Talking to social services went better than expected to Emily. They were already struggling with limited families and one of the doctors had told them about the attachment Charlotte had to her. They agreed to a temporary fostering, and someone from their Virginia office would come to her house in a week or two to check the progress and see if it was a good fit. Emily was extremely grateful, but also panicked. She didn't have anything for a kid at her house. Her guest bedroom had a bed, closet, and dresser. Nothing else. She didn't even know if there were sheets on the guest bed. Her head started running through all the things she needed to do when her phone vibrated, forcing her out of her thoughts. She saw "Hotch" on the caller ID and picked up.

"Hey Aaron. I'm good to go to foster her. Assuming there's no problems I want to fly back with her tonight with the team if that's ok? She's not going to want to spend the night in the hospital... mmhm... well it's 1 o'clock now so we could leave around 5?... mmhm... great thank you again Hotch." She said, and hung up.

Her next call was to Garcia.

"Hellooo?" She answered, trying to contain her excitement.

"She's coming home tonight, Garcia." Emily said, with a smile.

"Ooo! I KNEW it!" She squealed "Oh Emily I'm so happy for you! I'm going to be an Aunt! She's going to love it here! And-"

"Slow down, Garcia" Emily said with a laugh. "She's been through a lot. She won't even tolerate being in the same room with any guys.. she barely trusts me." She explained.

"Oh I know, I know, I get it, but STILL!" She said

"Garcia.. I need your help" Emily said

"Anything!" She replied "how can I help?"

Emily sighed. "My house... I have a guest bedroom with nothing in it. I know we'll go shopping but there's no clothes, no sheets, seriously nothing. We're coming home tonight and-"

"Emily." Garcia said very seriously. "Is your spare key still in your back desk drawer?"

"Yes..." Emily confirmed.

"Consider it done! Don't even worry about it! When you get back tonight you'll have a room perfect for her!" She said

"Garcia I can't even begin to thank you. Really, you-"

"No time!" Garcia said "Gotta shop, talk soon!"

And with that, she hung up, leaving Emily clutching her phone smiling. She couldn't believe it, she was going to get to take Charlotte home.

Just then, a nurse came into the waiting room. "Agent?" She asked.

Emily turned towards her.

"Charlotte's starting to wake up. We think it'd be best if you're there when she does?" She asked.

"Absolutely." Emily replied following her back to Charlotte's room.

Just as she walked it, she saw Charlotte's eyes begin to flutter open, and the calm look on her face while she was sleeping was quickly replaced with a look of sheer panic as she looked around the unfamiliar surroundings.

Emily quickly walked over to her bed side, thinking it would help, but she just got more afraid with someone walking towards her. She could see her panicking and her heart rate rose so much that her monitor started beeping quickly and a nurse came back in.

"Charlotte, sweetie, take a deep breath." Emily told her

She tried to, but it was quickly replaced by more fast ones.

"That's it" Emily encouraged, "you're safe here. No one will hurt you, remember?" she said.

Her breathing calmed down enough to stop the loud beeping from the monitor, and the nurse left.

"This was going to be much, much harder than I thought. But i'm not giving up." Emily thought to herself.

She pulled a chair up next to the little bed.

"Emiwy?" She whispered

She couldn't help but smile at her adorable pronunciation of her name.

"Yeah sweetie, I'm right here." she told her

"I'm sowry." She said, looking down.

Emily's smile was replaced with a frown. "How could anyone hurt a child this badly?" she thought.

"Charlotte, sweetheart, why are you sorry?" she asked

"I cry before. I am not allowed to cry or I am a baby. I was bad and bad means punish." She recited.

"No, no honey." Emily told her. "It's ok to cry. Crying means you care. Even I cry sometimes." she told her truthfully.

"Weally?" She asked, making just a little bit of eye contact.

"Really." Emily confirmed. And no one will ever punish you like before. No one will hit you or hurt you. Understand?" she asked

Emily watched her concentrate on what she was saying and try to comprehend it. After a minute she gave a small nod. "I think so."

"So, Charlotte, there's something I have to talk to you about." Emily started. "You know that master is gone and won't hurt you, so you need somewhere to live now. And, I was thinking, maybe you could come live with me? What do you think?" She asked

Different emotions cross her face. First happiness, but that was quickly replaced by confusion, and eventually fear.

Emily sighed.

"Why?" She asked carefully.

"Because I want you to be happy. And to be loved." She explained.

"Oh" she said. She really loved being around Emily, and was even starting to feel safe with her there. But at the same time, that scared her. People who were nice always wanted something, and it was never good. So she decided to proceed cautiously with her and make sure she was good so she didn't get punished.

"Charlotte, have you ever been in an airplane?" Emily asked with a smile.

She shook her head, but Emily saw a look of excitement creep onto her face.

"We get to fly in one to go home." Emily told her

Charlotte smiled for real now and it completely transformed her- no more fear in her eyes, no more panic in her face- just a happy girl, how all 6 year olds should be. It was short lived, but Emily was determined to make that happiness permanent, not temporary.

"Tell you what" Emily said, "you get some sleep and I'm going to fill out some paperwork and make sure we're good to go home. Then we can go fly" she said with a wink.

"But I'm not tired" she quickly protested, despite her eyes drooping as she said it. "I'm sowry" she said right after.

But before Emily could assure her it was ok, she was asleep.

Emily went to work first going to the gift shop and buying a tee shirt and some sweatpants that Charlotte could wear out of there, then filling out forms from the hospital and that the social worker had left, and finally calling her team to confirm time for take off. Then she looked at her watch. If she woke Charlotte now and left for the jet, they'd get there just before the team so she could get settled in without everyone overwhelming her. Deciding this was the best plan, Emily went into her room and gently shook her shoulder. Even in her sleep, the girl flinched at the touch, but her eyes opened.

Emily saw her body tense up again and a look of panic cross her face again, until her emerald colored eyes settled on Emily. Before she could even say anything Emily watched the girl take some deep breaths like they'd practiced and calm down a little bit.

"Hey there sweetie. Glad you got some rest" Emily told her. "I got you these" she continued, holding up the gift shop clothes "to wear until we get home later."

Charlotte nodded her understanding. While she was sleeping, a nurse came and slipped her IV out so she wasn't restricted anymore.

Emily placed the clothes next to her then went to the corner and pretended to be looking at messages to give her some privacy to change. She turned back around and Charlotte was done.

"Ready to go?" She asked.

Charlotte nodded tentatively.

Emily walked over and put her arms out. This time, without hesitation, Charlotte scampered into them and with her settled on her hip, then they went out to the car.

The car ride to the jet was short and uneventful. Emily checked on Charlotte in her rearview merrier constantly, and Charlotte kept her eyes trained on the ground.

Once they got there, Emily parked the rental car and carried Charlotte to the plane, who now stuck her thumb in her mouth. After waving hello to the pilot, Emily picked a corner in the back that had a small table and a chair on either side of it. Emily strategically placed Emily on the chair facing the wall, so that she could look at Emily but not have to see the rest of the team, especially the guys who she knew would still scare her. Then she put her bag down and checked her phone. The team would be here in just a couple minutes, after they stopped by Charlotte's house and got the few things she had. She had a new message from Garcia telling her that she and JJ had finished on Charlotte's room. Emily walked back to the fridge and picked out a water bottle.

"Charlotte" she asked, "do you want something to drink? Some water or juice?"

Charlotte, not at all used to being asked if she wanted something, let alone have choices stuttered a bit saying "Ye- well, pease, I.." she looked back down at her lap, "sowry" she finished, looking upset and returning her thumb to her mouth.

Emily walked over and placed a cup of apple juice in front of her.

"You don't have to apologize" she reminded her gently.

Then, seeing that her stress level wasn't going down, pulled her stuffed rabbit from the basement out of her bag and passed it across the table to her.

Charlotte took it in her arms immediately and calmed down again.

"Thank you" she whispered, taking a sip of juice.

"You're welcome, sweetie." Emily replied.

As always, thanks for reading and all reviews are much appreciated!