I know this has taken me so long to update. I'm so sorry but I have exams coming up and I totally lost all creative-ness recently. I know this is short but I just need to get back into the flow of things. The next chapter may be a while in the writing with exams but I'll do my best. Thank you for your support and encouragement to update, I love you all!

After lunch, the stress, and subsequent excitement and relief, of the morning, combined with another round of pain medication had JJ going back to bed for an afternoon nap.

"Hey Carrie is there any chance we can have a talk, about this morning and well some other things that we need to sort out soon." Emily was suddenly nervous about talking to the girl in front of her and wished JJ could do this with her but she knew this was a talk the two of them needed to have on their own.

"Um sure, what's up?" If Emily thought she was nervous, Carrie was ten times worse. What if Emily didn't want her anymore? What if the agents had changed their minds? Did Emily suddenly realise how much she was intruding on her life?

Seeing the fear in the teens eyes, the profiler couldn't help but pull Carrie into her arms. "Don't worry, it's nothing bad, just things that need to be worked out and talked about, that's all." With that the two moved to sit on the couch. "Is there anything that you talked about with Agent Crowley this morning that you want to talk about now?"

"He didn't really ask me much, just if your job worries me and if I wanted to stay here." Her nerves had eased a bit but they were still very evident as she played with her fingers.

"I know you talked about our jobs with Jen this morning. Did you get the answers you need or is there anything else you want to talk about?"

"She said that you guys may get injured but you would always try your best to get home."

Emily could hear the questioning tone in the teen's voice, even if she didn't ask a question. Carrie needed her to reassure her too. Taking the teens hand, she did just that. "I promise you that we will always do our very best to get home safe. I know Jennifer's injury brought home how dangerous our job is for you but now I have something really important to come home to." Seeing the look of confusion on the youngsters face she continued. "You kiddo, I have you and Jen and we're starting our own little family here."

Tears began streaming down Carrie's face again, just as she thought she couldn't cry any more today. "Emily..."

"I'm not trying to take the role of, or replace, your Mom, I promise that I would never try that. But I do want to be here for you, no matter what, and I already care about you a great deal. I know for a fact that Jayj does too." As soon as the first sob spilled from Carrie's lips, Emily had moved and wrapped an arm around her.

"I know that, I know you wouldn't. I just miss them so much. God I feel like I've been saying that so much today." She sobbed into Emily's shoulder.

"That's okay, you can say it as much as you want. Some days will be harder than others, today is one of those days and maybe tomorrow will be too and we'll be here for you. It's okay to miss them and it's okay to talk about them." Emily just held the sobbing teen, wishing she could do something to help ease her pain.

"Carrie, would you like to... I mean, the option is always there, if you want to talk to a professional about everything that has happened. There have been some major changes in your life in a short space of time. I don't want you to think that I'm not here for you, I am. But if you want to talk to someone I want you to know that the option is always there."

"I'll think about it. Thank you." The sobs had turned to sniffles but Emily could still feel the damp patch on her shoulder growing.

"Anytime, anything you need, you only have to ask."

The two sat in content silence as Carrie's sniffs turned to tears and then came to a stop as she stayed in Emily's arms.

"What else did you want to talk about?"

"Well you're starting school next week and I'm going to go back to work. Just half days, don't worry! And if the team gets a case, I won't be travelling, I'll help Garcia as much as I can from here and still be around to pick you up after school. But what I wanted to talk to you about is what will happen after that. I will eventually be going back to full time, and then travelling. I know this was the only thing the agents were worried about this morning. Now I know it's a bit away but I want it completely sorted soon so that if any changes need to be made then we can do so before I'm fully back. I wanted to ask you what you would like to do."

A look of surprise crossed Carrie's face "You mean I get a say?"

"Of course, this decision affects you just as much, if not more, than me."

"What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking of hiring a live in nanny. We have the spare bedroom and someone will have to be here when I leave on cases. If that's not something you would be comfortable with then we'll figure something else out. I'm not close to any of my family but if you have any other ideas about what you want to do then we can discuss that."

Carrie's face schooled a look that Emily was beginning to associate with deep thought and there was a moments silence before she replied, "If there was a live in nanny would I get to meet her first, get to know her, before you leave?"

The older brunette was extremely relieved that the teen was being open about her views on the situation, "Yes of course! You and me would sit down and do interviews with some prospective nannys and then if there's any that we both like then we'll have a trial, maybe me and Jen will go out for dinner and you can see if you get along. We can also have a day here where we see if she fits into the dynamic of the home."

"Then if we all get along we hire her?"

"Only if we all get along, I promise. I won't leave you with someone you're not completely comfortable with." Emily took this moment to wrap her arm around the teen's shoulders and pull her into her side.

"Can I think about it and get back to you tomorrow?" Carrie whispered tentatively.

"That's no problem, just let me know what you decide?"

"I will, can I go upstairs now?"

"Sure, I'll call you when dinner's ready." With that Emily watched as the young brunette ascended that stairs, taking a moment to collect herself and her thoughts. It had been a long day but it seemed as if they had all turned a corner.