July 2018

Kids' Ages

Jack Hotchner - 12

Henry LaMontagne - 9

Elaine Hotchner - 6

Olivia Garcia - 6

Michael LaMontage - 2

Grace Hotchner - 2

Hank Morgan - 22 Months

Jules Reid - 8 Months

Josiah Hotchner - 5 Months

James Hotchner - 5 Months

Brooklyn Morgan - 4 weeks

JJ is due any day.

Emily blinked against the bright light. Her throat was scratchy and her stomach hurt like hell. Where was she?

Blinking once more, her vision cleared just as a voice spoke from somewhere in the room.

"Oh good, you're awake."

There was her mother, prim and proper poised in the corner in a leather reclining chair.

"Where's Aaron?" Emily managed to croak out.

If her mother was irritated about Emily caring more about her husband's whereabouts rather than her mother's presence, she didn't show it. Instead, the look in Elizabeth Prentiss' eyes was sympathetic, motherly even.

"He went to grab a cup of coffee. Poor guy has not left your side since they rolled you out of surgery three days ago."

As if summoned, Aaron burst through the door. "Em, you're awake. Thank God."

He reached for his wife, placing a kiss on her lips.

"I'm tired, Aar," Emily whispered, nuzzling into her husband's warm hand which rested on her shoulder.

Aaron gave her a small smile, pushing a piece of greying hair behind her ear. "Get some rest, Sweetheart. Just make sure you come back to me."

"Always."

Less than thirty minutes after Emily fell asleep, she was woken up by a knock on the door. Jess poked her head into the room with Jamie on her hip, who immediately started flailing his whole body at the sight of his mother. "Are you up for some visitors?"

"Absolutely," Emily told her, desperately missing her children. She struggled to sit up until Aaron pushed the button on the bed to raise it.

Jess pushed the door open more and Ellie and Grace wasted no time in rushing toward their mom, followed by Jack who was carrying Josh.

"I'll give you guys a few minutes," Jess told them, handing James off to Aaron before retreating, Elizabeth following close behind.

"Momma, I come up?" Gracie asked, peering up at her mom with her big brown eyes.

"You can come up, Gracie-Girl, but you have to be super careful because Mommy still has an owie," Emily told her daughter. "Daddy'll have to help you up here."

Aaron helped the toddler onto the bed, settling her on Emily's right.

Ellie climbed into the bed, coming to sit near Emily's shoulder right behind Grace.

"Alright, give me my babies." Emily requested, reaching her arms out for the twins.

The babies were slightly harder to place since they couldn't understand that Emily was hurt. Once they were settled, Emily patted the space on the left edge of the bed. "Come on, Jack-Jack, there's still room for you."

The twelve-year-old was more hesitant than his younger siblings. Finally, he sat. "I um, I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it," he mumbled, refusing to make eye contact.

At his words, the hazy memory came flooding back. It was the morning Emily got shot before she headed to work and the children went off to school. Jack was in a bad mood, not wanting to go to school. When Emily insisted that he had to and needed to grab his bag, he blew up, screaming that she couldn't tell him what to do and that she wasn't his mom. His words had stung tremendously, and Emily had left before he returned downstairs, assuming they'd be able to discuss it that evening.

Emily ran a hand through his soft hair. "It's okay, Bud, I know you didn't."

Aaron couldn't help but take the moment to snap a few pictures. For the first time in almost four days, his family was back together and he couldn't be happier.

Two floors down, Penelope exited a room holding Olivia's hand. A few days ago, she received a phone call from a person she never expected to hear from. It was from Kevin's mother, letting her know that Kevin's father was unfortunately losing his battle with cancer and his dying wish was to meet his granddaughter.

The two women stayed on the phone for what seemed like hours. Penelope demanded to know why they never tried to get to know the little girl before. Mrs. Lynch however revealed that Kevin had only informed them of her existence just that week.

After debating it for a long time, Penelope finally agreed to let her daughter meet her grandparents. They stayed in the hospital room for just under two hours but the meeting seemed to go well. Olivia, while shy, took to her grandparents quickly.

Luke stood from his seat in a cheer not too far from the door. When Penelope told him about her plans, he offered to tag along as moral support. Though they'd only been together for about four months, Penelope was really enjoying their time together, and she appreciated the offer. Plus, Liv seemed to like him. It may be too early to tell, but Penelope hoped there was a future for them.

Just as they reached the man, a voice called out her name.

Penelope turned to see Kevin approaching. Seeing that it was too late to find somewhere to hide, she braced herself to face the guy she hadn't seen in over six years.

"Kevin," she bit out. At the sight of the strange man, Olivia hid herself behind her mother, peeking out from behind her colorful dress. Luke stepped closer as well, folding his muscular arms against his chest, fixing the shorter man with a glare.

"It's nice to see you," Kevin said pleasantly.

"I wish I could say the same about you," Penelope shot back with fake happiness.

Kevin smiled awkwardly, his eyes fixed on Olivia. He squatted down. "It's nice to meet you, Sweetie."

Olivia scooted farther away and Penelope sensed that she was getting increasingly uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Luke noticed it as well. He reached his and out to the six-year-old, talking to her soothingly. "Come on, Munchkin, let's go get the car cooled down, and then when Mommy is done, we'll all go out for ice cream."

"Okay!"

Kevin watched the two disappear down the hall. "She's cute. Looks just like you."

Penelope snorted. "You're not around her all day. Trust me, besides the hair, she's your twin. She gets that scrunch that you have when she focuses."

"She seems like a great kid."

"Her name's Olivia and she's incredible."

A heavy silence fell over the former lovers.

"So, is that your new boyfriend?"

Penelope rolled her eyes but nodded. "Luke. Not that it's any of your business."

Kevin crossed his arms. "You know, I don't think I like you parading men around our daughter.

That made Penelope narrow her eyes. "She's not your daughter, and I'm hardly parading men; Luke and I have been together four months and before that the last person I dated was you."

"She is my daughter. I created her."

God did she ever want to kill this man right there in the hospital hallway. "It takes a lot more than two minutes in a bed to be a father, Kevin."

"But I-" Kevin stammered.

"No. Do you know who was there for her first day of preschool and kindergarten? Spencer. Who gives the best cuddles when she doesn't feel well? Aaron. Guess who donned a princess taira and let her paint his nails. Derek. Who takes her for ice cream every time she's sick? Not you. Luke. Any one of her uncles is a better father than you. They have been there for her from the day she came into the world. And where were you? Halfway across the country.

You didn't even tell your parents about her until a week ago. Your father will never get to have a proper relationship with her and that's your fault. Just leave me and my daughter alone. We were doing just fine without you."

With that, Penelope turned on her heel, leaving Kevin behind her, hopefully forever.

Her mind muddled from the conversation, she took a wrong turn coming out of the elevator and ended up in the emergency department.

The double doors opened and a team of paramedics rushed through, pushing a gurney.

"Eight-month-old female Jane Doe, crash victim. Possible broken arm," one paramedic called out. They were pointed toward an open room. As they rolled past Penelope, she gasped, realizing that it wasn't a stranger.

"Jules!" She rushed to the baby, following them into the room.

"Do you know this girl?"

"Yes! Yes! I'm her godmother."

Just then, another gurney shot past, this one carrying Spencer.

Penelope went after him.

He was awake when they transferred him from the gurney to the bed but barely.

"Pen. Jules. Take care of our girl."

Penelope reached for his hand, squeezing it. "I've got her Boy Genius. She'll be okay."

For the next several minutes, Penelope flittered between the two rooms. She paused outside of Jules' door to call Luke, explaining the situation and asking him to take Olivia out for ice cream as planned and then bring her to Derek's for a playdate.

Two hours later, Luke entered the room that Penelope, Spencer, and Jules occupied. Spencer had a broken arm and a nasty cut on his forehead, but Jules only had a few cuts and bruises. They'd be released as soon as the nurse came back to get the paperwork Spencer had already signed.

"Alvez, tell Pen I'm fine," Spencer directed the man. Jules was pressed against him on the bed and he ran the hand that wasn't pinned against his chest through her thin black hair. Penelope hovered near them, re-fluffing the pillows behind his back.

Luke smiled softly, reaching for his girlfriend and pulling her into him. He placed a kiss on the top of her head and she visibly relaxed. "They're okay, Pen." To Spencer he said. "I've got Baby Genius a new car seat in the car. Should we get out of here?"

"That sounds amazing. Let's go home."

Later that evening, Will sat in a chair a few doors down from Emily's room, holding his newborn daughter.

"She's beautiful Jen. Got your eyes, but she looks jus' like me, I think. You're gonna fight me on that, 'm sure, but it's the truth." Will lets out a watery laugh glancing from the baby to his sleeping wife. JJ was taking a little longer than expected to wake up after her emergency C-section. "But um, I don' know how to be a dad to a lil' girl so you're gonna have to wake up. And she needs a name, Baby, an' I know you wanted to be the one to name her, and I can' keep callin' her baby Emily, so-"

"Adeline," JJ croaked out, slowly coming out of her sleepy state. "Her name's Adeline."

Will smiled, first at his wife, and then at his little girl. "Adeline. I love it. Welcome to the world, Adeline Emily LaMontagne."