ONE YEAR LATER

JJ was amazed.

It had been exactly a year and a week since the births of the last LaMontagne and Jareau children. JJ almost didn't recognize herself as a result of all the changes that had happened since. A large part of this was because of the therapy she'd enrolled herself in, but there were other things. Lots.

Now that there wasn't the constant possibility of a looming threat to worry about, enjoying time with her husband and her children actually meant something. JJ loved her job and took it very seriously, but she would always be a wife and a mother first. These were the greatest roles she'd ever had.

Even Emily felt like things were perfect. She was married to her best friend's brother, sister-in-law to her best friend, and even a mother to Isobel, Milo, Kiley, Elias, and Tilda—her five earthbound angels. She finally had everything she'd ever wanted. So did JJ.

Then there was work life.

The BAU team members' morale had increased a thousandfold after putting to bed the last of the cases related to their crazy lives. And the director was even referring to this new era as 'the season of peace.' That alone was a fantastic feeling, especially when the unit was officially recognized as elite. There had never been a time in the history of the Behavioral Analysis Unit where things had gone so wonderfully.

Before the return from England, Emily would have ever thought any of this 'new normal' would be possible.

But it had all happened.

It was all happening.

This was what her longed-for happy ending looked like.

Today was the cherry on top.

They were at the afterparty of Spencer's and Rebel Rose's wedding.

Everyone dear to the new couple, including Rebel's whole family and even Spencer's mother, had been able to make it. Now it was time to celebrate.

They were also at the part of the wedding where the dance floor was open to everyone.

As JJ returned to hers and Emily's table after getting drinks, she found that a small gaggle of guests had arrived. Neither Milo, Kiley, Elias, nor Tilda were taking to kindly that their mother's lap was occupied by Emiliana LaMontagne and Emily Morgan. The Jareau children drove their point home by surrounding Emily and giving her a death glare.

JJ watched in amusement.

"You all have to seriously chill out." Emily was telling her offspring. "There is nothing wrong with Cousin Ana or Cousin Emily sharing mama's lap."

Milo tapped Emily's left leg. "You are my mama!"

"Yeah!" Kiley added for emphasis.

Elias followed this up with blowing a raspberry at Emily.

Tilda just scowled at her.

With a lot of self-control, Emily kept a straight face: the little kids only ganged up on her when expressing serious thoughts Today, they were each clearly demonstrating jealousy.

"Milo Zachariah, Kiley Elizabeth, Elias Theodore, and Tilda Spencer, your cousins can hang out with me because my lap is for sharing. Who remembers what happens to little boys and little girls who are sassy?"

They all grew clear-headed immediately—the word 'sassy' served as a warning that even the possibility of a time-out was on the horizon. They preferred playing and being at parties much more than being made to sit in a corner.

"Sorry, mama." Milo cooed sweetly, plastering on a cheeky grin.

"Sorry." Kiley hugged Emily around her knees and gave them a gentle pat. "Sorry, sorry, sorry."

Elias and Tilda echoed her on refrain.

"Thank you, babies." Emily told them. "You all might want to turn around."

They did, and it was to see TJ at the dance floor, beckoning to them. Milo, Kiley, Elias, and Tilda were off like rockets.

This meant Emily was finally alone with her goddaughters again.

She smiled at JJ when she sat with her. "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough to be impressed by how you handled that."

"Arguing with four miniature versions of yourself is no cakewalk."

"What added the fuel to their fire today? Two people named after you?"

"More like the fact that my name isn't occupied by one of them." Emily sighed, accepting the glass of white wine JJ was offering her. "The kids know their own first and middle names, but are still trying to get the hang of remembering each other's—it's going to be a long while before they make the connection between Ana, Emily Morgan, and myself."

"Here's hoping to some kind of peace and quiet when they do, hm?" JJ held up her glass. "Michael, Ana, and AJ have just realized what my name is, and how easy the shortened version is to say."

Emily raised her own glass. "To peace and quiet—may we remember those luxuries one day, even though we probably never will."

The duo clinked their glasses and drank.

JJ motioned towards Emily's lap when she put her glass down. "I was only gone for a few moments, and your lap was empty."

Emily set her own glass down. "I volunteered to hold this gem while Derek and Savannah dance together. It's almost baby girl's nap time, anyway."

"Adorable. What's the deal with Ana?"

"She mosied on over here, expressing the wish to with us because she was concerned that Emily was lonely."

"And then what?" JJ spoke with even more amusement. "Your pint-sized tribe of weirdos showed up right after?"

"They did."

JJ shook her head and then regarded her first daughter. The last time she'd seen her, she'd been tearing it up on the dace floor with Will. Now it looked like the Snoozeville Express was about to arrive.

"Ana? How are you?"

The little one let out a huge yawn but spoke very firmly. "Way good, mama."

"You sure?"

Emiliana let out a bigger yawn. "Yes."

"It's alright to sleep, my princess."

Emiliana let out her biggest yawn yet and even gave Emily a pat on the back. "Okay, mama. Love y…"

She was fast asleep before she could even finish her sentence.

"Are you okay, holding both of them?" JJ asked Emily.

"I am. I can't tell you how light my heart is right now."

"On that note, things have leapt and bound in the direction of happily ever after since you came back from England."

"I'll say. Henry turned ten in the autumn, Michael is pushing four, Sadie is three, Emiliana, Milo, and Kiley are two, and Adalie, AJ, Elias, and Tilda are one. Isobel and Rebel are in their twenties."

"That's all well and good," JJ chuckled. "But I was talking about work, and relationships."

Emily did her best to become even semi-serious. "The BAU has never been so stable before, and I know that the director and the higher-ups are are calling this a 'season of peace.' I also heard him say both of our names when he said that we're looking at an actual golden age because of our leadership skills."

"Wow." JJ traced the brim of her wine glass. "You don't hear that phrasing with a job like ours. Are we the new Gideon and Hotch?"

"I wouldn't go that far," there was a twinkle of laughter in Emily's eyes. "But we are definitely Emily and JJ—two leaders making as much history as our predecessors did. We've brought in a new era."

JJ's tone became one of thoughtfulness. "I like the sound of how special that is. When we first met, did you ever think that our friendship or our job would ever take us this far? To where we are today?"

Emily's answer was very honest. "Never, in a million years."

"You were the angel who had fallen out of the sky, and I was the press liaison. Now I'm a seasoned profiler, you and I are partners, and we run a very elite sector of the FBI." JJ continued. "One amazing fact alone is that if I hadn't decided that we were to go to New York when we did, we would have never once met Rebel Rose—meaning that this wedding here would have never happened. It also boggles my mind that I met Spencer when he was a little bit older than his wife is now."

"Incredible." Emily marveled. "By the way, if I'd never met Isobel, we would have never met Aemiliana Thistlewaite, and she taught me to smell the roses."

"I learned the same lesson, from her." JJ reflected. "If not for the Emiliana that Will and I already have, that would have been AJ's first name."

"Wait, really?"

"Yep. She is an Abigail, but we still decided to honor our little warrior by choosing a name that starts with a."

The duo paused as they remembered the remarkable girl who had been a light in the darkness to them both. Neither of them would ever forget her.

"Emiliana and Abigail are also on the list of things that would have never come to pass because of the lives we lead." JJ suddenly realized with a jolt. "I can't imagine my world without any of my kids, but I really can't imagine life without either of my baby girls."

"I know what you mean, Jayje—my life would be so dull without Isobel, Milo, Kiley, Elias, and Tilda, or if you and I had never met."

"We wouldn't even be related."

Emily grew her most serious. "I wouldn't have considered returning to the states after Paris. I was in all kinds of pain, but if it hadn't been for you, I would have called it quits then and there."

JJ looked at her sister-in-law with an extra big rush of love. "I never knew that."

"I just never said it. Even back then, you saved my life, Jennifer Agnes LaMontagne. I'll never forget, for as long as I live." Emily clinked her wine glass against JJ's and took another drink. "I owe you everything. Thank you."

Surprised, JJ managed a, "You're welcome, Emily," before they turned as one to people-watch their loved ones at the dance floor.

Emily spotted her parents first, dancing together at one end of the dance floor. Michael was being twirled about to his heart's content by Penelope. On another part of the platform, TJ was encircled by Milo, Kiley, Elias, and Tilda. Each one of them looked like they were having fun. Beyond them, Will was holding Abigail and swaying with her. Everyone could hear the baby's giggles. Tara danced with Luke. Derek with Savannah. Rossi with Sandy. In the middle of floor, Spencer was having a dance with Rebel. Not wanting to stray far, Sadie and Adalie 'danced' beside their parents by bouncing on the balls of their feet. Isobel and Ingrid were also amongst those dancing together. Henry had a dance partner, too, although Emily didn't recognize her.

"Who's that cutie pie dancing with Henry?" she asked JJ.

"That's Henry's Jillian."

"You mean his best friend, his future design partner, and the one he wore that tuxedo shirt for, just because it was her birthday?"

JJ smiled at that last anecdote, remembering it clearly. "That's her."

"Amazing." Emily marveled as she recalled her nephew's passionate ramblings about the girl in question. "How did she get here, though?"

"Jillian's mom, Amaya, is currently in labor with her last child. There are five siblings in front of Jillian, and then one more between her and the one who will here today."

"Woah. Do you know the lineup in order?"

"Weston, Beckett, Felix, Maddox, Hendrix, Jillian, and Rachel. The one coming is already called Molly." elaborated JJ. "There's even a set of triplets in that line."

Emily let out a single-noted whistle. "Eight kids is a true feat. I suppose you're keeping Jillian until Molly decides to grace the universe with her presence?"

"Yep. This is day two.

"I'm glad both sets of my twins are too little to understand what a sleepover is."

JJ laughed openly. "Give it four or five more years, Em. Your time is coming."

"Hmph." Emily huffed. "Any more 'super cute' from Chez LaMontagne?"

"Henry said to me just yesterday that he's making a surprise for Jillian. It's a box of treasures, and he's going to give them to his number one girl when they get married one day." JJ recalled. "He's even been stashing a portion of his allowance in this box."

Emily was impressed against her will. "Does Jillian have any idea?"

"No, but five minutes later, I found her in another part of the house. She asked me how to spell Milan, because she was blanking out."

"What was she doing?!"

"Writing a letter to Henry in this gigantic tome of a journal. She showed it to me, and I saw that it's got letters, drawings and poems. Henry actually has a similar set of books."

"And they're going to exchange them in the future. JJ, I think you've already met your daughter-in-law."

JJ took another sip of wine. "I totally have. Jillian and Henry are a match made in Heaven."

"Speaking of which, so are those two."

JJ followed Emily's gaze to Isobel and Ingrid. They had a life together now, a home they shared, and even engagement rings. Happy didn't begin to cover how those two felt.

"I'm with you on that one." JJ agreed. "How does it feel to have small toddlers while also having a grown, moved-out child who is engaged and planning her own wedding?"

"It's unreal, is what it is. Isobel and Ingrid also really want kids, which means that my 'pint-sized tribe of weirdos' will be aunts and uncles in some fashion by the time they're five." Emily shivered a tad. "Speaking of babies, Rebel's one on the way is a boy."

Spencer and Rebel had been keeping things to themselves for awhile, and had only recently revealed that she was expecting a new baby. She was already far enough along to know the gender. Up until now, JJ had been keeping factoid to herself.

"Way to steal my thunder! When did you guess?"

"Last week. When did you find out?"

"An hour ago, when I was helping her battle nausea." JJ studied the crowd once more. "Look who my mom is with now."

Done dancing, Sandy was now sitting at a table with Diana Reid. Her only company there had been the attendant who was accompanying her from the care home. Diana was quite surprised that anyone had joined them at all, but was pleased for the company. She even began engaging Sandy in conversation.

All the same, JJ let out a gusty breath. "I'm really missing Jason and Aaron something fierce today. Haley and Jack, too."

"I'm keeping it together by telling myself that they would be so proud, and that they're here in spirit. I already know that Jason and Haley are smiling down on us from Heaven."

"Thanks." JJ's wine glass was nearly empty, so she downed it and then blotted under her eyes with a napkin as she felt them leak with emotion. "I needed that."

Emily downed her own almost-empty glass and extended a pinky. "I've got your back, from now until the end of time."

JJ interlocked her own pinky with Emily's. "Even on your worst days, I'll have your back, the same as you have mine."

They did the pinky swear version of shaking on it, and then Emily looked at the occupants of her lap.

"These little beauties are out cold."

Emily Morgan and Emiliana LaMontagne had fallen asleep curled against their godmother, hugging her and holding hands. They couldn't haven been sweeter if they'd tried. The elder Emily felt like she was going to cry.

JJ was quick to snap a picture for her.

Derek and Savannah came back to collect their daughter before going to look for Hank. No sooner had they left than Rebel sidled up to them in her wedding dress.

"Hey, Reb." JJ greeted her. "It's been a beautiful day so far."

She blushed. "Thank you, JJ. This has been the best day of my life."

JJ beamed at her. "You've come such a long way since we first met you on the job in New York. I mean, look at you now—you already have two sweet baby girls, you have a baby boy on the way, and today, you've married the love of your life. I'm so proud of you."

"JJ said everything I was thinking," Emily added. "But I'm just as proud as she is."

If possible, Rebel's blush deepened. "That means a lot."

"We only speak the truth."

"Is there something you need?" JJ asked Rebel.

"Actually, yes. The next dance is for couples who have been married longer than Spencer and I, or for people who have lost spouses along the way." Rebel motioned towards Emiliana. "May I relieve you two of this precious darling?"

JJ nodded and watched as Emily passed Emiliana on. "Will or I will come get her when we're done."

"Okay, then." Rebel chirped. "Have fun."

As the DJ made the announcement for what was happening next, everybody started finding who they belonged to. It didn't take Will or TJ long to locate their wives.

"Ladies," Will said charmingly. "May we have this dance?"

"Oh, but of course." JJ told them as they were helped to their feet. "We would love nothing more."

They stood near each other on the dance floor, but not so near that they could hear each other's conversations.

"What's going through your head, cher?" Will asked when JJ rested her head on his shoulder. "The music hadn't even started yet."

JJ raked the back of Will's neck with her fingernails. "I just love you much. Our live are finally peaceful."

"I feel the same joy and awe that you do—everyone we care for is truly and deeply happy. I would do this all over again if I had to because this is our happy ending."

"It's this moment."

Will nodded. "Mhm. It's holding you here, at the wedding of two people we love dearly. It's this moment, knowing that later tonight, we'll be able to cuddle with our darling children."

"This moment is prefect. I wouldn't change a thing about how we got here."

"I wouldn't ever want to."

The LaMontagnes just kept holding each other and whispering to each other.

Meanwhile, the Jareaus were chatting, too.

TJ spoke softly to his wife. "You know, my dearest Mia, I was thinking back to before we left Kansas."

"Oh, really? Anything specific memory?"

"I was convinced that I'd never find love again. I had hopes for Isobel, but no expectations for myself. The tables turned."

"Isobel and Ingrid are planning a life together." Emily kissed TJ's cheek. "We even had twins. Twice."

"Because by now, the family motto is 'Nobody ever does anything small. Not even the babies.' Milo, Kiley, Elias, and Tilda are miracles in their own rights, just like Isobel is." TJ returned Emily's kiss and held her close. "We have them, and each other. You changed my life by showing me about love when I'd given up."

"You reminded me about hope, where I'd given up. Now we've arrived at our happy ending."

"Yes, and I love it already. I love you, Theodore."

"I love you, too."

They kissed again, this time on the lips.

TJ spoke after a soft pause. "We owe our happiness all to one person."

Emily nodded. "JJ."

They both looked over to see her lost in a moment with Will.

"Over a decade together now," JJ said quietly as looked lovingly at her husband. "Six years of marriage, four beautiful babies, and I still wouldn't have imagined that our lives would have turned out like this."

"I wouldn't have, either. We even completely conquered the events of these past few years alone, and we're better people for it."

"We're stronger, too." JJ observed. "Most people would have given up a long time ago. But we didn't."

Will nodded and kissed her. "We persevered."

JJ reciprocated the affection. "We survived."

"We won—we can do anything. I love you, Jennifer. Forever."

"And I love you, William." she whispered into his ear. "For always."

Finally, the song began to play. JJ lost herself in the moment even more.

It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside

I'm not one pf those who can easily hide

I don't have much money, but boy if I did

I'd by a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a woman who mixes potions in a traveling show

I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do

My gift is my song, and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple, but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is, now you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss

Well, a few of these verses, well, they've got me cross

But the suns's been quite kind while I write this song

It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do

You see, I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue

Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean

It's yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple, but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is, now you're in the world

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is, now you're in, you're in, you're in the world

JJ and Will danced until the song was over.

"So, I close my eyes to old ends and open my heart to new beginnings."

—Nick Frederickson

Done

That's it for these characters! (no, really) I wrote this series over 2-3 years while working through some of my own emotional obstacles, and I've actually conquered them all now ;) Time to let everyone here having a long rest. Thank you for all the love.