her daughter gently. "It's only for a few hours and then we'll spend the rest of the time with your uncles. Believe me, I understand your feelings very well as my mother and I aren't exactly very close either, but she won't be around forever. It won't be more than 10 years maybe 15 before she's gone and possibly sooner than that."
Natalie didn't look happy and Emily didn't blame her as Elizabeth Prentiss wasn't exactly known for her warm, kind, caring nature. She was trying to be a better a grandmother then she had been a mother and Emily had to give her a massive points for that.
Natalie was five years old and very perceptive and hadn't exactly warmed up to the woman that was her grandmother. Emily knew that Natalie would have preferred to be left at home with Dave and Penelope and the nanny Camilla.
"Your grandmother and uncles will spoil you and your brothers rotten while you are visiting them," Emily added trying to entice her daughter into a better mood.
What Emily didn't say was that her mother certainly treated her grandchildren better than she had her own in the presents that her children could actually play with and wasn't just clothes or something else that the children wouldn't have liked.
Emily remembered how she had often been bored and sneaked into the family library to read as it was about the only thing to do that she was interested in. It's not like she had many toys to play with since her parents hadn't cared about her or whether or not she had stuff that she actually liked to play with.
She remembered when it was bedtime she's had a lot of energy still because it wasn't like she been especially active as her parents uncaring attitude had ensured that. There had been nothing to make her or her brothers sleepy. She was just expected to lay in her bed and go to sleep with nothing to encourage her to do so. No bedtime stories or anything else that would've made her sleepy.
She had often lay there for several hours wide awake before finally drifting off. She had been so happy when it was finally time to go to college and while her mother had tried to encourage her to take business courses, so that she could take over the business one day, Emily had defied what her mother had wanted.
She remembered asking her mother straight out why should she do anything she wanted her to considering that she'd had no influence on her childhood other than being a negative example of what not to do when she had children.
That was the first time that Emily had ever a back talked to her mother and Elizabeth had been shocked at being defied, but Emily was gone in the car that had been a gift on her 16th birthday, by the time the older woman had come to her senses.
Emily had never lived at home again and didn't visit her mother very often.
"You OK love?" Aaron asked Emily quietly once Natalie had fallen asleep.
"Yes Natalie questions just made me remember some of my childhood," Emily explained just as quietly.
"So what did you remember?" Aaron asked.
"How I used to sneak into the family library to read, since there wasn't really anything else to do a lot of the time," Emily explained. "You know there's a massive library where I grew up, even if most of the books were hardly appropriate for a child of my age at the time, but it's not like I had anything else to do, except watch TV."
"I do," Aaron agreed. "What else did you remember?"
"How I defied my mother when it was time for me to go to college and she wanted me to take business courses so that I could take over her business one day. I told her no way and asked her straight out why I should consider doing so, as she had been nothing but a negative influence on me. By the time she got over her shock at being defied I was gone in the car that my parents had given me when I was 16 and got my license."
"Well, at least you got a car from them, not that makes up for your boring childhood, but at least it's something," Aaron commented.
"True and it was actually a brand new Mercedes, which is a really nice car I have to admit," Emily said reluctantly. "It was actually a decent color in dove gray so at least they didn't get me one of those ugly, boxlike, Kia's in something like pea green."
"So never buy you a green car," Aaron said making a mental note of it and putting it into his long-term memory.
"Oh, something like forest green or sea green would be OK just not pea green or lime green or army green as all three are ugly colors in my opinion. Still, my favorite color is navy blue, as you know and yes, I'm well aware that's considered a boys color not that I care about that."
"It might've been considered so decades ago, but it really doesn't matter anymore," Aaron said. "Sure, if you like those colors it's one thing, but a lot of females like what used to be considered men's colors so standards have changed."
"It's just that all my dresses when I was a kid were in pastel colors, pink, baby blue, yellow or purple or other girlish colors at least according to my mother. Definitely no dark red or dark blue or black or gray of any shade in my wardrobe when I was a kid. I'll never wear pink again if I can help it, at least not unless it's mixed with other colors like if it's a flower or something just not solid," Emily said.
"You can wear whatever color you want and I'll just think you look spectacular in it," Aaron told her honestly. "I don't care if you never wear a dress or a skirt again as I know how much you dislike them, but you're still willing to when necessary. Why don't you sleep until we land in a couple of hours, as I know putting up with your mother tires you out."
"Probably a good idea," Emily agreed, as she stretched out in the captain's style chair and put it back as far as it would go before closing her eyes.
Emily was soon deeply asleep which told Aaron his wife had been more tired than she had let on.
Aaron looked out the window and it didn't seem any time at all that the pilot was announcing they were approaching JFK airport.
~~~The Immortals and the Businessman 3~~~
"Your son is just adorable," Theo told his sister as he held the newest member of the Hotchner family. Emily and Aaron and the kids had already paid their obligatory visit to Elizabeth Prentiss and so now they were at Theo's home.
"Dave's mother certainly think so," Aaron grinned in amusement. "She was holding him a lot when she and Dave's father Jacob visited right before we came to see you and the rest of Emily's family."
"What about your parents Aaron," Theo asked not knowing that his parents had been dead for centuries and in fact, Aaron didn't even remember them.
"They've been dead for a long time. I'm an orphan. I really don't remember them at all. I figure I must've been too young to retain the information of what they looked like as it's quite possible I wasn't more than a baby or at least toddler," Aaron said truthfully. "Ever since Dave and I met the elder Rossis kind of adopted me as another son, but I was hardly a child by then. Still, they fulfill that role for me and it doesn't really matter that I was an adult by the time I met Dave."
"I had no idea," Theo said sounding contrite.
"I know you didn't and it's fine," Aaron said in a dismissive tone. "Rebecca and Jacob are really my parents, even if we don't share blood. They fulfill that role quite well and treat me as a son and any children that I have as their own grandchildren. They love Emily just as much as I do just in a different way. They've gotten quite close to her ever since our wedding. They were very happy that I had finally found love and that Dave met Penny at basically the same time made then ecstatic. Rebecca and Jacob love and adore Emily and Penny. They are just a naturally loving couple."
"I love the elder Rossis and wish they'd been my parents instead of the pair I got stuck with. That doesn't mean I don't love you or Ed or Ray, just that I can't help wishing that Dave's parents were my own biologically instead of being adopted into the family when I married Aaron," Emily explained. "It's just that Rebecca and Jacob are so warm and welcoming, you know?"
"I understand," Theo said and from his expression, he really did understand the point his sister was trying to make.
"Rebecca, loves children and all of hers are grown now, so she spoils her grandchildren whenever she sees them," Emily said, not quite truthfully, as she knew that being immortal meant that the elder Rossis would have more at some point, just as she and Aaron would. "They are just a warm and loving couple. It's easy to see why Dave turned out like he did, compassionate, kind and generous. Jacob and Rebecca are as different, from our mother or our father when he lived, as night and day."
"We really enjoyed their visit," Aaron added, "and everyone was sorry to see them leave, especially the children."
"I'm sure they'll come back to visit or you all can go up to see them," Theo said.
"We will," Emily said. "They told us we're always welcome to visit them and just make sure their home and not traveling when we come."
"They travel a lot," Aaron said, "but then, they're retired, they can do what they want."
"Hey, if you have the money and the energy to travel then you should," Theo agreed. "So what did you name this newest addition to the family?"
"We decided on Ryan," Aaron answered.
"Ryan Adam Hotchner," Emily added.
"Very nice," Theo said, as he cuddled the newest Hotchner in his arms. "You only have one more child to go before you can get your inheritance."
"I know," Emily agreed. "Aaron and I will get on that in another year or so, as I'm not getting any younger. Let's give this little guy time to grow up more before Aaron gets me pregnant again."
"Something I will be happy to do," Aaron grinned. "I can hardly wait, but you're right, we need to give it at least a year before we consider having another. Still, I am eagerly anticipating having another child and hopefully, it will be a girl this time since we have two boys and only one girl."
"Having another sister would be nice," Natalie said proving she had been paying attention, even as she played on the floor.
"There are no guarantees as to what we'll get next time," Emily told her daughter gently. "It could be another boy."
"I know," Natalie said before she went back to playing.
"The time will pass fast," Theo commented and Emily wholeheartedly agreed.
"Yes, it will, as there's always plenty to keep all of us busy so the time passes really fast," Emily agreed.
"So how are you enjoying living in New Mexico?" Theo asked.
"It's actually really nice," Emily said knowing what her brother was asking. "All of us have been out to see some of the sites and in fact, we took Jacob and Rebecca to the hot air balloon festival that they have every year while they were there. None of us have ever been before, even though we've been living there for years and it was really fascinating to see all those colorful hot air balloons up in the air. We made a day of it and bought the children one item from the gift shop each and allowed them to eat a lot of junk food. Rebecca and Jacob also spoiled them rotten and they made quite the haul. Also, Penny and I have been shopping quite a bit though we do, do other things. We went shopping with Rebecca while they were there as Dave's mother loves to shop just like I and Penny do. The boys on the other hand, went someplace to play pool and drink beer."
"I have noticed you've rather relaxed a lot ever since you got out of New York," Theo mentioned and Emily nodded.
"That's true I have," Emily agreed. "Just getting away from all the people that knew our father has helped me relax. When someone learns my name now they don't know whom I'm related to. It's been wonderful to not be known as Alan Prentiss's daughter or to be approached for contributions when they learn my name because they figure I'm like my mother and some rich businesswoman. Of course, now that I'm married my last name isn't the same anymore I know that, so I suppose Aaron and I could've stayed in New York since I'm not a Prentiss any longer. Even though that is the case though, I was still glad to get out of New York. Those that did know about my marriage and knew my married name tried to get me to contribute to their campaigns and I was happy to tell them I would not be contributing. I told them that I hate politics and politicians."
"I understand," Theo said and it was clear he did, but then, he had shared the same childhood as Emily so it wasn't surprising. "I'm glad to know that you're actually happy with your life now that you moved away from New York. I know you've been gone for years, but..."
"Thanks for checking anyway but yes, I've been happy ever since Aaron and I moved to New Mexico, away from mom's influence and anybody that knows me as her daughter or as the daughter of Alan a politician that would rather discuss politic spend time with his family. Having one of my best friends living in the same house has been wonderful," Emily said.
"Yes, it has," Aaron agreed smiling. "Dave and I have been friends for a long time. In fact, really, we're brothers, even if we don't share DNA. Dave and I are closer than he is to his own brothers, as he has quite a few."
"I don't know why that matters," Theo said holding his nephew as the adults talked. "I've never been that close to anyone that I would consider them another brother, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I suppose it helps that you're an only child Aaron and don't have any siblings brothers or otherwise. I can see a bond forming between two guys in that case."
"Your right, Theo whether of not they share DNA it doesn't matter," Emily agreed. "Sometimes people just share similar experiences and become close because of it. Dave and Aaron are very similar in a lot of ways. They share surprisingly similar views on life for example. They are also both calm and never get angry or impatient without a good reason, especially at their children."
"Uncle Theo, when will my cousins be home?" asked Natalie who had been playing quietly on the floor.
"Shortly Nat," Theo told her gently. "They are looking forward to seeing you and your little brothers."
"I'm looking forward to seeing them too," Natalie said. "Certainly more than I look forward to seeing grandmom."
"I'm glad you are," Theo said, as he shot his sister look with a raised eyebrow in question.
"Natalie is very intelligent and perceptive," Aaron explained with a twitch of his lips to show he was amused. "She described her grandmother as cold when we were on our way to New York. She didn't want to go and visit Elizabeth at all and I can't really blame her for that. Still, it's only going to be a few times a year now, because she's in school, so we won't be able to be gone for a week once school starts again after the summer is over. As you know, she goes to a private school and so will her brothers once they reach the appropriate age."
"My wife and I did the same thing with ours," Theo said. "You just get a better education at a private school and also bullying is stamped down on quite severely unlike in public school."
"Why do you think we send Nat to a private school? The tougher courses as well as the no bullying policy. The teachers are just much better than in public education. Their good about spotting problem children for example and try to discourage them from going down a bad path," said Aaron.
"She's right course," Emily added quietly getting back to the earlier part of the conversation. "Mom is cold and I could come up with with other description but why bother?"
"Especially in front of your daughter," Theo said.
"Exactly. We try not to talk badly about mom around the children especially the older ones, as kids pick up a lot of things from adults around them, not all of them positive. I firmly believe the only reason that you, Ray and Ed and I turned out so well is because neither one of our parents spent any time with us. I stopped wishing a long time ago that mother had been better at the parenting gig. Mother will be mother and I accepted a long time ago that she'll never be the warm, loving type, one who actually cares about her children's welfare, even though they're all grown up now," Emily agreed. "Aaron and I have a ton of photo albums for all our children and the same will be true for any new additions we add to the family. The same can be said for Dave and Penny. Our parents, on the other hand, never bothered to take photos. We just weren't important to them and only had us so, as father couldn't get his inheritance until he did."
"I agree with you 100% there," Theo said. "We definitely learned what not to do when we finally had children," Theo added quietly enough that Natalie didn't hear what he said. "I certainly don't treat my kids the same way our parents treated us. I know our childhood was especially hard on you, because you were the only girl amongst the four of us and also the baby, so you didn't have anybody you could play with other than your brothers. I know there is some things even a sister doesn't share with her brothers and you had nobody to share girlish secrets with. I mean, really, we didn't even hardly have any toys to play with because all we got was clothes for all our birthdays and Christmas wasn't much different. I actually enjoy celebrating Christmas now with my children and me and my wife always go out of our way to get them the presents they want the most. I think we overindulge them on Christmas and birthdays because ours were so crappy."
"So do Aaron and I," Emily agreed. "I actually look forward to Christmas now and before it was just another day just like our birthdays, because we weren't important in the grand scheme. Mother only had a professional company put up a tree with all the trimmings because it would've looked weird to the neighbors if there hadn't been a tree in the window. Elizabeth Prentiss might've been Scrooge, but she didn't want the neighbors to know it, as it would've tarnished her reputation. I actually look forward to Christmas now and get all excited by the time December arrives as I know what's coming in a few weeks. Aaron goes out of his way to get me the presents he knows I want the most just like we do for our children and so do Dave and Penny. I think they're trying to make up for my lousy childhood."
"We are well, at least I am," Aaron answered, even though Emily had asked him a question. "I know I can't totally make up for your rotten childhood but I do try," Aaron added Theo listening.
"You do very well," Emily told Aaron. "I certainly enjoy Christmas more now than I did when I was a kid."
"Reputation is everything to mother, but then, we lived in a neighborhood with pretentious people those of wealth like our family," Theo agreed soberly.
"I'm sorry your childhoods was so miserable," Aaron spoke up. "I already knew a lot of this from Emily, but not everything. I didn't have a very good childhood either since I grew up in an orphanage and Christmas wasn't exactly very good there."
What Aaron had told Theo wasn't exactly the truth, as he had grown up with his supposed to aunt and uncle who hadn't treated him very well. He had been more of a slave than anything else. There had been no Christmas or birthday presents from them and he wasn't even given enough to eat much less any extra. He'd had two outfits at the time and also a decent pair of shoes for the day, but that was about it.
"I suppose we could bring the other two up to see mom and everyone else while Natalie goes to school, as Camila is perfectly capable of getting her to school and picking her up and so are Dave and Penny, but I don't know why we would bother," Emily said. "It's not like I'm close to mother after all. I'm sure Natalie will be relieved to not have to make this trip every month at least during the school year."
"We could just come visit you, which we've done a few times," Theo suggested. "You're right, Natalie's going to be in school for most of the year, so it'll just me and Bree and Ed and Ray with their wives, as all our children will be in school."
"Your youngest is nearly grown up though, because you were married years before I was, since you're older than I am," Emily said. "It won't be very many more years before you and Bree are free to visit, as your children will have their own lives."
"True," Theo agreed.
"You're always welcome," Aaron told him, "and so are Ed and Ray. You know we had a whole new section of the house built since Emily and I intend on having at least a couple more and so do Dave and Penny so we have plenty of guestrooms."
"I might just do that," Theo said. "I'm sure Bree wouldn't mind coming to visit you."
"Come up whenever you like, just give us a little warning when you are coming so we can make sure the beds have clean sheets," Emily said.
"We will," Theo promised smiling.
"At least you've already have the required four children and they are nearly grown, but then, I knew you'd have kids first, since you're the oldest while I'm the baby. I knew it was always likely you would get married years before I did, which is what happened in this case."
"You're almost at the finish line," Theo told Emily.
"I know and I can hardly wait until I can get my inheritance from the lawyer," Emily said in a passion filled voice. "I don't necessarily need the money to live on anymore, since Aaron has plenty of that, but you know why I want it so bad."
"I do indeed," Theo said not bothering to state the reason why her inheritance was so important to his sister, as they all know the reason it was. It didn't have anything to do with Emily being greedy it had to do with making up at least partially for her crappy childhood. If both of them had had good childhoods they wouldn't necessarily have cared about the money, so long as they had enough to support themselves and any children.
They had survived and even turned out decently, which hadn't been a sure thing when they had been children.
Theo's children came in the door just then along with his wife and they greeted Natalie and her two brothers enthusiastically.
~~~The Immortals and the Businessman 3~~~
