Forward

Chapter 9

December 9, 2011

Aaron feels soft skin beneath his fingers first. He's slow to wake because he's warm, comfortable, content. It's still dark, so he knows he's not going to be late for work. So, he lets himself bask, take in the moment, the feeling, everything. Finally, his brain kicks in enough to take stock of his surroundings, including determining just whose soft skin is beneath his fingers.

Right.

Emily Prentiss.

He smiles as his fingertips ghost over her hipbone, a combination of her shirt riding up and the low waistband of her jeans. He allows himself the necessary moments to recount what got them here, the memories of the previous night and his smile widens. How had they managed to stop themselves? He remembers her, sexy and responsive beneath him, giving as good as he does. It has been hot, explosive, beautiful and he can feel himself responding to the very idea. Of course, combined with her proximity, including the way one of her legs has wormed its way between his, it doesn't help, especially with the way their position essentially brings her hips flush with his.

He sighs and shifts, reaching for his phone where it sits on the coffee table. He remembers pulling it out of his back pocket after it dug into uncomfortable places. Regrettably, the movement jostles her enough to wake her. She forces a groan from his throat when she stretches sinuously against him.

"Good morning," he murmurs roughly and feels the shiver drill its way down her spine.

Her head shifts, tilts, and he feels her place an open-mouthed kiss against the skin of his throat. "Morning."

He glances at the time on his phone and sighs. If he wants to get home and shower without hitting Quantico late, he has to go. She mewls and tightens her good arm where it rests low on his stomach when he shares that news. He has to get away; she's too tempting. Still, he leans down, sliding the hand behind her into her hair to cup her skull. He presses his mouth to her part. "I have to go into the office."

Her hand slides against his stomach as she moves it to tuck her fingers beneath her chin. It's an innocent touch but simultaneously erotic. He scratches his fingers against her scalp in retaliation, grinning out of her line of sight when her body bows into him.

"If you want to get up, you want to stop doing that." She punctuates the request with a press of her hips. They share a groan.

Then, fully out of self-preservation, he untangles their legs and shifts her off of his body. Her eyes blink open, foggy with heat and sleep and he can't stop himself from reaching down to brush his fingers down her cheek. Her fingers rise to grasp his and he smiles his heart clenching with how badly he wants this to be normal.

"Call me after your appointment," he requests, unable to keep himself from trailing his fingers down her arm when she releases them. All he gets is a murmur and a vague nod as she drifts back to sleep.

. . . . .

When Emily actually wakes, the sun is shining through her living room. She blinks her eyes against the glare and waits for them to adjust. She releases a puff of happy air when her eyes settle on the bright daffodils in the center of her table.

Today, she decides, is going to be a good day.

Sure, there's a crick in her neck from sleeping on the couch and the fact that she slept on the couch probably is not good for her bad shoulder, but she's riding a high from one of the best dates of her life. She's… happy.

Really happy.

It's a happiness that carries her through her morning, makes her virtually float and unwittingly copy every romantic damsel. It carries her right through to JJ's knock on her front door. The girls are taking her to get her stupid stitches removed. Then they're going to tackle lunch and some Christmas shopping.

Both JJ and Penelope arch an eyebrow at Emily's enthusiastic, almost giddy excitement.

"I take it the flowers were a hit," JJ says as she and Penelope step into Emily's foyer. JJ has a thing about open doors into unfamiliar hallways.

"Flowers?" Penelope questions, her radar tingling. Sure enough, her gaze immediately finds the bright blooms on the coffee table. She whistles in appreciation. "Boss Man sent you flowers."

Emily smiles because she's inexplicably tickled by the fact that Penelope automatically jumps to Hotch. "He did."

"What else?" JJ inquires with a quirk of her mouth. She knows there's more to this story. There has to be. This is… giddy. Uncharacteristically so.

Emily, however, shakes her head. "Stitches first," she requests.

Penelope groans. "Tease."

Emily's smile is beyond secretive. "Trust me," she says. "It's worth it."

. . . . .

The doctor tells her that she has to keep the sling on for another week, just to make sure the skin and muscles knit back together properly, but that doesn't faze Emily in the slightest, nor does it dampen her mood. It's a contagious mood too because JJ and Penelope seem to be humming with just as much happy energy despite the absolutely packed mall they choose.

There are carols piping through the speakers, angry shoppers everywhere and yet, all three of the BAU women have wide grins on their faces. Eventually, they slide into a table at one of the mall's many coffee shops – a Starbucks, because Penelope has a craving for their gingerbread latte – and Penelope fixes determined eyes on Emily.

"You, Madam Secret Keeper, have been teasing us for long enough. Start talking."

The grin spreads across Emily's face and she lets it, aware there's nothing she can do to stop it. "It was…"

God, she's not even sure. How does she tell her best friends that she can feel that this is it. He is it. She doesn't feel so broken with him, doesn't feel like she has something to prove, just something to gain. Something brilliant and light. Something to build forever on.

"You know what? Don't tell me. I'll just be jealous that Kevin never does any of that stuff."

Emily's so giddy she can't even stop that laugh. "I want to say magical. But I'm not sure even that does it justice."

Penelope squeals. JJ laughs. For Emily, it just feels so good.

"Spill. All."

Emily walks them through the night, the ease, the happiness. And makes them both blush when she gets her protagonists back to her apartment.

"I am never going to be able to look at him the same way again!" Penelope laments. She's a little afraid of Hotch and the mental picture of the Unit Chief sexing up her best friend is a little too personal for her to handle.

But both Emily and JJ laugh.

JJ reaches out to squeeze Emily's hand. "This is a good thing."

"Yeah," Emily answers, even though it's not really a question. "I… I feel like I can be ready. I will be ready."

Both JJ and Penelope are grinning.

"Good," the former says with another squeeze. "You deserve to be happy, Em. You both do."

Emily is starting to believe it.