Disclaimer: I only own what I make up.

Emily had been having a rough couple of days. She knew from all the years of watching Hotch and being under his command that rough days came with the territory of being the Unit Chief of an elite section of the FBI, but today, she was really feeling it.

They'd just returned from a case in Los Angeles. Weird things always happened whenever the team went there, and this time around, Emily had been taken by a person working for their unsub. This had left JJ in charge during the course of Emily's captivity, and for the rest of the case while she recovered in the hospital.

Now, they were back in Quantico, and it was nearing seven-thirty at night. She and JJ were the only ones left in the office. Rossi, Stephen, Spencer, Penelope, Tara, and Luke had all gone home for the night, each of them talking about their Christmas plans, excited that vacation started the next day. Emily hadn't left the BAU yet because she wanted to get a head start on the case report. JJ was at her desk, taking care of some things.

Try as Emily might, though, she just couldn't focus.

She loved this time of year, especially since she'd spent the last few Christmases in London, a city that she'd long since considered magical. Her parents had even come to visit her in her flat the previous Christmas, and they were able to enjoy their first Christmas together in awhile.

This year, however, Mark had entered her life, sitting next to her at a bar one rainy night and buying her a drink, wanting to cheer her up after finding out she'd had a bad day. One thing led to another, and the next thing Emily knew, they were a couple.

Emily liked Mark, yes, but there was a bit of an age gap between them and he was more of a free spirit than she was. Because of that, and then all of the changes that the BAU had gone through with Derek leaving to be with Savannah and Hank, and then Hotch and Jack being forced into Witness Protection, there was no doubt in Emily's heart that she belong in Quantico at the BAU with her precious friends who knew her best.

Another obstacle that had popped up was that at the very last minute, Mark had decided that he was going to stay in England, instead of coming to visit Emily, like he'd said he would. This came on the heels of Emily suggesting that they settle down in the states and maybe have a kid together.

Wanting to see his face and hear the sound of his voice, Emily had Skyped him, but before she could talk to him about what had happened in Los Angeles, he went into a speech about how he didn't feel like things were going to work out because of the distance. He'd also called her selfish for choosing her old life over the new one that she'd made in London. Suffice it to say, by the end of the conversation, she dumped him before he could beat her to it.

More than ever, Emily found herself wishing that she had a spouse to go home to, and kids who loved her, but… she was alone.

"Emily?"

She jumped as JJ's voice jarred her from her thoughts. JJ was in the doorway, watching her curiously. Emily did her best to not let her feelings show.

"You're still here?" Emily asked, waving her over. "I thought you would have gone back to Will, Henry, and Michael by now."

JJ laughed as she sat in one of the chairs opposite Emily's desk. "You'll remember eventually, but although I've been a profiler for awhile now, I still decide where we're going. That means I still keep hours that are similar to yours, but different than everyone else's."

"Right…"

JJ had, from hers and Emily's first meeting, always been able to read her like a book, meaning that she immediately saw that something was bothering her friend.

"Okay, Emiliana, what's going on in your head?" JJ asked.

"I knew that I should have never told you my real name!" Emily whined.

"Or that you were born in Ukraine, but you refused to learn English until you were three, even though your mom was posted in London by then? Or that you didn't even live in the states for the first time until you were almost sixteen?"

"When the hell did I tell you all that?!"

"During our encounter with the green fairy, some years back. Penelope was there, too, and we learned that you're the silliest drunk of the three of us." JJ laughed and then put on a serious face. "Really, though, I've noticed that since we got you back from that warehouse where Jasper hid you that you've been quiet."

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes. I've known you since my twenties, and you've always been as good as my sister—and that's even before you came back from Interpol to find me and kill terrorists for me. You've been in my life for nearly as long as Rosaline was."

Emily had long ago learned the story of Rosaline Jareau, and she knew how much JJ had adored her, but even still, that last part gave her quite a turn.

"Really? It's been that long?"

"Ten years for you and me, and I knew Rosaline for eleven. You're as important to me as my memories of her are."

At that, Emily was mush immediately, so she got up and crossed over to the couch, beckoning for JJ to follow her.

"It's about Mark." Emily explained as they sat down. "Remember how he was going to come visit?"

"He never came, did he?"

"He didn't, and he said that something had come up at work, but he actually just chickened out."

"Why?"

"Because I'd brought up the idea of settling down here, he and I."

"Did reality hit him? Commitment issues?"

"Yep. He's quite a bit younger than me, and it turns out that he doesn't want kids. I still do."

"Still?" JJ echoed. "You're not—"

"You're cute, JJ, but I was born in 1970, and that was the year that The Beatles broke up. I still have a few years left before I turn fifty, but only a few." Emily sighed. "While you were out at your desk just now, I was skyping with Mark, and amongst other things, he gave me the mean version of the 'It's not you—it's me' speech, and he even called me selfish for choosing the BAU over him and Interpol."

"Ouch. Tell me you dumped him."

"You bet I did. It's just leaving a bad taste in my mouth because it was during a video chat." Emily sighed again. "I rang my parents on Skype after talking to Mark."

"Oh, where are they now?"

"London, believe it or not. They're sad for me, but they did something I wasn't expecting."

"What was it?"

"They started the arrangements to pack up my flat and ship my things to their house in D.C.. I told them about accepting the position here, and they're so pleased."

JJ beamed. "Good! Have you resigned from Interpol yet?"

"I have, but, uh… I have a new problem now."

"Maybe Will and I can help."

Emily laughed nervously. "My parents won't be back from the U.K. until early March, and they said I can stay at their house, but I don't know if I can be along right now, and not just because it's almost Christmas."

JJ held her hands in a time-out position. "Wait a minute—you've been back for more than a month—where have you been staying this whole time?"

"At the Four Seasons, downtown."

JJ threw up her hands in exasperation. "Emiliana! Why didn't you say anything?"

Emily suddenly felt like she was eighteen again, and getting caught coming in after curfew. "It's been a little busy around here, my friend! At least I resigned from Interpol; do I get points for that?"

JJ softened up. "Yes, and Will and I can definitely help you."

"How?"

"When I was at my desk just now, I was taking and making a few phone calls. One of them was to Will, and he wanted me to ask you if you're doing anything for Christmas."

"Really?"

"Yep. Will's a bit shy, but he's always thought of you as a sister, especially after I told him about the time you held me back to keep me from following him into the hostage situation at that bank."

Emily's eyes widened in surprise. "That was forever ago."

"I'll always remember it because I got married the day after." JJ winked. "Will—and I—are officially extending an invitation for you to come stay with us for the holidays, but when he finds out about the bind you're in, he's going to invite you to come stay with us until your parents get back, so this is me saying come stay with us until then."

"JJ, that's really generous, but are you sure? I see you almost every day, and my parents won't be back until March! This is December!"

"I'm very sure, and it's not like you're a stranger to Henry and Michael, what with all the skyping we've done."

Emily was beginning to consider JJ's offer. "What are the boys into these days?"

"Henry is a nerd, and he's unashamed, so he reads anything he can get his hands on, but he really loves Spider Man, The X-Men, and everything Doctor Who." JJ grinned. "He takes after his Uncle Spencer and his Aunt Penelope."

"That's really cute."

"As for Michael, that baby boy is a live wire, and now that he can walk and run, he's always all over the place. When he gets tired, though, he picks a person and gets very cuddly until he falls asleep. Henry reads to him a lot when he's like that."

"And that's just adorable."

Again, JJ beamed. "But if you engage Michael in even one game of Knock Down The Block Tower, you're going to be his new best friend."

"I can work with that." Emily decided. "And you're sure that Will won't mind?"

"Positive, and there are two things that you should know before you give your final answer."

"Lay it on me, JJ."

"My family is coming for Christmas and New Year's, that's the first thing."

"So that'd be your mom, and your brother, Theodore, and your niece, right? How old is Isobel now?"

"Eighteen, and she graduated high school early."

"Wow… Does she have any college plans?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact: she's going to start at cosmetology school in D.C. in the fall, and Theodore is getting transferred there from his architecture firm because he's going to be the head of the finance department."

"You said once that he's been vying for that since 2002, right?"

"Uh-huh. They're moving into a house in DuPont Circle very soon."

"Well, good for them. Where are they coming from?"

"Topeka, and it's only ever been the two of them, because Isobel's mom, Rachel, died in delivery; she had an aneurism. Theodore has never been with anyone since." JJ paused. "You two would get along well, actually."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Jennifer, are you trying to set me up with your brother?"

"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't at least try to cheer you up after a night like tonight?"

"Good point. Gold star for trying." Emily smiled. "What was the other thing?"

"From now until March, you're going to have to put up with me puking up my guts every morning."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Morning sickness is a bitch."

"I—what?" Emily was perplexed, but then she gasped excitedly as she had an epiphany. "JJ, are you pregnant?"

JJ nodded eagerly, grinning from ear-to-ear now. "Yep! One of the calls I took out in the bullpen just now was from my doctor—she did a follow-up on some blood I had drawn at a check-up last week. I didn't even know until the call, because with Henry and Michael, I was violently sick from day one, both times. Anything unusual that I've been feeling lately is because of all the changes happening at the BAU, and then of course, what you just endured in California."

Emily spoke with slight apprehension. "How do you feel now? Have you told Will?"

"Thank the good Lord, I am not queasy at the moment, and yes, I did tell him already—he's thrilled." JJ smiled and then made a humming noise, thinking. "I'm at eleven weeks now, if my math is correct, but I still had no idea. I guess I should've taken what happened last week as a clue…"

"What happened?"

"I was channel-surfing in our room, and I caught the last twenty minutes of The Virgin Suicides, and it turned on the waterworks."

"Well, I should hope so—that movie is weird, JJ, and it's more than a little sad!"

JJ blushed. "Will found me and rescued me by changing the channel and settling on a Jaws marathon because he knows I don't have the willpower to say no to any of those movies. By the time of the first shark attack, I was laughing at how cheesy it looked."

Emily stared.

"Yeah, I know." JJ laughed nervously. "Pregnant ladies are weird."

"I'll say…"

"But anyway," JJ clapped her hands. "Do you still want to come?"

Emily didn't hesitate. "Yes!"

JJ was alight with more enthusiasm immediately. "Is there any specific time you have to be out of your hotel room?"

"Actually, tomorrow by noon."

"Then I'll make up your bedroom tonight, and you can just follow me home tomorrow, since it's a half day."

It was true: they just had a morning of housekeeping, and then all of them, even Emily, were done at noon and wouldn't have to be back until the second of January.

"Sounds good to me."

"We'll even be home before Henry and Will." chirped JJ.

"What about Michael?"

"He'll be with his nanny, Una. She usually looks after him all day, but we only need her for a few hours, so I'm going to give her a bonus when I pay her."

Emily smiled. "And Henry wouldn't be weirded out if I come?"

JJ shook her head, laughing. "We'll tell him in the morning, before we see him off to the bus for school, but he's going to be so happy. There's nothing to worry about."

"Thanks."

Emily stood and pulled JJ to her feet, hugging her.

"This is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a very long time."

"Anything for my family." JJ smiled and then held her hands to her middle, framing it and showing off its cute shape. "We were told after Michael was born that having a third baby wouldn't even be possible, but I guess miracles happen, huh?"

Emily nodded. "Yeah, they do. I'm so happy for you and Will."

"Thanks, Emily. That means a lot, coming from you."

Emily smiled and then cast a glance over at her desk, where she'd left her computer tablet and her case files all spread out, and then back at JJ.

"You on your way out?" she asked.

"Yes, and I actually need time to come in a tad bit later in the morning, around nine."

"So you can check on kid number three?"

"Bingo, but mum's the word on this at the BAU, okay? We'll keep it in the family until January."

Realizing that JJ was including her when she said family, Emily lit up, feeling proud. "At least check in with me until you get back, alright?"

"Okay." JJ gave her CO a mock salute. "Do you want to leave together right now?"

"Yes, please. Meet you at your desk in five?"

JJ bowed theatrically and showed herself out.

Exactly five minutes later, JJ was joined by Emily, who was all packed up and bundled up for the cold outside, just like she was.

"Anything else I should know about Christmas with the LaMontagne-Jareau clan?"

"My mom will rope you into baking cookies with her."

"Not unlike what my parents do to me whenever we're together for the holidays." Emily chuckled. "What else?"

"Chinese food is to be expected because of a tradition my parents had since their first Christmas together. Will ate it with his parents on Christmas, too, so in our family, nobody's ever known any different. Also, Isobel is shy at first, so don't take it personally. And Michael will probably imprint on you like a baby duckling by tomorrow night."

"This all sounds perfect—I've had Christmases all over the world, so that was cool, but eventually, when it was all over, they all ended the same: very quiet."

"Because it was only every you and your parents?"

"Precisely."

JJ gave a devilish grin. "Then I'll make sure we really stock up on Christmas poppers—Henry and Isobel always get a real kick out of them. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

The object in question was a kind of party favor: a popper was a brightly-decorated paper tube that was filled with a paper crown, a small toy, and a sheet of jokes. To get to the prizes, you had to pull the tube apart on either end, causing a popping noise in the process, like something you'd hear in a Fourth of July popper—ergo the name.

"Oh, yes, but in Europe, we called them crackers." Emily said as they disembarked the lift and they found themselves in the main lobby of the building. "My dad is English-Italian, so we've crackers during the holiday season or birthdays for as long as I've had the coordination and the dexterity to pull them apart."

JJ gave her friend's arm a gentle squeeze. "Then you're going to fit in with us just fine."

By the time Emily got back to her hotel room that night, she felt happier than she had in awhile.

The holidays weren't going to be so bad this year, after all.