Just to fill you all in… I had a lovely dinner talking with a longtime friend who is amazing. I can say that because I know she doesn't read my work. She is on the other side of preferences but I do not hold that against her. I just smile and wish the man she gets truly knows what a gift he has. Anyway… on with the story.

*Okay as always, I own nothing of Criminal minds I just get the privilege of playing with the characters for a while.

V

(Chapter Three)

They finished dinner with light conversation. Emily started clearing the table and JJ helped. She decided that she would let the woman guide the conversation for a while. Hoping to easy things back around. Emily was drying the dishes and putting them away as JJ washed and that about the answer to the straw question. It came to her like a bolt of lightning. She stopped washing the plate in her hands as the words came out of her mouth, "you… you would be."

"What?" Emily asked not following JJ's thought.

"You Emily Prentiss… would and have been my straw. Of course, I would kill anything that would try to hurt my child. But you are the only one that I have dropped everything for and cared about what you thought of me." She looked up to validate her answer and to see what affect it had. She knew that she was laying herself wide open but at the moment she didn't care. Emily took a step forward and took the plate and sat it on the counter then caught her in a hug.

JJ started to pull out of the embrace but Emily pulled tighter and wouldn't let go. That's when she realized what the woman had been thinking about... but she had to know for sure.

"I'm your straw too, aren't I?"

"Yes…" was whispered into her ear. They both tightened their grips on each other as the volume of the revelations filled their hearts and minds.

When they finally pulled away, Emily took her hand and led them to the couch. "I was standing there looking at her body and from the back she looked like you. I wanted to know why he would kill someone that looked like you. She was a good mother like you are and from our information she was nice to everybody. So why kill her?

I got so enraged that she was dead and I couldn't protect her from being killed. I wondered why in the world I was getting so angry about someone I didn't even know. Then I realized I had a dream a few weeks ago similar to the scene I was looking at. But it wasn't Monica laying there but you. In the dream, I went nuts to find out who killed you and woke up as I was choking your killer to death."

Emily took JJ's hand, "That's when I knew for sure... you are my straw."

"What does this mean? I have a child, a boyfriend and I'm not gay." JJ started a ramble as her thoughts started going wild in her head.

"Hey… hey… it's okay." Emily said as she patted the woman's arm. "I'm not asking you for anything."

JJ looked at her puzzled as a thought hit her, "Wait… you are not gay either."

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath and blew it out, "I have had more than one love interest in my life and not all have been male. I do not like labels JJ. I've had people watching and labeling me all my life and I'm tired of it." She said looking at the still puzzled face before her. " I told you I wouldn't be good company. I should have come home by myself." She said and went back into the kitchen for her wine.

JJ followed the woman with her eyes then ignoring the last comment asked, "Why haven't you told me before now?"

"I wouldn't have told you now either but the straw is getting too heavy to carry, as they say. I care about you JJ. I have never felt this way towards anyone else in my life. I bury every one of those feels every day and when one slips out I bury it deeper than I did the time before. So much so, that it manifests in my sleep on a regular basis. But I get it… you have a family and you are straight. But at least now that I have admitted it, maybe I can get some sleep." She said taking a drink of her wine.

"You dream about me?" JJ asked out loud as her brain struggled to keep up with what Emily just said.

"Yes… sorry. Maybe I should just transfer." Emily said frustrated with the whole conversation now feeling exposed.

"No!" JJ exclaimed as she stood up and came to where she was standing. "I do not want you to leave." She said and wrapped her arms around the woman.

After several moment of taking in the warmth of the woman in her arms, "Then what JJ…"

"I have dreams about you too." Was said into Emily's shoulder. "I thought it was because of what happened to my sister. That's why I check on you so much. She was quiet like you and I feel the need to make sure that you are okay so you won't leave too."

Emily pulled the woman in tighter, "I will never leave you in that matter Jennifer... ever. I can't promise to never have to be away from you. But I will always come to you when you need me." She said pulling back and looking at tear filled eyes, "I will have too... you are my straw."

okay I know I have had you dangling... so I have posted a shorter chapter to move it along. Be patient with me cause I got to give The Sin some love as well as my series. I promise updates soon on all. :)