Against All Odds

"…as we consecrate the body of William Henry LaMontagne to the earth from which he came, we should pause to think of his life and the ones he left behind. He loved his wife and son more than anything and wanted to make sure the world they lived in was safe…"

The reverend's voice droned on, but JJ didn't hear a word. Her face was drawn and pale - probably made more so by the black outfit that she wore. Her eyes were red rimmed, but she didn't cry; how could she when there were no tears left? And she needed to be strong for Henry. Her eyes lowered as the thought went thru her head: and for the baby, too.

She wouldn't think about that now - she couldn't think about that now! Her world was over. Her husband was dead doing the thing that he had warned would happen to her! How could life have been so unfair?

All around her the sound of weeping filled her ears as friends and co-workers filled the chairs of the cemetery for the graveside service. She tried to ignore them. She tried to think of something else other than the flag draped casket sitting in front of her. Soon the service would be over and the flag would be handed to her. Then they would play 'Amazing Grace' on the bagpipes, and after Will was lowered, everyone would go home.

"…let us bow our heads in prayer," the reverend suggested. JJ followed along with the crowd. "Dear Heavenly Father, we ask that you down upon the ones left behind with their hearts full of sadness and confusion and fill them with peace and understanding. Let them know that there is a plan, and though we can never understand the reasons why, one day we will when we stand before you in Paradise. Let your Spirit guide Will's loved ones and be with them. And we ask that you welcome your son Will into your open arms and hold him. And we ask this in your son's name, Jesus Christ. Amen."

"Amen," the crowd echoed.

The flag folding ceremony was short and precise. JJ had no recollection of taking the flag and holding it to her breast as the colour guard finished saluting the life of their fellow brother in arms.

"Are you okay, Jayje?" Em whispered softly.

JJ could only nod, then the sound bagpipes filled the air. The ceremony was over. Will was gone forever. Now it was time to go.

"Can I hold the flag, Mommy?" Henry asked.

"You can't drop it," JJ warned.

"I won't," he promised. "Uncle Dave," he called out, "Mommy let me hold the flag."

Dave walked up to where JJ and Em stood. "That's good," he told the little boy and tussled his blonde hair. "Hi, Em," he greeted warmly. "How was your flight?"

"Long."

"It's good to see you." He was polite as people made their way to JJ to say their condolence.

"Well, I wish it had been under different circumstances…" Her voice trailed off as Erin Strauss walked up to where the three of them stood.

"Agent Prentiss," the director greeted. "It's good to see you. Agent Hotchner said you were flying in."

"Thank you, Director." Em tightened her hold around JJ's waist to keep her friend steady. "If you don't mind, I'm going to take JJ back to the house before everyone arrives." With a nod and a pasted on smile, the pair made their way back to the limo.

"Where's Henry?" JJ's eyes roamed the crowd for her son.

"I is here, Mommy," he piped up. "Can I go with Jack and Uncle Aaron?"

"I want you to ride with me." JJ patted the seat beside her. "We need to go home and make sure everything is ready for Daddy's friends."

"Will Daddy be there?" he asked solemnly.

JJ fought to hold back the sudden rush of tears she thought were gone. "No, honey, he won't be. That's why I need you with me."

Henry thought for a moment. "Okay." He climbed into the limo. "Look, Auntie Emmy, Mommy let me hold the flag."

"I know."

"And I didn't drop it."

"No, you didn't," Em agreed.

"I'm a big boy."

"Yes you are." Em closed the door. She cast a look toward her best friend. "Are you okay, Jayje?"

JJ nodded. "I'm alright."

"Are you sure?"

"No. But…" She took a deep breath and let it out. She wouldn't cry in front of Henry. All of her tears could wait until everyone went home. "Let's go," she whispered.

"Driver, take us home," Em ordered.
*******

"How is she holding up?" Hotch asked Em.

"About as well as can be expected considering…" She lowered her voice. "I'm going to stay for a couple of weeks until she gets back on her feet."

"Interpol is okay with that?" he asked.

"Family emergency. JJ is as close to a sister as I'll ever have," she replied. Out of the corner of her eye she watched as Morgan and Pen sheltered JJ protectively from the throng of people who wanted to comfort the widow. She looked for Henry. "Where is Henry?"

"Outside with Jack and the other children. Jessica is watching them."

"She's getting good at doing that for the BAU," Em remarked sardonically.

"She likes JJ." He left it there because Jessica's feelings toward him didn't have to be explained.

"How are things with Beth?" She cast a look toward the brunette talking with JJ's mother.

"Good."

"I see Dave and Erin are still going strong," she observed the couple sitting together on the couch.

"Who would have thought?" Hotch replied dryly, but his eyes were on the fragile blonde.

"So, what happened between you and JJ?" Em asked point blank.

"What do you mean?" Hotch tried to mask his shock at her intrusive question.

"Don't play stupid with me, Aaron; I know what happened that night before the wedding." Em crossed her arms over her breasts and leveled her famous Prentiss glare at him. "JJ told me everything."

"It's not what you think."

"Then tell me what happened."

"I was…" he searched for the right words, "…angry," he finished.

"Is the baby yours?"

"It's possible."

"Does Beth know?"

"No." Hotch kept his famous stoic look.

"What are you going to do?" she demanded.

"I don't know, Em. I haven't thought about it," his tone was strained.

"Have you even talked to Jennifer?"

"I don't know how," he replied. Em shook her head. "What?"

"She's going to need a lot of support from us."

"I know she will."

"She's not going back to work right away."

"No one is expecting her to. She can take as much time as she is going to need to help Henry. I know what she's going through."

"Better than anyone," Em's tone softened. "You need to talk to her before she goes back to the BAU."

"I will."

"Before the baby is born."

"Hi," Beth greeted as she walked up and linked her arm thru Hotch's.

"Hi, Beth. It's good to see you again."

"You, too, Emily. How's London?"

"Cold."

"I watched the Jubilee coverage. Wish I could have been there," Beth remarked casually.

Em snorted. "I was there. It was more exciting on TV. Trust me." Her eyes rested on JJ. "Excuse me."

Beth looked at the man she loved. "Are you okay?" she asked with sincere concern.

Hotch nodded. "I'm okay."

"You look…" She sighed. "…I can't put my finger on it, but something is bothering you." Hotch didn't reply. "Is it Haley?"

"Yes." He didn't want to argue, so he lied.

"I see." She sighed again. Almost a year together, yet Aaron was still pretty hard to read. And now that Will had been killed, any emotion she had managed to pull to the surface from him was immediately buried.

She looked at her watch. It was past seven. "Do you want to go home?" she inquired.

"Yes." Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose. "We still have to go to work tomorrow. I'll go get Jack…"

"I'll get Jack; you say good-bye to JJ." Beth patted his arm lovingly and hurried off to retrieve the little boy.

"Do you want me to stay tonight, dear?" Jane Jareau asked her daughter.

"No, Mother; Emily and Pen are staying with me."

"I see. Henry wants to come with me…" Jane announced.

JJ hesitated. Henry was all she had left of Will. "I don't know, Mother…I want him here."

"I understand, dear, but with everything happening, you don't need the extra stress. You need to think of the baby."

"I can take care of him," Pen stepped in to help.

"I'm sure you can, but he is my grandson." Jane snorted.

"He's my godson."

"He needs family."

Pen's eyes blazed. "I am family."

"I meant blood."

JJ pressed a hand to her forehead. Too much was happening all at once and now her mother and Pen were playing tug of war over Henry.

"Stop it!" JJ hissed. "Henry is staying with me! Mother, you can pick him up tomorrow, but tonight he stays in my and Will's house."

Jane was instantly chastised. "Dear, I only meant to help…"

"Is everything okay?" Hotch asked as he deliberately stepped into the argument.

"Yes."

Hotch looked at the three women. "Beth and I are leaving now. We still have work tomorrow," he reminded Pen, who nodded. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Jennifer." He took her hand in his for a brief squeeze. It was on the tip of his tongue to say something, but he couldn't. So he turned around and walked away.

Jane looked at her watch. "I'll go say good-bye to Henry." She hurried off to where the children were playing.

"Are you okay, Jayje?" Em asked.

"I am. I just have to lie down." She looked around the room at the guests and food laden tables. "After I clean up…"

Pen took her arm. "You are not cleaning up. You are going to rest and take care of my new godchild. Em, Derek, and I have everything covered. Let me get you something to drink."

JJ leaned against Em as the fight went out of her. "Thanks." She only had to make it to when the last guest departed, then she could stop being strong.

Until then, she had to put on a brave face for everyone.

A/N: Until further notice, this story, and all others, is on hiatus. Thank you.