A/N: Sorry for the late upload...site's been having issues.

On the last day of March, Spencer tentatively poked his head into Jessica's room. "By any chance do you have plans with Eve today?"

"Not at the moment, why?" Jessica asked curiously.

"Today is International Trans Day of Visibility, and I thought she might appreciate this." Spencer pulled out a book on the history of the trans community.

For a long moment, Jessica could only stare. Then, she slumped back and sighed. "When did you figure it out?"

"After our case in Austin last month. When I brought up the hypothetical possibility of you going on a date with a woman, you reacted as if that possibility were more than hypothetical. I only know of one date you've ever been on, and once I connected that knowledge to everything else I know about Eve…I was pretty confident in my educated guess."

"She'll probably appreciate the book, and hopefully she'll stop avoiding you now, but please don't tell anyone else. She hadn't even wanted to come out to me; I kind of forced her hand when I recognized her at orientation."

Spencer smiled. "Her secret is safe with me."

The following day, Jessica met up with Eve. "So, Spencer got you a gift," she announced, and took the book out of her bag.

Eve stared at the book, then looked back up at Jessica. "Please tell me this is an April Fools joke."

Jessica shook her head and handed the book to Eve. "Apparently, yesterday is International Trans Day of Visibility, and he wanted to get you something. I didn't tell him, I swear; sometimes it's just really hard to keep secrets from a profiler."

Eve swallowed nervously before stowing the book in her own bag. "And…he's okay with it?"

"Completely okay with it," Jessica assured. "Honestly, if anything, I think he's upset that you've been avoiding him over it. And I think the avoidance was a major clue to him."

Eve sighed. "Now I see why you complain about living with a profiler. That must be irritating."

Jessica shrugged. "I've gotten used to it. It's almost impossible to hide anything from Spencer, but he's so damn nice that there's hardly ever a reason to. About the only thing he ever judges people for is abandoning their kids."

Eve shuddered. "My parents may be clinging to the delusion that this is 'just a phase', but at least they haven't gone that far."

"And if they ever get stupider about it, I'm sure you'll be welcome on our couch." Jessica adjusted her bag. "Come on, we've got like three minutes until class starts."

A few days later, Maeve looked for news about the BAU's current case while Jessica used the laser pointer to send Bianca on a merry chase around the living room. She even got Bianca to run right up to Maeve…for about two seconds, and then the cat suddenly decided that the laser wasn't so interesting after all.

Giving up, Jessica looked over Maeve's shoulder at her laptop. She had found and tuned in to a Chicago news station. When she noticed Jessica, she quickly hit the button for closed captioning.

Journalists were asking if sexual abuse turned people into killers. Morgan approached the microphones to dispel that notion…by revealing that he had been abused by the same man. Jessica and Maeve watched his continued speech with a mixture of horror, fascination and sympathy.

At last, the press conference ended, and Maeve turned to Jessica. "Did you know?"

Jessica shook her head. "I had no idea. I can't decide whether I want to smother him in baked goods, or whether it would be better to pretend we never saw that…"

Maeve swallowed. "He knew he was on camera. He clearly wasn't trying to hide it. In fact, I think the general point of that speech was to say that he's not ashamed of what happened to him…"

"True," Jessica conceded. "Okay, if the subject comes up, I won't pretend I don't know…but I don't think he's looking for congratulations, either. Let's just not make a big deal of it unless he does."

"Good plan," Maeve agreed.

One Friday afternoon, Jessica was walking across campus with Jeffrey and his girlfriend Lydia when Lydia suddenly stopped short. "Uh…don't freak out, but I'm pretty sure there's a middle-aged guy following us?" she said and signed as best she could.

"What?! Where?!" Jessica responded, freaking out.

"He ducked into the arts building when he saw me looking," Lydia replied.

"Great. And of course this happens when Spencer and his team are in Colorado…" Jessica swallowed. "Probably deliberate."

"Hey, we're in a public place, he can't do anything here," Jeffrey signed reassuringly. "How about I take you home to my place and we see if we can lose him?"

"Okay," Jessica agreed shakily. "Where did you park?"

"The south lot." They all began rapidly walking in that direction.

Halfway to the parking lot, it occurred to Jessica that while the team was out of town, there was someone else who might be able to help. She pulled out her phone to text Gideon, keeping half an eye on the path as she continued walking. "Hey, my friend just spotted some guy following me on campus. Any advice?"

Less than a minute later, Gideon sent a reply. "I think she may have been talking about me. Spencer asked me if I could help keep an eye on you and Maeve when he's out of town. Sorry to have scared you."

Jessica stopped short in disbelief. "False alarm, apparently," she told her friends. "Spencer assigned me a bodyguard without telling me."

"You sure?" Jeffrey asked worriedly.

Gideon rounded a corner and caught up to them. "Hello." He looked at Jeffrey and Lydia. "Am I the man you saw?"

"Yeah," Lydia replied sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't know."

"That's all right, you had no reason to know. It's good that you were alert."

Jessica glared at Gideon. "If you're going to act as an unofficial protection detail, you could at least do it to our faces. Then this whole freak-out wouldn't have happened."

"Yes, sorry about that," Gideon replied, even more sheepishly than Lydia. "I was trying not to alarm you any more than you already have been, but I see in hindsight that it was a poor decision."

Jessica sighed. "Apology accepted. Jeffrey, Lydia, this is G-I-D-E-O-N. Gideon, these are my friends J-E-F-F-R-E-Y and L-Y-D-I-A."

"I believe I've met Jeffrey?" Gideon responded. "You were at Jessica's graduation, right?"

"Yes," Jeffrey confirmed. "It's nice to meet you again, sir."

"Nice to meet you for the first time," Lydia added. "Sorry again for thinking you were a serial killer."

"Nothing to be sorry for," Gideon insisted. "Jessica's clearly in good hands, so I'll leave you kids to whatever it is you were doing." He smiled, then turned around and left the way he came.

Jessica sighed; she really hoped this whole Replicator business ended soon.

The following Tuesday, Mateo met Jessica in the parking lot. "Did you see what happened in Boston yesterday?" he asked.

Jessica grimaced. "Yes."

"Was there anyone you knew at the Marathon?"

Jessica gave a half-hearted shrug. "I don't know. I've pretty much fallen out of contact with all my old friends from Boston. I don't think any of them would have gone to the Marathon, but…I really don't know."

"Do you have any other family there?"

Jessica scowled. "Depends how you define 'family'. There's a reason I live with Spencer and not anyone in Boston."

Mateo winced. "Sorry. Didn't mean to bring up a touchy subject."

Jessica sighed. "It's okay, you didn't know. My Uncle John wanted nothing to do with me after I lost my hearing. He supposedly helped CPS find my mom's side of the family, but…I've had no direct contact with him since I was a toddler. For all I know, he could have moved out of Boston years ago. I don't know, and I really don't care."

"Sorry," Mateo signed again. "Good thing you have Spencer, then."

"Funnily enough, he was actually investigating a bombing in Boston when we met," Jessica mused. "I asked him if his team was going to investigate this one, but apparently the terrorist division is working on it instead. I'm not complaining; bad things seem to happen to his team in Boston."

"Let's hope that means his team has more time to find the creepy stalker guy," Mateo suggested.

"That would be awesome," Jessica agreed.

"Okay, this has got to stop," Maeve complained, holding up an envelope. "Your newspapers are taking up so much space that actual mail is getting lost in the mix! My tax refund was in the recycling!"

"Sorry," Spencer replied. "Normally, I find any missing envelopes when I read the papers."

"And how would you know if you'd missed mail you never knew to expect?" Maeve retorted. "This is the digital era, Spencer! Can't you get your news online like everyone else?"

"Computers slow me down, you know that!"

"Well, of course they'll slow you down if you refuse to learn how to adapt!" Maeve snapped. "I can't believe our resident environmentalist hasn't been nagging you about all this paper. Recycling only goes so far."

"She actually has brought it up," Spencer admitted. "But she knows how I feel about computers."

Maeve shook her head. "I never thought I'd meet someone with a PhD in engineering who was so averse to technological advances. This isn't just about you, Spencer; Jessica and I use that mailbox too. Come on, do you really need to stay on top of the current news from places like…" she grabbed a paper at random, "…Rapid City?"

"I like to—" Spencer suddenly broke off, frowning. He snatched the paper out of her hand for a better look. "Hold on. There was a murder with that exact same MO reported in The Lakota Eagle six weeks ago."

Maeve rolled her eyes. "Don't you see enough murder at work?"

"This looks like a serial," Spencer continued, ignoring her. "And because these are different jurisdictions, local law enforcement probably hasn't connected them. I better show this to the team."

Maeve sighed. "And I suppose this is your argument to keep getting the newspapers. Fine…but can you at least get them sent to a PO box so they don't keep clogging up the rest of our mail?"

"Fine," Spencer agreed distractedly, packing up his things and stuffing the relevant newspapers into his messenger bag.

Maeve shook her head in exasperation. Some of Spencer's habits could be endearing from a distance, but aggravating in a shared living space. She had a newfound respect for Jessica for putting up with Spencer for all these years.

Early in May, Jessica cautiously looked through the peephole and saw JJ standing outside the apartment with a plate full of cookies. Jessica opened the door and let her in. "Is there some special occasion I'm not aware of?"

JJ set the plate down on the kitchen island. "No. You often make baked goods for us, and I figured we were long overdue to return the favor."

"I do it for fun, you don't owe me anything."

"Well, I still wanted to do something nice for you," JJ insisted.

"Thanks," Jessica replied, not sure what else to say. "…how are Henry and Will?"

JJ let out a short laugh. "And there you go, proving my point. You're not just Henry's babysitter, you're family."

"What point?" Jessica responded, confused.

"Nothing. Just a case that made me really appreciate everything you do for us."

"You're welcome?"

JJ pulled Jessica in for a hug. Jessica returned it, still confused…but not complaining.

While driving to meet with a missing man's mother, Blake's phone went off with a text. Reid noticed that the text seemed to bother her…and being Reid, couldn't resist asking to make sure she was okay. Blake explained that her husband wanted her to join him in teaching at Harvard, and she was still considering the offer.

"When we got married, part of the attraction was that we were both obsessed with our work, and for a while, that was okay," Blake stated.

"Yeah, last time we talked about it, you seemed to prefer it," Reid observed.

Blake shook her head. "Well not any more. I don't like going home to an empty house."

Reid hesitated. "May I offer some advice?"

"Sure."

Reid swallowed. "Six years ago, there was a time when I was worried I might lose this job, and…I panicked. I didn't think I knew who I was without it. But then, after I met Maeve, there was another incident that I thought might cost me my job, and…surprisingly, I was okay with it. I didn't even request reinstatement. Meeting Maeve, seeing how she applies her PhD, it really helped me see that there's more than one way to be fulfilled by your job. Now obviously, I ended up staying with the BAU, but…if it ever came down to a choice between Maeve and the job…there is no choice. Finding someone you love is more important than any work could ever be."

Blake was silent, considering this.

"Also, we need to turn around, you just passed the house."

"Oh." Blake slowed to a halt and did a three-point turn. "Thanks, Reid. For the advice, I mean."

"You're welcome."

In the end, Blake compromised with her husband, staying with the BAU while he took the job at Harvard. It still kept him much closer than his work at Doctors Without Borders.

"Did you know Hotch had a brother?" Maeve asked curiously.

Jessica shook her head. "No. I'd be curious to know what Hotch was like as a kid. It's hard to picture."

Maeve laughed. "Now I'm picturing him sternly telling the other kids in the sandbox how to make sand castles."

"Or telling everyone to form a neat and orderly line at the slide," Jessica suggested.

"Or profiling his crush to figure out if she'd be willing to go with him to the prom," Maeve continued.

"You know, I think he and Haley were high school sweethearts," Jessica signed thoughtfully. "Shame we can't ask Haley."

"That's Jack's mother?" Maeve checked.

"Yes," Jessica confirmed. "She died when I was a junior in high school, but I hadn't seen her for a few years before that…hang on. I just remembered, Penelope once came home completely swooning over Hotch's brother. Wow, that was a really long time ago."

"Penelope used to go out with Hotch's brother?"

"No, she just thought he was very attractive. Then she showed me a photo and I was totally confused, because I hadn't yet realized I was ace and didn't see the big deal."

Maeve laughed again. "Now I kind of want to see a photo of this guy."

"Down, girl," Jessica signed, smirking. "Married to my cousin, remember?"

"I'm married, not a cold fish. I can still appreciate a handsome face; Spencer is far more than that to me." Maeve smiled, her gaze drifting into space. "Although he certainly does have a handsome face…"

"And I believe that's my cue to go to my room before you say anything I can't unsee." Jessica quickly walked away, leaving Maeve very amused.

The Replicator soon reared his ugly head in New York, and all the BAU families were placed back under a protection detail. The following night, the protection details departed, having received the news of the Replicator's death.

Two hours later, Spencer finally came home. Jessica got up to hug him, but stopped short at the look on his face. "What's wrong? I thought the case was finally over."

"He killed Strauss last night," Spencer revealed wearily.

Maeve gasped. "I'm so sorry!" She pulled Spencer into a tight hug.

Jessica briefly joined in, lightly patting Spencer, but she quickly stepped back and frowned. "Okay, obviously an agent's death is never a good thing, but…I didn't think you all liked Strauss very much."

Spencer sighed. "Not at first, no. But she was a lot better this year. I think she and Rossi were even seeing each other."

Now it was Maeve who frowned. "Didn't his wife also die a couple years ago?"

"Ex-wife, but yes," Spencer confirmed.

"Well don't you leave me a widow." Maeve pulled Spencer in for a long kiss. Jessica looked away and petted Bianca until they broke apart.

"I don't think it was Rossi who brought out the change, though," Spencer continued. "She finally quit drinking. She'd just gotten her one-year sobriety chip. And then the Replicator poisoned her by forcing her to drink again."

Jessica and Maeve both winced, instantly understanding why the scenario bothered Spencer so much. "He won't get the chance to do it to you," Jessica assured.

"You're going to get so many chips, they'll have to design new ones just for you," Maeve agreed.

Spencer swallowed, not sharing their confidence but appreciating the sentiment nonetheless. "Thanks."

A few weeks later, Gideon decided that what Rossi really needed was a camping trip—and since the spring term had just ended, it was only natural to invite Jessica along. The three of them drove out to Blackwater Falls in West Virginia, and set up a pair of tents. Once their camp had been established, they set out on a trail to the waterfall. Jessica took the lead, eager to explore.

"Erin would have loved this," Rossi stated mournfully. "There were so many things she wanted to do, but she never had the time."

"Maybe you can do them for her," Gideon suggested.

"When? During all my spare time?" Rossi retorted. "I tried the whole 'retirement' thing, Jason. I'm not suited for it. I get too restless."

"Maybe you just needed a new purpose in life."

"I thought I had one. All my books. But writing it isn't the same as living it."

"You're not writing now. You're in a beautiful state park, living the experience."

Rossi shook his head. "And I'm living it without her. I can't just do it for her, Jason. Delegation was something she did on the job, not in her personal life. She should have been living this herself."

Gideon held up his hands in surrender. "All right. She should have been here to see this too. But we can't dwell on the 'should have's. That won't do her any good either. Don't you think she'd want you to enjoy this?"

"She'd want to be here to enjoy it too."

At that moment, they rounded a corner and caught up to Jessica, who had stopped to admire the view. She glanced back at the two men. "You know, there are trees that live for thousands of years…but I bet that waterfall is older than any of them. Amazing, isn't it? How much water can go over that thing and it's still going?"

Rossi shot her a look of mild annoyance. "Is that supposed to be some sort of inspirational analogy?"

"Analogy?" Jessica repeated, confused. "For what? I like waterfalls."

Gideon chuckled. "Whatever analogy you're thinking of, Dave, it came entirely from your own mind. Which means the thought was in there all along."

Rossi sighed. "All right. Erin may be gone, but my life goes on without her. I know that."

"…Glad I could help?" Jessica signed, still confused. She gave Rossi a hug. "Come on, let's get closer to the waterfall." She turned and continued along the trail, once again followed by the two men.

That evening, they cooked dinner on a campfire. And since all three of them were cooks, they agreed to take turns cooking, with ladies—AKA Jessica—going first. She opened the cooler and took out some ingredients that her companions had not expected—loaves of French bread, shredded mozzarella cheese, alfredo sauce, and diced chicken. "My friend told me how her summer camp used to do 'alfredo pizzas'," Jessica explained. "I wanted to try it."

"Sounds interesting," Gideon agreed.

"As our resident Italian, I'll reserve judgment," Rossi signed skeptically.

Half an hour later, the pizzas had been polished off—including Rossi's. "Good pizza…for an American," he signed mock-grudgingly.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "You were born in New York. You're American too."

"But my ancestors came from Italy!" Rossi signed with an air of superiority.

Jessica remained unimpressed. "I'm pretty sure all our ancestors immigrated to this continent in the past few hundred years."

"He's still more Italian than either of us," Gideon chimed in. "And out of everyone at this campfire, he's certainly the expert on Italian food."

"Fine," Jessica conceded. "Since I just cooked Italian food, how about you cook some American food?" She tossed a bag of marshmallows at Rossi.

"Are s'mores American?" Gideon wondered.

"According to Spencer, yes," Jessica replied. She stood up. "And while you get started on marshmallows, I'm going to head to the bathroom."

"Do you need someone to escort you?" Rossi asked worriedly.

Jessica shook her head. "No, thanks. In case of emergency, your flashlight can double as a bludgeon!" She grabbed a flashlight and used it to give them a cheerful wave, then headed in the direction of the restrooms.

Rossi frowned. "Most kids her age wouldn't think about how basic camping tools can be used as weapons."

"Most kids her age wouldn't be able to rescue a toddler from a professional assassin," Gideon pointed out.

"Most kids her age wouldn't need to confront professional assassins," Rossi argued.

"And how many victims have we seen in the morgue who never thought they would need to defend themselves either?" Gideon challenged. "She's not thinking about how to attack people, she's thinking about how to defend herself. That's a good thing."

Rossi sighed and tore open the bag of marshmallows. "It would be a much better world if no one ever needed to defend themselves at all."

"Yes, it would," Gideon agreed.

A few minutes later, Jessica returned unscathed. "Alas, my grand adventure to the restroom was entirely uneventful," she announced.

"Glad to see it," Rossi replied. He put another marshmallow on a stick for her.

"It's a shame, I was hoping to meet a bear," Jessica continued with an exaggerated pout. "Guess I'll have to settle for you two." She accepted the stick and began roasting her marshmallow.

Gideon laughed. "Good to know where we rank with you."