Title: Masquerade

Summary: AU: Garcia has a Costume party and Emily refuses to go.

Fandom/Pairing: Criminal Minds - Emily Prentiss./Jennifer Jareau
Author: Cherokee62
Rating: NC-17/M Sexual Situations involving women, basic smut
Spoilers: None
Word Count:
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, and I refuse to accept life without JJ. They are owned by CBS Corp. No profit is being made with this story.

Masquerade

Chapter 3

The grating sound of the alarm woke Emily from a very pleasant dream, and she groaned as she reached for JJ, eyes opening as her hands found nothing but cool sheets. Sighing, surprised at the sudden stab of pain, she rolled out of bed to shower and get ready for work. "C'mon Emily, what did you expect? To find her still here, wrapped around you and ready for another go round? Get a grip! You do it yourself every time."

Emily lumbered through the morning, upset she hadn't seen JJ or had a chance to talk to her all morning. The blonde had been locked away in her office with her pile of case files and Emily was just too afraid of seeing rejection in her eyes to even peek in and say hi. Lunchtime rolled around and Emily was thoroughly disgusted with herself, "Good God, Prentiss! Just knock on the door and say hi! She's probably wondering why you haven't come by, thinking the same thing you are."

Mustering all her courage, she walked up to JJ's office, knocked and stuck her head in. "Hey there," JJ looked up startled from her concentration and smiled, "Hi."

That was all the permission Emily required as she slipped in the office and stood in front of JJ's desk. "I was wondering…it's lunch time. Maybe we could go out and grab a bite…together?"

JJ grinned but shook her head, "Sorry, can't. I'm really swamped right now and I don't have time for lunch today. But thanks for the offer."

"Oh." Emily frowned and looked around as if the book shelves held the most fascinating artifacts instead of books. "Of course. Would you like me to bring you something back?"

JJ just shook her head no, already back to studying the files.

Emily stood there fidgeting, waiting for her to say more, but it was obvious JJ had already forgotten she was there. She turned to leave then looked back, just examining the gorgeous blonde as she read, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

"Maybe we can go grab a drink after work? I really think we should talk JJ, about last night."

"Last night?" JJ looked up, a quizzical expression on her face. "What about last night? I don't really see where an explanation is warranted. I have no regrets about what happened, if you do then what is there to discuss?"

"If I do? What? No…wait. That's not what I meant. I…" Emily stumbled over her words in a rush to explain herself. "It's just…sometimes there are expectations. And I wanted to…"

JJ sighed and went back to looking at her files, "I have no expectations Emily. We got caught up in the moment that's all. I don't expect you to throw all caution to the wind and claim undying love. Ok? So calm down, no need to get your panties in a bunch," Shaking her head in disappointment, "I know the last thing you need is the complications of a relationship with a coworker and a single mother. No hard feelings. Besides, it's Halloween and I promised Henry I would take him trick-or-treating tonight. He's going as Iron man and I am expected to be Supergirl, because she has blonde hair. Gotta love the logic of a child." JJ smiled as she thought about her son, the one constant dependable thing in her life. "Anyway, if you're finished, I really need to get back to work so I can get out of here on time."

Emily wanted to argue, explain, something. But the dismissal was loud and clear, so she just turned and left.

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"Let's go Henry! It's getting late." JJ called to her son and groaned when she heard the knock at the door. "Great. We're never getting out of here."

She pulled open the door her head turned back as she called for Henry again, "Henry!" When she turned back to the visitor, her mouth dropped open. "Emily? What in the world…?"

"Trick or treat!" Emily stood there with a big grin, wearing a store bought Wonder Woman costume. "May I come in?"

JJ stepped back to allow her to enter, still staring at her dumbfounded. "Okay. I think maybe I need this one explained to me." JJ said, looking her up and down like she had lost her mind.

"Well," Emily shrugged, looking down at her own costume and blushing. "Following Henry's logic, if you're Supergirl because you have blonde hair, then that makes me Wonder Woman because I have black hair and I'm tall."

JJ laughed, "Alright, but what has Henry got to do with why you're here dressed like that."

Emily pulled JJ into her arms quickly and kissed her passionately on the lips, "Because Henry is not a complication. He's a great kid, and I would really like to get to know him better." She smiled at JJ's stunned expression, "And because this…all of this, is what I always dreamed I'd find; you, Henry, and me, if you'll have me of course. Yes, last night we got caught up in the moment, but it was a moment I'd been dreaming of for over five years. A moment I want to repeat over and over again for the next hundred years, the next thousand, for eternity."

Emily looked into JJ's brilliant blue eyes, holding her breath as she waited nervously for the blonde to say something. "JJ?"

Grinning ear to ear, JJ kicked the door closed and pulled Emily into her arms and kissed her.