Hey all - sorry that it took 3 weeks to get this posted... this chapter 16 has been written for at least 2 weeks - but the other chapter 16 gave me a little bit of difficulty - so it just took longer... sorry about that.

I don't own Criminal Minds. Sure wish I did though... if you wondering what to get me for Christmas - that is definitely on the list ;)

In case you weren't already aware, award season is upon us once again (I know - I too find myself asking where the last year went)...

* Profiler's Choice 2012 Fanfic Awards for the Criminal Minds Community *

Hosted by ilovetvalot and tonnie2001969 and hxchick

It is our pleasure to announce the Third Annual Profiler's Choice Fanfic Awards for the Criminal Minds community!

The nomination ballot is now available, and all rules are posted on Chit Chat on Author's Corner forum! Nomination ballots must be received by October 15, 2012, and must be sent to this PM at Profiler's Choice CM Awards (this page!) Fics for consideration must have appeared on the CM section of between September 1, 2011, and August 31, 2012 (see rules for full details.)

Please read all rules prior to submitting ballots! Please PM at Profiler's Choice CM Awards with any questions.

So - mosey on over to the Chit Chat on Author's Corner Forum and get your ballot so you can nominate your favorites. There were a ton of great stories this year! Just make sure you read the rules.

Happy reading and enjoy :D

Emily smiled faintly and shook her head as she pulled out the instructions for making contact with her handler that had been in with her passports and bank information. She opened up her web browser and waited for the online scrabble page to load. She scrolled down the page, and stopped when she came to her handler, 'Cheeto-Breath', who was online and waiting for her to sign in for their first 'meeting'.

JJ smirked when she saw the request to play a game of scrabble come from 'Seeking HBDWASABAG'. She hadn't been able to resist when creating their screen names so they would recognize each other on the site. It was nice to still be able to tease her friend and reminisce… even if it was across and ocean and over 3,000 miles away.

"JJ, that's not the point." Emily said as they walked out of the coffee shop and down to meet up with Garcia and head to see Xanadu.

"Ugh well are you going to call him?" JJ asked as she turned to look at Emily.

"Maybe" Emily said in an indifferent tone of voice, looking straight ahead as she carried Garcia's coffee as well as her own.

"Ugh" JJ sighed in exasperation as she dropped her head back and looked to the heavens as if it held the answers to motivating one of her best friends to get back in the dating world. "Emily"

"Mick Rawson is an arrogant, uh oversexed, egotistical…"

"Hot British dude with a sexy accent bag and gun. Just your type." JJ interrupted, attempting to make her point about Emily getting back out there.

JJ smiled as she clicked to accept Seeking HBDWASABAG's request for a game of scrabble. She paused in sorting the letters on the screen of her encrypted laptop to send a message to her opponent.

"So how are you?"

Emily smiled as she received a message on her screen from 'Cheeto-Breath'.

"Good. You? Everyone else?"

JJ dropped the letters of her first word in place.

"Good…missing you."

Emily built off of JJ's word and then typed her reply.

"Me too. Any news?"

JJ sighed as she slid the tiles of her next word into place on the screen.

"Not yet. But we'll find him. We're tracking the money and all known associates."

Emily nodded as she lined up the tiles for her next word and they continued to play.

"He has resources you can't begin to imagine. He's probably gone to ground."

JJ nodded. That was exactly what they experienced so far.

"Any detail you can provide might help… anything that you can remember that might help us track him."

Emily stared at the screen as she tried to remember anything that the team and JJ didn't already know that could help lead them to Doyle.

"I'll let you know if I think of anything."

And the weeks passed by…

With the townhouse on the market, and drawing a fair amount of traffic in the couple of weeks it had been listed, JJ and Spence had begun looking at houses. JJ took comfort in knowing that there wasn't a rush, as Spence still had a few months left on the lease of his apartment and if need be, they could live at his place for a while. However, she wanted to only have to move once if possible. It would be easiest not only in terms of the move, but also for Henry to only have to adjust to one new home and not two.

In the last couple of weekends, they'd managed to etch precious time out of both of their schedules in order to tour a long list of homes in the area. Thus had begun the great and age old debate; live in the city, with less of a commute, but pay more for less house; or live in the suburbs with more of a commute, but also with more house for the less money.

"JJ, it's a quicker commute for me to drive south to Quantico if we live in the city than it is for you to drive north to Arlington." Spence said as they sat looking at a map with their realtor and discussing options.

"Spence, I don't mind the commute if it means we can have a bigger house with more of a yard." JJ said as she looked up from the map.

"Are you sure? I don't mind living in DC if that's the area we decide to stay in… and what about Will? Do you want to be relatively close to each other?" Spence asked wanting to make sure that whatever they decided was what they both really wanted.

JJ smiled at his thoughtfulness and squeezed his hand. "Spence, DC to Quantico is just over a half hour… I'm not sure what Will is going to want to do, but it's not like we're talking about moving to another state. I can always take the train if I don't feel like driving… plus for what Will and I paid for the townhouse, you and I could get a house with a big yard for Henry. I really do think Dale City, Dumfries, or the surrounding area is our best options."

"Are you tired baby boy?" JJ asked as she kissed Henry's temple when he rested his head on her shoulder as she took him out of his car seat.

Henry nodded his head against Mommy's shoulder. "No baby" he said as he snuggled close to Mommy, exhausted after a long afternoon of looking at houses.

JJ smiled a little sadly. Henry was right, at two and a half, he wasn't a baby anymore. "Sorry little man." She teased jiggling Henry on her hip and causing him to giggle as Uncle Spence came around from the driver's side to join them as they walked over to meet the realtor. "This is the last house and then we can go home okay?" JJ asked, tipping her head look down at Henry as he nodded his head.

JJ shifted Henry in her arms as they crossed the yard. "Do you want me to take him?" Spence leaned down to whisper to JJ, his hand resting on the small of her back.

She nodded, pausing to hand Henry over to Spence and then taking his free hand as they continued following their realtor across the yard.

"You're in luck." Their realtor said as she opened up the key box on the door and let them into the house. "The sellers really need to move the house now that it's been on the market for over a year. They just dropped the price $15, 000.00 yesterday."

"Is there a reason they're so anxious to get out of the house?" JJ asked, concerned that there might be something wrong with one of their top three picks for houses.

The realtor smiled in understanding. "They relocated for work and have been waiting on purchasing a new home until this house sold since they couldn't afford two mortgages. They're just tired of living out of a furnished apartment instead of finally being able to settle into their new area."

JJ nodded in understanding as they walked across the wood floors of the house and through the living room. To be honest there was a reason she'd wanted to see this house last. It was her favorite, but she wanted to be sure she still felt the same way after seeing the other two houses again before it.

She did still feel the same. She could picture herself, Spence, and Henry curled up together and reading books in front of the fireplace. She could envision the team coming over for dinner and entertaining them in the large spacious kitchen that opened up to a dining room, and the finished basement. The upstairs had four bedrooms, one of which was the master suite. But looking out the window into the big backyard she could envision Henry running and playing with Sunny.

Spence smiled as he watched JJ. He'd been able to tell since the first time they'd looked at this house, that this was her favorite. He had to admit, he couldn't argue with her. There was of course the den that he and JJ could share as an office to be able to work at home when they needed to. There was the fireplace… and he'd come to discover that he really enjoyed curling up with JJ in front of the fireplace. The house was unique. It'd been renovated and modernized in the last few years but still maintained the character of an older home.

JJ and Spence each occasionally asked a question here or there about the house, just as they had at the previous homes. Profilers however, didn't hold the patent on being able to read people, and their realtor could tell that this was the young couple's favorite house out of their top three picks. "Why don't I give you a few minutes to look around the house a bit while I go outside and return a few calls and messages?" she asked as she held up her Blackberry with a flashing red light indicating she had missed calls.

"Thank you" JJ said as they watched the realtor walk out onto the patio and stand facing away from the house as she lifted her phone to her ear.

"What do you think buddy? Do you think Sunny would like living here?" Spence asked as he sat Henry on the counter and then they turned to look around the kitchen together as JJ leaned into his side.

Henry looked around, letting his legs swing as he sat on the counter. "Uh huh. It big."

"It is bigger than our house now isn't it?" JJ asked as she reached out and brushed Henry's hair out of his eyes.

"Uh huh" Henry nodded again. "What happen to our house?" he asked.

"Well, it's going to be someone else's house and they'll live there once we find a new house." JJ replied.

Henry tipped his head as he contemplated what Mommy had to say. "What 'bout my woom?"

JJ smiled. "We'll move all of our things to the new house and you'll have a new room. Should we go see what room should be yours if we get this house?" JJ asked as she turned to look at her son.

"Yeah!" Henry rasped softly, in awe that he'd get to pick his room.

"Okay, let's go." JJ said as she lifted Henry up off the counter and then set him on his feet and took his hand as they headed into the living room and up the stairs.

As they reached the top of the stairs, they paused in the hallway. "Which room should we look at first?" Uncle Spence asked as he stepped up behind them.

Henry looked between the five doors in the hallway surrounding the landing of the stairs and then pulled Mommy towards the first door at the top of the stairs. "Dis one."

Henry walked in the room pulling Mommy by the hand. "Dis big…" he said as he walked in the room. Then he kept pulling Mommy across the room to the doorway on the other side of the room and into the walk-in closet and then the master suite bathroom. "Mama dis bes my woom?"

JJ laughed. "Nice try little man, but this is going to be Mommy and Uncle Spence's room if we get this house. How about we go look at the other bedrooms though."

"Otay" Henry sighed as he followed Mommy back to the other rooms. Spence chuckled as he followed them.

When they left the house, it was to head back to the realtor's office to put together an offer on the house.

And the weeks passed by….

"Are you excited about spending the weekend with Daddy?" JJ asked as she helped Henry pack what he was going to bring to Daddy's apartment. Will had just moved back from New Orleans now that his childhood home had sold.

"Yu huh" Henry nodded as he handed Mommy his t-shirts to pack in his bag.

"Okay little man," JJ said as she zipped Henry's bag closed, "you're all set. How about we go say bye to Uncle Spence and then I'll take you over to Daddy's?"

Henry nodded eagerly as he took Mommy's hand and hopped off his bed, excited to see his Daddy again.

JJ smiled as she watched Henry run into the kitchen and stop next to Spence.

"Unca 'pence?" Henry asked as he tugged Spence's pant leg. "What you doing?"

"Hey munchkin," Spence said as he set aside the dishes he was wrapping up in newspaper and bent down, scooping Henry up into his arm. "I'm packing up the dishes so that we can move them to the new house this weekend while you're with your Daddy. What are you doing?" Spence asked as he winked at JJ.

"I say bye bye now. Mama takin' me to Dada's." Henry explained.

"Oh… that's right." Spence replied with a smile. "Have fun and I'll see you in a few days okay?"

"Otay Unca 'pence." Henry said as he hugged Spence. "You move my 'tuff?"

"Yep, Mommy and I will make sure all of your stuff gets to the new house and your new room. But if I miss you can I play with your dinosaurs?" Spence asked.

Henry tipped his head to the side as a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "You no bweak dem?"

Spence laughed. "You're right; it would be bad if I broke your toys. I better wait to play with them with you."

JJ laughed at her boys' antics together. "Okay little man, let's go." JJ said as lifted Henry out of Spence's arms and settled him on her hip.

Spence wrapped his arms around JJ and pulled her close. He blew a raspberry on Henry's cheek causing him to giggle. As the little boy between them giggled, Spence lowered his head and kissed his girlfriend and soon to be co-homeowner on the lips. "See you in a little bit."

"Mm" JJ murmured as she pulled out of the kiss. "Okay, be back soon. Come on Sunny, let's go for a car ride." She called out to the now 12 week old puppy who was napping in her crate. She was now potty trained for which JJ was very grateful. JJ set Henry back down on his feet and grabbed Sunny's leash, connecting it to her collar when the puppy trotted over and sat down at her feet.

"Dinner's here" JJ said as she came back from answering the door. They'd closed on the new house on Friday and moved in over the weekend, but they still needed to unpack. JJ and Will had the closing for the townhouse next week.

"That smells really good." Spence said as he grabbed a couple of bottles of water out of the refrigerator and then followed JJ into the living room.

JJ sat the bag of Chinese food on an end table and began pulling out containers as she knelt down on the floor. Then she held one of the sets of chopsticks from in the bag out to Spence as he sat down next to her.

Spence looked down at the chopsticks and then back up at JJ. "I'd prefer a fork."

"If you can find the box with the silverware in it, then you can use a fork baby, but if not, then this is all we've got." JJ replied as smirked at him. "Besides, it's been over five years now. How have you still not learned how to use chopsticks?"

Spence shrugged. "Nobody's really offered to teach me since you when we had that case in New York. Besides I still say that it's like trying to forage for food with a pair of number 2 pencils." He said as he poked at the lo mein noodles with his chopsticks.

JJ watched mirthfully as her boyfriend attempted unsuccessfully to eat with his chopsticks. Then his stomach grumbled loudly and she took pity on him. "Here baby, let me help you…" she said as she set the container she was holding and eating out of on the end table.

"JJ" Spence whined as he shook his head, "the rubber band trick doesn't work."

"We'll build up to you using chopsticks on your own, but for now baby," JJ said as she took the box of noodles and his chopsticks out of his hands and set them on the table next to them, "you are starving and a fork isn't an option. I don't want you passing out on me." JJ said as she straddled his lap and sat facing him. Then she reached beside her to the table and picked the box of lo mein and a pair of chopsticks back up. "Open up" JJ said as she held chopsticks full of noodles out to Spence for him to take a bite.

"JJ, I can feed myself. I've been doing it my whole life." Spence said, glancing down at the noodles in front of his lips.

"Baby, you're starving and I have no idea where the box with the silverware is… just eat." JJ said.

"We should have ordered pizza." Spence grumbled and then opened his mouth for JJ to feed him the noodles.

JJ smirked and shook her head as she dipped the chopsticks back into the noodles and pulled out a bite for herself.

And the weeks passed by…

JJ grunted as she lifted another stack of books out of Spence's closet and shook her head. She hadn't realized everything that had needed to be gone through at Spence's apartment when she suggested they take the weekend to go through everything at his apartment. She moved the books off to the side for Spence to go through and stuck her head back in the closet. She sat in shock for a moment at what she found sitting covered in dust at the back of the closet.

JJ pulled out the items she'd found and sat back on her heals as she called for Spence. "Spence, baby come 'ere."

"Yeah?" Spence asked as he entered the room brushing his hands off. He'd lived in this apartment since he and the guys had moved out of the house. It was right off the metro line and fit his needs as a single male, so he'd never seen any practicality in moving when where he lived was just fine. That was, of course, until his beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed, dream girl had asked him to move in with her.

"Something you've been forgetting to mention to me?" JJ asked as she looked up at Spence.

"I…" Spence trailed off as he looked down at JJ and the two guitar cases and an amp that sat in front of her. He'd thought about digging out his guitars after playing the piano with Sammy on the case in New Orleans a few months ago… but he'd just never gotten around to it.

JJ smiled knowingly. After all, in the other life Spence had a band so it stood to reason that he'd played here as well, but she hadn't really given it a whole lot of thought with everything that had been going on the last several months until just now and finding his guitars in the back of his closet. "Play for me?" JJ asked, realizing how much she missed hearing Spence sing.

"I uh… haven't played in forever." Spence said as he sat down next to JJ and ran his hand over the case of his acoustic guitar.

"I bet you're still very good." JJ replied.

Spence glanced up at JJ from the guitar case and wiped his hands off on his pants and then gingerly opened one of the guitar cases that he'd tucked in the back of his closet so that it would be out of the way about five years ago. He pulled his accoustic guitar out and rested its body on his thigh as he strummed across the strings. He winced at how out of tune it was.

JJ watched Spence as he sat for several minutes tuning his guitar and then strumming across the strings. Then the melody of a vaguely familiar song began to emerge as her boyfriend continued to play. Then he began to sing.

You're my piece of mind,
in this crazy world.
Your're everything I've tried to find,
your love is a pearl.

Spence thought about everything they'd been together in the last several months. There'd been them spending the holidays together and admitting their feelings for each other. There'd been his headaches, and then they'd lost Emily… even if it was only temporarily. He took comfort in knowing that he hadn't had had to go through any of it alone. He had JJ now.

You're my Mona Lisa, you're my rainbow skies,
and my only prayer, is that you realize,
you'll always be beautiful, in my eyes.

JJ watched Spence, mesmerized as he played. Yes he was a little rusty, but hearing him play again was beautiful to her ears. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed it until now and listening to him play again.

The world will turn,
and the seasons will change.
And all the lessons we will learn,
will be beautiful and strange.

Spence looked up and met JJ's eyes as he continued to sing. As much as they'd been through together both as best friends and now as a couple, they were just starting out as a couple and there was so much for them to discover together.

We'll have our fill of tears, our share of sighs.
My only prayer, is that you realize.
You'll always be beautiful, in my eyes.

JJ smiled as Spence played at the thought of everything waiting to be experienced in their life together. They'd just bought a home together a few weeks ago, and while some might call it too quick, they'd been best friends and in love with each other for years. She was looking forward to everything their lives would hold… whatever that might be. Spence was one of the most beautiful souls she knew, and seeing him come into his own over the course of the last seven years that she'd known him had been a gift.

You will always be, beautiful in my eyes.
And the passing years will show,
that you will always grow,
evermore beautiful, in my eyes.
- Beautiful In My Eyes – Joshua Kadison

Spence continued to strum his guitar, continuing with a soft series of chords. His eyes locked on JJ's as he sang.

There you are in the early light of day
There you are in the quiet words I pray
I've been blessed by the simple happiness
Of the perfect love we've made

As he sang, Spence couldn't help but think of all the times JJ had been there for him. She'd pulled together the first birthday celebration he'd had since his father had left when he was just 24. She'd been his 'date' to his first football game and not been embarrassed when he'd spilled his beer all over the person sitting in front of them. When things had turned dark for him, she'd patiently waited for him to be ready to talk about what he was going through. Although he'd never taken her up on her offer to talk in the months after Hankel, she'd always made it clear that it was a standing offer. Then she'd found someone else… and had a child… and made him Henry's godfather. It might have taken them over seven years to get to where they were now, based on when they'd met… but looking back he wouldn't take back any of it since it led here.

Every time I turn around
When I'm lost and when I'm found
Like an angel standing guard
There you are

JJ thought of all the time she'd spent with Spence over the years, whether it was his rambling facts, or the easy quiet they'd always had in each other's company. For all the hurt he'd suffered at a young age, he'd trusted her and let her in. More than once he'd come to her protection on a case. Oh sure, she'd always said that she didn't need it… that she could take care of herself… but it warmed her heart non-the-less that Spence was the first person to jump to her defense and protect her and the first to show that he cared and was there for her.

Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe
You're watching over me there you are
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are

Spence thought of all the times, whether it was as friends or now that they were lovers that JJ had soothed him after a nightmare… how she'd always been there for him… how their relationship had been a natural progression…

JJ couldn't help but think of how they'd always sought each other out… been drawn to each other, how their lives had orbited each other's for years…

There you are standing in a crowded room
There you are the earth and I'm the moon
My desire is to stand by the fire
That burns inside of you
- There You Are – Martina McBride

And the weeks passed by...

JJ looked down at her cell phone in confusion as she sat at her desk at the Pentagon working on fine tuning a presentation for tomorrow and going over notes for her meetings that afternoon. "Jareau" she answered, unsure why David Rossi would be calling her. She'd on seen him on a handful of occasions since she'd left the team and most of those had been in the months since the team became aware that she and Spence were together.

"JJ, its Dave."

"Dave… Rossi… what can I do for you?" JJ asked and then became concerned. "Wait… is Spence okay?"

Dave smiled as he stood up from his desk with his cell phone pressed to his ear and went to look out the window and down into the bullpen where Reid and Seaver sat by themselves, hammering home the point of his call that much more. "Reid is fine. He's sitting at his desk in the bullpen working on some case files. Actually, I have something I'd like to discuss with you if you have time. Do you have a few minutes?"

"Sure" JJ replied curiously, her brow furrowing as she saved her presentation and closed some files on her desk to focus on Rossi and their conversation.

JJ sat on the couch watching Henry playing on the floor, but was distracted from her thoughts regarding her conversation with Rossi earlier in the day. She'd managed to focus on the tasks that she'd needed to get done for the day, but any spare moments she had, her mind returned to her phone conversation with Rossi.

"Hey, you look distracted. Is everything okay?" Spence asked as he sat down on the couch next to JJ and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

JJ nodded vaguely, Rossi's words from earlier repeated themselves in her head, as she leaned against Spence. "Rossi called me today." She said as she tipped her head to look up at her boyfriend.

"About?" Spence asked curiously.

"He wanted to know if I would be interested in rejoining the team." JJ replied.

"That's great!" Spence replied.

JJ bit her lip and remained silent.

At JJ's silence he continued. "It is great right?" he asked as he looked down at JJ.

JJ sighed. "I wouldn't be rejoining the team in my old capacity. It'd be as a profiler."

"And?" Spence prompted.

"And Rossi told me not to make a snap decision. That I should think it over and get back to him when I reached a decision." JJ said as she glanced at Henry and then looked back at Spence.

"Do you… um want to talk about it?" Spence asked as he played with the hair cascading over her shoulders.

JJ nodded and twisted sideways to be able to face Spence. "I know I should be excited about this… a year ago all I wanted was for Hotch to call me and tell me that it had all been a mistake… but at the same time it will mean travelling and missing Henry… but I'll be helping people again… I just don't know what to do."

Spence nodded in understanding. Sometimes getting what you wanted could be a little overwhelming. He pulled her into a hug. "You'll figure out what the right thing for you is."

JJ nodded against Spence's shoulder and then pulled back to look at him. "You know this isn't just about me right? It's about us and Henry…"

Spence cupped her cheek in his palm. "No matter what you decide, I support you. I just want you to be happy."

JJ smiled. "That's all you've ever wanted isn't it, for me to be happy?"

Spence shrugged. "Of course, I love you."

JJ shook her head. "How did I get so lucky?" she asked as she ran her fingers down Spence's forearm and turned her head to press a kiss to the palm of his hand. "Maybe we should talk to Will when he comes to pick up Henry for the week. This affects him too." She murmured as she curled up into his side.

Will leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he listened to JJ explain the opportunity that Rossi had offered her. When she was done speaking, he scrubbed his hand across his beard. "Don't you like workin' regular hours at the Pentagon and havin' weekends off?" he asked as he tipped his head in contemplation and studied her.

"Will… I… I'm not helping anyone there… not really." JJ replied.

Will closed his eyes and sighed as he remembered how JJ's desire to help others had been one of the many things that had caused him to fall for her in the first place. Then he realized that it wasn't his place to tell her anymore what she could or couldn't do… his place now was to partner with her in being the best co-parents that they could be. The best way to do that was to work together to accommodate each other's schedules as best as possible… after all when he'd needed to go to New Orleans and clear his head while he figured things out, JJ had been more than accommodating and supportive. "Alrigh'" Will said as he opened his eyes and looked back at JJ. "So you'll be on your old schedule again. We can do what we're doing now… every other week… but we'll adjust for when you have cases."

"Will, I haven't decided one way or the other yet." JJ replied.

Will smiled and shook his head, knowing full well what JJ would decide. Whether she was willing to admit it or not, she'd be rejoining the team and now that they were no longer together he was far enough removed from the situation to see that. "Well then if you decide to rejoin the team, we'll make it work."

"Mmm baby what… mmm" JJ moaned as Spence kissed his way down her neck and trailed his hand down her side and across her stomach as he pressed himself against her back. "Baby… mmm its still dark outside." JJ moaned as she lifted her head to look at the alarm clock. "Spence, its only quarter to five…"

"Mm hm… I know…" Spence whispered against her skin.

JJ's eyes fluttered open and shut in pleasure. "Spence, baby….ahhh" She moaned his name and then giggled as he playfully brushed his scruffy morning stubble along her shoulder. Then she rolled onto her back towards her boyfriend. "Good morning." She said softly as she reached up to wrap her arms around her boyfriend's neck.

"It is now." Spence whispered against her lips as he leaned down the kiss her, his lips dragging gently across hers as their kiss intensified.

And then Spence's cell phone rang.

JJ whimpered against Spence's neck as he stretched his naked body across hers to grab his cell phone off the nightstand. To get even, she lifted her hips and ground her pelvis against his.

Spence groaned as he held the phone to his ear, listening to the voice mail message from Hotch, and then dropped his phone back on the nightstand.

JJ ran her fingers through Spence's hair as he dropped his forehead to rest on her shoulder. "What is it?"

"Hotch wants us in early for a meeting." Spence murmured concern creeping into his voice as he remembered the last time Hotch had called a meeting this early. Three years and eight months ago… after he'd driven to Gideon's cabin.

JJ sighed, knowing that early morning meetings were never for good news. She turned her head and kissed Spence's temple as she trailed her hands up and down his back, allowing her nails to lightly scratch his skin. "Come on baby, let's get up. You take shower and I'll make tea."

Spence shook his head against JJ's shoulder. Then he groaned as he lifted his head to look at JJ and leaned down to kiss her softly before pushing himself up off the bed and padding across the room and heading for the bathroom to take a shower.

JJ leaned up on her elbows in bed, a grin on her face as she watched Spence walk across the room, then she flopped back on the pillows and groaned as she turned her head to look at the clock that was just turning to five am. With a heavy sigh climbed out of bed and shuffled over to the dresser. 'Might as well get in a workout after Spence leaves' she thought to herself as she pulled some workout clothes out of the dresser and pulled them on.

A few minutes later, she was standing barefoot in front of the kitchen counter, Spence's travel mug and her own cup sitting in front of her as she waited for the tea kettle to whistle.

Spence came down the stairs and into the living room while tying his tie and rounded the corner into the kitchen. His hands froze in place adjusting his tie as he took a moment to appreciate the sight of his girlfriend in the kitchen of their new house, making coffee at just after five am in her tight knee length yoga pants and tank.

JJ heard Spence enter the kitchen and turned her head to smile at him over her shoulder. "Hey"

"Hey" Spence replied, drawn from his thoughts as he continued his approach across the hardwood floor of the kitchen and came to a stop behind his girlfriend, his hands resting her hips and his chin resting on her shoulder, his eyes closing contentedly and JJ tipped her head back to rest on his other shoulder as they enjoyed a quiet moment at the start of the day.

"I appreciate everyone coming in early." Hotch said as he checked his phone while entering the round table room. He smoothed down his tie and took a seat at the table next to Dave.

"What's goin' on?" Dave asked as Hotch took his seat.

Hotch interlaced his fingers together as he rested them on the table. Then he took a deep breath before starting what he knew would be a difficult conversation after everything the team had been through in the last year. "The director called a meeting last night to discuss budgets."

"He skipped over Strauss?" Dave asked.

"She's away." Hotch answered.

Dave took in that information as he listened to Hotch continue to explain the situation. It looked like if JJ's answer was yes, it'd be easier to get her back on the team than he'd originally planned.

"The Bureau is facing a lot of changes, and this unit is no exception." Hotch said as he continued explaining. "Over the next few weeks each of you is going to be asked if you'd like to stay with the unit."

"Why wouldn't we?" Reid asked in confusion. They were a family. Why would any of them ever choose to leave?

"There are other options for you out there." Hotch replied as he turned to look at Reid. It was obvious from his tone of voice, that the words were not heartfelt. His next words revealed his true feeling on the situation. "And while I want the unit to stay together, I understand completely if you want to see what the alternatives are. Morgan, there's a renewed interest in you from the New York office."

Morgan's eyes shifted back and forth as he took in the members of the team around the table. He glanced sideways at Reid and then looked back at Hotch. "Nobody's called me."

"They will." Hotch said knowingly with a lift of his eyebrows.

"That doesn't mean I'm gonna go." Morgan replied, knowing that there was no way in hell he was going anywhere until they caught Doyle and Emily was home with the team where she belonged.

"No, I know." Hotch replied in understanding.

"Are you staying here?" Ashley asked pointedly as she looked at Hotch.

Hotch glanced to look at Ashley and then back at the center of the table. "It's my intention." He replied, knowing that sometimes intent wasn't enough. "All I ask is that if you are contacted by another division that you let me know." Hotch said just as his phone began to ring. "Hotchner" he answered.

Each of the team members looked around at each other, wondering what the others would do.

"Yes, right. We can be there in twenty minutes." Hotch said and then hung up his phone. "Virginia State Police believe they've uncovered a serial killer. They need us at uh Zacker Road and Route Seven as soon as possible. Morgan, you and Dave head out there."

"What about this?" Dave asked.

Hotch sighed heavily. "We can talk about it later." He said as he led the team in standing up from the round table so that they could get to work on the case.

"What happened to you?" Reid asked as he turned away from taking photos down off the case board when Morgan entered the round table rubbing his shoulder.

"Guy was huge. Seriously." Morgan replied in a tired voice.

"You should start workin' out." Reid said with a straight face.

Garcia smiled and giggled as she looked back and forth between Morgan and Reid, glad for a light hearted moment after the heaviness of the whole day.

"Whata you got jokes now?" Morgan asked as he looked at Reid.

Reid nodded as a large grin grew on his face and he snickered.

Rossi smiled glad to see a bit of humor in the group after how brutal the last year had been on all of them. Then he noticed that Ashley was lost in her own thoughts rather than laughing with the team. "What is it kid?" he asked nodding towards Ashley.

"We only rescued seven victims today." Ashley said as she looked up from the files she held in her hands. "What about the rest of these?"

"It never ends." Rossi replied solemnly with a shake of his head.

Ashley nodded in reply as she thought about all of the young men and women out there, not that much younger than her who'd been targeted by this group… and while this group was gone… there were others, several others doing exactly the same thing. Dave was right; it never ends.

"But today I think we did good." Morgan added as he looked at Rossi.

Rossi nodded. "Yeah, we did."

"Yeah, if we weren't so exhausted, I would toast us." Garcia added.

"Good work everybody." Hotch said as he paused in the doorway of the round table room, where his team was congregated and wrapping up for the day, on his way out the door with files in hand. "Go home and get some rest. Nobody needs to come in until nine." He said and then turned to head for the door, but then stopped mid stride and turned back to face the team again. "thirty." He added, nodding firmly and then side stepped back into the hallway to head home himself.

"We were supposed to talk about…" Garcia paused at a startling realization and turned to look around at the team. "Has he ever left before us?"

"Baby girl, I don't blame him. It's been a long ass day."

Garcia opened her mouth as if to speak, but was cut off by Rossi. "Well you heard the man; go home." Rossi said and then turned to head back to his office.

"You don't have to tell me twice." Morgan replied.

"Hey is anyone hungry?" Reid asked as he shouldered his messenger bag and realized that he hadn't eaten all day.

"Starving" Ashley said with a nod at Reid.

"There's this super good Indian restaurant. It's a little ways away, but its open 24 hours and they have amazing chicken tandoori." Reid explained as he, Ashley, and Morgan headed for the door of the round table room.

Garcia lingered behind in the round table room for just a moment longer as she watched Hotch exit the double glass doors of the BAU bullpen, wondering just what the team could expect in this newest shake-up. Then she followed Reid, Ashley, and Morgan out into the bullpen and went to grab her things and join them for Indian food.

Rossi paused in the doorway of his office, surprised at seeing the visitor sitting in the dark in his office. He turned and closed the door to his office. "You said we needed to talk," he said as he crossed the few feet to sit on the edge of his desk, "but, at two am?" Rossi asked as he glanced down to look at his watch and then looked up at JJ sitting in the chair in front of his desk, all business in her suit, skirt, and heels.

JJ looked up at Rossi and tipped her head. "I saw the lights were on."

"And you couldn't sleep," Rossi replied, "which tells me you've given some thought to what we discussed." He nodded at JJ.

JJ nodded subtly as she thought back over all of the thinking she'd done in the last few days and the discussions she'd had both with Spence and with Will. "I haven't stopped thinking about it."

Rossi quirked an eyebrow at her. "So?"

"I'm coming back." JJ replied as she looked Rossi square in the eye.

Rossi nodded, a smirk appearing on his face at the thought of getting around Strauss to get JJ back on the team as well as how JJ being back with the team would help to stabilize the team in this time of uncertainty. He leaned forward and held out his hand to JJ. "Well then Agent Jareau, welcome back to the team."

JJ smiled and shook her head as she shook Rossi's hand. "Thanks. Where's everybody else?"

Rossi smiled. "I might have heard mention of a 24 hour Indian restaurant as I was leaving the round table room. That was just a couple of minutes ago, so if you hurry you might be able to catch everyone in the parking garage, and by everyone, I, of course mean Reid." He teased.

JJ's eyebrows raised on her forehead at Rossi having guessed her other motive for stopping by the BAU so late at night. She reached down and grabbed her purse, pulling out her cell phone as she uncrossed her legs and stood up. "I guess I better hurry then." She replied, starting to send a text message to Spence as Rossi held the door to his office open for her.

Spence's phone chirped in his pants pocket as he walked with Garcia, Morgan, and Ashley across the parking garage to where their cars were all parked. Having gotten here early in the morning, they had prime parking just past all of the reserved spots. He smiled as he read the text message on his phone as they reached their cars and then turned to lean against his car, waiting as the text message had said to, for his girlfriend.

"Pretty boy, you're the one that mentioned food. Are we going or what?" Morgan asked.

"In a minute. We just have to wait for someone." Reid replied as he looked back the way they had come.

Garcia, Morgan, and Ashley looked back and forth at each other in confusion for a couple minutes, wondering why Rossi would have texted him about coming with for Indian food. Their confusion gave way a few minutes later when the doors to the elevator lobby opened and revealed JJ.

Morgan decided to tease Reid a bit and gave out a low whistle at the sight of JJ in a suit and heels with her mid-thigh cut skirt.

Reid turned and glared at Morgan.

Morgan just laughed while Garcia elbowed him in the ribs.

Ashley smiled and shook her head.

"Hi" JJ said with a large grin on her face as she approached the group and walked directly up to Spence wrapping her arms around him.

"Hi" Spence replied smiling back at JJ as he wrapped his arms low around his girlfriend's waist and gave her a quick peck hello. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to tell Rossi my answer… but I also didn't want to go home alone." JJ said as her hands played with Spence's tie where they rested on his chest. "He mentioned that you were all going for Indian food, and I am starving." She said with a smile as she stood back up straight and stepped out of Spence's embrace.

"Oh peaches, you are a sight for sore eyes." Garcia said as she stepped forward and gave JJ a big hug. She appreciated knowing that as much as things might change in the near future, they would hopefully all remain friends.

JJ laughed. "Hey Pen, I've missed you too since we got together last week." She said as she hugged Pen back.

Ashley blushed slightly as her stomach rumbled loud enough to be heard by everyone else.

"I guess you weren't kidding about being starving were you?" Morgan said as he glanced at Ashley. "Let's go pretty boy. We'll follow you." Morgan said as he turned to climb in his truck.

Penelope headed to Esther and Ashley headed for her car.

JJ turned back to Spence and held out her keys. "Why don't you drive my car? Then we can go home right after and I'll drop you off in the morning?"