They had very different approaches to difficult situations. They both knew it, but it was to become very clear in how they dealt with informing their families about the new person in their lives.

Alex called her dad and brother on the phone and told them flat out. She had the "ripping a band-aid off"-face on as she did, JJ noticed. When Alex saw that JJ looked at her, she shooed her out of the room. That too was characteristic for her. She couldn't have private conversations if anyone was at risk of overhearing. She couldn't do anything she deemed private if anyone was at risk of watching. Hell, she even locked the bathroom door behind her if JJ was in the house. Even if she only was in there to brush her teeth, blow her nose or sometimes even just to put on makeup.

After the calls she wasn't willing to talk about their reactions. JJ didn't ask either, knowing that Alex would share once she had mentally and emotionally processed it herself. Learning how to handle Alex's need to keep private was an interesting, not always easy but always interesting, task.

JJ, on the other hand, wasn't going to reveal such important life news over the phone.

"Alex, honey, when I tell my parents about you, I want you to be there."

"Afraid they'd think you're lying about what a catch I am?" Alex joked, but JJ saw the telltale signs of distress right away. Her eyes flickered away from JJ's, a muscle just underneath her left eye twitched a little, and most telling; she began turning the engagement ring around and around.

"No… I happen to want you to meet."

JJ put her hands over Alex's, stopping her from spinning the ring.

"Stop that. It's not coming off that finger anytime soon," she said, smiling. "Please, Alex. I really want to introduce you to them. I love you. I want my parents to know whom I love."

Alex took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright."

JJ cocked her head to the side and reached out a hand to caress her fiancée's cheek.

"Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Alright with it?"

"Sure."

"Don't lie to me, sweetie."

Alex sighed loudly and threw out her hands in a gesture that said fine, I surrender!

"Okay, I'm not. I'm not alright. What will they think? Oh, look, here's the woman who's fucking our daughter. Woman. Fucking our daughter."

JJ stared at her, surprised at the harsh choice of words and even more about realising what the core issue was.

"You never really came out, did you?"

Alex licked her dry lips.

"No. I didn't exactly have a relationship. I mean… I had crushes on girls, but I was too afraid to tell anyone. And I did have a boyfriend or two before I met James, so I didn't have to explain myself either. As for Erin… well, it's pretty self-explanatory why I didn't 'come out' when I was with her."

JJ nodded.

"I didn't want my mom to find out, okay? I didn't want her to be disappointed with me. And dad… he has a problem with it. That's all I'm going to say right now, also we will not go to Kansas City to meet my dad in a foreseeable future, that's one thing for sure."

JJ understood. He hadn't been happy for his daughter's sake; he had given her a hard time. No wonder Alex didn't want to share it with JJ.

"Well, my parents are well aware that I'm bisexual. They know they can expect either a woman or a man as my partner. It's no big deal. They weren't overjoyed when I first told them, but they've gotten used to it over the years."

She scrutinised Alex, who only looked marginally calmer.

"You never told anyone?"

She shook her head.

"Oh my God, you must have felt like the loneliest person in the world," JJ said.

"Better to be safe than sorry, you know?"

"Sometimes safe is sorry," JJ mumbled softly and wrapped her lover in a warm, gentle embrace. "Honey, I know my parents are going to adore you."

"If you say so."

"I do."

"Well then, call your parents and arrange for us to see them."

"I love you Alex Blake."

"Love you too, Jennifer Jareau."

Alex ducked back to the kitchen as JJ made the phone call. She was shaking a little, and she didn't want her lover to notice. It was true that she had never stepped out of the closet, as the expression went. She hadn't really been in denial about her sexual orientation, but she knew her family's views on it and it just wasn't worth it. Not when she could show off a boyfriend or later a husband. They may have thought her behaviour odd from time to time, when she was trying to impress her girl crushes. Once in high school she had even signed up for riding lessons only because her crush owned a horse. Alex was terrified of horses, always had been, always would be, but she had endured almost six months before finally admitting defeat.

It was rather interesting now that she thought hard about it; how she had always tried to impress her female love interests. She had outdone herself each and every day for Erin Strauss, struggled to the limit of her ability to earn a single glance that said "wow."

Until now, with JJ. She felt no need to impress her in any way, shape or form. She felt secure that JJ loved her either way. That wasn't an issue. To be honest, she wasn't sure why she still felt the need to withdraw and keep her thoughts and fears to herself. She supposed it was a matter of old habits dying hard.

Now, she was more worried about not being able to impress JJ's parents. What if they didn't think she was good enough for JJ? This was the part she really hated when it came to relationships - the in-law-factor.

"Shit," she muttered to herself, and her fingers spun the ring around and around.

A/N

Aaaaand that's one hell of a forced chapter…! Ugh! The words really didn't cooperate with me; the image in my head was clear as day, but the words didn't want to flow. I hate when that happens.

Well, here it is, at last. An update. XD