AN: I'm back. I have a serious question before I let you get back to the story. How many of you would object for me to take the middle of the story for a darker turn. It'll still have its light and family moments but some of the chapters will be darker. I promise that it will have a happy ending. I really would like to know what you guys think. Also if I do decide to add the darker chapters it will allow for more reader story interaction.

"Why did our flight have to be so early?" Casey complained as she dragged another suitcase to the door.

Liz shook her head finding Casey's morning mood cute. "Cause you wanted the maximum time we could spend at the beach."

Suddenly a shriek of protest could be heard from upstairs. "I think Billy is getting Reid up and ready," Liz spoke.

Casey yawned. "I'm going to start putting our bags in the suv."

"I'm going to get our breakfast on the go," Liz said walking to the kitchen.

Casey stopped her and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Now you may go."

:::::::

Alex, still in pajamas, trudged into the kitchen. Prue sat already dressed at the counter with a mug of coffee. "It's three in the morning. How are you up and dressed already?" Alex asked.

Prue gave a simple one word answer, "Coffee."

Alex nodded and started pouring her own glass. "Are you excited?"

"I don't care much for beach sand. It is too messy for my taste," Prue replied pushing her glasses back up her nose.

"Ally it's beach day!" Eri cheered running into the kitchen.

Alex barely had enough time to catch the pajama clad nine year old. "I know honey. Why don't I fix breakfast while you go wake up mommy?"

Eri nodded eagerly and ran off to the master bedroom. Alex turned to Prue as she grabbed ingredients from the refrigerator. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"Yes ma'am," Prue replied turning a page in her book.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "One piece of fruit doesn't count. I ask again have you had breakfast?"

"No ma'am," Prue answered honestly.

Alex hummed and started making breakfast.

:::::::

Liz settled down for the two hour and a half hour flight. Reid sat between her and Casey who she was coloring with, well Reid was coloring and Casey was occasionally coloring between looking at her laptop. Kristen and Alexa were behind them watching a movie. Across from them sat Billy and Prue. Billy was listening to music and Prue was reading. In front of them sat Olivia, Alex, and Eri. They were on a week vacation to Florida.

"What are you doing?" Liz asked glancing over at Casey's laptop.

Casey closed her laptop. "I was just getting a little work done before our vacation. I have court the day after we get back."

"Try to have a good time. Don't spend your whole vacation worrying about work," Liz reminded her.

Casey smiled. "I know. This is Reid's first time at the beach."

"Mine too," Billy piped up from her seat.

Liz and Casey both turned to look at each other. "Did you know that?" Liz whispered.

Casey shook her head no. "No I didn't know. I forget that Billy was with Caper for almost ten years. I wonder what other childhood things she missed out on?"

"All of them probably missed out on quite a bit. If it wasn't for Prue and the older girls that were with them they probably would have been held back in school," Liz spoke.

Casey sat for a moment thinking. "I want this to be the best vacation ever for them. Maybe we can let them each pick a day to do something that they want to do."

"That's a good idea," Liz answered.

:::::::

"Sand!" Alexa yelled running ahead of everyone.

"She told me she likes building sand castles," Kristen explained

Liz pulled out her camera and snapped a picture of Alexa who was making sand angles. "Krissy!" Alexa called.

With a playful sigh Krissy ran to join her. "Ally can we go swimming now?" Eri asked impatiently.

Alex glanced at Olivia nervously. Olivia took Eri's hand while she talked, "Alex will join us later. Right now it's just gonna be you, Billy, and I."

Eri seemed unfazed as she took off towards the water dragging Olivia. "Come mommy."

Kristen had seen the look on Alex's face and thought she knew what had caused it. "Alex can I talk to you for a minute?"

Alex walked over to where Kristen was now standing. "You don't want to go swimming because you don't want to take your cover up off because of your scar right?" Kristen asked.

Alex was taken back at how easy Kristen had caught on. "Am I that transparent?"

"I'm good a reading people. A wise person once told me that scars are cracks in the foundation, but instead of weakening us they make us stronger," Kristen told her. "Now I think a little girl is waiting for her favorite person to swim with her."

Kristen was back with Alexa before Alex could say anything else.

::::::

"Cassandra Ruth!" Liz yelled as water spilled down her head.

Casey had a head start and was much faster than Liz. If it hadn't been from her almost tripping over Prue she wouldn't have been caught. Casey squealed as Liz pulled her closer. "I think you owe me an apology."

Casey smirked. "Fine," She said kissing Liz, "I apologized now let me go, please."

"If you say so," Liz replied letting Casey go who then fell into the water.

Casey, water dripping down her face, glared at Liz. "Not nice."

"You got your own self into that one Cassandra," Liz said walking back to her chair.

Meanwhile Prue was reading. "I thought the point of coming to the beach was to have fun?"

Prue looked up to see who had spoke. She was met with a tall, tan boy about fourteen. He had sandy blonde hair that covered his ears and had a very heavy southern accent. He was wearing blue swim shorts and a shark tooth necklace. "Reading is fun and if you don't mind I'd like to get back to my book."

The boy ignored Prue and laid down beside her. "What ya reading?"

"Profiler's Insight if you must know," Prue replied annoyed.

The boy nodded. "Cool. I'm Duke by the way. What's your name ma'am?"

"Duke if you don't mind I would like to finish my book," Prue insisted.

Duke stood up dusting sand off his legs. "See ya around then City girl."

Prue wanted to ask how he knew she was from the city, but he was already gone.

:::::::

"This," Billy started. She jumped to hit the ball. "Is fun."

Olivia smiled as she hit the ball across the net. Alex, Billy, Liz, and Kristen had formed a team against Olivia, Alexa, Eri, Prue, and Casey. Reid was running circles around everyone which made the volley ball game much harder.

"Can I join?" A voice asked.

Prue rolled her eyes when she saw who it was. "You've got to be kidding me," She mumbled.

"Sure," Alex told Duke, "You're on our team."

Duke ran over to their side of the net. He gave Prue a smile and a wave. "This is what fun is City girl."

Prue shook her head. "I know how to have fun Duke. Reading is fun to me," She yelled in between plays.

"You two have met I assume?" Alex asked.

Prue served the ball then answered, "Yes, we have. Alex meet Duke and Duke meet Alex my mom's girlfriend."

Duke was caught off guard and fell when the ball hit him. "Are you okay?" Kristen asked helping him up.

"I'm fine," He replied glancing over his shoulder to Prue.

Prue smirked at seeing she had thrown Duke for a loop. "He's got a hard head he's okay."

:::::::

"Olivia is it okay if I walk up and down the hallway?" Prue asked.

Olivia was about to say no, but nodded. "No more then ten minutes and stay on our hall."

"Thanks mom," Prue said hugging her.

"You play a mean game of volleyball," A southern accent said from behind her.

Prue jumped and turned around. "You again! Are you stalking me are something?"

Duke chuckled. "No, I have three younger siblings I was going crazy in my room."

"I can't imagine having three. One is enough," Prue commented.

Duke looked at the ground. "I'm sorry for my reaction earlier."

"That's fine. Before Olivia adopted me I would have reacted even worse," Prue admitted.

There was a moment of silence. They both looked up when they heard foot steps and voices. "Strauss deserves something special for getting us some vacation time after this last case," An older male voice said.

"At least we saved the last two victims," A female voice spoke.

That's when Prue saw them and squealed. Olivia ran out of the room gun in hand. The seven looked up puzzled. "Mom it's him, it's him!" Prue exclaimed excitedly jumping up and down.

Olivia looked up and saw a guy who looked familiar. Realizing their was no danger she slipped her gun in her waist band. "I'm Olivia Benson. May I ask who you are?"

Alex had also stepped out of the room to see what had happened. The oldest man shook Olivia's hand. "SSA Dave Rossi"

"Oh," Olivia gasped, "Wow."

Prue stepped forward. "My name's Prue. I'm like your biggest fan. I've read all your books at least ten times. My favorite is the one you did on the team." She rambled.

Olivia had to say she'd never seen Prue so happy or excited. "Nice to meet you Prue. Since you've read my books you know the rest of the team?" Rossi asked.

Prue nodded. "Agent Hotchner, Agent Morgan, Agent Prentiss, Media Liaison Jareau, Technical Analyst Garcia, and Dr. Reid," She named.

"Hi," Eri said stepping out of the room.

"That's my little sister Eri," Prue told them.

Rossi smiled at both of them. Prue was defiantly the youngest fan he had ever met. "It was nice to meet you. Maybe we'll see you around."

Prue beamed and nodded. "Nice to meet you too."

As Olivia was walking back into the hotel room Alex stopped her. "I know Emily. I haven't seen her in awhile though. I didn't even know she worked for the BAU. Maybe I can invite her and a few of the team members to lunch."

"Prue would jump through the ceiling," Olivia laughed.

Alex smiled. "Then it's done. I'll ask her."