a/n: thank you so much for all the reviews! means a lot to me. shout out to my best friend, Tess…who casually hacked my account to review this story: thanks, hon, you're the best!

and a shout out to everyone else who's reviewed: i love you, let's get married.

mmk on to the story now! r&r and enjoy this wicked long chapter!

Quantico, VA 2008

"Hey, JJ, you ok?" Emily asked, as she leaned against the door to JJ's office. They had just gotten back from a case that had really affected JJ. A woman had moved to a new state because of a stalker problem that she had had, and the stalker ended up finding her and taking her hostage.

"Yeah…yeah, I'm fine," JJ said as she sat up casually in her chair.

"Ok…because you've been acting a little off recently," Emily added. Best friends don't say ok, she reminded herself.

"I'm tired…" JJ said with a shrug. Emily shut the door and sat down across from JJ.

"Now what really is the problem. Are you and Will having an issue?" Emily asked. Will was the attractive southern detective JJ had met while working a murder case in New Orleans. He had immediately had a thing for her, and they shamelessly flirted the entire time. And Emily, as the best friend, saw it right away.

"No..no, Will and I…we're great," JJ said quickly.

"Then?" Emily asked. JJ sighed and gave in.

"It's not a bad thing," She said, "I promise."

"Then just tell me already. Or I'll have Garcia track your credit card usage!" Emily threatened.

"Alright, alright. But you should feel very special. You're hearing this before Will," JJ said.

"Ok. Great I feel like jesus. That special. Now tell me!" Emily commanded excitedly.

"I'm pregnant," She said with a small grin.

"JJ! Jen! Jennifer! Oh my! Congratulations!" Emily exclaimed practically climbing over JJ's desk to hug her.

"Calm down, Emily. Deep breaths. In and out," JJ told her through the hug.

"Oh wow. Yes. Wait so that means Captain Crawfish and you…" Emily began, "Did it," in a lower voice.

"Yes, Emily. We did it. More than once. On a lot of different surfaces," JJ told her. She knew that would freak out Emily.

"Ok. Ew. Yup too much for me," Emily said throwing her hands up.

"Get out now," JJ said laughing, "I have to call Will," JJ said.

"Fine. But we need to go out soon. The daughter wants to see you," Emily said laughing, "We're going out to a movie tonight. You and Will wanna come?" She asked.

"Yeah. I'll ask Will casually while I'm explaining the pregnancy," JJ said laughing.

"Tell him over popcorn and gummy worms tonight," Emily said with a shrug.

"Will do. I'll call you if we're going," JJ said.

"K bye," Emily said with a wave and walked out of her office. JJ sighed and pulled out her phone.

"Lamontagne," Will answered.

"Will, it's JJ, hi," she said.

"Hey, chere. How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good…we just really need to talk," JJ stressed.

"Why? What's going on? You ok?" He said worriedly.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine…I'm uh….I'm pregnant, Will," JJ said slowly.

"Pregnant? You sure?" He asked. Oh shit. Did he not want this?

"Yeah. I'm very sure," JJ said nervously.

"JJ that's great! That's amazing!" He exclaimed.

"You're happy? You want this?" JJ asked still unsure.

"Of course. I'm ecstatic!" He said, grinning through the phone. JJ wiped the sweat off her brow and sighed in relief.

"Oh, thank god," JJ said with a smile.

"You're welcome," he teased.

"Now that that's out of the way…Emily and Riley are going to see a movie and grab some dinner and they wanted to know if we wanted to go," JJ told him.

"Yeah, absolutely. I haven't seen Riley in a while," He said. Riley and Will were very close. Because Riley didn't have much of a father figure in her life, she stayed very close with Will.

"Great. I'll tell Emily. I'm leaving now," JJ said gathering her things, "I'll meet you at home," she said.

"Sounds good. And JJ?" He asked.

"Yeah Will?"

"I love you."

"Will, I love you, too." With that, they hung up and JJ made her way out of the office. As she turned the corner she bumped into Emily.

"Emily! Why are you still here?" JJ exclaimed.

"Calm down. Talk and walk," Emily told her as they walked down the catwalk towards the elevator.

"He was really happy. And we're coming with you guys," JJ said with a grin.

"Yes. Good! Riley misses her uncle Will," Emily said.

"Will misses her too," JJ agreed. They parted their ways when they reached their cars.

"Meet me at my house at 6. We'll get dinner and see a late movie. It's Friday so no school for the little girl," Emily reminded.

"Good. Ok see you in a bit," JJ said hugging Emily. Emily got in her car and drove away.

As JJ got in, a voice called out to her.

"JJ!" She turned to see who it was. It was Derek.

"Hey," JJ said with a smile.

"You look better," He commented.

"Yeah. I was just tired. I am better," She said truthfully.

"Well, good," Derek said with a grin.

"What's up?" JJ asked, because she could tell that there was some more that Derek had to say.

"I was just…you and Emily are close right?" He asked.

"Like sisters," JJ said nodding.

"Well, I mean, we're partners and we are close," He began.

"But?" JJ asked sensing a 'but'.

"But I feel like she's been keeping something from us," He said.

"Derek…she's just a more private person. She tells you a lot… for her," JJ explained.

"I know…and everyone likes their privacy. I just, feel like it's something big. Important, ya know?" He asked.

"No, I do. I get it," JJ said nodding, "It's just… she's gone through a lot in her life and she has trust issues. You know that," she said.

"Yeah. You're right. Sorry for holding you up…looked like you guys were making plans," Derek said grimacing.

"Not a problem. Hey, wanna grab lunch this weekend?" JJ asked, feeling like she needed to make it up to him.

"Sure," Derek nodded.

"Ok cool. I'll call you," JJ said with a smile. JJ and Derek departed their separate ways and JJ went home.

Quantico, VA 2009

"Hello?" JJ answered her phone. She was feeding a now one year old Henry.

"It's Em," Emily said.

"Hey, what's up?" JJ asked, kissing Henry's forehead. She handed the food off to Will, and walked into the other room.

"Would I be able to drop off Riley?" Emily asked.

"Yeah, why what's up?" JJ asked, "Everything ok?"

"I'm just gonna go check up on Hotch. He's a wreck, Jayje," Emily said sadly. Hotch's wife, Haley, and four year old son, Jack, were living in a safe house with a US Marshall, because Hotch had been attacked by an unsub, George Foyett. This man had threatened to kill Hotch and his family, and they knew this was the only way to protect them.

Foyett stabbed Hotch repeatedly in the stomach before leaving him at a hospital. Hotch had since then recovered, but missed his family terribly, and would not rest until they had found Foyett.

"That's a good idea, Em. I actually was making some food for him. And I was gonna bring it over. But you can since you're going anyways," JJ agreed. She walked over to the oven and pulled out a steaming casserole dish.

"Sounds good. Can I bring her over now?" Emily asked.

"Sure. She can stay for dinner, too," JJ told her, "It's spaghetti night."

"Thank you so much, Jayje. I owe you one," She said with chuckle.

"A round of shots is good for me," JJ said shrugging. She heard Will laughing in the other room.

"Only if I'm in on them," He called.

"Fair enough," Emily murmured, "See in you in a bit," Emily said and then hung up.

"What's up?" Will asked as JJ hung up the phone in the kitchen.

"Well, with the whole 'Hotch thing', Emily wanted to check on him. He isn't doing well and so Emily's just gonna drop Riley off and make sure Hotch is all set," JJ explained.

"Are they any closer to catching that son of a bitch?" Will asked shaking his head sadly.

"Well, we have some leads, but he's so damn hard to track," JJ muttered.

"Speaking of so damn hard," Will began.

"Will, not in front of my baby!" JJ began, covering Henry's ears.

"No, Jayje I didn't mean that. That's later," He said winking, "I meant that this little monster won't eat for me," He said chuckling. JJ kissed him on the lips.

"Watch and learn," JJ said, taking then food from Will. Henry graciously accepted the food from JJ.

"Yeah you are so mama's little boy," JJ nodded as Will rolled his eyes.

Will came around JJ's back and wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned with a grin and kissed him.

"Love you," He murmured.

"Love you more," she whispered back.

"Love me!" Henry yelled from his high chair, clapping.

"I do love you, little man!" JJ exclaimed, picking him up and swinging him around.

Their door bell rang.

"I got it," Will offered. He kissed JJ's cheek and went to get the door.

"Hi Uncle Will!" Riley said with a small smile. She was now twelve, and she looked more and more like her mother each day.

"Hey kiddo, come on in," He said with a grin.

"Thank you so much, Will," Emily said.

"Any time," He said giving her a hug.

"She has a shit load of homework. I don't know why the hell they think sixth graders need that much homework, but apparently they do," Emily said with a shrug.

"It'll get done. Don't worry," Will said with a smile.

"Thank you. Again," Emily said, kissing Will on the cheek.

"Hi, Jayje! Bye Jayje. Riley be good," Emily called hurriedly.

"Ok mom. Love you," Riley called from the kitchen, where she was already playing with Henry.

"Yep. Love you too," Emily called.

"Deep breaths, Em," JJ said, as she walked to the door with a dish in her hand.

"I know. Shit, Jayje, poor Hotch," Emily said shaking her head, taking the warm dish.

"I know. Go. See you in a bit," JJ said hugging her.

"Thanks," Emily said and she left.

Will shut the door and walked back in.

"Hey you," He said to Riley.

"Hey," She said giving him a hug. JJ hugged her as well.

"You're getting so tall," JJ murmured, "I remember the first time I met you… you were a little scrawny eight year old," JJ teased.

"I definitely was not scrawny," Riley said with a grin. JJ smiled fondly at her.

"Ok, ok what ever you say," JJ said laughing.

"Come on, let's get on that homework," Will said. Riley rolled her eyes.

"Watch out Henry. You'll never be able to ditch your homework with this one," Riley teased.

"That's right. And don't you forget it," Will said with a grin. He sat down at the kitchen table with Riley.

"What do we have here?" He asked.

"Fractions," Riley said in disgust.

"Yuck," JJ murmured.

"Yeah," Riley said sourly.

"Well, let's get it done and we'll take a break and you can help me make dinner?" JJ suggested.

"Haha. Ok," Riley agreed with a grin.

"That would be my cue to leave and put Henry down for a nap," Will said laughing.

"Great. Thank you. Leave the math to us," JJ teased. She kissed Will and he walked away with Henry.

"Alright let's do this," JJ said, wrapping an arm around Riley.

Quantico, VA 2010

"What do you think?" Riley asked, spinning around in her semi formal dress. She was a freshman in highschool, and this was her first semi.

"I think you look absolutely beautiful," Emily murmured. Riley's long, dark raven locks were down, wavy. She had a short red dress on, and silver heels.

"Red is definitely a Prentiss color," JJ said with a grin. Both Emily and Riley looked great in red. It was something about how it looked against their pale skin and dark hair.

"Agreed," Riley said. She was only wearing a little makeup, because that's all Emily would allow, but it looked beautiful.

"C'mere," Emily said with a grin. She hugged Riley tightly.

"No drugs or alcohol or sex tonight. Anything you're thinking of doing, I did it…times like 10. So I know. And I know what those boys are thinking. They just want to get into your pants. Horny little highschoolers," Emily warned.

"I'll be good. Promise!" Riley exclaimed. The door bell rang.

"That would be John," Riley said, biting down on her lip, another Prentiss habit.

"John. I had sex with a John once," Emily shuddered. He was the one that had gotten Emily pregnant with Riley, and then had left them. That was the second time he had knocked her up and left her.

"You're his fault," Emily said, "So don't get any ideas," Emily said.

"Promise," Riley said kissing Emily, "Bye Aunt JJ," She said, hugging JJ.

"Bye, sweetie. You look gorgeous. You really do," She said.

"Thanks," Riley said. She opened the door. She tall young boy, a sophomore, was standing their. He had short blonde hair and a nice smile.

"I'll have her home at ten thirty, Agent Prentiss," He said politely.

"Thanks, John. You kids have fun," Emily said with a smile.

"We will. Thanks mom. Bye Aunt JJ," She waved again. With that, John and Riley were off, leaving Emily and JJ to worry.

"She'll be fine," JJ reminded her.

"Yeah i know…but Jay, I know what I did then," Emily whispered.

"She won't do what you did. And if she does…we know how to deal with it," JJ said calmly.

"You're right," Emily said and sighed, "Damn. I need a shot."

"Sit. I'll get the tequila," JJ said laughing, and went into the kitchen.

Quantico VA 2011

"Riley," Emily called. She looked pale and nervous.

"Yeah, mom?" Riley asked. She made her way down the stairs and to the living room, where Emily was pacing nervously.

"Sit," She asked. Riley immediately began thinking of all the things she'd done wrong recently.

"Am I in trouble?" Riley asked nervously. Emily shook her head.

"Riley…when you were younger…you were six, do you remember living with grandma and grandpa?" Emily asked.

"Yeah…" She said nodding, "You were away on a business trip, grandpa said."

"Did he or grandma, or JJ, ever tell you what my job was?" Emily asked.

Riley shook her head no.

"I worked along side CIA and interpol, on a team called JTF-12," Emily began quickly, "We were an undercover team…we profiled criminals…murders, thieves, terrorists, the likes."

"Mom…" Riley began slowly.

"Shh. Just let me finish," Emily pleaded.

"Ok," Riley said nodding.

"I went undercover as an arms dealer named Lauren Reynolds. My job was to go under cover to profile and arrest a terrorist named Ian Doyle. I got him to fall in love with me…he told me all his secrets… we," Emily hesitated, "We slept together, Riles. A lot. And he had a son, named Declan and I took care of him like he was my son," She explained. Tears were stinging her eyes.

"What happened?" Riley asked quietly. She scooted closer to her mother and leaned her head in the crook of her neck. Emily put her arms around her waist.

"I couldn't be away from you any longer. I faked Declan's death because Ian was going to raise him to be a monster…just like he was. I smuggled Declan out of the country without Ian knowing, and now only I know where he is…and I turned Ian in and came home. Ian was taken away by interpol to an awful prison in north korea. They tortured him and threatened him and used his son against him," Emily was now in tears, "And Riley…he's back. Ok. He's here in DC and he's coming for me…and if he finds out about you…he'll be here for you, too," Emily said, hugging Riley tightly.

"Mom," Riley tried, but there were no words, only tears, "Does JJ know?" She asked when she finally could speak.

"Yeah…because she's with the State Department now…Now, Riley, I need to ask you to do something for me, and you might hate me, but I need you to do this," Emily asked.

"Anything mom," Riley murmured.

"I need you to live with JJ and Will. I need to go…and find Ian and…I need to kill him, before he can get to you or Declan," Emily said.

"Will you be ok?" Riley asked fearfully.

"Hopefully. Please, though, Riles. I need you to do this," Emily begged.

"Ok. Yes. I will," Riley nodded, "But… I want to meet your team, Mom. I need them to know who I am," Riley begged.

Emily sighed, "I let JJ do it. I'm leave tonight, honey." Emily hugged Riley and kissed her.

"Mom…mommy," she said, her eyes wide with fear and pain, "please be careful," She whispered.

"I will, Riles. C'mon. Pack up," Emily said, helping Riley stand up. Before Emily could move, Riley attacked her with a hug. Sobs wracked the fifteen year old's body.

"Shh…it'll be ok, Riley," Emily murmured in her ear.

"Will it, mom?" Riley cried.

"Eventually," Emily told her.

"C'mon," She said, taking her daughter's hand. She brought her into her room, "I need to call Jayje."

"Ok," Riley said nodding. She went to her closet and grabbed a bag.

Emily went out in the hall way and called JJ.

"Jareau," JJ answered.

"Jay," Emily whispered.

"Did you tell her?" JJ asked.

"Yeah…she's crying, but she'll be ok," Emily said..

"Good. You leaving tonight?" JJ asked.

"Yeah…what time do you get home?" Emily asked.

"I'll leave in a little while. So probably four, once I grab Henry from day care," JJ said.

"I'll meet you at your house…" Emily said.

"Ok sounds good," JJ nodded.

"But Jay…I need you to introduce Riley to the team," Emily said.

"What?" JJ asked surprised.

"If I…" She began, "don't make it back…I want Riley to know this family. I want you all to take care of her," Emily begged.

"Em, don't say that," JJ pleaded.

"Jay, please," Emily asked, her eyes watering again.

JJ sighed, "Ok."

"Thank you. We'll be over in a while," Emily said.

The Previous Night

"You took away the only thing that mattered to me…so I'm gonna take away the only thing that matters to you," Ian hissed at her in his thick Irish accent.

The only thing that was running through Emily's head was, 'please don't say Riley.'

"You're life," He said angrily. And with that, he was gone.

Emily could have shot him right there, but obviously, Ian had men surrounding the two of them. They were seated on a bench outside. It was 9:30pm. If Emily took the shot, there would be multiple bullets through her head in seconds.

She watched as Ian walked away, writhing with anger.

Emily took off, driving around aimlessly. When she was sure he was gone, and she wasn't being followed, she rushed to JJ's house to grab Riley.

Quantico, VA 2011

The nervous and angry profilers paced around the room, trying to figure out where Doyle was holding Emily. They knew all of Ian's past, as JJ had revealed what all she knew, and the rest they knew by digging and profiling.

Rossi's exterior seemed calm, but JJ knew he was scared to death on the inside. Rossi saw Emily as a daughter, and she had shared a lot with him.

Hotch was stern and stoic as ever, but just like Rossi, though his outside emotions were hard to read, JJ knew he was more nervous then ever.

Derek, Spencer, Ashley and definitely Garcia were a lot easier to read.

Derek showed anger, Spencer fear, Ashley innocence and terror, and Garcia, pure pain. Her eyes were puffy and red rimmed, because of all her crying.

"Guys," JJ announced suddenly. It was time for them to meet Riley.

"JJ?" Hotch asked. He had no idea what she was going to say.

"There's someone I need you to meet. I know this is a tough time for all of us, but this is extremely important…it involves Emily," JJ said nervously.

"Who, Jayje?" Derek asked, his eyes angry, and confused.

"Me," Riley said quietly, walking into the conference room. Riley was now fifteen and she was a purely Emily.

"Guys, this is Emily's daughter…Riley," JJ said quietly, wrapping an arm around Riley's waist.

"She has…how? When?" Reid asked. Reid knew practically everything, except for this.

"When my mom joined the BAU I was nine…she didn't want to tell anyone about me because she didn't want Ian to find me. She knew from the beginning that he would come after her if he ever got out…She figured the less people that knew about me, the better," Riley explained calmly.

"She wanted to tell you guys. Believe me. She would cry for hours because she hated keeping Riley from you all," JJ explained.

"But she was so damn fine keeping Doyle from us?" Derek yelled. With that, he stormed out of the room, punching the wall with his fist on the way out.

"Derek!" JJ called sadly.

"Go, Jayje. We'll stay with her," Penelope said. With that, JJ ran out, chasing Derek.

Riley stood awkwardly.

"Why…he doesn't hate me, does he?" Riley stuttered.

"Derek's really emotional right now, and he doesn't know how to express it very well, besides punching the dry wall. Emily was his partner, hon, and god you're a spitting image of her. Your looks, mannerisms, everything," Penelope explained gently. Riley chewed on her lip.

"Like that," Penelope said with a small smile, "She did it so much…"

"Are you guys gonna find her?" Riley asked worriedly.

"We sure will try," Rossi said, "We will most definitely try."

Mean while, JJ was outside trying to talk to Derek.

"Damnit, Derek. You think she needs you yelling like that?" JJ asked angrily, "I understand you're pissed. Believe me, so am I, but she's terrified Derek. She's so scared for Emily, and she needs comfort right now! Not anger," JJ said.

"Fuck, Jennifer, you think I don't know that? But I can't look at her, without seeing Emily. She is Emily!" He yelled, "For Emily's sake we should-" He began, but JJ cut him of.

"For EMILY's sake, we should protect that girl with our lives and find her mother! Put your fucking anger aside and find her god damned mother!" JJ yelled angrily, and with that, walked back into the conference room, leaving Derek alone, to think about what she had said.

"Everything ok peaches?" Penelope asked.

"Fine," JJ said bitterly, "What have you got?"

"A possible address," Reid said looking up from his map.

"Let's go," Hotch said quickly, "ANDERSON," he yelled to an agent sitting in the bullpen. Anderson ran up to the conference room.

"Stay here with Riley. Do NOT leave her side," Hotch warned sternly.

"Yes sir," He said nodding.

"But-" Riley protested.

"Stay," JJ said pointing a finger, "DEREK!" She hollered and he ran to the team, "We have an address!" They all took off, while JJ dialed SWAT, the State Department, practically every contact she had to make sure this all went smoothly.

Riley sat, chewing her nails in fear, her eyes filling with tears. Anderson stood awkwardly for a moment, but then sat next to her, and rubbed soothing circles on the girl's back.

Later at the hospital

"Anderson," Hotch said into the phone.

"Sir," He replied.

"Bring Riley to the hospital now. We're on our way there now. JJ will wait for you out front. Text her when you arrive," Hotch directed.

"Yes sir," Anderson said and hung up. Riley took off with Anderson to the hospital.

When they arrived, JJ was at the front. She ushered Riley inside.

"What's goin on JJ?" Riley asked hurriedly.

"I don't know. We just got here with the ambulance," She explained.

"Is she ok?" Riley asked.

"When they put her in the ambulance, she was drifting in and out of consciousness…Ian stabbed her in the stomach with a wooden stake," JJ explained.

"Holy shit," Riley said her eyes widening with fear.

"I know," JJ said pulling her into the waiting room. Derek was brooding angrily, next to a tearful Garcia. Ashley was hugging her knees in a chair alone, Reid was fidgeting nervously, Rossi was quietly thinking, and Hotch was no where to be found.

"Sit here. I'll be right back. I promise. I'm gonna go find the doctor," JJ said, placing her next to Ashley. Riley began to cry and JJ, her heart breaking, walked away into another room.

"Hotch," JJ whispered, "are you sure this is the only way?"

"Until we find Doyle, they have to believe she is dead. It's the only way Doyle will stop hunting her," He said sadly.

"We can't tell Riley? Jesus, it's her mother, Aaron," JJ said seriously.

"I know. But we can't. No one can know," He said shaking his head.

"Do you want to tell them…or me?" He asked after a moment. JJ's eyes filled with tears.

"I will," JJ said slowly, and walked back into the room. All eyes were on her. Before JJ could speak, everyone began to understand.

"No," Garcia murmured, her eyes filling with tears.

"She…never made it off the table," JJ said. And with those words, everyone started bawling. JJ made her way over to Riley.

"Riley?" JJ asked quietly, when she saw that the girl hadn't moved, but her eyes were brimming with tears.

"I can't breathe, JJ," She whispered and then she began to sob. JJ wrapped her into her arms, as sobs wracked through her tiny frame.

JJ just held her there tightly.

"Don't let go," Riley begged through tears.

"I will never let you go," JJ promised. Riley cried more. Hotch made eye contact with JJ. He was going to go make sure Emily was all set to go. The plan was that she was being airlifted in secret on a need- to know basis to Bethesda. From there, once she was healed, she would make her way to Paris, where she would receive three different passports, and bank accounts from JJ. And at that moment, she would no longer be known as Emily Prentiss.

Paris 2011

"Good luck," the young blonde woman whispered, squeezing her best friend's hand. The older woman with honey colored hair, took her friend's other hand and looked at her seriously.

"Promise me, Jay, you'll take care of her," she begged, looking deep into her friend's bright blue eyes.

"I'll protect her with my life," the blonde promised.

"Thank you," the brunette whispered, and stood. She took the envelope that was on the table and walked away into the distance, away from the life she knew