Emily had always paid more attention to JJ than to anyone else. She didn't want to admit it, but she was beginning to really like the blonde agent, and she liked her more than she should. Emily was busy filing paperwork for their last case when JJ walked past her desk, carrying a pile of folders filled with possible future cases. Emily watched her go, silently damning herself for feeling this way.
JJ had divorced Will roughly eight months ago when she caught him sleeping with another woman. The divorce itself was peaceful, with Will admitting that he just fell out of love with JJ but didn't want to upset Henry, so he stayed quiet. After a fit of rage, JJ calmed down and the two are still friends as they transfer custody of Henry every other week. Emily didn't understand how JJ could just get over something like cheating so fast, but hell, she was probably using the profiler part of her brain and compartmentalizing everything.
Emily had barely finished the paperwork when Penelope approached her, smiling. "Hey Em, JJ and I are thinking of having a girls' night out tonight since Will has Henry. You in?"
Emily smiled. She loved spending time with her two closest friends. Although recently, she would do almost anything to get a chance to be around JJ. "Hell yeah I'm in. Just let me finish up these last few pages." She signaled to the sheets of paper in front of her.
"Alright Em. I'll be waiting in my car. Don't take too long!" and with that, she walked off, her bright pink high heels practically glowing when she headed down the dark hallway towards the elevator. It wasn't too long before JJ emerged from her office.
"Hey Em, I'm gonna run home really quick and change clothes." She looked down at her drab office outfit and smiled. "I don't think this will work for a night out. Do you want me to swing by your place and grab you something?"
"Hold on JJ, I'm just about finished with this paperwork, and then I'll just ride with you, if you don't mind."
"Not a problem. I'll go tell Pen she can take off without us. I'll drive out of the ramp and meet you out front, okay?"
"Sounds good, I shouldn't be too long." Emily went back to quickly filling out her forms. She heard the clicking of JJ's high heels fade as the woman walked away from her, and then the office fell silent. Emily was the last one there.
She signed her name at the bottom of the last sheet and practically jumped out of her chair, speed walking down the hallway to drop the forms in Hotch's office mailbox. When she had, she just about ran to the elevator. She rode down to the lobby of the building and then walked out to where JJ had said she'd meet her. Sure enough, JJ was sitting in her car, waving Emily over.
Opening the passenger side door, Emily smiled at JJ. "Thanks for doing this. I'm not sure I'd want to go out dressed like this." She said. JJ laughed.
"Em, it's close enough to what you wear out anyway! It's not like you'd ever be caught dead in a dress." Emily laughed along with her.
"Oh, whatever, JJ, it would at least be nice to put on clean clothes for a night out."
"Yeah, you've got a point there."
JJ swerved into the parking lot of Emily's apartment complex. "I figured we'd stop by your place first, since my place is closer to the club."
Emily nodded, smiling. "I'll be right out, if you want to just wait here." She offered. JJ nodded.
"Okay, sounds good. Just promise you won't take too long."
"I promise."
"Alright, go ahead then."
JJ turned the radio on and began singing along to whatever song was playing. Emily didn't pay much attention to modern music; if it wasn't 80's rock, she probably didn't know it. She walked up the steps to her apartment and practically ran inside. Sergio greeted her with a sharp meow, and she reached down to pet him for only a second before walking off towards her closet.
She pulled out a black pantsuit, deciding it was perfect. When she was dressed, she ran a brush through her hair and looked at herself in the mirror. She silently hoped that maybe she could impress JJ tonight, but she knew that the gorgeous blonde was too far out of reach. JJ wasn't even into girls; Emily didn't stand a chance.
She locked her apartment up and headed back outside, and when she opened the passenger side door she was blasted with loud music accompanied by JJ's even louder singing. She managed to recognize the song as "Cheap Thrills" by Sia, one JJ had made her listen to many times before.
"Jesus Jayje, turn it down!" She laughed, closing the car door and putting her seatbelt on. JJ obliged, and there was a glow in her eyes that told Emily she was already having the time of her life. The car's engine kicked on and they were off, headed to JJ's place with Sia still blaring through the car, seeing as JJ hadn't turned it down that much.
They pulled up to JJ's place, and JJ quickly exited the car. "I'll be fast!" She said as she walked towards her front door. Emily waited, not having the luxury of actually listening to any music since JJ had brought her keys with her. Instead, she leaned back in her seat and let her mind wander.
She couldn't help imagining herself dating JJ, holding her hand, dancing with her, going on stupid fun dates, and the like. She smiled as she imagined herself finally gaining to courage to tell her friend that she was in love with her.
Wait. In love? Emily was stunned when she realized that yes, she was in love with Jennifer Jareau. "What the fuck, Em, get it together." she whispered to herself.
Emily waited a few more minutes, not daring to let her mind wander again. She heard JJ's front door open and close and looked up, only to have her jaw drop in amazement.
JJ walked towards the car, her hair perfectly framing her face, and her lips adorned with bright red lipstick. But that isn't what caught Emily's attention the most. JJ was wearing a beautiful strapless black dress that went down to her knees. It was sparkly, and perfect for a night out. Emily couldn't stop herself from admiring the blonde agent's figure. She had finished her outfit off with black stilettos, which clicked down the sidewalk as she approached.
When JJ got in the car, Emily couldn't help herself. "You look beautiful." She said. JJ looked at her, a glint of surprise in her eyes at the sudden compliment. "Thanks, Em." She responded, smiling. God, Emily loved her smile.
"Alright, ready to go?"
Emily snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah, yeah, I'm good." She stammered. JJ gave her a curious look and then the car roared to life and they were on their way.
They had only just left JJ's house when Emily's phone rang. It was Penelope.
"Where are you guys? It's like a sea of men in here, I'm going nuts without my girls!"
"Relax, Pen, we're on our way." Emily replied.
"Oh, and Em, I know you're not super into guys but there's like, no women here. It's a testosterone fueled mess!" Emily laughed a little. Penelope was the only one who knew Emily's sexual preference.
"It's okay Pen, I'm sure we'll all still have a great time. See you soon!" With that, she hung up.
"What was that all about?" JJ asked.
"Oh, she just wants us to hurry up and get there is all. She said it's a 'testosterone fueled mess' in there." Emily laughed as she repeated Penelope's words.
"Oh great. That just means we'll have to deal with more sleazy drunk guys, won't we?" JJ sighed.
"Yeah well, we can still have a great time!" Emily responded happily.
"Hopefully." JJ replied as they pulled into the parking lot of the club. When they entered, Penelope was waiting for them at a table.
"Jesus, she was right, there are hardly any women here!" Emily groaned.
"Damn, I thought she was exaggerating." JJ agreed.
"You guys! I thought you'd never make it. I need my girl power. Come sit, let's order some drinks!" Penelope ran up to her friends, grabbing them and pulling them towards the table.
"Alright girls, I'll go grab drinks. Any special requests?"
"Nope."
"I'll be right back, then." Penelope said, trotting off to get their first round.
When Penelope returned, Emily's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. Penelope had far too many glasses on her tray for three people.
"Alright, JJ, I got you two margaritas. Emily, I got you two shots and a vodka soda."
"Jesus, you meant it when you said girls' night out." Emily commented. "And what are these even shots of?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. The bartender said they were pretty potent."
"Great." Emily sighed before she downed the first shot and started nursing her vodka soda. JJ was already working on her first margarita, and Penelope was downing three shots in one sitting.
"You're insane, Pen." JJ laughed. Penelope shrugged.
"Maybe, but at least I can hold my liquor!" They all laughed and continued to talk and drink, enjoying their time together as friends rather than coworkers.
An hour or two later, a drunk Penelope had gone to dance with some guy that looked like the Walmart version of Derek Morgan. Emily and JJ stayed at the table, both fairly intoxicated, talking about anything and everything they could think of.
"So, my love life has been a mess." JJ slurred suddenly. Emily looked up at her, eyebrows raised. "I mean, since I left Will, it's been so hectic. I can't find anybody I connect with as well as I connect with him." Emily nodded, not too sure what to say. "What about you, Emily? How's your love life?"
Emily hesitated. "Well, not much has been happening, I guess." She couldn't stop herself from saying, "I think I'm in love with someone, though." She regretted it the instant the words left her lips.
JJ practically jumped across the table, grabbing at Emily. "Oooh! Who? Who is it? Tell me!" She demanded. Emily shook her head, refusing, but JJ was relentless. "Tell me! Emily, tell me. Emily! Emily Prentiss you tell me who you're in love with!"
After five minutes of JJ begging her, Emily snapped, the alcohol in her system giving her more courage than she thought she had. "It's you, JJ. I'm in love with you."
This seemed to sober JJ up instantly. She sat back down, her eyes widening. "What?" Emily just stared at her. There was no going back now.
"Jennifer Jareau, I'm in love with you."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please do leave me a review, I'm not 100% positive where I'm going with this story yet and feedback is much appreciated!