Jumping a bit ahead in the timeline for this one.

Happy reading =)

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." – Oscar Wilde

"Hey, stranger," I say as I make my way over to her.

"JJ," she says with a bright smile. "I didn't know you were coming."

"You really think I'd miss my best friend's birthday? Come on now, I thought you were smarter than that," I tease as I sit down beside her.

She laughs, and I find myself grinning. It had been a while since we'd last seen each other, but sitting down here beside her, laughing…it feels like no time has passed. As clichéd and ridiculous as it sounds, ours is the kind of friendship they write books and make movies about. We'd persevered through the tough times, enjoyed the good times, and were with each other through everything in between. I never would have thought that the mysterious woman who appeared one day and took the concept of "secretive" to new levels would become one of my closest friends, but I am so grateful she did. I owe not only my own life to her, but my husband's, and son's as well.

"You'd think I would've learned by now not to underestimate you."

"You would think," I echo her words, my grin still plain on my face.

"I'm glad you're here," she says, meeting my gaze for a brief moment before turning her attention back out over the yard.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Em," I say, wrapping an arm around her and squeezing tightly.

Our moment is interrupted by the tall form of Matthew appearing in front of us. "Mom," he says with his typical lopsided grin. "Happy birthday," he finishes, as he pulls her to her feet and gives her a tight hug.

"Thank you, Matty," she says with a warm smile as she returns the hug just as tightly. "Now where are my grandchildren?" she asks as she pulls back.

He chuckles. "Aunt Penny grabbed them at the door."

"Figures."

"I'll make sure you get some time with them. It is your birthday, and a person only turns 80 once."

"Mention my age again young man and we'll have to revisit my promise to not embarrass you at family functions."

"Did I say 80? I meant 40." Emily arches an eyebrow at her son playfully. "30?" he offers.

Emily tilts her head as she considers it before letting a grin spread on her face once more. "30 is acceptable."

Matty chuckles and turns to face me. "Aunt JJ," he says warmly, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. "It's good to see you."

"I could say the same about you, young man. I hear you've been takin' names this season."

"I'm just hoping my knees make it through the rest of the year," he says with a grin.

"They giving you trouble?"

"A little, but nothing I can't handle."

"Good. Keep it up, kiddo."

"I will. Gotta do my first coach proud, after all," he says, wrapping an arm around me and squeezing. "But I do believe there's food with my name on it somewhere around here…I'm starving. I'll leave you two ladies to your knitting and your gossip."

He ducks just in time to dodge Emily's swat at his head, but he isn't as lucky with mine. "That's for the knitting comment," I say meaningfully.

His face splits into a grin once more, and he takes off to find some lunch, leaving Emily and I alone again.

"He certainly grew up to be a nice young man, didn't he?" I offer.

"I'll say," Emily agrees proudly.

"Where's Tegan?" I ask, looking around the yard for her daughter.

"She's coming a little later. She's wrapping up a case and had a bit of paperwork to get through apparently."

"Ah, yes. Your little mini-me. Is she as much of an action-junkie as you were?"

Emily laughs. "Yes. Though thankfully she's managed to avoid any major injuries."

"Doesn't stop you from worrying sick about her though, does it?"

"Of course not. But she's a capable agent, and a smart woman."

"Just like her mom was, back in the day."

"You trying to tell me I'm dumb now?" Emily teases with a grin.

"Oh, shut up, you," I say, shoving her playfully. "Seriously though, you've had a pretty good life," I say, looking out at all her family and friends in the yard.

"Yeah," she agrees. "I have, haven't I?"

I turn to look at her and find her looking out over the yard with a thoughtful expression on her face. But there's something in her eyes that I can't quite place…and it has me worrying a little bit.

"Mom, hey," I hear Tegan's voice and find her standing in front of us.

"Tegan," Emily says with a smile as she begins to push herself to her feet slowly. "I thought you were coming later."

"Don't get up," Tegan says quickly, motioning for her to sit back down. "I got my paperwork done a little ahead of schedule, so I figured I'd come spend some more time with you."

Emily grins widely. "Happy to hear. I've missed you."

"I know, I know. I've been crazy busy with work lately," she answers with a tinge of guilt in her tone.

"Big case?" I ask.

"Yeah, got a couple on the go, actually. And my boss asked me to help out on another one since I'm familiar with le français."

"I told you knowing languages would come in handy," Emily says.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Enough with the "I told you so"! We're here to talk about you and your 80 years on this planet, not me and my job. And on that note, happy birthday, Mom," Tegan says, leaning over and wrapping her arms around her mother tightly.

"Thanks, Tee."

"We're going to have some time together later, right? After everyone's gone?" Tegan asks quietly, looking at her mother. Her tone is shy, reminding me of when she was a young girl preferring to let her twin brother do the talking and instead watched the world with a careful gaze.

"Of course," Emily replies with a nod. I smile, knowing the two of them would curl up on the swing down at the edge of property and watch the sunset, just as they'd done for years. It had become something for just the two of them. "Have a seat, Tee," Emily says, gesturing to the space beside her. "You and I need to have a chat about some grandchildren…"

"Uh, I promised Matty I'd find him, and I hear my niece and nephew have been asking after me," Tegan says quickly as she backs away, shooting me a sheepish grin.

I can't help the laugh from escaping my lips as I shake my head in amusement. "Nice dodge."

"See you later, Aunt JJ, Mom," Tegan calls over her shoulder with a wave.

"You just love teasing her about that, don't you?"

"Yep," Emily says with a smirk, but it disappears quickly. "Though sometimes I worry I'm overdoing it with her. She genuinely might not want kids, and I feel bad for pushing her about it."

"You worry too much. She'd have been a little more sullen about it if that was true. I think you're fine. How are things with her and…what's his name again?"

"Lincoln."

"Seriously?"

"Yep."

"How very…"

"Presidential?" Emily offers.

"That works. So how are things with her and Lincoln?"

Emily shrugs. "Good, but she is very much her mother's daughter."

"Keeps her heart locked up tight and denies obvious feelings?"

"Right in one. I worry she's never going to let someone all the way in."

"She will," I say confidently. "You did."

"Took me way too long to do it, though."

I tilt my head as a question occurs to me. "Do you wish you'd opened yourself up sooner?"

"Maybe…I don't know. I suppose I'd be a different person if I had. And I guess it's not a guarantee that I'd have gotten together with Derek in that case… Which could mean I might not have Tegan and Matthew. But on the other hand, I might've been just as happy in the other scenario…"

"Too many factors to consider," I conclude in understanding.

"Exactly."

"Regardless, I'd say you ended up okay, and I have a feeling Tegan will be just fine."

"I hope so."

"You think she'll end up with him?"

She nods. "Definitely. He's her best friend, despite their on-again-off-again status. He's seen her at her worst, and didn't flinch."

I nod, knowing exactly what Emily was referring to. Tegan had taken Derek's death badly. She'd fallen into a hole of depression, and it was Lincoln who'd pulled her out.

"Just a matter of time, then?"

"I think so."

"Like mother, like daughter," I quip.

"Will you keep an eye on her?"

I frown in worry and confusion. Was there something she wasn't telling me? "What do you mean?" I ask quickly, failing to keep the worry out of my tone.

"You're a few years younger than me," she points out, but I don't relax. That look in her eyes earlier has me wondering what secrets she's holding onto.

"Not so many years," I counter. "What's going on, Em?"

"Nothing, Jayje." She must feel my worried gaze on her because she turns to face me. "Honestly."

I narrow my gaze as I scrutinize her, not believing a word. "Em, come on. What is it?"

She sighs. "You ever just get a feeling something's going to happen?"

"Sure," I reply slowly, not liking where she's going with this. "Sometimes."

"I just have this feeling that I don't have a lot of time left." My eyes widen again at this admission. She must notice my expression, because she rushes to explain. "It's okay though. Like you said, I've had a good life. I got the chance to experience love, I got to raise two beautiful children, and I made some amazing friends along the way. I saw the world, did some good, and had that impact on people that I wanted to have."

"Em," I manage to choke out, my emotions overflowing. Why is this feeling like a goodbye?

"Just promise me you'll look out for Tegan. She's strong, but she needs to let it all out sometimes, and more often than not she needs a little push to do it."

The protest I had planned dies on my lips as I take in her expression. She's at peace. I realize in that moment that she's right. She's lived her life.

Besides, I get the feeling these last few years without Derek have been a little harder on her than she lets on. Despite her best efforts at patching up the cracks that his death had left, I can see the heaviness in her eyes nowadays. It wasn't as though she hadn't enjoyed the last few years – I know for a fact she had – it was just…her smile didn't quite reach as far as it used to, and her eyes didn't twinkle with as much happiness as they used to. My eyes drift to my husband who is deep in conversation with Matthew. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I lost him.

"You know I will, Em," I say, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into me tightly in a one-armed hug.

"Thank you," she says with a smile, her eyes glistening ever so slightly. "For everything. You've been a better friend than I ever could have imagined having."

I sniff and wipe the tears from my cheeks. "That goes both ways, Em."

"Look at the two of us all teary-eyed and sentimental," she quips. "Quite the pair we make."

"Could you imagine us if we'd been pregnant at the same time?"

"Oh god. I rather think Will and Derek would've taken off."

"Definitely," I say with a laugh.

We slip into silence as we watch the yard's occupants mingle. It's an interesting collection of people. There's a select few of her colleagues from her time as an instructor at the Academy, and a few neighbours. Her children and grandchildren are there of course. And then there's the old team – or, at least what's left of it – and their families. All in all, it's not an overwhelmingly large crowd, but that doesn't surprise me in the least. Emily Prentiss has always been a private person, but she's also had a knack for making an impression and having an impact on people, so those she lets in tend to stick around.

"Do you think it'll be different this time?" she asks quietly after a few moments.

I frown as I try to figure out what she's referring to. "Will what be different?"

She shrugs. "The afterlife."

I blink as my mind processes her words. I recall that day all those years ago when she'd explained how she felt cold and darkness. I hadn't understood it then – how could someone so kind and compassionate and good be subjected to something so distressing and depressing? But the more I thought about it over the years, the more I realized that maybe it had been because it wasn't her time. I think that looking at everything she's done in her life, she'll have something a little less tinged with despair. She certainly deserves it. And more than that I hope she's reunited with her loved ones.

"I think it will be," I reassure her. "You've lived a good life, and this time around it's not too soon, so maybe you'll get a warmer reception."

"Maybe," she agrees.

"Grandma!"

Our chat is interrupted by the happy yells of her grandchildren as they race toward her with open arms and excitement dancing in their eyes. I watch as Emily's face transforms, a wide, genuine smile spreading, and a faint twinkle appearing in her eyes. She wraps them up in her arms and hugs them tightly, pressing kisses to each of their heads before they manage to pull her away to show her something.

She looks back over her shoulder and smiles, and in that moment I realize that I was really going to miss her when she was gone. I get the feeling that even though I'd already gone through losing her once, and we'd spent all these years as friends, making memories and sharing laughs, that losing her this time around was going to hurt even more.

Thoughts? Let me know. I appreciate each and every review.