I know that last chapter was a flop. It wasn't my favorite, either. A filler was required. This will be an improvement :)

Amongst the contents of Emily's easily-accessed luggage were several date-type outfits. Everything else was in moving boxes and the rest of her luggage set. Those would be dealt with eventually, but just not tonight.

No. Tonight was about Virginia.

After showering and changing into an 'in-between outfit,' Emily tried on a few outfits for JJ to critique. It didn't take her long to axe two.

"Okay, Jennifer," Emily said in a tone of playful exasperation as she checked herself out in the bathroom. "This is the last outfit I'm trying on. I still have to do my hair."

"Just come on, already." JJ chuckled. "I will do your hair if you're so worried… wow…"

JJ was quite impressed by Emily's pick this time. In remembering that Virginia's hair was dark purple, Emily was wearing a blouse of the color in question, and a long black skirt with a white arrow pattern around the hem. The whole ensemble was very pretty. And the beginnings of a very nice date night outfit.

"I guess you like it, huh?" Emily was bashful.

"Yes. I remember when you got that blouse because I was there, but I'm drawing a blank on the skirt. Have I seen it before?"

"Nope." Emily did a small twirl, and the skirt flared slightly. "My dad brought it back for me from a recent trip that involved being laid over in the Dublin airport. He was there for eighteen hours."

"Does the Prentiss clan ever do anything small? Ever?"

With a very straight face, Emily said, "Not since the day I was born."

JJ rolled her eyes. "Why doesn't that surprise me? And you're from Kiev, right?"

"Yep. I was born at the main hospital there, since this was during the Ukraine years."

"That's perfectly normal."

"But I was born during the blizzard of the century."

"Your birthday is in the autumn!"

Emily shrugged. "It's Eastern Europe, and apparently, it was unseasonably cold that year."

"So noted." JJ motioned towards the arrows on the skirt hem. "Does Ginny travel?"

"That's an understatement. Can you keep a secret?"

"I held on to your full name for thirteen years before anyone else knew it, and that's just for starters. Cough it up."

"Ginny is a world traveler, but is retried from the USMC and the police force. She was a detective down south in another life."

JJ was at a loss for words because she was just so astonished.

"Ginny also has a tattoo of a compass. On her palm."

"Really?" JJ sputtered.

Emily nodded. "Yes. The northern point of the compass is the longest, and when we sat together in the café, her palm was pointing to me."

"Incredible. Henry's right—you did meet a unicorn." JJ stood and headed out of the room. "Hang on a second."

Before JJ had time to think, JJ was showing back and showing her a necklace. Upon a long thin silver chain was a compass pendant. What Emily found intriguing was that the copass' northernmost point was the longest. Just like the one tattooed on Virginia's palm.

"Where did this come from?" Emily asked JJ. "It's really beautiful."

"I bought it when I moved to D.C. because I was in a chapter of my life where I was finding myself." JJ fixed it around Emily's neck for her. "It's my good luck charm."

"How's that?"

"I was wearing it the day I met you." JJ smiled at her. "You can borrow it for good luck tonight."

Emily gave her a hug. "Thank you. That means a lot."

JJ motioned for Emily to sit with her back turned to her. "I'm going to do your hair for you. Let's just talk."

"Okay." Emily relaxed as JJ began to brush her hair. "By the way, Ginny is an absolute stunner, but how are you still on the unicorn train like Henry is?"

"Have you met my firstborn? Henry inherited Will's neat-freak ways, but my intuition."

"Fair point." Emily conceded. "Everything lately has happened for a reason, but all of it has led me to Ginny. I can assure you and Henry both that Ginny really is very much an actual unicorn."

JJ continued to brush Emily's long hair. "Copy that."

"Did Rosaline teach you how to do hair?" Emily wanted to know.

"Yes, and thank goodness my bag of tricks has expanded since then. I'm going to give you something befitting of a first date." JJ positioned Emily to sit straighter. "Please keep still."

Emily did her best to obey.

"Would Rosaline have liked me?" she asked at length.

JJ didn't have to think twice about this. "Yes. Roz would have really liked you, and I'm sure you two would have been friends."

This made Emily feel great. "Can you tell me what she was like?"

"I worshipped her because she was cool, warm, and kind. Roz even treated me like her kid because was worried that our parents forgot about me when they would fight." JJ told her. "My sister even got me interested in world travel."

"How many places have you been to, again? I forget the exact number." Emily said.

"There was a family trip to Ireland before the divorce, and then during my sophomore year of high school, I had the good fortune of being an exchange student in the United Kingdom." JJ recollected. "We've also had cases in Mexico twice now, and Jamaica in 2006. I didn't make it that time. We did go to Barbados for a case once, though..."

"When was that?" Emily said in surprise.

"2015. It was also when we met Matt."

"I see. Jamaica doesn't count, but Ireland, England, Mexico, and Barbados make four. Anything else?"

"Will and I did Holland for our honeymoon. We've also taken Henry to Bermuda. Our last family was to Canada, when Michael was two." JJ said in further thought. "I've been to seven other countries. Roz would be proud."

"I bet she would." Emily agreed. "Any more travel plans?"

"We actually just decided that we want to take the kids to Portofino, Italy when the twins are older and mobile. You been?"

"Yes—it's one of my most favorite places in the world!"

"Then tell me what you know."

Emily launched into a story about her favorite seaside town.

JJ styled Emily's hair into a crown of a fishtail braid, with a length of it cascading down her back in curled spiral ringlets. A decorative pearl hair pin had even been tucked in just behind Emily's left ear, to give a little color to her dark locks. Emily felt very beautiful. She would have to get her friend to help her for her next date.

"If everything works with Ginny, in time of course," Emily said as JJ watched her do her makeup. "I'll bring her around. I have a really good feeling about her."

"Great." JJ chirped. "I think all of us would love to meet the person who makes you so happy."

"Thanks, Jayje—your support means the world to me. What do you think?"

Emily had finished her makeup and was waiting for approval.

"It's perfect." JJ said. "Ginny's going to love it."

When they went back downstairs, the rest of the family was in the living room. A hush fell over all of them when they saw Emily. They had known that she wasn't in the room, but most of them hadn't known what she was up to.

"You look fabulous." Hannah told her with genuine admiration. "Are you going on a date?"

Emily's head bobbed up and down. "I am."

Nearby, Sandy gave a soft, "Oh!" of understanding.

"What do you know?" Hannah asked her.

"Who Emily's date is with." Sandy said smugly.

"Who?"

Emily answered, "The author, Ginny Lynn."

"What?" Hannah, August, and Aurora cried in unison.

"It's the truth. I'm about to leave for her place right now." Emily told them. "You all are fans, too?"

"And then some." Hannah informed her. "How did you meet the elusive unicorn that is the legendary Ginny Lynn?"

"Quite literally by chance, and JJ can tell that story." Emily winked. "I have to go."

With lots of wishes of good luck, Emily left the house in high spirits. It was going to be a great night.

The Rainers did live in a clock. Sort of.

Their building was a quaint brick structure, several stories high. The very top housed a clocktower that looked out over the city. Like a beacon.

As Emily gazed up at the illuminated clock face, it struck eight o'clock.

So she rang the buzzer at the main door.

From her place, Virginia called through an intercom, "Emily? I'll be right down!"

She buzzed her date in and left for the lobby.

Emily quickly entered Virginia's building before the door shut again. The lobby was very swanky, reminding her of high-end residences she'd seen in places like New York City. What kind of people lived here?

"Emily!"

She turned to see Virginia emerging from an elevator across the room. Emily also felt herself going weak-kneed again just at the sight of her. Virginia was in another fifties-type outfit; the blouse and skirt were a light purple color, but the hem was decorated with a fun pattern of old postage envelopes. Each was labeled with a different international destination. Virginia's hair was even done up in a way that was both chic and retro. Just how many talents did this woman have? Her makeup was also very on-point. Virginia was drop-dead gorgeous. Everything about her tonight was very befitting of a first date.

Emily also noticed that instead of her crutch, Virginia now had a reversed wheeled walker as a mobility aid. It was bright purple and made of aluminum. There was even a seat. Not for the first time, Emily wondered how Virginia had been hurt.

But she dashed the thought at once when her date drew level with her.

"I'm so happy to finally be with you, Ace." Emily set her things down and embraced the other woman in a deep hug. "You look really beautiful."

Virginia had also been unsure about kissing, so she returned the hug warmly before leaning back on her walker. "I'm so happy to see you."

Emily grinned and then furrowed her brow at something. "Where's your mini-me?"

"My mom called about an hour ago and offered to keep Zion overnight. She hasn't seen him in awhile." Virginia explained. "They're best friends."

"Aww."

"Are you going to ask about the purple monstrosity I'm lugging behind me?" Virginia gave her walker a small rattle of indication.

Emily laughed softly. "I have so many questions, but my first thought was 'maybe we could name it if it doesn't have a name.' Is that ridiculous?"

"No." Virginia laughed, too, feeling a weight of worry lift off her shoulders. "And the walker actually doesn't have a name. I've had it since before Zion was a twinkle in my eye."

"But still no name?"

Virginia shook her head. "Uh-uh. We'll have to come up with one."

"I like the sound of that." Emily picked her bags up again. "I brought some surprises with me."

"I like the sound of that." Virginia turned herself and her walker about face. "I want to show you something."

Emily followed Virginia to a small hatch in the wall by the elevator. Her date opened it to revel a fully-functioning dumbwaiter, of all things.

"I made sure that the building owner had this fixed properly when I moved in." Virginia said casually. "It's been around forever."

"But you a dumbwaiter." Emily said in surprise. "Do you guys really live in the clocktower?"

"Not in the clock itself, but the residence attached to it, yes. A private dumbwaiter is a perk of living on the last floor." Virginia pointed to a platform in the shaft. "Put your things in there. It'll meet us upstairs."

Emily followed though, and Virginia closed the hatch before pressing a button that would send it away.

The ride to the top floor was naught but a minute. Emily, however, felt that is was much longer. So why was she nervous? Virginia was right beside her.

"Here we are, my dear." Virginia said as they disembarked. "Our door is just over here."

It wasn't far from the lift, and in addition to an umbrella stand, Emily saw a small rug where several pairs of shoes and boots were lined up.

"We always leave our shoes out here when it's been cold or slick." Virginia removed her shoes and added them to the line. "I haven't been outside in a few hours, but the last time I looked out of a window, I swear I saw falling snow."

Emily removed her shoes and set them beside Virginia's. "You did see snow. Imagine if we got stuck here during a blizzard."

"Hell of a thing to say on a first date," Virginia said amusedly. "But it'd be manageable because this building has an external generator that kicks in when the power goes out. We would just have to be prepared to entertain Zion for a long time."

"He seems like an extremely curious person—entertaining him is part of the whole kit and caboodle, I'd imagine."

Virginia rolled her eyes theatrically. "Zy has entered a phase where he asks me 'why?' after every other thing I say now."

"Yikes. I will make sure to fill myself with enough cool tidbits about everything under the sun so that Zion won't have enough time to ask the dreaded question of either of us."

"My hero." Virginia opened her front door and pushed it open. "Come on in."

Emily headed into Virginia's place, although she felt that 'loft' was the proper word to describe the type of abode that it was. She loved the set-up already. It was an industrial theme with touches of the past, future, and present all rolled into on. There were also a variety of things about that showcased Virginia's love of travel... including a corner of the living room that housed a giant globe and a rather large map of the world with many pushpins in the surface. There was even a grand piano in the opposite corner. Everywhere else, books of all kinds and cozy sitting places could be seen. That was just part of the living room.

"This is my place." Virginia closed the door and put Emily's coat away for her. "Do you like it?"

Emily quickly brushed out last-minute wrinkles in her clothes while Virginia's back was turned. "It's really cool."

"Oh, wow." Virginia breathed when she took in what Emily was wearing. "You're beautiful."

"Do you really think so? I'm not trying too hard?"

Virginia shook her head. "Uh-uh, because you got everything just right."

"Then so did you. I love the fifties theme." Emily gestured to Virginia's clothes. "You were dressed like this at the bookstore. Is it your favorite?"

"My permanent bum leg makes wearing things like jeans or slacks pretty hard now." Virginia shuffled her feet. "I stick to dresses and skirts because they're easiest."

"So you wear them all the time?" Emily guessed.

"Yep. My sister brought this dress back for me last month from a trip to California."

"I—" Emily's worlds were cut off by a loud meowing sound and something soft brushing at her ankles.

River the cat had appeared, sitting directly in their path. The animal was very beautiful. Her blue eyes were even so piercing that Emily like River was gazing into her very soul.

She snapped out of it when River slinked past her and jumped onto the seat of Virginia's walker.

"Emily," Virginia plucked her cat up and held her out. "This is my sweet River. I've had her since she was a little bitty kitten, and I was in hard rehab for my injury. Lord knows where I would be without her."

The cat meowed again.

"She's really beautiful." Emily remarked. "Wow."

"Hear that?" Virginia cooed to her pet. "Emily knows a beautiful girl when she sees one, too."

River meowed a third time.

"Is it alright if I hold her?" Emily asked Virginia.

"Of course. Here you go."

Virginia eased her pet into Emily's arms. Rather than bolt like most cats, River just moved closer to her new friend. She even began to purr.

All at once, the biggest weight yet had lifted off Emily's shoulders. Her eyes even teared up a little as she felt all kinds of emotion swirl through her body. River's presence had triggered something. Emily also suspected that her continual yo-yoing emotions had something to do with it. Holding a cat was very calming.

"I'm sorry!" Emily said quickly. "I'm sorry I'm crying—it's just that so much has happened lately like you wouldn't believe…"

"I want to hear all about it." Virginia wiped Emily's tears for her. "Nothing in the story of how our paths have crossed or how we know of each other is exactly conventional, so crying on a first date is quite alright. You have nothing to apologize for."

Virginia then rubbed River behind her ears. The cat's purrs grew even louder.

"And this pretty girl is calming, isn't she?"

"She really is." Emily agreed.

"My cat has been with me through my best and worst moments. You're safe here." Virginia continued to rub River. "The only melts like this for Zion. She loves me, but my 'mini-me' is her favorite."

River's purrs were very audible now. She also didn't seem to have a care in the world. Emily's worries ebbed away even more.

"That's amazing." Emily marveled.

Just like you are, Virginia thought. "She's a miracle worker."

Emily searched her surroundings again. "Where's the receiving hatch for the dumbwaiter?"

"In the kitchen. I'll get your things." Virginia decided. "Make yourself at home—the couch is very comfortable."

"Then I'll go wait for you."

Emily went across the front room to the couch and settled in to wait. She even began to play with River. But she was beginning to feel happy. What a warm feeling. She wasn't sure what else to ask for, just then.

Emily was happy that Virginia was taking her for who she was. Happy that Virginia had alread felt comfortable enough to be herself. Happy that Virginia knew she didn't think any less of her for being any different. Happy that Virginia hadn't rejected her being pregnant. Happy to play with a purring cat. Happy that her very inability to do anything small had led her straight to the person whose company she was loving already. Happy that she could be herself.

Emelise Adele Prentiss was genuinely happy.

This was going to be a night to remember.