A/N: How's everyone coping mentally with isolation? I thought it would be a breeze because I'm a homebody anyway, but I think deep down, my brain is like that scene from The Office where they see smoke in the building. But we'll get there!

Hope you enjoy this!

Love.

One little four letter word. That was all it was, and yet it had changed so much. He loved her, and she loved him. It brought an incredible warmth to JJ's heart every time she spoke to him, every time she saw his handsome smile. How lucky she was to be the one that he loved, and to be the one that got to love him in return.

Even though they had only been dating officially for a little over a month, it felt so natural to love him that she knew she must have felt this way for longer than she realised. Maybe months... maybe even years. But with the Olympics always looming in her mind, she had never realised it.

But even though she was at her happiest right now with Will, there was an emptiness in her life that she couldn't shake. The more she tried to ignore it and push forward with everything, the more it seemed to gnaw at her soul.

Laying on her bed with a book in hand, she was trying her hardest to ignore the pervasive feelings that seemed to come at her every day. Outside, the sky was a dark, wintry grey, with snow coming down hard to bury the neighbourhood in a glittering white blanket. They were due to leave for Florida in just over two weeks, and JJ was eager for a break from the cold.

A soft knock at the door broke her from her thoughts. She turned to look over her shoulder, seeing her mom standing at the threshold.

"Hey," Sandy said with a smile. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," JJ replied, pushing herself up off her stomach. She marked her page, setting the book down on the nightstand and shuffling up against the headboard as her mom came to sit on the edge of the bed.

"I wanted to have a quick chat with you," Sandy said softly, pulling one of her legs up onto the bed so she was facing JJ.

"About what?"

"Well, I was thinking it might be a good idea for you to go on birth control, especially now that you're with Will"

JJ's eyes widened slightly, her cheeks flushing pink. "Mom… we're not having sex"

"I know," Sandy chuckled. "I know, but maybe that day is coming, and it might come sooner than you think. I just think it's a good idea so that you're prepared if and when that happens"

"So… you're talking about the pill, right?"

Sandy nodded. "That's usually the best place to start. It's pretty effective, but of course if you find you're missing it or having side effects, then there's other options. Like an IUD, or the implant"

"I think the pill will be fine," JJ said softly, her voice growing quieter with each word.

Sandy fell silent, studying her daughter for a moment.

"You know, taking the pill doesn't mean you have to have sex," she said gently. "It doesn't change anything. It's just there, just in case"

"I know"

"I mean, if you want to, then great. You're doubly protected. But if you don't want to, that's ok as well. At the end of the day, it's your body and it's up to you what you do with it. It's just a good idea to have some backup in case something happens and there isn't a condom handy… which there always should be, just quietly"

JJ grinned. "I know, safe sex, two forms of protection, consent, we've been through it Mom"

Sandy raised an eyebrow. "Don't get cheeky with me or we'll be going through it again, and I'll make you create a presentation on what you learned to give your dad"

JJ's cheeks burned as her mom laughed.

"We don't have to sort this out right away. We can make an appointment with the gynecologist when we get back from Florida," Sandy said a few moments later. She sat back, leaning on her hand as she studied JJ, who had now pulled her knees up to her chest. "You ok?"

JJ looked up, staring at her mother for a second as she processed the question. "Yeah… yeah, I'm ok. Why?"

Sandy shrugged. "I don't know, you just seem a bit… off lately. Like something's bothering you"

JJ sighed, running a hand through her hair as she wondered how to voice her feelings. It was hard… she knew what she was feeling. But she just didn't have the words to explain it properly.

"I… I feel kind of… lost? No, that's not the word," she said softly, before letting out a heavy breath. "My whole life was about the Olympics. For as long as I can remember, that was one of the only goals I had, other than graduate high school and go to college, which I still have to do at some point. And now… I'm just here. And I don't really know where I'm going anymore"

Sandy looked thoughtfully at her, before leaning forward slightly. "It's ok to feel a little lost. Not many people go through their childhood with dreams as big as yours. You'll find new ones… I think first you just have to adjust to the life that comes after the Games"

JJ gave her mom a small smile, leaning back against the pillows behind her. "I guess so"

"You've already ticked off having a relationship," Sandy said with a little laugh. "That's a great way to adjust to normal life"

JJ grinned. "Dad would rather I didn't"

"Your dad just likes to think he's big and tough and he's always going to protect you, but I don't think he has to worry. You can most definitely look after yourself, and Will is a complete sweetheart anyway. Albeit, a sweetheart who eats me out of house and home like he lives here," Sandy laughed. "It's like having Jason around again"

"You like having Will around though," JJ said with a chuckle.

"I do," Sandy nodded, smiling. "He's a nice guy. When he's here… it makes this big old house feel a little less big"

Patting the bed once with her hand, she pulled herself to her feet, walking towards the door. At the last minute, she turned back to face her daughter. "Hey… you know you can always come and talk to me if there's something bothering you"

JJ nodded. "I know. Thanks Mom"

As Sandy left the room, JJ sat back for a moment, contemplating it all. She felt a little bit lighter than she had before. Of course, the feeling of drifting wouldn't go away overnight. Somehow, she was going to have to find a way to reposition herself. Otherwise, it would threaten to swallow her whole.