CHAPTER SEVENTY

15x10 And In The End

Emily smiled as she caught sight of JJ. She was hurrying into the room, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Is that my sweater?" Emily asked. She was dressing Henry for the party. JJ looked down at the sweater a little flustered. A shy smile spread across her lips.

"Maybe…" She walked over to Michael and smoothed down his hair with her hand. Emily gazed at her with expectant eyes. JJ shrugged a little, "It smells like you…"

"Well, my clothes look so much better on you anyway…"

JJ laughed deviously, "No, they don't." She replied quickly with a flirtatious look. Emily leaned over and picked up Henry, resting him on her hip. She made her way over to JJ.

"Everything looks good on you," Emily whispered, leaning in and kissing her cheek. Henry leaned over, threw an arm around Emily's neck and kissed her cheek, imitating her. Emily laughed, looking over at Henry. "You wanna kiss MJ too?" Emily moved so Henry could lean over and place a wet kiss on JJ's cheek.

"Thank you, Henry," JJ said softly. She kissed his forehead.

"Momma!" Michael yelled. He was standing at JJ's feet, arms up in the air. JJ laughed and picked him up.

"You want one too, Michael?" JJ kissed his nose, making him giggle.

The night was perfect - bitter sweet - but still perfect. JJ felt the tears swell in her eyes a couple times thinking about Penelope leaving. Nothing changes, except what has to. Emily told her that once. JJ smiled to herself. Things were about to change… She turned to look at Emily. She was chasing Henry and Michael around the yard with Spencer playing soccer. As if she could sense it, Emily glanced in her direction.

The porch lights were lighting JJ up like she was some kind of angel. Emily's breath caught a little. She gave her a soft smile, which JJ returned. They were all the way across the yard from each other, but it didn't matter - they were caught up in each other. Henry broke the spell, running full force into Emily's legs, almost knocking her over. She looked down at him and wrapped her arms around him. JJ watched her lean over to kiss the top of his head quickly.

This was what she dreamed about all those years ago… It was one of those moments she tried to remember for the rest of her life. One of those feelings where the lines blur and you realize you've never felt more alive but also never more at peace than in that very moment. Every single decision she'd made in her life led up to this. There were a thousand alternate realities but she didn't want any of them. She wanted this moment. Emily glanced back up at her and saw the adoration in her eyes. It gave her pause.

She didn't know where life was going to take them - Portland was still on the table. Maybe they'd just stay put - but it didn't really matter. Not when JJ looked at her like that.

Emily looked away when the ball rolled up to her foot. She turned and kicked it, sending Michael and Henry running across the yard. Emily made her way over to JJ. She wrapped an arm around her and leaned in to kiss her cheek softly. A smile crept onto JJ's face.

"You want a drink? I'm gonna go grab a glass of wine," Emily offered in a whisper. JJ shook her head. There was a happiness in JJ's eyes - a peaceful expression on her face. Emily scrunched her eyebrows, but didn't linger on it. She broke away and walked into the house.

Dave put on some music and his backyard soon became a dance floor. JJ flashed back to her wedding night. Emily ran a hand across her back and she jumped a little. Emily gave her an apologetic look.

"I didn't mean to scare you…" Then she saw it. There were unsaid words - it was as if she wanted to say something but didn't know how to. "What…?"

"Nothing."

"Jennifer."

"It's nothing." She brought a gentle hand to Emily's cheek.

Emily looked back at her skeptically. But JJ grinned. A smile she knew Emily wasn't immune to. Emily rolled her eyes. She knew JJ was trying to distract her. But JJ still had power over her. It wasn't fair.

"Dance with me?" JJ offered, reaching for Emily's hand.

Emily let herself be pulled out onto the dance floor. JJ took them to the back corner and wrapped her arms gently around Emily's waist. She could see it in Emily's face - she was still suspicious. JJ chuckled a little and shook her head. She sometimes found it amusing how 'Type A' her wife could be. She pulled herself in closer until their cheeks touched. The song was slow and peaceful. Emily closed her eyes briefly and ran a comforting hand across JJ's back.

"Just tell me," Emily whispered in her ear. JJ laughed. When she pulled back to look at her, she found Emily grinning.

"It drives you crazy, doesn't it? Not knowing."

"Yes," Emily replied quickly and they both laughed. JJ shook her head and grabbed Emily's hand.

"Fine. Come with me."

She led her back into Dave's house, then up the stairs to a quiet and private part of the hallway. The lights from the first floor lit the hallway with dim, warm light. JJ turned and leaned her back against the wall. Emily waited.

"You know, I was gonna wait until we got home later… Maybe run a bath, light some candles…?"

Emily looked perplexed. "What's the occasion?" She asked.

JJ's eyes burned with infatuation. She briefly brought a hand to Emily's cheek before dropping it again. She didn't say anything, but her silence spoke volumes. A mixture of recognition and wonder graced Emily's face. A smile spread involuntarily across JJ's face.

"Jay - are you…?"

"Yeah…" she said in a ghost of a voice.

Emily's eyes went wide with happiness. She sprang into action, wrapping her arms around JJ's waist and hugging her tightly. She buried her face in JJ's neck. She could smell her conditioner. Her skin. She was intoxicating. Emily felt the rumble of happy laughter in JJ's chest.

Emily pulled out of the hug and watched her wife's eyes. They were sparkling with rapture. She leaned in and kissed her. She didn't care that they were in Dave's house. When JJ looked at her like that - all coherent thought escaped her. JJ fell lightly back against the wall.

"Okay, okay, save it for home," JJ said, jokingly. Emily pulled away, happiness swelling in her chest. JJ watched her gaze fall to her lips. Desire swirled in her stomach. Emily leaned in again, slower this time. She kissed her with patient affection.

When they parted, Emily leaned her forehead on JJ's for an extra moment. JJ had an smitten look in her eyes as she caught a glimpse of her wife. She brought her thumb to Emily's lips and rubbed them softly.

Emily leaned away with a smile, "What are you doing?"

"Hold still, my lip gloss is all over your lips." She continued rubbing them gently. "We don't need to broadcast it to the whole squad," she added with a laugh.

Penelope glanced in Emily and JJ's direction, then smiled deviously. JJ noticed and blushed a little. She looked up at Emily who seemed oblivious.

"Oop - Jayje - you better take this one home," Penelope said playfully gesturing at Emily. Emily's eyes darted back and forth between the two blondes. Penelope had a wicked look on her face and JJ smiled a sheepish, yet amused, smile. Emily was just confused. "And don't worry, Michael and Henry are having a sleepover with me tonight." JJ turned to Penelope quickly, but she cut her off. "Uh-uh, non-negotiable. It has been far too long since I've gotten to see those beautiful baby boys of yours!"

JJ smiled appreciatively. "Okay then, Pen… But don't feed them as much sugar as you did last time," she warned.

"I make absolutely no promises…" Emily raised her eyebrows in disapproval. "What?" Penelope started, "How can you say no to faces like those?" She insisted. Emily smiled and shook her head. She watched as Penelope ran over to their boys, grabbing them both in a bear hug. They squealed with happiness. JJ's warm breath on her ear pulled her attention away.

"Take me home," she whispered. Emily turned to gaze at her wife. They said their goodbyes and were walking down the driveway when Emily had to ask.

"How the hell did Garcia know?" JJ laughed a little, but stopped when she saw the confused look on Emily's face. She smiled in disbelief. She actually didn't know… "What?" Emily asked. JJ laughed again.

"You have a tell…" She said with an amused glint in her eyes.

Emily's whole effect changed. She immediately stopped walking and her eyes widened in embarrassment. "I do?"

JJ couldn't help but laugh at the look on Emily's face. "Oh, yeah!" She said, like it was the most obvious thing ever. Emily was still shocked.

"Since when?"

"Uh… since, forever." JJ laughed again.

Emily's mouth was still open in shock. "Okay, fine, then what is it?"

"Oh," JJ approached her, shaking her head and chuckling. There was a spark lighting up her eyes. "Not a chance in hell, Prentiss." JJ stopped right in front of her and looked at her with a knowing smirk. Emily rolled her eyes, refusing to uncross her arms. She was doing her best to control the smile that wanted to spread across her face. "Was she wrong?" JJ asked smuggly.

Emily bit her lip and briefly looked away. No. Penelope wasn't wrong at all. But she didn't love the idea of all their friends knowing. "You really shouldn't gloat. It's not a good look on you," Emily muttered.

JJ's coy smile turned into a grin as she threw her head back laughing. Emily couldn't help but smile at her wife's happiness, even though she could feel a blush rising in her cheeks.

"I seem to recall you saying 'everything looks good' on me," she replied with an enamored smile. JJ was still chuckling a little as she reached for Emily's arms and uncrossed them. "Are you gonna take me home or what?" Emily just stared at her. There was a glint in Emily's eyes that told JJ she hadn't heard the end of this. She took the keys out of her wife's hand and walked around to the driver's side of the car. "If you won't, I will," JJ said. Emily nodded her head and rolled her eyes a little. She reached for the door handle.

It was JJ who pushed Emily up against the wall just inside of their foyer. They barely even made it through the door before JJ's lips were on her neck. It took Emily a little off guard, but it was to be expected - the last time JJ was pregnant it was the same way.

"Who's the one with the tell now?" Emily joked, running a hand through her hair. JJ leaned back and kissed Emily softly.

"You," JJ whispered back sarcastically. She kissed her again. "Still you."

Emily leaned in, but stopped an inch away from JJ's lips. She breathed her in and rested her forehead against hers. She pulled back to look at JJ's eyes again. Emily swallowed thickly and JJ brought her hands to frame her face.

"What are you thinking?" JJ whispered. She leaned in again and kissed Emily softly on the corner of her mouth.

"I'm thinking…" Emily wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her body even closer. "That I'm in love with my wife." Emily leaned in to rest her forehead against JJ's again. JJ sighed peacefully.

"Oh yeah?"

"Mm-hm," Emily answered tenderly. She felt JJ's hands moving to untuck her shirt and running her hands up her back. JJ knew what she was doing. She was teasing her on purpose.

"That's what I was thinking too…"

JJ's nose brushed against Emily's briefly. She stretched and caught her bottom lip between hers. JJ felt Emily lean more of her weight against the wall behind her. Kissing her was sweet relief from the anticipation that had been building the whole drive home. JJ's tongue swept across her lip and in a moment, Emily felt her desire grow even greater.

Emily pulled at JJ's jacket. She pushed it down her arms and JJ let it fall to the ground. When her arms came back up, JJ caressed Emily's cheek with the back of her hand. She leaned her head to the side and gazed into her eyes happily.

"We're gonna have a baby," JJ breathed in the ghost of a voice. Her grin was incandescent. It was contagious.

"We're gonna have a baby," Emily whispered back. She leaned in towards her. She just wanted to be close to her. At Dave's house, the desire for JJ had been lustful. But now it was more about the comfort and the safety JJ always brought with her.

Emily's eyes brimmed with emotion. JJ noticed the change, and smiled comfortingly. JJ brushed her lips against her cheek.

"I love you." Emily took the opportunity to lean in and kiss her again. This time, the kiss deepened. JJ felt her heart rate increase. She smiled against her wife's lips. "Let's go upstairs."

Emily nodded in agreement and followed close behind as JJ took her hand and pulled her towards the stairs. They still hadn't turned on any lights - the house was lit only by the soft glow of kitchen appliances and the streetlight that streamed through the windows.