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BITTERSWEET
::  xlv. | from dusk till dawn

Cole was now back at school, Vanessa was thinking of getting her hotel job back and well, jj was at the BAU. It was her last day there because she was being moved, even though her and Hotch tried all they could to protest against. It very sudden and she had yet to tell Vanessa and Cole, will already knew.

It was quite sudden and jj hates that she has to leave because one, who would ever want to leave the BAU and two, her girls were still processing Miguel's death even though they say they're fine all the time. She always thought of change of a good thing, but she didn't think this change was.

This case was in Sherwood, Nevada. This unsub would kill the men and boys, then take the women and girls. So far, only families have been the targets. The case was still in the understanding, processing stages when the team was on the way there from the jet.

As they flew through the sky, Vanessa was trying to get the courage to go into her house, her shot up house. It looked so ugly from the outside as she stared at it. Something in the back of her head told her to go in and as she did, she thought about how the inside looked just as ugly.

Her and Cole didn't live there till Miguel and her divorced. From that time on, so many memories were made. Vanessa didn't think it would be this hard to let go, but it was. As she reminisced, she didn't hear anyone come through the door because she was too caught up in her thoughts.

"Vanessa?"

She heard her name, turning she saw a face she's been dreading to see since finding out about Miguel's death.

"Hi, Mabel." She spoke softly.

"Planning my son's funeral yet?"

Vanessa realized even after everything, this was the way their relationship was going to be. It looked like after his death, Mabel was still this hostile bitch towards her.

Vanessa shook her head, "No. I don't plan too."

"And why not?" Mabel's tone was arrogant, "I'm sure Bethany and the kids would like to come."

Vanessa slowly walked closer. She was done at this point, "Shut your little, arrogant mouth up. I'm tired of you always bullying me around, making me feel like I don't know what I'm doing with anything." Vanessa continues, "Maybe I was chicken to say this when he was alive, but you're a fucking asshole and I'm glad he's gone. I don't need his bad influence affecting my daughter."

Mabel shook her head, "You don't mean that. You loved him."

Vanessa lightly scoffed, "And because of that, I can't get back the last seventeen years of my life." Vanessa paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm not ashamed of Cole because she is nothing like her dad. She's better and you will never get to see her again." She stepped towards her again, "So if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone in my house now. Don't forget to blame your son for the bullets on your way out."

And so Mabel was gone. She left the mother alone. Even though deep down Vanessa was angry, she was sad too. Once upon a time, she did truly love him before knowing anything of what went down. She, Cole, and him did share some irreplaceable memories.

However, knowing all of that, anger still took over.

• • •

"Hey." Reid approached jj, "Everything ok?"

She nodded, standing up, "Yeah, I'm fine."

He tilted his head, "I know you, Jennifer."

Jj sighed in defeat, "It's just Cole and Vanessa are going through a lot and I feel guilty for leaving. Also, I haven't yet told them either."

"Why not?"

"I don't know." Jj walked around the table, "I guess because we just started this relationship and they're going through the death of Miguel. It's a lot and I don't want to leave them in the dust." She concluded, "I don't want Vanessa to feel like she has to raise my son. Henry's my responsibility."

Spencer shook his head, "We both know Vanessa wouldn't mind and that's definitely not how you feel."

"Ok. Fine. I told will first about me leaving and I know Vanessa is going to read into that."

"You told him because of Henry but then again, you realized that Vanessa lives with Henry so she'll have more of the responsibility." Spencer elaborated for her.

"I just want to avoid a fight —— an unnecessary fight."

"Then be honest." He simply shrugged, "That's what I would do."

She nodded with a smile, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For being you."

"Well, I don't know how to be anyone else."

That earned a smile from jj and a smile in return form spencer. The two then continued on with the case, waiting for the rest of the team so they could all began to form the profile.

• • •

Vanessa was back at the apartment, letting the nanny go because she can take care of Henry now since she was back. Not only two hours later cole came home, then early in the night around seven, jj came home.

She walked through the kitchen to get to the living room where she found Cole doing homework.

"Where's your mom?"

"Putting Henry to sleep." The teen calmly spoke, keeping her eyes on her paper.

Just as jj was approaching the nursery, Vanessa was walking out. She had just quietly shut the door when jj came.

"Hi. I missed you." Vanessa spoke with a smile.

"Missed you more." Jj leaned in, giving her girlfriend a quick peck on the lips before pulling away, "I think we need to have a family meeting."

The two then made their way to the living room to meet Cole. Vanessa sat on the chair and jj sat on the edge of the coffee table, facing the two.

Cole slowly put her pencil down, "It's bad, isn't it?"

Jj shook her head, "Not necessarily. Depends on how y'all take it." She then continued, "I tried to fight it, but I have to leave for work for a couple of months."

Cole leaned in to whisper to jj, "It'll probably have more of an impact on her than me." She gestured towards Vanessa who was staring into space after what jj just said.

Jj nodded, agreeing. She turned towards Vanessa and opens her mouth about to talk, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Jennifer glanced to Cole who just shrugged as she got up to go answer the door.

After approaching, she pulled the door open and was surprised to see who stood in front of her. They hadn't planned anything and more so, there was a lot jj hadn't said yet.

"Mom —— hi!"

a/n:
sooo many things coming
to light.