Her visit was unexpected, Emily wasn't prepared for it, although even if she had been she wasn't sure she would have been ready. Elizabeth Prentiss had shown up at the BAU on a random Thursday morning, Emily had arrived hand in hand with JJ when her eyes settled on her mother, she felt herself take a sharp intake of breath and her and subconsciously tightened around the blonde's. She was probably just here with a case, she would barely have to interact with her. JJ had felt her girlfriend's hand tighten in her own and she followed the brunette's line of sight until it landed on her partner's mother, she voiced Emily's thought,
"She's probably just here to give us a case, don't worry baby," she tried to reassure the brunette in a soft voice, Emily nodded and realised her hand before making her way over to her desk and beginning to work, JJ headed off to her own office, neither of them seeing a reason to go out of their way to say hello to the older Prentiss.
Twenty minutes later, Elizabeth emerged from Hotch's office and Emily found out she couldn't have been more wrong with her initial assumption,
"Emily, darling!" the older Prentiss called out gracefully making her way over to where the younger sat,
"Hello mom," came the stiff response, she stood up only to be pulled into an uncomfortable loose hug with her mother, it felt like she was trying her hardest not to touch her, it was cold and unfeeling, like a show for the other agents around her, nothing like JJ's hugs, which were always warm and comforting, she would hold the brunette close like she meant everything to her.
"Well, aren't you going to ask me what I'm doing here?" The older asked when she pulled away from the quick 'hug.' Humouring her Emily played along,
"What are doing here mom?"
"Well, I had to drop off some documents with your boss, agent Hotchner and I decided that now would be a great time to take my required days off and I've decided to spend the next few days with you! You have a guest room right and of course you would accommodate your mother?" Elizabeth spoke in a loud voice, like she was bosting to those around her that she was an amazing mother who loved her child, and that Emily would of course let her stay with her because that's what family does.
"You've never taken time off before?" Emily couldn't help but question, her tone suspicious,
"Emily Prentiss, is that anyway to speak to your mother," the older woman hissed lowering her voice,
"Sorry mom," Emily hung her head, "Of course you can stay with me and JJ, how long for?"
"Three days, I figured that was a nice amount of time to spend here with you darling. And agent Jareau of course," she added as an afterthought. Emily nodded,
"Well, that's sorted then, I'll spend the day in town and you, and agent Jareau can take tomorrow and Saturday off," Elizabeth took off before Emily could respond. The brunette shook her head as she watched her mother disappear into the elevator, she couldn't just take time off with so little notice, but when she glanced up at Hotch's office and saw him looking at her, she figured it had already been taken care of,
"Bad luck princess," Morgan said patting her shoulder as he walked past her. Emily sighed to herself, she guessed it was time to talk to JJ.
Knocking lightly on the blonde's door Emily waited to be allowed entry and when she was, she shuffled quietly into the room, closing the door behind her,
"What's up Em?" she asked noticing the her demeanour, shuffling on her feet uncomfortably Emily didn't say anything, noticing that her girlfriend was anxious she pushed her chair back and patted her lap, silently asking the brunette to take a seat there, only hesitating slightly Emily moved around the desk and got comfy in the blonde's lap, she began to fiddle with the ends of soft hair and after a few minutes found her voice,
"So, my mom wants to stay in town a few days to see me, and I said she could stay with us… well she kind of said she would stay with us and made me agree, sorry." Emily mumbled the last part, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty like she had just forced her mother in her girlfriends life, into her home, into their home.
"Its alright baby, I know how you mother can get, how long is she staying with us for?" Jennifer questioned,
"Um, three days, she'll leave Saturday night,"
"Alright well that's not too bad she won't be here long. Anything else I should know?"
"Um, well, um she wants me and you to take tomorrow and Saturday off, she left before I could protest that it doesn't work like that, but I have a feeling she may have already sorted it with Hotch, judging by the look he gave me." JJ sighed, she didn't blame Em, but she already knew this was going to cause a backlog of paperwork for her, it could have been worse though, so long as they didn't get a case, they were supposed to have Saturday and Sunday off anyway, so it was really only one day, and she could always stay late on Monday. Hearing Jennifer's sigh, Emily felt some internal panic, she knew JJ didn't enjoy her schedule disrupted, she liked to stay on top of her work, hence why she fought sick days so hard,
"Sorry," she mumbled, her guilt bubbling up to the surface,
"Hey, look at me Em," when the brunette didn't meet her eyes the blonde moved her hand to tilt her chin so they made eye contact, "this isn't your fault baby, you didn't know your mother was coming, you have nothing to be sorry for, and its really only one day it could be worse, hopefully it won't make that much of an impact, and so long as we don't get a case we can spend Sunday recovering," she joked a little on the last part, it had the desired effect because a small smile appeared on the pale face.
"Okay, well I'll just go and double check with Hotch that everything is alright, see you later?" Emily asked as she hopped off the younger woman's lap,
"Yeah, baby we'll have lunch together," the blonde told her, and Emily smiled and nodded as she made her way out the office.
Turns out Emily had been right with her hunch and Hotch had made arrangements with Elizabeth, though he didn't seem to be pleased about it, Emily had mumbled out another quick apology and the man had been quick to reassure her, it wasn't her fault, everyone in their BAU family knew about Emily's relationship with her mother. JJ had worked while they had lunch determined to do as much as she could while she was here and she decided she was going to take the rest home, so she wouldn't have to stay behind on Monday and the last thing she wanted was falling even further behind if they found themselves with a case. At the end of their workday Emily trudged into the blonde's office head hanging down, chest full of anxiety, upon entering the office JJ pulled Em into a tight hug,
"Its going to be fine baby, its only a couple days," she whispered gently to her, Emily nodded along but her heart was telling her different maybe it was just the anxiety but she couldn't help but feel like something was going to go wrong, maybe it was based on experience, nothing ever went perfectly when Emily was with her mother no matter how much the older Prentiss demanded it to be. When JJ finally released her girlfriend from the tight embrace, she grabbed their bags ignoring the brunette's protests that she could carry her own things and grabbed her hand leading her out of the building and to their car.
As soon as they entered their home Emily moved quickly to hide all traces of little Em, often they kept everything hidden away as Emily was not ready for other people to know, but she wanted to make sure that her mom would not find out about her little side, she picked up the few younger toys scattered around and locked everything that contained items that may expose little Em, hiding the keys in the nightstand beside her bed. Once she was done, she texted her mother letting her know that she and JJ were home, and she could come anytime. After getting the response her that her mom would be there in twenty minutes, she collapsed on the couch in the living room beside JJ,
"You actually put our things away for once," the brunette joked lightly, curling into the blonde's side,
"Your mother is coming!" Jennifer responded in an over-dramatic voice, making a joke out of the fact she had actually sorted out their things for once not just leaving them strewn across the floor leaving Emily to pick them up, she really wasn't the best at organising her stuff, Emily put it down to the fact that she had to deal with so much else. Emily giggled and tucked her head into the younger woman's shoulder, she stayed their until there was a knock at the door, the brunette took a deep breathe and stood up, three days, she only ad to get through three days.
lovebug lovebug lovebug lovebug lovebug lovebug lovebug lovebug lovebug
Emily had been right, of course three days with her mother couldn't be easy, Thursday night was alright in all fairness. Her mother had awkwardly hugged both JJ and her when she came into the house, addressing JJ as only agent Jareau even when JJ corrected her. She knew her mother wasn't that comfortable with her being in a lesbian relationship, but she defiantly could have been worse. Emily gave her a tour of the house before they went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant, the older Prentiss had sat opposite them so luckily for Emily she had been able to discreetly hold the blonde's hand under the table squeezing it every now and again when her mother had commented on her meal or her weight.
Friday had been worse, from the moment she woke up it was "Emily what have you done with you hair." "Emily maybe you shouldn't have pancakes for breakfast, maybe just a slice of toast." "Emily dear, is that really how a lady sits?" The brunette had fidgeted anxiously throughout the day every comment her mother made sending her deeper and deeper into her own mind. She knew it was dangerous to be to deep in there, it had not only mentally but physically scar her in the past. Her best way to cope was to regress have JJ take over for her but she couldn't it was too risky in front of her mother God knows what she would say, what she would do if she found out about it. When JJ had left the room, different kinds of comments had started, "Emily I have met a lovely man about your age." "Don't you want to be respected." "I expect you to live up to the Prentiss name and this man would help you do that." A soon as Jennifer had returned the comments stopped, but Emily couldn't help but profile all actions her mother had with her girlfriend from then on, and the brunette made a point of staying close to her partner, to hopefully get her point across to her mother. At dinner that night, Emily had only picked at her salad even when JJ whispered encouraging words into her ear, with her mother's watchful eye on her at all times, she couldn't find it in her to properly eat even though she was really hungry, when she got a nod of approval from her mother at the end of the meal, it made it feel worth it, though at the same time Emily knew that it was a dangerous game. That evening after her mother had gone to bed, JJ sat the brunette down at the table and made her eat a proper meal under her soft loving gaze. It had taken while and JJ ended up having to feed her at some points but at the end she got a warm, loving hug which was way more worth it that the approving nod she had got from her mother.
It was now Saturday and even though her mother was leaving late that evening Emily was unsure if she was able to get through the day, little Em was very close, fighting to take over to give in and receive all the love and attention she desperately needed but with her mother still here it wasn't option, with the inner turmoil she was facing, Emily got an awful headache, she collapsed into one of the chairs in the kitchen rubbing at her temples while Jennifer dropped a waffle onto everyone's plates,
"Are you alright baby?" the blonde asked when she took a seat next to her girlfriend,
"Headache," the brunette murmured, rubbing at her eyes, and slowly moving to eat her waffle,
"I'm sorry hun, do you want a painkiller?" the blonde asked softly, the brunette nodded in response and JJ got up to grab one,
"Emily, I really don't think you need a painkiller, your headache can't be that bad. I get migraines and I don't take painkillers. This weakness isn't a good look on you," the older Prentiss spoke up from her end of the table, the younger Prentiss felt tears prick into her eyes at the disapproval and nodded,
"You're right, I'm fine Jayj," Emily said, fighting to keep her voice from wobbling, not accepting this the blonde sat down at the table painkiller in hand,
"No baby you're in pain, it's not a weakness to need some help sometimes," the blonde said ignoring the humph that came from the other end of the table,
"Jayj…" Emily murmured worriedly, leaning over JJ whispered in the brunette's ear,
"Take it for me lovebug," she knew it was slightly unfair to play the lovebug card, but she needed Emily to take the pill. Nodding Emily grabbed the pill and took it, refusing to make eye contact with anyone at the table, after twenty minutes though she was glad she did because the pain she had been experiencing eased significantly. After breakfast, the older Prentiss requested spending some time with her daughter just the two of them as she was leaving that evening, JJ had agreed after a tentative nod form Emily saying it was alright, saying that she would take the opportunity to do some work, to catch up from Friday. She retreated into the kitchen and the two Prentiss's hung out in the living room.
Everything had gone fine until the afternoon, Emily had talked about work most of the time trying to avoid talking about anything personal, and they had eaten lunch out with JJ who had instantly began to work again when they got home, it was then Elizabeth began to make things difficult, "You really shouldn't have done that you know," she started in a firm voice,
"Done what?" Emily questioned, her heart sped up recognising the disappointed tone in her mother's voice,
"Taken that painkiller this morning, it made you look weak, and a Prentiss is not weak, it's a real shame she can manipulate you like that, this is why you shouldn't be with a woman especially one who wasn't raised right," Elizabeth said in disgust,
"I love JJ and she was raised perfectly fine," Emily defended, upset over the way her mother was talking about her girlfriend,
"Yeah well, she isn't good for you, you were always such a challenge Emily, never being a proper lady, or a proper Prentiss. She is just making it worse, maybe you should get you life together a little, start by losing some wait, maybe go into politics with me, you could meet that lovely man,"
"I don't want to mother," Emily spoke her voice wavering a little,
"Emily darling, there is no need to be hostile, and sit up straight slouched over like that, it's not attractive darling." Emily could feel the anxiety building with in her, only a few more hours she could do this right? She could feel the little inside her squirming to get out she really wanted her mama she needed her to stop the mean lady talking to her, to get rid of the bad feelings building inside her,
"Emily stops fidgeting honestly you look like you have to use the bathroom its not proper," these words snapped the younger Prentiss back into reality she felt her bladder loosen and a small dribble of urine leave her, panic shot through her, and she jumped to her feet,
"Um I'll be right back," she murmured ignoring the unimpressed humph and hurrying out of the room into the kitchen, she wasn't little, but she was really close, tears sprung into her eyes and threatened to fall as she entered the kitchen, she came to a stop right in front of the blonde woman,
"Em?" JJ questioned looking up at her girlfriend, all she got in response was a small whine and the blonde watched as the brunette's hands shot between her legs holding herself, eyes widening in understand JJ got to her feet quickly and scooped the pale woman up carrying her swiftly to the bathroom, she pulled her pants and underwear down in one smooth motion and lowered her onto the toilet, instantly Emily's bladder released and she hung her head in shame at the clearly damp underwear and the fact she needed help even though she wasn't little, even though she was pretty much.
"Let's get you cleaned up baby," JJ whispered once Emily was all finished, taking the older woman into the bedroom she took off her pants and underwear completely and moved to change them,
"Jayj no, she's going to see there different," Emily whined anxiously,
"Baby you can't sit back down in wet pants," the blonde told her gently,
"She's gonna know," Emily cried tears finally falling from her eyes,
"It's alright hun, we'll just tell her, that I spilt my water on you," JJ reassured her pulling her girl into a hug, Emily nodded sniffling, trying to calm herself down. JJ held her in the tight embrace for a few more minutes before letting go and pulling the new clothes onto the brunette,
"There we go sweetheart, all sorted," she said smiling which Emily returned, hopping to her feet, and grabbing JJ's hand,
"Do you want me to stay with you until your mother goes in a couple hours?" Emily nodded quickly, immediately taking JJ up on her invitation,
"Come on then babe," Jennifer said tugging the girl out of the bedroom and into the living room where the other Prentiss was sitting on her phone,
"Oh, your back," Elizabeth said when she noticed the other two's presence, "and your wearing different pants," she commented raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow,
"Yeah um…" the brunette trailed off panicked,
"I spilt my water on Em's pants, I'm so clumsy sometimes I swear," JJ laughed, quickly covering for her girlfriend who shot her a grateful smile,
"Oh," was the comment that Elizabeth gave shooting the blonde an unimpressed look, which JJ promptly ignored,
"Emily darling you should wear more dressed and skirts, those pants are doing nothing for your legs and with you hair like that you should take what you can to look more feminine, it's not lady like, let alone Prentiss like," Elizabeth commented, ignoring the dirty look JJ shot her,
"Pants are easier for work," was Emily's only comment,
"Yeah well that's why you should leave the FBI, come work in politics with me, I know both are for the government but one is much more respectable than the other, honestly its embarrassing having to talk about you at events, even when you show up you don't look respectable, if you lost some weight, grew out your hair and stopped chewing your lips and nails you would actually look nice, like a proper Prentiss not the complete disappointment you are now," Elizabeth ranted, seemingly forgetting the other presence in the room, JJ was fuming, this woman was leaving her house now,
"Alright, it's time for you to go," she said standing up, she left the room and grabbed Elizabeth's packed bags that were in the spare room and wheeled them outside the front door, before indicating with her hand that she should exit to,
"It's still another four hours till my plane leaves," Elizabeth protested her eyes wide and her face unimpressed at the treatment she was getting,
"You'll be sure not to miss it then, goodbye," JJ's tone gave no room for argument,
"Well, um, goodbye then darling," she reached out to give Emily another 'show' hug, but the brunette curled away from her, a cough came from the blonde hurrying the older Prentiss along,
"Agent Jareau," Elizabeth nodded at her, not being able to say anything else that wasn't completely awful to the blonde woman,
"Ms Prentiss," JJ nodded back before swiftly shutting and locking the door in the woman's face,
"Mama!" came a soft cry from the couch,
"Oh pumpkin, I'm here, she's now mama's here," Jennifer hurried over to the couch scooping her girl into her arms and settling her on her lap,
"I'm a disappointment mama," Emily said her voice wobbling before she started sobbing,
"Why is s-she so m-mean," she cried,
"Oh baby, oh honey, you're not a disappointment she's wrong, you are so amazing and lovely and she's just jealous of how good you life is turning out she didn't break you and couldn't turn you into her, that's why she's so mean, its not your fault baby," JJ reassured her girl, holding her close and rocking her back and forth,
"Mama," Emily cried fisting her hand into the blonde's shirt trying to get all the love and comfort she could from the blonde woman, JJ's heart shattered for her girl, she hated Elizabeth for making Emily feel like she did and she knew that what the woman had said to her will effect all the progress the brunette has made, picking up the phone JJ ordered a pizza, tonight she knew Emily was going to need all the physical comfort she could get, her mother giving her memories of being touch-starved and having pizza would mean she wouldn't have to leave her girl for even a minute.
JJ had been right Emily had clung to her all evening, not that the blonde minded, she was glad her girl wanted to be close to her after all that Elizabeth had said, Emily had struggled with her dinner, her mother's words invading her mind, JJ had given her the time she needed and fed her the pizza and prompted her to drink from her special Sippy cup, giving her lots of praise for every bite and sip she took, her heart beginning to fix itself with every proud smile the brunette gave her, Emily had requested they take a bath together afterwards which JJ would never turn down, she had finished running the bath when she turned to undress the brunette,
"Lovebug what are these?" JJ asked pointing out the scratches on the other woman's arms, Emily glanced down, and tears filled her eyes,
"I didn't mean to mama, I didn't know I was doing it, big Em must have got caught I her head," Emily rushed out panicked,
"Hey, it's alright pumpkin, it's no problem we'll talk about it later, none of them broke the skin which is good let's just get clean in the bath yeah?" JJ said gently, hoping to reassure her girl, it worked as Emily nodded and allowed herself to be lifted into the bath and then once JJ had climbed in, she settled between her legs, sighing contently as Jen began to wash her with a washcloth.
When they had finished JJ had quickly gave the scratches a wipe down, even though they didn't break the skin she just wanted to be careful and then dried the two of them off getting dressed herself and then putting Emily in a pull-up and putting on some of her little pyjamas which made a giggle in appreciation quickly stopping the whining that came along with the pull-up.
"Can I have my bottle mama?" Emily asked softly once they had entered the bedroom,
"Of course, sweetheart, well done for asking pumpkin, which was a very big girl thing to do," the blonde praised,
"I'm big girl?" Em questioned a look of hope shining on her face,
"Your mama's big girl baby," Emily beamed,
"Can you wait on the bed for me, and I'll be back with your bottle in a minute,"
"Okay mama."
JJ returned a minute later, warm bottle of milk in hand, she climbed onto the bed and manoeuvred Emily with practiced ease holding her in place and placing the bottle to her lip, the brunette hesitated for only a moment before latching on giving a few tentative sucks before sighing and drinking steadily basking in all the love and attention she was finally receiving after three long gruelling days with her mother. When she had finished the bottle and had been burped the brunette whined and JJ popped a pacifier into her little one's mouth,
"It's time to go night night pumpkin,"
"Nooo," Emily whined around her pacifier,
"Come on baby its time to get some sleep,"
"But bad thoughts mama," Em whispered, JJ felt her heart ache,
"About what your mom said?" JJ questioned gently,
"Uh huh," Emily mumbled tears threating to fall,
"Well, I guess I'll have to chase those means thoughts away," JJ said pulling Emily close and kissing her forehead in quick succession until Emily pulled away giggling,
"I'll be right here baby while you sleep, protecting you from all those bad thoughts and tomorrow we can play all day together, okay?" JJ told her softly, even in her little state Emily could hear that JJ was being honest and her voice was full of love,
"Alright mama, I love you" she said,
"I love you to baby, to the stars and back forever and ever," JJ said reassuring the brunette of how much she did genuinely love her girl,
"Woah that's a lot of love," Emily murmured falling asleep into the blonde's embrace, JJ nodded even though Emily couldn't see it and placed a gentle kiss on soft brown locks,
"And I mean every bit of it."