-July-

It's been a rough few months for was still upset with Aaron and they haven't talked much since then. She wasn't so much angry that he took her out of the field, she understood that he was just looking out for her and the baby but she just wished that he had talked to her about it first rather than making an executive decision without her. She knew that she had to talk to him at some point, but she wasn't ready, she just wanted to be angry. She mainly hung out with Garcia and helped the team out whenever she could when they were on cases. She missed going on cases, she just missed the team. She wouldn't be pregnant for much longer but even 4 months felt so far.

That morning, Emily got out of bed and glanced over at the mirror. As she walked past it, she caught a glimpse of herself, it stopped her in her tracks. She took two steps back and looked into the mirror again, this time for longer. She put her hand on her stomach and smiled. She got caught up in her own problems, that she hadn't noticed that she had popped. She was bigger than she was last week and she had felt the baby move. She lightly patted her stomach and walked into the bathroom.

After she got dressed she headed for the kitchen. She started to make her and Natalia breakfast when she had heard a knock at the door. With a confused look. she looked at her watch. '6:30, who would here at this time?' she said to herself. She walked towards the door and looked through the peephole. As she opened the door, she made eye contact with the person on the other side of the door.

"Mom? What are you doing here, you do know what time it is right?"

"Yes I know it's early but I was in town and thought I'd stop by. I haven't seen you nor Natalia in a while."

"I.." Emily was at a loss for words

"Are you gonna let me in or are you just going to let me stand in the hall?"

"Yeah sure come in. I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting you. Natalia is still sleeping. She'll be up soon." she said as she shut the door behind her mother

"That's okay. it gives me some time to spend with my daughter. "

Emily stood there piking at her nails. She was nervous. With everything going on, she forgot to tell her mother that she was expecting again. She would know, it was pretty obvious.

"Mom. "

"Yes?" She said as she sat down on the couch.

"There's something that I have to tell you. I wanted to tell you earlier but with everything going on, it just slipped my mind... but I.."

"Emily. Honey. if you're trying to tell me that you are pregnant, I already know."

"Im sorry but... wait how do you know?"

"I mean look at you, you are noticeably pregnant,' Emily rolled her eyes at that comment but her mother continued on' " but also your friend, Garcia is it? called me and asked if I could make it to your baby shower."

"Oh I'm going to kill her. I told her that I didn't want to have one."

"Emily. it's okay. I I'll admit that i was a little upset that you weren't the one to tell me but this is exciting. Im going to have another grandchild. This is a good thing, right?"

"Yeah. It's just the timing isn't all that great. "

"Timing never is great Em."

"No it never is, but I was just in the middle of making breakfast for Natalia and I if you want to join."

"I will, thank you,"

After finishing breakfast, Emily went to her daughter's room and tried to pry the kid awake.

"Mommy 5 more minutes please."

"I wish baby but It's Friday. At least it's almost the weekend and you can sleep in tomorrow if you like. Plus theres a surprise waiting for you downstairs " Emily stated as she knew that she wouldn't sleep in.

"What kind of Surprise?"

"You'll just have to get up and see."

Natalia finally got out of bed and headed down the stairs for breakfast. As Natalia was walking into the kitchen, she looked over into the living room and saw her. Her eyes grew big and she had the biggest smile on her face.

"Grandma!"

"Hi honey. Did you sleep well?"

"Yup! Im so excited to see you."

"Well i'm excited to see you too."

"Talia, Honey, come on. You need to eat something so you aren't late for school. "

"Okay Mommy." She walked to the kitchen table and sat down in her usual chair.

As Natalia, Elizabeth, and Emily ate breakfast, it was quiet. Thy really didn't say much to each other. It was mostly Natalia and Elizabeth talking. When Natalia ran upstairs to get ready, it was just her and her mother. Emily was putting away the dishes and cleaning some dishes when her mother stood beside her.

"Here let me help you Em."

"No it's okay i got it."

"Emily I."

"Mom I got it. It's fine. "

Elizabeth took a breath and nodded her head. She walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room. When Natalia left, it was just Emily and Elizabeth in the house. Elizabeth knew that there was something wrong with her daughter. She could feel the tension in the room, she didn't know why but she knew that something was wrong with her.

"Emily honey, i know that there is something wrong with you, can you please tell me what is going thought that head of yours?"

"It's nothing mom. Im just very pregnant and very tired. "

"Emily, I am your mother and i can tell when you are lying."

"I'm late for work. I'll be home later. Are you going to be here later?"

"Yes, Im in town for a couple of days."

"If you want, I'll let Marissa know to drop Natalia off here when she gets home from school. She'll be glad to spend some time with you."

"I'd love that. Thank you."

"Please lock up when you leave. I'll leave my key with you."

Elizabeth nodded her head at Emily as she left. Emily took a deep breath when she walked out the door. She didn't have the best relationship with her mother. She still had resentment towards her mother. She shook it off and headed to work.

When Emily arrived at the office, she headed straight towards Garcia's office. She knew that she had to speak with her. Luckily or maybe not luckily, Garcia was just arriving.

"Hey P."

"Hey Em. How are you?"

"I'd be better if my mother didn't show up at my house early this morning."

"Why would your mother.." she looked at Emily and she just gave her a look.

"I'm sorry Em. i didn't know that she didn't know you were pregnant. "

"It's okay Penelope. I just didn't want her to know for a reason. But she knows now and i'll just have to deal with it. i didn't tell her about Natalia until i had too. "

"Why didn't you tell her about Natalia?"

"I just, I knew that she wouldn't approve of Natalia's father and i didn't want to deal with her. I ended up telling her a few months after Levi died. "

"Em I'm so sorry. I didn't mean too."

"Hey It's okay. I'll get over it, I'm going to go back over to my desk and see how many emails and case notes that I have."

"Good Luck Em."

"Thanks." Emily said as she left Penelope's office.

While Emily was finishing up some last notes on a case when she heard the phone ding. She picked up her phone and saw that it was a message from Aaron.

"Hey, when is your next appointment again? I just want to write it down on my calendar."

"Next Wednesday at 7:00"

"I'll be there. Thanks"

She looked towards his office and found him starring at her. She nodded and put her phone down. She looked at the time and saw that it was almost lunch time. She finished up her notes and got up headed for lunch. She was starving. When she got into the elevator, JJ came stopped her.

"Where are you going to lunch?"

"I don't know yet but what I do know is that this baby and I are starving"

JJ laughed, "Okay let's get you both something to eat."

After Emily and JJ got back from Lunch, Emily decided to finish up some other notes and try to head home. She knew that her mother would be there, she wasn't happy about it but she knew that she had to get it over with. Her mother wasn't her favorite person then and definitely still isn't now. Her mother wasn't one to just show up unannounced and she was going to figure out why.

As she was walking out to her car, Aaron had caught up with her. Still very annoyed with him, she tried to ignore him but it didn't work.

"So is this is how it's going to go Em? I try and talk to you and you ignore me."

"I'm just not in the mood to talk to you."

"you haven't been for weeks. Emily this is almost ridiculous. You're gonna have to get over it one way or another."

"I don't have time to have this conversation right now. My mother just showed up unannounced and I don't know why she's here. So please forgive me for being a little rude. "

"Oh don't blame your mother for your foul mood."

"Im not blaming my mother for any of this. You did this on your own. Im still very angry with you."

"Can you please talk and tell me why then." She threw her bags into the car and turned back towards him.

"You took me out of the field and.."

"You're still stuck on this? Emily this was weeks ago."

"I understand that, but you didn't let me finish. I'm mad because you made that decision on your own and you didn't even talk to me about it first. If you would have been like hey Em i think that you should be out of the field, i would have agreed but you didn't even give me that chance. So yes I am mad at you."

"Seriously Emily."

"Yes seriously. We are both adults here Aaron. I might be carrying your child but I am not a child. You can't just make decisions like this and expect me to follow along without talking about with me first. My judgement isn't clouded just because I'm having a baby. Now will you please excuse me. i need to get home, i'm already late. "

"Fine." She got into the car and started it. She gave him once last glance before she pulled out and drove away.

When Emily got home, she found her mother helping Natalie with her homework at the table. Natalia jumped out of her chair when she saw her mother walk through the door.

"Mommy!" She ran towards her and gave her a hug,

"Hi baby. Mommy missed you so much today. Did you have fun today?"

"Yup! Mrs. Collins let me read a book to the class today." she sat at the table again and Emily took the seat next to her.

"Oh wow that's exciting."

"mmhmm."

"Hey Natalia honey, how about you go and get ready for bed and i'll heat up some dinner for you mom okay?"

"Okay," she closed her book and headed up the stairs

"I can read her a bedtime story tonight if you'd like."

"Thanks but I'll do it. I just want to spend as much time with her I can before this baby comes."

Elizabeth went into the kitchen and grabbed a plate that was sitting on the counter. Emily just watched her. Something about her mother was different. She didn't know what it was but there was something off.

"Mom?"

"Yeah Em?"

"Why are you here? like actually here. I don't want to hear some excuse. "

"i told you, I was in town and I wanted,,"

"I told you that i wanted to know the truth. I work for the FBI, i specialize in body language remember? I know when you are lying."

"How could I forget?"

"What does that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing Emily. "

"I've always known that you hate that I work for the FBI. That you cant stand the fact that I didn't follow in your foot steps. All these years later and you still hate it. wow."

"You are my only child Emily. I'll support you where.."

"Cut the crap mom. You hate my job and you've always hated my job. This is why i don't tell you things. You judge me and you always have. Ever since i could remember. "

"Emily, please. Not now. "

"You know what. No i want to have this conversation now. You can't stand anything I've done that you haven't agreed on. You wanted me to be your copy but I wasn't. You can't stand the fact that it doesn't make me happy. My job now makes me happy. I love getting up in the morning and doing what I have to do. To save people. I might get hurt in the process but it doesn't matter if that means that no one has to die, " she stood up from the stable. She was angry with her and Aaron. Today just wasn't a good day for her.

"Emily. Stop now."

"No. I will not stop. I..."

"Mommy? I'm ready for bed. " Natalia cut her off. In some way, Emily was glad that she intervened when she did.

"Okay baby. I'm coming. Go and get into bed and i will meet you there."

"Okay Mommy."

Emily gave one glance at her mother and headed up the stairs.

Emily cuddled up to her daughter on the bed and began to read the story. Before she opened the book, Natalia sat up and looked at her mother.

"What is it Talia?"

"Mommy. Can i ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Why were you arguing with Grandma? "

"Aww baby, I wish i could explain it to you but it's just something that you wouldn't understand just yet. It's just hard, to explain at your age. "

"You don't hate her do you?"

"No honey, I don't. It's just that when you get older there are going to be things that i do or say that will make you a little angry. I don't know what or when it will be but i know that it's going to happen. It just a mother always looking out for her children no matter how old they are. Just like you and I. I will always look out for you no matter how old you get. You will always be my baby."

"And this one too?" she placed her hand on her mother's stomach.

"Yeah. Both of you guys are my baby's and i will do anything and everything for you. I love you more than you will ever know."

"I love you Mommy,"

"I love you more Natalia." Emily kissed the top of her daughter's head and they began reading the story.

Elizabeth was listening on the outside, a tear slipped down her cheek. She then turned around and walked back down the stairs and sat down on the couch. She could help but feel It was a beautiful moment and it made her realize that Emily was a better mother than she ever was. Everything that Emily said was true though, and she knew that. She hated that Emily joined the FBI. She hated that Emily did not follow in her footsteps and she also hated that Emily pretty much kept her life a secret from her. From the moment that she left her house that night, Emily never came back and she had no idea what she had become of herself.

When Emily came down the stairs, she saw her mother sitting on the couch. Emily walked over to her and stood in front of her. She took a deep breath and sat down.

"Im sorry about earlier mom. I was just tired and I just let it get the best of me."

"You were right though Emily. I am angry. i don't approve of the life that you chose for yourself. I wish that you had followed into my footsteps and walk in the life that I tried to create for you. Being here though, makes me feel like this is what was best for you. I mean, I wasn't the best mother to you and I look at the way that you are with Natalia and that girl worships the ground that you walk on. You never gave me that look Em." A tear slipped down her face

"Mom I.."

"No Emily listen to me. That Night after you left, I was so angry because I was convinced that you were going to run away with that Hotchner Boy and I'd never see you again but the next day when I saw him and I didn't see you, I quickly realized that I was the one who pushed you away. Emily I missed out on so much of Natalia's life and I don't want to do the same with this one. I want to be here for you in a way that a mother should."

"Mom, when i found out I was pregnant with Natalia, I cried. It's not that I didn't want to be a mother, it was just I didn't know how to be a mother. Levi, Natalia's father was so supportive. He encouraged me and he was there every moment that I needed him. He showed me love in a way that I had never received before. He was the best thing that happened to me after I had left. Then he died, and I had no one. It took awhile for his parents to come around and be apart of Natalia's life. When she was born, I had no idea what to do. I wanted to call you but I didn't want to surprise you with a baby after so many years of not talking."

"Emily. I-"

"I knew that I had to tell you about Natalia because she deserved a grandmother. She deserved family. i didn't want to keep all of that away from her. Natalia was still a baby when I showed up at your doorstep with her. You took us both in and I'm forever grateful for that. You held me when I cried. "

"I knew that it was like after your father died and I couldn't stand seeing you go through the same thing at such a young age. "

"Natalia made it easy and she has shown me how to be a mother and she has shown me to be the person I want to be or i need to be for her. "

"I'm so proud of you Emily. The woman and mother that you have become. "

"Thanks Mom. You may have not been there for me when I was a kid but I'm glad that you are here now. "

"Me too."

Emily hugged her mother and it healed something inside of her. She knew that one conversation with her mother wasn't going to heal everything that her mother put her through but it was a start. She helped her mother clean up the kitchen and she finished eating her dinner. She was about to get ready for bed when her mother spoke.

"Emily, to answer your earlier question, I came here because I wanted to see it for myself. I knew that If i had asked you if you were pregnant, you probably would have denied it. I wanted the truth. "

"You're probably right, I don't think that i would have told you the truth."

"I know. But i'm hoping that things will change Em."

"Me to mom, me too. "

Emily smiled at her mother and started to walk up the stairs when she stopped and turned around.

"The guest bedroom is right next to Natalia's room on the right hand side. There should be everything ready to go. I had Marissa set it up before she left. Natalia normally get's up around 7 on a Saturday's. Do you know how much longer you are staying in town?"

"It's a short trip, so i leave the day after tomorrow. "

"Okay sounds good. Just let me know if you need anything. "

"I'll be fine Em. Please go and get some sleep, you look exhausted. "

"Goodnight Mom."

"Goodnight Emily."

And with that Emily walked up the rest of the stairs, changed her clothes, brushed her teeth, and practically passed out on the bed when her head hit the pillow.