A/N: Welcome back!

#2 Forehead kiss

Emily sat on the firm couch of the jet reading over a case report, JJ dozing quietly on the other end with her legs tucked up beneath her. The lights were dim, and most of the team was scattered and sprawled, finding sleep that had been elusive the past few days.

It had been a long week for all of them. It seemed like they were losing a lot more than winning lately, the gravity of their jobs weighing heavily on each of them. Emily was proud of their team, of the work they did. She also knew that they needed a break.

She heard a small whimper come from the other end of the couch, head turning to check on JJ. Emily let her worried eyes soften their gaze into a one full of admiration and love as she took in the sleeping blonde.

The past few months had been especially hard on JJ, having just recently made her separation with Will official. They had agreed that Will would move back to New Orleans, getting the boys for some of the summer, but JJ had gotten full custody. There hadn't been a night that Emily or Penelope hadn't stayed over since Will had left, wanting the blonde to know she wasn't alone.

At first, they had made excuses to stay the night. Always having one too many glasses of wine, or staying just a little too late to want to drive home. JJ had caught on quickly, but having two boys under the age of six was enough reason for her to feign obliviousness at their antics.

As weeks went on, Penelope stayed less and less. Emily always insisted that since she and JJ had the most similar schedules, she should be the one to stay, leaving Penelope free to stay with the boys when the team had to travel.

The brunette had essentially taken up residence in the guest room, little trinkets and personal items littered the room. Her things were in the drawers, clothes hanging in the closet. The bed remained pristine though, Emily opting to end every night sitting in JJ's bed, decompressing as they had done for years of girl's nights and sleepovers. Something had changed though, over the last month. Their talks had gotten deeper, their shared looks tinged with a touch of longing that neither could put words to, every interaction more meaningful than they had been in the past..

Emily felt protective of the blonde, she always had, but the ache that appeared in her chest whenever she watched JJ walk out into the field was new. The joy she felt watching JJ do meaningless tasks was also new. Even now, watching the blonde sleep, she couldn't help the smile that crossed her face.

When JJ whimpered again, Emily shook herself out of her own thoughts and reached out towards the blonde. Her hand came to rest on JJ's sock-covered foot, shoes having been kicked off hours ago, and she moved her thumb slowly over the exposed skin at her ankle.

Emily watched as JJ slowly pulled herself from whatever horrors she had been with in her dreams, eyes opening slowly to meet Emily's gaze. Still shaking off the remnants of her dream, JJ smiled softly at Emily, an unspoken thank you for waking her up before things got too bad.

She swung her legs off the couch, maintaining eye contact as she moved her body until their sides met, JJ sitting flush against the older woman. Emily eyed her curiously, elated that JJ had moved closer, but confused all the same. This type of physical affection was commonplace after hours - they had spent many nights over the last few months finding comfort in each other's arms within the safe walls of JJ's home. Publicly though, they had remained as platonic as ever.

After a moment's hesitation, JJ pulled at the blanket that was resting on the back of the couch, spreading it out to cover them both. She tucked her legs up next to her, leaning her body into Emily's. JJ moved to carefully close the case report and toss it on the table next to them, before snaking an arm around Emily's waist.

"It'll still be there when we get back," she whispered to Emily. "Get some rest."

Emily felt JJ's head come to rest on her chest, the blonde's breath evening out quickly as she slipped back into sleep. The brunette couldn't stop herself from letting her fingers run through JJ's hair, enjoying the intimacy of the moment.

She felt JJ let out a small hum into her chest as she felt Emily's fingers at her scalp, a smile crossing her face that JJ's whimpers had turned into this because of her. Before she could stop herself, Emily bowed her head and placed a gentle kiss to JJ's forehead, lingering for a moment before resting her cheek on top of blonde hair. She could feel JJ smile into her chest, the blonde's arms tightening around her waist as she sank further into Emily.

Emily could swear she felt JJ press a kiss of her own to the fabric at her collarbone. She knew it would be hours before they were back home, and JJ was right, the world would still be full of case reports and evil when they got home. But right here, curled up on the couch with the woman she was probably in love with, Emily decided she deserved to rest.

I love to play with what their life is like before they get together, so this one got sweet. Hope you enjoyed!