The day eventually went from bad to worse. Just like a movie.

All of the rain washed anything of use from the crime scene. CSU also didn't find much. They were also in for an actual rainstorm.

And there was no sign of the gangsters. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

The call from the medical examiner was also unhelpful. A massive car pileup had occurred on the Beltway, bringing with it an unfortunate fatality number. It also meant that the new bodies had priority over Ito's did.

And there also remained the burning question: how had the people at the pool hall known they were coming?

The evidence found found by Will and Primrose had been turned over to ATF.

Nothing had come of trying to figure out where the bird feather on the end of McCann's murder weapon had come from. Even Penelope was drawing blanks.

Tara's recollection of the yakuza member she had encountered fell dramatically short. He had died in jail during a jail brawl, six months after the interview.

Emily was already beginning to feel that that the director would tell her to be shelving the case, for all the lack of progress they had.

Going home to recharge was in order.

Emily leaned back in her seat and looked to her middle. "Oh, Eden, just be glad you're not out in the world yet. It must be so cozy in there. Do you think we should call on mama and brother now?"

Her words were still hanging in the air when her phone rang. Virginia's name was on the screen.

"I was just thinking about you." Emily said after greeting her girlfriend. "What's up, my love?"

"I do want to talk to you about something," Virginia told her. "But it isn't anything to worry about. How is Eden?"

"Bored." Emily glided a hand over her baby bump to feel it. "She hates when I'm cooped up behind my desk like I am right now. I think she's hungry, too. This kid wiggles nonstop."

"Zion did that to me." Virginia said sympathetically. "I'm sure Eden is going to level out soon. How are the LaMontagnes doing? Truthbombs were dropped on them."

"I haven't seen Will for awhile, but he's doing really well. So is JJ."

"That counts for a lot." Virginia said proudly. "Our family is very strong."

"Yes, it is." Emily agreed. "I do have a bit of shop talk for you."

Virginia grew curious. "What would that be?"

"June lives a half-hour from here in a home, Ace, and she isn't doing well." Emily sighed. "It's Alzheimers. Today, she even underwent a surgical procedure."

"Wow. That's too bad. But at least that's one part of the surgical procedure locked in place. June isn't a phantom." Virginia looked out of her office window. "Emily, what time do you get off today?"

"At five now." she said.

This took Virginia by surprise. "Really? Why?"

"The day had been two steps forward and a fifteen steps back. All I want is to be with my family."

"It's like you can read my mind. I called just now because I was wondering if you wanted to stay tonight." Virginia purred. "The LaMontagnes have probably on an even faster coaster."

Her undertone suggested that both parties need space from each other.

Emily returned, "I am so there. But... I am always down for a night with you and Zy."

Virginia perked up. "I'll get a start on dinner, then. What time shall I expect you?"

"Let's clock it for six. You've seen the roads today."

"I have. Will you be taking the train?"

Emily looked out towards to bullpen. "Uh-uh. I'm going to see if the LaMontagnes can drop me off. Neither of them will mind."

"Okay, great." Virginia chirped. "I can't wait to see you."

"And I can't wait to see you when I get there." Emily told her. "I love you."

Virginia's heart jumped. "I love you, too."

They hung up.

Five o'clock approached very suddenly after that.

JJ walked into her partner's office. "Em?"

She paused in her packing. "Hey. I was just about to come ask you a favor."

"Do tell." JJ said curiously. "I'm here now."

"Virginia called earlier. She invited me to stay the night."

The other agent suddenly understood why Emily's go bag was atop her desk. "That's really sweet. I was actually coming to tell you that we're giving Prim a ride home. Would you like a lift over to Virginia's?"

Emily grinned; she had been saved from having to ask the favor. "Please and thank you. I really appreciate that. Her place is just past the train station."

"We can make that work. I'll go tell Will and Prim." decided JJ. "By the way, Emelise, I'm so happy that you found Virginia. You glow at any mention of her."

"Thank you, Jennifer." Emily hugged friend briefly. "Go find Will and Primrose. I'll be along soon."

JJ nodded in understanding and excused herself out of the room once more.

The trip back into D.C. took about as long as Emily had posited.

"Wow." JJ looked up at the Rainers' building. "They live here?"

Emily nodded. "Yep. I'll see all of you tomorrow. Hug the boys for me?"

"You bet."

Everyone watched as Emily exited into the rain towards the building, closing the car door behind her as she went. They drove away when they spotted their friend make it safely inside.

Primrose's house was just a few blocks after that.

Even in the rain, it didn't take the LaMontagnes too much longer to get home afterwards.

They gave their sons extra big hugs the night. Being with Henry and Michael always made them happy.

It was time for a quiet night.

Or at least… what their version of the word was.

"Cough it up. Why are you so jittery?"

It was getting on in the night. Dinner and dessert had been consumed. Enjoyed. Cleaned up. Bills had been paid. Evening chores accomplished. The house was armed for the night.

Michael was asleep. Henry was around. Somewhere.

But… Will was acting very fidgety.

He stuck his hands in his pockets. "Amaya and I exchanged numbers earlier. She said she's going to call me after she puts Jubilation to bed and gets a little more work done."

"I'm glad you two are connecting." JJ gently squeezed Will's biceps in an effort to keep him grounded. "How are you? None of this must be easy, huh? Especially where Amaya is concerned."

"That is true. But you heard me in Emily's office: I meant it when I told Amaya that I forgive her. Adjusting is just going to take some time." Will kissed his wife. "At the same time, I'm totally thrilled."

JJ breathed a sigh of relief. "Excellent."

"My mother is back in my life. She actually wants to be my friend, which is all I've wanted. A bonus now is that I have even more sisters."

JJ smiled happily. She was thrilled for the positive changes in her husband's life, but she also delighted in seeing how enthusiastically he had embraced the idea of being a big brother.

Will gave her another kiss. "You know, Michael can roll with any tide. He's good like that. But... I want to at least clue Henry in. That child of ours is old enough to realize that something us up."

"That's for sure." JJ agreed.

"Henry doesn't have to know about my parents' divorce or even June, but our boy should know that he has a grandmother in town. And four aunts."

JJ saw his point. "Let's go find him."

"Okay, but hang on a second." Will pulled JJ into an embrace. "I just want to hold you."

JJ made no objections to this. Being held in Will's arms always made her feel very safe. After all, they'd been supporting each other through all kinds of crises for as long as they had been in each others' lives. Holding each other in comfort was only natural.

"Dad, I—oh..."

Henry had walked in to the kitchen. It wasn't like he never saw his parents show affection to each other, but that didn't stop him from wanting to giggle.

Will pulled apart from JJ to speak to Henry. "How's it going, son?"

"I have a geography question." the boy said with a straight face.

"It isn't related to your geography homework, is it?"

Henry swiftly shook his head. "Nope."

"Okay. Then let's hear it."

Henry just went for it. "What's the capital of Scotland? I forgot."

"The answer you're searching for would be Edinburgh."

Will watched Henry process this piece of information, while a crinkle appeared in his forehead. It was amusing to watch. But also startling. He'd seen Amaya make that exact same face earlier that afternoon.

"Huh." Henry finally mused. "That means I have to go redo some of my equations..."

"I hope that's good news." chuckled Will. "Do your mama and I want to know what math has to do with knowing the capital of Scotland?"

Henry grinned sheepishly. "It's complicated?"

"Very smooth." JJ told him. "Please come closer. Your dad wants to tell you something."

Henry did as his mother asked but looked at Will. Now he was waiting for him to speak.

"Remember Virginia?" Will asked him.

"Yeah!" Henry gave an eager nod. "She's really cool. Zion is also pretty fun. I taught him how to say 'integer,' and he picked it right up. Like a cute little parrot."

"Actually, hearing that actually makes things a lot easier." Will said in relief. "It turns out that Virginia is my little sister."

Henry's body responded by his legs tanking out from under him.

"Woah, buddy." JJ said as she and Will sat with him on the kitchen floor. "Are you okay?"

Henry nodded as Will pulled him into a sitting position. "I'm good."

"Okay, then. What do you think about what your dad said? Are you confused?"

This time Henry shook his head. His parents had never steered him wrong before, so he'd never had a reason to doubt them. Why would they start now?

"I like it a lot." he said seriously. "What does that make Zion?"

"Your cousin. Same for your siblings."

Henry took this in stride. "Then where did Aunt Emily go?"

JJ chose her words carefully. "She's at Aunt Virginia's house because she wanted to see her and Zion tonight."

"Oh. Okay."

Will showed Henry a particular picture on his phone. "See them?"

Henry took the phone in hand to study the image. "Yep. Aunt Virginia is in the middle. Who's everyone else?"

"Her younger sisters." JJ pointed out each person in turn. "There's Phoenix, Lilith, and Jubilation."

"But…" Henry studied the youngest person in the picture. "Even Jubilation? She looks like she's Michael's age."

"That's because she is."

Henry looked back at his father. "But then all of that means…"

"They're my sisters, too." Will finished. "I have more to tell you, but are you keeping track?"

"Yes." Henry said seriously. "I've got it. What about…?"

He started mumbling names to himself and counting on his fingers.

Will was able to guess what he was thinking. "You're wondering where my mama is?"

"Mhm. You never talk about her."

"I'll be honest—it's because I couldn't remember her name. She left when I was very small."

"Oh. That's really sad." Henry offered.

JJ nodded. "Yes, but we'll tell you that story when you're a lot bigger. There's one more thing to unlock."

Henry was totally fascinated by now. This was the most interesting conversation he could ever remember having with his parents.

"What is the biggest building you see on the way out to my job?" JJ said to him. "Think hard."

Henry perked up. "It's the chocolate factory!"

"Mhm." JJ confirmed. "Your dad and I learned that his mother works there."

"Oh, please tell me that she makes the chocolate magma bars that I like!" these were Henry's favorite special occasion treats.

Will said face with a poker-stiff expression, "She invented them."

Henry gaped at his father. "What? But I was joking!"

"We're not." Will pointed to the phone. "My mama's picture is next."

Henry found it. And then did a double-take. Was this person real?

He glanced from Will, to the picture, and back again.

"But she looks just like you. Huh…"

The boy had gone from zero to sixty before landing back at zero again as he thought hard about his next words. "Her hair is turquoise-colored!"

Will did everything he could not to laugh. "Yes, her hair color is definitely something that you don't normally see."

"Could I color my hair?"

Henry's parents believed in letting their children express their creativity, so their answer was on a unified front. "Sure."

He actually pinched himself. It hurt. "Am I dreaming all of this?"

JJ shook her head. "Nope. I promise this is reality."

"Then what's my new nana's name?" Henry pressed.

"Her name is Doctor Amaya Elle Jo Rainer."

Henry's heart skipped a beat. "She's a doctor that makes chocolate?"

"Yes, and guess what? She has a doctorate in math."

Henry was at this point his most flabbergasted. "This really isn't a dream?"

"Not a dream, Henry." JJ laughed at her son's incredulity. "Do you want to meet her?"

"Yeah!"

"We're working on making that happen. Nana Amaya really wants to meet you and your brother."

This was all Henry needed, so he stood and returned the phone. "May I be excused?"

"Sure thing. Are you going to go do whatever project it was that involved Scotland?

Henry pushed his glasses into place as they slid down the bridge of his nose. "Uh-uh. I'm going to figure out what color to make my hair now."

JJ said warningly, "But don't forget what happens if you accidentally wake your brother up."

Henry heaved a heavy sigh of petulance, but kept a straight face. "It's my job to make him sleep."

"That's the gist of it." JJ made a shooing motion. "Go have fun."

Henry exited the quietly and could soon be heard going up the main stairs.

"We've raised a wonderful boy." JJ remarked. "I'm happy he's excited to meet Amaya. And that he's taken everything so well. Most kids his age would have a meltdown before even getting to the end of all that."

"Henry is a smart kid. Very mature." said Will. "Some goodness is coming from the craziness that has been today."

"We need it." JJ held her arms out to him. "Please help me up?"

Will go to his feet and helped JJ to hers. "Personally, I love how adoring Henry is of Zion."

JJ nodded. "When Emily brought Zion here, he accidentally spilled the juice I poured for him. Guess what Henry's response was?"

Will have a shrug. "Did he cheer him up?"

"That's what Michael did. Henry cleaned up the mess, and let Zion help him pour a new cup."

"Amazing."

"My favorite part of that whole chat with Henry is that he was most impressed with Amaya's hair being turquoise." JJ stretched hugely and laughed as the babies wiggled in response. "I'm going to go check on him."

She pointed to Will's tablet on the kitchen counter as she exited the room.

"You might want to get that."

Will checked. His heart skipped a beat.

Amaya was calling.