Epilogue: One Year Later

It had been exactly one year since the deaths of Kira Taylor and Cara Sheppard. JJ and Leila stood about thirty yards away as the two families gathered around the grave sites. Although they had never met before, they thought it was fitting it bury their daughters side by side. It was, after all, how they had spent their last days. The Jareau sisters held onto one another's hand as tightly as they could as they watched Kira Taylor's mother drape herself over her daughter's tombstone and sob. Cara Sheppard's father, and only family, placed a single white rose on hers and knelt, speaking to the marble as if it was his child.

"I thought I could do this," Leila breathed softly, "but I don't know if it was the best idea." The Jareaus had decided that, to honor the memory of the six women Jeremy had killed in lieu of them, they would visit their graves on the anniversary of their deaths. This was their last visit for the year but Leila was unsure she could do this every 365 days. The guilt, despite having long since acknowledged that this wasn't her fault, was overwhelming.

"Leils, this was your idea." JJ reminded her. "And I think it's a great one. We can't bring them back but we can…we can remember them."

"It just feels like we're intruding. I never even met any of them." Leila fidgeted uncomfortably as Ms. Taylor caught her gaze.

"I only met Kira…briefly." JJ swallowed hard at the memory. The sisters could see Ms. Taylor approaching them and JJ felt Leila stiffen immediately. Pulling her slightly behind her, JJ raised her hands defensively as the woman stopped in front of them. Her eyes were immediately drawn to Leila, looking her over as if to say so this is who my daughter died for.

"We don't want any trouble." JJ said slowly. "We'll just leave."

"What's your name?" the woman asked Leila, her voice shaky as more tears appeared. The sisters shared a look before Leila took a step forward and told her. Ms. Taylor repeated the name to herself.

"I-If you don't want me here, I understand." She told her, growing more and more uneasy under the woman's penetrating gaze. "But we just…we wanted to pay our respects. And I wanted to…I wanted to apologize for…"

"I blamed you." Taylor hadn't seemed to hear what she had said. "For a long time, I blamed both of you for what happened to my Kira…but I was wrong. Neither of you asked for this…and I know…I know Kira wouldn't want me to think so, either."

"T-Thank you, Ms. Taylor." Leila let out a breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Turning to look at JJ, she could tell that her sister felt similarly, her once dry eyes now glassy. While they knew they hadn't done anything wrong, both Jareau women had underestimated how much guilt they had put on themselves. Hearing one of the people who was most affected by these tragedies release them from any blame did more than every session of therapy had, combined.

"Come." Ms. Taylor extended her hand out to Leila and, after a moment's hesitation and a nod from JJ, she took it. The Englishwoman led them to the grave sites where the rest of Kira's family as well as Cara's father were mourning. The Jareaus didn't need an introduction. If their faces plastered all over the media for the past year didn't do the trick, then their very presence here did. Ms. Taylor made room for Leila beside her as she knelt in front of her daughter's tombstone. With trembling knees, Leila knelt and placed a hand against the granite. JJ did the same in front of Cara's, holding hands with the woman's father.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Kira." Leila told the marker. "I want you to know that I would trade with you, if I could…but since I can't I…I guess this is the only thing I can do to make up for it. Don't worry about your mom, ok? I promise I'll take care of her." Leila wiped away the multitude of tears as she stood. "See you next year, Kira."

"Thank you," Cara's father took Leila's hand as the other held JJ's, "both of you, for coming."

"It's the least we could do." JJ told the old man, her heart breaking at the way he looked at her.

"Speaking of 'least we could do'," Leila pulled out two envelopes from her jacket pocket, "I have something for both of you." Ms. Taylor and Mr. Sheppard opened the flaps to reveal checks- each made out to $50,000.

"We-We can't take this." Taylor shook her head. "This is too much. You-"

"Please, take it." Leila pleaded. "I have no use for it and I want to do something to help. This is the only thing I could think of."

"But you haven't done anything." Mr. Sheppard frowned.

"I-I know that now but," Leila searched for the right words despite having had this conversation four previous times, "I know how expensive all of this can be and I can't bear the thought of any of you having to shoulder it on your own. It'll ease my conscience. Please."

"The two of you brought the man who did this to justice." Both women stiffened at the mention, knowing that the real story had never been released to the public. "That's more than we can ever ask for…but, if it means that much to you…"

"It does." Leila told the woman, squeezing her hand. "Thank you."

"And you're…" Sheppard turned to JJ, "you're ok with this?" The blonde raised both hands, palms facing him.

"Don't look at me." She shook her head. "It's all hers." The looks of confusion on all the faces around them were understandable considering a twenty-one-year-old just handed out $300,000 in a month. "It's a long story."

"One I'd be glad to hear…if that's alright." Ms. Taylor looked up at Leila, hopeful that she would get to see the girl again. Leila knew that it would be difficult but she also acknowledged that the similarities between her and Kira were striking. It didn't come as a surprise that Ms. Taylor wanted to see her again, if only to see some semblance of her daughter. With a smile, Leila nodded.

"I'd be my pleasure." She told the woman who immediately enveloped her in a tight embrace. Leila stiffened at the contact, her eyes immediately going to JJ. The blonde, knowing how much her sister preferred to avoid physical contact, was quick to act.

"We have to get going but I'm sure we'll see you again." She told Taylor and Sheppard. "Thank you, again."

"No, my dear." Sheppard placed a warm hand against JJ's cheek. "Thank you." The blonde couldn't help but smile, placing her hand on her sister's shoulder as she led them back to the car. Once inside, the sisters glanced at one another. No words were necessary as JJ put the car in 'drive' and sped off towards Rossi's home. Today, coincidentally enough, was Rossi's 61st birthday and the entire BAU family was meeting to celebrate. Pulling up to the already bustling house, both Jareaus had to spend approximately fifteen minutes putting on the makeup they had wisely chosen to postpone until after the memorial services. As they were finishing up, Leila shut the passenger side mirror only to see a small army of children- Morgan and Reid included- sprinting towards them.

"Incoming." She warned her sister just as Jack, Henry, Rossi's grandson, Kai, Morgan, and Reid barreled into the vehicle, shouting for them to get out. They did and were each met with an excited child jumping into their arms.

"Leila, Leila, Leila!" Henry bounced as his aunt struggled to hold him up. These days were surely on their way out. "I have to show you the magic trick Uncle Spencer taught me."

"Well, you most certainly do! You know how much I love magic." She kissed the boys cheek before putting him down only to be propelled forward when he grabbed her hand and ran.

"I've missed you, Aunt JJ." Jack wrapped his arms around JJ's legs. "I haven't seen you in soo long."

"I've missed you too, buddy." She told the boy, kissing the top of his head.

"Someone else missed you too." Reid told her, motioning to the baby on his hip. Baby Jennifer, spotting her namesake, became overly excited and began to bounce in Spencer's arms. JJ laughed wholeheartedly as she reached out and took her into her arms.

"And how is my favorite girl doing?" She asked the baby who giggled in response. "Yea? Well you can tell me all about it while I find where Uncle Dave hid the good wine."

A lot had changed for the BAU family since the death of Parilla. Leila had briefly moved back in with JJ but, after less than two months, it was clear that it wasn't working. Too much had changed and, although they still loved each other dearly, living together was simply not best for their relationship. Instead, Leila now lived with Jackson who had dropped his life in New Jersey and moved to D.C to be with her. She was finishing school next year due to the time she had- albeit unwillingly- taken off and the two were even looking into adopting a puppy together.

Emily and Chris had moved in together after he had applied for a position at the Secret Service and been accepted. Jennifer's birth had been a blessing in disguise and only served to bring the two closer together. Emily took to motherhood right away, dismissing all the negative thoughts she'd had just hours before the birth. While she remained at the BAU, it would come to no surprise when the couple announced that a second child was already on the way. It would surprise one, however, when Chris proposed less than a week from this very day. Emily would, of course, say yes and the wedding would be booked for May, her favorite month.

While the past three years had been anything but easy, Leila, JJ, and the rest of their family were more than grateful for the way things had turned out. They had faced horror after horror- and would undoubtedly face many more- but as long as they had each other, nothing short of an apocalypse could keep them down for long.

The End

And just like that, it's over. I can't find the words to express how much this story means to me and how glad I am that I could share it with all of you. Even if you just glanced at my story, thank you so much. It's been almost 6 years since I first published this series and I can't even wrap my mind around the fact that it's over. I'm definitely not crying, don't be silly. Regardless, thank you so much for reading and please leave a review and let me know what you think or even shoot me a message and we can talk about whatever!

On another note, I have another in-progress CM story that some of you may like. It's rated M and not related to this series but I hope you give it a look nonetheless. Thank you again!

xx

Irene