JJ sighed contentedly as she listened to the team's account of the case they were currently consulting on. Each of them had come away with a different view, and they were wildly contradictory. If she had been at work, she would have felt frustrated, but being on the outside, she just thought it was funny. Until she realised that someone was missing...
"Hey, guys, where's Rossi?" JJ asked.
"He was getting coffee," said a deep voice from behind JJ. "I didn't know you were due back today, Jennifer. I haven't gotten a coffee for you."
"No worries, I've had two cups this morning already. And, I'm not back at work, I'm just visiting."
"Well then, this is a pleasant surprise. The place is not the same without you."
JJ smiled sadly. "You won't like this, then."
"Like what?" Rossi asked as he put the coffees down on the desk.
"I'm not coming back, Dave."
"Right now. But you will when you're cleared."
"No. I'm not returning to work, ever. I handed in my resignation today."
Rossi's smiled faded, but, to his credit, he did not stop smiling. "Oh... well... I guess we can get used to this place without Jennifer Jareau in it. Are you going to another agency?"
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay at home with the boys." JJ gave Rossi a smile. "I'll still come visit, and you can always come over. I just don't want to do this job anymore."
"You will still come to family night?" Rossi asked, talking about a new tradition he had started two years earlier.
"Of course! We are still a family, Dave. Will and I love coming to your parties and dinners. The boys enjoy spending time with all of you. That doesn't have to change."
"It will be very strange. When are you leaving us?"
"In two weeks. I probably won't be back at work before then, but I'll come past and see everyone anyway." JJ turned to the team. "Actually, Will and I were talking about this, and he mentioned that it might make things a little easier on everyone if we did something altogether outside of work. We decided on throwing a dinner party on Saturday night, if any of you want to come."
"A dinner party certainly sounds good to me," said Garcia and Emily at the same time, making everyone laugh.
"Now, we don't throw as good a party as Dave can, but we want to make it special. All you need to do is show up, okay?"
Saturday night
JJ felt nervous. She and Will had gone all out, decorating the backyard for the occasion. She had ensured that there was still a small area of the yard available for her boys to play in, and had even made sure to include a seat there for Reid to perform his many magic tricks that always made Henry and Michael, and Garcia, laugh. She really wanted the night to be a success.
"Alright, the food is ready, everything is set," said Will, who did not seem nervous at all. "The boys are dressed and excited. Are you ready?"
"Yes..." answered JJ.
"What's wrong, darlin'?"
"Nothings wrong. I just want things to go well."
"They will! These people are your team, your friends, JJ. Nothing can go wrong, alright? This is going to be a wonderful night." Will gave her a reassuring hug. "I promise."
JJ let out a breath. "Right. Yes, you're right," she finally said, smiling once again.
Barely a minute later, the doorbell rang, and JJ heard Henry's excited voice calling out, "Uncle Spencer!"
"Guess I better go open the door before Henry does," said JJ. She ran to the front door to find her oldest son peeking through the window in the living room. A laugh escaped her as she opened the door and her son almost bowled her over to get to his favourite of her friends.
"Uncle Spencer! Come, I want to show you something!" Henry said, excitement making his words hard to decipher.
Reid grinned. "Give me a moment to hug your mum, then you can show me, Henry."
Henry nodded, a grin on his face. He stood next to JJ, bouncing on his heels. JJ smiled softly, gave Reid a quick hug, then said, "okay, you better follow him before he explodes."
"Yay! Come on, Uncle Spencer!" Henry said, grabbing his godfather's hand and leading him away from the front door.
JJ shook her head. She was about to head back to the kitchen when the doorbell rang for the second time. A small smile crept onto her face as she opened the door to find Emily and Garcia standing there.
"Hi," JJ said, excitement finally breaking through her nerves.
"Jay!" Garcia cried, throwing her arms around JJ in a tight embrace.
"Can't breathe, Pen," said JJ.
"Oops!" Garcia apologised, pulling away. "I brought dessert," she added, holding out a container.
"Thank you. You can give it to Will, he's in the kitchen." As soon as Garcia walked away, JJ turned to Emily. "Hi," she said softly, though her face had lit up with pure joy at seeing her friend.
"How are you doing?" Emily asked once they had hugged. "Are you bored yet? If you've changed your mind and want to come back to work, just say so. I'll get you back on the job immediately."
"Thank you, but no thank you," laughed JJ. "I'm perfectly content right here."
"I figured," Emily said, a pout on her face for the briefest of moments. Then she grinned. "Even if you aren't part of our team anymore, you have to promise to visit us, and bring donuts."
"Yes, Em. I'll visit." JJ took Emily's hand and pulled her into the kitchen. "Will, look who else arrived just now. Can you take her off my hands for a while? Put her to work?"
"Don't worry about Emily," said Will. "I'll take care of her. She can help Penelope get the table set with the food. I think Dave just pulled up."
JJ thanked Will and dashed off to get the door before Rossi had the chance to knock. Her face was lit up again as she reached out to hug her old friend.
"You look beautiful, Jennifer," said Rossi softly, giving her a kiss on each cheek.
"You don't look so bad yourself, Dave," replied JJ.
"Thank you for the invite tonight. I love when we all get together."
"Me too. And you're welcome. Will's got Emily and Garcia helping put out the food, and Henry's taken Spence away from us, so can I help you bring anything in?"
Rossi nodded with a smile. Of course she knew he'd brought food with him. "There is a special bag in the backseat. It contains something for each of your boys, but I'd like to give them out after dinner, if you don't mind?"
"You didn't have to buy anything, Dave."
"I know, but I did anyway. Now, are you going to help me?"
"Of course, I am. Let's go. Say, have you heard from Tara, Matt and Luke? They haven't arrived yet."
"Matt asked me to apologise on his behalf. His kids are sick and he wasn't feeling the greatest yesterday, so he won't be coming. Luke and Tara are already here- I brought them with me. Both were grabbing some of the snacks I brought along." He gestured to the two people walking up the drive.
"Hey, JJ," said Luke. "May I ask where you'd like us to leave these desserts?"
"You can put them in the kitchen. Just go through the living room and you'll see where all the other desserts are," said JJ, pointing vaguely in the direction of the front door. "Dave, how much did you make, exactly?"
"Oh, that's all. The other things in the car are not edible."
"Rossi," JJ warned, though it was half-hearted at best. Her smile did not help to make her sound annoyed.
"I told you I bought presents for those gorgeous boys of yours."
"And? What else is in there?"
"A gift for Will and you, just to say thank you for inviting us tonight."
JJ sighed. "Fine, if that's all it is." She reached into the back seat and pulled out a large gift bag.
"That's for you and Will. I might suggest you don't put that where Michael can reach it."
"Alcohol?"
"In part, yes."
JJ gave Rossi a beaming grin. "Thank you," she said, hugging her friend once again.