What's left of the night...

The dawn is approaching and the storm is over. Rays of sunlight reflect on the wet fallen leaves and into the puddles turning the streets into carpets of silver and gold; the city is immersed in a suspended calm. The storm cleansed the air, and brought a chilly wind. A lot happened and a lot is yet to come.

Someone met new people, some old friends disclosed unexpected secrets, some found hope and comfort in an innocent fairy tale and learnt to cope with pain and grief a bit more, some took a leap in the dark.

When the first light filters through the curtains Garcia and JJ are asleep on the sofa of JJ's living room, curled up in their partners' arms.
Planning how to get information from their mutual friends about something they might not be aware of yet was draining.

Rossi has insisted on walking Natalie back home and he's grateful she has chosen the longest path on their way back. He enjoys talking to her, and is in love with her laugh so pure and sincere.
He greets her not before having promised to come back for another round of whiskey, and he knows he's going to honor this promise.

Reid walks toward a cafeteria with Mel the witty brunette, they go on exchanging theories, anecdotes and statistics immune to the weight of the night.
He's kind of surprised by the fact that he's not fidgety nor anxious, maybe this is the way you are supposed to feel when you find someone you like. This feeling of tickles going down your spine and insatiable curiosity of knowing more and more about this girl, without wishing to run away any second.

Hotch has fallen asleep near his son, a hint of a smile is surfacing on his face after a long time. Maybe soon he will be able to welcome these random moments of happiness as they come along even when conscious and awake. At some point Jack woke up and lent him a piece of his blanket before falling asleep again and dreaming of a lost princess rescued by a brave 'FBI knight'.

It's almost 6 a.m. when Derek walks back the isle with a grave expression on his face. He bought coffee as a lame excuse to come back at this hour and he thinks it was really stupid to find this last way to hide his real purpose behind a simple gesture of friendship, because at this time of the morning on a Sunday this is not likely to be welcomed as friendly. He delicately knocks the door, while a storm of thoughts is upsetting his mind. He pondered consequences and rules, what is right and what is wrong and after all this rational thinking what he's left with is just his instinct.
But when few seconds after Emily opens the door with a mixture of worry, fear and joy painted on her face, nothing matters anymore and they both know that right or wrong the dice is cast.

They stand still for a while with their eyes locked sealing a silent deal, until she takes a step back to let him in and closes the door.

"This is SO WRONG" she smiles shivering while he gets closer.

And it's tender and warm and gentle and strong.

And it feels so right.


So the story is finished, I hope you liked it... I am thinking of a sequel but I am not sure and anyway won't come soon, maybe you can let me know what you think about that... :)

Thank you so much to all who read and reviewed so far!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!