Okay, this originally was going to be a one shot but it got longer and longer so I have made it a three part. All three parts are written so you will get them shortly not sure how long between posts. Well, here is my take on JJ's Long Story from the first episode this year. When I saw that scene the expression and body language well it just screamed there was more to the story so I figured why not make more to that story. If you don't know by now I like pairing Emily and JJ what can I say they should be together. Let me know what you think. I own nothing but my imagination and this is where it took me.
Standing in front of JJ's door I find I am losing my nerve. It's sometime after 9:00 late I know but not too late, right? I am standing here with pizza in one hand and a bottle of my favorite red wine in the other. Oh and by my favorite I actually me JJ's favorite but details right. Don't know how long I have been standing here trying to make myself knock, but not being able to actually do it. Why am I hear again, oh yeah I had to profile my best friend. My best friend that helped me fake my death, the best friend who helped keep me sane with word games while I was dead, the best friend that is fighting so hard to make sure the others aren't mad at me, don't blame me, the same best friend I managed to fall in love with. Wait where was I going with this, oh yeah, profiling my best friend. Damn it, I knew we made that damn pack for a reason but there I went and did it anyway and now I am second guessing my profiling skills. Maybe I read it wrong, I mean I have been out of the game for seven months, maybe my skills are a bit rusty. Who am I kidding I was born for this, I know my job and how to do it, I know there is something she is hiding.
It all started with what I thought was a simple question. Okay, maybe not a simple question but a logical one at least. "So how's Will with the long hours again?" I know Will didn't care for the long hours and traveling before, could he possibly be okay with them now. I mean, though, I don't really like the guy, JJ does so I try and seem interested in him but honestly I could care less about the man. Only good thing he ever did, if you ask me, was Henry and honestly that boy is all JJ. From his blonde hair and baby blue eyes to his laughter and his love, he is all JJ. Okay of topic again. Her answer was simple but really so far from it. "Long story."
What kind of response is that? Long story, really, kind of thought I would get more than that but then again we were trying to find an international mastermind, maybe that was her way of brushing it off to focus on more important things. However, when it comes to JJ there really isn't anything more important, not to me. But now that the mastermind is dead and life is getting back to normal I find that I had profiled and continue to profile my friend. The shortness of the response, I mean two words. She really is better with words than that, she did make a living with them. The fact that when she looked toward me she didn't actually look at me, no she looked down, just slightly but still not at me, just my general direction. The slight roll of the eyes, and how she was very receptive to a topic change and I mean very receptive. But what got me the most, what really made me focus was the sigh. It was so low it was nearly unheard but still heard that, and the emotion in her voice. It sounded upbeat, like maybe some issues but all was well, but I knew better. It was her fake upbeat, the one she gives when she is trying to be hopeful when there really is very little hope. That's what got my attention, that's what brings me outside her door tonight, that's what will make me knock, that's what made me knock.
Okay I have knocked. No turning back now. Don't second guess yourself. You are here to be a friend. Wonder what's taking so long. I mean I know she's home and I know she's alone. I cruised the parking garage and saw her car but not his. Wait maybe they are out together, crap didn't think about that. I could be standing out here and she not even be home. How stupid would I look if someone would walk by? Wait are those footsteps I hear. I could still run, nope I hear the locks, too late. As the door opens I am met with a very confused looking blonde, but might I say a very adorable looking blonde.
"Em, what are you doing here?" I must look like a fool. I know I have a grin on my face because there before me is JJ looking absolutely too cute for words. Did I just say that, where the hell did that come from, whatever. She is wearing a pair of Redskins boxer shorts and my oversized Yale t-shirt. I had wondered what happened to it, now I know. Her hair is in a messy ponytail, the best kind when it comes to her, and no makeup on. She doesn't need it and I really do like her all natural like this, she just looks so JJ.
"Thought you might like some company?" This is what I come up with, really? Why would she need company, she is involved with someone, living with someone, though I know he's not home, okay I don't know for a hundred percent but I was hoping. God I hope she doesn't ask why I thought she would want company. Please, oh please don't ask that. Maybe I should say something first. "I brought pizza and wine." Brilliant, I am fucking brilliant. She's smiling, thank god, she's smiling. Don't think I could handle something else. I love that smile, I love those lips, I want to kiss those lips, no, we are here to focus on JJ. Okay focus on her long story not her lips.
Regrouping I enter her apartment, seemed the right thing to do since she stepped to the side to let me in. I hear the door close behind me and her locking the locks. Memories begin to return. Times I spent here with her and Garcia, time spent with her and Henry. I can't help but smile of the thought of her son. Not his, hers. Turning to face her I see that though she is still looking cute as a button, she is now looking a little confused and maybe concerned. She doesn't say anything, at least not yet, she first heads to the kitchen and returns with two glasses and some paper towels. She sits down and I follow her lead.
"Why are you really here?" Damn she figured me out. Now what? Do I go with the truth or try and make something up. I should go with the truth. Okay I am taking too long she won't believe anything soon. Oh man she is tilting her head, the way she does when she knows there is more, when she knows someone isn't telling the truth. Okay now the eyebrow thing. God that is really kind of hot, wait no don't go there. Okay still staring at me now crossing her arms, she's starting to get either annoyed or concerned, hard to tell. I really should say something, anything.
"Thought you might want to talk?" I say this trying to look as sincere as possible. Oh I know, "Plus, who can say no to pizza. It's Canadian bacon with extra cheese and your favorite red wine. Come on now what goes better with pizza than wine right? Am I right?" Okay she is smiling, and not just on her lips but in her eyes. The smile is a real JJ smile. With that smile we fall into old times, just sitting there talking about nothing really at least at first, all innocent. I tell her more about my time away, about how I killed time, about the life I made. She in returned told me about how it was to be back at the BAU, about adjusting to be a profiler and of course my favorite topic Henry.
Speaking of my favorite topic, he has just walked into the living room. Rubbing his eyes, still half asleep, dragging is teddy bear, he stops dead in his tracks with what seems like tears in his eyes he says something I wasn't expecting "Daddy?" Seeing him like this just makes me hurt and of course I can't help but wonder why he is asking for his daddy with tears in his eyes. Before JJ can say anything, I do, I can't help it, I don't like to see my little man hurting.
"Hey there little man." At the sound of my voice his little head turns so fast in my direction that I'm surprised he doesn't have whiplash. His eyes still have tears but there is now a twinkle in them, joy in them. "Aunt Emmy." With that said he is now running towards me and I find myself now kneeling on the floor with Henry's arms wrapped around my neck saying, "Miss you Emmy, lots."
How can your heart not warm with that little phrase? It can't, mine totally did. "Missed you too, little man, missed you so much it hurt." I have tears in my eyes now, I can feel the burn but guess what I don't care. I thought, at one point, I actually thought I would never get to see him again, never get to hold him again. I am hugging my little man and realize that I don't want to ever let him go. After what seemed like forever I readjust our position so we are now sitting on the couch not breaking the hug. Rubbing his head I try and sooth the tears that I feel on my neck. As I do this I catch a glimpse of JJ, who is now sitting on the coffee table in front of me, in front of us. She not only has tears in her eyes but they are flowing freely down her checks. Not a water fall of tears but they are there and they are happy tears. I know, I too, have them, tears, I feel them and my smile I know at the very least matches JJ's but I would put money on the fact that mine is bigger.
After a few more moments I feel him begin to pull away. Looking down at him I still see the twinkle in his eyes. "Mommy said you go away for a long time. You getting bad guys." He says this with such confidence, with such pride that I feel my heart grow.
"Yeah buddy. I had to go away for a while, had to find a real bad guy. But with the help of Mommy and the team we got the bad guy and I finally can come home and I'm here to stay."
"Willy, you no go away no more? Cause me not like when you leave. Me very sad, missed you. Mommy too." As he says this I glance over at JJ and see she has a very loving smile and nods her head slightly, in agreement. I love kids, you can learn so much from them.
"Well buddy I missed you too, you and Mommy." I say this as I once again glance at JJ but long enough so she can see I am looking at her. "Mommy here has been telling me all about you. All about how you have been doing? I can't believe how big you've gotten. I am so happy to see you. I love you so much." After a few more moments are cuddling, which I will never get enough of JJ finally speaks up.
"Okay, little man. I know you are happy that Emily is back but you should be in bed. It is way past your bedtime." As JJ says this Henry's begins a little pout. His bottom lip is sticking out, his eyes are staring hardcore at JJ and he has folded his arms. Yup this boy is all JJ, he only needs the head tilt and the eyebrow thing and it's her all the way. "You can pout all you want but you are still going to bed, got it."
"Got it." He says, though, with sadness in his voice which I am a little sad to admit warms my heart. I never knew he cared so much for me. "Can Emmy tuck me in?" Can I what? He wants me to tuck him in. Oh I hope she says yes, please say yes. I look up at her, pleading with her to allow me to do this. Apparently she can tell how important it is to me and to him.
She very willingly allows me the honor. "I suppose Emmy can tuck you if you promise to stay there once she does."
"You hear that buddy, you and me, let's get going." As I say this I grab hold of him a little tighter and place him on my hip and very proudly carry him to his room. As I enter his room I am surprised to see he now has a big boy bed. Which of course he proudly show off to me. As I place him in bed I feel the presence of someone behind me but I don't need to look I know its JJ. Pulling the sheet up I give him a kiss on his head as he snuggles his teddy bear closer to him. "I love you Henry and am so happy to see you again. Sleep tight little man." Giving him another kiss I begin to stand when he speaks.
In a very sleepy voice I get. "Emmy, you promise you not going away again?" I settle back down because I can tell he has more to say and it's so quiet. "You promise? I willy sad when you go, Mommy too. Daddy leave, I don't want you too. Promise."
Okay my heart totally broke. "Buddy, let me make something very clear okay?" I say this looking right into his baby blue eyes to make sure he is hearing me, he nods so I continue. "I promise, I will never leave you again. I didn't want to leave before but to keep everyone safe I had to but now I am back and I will be here for you whenever you need. Okay? I am not going anywhere. I love you so very much Henry." I will not let this little guy down, I can't. He needs me and honestly I need him too, him and JJ.
"Love Mommy too?" Little stinker, I wonder if you know what you are doing or if it is really dumb luck. "Yes, little man, I love Mommy too. I will be here for you and Mommy okay?" With that said he seems pretty content and starts to close his eyes and I get, "love you too, Emmy, lots." With that said he is out cold and I place one last kiss on his forehead, pull his blanket up a little and stand to leave. Turning I now see who I suspected was standing there and she has tears in her eyes. Looking at her she looks a bit lost and I know we really need to talk now. As I approach her she turns and walks down the hall to the living room. I close the door and follow JJ trying to prepare myself for the long story just like I'm sure she is doing.
Entering the living room I see her sitting on the couch looking at her hands. I do the only thing I can do. I walk over to her, sit on the coffee table in front of her, and grab her hands that she is staring at, causing her to look up at me. Her eyes are filled with unshed tears, and I say the only thing I can think of. "JJ, I'm here for you too, you know. What I told Henry about being here for you both I meant it." She's still looking at me, now with fewer tears so I go on. "Not sure if you're ready but when you are, I'm here and ready for the long story."