A/N: Figured I'd write this out before I go do school stuff and then I'll write the proposal and stuff tonight or later today. But for now I need to go fill out fafsa yuck! Thank you for the reviews.

The morning of Emily's birthday JJ slipped out of bed before the sun even came up. She had a lot to get done before Emily got to work and the plan was set in motion.

"Happy Birthday Em," she whispered in Emily's ear and kissed her on the temple. JJ loved to fall asleep after Emily just so she could look at how at peace the brunette agent was and this morning was no different as JJ stood over her watching her sleep. She scribbled a note for Emily on the bedside just in case she had forgotten and quietly got ready for work.

JJ arrived at Quantico a little after her normal time to find everyone but Emily had come in early to start on their paperwork.

"Hey Jayj, Emily not come with you this morning?" Morgan asked her.

"I had to run some errands, pick up her cake which I need to get up into my office real quick and then I need to have you guys sign this card. I let her sleep in this morning, she was so exhausted from everything that happened with you guys in Nevada," JJ explained passing the card to Morgan.

"Card? Cake? Em's birthday is today? Oh crap I guess it is! I completely forgot Jayj with everything going on. Here let me grab the cake Reid can start signing something genius on her card," Morgan said as he grabbed the cake from JJ's hands. She was grateful for this because it had been hard to balance her bag, coffee, and the cake. God forbid JJ drop her coffee. The BAU had coffee and she drank it every day but nothing was the same as the coffee at the bakery she had stopped at to get the cake.

"So what did you get our birthday girl for her birthday? What's the plan after all?" Morgan asked curiously.

"Emily hates making a big deal out of her birthday but I figured around 10 or so I'll have Hotch call her into his office and we'll go set up in the conference room and surprise her. I need to let everyone else in on it before she gets here. I got her a gift card to her favorite book store. She's such a book worm. She made reservations for Il Cantori tonight which is my favorite restaurant so I'm a little confused and she said she has to leave early for an appointment," JJ explained. She was suspicious that Emily was leaving early so she'd get out of celebrating her birthday with the team which is why JJ had planned on doing it earlier especially since everyone would be busy with reports.

"She made reservations at your favorite restaurant? Hmm, that's odd. Sounds like a good birthday to me though. Emily sure does deserve it," Morgan commented. He knew how much of Emily's life she devoted to this job and how much she deserved someone like JJ. Morgan caught a glimpse of how much the team took JJ's job for granted when she was in the hospital and realized just how much she does.

"Yeah, she does. Ok, I need to get down there and explain the plan to everyone including Hotch before he gets immersed in files," JJ laughed. She knew that Hotch could get just as immersed in case files as she could when forming profile consultations for police departments. Morgan went back downstairs to sign the card and bring it to Garcia and JJ went to Hotch's office.

"Come in JJ. Good morning," he said with no smile on his face. This weekend was supposed to have been spent with Jack and Haley hadn't been happy when he was stuck in Nevada. She didn't care if one of his team members was being held hostage.

"Morning Hotch. Plan is in motion for today. I have the cake in my office if you could call her into your office around 10 or I can announce for everyone to meet me in the conference room and mention to her that you need to see her first?" JJ needed to know the best route to go with this. She had never set up a surprise birthday party for anyone before and especially not at work.

"If you just want to mention it to her, I'll probably be up here all morning in these case files. Haley is letting me have Jack tonight so I don't want to be working late. Just send her up I have some paperwork about yesterday that I need her to look over and that will be perfect. How much time do you need?" the unit chief asked looking up from his file.

"Five minutes should be enough. Thank you Hotch for letting me do this for her," JJ knew it wasn't every day that they got to throw a birthday party for a BAU agent.

"She deserves it. Especially after what happened to her this weekend. I shouldn't have sent her alone. I figured he was just a witness, what harm would it be?" Hotch said reminiscently.

"Don't blame yourself Hotch. If you had sent two, he would've just taken both of them hostage and who knows what would've happened. Thank you again sir," JJ said as she walked out of his office. She knew they were safe from cases today, everyone had reports to work on. She could probably make it so they were safe from cases all week, but she knew that soon someone would need her team again.

"JJ?" Hotch yelled after her as he got up from his desk.

"Yeah Hotch?"

"We're local cases only until you've been cleared. I hate those damn press mongrels and it's not the same with you handling it from here so I got Strauss to clear us for local cases only Virginia and DC area. If it's drivable distance you can come and just stay at the police station. Is that ok?" Hotch clearing up business before he forgot to tell her and she had come across a long distance case. JJ sighed with relief.

"Thanks Hotch. That's perfectly fine with me," JJ answered as she walked away to set up for Emily's surprise. She made her rounds to tell Rossi, Reid, and Garcia of her plans and sent a smile Emily's way when she walked in the door. The card had made its rounds and JJ would just need to get it to Hotch before 10 AM. Today, JJ had a feeling, would be a great day.