JJ happily looked after Polly when they got to the hospital, and she gave her a bath and washed her hair, too. They were also supplied with clean clothes and shoes for Polly to wear, and feeling very worn out, Polly didn't try to fight against JJ when she helped her get dressed. JJ even held Polly and gave her kisses to calm her down when it came time for her to get the stitches for the wound in her arm. Sore from that and having somewhat of an adrenaline crash, Polly fell asleep after eating her first full meal in what had been far too long.

It was during that time that the families of all of the girls were contacted and asked them to come to the hospital. Wanting to feel useful, Penelope spearheaded that operation and even roped Spencer in when the girls found him awkward and funny. Smitten with JJ because she had pale skin and freckles, blond hair and blue eyes just like she did, Polly imprinted on her and wouldn't tolerate being separated from her until her family arrived. JJ didn't mind, though, because it reminded her of the special time that she'd spent with Zooey in Oregon and Hope and Vivian Greenway in that same hospital a short time ago.

All JJ wanted, though, was to see Emily.

Emily also wanted that, but unfortunately, by the time the paramedics caught up with her and assessed her injuries, she was pretty banged up. The medical professionals that she spoke to after getting admitted to the hospital all told her that there was no way that she would be leaving New York before the day was out.

On the bright side, though, the baby was perfectly healthy, and Emily was even able to learn her child's gender.


"Emelia?"

She looked up at the sound of her name, her heart absolutely jumping for joy at the sight of the person in front of her.

"Jennifer! You're here, you're here!"

As Emily and JJ almost never called each other by their actual names, hearing her full name from the love of her life at a moment like this reduced her to mush immediately.

JJ had Polly in tow in a wagon, and since she had nodded off after getting the stitches, JJ parked the wagon in the corner of the room before approaching the bed.

Emily was hooked up to a number of wires and other such things, as well as an oxygen supply and IV line because she'd left that basement dehydrated. At some point along the way during her admittance, she'd also been dressed in a hospital gown and was also issued a hospital bracelet, too.

JJ's gaze then fell to Emily's injuries, namely her left ankle. It was bare and propped up on a pillow because it was bright red and swollen, to boot.

"Baby," JJ said in a tone that made it sound as though she was about to cry. "What did they do to you?"

"Those bastards beat me because they first got paranoid and then very upset when they realized that Jacoby sold them ou—"

JJ had come a little closer to Emily and made to brush some stray hair out of her face... but Emily's fear kicked in and she flinched.

"I'm sorry." JJ backed off immediately, feeling her heart sink a little bit. "Did I do something wrong?"

Emily shook her head as tears of shame fell down her face. "No, you didn't. They hurt me so badly and for so long that not only do I have a twisted ankle amongst everything else, but now I flinch whenever anyone comes near me."

Memories of the ordeal with Baylor and its repercussions came rushing back to JJ, so she asked, "They broke your spirit?"

"Almost, but not entirely."

Now JJ almost felt shy and shuffled her feet. "Is it alright if I hug you and kiss you right now, Emelia?"

"Yes, but you're going to have to deal with me and my achy, jumpy body until I get better."

JJ sat with Emily on the bed and without making any suddenly movements, she hugged her love. Emily reciprocated the affection and only jumped a little bit.

"If you helped me with my pain and trauma," JJ said as she pulled apart and made herself comfortable on the bed. "Then I can and will help you with yours."

"In sickness and in health, and for better or for worse, and all that?"

"Exactly, although we aren't married."

JJ kissed Emily on the lips. "Yet. We aren't married yet."

They both sat quietly for a few beats, imagining their big day while both trying not think that they weren't even engaged yet. JJ even made a mental note to call Haley and Cho for another get-together so she could pry them about how they were proposed to. She even pondered calling her brother or even asking Hotch about their version of events. Emily's parents were definitely good people to talk to about this. JJ definitely made up her mind right then and there that she was going to be the one to propose.

Their moment was broken when the twins all of a sudden decided to take matters into their own feet by giving JJ such big kicks that even Emily felt them.

"Wow." she remarked. "Feels like you've got a pair of bruisers in there, Jayje."

"Nope—just a pair of spritely baby princesses."

Emily's heart went light. "So we're getting a daughters, just like you wanted?"

JJ nodded and indicated Emily's middle. "Know anything about who's in there?"

Emily's eyes flickered towards JJ's hand closest to her, like she was pondering whether or not to hold it, but the next second, her attention was drawn elsewhere as she felt the baby kick her. JJ wasn't a profiler, but she was very adept at reading both Emily and even general body language, so she caught the hesitancy. She didn't say anything about it because she understood it, but now that she was used to being so affectionate with Emily, she wouldn't lie that it hurt a little bit.

"That's our baby boy."

JJ's eyes immediately brimmed over with tears. "A boy and two girls?"

"Y—oh, don't cry, JJ!"

The blond's feelings were now getting the best of her and she was actually crying now.

"I can't help it; this is exactly what I've wanted!"

Emily reached over and wiped JJ's tears, a move that both surprised the younger woman and made her fall even more in love.

"You're in luck—two daughters and a son is also the line up that I've always wanted... ooo..."

"Is he kicking?"

"Like nothing else. Give me your hand."

JJ did and soon felt her son press a heel against her palm, quickly followed by his other heel.

"Hey, little man." JJ leaned forward and spoke softly to the baby. "I'm your mommy, and I'm so happy to meet you."

Emily brushed out a wrinkle in her garment, feeling on the shy side herself now. "Don't be shy—give him a kiss. It's okay."

JJ happily pressed gentle kisses to Emily's bump.

"I love you so much, baby boy," and I can't wait until you and your sisters are here so I can hold all of you and give all of you hugs and kisses."

The baby kicked more, and, according to Emily, turned a complete somersault.

"What's going on?" A new voice asked.

Polly was awake and sitting up in her wagon.

JJ immediately turned to her and beckoned to her. "Please come here, baby girl."

Clutching her doll, Polly got out of her wagon and when got to JJ, she hugged her briefly and gave her her doll for safekeeping before approaching Emily's bed and talking to her.

"Hi, Emelia. Sorry about your aches and stuff."

"Thanks, Apollinariya."

The little girl pointed to Emily's free hand. "Please can I hold it?"

Emily almost wanted to say no because of her newfound opinions about touching, but that would've just been mean, so in an act of strength, she extended her hand to her little friend.

Polly took it in both of her small ones and touched it to her cheek.

"Thank you for keeping all of us very safe." she kissed Emily's palm before gently placing her whole hand on the blanket with utmost care. "Will you be alright?"

"I will be, and that was really nice of you to ask."

Polly beamed, and then thinking of Sasha, queried, "Emelia, is the baby happy?"

"Yes, he is, and he's healthy, too."

"It's a boy?

Emily nodded, so Polly turned to JJ.

"What do you have?"

"Two baby girls, just like you and Luna."

Polly rubbed at her eyes. "Where is she and everyone?"

Big fat puppydog tears formed in her eyes and she laid her head in JJ's lap, taking deep steadying breaths as she tried to calm herself. JJ immediately caressed Polly's hair as she looked at her, speaking to her with love that only a mother could give.

"Everyone's families are on the way here, sweetheart, including yours. A little bit ago, while you were asleep, Sasha called me and she told me that she, Sloan, Luna, and both of Sloan's parents are all coming to see you right now. They're just going to pick up Estefani first because she's also really excited to see you."

A muffled, "Really?" could be heard from JJ's lap.

JJ continued to stroke Polly's hair. "Yes, and Emelia and I will keep an eye on you. Is that okay?"

Polly just nodded and continued and continued to lay her head on JJ's lap, loving the affection.

A few minutes later, the received a visitor in the form of the brightly dressed, bubbly, pregnant Penelope Garcia, although she didn't come past the doorway.

"Emily, JJ," she addressed her friends. "Is it alright if I borrow Polly for something out here a second?"

"It's okay." Emily told Polly when she looked at her. "Penelope is our friend, and she helped look for us when we were gone."

Polly found this answer to be satisfactory because she promptly left her guardians and exited the room, even taking Penelope's hand when she offered it.

Genuinely curious about what Penelope was up to, JJ and Emily waited to saw what was going to happen, although they didn't have long to wait at all—they were soon treated to the sight of the technical analyst and her favorite 'Junior G Man' herding Polly and the rest of the girls in. All of the girls were clean, in fresh clothes, and had all been fed, so their morale was a lot better, compared to how it had been a few hours ago. They were each holding two silk flower bouquets apiece and no two bouquets were alike.

The least shy out of everybody, Tatiana stepped forward to Emily and held out a bouquet of daisies.

"These are for you for taking care of us."

"Thank you, Tatiana. This is a really thoughtful thing to do."

Tatiana blushed furiously before turning to JJ and handing her a wildflower bouquet.

"You get flowers, too."

JJ didn't see that coming at all, so as she took the flowers, she said, "Thank you, dear Tatiana. This is very nice of you and everyone else to do."

Tatiana became even more bashful. "They're for you because Emily is your love, and also for looking after Polly until her family comes to collect her."

"Is it alright if I hug you?"

Tatiana nodded and melted into JJ's embrace.

That prompted everyone else distributing their flowers and showing affection to JJ, Emily, and even the babies. JJ loved every moment of it, and when she looked over at her girlfriend, she felt her heart swell with loved because just for those few moments, Emily's woes and aches ebbed away as she enjoyed it, too.

Over by the door, Penelope gave a happy sigh as she watched her handiwork in action while she took pictures on her phone.

Spencer was next to her and also happily surveying the scene, as well. Happy endings were always the best.

Spencer was also the first to get a phone call from Hotch, who informed him that the girls' families had all arrived and that all but Polly's were waiting for them over in the children's wing; Polly's family was coming directly to Emily's room.

Hotch also informed Spencer to tell Penelope that she would be assigned to Polly's family, guiding them around and answering questions until it was time for them to go.

Within five minutes of that phone call, though, the room was quiet, and it was JJ, Emily, and Polly again.

Just as Polly was beginning to feel stomach butterflies, a voice littler than hers filled the air.

"POLLY!"

It was Luna—she'd been a foot or so ahead of the others, and as a result, she entered the room first. When Polly saw her niece, she began to cry and she knelt on her knees in the middle of the floor and beckoned to her. Even though Luna was a little unsteady on her feet, she made a beeline for Polly, and when she reached her, she was all giggles as Polly hugged her and praised her for doing such a good job.

If JJ and Emily hadn't already been such puddles, witnessing the bond between Polly and Luna would have been enough to do both of them in on the spot.

When Penelope arrived with Sasha, Sloan, Ingrid, Atticus, and Estefani a few moments later—she'd suddenly had to do a last-second job of calming them all down again—Polly saw them and became overwhelmed with such joy that that she fell all the way to the floor, crying even more. She loved her family very dearly and had missed all of them.


A little while into the reunions Sloan gave Polly to Estefani and approached Emily's bed. As ever, Sasha was beside him, and while she wanted to speak, she let Sloan do it because he'd been looking forward to it.

"Thank you for bringing Polly back and looking after her." he told the agents. "We can't even begin to tell you how grateful and thankful we are."

Emily smiled. "Rescuing little ones from scary situations and looking after them is part of the job, so you are very welcome. We're as relieved as you are that she's back, too."

"We were wondering if we could ask you two something important, but we'd totally understand if you say no."

"Don't quit while you're ahead, Sloan," JJ said gently. "And please don't forget to breathe."

Sloan took JJ's advice and noisily exhaled. "We're getting married in August, after the baby comes; it's going to be a small affair, and we were wondering if you two and your children, of course, would attend."

JJ and Emily didn't even have to confer with each other on that one because they both knew exactly what they other would say.

Then even answered in unison.

"We would love to come."

Sloan and Sasha thanked them all over again.