AN1: This story is based on characters from Criminal Minds. I do not make any claims to have created them but I do enjoy writing them.

AN2: I'm planning on this being a rather long story. JJ's critically hurt and Emily passes the hours waiting for the woman she loves to wake up by recounting their life together. The story will toggle from the present to the past. I hope that isn't too confusing.

AN3: The story is rated T but some chapters will be rated M. I will try to remember to warn you when I've turned up the heat.

Hope you enjoy. Please read and review.

************************************************

Having spent most of the night talking to JJ about the first time they'd made love, Emily sat in her chair smiling at the remembrance, when Penelope broke her thoughts.

"Good morning! It's nice to see you smiling, Em. What brought that on?"

"Oh nothing" Emily said feeling her cheeks getting flush "I didn't hear you come in."

Garcia, upon noticing the blush, realized what Emily was more than likely thinking about. Unbeknownst to Emily, JJ and her had spent a lot of time discussing the voracity of a certain dark-haired FBI agent that they both knew and loved. Emily might have hesitated to make love to JJ for the first time but, once that horse was out of the barn, there was no corralling it. Not that JJ had been complaining by any stretch of the imagination. No, Garcia knew they had both finally met their match in each other.

"Did you manage to get any sleep, Emily?"

"Yes some." Emily lied, she'd actually gotten very little. Sitting up in this chair wasn't exactly conducive to sleeping but there was no way she was going to mention that to Mama Bear; not unless she wanted to fight about leaving JJ's side again.

"Hmm…why don't I believe you?"

Emily smiled at her friend, "I appreciate the concern but I'm okay. I need to call Amanda and check on Henry though. Would you mind sitting with her for five minutes? I'll be right outside the room if you need to come get me."

"Go, Em. I called Amanda last night and again this morning but I know you'll feel better if you call and talk to her yourself."

"Thanks, Pen. I'll be right back."

Emily left JJ for only the second time since JJ had been placed in her private room after her surgery. She never even left when the various nurses had come in to check on JJ's tubes and bandages. The overnight charge nurse had brought her a pillow and a blanket and commented on Emily's devotion to her patient.

After a few minutes, Emily returned looking rather upset

"He's not sleeping well. Amanda says he was up all night crying and fussing. He's never gone this long without at least hearing her voice. I think he misses her." Emily said with tears starting to form in her eyes.

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yes but its not the same. He loves JJ so very much. When we're traveling, we've told Amanda to call us no matter what time it is if he won't settle down. Five minutes on the phone with JJ and he's soothed." Emily said, "Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"When you get a chance can you see about booking them on flight here? Maybe if he can see me…"

"And his godmother."

"Yes, and his godmother, it will help. Besides, I miss him and it'd be great if JJ could see him when she finally wakes up."

"Consider it done," Garcia said. She looked over at Emily and knew she needed to bring a smile back to her face. She hated to see her friend so distraught.

"So what were you thinking about when I walked in?"

"Like I said, nothing"

"Nothing huh, Emily? I think I know that look. JJ gets the same one when she thinks of you in a particular way too." Garcia teased. "Any specific time Agent Prentiss?"

Emily just chuckled. Leave it to Garcia to want to talk about sex at a time like this.

"The first time."

"Ooh, the tower!"

"Gawd, are you telling me JJ told you about the tower." Emily asked incredulously.

"Honey, JJ has told me all kinds of things. Come on, you know she told me about you two right from the very start." Garcia knew that Emily wasn't comfortable talking about the intimate details of her life so she held those discussions to when she and JJ were alone. JJ had no such compunction, she relished her sex life and wasn't afraid to say so, at least not to her best friend.

"Yes but I didn't know she…Oh never mind. I guess I'm not really surprised."

"If it makes you feel any better…she says you're magic."

Emily smiled even as she blushed harder.

"I was in love with her from that first date, you know. I fell hard."

"So did she, Pumpkin, so did she."

*************************************************

Emily awoke the next morning to find JJ still fast asleep. She sat up and afforded herself a good look at the beautiful woman in her bed. JJ was sleeping on her tummy with her face away from Emily. Emily pulled back the covers a little to sneak a peek at JJ's flawless body. Toned and tanned everywhere as far as Emily would allow herself to look since she didn't want to wake her. She could see JJ's muscles in her arms and back even as she was sleeping. Emily knew JJ worked out and ran a lot, took good care of herself by drinking plenty of water and eating right but she never appreciated that as much as she did right now.

She leaned down and kissed JJ's bare shoulder "Tienes mi corazón, Jennifer. Guárdalo seguro. Te quiero. Te amo.

Knowing that if she continued to stare at her lover, it'd been a long time since Emily had used that phrase she thought, it would be hard to keep her hands off of her so she decided to quietly ease out of bed.

Hers and JJ's clothes were all over the bedroom floor making Emily smile as she thought about the night she had spent with JJ. It was truly a memorable experience. She picked up everything placing JJ's dress and boots on the chair in her bedroom and went to put her stuff in the hamper checking her pockets first. She found JJ's panties and smiled again as she looked at the tiny piece of material that was JJ's undergarment before placing it with the rest of her things.

She got dressed in a pair of sweats and a tee and went into her bathroom to brush her hair and teeth. She opened the box of attachments for her Sonicare and pulled out a clean, unused brush head and laid it on a clean towel with her tube of toothpaste. She went downstairs but not before laying out a robe for JJ to put on after she woke up and closing the curtains in her bedroom. Emily was never bothered by the sunlight coming in, she could sleep no matter what, but she wasn't sure if it would bother JJ and she wanted JJ to sleep as long as she wanted.

Emily went downstairs, picked up JJ's haphazardly thrown wrap and purse, turned on some music, and went into her kitchen to start a pot of coffee. She looked in her refrigerator to contemplate making JJ breakfast and found enough to make a couple of veggie omelettes. Good thing they had been home this week which forced Emily to buy a few groceries otherwise it might have just been a couple of packs of instant oatmeal she always had on hand.

She had just finished chopping up some tomato, onion, and green peppers when she was startled by a warm body being pressed up against her.

"Jesus Christ, JJ, you scared me. You would think an FBI agent would know better that to sneak up on someone holding a knife."

"Sorry. I thought you might have heard me rummaging around upstairs."

Emily turned around to look at the blonde.

"I guess I was just wrapped up in my own head." Emily said. "Good morning," she added as she leaned in to kiss JJ. The minty-freshness of JJ's breath told Emily that she had found the brush head she had left her.

"You look good in my robe."

"Thanks for leaving it for me. And for leaving me the toothbrush."

"That head belongs to you now. Did you sleep well?" Emily asked moving over to the other counter where her coffee pot was.

"I did, thank you. I think it's the best I've slept in a while."

"Good. You hungry?"

"Famished. I'm not sure what I did last night but I sure worked up an appetite." JJ said with a wide grin.

Emily met her smile and handed JJ a large mug filled with coffee having spent enough time with her to know without asking that she would want it and that she liked it black.

"Let me finish these up and we'll get you fed."

"Need any help?"

"I'm almost done but you can grate a little cheese if you'd like while I prepare the eggs. There's also some juice in the fridge if you want some."

They finished making their breakfast and sat down to a nice meal, holding hands, and staring at each other both lost in the magic that is present at the beginning of every new relationship; both hoping against hope that this was one that would stand the test of time.

"God, Emily, that was the best omelette I've ever had."

"Jayj, I think maybe you were just hungry."

"Maybe but it was still delicious."

Emily smiled and ran her fingers lightly across JJ's forearm before pulling her towards her for a kiss. JJ ended up sitting in Emily's lap as the two sat in Emily's kitchen making out for several minutes. Emily pulled back to look at JJ.

"I need a shower. Care to join me?"

"Lead the way."

They took turns washing each other's hair which led to them having sex again before cleaning up, getting out, and helping dry each other off. JJ walked back into Emily's bedroom and suddenly realized all she had to wear was her dress from last night; she didn't even have a bra with her.

"This is going to be fun." JJ said aloud

Emily looked in her closet for something she could give JJ to wear settling on a tricot tracksuit and a t-shirt.

"I think this'll wo…" Emily started to say before realizing she was alone in her bedroom. "Jayj?"

JJ came walking back into Emily's bedroom carrying her purse. She reached inside and pulled out a pair of clean panties.

"Boy scout, Jayj?"

"Girl scout motto too, Em. And yes I was."

Emily chuckled "Were you expecting to need those Agent Jareau?"

"Hmm, maybe hoping is a better word."

Watching JJ drop her towel and put them on Emily smiled "I think there was more material covering your arm the other day than there is on you right now."

The smile faded from JJ's face and Emily realized that JJ wasn't quite ready to joke about what had happened to her in that barn. Emily cringed and wished she could take it back.

"JJ, honey, I'm sorry."

Knowing JJ was upset, Emily moved over to wrap her arms around JJ's practically naked body.

"That was really insensitive of me, JJ. I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"It's okay, Em. I know you didn't mean anything by it. I'm just not ready to joke about it. Not yet. I hated to have to kill them you know."

"I know Jayj but they weren't normal cuddly dogs. They would have ripped your throat out if you'd given them half a chance." Emily shuddered at the thought

"I know. I just don't want you to think I enjoyed doing that."

"Oh baby, I would never think that for a second."

"Okay. I just wanted to make sure you knew that."

"How can I make it up to you?" Emily asked seductively kissing JJ's neck and palming a breast.

"Hmmm. You can let me borrow your car."

Emily's head snapped up in surprise, "Okay. Not what I was expecting to hear."

"I need to go home and change." JJ said pulling away and starting to get dressed in Emily's clothes.

"You don't think this will work?" pointing to the clothes JJ had started to put on

"Are you going to want me to stay tonight?"

"I hadn't thought that far but I wouldn't mind."

"Then I'm definitely going to need a change of clothes. Just let me borrow your car. I'll go home, change, grab some clothes, tend to a couple of errands, and come right back."

Emily hesitated

"Oh My God! You don't want me driving your car do you?" JJ exclaimed

Emily just stood looking at her

"Seriously, Em. You trust me with your body and hopefully your heart but you don't trust me with an automobile?"

"It's not just an automobile, JJ. It's MY Lexus LS. It's my baby."

"You didn't mind me riding in your baby last night without any underpants, Em."

Emily just stared at her again

"I could drive you home and bring you back." Emily said hoping that would diffuse the situation. She just didn't like anybody driving her Lexus.

JJ looked at her like she was trying to say something without hurting her feelings.

"Emily, I, um…" JJ started and then stopped puffing out a breath of air. " I, um, would like a little time to myself. To think about what happened last night…and again this morning. I think you could use the time too."

Emily looked at JJ rather shocked to hear her say those words.

"JJ, do you regret what's happened between us?"

"NO! Not even a little bit. But the feelings I have for you are very intense and I need to sort through them. I can't do that with you here."

Emily started to fidget with her hands like she always did when she was nervous. But was it because of what JJ said, how she was feeling, or the fact that JJ wanted to borrow her car? JJ was looking at her with her beautiful blue eyes and Emily melted.

"Damn it! Don't look at me like that." Emily cried

"Like what?" JJ said playing it innocently

"You're going to win every argument we ever have aren't you?"

"I'm pretty much going to try." JJ said kissing Emily softly on the lips

After JJ finished putting on the clothes and a pair of sneakers Emily lent her, she ran a brush through her wet hair, and then Emily reluctantly gave her the keys to her car.

"Be careful, JJ."

"Because you're worried about me or your car?"

"My car!"

"Good to know where I stand, Prentiss."

JJ kissed her and got in the car to head towards home.

"I'll be back in a few hours."

Emily groaned as she watched JJ drive away

*************************************************

"She wasn't very happy you didn't want her to drive your car, you know," Garcia said. She loved listening to Emily's story of their first morning together.

"Look. I still don't like when she drives my car but I let her do it every now and again."

"And you make her a nervous wreck every time you do. She lets you drive her car all the time."

"Yes but there's a difference."

"And what's that?"

"I'm a better driver."

"You better hope she didn't hear you say that."

Emily smiled.

"I know she talked to you about us that morning but she's never told me what you two talked about. Can I know now?"

Garcia smiled and started to talk.

************************************************

After she hit the highway, JJ dialed her best friend.

"Good morning, Sunshine" Garcia said when she answered her phone

"Hey, G! You doing anything right now?"

"Not really. Just got back from my Saturday morning errands and was trying to figure out what I was going to do for the rest of the day."

"Wanna fill up an couple of those hours at my house?"

"Sure. You okay, JJ?"

"Yeah. I just need someone to talk to. I'll be home in about 30 minutes."

"I'll meet you there."

JJ answered the door for her friend about five minutes after she had arrived home.

"Is Emily here?" Garcia asked as she walked through JJ's front door

"No."

"Isn't that her car out front?"

"Yes."

"So Prentiss' car is here but she isn't?"

"Right."

"JJ you're acting a little strange. You call me over here to talk but you're not exactly talking. You have Emily's car in your driveway but no Emily. What's going on, sugar?"

JJ paced around her living room a little before she was ready to continue

"I had a date last night."

"Right! The flowers!!" Garcia exclaimed looking at the bouquet sitting on JJ's table

"Yes. The flowers."

"Something happen on that date, Jayj? You okay?"

"Garcia…the date was, um…" Damn it, JJ thought to herself. You make your living with words why was this so hard?

"Was what, JJ?"

"IwentonadatewithEmily." JJ was finally able to say but having it rush out all at once

"OH! Hmmm…"Garcia started

"Garcia?"

"Nothing Jayj, I was just thinking."

"About?"

"I have to say I think you two make a cute couple."

JJ stepped forward to give her friend a hug "Thank you!"

"Are you struggling with this JJ? I know Emily isn't the first woman you've ever been out with."

"I know. It's not that. It's just that it's Emily. She's one of my best friends and we work together. And I…" JJ stopped herself

"You what, JJ"

"You know me, Garcia. I don't fall for people. I always find a way to just keep it in the moment. To enjoy the company and then run before it starts to get too serious. To run before I get hurt. At least that's been my M.O. for the last few years."

"And you don't want to run this time." Garcia said rather than asked

"No."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes." JJ said simply

"And that scares you"

"Yes"

Garcia wrapped up her friend in her arms and hugged her hard. "JJ…Emily's not Kate. You need to stop being afraid of getting hurt again. One day you will meet someone who will never hurt you. Who wants nothing more than to make you happy. To love you unconditionally. Emily might be that person. Do you think she feels the same way?"

"Yes but she's not ready to admit that."

"Are you?"

"I came close last night but stopped myself."

"Why"

"Because I knew she wouldn't say it back. It's too soon for her. But I feel it already. I know we have a chance for something real and that terrifies the shit out of me."

"Don't be afraid of it, JJ"

"Ha! That's what I told her last night. I know you're right but I am. I have to be confident for her but I have my fears too. Who's going to help me overcome mine?"

"Uh, Jayj…I think that's why you called me." Garcia said hugging her best friend again.

Garcia separated from her friend "So tell me about your date. Was there sex?"

JJ just smiled and laughed shyly as she looked at the floor

"There WAS sex. Spill it Jareau!!" Garcia exclaimed excitedly

************************************************

"So she spilled it." Garcia told Emily

"All of it?"

"Well no, not in any great detail. JJ does have her limits but I know you two had sex up on that observation deck that night and then went back to your place."

"I couldn't help myself. I tried but she's like my kryptonite."

"Ha! SuperPrentiss brought down by Jareau-ium!!"

Emily laughed. She loved Garcia and her naturally ability to always lighten a mood no matter how dark. Sometimes when they were on a case and things started to weigh them down a call to Garcia was all they needed to feel whole again. They all felt that way, even Hotch. Garcia was love!!

"So Emily, what were you doing while JJ was talking to me?"

**************************************************

A few hours!! Emily thought to herself. How long does it take to change and gather a few clothes? What was really bothering her was JJ's remark about needing time to think about what had happened between them. JJ seemed so confident when she finally broke down all of Emily's walls; first at her house the night they returned from Georgia and then up on the roof of the observation deck. Did she have the same worries that Emily had? If that were the case, they might be in trouble. What if neither of them were strong enough to make a go of this…thing. What was this? Was this love? Emily was fairly sure she'd never been in love. At least she knew she had never felt this way about anybody else. Sure she'd had sex and relationships before but was any of it truly love? If the way she felt about JJ was love, then the answer was definitely no.

Emily tried and failed miserably to stay busy and keep her mind off of things while waiting for JJ to come back. She wasn't going to call her. JJ said she needed some time to sort though things. Emily was going to respect that no matter how much it was killing her. JJ said she would be back and Emily had no reason to doubt that. As she was pacing and thinking Emily resolved herself to be upfront with JJ. To never hold anything back. That had been one of her biggest problems in past relationships…she had always been too afraid of getting hurt to say how she truly felt. She was not going to let that happen with JJ.

After four of the longest hours of her life, JJ called her to let her know she was headed back into the city.

"Hi baby" JJ said when Emily answered

"Hi Jayj, you okay?"

"Yeah. How 'bout you?"

"I've missed you" that's a start thought Emily to herself

"I've missed you too, sweetheart. I'm about 20 minutes away from ho…from your place. Are you hungry?"

"A little. Are you?" Had JJ almost said home, Emily thought

"Yeah."

"I would have gone grocery shopping but someone has my car."

"She's fine by the way. She drives like a dream."

"I know she does. Tell her I miss her too. I can order a pizza from the place on the corner you like. You could stop and pick it up on the way back."

"Sounds good. Mushroom and olive?"

"Perfect. I'll call it in. See you in a little bit."

JJ got back to Emily's place about 40 minutes after they spoke with their hot pizza. The two of them ate and drank a glass of wine mostly in silence neither of them knowing how to quite put what they were feeling into words. Emily picked up the plates and was cleaning up a little when she felt JJ's arms slip around her waist from behind.

"I really missed you this afternoon, Em."

Emily turned around to face her lover properly and kissed her. The two of them stood in Emily's kitchen kissing, their arousal starting to bloom again. JJ stopped to look into Emily's dark eyes, "Tell me what you're feeling, Emily"

"I'm scared," Emily answered truthfully

"I am too Emily. You said yesterday that I frighten you; that I make you feel things you've never felt before. You do that to me too, Em. But we can't continue to be afraid or we will never find what we both seem to be looking for."

"I know."

"Then tell me."

"How I feel." Emily stated trying to conjure up the right words to say to JJ so she knew what was going on inside both her head and her heart. Emily wasn't sure if she'd ever been this afraid to say how she felt before.

"Tell me what you're feeling, baby."

"Se que es pronto y aunque tengo miedo, creo que estoy enamorada de ti."

JJ softly chuckled "Not in Spanish, Emily"

"Je sais qu'il est encore trop tôt et je ne peux pas dire que je ne suis pas effrayée, mais je pense que je suis amoureuse de toi"

JJ sighed in frustration "In English please."

"What, your last name is Jareau. I figured I was good with French" Emily joked

JJ smiled "You figured wrong. Tell me what you want to tell me. In English. Please."

Tenderly holding JJ's cheek in her hand, Emily closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath before saying, "I know it's really soon and I can't say I'm not scared, but I think I'm in love with you."

JJ kissed Emily fully and passionately on the mouth. Pulling away, JJ said tenderly, "I think I love you too, Emily," before resuming the assault on Emily's lips. "Take me to bed, Em, and make love with me."

"All night long, baby, all night long."

As they headed upstairs Emily knew that JJ had been right. They both needed a few hours apart to process what was happening between them. Emily didn't think she'd ever been this happy and it was all due to the wonderful woman she was leading upstairs to her bedroom. Emily had told so very few people in her life that she loved them. It felt good and she was happy that she didn't have to dance around her feelings. This is exactly what she meant when she said no games, no bullshit. Her and JJ were on the same page.

AN: Translation for the first time Emily speaks Spanish: You have my heart, Jennifer. Please keep it safe. I want you. I love you.

AN: I hope I my phrases in Spanish and French were correct. My apologies if they weren't. I know it's never been said that Emily speaks French but, come on, doesn't it seem like she would.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review…