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The bullpen was empty and quiet by the time JJ made her way back, the hum of fluorescent lights the only sound as she moved through the aisles. Most of the team had packed up and gone home hours ago, and after a grueling case, JJ had planned to do the same. But something about tonight had kept her here longer than usual. It was as if the silence itself was holding onto the tension they’d all carried through the last few days.
As she made her way toward her desk, she glanced up at Emily’s office and stopped. Emily was still there. JJ could see her through the window, bent over her desk, her head down, focused on something in her hands. For a moment, JJ thought about leaving her to it. But her curiosity got the best of her, and before she could talk herself out of it, she found herself walking quietly to the door.
She lingered, watching as Emily carefully pieced together something small and fragile. JJ squinted and finally recognized the bits of porcelain—it was Garcia’s unicorn mug. JJ knew that mug as well as she knew Garcia herself. She’d seen it on Garcia’s desk more times than she could count; it was practically a part of her. But now, here it was in pieces, and for some reason, Emily was sitting alone, gluing it back together, piece by piece. JJ’s chest tightened.
She knocked lightly and slipped inside, leaning against the doorframe. “Didn’t realize you’d taken up arts and crafts,” she said, keeping her tone light, though the sight of Emily like this, focused and… tender, tugged at something deeper in her.
Emily looked up, her face softening just a little as she gave a small smile. “I need other hobbies other than catching killers,” she replied, setting the pieces down for a moment. There was a quiet sort of calm in her voice, one that JJ had always admired. Emily could carry so much weight without ever letting it show.
JJ found herself lingering, her eyes tracing the lines of Emily’s face as she looked back down at the mug, focusing on her task. It felt almost silly now, standing here in silence, but she couldn’t shake the pull that had kept her from leaving tonight. Ever since Emily had returned to the BAU, things between them had felt different. There was no one moment she could point to, nothing specific that had happened. It was more a shift she felt in the quiet moments, the way they’d drift closer without even thinking about it. They’d been close for years, but this… this felt new. And maybe it had been there all along, hidden beneath years of friendship, buried by her own choices.
JJ took a steadying breath, memories pulling her back to a different time—the day Emily left for London. She hadn’t expected it to hurt as much as it did, that hollow ache in her chest as she watched her go, pretending she was happy for her. She’d had a family, a marriage that seemed solid, a life that was, on the surface, everything she’d wanted. But something had changed when Emily walked away. It was like a door had closed, one she hadn’t even known was open.
Now, years later, her life looked nothing like it had back then. The divorce had been hard and messy, and even though she loved her boys fiercely, she could finally admit to herself that her marriage with Will had been over for a long time. Being single again had given her the chance to see things clearly, to see Emily clearly, and she realized that the boundaries she’d tried to put on their relationship never truly existed. They had never been just friends—not with the way she’d always looked for Emily in a crowded room, or how her heart quickened at the sound of her laugh. She could try to rewrite it in her head, tell herself it was only friendship, but deep down, she knew better.
Maybe that was why Emily left in the first place. JJ had sensed it even back then, that something about her life with Will had been a barrier, a silent wall that kept them from getting too close. She wondered if Emily had seen it too, if that was why she chose to walk away rather than stay in the shadows of something unspoken. JJ swallowed hard, the realization almost overwhelming.
Now, Emily was back, and so was the pull between them. Only this time, JJ wasn’t sure she could keep pretending. Her heart beat louder, and her resolve to stay silent felt thinner with every passing day. She wanted to reach out, to close the space between them, to let Emily know how she felt. But something in her still held back, waiting. Waiting for Emily to make the first move, to give her some kind of sign that this wasn’t all in her head. Because if Emily felt the same way, JJ wanted her to come to her willingly, openly. It had to be Emily’s choice too.
She shifted, clearing her throat, hoping her voice would come out steady. “I didn’t realize you were still here,” she said softly, almost as if explaining her presence.
Emily glanced up, her eyes meeting JJ’s in that quiet, unreadable way she had. “Couldn’t leave things unfinished,” she said, her gaze soft but steady. “Especially not this.”
There was a weight in her words that lingered, a meaning JJ couldn’t quite place. She looked down at the broken pieces on Emily’s desk, the ones Emily was so carefully putting back together, and her heart tightened.
JJ wanted to ask about the mug, to fill the silence with questions about what had happened. She could probably guess that this was a result of the stress Garcia was under, the memories of that night long ago—the night she was shot. JJ had seen the tension in Garcia’s face throughout this case, how she’d gone quiet, how her hands had shaken just a little more than usual. But rather than asking, JJ held back, feeling that any words she might offer would only break the spell of the moment.
So she stood there, watching Emily as she worked, piecing the mug together with a focus and care that softened something in JJ’s chest. It was such a simple act, but it held a kind of tenderness that spoke volumes. Emily was more than just their leader; she was the quiet, steady heart of their team, the one who picked up the pieces when the rest of them couldn’t. And as JJ watched her, she found herself falling just a little more in love with her.
The next morning, JJ walked into the bullpen with the familiar buzz of activity around her. She set her bag on her desk, brushing a stray hair from her face as she prepared for another day. She was still shaking off the last remnants of sleep, but the quiet warmth she’d felt from seeing Emily the night before lingered, easing her into the morning.
As she put her things down, her eyes drifted across the room and caught sight of Emily moving toward Garcia’s office. JJ’s gaze settled on her, immediately noticing the familiar unicorn mug, freshly glued and patched, held carefully behind Emily’s back. The sight was so simple, so unexpectedly tender, that JJ couldn’t help but smile. Emily had stayed late to mend the mug and was now on her way to return it to Garcia, her steady steps purposeful and quiet. Something about the way Emily carried herself—always calm, always thoughtful—made JJ’s heart swell.
Unable to resist, JJ quietly followed her, her own curiosity sparking. She stayed close enough to observe without intruding, slipping into the shadows just outside Garcia’s office door, listening as Emily stepped inside. She could see only glimpses from this angle, but she had a perfect view of Garcia’s face as she spotted the mug in Emily’s hands.
“Oh my God, you fixed it!” Garcia’s delighted voice rang out, her eyes wide and joyful as she reached for the mug, her fingers hovering over it as if she were holding something precious.
JJ felt her heart warm at the sight. Garcia’s face lit up, pure happiness washing over her, and JJ felt her own spirits lift. She couldn’t help but watch Emily’s reaction, hoping to catch just a flicker of the soft expression she knew Emily reserved for these moments. And then she heard Emily’s voice, low but steady, saying exactly the words Garcia needed to hear.
“You know,” Emily began, holding the mug with a gentle smile, “while I was fixing it, I realized something—you’re not the mug, Garcia. You’re the glue that holds it together, just like you hold us all together.”
JJ felt a surge of affection, her admiration for Emily deepening with every word. It was like Emily had this secret key, this effortless understanding of exactly what each person needed to feel seen and safe. Most people wouldn’t notice how Emily cared for each of them in these quiet, steady ways, but JJ saw it. She saw it in moments like these, when Emily would push past her own walls to remind someone else of their worth, to make sure they knew they belonged. Emily loved hard, whether she admitted it or not. And JJ was sure Emily would give everything she had for each of them.
A rush of warmth filled JJ, and for the first time, she allowed herself to fully embrace the truth she’d been pushing down: she was in love with Emily Prentiss. Yes, she’d been drawn to Emily’s beauty and intelligence from the beginning, but it was her heart—her steady, fierce, unbreakable heart—that had pulled JJ in completely. The way Emily loved her team, with such loyalty and commitment, made JJ’s own heart ache with the need to be closer to her, to share even a piece of that love.
Garcia’s soft words of appreciation reached her ears, breaking JJ from her thoughts. She smiled, feeling a sense of calm wash over her as she watched the exchange between her two friends. But just as she was about to leave, something shifted in the hall. She turned and felt her breath catch. A familiar face was approaching Garcia’s office—Garcia’s estranged brother.
JJ’s eyes widened as she glanced back at Emily, a realization settling over her. Emily had gone out of her way to reach out to Garcia’s brother, had arranged this moment to support Garcia in a way no one else could. Emily hadn’t just glued the mug back together; she’d found a way to offer Garcia a piece of herself, a part of her past that was still raw and unfinished. JJ’s heart raced with the realization. Emily went above and beyond, again and again, without asking for a single thing in return. It was just who she was.
And in that moment, something snapped into place for JJ, something fierce and undeniable. Emily was everything she’d ever wanted, everything she had been searching for, always just out of reach, just a breath away. She didn’t need more time to think or hesitate. She was done waiting, done hoping for something to change on its own.
Without a second thought, JJ turned on her heel, her steps quick and determined as she walked straight toward Emily’s office. There were no doubts now, no more lingering questions. She knew what she wanted, and she was finally ready to make sure Emily knew it too.
Emily paused just outside Garcia’s office, her hand lingering on the doorframe as she listened to the voices drifting through. She could hear Garcia’s excitement, the laughter that had been missing from her tone lately, and the softer voice of her brother as he responded, hesitant but warm. Emily’s lips curved in a gentle smile as she took it all in, relieved that Garcia would get a moment of connection and healing that went far beyond any words or reassurances Emily could offer herself. She waited a beat longer, just to be sure, then turned and started down the hall, leaving them to reconnect.
As she made her way back to her office, Emily couldn’t help but feel a certain warmth spreading in her chest. Helping Garcia in this way felt right. Garcia, like the rest of her team, had her own life and her own family, but Emily was grateful for any chance to support her—especially when the weight of their work became overwhelming. She’d seen the look on Garcia’s face, the strain in her expression, and knew that while this job could break them all in different ways, they’d always try to help each other piece things back together.
And as much as she sometimes felt like an outsider looking in, Emily had long ago realized something essential: her family was right here. Her team was her family—their late nights and hard-won cases, their silent support and laughter shared over coffee, all of it had woven her life into theirs. She’d come back for them, and there wasn’t a single thing she wouldn’t do for each of them. They were hers, and she was theirs.
When she reached her office, Emily pushed open the door—and immediately froze. Standing there, leaning against her desk with a determined but slightly anxious look in her eyes, was JJ.
Emily felt her heart skip, a spark of warmth flaring at the sight of her. JJ’s fingers were fidgeting, her posture restless, but there was a steadiness in her gaze that pulled Emily in. JJ didn’t say a word, but Emily couldn’t help the smile that came naturally in her presence. She felt it every time she saw JJ, that quiet warmth and certainty that bloomed simply from being around her. It was impossible not to, especially now, with JJ looking at her like this, so sure yet so vulnerable.
“Good morning,” Emily said, her voice softer than she’d intended as she closed the door behind her. “Everything alright?” she asked, stepping closer, curious about the intent look in JJ’s eyes.
But as she moved toward her, she noticed that JJ was meeting her halfway, their steps synchronizing, as if drawn together by some unspoken pull neither could resist. Emily’s breath caught, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest, and just as she was trying to make sense of it, JJ stopped right in front of her.
Before she could say anything else, JJ’s hands reached up, framing her face with a touch so gentle that Emily’s thoughts scattered. And then, without hesitation, JJ leaned in, her lips meeting Emily’s in a soft, warm kiss.
For a moment, Emily was stunned, her mind reeling as she processed what was happening. But then, like a switch flipping, the shock melted away, and her body responded instinctively, her hands reaching out to pull JJ closer as she kissed her back. This was real—JJ was here, holding her, kissing her—and Emily’s heart flooded with a joy so fierce, it was almost overwhelming. This was everything she’d ever wanted, everything she’d tried to bury and forget, all wrapped up in the feeling of JJ’s lips on hers.
Minutes, or maybe hours, passed as they stayed locked in that embrace, the world around them fading into nothingness. But eventually, they both pulled back, breathless but unwilling to let go, their arms wrapped around each other as they tried to catch their breath.
Emily gazed at JJ, her heart pounding, and managed to ask, “What was that for?” Her voice was soft, touched with wonder as she searched JJ’s face for answers, for reassurance that this wasn’t just a dream.
JJ’s eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed as she slid her arms around Emily’s shoulders, her fingers grazing lightly against the back of her neck. Emily’s hands instinctively rested on JJ’s waist, keeping her close, savoring the warmth of her body pressed against hers, the closeness that felt at once brand new and achingly familiar.
“I love you, Emily,” JJ said, her voice barely a whisper but filled with so much emotion that Emily felt it echo deep within her. “I love you so much, and I couldn’t wait any longer to tell you.”
JJ’s words washed over her, each one sinking in, and Emily felt herself melt a little more with every syllable. This was it—the moment she’d longed for, dreamed of, even when she’d told herself it was impossible.
JJ continued, her voice trembling just a bit, as if saying this out loud was both a relief and a revelation. “I’ve spent years trying to convince myself that what I felt for you was just friendship, that it was something I could ignore.” She shook her head, laughing softly, almost to herself. “But I can’t do it anymore, Emily. I love everything about you. I love how you always make me laugh, how you’re so brave, and… I love how you love.”
Emily’s heart skipped at the last words, her grip on JJ’s waist tightening as she absorbed them. She could barely breathe, her chest filled with an overwhelming warmth that threatened to spill over.
“I love the way you care about people,” JJ went on, her gaze holding Emily’s with such intensity that Emily felt like she was standing on the edge of something life-changing. “I love that you spent last night gluing a mug back together, just because you knew it would help a friend feel better. You go above and beyond, always. You love so deeply, Emily, and it’s the most beautiful thing about you.”
JJ paused, a little more vulnerable now, as if letting her own feelings out was both freeing and terrifying. “I feel like an idiot for waiting this long,” she admitted, her voice faltering slightly. “I should have told you years ago. And if it’s too late… if you don’t feel the same—”
But before she could finish, Emily leaned in and kissed her again, a soft, tender kiss that said everything she couldn’t put into words. JJ’s words were perfect, but nothing she could say would match the depth of what Emily felt. All she could do was pour her feelings into this kiss, letting it speak for her, knowing that JJ would understand.
When they finally pulled back, Emily kept her hands on JJ’s waist, her forehead resting against JJ’s as she tried to find her voice. She looked into JJ’s eyes, letting her own feelings show, and smiled.
“I love you too, JJ,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I always have. And I always will.”
They stayed there, holding each other, finally letting down the walls they’d kept between them for so many years. It was as if a weight had lifted, and for the first time, they were free—free to love each other, without fear, without hesitation.