Title: Then and Now (2/?)
Author: GBR15 aka E
Pairing: JJ/Will
Rating: K
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: AU/Canon-ish. Their story was one of the ages—taking a look at past, present and future. JJ/Will.
Notes: Thank you for your review for the first chapter. I am glad some of you are enjoying it. Please let me know what you think of this new chapter—trying to move the two timelines along while integrating some canon-related items. If you have any feedback, please let me know.
Again, English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes. I did some "research" on some of the things mentioned in this chapter; so hopefully there are no glaring mistakes.
Chapter 2
then
It was a crisp Fall day in New Orleans. Inside the LaMontagne household, there was a definite hustle and bustle as everyone was getting ready for the big Thanksgiving dinner.
Manon LaMontagne had spent the better part of the last three days preparing for the occasion, making sure all the family's holiday favorites were ready. Everyone in their parish knew about what an amazing cook Manon was, and she was well known throughout these parts for her Cajun cooking and some one-of-a-kind dishes.
It was early afternoon and Manon only had a few more hours before almost 50 family and friends were due to arrive. It was crunch time now. Her two daughters, Isabelle and Juliette were buzzing around in the kitchen as well, helping their mother prepare recipes that had been handed down thru the LaMontagne and Landry households for generations.
Out back in their big yard, Will was busy with his father-moving tables around, setting up chairs and keeping an eye on the big smoker that was currently working overtime.
After making sure everything was set up; Will made his way over to the small table that was next to a well-worn double top high-pressure propane cooker. He double checked that the tank was hooked up correctly and made sure there was enough propane to last the rest of the day.
His mother made an amazing turkey with all the fixins' for Thanksgiving, but the LaMontagne-Landry's were well known for their seafood boils-crawfish, crab, and shrimp-that they had added it to their Thanksgiving traditions. Will had spent all morning cleaning and getting all the seafood ready for the boil, and just had a few more crawfish to purge before it was ready to be cooked in a few hours. He had a large cooler brimming with ice keeping all the seafood fresh and ready.
As he finished with the last crawfish, he noticed a familiar station wagon driving up their driveway. He quickly ran towards the back porch, stopping at the outdoor sink to wash up, before making his way thru the house as the doorbell rang.
Manon was already at the door by the time Will made it, taking the huge platter of vegetables and dip from Sandy. The rest of the Jareau family were right behind her-Jimmy carrying a case of beer, Allison with a cake carrier and Jennifer with a pie dish.
The Jareaus usually headed north to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, spending it with Sandy's family. But, this year they had opted to stay home as plans were made to go north for Christmas instead. When Manon found out that their neighbors would be home this Thanksgiving, she immediately invited them over and extended the invitation to Jimmy's extended family that still lived in the area. The Jareaus were more than happy to accept the invite, and looked forward to spending a great Thanksgiving with their close friends.
Sandy and her girls followed Manon into the kitchen, putting their items down. They had come over early to help out and Sandy and her girls were soon chatting and helping out in the kitchen as Jimmy joined Will Sr. out back.
Several hours later, the party was in full swing-everyone was feasting on the amazing spread that Manon put together-turkey, seafood, jambalaya, cornbread, crab cakes, green beans, sweet potatoes, stuffed mirliton just to name a few. The adults were letting loose some, and the children entertained themselves.
With a full stomach and wanting to get away from the younger kids, Will and JJ wandered down by the water after dinner and sat at the end of the dock.
"What do you want for your birthday?" JJ asked, breaking the silence, swinging her legs from the end of the dock and turning to sit crossed legged facing Will.
"You know me, I'll like anything you get me," he replied, grabbing a loose stone and throwing it out into the water.
Will's thirteenth birthday was coming up. Having a birthday that fell in between Thanksgiving and Christmas oftentimes meant that it was usually passed quietly-with a couple of friends and family for a small gathering.
Will didn't mind; he wasn't a type of guy who fancied big parties and attention thrown at him. If he had his way, he would want the day to be like any other-nothing special. He was a selfless guy; and readily went along with everyone's wishes when it came to things like this...
"I liked what you got me last year," Will said, smiling and pulling out the thin chain that he wore around his neck and showed off the alligator tooth dangling at the end.
JJ had given it to him the previous year, and he considered it his good luck charm now-he always wore it.
"I'll hafta think real hard and come up with something just as good this year," JJ smiled, leaning her head against Will's shoulder.
"You know you don't have to give me anything Jay; just being here with me is enough...I'm happy just like this," Will whispered, placing a soft kiss on top of the head of the girl who meant everything to him.
"I know-but I still want to try," JJ sighed contently, snuggling closer into Will's side and feeling him wrap his arm tightly around him.
They sat in comfortable silence; just in each other's presence.
They watched as the sun set beyond the water and heard the night creatures coming out and making noise.
"JJ! Will!"
They turned around and saw Ally, JJ's older sister, shouting from the top of the steps that led towards the dock.
"Everyone's looking for you guys! Come on! They're about to light the bonfire."
"OK! We're coming!" JJ shouted back, watching as her sister retreated back the way she came.
It was time to join the others again.
now
JJ groaned as she tossed and turned in bed, not finding a comfortable position to sleep in.
She glanced at the clock sitting next to the bed and groaned again.
2:47am.
She was dead tired; but she couldn't seem to fall asleep.
She and the team had just returned from a week-long trip to Minnesota, where they were able to apprehend a husband and wife team that were abducting small children following the death of their own child. It was one of those cases that really ate at her-all cases involving small children did-but she was extra emotional about it with the pregnancy hormones raging.
JJ considered herself as a very rational and composed person; who can "turn on" and "turn off" what she projected to the outside world-it was a skill she had developed over the years, as it was one of her coping mechanism with all the craziness she saw in her line of work. But, being pregnant was making this task much harder and she was thinking the rest of her team was going to ask her to do desk duty soon.
She glanced at the clock again.
2:49am.
Time was dragging. She sighed and decided to sit up, resting against the headboard. She reached to turn on the small light on the nightstand.
The house was completely quiet. She could have heard a pin drop.
She rested her hand on her stomach, trying to ease some of the tension she felt inside of her. She was just entering her 4th month-no one could tell she was pregnant if they saw her; but she could see and feel the tiny changes with her body.
This second time around, JJ was enjoying this pregnancy more than her first. When she was pregnant with Henry, there was still so much up in the air between her and Will that had to be worked out. Was he going to move up to Virginia? Would he give up his job in New Orleans? Ultimately, the big decisions were decided for her even—with Will choosing to give up his entire life in Louisiana for their family. She knew the huge sacrifices that Will took for her; but he would have done anything for her and his family. She was just happy that he was able to find a job with the MPD and continue with the work he loved to do.
Her first pregnancy was also stressful as it was unchartered territory for JJ. She would readily admit that she never pictured herself as a mother—but the minute that Henry was placed in her arms; she knew that maternal instinct everyone talked about was true. She would do anything for Henry and would do everything in her power to protect him. She felt the exact same way about the baby growing inside of her.
She knew some of her restlessness was due to the fact that her husband wasn't home and was working late on a gruesome homicide. She had caught the tail end of a news report as she left the BAU; and easily spotted her husband working the scene behind the reporter reporting live from the crime scene.
"Daddy will be home soon, peanut...can you settle down for me?" she whispered, rubbing her stomach and taking some deep breaths. "I know you're missing him, too."
Their marriage wasn't a conventional one in any means-they were both in jobs that were high pressure and demanding; and they knew that every time one of them left that there was always the possibility that something would happen.
But; they were dedicated to their jobs and couldn't imagine doing anything else. They were happy; and were supportive and understanding in what the other had to go thru-no one understood it more.
They were able to separate work life and home life; and while sometimes balancing the two was a challenge-especially when Henry arrived in the early years-they've been able to make it work. And, now with another baby arriving shortly, they were both thinking more and more about their family.
Feeling calmer; JJ suddenly felt a pang of hunger-a craving for something sweet. She groaned.
"Thanks baby...you really don't want me to sleep tonight, huh?" she muttered quietly with a smile.
Relenting that she wouldn't be getting any sleep soon, she swung her legs to the side of the bed and stood up. Grabbing her fluffy robe, she put it on as she made her way out of the master bedroom and padded down the hall towards the kitchen. She stopped when she passed Henry's room, smiling as she saw him fast asleep with a big smile on his face-obviously he was dreaming of something that was making him happy. She closed the door all the way, and continued down the hall.
Turning in to the kitchen, she went over to the fridge and pulled open the freezer-knowing exactly what she wanted. Her husband did a great job making sure she had all her favorites on hand, and she quickly grabbed the tub of rocky road ice cream and proceeded to make herself a generous bowl of ice cream.
She was spooning a heaping portion of dulce de leche over the ice cream-yes, it was a weird combination, but she loved it-when she could hear the small buzz of the garage door opening.
Finally, he was home.
"JJ?" Will whispered, noticing the light on in the kitchen as he entered his home from the connecting laundry room from the garage. He entered the kitchen a few steps later, smiling at the sight before him.
JJ was perched on the kitchen stool, happily eating her bowl of ice cream.
"Late night snack?" he chucked, depositing his keys on the side table and taking his jacket off and hanging it over the kitchen stool next to his wife.
"Your kid was restless tonight and wouldn't let me sleep," JJ replied, mid bite.
"My kid?" Will laughed, wrapping his arms around his wife.
JJ shrugged and smiled. "You want some?" she asked, spooning a big dollop of ice cream with the sauce.
"Of course-who doesn't love rocky road with dulce de leche?" he smiled, as JJ fed him the bite. "MMMMmmmm..."
JJ squatted him playfully at his mocking tone.
"I can't help it the peanut likes it! Plus, you should be grateful that I'm not sending you to pick something up!" she finished with a smile.
It was an on-going joke with her team that JJ's cravings were crazy and increasing in frequency. She didn't have morning sickness or any random habits-but when she craved something-whatever it was-it was best to get it to her ASAP. Will knew his wife well enough to know what she usually liked; and always made sure there was plenty of it around at home. He was not only making JJ happy by doing so; but it was also for his sanity!
"I'm glad you're home, though..." Will said, taking the empty bowl from JJ and bringing it over to the sink. "Do you get a few days off?"
"Yeah, until Tuesday. I'm looking forward to putting my feet up for a few days," JJ said, getting up from the stool and waiting for Will to finish with the dish. "How's your case?"
"It's bad, Jay...but we were able to catch a break...Sanchez and Davis are going to follow up; so I should be home this weekend unless something comes up."
"Sounds like heaven," JJ said, walking over to the bed and falling in. "I think I could spend the entire weekend in bed..." pulling the comforter over her and waiting for Will to join her.
Will ducked into the bathroom and quickly got ready for bed. It was just past 3:30am now, and he, too, was feeling the toll of a long day on the job.
Re-entering the bedroom, he saw that JJ was fast asleep, curled up on her side. Will could spend hours watching his wife sleep-she was the most beautiful woman in the world to him. Ever since he first laid eyes on her when they were kids-he couldn't imagine his life without her. They've come a long way since then, but he wouldn't change anything for the world.
He quietly crawled into their bed, easing himself behind JJ's sleeping form and wrapping his arms around her from behind her. She shifted slightly when she felt his body behind her and turned in his arms so her head was now resting on his chest.
"G'nite Willy..." JJ murmured softly, using his childhood nickname.
"G'nite Jenny..." Will smiled, echoing her sentiment while placing a kiss on her temple and holding her closer to him. He closed his eyes and felt slumber take hold...
then
Will made his way up the stairs in the Jareau household, having taken these steps hundreds of times. He made a left turn at the top of the landing, followed the hallway past the guest bedroom and home office until he reached the bedroom at the end of the hall. The door was slightly ajar, and he could hear the sniffing and soft crying coming from inside.
He knocked softly and stuck in head thru the gap in the door.
"JJ?...it's me," he said, not knowing what reaction he was going to get.
He pushed the door open a little more and decided he would go in without being invited. This wasn't time for formalities right now.
The room was dark; the blinds had been pulled down-not letting any of the bright light into the room. He knew the layout of this room well, and glanced around trying to locate where JJ was.
She was sitting in the corner of the room, with her knees pulled up to her chest quietly sobbing. She looked up when she heard his voice, and for a second she stopped sobbing.
Will quietly made his way towards her, sitting down next to her and drawing up his knees up; just like JJ.
After a few moments, JJ began to sob again, burying her head into her knees and ignoring Will.
They sat like that for what seemed like forever, until Will decided he had to say something.
"I'm sorry JJ, about what happened...I came right over when I got back..." he started, looking over at her, hoping she was listening. "I don't know what to say JJ...what can I say to make things better?"
JJ stopped sobbing for a moment and looked up at Will. Her eyes were red and he could tell she had been crying for a long time.
"Nothing. You can't do nothing for me Willy." she said, snapping at him and turning to look the other way.
Will watched JJ's reaction, his heart breaking. He knew she was hurting, but he was hoping she wouldn't react this way.
It was a few weeks before the end of the school year and everyone was getting ready for another long and sticky summer. Will was excited because he was graduating from middle school and entering high school in the fall-it was going to be weird not being in the same school as JJ; but they knew it was going to happen with Will being a year older.
He had gone with his family to visit some relatives in Breaux Bridge a few days earlier, as one of his cousins was being christened. The LaMontagnes had only been gone for a day and half when Will Sr. received a call late at night from one of his Captain's on the force.
Will watched as his father left the room and took the call on the porch. He could see the look of horror and sadness wash over his father, and knew something was happening. After he hung up the phone, he walked over to his wife and quietly told her something. Manon couldn't hide her emotions-her face turning red as she held on to her husband.
Will didn't know what was going on, but he wasn't going out sit around and wait. He walked outside and asked his parents what was wrong. They both looked at him, knowing that the news was going to have a profound impact on their son.
Allison Jareau had committed suicide earlier in the evening. His Captain who was first to the scene had called him immediately, knowing the close friendship between both families. Details were still being confirmed, but it appeared that Jimmy, Sandy and Jennifer had gone for dinner and a movie, as their eldest had stayed home saying she had a paper to write. The Jareaus had come home later in the evening and Sandy had found Allison lying in a pool of blood in her bathroom. It was obvious from the scene, and the medical examiner had confirmed that she had bled out from self-inflicted wounds.
It was too late to drive back to New Orleans that night; but the LaMontagnes returned home first thing the next morning. Will Sr. and Manon hadn't told their son all the details; but Will was smart enough to figure out what had happened-all he could think of on the ride home was that he had to get to JJ and see how she was.
He knew that Ally and JJ weren't the closest of siblings-which wasn't a huge surprise with Ally being 5 years older, but he knew that JJ looked up to her big sister and admired her greatly. He couldn't imagine what she was going thru. The LaMontagnes drove over to the Jareau's immediately, wanting to give their support. There were still cops at the house and Sandy and Jimmy talking to somebody official looking in the front yard. Will watched as his parents went over to the adults, as he quickly ducked into the house as his sisters waited by the car.
"I'm not going anywhere JJ," Will said, looking at her intently. "I know you're hurting and you don't want to talk about it...but I'm not leaving you here like this..."
JJ sniffed and stopped sobbing. It was a few minutes later before she turned to look back at Will.
"I'm here for you, just tell me what you want me to do," Will said again, taking JJ's hand and holding it tightly.
He watched as JJ scooted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes. Will wrapped his arm around his shoulder and held her close to him, resolving to do whatever he needed to help her get thru this.
They sat there for a long a time together-he wasn't sure for how long, but it felt like hours. His arms and legs started to go numb from not moving for such a long time, but he didn't want to move.
"She gave me this yesterday morning," JJ quietly whispered, breaking the deafening silence.
Will looked over, seeing JJ dangling a small charm necklace from her left hand. He recognized the necklace as something that Ally wore all the time.
"My grandmother gave this to Ally before I was born," JJ started, staring at the necklace. "I always wanted to have one, just like hers...she knew it, too..."
She stopped. Will waited for her to continue.
"Yesterday morning I was right here; finishing up some homework when she came in...she came in and sat right over there-" JJ said, waving her hand towards her unmade bed. "We talked for a little bit and she told me she was going to pick which College she was going to in the fall-which she had it narrowed between LSU and Tulane. She sounded really excited about it..."
JJ stopped, looking over at her bed like she could still see Ally sitting there.
"She asked me where you went this weekend and told me that she wished she had somebody like you in her life..."
JJ stood up from her spot and walked over to her bed, sitting down at the edge. Will joined her, clasping her hand tightly.
"She then told me that she had something for me-and then gave me her necklace. She told me she wanted me to have it now, that it would bring me good luck..."
"She gave it to you?"
"She did...she always knew that I wanted it..." JJ looked at the necklace and handed it over to Will.
"Can you help me with it?" she asked, brushing her long hair to one side.
Will took the bracelet and delicately opened the clasp and secured it around JJ's neck.
JJ glanced down at the small charm sitting on her chest and smiled slightly and squeeze Will's hand.
Will knew JJ had a long road ahead of her to reconcile what happened with her sister. He wasn't sure how long that would take or what that would entail.
But, he knew that he was going to be by her side and get her thru it. There was no other place that he wanted to be.
now
Henry glanced up from his coloring; hearing a familiar voice. He smiled a big grin when he spotted his Uncle Spence at the front desk, speaking with Miss Vicky.
"Uncle Spence!" he shouted, running over to him and throwing himself at his legs.
"Henry, how are you?" Reid asked, kneeling down to be at eye level with his godson.
"I'm good! I'm coloring, want to color too?" Henry asked, taking Reid's hand and pulling him over to the table he was working at before.
Reid smiled as he followed his godson. He didn't spend as much time as he wanted with him, so this was a nice surprise.
They were currently in between cases and the team was all catching up on the mountain of paperwork that had been backlogged over the past few months. Reid had spent all morning and afternoon catching up on said paperwork, and was starting to go bonkers. He needed a distraction, and thought a quick visit to the FBI's day care facility would do the trick.
Reid sat down next to Henry at the table, admiring his artistic interpretation.
"What are you drawing Henry?" Spence asked, watching as Henry grabbed his crayons again and continued drawing. "Is that a farm and animals?"
"It's my family, silly!" Henry laughed. "That's momma..." he said, pointing out a yellow stick figure, "that's daddy..." he continued, pointing at a big blue stick figure, "that's me..." pointing at the small green blob next to the parents, "and that's the baby!" he finished, pointing to a pink squiggly line floating in the sky.
"Pink for the baby, huh? You think you're going to have a baby sister?" Reid asked, appreciating Henry's full explanation of his drawing.
"I dunno...I'm just guessing," Henry replied, grabbing a crayon and coloring the sky red.
"You excited about the baby?" Reid asked, taking a crayon and a piece of paper and joining his godson coloring. "I know you'll make a great big brother."
"I guess?" he said, looking over at Reid. "It'll be fun to teach them everything! How to play soccer...explore the backyard...chase puppies in the park..." Henry said, starting to list off all the things he would teach his baby brother or sister.
Reid listened as Henry continued to babble on-it was a trait that Spencer loved about his godson. The ability to tell you exactly how he felt and not with a care in the world. He wished he could see the world thru Henry's eyes-the innocence, the simplicity, the wonderment of it all.
"When is the baby going to arrive?" Henry asked suddenly, interrupting listing off the things he wanted to teach.
"In a few months."
"How did the baby get inside momma?" Henry asked, realizing he didn't know the answer.
Reid paused. Scientifically, he could Henry with an adequate answer, but he didn't think that would be appropriate for a five-year-old.
"Ummm...well, you see...when a mommy and a daddy love each other..." Reid began, fishing for the right words. "…and they want to have a baby...they...ummm...they do a silly dance together and then they wait 9 months for the baby to arrive," Reid finished; satisfied his answer would be acceptable for Henry.
"A silly dance? I do those all the time!" Henry shouted, jumping up from his chair and dancing around in what would be best described as a giggling shimmy. Reid laughed as Henry continued to dance around, some of the other kids around him joining in.
Will and JJ walked up to the check-in desk of the daycare, already spotting their son jumping around and dancing with his friends and a special guest.
"Spence, I didn't realize you had such great rhythm!" JJ laughed, approaching them.
"Momma! Daddy!" Henry screeched, running over to them when he noticed they were there.
"Hi little man, what are you, Uncle Spence and everyone else doing?"
"We're silly dancing!" Henry said, saying it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh really? Why are you dancing buddy?" Will asked, loving seeing his son so care free.
"Because it's fun?" Spence said with a laugh.
"You dance too?" Henry asked, grabbing hold of his mother's hands and moving them around.
"Sure buddy!" JJ said, happily dancing with her son.
"You and daddy did a silly dance to make the baby!" Henry said, laughing as he continued to dance with his mother.
Reid saw the weird look Will and JJ had upon hearing that.
"Henry asked me where babies come from...it was the best I could do!" Reid said, holding his hands up in his defense.
"Well, I guess it was kinda like a silly dance, right?" Will said with a grin.
"Will!" JJ said, hitting him on his arm at his comment.
"It's true!" he said with a laugh.
"Well, I've been dancing for a while, so hopefully the baby will arrive sooner," Henry said, not fully understanding what the adults were implying.
"Not for another 15 more years at least buddy," Will said, picking up his hyperactive son in his arms. "And, it's time for us to go...we have to pick up Grandma at the airport," referring to his mother who was arriving from Louisiana.
"Yay! Mawmaw!" Henry said, using the affectionate Cajun name all of Manon's grandkids called her by.
Will carried Henry over to his cubby hole to get his things as JJ turned to Reid.
"I was wondering where you went when I left the bullpen," JJ said, turning to clean up the crayons that Henry was using and taking his artwork from the table.
"I needed a break from the paperwork and thought some time with Henry would be a good break."
"You should come by the house this weekend...Will's mom is visiting for a week and you know she's going to be cooking up a storm..."
"I sometimes dream about the shrimp gumbo we had last time we had a case in New Orleans," Reid said, referring to the home cooked meal the team had a few years back when they were working a case in New Orleans.
"You know what, I'm going to speak to Manon tonight-but I think it'll be nice to have a cookout at our place this weekend. I'll let everyone know tomorrow, but keep your Saturday night free, ok?" JJ said, walking with Reid towards the front entrance where Will and Henry were waiting for them.
"Sounds like a plan. Have a great night JJ, I'll see you tomorrow morning," Reid said, giving JJ a quick hug.
Henry reached over from his father's arm to give his godfather a big high-five before leaving.
Reid watched as the LaMontagne family made their way to their car-he was happy for JJ and Will. They had everything they ever wanted in a family, and he was lucky to be part of it.
Please R&R! Thanks!
