JJ sighed as she stirred the lemonade. It was something to do to keep her mind off the fact that very shortly a few of their team would find out the truth about Erin. It had been a shock, but she understood how Erin had wanted to be the one to reveal that particular bit of news. Still, she had a hinky feeling that things would not turn out well. After all, Spencer had not reacted well when Emily had come back from the dead, and this might be even worse.
"Penny for your thoughts, Jen."
Looking up, she smiled into Spencer's face, shrugging a little. "It just feels a little weird to be here now, after everything that's happened to us. Where's Blake?"
"Helping Rossi set the table. Hotch sent me in here to help bring everything into the dining room. You know, I almost want to turn the power off and have us eat in the dark, like last time. That just seems to be the overall feel of this weekend."
"That wouldn't be very good with tacos, Pretty Boy. And I really do not want to try and clean up after that mess, do you?"
He shook his head, and JJ smiled, puckering her lips. He took the hint and gave her a tender kiss, and she sighed a little. "There is something going on, isn't there? I've learned to better read your micro-expressions since the whole Emily debacle, and there is something that you are keeping from me."
A bright blush stained her cheeks as she looked down into the pitcher. "I wish that I could tell you, Spence, I really do. I can honestly say, though, that I did not find anything out until we got here today. Whatever might happen, keep that in mind. Please?"
His hand closed around her shoulder, and JJ looked up at him, knowing that her eyes were almost certainly luminous with unshed tears. "Whatever it is, I won't react badly, will I?"
"You might."
He cocked his head to one side, staring at her intently. Just as he was about to ask her another question, Derek shoved a bowl of seasoned meat into his hands. "Hey, kid, run this into the dining room."
Spencer let out a disgusted sigh as he nodded, turning on his heel and stalking from the kitchen. "I can't lie to him anymore, Der. When did that happen?"
"Maybe when you found out that you didn't want to be a side couple with him any longer. There's a certain honesty that comes after something like that. You have to keep better control over your emotions, though, at least until after they make their appearance. This has to be all about her."
She nodded as she gave the drink one more stir. "I'll try. Though I don't know if I want that to happen before or after we've eaten. Somehow, I think that the news will go better on full stomachs."
"Spoken like a true mother." She shrugged as she gave him a bright smile. "All right, go run that in to the dining room, and send Reid back in. There's still a lot to put out."
JJ nodded as she picked up the pitcher and sashayed from the room, letting out a little gasp as Derek pinched her ass as she moved past him. Once in the dining room, she saw that Aaron and Blake were deep in conversation, and that made her smile, since she hoped that her lover could keep her distracted throughout most of the meal.
"Hey, are we almost ready to eat?"
She looked at Rossi, arching an eyebrow and daring him to say something else. He had the good graces to look somewhat mollified, and he came over to her side, taking the pitcher from her hands and starting to fill the glasses.
"You know, there's an extra glass at the table. Did you miscount?" Reid asked, frowning a little.
"No, it's a Jewish tradition that I've coopted for our group. The glass is to remind us of those not with us any longer."
"Like Erin?" Blake asked suddenly, and Rossi nodded. From the look on his face, JJ knew that he was close to giving the whole thing away, and she shot him a quick, dark, look.
"You know, Derek mentioned that there was a lot to still bring to the table. Why don't you come help me and let these three talk."
"Sounds like a plan, Jen." He gratefully squeezed her shoulder as he moved past, and she nodded at the others as she followed after him. "Thank you for saving my ass."
"Think nothing of it. I vaguely know how important it is for her to do this on her own, since Emily was so insistent about coming out to the team when she was ready. Unfortunately, Doyle tipped her hand in that whole affair. At least we know for certain that John Curtis is dead."
"There is that. Would you mind running up and seeing what's keeping Penelope, though? Her absence is unexplainable, and I'd like to keep the questions before supper to a minimum."
JJ nodded and kissed his cheek. "You're a good man, Rossi. Really, you are. She's lucky to have you."
"Thanks, Jen."
She nodded once more as she left the kitchen and went over to the stairs, swiftly climbing them. Somehow, she knew that the women would be in the master bedroom, since that's where they always seemed to end up, and JJ entered without knocking.
A soft giggle escaped her lips as she looked at the bed, seeing Penelope and Erin wrapped up in each other's arms, Erin's head pillowed on the other woman's chest. It came as no surprise that they were both naked, but that only complicated matters, honestly, at this point. Tiptoeing over to the bed, she softly sat and leaned over them, stroking Erin's cheek with her index finger.
The woman blinked her eyes open, focus coming to them slowly. "Jennifer?"
"Hey. It's almost supper time, everyone else is here, and Rossi sent me up to get Penelope. It seems like you're wanting to make your appearance a little later?"
"Yes, I thought I'd let you all eat before I disrupt things. News like this might go better on full stomachs."
JJ nodded, letting out a soft hum as Erin reached up and hooked her arm around her neck, pulling her in close for a deep kiss. Up until that moment, she hadn't realized how much she missed those lips, and she fought to keep from falling into the bed, knowing that if she did, they wouldn't get up until they were both sated.
"Jayje?"
"Finally you wake up," she breathed out as she sat up, giving Erin a dazed smile. "Rossi wants to see you downstairs, posthaste. Dinner's almost ready, and it's starting to look a little odd that you're not there."
"Oh, I hadn't realized that it had gotten this late. Let me give Erin one more kiss, and then you can help me dress." Penelope pressed close to Erin once more and kissed her deeply, her hand reaching up to cup Erin's breast, tweaking the nipple to a stiff peak as JJ watched.
"That's not fair, Penny," she whined, feeling desire pool in her stomach as she watched them. Her friend shrugged as she got off the bed, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing JJ just as fiercely. "All right, enough. I do not want to get all wound up before we eat."
"Yes, honey." Penelope gave an exaggerated wink to Erin before squatting down and picking up her panties.
"You shan't need those, Penelope, dearest. Leave them here."
The indolent tone of Erin's voice sent shivers down JJ's spine and she fought to keep from pressing her thighs together, knowing that the pressure would do nothing to alleviate her arousal. "Yes, Ma'am!"
JJ rolled her eyes a little at the eagerness, bending to grab Penelope's bra and tossing it to her before gathering up the rest of her clothing. "Seriously, next time you strip, make sure your clothing all goes in one place."
"Well, I wasn't really focused on where it went, so long as it went," she tartly replied before brushing past her. "Seriously, give it twenty minutes before you come downstairs, Erin. It's just tacos, those don't take too long to eat."
"Yes, Penny." Erin slipped from the bed and went over to the dresser, starting to pull out clothes. "I'll see the both of you soon. Please, remember to smile at me. I'm not certain how Alexandra will take the news."
"Of course." Penelope finished dressing and slipped her hand into JJ's. "Let's head down there now, so that Erin's grand reveal will be all the sooner."
JJ laughed lightly as she shook her head, leading her friend down to the dining room. The only spaces open were between Hotch and Blake, and she sat closest to her lover, leaving Penelope next to Blake. And though she was slightly hungry, JJ found that she couldn't concentrate long enough to actually eat more than a few bites.
One by one, the others finished their meals, and JJ felt the butterflies start to fly ever more chaotically in her stomach. Penelope must have been feeling the same way, since she slipped her hand off the table and settled it on JJ's thigh, letting her thumb rub back and forth, as if she was trying to soothe the both of them with her touch.
And then, JJ heard movement from the kitchen and she sucked in a deep breath, not ready for Spencer or Alex's reactions. Penelope's hand tightened almost painfully on her thigh, and she gave her friend a small nod as they both looked to the door. Blake took notice of their move, and craned her head around to see what they were looking at.
"Hello, everyone," Erin said softly as she lifted her hand in a small wave. "Um, I'm alive. What have I missed?"
