Here it is, the last chapter! I appreciate all of the support I have gotten from you guys, it has meant so much to me. At the begining I was worried to post this story, but now I am really glad that I did. And remember leaving a review is the greatest thing to recieve as an author :)

I do not own Criminal Minds

Emily sat in the Jareau's living room playing Scattegories. Her mother was in some country doing something, and they had invited her over. Around the room each of them frantically tried to find words that started with R to fill in for each category. By the time they got around to reading the answers, none of them could keep a straight face.

"Okay," Mr. Jareau started, "What does everyone have for 'Something you find in a kitchen'?"

"Roaster," JJ said, "You know, the thing that you roast things in." A smile spread across her face, because she knew she would get away with her answer.

"Rice," Her mom said.

"That's what I got!" Her dad exclaimed and they both crossed off their word.

The other three turned their glances to Emily and waited for her to read her own answer.

"Rats."

Suddenly all four of them broke out into laughter.

"Don't tell anyone this Emily," Mr. Jareau said, "but that's sometimes accurate in our house."

"Only in the winter when someone," Mrs. Jareau shot a glance to JJ, "leaves food in the basement."

JJ looked around sheepishly and started laughing. Then she rolled the dice and they continued on with the letter M.

JJ slipped her hand into Emily's and held it for the continuation of the game.

After the game was over they went up the JJ's room and sat on top of her bed. Emily looked around to a room that had once been so foreign to her, but was now like a second home. The last month had been pure hell, through her father's trial, but JJ had stuck by her the entire time.

Emily shuddered just thinking about how she had had to go on the stand during the trial. She was forced to recount what he had done with her since she was 8. And to do so in front of an entire jury. Thankfully it had been a closed trial, mostly for the sake of her and her mother. But JJ had been there with a parent on each side.

JJ had also testified during the trial. She talked about the day she went to go see Emily, but conveniently left the part about the pills out. There had been no reason to say anything about them. Instead, she talked about how he had hurt both of them and threatened them.

But despite all of that Emily was thankful. Her father was now in prison. 20 to life. No high- priced lawyer could get him out of it. The jury had no sympathy for him, nor did anyone else.

When Emily saw her Father's face as he left the courtroom she couldn't quite figure out the feelings she had. Sure she was mad. She was mad as hell. He had taken parts of her that weren't his. Parts she wouldn't be able to give to the one she loved. But more than anything else he had taken her hope, and her trust. Those were gone until JJ came into her life and put them back.

Yet another feeling she had was pity. From here he didn't look like the strong man that had scared her all of her life. He looked like what he truly was. A coward. A man who had targeted his 8 year old daughter.

"What're you thinking about Em?" JJ asked examining her face.

"My father," She said before thinking.

JJ's eyes turned soft as she turned to face Emily.

"It's nothing." Emily quickly added, not wanting JJ to worry about her.

"I'm not sure I believe you."

"What?" Emily asked surprised.

"You heard what I said. Ever since the hospital and the trial you haven't talked to me about anything," JJ explained.

"You heard everything at the trial." Emily looked down. It was the truth. JJ had heard everything. Now she knew everything her dad had done to her.

They sat in silence for a moment before JJ responded. "And you think that makes me think of you differently? You think that makes me love you less?"

"How could it not?" Emily spat out. "You know what he did to me now! You know that he…" She let those words hang in the air.

"And that means absolutely nothing to me." JJ replied firmly. "You know what I care about Emily?" She didn't wait for a response before continuing. "I care about you and that's all I've ever cared about!"

Emily could feel tears welling in her eyes.

"And Emily I don't want you to ever leave my life. I can't let you…"

"I won't." Emily answered the word JJ was unable to say.

JJ reached her hand up and rested it gently on Emily's cheek. "I hate that you went through what you did. And you need to know that what he did… what your dad did… that wasn't love. That's not what love is like. And if you let me, I want to be with you, and help you learn what love is really about. It's about you and me, Em."

By now tears had slipped down Emily's cheeks. She couldn't muster up any words and finally just nodded.

JJ moved closer to Emily and placed her soft lips onto Emily's. She held her close as they kissed, hoping that Emily was feeling the same way that she did right now. JJ wrapped her arms around Emily and pulled her tightly into a hug.

When they finally pulled apart JJ took her hand and wiped the tears off of Emily's cheeks. She so desperately wanted to pull Emily close to her and kiss her again, but on the other hand she also knew they had to take this slow. If she wanted them to have a relationship, if she wanted to show Emily true love, it would take time. And that was something she was willing to do.

Because Emily was worth it.

XXX

Eventually Emily pulled out the trundle bed from under JJ's bed and JJ turned off the lights.

"Goodnight," JJ said softly as she got into her own bed.

"Goodnight." Emily returned. Then suddenly she saw JJ lean her head over the side of her bed. Her long blonde hair hung at its sides. JJ kissed her again and then smiled.

"Now we can say goodnight."

"I really do love you JJ." Emily smiled. She closed her eyes, and for the first time in her life she wasn't scared as she lay in bed. She wasn't waiting for her father to come and steal a part of her, and she wasn't there praying it hadn't just happened. For once she knew everything would be okay, because JJ was there. And for once Emily felt a feeling she had never felt before.

Love.