A/N: Howdy all! Sorry for the long delay. The reason is almost as bad as the proverbial "the dog ate my homework" excuse. Sigh...the cat broke my computer. Lol. Seriously, one of the cats knocked my computer off as I was working on both this story and ATF 4. Took a while to get it fixed and then, just as I did, the idiot Board of Directors at my college voted to close it and I have jumped into the fight to save it. We're still fighting the good fight but I realized I also needed my stories to clear my head after work and the horror losing the place I hold near and dear to my heart.

Sooooo, anyway, sorry for the delay but I am back at it. Still working on AFT 4 and starting the outlines for #72. Until then, enjoy this fun little story full of flashbacks into various things that helped make our ladies the women they are today. Well...in my AU at least. Lol.

Enjoy!
AR

JJ slowly stretches and opens her eyes. She smiles as she feels Emily rubbing the twins and sees the brunette grinning down at her.

"Hi," the blonde says sleepily.

"Good morning," Emily says. She brings her hand up and strokes JJ's cheek. "You're not as pale as you were yesterday."

"I feel better. Stronger," JJ states. She turns her head and kisses Emily's palm. "I'm okay, Em. All three of us are. Promise."

"I believe you."

Emily leans down and kisses her wife. Her hand goes back to rubbing the twins, who seem to be waking up. She then eases down the bed and kisses JJ's stomach.

"Let your mommy rest, guys."

JJ strokes a hand through dark locks as Emily starts to sing to their babies.

"Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on a wing
Onward! the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclouds rend the air;
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.
"Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on a wing
Onward! the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be King
Over the sea to Skye."*

By the time Emily finishes the whole song, the babies are calm once more. Emily scoots back up the bed and sees JJ's eyes filled with unshed tears. She gets alarmed.

"Are you okay? Are you hurting?"

JJ chuckles and shakes her head. "No, baby, those are good tears you see. I love you so much. I remember being pregnant with Henry and one night he was just…just using me as a bounce house. It was the first time you sang to him."

JJ rolls to her side. Her baby kicks harder.

"Damn it."

She rolls to her other side. More kicks and one or two punches.

"DAMN IT!"

She looks at the clock on the nightstand. The bright red numbers seem to taunt her. It's 2:56 a.m and she had been trying to sleep for over 3 hours. Tomorrow morning she would be standing in front of reporters looking like death warmed over if she doesn't get some sleep. Soon!

She tries her back again but the little one inside her is having too much fun doing aerobics. With a groan she gets up. Maybe a walk will ease the ache in her back and maybe, just maybe, by the time it is done the baby will be ready to sleep, too. She rubs her stomach, where she is just starting to show.

"You know, I don't know if you are a boy or a girl but from what I can tell tonight you'll be a shoe-in for the U.S. Gymnastics team."

She pulls on a sweatshirt and sweatpants and, sockless, kicks her feet into her sneakers. Grabbing her room key and cellphone, she leaves the room to wander the halls for a little while. As she gets near the vending machines, she is surprised to see Emily stepping out of the room. The blonde grins.

"I thought only pregnant women had late night cravings," she teases.

Emily smiles and holds up a roll of Tums. "That burger I had for dinner is hanging on and not letting me sleep."

"Ugh. Glad I went with salad."

"Good planning," Emily agrees. She gestures to the vending machines. "My treat. What do you need?"

"Actually I am just up because," she pats her stomach, "junior won't let me sleep and my back got to aching. Just trying to tire us both out so I can go on the news tomorrow and tell people that the ghost of an executed serial killer is not at work here."

Emily rolls her eyes. "Good luck getting that across. Sure you don't want anything?"

"No, thanks. You can head on back to bed. We'll be fine."

Emily shrugs. "I'm in no hurry. Mind a walking partner?"

JJ frowns. "You're not getting all 'JJ is pregnant so I better baby sit her' are you? I'll kick your ass if you are?"

Emily laughs. "No, I'm not. But the Tums will need a bit of time to work and I'd rather spend time with you than a lumpy mattress."

JJ giggles. "Gee, glad to know you like me more than a lumpy mattress."

"Hey, now. I also like you more than uncomfortable pumps," Emily jokes.

JJ laughs and rolls her eyes. "Ah, of course. I get that completely."

Together, the women turn and start to wander back down the hallway. They even go upstairs and wander that hall. Few words are exchanged as a companionable silence falls between them. After seeing several more floors, JJ leads Emily back to their floor.

"Think you will sleep now?" Emily asks.

JJ shrugs. "Doubt it. But now my feet are aching. Got to love swelling," she adds with a sarcastic grin.

Emily grimaces. "Ugh. Not fun. How is the lima bean?"

"Still active," JJ admits. "But you need to get to sleep."

Emily shrugs. "How about I go in there with you, give your swollen ankles a quick massage so they don't ache all night, and I sing Lima Bean a lullaby."

JJ grins and shakes her head. "Em, I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask, JJ. I'm offering."

JJ takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Well…okay. If you really don't mind."

Emily shakes her head and gestures to the door. JJ smiles and slides the key card in. She slips into the bathroom and changes into sleep shorts and an old Saints t-shirt. When she comes out Emily chuckles at the shirt.

"The Redskins will never forgive you."

JJ glances at the shirt and blushes. "It's, uh, Will's. I just…you know…"

Emily nods, her heart clenching a bit. "Yeah, I know. Lay down, Jayje."

JJ lies down and Emily pulls a chair over so she can sit and start to rub JJ's swollen feet. JJ moans happily.

"Okay, that feels damn good. Thanks for this, Em."

"No problem." Emily smiles as she watches JJ's stomach ripple, testament to the still active baby inside. "No wonder you can't sleep. She must have coffee build-up in there."

JJ rolls her eyes. "I wish." She pauses. "So, uh, you think it's a girl?"

Emily shrugs. "No idea. But I can see you with a little girl, teaching her how to play soccer and how to hit center mass with a gun every time."

JJ laughs. "Riiiight."

After a few minutes JJ's ankles are looking better but the baby is still active. Emily scoots the chair over and takes the edge of JJ's shirt.

"May I?"

JJ nods and watches as Emily lifts the shirt up just above the navel. She rubs the slight baby bump and starts to sing.

"Speed , bonnie boat, like a bird on a wing
Onward! the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclouds rend the air;
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.
"Speed , bonnie boat, like a bird on a wing
Onward! the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be King
Over the sea to Skye."*

By the time the entire song ends, the baby is still. Emily brings the shirt back down and looks up into sapphire eyes.

"Works every time."

JJ has to swallow before she can speak. Even then, her voice is low and husky. "Yeah. Good. I'll remember that when we get back to DC and he or she needs a song in the middle of the night."

Emily nods, suddenly very aware of the blonde's shapely body with very little clothing on. "Yeah," she croaks. She clears her throat. "Seriously, Jennifer, anytime the baby needs a song or…or anything you can call me. I'll be there for you."

JJ stares into dark eyes, not quite believing the desire she sees in them…but liking it more than she should. "Right. I'll remember. Promise."

The two sit silently. Unlike the companionable silences earlier there is a thrum in the air between them that makes this one more tense. Emily suddenly stands.

"Well, uh, I better…go. Long day tomorrow."

"Right. Long. Thanks again, Em."

Emily nods. "No problem, JJ. Night."

"Night, Em."

Emily hurries out the door. JJ takes a deep breath and rubs her hand over her stomach.

"She is already so good with you. She'll be a wonderful…aunt. Yes, she'll be your aunt."

JJ turns off the light, reminding herself that she loves Will and Will loves her. Her feelings for Emily were probably just hormones.

Probably.

"He slept so peacefully that night. Me, not so much as I spent the night convincing myself that you were just a friend and anything I thought I felt was just my hormones."

Emily smiles and shrugs. "I spent the night telling myself I mistook thanks for lust."

"I think that was the first time I told myself you would be a great parent," JJ reveals. "And I think that's what gave me the strength to step back and really, truly evaluate my feelings for Will and for you."

"I already knew I was head over heels for you," Emily admits. "I think that was the night I realized I was being unfair to Carla even though it took a couple more weeks before I cut things off. I think it was also the first time I considered leaving the BAU. I just wasn't sure I could handle you being a family with the baby and Will. Not when I knew how much I wanted to be with you."

JJ caresses her wife's cheek. "Thank you for not leaving. And thank you for getting your ass kicked by a cult leader."

Emily laughs. "The first one was my pleasure. The second…well, I am SURE we could have come up with a better way to finally admit our feelings for each other. I mean…seriously."

JJ giggles. "I love you, Emily Prentiss."

"And I love you, Jennifer Prentiss."

The two share a kiss then Emily regretfully gets up to get ready for work.

* Excerpt of "The Skye Boat Song", Scottish folk song. (My Mum used to sing this to me when I was a babe.)

**Case alluded to in flashback is Season 4's The Angel Maker.