And finally...the date...or most of it.

Probably not worth the wait! Hope you enjoy it anyway.

Cant believe it's the final ever episodes tonight. My face is a sad face.

I do not own Criminal Minds. If I did it would always be late and Rossi would have retired 2 seasons ago..

... ... ... ...

"JJ...you look beautiful" Emily took in her date, standing in her hallway in tight black leather pants and a turquoise dress sweater that draped loose off one shoulder. Finished off with black killer heels and her blonde locks swept up into a messy high pony, which showed off her toned neck. One of Emily's favourite bits of JJ to get caught staring at. "I don't often get to see you with your hair up. I like it" The brunette smiled. And tried to ignore her thunderous heartbeat.

"Thank you. You look not bad yourself...although...may I?" JJ indicated to the belt of Emily's coat as she stepped into the apartment and closer to her date.

"Ummm...yeah. Go ahead" Emily replied as she followed the smaller womans hands.

JJ loosened the belt and let Emily's coat fall open. The blonde didn't say anything but she took a step back and smiled, as she looked at Emily in her red dress. Her eyes slowly making her way up her legs to her toned stomach. She lingered on her breasts for a moment and then up to meet the dark eyes watching her. "Thank you Emily. You look even more stunning in real life than in my imagination"

Emily blushed. The look in JJs eyes was sending shivers through out her body. The brunette had to clear her throat to speak. "I'm glad you like it" Her voice cracked at the end.

"Shall we?" JJ nodded out to the hall. "I think we need to make a move or I will be wanting to skip the meal and go straight to dessert, as they say" The blonde licked at her lips.

Emily didn't move. She couldn't move. She could feel her chest flush with arousal.

"Come on" JJ spoke softly as she reached over and put her hand in Emily's and held it tight. "Let's go on a date Agent Prentiss"

The feel of JJs hand in hers brought her back to the room. "Yeah...let's go. Agent Jareau"

And they walked out of Emily's apartment to the waiting cab hand in hand.

...

...

The taxi journey was thankfully short and the conversation between the two agents was light. Mainly about work and how they had spent their time since they last saw each other. It was all Emily could manage at this point as her brain was screaming at her 'omg omg omg omg omg omg' and 'aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh' and not to forget 'be cool be cool be cool be cool'.

JJ paid the driver and the two of them entered the restaurant.

"Good evening. What is the name?"

"Jareau. 8pm" JJ answer was quick and to the point.

"Ah...here we are. Follow me ladies please"

"This place is nice. I have not been here before. Do you know who the chef is?" Emily asked JJ.

The blonde screwed up her face in disbelief and laughed as they walked to their table "Ummm...no. Should I?"

Emily laughed back "I guess not. Sorry. Old habit left over from dining with my mother. I actually dont care who the chef is"

The two agents were seated as they laughed.

"Would you like a drink before your meal?" The waiter placed the menu in front of each of them.

"Yes please...Emily?"

"Ah...yes. Could we just have a bottle of Pinot Grigio please? Is that ok with you Jayj?"

"Sounds good. Could I also get a small beer please" JJ asked.

"No problem ladies. I'll be back with your drinks in a moment"

Emily's nerves were cranking up once more. Just looking at JJ over the table and being actually on a date with her was giving her tummy the jitters.

"So...I assume Garcia has the boys" Emily needed to have a regular conversation to calm her.

"Well... you would assume wrong. Funny story actually. She was supposed to but she called me earlier and said one of her hacker friends had some emergency. She assured my it wasn't an illegal emergency though"

"Oh...you just left them home alone then...how progressive" Emily laughed.

JJ laughed too "You kidding me? I wouldn't have a house to go back to. Think their both going into the demolition trade. I can barely keep up with them"

Emily was enjoying the chat and when the waiter brought their drinks she reached over and slipped her fingers into JJs as her hand rested on the table. She thought she saw the blonde blush slightly as she talked.

"But...no...Garcia had told me she had arranged a special sitter for me and not to worry"

"You did worry thought right?"

"Of course but I shouldnt have. A very special sitter indeed came to collect the boys and take them away for the night. They will be dropped back tomorrow morning at 10am"

"Oh...who was it?"

"Only one uncle Derek Morgan"

JJ raised her eyebrows at Emily.

"You're shitting me. I never knew he was in town. That dick never even called
" Emily let her mouth fall.

"I know right? But to be fair it wasn't planned and he did say Pen made him do it. You know how she can be. And the boys were delighted"

"Oh...Garcia can be very persuasive...He better come see me when he brings the boys back"

JJ gulped at her beer. "You never know Prentiss. Play you're cards right and you could still be at mine in the morning when he arrives".

Emily saw JJ dip her head a little and look down at her lap. As if she was suddenly nervous or shy.

"Jennifer" Emily waited until the blonde looked up at her "I can not genuinely believe this is happening. You. Me. This date. I feel like I'm dreaming" Emily lifted their entwined hands until their palms met. "I have dreamt this before. A thousand times. But right now...I can honestly say I've never wanted to be with someone more in my entire life"

The blue eyes that Emily loved so much were filling with tears and the candle light danced through them.

"I have dreamt of this too Emily. For a longer than you know" JJ pulled at their hands and drew them up and kissed Emily on the knuckles and let go "How do you think it's going so far?" She gave Emily a relaxed and cheeky grin.

The brunette rubbed her own hand where JJs lips had been. "I think I may be the luckiest woman alive". She could not help the dopey grin spreading over her face. Her cheeks flushed and she was finding it hard to meet those blue eyes again.

"You really are the sweetest woman Emily Prentiss...but I think I may the lucky one right now"

"Gaaaaad... I'm not sweet ok?" Emily laughed through a snort that made JJ laugh too.

"What can I get you ladies to eat this evening" A different waiter appeared at the table.

"Oh I'm sorry we haven't really had the chance to look yet. 2 more minutes please" JJ looked at him apologetically.

"No problem" And off he went.

"Suppose we better have a look then
" Emily lifted up her menu just enough so she could still see JJ over the top of it.

Emily watched her read. She certainly felt like the luckiest woman alive. JJ truly was beautiful. She was intelligent too. And compassionate. And her lips. And neck. Emily's eyes poured over the blonde and rested on her bare shoulder. She imagined kissing it. Licking it. She imagined sucking her skin into her eager lips.

"Are you actually going to read it or just stare at me like you want to eat me instead?" JJ spoke without lifting her head.

Emily flicked the menu fully up to cover her blushing face. "I'm reading" She managed to squeak out. 'Be cool be cool be cool be cool' Her brain engaged again.

"HmmHmm"

A few quiet moments helped Emily focus. She read the menu and made her choice.

"Are we ready ladies?" the waiter made a quick appearance again as soon as he saw them put the menus down.

Emily gestured to JJ to go first.

"I'll have the duck please"

"And the lemon sole for me please"

"Coming right up. Thanks" He took the menus and left.

"So...what were you staring at a minute ago. And what were you thinking?"
JJ asked Emily as she leaned back in her chair.

Emily studied JJ. She had seen that look before. It was the challenge look. It was mischievous and sexy as hell. She couldn't bite though.

"I'm afraid if I were to tell you I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my meal"
She smirked at JJ

"That's a shame...later then?"

"Definitely" She added a wink. Emily needed to find some level of decorum. At least for the time being so she started chatting once again about Henry and Michael.

JJs phone beeped and she retrieved it out her bag. "Its Morgan. The boys are fine and having fun. Took them to a trampoline park. God they will love that" She smiled into the phone.

"That's good. Get rid of some energy" Emily replied wishing her food would hurry up. She was starting to get hungry. "So...where are we going after the meal?"

"You desperate for this to be over Emily?"

"No...not at all. Just curious. That's all" The brunette was starting to lose her awkwardness. The more they chatted the easier it became.

"You will find out soon enough. It's nothing extravagant...or ground breaking. Just something I thought you would enjoy" JJ placed her phone back in her bag and poured them another glass of wine "Should we get another bottle?"

"Yeah...Let's"

Emily grinned like a naughty schoolgirl. She was just about to call on the waiter when she saw the food arriving. "Can we have another of the same please?" She said pointing at the now empty bottle in the chiller.

"No problem. Enjoy your meals"

"This smells delightful" JJ said.

"It does doesn't it" Emily replied. "And I am definitely hungry now"

The 2 women tucked into their meal. They spoke about the world, their families and friends. Every now again Emily would stop eating and watch JJ talking. She loved how animated she could be when she talked about her boys or something she enjoyed. She loved how she nodded as she spoke and watched her slender fingers make shapes in the air.

"Emily...hello...are you with me?" JJ waved her hand slightly to get the brunettes attention. "I'm sorry. Am I boring you?"

'Fuck' Emily thought.

"I'm sorry Jayj. Not one bit. I was just a little distracted"

"Is there something on your mind?" JJ looked a little pissed.

"Yes..." Emily took a sip of her wine "You. You are on my mind. Pretty much all of the time" She tried to smile but couldn't. The reality of that statement held her fast.

The look on her face must have given Emily's sudden panic away. JJ grabbed at Emily's hand "Its OK? I feel it too. I really do. Don't go anywhere. Please"

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I guess I'm just really tense" Emily breathed out hard. Just when she thinks she is getting a handle on the situation her own feelings overwhelm her.

"You're not the only one"
JJ laughed "I think I've been a little on edge since you agreed to this. I must have tried on a hundred outfits. Well...not that I have that many...but you know what I mean"

"Really?"
The goofy grin was back on Emily's face "You seem a lot more together than I do"

"Really. I don't think you understand how much I want this Emily"
It was the blondes turn to stop smiling "This...right now...outside the birth of Henry and Michael...is the most alive I have felt in years. I want you to know that. I am doing my best...but every single cell in my body is trying to get across this table. I feel...fizzy. I'm not just talking about..." JJs eyes darted from side to side and she lowered her voice"...sex. I'm talking about just being near you. I gravitate towards you Emily Prentiss"

The brunette was lost for words. She had wanted to believe all the signs. She had wanted to believe Tara. She had wanted to believe herself. To believe that JJ could want her. But she couldn't allow it. Not then and probably not as much as she should now, but she could actually see herself getting there. She could feel a whole new world for herself begin to open up. And for once there was no overpowering need to breath.

"I'm very, very happy to hear that Miss Jareau" She ran her fingers up JJs arm and watched her close her eyes "and...just so were clear...you were talking about sex too right?"

"Oh yes!" the blonde sighed and opened her eyes. They looked almost black in the dimming candlelight and they pierced into Emily's desire and made her tremble slightly. "So...you wanna move on to the next part?"

"Lets" Emily grinned.

"Could I have the cheque please" JJ asked a passing waiter.

...

...

"I'm not arguing over this again Prentiss...I asked you on the date so I pay. This is done ok?" JJ had been thoroughly insistent on paying for the meal.

"Ok Jareau...my treat next time though"

They both just smiled at each other.

So...you gonna tell me where we are going?"
Emily asked as they strolled along the sidewalk.

"Its not much further. Just the next block over" JJ linked her arm into Emily's.

"I'm not a huge fan of surprises Jayj?"

"Fiiiiiiiiine" JJ hip bumped her "You're no fun. Suppose you'll find out soon anyway. It's nothing big...but remember on the way to Arizona on that case? We were all on the jet and you were scrolling through something on your tablet and I asked you what it was?"

"I...don't...no. I do remember you had on that tight blue shirt though" Emily was trying to recall but she couldn't.

"Doesn't matter really...you remember my shirt? Anyway... you left to go talk to Rossi and Reid fell asleep so I sneaked a look and your screen. And... I thought you were looking a porn for a minute..."

"I wasn't...was I? Noooo...not on the jet surely...I don't remember" Emily clasped her free hand to her forehead.

"No no...you weren't. It was just photos. Photoshoots...models...arty black and white nudes and the like"


"Ahhh...I remember now"
Emily was relieved.

"Yeah. It took me couple of days to track down the images again from the snippets that I had saw and find out what they were...you could say I was...umm...intrigued"

"Liked them did we?" Emily playfully bumped JJ this time.

"Its art darlin" JJ put on a posh British accent that elicited a giggle from Emily. "And yes. I like art. I found out they were by the photographer Helmut Newton and I also found out that some of his work is in an exhibition that opens tomorrow in Cohen & Greens Gallery"

"I know!" Emily stopped dead and flung her arms in the air "But its fucking invitation only...and I don't really travel in those circles anymore" Emily was waving her arms wildly "I was even considering going begging to the ambassador...but I don't know" The brunettes voice was raised and strained "I've never seen his work in a real exhibition before. I knew a guy, who knew a guy who let me see the one original that he had but other than that, it's just been in books and some prints. His work is beautiful Jayj. It's technically great and stylish and some of it is rather erotic...and timeless...and..."

"Emily..." JJ was laughing and tugging at her arm "Emily...you're babbling...slow down"

"Huh?...was I?...sorry"
Emily gave JJ an uncomfortable grin, shrugged her shoulders and scraped her feet at nothing on the ground.

"Oh my god Prentiss...you are adorable" JJ put both her hands in Emily's, who was shaking her head and muttering about not being adorable "Listen...I asked Garcia to help with this a few weeks ago. I was going to bring you whether it was an actual date or not...it just worked out better than I ever could have hoped for. I...or rather Penelope...managed to get us a private viewing for tonight before the exhibition officially opens tomorrow"

"Whaaaat?" The word came out on a breath. Emily was astounded.

"Yeah...Pen knows quite a lot of people...I don't even want to ask her how...the curator has left word with security that we have free reign of the Newton room and the bar. As long as we pay for what we drink and do not, under any circumstances, touch any of the artwork"

"Wow...Jennifer. This is amazing. Thank you. Thank you" Emily fetched JJs hands up and let them drape over her shoulders and slipped her own hands around the blondes waist. She pulled their bodies tight together "Absolutely amazing" Emily caught her scent of vanilla and citrus. She breathed it in slowly. "I can't believe you did this" She closed her eyes to stem the flood she felt rising. A happy flood. Their bodies melded together perfectly and Emily was lost in the contentment of it. "I love this...I love you"

'Aaaaahhhhhhhh'. Emily froze. She couldn't tell if the blood in her veins had turned to fire or ice and her stomach nearly fell out her ass.

JJ began to pull away. Emily held on tighter. She didn't want to see her face just yet.

"I'm sorry Jennifer...I didn't mean it" Emily felt terrified as she mumbled into JJs hair.

"Emily...Emily..." JJ pushed softly on the brunettes shoulders to separate their bodies. "Hey...look at me" JJ put her finger under the taller womans chin and raised it up. "I hope you mean it. It's love. Nothing wrong with that at all. And...I love you too"

Emily searched in JJs eyes for deceit. There was none. She felt a spark of hope but quickly realised the blonde loves a lot. There would be no deceit in those words.

"But...Emily Prentiss...you know what is best of all?"

Emily shook her head and dislodged a few rogue tears.

"I think I am also IN love with you"

Emily didn't know what to do or say. This date had turned into a rollercoaster for her nerves and they were currently free falling. A cold gust blew down the sidewalk and JJ turned to shield herself from it. Emily opened her coat and wrapped the blonde in as much of it as she could and manoeuvred them to use her own body as a windbreak.

Both of them held each other. Without words. Until the wind died down.

"Well...are going to see these nudie pictures or not you pervert?" JJ looked up at Emily and beamed.

"Art...Jennifer...its art remember" Emily pretended to be outragedwith the full dramatic hand on heart and open mouth.

...

...

The security guard locked the door behind them. He looked like he had just woken up and wasn't best pleased with the world.

"The room you want is 2nd on the left there and the bar is just off from that. Go knock yourselves out ladies. Wake me up when you want back out"

"Thank you..." JJ glanced at his name badge "…George. We will"

He turned to shuffle off back to his desk and JJ looked over and made a cute face to Emily and rolled her eyes.

"It's a tough job Jennifer but someone has to do it I guess...might as well be sleepy ol' George" Emily whispered as they made their way to the 2nd door on the left.

JJ held the door open for Emily and she walked into the room. It took Emily a few seconds to adjust to the brightness of the space. She took a quick stock of what she saw. The walls were covered in large black and white images. Most she recognized and a few she did not. The odd free standing image in the middle of the room made the room feel less stark. A night that had been full of colour and sound now lay quiet and monochrome. Emily caught a flash of turquoise out the corner of her eye as her date came to stand beside her.

"This is amazing Jennifer. I don't know how I'm going to top this. Thank you
" Emily turned and smiled.

"Just top me. That will do nicely" And the blonde walk passed her and into the room as if she was talking about the weather.

"Excuse me?" Emily's mouth was agape and went to follow her but changed her mind. Then followed her.

"You heard"

Emily couldn't even see the images anymore. JJ spun around and the two women were facing each other.

"I'm sorry I forgot you were so easily distracted" JJ ran her hand down Emily's arm. "Plenty time for that. Please just enjoy the photos. I'll go get us a drink. OK?"

"Oh...yes please. I have a very dry mouth all of a sudden" They both chuckled.

"I'll be back in a moment"

Emily watched as JJ strutted out to the bar. Her mouth was now completely void of moisture.

….

I can't half go on a bit!