Hope for the Hopeless [Jemily]

Living in the Present

July 15, 2007
— Emily's POV
Yes, I'm totally aware that I'm winning. The girl I've wanted for the last 12 years of my life is finally mine, and I'm so not taking this for granted. Jennifer is seriously the most amazing girlfriend, and I don't just mean for the sex. Of course that's great too, but she's just so perfect to talk to and get lunch with and work around. I've actually been going through case consults a lot quicker now that I get to go into her office as her girlfriend instead of just her coworker. Still seated at my desk, I stacked up a fresh case file and made sure all the papers were evenly in order before excitedly standing up and scurrying off to Jennifer's office.

"Come in!" She shouted after I knocked on the door.

I opened it up and walked in, "Hey there, you."

She smiled up at me and giggled, "Hi, my baby."

"I have a consult for you."

She made a pouty face, "Aww I hope that's not all?"

"What were you hoping for?"

JJ puckered her lips and demanded, "Smooch." I smiled and hopped over behind her desk, lifting her head up and leaning down to kiss her.

"Good?"

"Yes. I'll never get tired of doing that." Two more kisses. "What's the consult?" JJ looked down at  the file I plopped in front of her.

"Salt Lake PD. Double homicide. Two prostitutes."

"All right, I'll see what I can do. Will that be all, Agent Prentiss?"

"Nope." JJ scrunched her brows in confusion before I continued, "Wanna have dinner tonight? I wanna take you out. Downtown. Some place fancy."

"Fancy?"

"Mmhmm. My treat."

"I don't think I can say no to that. Fancy dinner it is, mon amor."

I started to head out as I said, "I'll pick you up around 7, okay?" JJ nodded and then got back to work. We finished the rest of the day as normal and then separately hopped into our cars to head home. I got to my apartment around 6:00 and felt comfortable with my hour-long window. I took a quick shower to freshen up my hair and then got dressed. A new restaurant just opened up downtown and I've heard great things about it from some people at work so I thought it would be a good option for me and Jennifer. I picked out one of my new suits and put it on before spraying a few puffs of cologne on myself. It was about 6:50 when I walked out the door for Jennifer's place.

She buzzed me up to her apartment and I straightened out my collar before knocking on her door, "Jenny, it's me."

I heard heels clicking my way before she swung the door open, "You're early, I'm not ready yet!"

I chuckled and looked her up and down, "You look absolutely beautiful to me."

She blushed and waved me in, "I have to fix my hair a little more so come in. I'll just be a minute."

I put my hands in my pockets and nodded, "Take your time." She scurried back into her bedroom and parked herself in front of her vanity, which was conveniently in my field of vision even though I was several feet away. I watched as she skillfully dolled up her long, blonde locks. They cascaded down her back in delicate beach waves, giving her a naturally stunning appearance. I had hearts in my eyes as she sauntered back out.

"You okay, Em?"

"Yeah you're just uh... You're just about the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen in my life, that's all."

With her purse now flung over her shoulder, she smiled at me and draped her arms around my neck, "I take it you like the dress then?"

"I love the dress. Do you um, do you like my suit? I know the pattern might be a little much but I—"

"I love the suit. You look very handsome, sweetheart." She pecked my lips lightly and I tasted the faint flavor of strawberry and vanilla that coated her lips. Instead of letting her drift away, I pulled her closer to me and prolonged our kiss. She moaned against my mouth and then mumbled against me, "We're gonna be late for our reservation."

"Fine by me." The make out session lasted another minute or two before Jennifer forced me to let us leave, much to my dismay. I drove us downtown, let a valet park my car, and gave my name for the reservation so we could sit down. Jennifer ordered chicken marsala and I got a NY strip steak. We started our dinner conversation over a glass of red.

"Emily are you sure this place isn't too expensive?"

"Of course not. I like treating you and taking you out."

"Well thank you. It doesn't go unnoticed." She bit her lip and quietly said, "Maybe I'll give you your own treat later."

"Just maybe?"

Jennifer giggled and rolled her eyes, "Okay okay, definitely." She looked at me and purred, "That suit is begging me to tear it off."

I faked a pout and clung to my jacket, "Don't tear it, it was expensive!"

"All right, enough out of you. Let's talk serious, we're in a serious restaurant."

"As you wish. I uh, I actually did wanna talk to you about something."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"When did you... When did you wanna tell people at work about us? Like Hotch and Morgan and... everyone else."

Jennifer sighed, "I'm not sure. I-I mean obviously we're serious but..." But? What's the 'but' for?

"But what? Are you not... Are you not okay with this?"

"No, no I am! It's just that once we tell everyone it's official. Like, official official."

"Well I'm okay with that." No response. "Are you not?"

Jennifer held my hand and explained, "Emily it's not that I'm not serious about this, because I am. I love you and I really wanna see where this goes. I'm just worried that being public will change things, and I... I don't know."

"Even if things did change they'd be for the better, right? We'd get to be more open at work. When we all hang out outside of the office I can be affectionate with you. I can do this," I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "And this," I ran my hand up her thigh, teasing the hem of her dress.

Jennifer blushed and looked at me, "That's true. When were you thinking about telling Hotch?"

"How about next week? Then you can mull on it for a while if you want. We don't have to do anything until you're ready."

She tucked some of my hair back and kissed the tip of my nose, "Let's just enjoy tonight for now."