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JJ played with her newly cut hair, standing in front of the door to her house and tugging at the ends of her bob. It had taken a long time to convince herself to cut her hair at all, but now she wished she’d gone all the way and just cut it all off. This wasn’t the big change she’d wanted.
Chewing on her finger, a habit she’d picked up from Emily, JJ tried to organize her thoughts. She- No. They had a secret. They’d kept it for years and pretended everything was fine. It was fairly easy to keep when they’d been single, a little harder when they’d started dating Emily, and then very hard when they’d brought Hotch into the relationship. JJ couldn’t help comparing themself to their partners, always feeling out of place.
JJ sighed and dug their keys out of their pocket. It wasn’t their partners’ fault. They’d be supportive if they knew, but JJ didn’t want to be too much trouble. They didn’t want to make a fuss or be dramatic.
“It’s not a big deal,” they reminded themself quietly as they unlocked the door. “It doesn’t matter.”
They opened the door and entered the house. They were greeted by the sound of James Bond on the television and Emily and Hotch bickering on the large couch. It was so familiar and calming that JJ felt themself relax and smile. When the door closed, Emily and Hotch looked over at them.
“Hey, hot stuff!” Emily cheered, crawling across the couch and resting her arms on the back to look at JJ. “It looks great!”
Hotch nodded, still lounging where he was. “You look beautiful, JJ.”
“Thanks,” they replied, trying not to cringe at the feminine compliment. Their voice trembled and both of their profiler-partners narrowed their eyes. “Don’t profile me.”
“You don’t like it?” Emily asked, reaching out to tug on a lock of hair. “It’s really cute. It suits you.”
JJ frowned, tossing their head and pulling their hair from Emily’s loose grip. “What if I cut it shorter?”
“Shorter?” Hotch repeated, sitting forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Do you mean to your chin?”
“No.” Swallowing hard, JJ picked at their nails, but Emily took their hands to stop them. “I mean, really short, like…” They met his eyes. “Like yours.”
“I think it’d be hot,” Emily said immediately. She glanced over her shoulder and shared a meaningful look with Hotch. “Don’t you?”
He smiled and nodded in agreement. “I think so, too.” He grinned at JJ. “I think you’d look really handsome, Jay.”
The reassurance, and change in compliments, made them feel a little better. They pulled their hands from Emily so they could empty their pockets on the side table by the door. JJ used the opportunity to turn their back on the other two.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to open up a little bit. After all, they’d been together for years now. The three of them had gone through plenty of hard times, difficult compromises, and outside criticisms. They’d always come out stronger for it. What was this in the grand scheme of things?
When JJ turned back to the living room, they saw that Emily had moved back to Hotch and was speaking quietly into his ear. JJ couldn’t help feeling like they were talking about them. When Hotch’s eyes flicked up, they cleared their throat.
“I was, uh, actually thinking…” JJ blushed as two sets of dark eyes fixed on them. “Nevermind.”
Hotch paused the movie as Emily gestured to the couch and said, “Come sit, babe. Talk to us.”
Stepping out of their shoes, JJ walked around the couch and curled up in the corner. They were close enough to talk, but far enough that they could run if they needed to. The thought of losing Emily and Hotch made their heart and throat tighten. Emily crossed her legs on the couch and Hotch just stayed still, both of them waiting for JJ to start.
“It would be a masculine haircut,” JJ said nervously. They hated how hard it was to talk about this. Their whole job was being clear and concise, but now they were suddenly reduced to an anxious wreck. “I was thinking… I want to dress more masculinely, too. At least, less femininely.” Their heart leapt into their throat, even though they’d never been particularly feminine, even though their partners wouldn’t know how much the change meant. Despite themself, they glanced up at Emily and Hotch and swallowed. “Would that be ok?”
“Jay,” Hotch said gently, “you can dress however you want to. We aren’t going to stop you or limit you.”
Emily nodded and scooted a bit closer to them. “Exactly. We love you no matter what, okay?”
“I just…” JJ groaned loudly, dropping their face into their hands. “This is so stupid. I just need to tell you.”
They felt themself get pulled into strong, affectionate arms and fell against Emily. How many times had they been in this position before? It always made them feel better. Emily’s arms were their safe place, followed closely by Hotch’s arms. Wasn’t this what relationships were for? To help you be your best self?
JJ lowered their hands and looked up at Emily. “I’m not a girl.” They looked at Hotch. “I’m not a boy, but I’m… not a girl. I don’t know how to say it. I’m not anything.”
“Well, that’s just not true,” Hotch told them, raising a cheeky eyebrow in the way that always made them smile. “I’m pretty sure you’re our everything.”
Emily barked a laugh and reached out to push his shoulder. “Shut up. That’s so cheesy. Asshole.”
“I’m being romantic!”
“You’re being dumb.”
Their playful bickering made JJ feel accepted and loved. They’d just revealed their biggest secret, one that had terrified them for years, and it bothered their partners so little that they could joke and tease each other. Emily hit Hotch one more time and wrapped her arms around JJ again, looking down at them with a soft smile.
“Thank you for telling us, JJ,” she murmured. “It’s not stupid, and it isn’t nothing. We’ve always loved you, but now we can love all of you.”
Snorting, Hotch rubbed his forehead. “But that’s not too cheesy?”
“Shut up,” Emily snapped playfully, flipping him the middle finger. “Let JJ speak.”
They both looked at JJ, making them blush again. “Um… I guess I wasn’t expecting you to take it so well.” Glancing between both of them, JJ burrowed closer to Emily. “You guys really don’t care that I’m nonbinary?”
“Nonbinary?” Hotch repeated. He shrugged and pushed a hand through his hair. “I care because it’s important to you, but you’re still you, right?”
“Right,” JJ confirmed, turning to Emily. “And you?”
Emily kissed JJ’s forehead. “I love you. Nothing can change that.”
“Jeez,” they muttered, frowning, “I should have come out sooner.”
“You needed time,” Emily told them kindly. She rested her cheek on top of JJ’s head, looking at Hotch. “I guess I have two handsome lovers now. Well, one handsome lover, and… Hotch.”
He rolled his eyes and sat back against the couch. “Alright. Very funny.”
Pulling out of Emily’s grip, JJ crawled along the couch to Hotch and climbed into his lap. They rested their hands on his shoulders, gazing down at him. The man beneath them seemed relaxed, like they really hadn’t changed at all. JJ supposed they hadn’t.
“Thank you,” JJ said sincerely, leaning down to kiss him. Hotch hugged them and tugged them closer. “I mean that. I love you. Both of you.”
“We love you, too,” he murmured, kissing them again. “What can we do?”
“Do?” JJ leaned back and looked between the two of them. “What do you mean?”
Emily answered for him. “You said you wanted to cut your hair and get new clothes? We could take you shopping?” She thought for a moment, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Do you want to use different pronouns? Or a new name?”
Blushing a dark red, JJ hesitated. They didn’t want to make anyone change for them. It really wasn’t a big deal. They could handle it if nothing changed. Strong hands cupped their face. Hotch was staring into their eyes, looking thoughtful and intense. JJ knew that face. It was the face he made when he really wanted someone to take him seriously and listen.
“JJ,” he said quietly, “this is about you. Not us. We’re here to support you, but you have to tell us what you want. Stop being so selfless. It’s our turn to make changes for you. Let us take care of you.”
Emily moved closer, wrapping her arms around Hotch’s shoulder and leaning her head against his to look at JJ’s face. “You’ve always been strong for us, doing whatever it took to keep us together. We can never repay you, but this is something we can do. So, let us.”
Tears filled JJ’s eyes and they quickly wiped them away. They had known Emily and Hotch would take the news well, but they hadn’t expected them to take it this well. JJ had really expected to have to explain themself, or prove themself somehow. This unblinking acceptance was beyond their wildest imagination.
“I’d like to use different pronouns,” JJ admitted. They smiled at their partners, who both gazed at them with only love. “They/Them pronouns. Gender neutral? We could try?”
“Of course,” Hotch agreed, and Emily hummed along. “Would that be, “they are my partner?”
JJ burst into tears unexpectedly, dropping their face into their hands. Hotch hugged them again, tucking their face into his neck and holding them close. Behind them, Emily straddled his knees and leaned against JJ’s back. They were tucked between the two people they loved the most and couldn’t stop crying happy tears.
It felt ridiculous to get so emotional over so little. Hotch had only been asking a question, but it sounded so right when he’d said it that they couldn’t contain themself. It had been years of hiding and pretending and trying to be a girl, but they just weren’t. It just wasn’t real. They were real now. JJ suddenly realized that. It was real. They’d said it out loud and the world hadn’t ended.
“I love you so much,” they cried into Hotch’s neck, knowing that Emily would hear it, too. “It’s been so hard not to tell you. I’m so glad you know now. I can- God, I think I can breathe.”
“We’ve got you,” Emily sighed into their ear. “We’ve got you, Jay.”
Hotch hummed. “Jay. That’s a good name for you. Not too different, but it’s not your previous name.”
Jay nodded, smiling against his skin. “Yeah. I like that.”
“Jay…” Emily breathed as she snuck her hands under their shirt. “Jay, Hotch, and Emily. I like it.”
“Me too.”
Jay laughed as the tailor shoved his measuring tape into their armpit. Emily and Hotch had dragged them out of the house, taking them into DC to visit Hotch’s tailor. After some more crying and cuddling, they’d talked about first steps and all agreed that a new wardrobe was in order.
Normally, Jay would refuse to let their partners spend so much money on them, but this was their dream and both Hotch and Emily were so excited about it. So, they’d agreed. As they stared at themself in the mirror, they were glad they did.
“Watch the hands, Yves,” Hotch warned from his place in a leather seat. “They’re not a mannequin.”
Yves raised an eyebrow and draped his measuring tape around his neck. “Do I make the best suits?”
Hotch rolled his eyes. “Yves-”
“Do I make the best suits?”
“It’s ok,” Jay chuckled, grinning at Hotch. He glowered, but didn’t protest again. Jay turned back to Yves. “Please, continue. I’m fine.”
Yves smiled at them. “Yes, you are!”
As he continued to measure him, the door opened and Emily entered, tucking her phone into her pocket. “Sorry! Had to call Pen.”
“I’m getting felt up,” Jay told her, “and Hotch is getting jealous.”
Emily dropped onto Hotch’s lap, blocking his view and pulling an annoyed sigh from him. “Yves is the best.”
Jay ignored them as they squabbled quietly and looked at themself in the mirror again. Hotch had lent them a t-shirt for the trip, but they’d chosen to wear their own leggings. With their hair tied back into a short, tight French braid, Jay couldn’t tell if they still looked like a girl. The thought was thrilling.
Once they finished getting fitted at Yves’, the trio went to the mall. Jay was excited for new clothing, but Emily dragged them into a jewelry store first. The three of them gathered at a glass case to inspect watches.
“Let’s get you something sturdy,” Emily said, surveying the options. “It won’t be water resistant, but it’ll be sexy.”
“That’s what matters most,” Jay agreed with a laugh.
Hotch slung an arm over their shoulders and held up his other wrist. “We could match.”
Scoffing, Emily shoved his hand away. “Absolutely not. I said ‘sexy,’ not ‘old’. You have a dad watch.”
“It’s not old, Emily. It’s classic.”
“But you admit it’s a dad watch?”
The store clerk appeared in front of them, cutting off the conversation. Jay tried a few on, eventually choosing something similar to Hotch’s, but approved by Emily. When they heard the price, their blood ran cold.
Hotch took their hand and pulled them out of the store as Emily paid so they couldn’t protest. Jay reminded themself that this was important and Emily wanted to spend this money. It was ok to let people treat them.
They entered a stationary store, heading to the corner where the expensive, leather-bound things were kept. Jay could handle this choice on their own. Getting lost in the options and trying to decide between a deep brown planner case and a rusty brown planner case, they didn’t notice Emily join them.
“Jeez,” the brunette chuckled, “this is a big deal?”
Hotch nodded wisely. “A person’s organizer says a lot about them. Jay, think about your suits.”
With a smile, they chose the rusty orange planner case and looked at Hotch. “You’re right. I’ll pick the fun one.”
“The fun one,” Emily repeated skeptically. “Just give it to Hotch so we can move on.”
Jay obeyed and followed Emily out of the store. They spent some time choosing casual clothing, with Hotch arriving just in time for the fashion show. Jay tried on jeans, shorts, t-shirts, button downs, and jackets. Every outfit was met with whistles and flirty comments from Emily and Hotch.
They made Jay feel good about their choices and confident enough to keep trying things on. Jay didn’t even feel too bothered by their breasts. Sure, it’d be nice to have a flat chest, but most of the clothing they chose made them look exactly the way they wanted to.
Clothing bought, they all went to their next stop. Jay tried to tell their partners that they didn’t need to buy everything at once, but neither of them listened. Instead, they bought cologne, new shower supplies, deodorant, and hair gel.
Eventually, they left the mall and headed for the hair salon. Jay looked out the passenger seat window, watching the buildings go by. Halfway there, they began to panic. Cutting all their hair off was a big step. It wasn’t something they could change their mind about like clothes and body wash. It was something they’d be stuck with for a long time.
“I changed my mind.”
Hotch glanced at them before turning his eyes back on the road. “About what?”
“I don’t want to cut my hair yet.”
Emily leaned forward from her place in the backseat. “Are you sure? You said you really wanted this.”
“I changed my mind,” JJ snapped. They pinched the bridge of their nose, shaking their head. The reason for their fear wasn’t clear to them, so they couldn’t explain it well to anyone else. That big, final step felt fatal. With a sigh, they turned in their seat to smile apologetically at Emily. “I’m sorry. It’s just… It’s a lot at once.”
“I know,” Emily replied sympathetically. “Why don’t we pick up your suits and go home?”
“Okay.”
Jay stared at themself in the bathroom mirror. The bright light exposed every flaw in their face and every too long strand of hair. That’s what it felt like anyway. Jay couldn’t see past their hair.
They’d had a nice evening, cooking dinner with Hotch and making cocktails with Emily. The trio had watched a movie before going to bed. Jay’s eyes drifted down to the hickey Emily had left on their collarbone. It was dark against their skin, reminding them that they weren’t alone.
The reminder was a bittersweet one. They were glad, and felt so, so lucky to be accepted and loved so easily. It was like nothing and everything had changed at once. Jay could be themself for the first time ever, but they didn’t know who that was. Years of pretending made it hard to stop.
Tears filled Jay’s eyes, making their reflection blur. That’s how they felt. They were just the fuzzy outline of a person. Their body was wrong, their face was wrong, and maybe they were wrong, too? What was the point of all this if they were just going to chicken out?
“Jay?”
They jumped at Emily’s soft voice, quickly wiping their eyes. “Sorry, I’ll get out of your way.”
“Don’t be silly.” Emily came into the bathroom, leaving the door open so light spilled out into the bedroom.
She sat on the edge of the tub and patted the spot next to her. “Come on. Come sit.”
With a wet sniff, Jay sat beside her and dropped their head on her shoulder. “Sorry if I woke you.”
“Stop apologizing,” Emily murmured, putting her arm around them. “We’ve talked about this.”
“No apologizing unless we mess up,” they replied, repeating one of the rules of their relationship. “I do feel like I messed up, though.”
Emily dipped her head to meet their eyes. “How?”
“I just…” Jay bit their lip, doing their best to bring their thoughts together. “I feel… guilty, I guess. For being so self-indulgent. Did I really need to do all this?” They felt tears roll down their cheeks again. “I couldn’t even cut my hair. If I’m really nonbinary, if I really want this, then why can’t I do it?”
“Change isn’t easy,” a new voice said.
Emily and Jay looked up to see Hotch leaning against the door frame. He was still half-asleep, hair flopping over his forehead. Like Jay, he had several marks from Emily scattered across his bare chest. They smiled at him.
“You look cute.”
He waved a sleepy finger at them. “Flattery will get you nowhere. We’re talking about you.”
“We don’t have to,” they muttered.
Emily gave them a light shake. “Yes, we do. You’re important to us and we want you to be totally yourself.”
“What about on cases?” Jay asked, voice laced with anxiety. “Locals, families, other agents.” Their eyes widened. “My mother.” They turned to Emily. “Your mother.”
“Like I care what she thinks,” Emily snorted. “We already got her to accept our relationship. Anyway, this is nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” Hotch clarified. “It’s just not a big deal.” He winced and rubbed his eyes. “I mean, it’s a big deal. It’s just not-”
“What he means,” Emily interrupted with a wry smile, “is that our feelings for you haven’t changed, so you should feel free to change as much or as little as you’d like. We’ll stick with you.”
Hotch nodded in agreement. “Even if you shaved your head.”
“Well…” Emily clicked her tongue. “I may draw the line at bald…”
“Oh, I see,” Jay joked, feeling a little better. They wrinkled their nose at Emily. “So there are limits to your love.”
“Oh, shut up!” Emily laughed. She turned to straddle the edge of the tub and pull Jay toward her. “You’re such a brat!”
Jay relaxed into Emily’s hold, like she’d relaxed into Hotch’s earlier. They felt safe, loved, and real. Jay felt human when they were with their partners. They felt strong.
“I did want to cut my hair,” they admitted, face tucked into Emily’s neck. “I still do.”
“I’ll call Penelope,” Hotch said before heading back into the bedroom.
“Tell her to bring the surprise!” Emily called after him. “Whatever she has!”
Jay pulled back, confused. “What surprise?”
“A surprise surprise,” Emily replied, tapping Jay’s nose. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Penelope arrived 20 minutes later. She must have flown across the city with her hair cutting supplies and the gift bag with Jay’s surprise. When she burst into the bathroom, she swept them up into a tight hug, knocking Emily back into the tub where she decided to stay.
“Peaches!” Penelope squealed, clutching Jay to her. “I’m so proud of you! My little prince!”
Hotch reappeared in the doorway and took the bags from Penelope’s hands before they fell. “What about me?”
“You’re my prince,” Emily said from where she was lounging in the tub, pajamas keeping her protected from the cold porcelain. “I’m the lucky girl who has two princes.”
Jay stayed tucked into Pen’s arms, hugging her back, but smiled sleepily at Hotch. “You’re still my prince, too, Hotch.”
“I only have one prince,” Penelope announced loudly, “and it’s Jay. Right now, Their Highness needs a haircut.”
Panic flooded Jay, dropping like a rock into their stomach and turning their blood cold. They knew they wanted this and there were three people in the room that loved and supported them unconditionally. It still filled them with fear.
“Alright,” Pen said gently, guiding Jay to sit on the toilet, “I know that look. Deep breaths, baby.”
Jay nodded and did their best to take even, steady breaths. “Can you just do it?” they asked frantically. “Before I chicken out again?”
Pen didn’t answer, turning instead to take her kit from Hotch and start dumping things into the sink. Dutifully, Jay shifted on the toilet, straddling it and crossing their arms on the tank. Their feet tapped nervously as they waited for the first cut.
“How short?”
Jay bit their lip, but Hotch answered for them. “Like mine,” he mumbled, still half-asleep. Leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms. He smiled at the three in the room. “Cuter, though.”
“Floppy,” Emily added excitedly. “Not a crew cut.”
Penelope rolled her eyes. “I was talking to Jay. This is kinda their big moment.”
“They’re right,” Jay told her. “That’s what I want.”
“You sure?” she asked to confirm. “Don’t let these two bully you into doing anything.”
“Hey!” Emily protested.
Jay ignored her. “I’m sure, Pen.” They found that it was true. They wanted this and maybe, just maybe, they really were ready. “Let’s do it.”
The room was quiet as Penelope worked, only the sound of her scissors breaking the silence. Jay tried to ignore the butterflies in their stomach and the way Emily and Hotch were watching closely. Each piece of hair that fell made them feel 10 times lighter.
After a while, Penelope decided that she was satisfied and put her things away. Jay took a deep breath. There was no going back now.
Standing, Jay brushed the loose hair from their shoulders and moved back to the mirror. They gasped, hands flying up to cover their mouth. Their hair was perfect, a short, but floppy cut that made them look like a Backstreet Boy. The thought was comical, but it was true, and Jay couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled out of them.
The cut made as much difference as they feared, but seeing it in real life whisked that fear away. Confidence, happiness, and acceptance replaced it. They felt real, and knew with 100% certainty that this was the right thing to do.
“I love it,” they laughed, throwing themselves at Penelope. “Thank you!”
“You look so hot!” Pen cheered, kissing their cheek. “These two will be fighting everyone off with a stick.”
“Or a gun,” Emily joked. She awkwardly climbed out of the tub. “Let me see!”
Jay turned to face her, unable to stop the happy tears and goofy grin that spread over their face. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” she corrected, cupping Jay’s face and wiping their tears from their cheeks. “You look amazing, Jay. It’s perfect.”
“Thank you.” Jay kissed Emily and turned to Hotch. They were more nervous about Hotch’s reaction. He’d signed up for a relationship with two women. They barely looked like a woman now. It made them feel good, but what about him? “Aaron?”
“Come here,” he sighed, holding a hand out. When they took it, he pulled them into the bedroom, leaving the women behind. “Sit with me.”
He dropped the gift bag he was still holding onto the nightstand and climbed onto the bed, sitting in the middle and crossing his legs. Shivering with nerves, Jay joined him. They were only in their underwear, a pair of tight boxer briefs, and they felt exposed.
“Talk to me,” Hotch murmured, reaching out to put his hands on their knees. “What are you worried about?”
“I’m…” Jay swallowed and looked down at the bed, but a gentle hand lifted their chin. “We went through a lot because you were with two women. I’m not a woman anymore. I mean,” they sighed, “I was never really a woman, but you didn’t know that. Was it worth it now?”
Hotch cupped Jay’s face with his hands and pressed a soft kiss to their forehead. “I will never, ever regret putting you and Emily first,” he told them, staring into their eyes. “If you want to take hormones, get surgery, change everything about your body, I will support you. I love you, not because of your body or your gender or your name. I love you because you’re kind, smart, compassionate, and endlessly fascinating.” He smiled softly. “I’m not running away from you now, and I never will.”
Tears rolled down Jay’s face again and they jumped forward, hugging Hotch and pressing a flurry of kisses on his face. “Thank you,” they sob into his ear. “I love you so much.”
The bed dips behind them and, a moment later, Emily appears beside them. Jay shifts to her and hugs her, too, kissing her cheek before resting their forehead on her shoulder. After such an emotionally raw day, Jay is exhausted. They remember Penelope and lift their head.
“She’s gone,” Emily tells them, pushing Jay’s head back down. “She says to expect a party tomorrow.”
Jay chuckles and melts against their partners. They trust Emily and Hotch to catch them in any form and keep their parts together. Jay finally feels whole and calm and real and, eventually, they fall asleep.
The next morning, they finally learn what their surprise was. As they began to get dressed in one of their new suits, Emily stops them and holds up Penelope’s gift bag. When Jay looked inside, they frowned.
“What is it?” they ask, awkwardly holding up their pants as they stare at folded black fabric.
Emily rolls her eyes and takes the bag back. “It’s a binder,” she tells Jay, pulling it out. “Pen’s getting you a packer, too, but this was what she could get on short notice.”
Jay’s heart skipped a beat. Immediately, they dropped their pants and began unbuttoning their shirt. The button down they’d bought hid their chest pretty well, but a binder would make it perfect. Jay couldn’t believe they had such amazing friends.
“Thank you!” Jay laughed, ripping their shirt off and tossing it onto the bed. “Gimme!”
They took the binder from Emily and tugged it on, needing Emily’s help to pull it all the way down. When it was in place, Jay turned to look in the full length mirror that hung on the door of their wardrobe. Their chest was completely flat and, combined with their short hair, Jay felt amazing. They felt androgynous and sexy.
Emily whistled, wrapping her arms around Jay’s waist from behind and kissing their cheek. “You’re so butch, now. I love it.”
“Help me get dressed!”
They put Jay’s suit back on, butting their shirt over the binder and tucking it into their pants. Emily threaded Jay’s new wide leather belt through its loops, buckling it and making sure it laid flat. The entire time, Jay couldn’t stop vibrating with excitement. This was the first day of the rest of their life.
Hotch walked out of the bathroom as Emily finished with Jay’s tie. “Hey, don’t forget about me,” he joked, lifting the ends of his own undone tie. “Two princes, remember?”
“Oh, hush,” Emily laughed, smoothing Jay’s tie. “I’ll get to you in a second.” She kissed Jay’s cheek and went to him, reaching out to take the ends of his tie. “Come here, you handsome boy.”
“Is that sarcasm?” he asked with a wry smile. “I can never tell when you compliment me.”
Emily tightened his tie just a little too much, making him choke slightly. “I’m serious.” She glanced over her shoulder to wink at Jay before turning back to Hotch and wrapping her arms around his neck, hands pushing into his hair. “I’m serious,” she said again, sounding much more sincere. “You’re my handsome man. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He kissed her, tugging on a strand of hair as he did. “Even if you’re an asshole most of the time.”
“And we’re done here,” Emily laughed as she shoved him away. “You’re the asshole.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him over to Jay. “Stand together. I want to see my princes.”
Jay stood up straight beside Hotch, looking over at him and giggled. They felt amazing beside him in their matching suit and tie. It felt a little silly, like they were Hotch’s protege, but it also felt right. Hotch put his arm around them and hugged them close.
“Wow,” Emily chuckled, eyes misty and voice soft, “you’re my favorite people in the world. I hope you two know that.”
“We do,” Hotch replied. He looked down at Jay. “Right?”
Jay nodded and grinned, feeling ten times lighter than they had yesterday. “I do. I really do.”