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lilveeblog · 8 months

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the butterfly effect

little!jj x cg!elle and cg!emily

jj’s bday at the zoo!

2k words

Elle hastily walked up to Emily’s desk and put down a leaflet.

“What’s this?” Emily asked. She picked it up, inspected it and smiled, “For Saturday?”

“I can book out the whole butterfly house and she can spend as long as she wants there,” Elle said.

“Perfect.” Emily agreed.

Saturday morning came around and JJ stretched as she began to wake up. Today was her birthday. She was so excited to spend her birthday with her favourite people. Elle had a surprise for her but she didn’t know what it was. She just knew that her little self was going to love it. Sitting up, she grabbed her bunny before throwing off the covers. Waddling across the hall, she sang a little birthday song to herself. She pushed open the door to Elle’s room and saw Emily and Elle curled up in bed together. She huffed before climbing across their legs to scoot into the middle. She sat up in the middle of the bed, grabbed the TV remote then turned on her favourite show in the entire world: Bluey.

“Jay?” Emily whispered softly, reaching an arm out.

“Bluey,” JJ replied, pointing to the happy blue dog on the large TV. Emily laughed before rolling over, closer to her birthday girl. She put her head in JJ’s lap and JJ laughed. She ran her fingers through her caregiver’s brunette hair and giggled at her show.

Not long after, Elle woke up and headed to the bathroom. Emily, fast asleep on JJ’s lap, didn’t notice the bed shift and neither did JJ, too engrossed with Bluey. Elle climbed back into bed and kissed JJ’s temple, causing a broad smile on her face.

“Happy Birthday, my little princess,” Elle whispered. JJ giggled and threw up her hands before cheering.

“Birthday!” Emily groaned and sat up before rolling over, causing the other two to laugh.

“Shall we go get birthday pancakes?” Elle asked, putting JJ’s blonde hair over her shoulder. JJ nodded and climbed out of bed.

“Pancakes?” Emily mumbled in her sleepy state.

The three got themselves comfortable in the car, JJ in the back with her headphones on. The journey was about two hours long and the caregivers hoped their little one could nap.

“Mama, when we gon be there?” JJ shouted.

“In about two hours,” Emily replied.

“Nuff time watch movie?” JJ shouted again.

“Why don’t you try nap baby?” Elle suggested, watching the blonde through the mirror.

“Nuh uh, movie,” JJ mumbled. She slid her paci in her mouth before pressing play on the film. The caregivers hoped she could still get some decent rest whilst she was watching it. Even if she doesn’t necessarily nap, she can relax.

The morning had been quite hectic. With friends visiting, dropping off presents, opening of presents, pancakes and toys! JJ had had a blast already; Elle and Emily hoped the day would only continue to be great for their birthday girl.

Not even halfway through the journey, JJ was fast asleep. With her head resting on her hand, her blonde hair fell in front of her face and little whimpers escaped her ajar mouth as she dreamed.

“Baby girl,” Elle whispered softly, stroking JJ’s cheek. They’d parked up at the zoo and whilst Emily got the baby’s bag sorted, Elle worked on waking up the sleeping beauty.

“Mama,” JJ whimpered, still half asleep.

“It’s time to wake up princess, we’re here.” At those words, JJ’s eyes shot open and her face exploded with a smile.

“Here!” JJ gasped. She jumped from her seat to see where they were. “The ZOO!” She practically jumped into Elle’s arms in glee. “I LOVE THE ZOO!” She cheered. Elle and Emily couldn’t help but cheer along.

“Put these on sweetheart, then we can go in,” Emily held up the reigns but JJ frowned and crossed her arms.

“No need them,” she huffed. She just wanted to go in and explore! She wanted to see all the animals, not be tied to her silly caregivers who walk too slowly.

“Jay,” Emily warned, raising her eyebrows at her.

“Nooo,” JJ cried, stomping her feet. “You too slow!” She didn’t want it.

“Okay, okay,” Elle said. She put her hands on JJ’s shoulders and made sure the little one was looking at her.

“Maaaaa,” JJ whined, looking at her caregiver.

“None of this,” Elle shook her head. “You’re going to put them on. I don’t care how slow we are. You are our little one and we have to keep you safe. You’re excited and will run off.

“No no no,” JJ shook her head.

“Okay then, back in the car,” Elle said. JJ cried loudly at that. “Are you going to put them on and listen?” Elle asked.

JJ thought for a moment, her arms crossed and face foul, “Fine.”

Emily stepped forwards and helped her put them on, clasping it at the front. “No more of this attitude either,” she reminded her, tapping her nose. JJ scrunched up her face and huffed.

“Seriously Jay, do you want to go home?” Elle asked, crossing her arms.

“Noo! I want go animals,” she mumbled, pointing at the zoo.

“Then I suggest you take a few deep breaths and calm down. We aren’t taking a little girl with attitude into the zoo. Birthday or not.” Elle made sure she had her keys and phone before taking JJ’s hand. JJ sighed and before she could take another step, wrapped her arms around Elle’s waist. Elle stopped and hugged her girl back.

“Sorry ma,” JJ mumbled into Elle’s neck.

“Thank you, baby. I just need you to think about what you’re doing.”

They got into the zoo with no more hiccups and managed to even convince JJ to try on the toilet before they went too far.

“What first angel?” Emily asked, making sure she had a good grip on the reigns as JJ excitedly looked around her. Her whole body bounced up and down in anticipation as she decided which way she wanted to go.

“Elepants!” She declared. She began towards the sandy enclosure and her caregivers followed. Elle kept an eye out for their friends who were meeting them at the zoo, ready for a meal at the penguin bridge restaurant later on in the afternoon. After the meal, they were heading to the butterfly house which Elle had specifically hired for the afternoon - allowing her little one to have all the free reign she likes.

Later that day, the group of three headed into the Penguin Bridge Restaurant and were greeted by their teammates.

“Friends!” JJ cheered, jumping into Derek’s open arms. He spun her around before she leaned backwards into Garcia who caught her. Elle and Emily greeted everyone too whilst the birthday girl was passed around the group.

“Let’s sit! What’s the little one drinking?” Dave asked, putting his hand on JJ’s back as she sat in the chair at the top of the table.

“Pink Milk!” JJ cried.

“Inside voices please, Jay,” Emily warned, giving her girl a stern look.

“Pink milk, please,” JJ said, using her inside voice. Emily rolled her eyes and Elle went to speak to the waitress.

After the meal, the group headed towards the butterfly house. JJ had been begging to go all day but Elle had been putting it off for this moment. JJ skipped, holding Penelope’s hand. She was rambling to her about all the butterflies she knew. Garcia was nodding along pretending to know what she was on about.

JJ ran in as soon as the butterfly house was in sight and was in awe. The little creatures flying around captivated her imagination.

“They’re like fairies!” Hotch said, putting an arm around JJ’s shoulder as she took in the sights in front of her.

“No dada,” JJ mumbled, pushing off. “They're butterfies!” she cheered and ran into it but Elle grabbed her wrist quickly before she could go any further.

“Mama!” JJ whined loudly.

“One second, just a few rules,” Elle laughed. JJ huffed. “You have to be quiet in here okay, working voices please. We also need to make sure you’re super gentle with them. We’re going to let you explore but you’re not allowed to leave the butterfly house. If you do, we’ll be going straight home. Okay?”

“Okay mama, I go nowwww,” she tugged her arm and Elle let her go. Instantly, she ran over to the bridge.

There was a little silver stream flowing under the wooden bridge with lilypads floating across it. The bright lights from the sun, shining through the glass roof, created rainbow reflections on the water, attracting more butterflies. JJ hung over the side of the bridge and dipped her fingertips in the chilling water. It brushed past her pink nails, causing her to giggle and watch the water move around her. She gasped softly at the goldfish swimming past her too and she followed them under her feet and to the other side.

A flash of yellow caught her attention and she glanced up from the shimmering river. On the pink flower in front of her, stood a butterfly with bright, proud yellow wings. Black lined the outer edge of the wing and white spots were dotted across it. Jj admired it before it flew off. Excited, JJ followed it, only to be stopped by the sight of a purple hairstreak. It landed on the trees abundant with leaves beside her. Holding her breath, she leaned closer. The wings were scattered with purple glitter and she smiled, in awe at the beauty of nature. A purple Emperor landed beside it, his wings were covered in a vibrant purple, just like the flowers hidden under the trees and JJ truly was astonished.

Her entire childhood was spent researching, collecting and wanting to know more and more about the fragile creatures but her mother never allowed it. However, now, in the greenhouse full of life, beauty and fluttering insect angels, she felt at home. In her little element.

Continuing to explore, JJ found some stepping stones over the same stream. Giggling she jumped across them as three butterflies chased each other around her body. She skipped through the human-high flowers and plants, running her hands through the greenery. Completely in her own little world, her caregivers and friends watched on. As the sun began to set over the greenhouse, the orange and pink sky paintings reflected on her blonde hair as it swung through the plants and flowers. Butterflies landed on her hand, her arms and her feet when she stood still - as if they knew how much JJ cared for them and loved them. She was a butterfly person; she was the butterfly person.

Half an hour before the zoo closed, the zookeeper came in and announced the closing of the butterfly house for the night. Disappointment flooded JJ but with Garcia’s quick promise to bring her back super soon, the tired girl clung to Elle’s hand as they headed towards the gift shop. Emily bought her birthday girl a ‘raise your own butterfly’ kit whilst each of the team bought her a different butterfly teddy. These teddies, in partnership with butterfly conservation, all came with a special sponsorship of their own butterfly as well as an information card for each. JJ was in awe and felt so grateful to have such amazing friends. However, the long day was creeping up on her.

The group stood outside the gift shop saying their goodbyes. Hotch clipped some human sized butterfly wings to the back of JJ’s t-shirt and she giggled before climbing up onto Derek’s back.

“Oh my, Derek there’s a butterfly on your back!” Emily teased, taking a picture of the cute moment.

“A sleepy butterfly,” Elle chuckled. She put some hair behind JJ’s ear and JJ sent them all a soft smile before putting her head down on Derek’s shoulder. He carried her back to the car where Elle slid the wings off her back, got the pink reigns off and then together, they got her in her seat.

Elle’s hand rested on Emily’s leg as they drove towards the sunset. The birthday girl slept softly in the back, dreaming of butterflies.

#little!jj #criminal minds #criminal minds agere #jennifer jareau #jj #little space #jj criminal minds #cg!emily #emily prentiss #jj x emily #cg!elle #elle greenaway #elle x jj #elle greenaway x jennifer jareau #bau #the zoo

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