Surprised was the first feeling that came to Emily's mind. June was dead? After all this? But they had only just found her.

Emily spoke softly. "Thanks for telling me. How...?"

"June had a sudden stroke in her sleep. Very unexpected." Doctor Weaving explained. "But your visit made her so happy. She was last surviving member of her kin."

An idea suddenly popped into Emily's head. "Would it be alright if I or one of my team claimed her body? Laying her to rest in a dignified way is the least we can do."

"Wow. That's really generous. Do you have a more preferred time discuss arrangements later on."

Emily rubbed her eyes. "We will most likely be traveling to another state, but any time after ten works."

"Then I will talk to you around then. Have a good night."

Emily wished Weaving the same.

But she called JJ after. It was only right.

Yet, she felt lonely when that task had been accomplished.

Emily stole out of her bedroom and all the way down to Virginia's on the first floor. Perhaps...

Emily gave her girlfriend's shoulder a gentle shake. "Ace?"

The woman in question woke and focused on Emily's outline in the gloom. "Hey. What's wrong? Z?"

"Everyone is fine. I... uh... I've had a call from the doctor that we met with yesterday. A stroke just took June. She's gone, but she didn't suffer."

Virginia sat up. "No suffering is good. That's too bad she's gone, though. How are you?"

"All I know is that it's out of my hands." Emily told her. "Doctor Weaving did agree to let me or someone from the team claim June's body. Was that the right thing?"

"Yes. It was the only thing you could do. For that, I'm proud."

Virginia hugged and kissed Emily as she laid back down. A segue.

"Come stay in bed with me. Please. Did you call JJ?"

Emily set her phone on the bedside table. "Mhm. I also spent fifteen minutes with Little Bird."

Virginia tugged gently on Emily's shirt. "Did he have a bad dream?"

Emily laid with Virginia, facing her. "Yes. He burst in with River after that one big thunderclap and they climbed on to my bed."

"What did you do?"

"I held Zy for awhile, and told him about a trick to get over the bad weather. Can't believe I pulled it off."

"Oh? Were you scared of thunder and lightning when you were a kid?"

Emily nodded. "I really was. The fear was crippling. Is that ridiculous?"

"Not one bit. You know about my bird phobia, but I'm also scared of snakes and creepy-crawlies."

"Even though you've been to places where all of those things run wild. Amazing. I guess you got over it?"

"Yep. What cured your fear?"

Emily blushed slightly. "My mother convinced me when I was about Zion's age that the god of thunder was juggling lightning bolts in the clouds."

Virginia didn't break. "I suppose the crashes of sound was the lightning bolts being dropped? How long did you buy it?"

"Until I was old enough to understand basic science." Emily admitted. "What do you think?"

Virginia continued watching Emily. "I think that that is adorable. You employed this on Zy?"

Emily nodded again. "Yes, and he was awed. I also gave him one of my shirts to keep. Who knows? It may come in handy while I'm away."

Virginia found herself wondering for the briefest of moments what Emily's thoughts on eloping were. Hopefully good.

"You're totally thinking like a mom." she finally said. "Zion is going to remember that for a long time. He really will. Is he in bed now?"

"Yep. He's fast asleep. River stuck with him."

"When I was pregnant, River would lay atop my belly and purr when Zion kicked up a storm. It always calmed him. Now there are days when she's more his cat than mine." Virginia laughed. "Hell of a first night."

Emily gave a sleepy nod. Virginia's charming southern accent was very soothing.

"I love you." Virginia kissed her girlfriend's forehead. "Good night, my sweet Mila."

"Good night."

Emily's last thoughts as she drifted off to sleep mere moments later were of the new monicker that had just been bestowed on her.

Mila.

The name meant gracious. Dear.

It was also a name that Emily had always liked.

And no one had ever used it on her before. Her own dear Ace got bonus points for that.

Across town, JJ and Will were awoken abruptly from a peaceful slumber.

Their evening had ended after a fulfilling round of sex after they'd retired to their bedroom for the night. How nice not to be around peril. Even for one moment in time.

Plus... they were so worn out by the end that the bad weather hadn't phased them.

But the phone did.

Will groaned. "Cher, that's you."

JJ let out her own groan. Both babies were already reacting to being woken up suddenly. It was uncomfortable.

She checked her phone after she was able to catch her breath. Emily was calling her.

Praying that this wasn't a call to drive in to Quantico, JJ answered her phone. "Emelise? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. So is my family." there was a pause. "Actually... I just got a call from Doctor Weaving. Turns out that June passed in her sleep from a stroke about an hour ago."

"Damn. What a blow. Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just bummed out."

"Same. This a big setback." JJ said. "Let's tell the team at ten. I'll inform Will. He can call Amaya and Primrose later. Go back to bed."

Emily stifled a yawn. "Thanks, Jayje. Good night."

JJ echoed her. "Good night."

Will spoke into the silence when his wife laid with him again. "Jennifer? What just happened?"

She sighed. "Em told me that June passed away from a stroke in her sleep. I'm really sorry."

This was the last thing Will had been expecting. "Oh. Small mercies, then. I just feel a little cheated now. That woman was our last living cooperative link. When should I make the rest of the calls?"

"After you've had some sleep." JJ stroked Will's beard. "Please trust me."

Will kissed her. "I trust you with my life. Always have."

"Right back at you. Good night, babe."

Will called Amaya before leaving the house that morning to tell her about June.

It wasn't until the call ended that Amaya breathed an extra noisy sigh.

Her only major feeling was one of relief.

What was the point of actually being being sad about the person who had wrecked her (ill-fated) marriage?

Ten o'clock.

Luke sighed when he and the others filed in to the conference room. Emily and JJ were both standing together at the head of the table.

"Why are you two looking so grim?" Luke asked them.

JJ pointed to the table. "Please. Have a seat. All of you."

Everyone settled fast.

"Who died?" Matt asked blankly.

"June did." Emily and JJ said together.

"Excuse me?!" the others yelped.

"It's true." Emily continued to be as calm as she could. "Her doctor called me early this morning to say that she had a stroke just before midnight."

JJ added on a few thoughts. "Emily called me not long after that, and I told Will. He phoned his mother after breakfast. I imagine he'll also have clued Primrose in by now. And their CO."

"Alright." said Tara. "What about Virginia, then?"

Emily somehow kept a straight face as she delivered the answer. "I actually moved in with her last night, so I was able to tell her the news just after I received it."

Everyone read the situation rightly and felt joy for Emily. They knew she'd been through a lot recently. But this wasn't the time to celebrate like they wanted to. Congratulations would be had on the jet.

Rossi sat back in his chair. "We're pleased for you, Emily. Now I'm just wondering if that's that…"

Spencer shook his head. "I wouldn't think so because it's more like a step back."

Penelope nodded. "Yep. This mess isn't even the first time we've hit a humdinger."

"Oh, so very true." agreed Rossi. "I'm sure we'll start this back up again. Eventually. Somehow."

"Getting through insanity seems to be our specialty, but now both McCanns are dead." remarked Luke. "What do we do on that front?"

Even JJ looked to Emily for an answer.

"Doctor Weaving agreed when I asked if one of us could claim the body. June deserves to be buried beside her son." Emily told them. "I should be getting a call about those arrangements in awhile."

Rossi heard the worry in his friend's tone. "You're doing the right thing. Helping June out like is the least we can do. Really."

"Thanks, Dave. I needed that." Emily gave him a smile and then cleared her throat before addressing everyone. "That is that. I'm now yielding the floor over to Penelope. Looks like we're going to Vermont."

Emily and JJ made it on to the jet first.

Today, they had made it down to the requisition desk in record timing. Everyone else would be along. Soon.

Emily found herself quite glad that JJ was her only company. "I adore being pregnant, but I so do not like what lack of a straight night of sleep is doing to me."

JJ set down two hot mugs of tea on the table in front of Emily before taking the seat opposite her. "Yikes."

"I ended up with a cat and a toddler in my bed."

"Wow. That must have been a trip." JJ laughed. "I used to crawl into my sister's bed when it stormed. Roz knew the more intense nights frightened me. Never complained about it. She just held me and let me sleep."

"That's really precious." Emily said kindly. "I love hearing stories about your sister."

JJ looked out of the window for a few moments. The tarmac techs could be seen loading their luggage. And the rest of the team was approaching from the other side of the area. No time to really delve into old memories like she wanted to.

"My sister also had a really friendly pet cat. Raised her from a kitten." she recalled. "Molly loved snuggles. What's Virginia's cat like?"

"River is a goofball, but incredibly sweet. Pleasing her is easy because she loves me."

JJ raised an eyebrow. "And what about Zion? He worships you."

"I held Zion during the gale until he was ready to sleep in his own bed. After dinner, I even talked him through a total nuclear meltdown."

"Pardon me?" JJ squawked.

Emily stirred her drink. "It's what happened."

"You're incredible. Welcome to the rest of your life, Emelise."

"And that's exactly what Virginia said to me… after we noticed our kid attempting headstands in the living room."

JJ set down her own mug of tea before she accidentally spilled it. "Zion did what?!"

"He moved all the couch pillows to the floor and kept kicking his feet off the floor while his head was in the middle of the pile. Zion's thought process was there, but... just not enough momentum."

"Astounding. Did Zion achieve his goal?"

"Only because I held him steady for a few moments until he caved because of a blood rush." Emily said casually.

"Sounds about right. Bringing up little boys is no walk in the park." JJ sighed. "What did Virginia do?"

"Everything in her power not to laugh at the learning moment." Emily continued stirring her tea. "But Virginia also said that Zion will be teaching headstands to Eden in five years or so. Thank God my family isn't to wrestling."

JJ laughed more when Emily shuddered. "Then did you at least come up with a way to channel Zion's energy?"

"I did: putting Zion in gymnastics lessons, and perhaps purchasing tumbling mats. Which reminds me..."

Emily excused herself from the conversation and started a phone search for what they had been discussing.

She didn't want to forget. It had been with total sincerity that she had suggested these creative outlets for Zion. Besides, if he constantly kept her on her toes, then she would return the favor. Literally. This would also be a great character-building experience.

JJ realized what Emily was doing. And she let her be. It was good to see her friend diving into something normal.

So JJ elected to just let Emily be a mom for a few more minutes until it was time to focus on the real world again.

It was the least that she could do.