Emily shot a smile at JJ and set to work at her desk working on reports from the last few cases. She was happy that no one had mentioned her birthday when she walked in and figured JJ had taken her seriously when she had said that she didn't like a big deal made out of her birthday. Emily had gotten a couple hours of work done when JJ came down and announced for everyone to be in the conference room.
"Can I get everyone in the conference room real quick please? Oh, Emily, Hotch needs to see you in his office real quick before you come to the conference room. Just paperwork from yesterday is all he needs I believe," JJ said as she set the plan in motion for good.
"Ok, I'll be right there then. Shouldn't be more than five minutes," Emily replied as she went up to Hotch's office. Hotch let her in and closed the door while JJ grabbed the cake, balloons, and card out of her office with the help of Morgan and brought it down to the conference room.
"Emily, thanks for coming up here real quick. It won't take but a few minutes. Feeling ok since yesterday?" Hotch asked concerned trying to preoccupy Emily.
"Yeah, I'm still a little sore but I'm fine. What's this paperwork I need to sign off on?" Emily asked anxious to get to the conference room for whatever JJ needed to announce to them all. She figured it was another case which would put a damper on her plans tonight because she didn't know that they were on local cases only for the next week until JJ was medically cleared. Hotch handed her the liability forms for whenever a hostage situation took place and Emily quickly scribbled her signature while Hotch watched his watch.
"Good to go Hotch? JJ needs us in the conference room?" Emily asked.
"Yeah I think that's all. We better get down there."
"Oh before we do go down there, I was wondering if I could leave an hour early tonight," Emily asked trying to ask without having to tell Hotch that it was because she needed to pick up the ring she was giving JJ tonight.
"Yeah that doesn't seem to be a problem as long as you get that report done. Is there a reason?" Hotch asked trying to stall as he saw JJ wave her hands and mouth wait a second.
"Well, sir, I'm proposing to JJ tonight. I have to go pick up the ring and get everything set up at the restaurant if that's ok. I promise it won't be a habit. Just today, well and when we get married, but I'm leaving that all up to her," Emily confessed.
"Congratulations Emily. Thank you for confiding in me. That's fine. You have plenty of vacation time for the wedding and so does JJ. I don't think either of you have taken a single day of vacation time just sick leave for JJ's hospital stay," Hotch said as he led Emily out of her office.
JJ, Reid, Rossi, Morgan, and Garcia all got ready to yell surprise to Emily as they saw Hotch bring her to the conference room.
"SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!" they all yelled. Emily was shocked. JJ gave her the card that everyone at the BAU had signed and everyone had a piece of the cake that JJ had brought. It was from her favorite bakery.
"Thank you guys. Thank you JJ. I appreciate this. Nobody has ever really done a lot for my birthday since I grew up with politicians for parents who were never home. Thanks. I really appreciate it," Emily thanked everyone for the card and surprise and it was time for everyone to get back to work. Emily knew that she needed to get some work done and talk to Garcia because if she didn't tell Garcia her plans, she would be dead meat.
Before heading out for the day after a long day of paperwork she headed down to Garcia's lair to tell her the news.
"Hey birthday girl. What can I do for ya today?" Garcia asked with her usual perkiness.
"I'm heading out early and I wanted to tell you about tonight's plans that I have for JJ that way when she calls you bubbling with excitement and crying and all happy that you don't kill me for not telling you first," Emily explained. Garcia's eyes lit up.
"What do you mean Emily Prentiss?" Garcia asked slyly.
"I'm heading out to go pick up the ring I got for JJ. I'm bringing her to Il Cantori tonight and proposing Garcia. I wanted you to know so you weren't out of the loop. Everyone knows, I had to tell them. I 'm so nervous about it even though I know she'll say yes, or I'm pretty sure she'll say yes, Garcia I've never been this nervous in my life," Emily confessed her fears to Garcia.
"Oh honey, trust me, she'll say yes, especially if the ring is big enough," Garcia laughed.
After her talk with Garcia Emily poked her head into JJ's office to let her know that she was leaving and reminded her of the reservation for 8 o'clock.
"Ok, I should be out of here at a decent time, probably around 6, so I'll see you at home. Relax, no snooping around for your birthday present either, you won't find it anyway. I have to pick it up on my way home," JJ joked with Emily. JJ hadn't just gotten Emily a gift certificate to her favorite bookstore, that was in her purse, tucked safely aside. JJ had also gotten Emily a forever necklace. JJ had to stop by the same jeweler that Emily needed to stop by on her way home.
Emily left work and headed to the jewelry place. She also needed to pick up flowers, flower petals, candles, and some of JJ's favorite chocolates. Emily knew this was going to be the best birthday ever but she still couldn't help to feel nervous to propose to the love of her life.
