A Second Chance

Busted

When Emily arrived to Rossi's that night, she noticed everyone else was already there. Morgan and his wife were on the couch showing off their new son, Hank. Garcia was gazing at the baby and Sophia was with her. JJ was talking to Rossi in the kitchen and her boys were playing with Jack Hotchner in the living room.
When Prentiss walked in, she could feel JJ's eyes burning into her.
"Hey," Rossi walked up to her and greeted her.
"Nice turn out," she told him and smiled.
He thanked her and showed her to the drinks.
While Emily was in the kitchen she looked out to see her daughter and Spencer trading science jokes and laughing.

Suddenly, Garcia walked in.
"Hey," Prentiss said nicely.
"We have a problem," Penelope said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"JJs on to you," the blonde said.
Emily looked out to find the other blonde staring at her.
"What does she know?"
"She knows you lied to her about Teller and that you were in Chicago around the same time as Sophia."
Emily sighed.
"I think it's time you come clean," Garcia offered.
"I can't. Not tonight. It's Christmas and I don't want to risk her hating me on Christmas," Prentiss explained.
"The longer you put this off, the worse it's going to be."
"I know. I promise I'll tell her soon."
With that, Garcia left and Emily just took a long sip of wine to get through the night.

There was a lot of tension at dinner between the brunette and blonde. JJ eyed her carefully especially when Emily talked to Sophia. She knew there was something fishy about Emily's being there and the situation with Sophia.

After dinner everyone went back to the living room and just talked amongst each other.
Emily stayed away from Sophia and JJ and only spoke with the guys on the team. She was stressed out and worried that JJ was going to say something to her. After a while, Morgan and his wife left with their son as well as Hotch and Jack. Once they left, Prentiss got up and decided to leave. She said goodbye to everyone and thanked Rossi for hosting. Right as she was about to make it out and be home free, JJ called her name from the kitchen.
Emily was literally in the doorway when JJ said her name.
Prentiss turned around.
Jennifer nodded toward the door and followed Emily out.
Then, the blonde shut the door and said lowly,
"Emily, there's been something bugging me about you since you came back and I didn't know what it was until I met Mike Teller."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Emily told her casually and tried walking away.
"You lied to me. I did some research and I need to ask, why did you come back?" JJ called.
Emily turned around.
"I just missed the team so-" Prentiss started to say.
"No, the truth."
Emily gave JJ a look.
Jennifer knew her friend wasn't going to say it out loud first and she really wanted to know if her suspicions were true or just suspicions.
"What are you asking me?" Prentiss asked softly.
"What brought you back to DC? Was it us, or Sophia?" JJ asked.
Prentiss didn't know how to respond.
"You know?" Emily asked back.
"I don't know how I didn't figure it out sooner. She's just like you in every way."
"Really?" Emily wondered.
"Yeah, and it breaks my heart that I only found out because I found the man that you hired to find Sophia at the park ten years ago."
Prentiss was speechless.
Emily just continued to stare into JJs cold blue eyes.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" the blonde asked.
"JJ I didn't have a choice, you have to let me explain-"
"So it's true?"
"JJ just let me-"
"Emily, is it true?" JJ cut her off.
"Yes," Prentiss admitted and nodded shamefully.
"You did have a choice Emily. You left your helpless two year old daughter in the park with a stranger. You made her feel worthless and unwanted by her own mother!" JJ said lowly.
"I was doing what was best for her," Emily tried to say and defend herself.
"Sophia has to try extra hard to fit in and she feels like no one will ever accept her because her own fucking mother left her! How is that what's best for her? You screwed her life up so much and you can't even begin to I understand how she feels!!" JJ said and really started to raise her voice, upsetting Emily.
"I can't imagine how she felt?" the brunette asked back.
"I was told the only way to keep my daughter safe was to let her go. I had to give her up so she wouldn't get hurt or killed due to my past mistakes. How would you feel if you had to leave Henry or Michael knowing that you would never get to see them again all because of one bad case?! Don't you think I missed her at all. She doesn't even remember me. Yet, I remember the day she was born like it was just yesterday, and the way she used to look at me! I never forgot my daughter! She was and always will be the most important person to me and I had to let her go to give her her best chance in life. So don't you dare say I made the wrong choice because I know for a fact that I did what was best for her!" Prentiss yelled back.
"When I first got Sophia she told me how much she wished her mother kept her and that all she wanted was to feel accepted and loved. How she had a hard time trusting people because everyone ended up leaving her. She was scared to like me because she thought I wouldn't be able to love her. She needed her mother, Emily. She needed you and you abandoned her!" JJ pointed out harshly.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry for sucking at protecting her and for not being there for her. I know I'm not cut out to be a mom. Trust me I wish I could've been there for her. Not a day went by where I didn't think of her and how I regretted leaving her," Emily said with tears pooling in her eyes.
JJ took a deep breath and stepped back.
Emily closed her eyes and wiped away a tear that slipped out.
"Emily it's been almost a month. How long did you think you could keep this a secret?"
"Longer than this. I planned on telling you but I got scared," Prentiss admitted.
"Of what?" JJ wasted to know.
"This!" Emily exclaimed pointed between them.
JJ stopped.
She suddenly realized what had just happened.
"I loved her more than anything. She was my whole world and I don't think I want to ruin that world once again. She's happy with you now so I think I should just let her be. It's too late for me to be a part of her life anyways. I'm sorry, I just can't do this anymore," Emily said and started to walk off, leaving JJ completely shocked and speechless.

Jennifer watched the mother of her foster child, and best friend walk away crying. She wanted to yell out to Emily and talk to her more but couldn't find her voice. She was literally in shock and didn't know how to face Sophia now.

Slowly, she walked back over and headed back inside the house. When she closed the door she turned around to see everyone in silence staring at her.
"What's wrong?" JJ asked.
"Why were you and Emily fighting?" Sophia asked with a worried look on her face.
"What are you talking about?" JJ asked, pretending not to understand.
"We could hear you two yelling from in here," Rossi stated.
"You could?" JJ asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Is she okay?" Sophia asked, clearly worried about the brunette she grew to really like.
"I don't know," JJ said and shrugged.
"What were you yelling about?" Sophia wanted to know.
"Nothing that concerns you, sweetie," JJ said with a smile.
However from the corner of her eyes she could see Garcia frowning, shaking her head, and looking away.
That woman knew something...maybe everything, and JJ was about to find out.

She started walking toward the kitchen to get a drink and as she passed Penelope she asked her to join her.
Garcia followed the blonde and when they were behind closed doors, JJ said,
"Spill it. How much do you know and for how long?"
"That depends. What's the topic?" Garcia asked, obviously trying to stall.
"Emily's daughter, Sophia," JJ said flat out.
Penelope took a deep breath.
"Right when I found out, I was shocked too. I called Emily immediately and had her fly out," Garcia explained.
"So that's why she came back?" JJ asked.
Penelope nodded, looking guilty.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to be mad at her before she had the chance to see Sophia again," Garcia tried to clarify.
JJ sighed.
"Are you mad?" Penelope asked.
"Yeah, but not at you," JJ said sternly.