AN: I know it's been over a year since the last update but life and stress don't allow for time to write. Hopefully this makes up for it a bit. It's not a long chapter but it's better than nothing. Enjoy!

Chapter 27

The gang just looked at Emily in stunned silence. None of them could believe what they'd just heard Emily say. Gina was dead?!

JJ was the first to recover her voice, "you're joking right?"

Emily frowned at her girlfriend though she could see how she might think that, "I really wish I was. But apparently, Sheriff Brooks found her this morning in her cell...dead."

Morgan spoke up then, "how did she die?"

Emily shrugged, "there's no official cause yet, the coroner has to do an autopsy but there wasn't any obvious cause so they don't suspect...foul play." Emily's voice skipped on the last two words, not used to saying them but wanting to relay her mother's message as accurately as she could.

Some of them just nodded, not completely understanding but they all watched enough CSI and Law & Order to get the gist of what Emily was saying.

After a few moments of silence, Alex looked at her friends then said, "well, not to sound callous but there's nothing we can do about any of this so I say we get back to the movie, sound good?"

After a moment of silence where everyone looked at everyone else, they all agreed to get back to the movie. Alex pressed play and before long they were all once again cuddled up next to their better halves watching the movie.

The next few days passed by in a flurry of activity. The gang, in keeping with their usual tradition, split off to do their individual last minute Christmas shopping since there were only a few days left until the holiday.

Emily spent the time with her mother who, thanks to her connections, managed to get hold of the coroner's final report on Gina's autopsy. The official cause of death was listed as a massive stroke resulting in immediate death. 'Natural causes' was the official conclusion which meant there would be no investigation into the death. Emily didn't know whether that would be a good thing or not but she was glad it was over.

Ambassador Prentiss arranged for Gina's body to be returned to Italy where she could be buried with her father and her brother in the family plot.

JJ spent the time stressing out about what to get Emily for their first Christmas together. They had only been dating for a short time but she knew that she had to get Emily a great gift. After all the drama with Gina and her performance in the school play, JJ felt that Emily deserved something really nice and special. So she was naturally stressing out over it. Mainly because she didn't have anyone to bounce ideas off of and that made things harder as she mentally reviewed and discarded every idea that came to mind.

Emily wasn't having such problems, she already knew what she was going to get JJ for Christmas, she just had to make sure the blonde's parents would be okay with it given that JJ was still only 17 and still under their roof.

Emily had convinced Olivia to get JJ out of the house one afternoon so she could talk to JJ's parents without her girlfriend around to eavesdrop. Emily sat in the back seat of her mother's dark sedan across the street and down the block from JJ's house, watching as the beautiful blonde left her house with Olivia on their way to wherever Liv had managed to convince JJ to go with her. The details weren't important, Liv would text her when they were on their way back anyway.

Emily watched as the red Mustang pulled away from the house, smiling as her plan began falling into place. Emily waited until the car was out of sight before she turned to the driver and said, "wait here, I'll be right back."

Half an hour later, Emily left JJ's house, smiling because her parents had given Emily their consent for the gift she had in mind for her girlfriend.

Emily got back into her mom's car that she'd borrowed for the afternoon and instructed the driver to take her back to the bed and breakfast where her mother was staying.

Ambassador Prentiss met her daughter at the door to their room and she asked, "well? How did it go?"

Emily's smile came back as she answered, "they said yes." Emily then held out her hand for the package she knew her mother would have for her.

Elizabeth Prentiss grinned as she led Emily into the room so she could retrieve the package she'd managed to put together in the last few days. "Here it is." Before Emily could grab it though, her mom pulled it back and said, "are you sure about this Emily?"

Emily knew her mom meant well by asking so she simply said, "I'm sure mom. It's what I want and I know JJ will love it too."

Elizabeth studied her daughter for a moment, truly realizing that her little girl wasn't so little anymore. She nodded, "very well. Use it wisely." With that, she handed the package over and let Emily grab it.

"Thanks mom." Emily smiled then hugged her mother.

Elizabeth was surprised at first but she recovered quickly and hugged back. It had been a year or two since Emily had last hugged her that it took her by surprise, but she wasn't about to waste the opportunity.

After a few moments, Emily pulled away and smiled. Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall and her grin faded, "shoot, it's getting late. I have to meet JJ in an hour and I still have to go back to Aunt Serena's and hide this." Emily motioned to the package in her hand.

Elizabeth just smiled, "go on then. My flight out isn't until tomorrow. Your dad is already on his way to the Georgetown house so he'll be waiting for me there. Have a great vacation and I'll see you for New Year's okay?"

Emily nodded, "yes ma'am."

With that, Emily turned and left the bed and breakfast. She had her mother's driver drop her at home before he headed back to her mom. Emily dashed up to her bedroom and found the perfect hiding place for the package. She grinned as she thought about the look on JJ's face when she gave the blonde her Christmas gift.

Olivia had told Emily about JJ's belief that senior year was going to be epic and, with this gift, Emily had a feeling JJ's prediction was about to become a reality. She just hoped she could keep it a secret until the time was right.

AN2: Okay, so there it is. Any guesses on what Emily's gift for JJ is? All guesses accepted but I won't reveal who's right or wrong until the next chapter is written.