Happy Saturday!
Once again thank you to everyone who has been reading! I hope you're still enjoying my little world. I really like this chapter so I hope that you do too.
I know one of you asked about maybe getting something from JJ's POV and I think that is a wonderful idea! So look for that in the next couple chapters!
Happy Reading! -J
Chapter 9
Wednesday after school, Alex took the bus home, hurrying back to the condo so she could get her homework done before Emily came home with Garcia. When Emily had asked Garcia about helping Alex with her assignment, the bubbly technical analyst was quick to agree, excited to be able to spend some time with the young girl. Alex was looking forward to Garcia's help, but she also had some ulterior motives, wanting to get some information about JJ from Penelope. Alex wasn't really sure how she was going to bring up the topic of Emily and JJ, but the teen was confident that the "all-knowing" Penelope Garcia would be able to provide her with the information that she needed.
It was just after 5:30pm when Alex heard voices in the hallway, the sounds of Emily's laughter distinguishable. Alex was just finishing up her math homework when the door opened, Emily and Garcia coming in, still talking and laughing as Alex looked up from her notebook.
"Hey Sugarplum," Garcia greeted happily, bounding into the room to give the teen a hug.
"Hi Penelope," Alex smiled, returning the hug. "Thanks for coming."
"Anything for my Mini Emily," Garcia replied.
"Mini Emily?" Alex laughed. "That's a new one."
"Well I mean just look at you!" Garcia said, pinching the teen's cheek. "You just look so much like our Princess."
"You are honestly certifiable Garcia," Emily laughed, placing a kiss on Alex's head as she peered over her shoulder. "Do you have a lot of homework?"
"This is the last of it," Alex said, finishing up her last question. "My PowerPoint is done, I just need some help making it look cool," Alex explained, turning her attention to Garcia.
"Not a problem," Garcia replied.
"Well why don't you two work on that and I'll make us a nice dinner," Emily said, looking in the fridge to see what she could cook up. "How do you feel about stir fry?" She asked.
"That sounds wonderful Emster," Garcia replied.
"Yeah that sounds good," Alex agreed. "The computer's in the office, we can work in there," she explained, standing up and leading Garcia into Emily's office, closing the door behind her.
"So why don't you let me take a look-see and then I'll show you how to make it all fancy," Garcia said, sitting down at the computer as Alex pulled up her presentation.
The pair went through the slide show, making changes and adding various effects and graphics, Garcia loving every minute of it.
"Penelope, can I ask you something?" Alex said some time later, the pair still making changes to the teen's assignment.
"Of course sugar, you can ask me anything," Garcia replied, looking up from the computer screen.
"What can you tell me about JJ's sexual orientation?" Alex asked, straight to the point.
"Um what?" Garcia asked surprised. "Why are you asking me that?"
"Because you're the "all-knowing" right? So I know you know," Alex explained. "And because if I ask JJ she'll probably tell Emily, and there's no way Emily going to tell me."
"And why exactly do you need to know this information?" Garcia asked, with one eyebrow raised.
"I think you know the answer to that," Alex said. "Because there's no way that I'm the only one who sees it."
Garcia studied the teen, "Emily and JJ?" she finally asked, confirming that she too had her suspicions about her friends.
At this Alex simply smiled, not saying a word.
"What do you know?" Garcia asked sounding slightly excited.
"I'm willing to share my knowledge, if you're willing to share yours," Alex answered with a grin.
Garcia considered this a moment before answering with "you first."
"Okay, because I trust you I'll go first," Alex said. "I happen to know for a fact that Emily is gay. And from my observations I would say that she has a thing for a certain blonde haired, blue-eyed friend of hers. Although I don't think she knows it."
"I knew it!" Garcia squealed, earning a glare from Alex who looked towards the door, hoping Emily wouldn't come in to see what was going on.
"Shhhhh, she's going to come in here!" Alex said, laughing quietly. "Now what can you tell me about JJ's type?"
"Well JJ tends to go for the tall, dark-haired men…and women," Garcia replied, a smile spreading across Alex's face.
"So she's bisexual?" Alex asked happily.
"She is," Garcia replied. "And Emily is just her type, but my Buttercup refuses to admit that she has a thing for our raven-haired superwoman."
"I just don't see how they don't see it," Alex said, shaking her head. "I mean I'm not crazy right? You see the looks?"
"Oh I've seen the looks," Garcia agreed. "But they're best friends, and I think they're both too afraid to risk that. Plus there is the issue of them working together."
"Yeah but the team must see it too right?" Alex asked.
"Oh most likely," Garcia said. "Well maybe not Reid. But the rest of them must have their suspicions as well." Garcia continued. "Now Sugarplum, why exactly are you bringing this up to me anyways?"
"Because I just want to give them a push in the right direction," Alex replied with a smile. "But I'm not going to be able to do it myself."
Garcia considered this for a moment, considering her options; knowing that her friends wouldn't want her to meddle in their relationship, but ultimately unable to resist.
"What did you have in mind?"
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Emily rushed home from work Friday night, knowing that Alex was at home, waiting to be dropped off at her new friend's house to spend the night. Since it was Emily's first teenager free night in a month, Garcia suggested a girls' night, instructing Emily to meet her and JJ for dinner after dropping Alex off.
When Emily arrived home she found Alex lounging on the couch, book in hand, clearly lost in the story, as she didn't even look up when Emily walked in.
"Hi," Emily called out as she took her shoes off by the door. "How was school?"
"Good," Alex replied, not even taking her eyes off her book.
"Good book?" Emily laughed, coming into the living room, Alex nodding in reply as she continued to read. "Do you need to eat before you go to your friends?"
"No we're ordering pizza," Alex said, placing her bookmark in her book before closing it. "Spencer said I could come over anytime."
"Okay, well let me run upstairs and change and then I can take you. You're all packed?" She asked.
"Yep," Alex replied, watching as Emily ran up the stairs.
Alex talked to Garcia earlier that day, and she knew the analyst had arranged for the women of the BAU to have a girls' night; one which Garcia intended to bail on so that JJ and Emily would have the night to themselves. Alex knew that it was a pretty lame plan, considering the pair had spent plenty of time alone and nothing had happened, but she couldn't help but hope that maybe this would be different. Alex hoped that her asking Emily about her feelings for JJ may have helped the brunette see what she was clearly missing before, but she wasn't too sure it would work.
"What are your plans for tonight?" Alex asked when Emily returned downstairs.
"Girls' night with JJ and Garcia," Emily replied, grabbing her purse from the kitchen island where she left it. "We're having dinner, then we'll probably go for drinks."
"That sounds fun," Alex said, as she got ready to leave, following Emily out the front door a few minutes later.
The pair got into Emily's car, Emily punching the Hastings' address into her GPS, as Alex told Emily about her day.
"How'd your presentation go?" Emily asked as they pulled out of the parking garage.
"Really well," Alex replied, a big smile on her face. "Everyone was really impressed with my slide show."
"Garcia will be happy to hear that," Emily laughed.
The two continue to chat, sharing stories about their days during their drive. It wasn't until the GPS indicated that they would be arriving at their destination in a few minutes that Alex suddenly fell silent.
"Emily?" Alex said, picking at her nails nervously. "What if…what if I have a nightmare?" She asked quietly, voicing a concern that had been on her mind a good portion of the day.
"You haven't had one in a few days," Emily said, looking over to see the teen looked incredibly nervous. Pulling over and putting the car in park, Emily turned her full attention to Alex. "I'm sure your friends will understand if you have a nightmare."
"But I'm a mess when I have one," Alex said, biting her lip. "It's embarrassing."
"You have nothing to be embarrassed about," Emily reassured, placing a hand on the teen's knee. "Everyone has nightmares, and I think given what you've been through it's completely understandable that you would."
"I guess," Alex replied sadly.
"You know if you don't want to stay I can pick you up later tonight," Emily suggested, not wanting the teen to push herself into something she wasn't ready for.
"No, no I want to stay," Alex said, shaking her head determinedly.
"Alright, but if there's any problems you call me okay?" Emily said. "Any time."
"Okay," Alex said, mustering up the best smile she could as Emily once again began the drive to the Hastings house.
Less than a minute later the pair pulled up to a large house, in a quiet neighbourhood, parking in the driveway and getting out of the car.
"Wow," Alex said, looking up at the house that towered over them. "This place is huge."
"It's gorgeous," Emily agreed, as they made their way up the front walk. "What did you say Spencer's parents did again?"
"I think they're lawyers or something," Alex replied, ringing the doorbell.
It wasn't long before Spencer answered the door, a big smile on her face.
"Alex! Hey!" Spencer said, opening the door wider to let the two brunettes in. "I'm Spencer," she said holding her and out for Emily to shake. "It's nice to meet you Ms. Prentiss."
"Please, call me Emily," Emily replied, shaking the teen's hand. "It's nice to meet you too, I've heard a lot about you."
"This is Olivia and Zoey," Spencer then introduced, pointing to the other two teens who were standing near the stairs. "I'll go get my mom," she then said, as Olivia and Zoey made their way closer to the new arrivals.
"It's nice to meet you," Zoey greeted, also shaking Emily's hand.
"Wow you two look so much alike," Olivia said as she looked from Emily to Alex and back again. "People say I look like my mom but I don't really see it, but you two….man it's crazy."
Emily laughed, looking at Alex who was also laughing, shaking her head at her new friend. "That's Olivia's way of saying hello," Alex said, still giggling.
Just then Spencer returned, her mother following close behind her.
"Hi, Veronica Hastings," Spencer's mom greeted, moving to shake Alex's hand. "You must be Alex. Spencer has been talking about you all week."
"It's nice to meet you," Alex greeted happily. "This is my…uh this is Emily," Alex said, pointing to Emily who was already shaking Veronica's hand.
"Emily Prentiss," Emily greeted politely. "Thanks so much for having Alex over."
"Oh it's no problem at all, we're happy to have her," Veronica replied. "My husband and I will be out for a little while tonight, but my older daughter Melissa will be here until we get back."
"No problem," Emily replied, turning her attention towards Alex. "Well kid, I'll pick you up tomorrow then?"
"Okay," Alex replied. "I'll call you in the morning."
"Okay, be good," she said, heading towards the door. "It was nice meeting all of you," she said. "And thanks again."
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"I can't believe Garcia bailed on girls' night," Emily exclaimed as she and JJ made their way into her condo a couple hours later.
"Yeah really," JJ said. "She makes a big fuss about us all getting together and then bails because of a computer virus? That girl is something else!"
"That's a pretty lame excuse too. I mean a computer virus really? I bet she's hanging out with Morgan or something." Emily said, making her way into the kitchen.
"Yeah there's definitely something fishy going on," JJ agreed. "Maybe she's got a boyfriend or something."
"Definitely," Emily said. "And what was with that restaurant? Nothing like the usual places she drags us too."
"Yeah it was definitely a lot more intimate," JJ said, shaking her head. "We'll have to do some digging and find out what's going on with that woman."
"Agreed," Emily said. "So is it a wine night or a beer night?" She asked the blonde.
"I think I'll go with wine," JJ said as Emily pulled out two glasses, grabbing a bottle of her favourite red. "Thanks for agreeing to come here by the way. I really wasn't feeling like hanging out at a bar."
"Not a problem," Emily smiled, following the blonde into the family room. "I only agreed to go out in the first place because Garcia was being so persistent. I prefer girls' night in anyways."
"Definitely," JJ agreed, taking a seat on one end of the couch, Emily on the other. "So was Alex excited about her girls' night?"
"She was, but I think she was a little nervous too," Emily replied. "She hasn't had a nightmare in a few days, and she's been sleeping in her room instead of mine, but I think she's worried about having one around her friends," she explained. "She has a pretty hard time shaking the dream when she wakes up."
"Well that's understandable," JJ said. "I'm sure she'll be fine though. Has she told her friends about everything."
"For the most part," Emily replied. "They seem like nice girls. I'm sure she'll be fine regardless of what happens."
"Good," JJ smiled. "You know you're doing great with her Em. I mean she seems to be doing really well despite everything. It's so nice to see."
"Thanks," Emily replied, looking slightly embarrassed. "You know I was really worried about what kind of mother I would be. But she makes it easy. She's such a great kid."
"Just like her mother," JJ replied, causing the brunette to turn a deeper shade of red. "You know, it's amazing to see you with her," JJ continued. "She's really changed you."
"Changed me?" Emily asked, giving JJ a confused look.
"Yeah, you just seem happier," JJ explained. "Not that you weren't happy before, but it's just different. It's like you're more content."
"I guess I kind of am," Emily agreed, taking a sip of her wine. "I mean she makes me happy. So I guess I am happier."
"It's great to see," JJ said with a smile, reaching out to squeeze her friend's hand.
At this Emily seemed to freeze, holding her best friend's hand, and looking in to clear, blue eyes, JJ looking back at her in a way that made Emily feel like the blonde was looking right into her soul. The pair were in a trance, still holding each other's hand, both lost in thought as they continued to stare into each other's eyes. Suddenly it was like there was a magnetic force, pulling them closer to each other, neither thinking about what they were doing, as they began to lean in slowly. Just as both agents began to tilt their heads, hypnotized by each other's eyes, JJ's phone rang from it's place on the coffee table, breaking the trance; both women pulling away quickly, looking embarrassed.
JJ grabbed her phone, looking at the I.D. "Sorry it's Hotch, I better get this," she explained, standing up to move into Emily's office where she could talk to her boss.
Emily watched as JJ walked into the office, feeling extremely confused about the moment that the phone had just interrupted. The brunette had been so entranced by the blonde's blue eyes that she had let her guard down, feeling a pull towards her friend that she had never felt before.
"I'm so sorry, Em," JJ said as she walked back in the room, interrupting Emily's thoughts, and looking slightly embarrassed. "A case came through Hotch. The team's leaving first thing in the morning. I need to head into the office to help Hotch with a few things so we'll be ready to go."
"It's no problem," Emily replied, trying to sound casual. "Let Hotch know I will head into the office tomorrow after I pick Alex up to help Garcia."
"Sounds good," JJ smiled, avoiding looking into her friend's eyes, afraid of what might happen if she did.
The pair walked towards the door, JJ turning towards Emily as they approached the front door.
"Thanks so much for dinner," JJ said. "I had a really great time."
"Me too," Emily replied, as JJ leaned in to hug her; a hug which seemed to last a little longer than usual.
"I will talk to you tomorrow," JJ said, reluctantly opening the door.
"Be safe," Emily replied, as she watched her friend leave, shutting the door once the blonde made it into the elevator down the hall.
For a minute Emily stood, leaning against the door, wondering what the hell had just happened. Between the moment on the couch, and the goodbye that the pair had just had, the brunette couldn't help but think that something had definitely just changed between the two. As Emily stood, thinking about her friendship, and everything that had transpired over the last month, the brunette seemed to be hit with a revelation.
She had fallen for her best friend.
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Please don't hate me!