I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to this chapter!

Emily's work day went by a lot faster after the briefing. And working on case file reviews also helped to speed things along.

Emily was also pleasantly surprised when JJ suggested that she call Will because he was concerned about her. She was even more surprised to learn of his offer to help. A very nice thank-you gift would be in order.

All the same, by three o'clock, she found that she had finished her tasks for the day. Somewhat ahead of schedule.

Good thing she'd already gotten permission to leave early.

"Em?"

She looked up to see JJ entering her office.

"Hey, Jayje." Emily noticed her partner carrying a few folders. "Are those for me?"

JJ nodded. "They're finished reports of what happened yesterday. Mine is on top, and I also brought Matt's and Tara's because they completed theirs, too."

"Great. Will you please put those in the in tray on my desk?"

JJ did, and watched Emily continue to bundle up. "Where are you going? It's only three."

"The director knows about may housing problem, and he gave me permission to leave early."

"But now that that's been sorted out?"

"I'm going to get a head start on packing." Emily said. "I got in touch with Will, and he's going to meet me at my place to help when he gets off work."

"Oh, good. I'm glad you two are going to spend some time together." JJ's tone was one of approval. "And make yourself at home when you get to the house—it's your home now, too. We'll make up the spare bedroom later on."

"Okay, JJ. Thanks." Emily gave her a fond smile. "You are truly the greatest friend I've ever had. How did I ever get so lucky?"

"I wonder the same thing all the time about how I got so lucky to know you." JJ held the office door open for her. "Go do what you need to do. We'll catch up."

West End shopping center.

Huge. Impressive. Popular.

Emily wandered aimlessly through a few stores, not paying much attention to anything. But it was better than being in her apartment alone. Here, she was at least killing time before seeing Will.

Emily soon wandered into the bookstore and sat at a table in the café. She also did something that she didn't often get to for fun because of her occupation: people watch. It was actually very nice to do when there wasn't an unsub to be scanning for.

She was at this activity for a few moments when—

A small, timid voice addressed her. "Excuse me?"

A nicely-groomed, well-dressed little boy watching her. Emily was taken in by his mop of sandy curls and his big hazel eyes. Just behind him was a woman who was presumably his mother. Whatever was happening, it seemed that the boy was experiencing a life lesson about something. Emily waited for him to speak.

"Excuse me?" the boy said again in the bravest tone he could.

Emily greeted him kindly. "Hi, there. Did you need something?"

He pointed to something behind her. "That, please. It's mine."

The object in question was a big stuffed letter Z made of red felt. It was propped up against the wall next to the table. Emily hadn't noticed it yet.

She picked it up, dusted it off, and held it out to the boy. "Here you go."

Elated, he took his toy back and hugged it close. "Thanks!"

The boy's mother moved forward at this point. Emily found herself thankful that she was already sitting down because otherwise, she would have grown weak-kneed. The newcomer was extremely beautiful. Movie star quality. And for some reason, familiar. But Emily couldn't put her finger on why.

She was distracted from ruminating further when she noticed that the woman's voluminous hair was a rich purple color, as was her dress—a number straight out of the 1950s. Had she been somewhere important that day? Or was this just the way she always dressed? Emily had so many questions.

And the woman's hands hands and fingers were also covered in a very intricate design. Were they clouds? Emily couldn't help admiring the handiwork because the ink was definitely real.

The woman was also leaning heavily on a forearm crutch made of black aluminum and bedecked in a gold star pattern. Emily was dazzled.

"Thanks for that." the woman spoke with a heavy southern accent. "We were in another store before Zion realized that his toy was missing."

Emily grinned. "I'm glad to have helped set things right for him."

The other woman shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she began choosing her words carefully. "Pardon me, but are you Doctor Fitzhugh Prentiss' daughter? Emily?"

She was taken aback—it was more often that she was connected to her mother before her father. "That's me. What's your name?"

"I'm Virginia, but I'm know professionally as Ginny Lynn. I know Fitzhugh because I also write. He's a mentor."

"Woah." Emily motioned for Virginia to sit down. "That's amazing."

Virginia sat opposite her, easing herself into the other chair. It didn't escape her notice that she had somewhat of a limp.

Emily began to wonder what had caused this issue, but just as quickly scrambled to not let her brain get carried away. Coming off as rude in any way would be terrible. She was happy to let Virginia keep talking.

"I've known both of your parents for quite some time, Emily. They're even very fond of Zion." she said. "Why haven't our paths crossed before now?"

"Maybe because I have a separate life than they do?" Emily shrugged. "My parents are about literature and politics. I'm FBI."

"Well, I'm very pleased to have finally met you. It's about time."

Virginia looked to Zion. He was in her lap now, and he had been watching the conversation play out.

"What do you think, Little Prince?" Virginia gestured towards their friend. "This is Emily. We've seen her picture before at Papa Fitzhugh's and Nana Elizabeth's."

"Woah." Zion said in a thunderstruck tone.

Very amused, Virginia tacked on an extra tidbit for him. "Emily is their daughter."

Zion understood this and looked to Emily for confirmation.

"It's all true." she assured him.

Mind sufficiently blown, Zion leaned back again to ruminate.

Emily turned back to Virginia. "So my father is your mentor?"

"Yes, and I respect him a great deal. What brings you out to this neck of the woods? No dragons to slay?"

"Nope—this is a housekeeping week. What about you and Zion?"

"I had a long day of meetings. Zy had to come. As a reward for not being a capital fussbudget, he got to pick out a new toy." Virginia pointed to the felt Z. "This is what he decided to get."

"Zion has great taste." Emily complimented.

Virginia beamed at the praise of her son. "Tell me something about yourself—your parents have been telling stories about you for years because they're so proud of you."

Now Emily was beaming. It was always nice to hear from other people how proud her parents were of her. Hearing it from someone her parents cared for was very satisfying. Emily felt even more drawn to her new friend.

As for Virginia, she found Emily as attractive as Emily found her. All she wanted was to see if she was available. Maybe she would even say yes to a date. This woman was fascinating.

"Did my parents tell you about India, when I was nine?" Emily asked Virginia.

"Yes, they did. You really slid off the elephant's back, into the water?"

"It was a hot day, and the saddle got slippery! At least I wasn't in the water for long…"

"That's definitely good. How did you stay stationary in the water long enough to get fished out?"

"The elephant grabbed me with its trunk and held me still."

Virginia gaped at Emily. She was astonished because this answer had been given with the best poker face she'd ever seen before.

"Did my parents leave that part out?" Emily guessed.

Virginia took off her jacket and draped it over the back of her chair. "They most certainly did!"

Emily laughed and told Virginia the tale of her most memorable vacation. She rarely shared it at all. In fact, she wasn't even sure if JJ knew it. The continuing expression of astonishment on Virginia's face made Emily glad that she hadn't brought this anecdote to light before now. It even made her simply happy.

These fun thoughts caused Emily to wonder how to ask Virginia if she could see her again.

"Have you been put off by elephants in the time since?" Virginia asked when Emily finished telling the story.

"No, actually. I really love elephants."

"Wow."

Virginia stretched at this point, owing to the fact that Zion had become so comfortable on her lap that was becoming like deadweight. Emily also suspected that Virginia was testing the waters. And with reason.

Virginia's dress had no sleeves and showed off her arms. This enabled Emily to see that Virginia had more tattoos to go with what was on her hands. Two very full sleeves, in fact. Emily had a few tattoos of her own, but she almost never met another woman with a lot of ink. Things were getting better and better.

"How many tattoos do you have?" Emily wanted to know. "I couldn't help noticing them."

"There's quite a number. Do you not like them?"

Self-conscious, Virginia made to slide her fingers off the table. Emily was too fast for her. She caught Virginia's hands and held them in hers. Virginia was putty at once from her touch.

"I really love the tattoos. They're beautiful." Emily told her gently. "Are there stories behind them?"

"Mhm."

"I'd love to hear them sometime."

Virginia relaxed even more. "O-okay…"

Emily stroked Virginia's fingers. She could see the effect she was having on her, and she really liked it. Feeling Virginia relax under her touch was very satisfying. Now she really wanted to her again after today.

Emily looked closer at the designs on Virginia's hands and fingers. She was right about them being clouds. There was even a tiny airplane inked on Virginia's left hand. It suggested some kind of globetrotting hobby.

"I see you like to travel?" Emily suggested.

It took Virginia a moment to remember how to talk. "I do. I've been around the world, Emily—I served with the corps in Bosnia and Kosovo. Somalia, too. It all feels like another lifetime ago. I was decorated three times."

Emily sat up straighter. "Oh, wow. Thank you for your service."

"It's my honor to have been able to serve." Virginia returned. "I loved every minute of it. I still wouldn't change a thing about how I got to today."

"No? And why's that?"

"Because I've met your parents, and they're the sweetest. I also have Zion. Knowing Fitzhugh and Elizabeth, and being Zion's mother have led to today. To you. To this."

Emily blushed. "Funny how life works."

"I agree, because look at this."

Virginia turned her right hand over to reveal another tattoo—a compass. Each primary direction was clearly marked, and the northern point was the longest.

"This was one of my first tattoos." Virginia told Emily. "I got it during a hard time to remind myself that one day, my True North would finally be in front of me."

Emily's blush deepened. She was directly opposite Virginia, and the way her hand was positioned, it looked like the compass was pointing at her. Fate? Coincidence?

Virginia played with Emily's fingers. "Do you want to get drinks together some time?"

"I would love to because I just had the worst breakup of my life."

"But…?" Virginia felt her heart sink slightly as she heard the caveat in Emily's tone.

"I have a little hitchhiker," Emily pointed to her midsection. "Who wouldn't appreciate it."

This took Virginia by surprise. "Oh. Drinks are definitely off the table."

Emily felt bad. "Sorry about that."

"No need to apologize." Virginia paused to think. "How about you come to dinner at my place?"

Emily hadn't been expecting this, but the invitation wasn't unwelcome. "Really? I would love to, but… I mean…"

She began fumbling with her words. Virginia found it very endearing.

"Emily, are you wondering if I'm single, or if I have any other kinds of romantic strings attached to anyone else?" Virginia asked her.

"Both…?" Emily asked hopefully.

"I am single, and there are no strings attached anywhere else." (Virginia laughed when Emily gave a noisy exhale of relief) "What about you?"

"Definitely single, as of last night, and I have zero strings of any kinds attached elsewhere."

Virginia felt her own sense of relief. "Are you busy tomorrow night?"

"No. Where do you live?"

Zion chose this moment to speak up. "Emmy? We live in a clock!"

"Is that so?" Emily asked him.

Zion just nodded and giggled, dropping his eyes. Emily had made eye contact. It gave him butterflies.

"He isn't wrong. We do live in a clocktower." Virginia patted Emily's hand. "Will you come to dinner tomorrow night?"

"Absolutely."

"Perfect." Virginia wrote her address on the back of one of her business cards and handed it to Emily. "Here you go."

Emily tucked the card away and presented Virginia with one of hers. "This has all my information. Call me, any time."

"I definitely will."

"Good." Emily checked her watch and then sighed. "Oh, no…"

The spell had broken.

Virginia furrowed her brow in concern. "Are you late for something?"

"No. I just have to get going in a minute because I agreed to meet a friend."

"Alright. I have to scoot along home, too—there's an international conference call I'm going to take part in."

Virginia looked to her son. Zion was dozing off in her lap.

"Come on, Zy." Virginia spoke gently. "Time to get up."

"Will you carry me?" he asked with hope.

"I wish I could, but it's a bad leg day."

Zion understood what this meant and got up. "Okay."

He even held his mother's crutch for her while she got ready. Emily also stood. She wasn't sure why. Maybe she was just that entranced by Virginia. The woman was very alluring…

Virginia put on her jacket, and used the crutch to push herself back up.

"Here you go, mama." Zion chirped sweetly as he held out Virginia's purse and shopping bags.

"Thank you, Little Prince." Virginia took her things from him. "I see your jacket is a little undone. Why don't you ask Emily for help?"

Zion strolled over to Emily. "Will you please help?"

"You bet. Hang on."

Emily zipped Zion's jacket with ease. She even helped him with his hat, scarf, and mittens when he remembered they had been stowed in his pockets for safekeeping. Zion blew Emily a kiss of thanks at the end.

"Thanks, Emmy!"

She smiled at him. "You're welcome!"

Zion giggled again—he had really come to like his mother's new friend. The sound of her voice was also very nice. In one last attempt for contact, Zion hugged Emily around her waist before scampering back to Virginia.

"Looks like you've really made an impression on him." Virginia remarked. "It takes him awhile to warm up to anyone. See you tomorrow, Emily."

She nodded. "See you tomorrow, Virginia."

Sad, but only because she wouldn't be seeing her new friends for the rest of the night, Emily waved farewell and watched them all the way out of sight.

Then she checked her watch again.

"Now I really have to go." Emily murmured to herself as she gathered her things and also left the bookstore. "Time to meet Will."