AN: Are there any Criminal Minds authors who would be interested in co-writing a fic? I've got an idea, but I think it will work best with at least one other writer...preferably one who likes to write for other characters than I do. Please message me if you're interested

It didn't occur to Emily until much later that inviting Alex to Lux's party might imply a certain familiarity. Granted, most of her friends knew all about her little crush, but she wasn't sure Alex wanted anyone knowing about her inclinations, whether it would impact her public image...

Afterall, Emily knew she'd faced a great deal of backlash for writing a children's book with an autistic character and had dealt with a significant struggle to get it published in the first place. She could only imagine news of her dating a woman adding fuel to the fire that was boycotts by conservative groups and anti-vaxxers.

In fact, she'd considered calling her and uninviting her, but she just couldn't bring herself to do that (for Lux's sake, she kept telling herself). If Alex was willing to take the risk, she certainly wasn't about to stop her.

Emily was in the middle of decorating the apartment for Lux's party when there was a knock at the door. Guests weren't due to arrive for another two hours, so she had no idea who it might be. Part of her hoped it was Alex – early, but definitely welcomed.

It was not Alex.

It was a man in an almost professorial sport coat who looked like he'd once been human but had long since forgotten what that was like.

"Can I help you?" Emily asked slowly.

"I'm Jason Gideon – Alex Blake's agent."

"Okay...?" she said, confused.

"I've been informed that you and her are being seen publicly together," he said seriously, expression grim behind his dark sunglasses.

"Informed?" she repeated skeptically. "By whom?"

"A concerned party." Emily had a sneaking suspicion that meant her mother. "I've worked very hard to get her to where she is – I won't let you ruin that with your proclivities."

"Excuse me?" she spluttered. "Did you really just say that to me?"

"I've only just convinced her to step into the limelight after years of being reclusive and I won't have this little dalliance ruin what will be a very lucrative time for her," he continued.

"For you," Emily countered. She refused to take the bait, though, to debate the finer points of her relationship with this man.

"Regardless," he said as if she hadn't spoken. "If you care about what's best for her, you'll end this before it goes any further."

With that, he turned to leave. "Hey!" Emily shouted after him, "You can't just..." But apparently, the conversation was over in his mind as he gave no sign he'd even heard her as he climbed back into his car and drove off.

Shaken, Emily returned inside to finish with the decorations, but found herself unable to concentrate, mind racing. Was he right? Was Alex better off before she'd come crashing into her life?

She was internally debating it when another knock came at the door. "Come in," she called, tangled up in streamers and wobbling on the top of the ladder. She prayed it was JJ – she would be able to stop her quickly spiralling thoughts with her voice of reason.

This time, though, it was Alex.

"Oh, hey..." Emily said shakily.

"Sorry, I'm a little early," Alex said, apparently mistaking the cause of her nervousness.

"No, no, that's fine – I could use a hand anyway," Emily said, attempting to muster a smile. "Do you think you could blow up some balloons?"

"Where's Lux?" Alex asked, settling down at the table where there were about a thousand balloons spilling out, waiting to be inflated.

"Derek took her to the aquarium while I set up – I wanted to surprise her." She was silent for a moment, considering whether to tell Alex about her earlier encounter and eventually deciding not to.

After a few minutes, though, it seemed her mouth had other ideas as the words came spilling out in spite of herself. "Your agent came by..." she blurted out.

"Gideon?" Alex said, brows leaping up her forehead in surprise. "What for?"

"He, umm... He wanted me to stop seeing you," she said, stumbling over her words. Alex stared at her in silence for a long moment as if expecting her to say she was joking. "He implied that dating a woman would ruin your success," Emily added.

Alex laughed a little. "Well, he has always been a bit traditional..."

Emily snorted, rolling her eyes. "More than a little, I think," she scoffed, but held back the barbs on her tongue about exactly how traditional he was, lest she offend her. They fell back into silence. "He did get me thinking, though," she said slowly.

"About what?" Alex asked, just as slowly, almost warily, as if she knew what was coming.

"He might be right," she admitted. "You are a children's author, afterall."

"Meaning what?"

"I wouldn't want to hurt your career – I know these books are a tribute to your son and they mean so much to children like Lux. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I were the reason your career ended."

"What... What are you saying?" Alex stuttered, feeling tears building behind her eyes.

"I don't know if I can do this, as much as I might want to..." She choked a little on her words in spite of herself. "Whatever this is, I think it's best if we end it now."

Alex opened her mouth as if to say something, but couldn't form the words. She shook her head, blinking too fast.

"And..." She faltered. "And it's probably best if you don't come around to see Lux either."

Alex bit down on her lip hard to keep from crying. "If you think that's best," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," Emily rasped, guilt welling.

Alex nodded, a few tears slipping out. Through misty eyes, she stumbled on her way to grab her coat, then stopped at the door. "I wish things could have been different," she said without looking at Emily.

Anything she might've said in reply was lost as Lux came sprinting through the door, nearly crashing into Alex. She gave a little squeak of surprise as she stumbled back a step, then smiled her little smile that seemed reserved for Alex. Then, in a first, she pressed her face against Alex's leg in greeting.

Alex choked on a sob. She knelt down to Lux's level and smiled sadly. Lux pressed a palm to her cheek. "I'm sorry, Étoile, but I have to go."

"Go?" Lux repeated.

"I'm sorry," she said again. "Happy birthday." Then, she turned and fled before she broke down entirely.

"Alex?" Lux said, lip wobbling. "Alex?" Then, without warning, she started wailing. "Alex! Alex!" It was all Derek could do to hold her back from running after her.