A/N: here comes a long chapter, a lot to uncover in it. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed or favorited this story. They'll go home soon, in the next chapter, so tell me: what you imagine their life together will be like?

I have imagined their story up until JJ is a grown-up, and it excites me…

Remember English is not my first language, so I'm sorry for any mistakes.

I'm open to suggestions or requests.

Don't forget to review pretty please.

No words. Jennifer's mouth didn't know no words anymore. No answer to the pending questions, no cry-outs for help, no words at all. Her mind could put sentences together, but her mouth wouldn't let her spit them out. She didn't know what the problem was, or what would happen to her; she didn't know where to find her sister so she could talk again. So she could ask her where they would go now, what should they do. The only thing she knew for now, was that the nice agent made her feel safe. She hugged her and JJ didn't feel scared that her daddy would show up to take her again. It was like she could shield her from the fear that haunted her her entire life.

Emily had noticed how the little girl had relaxed in her embrace, but didn't motion to break it away, so she just kept hugging her. No words, just presence. Prentiss didn't know how long she sat there, holding the frail girl, but it didn't take long for her to feel the weight of her body heavier against her and so she figured JJ had given into the exhaustion. She repositioned her on her embrace but wasn't ready to let her go just yet. At the end the little girl wasn't the only one seeking the comfort, and that's when Emily knew it wasn't about saving a troubled girl… it was about them saving each other.

Images of her 15-year-old-self flashing through her mind, when she had made the scarring decision to abort the only child who she ever carried inside her. Images of Declan and the love she felt for him, even if in a less than ideal context… the belief she reached after not being able to foster Carrie, that she was being punished for killing her own baby, believing she was bound to not experience this motherly love that she had inside. She noticed a drop of water in the girl's gown and reached her own face to check if she was crying, and she was. Maybe she'd been punished enough, maybe this would be her second chance after all. She caressed the little girl's hair, taking thin blonde hair out of her face; she was definitely the one being saved right now.

Early next morning Penelope arrived at the hospital, with Derek and Kate who had insisted on picking her up at the airport and driving her to see Emily and Jennifer. The scene they witnessed when they reached the room's door brought a smile to the three adult's faces: Emily had fallen asleep at the bed, with a tiny blondie curled up by her side, holding the brunette's blouse in her fist. No words, Garcia just took her phone out and snapped a picture. It wasn't their happiest scenario, maybe not an usual happy ending, but it was proof that bright things could grow from tragedy. And that would be the first memory they could keep of their newest family member.

"My gumdrop is just perfect" Garcia said, checking the picture on her phone and checking the real scene in front of her again

"And there it is, she's a real member of the family now that Pen gave her a proper nickname" Derek said, smiling at her who smirked back

"Vanilla Cupcake could be an alternate though. Sugarplum Fairy, or…"

"We get it Pen, you love her" Kate said "I bet she'll love spending time with you as well… Emily will have trouble with you huh, you spoil Meg every chance you get, I can't imagine how much you'll spoil this little one"

"Oh my sporty spice, you can bet I'll spoil her. Are you kidding me?" at that Emily opened her eyes at the noise, even though it sounded distant. She blinked, and soon her eyes found the familiar voices over the door. She smiled and got off the bed slowly so she wouldn't wake JJ up. "Oh, look who's up" she said excitedly

"Shhh" Emily said, walking towards her friends "She'll wake up"

"Oh I'm sorry, I'm just so excited" the blonde said, pulling her best friend into a tight hug, almost squeezing the life out of her making the brunette chuckle as she hugged her back. "So, tell me everything. I brought a bunch of candy, I didn't know what she likes so I had to chose one of each, and –"

"Calm down crazy lady" Emily said, taking a look at her friend "You didn't have to buy anything" at that Kate was the one to chuckle

"Good luck with that"

"God, oh god my wonder woman! She's perfect isn't she?" Garcia said, now looking at the girl, and holding Prentiss' hand.

"Any updates on her?" Derek asked and Emily gave a little shrug, reaching her phone that had vibrated on her pocket, to see a message from Hotch "Will she be released today?"

"I'm not sure yet. They scheduled her psychological evaluation today and also an asthma testing" Emily typed a response to Hotch quickly, so he would know she saw his message about being at the precinct and that he'd come over at lunchtime, so they'd eat together. She sighed, and looked up at her friends again "I think she won't be here longer than until tomorrow though"

"Did she sleep well?" Kate asked

"Better than expected. A few nightmares, but the medicines helped her rest as well. Although…"

"What?"

"She hasn't spoken yet. Anything at all" she ran her hand through her hair, all adults now looking at the sleeping child

"She's in shock" Derek said "You know how those things are princess, she'll come around soon" she nodded, but before she could answer JJ started to stir, and she walked by her bed, the others getting a little closer but still keeping their distance – even though Garcia wanted to jump and hug her like a bear.

"Mhmmm" the girl mumbled, trying to get away from yet another nightmare, her body starting to trash around a little

"It's okay baby, you're safe now" Emily told her for what it seemed to be the millionth time. "Open your eyes slug-a-bug, I'm right here" and there it was, big blue eyes looking at her again, and the woman smiled at her, brushing her blonde hair out of her face "It's alright, juts a bad dream my love" she held her little hand and the girl squeezed it - Emily already understanding all the little ways the girl would talk to her, without saying the words. "Good girl" JJ looked around and noticed the other adults, not really getting scared of them, but trying to remember their faces. She recognized two of them, but wasn't sure where from "Hey, those are our friends. You've met Derek and Kate before" Emily said, and they smiled at her

"Hey kiddo" Derek said, and Kate waved at her

"And this is Penelope. She's a friend too, she came from afar just so she could meet you" Emily said, and JJ looked at the colorful figure beside her with curiosity. The tech analyst couldn't help herself and walked closer to the bed, a big smile on her face

"Hi there gumdrop" she said, waving a little at her, excitedly. The room was still for a moment, everyone watching for the girl's response, while she kept studying the blonde woman, until she lifted her hand and waved back with a little smile on her lips. Emily looked at her best friend in shock, she hadn't seen JJ smile not even a little bit until now. Penelope's eyes filled with water as she also knew that, even thought it might seem something so little, was an important breakthrough, and she had been part of it. She looked up at Emily, who was still right beside the child, and looked back at her with her face in surprise and her own big smile. "I was so, so, so excited to get to meet you" the blonde said, stepping closer to her.

"Ugh, I feel like we haven't seen each other in a while" Emily told her boyfriend as they sat at the hospital cafeteria later that day. "The day isn't even over, and I feel like I been living it for days on end" Hotch reached for her hand over the table, and squeezed it

"You need your rest too" he said "Soon we'll all be going home, I promise" she nodded "And we now have more information about her, that's good"

"We didn't find her mother though" she sighed "What about Roslyn's investigation? Are you sure there isn't anything we can do?"

"Unfortunately no" he said as she retrieved her hand back away from his again, cupping her coffee in her hands "Even though we have reasonable doubt if she actually committed suicide, forensics didn't find his prints on the razor blades"

"That doesn't mean anything!"

"I know, I know… but they ruled it as a suicide. They are overworked, dealing with three murders, this little town has turned upside down" he reasoned with her "Even if they tried Roslyn's death as murder, it wouldn't change much of anything… he's going away for life, maybe even get the death penalty for the other three, you know that"

"It changes everything" she put her coffee down "It changes the way JJ sees what happened, and if we let that happen, he wins; don't you understand?"

"I do honey" he said, trying to reach her hand again "I do, I promise. But you can't control this. We'll help her cope with all of it, and the cause of her death don't have to have so much impact in that. You know why?" she shrugged "Because she has you… She has us, and we'll help her cope"

"I know, I know" she ran her hand through her hair "I'm just worried. And tired"

"Getting coffee for lunch isn't gonna help much you know" he said with a smirk, and she smiled at him. "But tell me, how was the meeting with the social worker?"

"It was good. All settled" she smiled for real now, her eyes shining at the statement, and that brought a genuine smile to Hotch's face as well "We talked while Jayje had the assessment with the psychologist. I need your opinion about something though"

"What is it?"

"They are having a memorial for all the girls tomorrow" she started

"And they think JJ should go?" Emily nodded "What do you think?"

"I… I don't know" she sighed again "I understand she has to face what happened, but… The entire town will be there, reporters… and then seeing Roslyn again, I don't think… I can't imagine" she took a deep breath "She's just a little girl, Aaron!"

"What did the psychologist say?"

"Well… she thinks JJ still can't process the fact that Roslyn is not coming back, so she believes we need to let her face the goodbye so she can start healing. She says she needs this to cope" she repeated part of her conversation with the psychologist earlier that day. "I just feel…"

"You want to protect her, I get it" he said "I felt the same way when Haley died, all I wanted was to protect Jack from all the pain"

"But?"

"But they're right honey. They might be little, but they also need closure. And she won't be alone right? We'll be there, all of us" she smiled at him and nodded. She knew they were right, but it was hard to accept that she'd have to see the little girl suffering even more. Emily promised she'd protect her.

"Let's get going?" she said, not wanting to talk about it anymore and Hotch knew not to push her "Garcia is with her now, but I don't want to take too long"

"Of course, but we'll get some real food in you on the way" and then they went to the Jareau's household one last time to get JJ's things, and whatever Emily found important for her to keep.

"And then, you wouldn't believe it" Emily could hear Garcia's voice all the way from the hallway as she walked back towards JJ's room at the hospital and smiled. She reached the room, stopping for a while to take in the scene of her best friend excitedly telling the little girl some story, while the kid sat in her bed, legs crossed, looking up at her attentively, hanging into every word "The queen declared a war… and not any war, oh no my dear sugarplum; she declared a tickling war" and she started tickling the blonde girl, her faint laugher filling the space around her. Garcia noticed Emily's presence, looking at her standing by the door, with a huge silly smile on her face "Oh, oh look at that miss Jayje, there's someone here who thinks she can get away from this war" the blonde went to her friend, tickling her too

"Okay, I surrender" Emily said, getting inside "I surrender to the queen" she chuckled and heard JJ's laughter again. She had never heard her laugh and it made her heart miss a beat. It wasn't a full-on laughter, it still didn't have all the life she would like for it to have, but it was the most precious sound she had ever heard "Oh, you think that's funny don't you" she told the girl, who nodded with a smirk, and pressed the button of her nose.

"We should tell Emily about how amazing you did with the test" Garcia hinted, expecting for some answer, but none of them making a big of a deal when she didn't answer

"Was it good? I didn't want to have missed it but…"

"Don't worry snow white, everything went great. Reid was here too; they were almost instant BFF's. Not like me, she likes me better, don't you gumdrop?"

"Garcia, about the test?" Emily said, while smiling at her friend's antics, but wanting to know about the asthma test they would perform with JJ that day.

"Oh yeah, about that. Our little Jayje here did awesome, Dr. Vreeland said she would talk to you about it later" Emily sighed but didn't press for more details in front of the girl. She looked at the little one and caressed her cheek, looking at her lovingly, so happy to see her doing better, but sad because she still had to talk to her about difficult things. "Oh, speaking of her" the doctor had entered the room

"You were talking about me? I hope good things" the nice doctor said, and smiled at the little girl "My friend JJ here will tell me everything, so be careful"

"Hey Dr. Vreeland, I was just asking about the test" the doctor nodded and stepped forward, checking on the girl's IV and temperature, then listening to her breathing with her stethoscope.

"Alright. Can you follow me agent Prentiss?" she asked. Emily nodded and looked down at the girl.

"I'll be right back okay" she gave her a kiss on the forehead without actually thinking about it, and freezing a little later, afraid she would react badly, but the girl just nodded at her. Emily smiled and cupped her cheek before stepping outside the room. "So, how is she doing?" the doctor put her hands in her lab coat's pockets.

"She's doing remarkably well, in all senses. I must tell you; I'm surprised at her capacity to heal" Emily nodded at that, proudly

"She's a tough girl"

"That she is. We managed to take care of the dehydration, now she's still a little anemic, but that's something you'll have to take care in long-term. Not just that, she has asthma, we confirmed that with the testing today. Of course, like I told you before, this is just an emergency measure, there are other tests and procedures you'll have to have to assess the details and gravity of the condition"

"But… from what you gathered, what you think? It can't be severe, right? I mean, she's an active girl, she plays soccer… It would be compromising her ability to do so, right?"

"Well, it's not that simple. I don't believe is a severe case, but it's probably a mild one. The problem is, as it was never treated, she's probably used to the most recurring symptoms, what makes her notice the effects only when having a bigger crisis. The lack of treatment might also have damaged her lungs or airways in some way, but you'll have to go through all that with a specialist like I said. For now I'll give her two medicines, one for her to use daily and the other if she has any crisis. But I'll be back later to teach both of you how to use the inhalers" Emily nodded, trying to keep all the information she needed. "Aside from that, she's doing great giving the circumstances. I had an orthopedist look into her x-rays, none of those non-treated fractures seem to need surgical repairment, but again, you can look deeper into that if you feel the need to. And lastly, she'll be taking her first vaccines before we release her tomorrow. She'll need to complete the cycles, and that's very important, especially for an asthmatic kid"

"Of course" she sighed "So, she'll be released tomorrow?"

"In time for the memorial, yes" the doctor nodded slowly as she answered and Emily frowned "I know how hard this might be, but she needs to go Agent Prentiss. Dr. Lewis and I firmly believe this'll help her cope, especially with her speech"

"I understand. We'll do everything we have to"

Garcia had gone back to the precinct for a while to help with some digging for the search of Ms. Jareau's. JJ had taken a little nap after Dr. Vreeland passed by to talk to her about the asthma and teach them how to use the inhaler. The doctor had also agreed to give them release to leave that night if Emily promised to take Jennifer to get her first vaccines as soon as they could when they got back home. She didn't want to risk the girl having any reactions, keeping in mind the hard day she would have ahead of her. They decided it could be better for her to get away from the hospital, so Emily could talk to her about everything in a lighter environment.

So now Emily found herself out in world with her foster daughter for the very first time. The girl held her hand while they walked down the street, looking for a nice place to eat. The agent wanted to taste the new milestone of having her girl with her, so freely, knowing now she would be able to keep her close no matter what, but it was bitter sweet. JJ was excited, at least the most excited she had been, about going out to dinner with her new friend, but Emily was dreading the conversation they'd have to have. She understood what everybody said, but it wasn't rational, nothing about her was rational when it came to JJ. She just wanted to protect her. But she knew better.

"Is it good love?" she asked the girl as she watched her eating her sandwich, and smiled at her, her elbows supported on the table, her hands on her face as she observed the blond kid. JJ nodded and looked up at the agent. The girl noticed her looking at her while she ate, but not eating anything and felt bad, so she immediately offered her food to the woman in front of her, making her chuckle "Oh no baby, it's yours. You can eat it" JJ offered again, not wanting her to be hungry "It's okay sweetheart. I'm not hungry, I ate before at the hospital. You can eat it" JJ looked unsure, she looked at the food again and up at the woman "I promise, it's okay" and so she resumed eating.

"Hey Jennifer honey" she heard a woman say "How are you doing darling" they looked at a red-headed woman approaching, and Emily sighed. She wanted to have a nice outing with the girl, but she kept forgetting how hard that was in such a small town, especially if you were the talk of the town at the moment. JJ put her sandwich down and looked at her hands, not knowing what to do "Oh poor thing, it must be hard right. Poor little thing"

"Excuse me" Emily said, trying her best to keep her composure "I'm sure you mean well, but she's not quite at the mindspace to…"

"Oh sure, right, right" the woman said, stepping back "God bless you darling" she said before walking away. Emily looked at the girl, her demeanor changed in a blink of an eye. Her shoulders sunk, her head was down

"Hey honey, won't you eat?" Emily tried, but the girl didn't look back at her. Emily took a deep breath and controlled her urge to curse. "You need to eat to stay strong, you know? So we can play a lot together and have a lot of fun. What you think?" the girl shrugged, her eyes still down "Sweetheart, listen" she said, knowing she couldn't escape that talk anymore "We have somewhere important to go tomorrow" JJ looked up at her, paying attention. Emily already knew this was her current way to express she was engaging in the conversation. "Ermm.." she hated how she lost her words when needing to express those things to the girl.

She looked down at her own hands now and was surprised when she felt the little girl's hand over hers. Just like she had done the first time they met, her thumb circling her skin in an attempt to give her comfort. This made Emily smile again, and she put her other hand over the girl's, looking at her again "You know I just want the best for you?" the girl nodded, looking her right into her eyes. JJ didn't need her to say that; she knew it. She felt it. "I know you've been sad, and that is hard to talk, and is hard to comprehend everything" she tried again, their hands still together "And baby, it's okay to be sad… and it's okay to miss Ros" at that JJ retrieved her hand, and looked down again, Emily's stomach dropping. "But Jayje… tomorrow we'll go say goodbye to her. We need to tell her goodbye, because she misses you too, so very much" Emily could feel the emotion in her voice, not managing to keep tears away, but managing not to let them fall.

JJ looked at the woman in front of her, not understanding. She wouldn't say goodbye, why would she? She looked around, in hopes to find her sister coming to get her, maybe a little mad, telling her she had been looking for her all day. But she would come, Jennifer knew that.

"I'll be there with you, every step of the way" she continued, noticing the girl wasn't crying, or showing the emotion everyone would expect, but she seemed genuinely confused, looking around, and she could imagine what she was thinking about "Baby, she's not coming here tonight. We'll have to go to her tomorrow, okay?" the girl stopped looking around and reached for the pendant around her neck, while biting her lower lip "I promise it'll be okay, no matter what okay?" those blue eyes looked deeply into the brunettes, sparkling with so many emotions. "I promise you" Emily said once more, nodding encouragingly.

The little one held the gaze, as if she needed proof. As if she needed to test what Emily had told her, if she would hold the gaze, filled with pain, or if she would look away. But Emily never looked away. She would never look away from her, and the girl was starting to understand that. She nodded quickly, she believed her.

The part that they never get to experience, that day they did. The mourning, the loss of all those people in that small town, the realization of what had happened. For them, as agents, was easier to deal with the gruesome details of the crimes than with the aftermath. They didn't stick around for the aftermath unless they had to. Now they had to because it became personal.

The big picture of the four best friends at that scenario made them feel weird. Made them rethink about what their job really was all about; days ago that same picture was on their hands as a part of another puzzle, right now it was a memoir.

Emily walked in with little Jennifer Jareau holding her hand tightly, the entire team around them, not just for comfort, but for security. They didn't want to make access to the girl so easy, and everyone at that town wanted access to little JJ. Either to pity her, or to see for themselves the abused daughter of a serial killer. Emily got tired of random people approaching her out on the streets, she could imagine what would be like at the funeral. Lucky for her, she had a hell of a protective family by her side. Now she was uncomfortable with all the looks, but little JJ didn't seem to notice them, so she just let it go.

Once they got closer to where Roslyn casquet was they stopped. JJ looked up, not quite able to see her sister yet, but not understanding what was all of that. Emily crouched in front of her, taking her hands:

"Are you okay my love?" the girl looked at her, and then at the rest of the team "We can step out if you want"

"Em" Hotch said, trying to remember her about what they'd discussed so many times: JJ needed to face this. And he knew his girlfriend would take any opportunity to take her out of there before she faced it. Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath, still holding her little hands when she felt her boyfriend's hand on her shoulder.

"Jayje, listen. We'll go see Roslyn now, if you're ready" she said, and the girl nodded at her. Emily looked up at her friends, who nodded at her encouragingly "You sure?" she asked, and the girl squeezed her hands. She didn't understand why Emily was so upset about this. She wanted to see her sister, but she understood it wasn't so easy, that something was wrong.

"Will…" the girl started to say something for the first time ever since they got her back, her voice was so raspy it was hard to listen, but the team exchanged happy glances with each other, while Emily kept focused on the girl in front of her "Will you stay?" the agent smiled at her, putting her hair behind her ear and caressing her cheek with her thumb

"Always" and then JJ stepped closer and hugged the brunette, her hands around her neck, her head over her shoulder. Emily took a deep breath, holding the girl who had changed her life in such little time, now starting to understand what a mother's love felt like.

"Oh, my lovey girlies" Garcia said, shedding a tear, and Kate side hugged her.

Emily got up, picking the girl up with her, so she could reach her sister, and they stepped closer. She could feel the girl tensing in her embrace as her eyes landed on the sight of her deceased sister "It's okay honey, it's just like she's sleeping" she tried to comfort her, afraid the girl would be too traumatized. JJ stared at Roslyn, not knowing how to act. She had found her, but now she was losing her for good.

"Will she? Wake up?" her raspy voice appeared once more

"Not anymore sweety, I'm so sorry" she ran her hand up and down her back, trying to comfort her, but knowing nothing could make her feel better about this. For her surprise, the girl didn't cry, didn't say anything else, just stared. "C'mon baby, let's take a breather okay" she said, walking away from Roslyn's body, being followed by the others.

Jennifer just sat at the chair where Emily had placed her, with no reaction. The entire team watching her carefully, all of them feeling the pain flowing in the air, from all those people. From themselves. Some of them were crying, some of them were tense, but JJ was just blank.

"Hey, my belle" Rossi said "Are you thirsty? Do you want anything?" the girl shook her head, so they knew she was responsive.

Jennifer could hear everyone, she could understand everything now, and that was difficult. Images of her sister going through her mind, all the embraces, the conversations, the care… The late nights when she would read her the Harry Potter books, because she couldn't sleep, the soccer practices, the promise. She would never leave her behind. They would always be together. Always. What that even meant now? She looked up at Emily, who had just said the same thing. Always. Would she leave her too?

Suddenly she heard Emily's voice again, telling her it was time to say goodbye. She didn't react, but she felt her body being pulled into the woman's arms again, and they she saw them closing a box over her sister. Why would they do this? Let her go! She wanted them to let her go!

"Shhhhh, it's okay honey, it's okay" Emily told her, and only then she realized she had said it out loud "They can't let her go baby, but it's okay, it'll be okay" she told her before they started walking, JJ still on her arms. Where were they taking her sister? Emily sat on a chair, in the grass, with JJ on her lap, as a priest said a bunch of things; but JJ could only stare at that box. Her sister was inside there, she saw it. Why wouldn't them let her go? "I'm right here baby" she would hear Emily saying in her ear, but she couldn't take her eyes away from the box.

When the priest stopped talking, she saw Garcia crouch in front of her and Emily, a sad smile on her face, offering her a couple of flowers

"You can give it to her Gumdrop" she said. JJ looked up at Emily, who nodded, and took the flowers. Emily got up, putting JJ on the ground again

"Go ahead honey, it's okay" she said, and the girl put her flowers over the casquet, slowly reaching for it. They stood there, until they started to put the weird box inside a hole, and JJ's heart started beating too fast. Her mind was racing, what were they doing to her sister? "Shhh, it's okay honey, shhh" Emily tried to sooth, but it wasn't working that time.

She promised! You promised, Ros! Come back, you said you wouldn't leave me, stop! Stop doing this! Let her go! Let her go!

And then another embrace. Her feat leaving the ground once more, Emily holding her so she wouldn't get too close to the grave; so she wouldn't hurt herself.

Wake up!

"She can't wake up now my love" she heard Emily say. So she was talking aloud again, she didn't realize it. What's wrong with her? And then she noticed her body was shaking, and Emily was rocking her, trying to sooth her, because she was crying uncontrollably. All the shock turning into a sickening feeling of loss.

And at that point they learned a new lesson: JJ now knew how it felt to be incomplete and devastated; and Emily truly knew how it felt to wish so hard to trade places with someone, so they didn't have to suffer.

A/N: Review, review, review, review please.