"Amaya, you don't have to do this!"

She whirled around to face the man who would soon be her ex. "Don't I, Bill?"

He backpedaled. "I thought you were happy here!"

"Don't you dare use that word with me right now! 'Happy' is for two people who enjoy being together, and it certainly doesn't apply to the half of the duo that steps out on their other half with the goddamn secretary!"

"How many times do I have to tell you? June McCann isn't—"

"I don't care because 'home-wrecker' suits her best!" Amaya moved a few steps closer to her car. "That isn't even all!"

"No?"

"No—you don't even want to leave New Orleans!" Amaya stomped one foot. "So lame!"

"There hasn't been a LaMontagne that's left New Orleans in over fifty years. Except you."

Amaya spat at Bill's feet. "I'll never have to use that name for myself again when everything finally goes through. What a relief that's going to be. I hope that when Junior grows up, he gets out. My hope for him is that he sees the world, meets and marries the love of his life, and has at least four children who are happy and healthy. A good life is all I want for him."

"Then why not take him with you? Children deserve to have both parents in their lives, especially their mother." Bill pointed to their house. "You could go get him right now. I won't say anything."

Amaya's eyes filled with tears. "Kids deserve a stable home. I can't give him that. Not at this point in my life."

Bill said in a tone of maddening calm, "So then your absence would make this whole mess level out."

"As long as June remains in the picture." Amaya wiped her tears away with her fists. "How has Arthur not cottoned on yet?"

Bill didn't miss a beat. "He's been a capital nitwit for his entire life. Of course he wouldn't put the pieces together about June sneaking around. It isn't like I'm going to tell him—we've never been in the same social circles."

Amaya put her hands on her hips. "His being stupid is no excuse or permission to carry on with what you already know is wrong. I can't stay. I just can't."

"Fine." Bill huffed. "Were you serious about all that travel talk?"

"You're damn right I was. I want to see the world. All the states, too."

"Oh, really? Then you were also serious about doing something in the culinary world with chocolate?"

"Yes, and one day, you won't even be able to go to the market without seeing something I made or imagined!" Amaya stood her ground. "I also want to be somewhere that I can finish school in a normal fashion! How is that too much?"

Though entirely by choice, Amaya went to night school in the community.

Bill was almost taunting her now. "Are you saying that you regret having Junior? Does he weigh you down?"

Amaya shook her head. "Not in the least. I love him with all I have. Leaving him behind is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But... I'll come back to see him one day."

"No, you won't." Bill said firmly. "You said yourself that kids need a stable home life. I'm closing ranks if you leave, Amaya. The boy doesn't need to be confused."

The tears fell harder down Amaya's face. For as much as she wanted to distance herself away from this man, the one quality of his that she would never forget would be his unbelievable stubborn streak. More than once, Amaya had come to wonder if it would be his undoing. But the thought only crossed her minds when she was in her more vindictive moods.

Amaya turned to begging. "Oh, please don't be like this."

"Then stay here. You'll be sorry if you go."

Before Amaya could say anything, she let out a small soft, "Oh!" and cradled her middle with both hands when she felt the smallest of stirrings there. But she also cursed inwardly. Thus far, she'd been hoping to escape without Bill finding out her new secret.

He realized what was up at once. "You're pregnant again? Is Junior getting a brother? Were you even going to tell me?"

Amaya felt a little sheepish. "Yes, I am expecting again, and Junior could even be getting a sister for we know. As for that last question... I don't know how to answer that."

Bill gestured towards Amaya's middle. "How long have you known?"

"Just a short stretch."

"Then how can you favor one of our children over the other?"

"I'm not!" protested Amaya.

Bill continued to be dangerously calm. "Then go get Junior."

But Amaya didn't move towards the house. She wasn't sure if she could move at all.

"Then that's that, isn't it?" Bill sneered. "You're going to be sorry."

Amaya found her voice again. "I'll go get Junior now—you won't ever have to see us again. Just tell a fib about how we left in the night. Everybody would believe it. We fight like cats and dogs all the time."

Bill put his foot down. "I say no. You lost your chance when you hesitated. I never want to see you again. Or Junior's new sibling."

Amaya took a step back. "You don't mean that."

"But I do."

Bill advanced, and Amaya had no choice but to take a few more steps back. She was almost to her car now. The writing was on the wall.

"Go. Now." Bill reached into his shirt pocket and withdrew his trusty pocket watch. "You'll be damned or sorry, either way."

He threw his watch at her in anger. Amaya caught it. There was no way would she let Bill get the last lick in by causing any physical harm.

"Fine." she put the timepiece into her pocket. "I'll go, but mark my words—I will see our boy again one day. Somehow. It'll happen."

Amaya got into her car, started it, and drove away.

She didn't look back. It would hurt much more than it already did. All she could do was keep driving forward.

It even began to rain.

Amaya came back to the present when she realized that Virginia was talking to her.

"Hey. We're here."

"Oh." Amaya smiled at her. "Thanks."

Mother and daughter exited the car.

True to form, Matt brought the SUV to the FBI building's overhang and retrieved Virginia's wheelchair from the trunk or her. He even saw to it that it was properly assembled before going to park—all without saying anything that wasn't positive. The pouring rain was more than a little disheartening. No end was in sight yet.

On the sixth floor, the BAU team was getting situated. They had beaten Matt, Amaya, and Virginia back to HQ by a small margin.

"Is everyone okay?" Emily asked as they gathered together in the round table room. "I haven't seen rain this bad in a very long time."

Everyone gave a general murmur of assent.

Spencer chirped, "Thank goodness for the invention of the umbrella."

Will arched an eyebrow. "No history lesson?"

Spencer shuffled his feet. "I didn't want to weird your partner out."

Primrose was quick to counter this. "I've heard stories about everyone on the team. Weirding me out is not a possibility, doctor."

Spencer breathed a sigh of relief.

Tara looked top from helping Penelope setting out Chase McCann's battered electronic devices. "Is there an ETA on Matt and the Rainers?"

Emily checked her watch. "Five to ten minutes, weather permitting."

Will barely concealed a shudder. He was very found of his newfound sister already, but the idea of going to face his mother so soon after making the choice to draw back startled him. He was grateful when Emily continued speaking.

The dark-haired woman turned to Penelope. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes." Penelope confirmed. "Would you like me to gather an information profile on Amaya Rainer?"

Emily shook her head. "No, but thank you."

"Okay. I'll be over on my side of the floor if you need me."

Penelope exited. Primrose trailed after her.

Emily spoke to Luke next. "Please go down to the lobby to wait for our incoming party. I imagine they're on the property by now."

Luke also left.

Tara looked curiously at her boss. "Why don't you want a profile? Isn't that a standard move?"

"Yes, but not just now. Amaya is our friend. The last thing we want is for either of the Rainers to feel upset."

"Can't argue there. Do you know where the chat with Amaya is going to happen?"

Emily sighed. "One of the interrogation rooms."

Tara spoke in a reassuring tone. "All of us know there's no such thing as a second first impression, but what if I fixed the heats and lights to make things bearable?"

"That's better than nothing. I appreciate your help, Tara. Thanks. Will you please go do what you can?"

Tara nodded. "Yes, boss. I will."

Reading the situation, Spencer followed her out of the room. Their departure left Emily with Rossi and the LaMontagnes. Excellent.

Rossi spoke up. "Why don't we go see what the hot water and coffee situation is in the kitchen?"

Emily nodded in agreement, but turned last to JJ and Will. "Stay here. Take all the time you need. Nobody will pass judgment."

"Thanks." JJ told her. "We'll be along in awhile."

"Very good."

And Emily followed Rossi away to the kitchen area.

"Where's your head at?" he asked as they worked together to fill up the hot water and coffee dispensers.

"I know I can maintain my objectivity, but my heart is doing jumping jacks. These people are my family now. It's a new feeling… and a tad on the discombobulating side."

"For sure." agreed Rossi. "It also makes you more connected to the LaMontagnes than ever, but through Will."

Emily sighed. "That thought has also crossed my mind."

"And? What do you make of it?

"I think it's amazing. There are times when I pinch myself about how my life has gone since…"

Emily's words trailed off, but Rossi picked up the thread very quickly. His affection for his friend had always translated into knowing her very well.

"You've been pinching yourself about how your life has gone since you came back from Paris?" he guessed.

"Correct, but I especially consider my life since I came back from the United Kingdom. I mean... I miss Aaron and Jack all the time, I'm totally going to look into seeing the Morgans at some point next year, but still... it feels like I grew up."

There came a twinkle in Rossi's eyes. "Oh, you have."

Emily smiled at this. "Everything since Paris has led me to meeting the Rainers. To becoming closer to the LaMontagnes. To becoming a mother. I'm sorry about all the sad things that have happened, but even without that, I wouldn't be who I am. Now I'm learning to about true contentment."

"Then all of this is more than you could have asked for?"

"Or imagined. But I know for sure that I can definitely handle what's about to come."

Rossi pulled the pot full of water from Emily's hand—she had forgotten about it—and set it in its machine. He also straightened the coffee pot when he noticed it had accidentally been set in crookedly before swiftly changing the machines' functions over, enabling them to start heating up.

"Are you sure in your assessment about yourself?" Rossi asked gently.

"I am." Emily changed lanes a little bit. "When did you know what you were in love with Caroline?"

Rossi smiled as he thought remembered pleasant memories of his late first wife. "I knew from the second I met her at a bar that we both liked."

Emily's heart lightened. "When did you know what you wanted to marry her?"

"By the end of the first drink." Rossi looked at his friend curiously. "Why? Do you already know that you want to marry Amaya's daughter?"

"Yeah." Emily said softly.

"Then I'm happy for you. When did you know?"

"By the end of the first conversation." she admitted. "I also get along really well with her son, and he pretty much worships me."

"That's really great. Do he and his mother know about your precious cargo?"

"Yes. Both of them are completely over the moon."

Rossi gave Emily a genuine fatherly smile. "Excellent. Like I said, I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks, Dave." Emily said sincerely. "That really means a lot."

He gave her a pat on the shoulder and then spared a quick glance towards the main doors. "Look sharp. Our visitors are here."

The duo headed to the bullpen doors together.

Escorted by Matt and Luke, the Rainers had arrived. Both of them were curious about everything.

Virginia beckoned to her girlfriend when she saw her on the approach. "This is far from how I wanted you to meet, but please come say hello to my mother."

Emily approached the other woman. Amaya drew forward, too. She lit up at once.

"Hello, Emily!" she greeted her with great enthusiasm. "I'm so happy to finally meet you!"

"Oh, the feeling is very mutual." Emily returned warmly. "I've heard such fun stories where you're concerned."

Emily wanted to hug Amaya but restrained herself because she was at work. Instead, she settled for a friendly handshake.

"Would you like to meet my team?" she asked hopefully.

Amaya nodded. "Yes, please."

Emily turned to see that the rest of her team was together now. Even Penelope and Primrose had arrived, no doubt tipped off by one of the others. Will wasn't present. But that was understandable. Emily would figure out her friend had gotten to. Sooner or later.

"You've already met Matt and Luke. Now I cam introduce you to everybody else." Emily pointed everyone out in turn to Amaya as she went. "From left to right, we have Supervisory Special Agents David Rossi and my partner, Jennifer Jareau. Beside them are doctors Lewis and Spencer Reid. Last but not least are our technical analyst, Penelope Garcia and our friend, Sergeant Primrose King. She's consulting with us from the Metropolitan PD in town."

Amaya greeted everyone kindly. So did Virginia—who even made sure to tell them that they could call her by her given name. She and her mother were happy to another part of Emily's world.

"Where are we going to have that 'chat'?" Amaya asked Emily.

"Unfortunately, the only space we have available is our interrogation room."

"Not to worry. I'm happy to go wherever you need me to." Amaya said cheerfully. "Three of my children serve or have served in different capacities, which has always led me to just adapt."

"What do Phoenix and Lilith do?" Emily blurted before she could stop herself.

Amaya winked. "Nix and Lily are 911 responders."

"That's amazing." Emily cleared her throat to get herself back on topic. "Agent Simmons can show you over to the interrogation room, but first—would you like tea or coffee?"

Amaya thought about it. "May I please have coffee with just a little bit of cream?"

"Sure thing. I'll get to work on that."

Matt drew level with Amaya. "I can show you where to go first."

"Okay." agreed Amaya. "Thank you."

Everyone else began to disperse in their wake, but Emily was quick to Penelope aside.

"Where is Will?" she pressed.

"In my secondary work room. Who knew the man was handy with tech? Should I go get him?"

Emily realized exactly why Will was hiding. "Leave him be. How handy with tech is he?"

"So handy that I'm confident we can restore everything in half the time I previously estimated."

"Outstanding. Please go keep Will busy."

And so Penelope also left.

This was when the remaining people noticed Virginia sitting alone in her wheelchair, lost in thought.

"Go take care of her." JJ urged. "I'll bring Amaya's coffee to her. She doesn't know who I am to her in the grand scheme of things yet."

Pleased, Emily joined Virginia.

"What brought you to Amaya's office?" Emily asked curiously.

Virginia sighed. "Things turned into an argument when I asked her about my brother. It wasn't fun because we don't fight often. There are things I have to share that I know Amaya won't, but… Emelise, she thought her only son was dead."

"What?!"

Virginia shrugged. "That's all I know. Our argument began after that."

"Okay." Emily sighed. "I'll keep that in mind. How about I bring you somewhere quiet and send someone your way so you can talk?"

"That sounds good to me."

Using a ramp at the far end of the bullpen, they emerged at the top of the catwalk on the side that was closest to Rossi's office. Emily let her in here.

"My office is just next door, Virginia. Would you like anything to drink? There is lemon tea over in the kitchen; I know that's your favorite."

Virginia parked herself near the desk and set her wheelchair brakes in place. "That would be lovely, and you know how I like it."

"I do. Someone will be right in."

Virginia thanked her and watched her go. She was alone with her thoughts.

When Emily made it to the kitchen, she saw that Rossi was the only one left.

"Let me guess." the old man said. "Virginia has a lot to talk about?"

Emily nodded. "Boy, does she, but she's being super tight-lipped. Would you…?"

"I was already planning on it. Did she want anything?"

"Lemon tea. She likes hers with just a little bit of sugar." Emily straightened her appearance out again. "How do I look? Ready to go talk to the mother of the one I love?"

Rossi bobbed his head. "Mhm. You'll be great."

When Emily made it over to the interrogation rooms, it was no surprise to see JJ, Spencer, Luke, Matt, Tara, and Primrose were gathered together. They had been waiting for her.

But… each of them were unusually quiet.

"What is it?" Emily asked them. "Did she figure out who JJ is to her yet?"

JJ shook her head. "I gave her her coffee and she thanked me. It was just… her gaze is intense. The only place I really see that is on Will or the boys."

"But not a lot rattles you, JJ. Ever."

"When Amaya looked at me, I saw a moment of something… afar.Like sorrow." JJ gave a shiver. "Do you know what we're getting into?"

Emily shrugged. "That is unclear. Virginia said that during their argument about Will, her poor mother had been under the impression this whole entire time that he was dead."

Silence. Loud, wild silence.

"Pardon?" Spencer said into the quiet.

"I'm not sure." Emily repeated. "Amaya has really been through a lot. I couldn't begin to imagine or know any of it."

She turned to Matt.

"But you established an accord with her."

Matt stood taller. "She didn't say the words, but I think she likes me."

"What did Amaya do?"

"After I made the observation that she didn't seem too invested when I mentioned Silas, she went in for the kill when she spotted my wedding ring." Matt remembered.

Emily listened closely. "Go on."

"Amaya asked how long I've been married. When I told her the truth, she told me that she's been married twice and that both unions failed miserably." Matt stuck his hands in his pockets. "I was then told that her second marriage ended in bad blood even before Silas was murdered. The intensity that has JJ acting like a spooked horse? It's real."

"Sounds like Amaya was trying to get you to buckle, even just a little. You didn't. Outstanding."

"Thanks."

Emily gave Matt a pat on the shoulder. "For that, you get to go talk to her."

Matt nodded in acknowledgement and entered the interrogation room.

Amaya sat up straighter when she saw him. "Special Agent Simmons, I was hoping it would be you."

He sat across from her. "Is that so?"

"Uh-huh. I like you. I also admire that you didn't flinch when I tested you earlier." Amaya told him. "People have told me numerous times throughout my life that I'm intimidating."

Matt chose his words carefully. "If anything, you're a survivor."

Amaya studied him. "You are so calm and collected, sir. Have you served in some capacity? Before the FBI?"

Matt nodded. "Yes, m'am. I served in the United States Coast Guard."

"Thank you for your service." Amaya pointed to the interrogation room window. "Is my girl over there?"

Matt shook his head this time. "No. Not now."

Amaya sat back in her chair but already seemed to be dejected. "Good. Special Agent Simmons, we have a lot to talk about."