The team was working a case in Arizona, they were after a serial killer who tortured and drowned his victims. The team were sitting around a table in the conference room they had been given to work in. The only one not there was Rossi who was at the morgue checking out the latest victims body. Reid was spit balling some ideas and facts out as the team listened, trying desperately to work out any more clues about who this unsub could be. It was then when Emily felt the first feelings of pain. Her stomach cramped up briefly and she suppressed a wince of pain, it passed as soon as it came and she pushed it from her mind, focusing back on Hotch who was now talking. A couple minutes later another, more painful cramp took her, and Emily stood up muttering something about the bathroom and quickly excusing herself and leaving the room. She hurried into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She sighed. The thing she suspected had happened, had. She rolled her eyes as she realised that there weren't any supplies in the bathroom, and she hadn't brought any into the bathroom with her. Her girlfriend always had some on her though, she quickly made a makeshift pad with some toilet paper and hurried out back towards the conference room. When she entered the team were leaning around a phone, and a familiar voice was coming from the other end, Garcia. Quietly, Prentiss made her way around the group of agents to where her girlfriend was standing. She tapped the blonde on the shoulder lightly and waited for her to turn her head. A small smile fell onto the blonde's lips when she saw her girlfriend standing there, but that smile quickly turned to a frown when she saw the brunette wince in pain. Emily tugged on the woman's arm pulling her over to the corner of the room, unnoticed by the other agents. "What's wrong baby?" the blonde asked softly, the brunette shifted uncomfortably on her feet, even as a grown adult she still felt uncomfortable asking for what she needed, she blamed her mother, but it wasn't the time to get into that now,

"I um, can I uh steal a tampon?" she muttered out blushing madly. JJ rubbed Emily's arm soothingly,

"Of course, hun," she said quietly. She moved to grab her purse that was on the end of the table, carrying it back to where the other woman stood. She quickly produced the product and passed it over to her girlfriend, who instantly tucked it up her sleeve.

"I'll be back in a moment," she muttered, before hurrying out of the room.

When Prentiss returned five minutes later, she was instantly swept out of the door, having had a breakthrough in the case, the team was off to catch the unsub. It didn't give the dark-haired agent much time to think about the painful cramps she was experiencing, and it wasn't until she collapsed into the seat next to JJ on the plane that the pain truly hit her, and she had to physically stop herself from doubling over in pain. "Are you alright Emily?" Reid asked as they took off, having sat down in the seat opposite her.

"Yeah, I'm…" she paused as a wave of sickness overtook her, "just peachy." Reid raised his eyebrow in suspicion, but as it was him, he dropped it and pulled out a book to read. Prentiss sighed and let her head drop onto JJ's shoulder. JJ wrapped a sympathetic arm around her girlfriend, she knew how painful the other woman's periods could be, even though she would never admit it, especially around others. Using her free arm, Jennifer pulled a painkiller out from her purse and a small bottle of water. She pushed them gently across the table, so they were in front of her partner. Emily looked at them and sighed, she wanted to take them, but her mother always told her that taking painkillers for things like her period was weak, and she didn't want to show any weakness around her teammates, or her girlfriend or even herself. "I don't need it Jayj." Emily whispered going to pass the pill back to the blonde, but her hand was stopped in its tracks when a pale hand wrapped itself around her wrist. The brunette's head snapped up and she made eye contact with her girlfriend, she had that 'I'm not messing around look on her face' and Emily knew she wasn't going to win this one, she would just be delaying the inevitable if she refused to take them now. Plus, it was like a four-hour flight back and she didn't know if she could deal with the pain for that long without something to ease it. Resigning, Prentiss took the pill and passed the bottle of water back to JJ pressing her face into the blonde's shoulder, trying to keep the tears at bay, she was in pain, tired and embarrassed.

"Thank you, baby," Jareau whispered into the brunette's ear, gently rubbing soothing circles on the older woman's back.

They were two hours through the journey when Emily shifted uncomfortably and finally removed her face from its hidden position, the pain was less and she didn't feel like she was going to burst into tears at any second, so she was taking that as a win. But she did need to use the bathroom and she needed to change, internally she kicked herself when she realised that, once again, she was underprepared. Luckily this time JJ seemed to know exactly what Emily needed, she slipped another tampon under the table and into the other woman's hand, knowing she would almost die of embarrassment if she didn't do it discreetly. Not that JJ cared but she knew Emily did, she was self-conscious about most things. They were trying to work on this. Especially when she was little. Prentiss gave the other woman's hand a squeeze of thanks, before getting up and making her way to the small bathroom at the back of the plane. Locking the door behind her, the brunette finally let the tears she had been holding off for the last few hours. She was feeling little, really little but as a rule she didn't regress when she was on her period. It was a rule she set herself, JJ had tried to encourage her to be small multiple times when she was on her period, but bleeding felt to adult, felt like something she should deal with herself, not something that her beautiful girlfriend should have to deal with. Especially because when she was little, she often lost awareness or sometimes even control of her bladder, and she couldn't bear to think about JJ having to deal with that or if she needed to wear protection, how would that even work? Of course, she hadn't told her partner about this feeling too embarrassed to bring it up, instead just opting to tell her that she wasn't feeling little, even though they both knew it was a lie. Taking a deep breathe, Emily sorted herself out and then splashed some cold water into her face, trying to stop the tears and get rid of her blotchy, 'I've obviously just cried' look on her skin. She didn't know how long had passed when there was a knock on the bathroom door, instantly a heart sped up and breathe caught in her throat, she roughly wiped her eyes, preparing to open the door when a soft voice travelled through from the other side,

"Em baby, are you okay? You've been in there a while."

"Er y-yeah, I'll just be a minute," she called out. Hearing the tears in her voice, JJ spoke again,

"Emily let me in please." Silence. "Now please." There was the sound of a lock clicking and then some shuffling backwards, taking that as permission to enter, the blonde opened the door a little and slipped inside, locking it again behind her. It was cramped with the two of them in there, but it didn't stop JJ from grabbing the brunettes shoulders and turning her around to face her, her heart breaking a little when she saw the tears stains on her face. "Oh honey, talk to me, tell me what's wrong. Please." The blonde pleaded with her girlfriend not being able to stand not being able to help her. Prentiss did not speak for a moment, trying to work out what to say, she couldn't exactly say nothing, and she wasn't comfortable telling JJ the whole truth, not wanting to admit she was feeling little at the moment. Instead, she cried softly,

"It hurts Jen," her hands moving down to clutch at her lower stomach.

"Oh baby, I'm sorry. Did the painkiller does not help?" The blonde questioned softly pulling the other woman gently into her arms.

"It did a little, but it's getting bad again."

"I'm sorry hun, that's not nice at all." The blonde sympathised gently. Emily whined a little and pressed her face into the younger woman's shoulder,

"I want to go home," she whispered, her voice muffled by the other's shirt.

"I know baby, a couple more hours yeah and then we'll be back, and we can head straight home," JJ tried to reassure her. The brunette nodded and pulled back a little, her hand still placed protectively on her lower stomach. "Let's get you cleaned up yeah and then we can go and sit back down, and you can try and get a little rest." Jennifer told her.

"Okay." JJ grabbed some tissue and gave it to Emily who wiped her eyes and then let the younger woman clean her face gently.

"Have you got yourself all sorted?" JJ asked softly. Prentiss blushed furiously but nodded confirming that she was all good and then JJ unlocked the door and led her back to their seats. To Emily's relief none of the agents looked up when they returned, not even Reid who was sitting opposite them, he was clearly to invested in his book. The blonde helped her lay her head down on her lap, so she was facing towards JJ's stomach and curl up across the two seats. Jareau then laid a blanket down on top of her and started stroking soothingly through her hair, "just tried and get some rest sweetheart, we'll be back soon" she whispered to her. Doing as she was instructed Emily closed her eyes and slowly drifted off into a semi-restful sleep.

When they got home that evening, Emily had instantly gone to take a shower and JJ heated up a hot pad for her, which would hopefully ease her cramps. The older woman had emerged from the bedroom in a set of fluffy pyjamas and rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Are you feeling any better baby?" the blonde asked gently. Emily nodded and automatically reached out for the other woman, obliging instantly, JJ wrapped her up into her arms and moved the two of them over to the couch. "Do you want the hot pad?" Emily nodded in response and curled up with the heating pad against the other woman, enjoying the silence and peace for a moment. The heat was helping with the pain and her mama was holding her. Her mama? Emily shot up suddenly, moving away from JJ, she wasn't little, she couldn't be she wasn't okay with that. "Emily?" the blonde questioned confused at her partners actions.

"I uh I want to go to bed." Prentiss spoke, hugging herself awkwardly.

"Alright baby, well give me a minute and I'll get changed and you can have another painkiller and we can go to bed together," Jennifer said, still a little confused. Emily nodded and watched as her girlfriend got up of the couch and headed out of the room, she couldn't help but feel a little sad as she left, but she couldn't let herself slip. She just couldn't.

When JJ returned, she passed another pill over to Emily and watched as she took it and then lead her to the bedroom so they both could get into bed. The brunette curled herself up tightly around the heating pad and cuddled close to JJ, this was fine, she would be fine. "Goodnight baby." The blonde spoke,

"Night my love," she whispered back softly.

Emily didn't know how long had passed, but she did know, it was dark, she hadn't slept, JJ was asleep, and she was in pain. It had to have been at least four hours she decided cause the pain killer had clearly warn of and her heating pad was cooler than it had been. Tears began to stream down her face and her body started to shake with sobs. She held a hand over her mouth, attempting to stay quiet in an effort not to wake her equally exhausted girlfriend. Of course, this effort was futile. A couple minutes later the blonde awoke, concern gracing her features when she realised that it was her crying girlfriend that had woken her, "Em baby, what's wrong? Are your cramps back?" she asked softly, her voice rough with sleep. The dark-haired agent didn't reply, only continuing to cry, "Love bug?" JJ tried using the name that almost always made her little. This made Emily snap,

"I'm not little!" she cried out in anger turning to face the blonde. Jareau automatically recoiled at the yell, she hadn't expected it, normally Emily got upset when she wanted to be little but wouldn't let herself, but never angry. Noticing JJ's reaction Emily quickly tried to fix what she had done,

"I'm sorry Jen, I s-shouldn't have y-yelled," she stuttered out through tears, "It just hurts, it r-really hurts, and I haven't s-slept and I… I just don't know," she shrugged out angrily, not quite knowing how else to explain what she was feeling.

"It's okay baby, all is forgiven. How about I run you a bath alright? That might help soothe you and then you can take another pain killer and I'll reheat the hot pad, alright?" the younger woman said, Emily nodded. Allowing herself to be tugged to her feet and lead out of the bedroom to the bathroom. JJ picked up the woman and placed her on the counter as she ran the bath, once the water was a good temperature Jareau turned back to her girlfriend and parted her legs gently so she could stand between them, Emily instantly slumped forward and placed her face against the other woman's shoulder,

"I'm really sorry Jayj," she said.

"I know baby, you didn't mean it, its okay really. I'm not mad." She reassured the other woman. The brunette nodded but didn't say anything else, only speaking again when JJ left to re-heat the heating pad. Telling her girlfriend that she's alright. Which physically she knew she would, mentally though, it was going to be a rough period.

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Three days had gone, and they had all followed an extremely similar pattern. Emily would be in pain from cramps, crying and feeling sick almost the entire day and wishing she could be little. She needed to be little she needed her mama. She knew logically JJ wouldn't have minded, but she just couldn't convince her head it was okay for her to be little when something that could only happen to big people was happening to her. When she woke up on that fourth day though she wasn't in pain, she got out of bed and headed into the bathroom where she sighed out relived, it was over, for this month at least. Almost instantly Emily regressed, she was naked from the waist down, but she didn't care, she needed her mama. She was so thankful that they had the day off. "Mama!" she called out as she hurried out the bathroom, climbing awkwardly onto the bed and shaking the blonde woman, "mama wake up." JJ stirred and opened her eyes slowly,

"Em?" she questioned softly,

"Mama," the other woman chirped out happily, glad that her caregiver was awake.

"Oh, hey love bug, are you alright?" she asked, sitting up slowly. Emily nodded and threw herself onto the blonde's lap, cuddling up happily into her chest. The caregiver held her girl for a couple minutes while she woke up further and then pushed her slightly so she could get a better look at her, "shall we get you dressed baby?" Not waiting for a response, she picked her girl up and carried her into the bathroom where she took of her shirt and pulled a pull-up onto her, clear that the other woman's period was other, and she wouldn't need a different kind of protection. She then put the girl into her play clothes and sat her down on the bed, "Do you need to go potty pumpkin?" she asked softly. The other woman blushed but shook her head, "Are you sure baby? Do you think you can just try and go for me?" Emily seemed to think this over for a moment,

"Alright mama," she hopped of the bed and went into the bathroom, letting JJ pull her pants down to her ankles and helping her sit on the toilet,

"I'm just gonna get changed baby, call me if you need me."

After JJ had finished quickly changing into her causal clothes, she heard Emily yell out for her,

"Mama!"

"Coming pumpkin," she went into the bathroom, the girl was standing next to the toilet, pants pulled back up,

"I went Mama, but I need help," she said quietly, shuffling on her feet,

"What with love bug?" JJ asked, she knew but they were working on communication,

"Flush and hands," Emily mumbled softly,

"Thanks for telling me baby, of course I can help you with that," JJ praised her, she quickly flushed the toilet and helped the girl was her hands,

"Thank you, mama," Emily spoke when JJ had finished helping her,

"Those are great manners love bug, well done." Emily beamed at the praise and held up her arms so JJ would pick her up.

That evening, Emily was being fed her bottle, in bed when all the emotions and pain from the last few days flooded over her. She had spent the entire day little, even causing a bit of trouble for her mama, accidently of course, just to deep into her head space to think clearly. Now though it was all catching up to her. She finished her bottle and JJ moved her, so she was over her shoulder rubbing her back until she burped quietly. Instead of leaning back like she normally did, Emily stayed over the blonde's shoulder, breaking down into tears. Sobs racked her small frame and her legs tightened around Jennifer's waist and her arms tightened around her neck, she tried to get closer to the woman but failed as she physically couldn't get any closer, she let out a loud whine and then her sobs became audible, "Love bug what's wrong?" JJ asked, extremely worried as the crying had come out of nowhere, She couldn't have hurt herself, and her stomach couldn't hurt because she just burped her, so what could it be?

"I m-missed you mama," she cried out between sobs,

"What do you mean baby?" JJ asked her heart breaking at the cries,

"I n-needed y-you and n-needed to be little but b-big Em, didn't let me," she cried,

"Oh baby, oh sweetheart, its okay. You're okay now." JJ reassured her holding onto the brunette tightly and rocking her back and forth gently, trying to soothe the little.

It took a few minutes, but the girl did eventually calm down and her sobs were reduced to sniffles. JJ readjusted so that Emily was curled up against her chest and not leaning over her shoulder,

"Why couldn't you be little pumpkin?" JJ asked softly,

"N-not allowed to say," Emily grumbled under her breathe,

"Why not baby?" The brunette shifted uncomfortable, it was clear to the blonde agent that she was struggling with herself and that she was coming out of her headspace.

"I don't want to talk about it Jayj," her voice was still kind of whiny like it was when she was little and didn't want to do something, but her language showed that she was more adult than little at the moment, the brunette made no effort to move from the blonde's arms though,

"I know you don't honey, but you've had a really hard few days, and its now been made clear to me and you needed to be little, but you wouldn't let yourself be, I need you to tell me why," JJ said. Emily shrugged and looked down, not really knowing where or how to start, "was it because of your period?" JJ asked, trying to prompt the other woman, and guessing that had something to do with it. She knew she had been right when Emily blushed furiously and ducked her head down so she wouldn't have to make eye contact with the blonde, "come on love, I promise its okay, talk to me hun," Jennifer urged again.

"I just, I just couldn't be," Emily admitted wringing her wrists together anxiously,

"Why baby?"

"It's a big thing, like a big person thing and when it happens it doesn't feel like I should be allowed to be little," the brunette started, she stopped wringing her wrists and scratching at one instead, "You shouldn't have to deal with that, its gross and bloody and when I'm little I need help with things like going to the bathroom and sometimes I have accidents and its already bad enough you have to deal with the urine, you shouldn't have to deal with blood on top of that," She scratched harder at her wrist and JJ grabbed a hold of her wrist gently, stopping the harming act,

"Don't scratch hun," she said, but didn't speak more letting the other woman continue,

"I just, I hate having to deal with my period enough when I'm big, you know what my mother used to say about it, how I shouldn't talk about it with other people, how I need to hide it and stuff and how I can't take pain killers, cause that's weak. And I know, I can talk about it, especially with you but its still really hard I can still hear her voice in the back of my head and I hate it JJ, I hate it so much and it hurt so bad this time Jen, it hurt so much and it was worse cause I got it while we were on the case and I wasn't prepared and I felt so little and I wanted to be little, but I was already bothering you with the pain I couldn't bother you with being small and needing even more help." Emily admitted, tears slowly streaming from her eyes again.

"Honey, I love you so much and I know talking about things like that is hard for you, but you know you should come to me about things like that, we could have worked it out, talked about boundaries about it and things. I don't mind if your little on your period, you know that I know we haven't directly talked about it, but I've never tried to make you not be, I don't mind dealing with the blood if that's what you need. You should always get to be little if you need to be. And you know I'm proud of you for telling me you were actually in pain on your period and for telling me all of this, because I know this is all really hard for you but its all alright, I promise. Next time, promise you'll tell me what you need when you're on your period, whether its being little or help with the pain or anything like that. Cause I won't mind, whatever you ask." JJ told the other woman, sincerity shining in her baby blue eyes.

"Promise," Emily whispered in response, the tears stopping as she leaned closer into her girlfriend. JJ rocked her partner gently, once again, helping her to calm down and relax completely. "Mama," the brunette sighed out softly after a few minutes. Clearly back in her little space, JJ decided it was time for the two of them head to bed,

"Bedtime love bug, let's get you changed into your pull-up and try to go potty before bed." The blonde spoke gently. Emily whined but allowed herself to be carried into the bathroom where she was changed quickly and helped to use the bathroom. When she as done JJ carried her back to the bedroom and plonked her and herself down on the bed, pulling the covers up over the both of them, Jennifer spoke again, "Goodnight love bug,"

"Night night mama," and for the first time in days Emily drifted off to a peaceful sleep.