Preponderance

A Criminal Minds Story

Two caskets made their way slowly and quietly across the cemetery grounds. One large, another quite small. A flood of people followed behind them, as they were set down above the two separate holes that they would eventually be lowered into. There already wasn't a dry eye in the cemetery as the bitter wind stung their tear-stained cheeks.

A young red-eyed mother stepped forward, directly in front of the two brown boxes that held her loved ones inside. Her hands were trembling violently as she desperately tried to keep a hold on the cards that were in them. She didn't want to drop them. She opened her mouth to speak, but uttered no words as she found that she couldn't breathe. Panicking she gazed through the crowd of faces until she found the ones she was looking for. Her team. They were there and quickly she made eye contact with each one of them.

Emily, Derek, Spencer, Dave, Aaron, and Penelope.

Each in their own way gave her a sort of silent comfort and JJ glanced back down at her cards again.

She had written some things down, but she didn't know where to start.

Should she start with a welcome, a thank you for coming, a quote, a story, or maybe just a simple hello? Should she introduce herself? Was that even necessary? There was people she didn't know. But they must know her, or them in some way right? Maybe she should talk about – maybe she should have had someone else do this.

But she was already up there.

"Um," JJ flinched, she rarely, if ever said 'um', "One night about two years ago, I had just gotten home. It was way past bedtime and the house was dark. As usual I went up to Henry's room to kiss him goodnight before retreating into my own. As I opened the door I found that my small son was still awake even as his father was snoring in the bed beside him."

"Mommy!" Henry screeched as he threw his little arms up in the air.

"Hi, Little Man, what are you doing up?" JJ whispered as she sat beside him before glancing over at the still sleeping Will.

"I is waiting for you," He answered simply, "Did you catch the bad guy Mommy?"

"We did."JJ assured him, smiling as he yawned loudly.

"I knew you would."

"And why is that?"

"I wuv you," His tired little body shutting down, "Night Mommy."

"Good night," JJ said, as she kissed her baby on the forehead.

"What I didn't realize then was that my small boy knew the power of love. He knew that it was so strong that it could find me no matter where I was. He could feel it, and he knew that Will and I could too. And I think we can all learn from that. Even though his love wasn't what caught the bad guy, it is that strong. It is that powerful. Even though my baby boy is gone and that Will is gone, I will always love them. And that love will forever be as strong as it was last week, as it is today, as it will be tomorrow. They will always be my boys," JJ's voice strained as she attempted to hold back tears.

"There is a book, a picture book that is Henry's favorite. It is called Bedtime for Baby Star and I think it would be fitting," JJ looked up at the sky before she repeated the words that she had memorized,

"Once there was a baby star, he lived up near the sun. And every night at bedtime that baby star wanted to have some fun. He would shine, and shine, and fall, and shoot, and twinkle oh so bright. And he said "Mommy, I'll run away if you make me say good night." And then his mommy kissed him on his sparkly nose and said, "No matter where you go, no matter where you are, no matter how big you grow and even if you stray far. I'll love you forever because you'll always be my baby star.""

The last few words were uttered as tears streamed steadily down her cheeks. Her trembling hand reached out and touched both caskets as everything once again fell silent.

"I love you." She whispered before taking a slight step back.

Penelope Garcia was the first of the team to place her two white lilies. She was shaking, but was calm as her hand lingered for just a moment longer over Henry's.

"Aunt Pen! Guess what?"

"What?"

"I love you."

Garcia closed her eyes before she placed a loving hand on JJ's shoulder before heading off to the cars.

Reid was right behind her as he too placed the flowers gently on top of the shiny surface. The wind blew through his longish hair as he whispered a silent goodbye to his Godson.

"Uncle Spence, look what I can do."

"Wow, Henry."

And Reid walked to car mourning for the only other person that called him Spence.

Aaron Hotchner held his son's hand as they respectfully walked between the two graves. He kept his eyes down as he heard Jack softly say goodbye to his good friend.

"Say hi to my Mommy for me, okay Henry?" Jack told him, as he patted the hard casket.

Hotch nodded towards JJ before they too headed for the car.

"He's beautiful, JJ."

David Rossi placed the little white lily on Henry's coffin and shook his head. They were really going to miss them.

"I did it Uncle Dave, I did it!"

"Yes you did."

Dave gave JJ a loving look. She didn't deserve this. No one ever deserved this, and he knew that. But it didn't make him any less sad.

Derek Morgan was clutching his flower stem so tightly that it had left a mark in his hand. He hadn't known Will as well as he would have liked, but Will had loved JJ. And that was good enough for him, so Derek thanked him for that as he placed the flower onto his grave before he turned to the other one. The little one.

"Uh, JJ – Can I?"

"Sure."

"Look, look, look, what's he doing? He is smiling at Derek Morgan."

Derek squeezed JJ's shoulder as he passed her.

Emily brought up the end as she held onto her two lilies loosely in one hand as her arms folded in front of her. Her throat was tight and she was already crying.

"Aunt Em'ly, I missed you! Mommy said you had to go away. But I'm glad you're back."

"I missed you too, Henry."

Emily took a deep breath as she reached JJ and gave her a hug. The two women embraced each other for just a moment before Emily let go and JJ was left alone.

JJ wrapped her arms around herself her two flowers dangling from one hand. She stepped towards Will's casket and carefully placed it on top of the many others. Will had relocated for her, given up his shield for her, and even gave up his life for her. He loved her and that love grew more and more each day.

"I love you Will."

"Don't worry, Jenn. We're not going anywhere. We'll always be here. "

JJ smiled as she turned towards the little brown box that held her only son. She wasn't sure if she would be a good mother, but she knew that no matter what she would always love her child and do all she could for him. She couldn't have asked for a better son. She had failed to give him a good life. A long one. One he certainly deserved. And it broke her heart.

"You'll always be my baby star," JJ repeated her favorite line as she hesitantly placed the flower with the other.

"I love you too, Mommy."

Turning away JJ headed towards the remaining cars and her team as they too hadn't left. She had a long road ahead. They all did. There would be hard days, good days, better days, slow days. There were some choices she would have to make. Things she would have to get used to. A new house? A new lifestyle? Would she stay at the BAU? Stay with the team? She wasn't certain of anything yet, but she would take it day by day. And as she looked at the loving faces of her team, her friends, her family.

JJ knew that she wouldn't have to face it alone.

So I'm not sure I want to end it there or not? What do you think? I had originally planned for a few more chapters, but I wonder if the story would be better off be ending it now, or maybe with just one more chapter?

Please let me know what you think?

Thanks!

-HCB