A/N: I do not own Criminal Minds!

This is it. Thank you all for going through this journey with me!

This chapter is dedicated to Nathalie who has been there for me through this whole story. Thank you!

Epilogue

"The winters mar the Earth

It's floored with frozen glass

You slip into my arms

And you quickly correct yourself

Your freezing speech bubbles

Seem to hold your words aloft

I want the smoky clouds of laughter

To swim about me forever more"

"I cannot believe you, Emily," Elizabeth Prentiss complained as she paced around the bedroom as her daughter brushed her hair, trying to ignore her mother. "First you decide to get married here, and now I find out you didn't invite all the people I told you to invite! I'm going to have to explain this to people, Emily."

Emily rolled her eyes and groaned. "I told you that we wanted a small wedding, mom. Just friends and family."

"You mean your friends and JJ's family. What about your cousins and aunts and uncles, huh? What am I going to tell them?"

"I don't know, mother!" Emily muttered under her breath. "Just tell them we eloped. I don't care. I don't even know them."

"And what are people going to say when they hear that David Rossi walked you down the aisle, not a family member?" Elizabeth asked as she sat down on the bed.

Emily brushed her hair out of her face and turned to her mother, her dress making a loud noise when she moved. "Why did you come? If all you were going to do was complain, why did you come to my wedding? You didn't want anything to do with me when JJ and I started to date two years ago. Why now do you care?"

The ambassador looked away from her daughter. She coughed and stood up. "You're still my daughter, Emily. It would be unconventional for me to not attend your wedding. I'm going to go check on the flowers. And see if this house is still intact. God knows why you decided to get married in this old lake house."

The profiler was happy when her mother left. She finally felt peaceful on the happiest day of her life. She was marrying Jennifer Jareau. What else could be better?

She jumped when there was a knock and the door opened. She was squealed when she saw someone she hadn't seen in years. "Oh my god, Remi!"

"Emily!" Remi cheered as she hugged her old girlfriend. "It's so good to see you! I'm so sorry that we couldn't get here until now!"

"That's okay!" Emily told her as she let go of the familiar woman. "I'm just glad you got here. I haven't seen you in what, two years? I would have gone to see you if you didn't elope."

"I know, I know!" Remi said as she and Emily sat down on the bed. "But we just wanted to get it over with. And we really wanted kids."

Emily grinned at her friend. "When's Jordan due again?"

"Three months," Remi told her. "We're super excited. We are settling down in Toronto, can you believe it?"

The agent pretended to gasp. "You? Settling down? Living in one place? I can't even imagine it!"

"Ha, ha. But, I know. It feels all so surreal. I wish you could have been there for the wedding. You introduced us, we owe everything to you."

Emily shrugged as if it was no big deal. "It was you guys who fell in love. I only introduced you guys. You did all the rest."

"Thank you," Remi said as she gave her another quick hug. "And… I told you so! I told you that JJ wasn't straight!"

The profiler glared at her playfully. "Oh, shut it. But thank you. Without you, I don't think that I would have been able to do this. Have a healthy relationship… let her in. All of it."

"Awe, Em. You always had it in you. I just reminded you that you are worth being loved. That's all you needed was that little reminder."

Emily smiled at her and said, "Well, thank you. And thank you for coming and helping me calm down. Did someone send you in here after my mother left?"

"Spencer told me to come in. He said that he would come in himself but that he was JJ's bridesmaid, so he thought it would be a conflict of interest, that dork."

Emily laughed and shook her head in disbelief. "That sounds like him all right. JJ told me that I didn't have to invite her, but I knew that if I didn't, she would never forgive me. And while the idea of never having to talk to my mother sounds wonderful, I know that I'd regret it eventually."

"Just forget that she's here," Remi suggested with a shrug. "You don't owe her anything. Besides, this isn't her day. It's yours. Just let yourself be happy."

The profiler nodded and smiled. She took a deep breath and let it out. "You're right. Thank you. How much time do I have?"

Remi checked her watch and answered, "Ten minutes. How are you doing? Need me to send someone else in? Getting cold feet?"

"No," Emily said without hesitation. "No, I feel ready. I'm ready to be JJ's wife. Do you know how JJ is doing?"

"From what Spencer told me, she's doing good! He told me that her mother came to her senses and helped JJ put her dress on. I'm guessing the Jareau family wasn't too happy to hear that their daughter was with a woman?"

Emily nodded slowly. "Yep. After we moved in, her parents came over for a surprise visit to see their grandson. They weren't too thrilled about me living there. They have started to get used to it, though. Mr. Jareau is still walking his daughter down the aisle and her mom finally started helping with the wedding. Her brother was pretty cool about it, though. Maybe too cool, if you know what I mean."

"What is it with guys being into girls kissing girls?" Remi asked, shaking her head disapprovingly. She changed the subject. "I saw Strauss there. Can't say I'm not surprised. Especially with what you told me about the things she had done."

"Yeah, things were hard for a while. Strauss found out about us when she realized that we had the same address. She told us that she was going to fire one of us, but Rossi was able to convince her otherwise. I can't tell you how, though. He's a mysterious man and his past with that lady is that much more mysterious. But when we told her that we were getting married she asked if she was getting an invitation. We felt like we had to invite her."

"Weird," Remi noted as she nodded, listening thoroughly. "But I'm happy that you both get to keep your jobs. Jordan didn't let me forget how hard your job was."

Emily chuckled lightly. "Yeah, me too."

Her attention was interrupted when the door opened and Rossi stepped inside the bedroom. "Emily, are you ready?"

Remi muttered, "Oops! I better get going! I'll see you out there!" She patted Emily's shoulder before heading out of the room and to her seat in the backyard.

Rossi walked over and brushed Emily's hair out of her face and smiled, much like a father would on the day of his daughter's wedding. "You look beautiful, Emily. I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, Dave," Emily whispered before hugging her fatherly figure.

"You're welcome," He told her before checking his watch. "We have exactly one minute before we have to start walking. JJ's father and I planned it perfectly so that you would both walk in together at the exact same moment. How are you feeling?"

"Excited to be JJ's wife. Excited to do this in front of my friends and family. Do you know how JJ is doing?"

Rossi chuckled and replied, "Of course, you want to know how someone else is doing. From what I heard, JJ and Penelope were dancing to loud music. I stayed far away from that room when it happened. But she's doing well, I think. You'll see her in a few seconds. In fact, I think we should get going. You ready?"

Emily took a deep breath and grinned. "Hell yeah."

David took the profiler's hand as they walked out of the bedroom. They traveled down the stairs and opened the back door (JJ was coming from the front). She saw the small group of people sitting around the aisle turn to look at her. She focused her attention on her best man, Derek, so that she didn't become nervous.

However, the man didn't have her attention for long. From the other side of the aisle, she saw JJ, smiling and holding onto her father for dear life. The air escaped her mouth. She was speechless as she saw her fiancee in her long, dazzling, white dress that hugged and caressed her body. Emily couldn't help but have tears in her eyes when she saw the woman she loved come closer and closer to her. She was so close to having everything she ever wanted... and more.

JJ didn't think that her smile could ever falter when she saw Emily wear her shorter, lacey, red dress. It wasn't traditional, but it was Emily. And that made JJ love it that much more.

They were a few feet away from each other now and all they both wanted to be was in each other's arms. Every second felt so long when they weren't holding each other. But finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, they close enough that they could touch.

JJ's father, Jacob, placed his daughter's hand into Emily's and shook Rossi's hand. He stepped away and sat down next to his wife and his son.

The blonde squeezed Emily's hand, holding on for dear life. They stared into each other's eyes, but their attention moved from each other to their son when he ran up to them shouting, "Mommy! Momma!" He hugged his parents, causing them and everyone else to laugh. Emily swelled with pride. She loved being Henry's mother. Everything, everything, was right.

Emily heard a squeal and looked away from JJ and saw Garcia almost jump up and down. The brunette held in her laughter when she saw Reid, who was JJ's other bridesmaid, try to contain Garcia's excitement as well as Henry's (who had just decided that he wanted to stand next to his Uncle Spence).

Rossi, who was also the wedding officiant, cleared his throat and moved so that he was in front of them and the audience. "Friends and family, we are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Emily Prentiss and Jennifer Jareau. These young women are some of the finest people I have ever known. They are wonderful agents, friends, family members, and parents. Which is why I have no doubt that their marriage will be just as extraordinary.

"I met Emily and JJ a few years ago. And let me be honest with you, I wasn't the most welcoming guy at the beginning. But little by little, these girls and the team helped me out of my shell and have become the family I never had. And I know that JJ and Emily have done the same for each other. They have fallen in love and become the light for each other in all of the darkness we experience every day. I am so lucky to have met the most lovely couple. And now, Emily and JJ are going to say their vows before they say, 'I do.'"

Emily turned to Derek and he passed her the ring with a wink. She turned back to JJ and declared, "Jennifer Jareau, I am unconditionally in love with you. And I have been since I first met you. And let me tell you, Jen, it scared the shit out of me in the beginning. Feelings and me didn't mix. I tried my hardest to push down anything that made things difficult. And you, you were certainly difficult. But in the greatest way possible. You didn't let me close myself off from everyone. You made sure I felt welcomed and loved. And ever since then, I've been a different person. A better person. With you, I can be the person I have always wanted to be. And now, the idea of spending the rest of my life with you doesn't even scare me. In fact, it thrills me. Nothing makes me happier than knowing I get to be the person who wakes up to you every morning for the rest of my life. I am the luckiest woman in the world to have you love me."

The brunette placed the ring on JJ's finger as the blonde let a few tears fall down her cheeks. JJ sniffled and got the rings from Penelope.

"Emily Prentiss, you complete me in ways I had no idea was possible. When my sister died, I thought there was a part of me that also died. It was the part of me that allowed me to love and trust and have long, serious relationships. I kept everyone at a distance hoping they would never find out about the missing parts. But here's the thing that I realized when I met you: what was once missing can always be found. The parts of me weren't dead. They had just gone away until the second I met you. You taught me how to love again. And you also love Henry with all your heart. And I can't believe how happy you make me. You complete my heart, you complete my family, and you complete me. You make me so happy and I am so in love with you, and I can't wait for us to add additions to our family."

After Emily and JJ told Rossi their 'I do's, they kissed and held each other close.

They didn't know how long they were kissing. A second, a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a lifetime. They didn't know. Time didn't exist when they were in each other's arms.

They only ceased the kiss when they both felt a light tug on their dresses. They looked down and saw Henry pointing to seats in the audience. The two women looked in the direction that he was pointing to and saw the two empty seats in the front row where the family was supposed to sit. One of the seats was next to Elizabeth. The other was between the Jareaus.

They gasped and held hands. They didn't need an explanation. They knew the seats were for Emily's dad and JJ's sister. They wrapped their arms around each other, tears in both of their eyes. They felt Penelope tap their shoulder and they turned around to look at her.

"This was Reid's idea," The tech analyst told them.

They both walked up to the boy genius and hugged him. They thanked him and kissed him and made sure that he knew that they appreciated all the thought he put into the idea. Now, they finally felt like their deceased family members were there.

"Congratulations, Agents," Hotch said as JJ and Emily walked around thanking people for coming.

"Oh, please," JJ told him. "It's JJ and Emily here, Aaron. You sat in the family section for a reason."

"Thank you for inviting us," Haley said as she walked up to them with her son trailing behind her. "We are so happy for you." She placed her hand on her husbands.

Emily and JJ smiled. They had gotten remarried a few months previously. Hotch admitted to them that after seeing how happy JJ and Emily were that he wanted to try again with Haley. It took him a while for him to get Haley to agree to go on a date with him and convince her that he would try to be better, but once he did, their relationship picked up to when they first got married.

"Thank you, Haley," Emily told the woman kindly. "You gave us the best wedding advice ever. It was so helpful."

"Well, I have gone through it twice," She joked sweetly. "It was a lot better the second time. Smaller weddings are better. And eat right after the wedding. That way no one gets bored."

"Well, Rossi did a lot of the planning," JJ admitted to her. "He knows a lot of people. One phone call he got catering service half off. He's a wedding genius."

"So true," David said as he walked up to the group. "It could be my third job. You know, after being the best profiler and writer." He turned to Haley and Hotch. "Follow me, guys. Penelope wants to tell you all how cute you are for the billionth time."

As Hotch and Haley walked to find Morgan, Spencer, and Penelope playing with Henry and Jack, JJ and Emily walked up to the Jareau family.

"Oh, pumpkin!" Jacob Jareau yelled as he hugged his daughter. "I am so happy for you! And you!" He said as he turned to his daughter's wife and hugged her. "Emily, thank you for making my little girl and grandson so happy!"

"Awe, thanks, dad. You're the best. And mom, thank you for coming," She hugged her mother for a short period. Her mother still wasn't okay with everything, but she was getting there. Slowly.

"Wow, Jenny," JJ's brother, Stephen said as he pulled his sister into a hug. "Can't believe you got married before me. Though, I'm a proud bachelor."

"I'm sure you are, Steve," The blonde snorted before saying, "I just want to thank all of you for being here and for supporting me and Emily. Your love means so much to the both of us. We are just so happy that you want to stay in our lives. It means the world to us."

"Well, Jen, we know how happy Rosie would be if she were here today. I know she is just looking down on you right now with the biggest smile on her face. We are all very proud of you. Isn't that right, honey?" Jacob asked his wife.

JJ's mother nodded with only a little bit of hesitation. But that was good enough for all of them.

"Agent Jareau, Agent Prentiss, congratulations!" The section chief said politely as she shook hands with both women.

"Thank you for coming, Ma'am," JJ told the woman, trying to match the politeness. "We appreciate all the support you have given us in the past year. Thank you so much."

"Well, you two are great agents with a great future. It would have been a crime to transfer either of you. The BAU is lucky to have two wonderful agents such as yourselves. Pardon me, I see that Agent Rossi is by his lonesome," Strauss said quickly before making her way toward the eldest profiler.

JJ and Emily watched the strange interaction between the two people. They turned to each other and shrugged. They couldn't guess what their past could be. They only knew that it probably had saved their careers, so they couldn't complain.

Emily and JJ didn't want to be that cheesy, annoying, overly happy couple, but they couldn't help it when they were around each other. At the small reception outside (after all the chairs were moved and were placed around tables), JJ and Emily fed each other sips of champagne. They knew that the team was making fun of them. But at this point, they just didn't care.

Before the cake was to be sliced, Derek stood up and clinked his glass with a spoon. "Hi, hello, everyone. I am Emily's best man, and as the best man, it is only tradition to give a toast. Also, following tradition, my short little speech is going to be a story that basically makes fun of Emily Prentiss the whole time." He turned and winked at Emily who was playfully glaring at him.

"When I first met started to get to know Emily Prentiss, I learned early on that she was tough. Courageous, ambitious, a risk taker. She was a perfect partner in so many more ways than one. The only things personal I knew about her was what I could look up in her files. Smart, well educated, a helluva good agent. She worked hard and kept everything separate from her personal life. The team joked around for a while about whether or not she was a spy. Anyway, she didn't get into feelings for a while. So let me tell you, a few months ago, when she called me at 2:00 AM, I thought that something was wrong, not that she needed me to help her pick out a ring for JJ. Now, to be fair, Emily had started coming out of her shell after a while once we all started to trust each other better. And when she and JJ started dating, she was almost at the point that she was willing to talk about anything. Back to the story, though.

"So, it's 2:00 AM, she calls and tells me that she needs to see me. I thought an UnSub was after her, or something, so I rushed to her apartment. Emily opens the door, fully clothed, and says 'We need to go shopping.' I think I almost hit her in the dead of night. I was mad, but she started doing this puppy dog eye thing and told me that on a whim she asked Mr. Jareau for his permission to ask JJ to marry her. Well, Emily said that she was more than surprised when he said yes. She realized that she needed to actually get a ring and ask her before he got suspicious. I remember asking her why she couldn't find a ring on her own time, but she started to beg and told me that she had no idea what she was looking for and that she needed help. So, I gave in. Emily rarely asks me for something, so I knew it was a big deal for her to ask.

"You'd be surprised by how many jewelers are open in the middle of the night. We went to seven of them in the first hour. Emily was getting frustrated because she didn't find 'the one' and that everyone thought that we were a couple. By we got to the eighth place, we just told them that we were a couple to stop people from asking. But man, was she pissed. After the tenth store, I pulled her aside and asked her what was wrong. She finally admitted to me that she wanted the ring to be perfect because she said that JJ deserved perfect and that she, herself, wasn't perfect, so she at least needed a good ring. I think I laughed at her for a solid five minutes before she hit me and I stopped. I gave her a hug and told her that we could keep looking. The next place we went to had the perfect one.

"I tell you this embarrassing story, not only to make fun of my dear friend but to shed light on how much JJ has changed Emily for the better. Emily and JJ are two of my dearest friends. And they have shown all of us how a relationship can make two people better and stronger. To Emily and JJ."

Everyone raised their glasses to the couple and drank. JJ looked at Emily and mouthed, "Did that really happen?"

Emily nodded, trying to hide her embarrassment. Before Emily and JJ could talk about what Morgan had just announced, Garcia stood up.

"I am a romantic," Penelope told the group of friends and family. "Everyone who knows me knows that. I just love, love. And JJ and Emily, man, were they tough to get together. I enjoyed the challenge, though. It wasn't easy, no. It took a while for them to realize that they had feelings for each other. And there were a few bumps along the way. Some of them were welcomed bumps, like Henry and Remi, and some of them were not. Like all the murderers and such. And I won't say that I was the only thing that got them together, but I sure did all I could to make sure they knew they liked each other.

"I remember one time in particular. After a hard case, we went to the bar. I was having drinks with my good friend, JJ, and she could hardly pay attention to what I was saying. It took a while for me to realize what in the world could be more interesting than me. That was when I looked over and saw that JJ was watching my other good friend, Emily Prentiss, dancing with some guy. That was also the first time I had noticed jealousy from JJ. But, that wasn't, of course, the first time I noticed an attraction between them, but it was the first time I realized that I needed them to get together. Besides, all the sexual tension was just getting to me. So, I did a few things once in a while. I planted ideas in the drunk minds, I changed hotel reservation, I had more and more girls nights. And finally, they got together. And not to toot my own horn, but that's because of me." She raised her glass. "To me! I'm kidding. To Emily and JJ."

One, after the next, after the next, people toasted to their relationship. One of the most meaningful speeches came from Spencer, who said, "I'm a genius. At almost everything but feelings and relationships. I didn't understand them. The only ones I knew had failed or gone astray. I don't understand why anyone would go through the trouble. Excuse me, I didn't understand why anyone would go through the trouble. Before Emily and JJ, I didn't understand how healthy and happy a relationship could be. I didn't know how complex, yet simple, it could be. I now know that I was mistaken. Relationships don't always make sense, but JJ and Emily's does. To Emily and JJ."

Last, but not least, was Rossi. He stood up and declared, "My marriages are the perfect examples of what not to do. That might sound like an exaggeration, but let me tell you, it isn't. With all my failed marriages, I thought that relationships in the BAU just don't work out. That they aren't possible. But then came JJ and Emily. And boy, did I realize that I was wrong. I am so proud of them for making it work. They have made me believe that love is possible again. Raise your glass to JJ and Emily."

Emily and JJ kissed and everyone clapped. Yes, love is possible.

After eating cake and other sweets, it was time to start the music. The couple got up and walked to the dance floor. They held each other close. Their eyes were on each other.

"I love you," Emily whispered as they swayed to the music as the sun went down. "This day has been perfect."

"Even if your mom is here?" JJ asked as she tried to follow Emily's lead. She wasn't as used to dancing as Emily was.

The brunette laughed and nodded. "Even if my mother is here. She isn't being as horrendous as I thought she was going to be. I haven't even spoken to her since the beginning. She's been hiding out in the back for a while."

"Yeah, she looks like she is feeling a bit awkward here. I can't believe how nice my parents are being. Mom didn't frown once."

"Everything has been looking up for a while now," Emily told her as she cupped the blonde's face.

"I love you," JJ said as she kissed her wife. "Mrs. Jareau."

"I love you, too, Mrs. Prentiss."

"Eww!" Henry yelled as he ran to his parents.

Emily and JJ laughed as they pulled their son into a hug. The two women took his hand and danced with him as a fun song came on.

From there, JJ danced with her dad as Emily danced with her father figure, Rossi. They then went on to dance with everyone there. For the next few hours, they danced and talked and laughed and loved.

After most people had gone home or gone to bed (some family and friends decided to stay at the house them), JJ and Emily sat outside on their balcony. They watched the stars sparkle and the moon shine. They held hands and stared into the nothingness.

"Emily," JJ said quietly. "I have something for you." She got up and grabbed a bag from the closet in their bedroom. She passed it to Emily.

"A present? Jen…" She stopped talking when she saw JJ glare at her. She opened the bag and pulled out the soft bear that brought tears to her eyes.

Emily didn't try to hold back her tears. She gaped at the gift and turned to JJ. "How? I thought… I thought it was gone."

JJ shook her head as Emily smelled and hugged it. "I talked to your mom. She still had it. She kept it after all these years."

"You talked to my mom?" Emily asked, impressed by all the effort.

The blonde nodded and replied, "She cares, Em. I know that she treated you bad throughout your childhood. But I do think that she cares. In her own way. Your mom was also more than willing when I told her why I wanted the bear."

"And why is that?" Emily asked, confused that her mother could be so accommodating.

"I thought that our next son or daughter would love to sleep with Terrance," JJ muttered as she placed her hand on her stomach.

Emily gasped as she wrapped her arms around her wife. "Already? We just started a few months ago!"

"I know! I know! I found out yesterday. I wondered out loud why I had missed my period. Garcia asked if I was pregnant and I didn't know. I went to the doctor and… I'm pregnant. I told Garcia earlier."

Emily kissed her wife, now understanding. "Ah," Emily said as she put her head on JJ's lap. "So that's why Pen and you were dancing. You told her about the baby."

"I did indeed," JJ told her as she brushed hair out of Emily's face. "So are you happy?"

"Happy? I'm- I'm speechless. I'm thrilled. I'm scared. I'm excited. I'm in awe. I'm so in love with you and our family. Our growing family."

JJ kissed her lightly and unzipped Emily's dress so that she could see her back and the fairly new tattoo. She traced her fingers over the tattoo with her and her son's initials in a bunch of stars. She kissed her back and then pulled her to the bedroom. They were definitely going to celebrate.

"The shells crack under our shoes

Like punctuation points

The planets bend between us

A hundred million suns and stars

The sea filled in this silence

Before you sank those words

And now even in the darkness

I can see how happy you are

It's all for you"

The End.

The quotes are lyrics from the song, "The Planets Bend Between Us" by Snow Patrol. If you haven't listened to this band, you should. It's so much better than the most popular song, "Chasing Cars."

Thank you all for staying with this story. I am so happy to end it so happily and so cheesily. Your overwhelming support has gotten me through some rough days recently and I am so thankful.

If you guys enjoyed this story I very much suggest you read my other story, "Not A Fantasy, Not A Dream, It's Just You and Me." It's a bit darker, but it's Jemily. I don't know how often I'll be able to write with school starting on Monday, but I hope to have more stories coming out soon.

Once again, thank you all. Reviews are welcome and so very appreciated! XX