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Assistant: Title: Late Bloomer
        Author: angestreet angestreet 
        Chapter: 30/34 
        Summary: When Tara Lewis invites Emily Prentiss out to a gay bar on a hunch, she just wants the FBI section chief to have a little fun, and, yes, maybe pick up a phone number or two. But the ordinary evening sends Emily spiralling, forcing her to confront a truth she has pushed down for decades — and face how she really feels about Jennifer Jareau.An Evolution-era fic about coming out and finding love in middle age.
        Contents: Chapter 30: Jump
    

    

        
          
          
            Unexpected news from Will sends JJ spinning. Meanwhile, Emily dips a tentative toe into the world of corporate pride.
          
        

      
        
          
          (See the end of the chapter for  notes.)
          
      
  

  
  
    
    "Jay." Emily's voice was soft, her breath tickling JJ's ear. "Jay, wake up."JJ stirred, slowly becoming conscious of the dimly lit room around her. The soft glow of a landscape on the TV screensaver. The leafy silhouette of an ailing houseplant. The heat of a body pressed against hers.Her eyes cracked open further. A coffee table came into focus, a novel on it, some coasters. An almost-empty bowl of popcorn, sitting precariously close to the edge.JJ vaguely registered that she had drooled onto whatever soft thing lay under her head."Em?" she said sleepily."Hey," Emily said, her voice still gentle, easing JJ out of sleep. "I'm here."They were entwined, uncomfortably, on Emily's low, squashy sofa. JJ was using Emily's chest as a pillow, her legs curled up on the couch, while Emily was wedged into the corner at an angle, having relinquished her own comfort to JJ hours ago. A plush blanket tangled between their torsos."I fell asleep too," Emily said. She had an arm around JJ, her fingers resting on JJ's waistband, where navy fleece met exposed hip. "I'm sorry."JJ yawned, still groggy. "That's OK," she said.She sat up, interlaced her fingers behind her neck, arched her head from side to side. "Jesus," she said, as Emily shifted from her uncomfortable pose, her thin gray shirt askew. "How on earth did you fall asleep like that?"Emily just shrugged, looking back at JJ fondly. She reached over to turn on the table lamp. As warm light spilled across the room, a blinking JJ realized she had left a damp patch on Emily's shirt. "Sorry," she said, bashfully, reaching out to graze the dark circle just above her chest."Don't be silly," Emily said, her eyes somehow growing softer by the second.JJ fished around for her phone, eventually locating it on the floor next to the couch. It lit up with a photograph of Henry, small and wide-eyed, holding his tiny baby brother. 
  Monday, June 5

  1:24 AM
"Oh my god," JJ said, now fully awake."Yeah," Emily said. "I must have nodded off soon after you did."They had been watching a movie together, enjoying the quiet rhythm of Sunday night.It was how they had spent pretty much every other Sunday over the past few months, BAU caseload permitting. It was almost routine: after handing the boys and house over to Will, JJ would drop her stuff at Sandy's, hang out with her mom for a little while, and then, at some point, arrive at Emily's door.Emily would make them dinner, something simple, while JJ nursed a wine at the breakfast bar, her eyes making a quiet study of the body she was still aching to get to know.They'd retire to the couch. Watch a film, usually, or sometimes the Great British Bake Off, which they enjoyed in spite of themselves. Get a little close, but not too close; the line fluid but rigidly observed.Or it had been.Until a few hours ago, when, during a scene of quiet dialogue, Emily had leaned back into the couch, rolled her shoulders, as if stretching, and then tentatively put her arm around JJ.JJ's next breath had caught in her throat. She sat still, her eyes fixed on the screen, no longer registering what the characters were saying.And then she had relaxed into Emily, who pulled her closer, let her fingers brush over the curve of JJ's bicep, at first lightly, and then firmly, and then admiringly.They shifted closer, and closer again, a slow dance choreographed in tiny yet consequential movements. Emily angled her body to admit JJ entry; JJ nestled her head in Emily's collarbone. JJ's hand found its way to Emily's thigh. Emily's to the nape of JJ's neck.The movie played on, its arc relegated to a B-plot, as a hum of attraction rose up in JJ, threatened to overwhelm her, settled low in her stomach.Her eyelids had started growing heavy, soothed into slumber by the thrum of Emily's heartbeat. She tried to fight it. But she was exhausted after a week of juggling work and a sick Michael and Henry's eighth grade exams.On the precipice of sleep, JJ suddenly jerked herself awake. Emily laughed gently. She had seen JJ make the same familiar movement dozens of times, though granted, never in her arms before."Go to sleep," Emily said, her hand slowly caressing JJ's hair. "I'll wake you when it's over." It was all the permission JJ had needed. And Emily had kept her promise, if a few hours later than expected.JJ watched Emily twist from side to side, grimacing, hands on her lower back. "Guess we're too old for sleeping on the couch," Emily said wryly."Maybe we are," JJ said. 
   Maybe we should try sleeping somewhere else? 
She glanced at her phone, and back at Emily, who spoke before she could."It's so late," Emily said. "Do you… want to just stay the night? I know you have a big day tomorrow. Today."JJ rubbed her eyes, wondering if she should demur. Obviously, she wanted to stay the night. And not just because she didn't feel like driving to Sandy's at this hour.But it felt like a big step. It  was a big step.And she wanted Emily to offer because she meant it. Not because she thought JJ needed a good sleep, or felt guilty for not waking her up, or was worried about her driving tired. "Are you sure that's OK?" JJ said."Stay," Emily said, her voice tender, no hint of a question.It was 7 a.m. when JJ crept into Sandy's apartment.She knew the chances of her mom still being asleep were low. Still, she closed the door behind her with the faintest click. Then she heard the shower running. 
   F@ck. 
Stepping through the apartment, JJ saw the door to her room was closed.
   Wait. 
It was possible Sandy hadn't realized she never came home. JJ tiptoed to her room and dropped her bag. She looked at her bed and hesitated.
   Really? 
Feeling completely ridiculous, she went ahead and mussed the doona, as if she had slept there. She didn't want to have this particular conversation with her mom. Not yet. Not  today.Tracks covered, JJ wandered to the kitchen, poured herself a coffee from the freshly-brewed pot and sat down. Her mind was all Emily.As the two of them had gotten ready for bed, a quiet had permeated Emily's apartment, one the late hour could only partially explain. They had gone to sleep together in the same room, once or twice even the same bed, so many times and in so many places that JJ could practically recite Emily's nightly routine and vice versa. And yet this time felt impossibly new, like their feelings had transcended their history. Neither of them knew what to say, and their silence said it all.Still, JJ had broken it, when, in her drowsy state, she felt the need to clarify whether Emily wanted her in the spare room or in her bed. The question, its answer obvious in hindsight, had sounded awkward in her head and ten times worse spoken aloud. "Um, I think we can both fit in mine," Emily had quipped, of her king bed. "Great," JJ had said, as if she had confirmed something completely banal. They were lying in the dark, a foot of mattress between them, minds in the same place, when Emily had rolled over to face JJ."Can I hold you?" A pause. "It was really nice on the couch.""It was." Another pause. "Sorry for taking up all the space. And drooling on you." A laugh. "Jay… you can drool on me anytime." "You don't mean that.""I do. It was cute.""You're crazy."And then JJ had rolled over to face her side of the bed, shuffling her body back to meet Emily's, as if it was completely normal for them, something they had done a million times.Emily had pressed up against her back, soft br@@sts and firm thighs and a hand that brushed low on JJ's hip as it made its way around her waist, sending the muscles of her abdomen leaping. JJ had grabbed it, brought it in close to her chest, pulling Emily closer, wanting to feel her across every inch of her body. As they nestled together under the sheets, JJ couldn't shake the thought that she hadn't been held like this in a long time. On the cusp of sleep, she felt Emily kiss the back of her neck, so soft it was barely a peck, just the ghost of her lips against JJ's skin.A whisper. "Night Jay."JJ absently sipped her coffee, heat coursing through her body.The sound of the water faucet being turned off brought her back to earth. She listened to the sounds of her mom clattering around the bathroom before the hairdryer started up.It felt surreal that she had been in bed with Emily an hour ago. Implausible. Too good to be true. And yet it was, and JJ knew that, and still a sense of unease tangled with her bliss.She wasn't sure why Emily had chosen last night, of all nights, to be so bold. She also knew the fact she considered a cuddle on the couch to be  bold  was telling. It was the most they had done with each other in months.JJ had been struggling with the glacial pace of their courtship. She was the one who had insisted they wait until the divorce was finalized, but months on, she couldn't recall why she had been so dogmatic. Yes, Emily hadn't been ready either, and JJ hadn't wanted to be her rebound. It wasn't either of their fault. But still, it had been hard.Early on, there had been a couple moments of dancing dangerously close to the line. But they had stopped themselves, gotten serious about their respective pledges, and settled into a pattern of restraint. Physically, it resembled their friendship: touch still part of their easy language, but restricted to the at least arguably platonic. The difference, of course, was that now they knew how much they turned each other on.Honestly, it was kind of killing JJ.Maybe it was that she hadn't been f@ck@d in a way that made her feel anything other than bored in a very long time. JJ liked s@x, the honest physicality of it, the chance to play with vulnerability and strength, the sheer release. The end of her marriage had stirred up latent desires, things she wanted to experiment with, return to, parts of herself she wanted to explore. She missed s@x. She wanted to have it with Emily.But that was as daunting as it was alluring, and with every week it wasn't realized, JJ had felt more nervous. She worried she had lost her touch when it came to sleeping with women. Or men. Or anyone who wasn't Will LaMontagne. Even with him, she had to admit results had not been spectacular. And this wasn't just anyone. It was  Emily.It wasn't just s@x, either. It was everything. A tiny part of JJ worried they were delaying too long. What if the spark fizzled out before they had a chance to explore it, to fan it into a flame?Now that was terrifying.Emily seemed completely fine with what was going on, or not going on, between them. JJ felt bemused by her apparent nonchalance, the way she seemed to enjoy the tension that simmered instead of feeling wild about the fact it hadn't boiled over. Maybe it was because Emily had needed the time for herself, whereas for JJ it had been for the sake of her family. Maybe it was because Emily was so generally weird about relationships and s@x — a personality trait of which JJ could hardly plead ignorance — and now that JJ was involved, and no longer a baffled friend, she just had to get on Emily's level.She had tried to emulate Emily's zen. To trust the process.But in her dramatic moments, and this morning was one — because of her patchy sleep, and because the woman she was in love with had held her all night and it had been everything and she still wanted so much more, and because she was lying to her mom about it despite being in her 40s, and because of what was happening today, especially because of that — she felt like she might die if Emily didn't kiss her soon.As JJ glared into her mug, the tepid liquid failing to absorb her sexual frustration, Sandy finally entered the kitchen."Good morning," she said brightly."Hey, Mom," JJ said."You must have gotten in late last night?" Sandy said. JJ didn't detect any guile in her mom's voice."Um, yes," she said, trying not to sound sheepish. "I hope I didn't wake you?""No, no," Sandy said. "I didn't hear a thing. I was just up late." 
   Phew. 
Sandy poured herself a coffee. "You were at Emily's, I suppose?" she said, clearly trying to sound casual.JJ nodded. "Uh huh.""You've been spending a lot of time with her lately," Sandy said.
  Sure have.
JJ knew her mom was just curious. When she first started spending regular evenings with Emily, she had felt guilty about cutting into their mother-daughter time. She knew Sandy liked having her stay, and she didn't want to treat her mom like a hotelier.But when she tried to talk to Sandy about it — explained she and Emily had rekindled their friendship and, both recently single, were enjoying each other's company, all of which was completely true — her mom had fobbed her off, in the nicest way possible."It's my house, Jen, but it's your life," Sandy had said. "You don't have to keep me company." And then she had returned to her magazine. Ever since, JJ had braced for a question about what exactly was going on between her and Emily, but it hadn't come."Mhm," JJ said noncommittally.She took a sip of coffee, certain her mom was finally going to ask."Big day today," Sandy said instead.JJ sighed, partly relieved her mom wasn't pursuing the Emily line of questioning, partly irritated by the one she was."Not really," she said. "It's just signing some stuff." "Your father and I were separated for a long time before we actually did the paperwork," Sandy said. "I thought I had moved on, but of course I hadn't. And it still hurt."JJ raised her eyebrows."Thanks Mom," she said neutrally."I'm sure you'll be fine," Sandy said. "It was probably just me." Like the lives of his clients, the family lawyer's office was messy.Paperwork piled up on most available surfaces, white stacks offsetting the drab brown decor. The only splash of color was the lawyer's obnoxiously gaudy tie, which matched his obnoxiously gaudy personality.
   Where did Will find this guy? 
JJ's soon-to-be ex-husband was sitting next to her, an unreadable expression on his face as he watched the lawyer check over their signed divorce papers.Will had been in good spirits when they met outside the office. At first, the separation had been obviously rough on him, but over the past few months, he had seemed better. JJ wasn't sure what had changed, if anything. She hadn't asked. Maybe it was just time. But she had been happy to see him less morose for Henry and Michael.The lawyer turned to the final page, humming a tune as he ran his pen down the margin, speed-reading each paragraph. "How will we know when it's finalized?" JJ asked."Could be anything from two to six weeks before it lands in front of a judge," the lawyer answered, not looking up. "He-"
   Or she. 
"-will stamp this, no problems at all. No brainer. So give it a month and a half and if you still don't see an email, try checking your spam folder." 
   Seriously? 
"And, if it's not there, check again," he continued, now grinning, for some reason. "And then — and only then — call me."The idea of finding out she was officially divorced by checking her spam folder made JJ feel slightly insane."Sure," she said.The lawyer closed the file in front of him and clasped his hands on top of it."Well, that's that for you two," he said. "Can I just say, it is really nice to come across some folks who are doing this so cordially. And with kids and a house and everything. Good on you." 
  Ugh.

  Spare me the commentary. 
Will nodded vigorously. "Thank you," he said, sounding genuinely moved. "I appreciate that."JJ offered a tight smile. As they started down the stairs of the dingy law offices, each clutching a photocopy of the paperwork they had just signed, Will glanced across at JJ. "That was nice, what he said about us doing this cordially," he said. "I thought it was pretty condescending," JJ said.They took the rest of the stairs in silence.At the sidewalk, before splitting off to their cars, they turned to one other."Um, this is awkward," Will began. "But, um, it's hard on Sunday with the boys around, and I figure now is as good a time as ever.""Yes?" JJ said warily, no idea what was about to come out of his mouth."I just wanted to, confirm, I guess, that we're good to, um…" "What, Will?" JJ said."To see other people." 
   Oh. 
"Just, now that it's all done," Will added. "I know it's not official yet, but done on our end, anyway. Just up to the judge now." "Have you… have you met someone?" JJ said.Will shrugged. "I just want to make sure we're on the same page.""So that's a yes," JJ said.Will didn't respond, but his face answered her question.JJ felt like she had been hit in the stomach."Are you OK?" Will said."Of course," JJ said. "I mean. It's none of my business anymore, is it?" "I guess it isn't," Will said.As soon as the rest of the team left the briefing room, Tara zeroed in on Emily."You're in a good mood," she slung across the table, a suggestive glint in her eye."Am I?" Emily said, an absent smile on her face. She could take the ribbing. Who cared? She had just spent the night holding JJ."Any particular reason?" Emily just raised her eyebrows and retreated to her office, ignoring the "Oh, come on!" tossed at her back. She craved the solitude of her desk, a closed door. She had work to pretend to be doing.Her mind was all JJ.The way she had melted into Emily a second after feeling the arm arrive around her shoulders. The quiet murmur she had issued as Emily stroked her hair. Falling asleep on her chest. Their bodies pressed together under the cool white sheets. Emily briefly daring to feel the curve of JJ's ass as she moved her hand around to spoon her from behind. JJ gripping her hand, pulling her closer.In the dawn light, after JJ had kissed her shoulder and crept out of bed, Emily had lain awake, replaying it all. Hours later, she hadn't stopped.She wasn't sure what had come over her. Why last night? Knowing the divorce was imminent was surely part of it. So too was the desire Emily had glimpsed in JJ's eyes as she fussed over the stove, a hunger clearly not aimed at Emily's mediocre stir-fry.But more than that, Emily had felt at peace. Like she was ready. The past few months had been good, strangely so. Work had been busy but fulfilling, the team managing to close several cases. At her doctor's suggestion, she had switched from estrogen pills to patches, which seemed to work better for her, made her feel more settled in her body, stopped even the occasional hot flash. The sting of Wil had mostly faded. And the absorbing rush of coming out, to herself and others, loomed smaller in her mind; still nervy and profound but less engulfing.And then there was JJ. Their slow march toward something more. The sheer joy of it.It had just been time.Emily's mind wandered right back to where it had started, no hope of turning to work.It was just as well the BAU was in between cases. It was one of those idle periods where they caught up on paperwork and made their way through cold case files and saw their families, if they had them. JJ had been apologetic when she requested the morning off, but it was so quiet Emily would have granted the leave on the spot even if she wasn't personally invested in the dissolution of that particular marriage.
   I wonder how it's going. 
As Emily tried to picture where JJ and Will were, what they were doing, the ping of her calendar shocked her out of her daydream.She furrowed her brow as she glanced at the notification, briefly worried she had forgotten a meeting. Then she realized what it was for.The invitation had arrived a couple of weeks ago, one of the irritatingly frequent email blasts sent out to the entire Quantico staff. Emily had automatically gone to delete it.Then she had noticed it was a gay thing."The Pride Employee Resource Group is delighted to invite all staff to a morning tea to celebrate the start of Pride Month…"Then she had stopped herself from deleting it.Then she had read over it again.Then she had thought:  Should I go to that? Then she had told herself:  I'll never have time.Then she had saved it in her calendar anyway, just on the off chance she did. And she did.
   Should I go?  

   It'll probably be like three people. 
Emily lingered at her desk for a few minutes, indecisive, as she waited for the event start time to tick by. Then she got into the elevator and rode up to the 10th floor, lacing and unlacing her fingers as the levels flashed.A few people got out with her, walking ahead to a glass-walled conference room on the building's north edge. Inside, a crowd had already gathered.At the sight of the full room, Emily took a sharp left into the restroom, which was mercifully empty.Standing over the sink, she looked at herself in the mirror. Breathed in. Breathed out.As someone else entered, Emily tore away her gaze. She washed her hands before exiting and strode in the direction of the conference room. A poster with a rainbow flag graphic was taped to the glass.
  FBI PRIDE ERG

  PRESENTS

  PRIDE MONTH MORNING TEA

  LGBTQ+ and allies welcome
 Emily hesitated, just for a second. Then she opened the door.The ambient sound of small talk immediately washed over her. As she tentatively made her way through the crowd, she didn't recognize a single face. Everyone looked so young, and seemed to know each other already. There were also way more men than women, which tracked broadly with the FBI, but was still disheartening.Emily's heart sank with every step.
   What was I thinking? 
She had always hated these kind of corporate networking events, where the conversations were rarely interesting and everyone just reminded her of her mother. And by attending this one in particular, she had probably outed herself to what felt like half the young staff in the building.She made her way to the refreshment table, trying to appear purposeful as she inspected the display of colorful cupcakes, slowly poured herself a coffee, added Splenda and stirred.In her head, she planned a hasty exit, scoping out a corner to stand in before she could pretend to take a call and slip out, hoping nobody had registered her presence."Agent Prentiss?" Emily turned around. The man standing in front of her looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place him."Agent Rodriguez," he said. "I'm in NatSec. We've crossed paths a few times." "Oh!" Emily said. "Of course. It's Unit Chief Rodriguez, right? Counterintelligence?""That's right," he said, a smile stretching across his lined face. He stuck out his hand."But you can call me Tom.""Emily."As they shook hands, Emily noticed a tiny rainbow flag pin on his lapel."I've never seen you at one of these," Tom said.Emily thought she detected a hint of curiosity in his voice."I, um…"Emily paused."I've never been able to make it before," she said.Tom nodded."Fair enough," he said. "Your schedule must be out of this world. If you even have a schedule." "It can get pretty crazy," Emily said. "But you know. I'm sure yours is the same." "It's the job, huh?" Tom said. "You can say that again," Emily said.She glanced around the room at the fresh-faced crowd, trying to think of what to say next."Don't worry," Tom said. "There are a few of us who come to these things who were born before the new millennium."
   Us. 
Emily laughed."Well thank god for that," she said. "Where are they?" "Come on," Tom said. "I'll introduce you." Emily followed him through the crowd to a corner of the room where a small group of four men and one woman, all of whom appeared to be in their 50s or thereabouts, were talking animatedly.As she approached, Emily realized a couple of the men looked familiar, agents she had worked a case with one time, or simply seen around the building over the years. But she had never really gotten to know them.Obviously. "Hi guys," Tom said, his voice casual as he greeted the circle of five. The group shifted, opening up to admit him and Emily."Hey Roddie," one of the men said."This is Agent Prentiss," Tom said, gesturing to Emily. "Though I'm sure her reputation precedes her."
   Oh god.  

   I fake my death one time and it's all anybody talks about for the rest of my life. 
"Emily, please," she said, her heart beating fast."Welcome!" the woman said enthusiastically."Nice to see you here," added one of the men Emily vaguely recognized."Thanks," Emily said.She grinned as she looked around the group."It's so great to meet you all."When Emily got back to her office, feeling a warmth in her chest that she thought might never subside, JJ was there.She was leaning against Emily's desk, legs crossed in front of her, a slight frown on her face as she scrolled."Hey," Emily said, closing the door behind her. "Just the person I wanted to see.""Hey," JJ said, putting her phone down. "Meeting?""Actually, I went to this morning tea thing," Emily said. She shrugged off her blazer and hung it up before moving next to JJ, emulating her pose against the desk.JJ looked confused. "Morning... what?""It was- wait, you first. How did it all go?" "It was fine," JJ said. "It's all done. Well, kind of. The paperwork is filed, judge should stamp it in the next few weeks." Emily immediately registered the waver in JJ's voice, her pitch a fraction above normal. Her tight black clothes seemed to match her mood, a coil ready to unspring."Are you OK?" Emily said. JJ crossed her arms over her chest."Yeah," she said. "Yeah. I just…"
   Well that's a no. 
Emily moved to close the blinds, not caring if anyone in the bullpen saw, before taking JJ's shoulders and propelling her toward the couch that ran along the back wall of her office. She brushed files to the floor, making space for the two of them to sit, before they settled close in the center, knees just touching."It's a big thing, Jay," Emily said softly. "It's totally normal to have mixed feelings."JJ looked past her, eyes focused on the shuttered blinds."Talk to me," Emily said."Will's seeing someone."
   What? 
Of all the things Emily had braced for, that was not one of them. "Oh!" Emily said. "Um, wow. OK." "Yeah," JJ said."He told you that?" "Pretty much," JJ said. "We were leaving, and he asked if it was fine we see other people. And it was obvious he had already… that he had something going on with someone." "Right," Emily said. "You guys hadn't, ah, talked about it before today?""I didn't think we had to!" JJ said. "I thought it was implicit. That we'd wait until it was done. I mean, has he been sleeping with her this whole time?"Emily hesitated a moment, unsure how to proceed."Jay," she said. "We've been… you know.""What?" JJ said, her voice harsh. "Not sleeping together?"
   Ouch. 
JJ winced at the look on Emily's face."I'm sorry," she said. "That came out wrong.""I thought we were on the same page," Emily said slowly, trying to hide her hurt. "I'm sorry if this hasn't been — if  I  haven't been — what you imagined."There was a brief silence. JJ looked down at the carpet. "F@ck," she said, under her breath, barely loud enough for Emily to hear. She returned her gaze to Emily. "Em. I didn't…"JJ stopped, took a breath, started again."We are on the same page," she said. "Really. I've just found it hard, what we've been doing. And then finding out Will has… I don't know. It's not him. I know we've been doing... whatever it is we've been doing. It's just a lot. Today was emotional. Last night was emotional.  I'm  emotional. It's not you." 
   Last night was emotional. 
"That's OK," Emily said, though she was still trying to parse JJ's stream of consciousness. "I understand."She paused."Was last night… OK?" she asked hesitantly.JJ broke into a wan smile. "Last night was perfect," she said. "It felt perfect. Being with you like that."JJ reached out and put her hand over Emily's, ran her thumb along her palm."Don't worry," she said. "So far, Em, you are everything I imagined."They weren't looking at each other, both sets of eyes fixed on the motion of JJ's thumb."And I've imagined you a lot," JJ continued."Have you now?" Emily said, the tension between them melting, replaced by a charge of a very different kind. JJ laughed self-consciously. "Uh huh," she said. "As I think you know.""You can always tell me more about it," Emily teased, before her tone again turned serious. "I didn't know you were finding it so hard, Jay," she said. "I'm sorry." JJ shook her head."It's not your fault. It's just our timeline," JJ said, sounding frustrated by the word alone. "Waiting for everything to line up. It feels like we're putting too much pressure on it. On us. And now that we're finally getting to the end of it, I'm just..."JJ trailed off."It’s so heightened," she said quietly. "It matters so much. And I don't want to f@ck it up. You know?" Emily knew."That makes sense," she said slowly."Does it?" JJ said, glancing up at Emily. "You've seemed really fine.""The past few months have been good for me," Emily conceded. "You know that."JJ nodded."I guess... it just felt so good to have this thing between us," Emily said. "It didn’t matter that it wasn’t happening yet. I knew waiting until the divorce was important to you. And I wanted to be ready too. But, Jay, of course it makes sense. And I feel it too.""OK," JJ said, uncertainly."I wish you had talked to me," Emily said. She trapped JJ's thumb with her own, gripping her hand."I know," JJ said, squeezing back. "I didn't want to put pressure on you." "Mm," Emily said. "You wouldn't have." "Since when are you the patient one, anyway?" JJ joked."I don't know," Emily said, looking thoughtful. "With old age comes maturity… wisdom…"JJ swiped her arm, realizing she was joking. "Oh, shut up." Emily smiled."I'm nervous too," she admitted, after a pause.She didn't have to say about what."You know that, right? And just because I've been OK with the pace so far doesn't mean I don't want to. Like, yesterday," Emily said, half-laughing as the words came out. "You have no idea how much.""I think I have some idea," JJ said. Emily winced. "I'm obvious, huh?""No, you idiot," JJ said. "Because I want to too.""Right," Emily said. They met eyes, both a little flushed at the thought of what they were now talking around."We’re bad at this," Emily said.JJ laughed."I'm usually good at this!" she said. "Or I was a million years ago, anyway." "Well, I'm usually bad at this," Emily said. "Maybe you're rubbing off on me," JJ said.Emily scoffed gently before conceding. "Probably."She ran her eyes over JJ, struck by the same feeling that had hit her on the couch the night before.
  It's time. 
"What?" JJ said, unable to parse the look on Emily's face."Are you free for dinner?" Emily said.The question came out fast, breathless.JJ tilted her head, a curious look on her face."Emily Prentiss," she said. "Are you asking me on a date?"There was just  something  about the way JJ deployed her full name."I might be," Emily said coyly.They looked at each other, eyes shining."Yes," Emily said. "That's exactly what I'm doing.""Tonight?""Why not?"There were reasons. There were always reasons. But for the first time, none of them seemed to matter.
  
  

    
      
        
        
          Hope you all liked this chapter. I've been looking forward to the time jump…Wanted to say — I know my updates are getting slower and more sporadic, which I'm sorry to say is probably going to continue. I have a bit less time to write at the moment, and as the story nears its end (four chapters to go, I think!) it's taking me longer to get each one to a place where I'm happy with it. But they will keep on coming! Just a bit more slowly.Thanks for bearing with me, and for reading. Until next time!'
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
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