'You've been quiet ever since we got back from Kansas... Is everything okay? Is Henry okay?' Emily asks.
'Henry's fine... He's back to his usual cheeky little self. Will has taken him to visit his family; they get back on Wednesday.' JJ replies.
'Is it Will then? Is something going on with you two?' Emily asks.
'He's just struggling... With the job, my job. He keeps saying things worked so much better when I was at the Pentagon and he's right. Things did work better because we knew when I was home that was me home. We knew that we had weekends as a family.' JJ replies and Emily nods her head.
'But you weren't happy at the Pentagon and he knew what he was getting into when the two of you got together, didn't he?' Emily says.
'I know... I think it's just hard now he's had that taste of normality.' JJ admits.
'Would you ever think about going back to the Pentagon or getting a job that would give you both that sense of normality?' Emily asks and JJ shakes her head.
'I wouldn't go back to the Pentagon... This is my normality. I get it. I'd love to be at home more with Henry or to have days off that are actually days off, you know? But I love doing this job. I love helping people.' JJ replies.
'And you're really fucking good at it.' Emily says causing JJ to smile slightly.
'We'll work it out. We always do... I wonder where Penelope has got to.' JJ says glancing at the empty seat where the blonde is supposed to be.
'She just said she was running late in her message and that she'd be here as soon as she could.' Emily replies glancing down at her phone.
'So what about you? What's going on with you? Anyone catching your eye since you've been back?' JJ asks causing Emily to sigh and shake her head.
'No. I'm not really looking for anything... I just want to get settled here again. I've started looking for somewhere to live.' Emily replies.
'Having somewhere you can call home would be good for you.' JJ says and Emily nods her head.
'I had dinner with Hotch and Jack the other night; Hotch had said that Jack kept asking him when he could see me so we had a pizza.' Emily replies causing JJ to smile.
'That sounds good... I think that was one of the hardest parts of it all. I think knowing that we couldn't speak to you was hard but having to lie to the kids was horrible. One of the hardest things I've ever done.' JJ says.
'I'm so sorry I put you into the position where you had to lie to Henry.' Emily says and JJ shakes her head.
'You didn't put me in any position. Hotch and I made the decision to fake your death to keep you safe and I would do it all over again to have you here, alive.' JJ replies.
'Have you spoke to Declan lately?' JJ asks.
'I spoke to him last night. He's doing really well, settled back in at school and doing really well in therapy.' Emily replies smiling.
'That's good. I'm glad and what about you? Have you thought about therapy to deal with everything you've been through?' JJ asks.
'I had my first therapy appointment the other day. It's hard but I'm hoping it'll eventually get easier.' Emily replies shrugging her shoulders.
'I can't believe this is our first proper girls night since you've come home... Why haven't we done this sooner?' Penelope says causing Emily to smile.
'I don't know... I feel like we've constantly been on cases, haven't we? It's nice to just have time to wind down though.' Emily replies and JJ nods her head.
'It really has been constant. Some days I feel like I've not had a minute to breathe.' JJ adds and Emily sighs.
'I can't really complain... I'm just glad to be back down what I love to do instead of being stuck in Paris on my own.' Emily admits.
'It must've been so lonely.' Penelope says and Emily nods her head.
'It was. Initially I was just glad I was alive because I really didn't think I would be.' Emily admits and Penelope nods her head.
'Do you remember when Derek found you?' Penelope asks causing the brunette to shake her head.
'Honestly? I don't remember much, P. I didn't even know it was Derek that found me. I remember fighting with Doyle and I remember after he'd stabbed me he was asking where Declan was but I wouldn't tell him... After that it pretty much goes blurry.' Emily admits.
'Well you basically told him to let you die...' Penelope says.
'I did?' Emily asks and both blondes nod their heads. They watch the brunette go silent and close her eyes before taking a deep breath.
'He told me he was proud of me, I think. I thought I was imagining it... It's all still blurry but now that you've said he was there, I'm wondering if it might actually be true.' Emily says.
The sound of their laughter fills the empty house as they make their way through the front door following JJ.
'Are you sure you don't mind us crashing here?' Emily asks, an unopened bottle of tequila tucked under her arm as she closes the front door behind her. Penelope squeals as she trips over her own feet and stumbles into the blonde in front of her.
'Of course I don't mind... Make yourself at home, get comfy. I need to pee.' JJ replies gesturing towards the lounge area with her hand before making her way towards the bathroom.
'I feel a bit sick.' Emily says quietly as she places the bottle on the table and drops down onto the sofa.
'You do? Maybe more tequila will fix it?' Penelope suggests reaching for the baby causing Emily to shake her head.
'I think I've had enough... Oh this hangover is not going to be fun in the morning.' Emily mumbles covering her face with her hands.
'It'll be worth it though... I've had the best night.' Penelope says grinning.
'You know, I think I drink too much.' Emily says.
'What do you mean? You've drank the same amount as me and JJ?' Penelope asks pushing herself into a sitting position.
'I don't mean tonight. I just- Since I got back from Paris, I've drank a lot.' Emily replies. Silence fills the room for a few moments as the blonde stares over at the brunette.
'Like every night?' Penelope asks and Emily shakes her head.
'No. Not every night. I don't need to drink. I'm not dependent on it. I just- I'm so tired, P.' Emily replies as JJ makes her way into the room.
'You can go to sleep then.' Penelope says causing the brunette to sigh.
'I don't mean that kind of tired. I don't know. It's stupid.' Emily replies shaking her head.
'It's not stupid. Speak to us, Emily... Tell us what's going through that head of yours?' JJ asks softly as she sits down next to her.
'I'm so tired all the time but the minute I close my eyes I feel like I'm reliving it all over again. I feel like I'm constantly looking over my shoulder even though I know he's dead and then I feel guilty because he's dead.' Emily says, tears filling her eyes as she shakes her head. Both JJ and Penelope glance at each other as the room falls silent.
'I told you it was stupid.' Emily mumbles.
'Oh sweetheart, it is not at all stupid. Have you spoke to the therapist about this? It sounds like you could maybe have a touch of PTSD or something similar... Whatever it is, it's clear you're struggling more than you've let on to any of us.' JJ says reaching for her friend's hand.
'I don't want to lose my job. I've already lost you all once, I don't want to lose you again.' Emily almost whispers.
'You won't lose your job and you certainly won't lose any of us... Maybe you need some time off to work through things with a therapist.' JJ suggests.
'I've just had seven months of doing absolutely nothing.' Emily says.
'You need to process everything, to deal with your feelings through your therapist, Em. I think some more time off would do you the world of good right now. It doesn't have to be long; a week, maybe two.' JJ suggests.
'I think JJ's right, Emily. You're not okay and you need to start letting people help you instead of pretending everything is fine.' Penelope says.
'I'll speak to Hotch the next time I see him.' Emily almost whispers and JJ gently squeezes her hand.
'We love you, Emily. We don't want to lose you again and you can always talk to us.' JJ says.