Throwing her son to the other side of the pool, the FBI agent laughed, falling back against her fiancé's chest as she watched him try to splash at her from yards away. "Try again, baby!"

Declan laughed. "Mom!"

Will went running as fast as he could to the deeper end and picked the young boy up in his arms, his flailing body above his head. "Who's the champ?"

Declan couldn't help himself as he continued to wiggle in the southern man's arms. "I am!"

"Who's the champ?" the officer repeated, sharing a large smile with his fiancé at the other end of the pool as he bounced the eight year old above him. "Who is it?"

"You! It's Will!"

Emily let Henry cling to her in the water as she watched the younger man who treated her son as if he were her own let Declan splash back down into the water safe and sound, his laughter loud and echoing out to the surf just down the hill.

"Aunt Penny!"

The brunette in the pool turned and watched her friends come out into the backyard. "Hey," she grinned. "What do you have there?"

"I'm sorry sweetums, what's a pool party without a margarita?"

Emily felt herself chuckle as she climbed out of the water, very aware of her love's eyes on her from the water before she covered herself in one of her fluffiest towels. "Thank you," she smiled, taking a drink from her friend before sitting beside her boss. "You want one?"

"One of those girly drinks?" the unit chief scoffed, grabbing a beer from the cooler. "No thank you."

Emily's jaw dropped as Penelope sat down beside her. "Ok, manly man."

The technical goddess rolled her eyes and set the bowl of chips and salsa she had stolen from her friend's kitchen down on one of the small tables that sat around the pool. "He's just scared of my beautiful mixture," she smiled, showing them both her full glass of alcohol. "Remember last time? Both of you two woke up the next day not remembering puking on one another in my home."

The two brunettes grimaced at the memory and the glare their friend was shooting them, and after one sip Emily quickly set the glass down. "Maybe I'll take it slow."

"Mommy!"

Emily looked up and caught her son in her arms. "No running," she warned, pointing to all the wet spots around their pool. "You know that."

Declan sulked. "Sorry."

"What did you need?"

The blond boy pointed to the house.

Turning, the BAU agents could all see JJ standing by the gate to the backyard, and Emily's eyes widened. What was she doing there?

Emily pressed a kiss to her son's head before leaving him with her friends, leaving the towel behind as she made it all the way to her gate. "JJ," she nodded, shaking out her wet hair as she looked the woman in her leather jacket and scarf up and down. "You're not sweating?" the brunette laughed.

The younger woman shook her head.

Emily frowned. "So what are you doing here?" Her voice softened, seeing that familiar look on her friend's face as her arms crossed. "What's wrong?"

JJ gave a shaky sigh before shaking her head, averting those baby blue eyes from her best friend. "I need to get Henry?"

"Jay," the older woman whispered, opening up the gate and stepping outside. "What's happened?"

The blond looked up. "My mom died."

Emily could feel her heart stop and drop into her chest, and her arms automatically came up and wrapped around her friend's neck. "Oh my God Jen, I'm so sorry." She let her friend fall against her, pressing her lips against that shining blond hair. "What happened?"

"She had a heart attack," she hiccupped, sobbing into the older woman's neck. "My dad rushed her to the hospital but they couldn't help."

Tears stung the ambassador's daughter's eyes. "I am so sorry, sweetie," she whispered, trying her best to stay strong for her friend. No matter what she and her best friend had gone through, Sandy Jareau was always there for her. "What do you need?"

"I need Henry," JJ nodded, standing straight and immediately wiping her tears from her face. "I need to take him home."

"Of course." The older woman called the young boy over and carried him inside to get changed, leaving her best friend with her fiancé standing between the front and the backyard.

"Jen," the southerner whispered, seeing the pain on his ex's face. "Chere, I'm so sorry."

JJ wiped the back of her hand against her cheek before looking the older man in the eye. "I don't want to talk," she whispered. "I just want Henry and I want to get back to my dad."

Will nodded. "I understand."

The brunette woman came back out of the house and handed the five year old boy off to his mother, feeling uncomfortable standing beside the man she loved with her friend brokenhearted before them. "Can we do anything?"

JJ took in a breath before shaking her head. "I'll text you," she husked. There was nothing anyone could do to help her through this.

"I'm a phone call away," the other agent insisted, watching as Henry immediately cuddled into his mother's side. "I always am."

The blond bit her lip. "I know."

Will held onto his fiancé's hand as he watched his ex carry their son off to the car, and she refused to tear his eyes away as Emily crumpled into his arms, her tears soaking the skin of his neck.