Cracked foundations. Mixed metaphors. Emily knew she wasn't talking about houses. She was talking about herself. She was at the wedding of Jennifer Jareau. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Not to Emily.
Four years ago Emily never would have fallen in love and never with a coworker. She was reserved, held back, and focused on the job. She was lucky she had a cat now. She had her fair share of one night stands and flings but Emily had never allowed herself to fall in love. Four years ago she didn't know Jennifer Jareau.
The day they met would forever be on Emily's mind. Media liaison Jennifer Jareau had walked into the room to inform the unit chief of a case. Emily had been talking to Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner about transferring to the unit. There had been a miscommunication. People were worried someone had pulled strings to get her into the unit, and by people, Emily Prentiss knew it was the two men in charge Jason Gideon and Aaron Hotchner. Emily never prayed. She wasn't the spiritual type. The one to believe in a higher power or that things happened for a reason. The day she met those blue eyes, Emily said a little prayer that no mistake had been made and that she would soon be a part of this family.
Now Emily was looking at her best friend, the woman she knew she had fallen in love with, walk down the aisle to a man she wasn't totally convinced that JJ loved. They had rushed to put together a wedding out of the fear from the case. The case had almost killed them all including Will. It had really put thing into perspective for Emily and she was thinking of leaving. Leaving or telling JJ how she felt. Now the JJ was in a white dress marrying someone else. It was worse than when JJ had announced she was pregnant with Will's child and he had proposed. At least JJ had held off the proposal.
Broken foundation. Broken hearts. What was this thing called bravery? What was the difference between bravery and insanity? Emily had run into a building with armed men and almost been blown up. She had guessed codes and cut wires she had no idea would work to save the man that was now marrying her best friend. She knew she had to save Will. Even if JJ never noticed, had she not saved his life, JJ would have never forgiven Emily. That was truly when all would be lost. It was now or never. It was either leave or object. Leave or interrupt the wedding of her best friend and confess the feelings that may end with her leaving anyway and possibly with a slap in the face.
What was this thing called bravery? What was the difference between bravery, insanity, and cowardice? Emily knew walking out that door, walking out of JJ's life, and heading back to London to work for Interpol could be construed as brave, insane, or cowardly. She'd be allowing her best friend to be happy while walking away from her own happiness. She'd be running away from the problem though. Emily had run once before and regretted every minute of it as she sat at a café in Paris and held onto a picture of Jennifer.
Emily chose bravery or insanity, whichever way she categorized it in her head. Ten years from now, she'd never regret the moment she decided to tell Jennifer Jareau the hardest three words ever to be said. I love you.
She knew now that cracked foundations didn't mean something had to be condemned. They just took work and a little bit of courage.
finis