President's Day weekend found Keely and I flying to DC for a quick trip. I had been surprised by a request to speak at an inter-agency conference on communication and leadership but accepted nonetheless, using it as the perfect excuse to visit our people on the east coast. Andrew was the one who recommended we make it a girl's trip, barring Stella who he wanted to stay home with. At the time, it seemed perfectly reasonable, but standing here now, the thought of leaving my little girl wasn't as appealing.
"Are you sure you're going to be ok with her?" I asked Andrew as we stood outside the departures zone at Denver airport.
"Tell mommy we're going to be fine, Stel." Andrew said playfully as he bounced Stella in his arms. When he looked back to see me smiling sadly, his face softened. "Babe, we've gone over it a hundred times. It's just three days. You get some one-on-one time with Keely and I get some with Stella. We'll FaceTime every day and you'll be back before you know it."
"I know," I sighed. "This is just the first time I've left her like this before."
"Mom, we got to go." Keely said rounding the corner of our vehicle with her carry-on.
Nodding, I took a deep breath. "Ok, bye baby girl. Mommy loves you." I said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"Mama bye bye." Stella grinned, clenching and unclenching her fist in a wave. I smiled, pecking Andrew on the lips before grabbing hold of my carry-on.
"Bye dad!" Keely said, giving Andrew a quick side hug before the two of us made our way inside toward security.
Between the two-hour time difference and the fact that we hadn't left until after Keely got out of school, it was nearly midnight when we pulled up to Megan's townhouse in Baltimore. When we'd told Andrew's sister about the upcoming trip a few weeks ago, it was made clear that staying at a hotel was out of the question. Megan was waiting at the door as we pulled our luggage from the rental car and made our way up the steps. After a warm but brief welcome, we were all off to bed.
####
Saturday morning came far too early for my liking, the phone alarm I'd set notifying me it was time to get up and ready for the conference. Trying my best to be quiet given the early hour, I snuck into the guest bathroom and took a quick shower. Getting dressed, it felt weird to be donning a business suit after two plus years of wearing mostly casual clothes. Creeping down the stairs, I wasn't expecting anyone to be awake and I nearly had a heart attack when I turned the corner into Megan's kitchen to see her leaning against the counter sipping a mug of coffee.
"Good morning!" She greeted.
Startled, one hand immediately flew to my chest. "Oh jeez, you scared me." She laughed as I took a deep breath, smiling and shaking my head. "Good morning. What are you doing up so early?"
"Habit, unfortunately. There's a fresh pot of coffee and the travel mugs are in the cabinet to the left of the microwave. Figured you'd want to take some with you this morning."
"You're an angel." I said, pouring a cup to go and opening the fridge for some cream. "How is work going?"
"Good." Megan answered quickly, but I noticed the smile she tried to hide and the higher tone of her voice.
"Mmhmm… so, what's his name?"
She shook her head and muttered the word profiler under her breath but admitted, "Gabriel."
"Well, I look forward to hearing more about this Gabriel later but I need to get going. Let me know where you want me to meet you and Keely when I get out of the conference this afternoon."
"Sounds good. I think we're going to go for brunch and then walk around Fell's Point but I'll check in later. Have fun!"
####
Being in a professional setting again felt better than I could've imagined. I had the opportunity to speak with agents I hadn't seen in years, both from Interpol and the bureau. Yes, I'd come to love being a stay at home mom, relishing in the chance I never thought I'd get, but presenting at the conference that morning was a welcome change from motherhood and a chance to bring back out a side of myself that had been lying dormant. It was also flattering to hear through conversation with others that my reputation hadn't diminished despite having left the bureau two and a half years ago, though I suppose I wouldn't have been invited to speak otherwise.
When things finally started winding down and everyone scattered for lunch, I reached for my phone to call Megan when I heard a familiar squeal from across the hall. Looking up, I smiled at an exuberant Penelope Garcia running towards me in a blue and pink floral dress with hot pink pumps.
"Emily!" She exclaimed as we met, our arms immediately wrapping around each other.
"I didn't think I'd see you until tomorrow," I replied as we pulled apart.
"JJ and I are attending a session in the next room, Tara and Matt are in one upstairs. I'd just snuck out to go to the bathroom when I saw you. I've got to text JJ."
A moment later, JJ was ducking out of the room across the hall and ran over to where Penelope and I had moved to a spot by the windows. "It's so good to see you!" She voiced as she pulled me into a tight embrace.
"You, too! I've missed you both." I smiled as I looked back and forth between my two favorite blondes. "Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?"
"Yes, I made reservations for us at Pembroke."
My mouth immediately started watering at the mention of one of my favorite DC restaurants. "Oh, I miss that place. Their food is amazing."
"Precisely why I booked it," Penelope smiled proudly. "Now, I suppose we should get back to the stupid session. I don't know why I'm required to attend these things, I sit in my own little bubble all day and work my magic, I'm not out in the…"
"Penelope," JJ interrupted her rant.
"Right, sorry. Ok, we'll let you go. It's so good to see you again, Em." With one more hug from both of them we parted ways, each looking forward to lunch tomorrow.
####
"So, how many extra suitcases are we going to need to buy for the flight home?" I joked, walking up behind Megan and Keely at a chic little clothing boutique in Fells Point.
"Hey mom!" Keely turned, greeting me with a smile. "No extra suitcases, I promise. I haven't gotten anything I can't squeeze in the current but…" Her grin turned mischievous.
"But…" I waited, knowing I'd probably have a hard time saying no to whatever came next. It was a special girls' weekend after all.
"What do you think about going prom dress shopping here, with Aunt Megan?"
Even though Keely and Ethan were only sophomores, Ethan was on student council and all members typically attended prom regardless of grade. Despite the fact that the dance was still a couple months away, it was a pretty sure bet Keely would be going as his date.
"I think it sounds like a great idea." I smiled.
That's how Megan and I found ourselves sitting on a cushioned bench outside the dressing room of a cute little dress shop. Keely had already tried on a dozen dresses, all which had been turned down for one reason or another. She only had one dress left in the changing room.
"So, what do you think?" She asked in a defeated tone as she stepped out, turning in a circle for us to get the full view.
"Keely, it's stunning." Megan replied immediately.
"I agree. It's perfect." I smiled. The dress was a black, floral print design with a sweetheart neckline and a ruffled, flowy skirt. It looked absolutely amazing on Keely and was gorgeous and tasteful without being too revealing. Megan and I had both had to shut a few dresses down knowing Andrew would never let his daughter walk out of the house in them.
"Yeah?" Keely asked, inspecting herself more closely in the mirror.
Megan and I both nodded. Standing, I moved behind Keely and placed my hands on her shoulders, meeting her eyes in the mirror. "Plus, I think Ethan will love it," I whispered. Keely grinned, nodding in agreement.
"So," Megan started. "What do you say we get this dress paid for and shipped and then head out for an early dinner? I may or may not have been able to coerce a certain someone to join us."
"Would this someone be named Gabriel?" I inquired.
"Maybe…" Megan smirked.
"Really! We get to meet him?" Keely asked excitedly.
"Well, I'd kind of like to bring him with me next time I come to visit but you know Andrew, he'll get all protective. So, I figured it might be good for you two to have met him so you can help balance Andrew out."
"Wise woman," I smiled. "We'd love to meet him."
####
"Hey sweetheart." A man, who I could only hope to be Gabriel, said as he came up behind Megan, dropping a kiss to her head.
"Hey you," Megan smiled, turning. "Gabriel, this is my sister-in-law, Emily, and my niece, Keely."
"It's nice to meet you," I said, shaking his offered hand in greeting.
"Hi," Keely waved from her seat across the table.
"We already ordered. I got the usual for you." Megan informed Gabriel just in time for the waiter to deliver our food.
The four of us had a pleasant meal. Gabriel was funny and it was clear to tell he genuinely cared about Megan. I had no doubt that they'd be together for the long run. Keely and Megan were laughing about something as we exited the restaurant an hour later, leaving Gabriel and I standing off to the side.
"I like you, you're good for her." I said to Gabriel. "But if you hurt her, just remember that Andrew and I carry guns for a living." I reminded jokingly, with a slight smirk.
He nodded, smiling as he looked over to where Megan and Keely were talking. "I promise, I have no intentions to do so. I love her."
"Good."
As Megan and Keely finished up their conversation, Gabriel bid the three of us farewell and gave Megan a sweet but short kiss. Keely and I awed from the sidelines and they pulled apart, smiling as they both shook their heads at us.
"So, what did you guys think of him?" Megan asked as we made our way down the sidewalk.
"He seems like a good one." I replied.
"I think you got yourself a looker," Keely quipped. Megan laughed, pushing against Keely's shoulder playfully and commenting on the age difference plus the fact that Keely had a looker of her own.
####
"Three margaritas for the ladies." The waiter at the Pembroke announced as he brought our drinks over.
"How are Andrew and the girls?" Penelope asked after she took a sip of her drink.
"They're all good. Stella's growing fast, she's…" Before I have a chance to continue, JJ's phone rings. She looks at the screen and sighs.
"Agent Jareau," she answers. "Yes, sir… ok."
"Got a case?" I ask knowingly.
"I'm sorry." JJ says.
"No," Penelope frowns. "But we just got here."
"It's ok. I know the job, remember? I'm just glad I at least got to see you guys in person."
We grabbed the check, the waiter giving us an odd look for leaving so soon, and parted ways with tight hugs and sad smiles.
####
The remainder of the weekend flew by quickly, Keely and I soaking up the girl time with Megan. We spent the evenings watching chick flicks and talking about school and boys, Megan and I chatting even later into the night over glasses of wine.
As lovely as the weekend was, by the time we landed back in Denver Monday evening, I was very much ready to see my baby girl. Andrew had texted regularly, sending photos and videos of his time with Stella, and he'd video called every evening at bedtime but it was nothing like cuddling her in person.
Monday night, I sat in Stella's room rocking her long after she fell asleep. "You ever coming to bed?" Andrew's voice whispered from the doorway. I smiled up at him as he made his way into the room, sitting on the ottoman in front of us, placing one hand on my knee and the other gently atop Stella's head. "She missed you."
"I missed her." I said, pressing my lips to Stella's forehead.
"I missed you, too, you know." Andrew voiced.
I smiled, standing carefully and placing Stella in her crib before turning to reach a hand to Andrew. He grinned, taking my hand and following downstairs. As soon as the bedroom door closed behind us, I pulled him toward the bed, each of us stripping our clothes in the process. Our lips met immediately as we landed on the mattress, mouths opening and tongues exploring. I gasped as he reached down between us, finding my clit and rubbing quick tight circles. A whimper escaped my throat when he dropped two fingers down to fill me, pumping fast and deep. Burying my head in his neck, I sucked eagerly at his pulse point.
Slipping a hand of my own between our bodies, I grasped his firm erection, twisting and pulling until he was moaning and uttered too close. Smiling, I lifted one leg over his hip, letting him pull me even closer against him until I could feel him hard and ready against my core. He slid inside in one swift thrust, each of us moaning at the feel of being together. The pace is slow, at first, Andrew squeezing a breast with his free hand as I palm the back of his head, pulling his face closer until our lips fused in a heated kiss.
Dropping my jaw open on a particularly hard thrust, Andrew quickened his movements, his hand sliding between my legs to rub my clit. It doesn't take but another half dozen thrusts before I'm falling over the edge, wave after wave of pleasure flowing through my body. Coming to, I reached behind him, squeezing his backside. Nipping his earlobe, I whispered for him to let go and was rewarded with a groan and the feel of him spilling his release inside seconds later.
Both breathing heavily, we curled up against each other, pulling the sheet atop our bodies. "I love you," I muttered against his chest before letting sleep drag me under.