Once Emily had officially moved all of her belongings to the Rainer place (with help from Will), her first act was of business was to have a chat with Zion.

He seemed to be deep in thought about something.

So Emily joined him on the couch. "What is going on in that noggin? Looks like you're wearing your thinking cap."

Zion looked Emily square in the eyes. "Where is your bed going to be?"

"Upstairs. In the bedroom across from where yours is. That cool with you?"

Zion took this in stride as he processed it. A lot was going through his brain. He wanted to get it all out.

The boy gave a small squirm. "What if... What if I have a bad dream at night?"

Emily saw what he was driving at. "Zy, are you wondering if you can cuddle with me when you're afraid of a bad dream?"

"Yeah..."

"I promise that you can cuddle with me any time you want." Emily held Zion's hands in her own. "And that especially includes bad dreams, my boy."

Zion felt like a heavy load had been lifted from his own two shoulders. "Whew. I feel better."

Emily hugged Zion and set him on the floor. "I'm happy to hear that. Please go play."

Zion left to find his toys.

"You handled that well." came a voice.

Emily turned to see Virginia. She was using her wheelchair today, and looking as beautiful as always in one of her many fascinating dresses. It was clear that she had been watching the entire time.

"What can I say?" shrugged Emily. "Loving that sweet boy is very easy."

Nearby, the main clock struck six. Virginia noticed.

"What would you say to takeout? Since it's a special occasion?" she maneuvered her chair closer. "My legs are also just not working tonight."

Emily closed small space in between them and kissed Virginia. "Yes to takeout. Just let me have a go at cooking when I get back from this next case."

"Deal, so long as you don't mind a pint-sized helper... For heaven's sake..."

She had looked across the room to Zion.

He had moved all of the couch pillows onto the floor and stacked them into a neat pile. Before proceeding to attempt a headstand. How? By continually kicking his feet off the ground so he could do the actual head-standing. It was to his parents' amazement that he almost had it.

"What is happening?" Emily murmured.

Virginia rolled eyes. "Welcome to the rest of your life. Emelise, our boy will be teaching that tactic to Eden in four or five years."

"Then we had better enroll them in gymnastics. And get tumbling mats for Zion." Emily said seriously. "Come on."

Virginia stared after Emily in wonder as she walked away. How had she gotten so lucky to find this gem?

Where most parents would try to discourage something like at-home headstands, Emily was coming up with a creative way to channel the energy into something constructive. She really couldn't argue against the logic.

So Virginia steered her chair to where Emily stood in front of the pillow pile.

"We've been watching you for a little," Virginia called out. "And we're impressed. You okay?"

Zion's response was muffled because his face remained obscured as he tried once more to attempt his new trick. "Yep!"

Emily stepped forward half a pace, catching Zion before he teetered again and held him straight. "How's that?"

"Good!" Zion squeaked.

Emily held back a laugh. "Is the blood rushing to your head?"

Pause. "Yep!"

"Would you like stand upright again?"

"Yes, mama!"

Emily helped Zion stand the right way again. She even knelt down on his level and kept him steady while he regained his composure.

"I'm good now." Zion told her when he felt better. "What's for dinner?"

"We're going to have takeout." Emily told him. "Do you like falafels?"

Confused, Zion tried the word. "Falalas?"

Virginia did everything she could not to have a chuckle at her son's gaffe.

Emily ignored her, keeping the focus on Zion. "Falafels are like the meatball's cousin. They're made of chickpeas."

Now Zion was completely intrigued. "What are those?"

"A kind of bean. Zy, are you curious about trying them now?"

"Uh-huh!" Zion looked at Emily's watch and then back at her. "Mama? When does the food get here?"

Emily almost broke into laughter. "I haven't ordered anything yet, little bird."

Zion giggled cutely. "Oh! I can't tell time!"

"Then that's a project we'll have to work on." Emily pointed to the mess behind Zion. "Please put everything back. You may go play again after that."

Zion followed through, electing after to play with River when he found one of her toys near the couch.

"Just wait until he find out that falafel sometimes goes in a bread pocket." Virginia said when Emily stood up again. "Thank heavens I craved a lot of Middle Eastern food when I carried him."

"But he's never had falafels—at least that he's been aware of? This will be fun."

Luckily, Zion was blown away by the meal. He even asked for seconds.

"You amaze me." Virginia told Emily after dinner as they sat on the couch. "First you got Zy to wind down from getting too silly about headstands, and then you successfully introduced him to a new food."

"Which he actually turned out to love." remarked Emily. "Does that happen often?"

Virginia shook her head. "Not often enough."

"I'll chalk that up to a fluke. Because his reaction to my travel plans was far from that."

Not surprisingly, Zion had had an epic meltdown after Emily told him what her plans for the next day were. He had thought that she was never coming back. Such a scenario frightened him.

The profiler had expected something like this to occur. At some point.

But she handled it well.

Emily waited with great patience while Zion raged. And while he cried himself out. She understood he had feelings to express. After he fizzled out, she provided Zion with a story about how it was her job to slay dragons. This was a tactic she remembered JJ telling her about one time. By the end, Zion felt proud of her. He was also extremely impressed that it was Emily's job to take care of other people.

After a round of hugs and kisses, the little boy finally arrived at an understanding that Emily would be returning. The reassurances were an anchor.

Zion soon fell asleep in Emily's lap. River even joined them. Virginia took a picture. Another nice family moment.

Virginia said, "How did you know how to handle that as well as you did? I think that was the unholiest of meltdowns I've ever seen Zion have. Bar none."

Emily shrugged. "Maybe it's because I've helped Michael through multiple atomic meltdowns. He and Henry seem to have no willpower to resist me. They will do anything I ask. Both have been that way their entire lives."

"Wow. That's one hell of a magic touch. Lucky that it extends."

Virginia moved closer towards Emily's end of the couch.

"Your things are put away in your room, Zion is asleep, everything is ready for whatever adventures that tomorrow will bring." Virginia reached out and rubbed Emily's legs. "Dare I ask what happened at the office? The overall feeling is abrupt. Like the rug was pulled out from underneath everybody."

"Well... that's exactly how it feels." Emily said with a shiver.

"Please tell me what happened. I want to know."

Emily would have said no if she hadn't known about Virginia being retired from the police force and the Marines. But this woman was way stronger than what the average person gave her credit for at first glance. In a word, she was elite.

So Emily told her girlfriend everything.

Virginia was a little dazed by the end. "Wow. That's more than a tad insane. And really did mistake Junior for Senior?"

"Uh-huh. June was utterly convinced. Will must look just like Senior did at that age."

"Wow. Did she even hear the part about Chase?"

Emily nodded. "Yeah, but who knows if she processed it? The very next moment was when she noticed Will. Part of me thinks that that was a small act of mercy. I'm hoping that June forgot."

Virginia sighed. "Me, too. Here's hoping that the next chapter doesn't involve any of our parents or siblings."

"Agreed. I had to call Amaya while I was at the office, by the way. It was to inform her of the case's new official status."

"Oh? How did that go?"

"Amaya was actually really understanding." Emily recollected. "She wasn't even angry..."

"What is it?" Virginia asked when Emily's voice trailed away.

Emily wondered how Virginia would take this next part. "We will be having a gathering of the families after I get back. Amaya is also game for one with us, herself, and my parents. I think she's getting impatient. Or else just very curious."

Virginia smirked. "We will plan the gathering without our parents, but Amaya called dibs on the other event, didn't she?"

"That would be correct." Emily admitted.

"I will call her tomorrow with a reminder about not going overboard. Amaya Elle Jo is talented at many things... including that of playing hostess."

Emily shuddered. "My mother has the same talent. Remind me to tell you about my tenth birthday party. Call Amaya when you can. Seriously."

"Don't worry about a thing." Virginia kissed Emily. "I promise to keep her in check."

"Thank y... what is that look?"

Virginia had an expression on her face that very nearly said, 'come hither.'

"Would it be alright if we watched TV and I just held you?" she picked up the remote from the coffee table in front of them. "Please?"

Emily immediately moved closer. Being in Virginia's arms was very enjoyable.

"I would love nothing more than that, just now."

"Perfect. Come here."

Virginia helped Emily settle against her. She loved holding this woman as much as she enjoyed being held. Emily even let a soft happy sigh when Virginia rested both hands on her baby bump. She loved being touched this way.

And it was more than nice to have a little bit of quiet in all the chaos that had been their lives lately.

But Emily woke suddenly from a tremendous thunderclap not long after midnight. It had started raining a few hours before.

She only just had time to process what happened when her bedroom door flew open. Zion ran in. River was beside him. Both had been upset by the noise.

River curled up next to Emily. She loved her. This bigger human always brought her joy.

But Zion got as far as moving to the middle of Emily's bed emitting a frightened noise. There had sounded a second rumble. But it was already getting further away.

Emily turned on her lamp and her arms out to Zion. "Oh, my baby boy. Come here."

Zion immediately scrambled to her other mother for his refuge. He sank into Emily's arms when she hugged him.

"I'm scared!" Zion cried.

"That's okay." Emily kissed the top of Zion's head. "Come have a cuddle with me. I'll hold you for awhile."

Zion relaxed a little bit at Emily's words. "Love you."

Emily gave him a hug. "I love you, too."

The little boy relaxed even more.

Emily's phone suddenly lit up with a text from Virginia. Will you please check on Z?

He & the cat just showed up to my room on their own. I've got this xo, Emily sent.

Thank you xo

Emily looked down at Zion. He wasn't crying as much anymore and was now just holding on to her sleeping shirt for security. It melted her heart that he had this much trust in her. Already.

"Zion," Emily rubbed soothing circles on his back. "Will you please look at me?"

He did as he gave a big yawn. "Yes, mama?"

Emily pointed to her ears and then at the bedroom window. "It's getting quieter now. That means the thunder is already moving away. Do you understand?"

"Yes, mama." Zion repeated in confirmation.

"Perfect." Emily praised him. "Did you know that when I was little, I was afraid of thunder and lightning?"

Zion looked at Emily in great astonishment. "For real?"

"Yes. Want to know a secret that helped me be brave?"

Zion rubbed his eyes but nodded. "Please."

"I thought of Thor. He's the superhero in charge of thunder. All of it. Guess what I told myself?"

Zion gave another yawn, but was determined to stay awake. "Hm?"

"I told myself that all the light is Thor juggling lightning bolts. The loud noise happens when he drops them."

Zion let out an amused snorting giggle. "That is way silly. Will you tell me a story? About Thor? Please?"

One look at Zion told Emily that he would be asleep very soon. "I'll you after I come back from handling the dragons and helping people. Deal?"

"Okay." Zion gave his biggest yawn yet.

Emily helped Zion to sit up. "Ready to go back to your bed?"

"Yes, mama."

"Okay. Hang on."

Emily crossed her bedroom and extracted an old t-shirt from one of her dresser drawers. All of her clothes held the scent of her lavender perfume.

"This is for you, little bird." Emily held the t-shirt our to him when she drew level with her bed once more. "It's my shirt. Keep it."

Zion took the shirt in hand, inhaling the scent. "It has your smell! I like that!"

"Fantastic." Emily helped Zion to stand on the floor. "You good to walk?"

Zion gave a sleepy nod.

"Then do you need anything?" Emily asked him. "Like the potty?"

"Uh-huh." Zion had his umpteenth yawn. "So sleepy…"

"Then let's get you back to bed."

Zion let Emily steer him back across the way. River followed. She jumped up to join her tiny human after he was tucked in. Walking downstairs was too much effort just then. She was tired.

"Look at that." Emily kissed Zion's head. "River wants to cuddle. She'll watch over your dreams now."

Zion sighed contently as he sank into sleep under his covers. "I love her."

"She loves you, too." Emily watched Zion hold her t-shirt close like a stuffed animal. "Just sleep. You're okay. Sleep now."

"Good night, mama. Love you."

Emily gave Zion's hair another kiss. "Love you, too. Good night."

And Zion was out like a light.

Emily tucked him in and then plugged his nightlight in the socket. River had accidentally knocked it out. Then Emily left the bedroom door open a crack. Just how Zion liked it.

When Emily made it back to her room, she sent a text to Virginia. Z is asleep in his own bed now.

You are magical. Good night, Virginia sent.

Emily had only just exited out of her texting application when her phone lit up with an actual incoming call. The number are through as unknown.

But Emily cleared her throat and pressed accept.

"Hello?" she said. "This is Special Agent Prentiss."

"I apologize to be calling so late." came a collected tone in her ears. "This is Doctor Weaving. We met earlier today at the hospital."

Emily sat up straighter. "Yes. Hello. What may I do for you?"

The physician sighed. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but June McCann passed away an hour ago."