company is welcome.
saturday mornings were usually calm. or at least, as calm as they could be when you were practically a single mother raising a two-year-old. emily woke up early, not because she had to, but because her body was conditioned for it. years of early mornings, of structured routines, of getting up before the world did—it stuck with her. but today?
today, she let herself enjoy the morning.
aria was playing on the living room floor, her small hands moving little animal figurines across the carpet, occasionally babbling to herself in soft, half-formed words. emily sat at the kitchen counter, coffee in hand, savoring the warmth of the mug between her fingers, letting herself breathe. it was normal. a quiet, slow saturday.
and then—her phone buzzed. she glanced at it, expecting something routine. but when she saw the name on the screen, she felt something shift in her chest.
jj.
she swiped the message open.
going for a walk at the park. company is welcome if you and aria want to join.
emily stared at the screen for a moment, her mind catching up with the unexpected invitation.it wasn’t weird, not really. she and jj had been getting closer—somehow, without actually getting closer—and after the cookout, things had felt… different. not in a bad way. not in a way emily could name. just different. she glanced toward aria, still playing, still content.
she had a jogging stroller in her suv. she also had a carrier that strapped to her, one aria still fit in, for when she wanted to be close. she had options. so, why not?
emily tapped out a response.
yeah, sounds good. give us 20.
jj’s reply came almost immediately.
see you soon :)
emily stared at the little smiley face longer than she should have. then, shaking it off, she set down her coffee, pushed herself off the stool, and moved toward the living room.
the text comes while jj is lacing up her sneakers.
yeah, sounds good. give us 20.
she exhales, her lips pressing into something that’s not quite a smile, but something close. she had sent the invite on a whim. it wasn’t like she didn’t enjoy her morning walks alone—she did. it was peaceful, a chance to clear her head, get some movement in, enjoy the quiet before the rest of the world woke up. but today, for some reason, she wanted company.
she had wanted emily. and aria.
jj locks her phone, tossing it onto her dresser before moving toward the mirror. she brushes her hair back, pulling it into a ponytail, but then pauses. it looks fine. casual. like she just threw it up without thinking. but she did think about it. she is thinking about it.
she frowns at herself for a second, then lets it down and pulls it back up again, this time smoothing down any loose strands. then she moves to grab a jacket, hesitating between two, before grabbing the one that looks best rather than the one that’s easiest. she doesn’t realize she’s spending extra time getting ready until she catches her own reflection—sees the way she’s fussing, sees the way she’s caring.
it’s just a walk. just a park invite. it’s not serious. but her mind is already running on the way there. she grips the steering wheel, watching the road, but her thoughts keep drifting.
to emily. to aria.
to the way aria had looked up at her at the cookout, the way she had fallen asleep in her arms like she belonged there. to the way emily had watched her—really watched her—like she was seeing something she hadn’t let herself see before. jj swallows, tightening her grip just slightly.
this is nothing. it’s just a walk. but her pulse is already a little too fast. she shakes her head at herself, exhaling. maybe she just needs the fresh air.
-
emily makes it to the living room.
“hey, bug,” she said, crouching down beside aria.
aria blinked up at her, her big brown eyes curious.
“wanna go to the park?”
aria’s lips parted slightly, considering it, and then she nodded. emily smiled, brushing a strand of hair from aria’s face. “okay, let’s get ready.”
and just like that, their quiet saturday turned into something else. something better.
emily had always been the type to be prepared. for work, for life, for every possible outcome. motherhood—or whatever this was—had only amplified that. so, when jj invited them to the park, she immediately went into planning mode. it wasn’t like it was an ordeal. it was just a walk. but emily never left the house without making sure she had everything she could possibly need for aria.
she started with getting herself dressed—simple, sporty. a fitted long-sleeve athletic top, black leggings, sneakers. hair up, minimal effort. the kind of thing she could easily move in. then, she turned to aria.
“alright, bug,” emily said, crouching down beside her, “let’s get you dressed.”
aria was still sitting on the floor, playing with one of her stuffed animals, completely oblivious to the battle emily was about to have with her tiny yet oddly powerful limbs. emily had picked out a simple outfit—leggings and a sweatshirt. easy. comfortable. or at least, that was the idea.
getting the sweatshirt on was the easy part. the leggings, however—a nightmare.
emily struggled, actually struggled, trying to maneuver the stretchy fabric over aria’s wiggly little legs, but her toddler was a worm. a full-on, no-bones, floppy-limbed wiggle worm.
“aria,” emily sighed, trying to keep her tone patient as she attempted to pull the waistband up. “you have got to stop moving.”
aria, naturally, wiggled more. not in defiance—just in that i have energy and absolutely no impulse control kind of way toddlers had. emily huffed, already exhausted from the ten-second struggle. and then—help arrived.
sergio, her sleek black cat, sauntered into the room, his tail flicking lazily.
aria adored him. and sergio, for some reason, adored her back. the cat rubbed his face against aria’s side, purring loudly. emily seized the opportunity.
“ohh, aria…” she cooed, making her voice dramatic. “what sound does sergio make?”
aria lit up. she loves this game. emily did too. mostly because it was the only thing that got aria to sit still. aria turned toward sergio, giggling as the cat rubbed against her again.
“meoow,” she answered, her little voice full of excitement.
emily grinned. then, in the most exaggerated, over-the-top voice, she let out her own, “meeeeeoooowwww.”
aria collapsed into giggles, her tiny hands smacking against her legs, completely distracted. and emily? emily took full advantage of the momentary stillness and yanked the leggings up into place.
victory.
aria, still giggling, barely even noticed. emily brushed her fingers through her hair, adjusting the little strands that always seemed to stick up.
“there we go,” she murmured, pressing a quick kiss to the top of aria’s head. “now we’re getting somewhere.”
she grabbed aria’s little socks and sneakers, slipping the socks on first—easier than the pants, at least. the shoes, though? that required more patience. she caught aria’s ankle gently, slipping the first shoe on, tightening the laces as aria kicked her foot. emily huffed a small laugh, catching the other one before she could kick that one off too.
“okay,” emily said, keeping her tone light. “question time aria!”
once again, aria loved this. she perked up, big brown eyes wide and ready.
emily finished tying the first shoe and asked, “what are we doing right now?”
aria squinted, as if she was really thinking about it.
“shoes,” she said simply.
emily nodded. “that’s right. and what does emmy do with shoes?”
aria blinked. then, after a second—
“tie ‘em.”
emily smirked. “yep. wanna watch?”
aria nodded enthusiastically, her little head bobbing as she stared down at emily’s hands. emily exaggerated her movements as she looped the laces. “loop, swoop, pull,” she said, going slow enough for aria to see. aria’s tiny brows furrowed in serious concentration.
emily chuckled as she moved to the other shoe. “okay, next question. what sound do doggies make?”
aria was already grinning. she knew the game was coming.
but she still whispered, “woof?”
emily raised an eyebrow. “are you sure?”
aria nodded, barely containing her excitement.
and then, dramatically, emily let out quick and loud—
“woof! woof! woof!”
aria lost it. full-body giggles, tiny hands smacking against her legs as she laughed. emily grinned, shaking her head, finishing up the second shoe before reaching out to smooth down aria’s shirt. then—aria paused. her laughter faded slightly, and she tilted her head, blinking up at emily with big, curious eyes.
“why go park?”
emily hesitated only for a second before answering.
“jj invited us.”
she said it casually. softly. but emily noticed. she saw the way aria’s eyes flickered, how they lit up just a little. not big. not overwhelming. just a small spark of excitement. recognition. something quietly warm. emily swallowed, adjusting the sleeve of aria’s sweatshirt. she didn’t know why that made her heart squeeze the way it did. she just knew it did.
she exhaled, pushing the thought away, and stood, grabbing the diaper bag. snacks—she had packed plenty. a small container of cut-up strawberries, a pouch of applesauce, a small bag of cheddar crackers. water. extra diapers, wipes, a light blanket.
prepared. always.
she slung the bag over her shoulder, turning back to aria.
“you ready, bug?”
aria nodded quickly, reaching up for her. emily lifted her effortlessly, settling her on her hip, pressing one last kiss to her cheek. and then— they left, to meet jj.
-
“and ‘our boooootiful soooul”
emily smirks, glancing in the rearview mirror at aria, who is bopping her little head to ‘beautiful soul’ by jessie mccartney as if this is the most natural thing in the world.
which, to her, it is.
aria is quiet. always has been. but she loves music, and in the year of 2005.. it brought a lot of pop tunes.
and somehow, her toddler has already developed taste.
she doesn’t sing along, doesn’t clap or kick her feet—just nods her head in time, her dark eyes focused on the world passing outside the window.
emily laughs lightly, shaking her head.
“i swear, you’ve got more control of this car’s playlist than i do,” she teases.
aria doesn’t respond—just keeps nodding, totally unbothered. emily exhales, settling back against the seat, letting the music fill the space between them. but her mind won’t stop wandering. she keeps thinking about the way aria had looked at her this morning when she told her jj had invited them. the way her little eyes lit up. not big, not dramatic—just a flicker of something.
something warm. something that felt a little too familiar.
emily’s fingers tap absently against the wheel.
it’s not that serious. it’s just a walk. just a casual invitation.but..jj wanted them there. wanted them. and emily felt it, more than she should have. she tightens her grip on the wheel, trying to shove the thought away.
because this is nothing. nothing more than an easy saturday morning. but her pulse is a little too quick, and she can’t quite convince herself that she believes it.
jj pulls into the parking lot, scanning for emily’s suv before she even realizes she’s doing it.
she spots it easily—black, clean, parked near the tree line, like emily had deliberately chosen a spot slightly away from the busiest area. of course she did. strategic, intentional, emily.
jj rolls forward slowly, easing into a space a few down, but her attention catches on movement—
emily.
she’s stepping out of the driver’s seat, moving around to the back door, and jj’s breath catches for half a second. because something changes, the moment emily swings the back door open, she softens.
jj watches it happen.
her eyes brighten—not just with recognition, but with something warmer, something that makes jj feel like she’s seeing a version of emily she wasn’t meant to witness. her whole posture shifts, shoulders dropping, tension bleeding out of her frame.
and then—the baby voice.
jj doesn’t hear it, not yet, but she sees it. the way emily exaggerates her mouth, the way her hands move in animated, sweeping gestures, like whatever she’s saying is the most important thing in the world.
jj melts.
because it is. to emily, it is.
jj swallows, gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly as she slows her car. she can’t help but imagine it.
the scene unfolding in her mind before she can stop it.
she imagines herself in the passenger seat, laughing as she unbuckles, beating emily to it— imagines getting out first, moving toward the back, opening the door before emily can. imagines the surprise in aria’s eyes when she’s suddenly met with two smiling faces instead of just one. the baby voice she knows emily is doing—but this time, she’s in on it too. the way they both exaggerate their greetings, trying to be the one to make aria giggle first.
because that’s what they’d do. that’s what jj would do. she’d kneel down, tugging at the toddler’s tiny socked feet, feigning shock as she says, “what? are these little toes even real?” and aria would giggle, the way jj knows she giggles, that soft little squeaky sound, the kind that makes a person feel like they’ve won something.
emily would roll her eyes, but not really. she’d shake her head, muttering, “okay, okay, let me get her out,” but jj would see it—see the way she’s trying not to smile, the way her eyes linger on both of them. like she wants this too.
jj can feel the warmth of it, the rightness of it—
bump.
her whole car jerks forward.
jj startles, snapping back to reality. her heart kicks up, her pulse spikes. because she just hit the damn curb. she slams the brake, cursing under her breath, quickly throwing the car into park.
jesus christ.
she glances around, face flushing hot, but—thank god—emily is still focused on aria, completely unaware of jj’s moment of absolute humiliation. she groans, dragging a hand down her face before quickly unbuckling, shaking off the insane moment she just had. she needs to get herself together.
jj steps out of her car, still feeling the warmth of embarrassment from her minor curb incident, but she forces herself to shake it off.
focus.
she walks toward emily’s suv, pushing down the lingering remnants of whatever the hell that daydream was and preparing to greet them both like a normal person who did not just have an entire intrusive fantasy about being in the passenger seat of emily’s car. she’s about to say something—maybe tease emily about her very animated hand movements—when she hears something.
something small. soft. muffled. tiny singing. jj stops in her tracks. tilts her head slightly, listening closer.
“i dun want anotha p’etty faceee”
jj’s grin is instantaneous.
because—no way. aria, sweet, quiet little aria, is singing. not loudly, not perfectly in rhythm, but she’s doing it. and it’s—god, it’s adorable.
jj steps closer, peeking into the suv, her grin widening as she catches emily glancing up, her brow raised at jj’s expression. jj doesn’t even try to hide her amusement. emily sighs, barely masking her exasperation.
“something funny?”
jj crosses her arms, leaning slightly against the side of the suv.
“you didn’t tell me aria had taste.”
emily blinks at her, confused—until aria keeps going.
“i dun waaaaant jus anyone ta’ hold!”
emily groans, rolling her eyes as she pops the last buckle open and effortlessly lifts aria onto her hip.
“she’s obsessed,” emily mutters, adjusting her hold like she’s done a million times before. “i swear, it’s all she wants to listen to. jessie mccartney is—”
“oh, somebody has taste,” jj interrupts, her entire face lighting up. too excited, too delighted by the information. “i also love him.”
and that—that is where emily completely freezes. jj doesn’t notice. but aria does.
emily feels the shift in the toddler on her hip before she even registers her own reaction. aria’s small, dark brows lift just slightly, her gaze turning suddenly knowing. like she sees something happening in real-time. like she knows exactly what this is. emily’s lips press together. she doesn’t say a word—doesn’t react—but she flicks her eyes down at aria in a way that says not now.
a tiny, almost imperceptible exchange. but aria gets it. somehow, somehow, this two-year-old gets it.
her brows raise a bit higher, like she’s debating whether or not she should call emily out on the fact that she was seconds away from going on a full-fledged tirade about hot throb jessie mccartney and now—suddenly—she’s completely fine with him.
emily knows what she’s thinking.
oh, so now you like jessie mccartney?
emily narrowly squints her eyes at her, a silent don’t even think about it.
and aria?
aria looks too pleased. like she’s won something.
jj—completely unaware of the silent war happening next to her—just smiles. “finally, someone with a good playlist.”
emily exhales, shaking her head as she gently sets aria down on the pavement. “alright, bug,” she murmurs, crouching down in front of her. “you wanna walk for a little bit first, or you wanna ride?”
aria considers it, her small fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweatshirt. jj watches the process, the tiny way her lips press together in serious thought, the way her eyes flick from the stroller to emily, as if weighing her options like it’s a high-stakes decision.
then—without a word, she lifts her arms.emily nods, not even questioning it, just scooping her up again and gently settling her into the stroller. jj watches as emily moves on autopilot — buckling aria in securely but not too tightly, making sure everything is just right. she tucks the blanket over aria’s lap, smoothing it down, making tiny adjustments that no one else would even notice.
jj notices.
it’s small. thoughtless.
but it’s so much like emily.
like even now, even here, she has to make sure aria is comfortable. that she has everything. jj feels something in her chest. something she doesn’t want to name. emily straightens, adjusting her own jacket, brushing a hand through her hair before glancing at jj.
“you ready?” she asks.
jj nods, falling into step beside her.
and as they start walking.
jj knows. this isn’t just a walk, and she’s not sure she’s ready to admit what it is.
the rhythm of their footsteps on the paved trail is steady, unhurried. a light breeze rustles the leaves above them, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and something floral in the distance. the air is crisp but pleasant, the sun peeking through the trees in patches, casting shifting patterns of light on the ground. emily pushes the stroller with one hand, the other tucked into her jacket pocket, fingers curling slightly against the fabric. she’s always liked moving, liked keeping her body busy.
it quiets her mind. except her mind isn’t quiet right now.
not with jj walking beside her, hands in the pockets of her jacket, golden strands of hair catching the sunlight, her blue eyes somehow matching the soft sky behind her.
emily notices it. not for the first time—but maybe in a way she hasn’t let herself before.
she’s always known jj was beautiful. that much has been obvious from the start.
but here—outside of the bau, outside of dimly lit rooms and too-late nights, outside of stress and exhaustion—jj looks different. or maybe emily is just looking differently.
she exhales, pushing the thought away as she shifts slightly, watching aria’s small hand twitch against the blanket. the toddler has been quiet, taking in the world, her dark eyes scanning everything around them.
jj breaks the silence first. “so, what’s aria into these days?”
emily hums, considering the question. “puzzles, mostly. and books.”
jj smiles. “smart girl.”
emily nods, warmth creeping into her voice. “yeah. she loves bedtime stories. she’s obsessed with the velveteen rabbit.”
jj glances down at aria, who is still cradling the very well-loved rabbit against her chest, its fur worn down in spots, one of its floppy ears slightly bent.
emily gestures to it with a small nod. “that one? that’s her rabbit. she’s convinced it’s the rabbit from the story.”
jj sees the way emily’s lips twitch into a soft smile, the way her dimples peek out, something that jj suddenly realizes only happens when she talks about aria. and jj melts.
because emily is so effortlessly beautiful like this. not in the way that people usually mean it—not just physically, though god, that too—but in the way she looks at people.
like she cares about every single word they say.
like she’s fully present. jj has met plenty of people who are good at listening. but emily feels like she hears people. like she makes room for them. it’s disarming, and jj isn’t sure how to sit with that feeling.
emily shifts her grip on the stroller slightly, her voice softer when she adds, “she always wants to know if the rabbit’s real.”
jj tilts her head. “what do you tell her?”
emily glances down at aria, watching the way she absentmindedly strokes the rabbit’s worn ear.
“i tell her its real, always,” emily murmurs.
jj swallows. because there’s something in emily’s voice—something deeper than just talking about a story. she doesn’t push. instead, she nudges emily lightly with her elbow, keeping the mood easy. “so, does she have a favorite part of the book?”
emily exhales a small laugh. “oh yeah. the part where the rabbit gets loved enough to become real. she always nods, like she gets it. like it’s the most natural thing in the world to her.”
jj smiles. “maybe it is.”
emily looks at her then, eyes warm, something unspoken lingering between them. jj doesn’t look away. neither does emily. and then— a gasp. a small, delighted noise from the stroller. jj looks down just in time to see aria sitting up slightly, her little fingers pointing excitedly toward something ahead of them.
“emmy.”
emily already knows what she wants. she follows aria’s gaze, spotting the golden retriever trotting alongside an older couple a few feet away.
emily hums, a soft tease in her voice. “mmmhm, what does a doggie say?”
aria’s eyes widen slightly—like this is a big moment—before her tiny voice pipes up, “woof woof.”
jj feels it. feels her entire chest melt. the way aria’s voice is so soft but so sure. the way she’s still pointing, like this is the most important thing happening in the world.
jj lets out a quiet laugh. “that was too cute.”
emily smirks, glancing at her. “you gonna make fun of me if i tell you i make animal noises for her constantly?”
jj lifts a brow, smirking back. “oh, i already knew you did.”
emily scoffs, rolling her eyes. “unbelievable.”
jj grins, watching as aria settles back down, still watching the dog with rapt attention. emily adjusts the blanket over her little legs again—a tiny, instinctive action that jj notices.
jj notices everything. and she knows—she knows she’s in trouble just by the way her heart swells.
the steady rhythm of their walk has been good. comfortable. easy. but emily feels it—feels the way aria starts to shift, her small hands fidgeting more with the blanket, the subtle way she kicks her feet against the footrest of the stroller.
restlessness. it starts small. a little sigh. a small shift in her posture.
emily knows it so well. she expects it. aria is a good kid, calm and observant, but she’s still two. she’s still a child who gets tired of sitting still, who wants to explore, who needs to move. normally, emily wouldn’t think twice about it. she would adjust, adapt, and already have a plan in place to keep her occupied.
but today for some reason—emily’s chest tightens. because what if jj gets annoyed? it’s a stupid thought. irrational. but her mind goes there anyway. because people love babies when they’re quiet. when they’re giggling at just the right time, or doing something cute that fits into a perfect little box.
but toddlers? toddlers can be loud. they can whine, demand, shift moods like whiplash. and what if—god, what if—aria being a little fussy makes jj feel trapped in this? makes her rethink this whole outing?
it’s a ridiculous fear. and it only lasts a second. because before emily can even react, before she can say or do anything—jj speaks like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
“why don’t we go over in the grass?” jj suggests, nodding toward an open patch beneath a tree, where the ground looks soft, shaded just enough to be comfortable. “we can sit, let her run around a bit. stretch her legs. take over the world, if she wants.”
the last part is a joke, but the offer isn’t. jj isn’t just dealing with aria’s restlessness—she’s adjusting, like it’s second nature.
emily exhales, the tension in her chest loosening as she nods. “yeah. that’s a good idea.”
so they do. they veer off the trail, making their way toward the grass. it’s natural, like this has always been life. emily slows the stroller, kneeling in front of aria, who is already perking up at the change in scenery.
the shift from walking to sitting in the grass is seamless. natural. it’s like they’ve done this a hundred times before, like this isn’t new—like they’ve always known how to be here, together, like this.
emily kneels in front of the stroller, one hand on aria’s knee, gently tapping as she asks, “you wanna run around, bug?”
aria, already fidgeting in her seat, nods immediately, her small hands gripping the sides of the stroller as she waits. emily chuckles softly as she unbuckles the straps, carefully lifting aria out and setting her down on the cool grass.
for a second, aria stands still, processing, her little eyes scanning the open space, the way the wind moves through the trees, the way the grass feels beneath her feet.
then—she goes. toddling forward, picking up speed, arms slightly out for balance as she explores. jj watches her, her chest warming at how free and unapologetically delighted she is with something as simple as running in an open space.
“god,” jj murmurs, shaking her head with a small grin. “she’s cute.”
emily, settling onto the grass beside her, exhales a quiet laugh. “yeah. and she knows it.”
jj smirks. “i bet she does.”
for a while, they watch, letting aria roam at her own pace. emily tracks her without even realizing it—eyes following her every move, every step, the way a mother does when she knows her child better than she knows anything else in the world. jj notices it. the unwavering attention. the way emily automatically leans forward when aria stumbles slightly, ready to move if necessary, but she doesn’t hover.
she lets her explore, lets her be brave, but she’s there—always there. jj exhales, stretching her legs out slightly before shifting her weight onto one elbow, watching aria for a beat longer before glancing back at emily.
“so, do i get a shot at being the fun one?”
emily lifts a brow, amused. “oh? you think you can get a good laugh out of her?”
jj smirks. “i know i can.”
emily scoffs, rolling her eyes. “alright, go ahead. impress me.”
jj grins, pushing herself up and onto her feet, stretching a bit before crouching just enough to get aria’s attention.
“hey, superstar.”
aria stops, turning toward jj, blinking up at her with big, curious eyes. jj tilts her head, lowering her voice slightly like she’s about to tell her something top secret.
“wanna play a game?”
aria doesn’t answer right away, just studies her, as if evaluating the validity of such a claim. jj keeps her expression serious, nodding slightly, waiting. finally, aria nods.
jj grins. “alright. emmy says you’re really smart.”
emily scoffs behind her, muttering, “oh god.”
jj ignores her, staying focused on aria. “wanna prove it?”
aria’s brows furrow in a way that is deeply emily-esque. jj grins.
“okay,” jj says, standing fully and taking a step back. “you have to catch me.”
emily snorts immediately. “you’re gonna lose.”
jj flashes her a look before glancing back at aria. “think you can do it?”
aria nods, her little legs already bouncing slightly like she’s preparing. jj doesn’t give her time to second-guess—just takes two steps backward, dramatically throwing her hands up. “oh no! she’s so fast!”
aria lights up, and runs. she chases jj, little legs working overtime to keep up, her laughter echoing in the air. the blonde slows just enough to let her get close, but not too close—not yet.
“oh man, she’s gaining on me!” jj yells, exaggerating her movements, pretending to run just a little too slow. aria giggling—full-body, deeply delighted giggling. emily, still sitting on the grass, watches all of it.
the way aria is completely enamored with the game. the way jj leans into it, genuinely enjoying herself, not just humoring aria, but really playing with her. it’s so natural. like jj has always been here, always been someone who could make aria laugh like this.
emily swallows against the lump forming in her throat.
jj lets aria catch her, dramatically falling onto the grass with a theatrical gasp.
“oh no, she got me!”
aria collapses onto her, laughing so hard she can barely breathe. the way she really only laughs with emily, in the safety of their home. jj grins, reaching up to ruffle her hair lightly before sitting up and settling her securely in her lap.
“you’re way too fast,” jj murmurs, eyes twinkling.
aria nods, beaming. jj chuckles, wrapping her arms around the tiny frame for a moment, pressing a playful kiss to the top of her head before letting her go again.
emily is gone.
she watches the way aria toddles back toward her, cheeks flushed with excitement, the way jj watches both of them, blue eyes softer than emily has ever seen them. and then—aria hurries.
like she has something important to say. she reaches emily, hands grabbing onto her knee as she tilts her little head back.
“what titty say?”
emily blinks. jj pauses.
her brain short-circuits for a solid second. because titty? her mind immediately goes to boobs.
jj chokes on a laugh, glancing at emily, who has already figured it out, already responding.
“meow,” emily says, her voice soft, knowing exactly what aria meant.
aria giggles.
and then—emily turns to jj, who has now realized what aria tried to pronounce.
jj laughs, shaking her head. “oh.”
emily smirks. “kitty. we’re working on it.”
jj chuckles, stretching her legs out slightly, glancing at aria again. “good effort, though.”
aria beams, very pleased with herself.
and emily? she looks at jj for a beat longer than she should.
because this is something entirely different. something that feels so easy. so right.
jj looks back at her, something unspoken in her expression, something that lingers in the space between them.
emily knows.
she’s falling into something she won’t be able to stop.