Moving Forward

Part 38

Joy Rossi's POV

I open my eyes. Everything's bright. I see my dad. He's holding my hand. He's crying.

"Thanks, God, she's alive," he says, looking at the ceiling.

Everyone is there, in the room, except Penelope. I try to sit up straight. But, as I'm standing, I feel an excruciating pain and I feel dizzy too.

"Don't move, sweetheart," my dad says.

"How long has it been?"

"2 longs days."

"I mean, since my abduction."

"A week and a few days."

I was going to say something but I saw Oliver, Hope, and Jaeden running into the room. Hotch leans to catch Oliver and JJ and Spencer lean to catch their children. Penelope enters the room with Lacey and Zoe. Penelope is followed by a tall brown-haired woman.

"Penelope... Can I hold my daughter?"

She nods and unties Zoe from her seat and give her to me. Derek leans to hold his niece, looks at Penelope and asks, confused:

"Who is she?"

Penelope blushes a bit and declares, smiling:

"Here's my girlfriend Carolyn Lynch."

"Hello," Carolyn says with a British accent.

"Oh. You're British?" Derek asks, shaking her hand.

"Yes. But I'm born and I passed most of my life in France."

"That's nice! By the way, I'm Derek Morgan."

Carolyn introduces herself to everyone and she even talks french with Emily.

"Bonjour, moi c'est Emily."

"Oh. Vous parlez français?"

"Je me débrouille assez bien je dirais. On pourrait discuter des heures en français sans que personne ne nous comprennent!"

"Ouais! Vous venez de France aussi?"

"Non, mais j'ai beaucoup voyagé durant ma jeunesse et j'ai fini par apprendre le français!"

"Oh. C'est vraiment bien!"

Everybody is looking them strangely. Hotch can't stand understanding anything Emily said.

"Sweetie, can you stop talking in French. You know I can't stand understanding anything you say."

At the same time, Oliver looks in his father's eyes and declares:

"Maman dit que vous utilisez le français juste dans la chambre à coucher."

Carolyn and Emily start to laugh pretty hard while everyone is wondering what is happening.

"Emily. Where did he learn French?" Hotch asks.

"Where do you think?" She laughs.

Spencer coughs to have everyone's attention.

"We would like to announce something," he says.

"We're gonna get married!" JJ exclaims, happily, showing her hand with the ring.

"Congratulations!" Everybody says, offering them their best vows.

* * * * * * * * * *

Aaron Hotchner's POV

We're now coming back home for the night. We decided to let Dave alone with his daughter tonight. Oliver is sleeping in his seat.

"Emily. You know the case is closed. You said you would check. The pharmacy is there. Do you want me to pick them or you want to go?"

Emily sighs.

"I'm going..."

She gets out of the car and walks in the pharmacy. A few minutes later, she gets back in the car.

"I'm doing it right when we arrive home. After, I don't wanna talk about that anymore. The doctor said it: I can't get pregnant. I will never get pregnant. He said it!"

"Emily. Please."

We arrive home. Emily runs inside to do the pregnancy test. Meanwhile, I hold Oliver and I put him in his bed.

Minutes pass, and Emily isn't out of the bathroom yet. I knock at the door.

"Is everything okay?"

There's no answer, so I enter. I see Emily sit on the toilet, the test in her hand.

"Call the doctor."

"Why?"

She looks up.

"It's positive."