AN: This was an idea niggling in the back of my mind while I've been working on the sequel to Maybe Baby.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

What if?

If you have a sister and she dies, do you stop saying you have one?

Or are you always a sister, even when the other half of the equation is gone?

― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

August 13, 1989

Emily closes the rental car door and frowns at her fingernails; they're bitten to the quick. Then she walks towards the house, being careful not to look at the tree house on the left where she met with Jessie less than two month ago. Emily takes a deep breath and exhales to calm herself before knocking on the front door.

Nothing happens.

Emily shifts her weight from one foot to the other and knocks again. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. What if they're not home? What if they're angry?

A woman with wavy blonde hair and red-rimmed eyes answers a minute later. "Hello?"

Emily bites her lip. "Excuse me, are you Mrs. Jareau?"

The woman nods. "Yes, I am. Who are you?"

"My name is Emily Prentiss, ma'am. I was-" she cuts herself off and tries again "I was Jessie's pen pal. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral, but I wanted to come in person to express my deepest condolences to you and your family."

"Pen pal?" She blinks, "Oh, you mean from 6th grade? How did you hear? I mean we didn't put anything in the paper and you haven't spoken with Jessie in years." Her blue eyes narrow, "Have you?"

Emily nods. "Jessie and I have continued to be pen pals for the past few years ma'am. She swallows the lump in her throat. "Jessie wrote me a letter a few weeks ago."

She pales. "I had no idea. Did you bring the letter with you?"

Emily shakes her head. "No ma'am, but if you'll allow me to return another day. I will bring the letter then."

Mrs. Jareau's lips twitch upwards in an imitation of a smile, "Please come inside. Emily, was it?"

Emily nods. "Yes, and thank you."

Mrs. Jareau leads her through the house to the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink, Emily?"

"No, thank you," Emily murmurs and sits down at the table.

Sandy sits down in front of her. "What did the letter say that had you coming all the way out here, but not bringing it for us to read?"

Emily bites her lip. "It said a lot of things ma'am but the most important bit was that Jessie wanted me to check on her sister."

Sandy flinches.

Emily frowns. "I can come back another day Mrs. Jareau if you're not comfortable."

"No. No. Let me just call Jennifer downstairs. She's hardly left her room in the past few weeks. Not since-" She chokes back a sob.

Emily reaches across the table and takes her hand. "I'm really sorry."

Sandy squeezes back. "Thank you." She stands up and walks slowly to the staircase. "Jennifer, come down, please. You have a guest."

Emily can hear the sound of a door opening and closing, followed by light footsteps on the carpeted hallway. She gets up and walks to the doorway just in time to see Jessie's little sister come down the stairs.

Pale blue eyes widen in astonishment.

Emily leans against the wall. Seeing Jennifer is like a punch in the stomach; all the air has gone out of her lungs. Oh my God, she looks just like the picture Jessie sent!

"Jennifer," Sandy rests a hand on her daughter's shoulder, "This is-"

Jennifer cuts her off: "Emily."

The hint of a real smile crosses Sandy's face. "You two should go outside to talk. When you come back, we'll have lunch and you can meet my husband and tell us all about yourself."

"Yes mama," Jennifer whispers and opens the front door.

Emily nods and chokes out, "Thank you."

Jennifer walks across the yard and climbs the ladder to the tree house.

Emily follows her silently. When Emily reaches the top,

Jennifer is huddled in a corner, clutching a pillow to her chest. "I didn't think you'd come back," she whispers.

"Back?" Emily murmurs and sits down in another corner.

Jennifer nods, "You were here before. Jessie thought she was being secretive but I knew because she was so happy and she'd been so sad this past year."

Emily flinches.

"Did she leave you a letter?" Jennifer asks. "All I got was one line."

Emily nods. "That's why I'm here. Jessie asked me to look after her sisters."

Jennifer regards Emily shrewdly. "I am Jessie's only sister."

"Well," Emily hesitates before continuing. "I wasn't sure how else to refer to Jessie's Faerie Princess."

And just like that, Jennifer's whole face lights up. "You drew the picture in Jessie's bedroom!"

Emily blushes and nods. "Yes."

She grins. "It's beautiful!"

"Thank you," Emily mumbles.

Jennifer bites her lip. "Why did she do it, Emily?"

Emily flinches. "I'll tell you everything that I know when you're a bit older Jennifer."

Icy blue eyes glare at her. "I-"

Emily holds up a hand to stall her protests, "But for now I'll tell you that Jessie was miserable, so miserable that she thought she would never be happy again."

"Oh." Jennifer whispers, looking devastated.

Emily sighs.

In a quiet voice she whispers, "Can I hug you now?"

Emily blinks back tears and holds out her arms. "Of course, Jenny."

A moment later, Emily has her arms full as Jennifer sobs quietly against her shoulder.

Emily rocks her gently, "Shh! Jenny, it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you."

AN2: Thank you for reading, please review if you have something to say.