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Emily closed the front door behind her as quietly as she could. They just got home from a work trip and they didn’t want to wake up their boyfriend. Carefully, JJ put her go-bag on the floor beside the couch, stepped out of her shoes, and headed for the bedroom. Emily quickly did the same before locking the door and turning off any lights she came across.
Emily loved being a profiler, but she hated that the position came with so many out of state cases, so much paperwork, and so little time at home. Thankfully, JJ worked with her and they saw each other a lot. It didn’t make up for lost time, though. Emily wished they both could just relax with their boyfriend.
As she tiptoed down the hallway, stockinged feet silent on the hardwood floor, she grinned. Theo was definitely already asleep. Emily couldn’t wait to slide into bed beside him and surprise him when he woke up. JJ was already at the door waiting for her and she kissed her cheek. Emily smiled before returning the gesture, JJ giggled quietly causing Emily to shush her.
To Emily’s own surprise, when she opened the bedroom door, Theo was awake. He was wearing JJ’s faded Georgetown shirt and sitting up in bed. He was reading, his painted legs stretched out, and a hand held a mug of tea. When the door opened, JJ looked up and smiled.
“Hi, baby,” she greeted with a small laugh.
Theo whipped his head up, a boyish grin immediately striking his face “I’s begin ta thinkin’ you’s ain’t comin’ home.”
“Our plane was delayed.” Emily shook her head, heart full as Theo closed his book. “You waited up for us?”
Theo set his book on the bed and his mug on the nightstand and shifted onto his knees. “I’s missin’ y’all,” he answered, crawling to the end of the bed. “You’s knowin’ I’s hate it when y’all away.”
“I hate it, too.” JJ said before peeling off her work clothes and joining him on the bed. The blonde immediately dug her face in his neck letting his heat chase out any remnants from the icy air.
Emily shrugged out of her jacket, letting it crumble to the floor. She pulled her dress off, then her tights, then her watch. When she was only in her underwear, she looked at Theo again.
“If you were hoping for sex, I’m too tired.”
JJ stuck her hand up, “Seconded”.
Laughing, Theo raked his fingers through blonde locks watching his other partner get changed. “I’s know, just wan fallin’ sleep. Jayje right ‘ere an you’s my arms.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “What if I want to hold you?” She went to her dresser to pull out her own faded shirt. “You’re always the big spoon.”
“‘cause I’s small, got’s be big at somethin’.”
“You’re only a few inches shorter than me.”
“Counts.”
Emily rolled her eyes, but she smiled. “How does tomorrow look?” Emily asked her girlfriend. “Did you have a chance to go through those files on the jet?”
“Of course,” JJ replied, slightly muffled due to refusing to unbury herself from her boyfriend's body. “I’m not an amateur. There are a few things you should look at, but I don’t think we have a new case yet. It’s boring stuff.”
Emily chuckled and climbed into bed. “Boring is good. Did you text the team?”
“Yup!” JJ watched as Emily flopped onto the comforter, picking up the book that Theo had left behind. “No one’s going in before noon.”
“Thank god,” Emily muttered with a relieved sigh. “I’m wiped.” She squinted to read the book cover. “Mr. Mercedes.” Raising her eyebrows, she smirked at the man. “Again?”
Peering over the blonde at the brunette, Theo scowled. “I’s ain’t teasin’ you’s bout yer weird French novels now! Don’t be teasin’ me bout my horror novels!”
He could feel JJ vibrating against his chest meaning she was laughing at the pair. He looked down, “Now I’s knows you’s ain’t talkin’ miss romance.”
The blonde quickly sat up with a dramatic gasp, “I didn’t even say anything! Leave me and Jane Austen out of this.”
“You tease both of us constantly,” Emily pointed out, laughing. “What kind of reverse psychology is that?”
Yanking the book from Emily’s hands, Theo tossed it onto the floor and glared at his older girlfriend. “I’s waitin’ up fer you’ins, offerin’ snuggle you’s ta sleepin’, makin’ sure you’s be gettin yer restin’, and you’s mockin’ me?”
Pulling down both women, Theo stuck his tongue out. “Seein’ if I’s kind ta you’s ‘gain!”
Emily cackled as her boyfriend tickled her, calloused fingers finding her stomach and making her squirm. She should be embarrassed at her dorky laugh, but JJ was cackling just as hard. It was hard to be upset about anything when her partners were smiling.
“Mercy!” Emily cried, pushing at Theo’s shoulders. “Mercy!! Please!”
JJ slipped out of his grasp and quickly dove for his sides causing him to let out a high pitched shriek, The blonde cackled in victory as he started squirming under her while still trying to tickle Emily.
Suddenly Theo planted his feet and successfully flipped JJ over and he perched over his girlfriends, a triumphant smirk on his face. The trio fell into a splatterment of kisses and laughter at how ridiculous they were acting.
“Hey,” Theo said quietly, suddenly looking thoughtful. He tangled his hands in his shirt nervously. “Can I’s askin’ y’all question?”
“You just did,” Emily replied petulantly, “but you may ask another.”
Theo rolled his eyes, but he slid off his girls and got off the bed. He grabbed the discarded book, putting it on the nightstand, before heading for his dresser. Digging around through the top draw, he pulled out something small and went back to the bed.
“I’s ain’t knownin’ when i’s doin’ this,” he murmured, tucking his hair behind his ear with one hand. “I’s fixin’ er grand plannin’, but it ain’t feels right…”
Emily sat up, confused. In the soft orange light of their bedroom, Theo looked like a god. He was magical and wonderful, his painted skin glowed under the lighting, the newest addition to his collection seemed to glow impossibly brighter than the others and Emily couldn’t help but grin like an idiot. She really hoped this was good news.
“What is it?” JJ asked, reaching out to clasp his free hand. “Is everything ok?”
“Yea.” Wincing, Theo shrugged. “I’s thinkin’, an’ sweatin’.”
His anxiety was making Emily just as anxious and she shifted onto her knees in front of her boyfriend. “Mon Lune, What is it? What’s going on?”
“I’s ain’t knowin!” Theo gasped suddenly, clapping his free hand over his forehead. “I’s ain’t doin’ proper, Mama gon slap my eyes into one.”
“Theodore!” JJ snapped. “Please - just tell us what’s going on.”
Theo took a deep breath and just let everything spill out of him...
“Since I’s ‘er knee high to grasshopper Mama tellin’ me bout the family rings. How ‘eryone who’s worn ‘em keepin’ ‘ere partners safe an’ strong. The rings er crafted by very first Mama Burnside, she were skill Mage an’ blacksmith who saved ‘er valley many time an’ since ‘en the Burnsides carry on her ‘ditions an’ legacy. I’s havin’ three of seven rings blessed by Mama. I’s love y’all with all my bein’ an’ I’s ain’t imaginin’ life ‘out you’s, I’s only protectin’ y’all so much but with my ‘cestors blessin’ you’s bein’ safe from an’thing an’ ev’thing you’s thrown into.”
JJ clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from letting out a choked sob, Emily just sat frozen, a raging storm of emotions clouding her chocolate pools.
“I’s ain’t askin’ marriage, just askin’ fer the honor of a blessin’ bond.” The man started to shake a bit not fully understanding his partner's reactions.
Fear threatened to take siege of his body but he fought back against the ice realizing that they were still here with him. That they hadn’t outright rejected him or forced him out.
Tears poked at the edge of Emily’s eyes, she felt the raging fire of devotion and protection burn through her body. Waves of love and pure joy crashed over her as she got lost in the never ending forest that lay behind his eyes.
A lighting strike surged through JJ’s veins as she dug her nails into the sheets and she tried so hard not to scream and fucking devour the man before her. This was exactly what the blonde had been searching for her whole life, a bond that went deeper than a piece of paper, one that pulsed through her, one that had history and meaning.
Theo looked between a raging ocean and a dark pulsing pools, “Y’all ain’t gotta-”
“Non iniziare nemmeno!”
“Don’t you fucking dare!”
He was quickly cut off by both of his partners.
The trio all looked at each other before JJ finally broke a choked squeal leaving her throat, “Yes! Fuck Yes!”
Emily let the tears fall as she stroked his jawline, “Yes mon précieux homme.”
Theo broke out into a dazzling smile before tackling his girls onto the bed, “Go raibh maith agaibh a dhéithe!” Theo gasped, hugging them so tightly that neither of them could breathe. “Oh gods. I’s love y’all.”
JJ buried further into him kissing every inch of skin she could, “You are absolutely perfect. I love you so much Theo.”
Emily pulled away, trying to calm herself, and wiped her face again. She knew she was red and blotchy and gross from crying, but she was so happy that she didn’t care. She pointed at the box in Theo’s hand.
“Is that them?”
“Fuckin’ christ,” Theo laughed, grinning despite his tears. “Yea. It is. The rings!”
He opened the box. The rings were perfect. They were pale silver, with obsidian in the center and two amethyst on either side. It was elegant, but simple.
Emily grinned and held her hand out JJ quickly held hers out as well. Slowly, Theo slid the ring onto their fingers then slipped on his own.
He then intertwined all of their fingers and in a deep pulsing rhythm completed the blessing. “Faireoigh iad siúd a tháinig romham ar m’anamacha, beannaigh iad agus cosain iad amhail is dá mba leatsa féin iad. This is my will so mote it be.”
Theo softly let go of their hands and looked up meeting the brunette’s gaze. Emily smirked just before JJ launched herself at Theo.
They crashed together, mouths hungry and hands needy. Emily pulled them back onto the bed. Climbing on top of her, Theo straddled her, hands sliding under her shirt. JJ slotted herself between the two and stared at her older partner.
“I’s knowin’ you’s sayin’ no sex, but-”
“Silenzio,” Emily snapped, softly scratching JJ’s scalp. “We have until noon tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I’m going to show you two just how excited I am.”