Chapter 4

Dinner wasn't as awkward as Emily had thought it would be considering what she and JJ had been doing before they went down to the dinner table, but it was still a little uncomfortable. Emily was able to pretend that everything was as it always was and she caught JJ's eyes a few times and saw the confusion in the blond's eyes. Emily knew that JJ was probably wondering how Emily was able to act like nothing had happened in her bedroom.

Emily had learned at a young age the fine art of compartmentalizing. It had helped her to be the 'perfect' daughter during her mother's political dinner parties. Emily had learned to hide her thoughts and her emotions when she had to and she knew that this would be another of those situations. Emily knew that if she didn't tuck away her feelings during dinner, JJ's mom would be able to see that something had changed and Emily wasn't ready for the fallout that could occur...especially if JJ's parents didn't know their daughter liked kissing girls.

JJ tried her best to act normal but she couldn't completely pull it off and she just hoped her parents wouldn't say anything. She knew Mark wouldn't, not if he wanted to keep his ride to school. JJ wasn't too concerned about her parents' reaction, they already knew she was gay and they had accepted her. No, what JJ was worried about was how Emily would react when her parents found out about them. JJ hoped Emily would be okay with it, that she'd be able to see that her parents would be cool with it.

JJ thought back to how her mom and dad had really welcomed Emily into the family and she suddenly felt like smacking herself upside the head. JJ looked over at her mother and narrowed her eyes.

Laura Jareau had been watching her daughter and Emily from the moment they sat down at the table. She knew that Daniel and Mark wouldn't be able to see the difference but, Laura noticed it right away. There was a hum of nervous energy practically flowing from her normally calm daughter and Emily's face was deceptively blank. Laura didn't say anything, realizing that whatever had happened in the last two hours or so was still very new and that mentioning it now might mess it up. So she ate in silence and just studied the two girls. Laura tuned out the conversation her husband and son were having about the football team and just watched the girls.

Laura caught her daughter's eyes and she saw JJ's eyes narrowing as she looked at her. Laura knew that JJ suspected that she knew something so she smiled and gave a tiny nod.

JJ's eyes widened as she saw her mom smile and nod. She knew that nod...she knew what it meant. It was their own private communication. Usually, when JJ thought she'd gotten away with something, she'd look at her mother and all she got was a smile and a nod and JJ knew that her mom knew.

JJ deliberately swung her eyes to Emily and then back to her mom, silently asking a question that she knew her mom would understand. Laura saw her daughter's eyes swing to Emily then back again and she knew what JJ was asking. She wanted to know if Laura knew something about Emily...if she had known there was something there this whole time. Laura cut a quick glance to Emily, noticing that the dark haired girl was unusually quiet and staring at her plate, refusing to make eye contact. Laura looked back to JJ and again just gave a tiny nod.

JJ brought her hand up to the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache starting. Her mom knew, had known all along that she had feelings for Emily. And judging by the look in her mother's eyes when she'd glanced at Emily, JJ knew that her mom had also known that Emily felt the same way. JJ wondered how she could've been so blind this whole time. How was it that her own mother had better gaydar than she did?

Emily noticed the silence between JJ and her mom and she risked a glance at them, hiding her eyes behind her bangs. She saw the silent communication between them and she got the feeling that whatever was being silently said between mother and daughter had something to do with her. Emily saw JJ pinch her nose and she got worried. In the month she'd known JJ, the blonde had only pinched her nose a few times, in class, when a headache began throbbing.

Emily wanted to reach out and offer JJ some comfort, help keep the headache away but she knew that doing so in front of her parents would be a dead giveaway and would only confirm whatever JJ's mom was thinking about them.

Instead, Emily turned to JJ's mom and tried to distract the older woman's attention so that JJ might have some time to relax. "Mrs. Jareau, this chicken is really good." Emily had wanted to call her Laura, had even meant to earlier but somehow, spending half an hour making out with JJ made Emily revert to her manners.

Laura turned to Emily, she briefly considered calling the young girl out on her attempt to distract her attention from JJ but then she realized that it was Emily's way of protecting JJ. Laura decided to let it slide and so she smiled at Emily and said, "thank you Emily, but I thought we had settled the whole Mrs. Jareau issue." Laura gave Emily a pointed look, softening her tone with a small smile.

Emily relaxed a little bit, welcoming the light teasing, "sorry, I guess I forgot. Won't happen again...Laura." Emily deliberately dropped the older woman's name at the end of her statement.

Laura just kept smiling, "good, see that it doesn't. So, how's school going for you Emily?"

Emily glanced quickly at JJ before she turned to Laura and said, "Actually, it's going really well. The classes are great and I've decided to try out for the school's production of Grease next week."

"That's wonderful. What role will you be trying out for?"

JJ sat quietly as her mom and Emily discussed the play and the movie and listened as her mom gushed that Emily would be a perfect Rizzo.

After another half hour of talking and eating, Laura excused the girls from the table, insisting that they go upstairs and relax for a bit before JJ took Emily home.

The girls went back to JJ's room, JJ led the way with Emily right behind her. As soon as Emily cleared the threshold, JJ doubled back and closed the door behind her. Before Emily could react, JJ was leaning against the door and had pulled Emily close to her, claiming the dark haired girl's lips in a kiss that overflowed with passion.

JJ managed to remember to lock the bedroom door just seconds before she surrendered herself to Emily's kiss.

Emily let herself get lost in JJ's kiss, her soft lips and the tiny moans that were coming from the blond's throat. Emily knew she'd never be able to get enough of this beautiful girl.

JJ slowly began moving Emily backwards, determined to get to her the bed before her knees completely gave out on her. JJ managed to get Emily to the bed but when the brunette felt the bed against her legs she stopped and pulled away from JJ. Emily took a few deep breaths before she forced herself to look up into JJ's eyes. Emily saw lust, need, desire all swirling in JJ's deep blue eyes and it was almost her undoing.

But Emily forced herself to remember that they were in JJ's house, with her parents and little brother just down stairs. Emily wasn't keen on doing anything more than kissing under those circumstances. She didn't want to rush into anything with JJ, wanting to build something real and true with the popular blonde athlete...something that would last beyond graduation.

Emily smiled at JJ, "Jennifer, I think we should slow down."

JJ closed her eyes, savoring the way her name sounded coming from Emily. JJ was pretty sure that Emily wasn't even aware that she was using JJ's real name. Knowing that it was a subconscious action, something that just came out rather than something that Emily had calculated made it more special to JJ.

"Slow down? Emily, as much as I want to strip you naked and make love to you-like right now, I'm not going to risk my parents or Mark interrupting us or even, God forbid hearing us. Is that okay?"

Emily visibly relaxed, "that's more than okay Jennifer. It was close to what I was thinking too."

JJ grinned, "Do you have any idea what it does to me, hearing you say my name like that?"

Emily saw the look on JJ's face and she could guess the effect it was having on her but she wanted to hear the blonde say it. "tell me?"

JJ looked into Emily's eyes as she said, "all my life, I've hated my name. I never felt it really fit me. I've been known as JJ since the first grade. No one ever calls me Jennifer, not even my parents. But, hearing you say it, hearing my name on your lips...it makes me want you even more than I thought was possible. Hearing you call me Jennifer makes my knees get weak and my brain starts spinning, and I feel like if I don't kiss you I'll implode." JJ smiled, "and I wouldn't want it any other way. For the first time in my life, Emily, I like my name. You make my name sound beautiful, you make it sound like it really fits me at last. And I know that the reason for that has everything to do with the fact that it's you who is calling me Jennifer."

JJ paused, trying to find the words to explain why she suddenly wanted Emily to only ever call her Jennifer. JJ knew it was unrealistic though, she knew that if Emily ever called her Jennifer around anyone else...the explanations would be more of a headache than she wanted to deal with. JJ was trying to find a way to explain to Emily that she wanted to keep her name between them. Even to her own inner voice it sounded bad.

Emily listened as Jennifer explained her thoughts and she couldn't help the swell of affection she felt for the blonde. Emily had known two weeks into their friendship that she was falling in love with JJ. She also knew it was far too soon to say the words that seemed to be burning a brand into her heart. When JJ paused to think of her next words Emily knew that no more words were needed so she closed the distance between them and kissed JJ again...letting all the love she felt for the blond pour out into the kiss, saying with actions what she couldn't with words.

JJ felt herself getting swept away in Emily's kiss and let herself go. After a few minutes, JJ realized she wanted more than Emily would give while they were still in JJ's house. So JJ pulled away and reached her hand up to cup Emily's cheek. JJ smiled, "c'mon Em, let's go for that drive I mentioned earlier, okay?"

Emily felt her brain slowly re-engage itself after JJ pulled away. She slowly registered JJ's words and nodded, willing to follow JJ anywhere if it meant she got to spend time with her. Emily remembered to grab her bag as JJ led her out of the room.

Emily said a quick goodbye to JJ's parents and soon the girls were sitting in JJ's car. They buckled up and JJ turned to smile at Emily. "Hey Em, are you in a major rush to get home?"

Emily smiled back at JJ, "no, why? What'd you have in mind Jennifer?" Emily was enjoying being able to use JJ's real name, knowing that no one else did. JJ closed her eyes as a now familiar feeling swept through her at Emily's words.

She opened them as she started the engine, "there's something I want to show you, if you don't mind?"

"I'd like that." Emily held herself back from saying that she would follow JJ anywhere if it meant spending time with her. She somehow felt it was too soon to be making such declarations.

JJ grinned, then put the car into gear and pulled out of the driveway. They were lost in their own world in that car and so they didn't notice that JJ's mom was standing by the back door, watching them drive off before she lifted the cordless handset and dialed a familiar number.

Laura Jareau watched as the girls drove away before she dialed the number she'd been wanting to dial all night. She waited as the phone rang. On the third ring, it was picked up.

"Hi, this is Laura, I hope I'm not- interrupting anything...oh good...well they just left here...well let me just say that something has definitely changed between them...no, I think JJ's a little afraid of Emily's reaction when she finds out that I know...well they seemed happy...I think they want to keep it quiet for now so you can't tell them you know, ok?...yes I know it'll be hard but I have faith in you...ok well I'll let you get back to what you were doing I just wanted to let you know that progress had been made...huh? Me? Yes I'm perfectly fine with it, you know how much I adore Emily, I think she'll be good for JJ...no Daniel doesn't know yet...okay well have a goodnight...bye."

Laura hung up the phone and smiled. It was going to be an interesting few weeks. She knew JJ wouldn't tell anyone about the change in her relationship with Emily for at least that long as she made sure that they were going to last...which meant a lot of sneaking around and trying to keep the secret. Laura knew her daughter was no good at keeping secrets...especially one as big as this one. But she also knew that JJ knew that she knew about them, which meant that at least within the house, JJ wouldn't have to sneak around as much.

Laura trusted her daughter and she got a feeling that she could trust Emily too, which meant that Laura wasn't going to treat them any differently. They would still be allowed to study in JJ's room, alone. Laura was determined to give JJ a safe haven for her relationship with Emily. Since it was extremely unlikely that Emily could get JJ pregnant, Laura wasn't too concerned about leaving them alone together. She trusted her daughter to know enough to wait until she knew Emily wasn't going to leave before she slept with her.

TBC...

AN: So glad people like this story so far. A few twists and surprises are still in store for our girls. (who did Laura call? any guesses?) Next chapter should be up soon...enjoy this one!