A/N: This is an AU between JJ and Emily. Set after s.6 e.18 "Lauren." Also there is a lot of Italian in this fic, I only ever spoke some Italian with my Nonna, so if you speak the language well, I apologize. Anything I didn't know I had to translate online.

This will eventually be a multi fic, it will get smutty later, thus the M rating. Rate, review, whatever. Let me know what y'all think!

Translations:

French: "Hello Mister Caron. A Danish please, any kind-surprise me!"

"One moment please."

Italian: "You look so much like her, my beautiful daughter. I'm honored to be here today, I know she'd be so proud of the woman you've become."

Afghanistan 2011

"Will! I won't have this conversation again! Not only do I know that I'm doing important work here, I didn't even have a choice in the matter." JJ was at her breaking point emotionally, between being stuck in Afghanistan, having a miscarriage and nearly losing Emily, her best friend, JJ couldn't deal with her already crumbling relationship. "Will you just tell Henry I love him? And that I'll video chat soon?"

"Of course I will but Jen-"after she got an affirmative JJ wasn't interested in a circular argument, she'd already hung up. She resists the urge to smash the satellite phone into the ground for just a moment of peace.

"When will this shit show stop?!" She mutters to herself as she gears up for the day.

Paris-

"Bonjour Monsieur Caron. Un danois s'il vous plaît. N'importe quelle sorte de surprise!" The phone Emily uses for emergency contact with JJ begins to ring. With worry she looks at the baker "Un instant s'il vous plaît"

"JJ? Are you okay?"

On the other line the brunette hears a shaky sigh.

"No Em, I'm not. I can't do this anymore."

"Do what Jayje? Talk to me. What's going on?"

"Emily I can't keep up this fight with Will I can't be okay and be with him and I certainly can't be okay and be me…" JJ pauses trying to find the right words, finally she just decides to go for it, "without you. Emily you're my best friend we have gone to the ends of the earth to protect each other. How can I be okay like this? Will and I only have one thing keeping us together, Henry. I just don't know how to destroy my family without destroying my son. But I can't breathe without you. I can't breathe with Will. He's so suffocating. Emily help me. Bring the breath back to my body, Em. My lungs are burning a-and I think I love you" by the time JJ is done she is crying, and Emily can hear her hyperventilating on the other line.

"JJ take a couple deep breaths, okay?" Emily can hear JJ trying to control her breathing. "Good. Great job Jayje. I cannot have this conversation over the phone. Meet me in Stockholm, at the Grand Hôtel in 1 week. Room 534."

"I'll be there." Emily hangs up and pays for her breakfast and throws the phone away on her way out. Emily is terrified. She doesn't know when she began to fall in love with the blond, but now, all she knows is that she will do anything to make her happy.

Stockholm, Sweden. 1 week later

Emily has been pacing around the hotel suite for nearly 2 hours. Though they never dictated a time, Emily was sure JJ would be here by now. At the 2-hour 15 minute mark, she hears the click of the room door lock being accessed. Emily turns around right as JJ walks in. "Jennifer…" Emily says so breathlessly and quote she barely believes it came from her. The blond looks tired and the life that was once behind her eyes is gone.

"Emily…" JJ's tone reflects the brunettes but for a wildly different reason. Emily on the other hand looks beautiful. Her hair is falling to her shoulders, perfectly curled. Her makeup is flawless and natural looking, and she is wearing what JJ assumes is designer clothing. JJ nearly runs into the welcoming embrace of Emily. After a few moments, JJ pulls back with a slight smile, "You know it's totally unfair that I show up looking like hell on wheels and you look like-like a goddess!"

Emily laughs and runs a hand down JJ's cheek, "Jennifer, you could not look bad if you wanted to." Emily runs her hand down JJ's face, "I missed you… cheetobreath." Emily smiles and JJ's eyes soften to what they used to be, the coldness behind them evaporating.

"Emily, Will broke up with me." They are both silent for a moment.

"I'm so sorry Jayje." Emily strokes JJ's hair.

"Don't be. It's what we both wanted. He was just strong enough to do it first." Cerulean blue eyes meet warm chocolate brown eyes. They bore into each other until they both got lost in the moment. All at once blue eyes filled with tears and sorrow. "Emily, you can't leave again. I've been dismissed from my state department duties, with you gone and my experience, Hotch offered me a profiling position. I'm going to take it and then I will make it my mission to hunt him down and end his reign of terror on so many families, including our family. Do you hear me? You are not allowed to leave again. Not now, not ever. I love you Emily Prentiss, okay? I love you. So once I get this sorted, you come back to me, okay? You get to come back and be even more loved than before." Emily had held her composer for the most part but then, being held, feeling love she had never felt before, she let out a sob, and then she couldn't stop.

When she did stop her and JJ were still holding each other, sitting on the floor, not having made it past the suite entrance. "I missed all of you guys so much. I've never been a part of such a family unit. JJ, I love you. I promise, once I can come home, I will never leave you again. Never."

BAU Bullpen FBI, Quantico, Virginia 3 months later-

"I want all of you to go home and get some rest, we'll deal with reports tomorrow after the committee is caught up. Emily, can I see you in my office?" Emily gives a curt nod and follows him up the steps. Hotch shuts the door behind Emily and moves to sit behind his desk, motioning for Emily to sit adjacent to him. "We've missed you, and I cannot imagine what your former coworkers must be going through. They thought you were dead, I'm not going to sugar-coat it: it's going to be an easy reintegration, but this team needs you Emily. This ragtag family needs you."

"Hotch, I- I don't know if I can come back to work here. I took on Doyle alone because this is the first real family I have ever had. He wanted to hurt me by hurting you guys. I left because in the process of trying to keep you safe, I hurt you anyway. I don't know if I could ever live with myself if any of you got hurt because of me. I don't trust myself with you guys right now. Can I think about it?" Emily was talking fast, she was nervous, all she wanted this family, she couldn't lose them over a little mental instability.

"No." Hotch said, monotone.

Emily was thoroughly shocked, "Excuse me, sir?"

"Emily, I said no, you may not think about it. If you do, your own insecurities will run you away from us again. This team thought you died. They mourned for you. I did their grief counseling. This team has not been whole since Doyle. He tore this family apart. Not you. You deserve this team and this weird family," He actually gave one of his rare smiles, "We need you as much as you need us. Will it be easy? No, your friends are hurt, but I took the responsibility for your disappearance and I will stand by that with them. But will it be worth it? I'd stake my job on it being worth all the future heart ache."

Emily was speechless, something that was happening more and more these days. "Yes sir, I'll report her first thing next Monday." Hotch gave a curt nod and the brunette woman excused herself.

May 18, 2013-

"Emmy! Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?!" Jennifer asked walking into the dressing room.

"Every day, il mio amore" Emily moved to stop the hairdresser and stood and kissed her future wife. "Now, isn't it bad luck or something to see the bride on her wedding day?" The brunette smirked at the lively blonde.

"Not when the other bride demands it… and may or may not be already 6 mimosas in," they both laughed when Penelope barged in.

"Jennifer Jareau! I literally left the room to pee and then POOF! You were gone and I was frantic and stupid Derek had explicit instructions to not you in here, but he's too busy trying to sex up Emily's hot Italian cousin and-"

Emily stepped forward to calm her friend, once she was breathing again Emily spoke, "He's going after Sophia? God, what an idiot, everyone knows Sophia is totally not into guys like him, honestly I think Reid would have a pretty good shot with her." Garcia looked genuinely shocked at that statement, but before she could ask any follow-up's Emily continued, "Now, can you pretty please get Jen back to her dressing room, and sober her up?" Penelope nods, "Good and no more drinks until the reception please?" another nod, "We don't want pretty JJ ruining the Prentiss name now do we?" Pen shakes her head, "Mother is already under a lot pressure even though she insisted on the spectacle wedding." That last part was more to frustration at her Mother than an actual point. "Okay, go, take care of her and help her get to the end of that isle for me okay?"

Garcia mocks a salute, "Aye-aye captain. Come on Jen let's g- Uh, Em?" Emily now back in front of her stylist looks at a very puzzled blond.

"What is it Garcia?"

"She's gone." Now, Garcia expected more of a reaction but Emily just pulled out her phone and began to play a game.

"Well Pen, hide and go seek. It's her favorite drunk game. Based on how long hair and makeup should take I'd say you have 15 minutes to find her." Garcia was frozen in bewilderment, "14 minutes!" the brunette scolded lightly just enough to remind Penelope time was of the essence.

After Emily was fully ready there was a light tap at her door, "Come in!" she hollered putting in her second earring. Expecting one of her friends, she was shocked to see both her parents walking in with a smile she rarely saw on either of them, let alone on both. "Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?"

"Well Emily, it is our only daughter's wedding. Edward and I wanted to bring you a gift." Elizabeth frowns for a moment. "Oh, Edward she already has her earrings and necklace picked out. I told you to go with the bracelet."

"Lizzie, I know what you told me, but something tells me she'll want these more."

JJ was now fully sober and fully dressed. Her mother was at her feet rearranging the train of her gown. "Honey, your dress is beautiful, I just wish you had kept the original skirt."

The blond groaned at her mother, a headache forming from her previous alcohol consumption. "Mom, you know me, you know I could never pull off a princess gown." Sandy Jareau laughed and kept adjusting what used to be her own wedding gown.

Emily opened the small jewelry box her father offered her. She nearly cried when she saw its contents. Inside was her paternal grandmother's favorite jewelry set, "This was Nonna Vera's favorite pearl set…" She got as far as identifying the items before going speechless. After admiring the heirloom, she looked to her mother, "Dad was right, I'd prefer these over the hope diamond any day." her mother laughed. "Thank you so much dad. This means… so much to me."

"I know Emmy, she loved you with all her heart. When we first got assigned to Italy, I think that was the only time I saw my mother literally jump with joy. Assomigil tanto a lei, mia bellissima figlia. Sono onorato di essere qui oggi, so che sarebbe cosi'orgogliosa della donna che sei diventato.*" Edward Prentiss had always been a man of many words, but not so many emotions, but today he cried tears of joy for the happiness of his daughter.

Next Elizabeth stepped up, "Oh my dear, don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup." Emily chuckled at the usual pompous manner of her mother, but on her wedding day there was no malous, nor did it matter to Emily if there was. "Now, here is from my side of the family." The older brunette handed Emily a crystal box. Emily lifted the hand-crafted lid, and gasped. It was her great great grandmother's hair comb. A silver comb with hand placed diamonds and opals. She had only seen this in portraits of her ancestors. Emily was overwhelmed with the meaning behind this: Elizabeth Prentiss was worse than her husband with verbalizing her emotions, but giving her this family heirloom meant that she loved Emily, she loved her daughter for who she was, no matter who the younger brunette loved or how she loved, that meant nothing to the politician, all she could do was love her daughter no matter what. Elizabeth wished she had been able to express that sooner. Emily pulled both her parents into an unexpected hug.

Emily was first to be walked down the aisle. There were far more people there than she would have wanted, but her best friend was her best man, she looked at him, in his suit all dressed up for her and the love of her life. and felt surer that this was the right choice than any other thing she has done in her whole life. Morgan, sensing her nerves leaned over whispering, "Hey Princess, you doing okay?" She looked at him, and her smile said more than any words could have.

"Better than I've ever been."

When Canon in D crescendo again, her head snapped back to the end of the aisle so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. Finally, she saw her future wife round the corner, her breath was taken away and she knew she wouldn't make it out without streaking mascara. Jennifer was wearing her mother's old wedding dress with some alterations. It had a long sleeve lace bodice on top and a sleek chiffon A-line skirt.

JJ felt like Emily could have been wearing a burlap sack and she would have thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, but damn did she look fine in her dress. Emily was wearing a uniform white gown with a folded fabric off-the-shoulder top. Time slowed down for both women as brown eyes bore into blue. This was Emily's forever. Something she never thought possible. Finally Jennifer reached the altar and the minister began. The world was tuned out as both women focused on each other and lost everything else but their love.

FBI Parking Garage

Emily stepped of the elevator, on the way to her car she saw a blond leaning up against it, "Jayje, I thought you were going home?"

"Oh, dear Emmy, I wanted to ask if I could take this beauty out for a spin?" Emily cringed when the blond slapped the door of her new Audi Q5. Jennifer laughed, knowing how Emily gets about cars, she had never lived above her paygrade, only her cars did.

Seeing the joke, Emily rolled her eyes and tossed Jen her keys, "How about you just drive me home and you can take her home and just try not to crash between now and when you pick me up tomorrow?"

"Sounds good." before unlocking the car, JJ paused, "I missed that smile on you, Em."

"Me too." Emily said smiling again.

35 Minutes Later

"Oh! Jen, you missed my exit!" the older woman as clutching the 'oh shit' handle so hard that her knuckles were white, JJ wasn't used to driving a car with so much torque. JJ thought it was funny how much Emily was overreacting

"That's because we're not going to your place."

"Well where are we going?"

The blond smirked, "You'll see."

Finally, JJ pulled up to a nice-looking row house.

"Uh, Jayje?" Emily just got a hmmm? In response, "Where are we?"

"I told you in Stockholm that you didn't get to leave us again. This is the house I got after the State department. Henry is with Will this whole week. This is home. I promised I'd love you, so come home with me Emily Prentiss."

Emily felt pure love swell in her, "And I promised I'd never run again, I love you Jennifer. Let's go home." JJ leaned over and placed a sweet kiss on the brunette's lips. Their first kiss was sweet and timid, but soon heated up, just when the young blond was about to crawl over the center console, Emily broke away, "Let's go in before we ruin my new car." The laugh and slap to the arm was totally worth the chance to crack a good joke. By the time the two women were in the house, they were on each other again, they didn't even make it to the bedroom.

"Now, these lovely ladies have prepared their own vows, Jennifer, why don't you speak first?"

JJ cleared her throat to ward off the tears about to shed, "We started this crazy journey because our time apart made me realize you were the only person I was supposed to be with. We have both healed ourselves and each other through our love, that process has only made us stronger. It has only made us long harder and forgive easier. Through ups and downs, thick and thin, I will keep my first promise to you, I will always be by your side to ground you, to show you love, to keep you by my side until death do us part. I love you Emily Elizabeth Prentiss, and I look forward to the rest of our lives together."

Both women are crying now, but the Minister pushes on. "Emily?"

"Jennifer, my whole life has been me running away. I had one problem and ran into another. It was a cycle and an ugly way to live, but when I was at a low point, you came in and showed me light. I promised I would never run from you. You are my beating heart, you are my one and only. Now, I stand before friends and family because you were the only love worth baring my sole for. I will never leave your side. For now, and always, I love you Jennifer Andrea Jareau."

"Last part, I promise," the minister gives the crowd a charismatic grin, "Emily Prentiss, do you take Jennifer to be your wife, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Emily smiles with tears rolling down her face, "I do, I absolutely do."

"And Jennifer Jareau do you take Emily to be your wife, until death do you part?"

Jennifer is on the verge of sobbing so she can only choke out an "I do."

The minister smiles widely, "Then by the power vested in my by the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you wife and wife! You may now kiss the bride."

JJ grabs Emily's jaw and pulls her into a pretty intense kiss. Emily wraps her arms around her new wives waist and does a twirl, careful not to trip on the train.

Their friends and family, and political press are all cheering. Their vows were not empty promises, they both intended to follow through with every aspect. This was their beginning, and they couldn't be happier.