A Missed Opportunity

the nickname

JJ's POV
We were in the plane to Pennsylvania. Emily still had a busted ass nose, but it could be worse. She leaned against the window as I curled up next to her.

We watched a movie together as the plane softly turned. I do not remember watching the end of it. I felt a little nudge as the plane landed.

"Welcome home." Emily said smiling. We got off the plane as my mom ran up to me.

Emily's POV
"My Jenny." My heart dropped as I saw JJ wince. "Hi mom." She replied forcing a smile. "This is Emily. She's um." She paused. I could tell she was still shaken from hearing Jenny.

"I work with her at the BAU. If you don't mind I need to run to the restroom. We'll be right back." I added, running off with JJ in my hand.

I closed the door and immediately she broke down. Quickly I locked the door and pulled her close as she crumpled to the door.

"When she called me that all I could think about was that day you got pulled away." She said through sobs. I stroked her hair as she cried into my shoulder.

"What all have you told her?" I asked when she calmed down. "I haven't told her anything. She didn't even know I was shot. And when I think of that, I realize how bad of a daughter I am."

"You aren't. You have been through so much. But you have made it to the other side. If the young girl I found in that bathroom saw you today, she would be so proud."

"Let's make a deal. When we leave this bathroom I will lie for you. But you have to tell her you got shot. She needs to know these things." I felt her head nod and eventually we got up and left.

"Jenny? Are you okay?" Her mom asked when we got in the car. She winced again. I leaned forward and grabbed her hand from the backseat. She gave it a tight squeeze and took a deep breath.

"Can you not call me that? It doesn't have good memories." She whispered looking at her lap.

"Oh sweetie I'm sorry. I had no idea." Sandy quickly apologized and we were off.

We got to the cute house and JJ helped me out of the car. We wandered in to the mud room. "Can I get the full tour?" I asked as we took off our shoes.

She led me down the hall and showed me each room. I saw her parents room, the guest room, Rosylns room and JJ's childhood bedroom.

The walls were covered in soccer posters and pictures of teenage JJ. She had a full length mirror across from her bed in the corner.

She led me to the guest room. It was basic with a dresser, a queen sized bed and a bookshelf. It had a connected bathroom with a bathtub, toilet and sink.

"My mom says you'll be staying in here." She said. "But it isn't hard to sneak someone into my room." She added with a whisper.

We unpacked our bags and joined Sandy watching a movie on the couch. JJ's dad Harry was making something for dinner. I can see something off with Jay. Maybe it's being home, maybe it's waiting to tell her about the things she's been through.

Fuck. What if it's about me. I know Sandy doesn't know she's bisexual. I mean that's a lot of big news to get in a week.

Hey mom, my ex tried to kill me. I also almost killed myself. Oh and I was shot. And to top it all off here's me lesbian lover.

Oh shit. I told JJ to kill her mother. Sandy is going to die. Happy holidays Jareau's. I killed Sandy.

"Foods ready. Emily I made spaghetti. Is that okay? I can make you something else." Harry said from the kitchen. I laughed. "No. I love spaghetti." JJ helped me up and we wandered over to the kitchen table.

"So sweetie, how is your job going? And how's Penelope? We miss her." Harry asked over dinner. "It's been good. Nothing major happened. It's been slow. But Pen is good. She's been going to conventions with Spencer more. And Elle is dating Spencer. They are together for the holidays." She said looking at her plate.

"Well Jenny that's nice." Sandy said as JJ winced again. "Mom don't call me that." JJ said as tears formed in her eyes. "Oh I'm sorry my darling. I've been calling you that since you were a little peanut. It's hard to change because of a few bad memories." Sandy said twirling her fork.

Oh shit.

"A few?" JJ said finally looking up. "It's more than a few memories mom." I tried going for hand but she pulled it away. "No Emily. She needs to know. Mom, Jenny was the name my ex boyfriend called me as he choked the life out of me. He still called me that when he kidnapped me and Emily. And when I thought I was finally free from him, he shot me." She was standing as her parents sat silent. "Jay." I said as I went for her hand again. "I'm sorry." She said as she held up her hands and ran off to her room.

"I'm sorry. I told her she should tell you. It's been a weight on her shoulders for a while and I thought it was something you needed to know." I said picking at my fingers. "I should check on her." Sandy said trying to get up.

"Wait." I said before she stood. "Please. Let me." They nodded and I ran after JJ.

JJ's POV
"Hey." I heard from the door. I was sitting on the floor of my childhood bedroom crying. I crawled over and opened the door to Emily. She closed the door behind her and kneeled next to me.

"Hey my sweet. I'm proud of you." She said as she scooped me into her arms. "Proud of what? I blew up at my parents. And I didn't even tell them about us." I said through tears. I hated myself. I blew up about Will. I could've blown up about the love of my life.

She pulled me in tighter. "You have a lot of news to tell them this week. You have been through so much. Let's go back out there." She wiped my tears away and pulled me up.

"We can tell them about us later. It'll be our little secret." She said as she gave me a quick kiss.

"I'm so sorry darling. I had no idea about the nickname." My mom said as we sat back at the table. I quickly grabbed her hand.

"Please don't be sorry. You had no idea. I was going to tell you about it all this week but I just got overwhelmed with it all. You don't need to be sorry. Please." I pulled her hand in and gave it a kiss. "Whatever you want to know about it all you can ask." I said letting go of her hand.

We went back to our food and helped clean up after. My parents asked some questions about Will and what happened to him. Emily and I left out the parts of our relationship, Barnes, and the day in the bathroom.

We all sat down in the living room to watch a movie. No matter how hard it was, I didn't sit in Emily's lap. Instead she leaned against the arm of the couch and I leaned against her.

I must have a problem with watching movies because Emily had to wake me up again. Luckily my parents had gone to bed, because I had wrapped my arms around Emily.

We wandered back to our bedrooms. She went to the guest room as I went to my room. We were separate for now.