Hey, guys. I'm back. I know it's been forever. But life and college happened. I've decided to get back on here since I've been watching a ton of Criminal Minds lately.

I won't talk too much here. So...

Enjoy.

The Reading

The day was going well. She had an early new agent training session with Morgan on hand-to-hand combat, finished the paperwork on her desk, and the team hadn't been called in to a case yet. But Emily knew just how easily that could change. The day was almost over and she was hoping to spend some time with her girlfriend tonight. When the elevator doors opened, Emily continued to bask in her happiness.

"Oh, hey, Emily, perfect timing." JJ said as the two crossed paths.

"Hey, Jayje. What's up?"

"Morgan, just called asking if I had seen you. There's someone waiting for you at your desk."

"Who?"

"He didn't say."

Emily opened the glass door and held it open for JJ.

"Thanks." JJ walked further into the bullpen and saw someone sitting at Emily's desk talking with Morgan. "So, do you know her?" No response. JJ turned around. Emily wasn't behind her. "Emily?"

JJ walked back out toward the elevators. She found Emily with her back leaning against the wall.

"Hey. What's up? Do you know her?"

"That's Ashley, Rachel's best friend. I have no idea why she's here. Oh, god, why do you think she's here?"

"Okay, just relax. I've never seen you like this."

Emily takes a breath in and exhales. "I'm being ridiculous."

"A little," JJ chuckles.

"You should have seen me when Rachel and I first met."

"If small freak outs are what comes with a happy Emily, I'll definitely take it."

Emily chuckles. "I should get in there."

"Let me know how it goes?"

"Yeah." Emily walks back through the doors and into the bullpen.

"Hey, Princess. Someone's been waiting for you." Derek said in way of greeting.

The brunette woman sitting in Emily's chair turns around and stands in front of Emily.

"Hey, Emily. How's it going?" Ashley says. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah. Come on." Emily led Ashley out of the bullpen and in front of the elevators. "Is Rach, okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine. I just came here to give you this." Ashley reaches into her purse and hands Emily a folded paper.

Emily unfolds the paper. It's a flyer. Emily reads it over.

"Why didn't she tell me?" Emily asks Ashley.

"She didn't want you to feel bad if you had to miss it, especially since it's so close to here. Morgan said you guys hadn't been called in today, will you be there?"

"Uh, I'll try. But this is in an hour. A lot can change here."

Ashley sighs. "Look, Emily, you're okay. I like you, and Rachel pretty much loves you, but she doesn't deserve to be a secret." Ashley pauses to gather her thoughts. "I know Morgan and JJ are your best friends, and Reid is like a little brother to you, and Garcia is a computer genius, but when I mentioned Rachel no one had any idea of who she is. So, if you're ashamed of being with Rachel don't bother showing up today. Just end it. Let her move on.

Ashley looks at her watch and then presses the elevator call button.

"I have to go. Rach is probably there already and a nervous wreck."

Emily watches Ashley get in the elevator. "I'm not ashamed of her, Ashley."

"Okay," Ashley says before the doors close.

Emily exhales as she looks at her watch and then back to the flyer. She folds the paper and puts it in her pocket before heading to JJ's office.

Emily knocks on the door and opens it just enough to peek inside.

"Hey, JJ, are you busy?"

"Just finishing up some reports. What's up? Everything okay?"

Emily enters the office and sits across from JJ's desk. "Ashley came by to tell me Rachel has an event nearby in an hour. Rachel didn't tell me so I wouldn't feel bad if we got called to a case."

"Are you going to go?"

"If we don't get a case. Would you— would you like to come with me?"

"Are you sure? You want me to meet Rachel?"

"I should, right?"

JJ moves from her desk to sit in the chair beside Emily's. She turns her chair toward Emily. "That's not really an answer, sweetie."

"Ashley just pointed out that she and Rachel know a lot about you guys, but you know nothing. She thinks I'm ashamed of Rachel."

"What does Rachel think?"

"I don't know. I mean, she's been encouraging me to tell you guys, but —." Emily stops as she realizes something. "Do you think she thinks I'm ashamed of her. Because I'm not, JJ. I've never been happier. I'm not ashamed of that. I just wanted some time to see how this would play out, you know?"

JJ takes Emily's hand to calm her down. "Two months isn't enough time?"

Emily groans. "I'm an idiot, aren't I?"

JJ laughs at Emily. "I would be honored to be the first one to meet Rachel today, if you want me to."

"You didn't answer the question, Agent Jareau. Besides, who else would I choose? You have the lowest risk of scaring her off."

"Good to know."

Emily and JJ stand from their chairs. Emily heads toward the door. "You can finish up those reports and I'll let Hotch know we're heading out and to call us."

"Sounds good."

A Little Later

Emily pulls her jacket from the back of her chair and shrugs it on. "Alright, guys. Have a good night."

"You're heading out already? It's pretty early." Derek asks as he looks up from the file in his hand.

"Well, unlike you I know how to get my work done in a timely fashion. I'm definitely not going to stick around here and wait for us to get called in to a case." Emily grabs her bag and slings it around her shoulder.

JJ walks into the bullpen and toward Emily's desk.

"You're leaving too, Jayje?" Reid asks.

"Yeah, paperwork's all done. I'm going to try and catch a movie before we get called in. I can't remember the last time I've been to a theater to see something.

"What movie are you going to see?" Reid asks.

"I'm not sure. I haven't even thought about it, but I feel like going to the theater. So I'll decide on something," JJ answers.

Morgan narrows his eyes at the two woman. "Something's going on?"

"Yeah, we're leaving at a decent hour." Emily replies. She grabs a book from her desk drawer and puts it in to her bag.

"Bye, guys," JJ says as she turns to leave.

"This have anything to do with your visitor?" Derek asks as he leans his forearms on his desk.

"Goodbye." Emily answers as she turns away from him. "Bye, Spence."

"Bye, guys. Have fun, Jayje."

Outside Bookstore

Emily and JJ park their cars near a bookstore with a chalkboard easel and a poster in the window announcing: "Reading, Q&A, and Book Signing with YA Author Rachel Montgomery!"

Emily and JJ got out of their cars and walked toward the bookstore.

"It's pretty packed," JJ says gesturing to the parking lot.

Emily spots the posters and the easel. She pulls out her phone and takes a picture of both. "Yeah. I wonder how she's doing; she's not too fond of crowds."

"Even if they're her fans?" JJ says as they walk into the bookstore and see a crowd of teenage girls and even a few boys. "Jeez, her books must be pretty good."

"They're amazing." Emily responds.

"Emily!" Emily turns at the sound of her name. It's Ashley. She walks up to the two FBI agents. "Glad you could make it. And you brought a friend. That's great."

"I thought it'd be best not to bring the whole group."

"It's a start." Ashley says with a smile. "I'm Ashley." Ashley extends her hand to JJ.

"JJ." JJ shakes Ashley's hand.

"Nice to put a face to a name."

A PA system announces where Rachel Montgomery fans should congregate and the crowd disperses in that direction.

"So, we're about to start. Rachel's going to read the first chapter of her latest book, and then we'll have a little Q&A, and then a signing. Sound good? I'm have to get back there and check on her, but I'll see you guys back there, okay? Oh, and she doesn't know that I told you about this."

"Yeah," Emily says. Ashley is away from the two agents in no time.

"She's a whirlwind."

"You have no idea. Remind me to tell you about my first date with Rachel."

Emily and JJ follow the teenagers and the parents to a large area of the store. Book shelves and been moved a bit to accommodate the large number of teens. The teens sat on the floor in front of a podium while their parents stood behind the group of teens in a large group of mostly mothers with a few fathers sprinkled in.

Emily and JJ find a spot in the back between adult shoulders which give them a good view of where Rachel is to be.

The crowd roars when Rachel steps into the view.

"Oh, wow. I didn't expect this many people. It's awesome," Rachel says to the crowd as she takes it in. "How's everyone doing?" The crowd continues to clap or whoop. "Alright, alright settle please. It's just me." She laughs.

Rachel sets up her book on the podium and looks out into the crowd.

"Okay, no. Can I get a chair?" A worker at the store pulls a chair to Rachel. "Thanks, sorry about that." Rachel moves away from the podium and sits in the wooden chair in front of the crowd. "Sorry, guys, I hate podiums. They make me feel like I'm giving a lecture. And the last thing I want you guys associating my books with is a lecture."

The crowd laughs.

"She does that all the time." Ashley whispers to Emily from behind making her jump. "Sorry. She always says she wants the podium to be professional and just ends up sitting in a chair."

"Alright, so, who's read or reading my latest book?" Rachel asks the crowd. Hands fly up. "Oh, wow, so a lot of you have already read this."

Rachel gives some background to her latest book and then begins reading the first chapter. Everyone in the audience is hanging on her word.

"This is good," JJ whispers to Emily.

"Yeah. She's great." Emily tells JJ.

Emily was halfway through this book and knew it was great, but seeing Rachel read it and hearing it read to her gave it a whole new dimension.

Rachel was done way too soon for Emily's and everyone else's liking. It was a short chapter, but it was so captivating, even to those who already knew the story and how it would play out. Ashley left Emily and JJ and moved toward the front of the room.

"Alright, so that's chapter one guys," Rachel said as she stood up from the chair and leaned against the podium. The crowd groaned. "Sorry," Rachel laughed, "but you can always re-read Unseeing or start."

"Okay," Ashley said from beside Rachel. "Let's roll into our question and answer. Are there any questions for Rachel?" Hands shot up in the air. Ashley called on a few kids and Rachel answered their questions.

As Rachel was answering a question, Ashley saw Emily trying to discreetly get her attention. Emily raised her finger and Ashley nodded in understanding.

"Any more questions?" Ashley asks when Rachel finishes answer the teenager's question. Ashely points to Emily. "In the back."

Emily moves around a few people so Rachel could fully see her.

Rachel smiles and blushes a little when she saw her girlfriend, "Hi, what's your question?"

"Hi. Down the Creek is one of my favorites, and I was wondering if you ever had the same experiences as Ava."

"Not at all," Rachel laughs. "In the book, Ava went rafting with a group that was willing to teach her and let her enjoy the experience. I, unfortunately, went with my brother who basically left me to my own devices and blamed me mercilessly every time we got stuck on a rock. Plus, I almost fell out of the raft a few times."

"Would you ever go again?" Emily asks.

"Maybe with the right person." Rachel ducks her head to hide her blush.

"Okay. We're going to start the signing now." Ashley waves to a worker at the bookstore and he brings in a small table. "If you would like to have something signed by Rachel please line up in front of the table." Ashely instructs.

"Oh, my god, you two are adorable," JJ says as she nudges Emily as the two move out of the way for the forming line.

"Stop," Emily responds with a blush.

"Is that a blush I see, Emily Prentiss? Garcia is going to eat this up when she sees the two of you together."

"Oh, god. I hadn't even thought of that."

Some Time Later

Emily and JJ had been walking around the store waiting for Rachel to finish. Emily feels a tap on her shoulder.

"Hi," Rachel greets her girlfriend with a hug when Emily turns around.

Emily kisses Rachel's cheek. "Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"Ashley told me you'd be here and I didn't have a case. And I thought you could start meeting some of the team?" Emily finishes sounding a bit unsure. "Rachel, this is JJ. JJ, Rachel."

"Nice to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you," Rachel says extending her hand toward JJ.

"Same here. It's good to finally meet the woman who's been making Emily so happy."

Rachel blushes. "She makes me happy too."

"So, I was thinking we could all go out, and you guys could get to know each other?" Emily suggested.

"That sounds great, babe. I'd love too."

"Great. Are you done here?"

Before Rachel could answer, Emily and JJ's phones both rang.

"No," Emily groaned.

"Sorry," JJ says before she walks away to answer her phone and give the two some privacy. "Hey, Hotch."

Rachel gave a small smile and rubbed Emily's arm. "It's okay."

"Hey, Morgan," Emily answers her phone. She turns away from Rachel a little. "Yeah, okay. I'll be there. Bye." Emily turns back to Rachel. She doesn't want to say it.

"A case?"

Emily sighs. "Yeah."

"It's okay. It's your job. I'm glad you came here though, and introduced me to JJ."

"I'm not ashamed of you Rach. I just wanted to keep you to myself, I guess. Plus, the team can be overwhelming."

"And you thought I would be scared off," Rachel finished for Emily. "I won't be. I'm dating you, Em, and I love it. There's not much that will make me give you up."

Rachel pecks Emily on the lips.

"So, go save the world and I'll be here when you come back."

Emily pulls Rachel in for a hug. "I'll call you when I land." Emily kisses Rachel.

"Be safe," Rachel says.

"I will, babe." Emily says with a smile before she leaves the bookstore and turns into Agent Prentiss.

Alright, guys. You've reached the end of this one.

Tell me what you think, because I haven't been in the fanfiction writing game in a long while. If it sucks, tell me. If it's awesome, tell me.

What did you think of Emily and Ashley? The reading? Emily and Rachel? If there's anything you'd like to see, let me know.

Also, if anyone wants to create a book cover for this story that would be great! Let me know!

Review.

Thanks.

TVCrazed.