Jennifer
Emily was pacing around her living room, trying to fix anything that could be out of place. JJ was going to be there any minute now. She didn't know why she was so nervous. This wasn't their first time being alone but something about today was different. Her aunt was out of town so the house was empty. Shed spent hours deep cleaning-even scrubbing parts JJ probably wouldn't even look at. She’d swept, moped, and even dusted.
Emily had dusted.
She had actually dusted.
Why the hell was she taking this so seriously?
In the last hour, she’d changed her outfit three times, re-did her hair twice, and out of nervousness rearranged all the furniture in her room. They weren't even going to work in her room.
She wiped her hands on her pants nervously. At one point she had settled on a pair of sweatpants and a matching black hoodie. They weren't going to leave the house after all. Emily looked at the clock
12:56 PM
Alright, JJ would be here any second now, she did her best to take a few deep breaths and calm down. She patted her hands down on her pants and ran a hand through her hair. Then she heard a knock on the door.
Shit
Shit
Shit
Alright, Emily get it together, it's just JJ—no big deal.
When she opened the door JJ stood there, cheeks flushed pink from the cold winter air, a few bags in hand. She gave Emily a weak smile.
“Hey”
Emily returned the smile and moved aside so JJ could step in. As soon as she shut the door, she noticed just how flushed the blonde actually was. Her nose and lips were tinted red, her hands tucked against her chest, and she was shivering slightly. That’s when Emily realized—she hadn't seen a car in the driveway.
"God, Jenny, did you walk here?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern. "It's freezing out there."
"Yeah, it's no big deal," JJ said with a small shrug, but Emily didn’t miss the way she pulled her hoodie sleeves over her fingers. "My mom said she wouldn't get me a car until I go off to college, so I'm stuck on foot for now." She let out a small chuckle, but it sounded a little forced.
Emily frowned. "Alright, well, set your stuff down in the kitchen. I'm making you some tea."
JJ blinked, surprised by the sudden hospitality. "Oh—uh, thanks."
She walked over to the kitchen and set her bag down on the island, taking a seat as Emily moved around. Her eyes wandered a little, taking in the space. She knew for a fact that Emily’s mom was rich, so she assumed her aunt would be too. But this house was... humble. Cozy. Comforting in a way she hadn't expected.
No pictures of Emily on the walls. No pictures of her mom either. Just photos of Emily’s aunt with some boys JJ didn’t recognize.
Did Emily even know her aunt?
"It smells… really fresh in here. Like, lemony.”
Emily, who had been focused on making the tea, froze for half a second before quickly recovering. She rolled her eyes, playing it off. "Yeah, my aunt asked me to clean while she was gone."
Lies. She was lying through her teeth.
"Thought I'd go above and beyond, you know?"
JJ raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You, cleaning? Shocker."
Emily scoffed. "I know, right? Who knew—aside from being a bad influence—I’m also a domestic goddess."
The second the words left her mouth, she regretted them. God, she thought, why am I like this?
Luckily, JJ’s tea was ready, sparing her from further embarrassment.
"Alright, Jenny, here’s your tea. I don’t know how you like it, but there’s sugar if you want some."
JJ wrapped her hands around the mug, letting the warmth sink in. She took a small sip, sighing softly as the heat spread through her. "It's perfect just like this. Thanks." She looked up and gave Emily a small smile.
Emily felt something twist in her chest. "Yeah, no problem."
Then, silence.
It stretched between them, not exactly uncomfortable but not easy either. JJ stared into her cup, and Emily shifted her weight from foot to foot.
"So, uh—" Emily finally spoke, rubbing the back of her neck. "Guess we better get started. What did you bring?"
A few hours had passed, and at some point, a bit of the awkwardness had faded. Not quite gone, but something easier. Not exactly natural, but easier.
They had settled into a rhythm—JJ researching while Emily pieced together the diagram model. There were only small moments of awkwardness, like when their hands brushed while reaching for the same piece or when their shoulders bumped slightly as they leaned over the instructions. They had never been this physically close for so long, and there was something about it, something lingering in the air that neither acknowledged but both could feel.
They were almost done when Emily stretched her arms over her head, letting out a dramatic groan. “Ughhhhh, when is this going to be over?”
JJ chuckled softly and started, “We're almost done, just—”
Unfortunately, she was interrupted by the loud growl of her stomach.
Oh God. This was embarrassing.
A beat of silence passed as JJ’s cheeks and neck flushed a light pink. Emily arched an eyebrow, an amused smirk tugging at her lips.
“You know, Jenny, if you were hungry, you could've just said so.”
JJ laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. “I was going to say something, but my stomach beat me to it.”
Emily glanced at the clock, suddenly realizing she was hungry too.
5:23 PM.
She pushed away from the counter and stretched her arms again, the hem of her shirt rising just slightly before falling back into place. JJ’s eyes couldn't help but wander over to the exposed skin, she forced herself away and Emily didn't seem to notice.
“Alright, you know what? Let’s go get something to eat. I can finish the rest later.”
JJ tilted her head slightly. “Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you with all the boring work.”
Emily shrugged, already grabbing her things. “Yeah, don’t worry, it’s all paperwork anyway.” She dangled her keys between her fingers and gave JJ another smug smirk. “Plus, I wouldn’t want you starving to death in my house.”
JJ shook her head and dramatically rolled her eyes. “Alright, where to?”
“There’s a diner down the street. I can drive you home after if you’d like.”
“Thanks, that would be nice.”
With that, both girls left, the moonlight casting a soft glow on the quiet street. The drive was mostly silent except for the low hum of the radio—some country station neither of them particularly liked, but neither bothered to change. It filled the space between them, a background noise that made the silence feel a little less heavy.
When they got to the diner, it was mostly empty—just a couple of older folks sitting at the counter and a waitress lazily wiping down a table. They slid into a booth near the back, JJ sinking into the worn leather seat while Emily tapped her fingers against the tabletop, a nervous habit.
A waitress took their order, and then there was an easy silence. Emily decided to break it.
“So, Jenny, how’s being a soccer star going?”
JJ raised an eyebrow, surprised. Emily was asking about soccer? “Well, it’s a lot of pressure, but you know me—I’m cool as a cucumber.”
Emily smirked. “Yeah, because when someone mentions ‘cool,’ Jennifer Jareau is the first person I think of,” she teased. “But, I mean, it must be a lot. You’ve got quite the image to maintain—the soccer scholarship golden girl, the perfect mix of athletic, pretty, and smart?”
JJ’s eyes brightened, and a smile tugged at her lips. Her shoulders relaxed a little at the unexpected compliment. Emily Prentiss had just called her pretty.
Emily returned the smile, and for a moment, the air between them felt lighter. That was, until JJ’s phone buzzed loudly against the table, snapping them both out of the moment.
JJ glanced at the screen.
Will.
She hadn’t answered any of his calls or messages since last night. He didn’t even know she was with Emily right now.
She quickly turned the phone off and set it back on the table, crossing her arms with a frown pulling at her lips. Emily noticed the shift, the subtle change in her posture.
“Who was that?” Emily asked, her voice quiet, but the concern was evident.
JJ shifted uncomfortably, her gaze drifting to her plate. “Uh, it was just Will.”
Emily’s shoulders tensed at the mention of his name. “Oh.”
The change in her expression didn’t go unnoticed. The playful air that had surrounded them moments ago evaporated, replaced by something more uncertain.
JJ, feeling the tension, tried to steer the conversation away. “What about you?” she asked, leaning slightly forward, her voice soft. “You know all about me, but I don’t know much about you. Tell me about Europe. What was it like? What do you want to do after all this is over?”
Emily’s eyes lit up, the mention of Europe clearly bringing back memories. “Well, Europe is amazing. I lived there from the time I was 9 until I was 17, so I’ve pretty much seen all of it.” JJ leaned in a little, eager to hear more.
“I was living in Italy before here, in Rome. It was great. And before that, I was in France and spent a few years in the UK.” Emily’s smile softened as she spoke, her gaze distant, like she was remembering it all with fondness.
JJ couldn’t help but notice the way Emily’s eyes brightened as she spoke. Emily must really miss it there.
“Were you making other girls’ lives living hells over there too, or is that just a ‘me’ thing?” JJ asked, trying to keep things light, though she couldn’t hide the mischievous glint in her eyes.
Emily shifted in her seat, fingers tugging absentmindedly at the cuff of her sleeve. “Well, I didn’t really make any friends there. I was never in one place long enough to.” She shrugged casually, offering a weak smile. “Just kind of… passing through.”
JJ’s expression softened.
Oh
That explains why she didn’t really settle into the fun during her birthday. She probably wasn’t used to it.
“That must’ve been tough, Em”
Emily’s gaze flickered down, but she shrugged it off. “It’s whatever. I never really cared that much. But, it’s nice to have you guys now, even if you get on my nerves every once in a while.” She smiled, a hint of affection in her eyes.
JJ’s heart gave a little jolt. “It’s nice to have you around, too,” she said, the words coming out a little softer than she intended. “Even if your chemistry jokes suck.”
Emily chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, come on, they were not that bad.”
JJ raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “Emily, they were terrible.”
They both laughed, the tension between them dissipating for the moment. The waiter arrived just as their laughter died down, placing their food on the table. They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate, occasionally glancing up to find each other’s eyes already there. The fleeting moments when their gazes met felt charged, but neither of them said anything.
When they finished eating, Emily insisted on paying the check, despite JJ’s protests. “I don’t mind spending my mom’s money,” she said with a casual shrug, and JJ, feeling a little defeated, let her.
Stepping outside, the cold air hit them like a wall, and the rain was coming down in sheets. JJ didn’t even get the chance to react before Emily was pulling her back under the awning of the diner to shield them from the downpour.
“Wow, I guess we're going for the full dramatic effect this evening,” JJ muttered, half-laughing, but her teeth were chattering.
Emily’s lips curved into a playful smile, but her eyes looked just a little too serious. “I don’t want to drive in this.”
JJ hesitated, looking out at the rain. “Yeah, you probably shouldn't.”
The two of them stood there for a moment, the rain falling around them in a steady rhythm. Emily glanced at her car and then back at JJ. She nodded toward the passenger side. “We can wait in the car. Let it settle down a bit.”
JJ nodded, following Emily to the car. The alley next to the diner was quiet, the kind of place where everything felt just a little more private. Almost intimate. They climbed in, and the car door clicked shut behind them, cocooning them in a space that felt too small for the silence stretching between them.
They sat there for a few minutes, neither saying a word. JJ stared out the window, lost in thought. Emily, on the other hand, was wrestling with the quiet, not sure how to fill the space.
JJ had been trying to push it away, but she couldn’t ignore it anymore. There was something about Emily that made her feel… something Will couldn’t. When Will sent her a text, her stomach didn’t flutter. When he complimented her, her eyes didn’t light up. His words felt too rehearsed, but with Emily, it was different. It was natural. Easy.
Emily glanced over at JJ, noticing the faraway look on her face. Her stomach twisted, unease creeping in.
Had she said something wrong?
Why was JJ so quiet?
The rain didn’t show any signs of stopping, so Emily shifted in her seat, moving the chair back a little to give her legs more space. After another minute, the only sounds were the hum of the heater and the steady thrum of rain against the windshield. Fifteen minutes had passed, and neither of them had said a word.
JJ turned towards Emily, her mouth slightly open like she was about to speak, but then her gaze flitted away again, unsure.
Emily’s fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel, unable to take the silence any longer. “I don’t bite, JJ,” she said, her voice teasing, but there was something more serious behind it, a subtle edge.
JJ shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes not quite meeting Emily’s. “What?”
“You’re acting weird,” Emily said, her tone still light, but her brow furrowed in concern.
JJ stared at her feet, her thumbs tracing the hem of her hoodie nervously. “No, I’m not.”
Emily leaned forward slightly, her voice gentler now but still insistent. “Yes, you are. You haven’t looked at me since we got out of the diner.”
JJ frowned, a bit too defensively. “That’s not true.”
Emily scoffed softly, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Oh really? Is that why you’re still avoiding eye contact?”
JJ went quiet, staring straight ahead, unsure how to respond.
Emily didn’t let the silence drag on. “Do it. Do it, JJ. Look at me.”
JJ hesitated, then turned her head, meeting Emily’s gaze. Emily was already looking at her, eyes steady, unwavering.
There was something about the way Emily was leaning back, her hoodie casually loose at the collar, her cheeks still flushed from the cold, that made JJ’s chest tighten.
JJ’s eyes lingered on Emily’s face, tracing the lines of her features, the slight furrow in her brow. Her gaze drifted down to her lips, and she couldn’t quite tear it away. She swallowed, her mouth dry.
Emily’s lips curled up at the corners, an almost imperceptible smirk forming. “What?” she asked, the playful note in her voice, but her eyes were searching, waiting for JJ’s answer.
“Nothing,” JJ muttered, but her gaze was still locked on Emily’s lips. She couldn’t help it. It felt… too easy to look.
Emily shifted in her seat, sitting up slightly. The tension between them thickened, and it felt like the air in the car had changed.
Emily could see it in JJ’s eyes. The flicker of desire, it was undeniable even if it wasnt fully understood. She leaned in a little closer, close enough for JJ to feel the heat of her body, the warmth of her breath.
“JJ…” Emily whispered, her voice low, almost too soft for the storm outside.
That was it. The sound of her name on Emily’s lips was all it took for every last bit of JJ’s self-restraint to leave her body. She moved, her hand reaching for the back of Emily’s neck, pulling her into a kiss. It was desperate, fueled by the tension of unspoken words and need.
Their lips collided with urgency as if neither of them had ever tasted anything like it before. Emily's fingers weaved through JJ’s hair, tugging her closer, needing more. JJ shifted awkwardly, moving her legs over the enter console. She was straddling Emily now, her knees pushed up painfully between the seat and the door, but she didn't care. The only thing on her mind right now was the soft feeling of Emily's lips against hers,
Emily turned her head slightly, deepening the kiss, pulling a sound out of JJ she definitely hadn't expected. Emily's other hand gripped the side of JJ’s waist, her breath coming out in short gasps. JJ’s hand snaked between them and slid under Emily's hoodie, fingers scratching lightly over her smooth stomach. A shot of pride rushed through her as Emily's breath hitched slightly.
She had just provoked that reaction.
JJ’s heart was pounding in her chest, but it wasn't fear anymore. It was adrenaline, the rush, the way everything was electric right now. She could feel Emily’s pulse against her lips and it only made her want her more.
The rain outside was thrumming loudly against the glass and suddenly the car didn't feel so cold anymore.
Their mouths moved together in a perfect rhythm, it felt natural, it felt perfect. Like their lips were made for each other. JJ pulled back slightly causing Emily to let out a small groan. She quickly started planting kisses on her jawline and down her neck causing Emily to let out soft moans in pleasure.
“Jennifer…” She whispered softly as JJ planted more kisses down her neck
Oh God.
Emily’s voice was quiet, like a silent plead.
JJ felt like she could finish without Emily having to touch her; the sound of her name on her tongue was enough. Her stomach twisted, and a familiar feeling settled in her lower stomach. The hand on Emily’s stomach snaked further down her torso, slightly hesitating as she reached her waistband. JJ smirked when she heard Emily’s breath speed up in anticipation, her chest rising and falling quickly.
Emily whispered her name again, “Jennifer” This time her tone was desperate, like she needed JJ, and that was all the confirmation she needed.
But just as her hand was about to sneak under her waistband…
BAM!
The sudden sound shattered the moment like glass, yanking them back to reality. JJ jumped, her head hitting the roof of the car with a dull thud. She winced, scrambling awkwardly to get back into her seat, her body still thrumming with heat and adrenaline.
Outside, one of the diner workers had come out to throw the trash. He froze mid-step, eyes lingering on the car just a little too long, making it painfully obvious that he’d seen what had been happening.
JJ’s breath was uneven as she turned to Emily, who was still catching hers. Her hair was a mess, her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed. Every inch of her screamed evidence of what they had just done.
Emily exhaled a soft, breathy, “Shit.”
JJ’s stomach twisted violently. The realization hit her all at once—she had just kissed Emily. No, not just kissed her. She had wanted her, lost herself in her, let herself feel something she had spent so long pushing down.
And worst of all—she had a boyfriend.
Her pulse roared in her ears, drowning out everything but the sheer weight of what had just happened. She could still taste Emily on her lips, still feel her touch like it had burned into her skin.
JJ swallowed hard, her hands gripping the fabric of her hoodie so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
When she finally forced herself to look at Emily, there was a small, almost dazed smile playing on Emily’s lips. But the second she met JJ’s expression, it vanished.
Emily’s brows knitted together, her voice soft.
“JJ, I—”
“I think we should go,” JJ cut in, her voice tight, strained. Her eyes darted to the windshield, to anywhere but Emily.
Emily hesitated. JJ wouldn’t even look at her.
A beat of silence passed before Emily shifted in her seat, straightening up and gripping the wheel. Without another word, she turned the key in the ignition. The car rumbled to life, the sound filling the thick tension between them as Emily pulled out of the alley.
The drive to JJ’s house was quiet. Not the comfortable kind of quiet they’d had earlier—the kind that made the air between them feel suffocating.
JJ sat stiffly in her seat, eyes locked on the window, watching the streetlights blur past. Her mind was a mess, tangled in thoughts she couldn’t even begin to untangle.
What had she just done?
How could she let this happen?
Why did it feel so… right?
What would’ve happened if they hadn’t been interrupted?
She curled her fingers into her sleeves, gripping the fabric like it could somehow steady her. But nothing felt steady anymore.
Emily, on the other hand, kept stealing glances at JJ, trying to read her, trying to understand what was going through her head.
Her own heart was still racing, but for a completely different reason. She felt good, almost giddy. Kissing JJ had been… everything. The way she melted into her, the way her hands felt on her stomach—Emily could still feel it in her bones.
But then there was this. JJ’s silence. The way she had pulled away so quickly, the way she wouldn’t even look at her now.
Did she regret it?
Had Emily just screwed everything up?
Her hands tightened on the wheel as she pulled up to JJ’s house, headlights washing over the driveway. She put the car in park, but JJ didn’t move right away.
For a second, Emily thought—hoped—that she might say something.
But JJ just unbuckled her seatbelt, mumbling a quiet, “Thanks for the ride.”
She reached for the door handle, pausing just long enough that Emily almost said something, almost reached for her—
But then JJ was gone.
Emily sat there, gripping the wheel, watching as JJ hurried inside without looking back.
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, leaning back against the headrest, her eyes shutting for a second.
JJ had kissed her. JJ had kissed her. And even though she’d pulled away, even though she was panicking now—Emily knew what she had felt in that moment.
JJ wanted her.
But whether she was ready to admit it?
That was a whole different story.
Emily exhaled, running a hand through her hair, a small, almost disbelieving smile tugging at her lips despite the worry curling in her stomach.
JJ was freaking out.
And Emily?
Emily hadn’t felt this happy in years.