Our Secret

by jonn3y5

JJ is keeping a secret. The goal: Never letting anyone know. But unfortunately she works around some of the greatest mind in the country. That goal is impossible. What happens when JJ's personal and professional life meet changing everything she's worked to keep?

9. Chapter 9

Hey everyone!! I'm so sorry it's been a while! I have been super busy! Plus I want to make sure I'm giving you guys good sized chapters. I want to fit a decent amount in a chapter so it takes me a while to get it all out and published. But if you guys are ok with smaller chapters I can definitely update more frequently. So it's totally up to you guys, you can leave a review or just DM me. We can wait to get shorter chapters with more updates or longer chapters with like once a month updates. Fans of my story Walk Me Home, I am hoping to have that updated and published by the end of the weekend, so look out for that. I love you guys, I appreciate the love so much! All the favorites, and the reviews really make my day!

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"What am I doing?" Mac mumbles to herself as she stares at herself in the floor length mirror in her bedroom.

Tonight was the night.

She had everything planned. She was going to have JJ help her make dinner. They were going to listen to some soft music, drink wine, talk, cook dinner and somewhere in there, Mac is going to get down on one knee and ask JJ to be her wife.

It was something Mac loved to do with JJ, something that traced back to the earlier days of their relationship. When they were ignoring their feelings and pretending they were just friends. Way back then, Mac would offer JJ a home cooked meal, wine, and company; which was certainly needed, especially after hard cases. Then it evolved to Mac calling JJ while she was having anxiety. JJ would talk her through it while she was cooking, either on the phone or in person. She only ever had her mom for that, but calling on JJ became second nature. Then it evolved into lingering touches and stolen glances, that later turned into Mac attempting to cook, and JJ ending up bent over the counter screaming Mac's name; the food long forgotten. Most of the time, Mac would end up doing all the work, while JJ found a spot on the counter, drinking wine, and filling up Mac's glass as Mac made her laugh. It was beautiful and it was theirs and it was the perfect way for Mac to ask JJ that question.

Tonight was the night Mac was going to propose, and that's why she stood here, in front of her mirror, practicing how she was going to get down on one knee. Practicing how she was going to open the box, practicing how she was going to ask; and she felt dumb. She was alone, for now. With Callie out of the house with Reid and JJ with Garcia, Mac had some time to practice before she had to get ready.

"JJ will you… Jennifer…" Mac stops herself for a second before closing her eyes and sighing. She looks at herself in the mirror and drops down to one knee.

"Be my wife." She shakes her head and stands back up. "JJ will you marry…" she drops down to one knee again but fumbles the box. She shakes her head again and stands up.

"Jennifer, you make me so happy." She drops down to one knee, and pulls out the box, but opens it upside down. Sighing she stands ups and pushes a hand through her long black hair, studying herself in the mirror.

"You look like an idiot." She says to herself before shaking her head and turning away from the mirror. She sighs as she plops down on her bed, she sits for a second before flopping back and groaning. She knew no matter what she said, or how she said it, JJ was going to say yes, but she still felt nauseous. She lays on her back, pulling the black velvet box up for her to look at. She holds it above her, studying the box that has mocked her for weeks. Her phone buzzes on the bed next to her and she sends a pleading sigh into the universe.

Please don't be work.

She looks at her phone to see who was calling, before sliding it to unlock it.

"Mom." She says into the phone.

"How are you feeling?" The warm voice of her mother, fills her ears, and calms her almost immediately. Her plan was to keep it on the down low. She didn't want a lot of people to know her plan out of fear that someone might let it spill, but when she decided to propose to JJ, she knew no other ring would do, except for her grandmothers ring. It was a ring that was passed down to each first born child in her family. It was passed down to her mother, who got it from her mother, who got it from her father, who got it from his mother. It was a Foster family tradition, and once she gave it to JJ, it will be her's until it was time for their first born child to marry.

"I feel like I can't open a box." Mac says, rotating the box around in her hand while her other hand holds her phone to her ear.

"Oh love, just take it out of the box. That's what I did for your momma. I was too nervous to try to figure out how to open a box." Stef chuckles into the phone, causing Mac to smile softly.

"I don't want to loose it." Mac says gently. She always admired her Mom's ring. The oval shaped diamond, sat proudly on a band of vintage white gold leafs, that had smaller diamonds on the leaves. It was beautiful, yet simple. Her mom used to tell her the story on how that ring has been in her family for generations, how it symbolized love and commitment. The leaves symbolizing the growth of their family with each generation that wore this ring.

It was the true definition of a family heirloom, and when Mac asked for the ring shortly after bringing JJ home to meet them, her mom went out and bought her momma a beautiful ring, and then put the ring safely into Mac's hands. It was up to her to wear it or give it to JJ, but Mac already knew she was going to give it to JJ. And now every time she looks at JJ she imagines her family ring placed proudly on her ring finger.

"There's this moment of complete stillness. Sometimes it happens before you propose, sometimes it's after; and for me it was before. We were standing on the beach, the one by our first apartment, and your momma was pointing to something out on the water, I don't even remember what. But I remember feeling on edge for weeks, waiting for this moment, and now that is was here, I felt calm. I was clearheaded, I knew exactly what I wanted. So I got down on one knee and the words just came to me. I said nothing that I actually rehearsed, except for the will you marry me part." Mac chuckles into phone at her mom. She's heard this story a million times, but this time her mom gave her new perspective. She wasn't telling her as a mother telling her daughter the love story of her parents, she was telling her as someone who was once young and wanting to propose to the love of her life.

"Just remember, that whatever happens, your momma and I are a phone call away." Stef says after a moment, letting her words sit with her daughter.

"We will get on the next plane out there!" She hears her mom, Lena, shout from far away. She again laughs, tears burning in her eyes.

"…But we won't need to." Stef says as the tears roll silently down Mac's face. She wasn't sure if they were happy tears, or if she was just simply overwhelmed with emotion, either way she had to pull herself together.

"Thanks Mom." Mac manages to croak out. She wipes her face, and smiles tightly against the phone. She says her goodbyes to her mother's, before ending the call and tossing her phone on the bed next to her. She needs to shower and get ready; she prepped most of the food for this evening ahead of time, trying to avoid being around sharp knives while her hands were shaking, so she had some extra time to get ready. She sits up, pushing a hand through her hair. She studies the small box one more time, before stuffing it in her nightstand.

——

About an hour later, Mac stood in front of the same mirror she was practicing in earlier, but this time she was dressed. She was wearing a black blouse, white and black checkered pants that stopped just before her ankle, and a pair of black heels. Her hair was down, except for a few strands that she pinned back and out of her face, and her makeup was light and tasteful.

She turns from side to side, studying herself carefully, before turning around and walking towards her nightstand. She pulls out the tiny box, holding it in her hand carefully, before lifting the lid slowly. It creaks open softly, and the ring is exposed. Mac's breath hitches as she studies the ring like she has a million times before, except this time, she plucks it from its box and holds it in her fingers carefully. Her heart starts to race, and she lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her tongue darts out across her bottom lip, before she snaps the box closed with one hand and carefully stuffs the ring in her pants pocket. She drops the box back into her nightstand, before closing it and walking back over to the mirror. She takes one last look at herself, her hands smoothing out her outfit, before she walks out of her room.

"Holy shit! Mac!! Smokin' hot!" Mac looks up and sees Callie sitting on the counter in her kitchen, eating ice cream from the carton. Mac offers her sister a small smile before looking down at her outfit.

"Yea?" Mac asks nervously. Callie nods, the spoon hanging from her mouth as she looks at her sister.

"Oh yea! Super hot." Callie scoops another bite from the carton and Mac shakes her head slightly. "Don't worry, I'm not here. I just came to grab a change of clothes. I'm uh… staying with Spencer tonight…" Callie trials off, her eyes flashing over to her sister.

"Hot?" Mac's questioning tone causes Callie to let out a laugh.

"Yea, maybe." Callie says with ice cream in her mouth. Mac watches Callie take too much interest in the ice cream in front of her. She sighs, pulling open her utensil drawer and grabbing a spoon for herself. She leans against the counter next to where Callie was sitting, and sticks her spoon in the ice cream. Callie watches her sister for a moment, before scooping more ice cream for herself. The sisters eat ice cream in silence for a while before Callie looks over to see her sister staring off into space while she ate ice cream.

"You nervous?" Callie asks, causing Mac to turn her head and look at her.

"A little." Mac answers honestly.

"She's going to say yes." Callie says confidently.

"Yea, maybe." Mac says, repeating her sisters earlier words. They exchange a look before Callie plucks Mac's spoon from her hand and hops down from the counter. She places the ice cream back in its home, before dropping the spoon in the sink. She turns and looks at her sister with a comforting smile.

"You going to be ok at Reid's?" Mac asks, feeling slightly guilty that she kicked Callie out for the night. Having Callie out of the house for the night worked both ways. On the one hand, if JJ says yes, they will be doing a lot of celebrating, everywhere; and Mac didn't want Callie there for that. But on the other hand, JJ says no, or some form of no, then there will probably be tears and yelling and Mac didn't want Callie there for that either.

"Yea, he will probably sleep on the couch, like the gentleman he is." Callie says with a tight smile. Mac furrows her eyebrows at her little sister, confusing filling her body.

"I'm sorry, you're upset that Reid is giving you his bed?" Mac asks with a small smile.

"No. I'm not. He's a perfect gentleman." Callie says tightly. Mac watches her for another moment before realization washes over her body.

"Ah. You're upset he's not going to be in his bed…. With you."

"Just get engaged, or I will refuse to believe that love exists." Callie says before walking out of the kitchen. Mac stays rooted to her spot for a second, her eye brows coming together in confusion.

"Our parents are in a loving, healthy relationship, why is my engagement status going to change how you feel about love? Our parents should be your inspiration or whatever." Mac laughs, walking out to the living room to watch her sister stuff clothing into a duffle bag.

"You're my older sister Mac. You have to do the things first so I know if it's a bad idea or not." Callie jokes earning a laugh from her sister. Callie finishes by zipping her bag closed and letting out a sigh. She looks around, checking off a mental list before she looks up a her sister.

"You going to be ok?" Callie asks, her hazel eyes shining with concern.

"Yea." Mac nods, biting her lip nervously.

"Ok. I love you. Good luck." Callie picks her bag up from the couch and makes her way to the door and out of the loft. Mac was once again alone to wait for JJ's arrival.

xxxxx

"I love it!" Garcia gushes as JJ walks out of the changing room. This was stop number five, by JJ's count. The blonde was coming home from a run, when she spotted Garcia standing outside of her and Mac's loft. She wanted to find some clothing for her 3rd date with her new mystery guy, and wanted JJ to come along with her. Little did JJ know, Garcia and Mac were in cahoots. In an effort to get JJ out of the house so she could get ready for the proposal, she enlisted Garcia the task of keeping JJ busy until she was ready.

So they went shopping, and JJ had found a little something at each store, her own plans for the evening playing out in her head. This satin cream colored dress fell down to her ankle, with a slit up one side. JJ was worried about the thin straps that held the dress on her body, but loved how the dress looked on her body. Her toned stomach pressed against the front of it, showing off her well sculpted body. She knew Mac would appreciate that.

"I don't know, I think I like the black one better." JJ says, turning her body around to look at herself in the large mirror.

"Get both!" Garcia exclaims, excited for her friend.

"When am I going to have a reason or time to wear these, Pen?" JJ laughs. They don't get much time off, and the time they do get off she would much rather be curled up with Mac; with a bottle of wine and a cheesy movie.

"Isn't your 3 year anniversary coming up?" JJ shoots her friend a playful look. One of the things that came with this time with Garcia, was catching her up on over 2 years of angst, love, sex, and details. Which meant Garcia knew their anniversary, and how healthy their sex life was.

"Very smooth Penelope Garcia." JJ says with a laugh. Her anniversary was coming up, but they hadn't really talked about what they were going to do. But Garcia was right, having both dresses left open the window of possibility, and she really did love both dresses.

She walks back into the changing room, letting the dress fall from her body, before pulling back on the jeans and T-shirt she wore into the store. She steps out of the dressing room, both dresses in her hands, and walks over to Garcia. The two friends agree to finish up their shopping and head towards their favorite coffee shop for a cup of coffee.

The two women quickly pay for their purchases before making their way down to pick up their coffee mobile order. They walk in a comfortable silence, both holding on to the bags they accumulated during their outing. As they reach the coffee shop, they notice a young couple walking out of the shop, pushing a stroller. They seemed lost in their own conversation, and Garcia could help but to offer them a warm smile as they walked by.

"You two love birds ever talk about it?" Garcia asks, nodding her head towards the couple walking away from the coffee shop. JJ turns her head slightly to watch the young family pass by before looking at Garcia and shrugging.

"We've talked about it." JJ says simply, but she doesn't give Garcia much else. JJ knows she wants a family with Mac. She wants to see Mac waiting for her at the end of the aisle, and have the honor of calling her "wife." To be the one to bring Mac's child into the world, and watch her become an amazing mother.

"You ok Jayje?" Garcia asks after her friend goes quiet. They step into the coffee shop, the soft music and low conversation fill their ears.

"Yea, it's just been a while since I thought about it." JJ says tightly. Garcia frowns as JJ steps away, to grab their ready coffee from the mobile pickup bar. It's been a while since the couple talked about anything other than the pros and cons of telling the team about their relationship. JJ picks up their coffee and walks back to Garcia who graciously accepts the coffee before bringing it to her lips and taking a sip.

"I could see it." Garcia says, pulling the cup from her face. JJ raises an eyebrow, looking at her friend.

"You and Mac. Married with a couple of my green eyed fairy god babies." Garcia's words cause JJ to chuckle, and the image of a couple of babies, with Mac's eyes, and her hair, invades her mind.

"Yea…" JJ smiles. "Me too." Garcia smiles at her friend, feeling even more excited for what's waiting for her friend at home. They make their way out of the coffee shop, and back out into the cool summer air.

"So, who said it first?" Garcia asks. JJ laughs, knowing her best friend well enough to know what she was asking. She was asking who said "I love you" first, and JJ definitely had a story for that.

"I did.. kinda." JJ smiles. Garcia raises an eyebrow, and JJ looks over at her friend.

"During sex?" JJ says shyly, almost like a question. Garcia couldn't help the loud laugh that escaped her lips, causing JJ to laugh along with her.

This was nice.

Laughing along side her friend, about the things in her relationship. The happiest, healthiest relationship she has ever had. She was so happy to be sharing this with her best friend.

"You can't just say that, and not give me details." Garcia exclaims. JJ nods her head, laughing once again. She quickly tells Garcia the slightly embarrassing story of how she spent a good portion of the night at the mercy of Mac, her fingers, and her mouth, and after three hours of endless pleasure it just slipped out.

"3 hours?" Garcia asks, in disbelief. All JJ does in nod her head, her cheeks flushing at the memory.

"I'm pretty sure I walked funny for a week." JJ says, causing coffee to shoot out of Garcia's nose. The air was once again filled with JJ's laughter, her friends reactions making her laugh harder each time.

"I told Derek you were walking weird!" Garcia exclaims, earning another laugh and a raised eyebrow from JJ.

"I remember because he told me I need to stop checking out your ass, but I told him in his dreams and he said yes we are." Garcia retells the story enthusiastically causing JJ to laugh at loud.

"You notice everything don't you?" JJ chuckles.

"Not everything…" Garcia fires back. There was no anger, but the joking tone in her voice was no longer there.

"I'm so sorry, Pen." JJ apologizes. She was afraid of a lot of things, hurting Penelope was the biggest.

"I know." Garcia says with a tight smile. "I just hope you know Jayje…" Garcia stops walking and places a soft hand on JJ's arm, effectively stopping her from walking.

"…You can talk to me about anything."

"I know. And not telling you had nothing to do with you.." JJ sighs. This was happening, and it needed to. She spots an open bench in a plaza close to their coffee shop. She leads them over to the bench and takes a seat.

"I had feelings for Mac for a long time. Well before we started dating. Before I was a profiler, before the State Department, before Will.. and after..." JJ laughs. "…Probably during.." Garcia chuckles at her friend. Her relationship with Will was quick, always stating the distance became a problem. It was clear to her that Will felt more for her friend that JJ felt for him, but Garcia never pushed it. She always felt that when JJ was ready to talk to her about what happened with the southern detective, she would come to her. But the break up never seemed to phase JJ, almost like she was waiting for it to happen.

"I had really big feelings for her, and right when I thought we had a chance, I was transferred. So when I came back, and we decided to give things a try, I didn't want to jeopardize it. And I'm sorry you got hurt along the way.." JJ finishes. Garcia studies her friend for a moment. She knows JJ didn't intentionally hurt her or leave her out, she just wanted to be involved and watch her friend fall in love. She didn't want to be left out of JJ's life. She was her very best friend, and she wanted nothing but for her to be happy.

"No more leaving me out." Garcia says after a moment, her friends words hanging in the air while Garcia had a moment to digest the new information she was given.

"Deal." JJ says. She was glad Garcia understood, or at least was able to forgive her.

"I made Mac make me the same deal. I'm going to know everything. I remain the all knowing Goddess." JJ couldn't help but to once again laugh at her friend. Garcia stands up and offers JJ her hand. JJ takes it and stands up, before Garcia loops their arms together, and the friends starts walking towards their cars; laughing along and enjoying each others company as they go.

xxxxxx

Candles were lit, music was playing softly in the background, and the wine was poured. Everything was perfect, now she just waits for her blonde beauty. She texted Garcia about 15 minutes ago, letting her know it was safe to let JJ come home. It wasn't long before she heard rustling at the front door, taking that as her cue, Mac grabbed their wine glasses and made her way to the front door, holding the glasses tightly.

"Babe! I'm…" JJ busts through the door, her hands full of shopping bags from different clothing stores. She stops once she notices the atmosphere of their loft. She takes it in slowly with a small smile before her eyes land on Mac. Her heart stops as her eyes come to rest on the green eyes beauty that stole her heart. She looked absolutely stunning.

"What is all of this?" JJ asks, finding her voice.

"I thought we could make dinner together." Mac answers simply. She's rehearsed it all. All the potential reactions and what she could say that wouldn't give it away. She went over it with Garcia and twice with Callie. All JJ could do is smile sweetly at the woman before her, before setting her bags down and stepping towards her girlfriend.

"It's beautiful, I can't wait." JJ says, reaching out and grabbing a glass from Mac. She puts the glass to her lips, tipping the red liquid down her throat. She gives a light moan before pulling the glass back and staring at it in shock.

"Oh my god, what is this? It's delicious!" JJ asks and Mac offers her a bright smile.

"It was a gift." Mac says, again her response premeditated. It wasn't a lie, it was a gift, from Rossi, in honor of their engagement… well future engagement. She really did try to keep it on the down low. JJ seems satisfied by her explanation, taking another sip before handing it back to Mac.

"Give me ten minutes?" JJ asks, earning a soft nod from Mac. JJ collects her bags and makes her way to their bedroom, closing the door behind her. Mac sets their glasses down, and taps her pocket, she feels the hard outline of the ring, and she was satisfied that it hadn't been lost. She paces along the living room, stuck in her own head about what she was going to say.

Was she going to get down on one knee?

Was she going to make a speech about her undying love for the blonde?

Was she- her thoughts and her pacing comes to an abrupt stop when JJ steps out of their room. There she was, in a black form fitting dress that stopped just above her knees, the sides cut out, with her long blonde hair was tousled gently, and the smokey but subtle eyeliner made her eyes an even deeper blue than usual. Mac was having a hard time keeping a coherent thought as JJ walked toward her slowly.

"Yea.. that was the reaction I was hoping for." JJ laughs. Her laugh causes Mac to smile at the beautiful blonde approaching her. Mac reaches her hand out, and JJ accepts it quickly, allowing herself to be pulled in by her girlfriend. When she tried this dress on in the store earlier, she knew Mac would love it, but her reactions were always better than JJ imagined.

"You look beautiful." Mac whispers before leaning in a pressing a kiss against JJ's lips. Mac keeps it short, pulling back to rest her forehead against JJ's. She closes her eyes, breathing in this moment with JJ.

"So what are we making?" JJ asks quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace, but she was starving, and Mac's cooking always hit the spot.

"Chicken tacos." Mac whispers back to her. JJ's eye grow wide with excitement as she pulls her head back slightly to get a good look at Mac.

"Really?" JJ asks in a regular voice. Mac's chicken tacos were by far her favorite meal the dark haired woman ever made for her.

The first time JJ had ever had these tacos, she showed up at Mac's old apartment after a particularly hard case. It was one of those cases that sat with you, even after it was over. Every decision that they made, she was over analyzing it, and it was driving her crazy. So she drove, she didn't have a destination in mind, she just needed to not be at home. She didn't intend on going to Mac's but she soon found herself standing in front of the dark haired woman's door. She questioned if Mac would even want her there, things were so weird between them then.

But she knocked anyway, and when Mac opened the door, she offered JJ a warm smile, and stepped aside. Mac allowed JJ to vent as she moved around the kitchen. JJ didn't even realize Mac was cooking until a plate was placed in front of her. Her stomach growled loudly at the smells, causing a loud laugh to erupt from the green eyed woman. Her laugh was contagious, sending JJ into her own fit of laughter. They spent the rest of the evening laughing and enjoying each other company. JJ was sure that was one of the first moments she realized she was in love with Mac, and those tacos gave her that feeling every time Mac made them.

"You're going to help me?" Mac says, bringing JJ out of her memory. JJ nods, not trusting the emotion to spill out if she spoke.

The couple pulls apart and makes their way to the kitchen. And for the next hour they move around the kitchen slowly, drinking their wine and dancing in each others arms. Mac was glad she had the idea to prep everything, for it was easy to get lost in the blonde. She was intoxicating, and Mac wanted to spend her entire life being intoxicated by her. Mac sips her wine, telling JJ a story, as she watches JJ complete the task she was assigned.

And there it was. The moment her mom was telling her about.

Stillness.

Complete stillness.

She watches JJ laugh in almost slow motion. She was completely focused on her task of chopping cilantro, and Mac couldn't take her eyes off of her. Her blonde hair was falling down in her face, and Mac, sets her wine glass down and reaches out to tuck it behind her ear, gaining JJ's attention. JJ turns her head to look at her girlfriend. She was looking at her, but had this far away look in her beautiful green eyes.

"What is it?" JJ asks with a laugh. She was starting to get nervous with the way Mac was looking at her; it was giving her butterflies.

"I think you're absolutely beautiful." Mac says in such a soft voice JJ almost missed it. JJ sets the knife down, turning her attention towards Mac.

"You're not half bad yourself." JJ says, her voice almost a whisper. Their eyes meet, the distant look in Mac's eyes was gone, and suddenly she was moving towards the ground. It took JJ a minute to realize what was happening, but suddenly Mac was on one knee in front of her. JJ steps back slightly in shock, her heart pounding in her chest as she watches the love of her life get down on one knee.

"I had a whole speech prepared, but as I am kneeled in front of you, the only thing that comes to mind is…" Mac takes a moment to steady herself. The emotion was starting to swell inside of her, and her jaw was threatening to tremble. She takes a deep shaky breath before continuing.

"…I love you Jennifer Jareau. You make this life worth living everyday, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" JJ looks down at the dark haired woman in front of her. She couldn't help the tears that fell from her burning eyes; She couldn't believe this was happening, Mac was proposing. She dreamed of this moment, she thought about what it would look like, and how she would feel. But she couldn't have prepared herself for the completely overwhelming feeling of love that rushed through her body. She was irrevocably in love with this woman.

"Mac…" JJ breathes out, watery blue eyes met shining green ones as the reality of the moment settled over JJ. She couldn't form words, but she could nod.

So that's what she did.

She nodded until Mac stood up and brought her into a bruising kiss, their tears mixing together on their cheeks. Once air became a priority, they pulled apart and Mac reaches into her pocket and carefully pulls out the treasured ring. JJ lets out an audible gasp, recognizing the ring immediately.

"Mac…" JJ looks up and meets the waiting eyes of her girlfriend-fiancé. She knew exactly what this ring meant to Mac and her family.

"This is the only ring I wanted to give you." Mac says, taking JJ's left hand gently and pushing the ring on slowly.

"It's beautiful." JJ whispers, admiring the ring on her finger. Mac looks up at the same time that JJ does, their eyes meeting.

"I can't wait to spend my life with you." Mac whispers. JJ lets out a strangled laugh, tears threatening to fall once again. She reaches out and grabs Mac's face, pulling her back in for another bruising kiss. Without breaking the kiss, Mac presses JJ into the counter behind them. Mac's hands find JJ's hips, lifting her up on the counter. When air became a priority, JJ breaks the kiss, but stays close enough to her that she feels her breath on her still tingling lips.

"I'm starving." JJ finally says, causing Mac to smile. Mac nods, stepping away from JJ long enough to finish up the task of chopping cilantro so they could have pico de gallo with their tacos. JJ stays perched on the counter, finding their wine glasses and filling them as she watches Mac move around the kitchen effortlessly. Before too long, Mac was handing JJ a prepared plate. JJ accepts graciously, her legs swinging in excitement.

Mac watches silently as JJ starts to eat her tacos. With a smile on her face, Mac walks over to stand between JJ's legs. JJ opens them wider, allowing Mac to step between them. Mac hands come to rest on JJ's thighs, her black dress starting to ride up on her legs. Mac's hips are now resting against the counter, watching as JJ continued to eat her tacos, sliding her hands up and down JJ's toned legs. Moments passed as they relaxed in a comfortable silence. JJ takes another bite of her tacos, sour cream finding its way on the corner of her lips. Mac smirks, leaning forward to kiss it off. Mac feels JJ smile against her, kissing her back, as one of Mac's hands slide up her side, pulling her closer.

"Creamy." Mac says once they pull away. JJ smirks, taking another bite of her taco, before setting it aside. Mac's hands continue to roam her thighs, sliding her forward slightly. Instinctively, JJ's arms wrap around Mac's neck, hanging loosely off of Mac's shoulders. She stares into the bright green eyes she fell in love with and she could've sworn time stood still. JJ was completely captivated by her in this moment. She was beautiful. They way her black hair fell in loose curls around her face, her bright green eyes shining with love and adoration. Mac hand sneaks up to JJ's face, her thumb swiping at JJ's bottom lip. After a few more moments of being lost in the blue abyss that was JJ's eyes, Mac pulls her in for a slow, easy kiss. But it was one that nearly knocked her off her feet. It wasn't until they both needed air that they finally broke apart.

"I can't believe this is real." JJ whispers against Mac's lips. Her voice was but a whisper, but it held heavy emotion.

"You make me so happy." Mac says, her breath ghosting against JJ's lips. As soon as the words left her lips, JJ couldn't help the smile that graced her lips. Mac stroked her thumb across JJ's lips one last time before pulling her back in for a soft kiss. Their movements started slow and gentle, but it didn't stay that way for very long, as passion and intensity began to grow with very passing second. JJ pulling at Mac's shirt, as Mac's free hand roamed JJ's body. Soft moans and whimpers were the only sounds that could be heard.

JJ's hand moves blindly around the front of Mac's shirt, working on the buttons, their lips moving together, while Mac's hand slid around JJ's to back. She pulls Mac's shirt out from her pants, before running her hand down Mac's front. JJ couldn't help but to smile against Mac's lips as she feels her toned stomach tensing under her touch. JJ manages to slip down from the counter, pressing her body into Mac. Mac grind into JJ's hips, while their lips moved over one another's. JJ began to blindly lead them back to their bed room, their steps staggered as neither of them could see where they were going. Knowing their surroundings well enough to find their way to their room, Mac begins trailing her lips down JJ's jaw as her back is slammed into the doorframe of their bedroom. JJ slides her hands up Mac's arms, pushing the shirt off of the top half of her fiancée. JJ was pleasantly surprised to find Mac wearing an emerald green lace bra.

"God you're so beautiful." JJ whispers against Mac's lips, before claiming her lips with intense passion, that made Mac melt into the wall. JJ pulls Mac off the wall and guides her back to their bed. Heavy moans and pants filled the air around them, as Mac's legs hit the edge of the mattress. JJ disconnects long enough to push Mac back, and kick off her heels. Mac catches herself and see JJ's blue eyes have steeled over in desire. Her chest was heaving, as she stood in front of Mac. JJ steps forward, and places a soft hand on the side of Mac's neck.

"One thing…" JJ says, leaning down so her lips ghosted over Mac's. "… Tonight, I'm in charge." JJ says, her voice thick with desire. Mac could only respond with a moan before JJ's lips were on her's. The kiss made Mac light headed, as she knew that whatever JJ had planned for them, she was in for a night of complete pleasure by the hands of her fiancée. JJ pulls away, stepping back from Mac. Mac groans from the loss of contact, as she looks up at JJ. Her blue eyes were dark, and her lips were swollen.

"Come here.." JJ says firmly. Mac stands from the bed, still dressed in her bra, pants, and heels. Mac watches as JJ steps forward, her hands running over the tops of her shoulders, allowing Mac a moment to enjoy her hands on her bare half. She felt a rush of disappointment when JJ pulls her hands away, and steps back. Mac watches with excitement as JJ makes eye contact with Mac before reaching behind her back and unzips the little black dress. Mac mouth goes dry as she watches JJ pull the dress down her perfectly toned body. As much as Mac loved admitting JJ in the dress, she was more than ready to see JJ out of the material. Heat pools in Mac's stomach as she gets a look at the matching set that JJ was wearing under her dress.

The sheer black material left little to the imagination, and Mac forced herself to breathe out. It took everything in her not to take charge, but JJ made it clear she was in charge tonight, and her whole body shivered with excitement. She watches JJ step out of her dress and stalk over to her slowly. JJ reaches her hand out to the waistband of Mac's pants, admiring them on Mac briefly. She slowly unzips them, before sliding her hand inside, not hesitating to make contact with Mac's hot core. Mac's breath catches, prompting JJ to smirk, before stepping closer, pressing their bodies together. She starts to rub Mac, over her underwear; the delicious friction causing Mac's head to fall back. Mac's eyes flutter close, as she tries to control her breathing. JJ's lips start moving across her neck and chest, moving methodically around her body. Alternating between kissing and biting all of the spots that make her knees weak.

Mac takes another breath as JJ's hands continued to tease her, while her mouth moved across her skin. Mac felt like she was on fire, as JJ's lips worked their way back up towards her lips. JJ presses one last hard kiss to Mac's lips before pulling back, her hand and all. Mac's eyes snap open, to find JJ kicking her dress out of the way and dropping to her knees. Mac watches with anticipation, as JJ reaches out and slowly peels Mac out of her pants and heels. A proud smile graces JJ's lips as she saw the effect she had on her fiancée. She soaked through the gorgeous green lace, and arousal was practically dripping down Mac's legs. Once she was done admiring her, JJ looks up at Mac though hooded eyelashes, before reaching out, letting her fingers run through Mac's folds. She maintains eye contact as she slowly starts moving her fingers across her fiancées hot core. She gradually picks up her pace, causing Mac to force another breath from her body. She wasn't going to fast, but it was enough to rile Mac up. It was a steady pace and Mac was clearly enjoying it, her knees almost buckling when JJ's thumb ran across her sensitive bud.

"Jay…" Mac breathes out, her thighs trembling as JJ focused on her sensitive skin. JJ stops for a moment, but before Mac could ask questions, JJ's mouth was on her.

"Fuck-" Mac moans out, as JJ's lips wrap around her, her tongue dipping in and out of the dark haired woman's hot core. The pace JJ set sent shockwaves through Mac's body, JJ's hands coming running up to cup Mac's ass. The back of Mac's thighs were pressed against the mattress, as her moans and pants continue to fill their bedroom. She felt that all too familiar tightness in build in her stomach, it was building quick and she knew she wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. But when she felt one of JJ's fingers dip inside of her she nearly lost it. She bit back a few choice words before reaching out to grab JJ's face.

"Baby.." She gasps, feeling JJ's slender finger move inside of her. JJ slows down as Mac lets out a shaky breath, looking down at possibly the most erotic sight of her life. JJ knew why Mac was stopping her. She was close, and knew she couldn't finish standing up. A pleased smile fell on JJ's lips while she wiped off her face. She stands up slowly, allowing Mac a moment to catch her breath, before sliding her hand up to Mac's neck and pulling her in. Mac closes her eyes, expecting to feel JJ's perfect lips on her own, but when she doesn't she opens her eyes to see JJ looking at her with an intense love. Mac's entire body is flooded with warmth as a soft smile graces her face.

"Lay down." JJ murmurs against Mac's lips. Mac smiles before she sat down on the bed, and slid back until her head was by their pillows. JJ waits until Mac looks at her, before sliding her underwear down her toned legs and climbing on the mattress next to her. With Mac already on her back, JJ hooks her leg up and over Mac to straddle her. She sat down on Mac's stomach, allowing Mac to feel just how ready and excited she was.

Mac groans at the contact, their bare skin touching, and Mac couldn't help but to bring her hands up, running them along JJ's bare sides. JJ's skin was intoxicating and inviting, Mac found it impossible to keep her hands off of her. JJ reaches back and unclasped her bra, letting it fall forward off her chest before she tosses it to the side, giving Mac the most perfect view. JJ could feel the arousal pooling in between her legs, practically dripping down her thighs, as Mac's hand moves up, palming JJ's breast while rubbing back and forth across her nipple.

"You're so beautiful." Mac says with nothing but admiration. JJ smiles, unable to stop herself, before turning her head and gently biting down on Mac's thumb. "My gorgeous fiancée." Mac added on, but it was more like she was talking to herself as much as she was talking to her. A shaky breath escapes from JJ's mouth as Mac's thumb runs over her nipple once again. She focused on how good Mac was making her feel for a few more seconds before she was ready to take control once again.

Suddenly everything was happening all at once. Tangled limbs, and sloppy kisses turn into JJ feeling Mac slowly enter her, her body tensing as her fingers moved in and out. Mac adjusted her angle, feeling JJ clench around her fingers almost painfully. Her loud moans fill the air telling her fiancée just how much she appreciated the new angle. They fall into a familiar rhythm together, their pants and moans being heard through their loft, as they celebrate this new phase in their relationship.

xxxxxx

JJ's eyes open slowly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness that surrounded her. She sighs, reaching her arms above her head, stretching out her euphorically achy body. The moonlight hits the new piece of jewelry that sits on her finger and JJ stops and turns her hand over. A small smile graces her lips as she admires the beautiful piece of family history that she held on her hand. She drops her hand on the bed, before looking over at the woman asleep besides her. Mac slept soundly on her stomach, her arms tucked under her pillow, and the blanket resting on her hips. JJ took a moment to admire her muscular back in the moonlight, and her long black hair splayed out across her pillow. She was going to marry this woman, she was going to be her wife, and that filled JJ with a wave of emotions, excitement being the biggest.

JJ allows herself a few extra moment of admiring her fiancée before she gently untangles herself from the bed and the green eyed beauty. A shiver runs through her bare body, as the cold air settles around her. She carefully pads over and pulls one of Mac's sweatshirt's from the back of their door and slips it over her naked body. She turns to take one last look at the love of her life, before quietly walking out of the room and into the living area. Some candles still flickered about, while others went out ages ago, and JJ couldn't help but to smile at it all.

She was engaged.

JJ bites her lip, a smile threatening to take over her face as she continues her journey to the kitchen, to fix her ever growing hunger problem. Between barely eating all day, and the very enthusiastic celebration she had with Mac, JJ was starving; and she knows her fiancée's chicken tacos were in the kitchen.

Half eaten and forgotten by the eager newly engaged couple. JJ quickly finds her forgotten plate, picking it up and taking it over to the microwave. The barely used appliance was Mac's least favorite way of heating or reheating food. She claims it takes away from the experience of the food just for convenience. And over the years JJ has found it to be true, they trade the best parts of food, for quick heat, but in this moment she didn't care. She was starving and just smelling her cold tacos, created a loud growl in her stomach.

JJ places the plate in the microwave and shuts it, allowing it to run for a minute before pulling out the plate and shoving a taco in her mouth. She moans almost immediately, the meal being her first in hours. She finishes the first taco pretty quickly, sighing at the relief of finally eating. She finishes the taco, before walking over to her refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of water, opening it and taking a few sips, another sigh falling from her lips. She walks back over to the counter, and hops onto it, before picking up her plate and picking up her next taco.

JJ wasn't sure what time it was, but it was late.. or really early, but the low moonlight once again, catches the diamond resting on her finger and she couldn't help but notice, she had the overwhelming urge to call her mom.

It was only really her and her mom, and it had been for a while. After her sister died, her dad took off. She honestly couldn't even tell you the last interaction she had with her dad, and for a while that bugged her. But she grew up; she worked her ass off, got a scholarship and got out of her small town. And with every victory or, defeat or, broken heart, she had her mom; she shared every moment with her. She was the first to know and share in her good news, and she wanted to call her mom as soon as she could. She knew her mom will want to jump into planning, and as much as JJ had thought about marrying Mac, she never actually thought about the wedding part. Sure every little girl dreams about her fairytale wedding, but she was just a little girl. Like she was was pretty sure getting married in a dress made of cotton candy, by a body of water, in winter, will not be plausible.

But a winter wedding doesn't sound half bad.

Fresh white snow, with navy blue… no red… no gold bridesmaid dresses.

'Go Skins' JJ thinks to herself. She knows Mac will never go for Redskins colors, she was a Bears fan, like Morgan. But it was worth a shot anyways.

"Hey." The sleep ridden voice breaks JJ from her thoughts. She looks up and sees Mac shuffling into the kitchen, her hair a tousled mess, and she was wearing nothing but an old FBI t-shirt of JJ's.

"Hi." JJ smiles. Mac walks over to the counter next to JJ, leaning her butt against it. She turns her head to meet the waiting eyes of her lover. Nothing was said between the two, but a couple of silent gestures later, JJ was offering Mac a bite of her taco. The minute the food hit her tongue, Mac realized just how hungry she was.

"Oh my god, why is that so good?" Mac asks, mouth half full. JJ laughs, shrugging her shoulders as she takes another bite. They eat in silence, both comfortable with the silent air around them.

Though it almost felt different.

Here they were, the same people, in the same loft, in a very familiar situation, but yet; it felt different. It felt bigger somehow. What they were doing was much bigger now than it was yesterday.

"How do you feel about a winter wedding?" JJ's voice was the first to break the silence. Mac turns her head to see her fiancée nervously picking at the last bite of taco.

"I like that idea. Fresh snow.."

"Exactly." JJ smiles. "Plus the contrast with the white snow, and your hair, and your eyes…" JJ says, setting the plate down. "I think I might just melt on sight." JJ finishes, trailing a finger up Mac's arm. Mac smiles, watching the finger find its way to her jaw, before she flashes her eyes up to the suddenly darkened eyes of her fiancée. Mac pushes herself off of the counter, before stepping into JJ's legs and pulling her down for a kiss. JJ moans, her legs wrapping around Mac immediately as she runs her hands up Mac's arms. Mac shivers as the cool band of JJ's engagement ring, runs over her hot skin. Mac deepens the kiss, her hands running up JJ's back and tangling into her long blonde hair.

"Shit.." JJ gasps, feeling the familiar heat build in her stomach. Mac's lips make their way from JJ's lips, to her jaw.

"Take me to bed.." JJ whispers in Mac's ear, earning a low moan from her. Mac grabs JJ's bottom, picking her up from the counter. JJ lets out a surprised laugh, tightening her legs around Mac's waist. Mac starts to leave the kitchen but she hears a familiar growl come her stomach and turns back to the counter quickly.

"Grab those tacos." Mac instructs, earning another laugh from JJ, who grabs the plate. Mac walks them back to their room, where they spend well into the morning celebrating their new life together.

xxxxxx

The air around her was silent, as JJ is pulled out of her sleep. She sighs, her eyes opening taking in their bedroom in the low light of early morning. She feels the warm body of her fiancée pressed against her, and couldn't help but to sink further into her embrace. She was warm, and cozy, and had no desire to move from her current position. But she also knew it was Monday, and they had work. They had spent all day yesterday, in bed, going from slow and lazy sex, to passionate and intense love making. They barely left the room to eat, Mac finally being the voice of reason took to ordering JJ's favorite junk dinner, Taco Bell, before falling back into bed together. And now it was Monday, time to get back to the world. She feels Mac start to trace invisible patterns across her stomach and JJ couldn't help the smile that creeped across her face.

"Good Morning baby." Mac says, her voice still rough with sleep. Mac's stills her hand, placing it flat against JJ's toned stomach, pulling her impossibly closer than she already was.

"Good Morning." JJ smiles. Mac placed a kiss on JJ's bare shoulder, before snuggling into her further.

"We should get up." JJ says, her fingers now doing the dancing, as they traced along Mac's hands. Neither made any attempt at moving from their current position, both at complete peace.

"How do you want to tell the team?" JJ asks in almost a whisper. She didn't want to disturb the peace around them, with logistics. But JJ had no intention on ever removing the ring that Mac placed on her finger, so they had to come up with a game plan before they walked into work.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, they kinda….already know." Mac says, causing JJ's head and turn towards her fiancée.

"Kinda already know?" JJ raises her eyebrows questioningly.

"Oh yea, they were all in on it." Mac laughs into JJ's shoulder. JJ takes a minute to process Mac's words, a smile creeping up on her face.

"Garcia?" JJ asks, already knowing the answer.

"Yup. And I couldn't say no because I quote owe her for over two years of delicious Jenkenzie love end quote." JJ immediately breaks into laughter, it was very much like her best friend to say something like that.

"Jenkenzie?"

"Yea, I don't know." Mac joins in JJ's laughter. Their laughter starts to die down after a few moments, and they are once again enveloped by silence.

"Oh my god!" Mac groans suddenly, rolling away from JJ and onto her back.

"What?" JJ asks, turning to look at Mac. The sheet had fallen down to Mac's waist, leaving her bare for JJ. Her eyes darken as her eyes study her fiancée's body.

"We have to tell our parents, and they are going to want to jump into wedding planning and-" Mac's rambling was cut off by the feeling of JJ's lips against her own. Mac lets out a surprised moan, melting into the lips of the woman who was to be her wife.

"I don't want to talk about our parents right now. Do you?" JJ asks against Mac's lips. Mac simply shakes her head as JJ straddles her waist. Soon the air was filled with pants, as hands roamed familiar skin, and their lips moved in perfect harmony.

——

"We are going to be late." JJ says, rushing into the kitchen, buttoning up her shirt, where Mac was filling up a coffee mug, with coffee fresh from their French press. Their morning activities were cut short by a text from both Garcia and Hotch saying there was a case. They agreed showering together was going to be faster, but it proved to actually take longer. Between fighting off wondering hands, and getting lost in making out under the water, they found themselves now 5 minutes behind.

"Coffee?" Mac sticks out the mug, offering it to JJ, who takes it and sips it. They stand in silence in the kitchen as they both sip on their respective cups of coffee, the air once again feeling different.

"It feels different right?" JJ asks over her coffee cup. Mac looks up from staring at the floor, making eye contact with her fiancée. Mac smiles and nods softly.

"Yea." Mac sets her mug down and walks over to JJ slowly. "…But in the very best way." Mac wraps her arms around JJ's waist, pulling her in softly.

"I can't wait to be your wife." JJ says against Mac's lips. She feels Mac's lips twist into a smile, before pressing her lips against hers in a soft kiss.

xxxxx

The ride to work was short and quiet. Both locked in their own thoughts of their future to come. JJ couldn't help but to fiddle with the ring that now sat proudly on her finger, reminding her of the commitment she was going to make to Mac. Mac carefully drives through the familiar streets, making her way to work, catching JJ from the corner of her eye, admire the ring more than once. It filled her with pride knowing that JJ was as happy and as proud to wear the ring that had been in her family of generations.

"I want to take your last name." JJ says suddenly. Mac whips her head towards JJ, her eyebrows furrowing together. They were now riding in the elevator from the parking garage, and Mac could sense this had been on JJ's mind the whole ride over.

"I could still be Agent Jennifer Jareau at work, but when we aren't working, I want to be Jennifer Foster." JJ says with such conviction it was hard to argue with her. But Mac felt uneasy about JJ leaving behind her last name, her tie to her mother, and her sister.

"Maybe…you should think about it more." Mac says after a moment. She sees JJ deflate immediately and she couldn't help but to reach her hand out, grabbing JJ's hand in her own.

"There would be no bigger honor, than for you to take my last name. But your mom, and Roslyn.." Mac stops, her sisters name coming out of her mouth faster than her brain could act. JJ is silent, and Mac suddenly feels like her hand was suddenly invading JJ's space. She starts to pull her hand away but JJ stops it; pulling it back down to her own. JJ could feel her heart swell at how much Mac loved her. How she would put aside her own wants, for JJ to remain tied to her favorite people. It only made JJ want to take Mac's name more.

"I love you." JJ says after letting Mac's words digest.

"I love you." Mac says, just before the elevator dings, signaling their arrival at the BAU. Mac drops JJ's hand but not before pressing a kiss to her engagement ring. JJ smiles before she steps off the elevator with Mac following behind her. As JJ pulls open the glass doors to the bullpen, the couple practically jumps when they are met with shouting and confetti sprinkling over them.

"CONGRATULATIONS!!!" They look up to see their team; half of them were clapping, half of them spraying silly spray on the couple. Mac couldn't help but to laugh and look over at JJ, who was looking at their friends, a wide smile gracing her lips.

"Congratulations you two." Reid was the first to step forward, pulling JJ into a tight hug.

"Congratulations, Bella." Rossi steps forward, cupping Mac's face gently, before pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you." Mac smiles at the older man, after pulling back.

"You finally did it." Morgan jokes, placing a hand on Mac's shoulder. Mac laughs and shakes her head at her friend before looking over at JJ. She was talking with Rossi and Reid, showing off her ring.

"Took you long enough." Prentiss laughs, causing Mac to look at her friend with a curious look in her eyes.

"Oh we've talked… in detail." Prentiss winks at her before walking over to the blonde, congratulating her. Mac turns her head over to Morgan who raises his hands up in defense.

"Don't look at me, I get all my details from Garcia." Mac laughs, watching Derek make his way to the group that has formed around JJ.

"Oh my god, oh my god. Oh. My. God." Their attention is pulled to the doors of the bullpen, as the colorful blonde analyst makes her way over to JJ. Garcia wraps her up in a long hug before pulling back and immediately starts rambling about the wedding, and admiring the ring JJ now wore. They were all taking their turns admiring JJ's ring, when Hotch speaks up.

"I hate to break this up, but we have a case." They all turn their attention to their boss, before wrapping up their small celebration.

"Congratulations again you two." Hotch says, nodding to the couple before departing towards the round table room. Mac and JJ nod a thank you to the unit chief, as they unload their things onto their desks.

"Tell me everything, leave nothing out." Garcia says, looping her arm around JJ's arm.

"Garcia, we have a case." JJ laughs as she starts walking with the other blonde.

"We have until the conference room." Garcia points out. JJ holds back another laugh, giving in to her friend's relentless need to know right now. She gives Garcia a basic recap of the proposal and promises to give the more dirty details later when they weren't at work. It seemed good enough for Garcia, as they broke off to take their places around the conference room table. As everyone files in, they take their seats, reaching for the iPads that waited for them.

"Alright my furry friends, here is what we got…" Garcia turns to the tv, clicking a button on her remote.

"Two night ago in Kent, Washington, Hannah Stillman, 34 was found dead on the side of the road, 10 miles from where she was last seen. Her fiancée reported her missing within just a few hours of her being found." Garcia again clicks the button on her remote.

"Preliminary autopsy report says she was strangled. Local PD cleared the fiancée. But that's not the spooky part. 2 months ago to the day, Jesse Childers, 33 was found dead in the same area, also strangled, also reported missing by her fiancée within hours of being found dead. And now word just came in that Michelle Windburn, 32, has gone missing. Her fiancée just reported her missing."

"Which means if I had to guess, in just a few hours she will be found dead." Morgan says, earning a nod from Garcia.

"Local PD is staking out the dump site." Garcia informs them.

"He won't go back there if he sees a heavy police presence." Mac chimes in.

"Any signs of sexual assault?" Reid asks, swiping through his iPad.

"No signs of sexual assault." Garcia answers.

"If that site is symbolic to him in some way, this could disrupt his process. It could make him keep Michelle alive until he could dump her there." Prentiss adds.

"Or make him angry enough to kill and dump her just to start over. We have two dead and another missing, wheels up in 20." Hotch says, before walking out of the round table room.

xxxxxx

"Is it me, or are they just getting younger?" Prentiss says out loud. They were on the plane, talking through the case as they make their way to Washington. Reid was on the couch, JJ sat next to Prentiss at the table, and across from them sat Mac and Morgan. Hotch sat propped on the arm of the couch, and Dave sat in the front, but he was facing the rest of them.

"What's bothering me is the escalation. He went from a 3 month cooling period to what, a couple days." Morgan says, looking down at his iPad.

"They are all engaged." JJ says, looking up. "Is that a coincidence or is that purposeful?"

"If she's a surrogate, it's very possible it's on purpose." Mac says. Before anyone could answer, Garcia pops up on the tv in a video conference.

"I just got word, Michelle Windburn has been found dead." Garcia delivers the news sadly. The news washes over the team for a moment, before Hotch starts handing out assignments.

"Morgan and Reid head to the ME, see if you can find anything else out about our first two victims, Dave and Prentiss go to our newest crime scene, see if you can see anything. JJ, Mac and I will head to the local PD, set up shop and speak with the families. Rest up, I have a feeling it's going to be a long one." Hotch says, before he makes his way to the seat across the aisle from Rossi.

Morgan pulls on his headphones, as Reid lays back on the couch. Prentiss excuses herself to make herself a cup of coffee, and Mac continues to swipe through the iPad, looking over the case silently. A couple times Mac notices JJ fiddling with her ring, staring absentmindedly out the window. She had a feeling this case is hitting closer to home than JJ would like to admit.

"Hey." Mac says gently, keeping her voice low to avoid attracting attention. JJ turns her head and gives Mac a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I love you." Mac says simply. There wasn't much she could say that would help JJ right now, but she wanted to say something.

"I love you." JJ smiles. Mac smiles back, satisfied at their small check in, and she turns her attention back down to her iPad. Mac feels JJ drag her foot up her leg slowly. At first Mac thought it was JJ trying to find some discreet comfort, but the higher her foot got, the less convinced Mac was that it was innocent. Mac raises her eyebrows, her eyes still focused on the iPad, but she manages to sneak a look up at JJ, who was still looking out the window. Mac smirks, shaking her head slightly, before looking back down at her iPad. JJ's foot continues its path, up Mac's leg before finding her destination. Mac tenses at the pressure from JJ's foot, and decided to take control of the situation. She grabs her phone from off the table, and finds JJ's contact.

'What's your game Jareau?' Mac quickly types, before sending it. She watches as the message turned from delivered to read, with a small smirk. The chat bubbles appear, and Mac watches in anticipation, waiting for her fiancées reply.

'One I will win.' JJ responds confidently. JJ's foot continues to alternate between moving up and down her leg and putting pressure against Mac's crotch. Mac holds her composure as she types her next message.

'Didn't have enough yesterday?' Mac looks up from her phone, to see JJ's lips twist into a small smile.

'Never enough' JJ sends back, accentuating it with a press of her foot. Mac bites back a moan, but she knows exactly what to say to win back control of this game JJ initiated.

Mac knows it's a distraction, something to keep her mind off of the very relatable situation the victims were in. Mac takes a moment to think about her next move, it was risky, but it could very possibly be the thing to put her in the lead of this game they were playing. She types her message quickly, before setting her phone on the table face down.

'You're insatiable Mrs. Foster.' JJ's foot comes to a complete stop, signaling to Mac that JJ had read her message. JJ couldn't help but to feel like she was on fire. Mac's words caused warmth to pool in her stomach, desire rushing through her body. Before JJ could compose herself long enough to respond, Hotch announced that they were starting to land; much to JJ's disappointment.

——

They arrive at the police station, and JJ felt like they got there entirely too soon. She spent most of the ride trying to ready herself to talk to the families of the victims. It was the hardest part of the job, especially when her own fiancée stood seconds from danger at all times. It was hard not to put herself in their shoes, how she would feel, how she would react if she were the one on the receiving end of this news.

Who would be the one to tell her?

Morgan?

Prentiss?

Reid?

Hotch?

Rossi?

Who would be the one to deliver her the worst day of her life? Because that's what it truly felt like. Handing these people the worst day of their life and then just moving on to the next.

"Jay!" Mac voice invades JJ's thoughts and when JJ looks over at her dark haired fiancée, her green eyes were heavy with worry. It was clear Mac had tried to get her attention more than once.

"What did you say?" JJ says, finding her voice after a moment.

"Do you want me to take lead?" Mac asks, her eyes never leaving JJ's face, studying her every expression. JJ nods her head quickly, and Mac keeps her eyes trained on the blonde.

"Are you ok?" Mac asks quietly, her voice was low, trying to keep the conversation between them. Mac reaches out and places a gentle hand on JJ, forearm.

"Yea." JJ responds, giving Mac her best smile. Mac knows JJ isn't ok, but they aren't in the place and don't have the time for Mac to push it any further. Mac squeezes her forearm gently, wishing she could hold JJ in her arms, before dropping her hand and walking away. She allows JJ a moment to pull herself together before they walk into the conference room where the latest victim's fiancé was waiting for them.

"Mr. Jennings?" A man with brown hair, and blue eyes stands up from his seat quickly. He wore a light blue t-shirt and khaki cargo shorts, and he looked eager for good news.

"Hi, I'm Agent Foster, and this is Agent Jareau, we are with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. We just have a few questions." Mac says while shaking the man's hand. The man reaches out and shakes JJ's hand before, Mac gestures for him to sit back down.

"Have you found her? Shelly?" He asks. His voice was full of hope, and it hits JJ that he doesn't know.

"I'm sorry, I call her Shelly. She loves going to the beach and making it her mission to find me intact sea shells." The man chuckles. "She says it's bad luck to leave the beach without it. She's my Shelly." The man continues to ramble, but Mac allows him. She allows him a few more moments of hope. A few more moments of the life he envisioned for himself and his fiancée.

"Mr. Jennings-"

"Please, call me Dennis."

"Dennis-" Mac gives him a sad smile, trying to find the words, but the look that washed over his face meant she didn't have to. He figured it out based on her face alone.

"No…" Anguish. That's the only word JJ could use to describe the look on his face.

"I'm so sorry Dennis." JJ watches the man try to make sense of it. He falls down into his chair, and JJ watches as Mac follows him slowly, pouring out compassionate words; trying to provide comfort.

"No, no, no. She was just here, she was…." Dennis tried to force the words out, but his emotions betray him, and soon he was sobbing. JJ could feel her own emotion bubbling in her throat. She tries to swallow it down, but it was like she couldn't shake the feeling of grief.

"I thought… I thought we had more time. I… I was supposed to love her forever. It wasn't enough time, please." He pleads with Mac, tears falling uncontrollably down his face. Mac turns her head to look at JJ. She was staring at Dennis, but she knows her mind is miles away. She yearns to reach out and give her fiancée comfort, but instead she turns her head back to Dennis.

"I'm so sorry Dennis." Mac says again. She wishes she could provide more comfort from the man, but she knows she can't. She she continues to let him cry.

xxxxx

JJ sighs as she plops down in a chair besides Reid. It had been an excruciating 2 hours. She and Mac sat with Dennis for over an hour as he sobbed over the news of his fiancée. After trying and failing to get him to calm down, his sister came and answered the questions she could, before taking her brother home. She promised to follow up with them tomorrow if her brother had calmed down enough to actually form sentences.

"Well, we can rule out the fiancé. He was devastated." Mac says to the team, walking over to the board where Hotch and Prentiss were.

"The fiancés are apart of this. They are apart of the fantasy." Prentiss thinks out loud.

"He only dumps and kills them after a missing persons report is filed. It's almost like he wants them watching." Mac says as she looks across the room at JJ. She has hardly said a word since they got here, and she was pulling away, Mac could feel it. JJ was hardening herself to get through this case, and if Mac knew JJ she knew that JJ was trying to remove herself from their shoes. Trying not to imagine what it would be like to be the one getting the news, but it was hard not to.

"Hannah Stillman's fiancée is here." A uniformed officer sticks his head into the conference room. Mac looks away from JJ and nods at him with a smile.

"Thanks." Mac says. The officer nods his head and leaves the conference room as Mac walks around the table to leave. JJ stays glued to her seat, and it wasn't until Mac was pulling open the door to the conference room, that she noticed JJ hadn't moved.

"Jayje?" Reid whispers, bumping her arm softly with his own. JJ jumps out of whatever trance she was in and looks around the room, noticing the concerned looks on all of their faces.

"Sorry. I was just thinking…" She pauses for a moment, fiddling with her engagement ring.

"…what if the women aren't the victims." JJ speaks up, leaving the team to share looks with each other.

"I don't think I'm following you JJ." Morgan says.

"What if the fiancés are the targets?" JJ stands up from her seat and walks over to the board.

"The body's are dumped only after a missing persons report is filed. He waits until he knows that they are looking, waiting, and then as soon he knows, he delivers them the worst day of their lives. I know it would be for me." JJ's voice was practically a whisper by the end. Derek looks from the blonde, over to his best friend who was watching her fiancée with careful eyes. JJ is silent for a few more moments, her body still facing the board; her idea sitting in the room.

"Think about it. The women cross racial lines, age, they all have completely different careers. But the men." JJ points to the different fiancés on the board. "All have corporate jobs, brown hair, average white male. They have more of a connection than these women."

"That's how the fiancés fit in this. They aren't just apart of the fantasy, their suffering is the fantasy." Prentiss says, her missing puzzle piece fitting into JJ's theory.

"They all got engaged within the last couple months. Is it possible he waits until they are engaged?" Rossi asks out loud.

"What if he finds them WHEN they get engaged?" Mac speaks up for the first time. Everyone turns to look at her, all giving different looks of confusion.

"Engagements are a big deal. Especially in public. Everyone is watching, everyone claps. It's draws attention. So what if he goes to a restaurant or a park, and waits."

"He sees a couple get engaged. He stalks them and waits." Hotch adds.

"But it doesn't explain why the Fiancés wait to long to report them missing. Hannah Stillman wasn't seen for two days before her fiancé filed a missing persons report." Reid adds in. The information sits with the team for a minute before Hotch looks over to Mac.

"You and JJ talk to Hannah Stillman's fiancé. See what you can find out about his fiancés last few days." Hotch says. Mac nods her head in agreement, before walking back over to the glass door. She was was put at ease when she noticed that JJ was not far behind her. She looked a little more clear headed, and it put Mac at ease. They all have a hard time not relating to the victims and their families. Every case affects the members of their team differently, but she was glad it seemed to be effecting JJ less than it was a few hours ago. Mac pulls open the glass doors, holding it open for JJ, before she follows her out. They spot Hannah's fiancé, pacing uncomfortably in the room where they interviewed Dennis. The women make their way across the precinct and over to the nervous looking man.

"Mr. Taylor?" Mac says after pulling open the door and walking inside. The man stops pacing, and JJ's profile comes rushing into Mac's mind. This man could be brothers with Dennis. Mac looks over to JJ and the two share a look before Mac steps forward, offering her hand.

"I'm Agent Foster and this is Agent Jareau, we are with the FBI. We just have a few questions if you're up for it." The man takes Mac's hand, shaking it. He looks over to JJ and offers her a nod before turning his attention back to Mac.

"Yea, of course." The man nods, before looking for a chair. He lowers himself gently, taking in a breath.

"What do you want to know?" He asks with a sad smile. It's clear to both JJ and Mac that he had been through this process quite a few times over the last few days. Mac takes a seat in front of the man, and JJ stays standing a couple feet behind her. She wanted to observe.

"Mr. Taylor, we aren't like normal police. The questions we ask will be different from the ones asked of you before." Mac offers him her best smile before getting a nod out of the man.

"When was the last time you saw Hannah?" Mac asks.

"4 days ago. She was leaving for an all girls trip to look at a wedding venue. I should've gone with her." The man shakes his head, guilt radiating from his body.

"Mr. Taylor-"

"Max.."

"Max…" Mac corrects with a tight smile. "Don't blame yourself for this." Mac tries to comfort him, but she could tell it fell on deaf ears. She was sure she wouldn't be able to stop blaming herself if something happened to JJ. She watches Max pick at nothing on the table, and realizes that he is the victim, just like JJ said. He was the target, and asking about Hannah wasn't going to get them the answers they needed.

"Is there anyone who was upset about your engagement?" Mac asks carefully, causing Max to look up. His eyebrows were furrowed and he was clearly confused that she asked him that.

"Not that I know of. Everyone was so happy for us." He says, his eyes narrowing at Mac.

"You think someone we know did this?" His tone was immediately defensive, as if he was ready to protect anyone they tried to blame. He was convinced no one he knew would ever hurt his Hannah.

"I don't." Mac says simply. "But this man found you, stalked you, and waited until Hannah was alone to attack. He knew what he was doing and he knew when to do it." Mac pauses and watches as the man processes.

"How could anyone hurt her?" Max voice cracks, and tears start falling from his eyes.

"I don't think he was trying to hurt her Max, I think he was trying to hurt you." JJ's voice fills the air for the first time, forcing the broken man's head to shoot up. He was staring at her, tears pooling in his eyes, and for a moment JJ could swear she saw her reflection. She saw herself sitting in the chair, crying, as one of her friends try to console her.

"Hurt me?" Max wipes the tears off his face, looking back and forth between Mac and JJ.

"Not directly. Someone who is like you, we call it a surrogate." Mac says, leaving Max to think for a second. A few more tears drops and he shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, I don't know or have been around anyone who would want to hurt me or Hannah." Max says, earning understanding nods from both Mac and JJ.

"Where did you propose?" Mac asks gently, she knew it would be a bittersweet memory, and she didn't want to cause anymore pain to the man.

"A restaurant. One of her favorites." Max answers with a sad smile.

"We are going to need the name of that restaurant." Mac says pushing a pen and pad of paper over to him, earning a nod from the man. He picks up the pen and scribbles down the name, before setting the pen down with a thump.

"Did anyone at the restaurant look overly interested, or maybe even angry at your proposal?" Mac asks earning a shake of the head from Max. His emotions were too overwhelming and he felt if he opened his mouth, nothing but tears would come out. JJ looks around the room, and finds a box of tissues to offer the man. The light catches JJ's engagement ring as she passes the tissue to the man. He looks up at her, taking the tissue with a sad smile.

"Are you married?" He asks her. If JJ was surprised, she didn't show it, instead she gives the man a kind smile and sets the box of tissues down.

"Engaged." JJ responds simply. The man nods his head slowly in acknowledgment, processing the information.

"Don't wait." He says suddenly. His words take JJ by surprise, keeping her eyes on the distraught man as he continues. "We should've just went to the courthouse. I shouldn't have waited another day. And now that's what my life is. Knowing she could've been my wife and she just… she never will." His words cause an unexpected emotional reaction in JJ. She could feel tears burning in her eyes as she gives him a sad smile and a nod. He stands up from his seat, knowing he had nothing else to offer them. He starts to walk away but stops for and turns back to them, his eyebrows knitting together in thought.

"You know, now that I'm thinking about it. There was a guy at the restaurant where I proposed. I remember him because when everyone started clapping, he got up and left."

"Was he eating alone?" JJ asks. Max waits a beat before nodding his head.

"Yea actually. Hannah pointed him out when we got there. She thought it was strange he was eating alone on couples night." Max shrugs and turns around to leave.

"Couples night?" Mac questions stepping forward. Max stops at the door, his and resting on the handle.

"Yea. Some of the more popular restaurants in the area do a couples night. Couples get a discount off their meal and a free dessert." Mac and JJ share a look, before saying goodbye to Max and letting him know they would be in touch if they had anymore questions. After Max leaves, Mac and JJ walk over to the conference room, where they're coworkers we're still poring over case files.

"We know where he's hunting." Mac says as soon as they step in the room. All heads pop up and look towards the couple standing by the door.

"Couples night at local restaurants." JJ says, walking into the conference room.

"He goes to the restaurant and just waits. Probably goes multiple times until he finds the right couple." Mac says, walking over to the speaker phone in the middle of the conference room table.

"Kent, Washington you're on the air with the honorable Penelope Garcia." Everyone around the room smirks at their technical analyst.

"Garcia, I need a list of all the restaurants in the area that have a couples night." She hears Garcia's keys click, before her phone makes a noise.

"I have sent the list to your phone's and tablets, but what I can see here there are three restaurants in the area that have a couples night. Assaggio's, Bar del Carso, and Wildflour. All very popular, all very pricey." Garcia reports.

"Thanks Garcia." Mac says as she picks up her phone to look at the list.

"You are most welcome my newly betrothed friend. Garcia out!" The phone call ends and the team looks at Hotch who divides them up to the different restaurants.

"Hotch, these restaurants have to have security cameras. If we look at the footage from the night each one of our couples got engaged, he will be there." Mac says.

"All we have to do is look for the same guy. We know he left shortly after Hannah Stillman said yes. What are the odds he did the same thing for the other two." JJ adds, earning nods from her coworkers.

"Mac and Morgan, take the first restaurant, Prentiss and I will take the second, and JJ and Reid will take the last one. Dave, I need you to stay here and work with Garcia on narrowing down our geographical profile. That dump site means something and it would be significant to the profile." The team nods in understanding before they all depart to their locations. As they are pulling away from the police station, JJ could feel a pit in her stomach. Being separated from Mac on a case like this only caused anxiety for JJ. She could hear Max's words echoing in her head, haunting her. There's no guarantee in their line of work, or just life in general. There was no promise of tomorrow, and JJ wasn't sure she wanted to wait the few months until winter.

"Are you ok?" Reid's voice cuts through the palpable silence, causing JJ to look away from the window and over to her friend. He was focused on driving, but JJ could tell that his face was twisted up with worry. She could tell the whole team was worried.

"Yea, why?" JJ answers, offering Reid a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Generally speaking, the few days following an engagement, people are usually elated. But you seem…" Spencer trails off, not sure if he should trail lightly. He doesn't mean to insinuate that JJ wasn't happy with her engagement to Mac, but she has seemed removed and far away since they started this case.

"I am happy Spence." The tone of her voice, made her cringe. She sounds the farthest away from happy. She sighs, turning back to look out the window, trying to organize her thoughts.

"It's not about Mac, I mean it is, but it has nothing to do with marrying her." JJ says, inhaling deeply. "It's about loosing her."

"The parallels in this case are hard to ignore." Reid says simply. JJ nods her head, not having the energy to verbally answer him. She needs a distraction, it's clear to him that JJ was locked in her head, trying not to fall apart at the thought of loosing Mac.

"I asked Callie not to go back to New York." Spencer says after a few moments of silence. The unexpected confession causes JJ's head to snap towards her friend.

"You did?" She asks, receiving a nod in response.

"How did this come up?" JJ asks, her mind successfully distracted.

"Well, she was talking about going back. She misses work, as much as she hated her job, she loved working. So she was going to go back to New York and get her job back. They've been calling trying to get her back and they made her an offer and…"

"Spence." JJ reaches an hand out and places it on Reid's arm. "You're rambling." Reid sighs, nodding his head. He was flustered, Callie made him flustered and nervous. JJ could tell Reid had real feelings for her future sister in law, and Reid couldn't blame him. All the Foster siblings were smart, funny, beautiful people.

"I asked her to not go back to New York, and find a job in Virginia." Reid finishes, his voice significantly less nervous than it was just a few seconds earlier.

"What did she say?" JJ asks, trying not to push Reid. He was silent for a few moments, making JJ slightly nervous. She wanted things to work out between Spencer and Callie because she knew it would be good for the both of them. Not to mention, if Callie moves closer, Mac could be elated. She hasn't lived close to her family since she was in high school.

"That she loves New York and that she had to think about it." JJ could tell by Reid's tone he was feeling dejected.

"It's not a no, Spence." JJ says sympathetically. "I know Callie, and I know when she says she's thinking about something, she really is thinking about it."

"I wanted her to say yes." Reid confesses. His voice was small, and almost broken sounding. For Reid, asking Callie to stay was like pouring his heart out.

"And she still might." JJ was an expert at keeping Spencer from spiraling. She could tell how much Callie meant to him, she could tell from the very first night they all hung out. She knew it was a big ask for both of them. For Spence, it was huge that he was putting himself out there, and for Callie, JJ knew how much Callie loved the city. She loved her friends, her apartment was a dream, and she knew that moving to Virginia would entail giving it all up. And if Callie was considering it, just on the fact that Spencer asked, it meant Reid meant a lot to the younger Foster as well.

"Do you know why she quit?" Reid asks suddenly. JJ turns her head back to look at her friend.

"I'm not sure. Something about feeling like she's not making a big enough difference." JJ says distractedly, her eyes were moving around looking for their location as they got closer.

"It just seems odd that she loves this life she has in New York and just up and left it." Reid muses out loud.

"We are here." JJ says, looking down at her phone before looking back up, making sure they were in the right place. Reid parks the car, and the two friends exit the car and head instead to speak to the manager.

xxxxxx

"I hate this." Morgan groans, as he and Mac step into the warm embrace of the restaurant. The rain was coming down hard, making Morgan, who was sporting a thin FBI windbreaker, regretting his choice of clothes.

"How do you not like the rain?" Mac asks with a laugh. Morgan furrows his eyebrows together in confusion, turning to face his friend.

"I'm wet and cold, you put it together." Morgan shakes his arms out before sliding the hood off of his head. Mac shakes her head at her partner, as she starts to look around the nice restaurant.

"Can I help you?" A sweet voice causes Mac and Morgan to turn their attention from each other to the voice. It was a younger woman, looked to be in her early twenties. She was dressed in her restaurant uniform, with an apron strapped to her waist.

"Yea, I'm agent Morgan this is agent Foster, we are here to ask you a few questions. Is there a manger here we can talk to?" Morgan and Mac flash their badges at the woman who nods her head in acknowledgment.

"I'm Destiny. I am the manager for this shift."

"We understand you have a couples night." Morgan says, turning his attention to the young lady, while Mac looks around, taking in their surroundings.

"Yes, once a month. It's one of our busier nights."

"Is there anyone who comes to this restaurant alone on couples night? You may have noticed him being here more than once." Morgan asks as Mac spots the security cameras. She mentally takes notes on each camera and its placement.

"Honestly? I couldn't tell you. It gets so busy. There's at least 3 proposals that night." Destiny responds. Mac listens to Morgan question the manager as she walks around carefully. She spots the different cameras in the restaurant, making sure to note how they were positioned. She notices a camera that was facing a different direction than the others. It wasn't facing anything important from what Mac could tell. It was odd. Odd enough to catch her attention. She's barely listening to Morgan's interview when her phone rings.

"Hotch." She says into the phone, her focus still on the camera.

"Have you found anything?" He asks quickly.

"Morgan is talking to the manager, and I am about to have Garcia pull security footage." Mac reports, turning to see the manager smiling a little too hard at Morgan.

"Good, finish up and get back." Hotch says, causing Mac to look away from her partner and the flirty waitress.

"Yea." Mac says, before finishing up the call with Hotch and hanging up. She quickly dials Garcia, having her pull the footage from their restaurant. She couldn't shake the bad feeling that was creeping across her as she stared at the oddly placed camera.

xxxxxx

Another murder, right under their noses. It happened on another couples night. Restaurants all over the city started having them and the unsub knew that. Another murder meant another sad fiancé crying in the conference room. JJ sat on the edge of her seat, watching as her own fiancée soothed the inconsolable man. Each tear that dropped, felt like a stab to her heart.

She couldn't help it. She felt their pain, she could almost relate to it. There has been plenty of close calls in this job, some of them closer than others. She knows just how quickly she could be them, how easy it would be for their future to be snuffed out by an unsub. JJ could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and she felt as if the world around her was getting smaller, yet her emotions were bigger than ever. JJ watches as Mac reaches out, comforting the man who was just handed the worst day of his life.

"I'm so sorry." She hears her say. Her voice was soft, but steady. It would be comforting if it was so damn sad. She listens to Mac wrap up the interview before she quickly excuses herself. She quickly makes her way out of the conference room, earning concerned looks from the people around her. Mac quickly excused herself, following her fiancée to the bathroom, where she found the blonde pacing furiously across the length of the bathroom.

"JJ." Mac says carefully. She didn't have a plan, she wasn't even sure what she could sag to help her fiancée, she just wanted to see how far down the rabbit hole JJ actually was. JJ paced for a few minutes, gathering her thoughts, before snapping her head up to look at her fiancée. She could cry at the way Mac was looking at her. To love like this- to BE loved like this. It's something she only wanted to treasure, for as long as she could.

"I don't want to wait." JJ says, walking up to her fiancée and placing her hands on either side of Mac's face. "As soon as we get back, I want to get married. I don't want to go another day not being your wife." Her blue eyes burned wildly with love and tears. She was afraid, Mac knew that's what this was.

"JJ-"

"No.." JJ shakes her head. "I know what you're thinking but no. I want to marry you." JJ was set, and sure, and Mac could tell. There was no arguing with her right now, and Mac wasn't sure she wanted to. So she did exactly what JJ did not 72 hours prior, she just nodded.

xxxxxx

So.. THEY DID IT!! They are engaged!! I am so proud of Mac, finally pulling it together. Also, JJ seems to be having a hard time with this case, and the idea of loosing Mac. Do you think our girls are going to tie the knot so soon???? Do we like the Callie/Reid story line?? Are we interested in seeing more of that or are we happy kinda being on the sidelines? I really appreciate all your comments and feedback, and favorites! It really does make my day!!

Until next time!!