Chapter LV
Ana erupted in a fit of hysterical laughter as JJ elaborated on the many adventures the BAU had together.
"So we just lifted our badges and asked 'like this one?'." The blonde recounted the story of how a man tried to pick Emily up at bar by telling them that he worked for the FBI.
"He actually said 'kicking criminal ass'?" Ana snorted as she imagined the scene play out.
"I swear." JJ crossed her heart and leaned back into the couch as the television continued to play the infomercials they had been subjected to hours ago.
"And then he, what? Just walked away?" the girl crossed her legs, not looking the least bit tired. JJ shrugged.
"I guess he was embarrassed." Ana snickered. Everyone seemed to get a kick out of this story.
"Rightfully so. There is never a dull moment with you guys, is there?" she shook her head in disbelief as JJ smiled.
"We've had our…moments." The solemn look on JJ's face caused Ana to frown. The blonde wondered just how much Ana knew about the woman she was living with. Obviously, it wasn't her place to inform her but JJ and the rest of the team were aware of the similarities between the two brunettes- it was only fair that the teenager was too.
"What'd you mean?" Ana asked. JJ rolled her wrist.
"I mean, you know what we do isn't exactly family friendly." She summed up. It didn't seem to be good enough for Ana. "We've gone through things; things that most people would never even dream of and it's changed us. It's made us stronger as individuals and as a family."
"What…kind of things?" Ana asked warily, partially afraid of the answer.
"Garcia was shot, Rossi's ex-wife committed suicide, Hotch's family was murdered, Reid was taken hostage, Morgan was nearly killed by the same man that hurt Hotch." JJ rattled off things that Ana surely already knew.
"And-and you?" Ana tilted her head, trying to tell whether JJ was willing to share or ready to kick her out of her house.
"A few months ago, I was kidnapped." She stated bluntly, as if it was no big deal. Ana scooted closer to the woman as she continued. "They wanted information- things I had learned from my time at the State Department. I wasn't there long."
"What happened to them?"
"Dead." JJ's eyes hardened at the thought of Hastings and Askari. Sometimes, she would still wake up in the middle of night feeling the man's hands on her.
"Good." Ana nodded once before smiling in her direction. JJ forced the thoughts away and smiled back. "I'm sure you guys kicked their asses." JJ laughed as loudly as she dared, knowing that Will and Henry were asleep upstairs.
"Yea, we sure did." She winked at the girl who began to yawn.
"Do you think Emily will teach me how to fight?" Ana's question surprised JJ.
"Fight?" she asked, an eyebrow raised in question.
"You know, like self-defense." Ana's eyes danced across the room. "I just…I don't want to feel like that again. So helpless."
"You're not helpless." JJ assured her and put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "But yes, I don't see why we couldn't."
"We?" Ana raised an eyebrow of her own and JJ scoffed, offended.
"What, you think they hire people for their good looks?" the blonde saw the teenager roll her eyes before standing and pulling her up with her. "Alright, I think it's time for bed." The clock in the kitchen read 5:32 AM.
"Mhm." Ana nodded as she yawned again. JJ led the sleepy teen to the guest room and waited for her to get into bed before turning off the light.
"Goodnight." JJ whispered. She hoped that the girl wouldn't have any nightmares tonight. She wasn't sure whether or not she could help calm them like Emily did.
"Wait." Ana sat upright just as JJ was about to close the door. "Could you- could you maybe, leave it open a little?" JJ smiled warmly.
"Of course. Night."
"Night." The blonde tiptoed into the bathroom where she flicked the light, on knowing that it would seep into Ana's room, before finally resting her head on Will's warm chest and falling asleep with a smile on her face.
There was a warm heartbeat beneath her ear and Emily struggled to remember why. Her eyes still closed, she tightened her grip on the figure beside her and felt it do the same to her. She smiled softly before blinking away the sleep from her eyes and opening them, revealing a sleeping, naked, Aaron Hotchner. The smile on her lips widened as the arm around her stiffened and pulled her closer. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent as she felt their legs tangled together underneath the sheets. Aaron opened his eyes and took in the sight of Emily Prentiss against his chest, smile tugging at her lips and eyes closed.
"Good morning." His voice was husky from sleep. Emily looked up and smiled further.
"Morning." She leaned in and pecked him on the lips, feeling him smile against her. Hotch pulled her in closer and deepened the kiss causing Emily to chuckle and send shivers down his spine. Opening their eyes once more, Hotch took in the outline of her form beneath the thin sheet that covered the two. He couldn't help the physical reaction he had and Emily giggled again.
"What can I say? I can't exactly help it." He shrugged and offered her a shy smile before rolling on top of her. Although she would hate to admit it, Emily had never felt so sore in her entire life and although another session with Hotch was something she more than desired, she didn't think her body could handle it.
"I'm not complaining." She told him but he caught the slight wince she allowed to escape as his body pressed against hers.
"Are you alright?" he immediately eased his weight off of her and frowned, concern dancing in his eyes. She smiled and nodded.
"Just a little sore." She admitted and saw his frown deepen. "Ok, maybe a lot."
"I'm so sorry, Em." Hotch cried as he practically jumped off of her. Emily shivered from the lack of contact and quickly turned towards him.
"No, don't be." She pressed a hand against his cheek and smiled. "It's a good thing."
"Are you sure?" his concern touched her deeply and she could feel his desire slowly dissipate at the thought of causing her pain.
"I'm positive." She kissed him once more before adding, "it's just been a while."
"Maybe we should've taken it a little easier?" he took her hand and played with her fingers. Emily laughed wholeheartedly.
"I'm perfectly happy with how things accelerated." Her smile seemed to fade rather quickly. "Unless-unless you aren't?"
"What?" Hotch raised his gaze and saw her avert her eyes. Her body stiffened against his and he gave it less than 30 seconds before she bolted out of the bed. He took both her hands and held her in place as his eyes bore into hers. "No, Emily. No, I don't regret this. Never."
"You can tell me if you do." She murmured, suddenly hyper-aware of her nakedness. She clutched the sheet against her chest in a feeble attempt to cover more of herself. "I mean, you are still my boss and I would… I would get it if you just wanted this to be a one-"
"Emily, stop." Hotch sat upright and placed his hands on her shoulders. She shook her head and continued to stare at the sheets. "Emily, I love you. I want nothing more than to be with you. Forever. Please, don't ever question that." He waited for her to raise her eyes and took in her watery gaze. "Ok?"
"Ok." She agreed and leaned into his embrace. Hotch stroked her hair as he realized just how insecure Emily Prentiss was. Anyone who met her would presume that she was a woman who knew the grace, beauty and poise she possessed. They would be wrong.
"Emily, you are beautiful. On the inside and out." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, hurting at the thought that she didn't value herself like she should.
"Thank you." He heard her mumble from his shoulder. Smiling once more, she kissed him on the lips. It was slow and sensual and Emily felt her body respond to it immediately. She laid down slowly and pulled him on top of her. Damn the discomfort, she thought. Hotch, on the other hand, refused to cause her further pain and removed his lips, causing her to groan in frustration.
"I think it's about time I repay that favor." She shivered and wasn't so sure that it was because of the lack of clothing. Just as she was about to ask what he meant, his mouth travelled downwards until she understood. Emily was pretty sure she had engraved a roadmap onto Hotch's scalp before she finally had to pull him up, exhaustion getting the best of her. He crawled up her body and kissed her slowly, wanting her to taste exactly what he did, before cradling her in his arms and closing their eyes.
An hour or so later, Emily opened her eyes to an empty, but still warm, bed. She could hear random sounds coming from the kitchen downstairs and smiled to herself. Glancing around the room in search of her scattered clothing, she couldn't help but shake her head. They were worse than teenagers. Giving up on her search for decent clothing, she kicked up Hotch's discarded button up and slipped it on. Being surrounded by his scent gave her a feeling of warmth and security. She scoffed at herself. Who would ever guess that Emily Prentiss could be so mushy? She tiptoed into the kitchen, not wanting to startle the man, and slipped her hands around his bare chest. He jumped in alarm before chuckling.
"I see why Rossi calls you 'Catwoman'." He turned his head away from the stove momentarily to peck her lips. Emily's stomach growled as she smelled the eggs he was preparing and she hoisted herself onto the counter. Hotch deposited the eggs into a large plate before wedging himself in between Emily's bare legs. They both smiled and Emily wrapped her arms around his neck as Hotch placed his warm hands on her thighs.
"This is the happiest I can remember being." Emily admitted shyly a furious blush taking over her cheeks. Hotch smiled widely at the confession before sliding his hands upwards and onto her now bare waist. Simply feeling one another's skin on theirs sent electric sparks through the two bodies. It was as if they wanted to make up for the years they had wasted and now seemed like the perfect time.
"Did I ever tell you why I didn't want you on the team at first?" Hotch tilted his head and watched as her eyebrows wrinkled in a trademark sign that she was confused.
"No." she said questioningly. What could that possibly have to do with their current situation?
"Well, I remembered you from back when I worked for your mother." Hotch continued to stroke her skin as he explained. "I remember thinking that you were one of- if not the - most beautiful woman I had ever seen."
"You're lying." Emily drew back slightly to gauge his reaction. He shook his head adamantly.
"I'm not!" he exclaimed with a chuckle. "I knew that if I stayed there, I would get myself into trouble so I found a new job a few months later."
"That's why you left so abruptly?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, still slightly skeptical. He nodded.
"Then when you came knocking at the BAU, I almost had a heart attack." He shook his head as they both remembered the day. "God, I was such an ass."
"Yea, you were." She agreed with a half-smile.
"I felt the same way I did back then- that if I stayed around you, I would get into trouble." Hotch grabbed her from behind and pulled her closer into his hold. Emily wrapped her long legs around him, pressing the two even closer together.
"Well Agent Hotchner, it looks like you were right." Emily sighed as his lips descended on her once again. She would never tire of the feeling of his skin on hers.
"It happens." He shrugged and lifted her off the counter in a swift motion. Placing her gently on the ground, he held out a chair for her and tucked it in once she had settled. They ate their freshly cooked breakfast much like they did their dinner the previous night. There was no need for words. Sometimes, silence was more than enough.
So guys! One more chapter and we're done! I know, I know, I'm sad it's over too but don't worry- there will be an epilogue! Review Review Review!