"Em, I'm telling you. He doesn't like her" they were getting ready to go to the Christmas dance and Emily's room was a mess. JJ and Penelope had brought over their whole house and between hair and make up and dresses it was like a hurricane came by. They were ready to go and everything was just fine until just a couple of minutes prior when Aaron came up in the conversation and just like that they found themselves talking about him and her and dating.

"Yeah sure, that's why he's with her"

"First of all, they're not together. They're just hanging out and-"

"And they're gonna get together"

"They're not sweet angel, because he doesn't like her" Penelope chimed in.

"You don't know that"

"I know that he likes you and that he's trying to move on because he has to since you didn't let him know anything" JJ added

"I can't"

"Em, it's been so long. Maybe it's time"

"Maybe. But maybe not. I mean, look at me. Do you really think I can do that? I don't want to be a mess all over again. This is good. I can't lose it"

"Gumdrop, going for it doens't mean you're going to lose it. Why do you automatically assume that?"

"Because that's what always happens"

"Did it?" JJ said with a more convinced and strong tone, her eyes filled with something Emily had never seen before.

"I-"

"Tell me Em, where are you now? Are you where you thought you were goin to be by now when you first came here?" why the fuck did she sound angry?

Emily shook her head slightly.

"Things are changing. For the better this time. And yes this is good, this is certainly good but, you want more and it could make it even better"

"Or worse"

"So what? You've finally reached a not too bad point and you're gonna stay there because something bad could happen?"

"This is stupid"

"I agree"

"JJ-"

"No, listen to me! I get it. You've gone through a shit ton of crap. You walked through hell and back and you put yourself back together. You put the pieces back in place and now it's good. And I get it that you're scared of blinking but Emily, the fact that it's good doesn't mean that it's gonna stay like this if you don't change anything and if you stay frozen in your comfort zone. Life happens even if we don't want it to. Shit happens even if we don't want it to. You have it good now, I get it. But let's be honest, how long do you think you can keep going on like this? It's been months and I know you've been talking and you've been calling him when you feel lonely so why do you want to be sad with half of it when you could be truly happy with it all? I mean, you're just fooling yourself into thinking you're not going to get hurt if you avoid this when you're actually getting hurt by avoiding it. I know you know it. And I know you're doing this because you think it's bearable but I think it's not. It's not because it's killing you inside that you could lose him for good and it would crush you if you did. Like crush you for real. And the chances of hurting because you lose him like that and way higher than the chances of hurting for what you think you're gonna get hurt'

JJ got frustrated by her own words and thoughts running in her minds without giving her the time to grasp them before they'd be replaced by new ones. Still she kept talking up a storm without letting it get in the way.

"It's december for Christ's sake! It's been a freaking year and a quite huge miracle that he hasn't moved on yet. Don't let him. Get your shit together and go to him before someone else does it. Do it fo you and for him too. Because you want him and he wants you and if you two are not together, you'd both be settling for less than you deserve and I know you both deserve to be happy. So stop being a chicken-" her speech was interrupted by the doorbell which JJ totally ignored.

"He's been waiting for you and you don't see it! He's trying to move on but can you really tell your heart who to love? He waits and waits and waits and tries so hard not to be head over hills in love with you but he just can't and this is killing you and it's killing him too! So just stop it because life is too damn short to be as stupid as you're being right now" and like that she flew out the room and ran down the stairs. Emily could swear her blue eyes were filled with tears.

Angry tears?

Sad tears?

Emily could't tell and Penelope was sunned and speechless in front of the empy spot where JJ was standing just a few second prior.

"Pen, you go I'll come down in a minute" she mustered up the courage to speak before she'd start sobbing but she didn't have the courage to look at her friend in the eyes.

And if she did, she would have seen the tears threatening to fall from the eyes of the girl who welcomed so freely in her group of friends in the first place.

Penelope looked at her friend and didn't know what to do. She surely to wanted to give her space but she also wanted to hug her and make sure she was okay. Not wanting to push, though, the blonde girl nodded and left the room without knowing if her small group of precious humans was going to stand or if it was going to fall apart after this.

Not knowing if the latest addition was going to go back to them.

Not knowing if they reached a breaking point.

So as soon as she walked out the room, she knew her heart was heavier.

Emily, on the other hand, closed the door and took a deep breath while she leaned on the wooden surface. She closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing which was harder than it should have been, and once she was sure her knees wouldn't give in, she walked over her bedsite table and opened her jewlery box and took her beloved pendant in her hand.

She looked at it and suddenly she felt like it all made sense. She had gone through so much, it was true but she finally had it good.

Erin Strauss and all she did for her.

Her mother and their mended relationship.

Her amazing friends who cared enough to give her space when she needed it, to get frustrated when they couldn't help her, to hug her blues away and to push back when she punched.

And then there was Aaron.

Aaron was a person that knew all about her and still liked her for her qualities and for her flaws.

He was a guy who looked at her like someone who he wanted to cherish and love and not like a prize he deserved just for being a guy.

Aaron had gentle eyes and a kind heart.

He listened and he talked.

He saw her and was there for her.

Aaron was the one who made sure she always had someone to spend her lonely days with, whether it was Sergio or himself.

He was the person who made her smile on the worst night of her life and that stole her heart that same night.

He was the guy she dreamed of at night and the attention she craved, the love she wanted to give and be given.

He was the arms she wanted to drawn in and the hands she wanted on her body.

He was the kisses she wanted to burn her skin and the eyes she wanted to lose herself.

The abyss she wanted to look into and the abyss she wanted to be looked into by.

She wanted to breathe in his scent and run he fingers through his hair.

Aaron Hotchner was there for her to hold and make hers and she was being just so stupid.

Everyone's heart desires someone like him and she had him right in front of her. Waiting.

She looked at the piece of jewellery in her hand and smiled through the silent tears.

She bit her lips and shook her head ironically.

It made all sense.

Once the necklace was secured around her neck, she fixed her makeup and then exited the room. While walking down the stairs, she got a glimpse of her friends.

So she stood there for just a moment to take the sight in.

Morgan was fixing Spencer's tie and Penelope was talking up a storm but Emily could't quite make out what she was saying.

Will was holding JJ while they both looked at the trio in front of them.

Looking at them, Emily Prentiss couldn't help but feel even more emotional but this time she tried not to cry because she really couldn't afford any more water melting down her make up.

There they were and she was lucky enough to call them her friends.

"Wow Emily, you look really pretty" Spencer was the first one to notice her and they all turned around when they heard him speak.

"Thanks Spence" she said walking all the way down and kissing him on the cheek.

"He's right Princess, you all look beautiful"

"Oh sugar, you really know how to make a girl melt" Penelope said in a flirtatious tone.

"Are we all ready to go?" Will asked and when they all nodded they walked towards the door.

Emily was nervous and couldn't even look at JJ in the eye but she still walked with them until they reached the door "Shoot guys, I have to wait for my mom to call"

"Oh come Princess!" Morgan moaned

"You guys go ahead, I'll call Frank and ask him to take me to the dance"

"You're going to come right? You're not feeling this, right?" she looked at Penelope and promised her she was going to come right after her mother's phone call.

She looked at them walk towards the cars from the door and smiled when she saw Penelope argue about something with Derek and Spencer glance at JJ with a sweet smile because he of course knew something was wrong.

Once they were out of sight she went back in and called Frank who arrived in a blink of an eye.

"Wow Frank, you were fast"

"You call, I run"

"You're awesome" she told him where they were headed and she tried to ignore the urge of throwing up and run away from a moving car.

And the country.

"You'll be fine" Frank gave her a quick glance.

"What?"

"You look like you have something important to tell someone. I'm just saying, you'll be fine" Emily looked at him in shock but she found herself giggling.

Out of sheer happiness.

Maybe it was because of the fact that she was finally doing it or maybe it was because she was plain crazy but she felt good.

It felt good.

She was a wreck but she was feeling good.

Like she was doing the right thing and as the car stopped she jumped out and ran to the door.

She rang the bell and was biting her lips.

But she was beaming.

"Emily! What a surprise, what are you doing here?" JJ and Aaron's mom opened the door

"Hi Mrs Hotchnes, is Aaron home?"

The woman took in the sight in front of her.

There stood Emily.

Out of breath and fidgeting, like she was holding something important back and couldn't wait to let it go.

She had anxious eyes but full of hope.

Her brows were frowning but it wasn't because she was nervous.

It was a different frown.

Anticipation.

She wasn't smiling but her whole figure was glowing and beaming.

It took the older woman a while to get it but when she did she flashed the young girl the biggest smile ever and hurried her inside "Yes, yes. Come inside, you must be freezing. I'll call him. Wait up" Emily walked into the familiar house and looked around, not really knowing what to do.

JJ knew that she was pretty much in love with Aaron Hotchner so of course his mother knew as well. And Aaron himself knew that she didn't reject him because she didn't like him but because she liked him too much to risk the stability she had reached.

His mom knew.

Mostly because both their children had a quite open relationship with them after what happened to Rosaline so they probably talked about it a couple of times and realizing that Aaron's mother probably knew why she was there made her feel very awkward and out of place.

But it all went away when she heard him come down the stairs.

When he arrived in the room, from the look of pure shock and surprise he had on his face, she gathered that his mother didn't tell him who it was that wanted him.

They both stood frozen in place and Emily never saw his mother come back but heard footsteps climb the stairs and it was probably Mr. Hotchnes.

She chuckled because they hella knew what was about to happen and they were giving them space and privacy, something Emily really appreciated.

He looked confused and not like he was about to speak anytime soon so she decided to start.

"Hi" she tried a smile.

"Emily...hi"