Emily paces anxiously. She hears Henry getting cranky and turns to her mother-in-law, who is trying to comfort him.
"MAMA!" Henry keeps screaming.
Emily sighs. He is tired as this is his normal nap time. But there was no way JJ would have ever forgiven her for not having Henry at the airport. Emily takes a steadying breath and walks over.
"Come here, Champ," she says, holding her hands out to him.
He practically leaps into her arms. He wraps his arms around her neck and buries his face in the crook of her neck.
"I know you're tired, Little Man. But I promise I have a good reason for keeping you up right now."
She bounces him gently back and forth, soothing him as best she can. Sandy smiles.
"I notice you've yet to really tell him what's going on."
Emily grins. "I'd hate to say it and then her plane get delayed or something."
Sandy chuckles and rubs her stomach. "Ugh. I'm not sure I could handle it if that happens. I need to see her. I just…I need to see my baby."
Emily nods, smiling. "Trust me, I understand."
Once again, badges had gotten the group past security to meet the returning agents at the gate. Emily looks around to see Reid, Rossi and Morgan all pacing almost in step with each other. She grins. Over in seats, Alan plays pat-a-cake with Abby. Mark holds Shelby's hand as her foot rocks the carrier with baby Aidan inside. All are obviously as nervous as Emily and Sandy about JJ possibly getting delayed. Garcia walks up with a smile on her face.
"Their flight is still on time and Morgan's family's flight finally got off the ground in Chicago."
"Text them I will send a car for them," Emily tells her. Garcia nods and sends out the message.
"So, think your mother has gone overboard with the welcome home celebration?" Garcia asks.
Emily laughs. "Of course she has. Did you expect anything less?"
Garcia chuckles. "Not at all."
They pace a little longer until one of the airline gate agents comes over to tell them the plane is now on the ground. Emily accidently squeezes Henry too hard, waking the little boy.
"Mama bad!" he says grumpily.
She kisses his cheek. "I'm sorry, Champ. But do I have a surprise for you!"
He just grunts and puts his head back on her shoulder. Sandy chuckles.
"Want me to take him so you can hug your wife?"
Emily shakes her head. "We'll be fine. Something tells me he'll wake up and want to run to her once he hears her voice."
Sandy nods. "Hopefully."
After 5 minutes Emily has decided that the jet carrying her wife and best friend must have gotten lost on the way to the terminal. But a few minutes later the door to the tunnel opens and Emily stops her pacing, staring through the opening until the most beautiful woman in the world appears. She gets choked up.
"Henry…there's Mommy."
Henry's head snaps up. He looks around, his eyes getting wide.
"MOMMY!"
JJ bursts into tears. Henry struggles to get out of Emily's arms so she sets him down. He takes off as fast as his little legs will carry him. The gate agent turns a blind eye as he runs into the tunnel to get scooped up into JJ's arms.
"Hey, Little Man! Oh, I love you so much! I missed you so much!"
Morgan smiles, placing hand on JJ's shoulder to keep her moving so others can disembark, too. As she exits, she and her son are pulled into a hug by her wife.
"Jen," is all Emily can say.
JJ wraps an arm around her wife. "Oh, Emily."
The three stand there for a few minutes, just reveling at being in contact once more. Finally Emily leans back enough to give her wife a kiss.
"I love you, baby. Welcome home."
"I love you, too." She kisses Emily again, then kisses Henry. "I love you, too, Henry."
He places a kiss on her cheek. "Love Mommy."
"Think anyone else can have a chance for a hug?" Sandy asks through her tears.
"Mom," JJ whispers emotionally.
Emily takes a reluctant Henry as JJ is pulled into a hug by both of her parents. She is then engulfed by her brother's strong arms.
"I am so happy you're home, Stinkerbell."
JJ chuckles. "Still need to kick your butt about the nickname, Mark. But for now I'm just going to enjoy being here."
She gets hugs from Shelby and Abby next. She kneels down beside the carrier to meet her nephew face-to-face for the first time. Well, as much as she can since he is fast asleep.
"He's beautiful, Shelby."
Shelby smiles proudly as she too kneels down. "Yes, he is. Aidan Jay Jareau meet your Aunt Jayje, your namesake."
JJ turns and stares at her sister. "Are…are you serious?"
Shelby nods. "Couldn't think of a better person to name him for. But 'Jennifer' would have gotten him in trouble later in life."
JJ laughs and nods. "Yeah, probably." She pulls her sister-in-law into a hug. "I'm honored. Thank you." She leans down and kisses Aidan's forehead. "I love you already, AJ. You'll want for nothing. I promise."
JJ then stands, turning to her BAU family. "Hi, guys," she says smiling.
Hotch steps forward first, pulling her into a hug. "Welcome home, JJ. The unit isn't the same without you there."
"Thanks, Hotch."
Reid steps up next. JJ's mind flashes to the young soldier who had died in her arms. She grabs him in a strong hug.
"I am so fucking glad they didn't send you, Spence. So glad."
He smiles. "Me, too. It's definitely more a Morgan thing than mine."
JJ chuckles. "True. And if they try to send you please understand that I will have to shoot you to keep you safe, okay?"
Reid grins. "Umm…okay…I guess."
She gets a hug and kiss from Rossi and finally Garcia steps forward. The analyst checks her watch.
"Yep, your five minutes punishment is up." She grins and pulls JJ into a hug. "Welcome home, Jayje."
JJ chuckles. "Thanks, Penelope. Thank you for the pictures, the packages, the emails, the texts, and especially for watching over Emily, Henry and Rocky. I love you."
"I love you, too, Jayje. Glad I could be there for all of you. And I am even gladder you and my stud muffin are home safely."
JJ nods. "Me, too."
Across the way, Morgan had greeted everyone but left Emily for last. As he pulls her into a hug he whispers in her ear.
"We brought each other home safely. But I think Dr. Westfallen is going to be needed by both of us for a while."
Emily nods. "Anything you need. Either of you. Thank you for bringing her home safely. And thank you for getting back here safely, too. I couldn't have handled anything happening to either of you."
He kisses her cheek. "I know." He rubs Rocky. "We had to make it back for her."
Emily nods, tears in her eyes. "Yeah, you did."