as requested by lilyliv123
Gracies POV (6 Years Old)
"Can't I just come to work with you?" I begged Jay who was sat across the table from me as I ate my breakfast "I'll be good I promise" I said as Jay let out a sad smile,
"No Gracie" he shook his head "you've gotta go to school baby girl" he said as I picked away at my cereal with tears in my eyes,
"But I don't wanna go" I sobbed as Will walked in to the kitchen in his uniform "Will, Jay's making me go to school" I accused causing him to raise an eyebrow in my direction,
"He's right sweetheart" he agreed "you need to go to school and we need to go to work" he said as he sat down next to me as I continued to cry in to my practically untouched breakfast.
"Come on Gracie" Jay encouraged "it wont be that bad and you only have a few more days before school break" he reminded me and I nodded sadly,
"Please Jay" I whimpered as I wiped my tears with my sleeve,
"Have you finished your breakfast?" He asked and I nodded my head silently "then go get changed or we're gonna be late" he instructed and I slid off my chair and walked to my room, all with tears down my face.
Jays POV
I watched as my little sister walked off to her bedroom leaving her untouched cereal behind. We wouldn't normally let her go to school without eating something but today I just wanted to get her there full stop.
"It was so much easier when she was younger" Will commented "things like mothers day would go by without her even noticing" he said and I nodded in agreement,
"It's only gonna get worse as she gets older" I said as I took a drink from my coffee and Will let out a exasperated sigh,
"I just wish there was something we could do to make it easier for her" he muttered before disappearing off to his room.
Gracies POV
I begrudgingly got changed in to some leggings and a top before walking back in to the kitchen where Jay was stood looking through his phone and I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist feeling him rest a comforting hand on top of my head,
"Go and grab your hairbrush and I'll do your hair for you" he instructed gently as I cried and slumped off to my room before returning the hairbrush and some hair ties to my brother who gestured for me to sit on the sofa. He brushed through my hair to get rid of all of the knots before tying it in to a high ponytail. As soon as he finished I turned around and wrapped my arms around him once again causing him to sigh and pick me up allowing me to hide my face in the crook of his neck "is it just today that's bothering you?" He asked and I nodded silently "just try and think of it as another day and it'll all be fine" he assured "anyway your gonna sit with Jane at the picnic aren't you?" He asked and I nodded once again "there you go then, you'll be able to have lots of fun with her" he reminded before giving me a kiss on the side of my head,
"I wanna stay with you" I whimpered,
"I know you do baby but you can't" he said gently "We can have fun after school though" he commented "how about we go to the park on the way home" he suggested and I looked up at him,
"Can we get ice cream?" I asked as another fat tear rolled down my face,
"Sure we can" he said with a soft smile as he wiped some stray tears with his thumb "go wash your face and brush your teeth" he instructed as he put me back on the floor and ushered me towards the bathroom.
I was feeling much better after talking with Jay but as we got closer to the school I could feel the tears building up once again,
"Grab your backpack" Will reminded as he lifted me out of the car,
"Have a good day Gracie" Jay said with a wink from the drivers seat "you'll be fine" he assured as Will closed the door and took my hand in his before walking across the road and up the steps of the main entrance,
"Excuse me sir" one of the receptionist who was stood by the door said "we don't usually allow parents to go into the school with the child" she said firmly causing me to frown,
"I know that but as you can see my sister is upset this morning and I'd feel much happier if I spoke to her teacher" Will replied emphasising the word 'sister'.
"I can see that sir but if we allowed all adults in with the children it would cause chaos" she commented with an angry frown "may I suggest you calling her teacher and allowing your sister to learn how to cope with her emotions. After all I'm sure she'll be fine once she's settled in" she said with a slightly challenging tone,
"With all due respect you have no idea about what's going on in her life and I'm sure you understand that I'm gonna do what I think is in her best interest" Will replied slightly angrily as he pushed me in front of him "have a nice day ma'am" he said as we walked past the now furious looking women in to the school "wasn't she a ray of sunshine" I heard him mutter to himself causing me to giggle slightly.
We walked through the hallway until we eventually reaches the doorway of my class room which was decorated with different pictures that people in the class had done,
"Good morning Gracie" Miss Baxter greeted with her usual friendly smile,
"Why don't you go and sit down whilst I talk to Miss Baxter" Will suggested and I nodded apprehensively before walking over to my usual desk and sitting down.
Wills POV
I waited until I knew Gracie was out of ear shot before turning back towards her teacher,
"She's having a bit of a hard time today what with it being the mothers day picnic" I explained and she nodded with a sad smile,
"That's completely understandable" she said in her usual sweet voice "It's good that you've still brought her in though, that way she won't become to dependent on you or your brother at times like this" she explained,
"Yeah you're right" I agreed "it's just times like this when I feel like we're failing her" I admitted and she shook her head,
"You and Jay are doing an amazing job at raising Gracie" she assured "she's a smart, polite and well behaved little girl who thinks the world of her big brothers" she commented "but sometimes things are out of your control and Gracie will learn how to cope" she comforted and I nodded with a smile as I looked over at Gracie who was now beginning to settle in and play with the other kids,
"Thank you" I said sincerely "if you need one of us I don't always have my phone on me but Jay will so you're best off calling him" I explained and she nodded,
"No problem but I'm sure she'll be fine" she assured "if I where you I'd sneak out before she notices" she suggested "that way she doesn't get upset again" she explained and I nodded before turning to leave the classroom and walking out of the school and passed the pissed off women before getting back in the car with Jay.
Jays POV
I walked up the stairs in to the intelligence unit and straight over to my desk where I sat down and let out a weary sigh,
"Hard morning?" Ruzek asked me from where he was sitting at his desk,
"You have no idea" I admitted as I rubbed my hand over my face in a bid to try and wake myself up slightly "they're having a mothers day picnic at Gracies school today so she didn't wanna go" I informed and he nodded understandingly,
"That's tuff" he agreed as my eyes moved over to Hailey and Kim who where in the break room drinking coffee,
"Yeah" I replied absentmindedly as I walked in to the break room "hey, I don't suppose you two could do me a massive favour?"
Gracies POV
Everyone walked out on to the school field and children began to run over to their waiting mothers and grandmothers and I watched on with tears in my eyes as I felt my teacher place a comforting hand on my shoulder,
"Why don't you help me put the bunch up the flowers?" She suggested and I nodded sadly as I sat down at the picnic table that was full of flowers waiting to be put in to bunches,
"What's with the tears baby girl?" I heard a familiar voice ask from behind me and I turned around to see Hailey, Kim, Stella, Shay and Gabby! I immediately got up and wrapped my arms around Haileys waist before hugging everyone else,
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked surprised as the five women smiled fondly at me,
"We're family Gracie" Gabby smiled "we'll always be here for you" she said as I smiled happily.
"Miss Baxter" I shouted happily as my teacher walked over to us with a beaming smile before introducing herself to everyone,
"Aren't you one lucky little girl" my teacher said with a gentle smile and I nodded proudly "why don't you take everyone to one of the blankets" she suggested and I nodded before grabbing hold of Kim and Shays hands and pulling them across the field, Hailey, Gabby and Stella following closely behind.
The picnic went by in a flash and before I knew it everyone was going home and back to the classroom,
"Thank you" I said with a happy smile as I hugged all of my 'big sisters',
"You're very welcome sweetie" Stella replied before they all left the school and I walked happily back to the classroom.
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly and I soon found myself leaving the school and running up to Jay who picked me up and planted a kiss on my cheek,
"Jay!" I exclaimed excitedly "Hailey came to the picnic! And Kim and Stella and Gabby and Shay as well!" I informed him and he smiled happily,
"That's great Gracie" he replied "I told you it wouldn't be as bad as you thought" he said and I nodded as he placed me on the ground,
"Can we still go to the park and get ice cream?" I asked hopefully and he chuckled before nodding,
"Sure we can" he replied before taking my hand in his and walking out of the school grounds.