Rossi hoped that talking with Virginia would be easy. He had the impression that she was a wildcard.

The woman herself was lost in thought as she prepared her talking points. But she was quick to snap out of it when she heard Rossi on the approach. Her hearing was in the supersonic range.

A smile was on her face when Rossi entered the office and gave her her lemon tea.

"David Rossi!" she chirped, taking the drink. "How nice to see you one-on-one. I've read all your books."

He pulled his desk chair around to face her. "And I've read all of yours. My daughter has, too."

"Always nice to hear about fans." Virginia enjoyed her beverage for a moment and then set it on the desk, using a coaster. "I hope you don't mind me being in your office."

"Actually, I was hoping to talk with you."

"Oh?"

Rossi nodded. "They tell me I'm a good listener. I've got as much time as you need."

Virginia indicated the author's numerous USMC awards, commendations, and photographs on the walls around the room. "You've served?"

"Yep. Vietnam. I'm retired, but I was a sergeant major. What about you?"

"Also retired. I served in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Somalia. My rank was gunnery sergeant by the end." Virginia leaned back in her wheelchair. "May I ask you something?"

"Go for it, my friend."

Virginia relaxed a bit more. "Did you learn skills when you were abroad outside of your wheelhouse that you still benefitted from, anyhow?"

"Yes." Rossi confirmed. "I was very fast, and shockingly good at stealth. What about you, gunny?"

"I developed very keen hearing. Still have it to this day." Virginia tapped her ears. "My XO recognized my potential and put me through intense training to sharpen my marksmanship. It really paid off."

"How is that?"

"Sir, I was a USMC sniper."

"Wow." said Rossi in surprise. "You have my utmost respect, Virginia."

She beamed at this.

After a moment, she continued. "I became detective with my local PD after I left the service. Unfortunately... A terrible gunshot wound forced me into early retirement."

"Injuries are a cost of service. God knows I've had my fair share, even in the FBI." Rossi mused. "Are you able to share what happened that day? Was it this event that brought your chair into your life?"

"Yes to both. An assassin shot me in the leg while I was protecting a VIP. This event also forced me into early retirement."

"I'll wager that you haven't fired a weapon since that day."

"Correct."

More silence fell. None of what Virginia had to say was light. But Rossi waited patiently.

"I was damn good at what I did." Virginia said with renewed vigor when she picked the mantle back up. "My stepdad just didn't approve of that life."

"No?" questioned Rossi.

"No. Asher Silas made it clear he did not support our troops in any fashion. He was a vindictive jerk. And.e. he physically abused my mother when I wasn't around."

Virginia watched Rossi to see if he'd say anything at this point. But he didn't. All his attention was on her.

"One time, I really read him the Riot Act after Amaya called me from the hospital. Her attempt to stand up to Asher didn't work. Everything about my encounter with him was a train-wreck." Virginia gave small sneer. "Told Asher he'd be sorry if I ever learned of him raising a hand to my mother again. He stopped, but..."

"Yes?" Rossi prompted kindly after Virginia faltered. "What happened?"

"They found out that my littlest sibling was on the way. A honeymoon phase was had, but even that ended too soon when they found that the baby was a girl."

Rossi winced here. "Was Asher old-fashioned enough to believe that sons were better?"

"Yes. That is exactly how he was. On top of being a super bastard. He made sure that I and the daughters he had with Amaya weren't enough to satisfy him." Virginia blanched. "Had to have another talk with him."

"Please tell me what you said."

Virginia recalled the moment with ease. "I told Asher that I was documenting everything, and that if he crossed any one of us again, I wouldn't need my combat skills to make his death appear accidental."

Rossi was hanging on to every word. The words coming from Virginia's mouth were the last he'd been expecting. Like hell he would miss anything. Even from this angle, Virginia Rainer was incredibly fascinating.

"Does Amaya know any of what you've just told me?"

"No." Virginia admitted. "I protect her because she's my best friend, but I could never let her find out. She probably thinks there's a gaping hole."

"Probably." echoed Rossi. "Now you've been carrying your secret around, ever since. Did you tag along with Amaya today so you could make sure that one of us here knew about this particular closet skeleton?"

"Yes. I saw an opportunity and I seized it."

"You did well. I'll be sure to pass it along later. Anything else you want to talk about?"

Virginia's words came out haltingly. "Look, I know about Will's mission. And I know that the time team is in on it."

Rossi was unperturbed. "When did you learn about it."

"Just yesterday. My kid and I were at the LaMontagne house for dinner."

"Did JJ, Will, and Emily tell you about June?"

"Yes." Virginia confirmed. "I don't know her, but I still promised my help in... Whatever it is we're getting ourselves into."

"Your generosity is noted and appreciated. We've also covered everything." Rossi remarked. "You've been really helpful. Would you like to see your brother?"

Virginia's heart skipped a beat. "Pardon? I imagine his partner will know about June in due course, but were she and Will assigned to this new case?"

Rossi took his phone from his jacket pocket. "They were."

"Well, then yes. I would love to see my big brother. A hug from him is just what I need."

Rossi dialed a familiar number with no further adieu.

Penelope was fast to pick up. "Hello, sir! Will and I have made some serious headway!"

"Fantastic. Virginia is asking for her brother. Would you send him to my office, please?"

"I can do that!"

Will made for the new destination on the double. His little sister needed him.

"Are you in trouble?" this was his first question from the moment he stepped into Rossi's office.

Virginia shook her head. "I just want a hug from you."

Rossi elaborated, "The two of us just had quite the chat. Virginia shared some very interesting things. Now she wants a bit of reassurance from her brother."

Will understood and hugged Virginia warmly.

Then he held her out at arm's length. "I have your back. Now. Always. That will never change, V. All of this will turn out for the best. You'll see."

Virginia felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "Thank you, brother. I need to hear that."

Will winked playfully. "Anything for my sister."

Meanwhile, in the interrogation room, Amaya had finally resumed full control over her faculties. Matt continued to be very patient. She has been a veritable found of information.

After the conversation ended, Matt could see that there was one last thought bouncing around in his acquaintance's head.

"Let it out." he said as they rose to their feet. "It's okay."

Amaya looked at him. "Seeing my son is the only thing I need. Would such a thing be outside of your peoples' jurisdiction?"

"Actually—"

The interrogation room opened at this point.

JJ had been allowed entry from Emily after a text from Rossi, stating that Will had asked for Amaya on his own. It was all she could do to not give her identity away just then. Doing so would be showing her hand.

She spoke to the woman. "Amaya, Will is on this floor. I've had word that he wants to see you."

Amaya gaped at her. "Are you pulling my leg?"

"No way. Do you still want to see Will?"

"Yes, but..." and out came nervous babbling about being unsure. This was going to take awhile.

On the other side of the glass, Emily sent a response to Rossi. A is in. Move her children to my office, please. Close the blinds. JJ & I will be there with her soon.

Rossi's answer was fast. We're moving now.

Emily stuck her phone in her pocket, issuing orders to Spencer, Tara, Luke, and Primrose as she went. They scattered quickly.

Matt and JJ emerged from the other room, the door closing of its own accord behind them.

"Good job." Emily said to Matt. "You really got Amaya to open up."

JJ tacked on, "Please go touch base with Penelope. Ask her to run all the new terms Amaya mentioned."

"Copy that." he tossed Amaya's empty paper coffee cup in a nearby trash bin and showed himself out.

JJ opened opened the door the interior space and beckoned for Amaya to join them.

The older woman gave her a friendly smile when she joined them. "You are JJ, right?"

"Uh-huh. I heard everything." JJ answered in a casual way. "Even you mentioning Jubilation's other middle name to be Jennifer. That's my first name."

"How about that? We mostly call her AJ for short, with her first middle name is Adele. She really loves it."

JJ grinned. "That's really cute. Your eldest children are in Emily's office. Are you ready?"

"I am." Amaya said firmly. "Should I close my eyes?"

"Go for it." JJ decided. "We'll make sure you don't bump into anything."

Over in Emily's office, Will also had his eyes closed, so JJ and Emily were quick to close the door behind them. Virginia was already watching.

"Okay." Emily said softly.

Will followed through first, and felt his heart turn a cartwheel.

Amaya was gorgeous. It was also clear that he had inherited a lot of his looks from her. They even had similar features. The same eyes. The same smile. Even the same stance. But what stood out for Will the most was not his mother's bright clothes and cool shoes. It was that her hair was a bright turquoise color. What was the true shade? Even that added an extra layer of intrigue.

He fell to his knees. "Mom?"

Amaya approached him. "Oh, my boy. My handsome boy. Will you let me sit with you?"

"Yes." Will nodded. "Please."

Amaya sat with her son on the office floor and for the first time in decades, held him close.

"Where have you been all this time?" Will asked when the hug ended.

"I've been all over the place, William. All over." said Amaya. "Son... If I had known you were so close... I would have tried harder. That's a promise."

"You're here now. That's what matters. Only that."

Amaya continued to look upon her firstborn. "I'll tell you and your sisters the truth over dinner, some time soon. Each of you deserves it. And to enjoy a meal together. I can provide that now. But... The rest of the story is a tad bizarre."

"Please try me." Will tried. "I have seen a lot."

"I couldn't stay because my marriage to Senior was just so toxic. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you." Amya heaved her umpteenth heavy sigh since walking on to the Behavioral Analysis Unit floor. "There was also a godawful hurricane that hit your area, some months after I left. William, it gave me every last reason to believe that you had perished."

"My God. And of course you believed it because that's what the authorities told you. Did you look?"

"Yes. Locating you was my only my only priority. However... My efforts were forced to come to a stop sooner than I would have liked. Virginia was born less than a week after the hurricane dissipated."

Will realized where she was going, and made a mental note to call her later. "You had to move on."

"I'm afraid so. Are you mad at me?"

"No. I'm relieved. I always wondered if you would even want to be my friend if we crossed paths again." Will said seriously. "Or if you would want me in the lives of any more kids that you would have."

"I absolutely do want to be your friend, and I can't wait to hear how you bumped into your sister. D.C. isn't that small." Amaya looked curiously at her son. "Why are you here already? At the FBI?"

Will pointed to his badge, secured on his belt. "I grew up to go into law enforcement. Just like dad. Just like Virginia. This job is all I ever wanted."

Amaya lit up. "That's amazing, and I am so proud. What rank do you hold?"

"I'm a sergeant with Metro PD. My partner and I were assigned this case awhile ago because it was cold." Will stood. "The original detectives have since retired."

"I see." Amaya let Will pull her to her feet when he offered the help. "Do you..."

It was clear that she was faltering. But the question on her mind was easy enough to guess.

"You're asking if I have a family now." Will crossed the room to where the others were gathered. "I do. This is them."

Amaya joined them, her brow furrowed. "Virginia is already your sister..."

"A fact which I love because she's very cool." Will touched the shoulders of the next person. "Emily here is also very cool. I love her like a sister. And... she's also saved me from certain death before. I would be dead right now if not for her."

Amaya looked at Emily in surprise. "Do I even want to know?"

Emily laughed nervously. "Not without alcohol in reach."

Her words then fell short.

Emily had elected at the last second to not tell Amaya about her visit from the stork. The other woman already had enough on her plate. Anything else just now would tip the scales too much. Hopefully Virginia would be cool about it.

"I've been hearing firsthand and secondhand stories about you for eons." Amaya said to her with some scrutiny. "That means I've heard about your tendency to be a little squirrelly on occasion. Will I be finding out whatever it is you're not saying?"

"Yes," Emily said with measured speech. "But not today."

"Fair enough. I'll take it."

Amaya moved on to JJ.

"So All of this just leaves you, my dear. How quiet you've been."

JJ smiled serenely. "I've just been watching, taking it all in."

This piqued Amaya's curiosity. "Does all of this make you my son's wife?"

"Yes!" JJ leaned against Will when he stood beside her. "It's been seven years and counting, but we've been together for the last twelve."

"Your words are making me overjoyed." Amaya held the LaMontagnes' hands in hers. "One of the last things told Senior was about my hope for Will to have the best life possible. I also hoped that he would have a family of his own. Looks like that wish came true. I just have one more question."

"Yes?" JJ said to her mother-in-law.

"Do you and Will have children?"

"Yes!" JJ passed her a particular framed picture from Emily's desk. "These are our boys."

Amaya took the picture in hand and examined it. Her heart turned to putty over the sight of her grandsons.

"They're beautiful." she turned her gaze back on the LaMontagnes. "What are their names?"

"Henry Isaac and Michael Jesse."

"Handsome names. Please tell me how old they are."

"Ten and three now." JJ framed her middle. "We also learned that they're going to be big brothers twice over. Both of them are ecstatic."

Amaya's heart wobbled. "Would it be alright if I met Henry and Michael?"

"Of course." Will told his mother. "You also have to meet JJ's part of the clan. But..."

Amaya connected the dots. "But It has to wait until after this case. I understand that."

JJ spoke with optimism. "There is nothing wrong with taking a family picture of everyone in this room. You can show your other kids later."

Amaya agreed that this was a very good idea.

One family picture later, the Rainers were packing up to leave the building.

Virginia sighed. "I guess we've said all there is to say."

Emily nodded. "Yes. But you and Amaya were a tremendous help."

Virginia breathed a sigh of relief.

Amaya chose this moment to sidle up to Emily. "Who is going to drive us back down to my work building?"

"Don't worry about that." Emily told her. "Let's just get you back out into the bullpen, first. There's one more person you should be formally introduced to."

At this, Will intercepted his mother. "She's talking about my partner. Primrose is cool, too. And she's around here somewhere..."

Mother and son left the office. JJ brought up the rear.

Emily spoke gently to Virginia. "How are you? This has also got to be doing a number on your head."

"That's for sure. All I feel is happy," Virginia looked up Emily. "But I notice that you didn't mention dear Eden."

"Yeah," Emily raked her fingernails over her middle. "But I think Amaya's got enough on plate, wouldn't you say?"

"That's a good point." Virginia said. "I don't think she'll be able to stay hidden long enough."

Emily's blouse was only just obscuring her baby bump. "That's true, huh. I guess telling your mother is the next objective on our to-do list."

"Yes. I like that plan." Virginia's tone softened up. "Do you realize what this all means?"

Emily forced herself to remain in the present. "Hm?"

"Somewhere along the way, you were meant to be part of this crazy family and part of the journey that we're on."

"Sometimes the universe really has fun ways of looking out for us. I definitely agree with what you just said." Emily responded. "I'm with you, Ace. For everything."

"Thank you, Emelise. I love knowing that." Virginia began maneuvering her chair towards the office door. "Let's go out. I also want to see Primrose."

They found everyone adjacent to the bullpen doors.

JJ proceeded to flag down a passing agent, instructing her to bring the Rainers to their next stop. She obliged and left to get ready. Primrose excused herself to call her CO with a progress report. The group then waited together by the elevators for the agent. All of them were just enjoying each other's company. It was very nice. But too fleeting.

When they had gone, JJ turned to her husband. "Are you going to be okay?"

Will nodded. "I am."

Emily patted her friend on the shoulder. "Just what we want to hear. Please go find the others. We'll be there soon."

The sergeant understood and made his way back in the BAU area.

Emily and JJ were alone again.

"Virginia told me that she thinks it was meant to be, me coming into the whole big thing." Emily told her partner.

"She's right. You and I going from friends to family overnight totally a move by the universe." J said thoughtfully. "I'm part of it because I married Will. Now you're part of it because you're with Virginia. How's that for wild?"

"Very wild, but just as wonderful." Emily said cheerfully.

JJ nodded and straightened a wrinkle in her shirt. "Are you ready to go be a profiler?"

Emily really wanted to say no. She just wanted to stay in the moment where she didn't have a head-scratching case. But... reality called. As always.

"I sure am." she finally told JJ. "Let's go be the profilers that we are. The sooner we get this case behind us, the sooner we can go be with our new family."

"Amen to that." JJ said as they strolled across the lobby and back into the bullpen. "Family is everything, and friends are the family you choose. Now let's go work with the one we have here to get to the bottom of this mystery."