A/N: Y'all, I know the adoption system does not work fast, some people wait years. But I think that's a fucked-up system. Anyway, I know it's not realistic but this a work of fiction. So you know what? In my fiction, good people get happy endings.
Emily was woken up from her nap on the couch by Graiden. "Em," He shook her shoulder. "Emily, you have a phone call." He said soothingly.
Emily slowly sat up and grabbed the house phone from him. "Hello?"
"Hey, Emily. It's Sarah Daye."
"Oh, hey. Is everything okay?" Emily asked, worried about her daughters' placement.
"Yes, I just have a case I think would fit in with your family." Sarah said, her smile was almost audible to Emily.
"Okay, what do you have?" Emily asked, sitting forward and rubbing her face.
"A 37-day old male. Safe Haven surrender. No one claimed him after the mandatory 30 day wait period. He's up for adoption."
"How has he not been placed yet?"
"When he was brought in, it was apparent he was born at home. He developed a pretty nasty umbilical cord infection. He's doing really well now, and we need to find a family for him as he's getting ready for discharge." Sarah explained.
"Okay, can I call Jen and get back to you?" Emily asked hesitantly. Her life was already hectic enough. She couldn't imagine the stress an infant would add to their life.
"Of course. Give me a call and I can tell you what hospital he's at." The way Sarah phrased it told Emily that Sarah knew Emily and JJ wouldn't say no. Emily knew her assessment was probably right.
Emily picked up her cell and called her wife. JJ picked up quickly, "Hey, baby. What's up?"
"Sarah Daye called. She has a 37-day old baby boy she wants to place with us. How does your day look?" Emily asked.
"Em? A baby?" JJ hesitated for the same reason Emily did. She finally sighed, "I am about to go on lunch, can you call her back and ask if we can meet him first?"
"Yeah. I will. I'll text you the details." Emily said before hanging up.
"Hey, Sarah." Emily began when Sarah picked up, "We were wondering if we could come by and meet him first? Before we make any decisions?"
"Of course!" Sarah said before telling Emily the hospital he was at. "He's in the NICU still, but he's doing well."
After Emily got off the phone with the social worker, she texted JJ where to meet her before she climbed in her car. Emily and JJ pulled into the hospital parking lot at the same time, so they met up before they walked in. Sarah met them outside the hospital before leading them up to the Pediatric floor.
"Okay, here is baby boy doe." Sarah introduced as she stopped next to a hospital crib.
"He doesn't have a name?" Em asked.
"Not yet." Sarah replied as she put a finger in his hand, which he immediately tightened his grasp around.
"He's so small. Henry was never this tiny." JJ remarked as she looked at his pale skin.
"When he came in, he was at least two days old. He was severely underweight, and he tested positive for THC. That explains his size. By now, he's gone through the roughest part as the chemical made its way out of his system. He's back on track with how he should be growing. He is tiny, but he's putting weight on at a healthy rate."
"Can I hold him?" Emily asked.
"Of course!"
Emily picked him up and held him close to her as she sat down in a chair nearby. She rubbed a finger down his cheek and twirled a lock of his dark, curly hair. Emily watched as his eyes fluttered open to reveal his soft grey irises as he stared at her. His brow furrowed but he didn't cry. Emily giggled as he stretched out all four of his limbs before bringing them back to his body and closing his eyes again. JJ watched the wonder flow into her wife's eyes as she kissed his forehead.
JJ's heart melted and all hesitation melted away from her. She had always wanted a big family, whatever challenge the boy posed, they could handle it. "I'll call Hotch." JJ said to Emily, who only nodded, not tearing her eyes away from the little bundle in her arms. She looked at Sarah, "When will he be ready to go home?"
"The doctor said he should be discharged tomorrow or the next day."
JJ nodded, "Okay. I'll be right back." JJ pressed a kiss to Emily's forehead before heading out. JJ called Hotch, "I need the rest of the day. Maybe tomorrow." She told him before he agreed. Then she called Garcia. "Hey Pen. Yes, we're taking him home in the next few days. We need reinforcements to get ready for him. Yep, get the boys and Tara. See if you can all sneak away early tonight. We'll group at my house. Okay, bye Pen. See you then."
JJ hung up before sitting with her wife in the nursery.
"Everything okay?" Emily asked.
"Perfect. We'll meet up with the BAU family at our house tonight." JJ sat running a hand through the boy's hair.
"Do you want to hold him?" Emily asked, her brown eyes boring into JJ's.
The blond opened her arms, "Yes, absolutely." JJ held the baby as she leaned back, and her body seemed to rock slightly of its own accord. "We need to think of a name for him."
"Okay, what about James?" Emily offered.
"I don't think Pen would be anywhere okay with that name."
Emily thought back to Jason Clarke Battle, A.K.A James Colby Bailor, "Right. Any ideas?"
JJ studied the baby for a few minutes, "I think he looks like a Benjamin."
Emily looked closer at the boy, "I think you're right. He does look like a Benjamin. While he's little we can call him Benny," JJ smiled at the nickname, "And when he's older, just Ben if he still wants a nickname."
JJ smiled, "Absolutely. Middle name? I think since Ellie got Rosalyn; his middle name should be someone close to you. Edward, maybe?"
Emily thought on it. Then a goofy smile spread across her face. "What about Morgan? Benjamin Morgan Prentiss."
JJ laughed, "You know, I think that is actually a wonderful name!"
"Well now that naming the baby is handled, I think we should take a couple pictures to show the kids this afternoon." Emily suggested.
After they picked up the kids from school, the women sat their kids down at the table. "Okay guys," Emily began. "We're going to have a new family member soon. Do you want to see a picture?"
The kids all looked a bit confused at the vague description but agreed. Emily pulled out the few pictures of their new brother.
"This," JJ started, "is your brother, Benjamin. He'll be coming home soon so we may need extra help with you guys. Do you think you're up for the challenge?"
"So, I finally get a brother?" Henry asked.
"Yep." Emily smiled.
"Yes! I have too many sisters!" He exclaimed.
The women laughed. "Me too!" Ellie agreed with Henry, as she usually did.
"He's cute." Lola added, "I love him already."
By 4:30, the whole BAU was gathered in the living room. "Okay," JJ started standing in front of her friends and family, "Spencer, you will stay here with Ellie and Henry." The blond man nodded, "Pen, Emily, you'll go to the mall and get clothes. Morgan, Lola, you'll tag along and reign them in." Pen looked offended at the implication, but Emily just shrugged and nodded. "Dave, Hotch, Tara, you'll be with me. We're getting furniture and baby essentials. We'll regroup here. We have to hurry before the stores close and we will have to get the room ready tonight as we won't know when he'll be discharged. Okay, let's go."
Emily's group wandered through baby stores. They bounced from one to another getting clothes of many sizes for now and as he grows, and plenty of socks and mittens. Morgan and Lola did reign them in, but they also realized they needed a lot for him. They finished by getting blankets, various burp rags and bibs, decorations and stuffed animals or other baby toys.
JJ's group finished later than Emily's. The had to go to the furniture store before they got to the baby store for everything else. JJ got a crib, a glider and foot stool, a changing table, a hamper, a baby swing with two directions and the seat came off into a bouncer. They got a bassinet so he could stay in their rooms for the first few months and a highchair for later. She also grabbed a wrap to hold the baby to her chest, a bath for him, and a play gym so he could start tummy time. The last thing she got was a car seat that was compatible with the stroller she had from Henry, and two car bases for it. She also knew the stroller had a hook for an attachment for another young child to stand on, so she grabbed the attachment. The next store they hit was quicker, she got diapers, wipes, baby soap and oil, pacifiers, bottles and formula. She got the most expensive one that helped prevent digestive issues.
The group met back at the house. Everyone had driven separately to the stores for more storage for the items. They took a while unloading everything. They had to move Ellie one room down so the nursery was closest to Emily and JJ's room. Then they had to take the furniture from the other room and put it into storage. With everyone helping, they got Ellie's room remade in time for the kids to go to bed. Lola stayed up and helped Penelope and Tara put away clothes and organize the closet and dresser they left in from the other furniture set. The rest of the group-built furniture and organized the room. By the time the room was done it was near midnight.
JJ leaned against Emily, "Thank you guys for all your help. We will pay you back handsomely. We just have to figure out how. I'll see you guys later this week."
The rest of the team made their way home and JJ and Emily fell asleep quickly.
With JJ staying home, Emily let her wife sleep while she got the kids to school. Emily came home and woke JJ so they could get ready to see Benjamin at the hospital. They met Sarah in the nursery.
"Good morning, ladies." Sarah chirped. "I've got the birth certificate filled out with his name. This process will be a little different, once you get him home, he's practically yours. You already have a court date set for two months from now. All we need is some signatures and the doctor said he is good to go once the paperwork is done."
"Okay," JJ nodded, "Let's get started."
Sarah took them to a nearby conference room for them to get to work. When all was done, Sarah looked to the women, "Do you have everything you need?"
Emily smiled, "Yep. Car seat is installed, we have a bag for him downstairs for when he's ready. House is fully stocked with anything he may need. We're ready."
"Great. I'll get his discharge papers while you get his stuff. Meet you back in the nursery?" Sarah asked. While they worked through the papers, she had explained that she would accompany them home to make sure they had everything in order.
"Sounds good." Emily replied before she and JJ headed back to the car.
They brought the car seat up to the nursery with the diaper bag resting in it. Emily dressed him in an outfit that said 'Baby Brother' on it before they took some pictures and strapped him in, making sure all the straps were adjusted correctly.
"Let's go home." JJ said, smiling, before she kissed Emily sweetly.
As soon as the car started to move, Benjamin woke up and started to cry. The longer they moved, the louder and shriller her got.
Emily started to become visibly worried. JJ rested a hand on her shoulder as the brunette drove. "Don't worry, baby. He's just not used to the car. He'll get used to it." JJ unbuckled and crawled over the center console, sitting by the infant. JJ soothed him quietly as he calmed down, "Good boy." She cooed.
JJ and Emily had both gotten new cars when they returned from Italy. JJ got a Volvo XC90 and Emily got an Audi Q7, both were luxury SUV's with seven seats. Now they had plenty of room for the whole family.
Soon, the family returned home. Emily pulled into the garage and turned the car off. JJ released the car seat and handed it to Emily, who had gone to the side and opened the door for her wife. JJ grabbed the diaper bag before getting out. Emily grabbed JJ's hand and they walked in together. They quietly made their way through the kitchen and to the living room. When they got there, a banner was hanging that said, 'Welcome Home!' With the banner was the BAU team, Emily's parents, JJ's parents, Sophia and Gabbie, and the kids.
Emily laughed lightly and turned the car seat around so they could see inside at the bundle. "Guys, we'd like you to meet Benjamin Morgan Prentiss," Emily introduced, emphasizing his middle name, "The newest member of our family."
Derek looked like his breath was taken away. He stepped closer to the family, "You named him after me?"
"Yep! Want to hold him?" JJ asked.
"Yes." Morgan said as JJ moved to grab the car seat from Emily before setting it down and extracting the baby and handing him to Morgan. "Hey little man." Derek cooed, slowly swaying, "I'm your Uncle D. I'll do anything for you. Just ask."
While Derek had his moment, Emily glared at her mother, "Why are my kids out of school?"
Elizabeth simply stared back, unmoved. "Who said I did this?"
Emily rolled her eyes, "Because besides me and Jen, you're the only who can pull them out of class."
Elizabeth visibly deflated, "Okay, listen. They should be here. It's for their brother! They got all their work."
JJ laughed, placing a hand on her wife's shoulder, "You're right. Thank you." JJ turned her attention to her own parents, "How did you guys get down here so fast?"
Sandy shrugged, "Oh, Elizabeth helped. She said we should be here to welcome him. Daniel and I left as soon as we found out."
Emily looked at the team, who gathered around Morgan, watching as the baby squirmed, "How did you guys all come? It's the middle of the day."
Hotch looked up and a dimple showed as he tried to suppress a smirk, "According to Strauss, we're having an offsite team building exercise."
The group laughed and the quiet party got going. There were plenty of snacks and love. By dinner time, the only people left were Sophia and Gabbie.
Gabbie looked to Emily, "Why don't I cook? You and Jen can relax some."
Emily quickly handed Benny to JJ. "Why don't I help you?" Emily followed Gabbie into the kitchen, "Gabbie what's going on?" She asked to her cousin's back.
Gabbie leant over the counter, bracing her hands on the edge. "What did you do to him?"
Emily gulped, needing no further explanation. "Gabbie, I already told you. I can't te-"
Gabbie cut off Emily, "You can't tell me. I know. That's all you've said, but Emily. He has tormented me for years and then all of a sudden, he's not. He's vanished. Emily, I really did love him, and I wouldn't wish him to be hurt or…" Gabbie trailed off, taking a deep breath, "Or even dead. Emily, I have to know. It's killing me."
Emily sighed, she understood the reasoning, "I'll tell you, but you might not like it." Emily began after pouring herself a glass of wine. She twirled the glass as she told her cousin what happened, "I had a contact from my Interpol days who owed me a favor. He gave me clearance to do whatever I needed. I had a friend track him down and I broke into his hotel room. I tied him up and took him out onto a boat the contact let me use. I threatened him, I hurt him." Emily saw the look of horror on Gabbie's face. "I didn't kill him, I just needed him scared enough to know I would follow through with every threat I made if he didn't agree to leave you alone forever. Gabbie, I had to. I have spent my life protecting those who need it. If I couldn't protect my family, then I would have lived my life, gone through so much shit, for nothing. If that was the truth, I couldn't live with myself."
Emily was so determined to explain herself; she didn't notice JJ come in carrying Benjamin as he fussed.
"I cannot fucking believe you!" JJ growled from behind Emily, who turned around, wide-eyed.
"JJ! Hold on, let me explain!" Emily pleaded.
"Gabbie, take the baby." JJ said, deceptively calm. Gabbie did so and left the room. "Emily, I don't need you to explain. You fucking went on this solo mission. You kidnapped a dangerous man, you thought about killing him in cold blood." Emily stepped forward and tried to gently touch her wife. JJ brushed her off, "No. Don't touch me! I don't even know you Emily. We promised no more secrets! This is beyond that. This is lying. You lied to me! You got Penelope to lie to me! Fuck, I can't fucking deal with this right now. I need a minute."
Emily just stood quietly as JJ rushed off. Emily heard their bedroom door slam. "Fuck!" Emily yelled, grabbing her now empty wine glass before smashing it into the kitchen tile. Emily took a minute to compose herself before she cleaned the glass shards. Emily was still trying to get her breathing back to normal when Sophia came into the kitchen. Emily watched her step around the glass before she wrapped her arms around her cousin. At first Emily struggled against the comfort, then as she relaxed into it, she cried onto Sophia's shoulder. "I fucked up, Sophie. I have never seen her so angry. I can't lose her over this."
Sophia stroked a hand down Emily's hair, "I know, Emmy. It's okay. You just need to let her be angry. Then you need to apologize. Explain to her exactly what you said to Gabbie. She was there to hear it, but by then she had heard too much and didn't want to listen to why. She only wanted to listen to the parts that supported her anger." Sophia was wise, and Emily held onto her for a moment longer.
When Emily pulled back, she had to pull herself together. She quickly made a bottle. She recognized the whimper of Ben from earlier was because he was hungry. She handed it to Sophia, asking her to take it to Gabbie. Then she set about making dinner. When that was done, she put Benjamin in his swing and watched his eyes get heavy. She got the kids to eat with her cousins as she made two plates and headed up to the bedroom.
She set a plate down on the hall table that displayed family pictures before she knocked on the door. "Jen, it's me. I brought us some dinner. I thought we could talk some."
Emily watched the door open a crack, her signal to come in. She picked up the extra plate and carried it in. She sat on the bed looking at Jennifer. Emily handed her wife the plate. The ate in silence for a few minutes before JJ sat her fork down, "How could you?" She asked, her voice dripping with vulnerability.
"Jennifer, he beat Gabbie. She was pregnant, scared, and she did the best she knew she could. She got out and tried to restart with her family. He stalked her, followed her, threatened her. You heard what I said to Gabbie. I used to only live for work, but now I have so much more to live for. Love. If I couldn't protect the ones I love, I might as well eat my gun. That's not something I can do, so I did what I could. I protected her to best of my ability. I was never going to kill him. He profiles as a narcissist who wouldn't accept anyone could not love him. He was always too in love with himself to risk going against what I said. I put my faith in the profile, as I have always done. Yes, I fucked up by keeping that from you. I didn't want you to think of me as the monster I was in that moment. I was afraid that if I told you, you'd look at me how you are now." Emily finished, her voice breaking.
"How's that?" JJ challenged.
Emily looked away, a tear slipping out, "Like I'm no better than the unsubs you hunt. The kind I used to hunt."
JJ scooted closer to Emily. The blond wrapped her arms around her wife, "I could never think of you like that. You protected your family, I get that. I just wanted you to tell me. No more secrets, that's how we lost each other in the first place, Emily. I can't lose you like that again."
Emily looked up, cupping JJ's chin with her hand, "I'm not going anywhere."
"I love you. But if you ever do that again, I will personally see to your destruction." JJ joked.
Emily laughed, "Understood." The pair shared a sweet kiss. "Should we finish dinner with our kids?"
"Yeah, that sounds nice." JJ pecked Emily's lip once more before standing. The couple joined hands as the went down to eat with their family.