When Emily gets home she is surprised the Lexus is not in the garage. She pulls out her phone and realizes she had forgotten to turn it back up after leaving the doctors office. She sees a missed call from JJ and a voicemail. She listens to the message and bites her lip. She calls her wife back.

"Hey, Em, how'd it go?"

"It…went. Rather talk about it in person. Just got to the house and got your message. Do you all need me to come back to the BAU?"

"No, I think we're about done here for the night. Garcia has a few things running that will probably work overnight then you and I can work on it some more tomorrow."

"Uh, we can?"

"Yep. This has its claws in me, Em. I have to give this poor woman answers about her son even if it means putting some time in on it this weekend. With your help I won't have to work as long."

If she had been more emotionally stable Emily would have called bullshit on that explanation. But considering the state of her mind regarding parents and children she nods in understanding.

"Yeah, I get that," Emily says.

JJ frowns, she had expected to be called for the rather lame explanation. "Uh, right. Emily, are you okay? Really?"

"Just shaky, Jen. If you don't need me back there I think I'm going to go inside, relieve Francesca for the night, and spoil the kids rotten. I need…I need them to laugh and be happy. I need to be a good mother for the night."

"Oh, Emily, baby, you are a good mother every night. They love you so much because they know how much you love them. Don't doubt that, sweetheart. Never doubt that."

Emily sighs. "Henry doubted it."

"Past tense, Emily. You took the time to show him that he is important to you and that you love him. He adores you, honey. How many days has he worn the sweater you bought him in Canada? He wears it because he loves you and it reminds him how much you love him in return."

Emily manages a smile. "He is wearing it a lot, isn't he."

"Oh, yeah. Glad it's machine washable."

Emily chuckles. "Me, too." She takes a deep breath. "Thank you, Jen. I needed this talk."

"No problem, Emily. Go in and spoil the kids. I'll let you know when we call it a night here."

"Sounds good. I love you, Jen."

"I love you, too. Bye, baby."

"Bye, Jen."

Emily hangs up, her emotions already a little steadier from that talk. Now it's time to go in and spend time with the two cutest kids in the world. Well, the two cutest so far. By the end of this year the four cutest kids in the world will be there to remind her what's important in life: Love and Family.

With a smile on her face, Emily grabs her briefcase and heads inside.


Morgan tosses the folder he'd been reading onto the table. "That's it. 27 murders she thinks her son committed. My guestimate is we're looking at probably 20 different killers."

Reid nods. "I concur."

When everyone seems on the same page, they start to set the folders in piles. Testament to the cohesion of the team, no one disputes the piles. JJ lifts up a pile that contains 2 murders.

"These scream gang hit to me. The male victim had been arrested for drug possession, struck a deal for no time, and before he could testify he and his girlfriend are killed."

Hotch nods. "Agreed. And the only reason the police aren't pressing those two is no one cares when gang-bangers kill each other. I'll make a call to a detective I know and push him to try to find justice for these two."

Rossi picks up the stack of 7 cases where they had noticed similarities in the m.o.'s. "And in these we can see a progression from hesitation in the kills to mastering his technique and enjoying the deaths." He sighs. "It could be a teenager learning as he goes."

"But to go from well-adjusted kid to murderer just because he found out information on his birth father? That doesn't make sense," Garcia points out.

"Sadly, it makes sense if he was trying to understand who he is. If he's having a crisis of identity and this is who he sees he should be, he may have started out seeing if he had the guts for it, enjoyed it, then continued to kill," JJ explains.

"I can see that," Hotch notes. He looks at Garcia. "Limit your searches to these 7 cases. Let it run overnight and shoot the information to JJ and Prentiss so they can look into it more this weekend."

"Send it to me, too," Morgan requests.

"Me, too," Reid chimes in.

Hotch glances at Rossi, who grins. The unit chief rolls his eyes. "Send it to all of us but let me stress no one is required to spend time on this if you have other plans. Any conclusions you come to, send to JJ. JJ, this is your case. Collect all the findings, figure out our next step. If you feel we need to be asked in, call me and I'll come over so you can run it down for me and I can make the appropriate calls. If it looks like it's Quinn's son, I'll go with you to speak with her."

JJ sighs in appreciation. "Thanks, Hotch, for letting us look into this."

"As you said, I have always trusted your instincts." He looks at the others. "Have a good weekend. Garcia, make sure you note your time tomorrow."

Garcia nods. "Yes, sir."

JJ grabs all the folders, making sure to keep the 7 they are certain are connected together. Garcia frowns as JJ puts them all in a box to take home.

"Why not just take the 7 we're looking into?"

JJ grins. "You really think Emily will be happy without being able to see all the cases? She'll pout."

Garcia chuckles. "Good point. I'll get here about 9. That will give everything time to finish then I can refine things with anything you or Emily or anyone tells me."

"Sounds good. Thanks, Pen. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, Jayje."

JJ finishes packing things up. Reid grabs the box, insisting on carrying it down to the Lexus for her. She smiles at him.

"Thanks, Spence."

He just smiles and nods.


When Emily walks in she takes a moment to listen to the kids and Francesca in the kitchen. She takes a steadying breath. Her house is a home. It's filled with love and respect. Her kids will never be allowed to doubt her love for them or her love for their mommy. She shrugs off her coat and tosses it over the banister and sets her briefcase down beside the steps. She smiles as she walks into the kitchen.

"Hi, guys."

"Mama!" Henry calls excitedly.

"Love Mama!" Rocky squeals happily.

Emily walks over and kisses both children on the heads. She then goes over to give Francesca a hug and kiss.

"Things are better with your father?" the nanny asks quietly.

"Very much so. He's even going to see a shrink in London as he comes to grips with some things he'd been denying to himself. As long as he can continue to work on those things he'll continue to heal himself and all of us."

"Bene, cara. I am so happy for you."

"Thanks, Francesca. So, Jen should be home in an hour or so. You want to go ahead and take off while I deal with the munchkins?"

"How about you change and eat first. Then I will call it a night."

"You drive a hard bargain, Francesca," Emily teases as she goes upstairs to pull on sleep pants and an old tee. She just wants to be comfortable tonight. When she gets back downstairs she finds a plate waiting for her at the table. "So, what do we have tonight? Toads eyes and turtle shells?"

Henry wrinkles his nose. "Eww, Mama! We gots Parm and broccoli."

"Ah, okay. Well, it's not toad eyes and turtle shells but chicken parmesan will do, I guess."

He giggles. "You silly."

She just winks at him as Francesca sits down with her dinner and the four enjoy a nice meal together.


When JJ gets home just before 8 she hears the unmistakable sounds of "Finding Nemo" playing in the living room. She tosses her coat over Emily's and sets the case box on the steps. It was just easier than bending over and setting it on the floor.

She quietly walks over to the living room and peeks in. She sees Emily has inflated the air mattress and moved the coffee table out of the way. She and the kids are in their PJ's cuddled up and watching the movie. An empty bowl of what had been popcorn and three empty juice boxes sit on the couch. JJ just watches them they giggle and laugh at the movie. Finally she steps into the room.

"Room for one more down there?"

Rocky and Henry scramble to their feet as Emily pauses the movie.

"Mommy!" The kids holler and run to her.

That greeting will just never get old for either mother. JJ gives them both a hug and kiss.

"Did you all have a good day."

"Si, Mommy. And now we camping and watching a movie," Henry explains.

"Camping? I like to camp. Think I can join you?"

"Yeah, but gots to have piggies."

JJ grins. "I think I can get my pajamas on."

"Dinner in the fridge for you, too," he tells her. "It's parm and broccoli."

"Sounds wonderful. Let me go change, then come down to eat dinner and camp with you, okay?"

Henry nods.

"Okay, Mommy," Rocky agrees.

She kisses both kids again and heads upstairs as they cuddle up with Emily once more. After changing and eating her dinner, JJ lies down on the mattress with her wife and kids. She draws her fingers through Henry's hair and smiles at the trio. She meets Emily's eyes and blows a kiss to her. Emily blows one, back. Both had needed this time for different reasons.

"Good call, Mama," JJ whispers.

"Thanks, Mommy," Emily whispers back.

They settle in for a nice movie night with their kids. JJ decides tomorrow is soon enough to discuss the case to her wife.


Saturday morning JJ wakes up alone. She notices both baby monitors are gone and can smell bacon cooking. She stretches and gets up to go to the bathroom. While in there, she pauses to stare at her profile in the mirror. She lifts her sleep shirt and runs a hand over her babies.

"Morning, Luc and Maddie. Hope you all have a wonderful day today. I love you two."

She pulls on her robe and goes down to breakfast. As she gets down the stairs she hears her wife singing along to the radio and the kids cackling with glee. She pauses on the steps to watch as Emily sways in place, her head lolled back as she howls along to the song.

"Ah- -WOOOOOOO! Werewolves of London. Ah- -WOOOOOOO!"

Each time she howls the kids erupt into more gales of laughter and the brunette is milking it for every giggle she can. JJ just shakes her head and laughs. As the song ends, she steps into the kitchen.

"Sounding good, Prentiss."

Emily grins. "Thanks, Jareau. Ooo! Great song!" she says as an old Van Morrison standard comes on. She sets the pan in her hand down and runs over to grab JJ's hand. "Moon dance with me, baby!"

JJ can only go along as Emily starts to dance with her, singing the song as they move. When they get to the chorus, Emily spins JJ away, then spins her back, wrapping her arms around her from behind as she holds JJ's back to her chest.

"Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?"

JJ giggles as Emily punctuates the sung questions with a kiss to JJ's ear. For their part, the kids are laughing, thinking their mothers are being silly. Emily spins JJ once more and stares into her eyes, singing a couple more lines of the song.

"And when you come my heart will be waiting
To make sure that you're never alone.
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear,
There and then I will make you my own."

JJ brings her hand to Emily cheek as they sway. "You've already made me your own. Forever, Emily. I love you."

"I love you, too."

The kids are still giggling as their mothers exchange a small kiss. Then Henry's voice calls out.

"Eww! Cooties!"

"Coots! Coots!" Rocky chimes in.

Emily shakes her head and leans her forehead against her wife's. "I'm going to throttle his Godmother."

"Right there with ya," JJ agrees with a smile.

Emily dances JJ over to the table and helps her sit down. "Now, bacon is ready. Time to get the eggs and toast going. Good timing, Mommy."

"Sounds like it."

Emily goes back to the stove to start the next parts of the meal for her wife and kids. While the eggs are cooking she pours juice and milk for everyone and brings the glasses to the table.

"Bring me the butter and I'll fix the toast as it cooks," JJ offers.

"Will do," Emily replies.

Soon the family of four is enjoying a nice breakfast together.

And JJ is wondering when she'll break the spell and tell Emily about the case now waiting up in the office for her perusal.