FF: What the Rain Washes Away 13/13 (Criminal Minds) JJ/Emily NC-17
Epilogue
These are the days of the endless summer
These are the days, the time is now
There is no past, there's only future
There's only here, there's only now
These are the days we must savor
We must enjoy while we can
These are the days that will last forever
You've got to hold them in your heart
Sleep fled in an instant, an inner warning drawing her up and out of quiet slumber into full alertness. Emily opened her eyes, straining in the darkness to listen for the slightest sound.
The baby monitor next to her crackled; Henry's cry came through loud and clear.
Next to her JJ stirred, but Emily put a hand on her shoulder. "I've got him."
The blonde mumbled something back, her eyes never opening. Prentiss just smiled fondly and climbed out of bed. She grabbed a bottle from the kitchen and warmed it up by rote. She'd been doing this for months now and literally could manage it in her sleep. Henry fussed and cried as she walked in, stopping just long enough to register her presence before letting out a full on wail.
"Nice lungs little man, but you think we could tone it down a little? Mom's trying to get some sleep." Henry looked at her then at the bottle in her hand, quieting down to a sniffle. "Oh yeah, we're in so much trouble," she muttered with a mix of pride and ruefulness as she picked him up. Eyes closed with a happy sigh, he snuggled in against her chest as he took the bottle.
"Should I start laying down the ground rules now," she asked, stifling a yawn. "You're not getting a car for your 16th birthday, first off. If you want one, you can work and earn it. I don't care if we are rich, your mother won't stand for you to have things handed to you. Neither will I for that matter," she amended. "And I don't care what you're father says about LSU... you're going to Yale, mister. Unless Uncle Spencer actually can get you into Cal-Tech - then we'll negotiate. And we're having the sex talk as soon as you can say 'penis.' Believe me from personal experience, we're not waiting on that one. But if you want to go to a strip club, you're going with Uncle Derrick, because your mother will kill me for that. Oh, and never mix your hard liquor and beer unless you want a wicked hangover in the morning. Pick a drink and stick with it."
Emily set the bottle aside and cuddled Henry up to her shoulder, rubbing his back in slow circles. "But the most important thing to remember is that your family loves you. More than you could possibly even imagine. Your dad, and your mom, and me - we're in this thing together. No matter what happens we're always going to love you - even if you dye your hair black, wear eye-liner, and listen to bands that the federal government uses for 'advanced interrogation tactics.'" She stopped, considering that for a moment. "Just be careful with the head banging - you can pull a muscle. Again, personal experience."
From her shoulder, Henry hiccupped once and then went back to sleep. "You're right, that's enough for tonight. We can pick this back up tomorrow."
She laid him gently back down and waited, watching entranced as he fidgeted, nose twitching, before finally settling into sleep. Even then she lingered, studying his tiny features, marking with wonder how much he'd grown in a few short months. It was one thing to understand intellectually how it all worked - but to watch it? That was something else entirely. Reluctantly she pulled herself away, glancing at the clock with a grimace. If she was lucky she'd get another hour of sleep before her alarm went off and another day at the BAU began. JJ only had a few weeks left of maternity leave and then their lives were going to get even more complicated, but they'd both come to realize that complicated wasn't necessarily a bad thing any more.
She slipped into bed, spooning to JJ's back as much for comfort as warmth, her arm wrapped around the other woman as she settled in.
"You are not letting Morgan take our son to a strip club," JJ mumbled from the pillow.
"Do you want me to do it?" A sharp elbow to the ribs had Emily alternately laughing and wheezing. "Okay, okay... no strip clubs. For any of us. How did you-"
"Baby monitor."
"Oh."
JJ turned in Emily's arms, eyes languid and warm as she leaned in to kiss the brunette. "I told you you'd be good with kids."
"Well, you're a smart woman."
"Getting smarter every day I'm with you."
JJ closer her eyes again, snuggling against Emily, their arms wrapped around each other. "Love you."
Emily kissed her forehead and closed her eyes, following JJ easily into sleep.
Finis