She knew she shouldn't have answered the call, even before she picked it up, she knew. Still when Elizabeth Prentiss rang, Emily Prentiss picked up. It was ingrained in her, like she didn't have a choice, even in adulthood, she had to obey her mother. It wasn't like she had called about something important anyway, she had just rung to say one of her friends in politics had seen Emily recently,

"She said she saw you with that blonde agent that you like and that she was sorry to she you had let yourself go," Elizabeth Prentiss barked into the phone,

"JJ" was all the younger Prentiss said,

"Yes well, do you know how embarrassing it was for me Emily, I live a respectable life and you should be doing the same, not in some lesbian relationship, eating whatever you want." The older snapped. Tears threatened to flood dark brown eyes, but she couldn't she was at work, and she needed to hold herself together, knowing that this conversation could continue for some time if she didn't end it quickly Emily responded,

"Yes, mother bye," and she hung up the phone before she could be insulted any further. Taking a deep breath Emily tried to refocus on what she had been working on before her mother rang. There was only two hours left of the day before she could go home, unless an urgent case came up, she could hold on till then.

Of course, it wasn't that easy though. The threat of tears continued to burn behind her eyes for the next hour, she managed to finish her work but now without the distraction, Emily could feel herself fall back into the dark corners of her mind. The parts of her brain that told her she wasn't good enough, that she wasn't worth anything and she never would be. The movement around the bullpen became louder and the lights became brighter, she knew she was beginning to regress her mind getting foggy as the harsh thoughts got louder. She couldn't regress at work, what if one of the others saw? The idea was so stressful to the brunette that, without realising she began to slip further. Eventually catching herself, Emily knew she had to do something, she had finished her work, maybe just seeing JJ could calm her down enough to make it to the end of the day. Plus, her girlfriend's office, was much quieter and darker, she could relax in there. Making her decision Emily got to her feet and tried to move quietly as to not draw attention to the rest of the profilers. Tripping slightly over the corner of Morgan's desk, Emily silently cursed herself and the need for her mama became greater,

"Are you alright their princess?" Morgan asked, chuckling at the brunette's clumsy action. In her big mind state Emily would have laughed along to but in her little, all she could think of was that he was laughing at her. Nodding firmly, she didn't make eye contact but in the steadiest voice she could manage replied,

"Fine thanks Morgan, just tripped," and quickly hurried off before anyone could say anything about her odd response. Once she had made it through the glass doors of the bullpen, tears finally filled her eyes and one or two spilled over. Keeping her head down Emily rushed forward the final few feet and all but ran into her girlfriends office. She let the door swing shut behind her and turned to the blonde who was on the phone and looked mildly frustrated at the commotion and then very concerned as she saw the tears in her girlfriends eye's. Dropping to the grounded Emily basically crawled over to where her girlfriend sat behind her desk and Emily pushed her face into the blonde's leg and let silent tears fall, while JJ very quickly, wrapped up her phone call. A soon as she had she turned to the brunette who was curled up against her leg,

"Emily baby, what happened?" she asked gently, when the brunette didn't respond she tried a different tactic.

"Love bug, what's going on?" she asked softly, getting the sense that Emily may not totally be in her adult headspace. Her theory was correct as this caused the brunette to look up and hold up her arms indicating she wanted her mama to pick her up onto her lap. Reaching down, JJ did as her girl wanted and picked up the brunette and got a comfortably settled in her lap.

"Mom called," Emily managed to get out through cries, this was her only explanation though and luckily JJ immediately got it, knowing that whatever Elizabeth Prentiss had called her daughter about was not kind for Emily. Guessing that this was something they should talk about when Emily was feeling a little bigger, she didn't push her girl, only reassured her,

"You are amazing my sweet girl, don't let Elizabeth or your mind tell you otherwise, you are my best, good girl," she told her softly in her ear. This caused the brunette to give her a watery smile and tuck her head into the blonde's shoulder. Glancing at the time she tried to work out what to do. There was less than an hour left of the day but if they left right on time they were bound to run into a lot of people, and she knew that would be the last thing Emily would want. Calling Hotch from the phone in her office, she told her boss that Emily had food poisoning from lunch and she herself wasn't feeling too hot, and could they leave now as they had finished their work for the day. Luckily for them, their boss believed it, and the two were allowed to leave early. Thanking the man, JJ quickly ended the call and brought her focus back to her favourite girl, who was still crying in her lap,

"Baby can you be a big girl and sit here, while I go get your things I'll be ten seconds I promise," JJ told her girl, thankful that Emily nodded and allowed ehrslef to be moved of the blonde's lap and onto the chair. Moving fast the blonde was thankful that the others seemed to be in the break room and she grabbed the brunette's things and made it back to her office in twelve seconds, she oculn't help but be slightly proud about that, that ahd to be a record or something, she made a mentla note to brag about that to Emily when she was big later. Picking up her own things in her office her heart broke at the silent tears that were still streaming down the pale face.

"Come on pumpkin, we're going home," a tan hand reached out and a pale one latched onto it. Emily kept her head down as they made there way out of the building and down the elevator, not wanting anyone to see the tears that she couldn't seem to stop rolling down her face. She got into the back of the car, for once without issue, and settled back as her mama buckled her in,

"Just relax my beautiful girl, we'll be home soon, I love you," the blonde placed a gentle kiss on the brunette's cheek and Emily smiled a little and tears slowly stopping as she settled further back and let her eyes fall stop, relaxing on the ride home.

Eventually, the blonde pulled into the driveway of their small home and quickly jumped out the car to help her girlfriend get out, when she opened the door, she saw her girl falling asleep in the backseat.

"Hey baby, let me help you with that." JJ said nodding to the seatbelt, Emily woke up a little and looked up nodding. She stood staring at her feet once JJ and got her out the car while the blonde grabbed their bags and locked the car. A hand reached out towards hers,

"Come on love bug, let's go." Instantly the brunette latched onto the paler hand and let herself be led into their home.

"Pumpkin come with me, I'll help you get changed into some more comfy clothes" the blonde said, smiling a little when the brunette's face lit up a bit. Carrying her girl to their bedroom she sat the brunette down on the bed and went to her closet. She rifled through the items of clothing quickly before settling on some particularly cosy pyjamas. Quickly placing on a pull up, knowing that Emily could fall asleep at any moment, she got the brunette dressed into the clean, warm clothes.

Deciding that she would just put on a movie for her little to watch while she made a quick dinner Jennifer picked up her girl once more and carried her to the couch and a soft blanket was given to her, "I'm going to put a movie on while I get changed and make us dinner, okay?" The brunette nodded, she could do that she could be good and watch a movie quietly.

"Good girl". The blonde ran her hand through the dark hair and watched as Emily smiled up at her at the praise, Sticking on a Disney movie, JJ gave Emily a quick kiss on the forehead and hurried back into the bedroom so she could change from her work clothes and make a quick dinner.

After they had eaten JJ decided it was time for a bath, when she suggested it to the brunette, she nodded but spoke gently,

"Mama bath with me?" she asked cutely, her hand coming up to rub at her face tiredly.

"Always pumpkin." JJ told her softly. The blonde carried Emily to the bathroom where she sat the brunette on the counter and turned to fiddle with the taps, making sure she got the right temperature. When she turned back around again, she saw tears flowing from the brunette's eyes,

"Oh baby, what's wrong? How can mama help?" she asked softly,

"Tired mama," came the response, as Emily let her head fall to the blonde's shoulder.

"I know baby, let's just take this bath and then we can go to bed." The blonde pulled away and quickly stripped her own clothes off before helping pull off her partner's before folding them neatly on the counter beside the brunette and turning the taps on the bath off. "Come on love bug," JJ said picking her up of the counter and placing her on the floor, "Let's get into the bath," she got in first herself and then held out her hand to aid her partner in getting into the tub. Once they were both in, she sat down and placed her hands on the brunette's waist and helped her settle in so she could curl up against her mama's front. The skin-to-skin contact, comforting her greatly.

"Tired mama," the brunette said again,

"I know hun, let me clean us both quickly and then we can get out and into bed, do you want your bottle tonight?" the blonde asked thinking her girl may be to tired, but the brunette nodded, she really did love the time she could spend with her mama when she got fed her bottle. Kissing the girl on the top of soft brown locks, JJ made fast work of washing the two of them before helping Emily out of the bath and dressing her again. Getting her girl settled in their bed, the blond promised to be quick as she hurried of to make the bottle. Emily could feel the exhaustion of her earlier breakdown and the chaos of the day lull her towards sleep, but she firmly kept her eyes open, wanting her bottle and a few snuggles before she settled down for the night. JJ returned a minute later, warm bottle of milk in hand and 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 softly and JJ popped a pacifier into her little one's mouth,

"It's time to go night night pumpkin,"

"Love you mama," was the only response that came from the brunette as she almost instantly fell asleep curled up in the loving safety of her mama's arms,

"I love you to love bug," came the blonde's response, before the blonde slowly fell asleep for the night herself.