Hello My Friends!

So I've been working hard, trying to get you an update this week, and I really think you're going to like what I've done. It's a LOT of Alex/JJ bonding, but I really think I needed it. So I hope you enjoy.

I'm going on a little cottage vacation next week (actually leaving this Friday), so I won't have my computer or internet access. So unfortunately I will have to take a little break and you won't get another update for at least 2 weeks, but I promise the next chapter will be great and I'll make it worth the wait!

Hope this holds you over until then!

Thanks so much for reading! -J

Chapter 6

The shrill ring of Emily's phone filled the master bedroom early Monday morning, Emily groaning as she stretched an arm out from under her comforter; fumbling for the still ringing object. Almost knocking it off the bedside table once her hand finally found contact, the brunette grabbed the phone, briefly checking the caller I.D before bringing it to her ear.

"Garcia?" Emily answered sleepily, knowing exactly what the early call meant, but praying she was wrong.

"Sorry to wake you Princess but Hotch wants us in the air by 8," the technical analyst told her friend regretfully. "I'm just rallying the troops. You'll meet us at the airstrip?"

"Us?" Emily repeated, confused since Garcia didn't usually travel with the team.

"Yep Hotch informed me that I'm needed, so I'm coming to LA with you guys," Garcia replied, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

"LA…oh God," Emily groaned, hating having to travel so far when JJ was so close to her due date. "Just great," she said, turning towards JJ who was only just beginning to stir. "Thanks for calling Pen. I'll see you soon."

"See you soon Emster," Garcia replied. "Garcia out."

Hanging up, Emily flopped back against her pillow, draping an arm over her eyes, as she wished for just a little longer to sleep. Accepting that, that wasn't going to happen, the brunette pulled herself up, doing her best to quietly get herself out of bed and into the master-bath.

"Em?" JJ called out just as Emily pulled open the closet in order to grab a suit to wear.

"Hey sorry, go back to sleep," Emily whispered, making her way back to the bed to give the blonde a kiss. "We've got a case in LA. I'll let you know before I leave."

Still half asleep, JJ simply nodded, lying back down as Emily made her way to the bathroom to shower. Needing to be on the road in an hour, Emily moved as quick as she could; showering fast and then getting out and doing her hair and makeup before getting dressed. Expecting JJ to be asleep, the brunette was quiet as she opened the bathroom door, trying her best to tip toe into the bedroom; jumping when she turned around to find JJ sitting up in bed watching her.

"Geez you scared me," Emily said, placing her hand over her heart. "I thought you'd be sleeping," she said, noticing the forlorn look on the blonde's face. "What's wrong?" She asked, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "Jen?"

"I don't think you should go," JJ said, refusing to meet the brunette's eyes.

"Jen I have to go," Emily replied sounding slightly confused. "What's going on honey? I mean you still have 2 weeks until your due date. Are you worried?" She asked, reaching out and taking JJ's hand.

"No it's not about the baby," JJ shook her head. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"I just…I'm worried," JJ replied, looking up and staring at the still bruised face of her girlfriend.

"About me?" Emily asked disbelievingly. "Jen you know you don't have to worry about me," she said in spite of the fact that she was still sporting her injuries from the last case. "There's nothing to worry about. You know I'm careful. You know I'll be fine."

"I'm not sure I do know that," JJ admitted quietly, once again dropping her eyes to the bedspread.

"What?" Emily said, dropping the blonde's hand. "What are you talking…what do you mean?"

"I mean look what happened on the last case," JJ replied, her tone hardening.

"Jen that was…I mean we had no idea that case would turn out the way it did," Emily tried to reason.

"No I know that," JJ said. "But you just…I mean…you basically just handed yourself over to Cyrus."

"Excuse me?" Emily practically gasped. "Are you…are you kidding me? I just handed myself to him? Would you have preferred I let him take Reid?"

"Of course not," JJ glared. "You know I wouldn't want that but did you even…did you even think about us?" She asked, angry. "You have a daughter Emily and a son on that way. Did you even think of that? Did you even think of me?"

"Jen," Emily said, her voice softening, as she tried to be understanding. "Of course I thought of you…all of you…but I just…I knew he wasn't going to kill me Jen," she said. "And I just…I couldn't let him hurt Reid."

"But what if he had?" JJ asked. "What if he had killed you?"

"Jen…"

"I don't want you to go," JJ repeated.

"I have to go Jen," Emily sighed.

"Then go," JJ said, turning away. "Then just go."

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"So are both your moms coming to the interviews tomorrow?" Spencer asked as the girls all sat down at lunch together that day.

"Well they were," Alex replied as she sat down next to Zoey. "But the team got called away, so it'll just be Mum now. Unless by some miracle the case ends before that, but I highly doubt it."

"Well at least JJ will be here," Zoey smiled. "It would have sucked if they were both gone. I would hate to miss the interviews. I love hearing what teachers think of me."

"That's because teachers love you," Olivia pointed out. "I on the other hand hate interviews," she continued. "Last year Mr. McGreggor told my parents that I need to spend more time worrying about my schoolwork and less time focusing on my social life. And he called me chatty and slightly disruptive," she explained. "I was grounded for like 2 weeks after that."

"Well you are a little chatty," Alex laughed.

"And disruptive," Spencer added.

"I know but they don't have to tell my parents that!" Olivia argued. "They could just lie."

"I don't really think that's the point Liv," Zoey chuckled. "Are you nervous Alex?"

"Yeah right," Spencer replied before Alex could answer. "Lex is like the smartest person in our grade. She has nothing to worry about."

"I'm pretty sure you're way smarter than me," Alex said rolling her eyes. "Plus my grades slipped a bit there when I was having those…issues," she continued; referring to the weeks she spent struggling with nightmares and keeping things from her mothers. "But I'm not really worried," she shrugged, turning back to Zoey. "Things are going better now and my teachers seem to like me. Plus I've been doing a ton of extra credit work to make up for those bad marks so I think I'll be okay."

"Wow Lex you're like the model student," Olivia said, attempting to keep her face serious even though the ends of her mouth were twitching into a grin.

"Shut up Liv," Alex laughed, shaking her head. "At least no one will be calling me chatty. Or disruptive," she said sticking her tongue out and laughing as Olivia threw a piece of muffin at her head.

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"Hey Mom," Alex greeted, picking up her phone and lying back on her bed later that night. "How's LA?"

"Oh just great," Emily replied sarcastically.

"I would love to be in LA," Alex said, ignoring her mother's sarcasm. "I bet it's so cool there. Do you just see celebrities walking around everywhere you go?"

"Not exactly," Emily laughed. "And we haven't really had any time for sight-seeing. In fact I would much rather be anywhere else right about now."

"That bad huh?" Alex asked, recognizing the tone of frustration in her mother's voice.

"Worse," Emily sighed. "We're still at the station turning over every leaf possible for a lead, but nothing is coming up," she explained. "Hotch finally told us to step away for a while so I thought I'd call you."

"Well I'm glad you did," Alex replied happily. "I mean I hate to admit it because it makes you all mushy but I do kind of already miss you...a little at least."

"Um excuse me?" Emily scoffed. "First of all I do not get mushy. And second of all quit kidding yourself I know you miss me more than a little. I bet you're missing me way more than a little actually. I bet you miss me a lot! You miss your mommy soooooo much," she teased.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Alex laughed. "I do not."

"Whatever you say, but I'm not buying that at all," Emily replied with a laugh. "So are you okay with me missing your interview tomorrow night? I really wanted to be there but it's just not looking like that's going to happen at all."

"It's okay," Alex said. "I know how it is and Mum is here so at least I don't have to go alone," she continued. "Mum can handle it. And you can come to the next one!"

"Alright well that's settled then," Emily replied, glad that the teen wasn't upset that she would be missing out on something for school. "I want to hear all about it though, so just take notes or something because I want to know everything your teachers say."

"Oh okay no problem," Alex said, her tone sarcastic. "Do you want to talk to Mum before you have to get back to work?" She then asked.

"Uh you know what I actually don't have enough time right now," Emily lied, afraid that JJ simply wouldn't want to talk to her or that they would just get into another argument, which she really didn't want to do over the phone. "But um just do me a favour and tell her I love her and I'll call her later if I can okay?"

"Oh yeah sure," Alex agreed, slightly confused but figuring something must be going on with the case. "Well be safe."

"I will," Emily replied. "I love you honey."

"Love you too Mom," Alex replied. "Talk to you later."

Hanging up Alex, placed her phone on her nightstand before reluctantly pulling herself up from her bed so she could sit at her desk where the rest of her homework waited for her. Not having much left to do Alex grabbed a pen and began writing out the answers to the questions she had been assigned. It wasn't until she was halfway through the last question that she suddenly felt eyes on her, looking up to find JJ standing in the doorway leaning against the frame.

"Been there long?" Alex asked with a laugh.

"Just a few minutes," JJ smiled. "You know you get the same look on your face when you concentrate that your mom does. It's very cute," she laughed. "Was that her you were talking to earlier?"

"Yeah she told me to tell you that she'd call you later if she could because she had to get back," Alex explained. "And she loves you," she continued, making the blonde smile as she moved into the room to take a seat on Alex's bed. "Are you guys fighting?"

"What? No," JJ quickly denied.

"You know you kind of suck at lying," Alex said, raising an eyebrow. "What happened?"

"We're not fighting," JJ repeated. "But we had an argument before she left," she admitted. "I just…I got worried about her leaving and I just…I guess I kind of freaked out."

"Because of what happened on the last case?" Alex asked, ever the understanding teenager. "You know she was just trying to protect Reid."

"I know that," JJ sighed. "It just…it worries me that she puts herself in danger the way that she does," she explained, knowing she could be honest with the teen.

"I get that," Alex nodded. "I mean it scares me a little too," she admitted. "But you know I've come to realize that Mom isn't someone who can just sit back and I really don't think she would have been able to deal with it if she let Reid get hurt," she said. "You guys have a scary job, but Mom's strong."

Looking up at the young brunette who looked so much like her mother, JJ suddenly realized she had been a jerk that morning, and the guilt hit her instantly. "You're right she is," she nodded. "She's the strongest person I know actually and I really wished I remembered that this morning."

"She'll forgive you," Alex smiled. "You just need to call her and tell her that," she said.

"Right yes, right," JJ nodded pulling herself up from the bed, suddenly needing to talk to Emily right away. "I'm going to go do that right now," she said, heading for the door before stopping and moving towards Alex instead. "I love you, you know that," she said with a smile, leaning down and kissing the teen on the head.

"I know," Alex grinned. "I love you too."

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After talking to Alex, JJ had called Emily, leaving her a voicemail apologizing profusely for her behaviour that morning. Since she had been busy with the case the brunette hadn't gotten the message until later that night, but she called JJ back as soon as she did. Understanding the blonde's worries and hormones, Emily had been quick to forgive; glad that she no longer had to stress about her girlfriend being upset with her. JJ had been able to sleep peacefully that night with Alex by her side and she spent all day Tuesday looking forward to Alex's teacher interviews.

"So your teachers seem to love you," JJ observed as she and Alex walked through the school hallways towards their last meeting of the night. "I don't think I've heard a single negative thing about you all night."

"That's not true," Alex denied. "They pretty much all pointed out that I was having trouble for a couple weeks there."

"Yes but then they all said you've more than made up for that since then," JJ pointed out. "So what about this last one? Where are we headed now?"

"My Creative Writing class," Alex replied. "It's my elective and it's my favourite," she smiled. "My teacher is Miss Demartino and she's great. Really nice and I really like her."

"So I take it we're in for another raving review?" JJ asked.

"I hope so," Alex smiled, just as they reached her classroom door; the teen poking her head in to find her teacher reading papers at her desk. "Miss Demartino?" Alex called.

"Alex hi, come on in," the rather young teacher replied with a smile, standing from behind her desk to greet the pair. "You must be Alex's Mum," she said, holding her hand out for JJ to shake. "I've heard and read so much about you."

"Jennifer," JJ replied. "Read about me?" She then asked, having picked up on what the teacher had said.

"Ah yes," Miss Demartino nodded. "I have all my students keep journals that they're free to share with me if they like or keep to themselves. Alex tends to share and she writes about you and her mom quite a bit."

"Oh really," JJ said smiling as she turned towards Alex who was looking rather red.

"Alex is one of my most talented writers," Miss Demartino said as she gestured for JJ and Alex to sit. "She's extremely creative and she always writes from the heart," she explained. "And she's got great style. Personally I think she should definitely continue with the class, and I'm not just saying that so I can have the pleasure of teaching her again," she smiled. "I know you're pretty busy with soccer and the musical but I think that next year you should really consider going out for the school paper Alex. I'm the teacher advisor and I think we could really use a writer like you."

"That would be cool," Alex nodded.

"School papers look great on college applications, especially if you're considering English as a major," the teacher continued. "And from what I've heard from your English teacher that may be something you want to consider."

"Well she is a little book worm," JJ smiled. "I think English would be a great major for you," she said turning towards Alex.

"I haven't really thought much about it," Alex admitted. "But I do love writing, and reading so it's definitely an option," she smiled.

"You obviously still have a lot of time to decide," Miss Demartino said. "And you should always keep your options open, but I think it's something you should keep in mind."

"I will," Alex agreed with a smile. "I definitely will."

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"What ya got there?" JJ asked later that night, walking into the master bedroom to find Alex with an album open on her lap.

"Just old pictures," Alex replied as JJ moved to sit beside her; the blonde immediately smiling at the picture of a young Alex with her parents.

"Aw too cute," JJ gushed. "How old were you?"

"That's at the zoo about a week after my 8th birthday," Alex replied with a small smile. "It was my present from my dad. We were supposed to go on my actual birthday but it poured all day so we ended up staying home and watching movies all day, which was pretty great too," she explained, falling silent for a minute as she and JJ continued looking at the pictures in front of them. "You know, after I found out I was adopted I used to look at pictures and just look at all the ways I was different from my parents," she said, suddenly sounding sad. "I was so angry at the time because I felt like I didn't know who I was anymore. It was confusing. But…but now I look at these pictures and it's so different," she continued, looking up at JJ. "Now I just see all the ways I'm like Mom."

"You look so much like her," JJ smiled, running her hand over the teen's head. "And you act a lot like her too. You're so smart and sarcastic," she laughed. "You pick your nails when you're anxious and you hate admitting when you're hurt. You're just like your Mom sweetheart. And she's so proud of you. So are your parents."

Nodding Alex remained silent, knowing that JJ was right. "Are you going to adopt me?" She then asked, obviously surprising JJ who looked slightly shocked.

"I…well…"

"I mean Mom is adopting the baby right?" Alex asked. "Will signed over his rights so after he's born Mom's going to adopt him. And well I just thought that maybe you would adopt me too," she continued, looking slightly embarrased. "I mean don't you want to?"

"Of course I want to," JJ was quick to assure the teen. "There's nothing I would want more. I just didn't know that was what you wanted."

"I know that it's just a piece of paper, and it doesn't really change the fact that we're a family…that you're my mom," Alex replied. "But I would still like if you did. It would mean a lot to me."

Smiling, JJ put her arm around the young brunette. "It would mean a lot to me too," she said, placing a kiss on top of Alex's head. "I hope you know this is something I've thought a lot about, I just didn't know if it was too soon to be talking about it. And I wasn't really sure how you would feel," she explained. "But I would be honoured to adopt you," she said, smiling as Alex looked up at her with, big, brown eyes. "Just let me talk to your mom about it first okay?"

"Okay," Alex nodded, her smile big.

"So when do I get to read all this stuff you've been writing about me?" JJ then asked with a laugh as Alex immediately rolled her eyes.

"Oh God you're never going to let that go are you?" Alex groaned, her face red.

"Not a chance," JJ laughed. "Your teacher talked to highly of your writing, so I want to read it," she said. "Especially if it's about me."

"Mmmm I'll think about it," Alex replied, laughing as JJ dropped her jaw in mock surprise. "Maybe…if you're real nice," she teased. "But only maybe."

"Wow only if I'm nice huh?" JJ raised her eyebrow. "Because I'm usually so awful?" She asked, beginning to tickle Alex's side when the teen nodded with a laugh.

"Okay, okay stop!" Alex begged, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. "I'll let you read it…just not today. Deal?"

"Deal," JJ smiled, kissing Alex's head once more as she sat back against the headboard. "You know I'm really proud of you sweetheart. And I know your Mom will be too when we tell her about tonight," she said. "You should be really proud of yourself too. You're a great kid Lex. The absolute best."