CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

10x23 The Hunt

3 months…

"Oh, you gotta love nausea and vertigo," Kate grumbled, pointing to her very pregnant stomach. Emily smiled and glanced in JJ's direction. JJ wasn't showing yet, and they hadn't told anyone, but they were planning to very soon.

"Which is why I got you these," JJ said holding up crackers and a ginger ale.

"You're the best," Kate said with a smile. Emily's eyes lingered on JJ. These days Emily found it harder than usual to look away. When Kate had first announced her pregnancy, Emily had to admit - a very small part of her was resentful. She wasn't proud of it - but it was true. But Emily admired JJ. She never once showed any resentment towards Kate. She was nothing but supportive and happy for her.

JJ glanced at Emily. She was sitting behind her at a table in the break room just staring absentmindedly at the rim of her coffee cup. JJ looked around to make sure no one was there before sitting and placing a hand on top of her wife's. JJ's touch seemed to pull her out of her daze.

"You okay?"

Emily smiled wistfully. "Yeah," she said half heartedly. JJ knew better. She searched her eyes.

"Just because this is happening to Kate, doesn't mean it'll happen to us."

"I know that…" Emily said. She leaned back in her chair, "Logically, I know that." Emily sighed and met JJ's eyes. "But the nihilist in me is telling me otherwise. I mean, Kate trained Meg for something like this and it still happened. Do you know how many people you and I have personally put in prison?"

JJ was quiet for a moment. She was rubbing her thumb across Emily's hand. There was a twinkle in her eyes. "I don't think that's the nihilist in you, I think that's the mother in you," JJ replied lovingly.

Emily's eyes softened. It made her heart flutter every time JJ called her that. Emily looked down at their hands.

"How's the morning sickness today?" Emily whispered.

"Not too bad…" JJ answered, averting her eyes. Emily could tell she was down playing it. She ran her thumb gently across JJ's hand.

Emily opened the door for JJ and smiled sweetly at her as she walked into the conference room.

"Why did you call us all in here?" Penelope demanded as soon as she saw them. They didn't sit. They stood in front of the room. Hotch and Kate were still missing. Penelope looked anxious. "Wait - no one is leaving are they? You're not leaving, please tell me you guys aren't leaving."

"No, Pen. Nobody is leaving," JJ insisted.

"Okay, then if this is about the… incident," Garcia said, turning to Emily and giving her a pointed look and a raise of her eyebrows, "I told you, those pictures have been destroyed." Emily's eyes went wide with horror and JJ turned to her with narrow eyes and a curious face.

"Hey! You promised," Emily said intensely. Penelope held up her hands in surrender.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Prentiss. What and when was this?" Derek asked with a smile spreading across his face.

Emily opened her mouth to answer but Penelope cut him off. "Oh, it was years ago! I remember because Emily was upset that JJ canceled on us last minute. She had a real big crush on her."

"Hey!" Emily snapped again, half-heartedly.

"Oh, you had a crush on me, huh?" JJ said coyly. She gave Emily a smitten smile.

Emily blushed a little and rolled her eyes. "We're married," she exclaimed to the whole room. JJ grinned, amused, and shot Emily a wicked look. Derek and Penelope laughed. Hotch walked in briskly and Emily sighed in relief.

"Also, not the reason we brought you guys in here…" Emily said quickly. She looked at Hotch, "Where's Kate?" Hotch looked hard.

"She just resigned…" he said quietly.

"What?" Everyone spoke at the same time, all heads turning towards Hotch.

He sighed, "She was adamant. There was nothing I could do."

The team sat quietly, taking in the news. Emily turned to look at JJ and took her hand gently. JJ felt her heart rate increasing. "Well, um - we have some news too…" Emily started. Spencer smiled to himself - something only JJ noticed.

"I'm pregnant," JJ said, a shy grin spreading across her face. The group erupted in happiness. Even Hotch broke into a small smile.

"Oh. My. God. Tell us everything you know," Penelope said, standing and rushing over to them. "How far along are you? Do you know the sex? What are you going to name it?"

"Okay, okay, hang on," JJ said with a laugh. "There's… more."

Everyone paused and looked at them expectantly. JJ gave Emily's hand a squeeze and turned to her, inviting her to speak. "We went to the doctor last week and as it turns out - we're having twins."

"WHAT?!"

Emily had to brace herself for the force at which Garcia flung herself into her arms. Spencer wrapped his arms around JJ. He gave her a knowing look. He was the only one besides Emily that knew this wasn't the first time she'd been pregnant. He smiled and nodded faintly.

Hotch was the last to approach them. "Congratulations," he said simply. He cracked a small smile.

4 months…

Two boys. Emily closed her eyes and sighed. She was happy - over the moon. But she was also scared. Because in five short months, there would be two helpless, innocent baby boys who would depend on her for their every need. It was a humbling thought. And she'd be lying if she said it didn't scare the hell out of her. She chased down psychopaths and murderers for a living and yet, this seemed more intimidating. She stood and walked over to the break room. JJ looked up and watched her. She had something completely different on her mind.

Against her better judgment, JJ stood and followed her. She knew this wasn't smart. She should wait until the end of the day, but her head was clouded by the pregnancy hormones. That was the only thing that could make her do what she was about to do.

When she walked into the break room, JJ felt the familiar deep feeling of desire building in her gut. She looked around quickly to make sure they were alone. Emily glanced up briefly as she continued pouring herself a mug of coffee.

"Hey," Emily said casually. JJ bit her lip. She could feel her heart rate increasing. This was an incredibly bad idea. JJ swallowed thickly, watching her wife move. It wasn't fair how unintentionally seductive Emily was. She wasn't even trying…

"Em? Do you have a minute? It's urgent." JJ said in a low voice. Emily turned her head in mild alarm. JJ didn't look panicked. But there was definitely a sense of need in her voice. Emily set down her coffee.

"Yeah," Emily said. JJ turned before Emily had the chance to ask what was wrong and led her quickly down the hallway. Emily's mind was racing. The first thing she thought was that there must have been something wrong with the babies. What else could make JJ react like this? They finally made it where JJ was leading her - she opened the door to her old office. Emily followed close behind, a confused look on her face.

"Jay, what's going on?" Emily asked while JJ made quick work of locking the door and drawing the blinds tightly. "Jay -"

But Emily was cut off by JJ's lips. At first, Emily was too stunned to respond. That was certainly not what she had expected. Emily brought a hand to her wife's cheek, gently trying to push her back, but JJ didn't seem interested in that. Her hands were sliding under the lapels of Emily's blazer, trying to push it down her arms. Her lips, still kissing her fervently. The shock was wearing off slightly and Emily wrapped an arm around JJ's waist gently. Emily felt her back come into gentle contact with the locked door behind her.

"This was urgent?" Emily managed to ask between kisses. But she couldn't deny the relief she felt. The babies were okay.

"Yes. It's the stupid pregnancy hormones," she muttered into Emily's lips, "they make me want to have sex all the time - urgently."

"Hmm," Emily murmured against JJ's lips, an amused smile growing on her face. JJ moved to kiss her neck, pressing her body up against Emily, effectively trapping her against the door. "I think I like the stupid hormones…" Emily joked. She felt JJ's tongue against her neck and her smile dropped from her face - desire was taking its place.

JJ pulled back and locked eyes with her. A smile was spreading across her face now - one part embarrassed, one part mischievous. It made Emily's knees weak. She needed to focus. She had to be the logical one here. They had never so much as kissed in the office. And they both knew the only reason they were allowed to work on the same unit was their professionalism. JJ leaned in again for a slower, more purposeful kiss. Despite her better judgment, Emily reciprocated and moved her hands down to her wife's hips. She could feel her entire body reacting to JJ.

"This is a really bad idea," Emily said halfheartedly. Her willpower was waning.

"Oh, without a doubt," JJ agreed. But her lips continued to drift across Emily's. She kissed her longingly before taking a moment to gaze into her wife's eyes. Emily was clearly flustered. There was a subtle, but wild look in her eyes and she was unconsciously leaning towards her. JJ watched her break eye contact to stare at her lips. If only Emily knew what that did to her.

"I'm gonna walk away…" Emily said in a deep voice. JJ hesitated before closing her eyes and nodding in agreement. But neither of them moved. Emily stood, staring at JJ's closed eyes for a long moment. JJ's hands were still on her hips. And Emily was still trapped against the door. JJ opened her eyes.

"Yeah, you really better walk away…" she said, willing herself to step back and out of Emily's embrace. Emily reached for the door, unlocking it, and leaving the room before she could change her mind. JJ closed her eyes and let out a agitated breath.

"So… twin boys," Derek started with a chuckle. "You ready for that?" Derek asked Emily casually. Emily raised an eyebrow and smiled briefly.

"I don't think anyone is ever truly ready for something like that," she responded a little dismissively. She didn't elaborate, instead turning to watch the scenery outside the window. Derek glanced in her direction.

"You good, Prentiss?"

Emily turned her head towards him. She looked a little surprised by the question. "Yeah," she said lightly. Derek narrowed his eyes, but let it go.

"I can't believe I jumped you like a sex-crazed teenager…" JJ said, heat rising to her cheeks.

"Yeah, that was new," Emily responded with a smirk. She was sitting on the edge of their bed, taking off her watch and placing it on her nightstand. "Let me know if that's going to happen again because I'll keep some breath mints in my purse."

JJ rolled her eyes, nodding knowingly. She knew Emily wasn't going to let her live this down. "Funny," JJ said sarcastically, approaching her. "You're funny." JJ stood in front of Emily, looking down at her. "You know I'm carrying your children, right?"

Emily placed her hands on her wife's hips. "Oh, believe me, I haven't forgotten." Emily looked up at her, a candid look of devotion smoldering in her eyes. JJ relented. Their brief rendezvous earlier had brought her momentary relief, but ultimately, it only made JJ's desire greater. She gestured for Emily to scoot back slightly. And once she had, JJ climbed into her lap, legs on either side of her hips. She pushed some hair out of Emily's face. There was that look again - the one that made JJ feel transparent.

"For the record… I really like the hormones," Emily said.

"Yeah, I'm sure you do."

5 months…

Emily's eyes broke away from her phone as Derek came down the middle of the plane and sat in the seat directly across from her. He was staring at her. She smiled politely and tried to look back down, but was interrupted by his voice.

"Are you ever going to tell me what's on your mind, Prentiss?" Emily's eyes widened slightly. She glanced at JJ. She was in a conversation with Spencer and Rossi at the front of the plane, laughing at a story Dave was telling.

"I don't know what you mean…"

Derek raised his eyebrows in impatience. Emily conceded. She looked down at her lap and opened her mouth, trying to form the words.

"I didn't exactly have the best parental role models growing up… my father left when I was five and my mother…" Emily paused and left out a heavy breath. "She wasn't easy to please."

"So?" Derek responded. Emily looked at him, shocked by his dismissal. "Emily, you are not your parents."

"Yeah? Says who? I mean - how can you do this job and not at least think about it?"

"Think about what?"

"The impact of our parents' choices? You don't think - that my mother's indifference towards me didn't color my whole world?"

"Sure, I do. But not the way you think..." Emily furrowed her brow in interest. Derek smiled a little. "Emily, look at what you're doing right now." Emily shook her head a little in confusion. "You're already worrying about your kids. You're already putting them first."

Emily broke eye contact with Derek. It was true - she'd never even met them, but she loved them fiercely. Indifference was the last emotion she felt for her children. Derek could see his words had sunk in. She was on the verge of tears. Derek leaned forward and lowered his voice.

"Prentiss… it's not a weakness. It's a strength. It's already made you a better parent."

6 months…

"Whoo," JJ said with a small laugh. She dropped the paper she was trying to read. "They're kicking a lot today."

"In the third trimester, there's an average of 30 fetal movements per hour. Babies kick to explore movement and strengthen muscles."

"Have you ever actually felt a baby kick?" Before he had time to answer, JJ took Reid's hand and placed it on her stomach. "You feel that?"

"Does that freak you out?"

"No, not at all. Why? Does it freak you out?"

"Very much so…" He pulled his hand back and refocused on the paper in front of him. JJ grinned and laughed.

7 months…

JJ was exhausted. All the time, it seemed. It was taking all she had to just to go through a typical day. Emily insisted she was exhausted because she refused to stop going out in the field, but her argument was futile. JJ knew that in a short few weeks she wouldn't be allowed to fly. She'd be on desk duty, then on maternity leave, and JJ wanted to continue working in the field as long as possible. Emily would just sigh and roll her eyes - but she never put up much of a fight. They both knew that she would be the same way if the roles were reversed.

JJ closed her eyes. Spencer had given up the couch so that JJ could lay down. Her head was on Emily's leg and Emily was mindlessly stroking a hand through her hair while reading emails on her phone. In the past, they'd strayed away from PDA at work - but quite frankly, JJ didn't care much at the moment. Everyone knew they were good at their jobs and that they never let their relationship get in the way of work. But it was mostly that, in JJ's exhausted state, her desire for Emily's unparalleled comfort was stronger than usual.

JJ closed her eyes, hoping to get a few hours of sleep. Their children had other plans though. JJ let out an exasperated sigh. Emily glanced down at her.

"What's wrong?"

"They won't stop moving…" Emily placed a hand on JJ's stomach. She was right. JJ wasn't going to be able to fall asleep if they didn't settle down. Emily shifted so she could stand up. She put a pillow under JJ's head. "What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna talk to them," Emily said simply. JJ raised her head and rested on her elbow.

"Em - not here," JJ said self-consciously, glancing nervously around the jet at their coworkers.

"You need to sleep," Emily insisted, taking a seat on the floor in front of her wife.

JJ hesitated. She was so tired - and she knew this would work. It had in the past. Something about Emily's voice always seemed to settle them down. JJ nodded quietly and laid her head back down on the pillow. She focused her attention on Emily. The brunette put a tender hand on JJ's stomach.

"You gotta let your mommy sleep…" Emily began in a whisper. "She's very tired." Emily shifted so that she was leaning against the side of the couch, her back to the rest of the team, her elbow resting on the couch cushion. "You don't know this yet, but your mom - kind of a badass."

"Em," JJ said in a warning voice. Emily met JJ's eyes with a playful smile. Don't curse in front of the children. Emily could practically hear JJ's scolding.

"How about I tell you two about the time Uncle Derek and Uncle Spencer got stuck in an elevator," Emily began.

Derek's eyes whipped up from his phone to look at Emily suspiciously. JJ tried to keep herself from laughing. She gazed at her wife with infatuation. She closed her eyes and relaxed. Emily ran her hand across her stomach in a soothing motion.

She fell asleep just as she fell in love. Slowly at first, then all at once.

8 months…

"Emily, Spence. You remember Agent Todd?"

"Oh, yeah. Hi. Welcome back." Emily said politely, shaking her hand.

"Thanks. I'll be shadowing JJ for the next couple weeks," Jordan said casually. Of course, Emily already knew that. Apparently JJ hadn't told her about their relationship yet.

"Big shoes to fill," Spencer said with a shy smile.

"Big ankles, at least," JJ said sarcastically. She brought a hand to her stomach.

"Come on, you look great." Todd said.

"Yeah, that's what I keep telling her," Emily added.

Todd turned to Emily, "You have kids too? Or -"

Emily raised her eyebrows at the question and glanced at her wife. JJ looked half amused and half embarrassed. Spencer stood quietly with a stilted smile on his lips. JJ should have told Jordan about Emily. But Jordan never directly asked. And JJ had gotten used to putting up defenses to protect her relationship.

"Uh - not yet." Emily responded.

No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not with Emily out in the field. Not in the middle of a case. JJ rubbed her stomach in a circular motion. There was no mistaking it anymore - these babies were coming. Three weeks early. JJ winced as her latest contraction hit her.

"What's with the wincing? Are you okay?"

"Fine…"

"Are you sure?" Todd added. She turned to Penelope, "I noticed this earlier."

Garcia's eyes went wide with alarm. "Earlier? How often?"

The jig was up. JJ sighed frustrated. "Um, in the last hour, I'd say… every ten minutes."

"JJ! Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Because, I am not due for another three weeks."

"Newsflash! You're in labor."

"No, no, no, because these women need us right now, and uh -"

"Uh-uh. You need you, right now. Come on. Get up."

The three of them walked down the hall and into the bullpen. It was starting to hit her - they didn't have three more weeks anymore. She and Emily were going to be parents in a matter of hours. It was surreal.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV, but I believe young JJ's going into labor."

All heads turned in her direction.

"I'll get the car," Hotch said immediately. JJ glanced around hyper aware of all the eyes on her.

"I need to call Emily," JJ said flustered.

"From the car, honey. Breathe and walk."

Emily lowered the phone from her ear. Spencer looked at her mildly alarmed. She had a stunned look on her face. Spencer abandoned the bloodstain he had been studying and walked over to her.

"Emily, what is it?"

"Um…" She finally met his eyes with an exhilarated smile. "It's JJ."" Spencer waited on edge. "She's in labor."

"Oh my God. Emily you have to go," Spencer said.

"I - I can't leave you alone," Emily responded.

"Morgan will come and take over! You need to go."

Emily's mind was racing. She knew Spencer was right. "Yeah - yeah, you're right."

She only started to calm down when she rounded the corner and locked eyes with JJ. She was already in a hospital gown, sitting in bed. Garcia was seated in a chair next to her. As soon as Penelope saw her, she jumped up.

"Oh, thank god! You made it."

"Yeah…" Emily answered, rushing over to her wife's side. "So, the doctor just told me you've been in labor since this morning? Didn't think it was worth mentioning?" Emily asked playfully.

She was seated on the side of the hospital bed, holding JJ's hand. Emily meant it as a joke - but there was an anxious look in JJ's eyes.

"Hey… Hey, what's wrong?"

"I thought we had three more weeks. Todd has only been shadowing me for a day -"

"Shh, shh," Emily interrupted gently. "We're ready, Jay." JJ told a shallow breath in. Her anxiety only diminished slightly. Emily smiled tenderly, "We're about to meet our sons."

There were moments in Emily's life - single points in time that, looking back upon them, she knew had changed who she was. The thing was - every other time it happened, she didn't understand the gravity of the moment until years after. Not this time. Turned out, there was such a thing as love at first sight.

There was nothing quite like watching a child take their first breath. She hadn't noticed that her hands were shaking until JJ let them go so that the doctor could place one of the babies in her arms. There was an undefinable look of wonder in JJ's eyes. She tore her eyes away to look up at Emily. The way her wife was staring at their son was humbling.

"Ma'am? Would you like to hold him?" Emily's head snapped up. A nurse was standing next to her. In his hands was another baby. He looked at her expectantly.

"Yeah…" Emily said in a whisper.

It was hours before Spencer and Derek finally made it to the hospital. Emily was sitting in a padded hospital chair next to JJ cradling her son. JJ was mesmerized by the sight. She had dreamed of this moment for years - and it certainly didn't disappoint.

"Wow…" Spencer murmured, announcing his arrival. His eyes went soft as he laid his eyes on the newborns in their mothers' arms. JJ looked up happily.

"You're looking at 15 hours of labor," JJ said, gesturing to herself in a self-deprecating way.

"Don't be ridiculous. You look beautiful."

Spencer spoke with such confidence and such conviction that JJ could only smile in response. At times, Dr. Reid could be very charming. JJ glanced over at Emily and recognition flashed across her face. She stood and set her sleeping son in his bassinet next to JJ's bed.

"Well, I could sure use some coffee. Anyone else? I'm buying." Hotch, Penelope, and Derek seemed to take the hint and all left the room with Emily. Spencer moved to the side of JJ's hospital bed to get a closer look at the baby boy in her arms.

"There's something I wanted to ask you… but it can wait," JJ started cautiously.

"What is it?"

"Emily and I were talking, and, um… we want you to be Henry and Michael's Godfather."

"I don't even know - I don't know -"

"Here, do you want to hold him?"

"Um -"

"It's okay. Here you go." Spencer gingerly took the baby into his arms. "This is Henry," She said dreamily. "Watch his head."

"Hi. Hello, Henry." JJ smiled at the softness of Spencer's voice. She'd never heard him talk to a baby before. He was a natural.

"If anything should happen to us, it's up to you and Garcia to make sure these boys get into Yale."

"Yale. Yale? Do you want to go to Yale, Henry? That was your Godfather's safety school. Don't worry, I can get you both into Cal-Tech with one phone call."