AN: I know the characters, especially Ashley, are out of character, but you have to remember some of them lived different lives since this is an AU.

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Warnings: Mentions of abuse. Nothing described in great detail.

Spoilers: Lauren

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Emily's POV

I was not awaiting Mom's arrival from work. Mom could be extremely stern and persuasive when she need to be. I knew the moment the words were out of her mouth our talk about 'nothing' would happen as soon as she got home. While I was awaiting my 'interrogation' Ash and I were playing with the kids in their temporary room.

"What do you think Declan?" Ashley asked as she placed the last lego on in her design.

I wasn't a hundred percent sure what she was trying to make, but she seemed happy with her abstract creation. Even though Ashley spent a lot of time working her way to her ultimate goal, the FBI, she'd always been a kid at heart.

Declan apparently didn't know what she made either as he just shrugged and quietly continued working on his own design. Edie was sitting in my lap shaking a colorful felt ball that Dad had pulled out of a tub of old toys he said Gwen didn't use anymore.

"So Dad's team didn't know about us?" I asked.

"Agent Hotch knows I'm one of the Rossi girls; the others don't. I'd met Agent Jareau a few times, but she didn't know I was the daughter of her bosses," Ashley told me as she started the process of prying the legos of the wall so she could start over.

I had missed that; sitting criss-crossed on the floor, talking, and doing an activity Ash enjoyed way more than me. I was taken back to many Friday and Saturday nights during high school where all I cared about was spending time with her. Freshman year was my rebellious year, but after that I spent my free time teaching a little Ash all the good things I knew.

"I take it the team didn't know Mom and Dad were together either?" I asked remembering Garcia's shock.

"Hotch knew," Came Ashley's simple reply.

I glanced out the window; waiting. "How's Joy?" I asked debating whether the answer was worth the question.

Joy and I were closer in age, but Ash and I had always had the better sister bound. I think it had a lot to do with us living in the same house together for years.

"Working on a new book last time I heard," Ashley replied.

"What happened this time?" I asked picking up on the annoyed tone in her voice.

Joy and I got along okay, but her and Ash were like putting a tornado in a bottle with a small town. I still remembered the summer Joy spent with us. Joy was sixteen, I was fourteen, and Ashley was only three. Ash got into Joy's make-up right before she had a date with one of the neighborhood boys. I don't think she's ever completely forgiven Ashley.

Ashley huffed throwing her arms to her side. "I don't even know anymore. Our mediator has been gone for the last three years so..."

I frowned at the sudden change of mood. "I'm sorry," I repeated for the hundredth time since my return.

Ashley turned to me with a look of surprise. "I didn't mean it like that," She paused, "I'm just glad my big sister is back."

"And I'm glad to be back," I told her just as we heard Mom's car pull up.

"Do you want me to watch them while you talk?" Ashley asked reading my mind.

I handed Edie to Ashley. Declan turned around as I got up to leave. "Where you going Emmy?"

"I'm just going downstairs for a bit. Ash is going to stay and play with you," I told him.

I could tell by the look in his eyes he wanted to argue, but instead he returned to his legos. Declan had always been obedient. It was a quality that wasn't the best when your father was a bad man, but it was also a necessity.

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I was curled up in the armchair while Mom and Dad sat across from me on the love seat.

"Would you like to tell your father about what I saw or should I?" Mom asked me.

"Jumping in feet first I see," I forced with humor realizing she wasn't taking this slow at all.

Mom's eyes softened. "I know you Em, you bottle things up. Your bottle can only hold so much before it breaks. I want to make sure you're okay."

"Bella," Dad whispered using the same look at had seen many times growing up.

I realized there was no reason to fight; they were going to get it out of me anyway. It, however, was my choice if it was the hard or easy way. I decided after everything I wanted the easy way. Standing up I slowly pulled my shirt up revealing the scar mom had seen and a few bruises. Dad stood up to get a better look.

"What happened?" He asked stepping closer, but still giving me space.

"A table leg is what happened," I told him coldly.

"And the bruises?" Mom asked from the couch.

There was no telling where each one came from: fist, feet, walls.

"Various things," I replied.

Dad took another look at my side, "Anything else?"

I pulled my shirt back down and pushed my sleeves up. "That's from a mirror," I told them showing the jagged scar on my right arm.

"Is that it?" Dad repeated.

I debating not showing them the last thing. Mom could tell I was hesitating and sent me a soft, pointed look. "It's okay sweetie."

I slowly pulled my shirt back up high enough to reveal the brand on the left side of my chest.

Mom gasped and Dad looked angry. "Who did all this Em?"

I pulled my shirt back down. "I was undercover. The kind of undercover that requires getting close to your target."

"How long?" Dad asked.

"Three years," I whispered curling back up in the chair.

Dad returned to the love seat and took Mom's hand. "Did that happen the whole time?" Dad asked.

"He stopped while I was pregnant," I replied. I remembered those nine months I wasn't allowed an ounce of privacy. Ian wouldn't let me go anywhere alone. "He may have been a bad man, but he loves his children."

"So Declan and Edie are his?" Mom questioned.

I nodded. I could tell Dad was becoming angrier by the minute.

"Why didn't you leave? No assignment is worth what he did," Dad told me.

I couldn't tell them it was because I loved him, though that wasn't completely false. I also stayed because my assignment wasn't completely finished. This was my suitable, truthful answer, "There were good, innocent people involved. I had to get them out safely."

Mom gave me a tiny smile as she tightened her hold on Dad's hand. "And did you?"

I allowed my first true smile other than when I saw Ashley. "Yeah"

"Do you have permanent custody of Declan?" Dad asked giving me a break from the darker topic.

"Temporary at the moment, but the goal is to adopt him. Clyde pulled a few strings to get temporary, so quickly and being able to come to the states," I explained. I would never understand Clyde's connections.

Mom got up and slowly walked towards me. "We will be here for whatever you need?"

I could not believing the words I was fixing to say. "Can we start with another hug?"

Mom nodded as I stood up. She opened her arms for me to step into. "Come here sweetie."

Dad joins us and I allow myself to forget all my problems for a brief moment.

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JJ's POV

I could hear them before I even made it to the front door. By then the rain had stopped and I didn't mind the few seconds between my knock and Julie opening the door. Julie had been watching Henry for me since he was a few months old. Now she was the only sitter outside of the team I trusted.

"Hey," Julie greeted me way to energetic for someone who had been cooped up inside with toddlers all day.

I returned a smile as I stepped inside. "How were they today?"

"We successfully completed a very important space mission, met a sweet mouse who we baked cookies for, and then we built a fort to protect the King and Queen," Julie replied in the same way Henry would probably tell me later.

Julie was one of those rare people who was wise beyond her years, but still held on to a childlike excitement.

"Did you save any cookies?" I asked.

Julie turned to me with a laugh. "Of course we saved some for Mama Bear. The mouse would've gotten a tummy ache if he ate all of them."

I didn't get a chance to reply before a small body made contact with my legs. "Jenny," Gwen said stumbling over the 'J' in her excitement.

Bending down I picked up the almost two year old up and waited for the second impact. "Mommy!" Henry shrieked running into my legs.

I scooped Henry up and situated him on my other hip. "Hey buddy."

"I am the King," He stated pointing to the crown on his head.

Gwen pointed to her own crown. "Me too."

"Are you ready to go home my Majesties?" I asked.

They both nodded and I sat them down to gather their things. Julie handed me a container of their cookies.

"Thank you," I told her.

"No problem," She replied with a smile.

The kid's returned with their bags. Gwen's bag, a gift from Aunt Penny, was almost as big as her. "Tell Julie bye," I instructed taking one of Gwen's hands in my own.

"Bye Julie," Henry told her with a small hug.

Gwen waved. "Bye Bye."

"See you tomorrow," I added before leaving.

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Unidentified POV

I watched JJ pick up the kids from Julie's house and couldn't help the familiar feeling of guilt. The smile on Gwen's face settled it and increased it at the same time. On the one hand she had a chance for a better life, but on the other hand I was no longer part of that life.

Time passed so slowly. Days spent observing ran together in my mind. I remembered back to that morning and the mysterious woman. Maybe, just maybe she would be what I had been waiting for. It was a long shot, but don't the long shots always have the biggest prize?