pizza night pt. II
the oven timer dings, its sharp tone breaking the soft, delicate stillness in the room. aria blinks, a tiny breath leaving her lips as she looks up at emily. she knows what that sound means. every night, emily cooks. every night, the oven dings - that means food is done. emily watches the recognition flicker in her little eyes, and she smiles, leaning down to press another kiss to her curls.
“that’s dinner, baby,” she murmurs, warm, brushing a hand down aria’s back before finally pulling herself up.
she grabs the oven mitts, slipping them on, moving to the stove with practiced ease.
jj stays right where she is. she exhales, soft, regaining herself, watching as emily moves around the kitchen.then, she gently closes the flashcard box, setting it aside, and scoops aria up. she cradles her easily, shifting her so that aria’s back is resting against her chest, one of jj’s arms wrapped securely around her waist, other tucked under aria’s bottom, her body rocking slightly on instinct. aria doesn’t protest, doesn’t squirm. she just leans into it, her little fingers resting lightly against jj’s forearm, her head tilting slightly as she watches emily.
and jj? jj watches too. she watches as emily pulls the pizzas from the oven, the warm glow of the kitchen lights making her look so soft, so at peace, even if jj knows there’s a storm still running inside her.
she thinks about what just happened. how much it meant to emily. how much these past few months have weighed on her. how this past week? broke her. she’s been there—on the other end of those phone calls, the nights where emily called her after aria went to sleep, her voice tired, her words laced with a quiet kind of panic.
“i don’t know if i’m doing this right.”
“i don’t want her to think i’m not enough.”
she remembers the days where emily came into her office, letting out a heavy sigh, dropping into the chair across from her, rubbing her temples before whispering—
“jen, what if i screw this up?”
and jj had always told her the same thing.
“you won’t.”
because she knew it. because she believed it.
jj remembers the day emily brought custody papers into her office, setting them on the desk with a quiet, uncertain kind of energy— the way she had exhaled, pressing her fingertips into the wood grain before looking up, every emotion in the world holding in her misty eyes.
“i need you to be my witness.”
jj hadn’t even hesitated. not for a second. she grabbed one of the pens from the cup on her desk, and signed her entire name across that document.
and now? now, she holds aria tightly, watching as emily carefully sets the pizzas on the counter, shifting slightly, brushing her curls behind her ear as she turns back toward them. jj feels something settle deep in her chest. because for everything emily has worried about, for everything she’s feared - jj sees it clear as day now.
emily isn’t just enough for aria, she’s everything.
jj smiles, her thumb rubbing small, absentminded circles on aria’s thigh where one of her arms is tucked securely under her bottom.
“dinner?” she asks, her voice soft, like she’s checking if this moment—this entire night—is real.
emily meets her eyes, nods, opening her arms slightly toward the table, an invitation.
“dinner.”
jj adjusts aria on her hip and moves toward the table, settling in while emily starts setting everything up. jj gently settles aria into her high chair, making sure she’s comfortable before pulling her own seat up to the table. emily is still setting out plates and utensils, moving effortlessly through the kitchen. jj automatically reaches for the stack of napkins, ready to help, but before she can even lift them, emily shakes her head.
“nope, ” emily says firmly, glancing at her with a small smirk. “you can sit for a moment.”
jj hesitates, her hands hovering for a second before exhaling and leaning back into her chair.
“you sure?” she asks, tilting her head.
emily nods, her smirk deepening. “i’ve got it, jen. its napkins.”
jj relents, watching as emily places a small plate in front of aria, then cuts her pizza into tiny, bite size squares. aria is completely enthralled, her big brown eyes wide with excitement as she watches emily work. emily doesn’t have to ask. she already knows exactly how aria likes her pizza. jj notices the way emily automatically adds a tiny dollop of ranch dressing to the side of aria’s plate, like it’s just part of the process.
the blonde raises a brow.
“ranch?” she asks, glancing between emily and the plate.
emily looks up, completely serious.
“don’t question it.”
jj smirks. “do you even know why?”
emily sighs, shaking her head as she hands aria her plate.
“nope. but she likes it, and that’s all that matters.”
jj chuckles, shaking her head as she picks up a slice of her own pizza, watching as aria eagerly dips a piece into the ranch before taking a bite, humming softly to herself in approval. emily finally settles into her chair, letting out a breath as she reaches for her own plate.
“so,” jj starts, taking a bite of her pizza. “how was your day before i shoved you out the door?”
emily huffs a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “you did shove me out, didn’t you?”
“you were staring at the clock like you were going to will it to move faster,” jj points out, raising a brow.
emily sighs, setting her pizza down. “i won’t lie… i wasn’t getting much work done today. i kept thinking about aria, wondering if she was okay, worrying if she was having another hard day.”
jj nods, understanding. “and how was she when you picked her up?”
emily glances at aria, watching as she carefully picks up another piece of pizza, her little fingers gripping it tightly.
“she was happy to see me,” emily admits softly. “but she was also relieved. like she thought maybe i wasn’t going to come back.”
jj’s chest tightens at that. “she knows you always come back, em,” she reassures her.
emily exhales, nodding. “i know she does… i just hate that even a tiny part of her worried about it.”
jj nods slowly, taking another bite, watching as emily reaches out and tucks a stray curl behind aria’s ear.
“she loves you more than anything,” jj murmurs, her voice soft, sure.
emily doesn’t look up, just keeps her eyes on aria as she answers, “i love her more than anything too.”
there’s a small pause, filled only by the sounds of quiet chewing and the occasional soft hum from aria as she enjoys her meal.
then, jj grins slightly, tilting her head. “so, about those flashcards,” she teases, nudging emily’s foot under the table.
emily raised a brow, finally looking up at her. “what about them?”
“you did see her call me ‘ my jayje ,’ right?” jj asks, raising an eyebrow playfully.
emily laughs, nodding. “oh, i saw it. she’s been doing that lately. i believe you have been claimed.”
jj chuckles, trying not to freak out in the best way as she glances over at aria, who is too focused on dipping another piece of pizza into her ranch to pay attention to their conversation.
“you okay with that, bug?” jj asks, tapping lightly on aria’s tray.
aria glances up at her, considering the question for a moment before nodding once, very decisively.
emily smirks. “there you have it. she’s claimed you.”
jj shakes her head, a warmth spreading through her chest that she refuses to overanalyze right now. aria shifts slightly in her chair, her little fingers carefully picking up a tiny square of pizza from her plate. she looks at it for a second, then she holds it out to jj. a tiny, soft offering, her small palm open, her big brown eyes waiting for jj to take it.
jj feels her heart stutter. because to aria? that is trust. that is pure love. she reaches out, gently taking the tiny piece of pizza from aria’s hand, offering her a soft, genuine smile.
“thank you, baby girl.”
aria nods, satisfied, then goes back to her own food, as if it was just a normal part of their night. jj? has never felt so wanted in her entire life.
by the time the meal is over, aria’s cheeks are a mess. a mix of pizza sauce and ranch, smeared across her skin in little patches. somehow..somehow..there’s even a streak of sauce on her forehead. emily laughs, shaking her head as she wipes her hands on a napkin. jj just stares.
“how the hell does someone get sauce on their forehead?” she asks, looking at aria like she’s studying a rare phenomenon.
emily snickers, leaning back in her chair. “the craziest part?” she says, tilting her head toward jj. “she hates mess. she hates being dirty.”
jj blinks, gesturing to the child who currently looks like she’s been rolling around in pizza ingredients.
“could’ve fooled me.”
emily grins, nodding toward aria, who is still happily chewing on the last of her pizza.
“oh, she never realizes how messy she gets during dinner. but when she does—”
and right on cue, aria suddenly pauses. her chewing slows, her little fingers flex, and she looks down at her hands. her little face falls. she frowns deeply, brows furrowing, eyes widening in mild distress as she fully registers the mess. then, before emily or jj can even say a word, she lets out a soft whimper, reaching for emily with both hands.
emily sighs, shaking her head fondly.
“..there it is.”
she pushes back her chair, standing up and lifting aria from the high chair without hesitation, not caring that the toddler is now gripping her shirt with pizza-covered hands. she’s definitely going to need stain remover tomorrow.
“and you need a bath,” emily murmurs, kissing the top of her head. but before she can even think about heading to the bathroom, jj stands up. and she has that face. the face emily has now come to recognize as do not tell me no, i am doing this.
“i do believe i said i was coming over for dinner, and to take care of her,” jj says pointedly, crossing her arms. “hang out with her. while you get to shower and have some alone time.”
emily hesitates. because, yes, that was the deal. but she also knows that at bedtime, which is right after bathtime, aria usually only wants her. she’s clingy, she’s attached, and emily gets it.
but..she also trusts jj, and a moment alone sounds like the best thing in the world. she exhales, biting her lip before finally nodding.
“alright,” she says, shifting aria slightly on her hip. “come on, i’ll show you around. then you can bathe the pizza monster.”
jj grins, stepping forward, wiping a smudge of sauce off aria’s cheek with her thumb.
“deal.”
emily watches as jj softens, looking down at the child she so effortlessly stepped in for, like she belongs here, like she was always meant to be here. emily clears her throat, adjusting aria again.
“but you yell for me if she needs me, okay? deal?”
jj meets her eyes, something warm and steady in her expression.
“deal.”
emily leads jj through the house, moving toward the staircase with ease, the entire walkthrough is muscle memory. but before they reach the stairs, sergio darts past them. fast and focused, because he must be first. he must reach the top step before they do.
jj laughs lightly, shaking her head. “he’s really in charge here, huh?”
emily smirks. “oh, absolutely. we just live here.”
jj glances around as they pass through the living room, taking it all in. it’s warm. not just in the literal sense, but in a way that feels lived in, homey, loved. something jj knows emily did not grow up with, so she made sure her home was full of it.
she catches the mark of aria’s height on the frame of the door, emily’s neat handwriting next to it. the kitchen - oh the play kitchen emily told her so much about the next week at work after the built it and ‘ considered calling ikea to tell them theyre masochists’ .
the centerpiece of the living room is a fireplace, standing solid in the middle of the wall, with a television mounted neatly above it. on the mantle, there are framed pictures, a small snow globe from boston, and a pacifier. balanced on the edge, forgotten, like it had been placed there mid-task and never quite made its way back to aria.
jj’s eyes scan the rest of the room. a large couch, draped in a few blankets, soft and inviting. in the corner, a baby blanket sits in a pile, a few stuffed animals scattered around it, another abandoned pacifier nearby. jj imagines that’s where aria watches blue’s clues in the morning, entirely invested, like it’s the most important thing in the world.
she glances at the bookshelves. law books, stacked neatly, now mixed in with children’s picture books, their bright spines standing out against the dark, academic bindings. she smiles to herself, not missing the scattered blocks on the rug that lead towards the stairs. as they ascend the staircase, emily leads the way, jj trails behind. she see’s aria’s little feet bob against emily’s hip with each step she takes.
all through the stairwell and into the hall, there are pictures framed in careful arrangement. jj slows, taking them in as they pass. there’s a series of photos of aria, some solo, some with emily. in one, aria is in the bathtub, she can’t be older than eight months old - sprigs of hair damp, bubbles stacked on her head shes sure emily put there. in another, aria is standing on the beach, her little feet buried in the sand, wearing a sunhat far too big for her head, her dimples showing as she beams at the camera. another is of an older couple—jj assumes emily’s grandparents. the man is wearing glasses, his arm wrapped around the woman, both of them smiling in a way that feels timeless.
there are frames of postcards, pinned neatly within their borders.
paris. rome. istanbul. places emily has been. jj imagines her young and free in her early twenties, wandering through these cities, chasing something she didn’t even know she was looking for yet. there’s so much of emily’s past that jj doesn’t know, so much she won’t find out for years.
emily stops, gesturing to a room on the right side of the hall.
“here is aria’s kingdom.”
she reaches in, flipping the switch. soft, warm light fills the room. she steps inside, and jj follows. the walls are a light pink, gentle and calming, like the soft petals of a flower. jj can imagine emily redoing this room, years ago, when she first realized she’d be keeping aria more than their own mother ever would. she wouldn’t have known it would be permanent.
she just wanted aria to be comfortable.
jj takes in the details. a crib, positioned neatly against the wall, fitted with off-white sheets printed with tiny, soft pink bunnies. a wall full of books, stacked neatly, at least a hundred of them. a toy box in the corner, filled with wooden toys—expensive, carefully selected, the kind jj knows emily probably spent way too much time choosing, making sure she got the perfect ones for aria, even though aria would likely be just as happy with a plastic toy from the dollar bin. a soft, plush rug sits in the middle of the room, a pair of tiny white socks and a set of abandoned pajamas still lying there from this morning.
the walls are decorated with care. a framed piece of aria’s crayon scribbles hangs above a small dresser. a rocking chair sits in the corner, a blanket draped over the back.
and the room, it smells like lavender. jj knows it’s from emily. knows she sprays it every night, letting the scent settle into the room before bedtime, a part of their nightly routine.
jj takes a slow breath, though emily pulls her from her thoughts, adjusting aria in her arms as she nods toward the dresser.
“that drawer has her pajamas in it,” emily explains. “that one has diapers. wipes, creams, lotions, powders… all that jazz is in the drawer under it.”
jj nods, committing it to memory. emily shifts aria slightly, rubbing her back.
“sometimes she likes to pick her own pajamas out, ” she adds, her voice soft, familiar. “sometimes she’s too tired to care by the time she gets out of the bath.”
jj watches the way emily’s hand moves gently, instinctively, like she’s been doing this her entire life. jj glances at aria, who seems to be winding down already, her little head resting, her eyes still peeking around, still watching.
emily nods toward the door, ushering jj down the hall. jj follows, her gaze flickering over the details of the home, taking in more of the little pieces that make up emily and aria’s world. more framed photos line the walls— a side profile of aria, caught in a candid moment, her lashes dark against her cheeks, her little mouth slightly open, lost in concentration. a map, aged and worn, marked with tiny pushpins in various cities. a handprint of aria’s, stamped in soft pink paint on white paper, her name scribbled underneath in emily’s handwriting. a frame full of pressed flowers, their petals delicate, their colors slightly faded. jj wonders where they’re from, what their story is. she doesn’t ask, not yet.
they reach the end of the hall, and emily nods toward a doorway.
“i’ll be in there if things go wild,” she says, smirking slightly. “that’s my room—and, well, half of the time, hers.”
jj’s curiosity gets the best of her. she doesn’t linger, doesn’t make it obvious, but she glances. and what she sees, it makes her heart stumble. emily’s bed, neatly made, a deep maroon bedspread stretched smooth over silk sheets. it’s well-kept, but the signs of aria are everywhere. pacifiers scattered across the nightstand, a few board books stacked beside a lamp. a burp cloth, or maybe just an old soft cloth, folded near the edge of the bed.
jj can see it. can see the way aria has melted into emily’s life so completely that she belongs there just as much as emily does.
jj wants to see more. wants to know what the room smells like—if it’s lavender, like aria’s, or if emily’s perfume scent she wears at work or something else entirely. wants to know if it’s warm or if she keeps it cool at night. wants to know if emily actually puts her earrings in the little dish on the vanity, or if she just chucks them beside it in exhaustion after a long day. she tucks that thought away for later. she follows emily still, passing the laundry room as the dryer hums softly, the scent of fresh linen seeping into the hallway.
it smells like home.
they reach the bathroom, and emily flips on the light. jj’s heart warm immediately, because the bathroom—it isn’t just emily’s, and it isn’t just aria’s.
it’s both. like they’re roommates. like they’re a perfect little duo.
jj glances at the sink. emily’s face wash, expensive and clinical-looking, sits neatly beside aria’s baby ‘face moisturizer’ which now that jj looks more at i…looks as expensive as emily’s.
there’s a bottle of dry shampoo, thrown casually onto the counter next to a tiny pink hairbrush that still has a few strands of aria’s dark hair caught in the bristles from a morning rush she can picture already
emily’s perfume, something sophisticated and light, sits beside a half-empty bottle of bubble bath labeled in colorful, childlike font.
a toothbrush holder stands against the wall. two toothbrushes. one sleek and simple, electric. one covered in stickers where emily tried to make brushing fun, small and purple, a suction cup stuck to the counter where aria probably left it. theres a tube of diaper cream a little too close to emily’s toothpaste, that jj secretly slides to the other side just to save emily the worst surprise of a lifetime. emily moves with ease, balancing aria on one hip as she turns on the faucet, adjusting the temperature with practiced motions.
she starts setting out the things jj will need— a soft washcloth, a towel folded neatly, a bottle of baby shampoo, a gentle body wash. she places aria’s toys into the water as it fills, her movements automatic, done one-handed, because of course she’s still carrying aria like she’s an extension of herself.
emily smiles, glancing at jj.
“she likes it pretty warm, shockingly. she’ll splash a little wild sometimes, so beware.”
jj smirks. “noted.”
emily adjusts aria slightly, pressing a kiss to her hair.
“she gets a little wary when you wash the shampoo out of her hair. just put the washcloth over her eyes while you do it—it helps.”
jj nods, stepping forward. emily hesitates for a moment, her grip tight on aria—because this is usually her thing. their thing. but she trusts jj, she trusts her in a way she doesn’t question. and she really, really, needs a break. so she smiles a but watching as jj gently takes aria from her arms. and the second she does, jj feels something settle deep inside her.
because aria doesn’t protest, she reaches as jj goes for her, and lets herself be held.
and jj holds her like she’s done this a thousand times before, like its a lived in motion at this point. emily presses a soft kiss to aria’s head, running her fingers through her curls one last time before leaning in.
“jj’s gonna give you a bath, bug. i’ll see you later, okay? i’m still here.”
aria looks up at her, her big brown eyes blinking slowly, considering - and then a small nod. jj watches as emily hesitates for half a second—because emily always hesitates when it comes to leaving aria—but she does, with one last look before stepping out, pulling the door half-closed behind her.
and now? jj has a baby to bathe.
she bends down, moving carefully, reaching for the hem of aria’s sweatshirt and pulling it over her head, laughing quietly to herself as the toddler’s arms stay caught inside for a second before she wiggles them free. she tosses the dirty clothes into the hamper, then kneels to carefully undo her diaper, rolling it neatly before dropping it into the bin beside the sink. the water runs steadily, steam rising slightly from the tub, the smell of lavender and chamomile filling the air from the gentle baby wash emily had already put in a moment ago.
jj leans over, dipping her fingers into the water, letting it run between them. it’s perfectly warm.
“pretty warm, huh?” she murmurs, smiling to herself.
when she looks back at aria, the little girl has one hand gripping the edge of the bathtub, her other holding onto jj’s arm, steady and patient, watching everything. jj grins, reaching out, running a gentle finger over aria’s tiny belly, still slightly round from the pizza she devoured earlier.
“that’s a full belly, huh?” jj teases, quickly tickling her side.
aria giggling, her dimples deep and wide as she squirms at the sensation. jj laughs, lifting her carefully and setting her down in the bath, the warm water wrapping around her little legs. aria settles quickly, sighing softly as she adjusts, her hands pressing against the bottom of the tub, already getting comfortable.
jj reaches for the washcloth, dipping it into the water, squeezing out the excess before gently running it over aria’s arms, her tiny fingers barely curling at the touch. her skin is so soft. jj’s movements slow slightly as she washes, tracing over the tiny dimples on aria’s knuckles, over her rounded shoulders, down her legs, to her even tinier feet. she holds one in her palm, gently washing over it, smiling to herself.
“you’ve got the smallest feet in the world, bug,” jj murmurs, shaking her head playfully.
aria hums, wiggling her toes, completely content. jj moves to her hair next, reaching for the baby shampoo emily left beside the tub. she squeezes a little into her hands, rubbing it between her palms, breathing in the scent.
it smells like aria. soft. clean. familiar. the smell she had smelt so many times when she kissed the top of aria’s head. she carefully lathers it into her darl strands, working through with so much care, like she was made to do this, like it’s something she’s done forever .
aria leans forward slightly, her little head tilting into jj’s hands, trusting her completely. jj feels something settle deep in her chest, something she can’t name yet. she reaches for the washcloth again, remembering emily’s instructions, covering aria’s eyes gently before rinsing the shampoo out, letting the warm water run over her hair, making sure it’s all gone.
“all done, baby girl,” jj murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to her damp curls. aria perks up, suddenly reaching toward the other side of the tub..because bath toys. jj watches, amused, as aria starts gathering them one by one, picking them up deliberately, turning to show jj each and every single one.
“oh, wow,” jj gasps, playing along immediately. “what do we have here?”
aria holds up a tiny rubber whale, its small mouth slightly open, looking up at jj expectantly.
“a whale? this might be the best whale i’ve ever seen!”
aria nods, satisfied, before grabbing another.
a little yellow submarine, its edges slightly faded from many, many baths.
“a submarine? this one looks fast, bug. does it go super fast?”
aria hums, dunking it under the water before pulling it back up, watching the bubbles rise.
jj gasps dramatically, clapping her hands lightly.
“oh, i knew it was a speedy one!”
aria smiles, handing it to jj before reaching for the next. every single toy receiving its moment of attention. jj plays along the entire time, acting as if each toy is the most fascinating thing in the world, making aria giggle quietly between moments of focus.
and all the while jj hopes that emily is taking the time for herself, that she’s letting herself breathe, that she’s appreciating everything she’s done. because if anything, if nothing else, she’s built a beautiful life already. she is not failing aria, not even a little bit.
jj watches as aria starts to slow, her little shoulders relaxing, her head tilting slightly, her fingers barely curling around the next toy she grabs. her movements aren’t as quick anymore, her eyes blinking slower, her body settling deeper into the warmth of the water.
jj smiles, watching as the weight of the day catches up to her.
jj reaches out, running a gentle hand down her back, whispering, “you getting sleepy?”
aria hums. jj chuckles softly, pressing another light kiss to her damp hair.
“let’s get you dried off and ready for bed, huh?”
because bedtime was a whole other routine, but jj is more than ready to be part of it. she gets aria out of the bath with steady hands, lifting her small, damp body carefully before immediately wrapping her in the soft towel emily left out. it has a hood with little bunny ears, the fabric plush and warm, swallowing aria’s tiny frame completely. and god, she looks even smaller like this.jj cradles her gently, her arms tucking her in close as aria blinks up at her with big, sleepy eyes, her damp lashes sticking together slightly, her pink cheeks warm from the bath.
jj swears her heart just clenches right there in her chest. she adjusts her hold, one arm supporting aria’s back while the other wraps around the bundle of towel, keeping her snug.
“all snug?” jj murmurs, her voice soft as she tilts her head, nudging the bunny ears playfully. aria hums, her little hand reaching up, curling into the fabric near jj’s shoulder. jj smiles, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head before stepping out of the bathroom. she pads down the hall, moving toward aria’s room, her bare feet quiet against the hardwood.
as she passes the hallway landmark—sergio, who is fully stretched out across most of the floor—she chuckles softly.
“really making yourself comfortable, huh, buddy..”
sergio flicks his tail in response, not bothering to move. jj just shakes her head, stepping around him before reaching aria’s room, nudging the door open with her foot. the room smells like lavender, like warmth, like comfort - no doubt emily sprayed the room down once she left the bath earlier. she walks over to the changing table, gently setting aria down on the soft pad, keeping one hand on her belly to make sure she stays steady.
“alright, you little bunny,” jj says, nudging the hood back so she can see aria’s damp curls more clearly. “let’s get you all ready for bed.”
she moves carefully, reaching for the drawer emily pointed out earlier, pulling out a fresh diaper, a small bottle of lotion, and aria’s pajamas. jj unwraps the towel slowly, her fingers brushing over aria’s warm skin as she does, letting the cool air touch her for just a second before she quickly moves to get her dressed.
“let’s get this on quick before you get cold, huh?”
aria blinks sleepily, but she doesn’t fight it. jj unfolds the diaper, lifting aria’s tiny legs with one hand while expertly securing the tabs with the other, making sure it fits just right. then, she reaches for the lotion, squeezing a little into her hands before rubbing them together to warm it up first—because she knows cold lotion straight on the skin is never fun. starting with her little arms, rubbing the lotion in with slow, soothing motions. she moves down to her belly, then her legs, her hands smoothing gently over her tiny feet, rubbing circles over her heels with her thumbs.
“you have the smallest little feet in the world, bug, ” jj says, smiling as she gives her toes a gentle wiggle.
aria hums, a little smile pulling as she looks up at jj with a ‘ we have another ten minutes before i pass out ’ gaze. jj works quickly, sliding aria’s pajama top over her head, her hands guiding her little arms through the sleeves with ease before she tugs the soft fabric down. it’s a two-piece set—gray with tiny little white stars scattered across it, long-sleeved, cozy. jj kneels down a bit to slip the matching pants over aria’s legs, rolling them up just slightly at the ankles.
“there we go,” she murmurs, pressing a kiss to her knee before standing back up.
the last step, jj reaches for the little pink hairbrush, crouches down slightly, gently running her fingers through aria’s damp strands first, smoothing them out before she slowly starts brushing through them, careful not to tug.
“almost done, baby,” she murmurs, brushing the soft strands, watching as aria melts completely, her body limp against the changing pad, like she’s seconds away from falling asleep right here.
jj smiles to herself, her heart so incredibly full. she sets the brush down, smoothing aria’s hair one last time with her fingers before sliding her arms underneath her, lifting her up effortlessly. “c’mere you..” she says softly, aria folding on her like a college student stumbling back home after her first rager .
jj remembers that emily had briefly mentioned aria still takes a bottle at night, that it’s part of her bedtime routine, one day at lunch - and she remembers noticing earlier—while she was first taking the pizza dough out of the fridge—that a bottle was already prepared, sitting near the back, waiting.
so, with aria tucked against her chest, already soft and pliant from sleepiness, jj pads down the hallway, moving toward the kitchen like she’s done this a million times before . the house is quiet , dimly lit, the warmth of dinner still lingering in the air. jj moves on instinct, her arms wrapped securely around aria as she reaches the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing the bottle with ease. she glances around quickly, spotting the small fleece blanket draped over the back of one of the chairs in the living room. she takes that, too. just before leaving, she swipes one of the pacifiers off the table, knowing aria will probably want it at some point in the night.
jj heads back upstairs, her steps soft , the familiar weight of aria pressed into her like she belongs there .
before she reaches aria’s room, she glances down the hall and sees emily’s bedroom door shut . the faint sound of running water drifts through the space. a bath. jj’s chest warms .
good. emily deserves it .
jj moves quietly into aria’s room, flipping the switch off as she steps inside, letting the glow of the nightlight cast soft golden light across the walls. she settles into the rocking chair, shifting aria just slightly so she’s positioned perfectly against her chest, her little body completely relaxed . she barely stirs as jj pops the bottle cap, giving it a quick shake before gently pressing the nipple to her lips. she latches immediately , instinctively, her tiny fingers curling into the fabric of jj’s shirt.
jj exhales slowly, rocking them both in slow, gentle motions, letting the creak of the chair blend into the soft rhythm of aria’s sucking. the warmth of her body, the trust in the way she just melts , it all settles deep in jj’s chest, something so solid , so undeniable . jj hums softly, pressing her lips to aria’s damp hair, the warmth of the bath still lingering in them.
and then, she starts singing . it’s quiet, so soft , something she barely even realizes she’s doing at first—
“you are my sunshine, my only sunshine..”
her voice is steady , soothing, wrapping around aria like a lullaby should .
“...you make me happy, when slides are gray..”
jj notices the shift not too far after. the way aria’s tiny hands go completely still, no longer flexing against her chest the way they had been. the way her breathing deepens, soft and steady, little exhales warm against jj’s skin.
jj smiles softly, slowing the gentle motion of the rocking chair as she carefully pulls the bottle from aria’s lips, making sure she doesn’t stir before setting it on the small table beside her. aria doesn’t react, she’s completely out. jj exhales, feeling the weight of her perfectly tucked into her arms, warm and secure, like she belongs there.
she takes her in. really takes her in. how small she is.
how delicate and innocent she looks in sleep, her features relaxed, her dark lashes resting against her cheeks, her lips pouted out in the softest expression of sleep. jj presses the softest kiss to aria’s forehead, breathing her in, the scent of lavender from her bath still clinging to her damp hair.
she tells herself she should put her down, but she doesn’t want to let her go. not just yet. so she stays. for at least twenty minutes, she just sits there, rocking gently, holding her close, feeling the steady, soft weight of her in her arms.
she never gets moments like this. she never thought she’d want them. but god, she does.
after what feels like both forever and not nearly long enough, she stands up carefully, adjusting aria against her chest, making sure her movements are gentle, controlled. she walks the few steps to the crib, lowering her down with so much care, as if she’s made of glass. the moment aria’s small body meets the mattress, she stirs just slightly, her nose scrunching up, her lips parting in a soft sigh. but then, jj smooths a hand over her back, rubbing gently, and she settles again. fast asleep.
but jj still lingers.she watches her for a second longer, taking in the rise and fall of her bodyt, the way her fingers twitch once before relaxing completely.
softly, she whispers, “goodnight, sweetheart.”
and with one last gentle rub over her back, she finally steps away, moving toward the door, pulling it half-closed behind her - a smile softly spreading across her face.