A/N: This chapter's a bit cute!

JJ had barely been home from the gym for ten minutes when there was a knock at the front door. She looked up at her mom, who was standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make for dinner. Sandy shrugged, her face showing she was just as confused as JJ.

Turning on her heel, JJ headed towards the front door. When she reached it, she swiftly pulled it open, expecting to find one of their neighbours or a door to door salesman. What she wasn't expecting was Will, holding a bag of groceries and looking incredibly unsure of himself.

"Hey," he said softly, giving her a meek smile. "I... I hope I'm not oversteppin', but I... I kinda oddly missed cookin' for you and your mom, and, well... I was hopin' you wouldn't mind if I did that for you tonight"

JJ couldn't help but giggle. "Your timing couldn't be better. Mom's standing in front of the fridge right now trying to decide what we're going to have"

Will grinned, following her lead as she stepped aside to allow him into the house. As he passed in front of her, she made to close the front door, only to be caught off guard when he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss. Despite the fact that the small displays of physical affection were slowly becoming more natural for them again, her heart still did a few flip flops in her chest. Unable to fight back the smile on her face, she pushed the door closed, looking up at him with a sheepish grin before leading the way back into the kitchen.

"Mom? Will's here," she said softly, capturing Sandy's attention as they came into the room, Will stepping over to set the bag of groceries on the table. There was a split second as Sandy looked up at them where no-one made a move. But just moments later, Sandy was coming towards them, opening her arms and wrapping Will in a tight hug.

"It's so good to see you," she said warmly, rubbing his back and giving him a tight squeeze. "How are you? How's the family?"

"I'm doin' alright," Will said with a small smile as Sandy pulled back. "Happy that things are lookin' up. And everyone's doin' real good. Dad's in his element down in New Orleans, but I think Momma misses the snow"

Sandy chuckled. "She's a crazy woman"

"Will actually came over because he was hoping to cook for us," JJ said with a giggle. "I told him his timing couldn't be better"

Sandy laughed, patting Will's shoulder. "You're an angel sent from heaven, because I was this close to ordering Domino's, and then JJ would have lectured me all night about how pizza is not proper fuel for training"

"Oh please," JJ scoffed as Will and her mom laughed. "You know I'd destroy a whole pizza by myself"

A few minutes later, while Will set about preparing a meal for the three of them, JJ's phone buzzed on the countertop. She was quick to pick it up, breaking into a smile when she saw that it was Aly trying to FaceTime her.

"Hey you," she said with a smile as she answered the call.

"Hey yourself! How are you?" Aly said happily. "I haven't heard from you in ages"

"I'm doing a lot better," JJ replied, sidling up onto a counter stool as Sandy and Will chatted on the other side of the counter. "The medication is really helping and I'm back training for-"

"Wait a second, is that Will I can hear in the background?"

JJ grinned sheepishly. "Yeah. He's making dinner for me and my mom"

"I've missed a whole damn BOOK, JJ, last time I spoke to you, you guys weren't even in the same STATE!"

JJ laughed, looking up over her phone as Will turned towards her and started making his way around the counter. "Yeah, we... we still have a lot to sort through, but we're doing ok"

"Are you like... back together?" Aly asked tentatively as Will came up behind JJ so he was in the frame as well. JJ paused, not quite sure how to answer Aly's question, only for Will to lean over her shoulder and press a kiss to her cheek.

"I think it's safe to say yes," he chuckled, looking towards the camera. "Hey Aly"

"Hi!" Aly said happily, getting a little laugh out of her friends. "I've missed your face. And that accent"

"I've missed you too Al, how you been?"

"Busy. I've been working hard on my book," Aly replied. "JJ, you should think about writing one someday as well, I mean... your career hasn't exactly been standard"

JJ giggled. "I don't think I'm quite done yet though"

"Ah, someone's been bitten by the Tokyo bug"

"God no," JJ scoffed. "But at least one more Worlds. Then I'm done"

"Sure sure," Aly giggled. "I'll believe it when I see it Miss 'I'm not taking a break between London and Rio'"

Will's cooking had left them all comfortably stuffed, both Sandy and JJ having sorely missed his incredible ability with food.

After clearing away the dishes, the three had made their way to the lounge room, where they settled for watching old reruns of Friends in lieu of trashy evening TV. As they laughed while watching the antics of the six friends, Sandy had not missed noticing that JJ was now snuggled up against Will, his arm resting comfortably around her shoulders.

It was such a small thing, but it was one that warmed her heart. To her, it was a sign that things were definitely improving... the relationship between the two young adults hadn't been completely and irreparably shattered. While she knew it was going to take a lot for them, it was clear to her that one by one, the pieces were being put back together.

A little while later, Sandy had bid the younger two goodnight and headed upstairs to bed, leaving them alone on the couch in the darkened living room. Snuggled up against Will's chest, JJ felt so comfortable, so safe... she had sorely missed this feeling.

While Phoebe and Rachel were leaping out from behind Ross's curtains on the TV, all JJ could focus on was the feel of Will's hand resting on her hip, his thumb running gentle circles on her hipbone. It was a touch that all at once felt foreign and yet so familiar.

Lifting her face, she found herself staring up at the side of his chiselled jaw as his eyes remained fixed on the TV. But with a wave of confidence, she lifted her hand, cupping his other cheek and gently turning his face towards hers, giving him barely a second to realise what she was doing before she had pulled him into a kiss.

At first, it was slow and gentle. His lips were intoxicating, the smell of his cologne filling every fibre of her being as she allowed him to tug her ever so slightly closer to him. The TV sat behind them, now long forgotten as they clutched at each other, the kiss deepening in the darkness of the room. His tongue slipped past her lips, eliciting a soft groan from JJ as she pushed herself up until she was sitting in Will's lap. Her entire body felt like it was humming from head to toe; she hadn't felt need like this in a long time. Will's hands were now planted firmly on her waist, his fingers pressing into her skin, begging for more.

Breaking away from his lips, JJ let instinct lead the way, pressing hot kisses along the stubbly angles of his jaw until she reached his neck, where she paused and focused her attention. His breath hitched in his throat, his head tipping to the side to allow her better access. Time seemed to stand still as they alternated between kissing and pleasuring, both of them getting more worked up than they had felt in months. After what felt like hours, one of her hands trailed down his chest, her fingers outlining every muscle through the fabric of his T-shirt until she reached the closure of his jeans. But no sooner had she touched the waistband than Will was pulling away, his hand grabbing hers to stop her in her tracks.

"I can't, I... I can't," he stammered softly, his chest still heaving from their making out as he flicked his eyes up to meet hers. "I can't, JJ"

JJ felt a rock settle in her stomach, and she knew her face had fallen with the weight. Unable to hide her expression, she started to push herself back across the couch, wanting to put distance between them, only for Will to reach out and grab her hands.

"It's not forever," he said softly, carefully pulling her back towards him. "And it's not because I'm not attracted to you because god, I am so fuckin' attracted to you it's not even funny"

"You just don't want me touching you," she said sadly.

"No, god no, JJ, that's not it," Will replied hastily, bringing a hang up to her chin and tipping her face up to meet his. "I just... I know things are lookin' better... and they are gettin' better... but I still... I guess there's still a lot of hurt buried deep down that I need to work on"

Even in the low light of the room, he could see JJ's eyes growing bright as he spoke, and it only served to tug at his heartstrings. "I just need a lil' time, babe," he said gently, his thumb moving to stroke her jaw. She nodded ever so slightly, her eyes still cast down. With a small smile, he leaned forward until he was able to see her face properly. "It doesn't mean I don't love you, because I do"

Surprised, JJ lifted her face, her eyes suddenly hopeful once more. "Really?"

Will chuckled. "Of course I do. How could I not, JJ? I love you, so incredibly much. And right now... this is just a blip in our lives, and it is goin' to pass"

Flooded with a sense of relief she couldn't describe, JJ threw her arms around his neck, smiling into the curve of his shoulder as he gave her a tight squeeze in return.

"I love you too," she breathed. "I've missed saying that"

Pulling back, she couldn't help but smile, just moments before Will pulled her in for another sweet kiss.