you're coming to girls night, both of you.
it’s a thursday at the bau. the usual shuffle of paperwork, the hum of conversations, the faint scent of too much coffee lingering in the air. emily is at her desk, halfway through reviewing case notes, when she hears it—the determined, rapid steps of someone on a mission. she glances up, and before she can even process what’s happening, she sees penelope garcia charging toward her, bright and unwavering, dragging jj by the wrist behind her.
jj, for her part, is already laughing—a bit nervous, a bit resigned—because she knows exactly where this is going. emily sits back slightly, raising an eyebrow.
“garcia...”
penelope does not slow down. she stops directly in front of emily’s desk, releasing jj’s wrist with a flourish, planting her hands on her hips.
“prentiss! we are having wine night! tomorrow!”
emily barely has time to blink before penelope continues at full speed. emily knows what this is about. penelope has been trying for weeks to organize a wine night—an evening of unwinding, of gossip, of good wine in cozy pajamas.
and every time she’s asked, emily has responded with the same thing:
“maybe next time.”
“i can’t this week.”
“i don’t have a sitter for aria.”
“aria needs me.”
and of course—of course—penelope understands. she gets it, but that hasn’t stopped her from pouting, just a little, before jj inevitably gives her the look. the one that silently says, penelope, come on now, let it go. but today? today, penelope has an idea. a breakthrough, a solution emily starts to respond, already opening her mouth to say she can’t, that she has aria, that aria needs her—
but penelope cuts her off before she can even get past the first few words.
“oh, no, no, no, no! you are coming—and you are bringing aria!”
emily pauses. jj blinks, but her lips are already curving into a smile. penelope barrels on, triumphant.
“i have bought all the baby snacks i could find. i bought toys! i even bought this tiny, miniature wine glass so she can feel included!”
emily stares at her. jj presses her fingers against her mouth, her shoulders shaking slightly. penelope nods, fully committed.
“it’s three gals and a tiny one!” she declares. “it’s not a rager, it’s just an unwind and socialize night! no obligations except yourself. come in pajamas! it’s gonna be all comfy!”
emily continues blinking, processing this. jj, on the other hand, is now smiling so wide she’s this close to laughing outright. emily exhales, rubbing her fingers over her forehead.
“you bought a tiny wine glass for a two-year-old?”
penelope nods enthusiastically.
“yes. so she can feel included! it’s bpa-free! it’s for apple juice! i thought of everything!”
jj snorts, finally giving in to laughter. emily just shakes her head, speechless, because— what the hell just happened? and why is she actually considering it? emily exhales, her fingers still rubbing lightly at her forehead as she looks between the two of them— penelope, staring at her with pleading, wide eyes. jj, raising a brow, shrugging casually, like she’s already known where this was going from the moment they walked over.
emily sighs, letting her shoulders drop before nodding.
“fine. fine.” she shakes her head. “we’ll come.”
penelope gasps dramatically, clapping her hands together in excitement.
“yes! yes, this is the best news i’ve ever received, prentiss you beautiful dream giver you!”
jj just grins, pleased with herself. emily? emily is still processing how she got here.
but it’s too late now—because she agreed.
that night, during dinner, emily watches as aria pushes her spoon around her plate, her small hands getting progressively messier by the second. and even though she’s fully capable of feeding herself— tonight, apparently, she has decided that emily should do it.
“emmy ‘ou do it?
emily laughs softly, shaking her head, but obliges, gathering a spoonful of rice before gently guiding it toward aria’s mouth. she leans forward, opening wide, taking the bite without hesitation. emily waits a beat, making sure she’s chewing before she continues talking.
“so, baby, tomorrow we’re gonna go see penelope.”
aria pauses slightly, chewing thoughtfully.
“nelope?”
it’s quiet, the way she says it—her little voice soft, still figuring out the name as she swallows her bite. emily nods, twirling the spoon between her fingers as she continues.
“yep, penelope. she’s my friend, and she really wants us to come over. you met her at the cookout a bit ago”
aria tilts her head, her lips puckering slightly, like she’s thinking very hard about this information.
“jayje too?”
emily smiles, scooping another spoonful of rice.
“yep, jj will be there too.”
aria perks up slightly, her little fingers drumming against the tray of her high chair.
“sergy?”
emily chuckles, shaking her head.
“no, baby. sergio stays here.”
aria hums, nodding to herself—like she’s considering whether or not this is acceptable. then she opens her mouth again, waiting for another bite.
emily smiles, bringing the spoon up, watching as aria chews thoughtfully, her little brows pulling together in that way she does when she’s really thinking about something. emily could leave it there. she already agreed to go, penelope already has it all planned out, and there’s no real reason to question it any further.
but.
“do you want to go, baby?”
aria pauses, her small fingers pressing against the tray of her high chair, and she looks up at emily, her big brown eyes curious. emily knows she’s already said yes. but she’ll always ask aria. because emily wants her to know that she always has a choice. that she’ll never force her into something that doesn’t make her comfortable.
aria blinks, then nods.
“go see nelope,” she murmurs softly, as if solidifying the decision in her own head.
emily smiles, nodding back.
“okay, we’ll go see penelope.”
she already knows what tipped the scales - and while she’d love to think that penelope’s endless supply of toys and snacks was the only reason, emily knows that jj is going to be there. and she knows that’s probably what sweetened the deal the most. she exhales a soft chuckle, running a gentle hand over aria’s damp curls before grabbing another spoonful of rice. but before she can bring it to aria’s lips, the toddler suddenly shifts gears, her mind already onto something else.
“emmy, why birds go nigh-nigh?”
emily blinks, caught slightly off guard.
“why do birds go to sleep?”
aria nods, waiting. emily laughs, shaking her head as she lifts the spoon again.
“because, baby, everyone has to sleep.”
aria tilts her head, as if debating whether or not that’s a sufficient answer.
“sergy go nigh-nigh?”
emily smirks, feeding her another bite.
“baby, that is all sergio does.”
aria hums around her bite, considering this, before letting out a tiny giggle. emily just shakes her head, smiling as she wipes a stray piece of rice from aria’s cheek.
“any more random inquiries, or are we focusing on dinner now?”
aria just grins, because of course there will be more. emily already knows that.
that friday at work? penelope is a kid in a candy store. she’s buzzing, practically glowing with excitement, flitting between emily and jj, rattling off an ever-growing list of things she has prepared for the evening - and well, barely working.
“okay, okay, listen,” she says, grinning, adjusting her glasses as she follows them down the hall. “i have got everything. like, everything everything.”
emily exhales through her nose, already bracing herself. jj? jj is just smirking, arms crossed, fully enjoying watching this unfold.
“i got baby snacks, and i mean all the baby snacks, prentiss. i did my research! we’re talking puffs, fruit bars, applesauce pouches, the works!”
emily nods, her lips twitching slightly.
“sounds like she’ll be eating better than i will.”
“well, obviously,” penelope waves her off, already moving on. “i also bought toys, and i baby-proofed—”
emily pauses.
“penelope,” she sighs. “there’s no reason to—”
“oh, shush, don’t even start,” penelope interrupts, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. “it’s habit! i couldn’t not baby-proof! it’s a baby! in my apartment! my sacred, delicate little sanctuary! what if she touches something dangerous?”
emily raises an eyebrow.
“what’s dangerous in your apartment? your bedazzled keyboards?”
jj laughs, hiding her grin behind her coffee cup.
“okay, rude,” penelope sniffs, but recovers quickly. “anyway, i also got her own little wine glass, which—”
“for apple juice,” emily clarifies dryly, shaking her head.
“yes, duh,” penelope grins, linking her arm through emily’s as they walk. “which brings me to my next question—”
“there’s more?”
“there’s always more, prentiss!” penelope gasps, shaking her head like she’s deeply offended by the suggestion otherwise. jj just chuckles, walking alongside them, letting penelope do her thing.
“now, tell me exactly what aria needs, because i must be the best possible host!”
emily blinks, processing the sheer volume of effort that penelope is putting into this.
and at first, it feels like a lot. because it is. but then something settles in her chest. something warm. because as much as this is a lot, it also means something huge.
she is surrounded by people who care about aria. people who want her to be comfortable, happy, safe. emily softens slightly, smiling just a little as penelope keeps talking.
“okay, okay, tell me, what’s her routine? does she need, like, a special bedtime thing? a specific blanket i know i will run into her bedtime, my apologies. will she judge me if i don’t cut her fruit into perfectly even squares?”
emily chuckles, shaking her head.
“penelope, she’s two. she’s not going to do a quality check on your snack arrangement.”
“listen, you don’t know that,” penelope argues. “she’s your kid. you’re particular. she could be exactly the same way!”
jj laughs outright at that, nudging emily lightly.
“she’s got a point.”
emily groans, rubbing her temples.
“god, she does.”
penelope gasps dramatically.
“i knew it! okay, i need details!”
emily sighs, but the smile doesn’t leave her face. because if there’s one thing she knows about penelope garcia, it’s that she’s not letting this go until she gets exactly what she wants.
“alright, fine,” emily exhales, shaking her head but still smiling. “you want details? you got ‘em.”
penelope grins, pulling out a tiny notebook from seemingly nowhere, flipping it open like she’s taking official notes. jj lets out a soft laugh, already knowing this is going to be a whole production.
“okay,” emily starts, crossing her arms. “she loves fruit snacks, but she will absolutely judge you if they’re not the good kind. also, we don’t do red 40 - don't look at me like that, it's bad.”
penelope gasps, scribbling something down.
“define good kind, prentiss. i must know what is acceptable and what is inferior...and nooo red 40, bad stuff.”
“the gummy ones that are shaped like fruits,” emily clarifies. “the ones that don’t taste like sad, chalky vitamins, and she hates the ones that stick to your teeth.”
“ahh, yes, yes, noted,” penelope hums, jotting it down.
“she’s a big fan of blueberries, and strawberries, and she loves bananas—”
”—but only if they’re peeled correctly,” jj cuts in, grinning. penelope pauses, looking between them.
“what do you mean peeled correctly?”
jj snickers, shaking her head.
“oh, no, it’s a thing,” she says, her tone way too amused. “one time emily peeled one from the bottom, and aria collapsed to the floor like she had been betrayed.”
emily sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“it was a full meltdown,” she mutters, shaking her head. “like i had ruined her entire existence.”
penelope gasps, clasping her hands together in mock horror.
“so what i’m hearing is that i must consult her before i even dare peel a banana.”
“oh, absolutely,” jj nods, fighting back laughter. emily just groans, smirking despite herself.
“okay, okay, moving on,” she says, waving a hand. “she loves ranch dressing, will dip anything in it, and she’s still in her ‘feeding me’ phase.”
penelope tilts her head, intrigued.
“meaning…?”
jj grins, knowingly.
“meaning if she really loves you, she will insist on feeding you a bite of her food.”
“oh my god,” penelope gasps, clutching her chest dramatically. “i hope i get chosen. i hope she deems me worthy.”
jj and emily just laugh, shaking their head.
this isn’t just wine night. this is aria’s first wine night, and it’s going to be perfect.
later on, emily was walking toward the elevator, her bag slung over her shoulder, ready to head home and get aria when she heard it.
“i’ll see you at six!”
garcia’s voice rang through the bullpen, loud and triumphant, a declaration that left no room for argument. emily smirked, glancing over her shoulder just long enough to throw a casual salute before stepping into the elevator.
she pressed the button, the doors slid shut, and she exhaled, rolling her shoulders slightly, already shifting into mom mode.
emily had expected to walk into daycare and hear the usual sounds.
the second she stepped through the door, she was used to it—that excited shriek of “emmy!”, little feet pounding against the floor as aria ran straight for her, arms outstretched, beaming.
but today? today, it was quiet. too quiet. her brows furrowed immediately, a slight crease forming between them as she reached for the pen, halfway signing the sheet—halfway still scanning the room, trying to spot her daughter.
and then—
“aria… hey… look who’s here…”
melanie’s voice was soft, coaxing, and something about it made the back of emily’s neck tense. she turned toward the voice, her lips already pulling into a smile— but then she saw her, and emily’s stomach dropped.
aria’s bottom lip was swollen, a dark, pinkish-red puff against her otherwise soft skin. tears were dried on her cheeks, faint little tracks that told emily she had only just stopped crying. her big brown eyes—normally so bright, so expressive—were still glossy, damp from fresh tears that had barely had time to dry completely. and worst of all? that hesitation. that tiny, momentary pause before aria reacted —like she wasn’t sure if she should cry again, or if reaching for emily would make it all feel better.
finally—her small arms lifted, reaching toward emily, her fingers curling in the universal toddler gesture of please pick me up. and emily? emily felt her entire heart shatter into pieces.
“oh, baby…”
she barely registered setting the pen down before she was moving, closing the space between them in seconds, her arms already out. the moment she reached for her, aria collapsed into her, her tiny hands fisting into emily’s jacket, her little body curling in as tightly as she could.
emily scooped her up immediately, pressing her close, one arm firm around her, the other hand cradling the back of her head, her lips pressing softly into her hair.
“i got you, baby. emmy’s got you.”
aria sniffled, a tiny, hiccuping breath, her fingers clutching tighter. emily rocked slightly, rubbing slow, steady circles over her back, whispering soothingly into her hair.
“shhh, i’m here. it’s okay. i’m right here.”
melanie sighed softly, watching them, an apology laced in her expression.
“she took a little tumble,” she explained gently. “tried keeping up with the big kids outside and… well, she went down hard.”
emily closed her eyes for half a second, forcing herself to take a deep breath before she pulled back just enough to look at aria’s little face.
“how long ago?”
“not even ten minutes ago,” melanie reassured her. “we got ice on it right away, checked her teeth—everything’s fine, just a little busted lip. it’ll be sore, but she’s okay.”
emily nodded, her fingers brushing softly along aria’s cheek, then gently tracing the curve of her swollen lip, barely a ghost of a touch.
“you scared me, bug,” she murmured, her voice softer now, the tension still tight in her chest.
aria sniffled again, blinking up at her, her lashes still wet, her face damp from the earlier meltdown. emily hated this feeling. she knew it was minor. she knew that logically, toddler falls happened all the time. but knowing her tiny, sweet, gentle daughter had been in pain—had been crying without her—it made her chest ache in a way she wasn’t sure would ever go away.
she carried aria to the car, one hand firm on her back, the other reaching for the keys in her pocket. aria was still clutching her tightly, her little fingers gripping the fabric, her head resting against emily’s collarbone.
emily pressed a soft kiss to her temple, feeling the tiny little hitched breaths that told her aria was finally calming down.
part of emily felt guilty now—like maybe they shouldn’t be going to penelope’s. like maybe she should just take her home, give her a bath, let her curl up on the couch with her, safe and sound, wrapped in a blanket with sergio at their feet. but before she could really talk herself into it, she gently buckled aria into her car seat, making sure the straps were snug but comfortable — just as she was about to shut the door, aria finally spoke.
“go ‘nelopes?”
her voice was small, still slightly wobbly, but hopeful. emily paused, her fingers lingering against the buckle. she looked up, meeting aria’s big brown eyes, still a little watery, but calmer now, focused entirely on her. emily exhaled softly, smiling just a bit.
“yeah, baby. we’re going to penelope’s.”