A New Path
Written for the fanfic100 prompt: Choices
Title: A New Path
Character(s)/Pairings: Emily, Olivia
Rating: G
Summary: Emily decides to take a new path
Author’s Notes: Olivia and the Eppes children were created by me.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Emily took a long sip of her hot tea as she settled into her chair in front of the computer. She opened the current chapter of the novel she was working on and listened one last time for any disturbances. This was the one quiet time in the Eppes household. All of the children were napping and she always used this time to work. She read over what she'd written so far and within moments was typing furiously, caught up in the world of her characters - the action and the suspense.
Even still, her mom senses were on full alert and she turned to find the small figure standing in the doorway. She smiled at the now three year old Kyle and he gave her a shy grin back before stepping into the room. She mused that he looked so much like his father when he smiled and his little brown eyes were looking at her sleepily. She turned and held out her arms for him and when he was close enough, she pulled him into her lap. "What are you doing up, Mister?"
He glanced over at his parents' bed and asked, "Can I sleep in here with you?"
Emily's face softened, "Of course you can, honey."
She stood up, with him in tow and carried him to the bed, placing him in the middle. She grabbed one of the pillows for him and lovingly covered him up with the blanket he'd brought with him. He smiled up at her adoringly and reached for her. She bent down and he wrapped his little arms around her neck and hugged her tightly before giving her a kiss, "I love you, Mommy."
Emily's heart melted, as it did any time any of the kids told her they loved her. "I love you too, baby. Now...go to sleep, ok?"
She kissed his cheek once more and watched as he nodded before turning onto his side, just as she always slept. He closed his eyes and Emily ran her fingers lovingly over his soft hair before she returned to her chair. She read over what she'd been writing once more, trying to get back into the feel of it, but her eyes kept wandering back to the bed as she listened to Kyle's now even breathing.
She took another sip of her tea and sat back in her chair, thinking about all of her children and how they were all different and special in their own ways. She saved the chapter of her novel that she was working on and closed it. She took a deep breath and then opened a new document. She placed her fingers on the keyboard and in the next moment, words began flowing from her effortlessly. When she stopped, she found herself looking at the finished copy of a short story. She read it over before excitement began to course through her...an excitement that she couldn't remember feeling for the longest time when it came to her writing.
She quickly composed an email to Olivia and attached the short story with a proposal. She held her breath as she hovered the mouse over the send button. Was she ready? Did she really want to do this? Could she? It was a choice that she was going to have to make. Send the email...or delete it and forget the whole thing. Kyle stirred on the bed and as Emily watched him pull the blanket tighter around him, she knew. She knew what she needed to do.
That evening after dinner and homework, everyone was in the backyard. Emily was happily running around with the boys while Don tended to Sadie when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and announced that she needed to take the call and with a quick kiss to Don's cheek, she headed inside.
Her heart was pounding as she answered, "Hey Olivia."
"Hey Emily. How's that novel coming along?"
Emily felt her heart sink as she shoved her free hand into her pocket and tried to sound light-hearted, "It's going well...I was working on it today actually..."
As if nothing were new or out of the ordinary, Olivia responded, "Good. So far everything seems to be right on schedule with that. So...how are the kids...how many do you have now -- a dozen?"
Despite herself, Emily chuckled, "Come on now...you know there's only nine. But, they are all doing wonderfully...growing like weeds, every single one of them. When are you going to have some of your own for me to spoil?"
This seemed to be exactly what Emily needed to say in order to turn the conversation in her favor. Olivia was happily married, but neither of them wanted children and so she was more than happy to change the subject. She chuckled, knowing Emily's tactics, "All right, all right...I get it. Onto the real reason why I called. I got your email and I've been mulling it over all day. I think that if this is something that you are serious about...if you really want to do this, I say let's go for it. The story you sent today was more than enough to convince me that this could be really great for you..."
Emily nearly squeed as she replied, "I'm so happy that you think so! I've been kind of thinking about this for a long time now and today, I was just feeling inspired. I really think that this is going to be a great direction for me to go in. And Liv...I'd really like to start as soon as possible."
Olivia's smile was apparent in her voice, "I thought you might say that. I've already started the process...you know, just in case."
Emily could barely contain her excitement as she replied, "Oh, I should have known! You've always known what I was thinking when it comes to my writing. Thank you so much for everything...it really means a lot to me."
Olivia beamed, "Hey, without you I would have been out of a job a long time ago. Listen, I have to go, but I'll be in touch."
Emily stated, "All right. Have a good night. Talk to you soon..."
She closed her phone and stared at it for a moment before spinning in the kitchen. She was doing it! She was really doing it! The trick was...she just needed to keep this to herself a little while longer until Olivia could make things happen and then she would tell everyone else...
She didn't know how she pulled it off, but somehow she kept her secret until finally the package she'd been impatiently waiting for came in the mail and she excitedly opened it. She stared at the contents for a moment before running her hand over it lovingly. It was real...this was really happening.
That night after dinner, everyone gathered in the living room for game night and Emily stood up, "Hey guys. Mommy has some big news before we start ok?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and even Sadie turned to look at her mother. Emily cast a glance at Don and smiled brilliantly as she handed the package to him. He looked at her curiously as he opened it and pulled out a book. He looked it over for a moment before noting the author: Emily Eppes. He looked up at her, a mixture of curiosity and pride on his face as she stated, "Mommy is going to be writing books for kids from now on. Daddy is holding the first one."
"No way!" came the collective gasp.
She wrung her hands as Don opened it and read the first page. He smiled, "Hey guys...remember that time that we all went on a treasure hunt in the park?"
The boys nodded and he turned the book around to show them, "That's what this one is about...we're all in it. Check it out!"
Everyone gathered around him and each of the boys quickly pointed to their respective illustrated selves and as excited little voices filled the air Emily knew then and there that she'd made the right choice. This shift...this change of genre fitted her lifestyle more now and kids all over the world could read the adventures of her family and she could finally write them under her married name. This felt good...it felt right...and she couldn't wait to see where it took her.
Don beckoned her to come and sit with them and he urged her to read the book aloud to all of them and this was met with loud cheers as the boys all vied for the best seat around her and Sadie crawled into her lap. As she opened the book and looked around at her family and their smiling faces, her heart swelled with love and she knew that this was the life she'd been destined for all along.
Title: A New Path
Character(s)/Pairings: Emily, Olivia
Rating: G
Summary: Emily decides to take a new path
Author’s Notes: Olivia and the Eppes children were created by me.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Emily took a long sip of her hot tea as she settled into her chair in front of the computer. She opened the current chapter of the novel she was working on and listened one last time for any disturbances. This was the one quiet time in the Eppes household. All of the children were napping and she always used this time to work. She read over what she'd written so far and within moments was typing furiously, caught up in the world of her characters - the action and the suspense.
Even still, her mom senses were on full alert and she turned to find the small figure standing in the doorway. She smiled at the now three year old Kyle and he gave her a shy grin back before stepping into the room. She mused that he looked so much like his father when he smiled and his little brown eyes were looking at her sleepily. She turned and held out her arms for him and when he was close enough, she pulled him into her lap. "What are you doing up, Mister?"
He glanced over at his parents' bed and asked, "Can I sleep in here with you?"
Emily's face softened, "Of course you can, honey."
She stood up, with him in tow and carried him to the bed, placing him in the middle. She grabbed one of the pillows for him and lovingly covered him up with the blanket he'd brought with him. He smiled up at her adoringly and reached for her. She bent down and he wrapped his little arms around her neck and hugged her tightly before giving her a kiss, "I love you, Mommy."
Emily's heart melted, as it did any time any of the kids told her they loved her. "I love you too, baby. Now...go to sleep, ok?"
She kissed his cheek once more and watched as he nodded before turning onto his side, just as she always slept. He closed his eyes and Emily ran her fingers lovingly over his soft hair before she returned to her chair. She read over what she'd been writing once more, trying to get back into the feel of it, but her eyes kept wandering back to the bed as she listened to Kyle's now even breathing.
She took another sip of her tea and sat back in her chair, thinking about all of her children and how they were all different and special in their own ways. She saved the chapter of her novel that she was working on and closed it. She took a deep breath and then opened a new document. She placed her fingers on the keyboard and in the next moment, words began flowing from her effortlessly. When she stopped, she found herself looking at the finished copy of a short story. She read it over before excitement began to course through her...an excitement that she couldn't remember feeling for the longest time when it came to her writing.
She quickly composed an email to Olivia and attached the short story with a proposal. She held her breath as she hovered the mouse over the send button. Was she ready? Did she really want to do this? Could she? It was a choice that she was going to have to make. Send the email...or delete it and forget the whole thing. Kyle stirred on the bed and as Emily watched him pull the blanket tighter around him, she knew. She knew what she needed to do.
That evening after dinner and homework, everyone was in the backyard. Emily was happily running around with the boys while Don tended to Sadie when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and announced that she needed to take the call and with a quick kiss to Don's cheek, she headed inside.
Her heart was pounding as she answered, "Hey Olivia."
"Hey Emily. How's that novel coming along?"
Emily felt her heart sink as she shoved her free hand into her pocket and tried to sound light-hearted, "It's going well...I was working on it today actually..."
As if nothing were new or out of the ordinary, Olivia responded, "Good. So far everything seems to be right on schedule with that. So...how are the kids...how many do you have now -- a dozen?"
Despite herself, Emily chuckled, "Come on now...you know there's only nine. But, they are all doing wonderfully...growing like weeds, every single one of them. When are you going to have some of your own for me to spoil?"
This seemed to be exactly what Emily needed to say in order to turn the conversation in her favor. Olivia was happily married, but neither of them wanted children and so she was more than happy to change the subject. She chuckled, knowing Emily's tactics, "All right, all right...I get it. Onto the real reason why I called. I got your email and I've been mulling it over all day. I think that if this is something that you are serious about...if you really want to do this, I say let's go for it. The story you sent today was more than enough to convince me that this could be really great for you..."
Emily nearly squeed as she replied, "I'm so happy that you think so! I've been kind of thinking about this for a long time now and today, I was just feeling inspired. I really think that this is going to be a great direction for me to go in. And Liv...I'd really like to start as soon as possible."
Olivia's smile was apparent in her voice, "I thought you might say that. I've already started the process...you know, just in case."
Emily could barely contain her excitement as she replied, "Oh, I should have known! You've always known what I was thinking when it comes to my writing. Thank you so much for everything...it really means a lot to me."
Olivia beamed, "Hey, without you I would have been out of a job a long time ago. Listen, I have to go, but I'll be in touch."
Emily stated, "All right. Have a good night. Talk to you soon..."
She closed her phone and stared at it for a moment before spinning in the kitchen. She was doing it! She was really doing it! The trick was...she just needed to keep this to herself a little while longer until Olivia could make things happen and then she would tell everyone else...
She didn't know how she pulled it off, but somehow she kept her secret until finally the package she'd been impatiently waiting for came in the mail and she excitedly opened it. She stared at the contents for a moment before running her hand over it lovingly. It was real...this was really happening.
That night after dinner, everyone gathered in the living room for game night and Emily stood up, "Hey guys. Mommy has some big news before we start ok?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and even Sadie turned to look at her mother. Emily cast a glance at Don and smiled brilliantly as she handed the package to him. He looked at her curiously as he opened it and pulled out a book. He looked it over for a moment before noting the author: Emily Eppes. He looked up at her, a mixture of curiosity and pride on his face as she stated, "Mommy is going to be writing books for kids from now on. Daddy is holding the first one."
"No way!" came the collective gasp.
She wrung her hands as Don opened it and read the first page. He smiled, "Hey guys...remember that time that we all went on a treasure hunt in the park?"
The boys nodded and he turned the book around to show them, "That's what this one is about...we're all in it. Check it out!"
Everyone gathered around him and each of the boys quickly pointed to their respective illustrated selves and as excited little voices filled the air Emily knew then and there that she'd made the right choice. This shift...this change of genre fitted her lifestyle more now and kids all over the world could read the adventures of her family and she could finally write them under her married name. This felt good...it felt right...and she couldn't wait to see where it took her.
Don beckoned her to come and sit with them and he urged her to read the book aloud to all of them and this was met with loud cheers as the boys all vied for the best seat around her and Sadie crawled into her lap. As she opened the book and looked around at her family and their smiling faces, her heart swelled with love and she knew that this was the life she'd been destined for all along.