(Thursday)

Isabella woke up before the alarm went off. She went to Emily's bedroom to see if her mom was awake. She walked in to find Emily sleeping with a book on her chest. Bella smiled thinking about all the times her parents walked in on her like that.
She left the room, checked her backpack to see if she had everything for the day and once again the scrub cap was just there looking at her. She grabbed it and she didn't even know why but she smelled it. Her eyes watered as the sent reminded her of her father. She shoved the cap back inside her bag and wiped away her tears.
She put her bag on the bed and went to take a shower.

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Emily woke up with the alarm clock and placed the book on the nightstand. She got out of bed and heard Isabella's shower on. She showered too and then got dressed and headed to Isabella's bedroom. She found Bella combing her hair in front of the vanity.

"Good morning" Emily said walking to Bella to give her a hug.

"Good morning mom" Bella smiled and Emily hugged her from behind.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Emily asked still hugging Bella and using the mirror to look at her.

"I don't know. I'm not really hungry" Bella said.

"How about pancakes?" Emily asked smiling.

"Cereal is fine mom really" Bella said and stood up.

"You need to eat better hun" Emily said concern.

"I'm trying to, okay?" Bella said upset.

"Hey" Emily said pulling Bella into a hug.

"I know you are" she said.

"Cereal is food too" Bella said letting go of the hug.

"I know" Emily let out a little laugh. "Let's go." She said and they went downstairs to the kitchen. Isabella sat at the island and Emily poured some Cheerios with milk for both of them.

"Are you eating this too?" Bella asked. Usually Emily just had coffee in the morning.

"Cereal is food too, you know" Emily joked and Bella couldn't help but laugh.

"Funny you mother" Bella said smiling. "Very funny"

Emily laughed and they ate their cereal. Once they were done they headed out.

The car ride was fine, they talked about the classes Bella had and Emily said she would stop at the bookstore later at night with Bella if she wanted and the girl said yes.

When Emily parked the car, Isabella saw Gavin and Chloe waiting for her close to the playground.
They smiled when they saw the car.

"Anything just call, okay?" Emily said.

"Okay" Bella agreed unbuckling.

"Be good." Emily said.

"yup" Bella said.

"Always." Emily smiled. "Love you baby" she said and kissed Bella's cheek. Bella kissed her back and headed out.

"Bye mom" she said stepping out of the car.

"Bye. Have a good day" Emily said and Bella smiled and walked to her friends. Emily was just loving to see that smile so often. Everything she was getting to do with her daughter felt like a blessing, even just dropping the child off at school felt good. It felt like what a mother was supposed to do and she didn't get to do it for 8 years.

When Isabella got there she looked back at the car and waved to Emily as saying she could go.

.

"Cool shoes" Gavin said noticing Isabella's black dr martins.

"Thanks" she said embarrassed.

"I saw a glittery one at the mall" Chloe said. "It was so cute"

Isabella smiled and said "you should get it. I can see you wearing one of those"

"I don't know. Maybe" Chloe smiled and they walked to the entrance and headed to science class.

The day at the school went by fast. They just payed attention to the classes and hung out during breaks and lunch.

It was 3:14 when Bella got a text from Emily.
'Hi bells. We are heading out of town for a case. Penelope will be waiting for you in the office. Text me when you get there. See you soon. Love, mom.'

"Oh great" Bella whispered after reading the text.

"What happened?" Chloe whispered because the teacher was talking.

"My mom has a case" Bella answered looking upset.

"Oh" Chloe and Gavin said and the teacher heard.

"Hey you three. No talking" the art teacher, Miss Rey, said and Gavin said sorry while Chloe and Bella just looked embarrassed. The teacher continued with the lesson for a little while till the bell rang. The trio walked out of class.

"Well Bel, You have to go by yourself today" Gavin said. "My mother is picking me up. We're going to the mall."

"Okay" Bella said.

"so I see you two tomorrow" He said.

"You sure do" Chloe smiled and they started walking.

Suddenly Bella stopped.
"Guys you can go. I'm gonna go to the bathroom really quick. " Bella said.

"I can wait" Chloe said.

"It's alright" Bella said. "Go home. Oh and text me how Millie is doing today" Bella said. Millie was still a bit sick so she didn't go to school.

"Okay. Bye" Chloe said and she and Gavin walked away.

Bella headed to the bathroom, she locked the door and opened her backpack. She could feel her heart beating strong and fast since she got that text from Emily. She opened her bag and got the scrub cap out. She smelled it again and didn't even bother to fight the tears forming in her eyes. She just missed him so bad. She wanted to hug him, and kiss him. She just wanted him to hold her again. She stayed there and just let herself cry.
After a while she heard someone walking in so she put the cap on her bag, wiped her face, flushed the toilet and walked out. She washed her hands and her face and headed to the bus stop.
When she got to the BAU, Penelope was waiting for her at the entrance. She hugged Bella and couldn't help but see the child's eyes looked a bit swollen and red. They went up. Once they got to Penelope's office, Bella placed her things next to the couch on the floor and sat on the couch.

"Were you crying?" Penelope asked sitting on her chair and turning to Bella.

"no." Bella said.

"are you sure?" Penelope asked knowing the girl was lying.

"Yup." Bella said. "Well I have a lot of homework today" Bella said changing the subject.

"Make yourself at home my little sugarplum" Penelope smiled and Bella got her homework out and texted Emily that she was at the office already. She finished everything then had some snacks with Penelope, it was pretty much chips and candy bars. After eating Penelope showed her some funny videos on the computer while the team didn't call for her help again.

Around 6pm Emily called Penelope.
"Hey Garcia. Did you get the file I just sent you?" Emily asked as a beep went on Penelope's computer.

"Just did big Prentiss" Penelope said.

"Is Bella there?" Emily asked.

"hi" Bella said.

"Hi Bells" Emily said. "i'm sorry we'll have to stay here a bit longer" she said and Bella just stayed quiet.

"I've got her. Don't worry, mama bear" Garcia said as she saw the girl was upset and just stayed quiet.

"Thanks" Emily told her. "Well... I need you to enhance those for me"

"doing it right at this second" Penelope said.

"Bye you two" Emily said.

"Bye" Bella and Penelope said in unison.

Penelope went back to work and Bella sat on the couch and got her iPad out of her bag. She played some games and read some stuff for science class and when it was almost 10pm Penelope said they would go to her house and she would work from there so Bella could sleep on a comfy bed.

"I don't mind the couch" Bella said honestly.

"I don't want my little princess Prentiss sleeping on a couch if she can sleep on her marvelous auntie Penny's bed" Penelope said and Bella smiled.

"Let's go let's go" Penelope said hurrying Bella up and Bella grabbed her bag and walked out.
Penelope drove to her apartment. It was all very colorful and fun, Bella loved it.

"your house is so cool" she said.

"Thanks bunny" Penelope said smiling proudly. "Let me show you the bedroom" Garcia said and walked to the bedroom, Bella followed behind.

"So you make yourself at home, okay?" Penelope said. "The bathroom is right there and I'll lend you some clothes" She said smiling and Bella smiled too. "They are gonna be pretty big on you though" Penelope laughed.

"98% chance that's true" Bella said.

"You are too much" Penelope laughed and hugged the girl. "Let me try to find something tight" Penelope said.

Isabella didn't pack for a sleepover so she didn't have pajamas.

"Okay" Bella smiled placing her bag on the bed. Penelope got a shirt and the tiniest shorts she could find. "Try this" she said handing the clothes to Bella. She grabbed a towel too and Bella went to take a shower while Penelope set up the computer in the living room. Bella finished getting dressed and headed to the living room, she was really tired so she decided to try to get some sleep.

"Well it's not so bad" Penelope said smiling at Bella with super lose clothes.

"I guess" Bella laughed. "I'm gonna go to bed, okay?" She said.

"Sure. Anything I'm right here" Penelope said smiling and Bella headed back to the bedroom.
Before Isabella made to the bed Penelope ran after her.

"Oh I almost forgot!" Penelope said smiling and putting her hand on Bella's shoulder and Bella looked at her.

"Forgot what?" Isabella asked confused.

"Your mom told me I should tuck you in" she said smiling.

"She did?" Bella asked embarrassed.

"Go on. Get in bed" Penelope smiled and tucked Bella in. "Is this good?" She asked.

"Yeah" Bella said. Penelope could see she was embarrassed.

"You sleep tight and I'll come here soon. Okay?" Penelope said.

"Okay. Goodnight" Bella said.

"Goodnight" Penelope said and headed out.

Bella was trying to sleep but it was hard. She was scared and she didn't have any of her things with her but eventually the tiredness won.

Later on when Penelope reentered the bedroom, it was to find Isabella fast asleep.
She moved to the corner of the room and sat on a chair with her laptop in her hands. She wanted to be close to the girl.
As the night went on Penelope sat back in her chair, looking over to the bed where Isabella was sprawled out, her messy dark brown hair, almost black, spread out on her pillow. Looking at her, Penelope couldn't help but notice how much the young girl looked like Emily. She had the same hair, pale skin, eyes and nose as her mother, and Penelope just smiled willing to bet that Emily looked very similar when she was 8. Penelope was suddenly lost watching the young girl, her trance broken only when the child began to toss around a few minutes later.

"No....please...no...." the little girl began to mumble, fear evident in her voice.

Penelope immediately got up, quickly making her way over to the bed, her eyes already tearing up. "Bella," she said running her hand on the girl's arm. "Bella, honey wake up."

"No...mom....daddy....no" Isabella began to sound more and more panicked, her voice rising slightly.

"Bella," Penelope shook the child, desperately wanting to save the girl from her nightmare. "Come on sweetie, you're okay...it's okay,"

"NO!" Isabella sat up suddenly, her breaths coming out in short gasps. It took her a bit before she finally recognized Penelope sitting in front of her, the panic leaving her face and her eyes began to fill with tears.

"Hey, it's okay," Garcia reassured, wiping the tears that leaked rapidly from the child's eyes. "It was just a dream, just a nightmare," she said hugging the girl and running her fingers through Bella's hair, hoping it would offer her some comfort. Isabella slowly began to calm down, her breathing returning to normal.

"Sorry," Bella said quietly, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment, as she let go of the hug.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, pumpkin" Penelope gave her a small smile, tucking some hair behind the girl's ear. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm fine," Isabella answered causing Penelope to tilt her head in disbelief. "I'll be alright," Bella said wiping her face.

"Okay," Penelope said, not surprised that the girl was reluctant to talk about the dream; she was Emily's daughter after all. "But if you need to talk, I'm here," Penelope continued getting up and making her way to the chair and grabbing her laptop.

Bella laid down again and Penelope sat next to her. The girl snuggled close to Penelope and said with tears in her eyes "Penelope, Can you call my mom?"

"Of course" Penelope said. It was almost 3 am but she knew Emily wouldn't mind at all.

She called Emily.
"Hello?" Penelope said and Bella sat up.

"Is everything alright?" Emily asked concern.

"Yeah. Unm your babe had a nightmare and she wants to talk to you" Penelope said and gave the phone to Bella.

"Mom?" Bella said trying not to sound like she was crying.

"Hi honey. Are you alright?" Emily asked with her heart aching for not being home with her daughter.

"Yeah. I just wanted to hear your voice" Bella admitted.

"I love you. You know that right?" Emily said smiling at the sweet answer Bella gave her.

"I know... And I love you too" Bella said. Suddenly JJ called out Emily.

"honey I gotta go but we'll talk soon, okay? I'm still working" Emily said.

"Okay. love you" Bella said.

"I love you too Bells. Goodnight."

"Goodnight and be safe" Bella said.

"I will baby" Emily said. "Bye" and they hung up.

Bella handed the phone to Penelope and laid in bed feeling a bit better knowing her mom was okay but she was still scared.

"Try to go back to sleep, okay munchkin? I'll be right here" Penelope said and Bella snuggled close to her again and closed her eyes. The girl was scared but she was really tired so it wasn't too hard to go back to sleep.

It was almost 3:30am when Derek Morgan texted Garcia saying they were calling the night and heading to the hotel. So Penelope placed the computer on the chair and went to take a shower. When she got back to the bed Isabella was fast asleep. She sneaked in bed next to the girl and hugged Bella who hugged her back in her sleep. Penelope smiled. In such short time she was already in love with the small child.
She kept hugging Bella and It wasn't long till Penelope fell asleep too.

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(Friday)

Penelope woke up and noticed Bella's tight grip on her shirt. She couldn't help but smile. She checked the clock and it was 6 o'clock. So she just laid there.
At 6:30 the alarm went off and Bella jumped in bed scared.

"hey it's okay. It's the alarm" Penelope said.

Bella hugged Penelope, trying to catch a breath. She was having a nightmare about her mother getting shot and right when a man was about to shot Emily the alarm went off so she jumped up scared.

"did you have a bad dream again?" Penelope asked.

Isabella let go of the hug and nodded yes.

"it was not real sweetheart. It was just a bad dream. That's all" Penelope said and Bella nodded again.

"Alright then good morning my little tiny Em" Penelope said hugging Bella once more.

"Good morning" Isabella said embarrassed.

"I'm gonna make waffles. Go get ready for school" Penelope said happily jumping out of bed. Bella smiled and got up. She was glad she had Penelope.
Bella showered really fast and got dressed. She sat in front of a big mirror in Penelope's bedroom to fix her wet hair. Penelope walked in.

"Hey do you want some help with that?" Penelope asked.

"Oh no it's fine" Bella smiled. "I'm gonna leave it down" she said.

"Alright I'm going to shower then" Penelope said walking into the bathroom.

Bella grabbed her bag and went to the living room. She sat on the couch and waited for Penelope.
Once Penelope got ready, they had waffles and Isabella told Penelope they were really good. Bella just ate one and said she was already full. Penelope knew the kid wasn't eating very well and since it was Bella's first time there she wanted everything to go smooth and pushing her into eating more wasn't going to help with that so she just left it like that.

They got their things and headed to the school...