Wow. I cannot begin to apologise for how MIA I have been over these past few months. I am not well mentally and have been taking the time to look after myself.
I have so many plans for this story and I am going to try and update more regularly now that summer has officially started.
I hope you all enjoy this really fluffy and filler chapter!
Once they finished eating, the two headed out to Derek's car. He ran past her, making sure he could open the door for JJ which she was grateful for, sending him a grin, curtsying slightly making him laugh. As they drove home, he couldn't notice how content she looked as she sat staring out the window in thought.
"What are you think about there Jayje?" He wondered, JJ turning to look at him, her smile never fading as she looked deep into his chocolate brown eyes.
"You." He couldn't control as his mouth spasmed into the biggest smile, JJ taking his outstretched hand. They stayed that way until he pulled up outside JJ's house, hating that he now had to say goodbye to her, even if it was until tomorrow morning. Sensing his hesitation to let go of her hand, she gave it a small squeeze, causing him to look her in the eyes again.
"Would you like to come in for a coffee?" He nodded, the two climbing out of his car. Opening the door to her house, she was instantly greeted with the sight of her two best friends passed out on her couch, groaning slightly. Derek followed her eyeline, not being able to hold in the laugh that erupted out of his mouth at the two.
"I'm so sorry. I completely forgot that they were still here. It seems they have drunk all my wine and collapsed!" She complained, going towards them to wake them up, Derek reaching out to grab her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
"Leave them. How about we have that coffee at mine?" She smiled at his sincerity, shaking her head.
"I can't ask you to drive me all the way back here when we both have work in the morning." He gulped slightly, stumbling as he spoke.
"How about, I mean, instead of me driving you back, you could, only if you wanted to that is, stay at mine, maybe?" She giggled at how nervous he was, tugging him towards her slightly.
"If this is you trying to get me into your bed Derek Morgan, I have to say, you aren't doing a very good job." He rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"No, this is me asking you to come to mine for coffee and stay in my spare bedroom." Her eyes twinkled, JJ nodding, pulling away from him once again.
"Let me grab some things and leave the drunken pair a message then we can leave." He let go of her hand, hovering by the door while he heard her tottering around her bedroom down the hall. He took the time to look around her home, loving how homely and safe it felt. It was a small bungalow, but JJ had worked it well making it spacious but not too detaching. She emerged a few minutes later, giggling to herself as she watched Derek look at the pictures hanging on her wall by the door. He stared longingly of a picture of JJ after graduation, wondering how she had stayed so gorgeous. She cleared her throat, making him jump, spinning around on the spot. She had changed out of her dress into a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt, her hair now handing loosely around her shoulders. She had a suit bag in one hand, a note in the other.
"Ready?" He said, JJ nodding. She stuck the note to the TV and followed Derek out the door, locking up behind herself as he took the bag off her and headed to the car. He placed it carefully on the back seat, opening the door for JJ just as she reached the car.
"Such a gentleman." She mocked, knowing he would probably always do that no matter what. He just pulled his tongue out to her and laughed, running to the other side of the car, jumping in. The drive to Derek's apartment was short, him only living a few blocks away. They climbed the stairs to level 4, Derek reaching the door, grabbing JJ's suit bag off her.
"I'm taking this because you are about to be attacked and I refuse to crease your work clothes." She frowned, suddenly nervous as he opened the door. She felt her heart soar when a beautiful boxer came galloping towards her, the small dog almost knocking her off her feet as he jumped up her legs. She instantly fell to the floor and wrapped the excited dog in her arms, Morgan watching in awe as she bonded with his dog.
"What is his name?" She cooed, rubbing her nose against his.
"This is Clooney." She gasped and repeated his name, Morgan shaking his head with a laugh, heading into the spare bedroom to hand her bag up. He came back out, JJ still in the same position she was when he left.
"Hey Clooney, how about we let JJ sit on the couch with you instead huh?" Clooney immediately lept onto the leather couch in the middle of the room, sitting down and wagging his tail happily, watching JJ as she stood and sat next to him. Once he was sure she was comfy, he moved himself over onto her knee, JJ latching onto him.
"Coffee?" Morgan asked, JJ nodding, though she never looked away from Clooney. Once Morgan was back with two cups of coffee, Clooney was well trained enough to move off JJ, though he relocated to laying down by her feet, his tail still wagging.
"He seems to really like you. He isn't really a people person. Whenever I take him out for walks, he shy's away from people if they want to stroke him." She smiled down at him before taking a sip of her coffee, looking back up at Derek who was watching her.
"I really like dogs. We were never allowed one growing up, but our neighbour used to always let me, and Ros walk her little pug, Shirley, and sometimes, if she was going away, let us stay in her house to look after him for a few days. I have always wanted one of my own but being in education forever and then starting at the BAU, I never saw an opportunity to get one. I always pet every dog I see when walking down the street and the woman next door has the cutest King Charles Spaniel named Clyde. I always say hello to him before going into my house if he is outside and he always greets me if she is taking him for a walk and I am about to leave the house." JJ blushed when she realised she was rambling, but the fact Morgan had sat and listened was comforting. They sat and talked for a while until JJ finally looked at the time, seeing it was closing in on 1.00am and she was due in work at 7.00am.
"Maybe we should head off to bed." She laughed, Morgan nodding, getting up to stretch. He bent down to usher Clooney into his bed, but JJ immediately shot up, blocking him from his dog.
"Can't Clooney sleep with me tonight?" Her lip turned inside out as she gave him the cutest puppy dog look he had ever seen, his heart pounding beneath his chest as he sighed, nodding his head.
"He is going to love you more than me!" He exclaimed, JJ cheering, picking him up with a struggle, heading towards the bedrooms. She looked to Morgan to confirm which room was hers, Morgan laughing as he pointed to the far-left door. She nodded her thanks and headed in, Morgan clearing away the cups and plates from their midnight snacks before turning all the lights off. He popped his head into the bedroom where JJ was cuddled up on the double bed with her eyes closed, Clooney in a ball next to her, already snoring, a smile on his face. She was so beautiful he could hardly believe how lucky he was. With one last longingly look, he closed the door over and headed to bed with the biggest smile on his face and a happily beating heart.