Sorry about the delay: my laptop was in dire need of a tune-up!

Emily woke up feeling better. Going to see her parents had been the wisest choice. It had been awhile, and they loved to take care of her. It had been awhile since she'd experienced this.

"Are you quite sure that we can't persuade you to skip work today?" Elizabeth was asking. "You have a brilliant eye for curios."

Elizabeth's offspring arched an eyebrow. "Only because I've seen Indiana Jones an unhealthy amount of times, mother. Everybody would notice if I didn't show up today."

"Then will you at least come and have another meal here soon? We'll cook you up something big and proper."

Emily could never say no to her parents' home cooking. "We both know that I already will. Just name the time, and I'll be there."

"Perfect."

Fitzhugh sidled up to Emily and tucked a drawstring bag into his daughter's purse. "These are some things for you that we collected for you at the convention. Sandy also made a contribution."

"Thanks, dad."

Fitzhugh added a second little bag. "These are presents for JJ."

"I'll give them to her when she comes in to the office."

Elizabeth buttoned a button on Emily's jacket she had missed. "Are you going to order another car before you leave?"

Emily felt like she was back in high school. "Yes, and I'm going to take it to the train station because there's a train that goes in to Quantico from there. That station even has a shuttle that goes right to the BAU building."

"And how do you know all that? You've been driving since you were eighteen."

"Spencer has never quite realized that I've remembered all of his rambles from over the y—woah!"

Emily jumped when she felt her phone vibrating with an alert in her pocket. She checked the screen to see a notification from her banking app. Her father had sent her money.

Emily looked over at him to see that he was putting his phone away. "Dad? What was that for?"

"Money to get you to and from work." Fitzhugh said cheerfully.

"Thank y—oh, geez!"

Emily almost dropped her phone in surprise as it vibrated again; the sensation was very strong. This new alert was nearly identical to the other one. This transaction had been courtesy of her mother. More into her bank account.

"Lunch money." Elizabeth explained. "Now order that car so you're not late."

Things were noisier at the LaMontagne house.

When breakfast had wrapped up, Will called his wife out on something she kept doing.

"Babe, that's the third time you've checked your phone before work. You expecting a case?"

JJ pocketed her phone. "There will always be another case, I'm here now. I promise. Do you want to tell the boys...?"

"Yes, I do." Will said. "How about now?"

From the kitchen island, Henry piped up, "What about now?"

He recognized that his parents were speaking in code, and this interested him a great deal. They always had fun surprises. Even Michael gave Will and JJ all the attention he could muster.

JJ took the initiative. "We found out yesterday that there are two babies growing inside me right now."

"Wait, really?" Henry gasped. "Michael is going to be a big brother? I'm going to be a big brother again?"

"Yep, and I'm very pleased that you're so excited."

"Henry, do you know what 'identical' means?" Will asked him.

Henry gasped again. "My sisters are going to be so cute! They'll also be twins, and look the same!"

"Hey, now—you could be getting more brothers!"

But Henry didn't hear Will. He was on Cloud Nine, and heading off to the living room to consult his Britannica encyclopedias about twins. This just left Michael.

The boy slid out of his chair and walked up to JJ, but didn't say anything. The expression on his face told his parents that he was trying to put it all together.

"What do you think?" JJ asked of her middle child.

Cautiously, Michael touched one of his little hands to JJ's midsection. "There's two babies there? Now?"

"That's right! You're going to be a big brother!"

Michael definitely understood these words and he threw his arms around JJ in a hug. "Love, love, love!"

JJ's heart immediately exploded with surprise and joy at Michael's reaction. It could have been a lot worse.

She looked to Will, standing beside her chair. "I love you."

He kissed her. "I love you, too."

Just after they saw Henry off on the school bus, JJ received a phone call. The caller was definitely not someone she was accustomed to hearing from at this time of day.

"Matt? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." he said reassuringly. "Have you left for work yet?"

"No." JJ confessed.

"Would you like to go in together, JJ? You actually live right by a bus line that goes to the train station."

"I do?"

Matt laughed. "How have you been in D.C. for your entire FBI career, but you haven't figured out public transportation?"

"I had to learn to drive at sixteen because I lived on a farm in the boondocks. I needed to get to school somehow." JJ protested. "Let me guess—New York City?"

"Born and raised." Matt said in amusement. "So do you want to go in to work with me? I can walk over."

"Okay. Let's do it." JJ decided. "See you in a bit."

Matt echoed the last part back before hanging up.

Will was hard pressed to contain his amusement. "I'm shocked that you didn't tell him the first thing you learned to drive was a tractor when you were fourteen, or that your first actual vehicle was a pickup truck by the name of Black Pearl."

JJ rolled her eyes. "Other than you and my parents, only Emily knows those things about me. We are not bringing them up until Henry learns to drive. Deal?"

"Deal. Have you heard from Emily today?"

"No. I'm choosing to take that as a good sign."

Will wanted to know just what had JJ so preoccupied, but he also didn't want her to fall down a rabbit hole. "What was Matt calling about?"

"Public transportation seems to be his preferred method of travel, so he played the little brother card and asked if I would like to ride to work with him."

"What a nice guy. This is what you were agreeing to, then?"

"It is. Matt's hoofing it over from Halifax Gardens as we speak."

"Got it." Will glanced at Michael, comfortable in his arms now, and planted a kiss on his crown. "Time to get this guy ready for the nanny. Come on."

JJ was fast to greet Matt when he finally arrived. She was the only one left. Everyone else had gone for the day.

"Matt! You're here!"

"In the flesh." he said from the top step at her door. "Everything okay?"

"We told the kids about the twins, and they're ecstatic, but now I just have the jitters for some reason. I'm not sure why." JJ told him. "Will you hold this?"

Matt took the clear umbrella she'd passed him, since it was yet raining, and watched JJ lock up her house.

"Okay." JJ joined him, took her umbrella and opened it, positioning it in place just as the rain increased. "Where do we go from here?"

They made fun conversation with each other all to their building in Quantico.

When JJ made it to her desk, she was met by an usual sight.

Flowers. Lots of them.

They also caught Tara's eyes as she passed by.

So she stood next to JJ, indicating a vase with a bounty of yellow roses. "These can symbolize friendship or a new beginning."

JJ's heart skipped a beat. "Does the tag say they're from Hannah?"

Tara checked. "Yes. How did you know?"

"We became friends yesterday, and it looks like she really meant it about starting fresh. Hannah wants a friendship with me."

"That's incredible progress. Who are those chrysanthemums from?"

JJ had picked up a vase in front of her without realizing what was in them.

She examined the card sticking out on a plastic pole. "August and Aurora."

Tara grinned slyly. "Chrysanthemums mean happiness."

JJ began to wonder when or where Tara had learned about the language of all things flowers. "August and Aurora feel that I make them happy."

Tara rubbed JJ's back. "It makes me happy, too."

A new voice joined them. "What are we doing?"

Penelope had walked over.

"We're checking out these flowers that I've been sent." JJ said. "Hannah sent the roses. My brother and his wife chose the chrysanthemums."

Penelope investigated a vase of baby's breath. "According to this tag, these were sent by Katherine and Olivia."

Tara passed JJ a vase of asters. "Check these out. They represent patience."

"They do." JJ confirmed. "They're my mom's most favorite flower, so they'll be from her."

Tara checked the tag. JJ was right.

"Lavender is a plant that attracts butterflies." Penelope was examining yet another vase. "I fell into a bush of the stuff when I was five, and butterflies followed me for a week."

JJ's heart caught in her throat. "The lavender will be from my dad."

"That's what the tag said." Penelope set the vase and moved closer to her friend. "Jayje? You okay?"

She nodded. "When I was a kid, my dad would always plant lavender for me because it attracts butterflies. He even planted them by the bush. When the weather was warm, I would wander the farm property with pens and field books, cataloguing the different species I found. There were a lot. I have the books in the attic at home…"

"That's a really precious memory."

"Mhm." JJ exhaled shakily. "I just didn't expect something so…"

She couldn't think of the word.

"Nice?" Penelope suggested. "Personable?"

"Both of those."

Tara presented her with a final vase. "These are from Emily's parents. I know for a fact that these flowers represent strength. Why don't you read the note attached?"

It bore a short but meaningful message. 'If you ever need anything, or parents to talk with, we are here for you. —Fitzhugh & Elizabeth'

Emily's parents had sent JJ a vase of magnolias, in full bloom.

Tara set them down. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I am, Tara. Thank you." JJ held on to the note. "Is Emily here yet?"

"Yes. She came in early." Tara motioned towards Emily's office on the catwalk. The door was shut, and the blinds were drawn. "She's been stewing."

"Oh, no," was all JJ could muster because she had a feeling that she knew exactly what was causing her best friend's bad mood.

DING!

JJ's phone chimed with a text from Emily. Have you arrived?

I have. One moment.

JJ hit the send button and looked at her companions. "I'm going to go check on her. Be cool, okay? No gossip."

Penelope saluted. "You got it."

Tara bobbed her head. "Message received."

JJ crossed the room and knocked on Emily's door.

"It's me." she called.

Emily's reply came almost immediately. "Come in!"

JJ entered the office, and nearly staggered. Emily had also received a vast amount of bouquets. JJ counted rather a few vases, placed strategically around the room. Offsetting the mood was Emily. 'Stewing' was definitely the proper word for her expression just then.

"Wow, Em." JJ sat in the chair opposite her. "You got flowers, too?"

She spoke like she hadn't made a sound in awhile. "I signed for everything you received, only to find that what was left on the cart was meant for me."

"When did you get here?" JJ wanted to know.

"Seven-thirty. I caught the train in, and rode the shuttle." Emily elaborated. "I even ended up riding with Spencer I was on the same route he takes every day."

"Does everybody know to how to utilize public transport, except for me?!" JJ exclaimed.

Emily actually laughed. "What's the matter with you?"

JJ leaned back in her chair. "Matt gave me a lift home last night because he hadn't left yet. He also actually guessed about the babies."

"The man does have eagle eyes," Emily remarked. "But that must be a by-product of having four small kids. How did you get to work today?"

"Matt called me at home, offering to show me the ropes of the morning commute he makes almost every day. I said yes. The stop we needed was at the end of my block, anyway. Getting here was actually fun."

Emily's mood lifted very slightly. "That's great. Have Henry and Michael been informed of the twins yet?"

"Yes. They're both in orbit."

"Woah. What exactly did they do?"

"Henry examined his encyclopedias to look up twins. Once Michael understood what was happening, he kept hugging my belly and kissing it."

"I wish I could have seen that." Emily swiped at her eyes as a few tears fell. "I love your sons, and they're not even mine."

JJ gave her a kind look. "You've always been on the very short list of people they worship. Will and I are on that list, and so are Penelope and Spencer. You're the only other person."

These words tugged so hard at Emily's heartstrings that she felt like they were being yanked on. "Jennifer, do you ever have days when it feels like there's a storm cloud above your head?"

"Every now and then. Do you have one right now?"

"Hell, yes. I'm having Monday-type problems on a Tuesday."

JJ's next words came with extreme caution. "Emelise, this is Wednesday."

Emily groaned as her storm cloud grew. "I forgot!"

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"Yes, but it's all going to sound so absurd."

"Michael can say 'irregular,' and he's obsessed with Henry's Rubik's Cube. He can even solve it. My boy won't be four until July." JJ deadpanned. "Try me."

"My building is being tented for termites. It also has to be fumigated."

JJ wrinkled the bridge of her nose. "Bleh. What's the word on how long everything will take to complete?"

"Two weeks, barring any complications. Pest control wants to be thorough. " Emily groused. "The building is also old, so I really wouldn't be surprised if anything prolonged it by even a day."

"My fingers are crossed for speedy procedures."

"Thanks, Jayje. The super absurd part is that I got all this in a call from the city housing commission just as I was entering the building here. Guess what?"

"What?" JJ said with trepidation.

"The owner of my building is apparently way behind on taxes, which means in conclusion that the property has actually been seized for foreclosure." Emily rubbed her temples. "I have until the end of the month to be out. There's even a monetary incentive if anyone moves out altogether before everything begins in seventy-two hours."

This was the first week in February.

JJ thought fast. She knew Emily was wealthy, but she also needed to put the scene of her break-up behind her as fast as possible.

"We'll make it work. What do you want right now?"

"To sleep. Or cuddle with Henry and Michael. But no—I'm going to be homeless if I don't act fast. There's also the matter of having an elite FBI sector to run."

"We're going to make it all work. We will. Did you talk to Andrew?"

"Yes. Uh… he's being transferred to London for good on Monday. There was also a proposal that tanked." Emily touched a hand to a manila envelope in front of her. "Plus, this is is full of paperwork about custody severance."

JJ conveyed shock. "Fill in the blanks. Now."

Emily told her everything about the breakup. JJ's heart broke for her.

"I'm very sorry." JJ said when Emily finished. "Neither you nor the baby deserve someone like that. A door has closed, but a window is opening somewhere else. There will be a new person. Someone even better."

"I just hope that whoever the next person is," Emily huffed. "They're the absolute love of my life."

JJ reached over and patted Emily's hand. "Will and I are here for you, whatever you need. Have you told your parents yet?"

"Yes, and I told them everything I've told you. I've even received their full support." Emily softened up. "They are my parents, but we're actually friends."

"That's amazing. Do you have any idea of where you want to live yet?"

"No, and beggars can't be choosers, but it's just too damn early to deal with all of this. My parents would gladly let me stay…"

JJ held back a laugh. "But they're your parents?"

"Exactly."

"Then you'll stay with us. Will would say yes because he cares for you as much as I do. We also have the space."

This was true. The LaMontagnes lived in a very large Colonial-style house.

"Would I have my own bathroom?" Emily joked.

JJ answered her with a totally straight over face. "Yes."

Emily sobered up. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay you. This is incredibly generous."

"All that matters to me is that you're happy and that you have a safe place to unwind. I'll call Will in a little while."

JJ indicated the all the flowers.

"My dad sent me the lavender."

"So he does care. Who sent the magnolias?"

"They were from your parents, as was this."

JJ handed her partner the note.

Emily read it and smiled more. "My parents told me last night that they've always had a feeling about how close the two of us are. They really value close bonds between two people because they've been best friends since 1958."

"What?" JJ sputtered. "But they had to have been…"

She tried to do the math.

"Ten." Emily snickered. "My parents were ten."

"Henry would be dazzled by that. Zara King—Primrose's eldest—is his best friend, and he has a massive crush on her. She has one on him. They're both ten right now."

"Go, Henry." Emily chuckled. "And I think you should know that my parents and your mother have gone to the trading convention together."

"Wow." JJ marveled. "They are bonding."

"Mhm. They also brought presents for us."

Emily produced the drawstring bags from her purse, passing her partner the bag with a capital J stamped on it.

"This one is for you, JJ."

She opened the bag to reveal a pair of small framed canvases painted with intricate butterfly scenes. They were extremely beautiful. Accompanying these pictures was a silver charm bracelet bedecked in butterfly charms. JJ was also pretty sure that the silver was real. And vintage.

Emily's voice broke her thoughts. "Hey, those are all really nice."

"Thanks!" JJ chirped.

"Your mother clearly remembers that you like all things butterflies, but it looks like she told my parents. That's really sweet."

"It is, and I love it. What did you get?"

Emily pointed to a stack of worn books beside her. "USMC diaries. I collect from Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Getting to know Rossi over the years is what inspired me to start."

Emily's desk phone rang before JJ could mention that the man in the next office over was, to this day, the primary reason that she had joined the FBI.

"Who is it?" JJ asked.

Emily became puzzled as she put the phone on speaker. "Dad? You never call me at work."

Fitzhugh's tone was merry. "Good morning, chickpea."

"Do you have call me that?" Emily said with exasperation.

"Who else is there?"

Emily's partner greeted him. "Good morning, sir. This is JJ."

"Hello, my dear. How are you? Emily's mother and I heard that you went through quite a lot yesterday."

It warmed JJ's heart deeply that he cared. "I'm doing much better. Thank you for the presents, by the way. I really love them. I also really love the magnolias."

"Wonderful. We also mean every word on the message with stuck in the flowers. Anything you need—Elizabeth and I will help."

"Thank you." JJ said in a shaky tone.

Emily quickly jumped in at this point because it looked like JJ was about to start crying.

"Dad, what did you need?" she asked Fitzhugh. "Did I leave something at the house?"

"No, chickpea. Are you and your team off on any adventures today?"

"Not today." she did her best to ignore JJ's look of curiosity at this.

"Oh, excellent. We would love to have you and your team over for dinner tonight."

Emily lit up. "That sounds amazing."

Fitzhugh called out for the other person in the room. "JJ, are you still there?"

"I am!"

"We definitely encourage you and Will to bring Henry and Michael along. Sandy will be here, too. Has she seen the boys yet?"

"No." JJ realized with a jolt. "They don't know she's in town."

"All the more reason for them to come. We're also inviting your Baltimore family, and we understand if your father declines."

"Alright. I'll get in touch with everyone later." JJ told him. "I just have a request."

This grabbed Fitzhugh's attention. "What is it, my dear?"

"Henry is due to take a math placement test at school tomorrow morning. Is there a place he could bunker down for an hour?"

"Yes. Anything else?"

JJ laughed nervously. "Are you familiar with mine and Emily's colleague, Doctor Spencer Reid?"

"Yes—the wunderkind. I've been reading his papers for a very long time."

"Before we caught the case yesterday, Spencer agreed to tutor Henry."

Fitzhugh put two and two together. "So Henry is expecting him?"

"Yes. Would it be alright if we came over early?"

"Of course. What time do you all finish today?"

Emily answered this one, again ignoring a curious look from JJ. "Four o'clock!"

"Outstanding. Chickpea, you can come over whenever you like, but JJ?"

"Yes, sir?" she called.

"How does five-thirty work?" Fitzhugh asked.

"It works perfectly."

"Your family and Spencer are welcome to come over then. Please relay to everyone else to arrive at seven."

"Will do."

"Very good. We can't wait to meet everyone."

JJ grinned. "I'm looking forward to it."

Emily chimed in, "Me, too. See you later."

The Prentisses hung up.

JJ watched Emily. All of the woes she'd previously had appeared to have gone.

"And how is your storm cloud now?" JJ asked her.

Emily beamed. "Storm cloud? What storm cloud?"