A.N. This story begins a few days after the ending of Reverberations, following the engagement of JJ and Reid. In order, the stories, each of which follow on the one before, are: Her Voice, Echoes, Reverberations, and now, A Song of Their Own.
I'm glad many readers have enjoyed the stories enough to make them favorites, and I offer special thanks to those who have given me feedback and encouragement by reviewing. If not for you, the latter three stories wouldn't exist!
A Song of Their Own
Chapter 1
No matter how much you love your job, you can't love a Monday morning, thought Morgan as he entered the BAU. He nodded to Rossi and Hotch as he passed their offices on the way to his own. As was his custom, he detoured briefly to poke his head into Garcia's lair, and was surprised not to find her there. That brought his attention to the bullpen, where he noticed the remainder of the team in what looked like a huddle. His curiosity won out, and he headed to the stairs to investigate. His hand actually went to his weapon when he heard a shriek, but he relaxed when he heard it followed by laughter.
"Hey, everybody, what's up?"
He noticed Garcia give a subtle wave to the others. Apparently they weren't prepared to let him in on whatever had brought them together.
"Baby Girl, what's going on?"
"Nothing, Derek. We were just chatting about the weekend," she said as she breezed past him. "Morning meeting in five, everyone."
Morgan was a little put out, but shrugged it off. Grabbing some coffee, he joined the rest of them in the round table room. He couldn't help but notice the knowing smiles on the faces of Garcia, Reid, JJ and Prentiss.
Hotch called them to order. "We're coming off stand down rotation, so we'll be next up to go out. Garcia, what do you have for us?"
"Well, the first thing I have is the news that the jet is requiring a little more maintenance than was thought, so it's not ready yet. We're limited to commercial flights or more local cases until late in the week."
There was a little generalized grousing about that, but Rossi, who tolerated but did not love flying, breathed a sigh of relief. "I would much rather they take their time and give us a reliable flying machine than….." He interrupted himself. "Young JJ! What is that I see on your left fourth finger?"
All of the team except for Morgan smiled. He looked around at the rest and then at JJ's finger. His eyes went wide when he noticed the glint of the diamond. Then he looked at Reid, disbelieving.
"Pretty Boy! You did it!"
Reid blew on his nails and polished them on his vest for the benefit of his good friend.
"And she said 'yes'?" Morgan managed to sound both incredulous and pleased all at once.
JJ laughed. "And I said, 'yes'."
Unnecessarily, Reid pointed out to Morgan, "We're engaged."
Rossi and Morgan both got up to give the couple their best wishes. Morgan gave JJ a brief hug and then shook Reid's hand as he slapped him on the back.
"Congratulations, Kid. I have to admit, I didn't think you'd be able to pull it off….but I'm really happy for both of you."
"Thanks, Morgan. To tell you the truth, I wasn't so sure myself."
That brought a wide eyed look from JJ and laughter from the rest of the team.
Rossi gave JJ a warm embrace. "Congratulations, cara. You seem very happy."
She spoke into his ear. "I am. Very."
Rossi embraced Reid as well. As he did, he whispered into the young man's ear. "You'll be good to her, yes?"
"All of my life."
Morgan looked around at the rest of the team, who did not seem to be joining in the congratulations. "What, did all of you know already?"
Emily informed him. "I noticed as soon as I saw her this morning, and Garcia did as well. That's what we were excited about when you came in."
"Didn't you see them trying to squeeze the life out of us?" Reid felt like he'd barely survived their expressions of congratulations.
Emily was sitting close enough to the genius to whack him on the arm. "You know you loved it." Turning to Morgan, she said, "We took bets on whether you or Rossi would notice first."
"What about Hotch?" Morgan was looking at the unit chief, not believing he might have paid attention to a team member's jewelry. "Don't tell me you noticed."
"I've already offered my congratulations." The unit chief didn't elaborate on how he'd known about the engagement.
Reid and JJ looked at each other, smiling and recalling their conversation from Saturday night...
###################
In an anticlimactic move, Reid helped JJ up from the kitchen floor and they finished the dishes together, took Casey out for a walk, and put Henry to bed.
"Somehow, I don't think this is how most people celebrate their engagement." Reid sounded apologetic.
"Well, we're breaking the mold, then. I wouldn't have it any other way." JJ was snuggling against him on the sofa. She held out her hand to admire the ring again.
"Is it too small, JJ? I don't know anything about these things."
She leaned back to look at him. "Spence, the size doesn't matter. It's what it means that's important. And, to me, it's even more special that it belonged to your mother."
That seemed to trigger something in her. She jumped. "What time is it?"
"Almost eleven, why?"
"Talking about your mother reminded me that I should call my parents and tell them. But I don't want to call this late. I'll do it in the morning."
There was an odd look on Reid's face. JJ couldn't quite interpret it. She was distracted by his question. "How will we tell the team?"
"I have a feeling we're not going to have to say anything. What do you want to bet that Garcia is the first to notice? And Hotch the last."
Reid shifted in his seat. "Hotch already knows."
JJ was both surprised and confused. "Excuse me? Hotch knows?"
Reid opened and closed his mouth several times. "Hotch knows because he was with me when I went to see your parents."
Now JJ was completely at a loss. "You went to see my parents? With Hotch?" She paused to process. "When did this happen? Where was I?"
Reid picked up the hand with the ring and kissed it. "When we went out on that last case. It's why I volunteered. I knew we'd be relatively near your parents."
JJ was still not understanding. "But why did you go? Because I told you I was worried about my dad?"
The realization hit Reid suddenly. He'd known about her concern, but hadn't even considered it when he was in Pennsylvania. "JJ, I'm sorry. I completely forgot to ask him about that."
"Then, what?"
He looked a little uncomfortable. Maybe it had been a little old fashioned. "I wanted their blessing to ask you to marry me."
JJ almost laughed, but then caught herself. Here was her noble Spence, trying again to do just the right thing. "That was sweet, Spence. And probably a little challenging?" JJ knew her father well. And she remembered how intimidated Spence had been at the thought of having her parents visit and scrutinize him as her boyfriend.
"Hotch gave me a pep talk on the way there. Your dad didn't exactly make it easy for me, but he didn't chew me up, either. And he insisted your mom give her blessing as well."
JJ gave a raised brow smile to that. Maybe Dad is coming along. It's about time.
"So, they knew, but they didn't know when?"
He nodded. "So you can still surprise them with the happy news tomorrow."
#################
The following day, Sunday, JJ and Henry went to church. Reid was inching closer to accompanying them, but still not all the way there. I guess I'd better get used to it in time for the wedding.
When they returned, Reid took Henry on a long-promised visit to the Air and Space Museum, giving JJ time to herself. She intended to journal, but wanted to call her parents first. She decided on a video link call this time.
"Hi Mom, Dad. How are you?"
"We're fine, Jennifer. How are you feeling? Has it been too much for you, being back at work full time?" JJ's mother was still worried about her daughter's recovery.
"I'm fine, Mom. I just called with some news." She could see her parents exchange a knowing look.
"What is it, Pumpkin?" She idly wondered if Reid knew about her father's pet name for her.
"Well, it might not actually be news to you." And she held her left hand in view of the camera.
Her mother's hands went to her mouth. "He asked you!"
Her father was smiling. "And you said 'yes'?"
They were both happy to see the radiance of her smile, the one Reid thought of as her sunshine smile.
"He asked me, and I said 'yes'!"
"Oh, my little girl, I'm so happy for you!" Her mother was gushing. "I wish I could give you a hug over this contraption."
JJ's father was more controlled. "He seems like a very good man, Pumpkin. I can see that he makes you happy."
"He does, Dad. He loves me, and he loves Henry…and we both love him." She made sure both of her parents were paying attention to her. "This is the right thing for me….for both of us. I'm sure of it."
Her father was nodding his approval as her mother moved on to planning. "Jennifer, there's a lot to do to get ready for a wedding. Have you decided on a date?"
JJ realized she and Reid had been too busy with their household to do any wedding planning. "We haven't even talked about that, Mom. I'll have to get back to you."
"And, Dad? Thanks for leaving him in one piece."
"Ah, there wasn't enough meat on him anyway."
#############
JJ didn't think she would need her journal to remind her of the events of last night, but she wanted to put the words to paper to help her capture the moment, and process the emotions.
"It happened. I wasn't always sure it would, but it did. Spence asked me to marry him. And I, of course, said 'yes'! I'm sure that, in the annals of proposals, this won't be characterized as the most romantic. But I think that would be wrong. The man that I love more than I can express, and who loves me the same way, poured out his heart and gave it to me. Maybe I'm crazy, but the fact that he did this in the middle of our kitchen, kneeling in soap suds and being nipped by a puppy…..all of that just made the moment more powerful. It was so real. It was my chosen life partner vowing to be with me through all the messiness of a life spent together. To me, it was worth more than a room full of rose petals and champagne.
He's given me his mother's ring. It's simple, but beautiful. I so respect the woman she was, who struggled every day of her life and managed to produce the love of mine, that I am honored to wear it. And I think Spence is very pleased with that. His mother was the most important relationship he had in his life, the most influential, the most lasting…and maybe the most heartbreaking. But he loved her, and I'm glad to have a way to help him remember her.
Henry was excited too. He thinks Spence is marrying both of us. Maybe he's right. The wisdom of the four year old is hard to beat.
My parents are very happy for me. I can tell they know this is a different relationship from the one I had with Will. Oh, and Spence went and asked permission to marry me! My own personal Sir Galahad. It was so sweet of him, especially since I think he was afraid of my dad. I think it may have helped bridge that gap a bit. At least Spence made it home intact.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you." There I go, having a dialogue with my journal again. Is that normal? "I remember! I forgot to say that I remember! I remember the night Spence first told me he loved me, and our first kiss. I'm feeling whole again. No, better than whole. Being in this relationship, making plans for a future together, feels larger than life.
I am so very, very happy!"
##################
Sunday night found Henry and Casey down for the evening, and Reid and JJ in their usual spots on the sofa. She told him about her conversation with her parents.
"Mom's asking me about specific wedding plans made me think, Spence. I really think I should tell Will about this. I mean, he knew we were seeing each other, but not that we were to the point of thinking about marriage. And I feel like it would be disrespectful not to tell him."
Reid agreed with her. Will had been understanding about the fact that Reid and JJ were entering a relationship, and mature about acknowledging that his own romantic relationship with JJ had come to an end. Reid thought they should respond with the same kind of respect and openness. They would, after all, share responsibility for the little boy they all loved.
"It's been at least three months since we've heard from Will, since Fathers' Day. And I couldn't reach him when you were in the hospital."
"I think we're going to have to call his captain tomorrow to see if they can get word to him. To tell you the truth, Spence, I'm a little worried….more than a little worried, actually….that it's been so long. I'm not that familiar with deep undercover operations, but I'd always thought there would be some kind of contact."
"We'll try his captain tomorrow. If we're not satisfied, we can talk to Hotch about what else to do. Or to Morgan, actually. I think he was deep undercover for over a year before he came to the BAU. He can at least tell us whether this is unusual."
JJ kissed Reid's hand. "That would make me feel a lot better. Thanks, Spence." She gave him a grin. "Or should I say, thanks fiancé."
He gave the grin back. "You're welcome, fiancée."
#################
After the Monday morning meeting, and the celebration of the engagement, JJ and Reid tried once again to reach Will. Failing that, they tried his precinct captain.
"Captain Proulx, this is Agent Jennifer Jareau of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. I have been trying to reach Detective William LaMontagne for some time now, without success. Detective LaMontagne and I have a child together, and I would like to be able to speak with him. I understand he is undercover, but it has been over three months since we've had contact."
"Agent Jareau." JJ could hear the same New Orleans drawl she'd become used to with Will. "Yes, I see your name and phone number on Detective LaMontagne's contact list. What is it you need to speak with him about?"
JJ was a little put off by this. She didn't think it was appropriate for Will's captain to pass judgment on the urgency of her message for him. She tried to resurrect her liaison skills to facilitate the process.
"There have been many things over these past three months, Captain Proulx, including a severe injury from an automobile accident. But more than anything else, Will's son needs to hear from him. I'm concerned about the length of time he's been out of touch. Is this typical?"
It didn't take a profiler to interpret the meaning of the few seconds Captain Proulx hesitated before responding. Clearly this wasn't the way things usually went, Proulx's reply notwithstanding.
"Agent Jareau, every case is different. As you know, Detective LaMontagne has gone deep undercover. That precludes him having frequent conversations with us. When he does call in again, I'll be sure to let him know you've contacted me. But understand that he may not be able to contact you."
"Captain Proulx, are you telling me everything? Is Will in trouble?" JJ couldn't keep the concern out of her voice.
"Don't you worry about him, Agent Jareau. Everything's under control." With that, he broke the connection.
Reid had been listening in. He didn't believe the captain's word any more than JJ did. "We need to talk to Morgan."
########################
Morgan listened without interruption to the entire story….which didn't take long, as there was very little JJ and Reid actually knew.
"And he asked me to look after JJ and Henry. I felt like he was handing them over to me. Now that I look back on it, maybe he knew exactly now dangerous this assignment would be." JJ hadn't known about that conversation between Will and Reid, and was looking increasingly concerned.
"Morgan, can it be that he would be out of touch that long? That they couldn't even get a message to him when I was in the hospital?"
Both of the other agents were disconcerted by the look on Morgan's face. "JJ, when I was deep undercover, there were definitely days at a time that I couldn't break away. I couldn't have been in touch with anyone then. But only for days at a time. If it had been longer, if I couldn't be in touch with my team, they would have come for me. There's no point in an undercover operation if there's not information being passed back to law enforcement."
Morgan went on. "Are you sure the police haven't been in touch with him either? Is he working with any other agencies, and maybe communicating with them?" He looked a little uncomfortable with his next question. "Are you sure he's not just avoiding you?"
Reid and JJ exchanged a look. JJ responded. "Anything's possible, Morgan, but I don't think so. Will and I purposely parted while we were still friendly. We didn't want to let things devolve to the point that the problems in our relationship would hurt Henry."
Morgan looked back and forth from one to the other. "Then I'd say there's a problem. A big problem."