So I literally woke up in the middle of the night last night and thought, Rossi's not in my story yet! So yeah...had to remove him. We're almost to him...but not quite. Sorry! I thought I did so well haha. Failure. at. life.

ONE YEAR! It doesn't seem like that long! (I tried really hard to get this chapter done by the one year mark…but that just didn't happen.)

Wow. Almost 8,000 views, almost 80 reviews…not too shabby, I think.

Thanks to CMCrazies, lexjl, Sophia0665, AndreeaRaducan (We'll just have to see what happens, won't we? ;) ), SSAmolloy7, Jenntedisco, JMW and my guest for reviewing! :) Thank you all for the kind words and the compliments on my writing!

JJ had had one of those grueling weeks that the BAU was extremely well known for. They hadn't had a case, but the entire team had enough paperwork to make it seem like they'd had fifty. JJ had endured an entire week of innuendos and teasing from the perky technical analyst. Garcia was certain JJ and Will's relationship was going to be upped to the next level this weekend and she had run over all the possible ways it could happen. JJ was surprised that her face hadn't turned red permanently.

She was extremely glad when 5:00 rolled around that Friday so she could just head right out to the airport. Her bag had been packed two days before and Garcia had brought her dress and shoes to work. Will had left the day before, but Garcia still hadn't trusted her with the dress. Her reasoning being that it was still possible for JJ to snap a picture of it and send it to Will's cell. So, JJ had picked up her outfit that afternoon with a stern look from Garcia and a promise to keep it a surprise.

Her flight had been annoyingly just a tad bit late, meaning that she didn't get to the hotel in Baton Rouge until about 7:30, which was the time she'd told Will that she would arrive at this little shindig. She sent him a quick text so he wouldn't worry.

Just got in. Flight was late. Be down in a jiffy. Xoxo –J

This was one of those large hotels with several huge conference rooms, one of which the Louisiana police force was taking up at the moment. JJ hurriedly got dressed and was doing her hair and make-up when Will's reply came through.

You better hurry. Wouldn't want to miss Charlie's opening. ;) - W

Will had told her that Charlie had been picked to start off the evening's ceremonies. After about 20 minutes of JJ getting ready (something that she thought was impressive given how awesome she looked), she was prepared to go downstairs. She left most of her belongings in the hotel room, save for her phone, which had received another text while she had been getting ready.

Go get em, peaches. Be safe! 3 3 3 I'll go baby clothes shopping tomorrow ;) –Pen

JJ decided to leave the hotel room without replying to that last text.

Luckily for her, there were a lot of signs directing guests to the gathering, so she made it into the room at about 8:00. There was a security guard in front of the doors checking people in, making sure that only people on the list made it in.

"Name?"

"Jennifer Jareau. I'm with William LaMontagne."

He smiled, "He's only checked with me about four times to see if you've made it in yet." The man crossed her name off of the list, "Don't worry, you haven't missed anything yet."

She smiled back before heading in to the giant room.

JJ scanned the room quickly, not finding Will right away. She went to the bar to get a drink while she looked and she thought she saw Will's boss, one that she recognized from the case that they worked together, but Will was nowhere to be seen. JJ told the bartender to surprise her and she received a delicious looking martini, which she sipped while looking for her still absent boyfriend. The bar was situated towards the side, with probably about a hundred tables sprawled across the room with a stage on the same wall as the doors she had just walked through.

Will had stepped into the bathroom for a second before Charlie started his opening. The younger detective had made sure Will knew that if he missed his opening show, Will would get it. LaMontagne wasn't stupid. He was just heading back to his seat when Charlie stood up to go on stage, although something else he saw at the bar caught his attention.

JJ was sidled up next to the bar, one leg propped up on a barstool. The slit in her navy blue dress opened to reveal the well-toned leg held up by the stool, all the way down to the heels that Will wasn't sure how she could walk in. Her hair was curled but pulled over to one side and between that and the strapless dress she wore, it revealed so much of that gorgeous skin he loved and a beautiful necklace that he knew she'd gotten from her parents when she graduated from college. All in all, his blonde beauty was heavy on the beauty tonight. She took his breath away.

From her perch at the bar, JJ could see Charlie walk up to the microphone on the well-lit, but fairly small stage in the middle of the wall. He started an opening monologue and was quite well-received, judging by the amounts of applause and laughter he was getting. About one minute into his speech, JJ spotted Will coming out of the bathroom at the opposite end of the room. Unfortunately for her, that was the same time that Charlie spotted her.

"Well, well, well, ladies and gentlemen, are you in for a treat tonight! Let's take a quick poll shall we? How many of you have ever met a real FBI agent before?" Charlie's voice boomed from the speakers placed all over the room.

JJ could feel herself blushing and she quickly turned back towards the bar, willing Charlie not to do what she thought he was about to do. She didn't even pay attention to how few hands went up in the room. JJ just hoped that Will could find her and fast.

Will had stopped in awe of JJ, even though she was on the other side of the room, but Charlie's words and JJ's blush put him in motion. He wouldn't make her face Charlie's humiliation alone…and he also would be having a few words with his best friend if he was about to do what Will thought he was.

"For all of you that didn't raise your hands, tonight is your lucky night. Let's take the lights off of me and put them on that gorgeous blonde over by the bar, yes?" He motioned to the tech guys and, all of a sudden, JJ was bathed in bright light. The bartender raised his eyebrows at her. She just rolled her eyes and sighed before turning around, squinting.

"Ladies and gentlemen, here with us tonight is a real live, living and breathing, imported straight from Quantico, beautiful as can be, FBI agent!" Charlie started a round of applause that was eagerly continued.

You got that last part right, Will thought. He saw all of the looks she was getting from officers from all around the state. As soon as he got to her, Will would set them all straight.

"Jennifer, can we have a wave at least? A smile, even?" JJ did both, just to please him and hopefully get the spotlight off of her. She didn't much like being the center of attention in a room full of around a thousand people. Will was slowly making her way towards her, trying to get around all of the people currently staring at her.

"So, who can guess who invited this beauty tonight? She didn't come in with anyone…who will she be leaving with tonight? Could be anyone! Who knows! Twenty bucks to whoever guesses correctly." Charlie laughed before motioning to the techs to shut the light off that was shining on her. "Her name is Jennifer Jareau and I'm sure she would love to be swept off of her feet tonight."

If JJ had a mirror, she was sure that she would see the exact color of a tomato reflecting back at her. She had lost Will in the crowd again, but she found a few other men who had eagerly gotten up at Charlie's insinuation that she didn't have a date. All she could do was turn around and stir her martini, much to the amusement of the bartender.

A few guys came up to her at the bar, all trying way too hard to impress her.

"I'm no FBI but I am head detective here at Baton Rouge."

"I know the guy who brought in Jeffrey Dahmer personally."

"I took the special agent test last year. Just waitin' on results."

"You are absolutely stunnin' tonight."

JJ's face cracked into a smile at the last voice. The only one who had focused on her instead of them.

"Back off, boys. She's leavin' with me."

She turned around to a few disappointed men and one very handsome man in a tux. Apparently the other guys didn't believe him because they didn't go away. Will smiled before wrapping his hands around her waist, dipping her down while pressing his lips against hers. She grabbed onto him as a reflex to keep herself from falling and she couldn't help but kiss him back.

Will pulled them both back upright and they could hear a sigh come from the microphone.

"Well, secrets out. Thanks LaMontagne. No one's getting twenty bucks from me tonight."

There were a few wolf whistles and JJ blushed again. Will just wrapped her into a hug, "Sorry about him."

She just smiled and grabbed her martini. Will nodded to the bartender, "She's on mine tonight." He then led both of them back to a table with two other detectives, "These guys are from LaFayette."

JJ nodded at both of them before Will pulled out a chair for her and they both sat down.

Will put a hand on her thigh under the table, "How was your flight?"

She shrugged, "No terrorists and no crying babies. I'd say pretty good."

He rolled his eyes at her and then leaned in to whisper in her ear, the stubble rubbing up against her face gave JJ goose bumps. "You do look quite ravishing tonight."

JJ smiled and looked down before putting her hand on top of his on her thigh. She thought he was done talking so she took a sip of her martini.

"I also love that dress but I think it'll look better on the hotel floor."

JJ's hand flew up to her face as she almost choked on her drink. She hadn't been expecting that. Will just dropped a kiss on her cheek before squeezing her thigh and leaning back in his chair, smirking. It was the blonde's turn to roll her eyes this time before she tuned back in to Charlie's speech.

He was almost done and within a few minutes Charlie had passed on the microphone to the first award presenter. He walked over to their table and leaned down to kiss JJ's cheek, "Sorry, hun. You looked too stunning to resist." Charlie winked and snagged the last open seat.

JJ just smiled, "Whatever you say, Charlie. Where's Hannah? Don't tell me that your fiancé isn't coming and that I'm going to be the only woman at this table? There's too much testosterone here already."

Charlie shrugged, "She's workin'. Double shifts at the hospital for everyone this week."

She groaned and shook her head, "Damn."

Will chuckled, "It's almost like you didn't want to be here…almost like you didn't buy a whole new outfit to come to this."

"I thought that Hannah would be here at least. I don't really like being the only object of attention for a few hundred men."

"Hey, you're not the only object of attention!" Charlie pointed to one of the table's closest to the stage, "That's the Chief of police over there and our Deputy Superintendents." He then pointed to the long table next to the last one, "Right there are our Commanders…now you know they all have dates. They might not be as pretty as Billy's here, but they're sure a hella lot better than my date and the dates of these other fine men." He motioned to the other single men at the table.

"Nah, they don't hold a candle to my girl," Will pressed a kiss to JJ's cheek.

"That's why I said what I did at the beginning…everyone needs some eye candy for their act, ya know?"

JJ tried to ignore the two men and their teasing and focus more on what was happening on stage. She heard the next award being announced and shushed them, "Hey, you guys could get this one! It's for detectives."

Will and Charlie exchanged a look. There was no way that either one of the detectives were going to win, they just didn't want to ruin her hopeful look. Even though New Orleans was getting bigger than Baton Rouge in terms of population, the latter city always received all of the awards. It probably had more to do with the fact that Baton Rouge was the center of everything in Louisiana.

Nonetheless, the two detectives stopped their mocking and listened to one of their Commanders who was giving out the award.

"As you all know, this prestigious award is given to the detective that we, the Committee, feel has worked the hardest over the past year. We also take into consideration any hardships or adversities they may have had to overcome. We take in their work ethic and their caseload. After careful consideration, very careful, I may add, since we only have one award, we select one detective from each parish to narrow the voting pool down. Then, we select one winner to be announced tonight.

"This candidate has had a rough year, starting out with solving a case involving a serial killer and ending her spree. This alone would be enough for commendation but adding to that, this case was passed down to him from his late father."

Will's hand had tightened on JJ's leg. She grasped it tightly. The Commander continued.

"This detective has solved more cases in the past year than our entire Lafayette district combined. He solved a particularly difficult one involving a string of robberies in New Orleans, connecting the dots where several others had failed."

By now, most people were looking around, shocked. Awards of this prestige never go to anyone outside of Baton Rouge.

"It is my honor to now reveal who we've picked for this prestigious award," He motioned to another person to bring the award up, "This goes to, none other than William LaMontagne Jr. from New Orleans."

Even though Will had to have seen it coming by now, he still tensed up when he heard his name. Charlie was the one to start the applause, which picked up quickly.

Will was still staring at Charlie in shock until JJ kissed him on the cheek, "Go up there, babe."

He blinked before moving his gaze to her. JJ motioned up to the stairs with her eyes, "Go."

Eventually it sunk in that he did win and he also had to go up there. Will dropped a kiss to JJ's forehead before going up to accept. He stood at the microphone with a shocked look on his face still.

"Wow. I don't know what to say, honestly," Will nervously played with the award in his hand, "Thank you to everyone on the committee who put in a good word for me and voted for me. It has been a rough year for me, but I've just been tryin' to do my job to the best of my ability."

The Commander next to him nodded, "We've noticed." This earned a chuckle from the crowd and it put Will at ease.

"Just doin' my job," Will laughed, "Anyway, I'd like to thank my partner Charlie Luvet for being by my side throughout all of us," Will paused for a second before continuing, "I'd also like to thank the girl that Detective Luvet pointed out earlier this evening, Jennifer Jareau. She's been by my side since she helped solve my daddy's case and the endless support she's shown me has been unbelievable. I love her to death and I couldn't have done this without her. Thanks again." Will nodded to the crowd before stepping back to another giant round of applause.

JJ rose to meet him when he got back to their table, "You two are crazy," She motioned between Charlie and Will before throwing her arms around the tall detective with the award in his hand. She nuzzled her head against his neck before squeezing him tight, "Congrats, Detective."

Will pulled back, a smile on his face, "Why thank you ma'am." He pressed a kiss to her lips before sitting back down next to her.

Charlie reached over the table to grasp his hand, "Congrats, man!"

"Thanks, Charlie."

"You guys think you should pay attention now?" JJ asked smugly.

Will shrugged, "Nope. There's no way I'm getting two."

JJ shook her head before resting her hand on Will's thigh this time. He smiled at her and leaned his arm on the back of her chair, content with listening to the boring monologues for her sake.

The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful, until they got to the last award of the night. Will had told her that it was basically bullshit because the Chief of Police always wins, no matter what he wears. The Best Dressed award was a running joke.

The Chief went up to accept his award and then stepped to the microphone. What came out of his mouth shocked everyone in the room, "I know I'm supposed to accept this and it's pretty much a joke, but I sure as hell don't deserve this award this year. I think you all know who does." He motioned to the person who gave him the award, "Good thing you don't engrave these." Everyone chuckled but was still curious to see who would be receiving the award now that the Chief didn't want it.

"This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone considering the amount of attention this agent received in Mr. Luvet's opening speech."

It was JJ's turn to stare. He surely couldn't give her the award, could he?

"I'm giving the best dressed award this year to Detective LaMontagne Jr. and his date Jennifer Jareau. Best looking couple I've seen walk through these doors in quite a while. You all should step up your game."

The applause started again and this time it was Charlie prodding them both to go up and receive their award. Will and JJ stood on stage hand in hand while the Chief of Police wished everyone a good night and safe drive back home in the morning.

"I had a hand in both of those awards getting to you tonight. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to give them to you," The Chief shook hands with Will and turned to JJ, "It's an honor to meet you as well, ma'am. I've heard of your achievements at Quantico. They're lucky to have you." He motioned towards Will, "And so is he." He smiled and shook her hand as well, "Take care."

"Thank you, sir," Will and JJ both said in unison.

They walked hand in hand back to their hotel room, JJ holding the best dressed award and Will holding his award.

"Well, tonight was interesting to say the least."

"No kiddin'," Will replied.

JJ let go of Will's hand to fish her phone out of the pocket of his tux. She sent Garcia a photo that Charlie took of her and Will and then took one of the best dressed award to send that one too.

You weren't the only one who thought I looked good ;) Thanks PG – JJ

Will took her phone back as they entered their room and turned it off before placing it on the TV stand beside his, "Those are going away for the night."

JJ smiled and put her hands on her hips, "That sounds like a good idea."

Taking off his suit jacket and throwing it over a chair, Will strutted over to his girlfriend, "I've been waiting to do this properly all night."

He backed her up against the wall and whispered in her ear, "I love you, you know."

She pressed a kiss to his cheek, "I know." JJ started untucking Will's shirt from his dress pants.

Will pulled back and looked at her while he stilled her hands, "You sure?"

JJ squeezed his hands, "If I wasn't, I wouldn't have come."

He smiled his trademark grin and then wrapped his arms around JJ, "Oh how I love you…" He kissed her neck.

"You already told me that," She replied with a grin. "How original."

"JJ just stop talkin'," He silenced her mouth with his.

JJ woke that Monday morning in her bed with Will. She was snuggled up against his side. Will had been up for a while just watching his girlfriend sleep. He didn't want to disturb her since she had to be up early for work.

"You know, I could get used to wakin' up to this." Will smiled down at her naked figure.

JJ just patted his chest with a yawn. "Yeah, yeah." She glanced over at her clock, noticing it was about five minutes until she had to get up for work. Reaching over him to grab his boxers and shirt, she threw them on before getting up and stretching.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of seein' that either." Will tucked his hands behind his head and watched her get clothes for work.

"If I feel this awful after weekends with you, you won't be seeing any more of this!" JJ groaned as she tried to stretch her sore muscles.

Will laughed, "Well if it helps, I'm just as sore as you."

"You don't have to work!" She retorted.

He shrugged, "True. I gotta week to work this out."

"Oh, if you think you're working it out with me you've got to be joking!"

Sitting up, Will reached for JJ after she had laid her clothes out for the day, "You didn't complain very much when we were 'working it out' before, hun."

JJ leaned in to kiss his forehead, "Whatever."

"I love you."

"Love you too," JJ said before going off to the bathroom to get ready for her day.

JJ leaned against the side of the elevator and sighed. Her body was aching in so many places. It wouldn't be that hard to hide, she had played soccer for the majority of her lifetime. In the month leading up to the start of her college career, all of the pre-season training that they did made even breathing a chore 95% of the time. These muscle aches were almost exactly the same: aches in places she didn't even remember using or know she had. Although, thinking of how and why her entire body felt like it got hit by a truck made a blush rise up her neck. That alone was different from her soccer playing days.

The blonde liaison made sure she was standing up straight and looking impeccable by the time the elevator doors opened. She grabbed a mug of coffee and headed straight to her office, where she didn't have to mask the fact that every step brought pain.

She had been working steadily, with the occasional wince or groan, for about an hour before she got a call from Hotch signaling her to gather the team in the conference room. JJ grabbed everyone but Garcia, who she'd been told wasn't needed at the moment.

Hotch started explaining as soon as everyone was there, "We're up for a drill in Hogan's alley today. They're doing random evaluations. Ours starts in one hour. Go get your gear."

Everyone groaned and filtered back out the door that they had just walked through. JJ's mind officially went into panic mode. She could hide her soreness during desk duty, but when stuck with her team during a drill? There was no way she was getting out of hiding this.

"Even me, sir?" JJ asked, knowing the answer before she even said anything.

"Yes, JJ, even you. You are a trained FBI agent." Hotch replied, his brow furrowed, wondering why she had even asked.

JJ just nodded and went down to the locker rooms to change into her tactical gear. Prentiss was already changed by the time she arrived, "What do you say to kicking the guys' asses today, Jayje?"

The blonde just smiled and nodded before changing and meeting her team down at Hogan's alley, the fake town set up by the FBI used just for training.

One of the unit chiefs from another division was heading this evaluation. "We'll start with shooting."

JJ grinned, knowing that this one she was 100% sure she would knock out of the park.

The BAU team lined up in a row at the shooting range and let the targets have it. After inspection by the unit chief, who was extremely impressed, the best shot on the team was the petite blonde.

Morgan just rolled his eyes, "I can spend all day every day down here and Pennsylvania here can still shoot blindfolded better than me."

She laughed, "I've never tried blindfolded, Derek. They don't really encourage that here."

Morgan just rolled his eyes and stomped off to the obstacle course. She could tell his pride was a little wounded but he'd get over it. After all, this did happen every time the team came down to the shooting range.

JJ was just concerned with how her body would hold up to the obstacle course. She didn't want to walk down there, let alone run, carry a dummy, climb walls, etc.

The small blonde groaned as she leaned against the wall at the end of the obstacle course. Her body was screaming at her and sweat was pouring down her face. She couldn't remember the last time it had taken her this long to complete the course and it showed.

The unit chief overseeing their eval walked up to the team. Morgan and Prentiss looked ready to run another course, Reid looked like death, and Hotch looked a little winded.

"Morgan, Prentiss, Hotchner. You three passed with flying colors," The man laughed, "Well the first two agents a little more flying than you." He clapped Hotch on the back, "But you passed. Still counts."

He then turned to the remaining two agents, "Reid, Jareau. You two will have to spend a mandatory amount of time training down here until you can re-qualify." They both nodded at him before Reid and Prentiss walked off to go back to headquarters.

Hotch immediately started questioning JJ, "Are you alright? Usually you're right behind Morgan during these."

Morgan looked concerned too, "Yeah, Pretty Boy almost beat you. What's up?"

JJ sighed. There was no lying to these two profilers, "I'm just a little sore, that's all. I'll re-do it later this week, I promise."

Hotch nodded and walked away. Morgan, however, wasn't done. "You're a little sore? Huh. What could have made the Pennsylvanian sore, I wonder…" He was grinning like a maniac.

JJ glared, "Just stop, Derek."

"Well, my baby girl told me you were out of town last weekend…you must have gotten some pretty good lovin' for you to be tanking on your evaluation!"

"Seriously, Morgan, stop. Just drop it." JJ stalked off leaving a very confused Derek Morgan standing by himself in Hogan's Alley.

JJ got back to her apartment and dropped all of her things at the door before collapsing on the couch with her head in her hands. Before long she felt strong arms wrapping around her from behind the couch.

"Rough day?"

The small blonde sighed, "I failed my evaluation today because I was so sore." Will had come around to sit in front of her on the coffee table. JJ glared at him, "Morgan guessed why I was sore and wouldn't stop teasing."

Will smirked and reached for her hands, "So? Can't you retake it?"

JJ retracted her hands and sat back on the couch with her arms folded, "Yeah. That's not the point. Now he knows I'm seeing someone."

The New Orleans native shrugged, "Maybe he just thinks you had a really good one night stand?" He winked.

She tried to move further away from him on the couch but her body protested and she winced, "He knows I wouldn't do that. My secret's out. He just doesn't know with whom yet. Garcia will spill the beans."

Will tried to reason with her and moved next to her on the couch. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, "Why would that be such a bad thing?"

JJ shook her head, "I like my private life private."

"Why do I have to be private?"

"Why do you insist everyone has to know?"

"Why do you insist on keepin' me a secret?"

"Why do you care so much Will?"

"Because I love you. That's why I care."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

JJ looked down, hiding the tears. Honestly, she was tired of hiding it. She was just plain tired. This weekend was amazing but all too soon she had been forced into the realities of life.

"Why do I love you? You already know the answer to that, Jay." He pulled her into his lap and started stroking her hair. "I just want you to include me in all aspects of your life. You know that."

"I know. I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?"

She burrowed farther into him, "I've never had anything like this…that lasted this long…with anyone. I'm scared of losing it."

Will leaned down to kiss her forehead, "I'm scared of losin' you too. Just know there's no way in hell I'm givin' this up without a fight."

JJ's hand reached up to grip his shirt tightly, "I just…I hate breakups. I hate telling everyone it's done. I feel like I've failed every time I have to inform people. I…I think it would break me into pieces if I had to tell anyone you were done with me." She scoffed and sat up, "I hate being so dependent on you."

He laughed, "If it helps," Will kissed her lips this time, "I'm just as dependent on you. C'mon." He gathered his girlfriend up and dragged her to the bathroom, "Let's get you cleaned up. I'm takin' you out to dinner, hot stuff."

JJ smiled, still in his arms. She framed his face in her hands, "Sounds good, detective."

Sorry for the kind of angsty ending…I had most of this written and then my dog died…so I wasn't feeling very happy-ending-ish. I'm back up to the old college life now, but I'm still going to try to write whenever I can. If you have any suggestions, leave a review, shoot me a pm, whatever floats your boat! I have a list of things I'm certain that I want to go with this, but there's always room for fluff! Also, who knows? If I like your idea too much I might one shot it. ;) Have a good rest of your week!