Brooks and Brynley had been home from the hospital for two weeks now; in Penelope Garcia's mind, it was six days too long without seeing her sweet godbabies. She saw them in the hospital, then at their welcome home party, but the mothers asked for some alone time to get settled in. With JJ on maternity leave, Garcia was losing her mind at the office and she couldn't take it anymore.
"Derek James Morgan!" Garcia exclaimed, walking into the bullpen.
"Oo you got middle named!" Reid said, laughing at Derek's expense.
"Spencer Ethan Reid you stay out of this!" Garcia said, pointing a waving finger at him.
"What's the issue baby girl?"
"What's the issue?" Garcia sat down on the corner of his desk and scowled. "I'll tell you the issue chocolate thunder god," she paused for dramatic effect. "My godbabies are at home snuggling with their beautiful mama's and I'm trapped in my lair all alone! I can only hack into Emily's super high tech security system so many times before she gets an alert on her phone. Can you believe she set that up? How could she? It's my job as the fairy god mother to know what's going on in my godbabies lives!"
Morgan burst out laughing while Reid sat there in shock then said, "You've hacked into Emily's security system?"
Garcia shot him a look, then glared at Morgan, "Did he really just—"
"Chill out mama, of course Emily would set something like that up—she takes her family's safety more seriously than anything else. You know how much they've been through baby girl. Plus, you really think she'd want you to catch her and JJ doin' it? They're worse than horny teenagers you know that! Although, I would totally be down to watch a little girl on girl they're hot," he winked over at Reid.
Reid furrowed his brows, "Girl on girl?"
"Forget it pretty boy. Anyways, we're gonna see them all tomorrow at Amelia's dance thing baby and—" Morgan tried to explain.
Garcia cut him off, "Oo that reminds me, I have matching shirts for everyone to support our princess."
Morgan and Reid both groaned, "I'm not wearing pink."
"Oh handsome, you'll wear anything I put you in," she winked back at Reid.
Reid was about to argue when Morgan interjected, "Don't fight her on it, she always gets her way you know that."
"Oliver baby, can you hand me those wipes please?"
"Okay momma," Oliver ran over to grab the wipes then brought them back to JJ. "Can I help feed him?"
"He just ate sweetie, but next time he's hungry you can help me okay?"
Oliver furrowed his brows, "But mommy said dinner is in 15 minutes."
JJ laughed at his innocence, "Babies eat a lot more than you do buddy."
Oliver seemed to accept that answer and ran back into the playroom with his sisters. JJ walked into the kitchen and found Emily cradling Brynley in her arms while stirring the pasta sauce. "I've never understood how you do that," JJ quipped.
"Do what?" Emily turned her attention to JJ.
"Cook with a baby in your arms, I can barely do anything while holding one of them. I remember the first morning we spent together and I was in awe of you making crepes with Lily just chillin' in your arms."
Emily shrugged, "I'll give you another week before you're doing everything holding a baby. I think it—" she was cut off by Amelia running into the kitchen.
"Mommy your phone is ringing," she handed Emily the phone and stood there talking to JJ.
"Hello?"
"God woman do either of your phones work?"
"What are you talking about Pen?"
"I've called JJ like five times now and called you at least three."
"We have six children, spending time on the phone isn't our top priority," Emily rolled her eyes then turned in the direction of JJ and Amelia and mouthed 'take her please'.
JJ walked over and took Brynley from her arms. "Can I hold her momma?"
"Are you hands clean baby?" Amelia nodded and JJ carefully placed Brynley into her arms.
"Your daughters first dance competition is tomorrow."
"I'm aware, Pen. Thanks for reminding me."
"Emster, lose the sass. I've called to ask you about something."
"I don't mean to rush you here but I'm plating up dinner for six so spit it out."
"Sweet cheeks, that's all the time I need! I wanted to let you know I've made shirts for everyone, they are so adorable—they are pink, have sparkles and rhinestones and are labeled with who we are to Amelia. They are—"
"Garcia!" Emily snapped, "You said you had something to ask me."
"Oh yeah, I wanted to see if you needed help with the kiddos."
"I think we're good Pen. We can barely fit in our family in the car, nevermind add you in there as well."
"Didn't both you and Jayje get new cars before the twins were born?"
Emily groaned, "I need to feed my kids Garcia, we'll see you tomorrow." She hung up the phone and smiled at Amelia, "Auntie Pen is so excited to see you tomorrow babe—the whole team is coming to see you."
"Really?" Amelia was wide eyed and her jaw dropped open.
Emily nodded, "They can't wait! Our little dancing girl is starting competition season and we're all very proud of you; of course your aunts and uncles want to see you. Hayley is coming with Jack and Harper as well."
"I'm really excited and only a little bit nervous because I don't wanna mess up my solo."
"Honey, Ms. Taylor wouldn't give you a solo if you weren't ready. It means our little super star is the best in the class," JJ winked. "You're going to be amazing. Remember, you're a Prentiss."
Amelia smiled at her then looked back at Emily who nodded in agreement, "Can you go get everyone for dinner please?"
"Okay mommy."
That night, JJ was sitting in the living room with Brynley and Brooks while Emily was putting Amelia to bed. They had somewhat mastered a schedule, but it didn't always work. The mothers had been home with the twins for two weeks now, quickly setting to work on making their house as normal as possible for the sake of their other children. The Prentiss family was big on schedules, even with the unpredictability of JJ's job, Emily kept the kids on the same schedule as if JJ were home.
"Two weeks old and you're going out into the world tomorrow," JJ said, looking at the twins who were laid out on the couch next to each other. "I'm so proud of your big sister, she's worked so hard on in dance class—it feels like just yesterday we put her in dance and now she's on the competition team."
"Are my grandparents coming to see me too?"
"They wouldn't miss it for the world, sweet girl. Uncle Julian may be coming too, I'll have to check with momma but I think he got the day off from work."
Amelia smiled, then softly said, "Thank you, mommy."
Emily tilted her head in confusion, "For what baby?"
"I came to live with you and momma when I was nine and now I'm eleven but I feel like I've been here forever because you always pay attention to me and show me love and support. I've never had that before and I just feel really lucky. I think my solo really shows what my life was before or what could have happened if I stayed stuck in that situation and my smile shows what my life is now. You made sure I got to dance which was what I always wanted to do and I don't just have you and momma coming to cheer me on but our whole family and it just makes me really happy."
Emily was trying to choke back her tears knowing exactly what song Amelia was dancing to and the meaning behind her dance. She pulled Amelia into her lap, "Oh baby, I'm so proud of you. Do you know that?" Amelia nodded, "You're the most amazing little girl, and your smile lights up the world. Momma and I will do everything in our power to provide you and your siblings with the best life and make sure you're always safe. I'm so sorry I can't take away the pain you've endured, but I'm always in your corner babe. Forever and always."
"Forever and always," Amelia repeated, hugging her mother. "I love you mommy."
"I love you too sweet girl."
Emily sang to Amelia and walked downstairs sniffling as tears streaked her cheeks. "What's wrong, babe? Why are you crying?"
"Amelia, she's just such an amazing little girl so grateful, so beautiful, so mature."
JJ pulled Emily close, "What's bringing this on, Em?"
"We were talking about tomorrow and she thanked me. She's so happy to be able to dance, to have a family who cares about her, who loves her, who pay attention to her in a positive way." JJ nodded knowing her wife would continue, "Then we talked about her solo and how it portrays what her life has been and what it is now. The piece is so beautiful, so mature, so full of emotion. I can't imagine our life without her but even Amelia said she could have been in that situation. Our little girl could have been a statistic."
JJ choked up, "I know, but she isn't babe. Amelia is a happy little girl who survived her trauma."
"She did, but it could have gone an entirely different way. We're so lucky."
"You're right, we are extremely lucky. Six beautiful babies and a gorgeous wife; sometimes I feel like I'm dreaming."
"Uncle Spence, Uncle Morgan!" Jack screamed while running towards them.
"Hi buddy! Are you excited to see your cousin perform?" Morgan asked.
"Yeah! Mommy bought her flowers but I helped pick them out, see?" Jack said, pointing towards the flowers in Hayley's arms.
"Amelia's going to love them," Reid smiled.
"Where's your dad and sister?" Morgan questioned.
"Daddy doesn't get Harper outta her car seat very fast like mommy does."
The rest of the team laughed as Hotch appeared with Harper, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," they said in unison. He shrugged and focused his attention back on his daughter.
"Come on buddy, let's go find your cousins—we need to help your aunts," Morgan put Jack on his shoulders and started to walk into the building to find Garcia and the grandparents who got there early to help JJ with the kids while Emily got Amelia ready.
"I need to go check on Em and Amelia, are they okay with you?" JJ asked, signaling the five adults.
"Go peaches, we've got the kiddos!"
"Momma!" Amelia saw JJ walk into the dressing room and ran up to her.
"Hi sweetie, you look amazing!" JJ looked around at the other girls in Amelia's group dance seeing all the matching smiles plastered to their faces. The last thing I thought I'd be as a mother is a 'dance mom'— a 'soccer mom' definitely, not a dance mom.
"Our costumes are so pretty, right?"
"They are, baby. I love them!" JJ pulled the phone out of her pocket and read the text message then focused back towards Amelia, "Everyone is here and so excited to see you perform, see?"
She showed Amelia her phone, Woohoo! Go Amelia, go! We're all so proud of you, princess! We'll be in the front row cheering you on! A picture came through showing everyone in matching pink shirts that said their 'titles'. Amelia's sister, brother, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, and cousin.
The little girl went wide eyed, "Auntie Pen made everyone wear those? She really is crazy."
"You've got that right," JJ winked.
Just then the dressing room doors opened, "In Motion small group on in 5," one of the crew members said.
"Alright girls, say goodbye to your mommies then gather around please," Ms. Taylor said to the girls.
"We love you so much and we're so proud of you. We'll be in the front row with the family okay?" JJ said and Amelia nodded.
"And I'll be back to get you ready for your solo after. I love you so much baby," Emily kissed Amelia then the two mothers left the room.
"I hope she does well," JJ said to Emily as they walked into the auditorium.
"She'll be amazing. Hey guys, thank you so much for coming!" Emily said as they approached their family.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world sweet cheeks," Garcia exclaimed.
Sandy and Elizabeth had the twins in their arms giving their daughters a little break. Gerald had Lily in his arms, Allen had Oakley and Oliver was sitting with Jack laughing about god knows what. Emily was blown away with the dedication and support from her family. Even the grandpas and uncles were excited to cheer on their daughter sporting their bright pink t-shirts.
The group dance was announced and the Prentiss family went wild! The dance was incredible, the girls timing was spot on, the costumes were gorgeous, their smiles were perfect, and Amelia danced her heart out. As the dance ended the crowd cheered louder than ever. Emily kissed JJ then ran backstage to go get Amelia ready for her solo while everyone else stayed in the audience.
"Oh she was amazing! Why didn't you tell me she had the lead role in the dance? My goddaughter is a star!" Garcia exclaimed, her hands flailing in the air.
"Would it have made a difference if she didn't?" JJ asked.
"Not at all! She's clearly the best dancer on the team, even if I am biased, it's true. She's a freakin' showstopper."
"Yes she is," JJ beamed.
Amelia ran down the hallway and leapt into Emily's arms getting spun around, "I'm so proud of you baby! You were amazing!"
Emily got Amelia ready for her solo and tried to choke back her tears as Ms. Taylor reminded her daughter the meaning behind the dance. "This is about a little girl who is being abused at home, she wants to disappear, she doesn't want anyone else to know what's going on and she's finished with everything. Nobody knows she exists and nobody cares that she does. This is a mature piece and I know this is a lot, but you're my top dancer and you can do it. I know you can handle it—your emotions regarding this are real and raw, but you have an amazing life now, right?" Amelia nodded. "You've got this peanut! Go hug your mommy then we'll walk to the stage together."
Amelia ran up to Emily, "Why are you sad mommy?"
"I'm not sad baby, I'm just so proud of you," she lied. Emily was sad, this was an extremely mature piece. Amelia could have been pushed to suicide if the trauma and abuse continued and she knew that all too well. It's one thing to teach a child to act, to pull from their emotions, but for the teacher to make them almost relive what they've actually gone through it may be too much.
Amelia hugged Emily even tighter, "Don't cry mommy, it's just a dance. I'm happy and I love you."
That made Emily feel even worse seeing her daughter trying to comfort her, "I'm okay baby girl. Momma and I love you so, so much and we're so proud of you. Go out and show the world how incredible we already know you are."
'Please welcome from In Motion Dance Company, this is Amelia performing: Disappear.'
After her name was announced and Amelia stepped out onto the stage the entire team gasped. She was wearing a white dress that was torn, dirty, intentionally too big, and her stage makeup showed a little girl with a black eye who was pale and malnourished. JJ looked at Emily and frowned after hearing the family's reaction, she knew what the dance was about, but they didn't. The music started and JJ focused back towards the stage.
I think I'm drowning but I don't know
where the air is or which direction to go.
Emily, JJ, Penelope and Hayley all had tears in their eyes watching Amelia dance; she was absolutely beautiful on stage.
Please get me out of here,
So I can disappear from the life I'm leading,
I don't think they'll be needing me anymore.
The lyrics were unfortunately, spot on for what she had been through until the Prentiss mothers saved her.
Don't care if they're crying, this water's just like air.
The crowd erupted in cheers, whistling, and audience members clapping like it was their job. The judges even had tears in their eyes meaning Amelia touched everyone. Emily and JJ ran backstage to find their daughter after wiping their tears.
Once again, Amelia ran down the hallway and leapt into Emily's arms and JJ rubbed circles on her back. "We're so proud of you, sweetie!" JJ said, wiping more tears.
Emily couldn't even speak, she just wrapped her arms tighter around her daughter. Finally she spoke, "You were perfect, baby! So, so perfect. I love you so much, we both do."
"I love you too."
After the awards where the group dance and Amelia's solo placed 1st overall, the mothers couldn't be more proud of their daughter. Emily was helping Amelia get packed up so she could head home and celebrate her first solo and big win, smiling at all the positive feedback she was receiving.
The dressing room was full of smiles and pride up until one of the mothers from another team walked in with one of the judges; she just happened to be the mother of the little girl Amelia beat and Emily's stomach dropped knowing this wasn't going to be good.
"I'm looking for Ms. Taylor," the judge said.
Taylor walked over to the judge and while she did, Emily text JJ: Jen come to the dressing room, asap. Take Amelia as far away as possible. Bad feeling, tell you why later.
"Amelia baby, momma is going to meet you in the hallway okay?"
She looked at her mother and didn't know what was going on, "Okay. But what about my stuff?"
"I'll get it and I'll be right out. Go on baby," Emily ushered Amelia out of the room and saw JJ running towards them. As JJ walked away with her, Emily went back into the dressing room.
"What can I help you with?" Taylor asked the judge.
"Do you have the girls birth certificates here with you?"
"Yes, can you tell me why you need them?"
"We need to verify the age of Amelia Prentiss."
Emily walked up to them, "I'm her mother Emily Prentiss, what's this about?"
"Your daughter shouldn't be competing against mine, she's far too young. First place should have gone to my daughter, not your fucking tiny ass daughter!" the mother shouted.
Emily took a deep breath before responding, "Listen, I don't know who you think you are coming into our dressing room screaming and calling my daughter names, but lower your voice, there are other children here." She signaled to the girls in the room then looking up at the mothers, "I'm truly sorry this women yelled in front of your children."
"I don't care about these kids, my only concern is your daughter!" the women screamed, venom lacing her tone.
Emily waited for the girls to leave the room then focused back on the woman, "You should care! Those girls shouldn't be subjected to the language you're using. Maybe that's how you talk in the presence of your team and at home, but not in front of our team! That's unacceptable behavior and I for one, won't tolerate it!"
"Are you fucking serious?" the mother screamed.
The judge interjected and agreed with Emily, "Mrs. Prentiss is right, you need to calm down."
Taylor walked back over to them, "Here's her birth certificate, as you can see Amelia was registered in the correct category for her age."
The judge was about to take the document but the mother ripped it from her hands, "This is obviously forged. There's no way your daughter is 11, I saw her out there as did everyone else! She clearly belongs in 8 and under!"
Emily laughed dryly, "I really don't care what you think. Even if she was eight, she beat your daughter! I don't need to explain our life to you, but Amelia has a thyroid condition that causes her to be smaller than the other girls her age. She's 11 years old, why the hell would I forge a birth certificate? It's a dance competition for god sakes."
"Oh don't act all high and mighty! You're a dance mom and nothing else. You want your daughter to win and you'll do everything in her power to make it happen just like the rest of us! Making her dance with a bunch of 12 to 14 year olds just so she can bring the age group down a level and win! You stupid bitch!" the mother went to smack Emily but she caught her arm.
"I'm an FBI agent, wrong fucking move! One phone call and seven other FBI agents will be in here within seconds."
"That's not how the FBI works you fucking idiot!"
"It is when Amelia's other mother, aunt and uncles all work for the FBI and are all in the auditorium right now," Emily signaled over security who was walking over as soon as the women took a swing at her.
"Escort her out please," the judge said, "She's not allowed on the premises again." Once the women was taken away she turned back to Emily, "I'm so sorry Mrs. Prentiss, there's no excuse for her behavior. Also, thank you for keeping our country safe."
Taylor turned to Emily when the judge walked away, "I'm so sorry that happened."
"Don't worry about it Taylor, I'm not afraid of a dance mom," Emily laughed. "But I refuse to take away the happiness from this day for my daughter."
"You're an amazing mother, both you and Jennifer are. I do want to let you know this most likely won't be the only time this happens because of Amelia's size and how well she dances."
"I'm not worried about it," Emily winked, walked back into the dressing room to grab Amelia's stuff then went to find her family.
"What happened mommy?"
"Nothing baby, I just wanted you to see everyone," she lied. JJ mouthed, 'everything okay' to which she nodded while frowning slightly.
"Pen, Derek, can you walk out with the kids while Em and I get the twins strapped in please?"
"Come on kiddos, let's go!" Garcia and Morgan took the kids out of the auditorium with the team while the grandparents stayed behind with Emily and JJ.
"What happened, pumpkin?" Gerald asked Emily, seeing his daughter holding back tears.
"This bitch of a mother accused me of forging Amelia's birth certificate because she beat her daughter."
"She what?" JJ exclaimed.
"Oh yeah and then she tried to hit me after I called her out. Don't worry, I stopped her and she got escorted out, but Taylor mentioned to me how it would most likely happen again. It's like she can't catch a break. This moment is way too important to take away from her, the nerve of some parents. We all want the best for our children but Amelia at the age of 11 said to me last night that she didn't care if she didn't place because she knew do her best was most important."
"That woman is lucky I wasn't back there, I would have lost my shit!" JJ said.
"She's lucky I wasn't there," Allen piped up, "Nobody messes with my family!"
"What can we do legally?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mother this isn't a legal matter, her birth certificate will be present at every competition that's proof enough."
"You said her dance instructor assumes it will be a problem again, isn't there a document we can have written for the judges?"
Emily covered her face with her hands and groaned, "No. It's a dance competition. Come on, I don't want to focus on this. I want to go celebrate our daughter's success."
Outside Amelia was getting nervous, "Uncle Morgan, why did mommy make me leave? Why was she upset, is she angry with me?"
"No princess! She's super proud of you, I promise. You know how sometimes momma and mommy get so happy they cry?" Amelia nodded, "That's why you thought she was upset, they were happy tears princess."
"Oh. But, are you sure? The judge lady came into the dressing room with some other lady I didn't know then mommy made me leave."
Morgan didn't know what had gone on or why Emily made Amelia find JJ instead of pack up her bags, but he was doing the best he could with the information he didn't have. "Mommy knew that we all wanted to see you so much and we weren't all allowed back there so she had you come out and—"
Amelia cut him off, "You don't really know the answer do you?"
Morgan tickled her sides, "You're too smart for your own good, princess! I'm sure everything is okay though. Look, there they are now!" he pointed towards the doors and was very thankful to see them walking out of the auditorium,
"You good?" Morgan asked Emily while Amelia was getting into the car.
"Perfect," she lied.
"You know I can tell when you're lying right?"
Emily smacked his arm, "You're a good friend, but I'm fine." He raised an eyebrow, "I will be fine. I don't want to take away from Amelia's big win. Come on, let's go party."
The Prentiss family was having everyone over to their house after the competition to celebrate Amelia. JJ could tell Emily was still upset at everything that happened with the other mother but was trying not to let it show. "It's going to be okay, babe."
"I know, Jen. I just, I feel like I can't protect our family from the world no matter how hard I try to."
"Em, you can't protect them from everything, we both know this. I also know our children are the luckiest kids in the whole world having you as their mother."
"They're lucky to have you too, babe. I'm not raising them on my own." Emily pulled JJ close to kiss her.
"That dance is still getting to you isn't it?" Emily nodded, "She's okay, she isn't a statistic. Look at her, she's happy," JJ pointed towards Amelia who was in a fit of laughter with Ayla and Parker who came to the party.
"I know, I just worry."
Two months passed by and everything was going really well in the Prentiss household. Up until it wasn't.
Emily could tell something was off with Oliver. "Mommy," he walked up to his mother making grabby hands at her. It's not often he wants to be picked up, she thought to herself.
"What's wrong buddy?" Emily asked as she picked him up.
"I don't feel good," he said, wrapping himself tighter around Emily.
"What doesn't feel good?"
"I'm stuffy, my throat hurts, I'm really cold and hot at the same time and really tired."
Oh great, the flu cannot go around this house— she thought to herself. Emily put the inside of her wrist to Oliver's forehead. "Oh baby, you have a fever. Come on, let's go get you some medicine to help you feel better then cuddle on the couch."
As Emily carried Oliver into the kitchen JJ walked down the stairs, "What's wrong?"
"I'm pretty sure Oliver has the flu."
JJ grimaced thinking about the rest of her children and how he had been playing with them all morning. "Do we have any pedialyte? He needs to stay hydrated." Emily shook her head, "I'll call my parents and see if they can bring some over."
JJ went to grab her phone when Oakley walked up to her crying, "Momma?"
"What's wrong honey?"
"I don't feel good." And just like that, JJ's worst fears were coming true. Had her children been sick before? Yes. But at the same time? No.
"What hurts?" JJ asked, picking her up.
"I don't know," she cried.
"Does your throat hurt?" Oakley nodded. "Your head?" another nod. "Are you stuffed up?" she nodded again. "Okay, let's go see mommy, she's getting your brother some medicine too."
Emily watched as JJ carried Oakley into the kitchen, "Her too?" JJ nodded and Emily pinched the bridge of her nose. "We're going to need to keep them separated from everyone else, especially the twins."
Within the hour Oliver and Oakley were settled on the couch with Allen drinking their pedialyte as they watched a movie. He decided for the mothers that he'd risk getting sick so they could take care of their other four.
JJ needed to be with the twins, Emily needed to be able to care for the other two without worrying they'd get sick as well and be able to help JJ through the night with feedings. Of course Emily would still help with Oliver and Oakley because that's who she was, but it definitely helped having two extra sets of hands.
Sandy and Allen agreed to stay until the kids were better, helping anyway they could. Both children fell sound asleep cradled on either side of Allen and he loved every minute of it. Of course he'd prefer they weren't sick, but there was no better feeling in the world than having your children or grandchildren in your arms.
Sandy was in the playroom with Amelia and Lily working on their new Kiwi Co boxes that had been delivered at the best possible time while Emily and JJ went upstairs. "What do you think?"
"About what babe?"
"Your maternity leave is almost up, how are you feeling about that? Do you want to take off more time before weening yourself back in?"
JJ hated talking about it, but knew she had to. She felt sad about the fact her leave was almost up, guilty about the fact she loved her job, even missed it and guilty about the face she missed so much being away from her children. However, she wasn't ready to give it up yet.
JJ worked so hard to get into the FBI, it's all she ever wanted until Emily walked through the BAU doors and turned her world upside-down. Hotch suggested JJ come back part time, not traveling with the team and getting home early to be with her family; but neither JJ or Emily were those types of women, which was one of the reasons Emily decided to resign from the FBI. They either dove in headfirst or didn't show up. JJ had no idea what to do, she now knew exactly how Emily felt with Lily.
"Does it make me an awful mother to want to leave our children and go back to work?"
Emily knew how much JJ was struggling with this decision, —she went through the same thing after having Lily, it was an internal battle you never truly win. Miss out on major moments of your children's lives or miss out on the normalcy of your own life.
"No," Emily exclaimed. "I know how much your job means to you, I really do. I will support whatever decision you make because I know how hard it is. I know you want to save the world and that makes me so proud. I also know you want to spend every minute with our children. If you want to go back to work, we'll be here when you get home. If you want to retire, we'll be here. Although I'll probably make you work for me," Emily winked causing JJ to laugh. "No matter what, you'll always have the seven of us who love you more than anything."
"I love you so much," JJ threw her arms around Emily and captured her lips. She got lost in the kiss and her hands starting to roam, once they reached under her wife's shirt Emily stopped her.
"I want this as much as you do, but we have two children with the flu, two who are about to wake up screaming for bottles and two who," she paused, "actually I have nothing to say about those two they'd be fine."
JJ laughed and kissed Emily again before they heard crying through the baby monitor, "Duty calls."
Emily knew JJ was attempting to use sex to avoid giving her an answer, but it was fine. Not because of the sex, although that was an added benefit, but because she opened up more than she had the previous times they'd spoken about work.
Baby steps, small itty bitty baby steps. They'd get there. Technically they had to get there soon. But they'd get there.