JJ sighed as she paced the floor in front of her couch. It felt like déjà vu as she waited for a LaMontagne to walk through the door. Her mother was bringing Henry home from his weekend with her and JJ knew it was time for him and her to have a talk. While he was by no means old enough to truly understand how things have changed around him, she knew he was old enough to understand that a change had come and it was big. Henry was old enough to pick up on the issues his parents were having and JJ was sad to say that it was starting to show in everything Henry did. He was quieter these days and though he didn't say anything to her she knew that he knew that something was wrong between her and his father.
She wrung her hands tightly as she watched the lights of her mother's car shine through her windows from the driveway. They'd be here soon. She wiped her hands against her shirt as she walked toward the door to wait for their knock. She smiled as she heard the laughs shared between her mother and son and frowned as she realized she couldn't remember the last time she made her son laugh like that. She smiled tightly as she heard the knock from her son's tiny hand. She opened the door and immediately reached down to grab Henry in joy of holding him once more. She pulled him in tight as if afraid she was going to lose him and Henry clenched her back as tightly as if sensing her fear.
He pulled back slightly as JJ only seemed to grab on tighter. "Mama? What's wrong?" His blue eyes met her and JJ felt her eyes sting with tears as she saw so much of Will in Henry it almost hurt. Nonetheless, Henry was the best thing to ever happen to her and she would be damned if she allowed his father to ruin that for her.
JJ smiled shakily as she pulled away from Henry, chuckling awkwardly as she turned away to try and hide her tears from her mother who continued to stand patiently waiting in the doorway. She quickly wiped the tears away before turning to face her mother. "Hi, mom." She watched as her mother continued to stare at her in concern.
Before JJ could say anything else her mother cut in, "Henry, munchkin, why don't you go into your room to play for a while, while nana and mama have a talk, ok?"
Henry turned to face his grandmother as if to protest before he saw the stern look on her face and knew that this was not a time to argue. The grown-ups needed to have a grown-up talk that he wasn't allowed to hear. He turned back to see what his mama was going to say in response to that only to find her head nodding her head in agreement with his nana. Henry nodded before making his way to the stairs to his room. He would spend time with his mama later.
Sandy Jareau waited for her grandson to head upstairs and shut his room door before she closed the front door and approached her daughter. Thought JJ didn't say anything, Sandy could tell that something momentous had happened and a lot of things were changing around here. She reached for her daughter's face slowly and gently, seeing the fading of a bruise and she was immediately angered at the idea of someone putting his hands on her daughter's face. Then again her daughter led a very dangerous life and anything could have happened. She was glad that Henry didn't take notice of the bruise though. The boy tended to get worried and nightmares whenever he felt like his mom was in danger or hurt.
"Oh Jay, what happened to your face sweetheart?" She tentatively felt around the bruise making JJ wince gently. "Oh, I'm sorry."
JJ shied away from her touch, "Mom, it's okay. I'm fine. I've dealt with worse." JJ turned away from her mother before heading to the couch to sit. She knew she needed to tell her mother of the recent developments in her life and while she wanted to hold off on doing that, her mother picking up on her distress meant she wasn't going to leave until she found out what was going on and JJ rather just bite the bullet and get it out of the way than to drag it out. She was too emotionally strung out right now to deal with her mother, not to say that she couldn't trust or depend on her mother, but she feared what she might say about her relationship with Derek. JJ was happy now and she was afraid of her mother's disapproval, she wasn't sure what would happen between her and Derek if her mother were not able to get along.
"Jennifer Jareau. I know that there's something going on and after every thing we have been through with the loss of your father and your sister, you would think that you could trust me to be objective about whatever is going on here." Sandy sighed before she walked around to stand in front of her daughter. She forced JJ's eyes to meet hers before continuing, "I love you JJ, you're my daughter and there is nothing you could say to ever change that. We're stuck together sweetheart, that's just the way this work. Now tell me what's going on? Please." Her mother's whispered plea at the end and her eyes that held such sadness, hurt, concern, caring and warmth broke JJ's resolve to be strong as she collapsed into her mother's arms.
JJ's tears soaked her mother's sweater as her sobs rung in both their eyes. JJ's mother did nothing but to hold on and rub her back as she whispered quiet reassurances into JJ's ear. For the first time in a long while JJ felt relieved to lean the weight of her burdens onto someone else; even if it was just for a while. JJ continued to cry into her mother's shoulder till she could shed tears no more and only a soft hiccup remained of the sobs.
Her mother pulled back slowly before gently wiping the tears from JJ's face. "Oh, sweetheart, tell me what's going on?" Sandy rose from her haunch down position in front of JJ and moved to sit beside her daughter as she waited for an explanation for her daughter's melt down. She had a feeling she wasn't going to like whatever JJ had to say.
JJ turned to face her mother and sighed as she stared her in the eyes. It was all or nothing. She didn't keep secrets from her mother and she was not about to start now. Her mother was right, they had been through far too much for them to start hiding things from each other now and JJ knew that if there was anyone who could be a great sounding board when she needed one, it was her mother. Family was important to the Jareau women, especially since it's just them now, that to lose that would hurt JJ more than she could ever say. She looked away from her mother once more to steel her nerves before she turned back to face her mother. She took a deep breath before saying, "I need you to let me just say everything first before you make a comment, alright? This isn't exactly easy for me to talk to anyone about. You know how I am?" JJ shied away before seeing her mother nod out of the peripherals of her eye. JJ sighed in relief before replying, "Thank you."
JJ took another deep breath before starting, "It started about a year ago. I'm not exactly sure what happened or what changed but something did and Will and I started to argue. It wouldn't be over anything serious but then the fights started to get longer and angrier and soon it came to a point where anything and everything would start a fight between Will and me." JJ flinched as she saw her mother tense at the news but she did nothing else in reaction and JJ felt that it was safe to continue. "Not too long after that, Will started drinking and coming home late drunk. He would start these arguments accusing me of cheating and other stupid things. I don't know where he was getting the idea from?" JJ frowned at the thought, especially now that his accusations were true. "From then on the arguments got more aggressive and he started to throw things and smash things in the house."
JJ watched as her mother's hands tightened but Sandy continued to site quietly waiting for her daughter to finish. JJ closed her eyes as if picturing the night that changed it all, when she would stop calling Will to find out if he was coming home that night. "One night he grabbed me and I thought for sure he was going to hit me, but Henry walked in and it was like it knocked some sense in Will. He apologized and it seemed like for a while things were getting better. He stopped drinking and everything seemed to be back on track. Then things started to take a turn for the worst again. Will started disappearing for days on end, showing back up at the house at odd hours of the day or night, smelling like alcohol and cheap cologne. It was then that I knew that Will was cheating and his getting better wasn't him getting better, it was just him doing a better job of hiding it and now, he no longer care if I knew what he's doing behind my back." JJ looked away from her mother in shame, the same questions of why coming back to haunt her mind once more.
Her mother looked sad as she continued to wait, knowing that her daughter had more to say but at the same time not wanting to know, feeling an unbearable pain in her chest at her child's misfortune. She wanted to kill Will not only for what he was doing to her daughter but also that beautiful grandchild she has playing upstairs. Henry was such as lovely and adorable child and to think that his father was capable of this just saddened Sandy more than she could possibly display. She thought JJ and Will had that forever kind of love and to see so royally fucked up broke her heart. She nodded for JJ to continue, knowing her daughter was waiting to see if she wanted to make some form of reaction to her statement.
"After that, I stopped caring when and where Will would go and when he was coming home, as long as he maintained a good relationship with our son. Honestly the days that Will were gone were the days that I felt the best, sometimes I felt like it was the days that Henry felt the best." JJ chuckled as she said, "You might think I'm crazy for saying that." JJ's eyes widened in surprise as her mother only shook her head in disagreement with that statement. Sandy could understand when a dark cloud can hang over a family when there was negative energy in the air. Children picked it up even better than adults and she felt dismayed at the thought at what her grandson must have been going through. She nodded JJ on again before resettling against the couch.
"Then one night the team went out and I was sitting alone at the table realizing how sad all of this has become. I'm supposed to be in a relationship with the love of my life and there I sat watching all of my friends, my family, paired off and I was alone." JJ paused before continuing, "Well, the only other person that was alone." JJ smiled at her first thought of Morgan and Sandy couldn't help wondering who put that smile there and she was happy that her baby was able to find something good through all of this. "Morgan was doing his thing like usual, dancing in the middle of a throng of gorgeous women." JJ rolled her eyes at the memory, the smile remaining on her face. Especially since that man was now her man.
Sandy laughed at the image. She had met Mr. Derek Morgan on multiple occasions in the past and she couldn't lie and say that she didn't find the man to be attractive and charming in many ways. She did have a bit of crush on the man and if this was going where she thought it was going, then she might have tone it down on the naughty fantasies she entertained from time to time about her daughter's teammate. She smiled encouragingly for JJ to go on, "He called me over to dance with him and at first I resisted but you know how persistent he can be. I eventually joined him on the dance floor and I don't know. There was just something different about this time than in the past. Morgan and I have always had this flirty relationship and I think we could both admit that there was always an attraction, but then again every species on the planet is attracted to Derek Morgan…" She laughingly left off before continuing.
"We started talking and the more I talked to him the more I grew unhappy about where I was relationship-wise with Will. It felt good to have someone to help blow off some steam with and as the night carried on and I drank more, I don't know, I guess all the inhibition disappeared and all the feelings that I kept for Derek just came rushing to surface." She guiltily looked away before continuing on, "We took a cab home together and I should have sent him home but we were having such a good time that I just didn't want the night to end so I invited him in. We were drunk and it shouldn't have happened but it did." JJ stopped and Sandy felt like her silence would only allow JJ to linger.
"What happened?"
"Derek and I, well we…" JJ gestured with her hand, a blush blossoming on her face at having to admit to her mother that she had sex; great sex with Derek Morgan. Her mother looked at her entreatingly, she wanted JJ to say it regardless of how awkward it would be. On the inside she was a little giddy at the idea. Derek was a cutie and to be able to show him off to all her friends as her son-in-law would have her girls green with envy and jealously. Oh yes this would work out well. Sadly, Sandy had to admit that Morgan did provide better eye-candy than Will ever could.
"You what Jay?"
JJ glared at her mother, the mischievous twinkle in her eye hard to miss. "You're taking way too much enjoyment out of this. You know that, right?" JJ smirked at her now grinning mother.
Sandy saucily replied, "What can I say? When a man as fine as Derek Morgan is the one your daughter is sexing on, I can't really complain. Maybe hate on, but not complain."
JJ burst out laughing at that, a blush coloring her skin. "Oh my God, you did not just say that. Sexing on? You can't hate? Who are you and what have you done with my mother?" JJ was still laughing as she took in her mother's face.
"It's what the cool kids these day say." Sandy shrugged as if it was no biggie. "Anyways, carry on please." She waved JJ on, nudging her playfully.
JJ laughed good-naturedly before continuing, "Well yes, as you said. Derek and I had sex." JJ blushed again at the statement.
Her mother couldn't help but to needle her daughter some more. It was rare for her these days to have a chance to pick on JJ like she used to over cute boys and even anything at all. Since JJ joined the BAU she's been almost no-nonsense with everything she's seen, so to have her laughing and smiling filled Sandy with joy. "Oh darling, please. We're adults here. I think we both can say sex without blushing. I mean that's how both you and Henry came to be here." JJ ducked away, a chuckle escaping her from her mother's words. Sandy just had to push a little more, "And Derek Morgan, good Lord, that man looks like he knows how to put a woman through the paces. If I was 20 years younger…"
"Mom!" JJ exclaimed, the idea of her mother and her boyfriend together giving her the makings of a mini stroke. "The images in my mind right now. Not good." JJ covered her eyes as if to hide from them, the laughter of her mother ringing in her ears.
Sandy continued to laugh but she had a feeling that the more JJ continued the harder this day would be for her. She needed and breather and while Sandy wanted all the dirty details, now was not the time. And she had a feeling if she heard more about Will, she might end up in a jail cell before the night was out so before JJ could continue she went on, "JJ, sweetheart, I don't need to know the specifics right now. I know this is hard for you and I'll wait for the end of the story another day. I just need to know one thing right now." She leaned forward and rested her hand on JJ's knee. Staring her daughter straight in the eyes, she asked, "Does he make you happy?"
JJ thought about all the times that her and Morgan have had since that night and while not all of them were great; some of them were amazing and she wouldn't trade any of them for anything in the world. She was excited to see where her and Derek could go, he was a passionate creature and to have all of that passion focused on her was a heady and empowering feeling. It was more than sex; it was a friendship with a bond of trust that was so strong that now that JJ has it, she wasn't sure how she went without it. She was happy, happier than she's ever been and she had a feeling that she was finally where she was meant to be. With Derek.
She smiled brightly before meeting her mother's eyes. "I am mom, I am. I am happy."
Sandy smiled and before leaning back. Squeezing JJ's knee in glee. "Then I am happy for you. I always thought that boy had a good head on his shoulders. You have to bring him around for dinner." At that Sandy quickly rose from her perch on the couch, deciding it was time for her to leave.
JJ quickly rose, "But mom. I didn't tell you everything. I didn't tell you that I ended it with Will, that it was why I needed you to bring Henry back early." She quickly took a breath.
"I know sweetheart. Despite how you and Derek may have started I know what commitment means to you and if you were pursuing something with Derek then you must have broken things off with Will." Sandy patted her daughter on the shoulder. "Jay, let me tell you something. Some things happen in life in unexpected and some times messed up ways but it doesn't mean we close the door on them. We learn from these things and look for the best of the situation and in my opinion you're coming out a winner. So chin up champ and let mama spend time with her brown sugar at dinner later this week." At that JJ laughed again as Sandy winked at her saucily. Her mother was too much and she was going to have to find out who was teaching her mother all of these terms because no matter how hip her mom may be trying to be, it was just weird seeing her mother use modern day lingo. "Now go spend time with your son." After that Sandy leaned in and kissed JJ on the cheek and turned to go out the door. She stopped at the doorway before leaving and turned back to leave one last message. "I love you." She didn't wait for reply as she closed the door behind her and left.
JJ smiled at the warmth the feeling left inside her at her mother's parting words and couldn't help but to feel better about her situation. She turned to face the stairs. It was now time to have another big conversation. With her son and as hard as her conversation went with her mother, she had a feeling this one was going to be much harder. There was a positive though; her conversation with Derek later should be interesting when she extends her mother's invitation to dinner. She had no fear that Derek would come, she was just nervous about how it will go. While her mother may seem okay with the idea of her with Derek right now, she still doesn't know how they came to be and everything else that happened after their first night together. She was afraid her mother would be disappointed and that wasn't something JJ felt comfortable with.
With a heavy thoughts weighing on her mind, JJ trudged her way up the stairs. She paused outside of Henry's door, hearing his voice as he played with his toys. Her baby had such a beautiful imagination. She sighed once more before closing her eyes to steel her nerves again. She couldn't, no didn't want another break down. She didn't want Henry to know how badly his father hurt her and more importantly that she already found someone to move on with. She wasn't sure how Henry was going to respond and that that was another thing she had to worry about. She wouldn't ask Henry to try and replace Will with Derek and while he seemed to have no trouble spending lots of time with his Uncle Momo it didn't mean he wanted Derek take a larger role in their lives and that was something she was going to have to work through should it be a problem. She blew out a breath once more before opening the door and entering the room.
Henry immediately turned to face his mother and his face brightened with a smile. "Mama, wanna play with me?"
JJ couldn't help but smile in return before joining Henry on the ground. "Not right now champ. We need to talk about something important." She watched as his eyes widened in understanding and he dropped his toys to focus on her. He was so mature for his age and JJ felt horrible as if she was forcing him to grow older far faster than he should ever have to. She took a deep breath before continuing, "It's about your dad."
A/N: Hi to all my lovely fans. I know it's been forever since I have updated and I apologize profusely to all of you. I know it hasn't been easy and I want you all to know that none of your reviews or pms have gone unheard. I am grateful to all of the continued support from all of you and while I know it has been a long time coming I promise you that The Right Man will be finished and with my time away I have been able to come up with a good direction for the fic as it goes towards it's climax. Again, I'm sorry for the delays. I wanted to let my awesome fans know first that I have been working on my own fiction series. I hope you guys can support me in this new endeavor. That being said, it's been taking time away from my other writing projects, but I'll do my best to get The Right Man story done as quickly as possible. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I know I left the last chapter ending at a different point, I intend to take the fic back there so you can see what happened with JJ and Morgan but since to the long delay between chapters I thought it better to move the story along and reference back to what happened that night. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the chapter.
EvilMojoJojo