Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Rating: T

Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to littlegreenbottle who messaged me with a slew of ideas, so I'm going to see how many I can include in one chapter without overdosing on the angst. Let me know what you think, and happy reviewing!

JJ and Emily both sighed in relief as they rushed into the office to find no calling case, just loads of paperwork.

"Oh, Em, I've got a consult for you and Morgan in Pennsylvania. It shouldn't take too long, and it's a gorgeous day." Emily nodded and swatted Morgan playfully as she passed his desk. He clutched his baldhead and glared at her menacingly.

"I haven't had nearly enough coffee to deal with you this morning, Princess," he mused.

"Sucks to be you then," Emily muttered with a smile.

"Why would that be?"

"Because you're stuck with me all day. We get to drive to Pennsylvania and back. Let's go; get your whining ass up. "

"You hate me; it's official," Morgan called to JJ as the blonde climbed the few shorts stairs to her office.

"Hey. Don't start with me. I'm married to her. You only have to deal with her on cases," JJ teased. Emily pretended to be hurt, clutching her heart dramatically. "What are you standing around here for? If I have to go home to four rowdy kids by myself tonight because you were standing around goofing around, I'm going to personally come after you Derek Morgan." A flash of playful terror flashed vividly across the etched features of the male agent's face before he dragged his partner forcibly towards the elevator. If there was one thing he had learned in his years at the BAU, it was to never irritate a woman who carried a gun for a living. Definitely not one with JJ's perfect aim either, he mused to himself as the elevator announced its arrival to the floor with a loud ping.

It was a basic, run-of-the-mill case, and Morgan and Emily were heading back to Quantico shortly after lunch.

"So," Emily started gauging Morgan's presence.

"I know that 'so.' Nothing good ever comes from a conversation that starts out with a word in that tone of voice."

Emily smirked and completely ignored his comment. "So," she continued, "you and Garcia-what's going on?"

"Nothing is going on."

"We've got at least a two hour drive back if we don't get stuck in traffic. You're going to have to come up with something better than that, Morgan."

"Nothing is going on."

"Your godchildren know something is going on, and they aren't profilers," Emily informed him matter-of-factly.

"They don't know diddly-squat," he returned defensively. Emily raised her eyebrow questioningly at him. "No, don't you give me that face." She continued to stare at him. "Prentiss, you better wipe that look off before I wipe it off for you."

"I know there is something going on. I'm your best friend; it's only natural for you to tell me," Emily reasoned.

"You don't know squat either," Morgan laughed nervously. "What exactly do you think you know, Mrs. Smart-Ass?"

"Well, there are bets in place here. If you are both still avoiding the blatantly obvious attraction, the rest of the team… hell most of the BAU…. sees it."

"Are you kidding me? Who consists of most of the BAU?"
"Anyone with eyes, Morgan. Reid even noticed."

"Boy-genius didn't notice shit. He's as naive as a teddy bear."

"Exactly."

"Crap," Morgan muttered under his breath.

"So spill. What's going on with you two really? It's great fun to hypothesize, but you're my best friend. I want you to be happy, and you know you would be happy with her, Derek."

"Fine," he conceded stubbornly. "How long do you think we've been dating?"

"Really? You're going to make me guess. Are you eight?"

"Do you want to know or not?"

"Damn trump card. Fine. I would say two years, maybe three."

"Wrong. What was JJ's guess?"
"She thinks eight months to a year."

"Wrong. You call yourself profilers," he smirked.

"Stop being so damn cocky, and just tell me already."

"We've been dating 4 and a half years." Emily looked at him flabbergasted. Disbelieving, she attempted to string together a solid-sounding sentence. Instead it turned into a jumbled string of incoherent sounds. "Four years and six months," Morgan emphasized without turning his head to look at her.

Finally, Emily regained her speech pattern and spoke seriously, "I'm happy for you. But one question?"

"What?"
"Four years? What's taking you so long to pop the question?"

"And now we're done with this conversation. Next," Morgan vetoed. "And don't tell anyone," he said solemnly. The two would tease and nag each other all day, but in the end, they had each other's backs. They made the best partners because they were the best of friends, and Morgan knew Emily wouldn't betray his secret relationship to anyone. The rest of the ride to Quantico was filled with comfortable conversation and some singing, though Morgan would never admit to the latter.

It was late when Emily and JJ finished a decent amount of paperwork for the day. Mindlessly driving home, they travelled home in comfortable, relaxed silence. Unlocking the door, both women entered the foyer of their home startling two engrossed teenagers on the couch. Max jumped up violently, almost falling over as he stood awkwardly. Tipping his head in a polite nod, he rushed a goodbye to Abby before booking it out to his car. He couldn't get away from the house fast enough, and all three women in the living room heard the car peel out of the driveway. Abby looked around awkwardly, a bright blush creeping into her pale skin. JJ and Emily glanced at each other.

"I guess it's time we have that talk then," JJ said, referencing a previous conversation between the mothers. Emily nodded, a slight uncomfort showing in the depths of her dark, soulful eyes.

"Guys, we've had this talk before. I know about the birds and the bees and all that jazz," Abby practically whined, adjusting her clothes self-consciously.

"Well, we're going to have it again in a bit of a different context, okay?" Abby nodded her agreement; after all, she didn't have much of a choice.

Moving to sit in the dining room, the three ladies sat at one corner of the table. JJ started, "Abby, we know you're responsible, and that's not why we're talking to you about this. You have good judgment and you're a great kid." JJ looked to Emily to continue.

Emily intercepted, "But sometimes the people we like pressure us into things we aren't comfortable with. It's important that you know all the consequences of seceding to such peer pressure."
"Moms, I know. Max is a good guy; he's not going to make me do anything I don't want to do."
"It's not that he isn't a good guy. It's that you're young and he's a boy," JJ stated simply. "It's a new type of relationship and a new feeling. It's important to know what you're getting into before you go a step too far."

"This is ridiculous. I've had this conversation with you guys before. I'm not a little kid, and I'm not stupid." Abby's voice rose as she started getting defensive.

"Abby, we know you're not stupid. We want you to be conscious of the repercussions of having sex before you're ready," Emily said smoothly, feeling her anxiety rise as this conversation tumbled further and further out of control.

"What do you think of me?" Abby shrieked loudly, her voice echoing through the house. "I'm not some dumb whore who's going to open her legs for any guy who pays for dinner! I'm 15 for God's sake. " Emily tensed immediately. Hearing her daughter voice such thoughts, no matter how unknowingly hurt more than she could imagine. JJ started to say something, but Abby cut her off. "I know when I'm ready. I am my own person. Yes, I look exactly like you, and I act exactly like you both, but I am my own person. Anyway, if I have sex and I get pregnant, there are always alternative routes. Abortion is always an option. Who the hell gives a damn one way or the other? It's my body," Abby bit out, her anger dripping from each word. The brunette teenager was red-faced and out-of-breath. Each sentence further into the conversation spurred on her anger. She could only anticipate the fight that was about to occur. Each child was raised to be respectful; she knew she was out of line. That didn't matter though. She was angry, embarrassed, and defensive. She was waiting for one of her parents to say something, yell back, or punish her. Though what did happen, she never would have expected. Emily got up, grabbed her purse off the chair, and left. Abby looked at her mother's vacant seat, astounded. She looked to JJ, who sat motionlessly in the chair. Her blue eyes closed as she sent a silent prayer for Emily's sake. "Wait what just happened?" Abby asked, her voice softening slightly. "She just left."

"You are grounded- restricted phone and computer, no iPod, no TV- for two weeks. We will finish this conversation later. I'm sure you have some homework to do upstairs in your room." JJ stated Abby's punishment simply. There was no room for complaints or negotiations. Abby knew arguing would just make it worse, so she nodded and went upstairs, leaving her cell on the dining room table. She paused on the stairs, listening to the silence of the downstairs. She sat quietly on the carpeted step and contemplated the situation that had just occurred. Abby was brought out of her train of thought by JJ's voice, thick with emotion.

"Em, where are you? Please come home. I know you're hurt, and I can't imagine how hearing that from her feels. I'm worried about you. I love you…" JJ's voice trailed off as the blonde ended the call and looked around her empty house. Abby felt terrible; she sat on the steps with tears streaming down her face as she wondered why her mothers reacted the way they did. Never in my life have I ever seen Momma get so mad that she just walked out. She's the reasonable, logical one that always has a plan and manages each step carefully. She never lets emotions get the best of her, and Mommy sounds like she's about to start crying. I did that. Whatever I said hit a nerve and it's my fault my mothers are suffering, she thought.

By 10 pm, Emily was nowhere to be found. JJ called repeatedly, praying for her wife to answer. Abby glanced nervously at her watch for the fourth time in as many minutes. She stared at the blank page in front of her. Her calculus textbook called for attention; large highlighted portions reminding her of homework she needed to do. Silently, she made up her mind. Slipping quietly out of her room, downstairs, and out of the house, she quickly started the car she shared with Nate and drove off into the night.