I am so sorry for the long delay! Uni is a mess at the moment and I have assignments coming out of my ears. Plus, I am having some troubles in life in general at the moment but I am hoping to start picking myself back up again when I finish Uni on the 17th of May.

I really enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you all enjoy reading it! Don't forget to drop me a review at the end.

Once the three were finally at JJ's, the blonde felt relieved to be out of her cramped SUV due to Garcia giggling the majority of the way home and Elle questioning what was actually going on. Damn Derek for being so predictable and obvious. Elle grabbed the blonde on her way to her bedroom, stopping her in her tracks.

"Are you going to explain what the hell is going on now? She looks like she is on drugs!" She waved her hands in Garcia's direction worryingly, JJ laughing slightly at her best friend who was still laughing to herself.

"Care to explain Penelope?" JJ said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"JJ and Derek are going on a date!" She exclaimed excitedly, Elle raising her eyebrows at JJ to confirm, the blonde nodding.

"It is not a big deal. We are going for a meal and that is it, nothing will probably even come from it." She tried to shake off the idea of having something more with Derek, but Elle was good at her job and she could see how excited JJ was and how she felt for Derek. She nodded, clicked her fingers and grinned, grabbing her hand.

"Let's get you ready for your date!" Garcia squealed and grabbed JJ's other hand, the two dragging her into her bedroom.

"Right, what time is he picking you up?" JJ looked at her watch, her eyes widening at how little time she actually had.

"8. !"

"Don't worry. That gives us an hour and a half to get you ready. I want you to go and get a shower; you have twenty minutes. Myself and Elle will coordinate an outfit and what to do with your beautiful golden locks." Sighing, JJ nodded and headed towards the bathroom.

"Where do you keep your wine Jayje? I will have a large glass waiting for you when you get out." Elle asked, JJ already getting undressed, dumping her blazer on the chair in the corner of her room.

"I have a cabinet in my office. Grab a bottle of red." Nodding, she ushered her into the bathroom, looking to Garcia who was already in the blonde's wardrobe.

"For a hotty like herself, her wardrobe is so bleh! I am guessing Derek is going to go all out with this date, so she needs something to knock the wind out of him. All I am finding in here is work clothes and ripped jeans with sweatshirts!" Garcia complained, Elle rolling her eyes, leaning in the doorway to JJ's walk in wardrobe.

"Do you think this is going to work? Her and Derek I mean. This is really out of character for him. Since when does he plan and profusely organise dates for women?" Penelope looked up, noting the concern on the brunettes face.

"I know what you mean, but isn't that a good thing. He is going all out for her, maybe he genuinely likes her. Plus, I doubt he would lead her on, because I have a feeling Hotch and Gideon would have his head on a stick if he left her in the dirt, plus, imagine what we could do to him." She winked, Elle laughing, knowing she was right. Sensing her hesitation still, Penelope stopped again, looking to her friend.

"I am 99% sure Derek is going to go all out to make this work. And if he doesn't and he messes up, JJ will have everyone on the team behind her. She is probably the most lovable person any of us has ever met, and I cannot see anyone taking his side if something goes south. Trust our babies, they can handle themselves. Though I do think we should take JJ out for a shopping spree soon, her wardrobe is stressing me out." Rolling her eyes, Elle walked away to grab the wine, heading into the blondes office. She looked around and headed towards the large cabinet in the corner, opening the doors, a huge grin spreading across her face as she called Garcia into the room, the stress practically falling from her face as he took in the three dress bags hanging loosely in the cabinet.

"Oh, they are gorgeous!" Penelope exclaimed, unzipping each one to look at. She picked up her favourite and pointed towards the wine cabinet behind the door before her and Elle skipped back to the bedroom happily, coordinating a hair style and accessories to the dress. 15 minutes later, JJ appeared back in the bedroom wrapped in a towel, her wet hair hanging loosely around her shoulders. She accepted the glass of wine happily, looking seemingly content before she spotted the dress bag on the bed, her smile faltering slightly.

"Where did you find that?" She looked almost disgusted to see it, the two sharing a look before looking back to her in confusion.

"In a cabinet in your office. I was trying to find the wine but that cabinet was hidden behind the door and I missed it when walking it." Elle explained, Penelope continuing. "You look like we have just dragged out a skeleton from your closet. Are we missing something?" JJ looked uncomfortable all of a sudden, crossing her arms over her chest, feeling vulnerable in the situation she had been thrown into. She trusted her friends more than she had trusted anyone in her life and wasn't sure why she was so hesitant to tell the tale.

"When I was in the FBI academy, I started dating a third year in my first; he was training to join Special Forces so was there for an extra few years. He was from a rich family so whenever we went out he would go all out; hiring fancy cars, booking tables in expensive restaurants. I grew up with the bare minimum so I looked really out of place while we were out, like I didn't belong. Whenever we went to his parents balls they would look at me like I was living on the streets, like I was a tramp and I hated it. I was getting by, working weekends to pay rent in my own apartment, and I wasn't in any debt because I was there on a scholarship but when I was around his family I felt worthless. I saved up some money and for our 6 month anniversary I went out and bought these three really expensive dresses. I loved them and felt amazing while wearing them, but when it came to our meal and I showed up in this red dress, he kept pointing out everything that was wrong with me. He said my shoulders were too broad for a girly dress like that, and that my thighs were too big and my hips made the dress bulge and my back fat was horrible to look at. I felt really self-conscious and after that night he only continued to undermine everything about me; the way I looked, my intelligence. At one point I was going to drop out of self-defence class because he told me the course wasn't for women like me. One day, we were due to go out for a bit and I met him at my apartment. I was feeling slightly okay that day considering how much he had been bringing me down and decided to bring him in a doughnut and coffee from the store. Before letting me explain they were his, he proceeded to hit me and tell me that I was too fat for food like that and I should learn when to stop. I kicked him out that day and didn't see him again after that. I haven't touched the dresses since, but could never find the will to get rid of them." Elle and Penelope were frozen in silence, trying to process the painful story their friend had confided in them with. They looked at how scared the woman looked, wondering how someone could have treated someone like her so horrendously. Snapping out of her shocked state, Elle approached her and wrapped the woman in her arms, stunned at how small she looked in that moment of vulnerability.

"JJ listen to me, you are an incredible and beautiful young woman, and he was an ass to even think anything of those sorts about you. You don't have to be a profiler to see how much Derek adores you and I know that you could roll up in a pair of pyjamas and slippers, and he would still think the world of you." Penelope nodded, going up to her, rubbing her arm comfortingly.

"I know for a fact Derek is going to be knocked off his feet when he sees you." Laughing, JJ wiped away the stray tear that had rolled down her cheek and nodded, sitting down at her dressing table, allowing Elle and Penelope to work their magic. She took pride in her appearance, that nobody doubted, but when it came to make-up and dressing fancy, she was a lost soul. She was grateful to have Penelope and Elle at her aid. 45 minutes later, Penelope and Elle were sitting on JJ's sofa patiently waiting for the blonde to emerge from her bedroom. They had done her make-up and hair, and it was just down to JJ putting on the dress and shoes. Finally, they heard the bedroom door open and JJ walked down the hall, the two whistling in awe. She had on a long black dress, a slit down the left leg, the right side not having a strap. Her hair was curled and half was pinned back with a black slide, the rest of the curls falling gracefully down her bare shoulder. She had silver heels on to match the plain bangle on her wrist and the large hooped earrings in her ears. She held a small black clutch bag in front of her, smiling slightly when she saw her friends faces.

"Does it look okay?" She asked, Elle placing her hand on her heart.

"We did good Pen." The other blonde nodding, pretending to whip a tear away as she rested on Elle's shoulder. "She looks hot." Rolling her eyes at the pair who had clearly had too much to drink, she went to comment on their over dramatics, though she suddenly looked like a deer caught in headlights when the doorbell went, Penelope clapping eagerly. When JJ never made any sign of moving, Elle rolled her eyes and ran towards her, pushing her to the door.

"You are going to do great. We will be waiting here to hear all the details when you get home." Penelope said, the two disappearing into the kitchen as JJ opened the door. Derek was sporting a black tux, no tie, with a few of his shirt buttons undone. He had a wide smile on his face, though his jaw hit the floor when he took JJ in. She looked like an angel, his heart skipping a beat as he held his hand out to her.

"Catching flies Derek?" She mocked, Derek gulping slightly before laughing dryly, trying to catch his breath.

"You look so beautiful." He managed to whisper, JJ squeezing his hand with a smile.

"You don't look too bad yourself handsome." Finding his posture again, he grinned, guiding her to the car that he parked outside her house. Once she was in, he hopped in the driver's side, taking one last look at her making her frown.

"Are you okay?" He nodded, squeezing her thigh before turning the ignition in the car.

"Yes, I am perfect."

Isn't Derek adorable. The next chapter is their date... I wonder what secrets will come out ;)

Until next time, don't forget to review!