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At Quantico, the BAU’s headquarters always felt colder in October, a cold that snuck through glass doors and starched suits, settling deep in bones and old wounds. Emily Prentiss had long since learned to wear that chill like a second skin. At fifty-four, now Section Chief, just the sound of her boots in the hallway could silence a room. Her silver hair framed her face, each strand a testament to years spent outsmarting monsters, on the street, and in her own mind.
Emily’s confidence was legendary, her instincts sharp as ever. Yet under the surface, she fought a quiet battle with wariness that never let up. Boundaries were her lifeline: between herself and her team, between what she felt and what she showed. After Ian Doyle, trust was something she rationed like a precious resource. She’d nearly died for it once. Now, her heart was locked up tight, her relationships reduced to flickers at the edge of her world.
She was always careful to keep her distance, especially from people who made her feel anything at all. That discipline was tested the day Y/N joined the team. Y/N was twenty nine, with a laugh that could fill the whole bullpen and a spirit that somehow thrived on the darkness their job required. She radiated energy, optimism, possibility, the very things Emily had buried in the safest, deepest corners of herself. Y/N was everything Emily had tried not to be. And that was the problem.
Their early interactions were prickly, all clipped tones and formality. Emily pushed Y/N harder than anyone else, setting the bar almost impossibly high. She told herself it was about mentorship, molding a better agent. But the truth was simpler and more unsettling: Y/N made Emily feel vulnerable in ways she hadn’t in decades. Every time she saw that smile, every time Y/N answered her challenge with stubborn determination, Emily felt her old walls start to tremble. One morning, Emily walked in to find Y/N waiting by her office door, two coffees in hand.
“Rough night?” Y/N asked with a grin.
Emily eyed her warily.
“That obvious?”
“Only to someone who’s also running on caffeine and willpower,” Y/N replied, holding out the cup.
Emily took it, nodding.
“Thank you, Agent.”
Y/N just shrugged.
“Happy to keep the boss upright. You know, for the good of the team.” Emily forced a smile.
“Your concern is noted.” Later, over lunch, Y/N tried again.
“So, Prentiss, best movie to de-stress after a case…..go.”
Emily didn’t look up from her files.
“I don’t really watch movies.”
“Not even Die Hard?” Y/N pressed, mock offended.
Emily looked up then, eyebrow arched.
“Isn’t that a Christmas movie?” Y/N laughed.
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
Emily’s lips twitched.
“So I’ve been told.”
The weeks blurred together, the BAU’s schedule offering no rest, only endless tension. Y/N, with her relentless warmth, chipped away at Emily’s icy shell in a hundred small ways. She brought coffee, unasked, on the mornings when Emily’s eyes said she hadn’t slept. She started lunchtime debates about old cases, coaxing even the quietest team members into arguments about movies or books. One afternoon, Y/N lingered after a briefing, watching Emily pack up her files.
“You ever miss it? Interpol, I mean. The travel.”
Emily paused, then kept stacking papers.
“It was a job.”
Y/N leaned against the doorway.
“Sure. But was it ever…fun?”
Emily shot her a glance.
“Fun isn’t the word I’d use.”
Y/N held up her hands, grinning.
“Okay, okay. Not fun. But…worth it?”
Emily hesitated, then said quietly, “Sometimes. Not always.”
Y/N nodded, thoughtful, but didn’t push. She just smiled,
“Thanks for answering.” Emily noticed she never pressed too hard, and some part of her resented how much she wanted to answer more. The team noticed, too. JJ cornered Emily after a meeting, a teasing glint in her eye.
“You know, you’re a lot harder on her than you are on anyone else.”
Emily bristled.
“She can handle it.” JJ just grinned.
“I’m sure she can. Doesn’t mean you have to pretend not to like her.”
Emily gave her a look sharp enough to cut glass.
“Drop it, JJ.”
JJ raised her hands in surrender, but the smile lingered.
Cases piled up. The team grew tense, nerves fraying at the edges. Emily found herself relying on Y/N’s calm in the field, the way she could talk a suspect down or offer a teammate a wordless nod of comfort. More than once, Emily caught herself watching Y/N, not as a supervisor, but as a woman, wondering what it would be like to let herself trust again. One night, after a brutal case, Emily was alone in her office, rubbing her temples. Y/N appeared in the doorway, knocked once.
“Come in,” Emily said, voice tired.
Y/N sat, silent for a moment.
“You know, you don’t have to carry this by yourself.”
Emily almost laughed.
“I’m fine.”
Y/N shook her head.
“You’re not. You just think you have to be.”
Emily looked at her, something raw in her eyes.
“It’s my job.”
“It’s your job to lead,” Y/N said quietly.
“Not to bleed alone.”
Emily stared at her desk, voice low.
“I can’t afford to let go. Not even for a second.”
Y/N just said,
“You don’t have to let go. Just…let someone stand next to you.”
Emily’s response was a brisk nod, but her throat was tight.
“Thank you, Agent.” Y/N’s eyes softened.
“Anytime, Chief.”
One month later
The office is practically empty, just the buzz of low voices. Emily and Y/N sit across from each other in Emily’s office, half-heartedly poking at their salads. Emily glances up, pretending to read a text, but really she’s watching the way sunlight catches in Y/N’s hair. Y/N stabs a cherry tomato, then looks up and catches Emily’s eye.
“So,” Y/N says,
“how’s the case going with Vice, I heard you had to step in to help? Perks of being Section Chief, you’re wanted everywhere.”
Emily shrugs, swirling her fork.
“It’s fine. Long nights, lots of paperwork. The usual.” She pauses.
“You seem tired. Everything okay?”
Y/N smiles, but it’s a little crooked.
“I’m fine. Just… you know, the usual. Sometimes it feels like I never leave this building.”
Emily laughs, but it’s softer than usual.
“We should start a support group. ‘Agents Who Haven’t Seen the Sun in Weeks.’”
Y/N grins.
“You could be president. You practically live here.” Emily raises an eyebrow.
“I do not.” Y/N gives her a look.
“Remember last month, when Penelope found you asleep on your office couch? With a stack of cold case files as your pillow?”
Emily tries to look affronted, but she’s fighting a smile.
“That was one time. And the couch is surprisingly comfortable.”
There’s a beat, a comfortable silence that feels like it could tip into something more if either of them let it. Y/N glances at Emily, her gaze lingering a little too long.
“You should take a real break, Emily. You know, fresh air. Maybe even a weekend off.”
Emily looks at Y/N, something gentle in her eyes.
“Only if you promise to do the same.”
Y/N shrugs, but her expression softens. “Maybe we both need to work on that.”
They eat in silence for a moment, the air between them thick with everything unsaid. Emily wants to reach across the table, wants to say that she worries, that she notices when Y/N’s smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. But she doesn’t.
She just watches, feeling the ache of wanting and not knowing how to ask for more. Y/N finishes her salad and leans back. “Thanks for lunch. It’s nice… just sitting here with you.”
Emily nods, her heart thumping.
“Yeah. It is.”
Another pause, almost a question, almost an answer. Emily gathers her things, reluctant to break the spell.
“We should do this again.”
Y/N smiles, hope flickering in her eyes.
“I’d like that.”
They stand, gathering the take out boxes, shoulders brushing as they move side by side. For a moment, their hands almost touch. Neither pulls away. The feelings are there, simmering just beneath the surface. Not spoken, not yet. But both of them know, they’re just waiting for the right moment to tip over into something real.
2 months later
It’s late, most of the office deserted. Y/N leans against Emily’s doorframe, holding two steaming mugs. Emily looks up from her paperwork, surprised and maybe a little relieved.
“Thought you could use some caffeine,” Y/N says, offering a mug.
Emily smiles, taking it. Their fingers brush, heat sparking in the simple touch.
“You’re a lifesaver. Thank you.”
Y/N settles onto the edge of Emily’s desk, swinging her legs slightly.
“You know, you’re not fooling anyone, pretending you’re not exhausted.”
Emily arches an eyebrow, trying to keep things light.
“Are you staging an intervention?”
“Maybe.” Y/N grins, but her eyes are soft, worried.
“I just… I notice, that’s all.”
Emily’s heart stutters. For a second, she lets herself imagine saying it, admitting how much she cares, how Y/N’s concern means more than she can say. The words hover on her tongue.
“You know you can talk to me, right?” Y/N asks, voice low. Emily looks at her, really looks at the way Y/N’s hair falls across her face, the hope in her eyes. It would be so easy to say it. God, she wants to. She wants to tell Y/N that she thinks about her all the time, that her laughter is the only thing that makes the long nights bearable, that she’s never wanted anyone the way she wants her.
But then Emily sees the badge clipped to Y/N’s belt, the one that matches her own. She remembers the team, the rules. She’s Y/N’s boss. She’s older, supposed to know better. The risk is too much. So Emily swallows the words.
“I know,” she says quietly.
“Thank you.”
Y/N senses the shift, disappointment flickering across her face. She stands, clutching her mug a little too tightly.
“Well. I should get back to my report.”
Emily nods, regret heavy in her chest.
“Yeah. Me too.”
Y/N turns to leave, pausing at the door. For a moment, it feels like something could happen, like one of them might step forward, close the distance. But the moment passes. Y/N walks away. Emily watches her go, the ache sharp and familiar. She almost calls out, but the words die on her lips.
Just then, Emily’s phone buzzes. She glances at the screen, sees the all-team alert. A new case. She stands, collecting her composure like armor.
The chance is gone. For now. She heads out into the hallway, finding Y/N already waiting by the elevator, professional mask back in place. They exchange a look, something raw and unresolved passing between them, they then step into the elevator together, the beginnings of the case pulling them forward, feelings set aside for another day.
Then everything changes. 2 weeks later
The morning started like any other briefing, a new case, tension thick in the air. The team was sent out to a hostage crisis outside the city, the kind that spiraled out of control in an instant. Emily led the operation, steady on the outside, but inside she was painfully aware of Y/N at her shoulder.
“Prentiss, suspect moving, east corridor!” Y/N’s voice snapped through the comms.
“Hold your position, Y/N. Wait for my order,” Emily said, voice ironclad.
“Copy,” Y/N replied.
“But the rookie’s exposed.”
Emily’s breath caught.
“Stay with me, Y/N. Don’t do anything stupid.”
A beat. Then chaos. Gunfire broke the silence. Emily saw a suspect swing his gun at a terrified rookie. Before she could move, Y/N was there, a blur between the weapon and their teammate. A single shot. Emily’s world narrowed to Y/N collapsing, blood blooming on her shirt.
“Y/N!” Emily was on the ground, hands pressed to the wound, her voice trembling.
“Stay with me. Don’t you dare.”
Y/N’s eyes fluttered.
“Bossy, as always,” she whispered, a faint smile at her lips.
Emily’s hands shook.
“Don’t joke. Not now. Help’s coming. Just…..keep your eyes on me.”
Y/N’s breathing hitched.
“You’re…not getting rid of me that easy.”
Emily bent close, voice breaking.
“Don’t you dare leave. I need you. Do you hear me?.”
Y/N tried to squeeze her hand, her grip weak.
“I hear you. Emily.”
The team swarmed. Paramedics rushed in. Emily couldn’t move, she just kept whispering,
“Stay. Stay. Please.”
The hospital was a blur, sirens, blood, Emily barking orders at doctors and nurses with the authority of someone who was used to being obeyed. But in those bright, sterile corridors, all her power meant nothing. JJ found her pacing, fists clenched.
“Emily, sit down. She’s in good hands.”
Emily shook her head, voice tight.
“I should have, maybe if I’d……”
Garcia appeared, teacup in hand.
“You did everything right. Y/N is stubborn. She’ll be okay.”
Emily just stared at the floor.
“She better be.”
When Y/N finally woke, Emily was there, grey hair a mess, eyes rimmed red. She sat by the bed, hesitant, until Y/N’s eyes opened.
“You look awful,” Y/N croaked, lips twitching.
Emily almost laughed, almost cried.
“You’re one to talk.”
Y/N squeezed her hand.
“Did I miss the paperwork?”
Emily snorted.
“Don’t even start. I’m drowning in it.”
Y/N’s eyes searched hers.
“You stayed.”
Emily squeezed her hand back, voice soft.
“I wasn’t going anywhere.”
Y/N’s gaze was unwavering.
“You don’t have to pretend with me, Emily. Not anymore.”
For a long moment, Emily just sat, letting herself be seen, letting Y/N see everything she’d tried so hard to hide. Recovery wasn’t a straight line. There were nights Y/N doubted herself, and nights Emily doubted if she deserved to hope for more from Y/N. Emily brought books, listened to Y/N’s stories, argued with doctors, and slowly let herself become vulnerable.
4 weeks later
The bullpen feels off. Even with the usual hum of computers and the shuffle of case files, there’s a heaviness that no one can shake. Emily tries to focus, but her eyes keep drifting to Y/N’s empty desk. JJ sits down across from her, a coffee in hand. She offers a small, knowing smile.
“You okay?”
Emily nods, too quickly.
“Yeah. Just… everything’s a bit quieter without her, isn’t it?”
JJ glances at Y/N’s desk, then back at Emily. “Penelope’s already threatened to redecorate her space with glitter until she comes back.”
Emily huffs a laugh, but it’s thin.
“She’d love that. She hates glitter.”
JJ studies Emily for a moment, her voice gentle.
“You miss her.”
Emily looks away, blinking hard.
“Of course I do. We all do.”
JJ gives her a look that’s half sympathy, half challenge.
“But it’s different for you, isn’t it?”
Emily tries to deflect, but the words catch in her throat. JJ waits, quiet and patient, letting the silence work. Finally, Emily lets out a shaky breath.
“It’s more than that,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I keep thinking about all the things I never said. How I kept pretending it was just work, just friendship. But it’s not. It hasn’t been for a long time.”
JJ’s eyes soften.
“You love her.”
Emily nods, her composure slipping.
“I do. And I never told her. I kept telling myself I couldn’t, because I’m her boss, because I’m older, because it would be unfair. But now… I just want her to come back. I’d give anything for that.”
JJ reaches across the desk, squeezing Emily’s hand.
“She knows, Em. Maybe you didn’t say it out loud, but she knows. And when she’s back, you’ll have the chance to say it for real.”
Emily manages a watery smile.
“I hope so.” JJ gives her hand another squeeze.
“You’re allowed to be scared. But you’re also allowed to be happy, Emily. Don’t let the rules stop you from telling her how you feel.”
Emily nods, wiping at her eyes.
“Thank you, JJ.”
JJ moves closer, giving Emily’s shoulder a reassuring pat.
Emily is quiet, staring at the mug in her hands, JJ pauses, looking at Emily with the steady, no-nonsense warmth that’s gotten the team through more than one disaster.
“Emily,” JJ says, her voice gentle but firm,
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. You never get as many chances as you think.”
Emily looks up, uncertainty plain on her face. JJ sits down again, leaning closer.
“You love her. She means the world to you. And she’s home now. Go see her. Tell her the truth. Don’t let fear or rules stop you from being happy, not after everything you both survived.”
Emily blinks, the words landing somewhere deep.
“You really think I should?”
JJ smiles, squeezing her hand.
“I do. She deserves to know. And so do you.”
Emily lets out a shaky breath, the decision settling over her like relief.
“Thank you, JJ.”
JJ stands, her smile bright.
“Go. Before you overthink it. I’ll cover for you if anybody asks.”
Emily laughs, nerves fizzing into hope. She stands, grabbing her coat.
“You’re the best.” JJ winks.
“I know. Now go get your girl.”
Emily doesn’t hesitate. She heads for the elevator, her heart pounding, ready finally to tell Y/N everything.
Y/N’s apartment is too quiet. She stands in the hallway for a minute, keys still dangling from her hand, trying to remember what it’s like to be here, alone, in the place that’s supposed to be hers. She’s halfway to the couch when the doorbell rings. She freezes. Only one person would come without warning.
Emily.
Y/N opens the door, and there she is: her boss, her not-quite-anything, holding a paper bag and a bunch of slightly wilted daisies. Emily is the picture of nerves, cheeks pink, hair loose, jacket crooked. She looks nothing like the woman who runs a team with her eyes alone.
“Hi,” Emily says.
“I brought food. And flowers, but, uh, the flowers are losing the will to live.”
Y/N lets out a laugh she didn’t know she had left.
“Come in. I promise not to judge your gardening skills.”
Emily steps inside, sets the bag on the table, and fidgets with her sleeves. She glances up, meeting Y/N’s eyes, and suddenly the room is full of things unsaid.
“How are you?” Emily asks, too soft. “Really.” Y/N shrugs.
“Tired. Glad to be home. Hospitals are… you know.” She tries to make it sound light, but Emily sees through her. Emily turns serious. “I hated seeing you there. I felt useless.” She pauses, then, voice thin,
“I’ve missed you at work.”
Y/N looks down at her socks.
“I missed you, too.”
There’s a silence that’s different from the hospital silences, this one is tight, expectant. Emily clears her throat.
“Can I…..can I sit?”
Y/N nods. Emily perches on the edge of the couch, awkward. Y/N sits next to her, a careful distance away. Emily’s hands twist together.
“Look, I could have texted this, but I… wanted to see you. I wanted to say it to your face, so you’d know I meant it.”
Y/N’s heart beats a little faster.
“Say what?”
Emily takes a shaky breath.
“I know I’m your boss, and I know I’m… not exactly what you pictured, probably. I’m older. I have more grey hair than my mother did at my age. And I’m…” she trails off, searching for words.
“I care about you, Y/N. More than I should. And I don’t want to hide that anymore. I want to be with you, if you want that, too.”
Y/N is quiet, searching Emily’s face. She sees the fear there, the hope.
“You think being my boss is a problem?”
“I think it’s a mess,” Emily admits, voice trembling.
“I think people will talk, and maybe it’s wrong. But I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I tried, I really did, but I can’t. And the age thing……” She laughs, self-conscious. “……I know you could do better. Someone younger. Someone who isn’t… me.”
Y/N shakes her head.
“You know what I thought about, in the hospital?” Emily waits.
“You. Every time you texted, I felt… safe. Like I wasn’t disappearing.”
Emily’s voice is barely more than a whisper. “You could have anyone, Y/N.”
“I want you,” Y/N says, fiercely.
“I don’t care about your hair, or your age, or your title. I care that you brought me soup and flowers and read me the news when I couldn’t sleep. I care that you showed up, every single day.”
Emily covers her mouth, trying to hide the tears.
“You’re sure?”
Y/N smiles, tears in her own eyes.
“I’m sure. I want this, if you do.”
Emily laughs, relieved, shaky.
“God, I do. I really do.” Then, softly:
“I’m terrified.” Y/N takes her hand.
“Me too. But I think we’ll be okay.”
Emily squeezes her fingers.
“Can I hug you?”
Y/N nods. Emily leans in, gentle and slow, and Y/N feels something in her chest finally settle. Afterward, they sit together, fingers tangled, heads leaning close. The world outside is complicated, work, whispers, doubts. But for now, in the quiet of Y/N’s home, it feels simple. Emily brushes Y/N’s hair back, her touch reverent.
“You know, the grey hair’s not going anywhere.” Y/N grins.
“Good. I happen to like it.”
Emily laughs, and the sound is so full of relief.
Emily has never been good at sitting still, but here she is, curled up on the far end of Y/N’s couch, knees tucked to her chest. The soup sits on the coffee table, untouched. She can’t quite believe what’s just happened, or how easily Y/N’s hand fits into hers. She tries to memorise the moment, terrified it’ll slip away if she lets go. She’s spent most of her adult life being the responsible one. The one who keeps things professional, who keeps herself in check. Even when her feelings for Y/N started, a slow, steady ache she tried to ignore, she buried it under work, convinced it was just a crush, a phase, something she’d outgrow.
She didn’t outgrow it. Every day, it just got worse, until the thought of Y/N in that hospital bed made her physically sick with worry. Now, with Y/N beside her, she feels... lighter. Scared, yes, so scared she can barely breathe, but also hopeful in a way she hasn’t been in years.
Y/N’s voice breaks into her thoughts, gentle.
“You’re quiet.” Emily blinks, startled.
“Sorry. I’m just…..thinking.”
“What about?” Emily hesitates.
“Everything. Us. Work. If I’ve screwed up your life by saying all that out loud.”
Y/N shifts closer, bumping Emily’s knee.
“You haven’t screwed up anything. I promise.”
Emily gives her a crooked smile.
“I wish I was as sure as you are. Part of me keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. For you to wake up tomorrow and realise this is a mistake. That I’m too old, too... complicated.”
Y/N squeezes her hand.
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
Emily laughs, but it’s soft, shaky.
“You say that now.”
Y/N’s face gets serious.
“You know what I thought, lying in that hospital bed? I thought about all the things I never said, and how stupid it would be to waste time worrying about what people might think when I could just be happy.”
Emily feels something sharp and sweet twist in her chest. She wants to believe it. She wants to let herself have this, even if it’s scary.
“I want to be happy, too,” she admits quietly.
“I just... I’ve spent so long being the boss, I don’t know how to be anything else.” Y/N grins.
“Well, you did pretty well just now.”
Emily flushes, caught off guard.
“I was terrified.”
“I could tell.” Y/N laughs softly, brushing a lock of hair from Emily’s face.
“But you did it anyway. That’s what matters.”
Emily looks at Y/N, really looks at her, the circles under her eyes, the way she’s still a little pale, the stubborn set of her jaw. She feels a rush of fierce protectiveness, but also something quieter, softer. Love, maybe. Or the beginning of it. She leans her head on Y/N’s shoulder, feeling Y/N relax against her. For the first time in months, Emily lets herself stop worrying about what comes next. She just breathes, and lets herself be happy.
“I missed you, you know,” Emily whispers.
“More than I ever thought possible.”
Y/N’s voice is warm.
“You’ve already told me that, I missed you, too. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Emily closes her eyes, listening to the soft sounds of Y/N’s apartment, the world outside faded and distant. She knows tomorrow will bring questions, HR forms, awkward glances, maybe even regret. But for now, she lets herself believe that happiness might be something she can choose. And with Y/N beside her, it feels almost easy.
2 weeks later
It’s a Saturday night, and outside Y/N’s window, the world feels a little less sharp than it did a few weeks ago. On the couch, Y/N and Emily are halfway through a movie neither is really watching. They’re sitting closer now, shoulders pressed together, knees brushing, the distance between them shrinking with every passing day. Emily is relaxed for the first time all week, nursing a mug of tea and making dry commentary about the plot.
“So, let me get this straight,” she says, squinting at the screen.
“He’s been dead the whole time? That’s the twist?”
Y/N laughs, tossing a cushion at her.
“Spoilers! Some of us haven’t seen every movie made before 2005.”
Emily catches the cushion, grinning, and tosses it back.
“I’m broadening your horizons.”
“You’re ancient,” Y/N teases, poking her side.
“It’s like dating a walking encyclopedia.”
Emily raises an eyebrow.
“Careful, I’m still your boss.”
“Not right now, you’re not.” Y/N’s voice goes quiet, the air between them suddenly charged. She’s looking at Emily the way she has for weeks, like she’s waiting for something, for permission.
Emily’s heart jumps. She’s thought about kissing Y/N more times than she can count, but every time she’s convinced herself to wait. To be sure. To not rush it, not after everything. But now, Y/N is so close she can see the flecks of colour in her eyes. Emily’s hand finds Y/N’s, their fingers tangling naturally. The movie drones on in the background, but neither of them is paying attention. Emily clears her throat.
“Can I…?”
Y/N smiles, soft and a little daring.
“If you don’t kiss me soon, I’m going to start thinking you don’t want to.”
Emily laughs, nerves fizzing in her chest.
“Trust me, I want to.”
She leans in, slow and careful, giving Y/N every chance to pull away. But Y/N meets her halfway, closing the distance. Their lips touch, tentative, gentle, and then, when Y/N’s hand slides to Emily’s cheek, deeper. The kiss is warm and sweet and just a little awkward, both of them smiling too much to really focus.
Y/N pulls back, breathless, eyes shining.
“Finally.” Emily laughs, her hand still cradling Y/N’s face.
“Was I really that obvious?”
“Only every time you looked at me,” Y/N teases, and then, without waiting she kisses Emily again, bolder this time. The second kiss catches them both off guard, hungry, a little messy. Y/N shifts, pulling Emily closer, until they’re tangled together on the couch, hands wandering, lips pressed tight. Emily’s laugh is muffled against Y/N’s mouth.
“God, you’re trouble,” Emily murmurs, her voice low.
Y/N grins, nipping lightly at Emily’s bottom lip.
“You love it.”
Emily’s hands find Y/N’s waist, sliding under her shirt just enough to feel skin, heat. She kisses Y/N again, deeper, until they’re both dizzy and breathless. When they finally come up for air, Emily rests her forehead against Y/N’s, grinning like a schoolgirl.
“We’re definitely going to have to keep this quiet at work.”
Y/N laughs, threading her fingers through Emily’s hair, tugging gently at the silver strands.
“I don’t care who knows. Let them talk.”
Emily smiles, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Me neither. Not anymore.”
They settle back into the couch, limbs tangled, breath slowing. Outside, the city hums on, but in here, it’s just the two of them, finally.
They’re still wrapped up in each other on the couch, the movie long forgotten, when Y/N runs her thumb along Emily’s jaw.
“You know,” she says, voice low,
“You’re a much better kisser than I expected.”
Emily raises an eyebrow.
“You thought I’d be out of practice?” Y/N grins.
“Not out of practice. Just… a little reserved.”
Emily leans in, her lips brushing Y/N’s ear.
“I can be professional at work. Here, I just want you.”
Y/N shivers, her hand sliding under the hem of Emily’s sweater, palm flat against her back.
“Good.”
They kiss again, slower this time, exploring, soft lips, teasing bites, laughter slipping between kisses. Emily’s hand moves up Y/N’s thigh, squeezing gently, and Y/N lets out a quiet gasp that goes straight to Emily’s head. For a while, there’s nothing but heat and the gentle creak of the couch springs as they shift closer, tangled up in each other. Eventually, Y/N pulls back, breathless, her cheeks flushed.
“I haven’t done this in a while,” she admits with a sheepish smile.
Emily brushes a strand of hair from Y/N’s face, her thumb lingering on her cheek.
“Me either. I didn’t realise how much I missed it.”
Y/N laughs.
“What, kissing on couches?”
Emily shakes her head, smiling.
“Just… being wanted. Wanting someone back.”
Y/N’s eyes go soft.
“You are wanted.”
Emily leans in, kissing her again, slow, deep, just this side of desperate. It’s not just about the heat, though there’s plenty of that. It’s about the way Y/N clings to her, the way Emily’s heart stumbles in her chest, the way it feels to let herself have this, at last.
Eventually, they break apart, heads resting together, legs tangled. Y/N’s fingers trace lazy circles on Emily’s knee.
“So what happens now?” Y/N asks softly.
Emily considers it, her hand drifting up and down Y/N’s arm.
“Now we keep kissing until your lips are sore. Then maybe we have some soup. Then maybe we do this again tomorrow.” Y/N grins, delighted.
“I like that plan.”
They lapse into a comfortable silence, bodies pressed close, the kind of quiet that only comes from real trust. Emily presses a kiss to Y/N’s temple, and Y/N sighs, content. They talk for hours, about nothing and everything. Emily tells stories from her wild twenties, and Y/N confesses she used to have a crush on her when she first started at the BAU. They tease each other, laugh until their sides hurt, share secrets they didn’t know they’d been holding.
Every so often, one of them leans in for another kiss, quick and sweet, or long and lingering, until it’s impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.
There’s no rush, no pressure. Just two people, finally letting themselves be happy. By the time the credits roll on the forgotten movie, they’re half-asleep, curled up together under a blanket, Emily’s arm draped over Y/N’s waist. Emily thinks about all the reasons she used to hold herself back, age, work, what other people might say and finds she can’t remember why any of it mattered. Y/N shifts, mumbling sleepily,
“Don’t leave.” Emily kisses the top of her head.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
2 weeks later
Y/N stands in front of her mirror, fussing with her hair for the third time. She’s been out with Emily plenty since their first kiss, takeout on the couch, a lazy Sunday at the park, even grocery shopping together. But tonight feels different. Tonight is their first real date.
She checks her phone (again):
Emily: “Outside when you’re ready :)”
Y/N grabs her jacket and heads out, nerves buzzing under her skin. Emily’s waiting at the curb by her car, wearing a white blouse and a black skirt, that smile that makes Y/N’s heart do stupid things. Emily holds the passenger door open.
“You look incredible.”
Y/N rolls her eyes, but can’t help grinning.
“You say that every time you see me.”
“Because it’s true every time.” Emily’s voice is warm, teasing. They settle in, and Emily glances over, suddenly shy.
“So, you ready for this?”
Y/N laughs, some of the tension melting away.
“Are you?”
Emily starts the car, glancing at Y/N with a smirk.
“I haven’t been this nervous since my first performance review.”
“Was that the one where you made your boss cry?” Y/N teases. Emily groans.
“Not my best moment.”
They drive across town to a cozy little bistro Emily picked out, dim lights, candles on the tables, jazz humming in the background. The hostess leads them to a quiet booth. Y/N slides in, glancing around.
“This is… fancy.”
Emily shrugs, feigning nonchalance.
“You deserve fancy.”
They order wine, flirt over menus, and trade stories between bites. Y/N laughs so hard at one of Emily’s college stories that she nearly snorts her drink. Emily looks at her like she’s the only person in the world. Midway through dinner, the conversation lulls. Emily fiddles with her fork.
“Can I be honest?”
Y/N leans in, mirroring her tone.
“Always.”
Emily hesitates, searching Y/N’s face.
“I was terrified this would feel weird. But it just… doesn’t. It’s easy. With you.”
Y/N’s smile is soft.
“I know what you mean. Sometimes I look at you and I still can’t believe we get to do this.”
Emily’s cheeks flush.
“People at work will guess straight away.”
Y/N shrugs.
“Let them. I’m not hiding you.”
Emily laughs, reaching across the table to squeeze Y/N’s hand.
“Good. Because I’m terrible at keeping secrets from them especially Penelope, she’s the best profiler without actually being one! The woman is a menace.”
After dinner, they wander through the city, hands entwined, past glowing shop windows and buskers playing for loose change. Emily stops in front of a little bakery, the smell of warm bread spilling out onto the street. She buys two pastries, handing one to Y/N with a grin.
“For breakfast tomorrow,” Emily says, and Y/N feels her heart stumble. They end up on a park bench next to the bakery, sharing bites of pastry and trading quiet confessions. Emily leans her head on Y/N’s shoulder.
“I wish we’d done this sooner,” Emily says.
Y/N tilts her head, brushing her lips against Emily’s hair.
“Me too. But I think we needed to get here the hard way.”
Emily pulls back just enough to look at her, dark brown eyes shining in the glow of the streetlights.
“Can I kiss you?” Y/N grins.
“Always.”
The kiss is sweeter than any before, unhurried, full of promise. When they finally part, Emily’s thumb brushes Y/N’s cheek, lingering.
“Best first date I’ve ever had,” Emily murmurs.
Y/N laughs, tucking herself into Emily’s arms as the city hums around them.
“Let’s make a habit of it.”
The night is warm enough that they don’t rush. After the bakery, Emily suggests another walk, and Y/N can’t say no. The city feels different tonight, softer, slower, like it’s rooting for them. They stroll past late-night bookshops and neon-lit corner stores, Emily’s hand resting lightly at the small of Y/N’s back. Every so often, their shoulders bump, and each time, Y/N feels a little thrill.
“So, be honest,” Emily says, breaking the comfortable quiet.
“How’s your soup game? Because I’m still thinking about that disaster you made last week.”
Y/N gasps in mock outrage.
“That was an experimental recipe!”
“It tasted like someone boiled socks.” Emily’s lips twitch, fighting a smile.
“Wow. Harsh. Maybe I should just let you cook for us from now on.”
Emily’s eyes glint.
“I’m not above bribery. I’ll cook, and you do the dishes. Deal?”
Y/N pretends to think it over.
“I don’t know. That’s a pretty steep price.”
Emily bumps her hip gently.
“You drive a hard bargain.”
They reach the old fountain in the park, water sparkling under the streetlights. Y/N sits on the edge, swinging her legs. Emily joins her, knees brushing.
“I used to come here after work sometimes,” Emily says, voice softer now.
“Before you started. Just to breathe, you know?”
Y/N leans in, their arms pressed together.
“I get that. It’s peaceful. And now you’ve ruined it by associating it with me.”
Emily laughs, her cheeks pink.
“Quite the opposite. I think you improved it.”
They watch a couple of teenagers toss coins and make wishes. Y/N digs in her bag, fishing out a penny.
“Let’s make a wish.”
Emily hesitates, then closes her eyes, holding her penny tight. Y/N tosses hers in, watching the ripple spread across the water.
“What’d you wish for?” Emily asks. Y/N grins.
“If I tell you, it won’t come true.” Emily smirks.
“Mine already did.”
Y/N feels her chest tighten, the truth of it almost too much.
“You’re so cheesy.”
Emily shrugs, not embarrassed at all.
“I’m happy. I haven’t been in a long time.”
A comfortable silence falls, broken only by the splash of water and distant city noise. Then Emily turns, looking at Y/N with that open, vulnerable expression that always undoes her.
“Thank you,” Emily says quietly.
“For what?” Emily’s hand finds Y/N’s.
“For being patient with me. For giving us a chance.”
Y/N squeezes her fingers.
“You’re worth it.” She leans in, pressing a soft kiss to Emily’s mouth. This time, Emily pulls her closer, deepening the kiss, warm and lingering. Neither of them cares who might be watching. When they finally part, Y/N nestles into Emily’s side.
“So, what now? Do we go dancing? Take over the world?” Emily laughs.
“How about we keep walking, and see where the night takes us?”
They wander through the park, sharing more stories. Emily admits she’s terrified of heights. Y/N confesses she’s never learned to ride a bike. Emily promises to teach her, and Y/N pretends to be mortified.
As the night gets cooler, they end up back at Y/N’s apartment. Emily hesitates at the door, suddenly shy again.
“Do you want to come in?” Y/N asks, voice gentle.
Emily nods.
“Only if you promise to never make your terrible soup again.”
Y/N laughs, tugging Emily inside.
“Deal.”
The door clicks shut behind them, and Y/N flicks on a lamp, filling the living room with a soft, golden glow. They stand close, jackets off, shoes abandoned by the door, neither in any rush to break the spell between them. Emily sinks onto the couch, stretching out, her eyes never leaving Y/N. She pats the cushion beside her with a crooked smile. Y/N doesn’t hesitate; she settles in right next to Emily, knees pressed together, Emily tucks a strand of hair behind Y/N’s ear, her voice low.
“You know, I could get used to nights like this.”
Y/N grins, her cheeks flushed.
“Me too.”
She leans in, her lips finding Emily’s, slow, searching, full of all the things they’ve wanted to say for weeks. Emily’s hand finds Y/N’s waist, pulling her closer, and suddenly they’re kissing like they’re afraid to ever stop. The world outside blurs to nothing. Y/N’s fingers trace Emily’s jaw, learning the shape of her, memorising every sigh and soft laugh. Emily deepens the kiss, her hands sliding up Y/N’s back, drawing her in until there’s no space left between them. Every pause is just an excuse to look at each other, to smile, to marvel at how easy it feels to finally let go. Eventually, Y/N pulls back, breathless, her eyes searching Emily’s.
“Will you stay tonight?”
Emily’s answer is gentle, but certain.
“If you want me to.”
Y/N nods, her voice a whisper.
“I do. I really do.”
Emily kisses her again, slower this time, savouring it, letting her hands drift and linger. When they finally break apart, Y/N stands and offers her hand. Emily takes it without hesitation. They walk together down the hallway, hands entwined, hearts pounding. Y/N glances back just once, finding Emily’s eyes soft and bright, her smile shy and full of promise. The bedroom door swings open, the city lights spilling in.
Emily stands in the soft lamplight, her hands trembling slightly as she reaches for the next button on her blouse. Y/N sits on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on her, not with judgment, but with open, hungry admiration. Emily can feel the heat of it, the way it makes her want to be seen, really seen.
She pauses, the last button undone, and glances at Y/N. There’s no impatience, just quiet encouragement, Y/N’s lips parted, gaze drinking her in.
“You don’t have to be nervous,” Y/N says softly, her voice thick.
“You’re stunning.”
Emily lets the blouse slide off her shoulders, slow and deliberate. The fabric pools at her feet. She stands in her camisole and skirt, the pale curve of her collarbone, the silver of her hair catching the light. She’s never felt so exposed, or so wanted.
Y/N’s eyes follow every movement, dark and warm.
“God, Emily,” she breathes,
“you have no idea what you do to me.”
Emily blushes, but she can’t help smiling, emboldened. She slips out of her skirt, then peels away the camisole, her body revealed inch by inch, soft skin, the curve of her hip, the lines drawn by years and laughter and living. Y/N leans forward, her breath unsteady.
“You’re gorgeous. All of you. I love every part of you.”
Emily’s nerves melt away beneath the heat of Y/N’s gaze. She stands there, bare, letting herself be wanted, letting herself feel beautiful. Y/N’s eyes roam over her, her stomach, not as flat as it once was; her breasts, full and natural; her thighs, strong and soft. Every detail is met with awe, not hesitation.
Y/N finally stands, closing the distance between them. She reaches out, her hands gentle and reverent as they skim along Emily’s waist, up her back, across her shoulders. She presses her lips to Emily’s neck, her collarbone, her jaw, worshipful.
Emily’s breath catches.
“You really like what you see?”
Y/N looks up, her eyes dark and sure.
“I love it. I love you. I want you like this, exactly you.”
“I love you too.” Emily smiles, her shyness fading as Y/N’s hands and lips make promises across her skin. She lets her guard drop completely, lets herself be guided back to the bed, lets Y/N show her, again and again, just how beautiful she is.
They move together, slow and careful at first, then bolder, laughter and sighs filling the room. For the first time in years, Emily feels utterly desired, cherished for every mark, every silver strand, every bit of herself. And in Y/N’s arms, she feels young, and new, and whole. The city noises barely heard over the symphony of breathless need filling the room. Emily’s hands were everywhere. Slow at first, reverent. But the more Y/N arched into her touch, the more restraint slipped away, replaced by something hungrier, almost desperate. Y/N’s hands tugged at Emily’s body, nails scraping lightly over her ribs and waist, mapping every soft curve with a kind of greedy awe.
“God, you’re so fucking beautiful,” Y/N blurted, voice ragged, lips trailing kisses down Emily’s neck.
“I want you so much, don’t ever hide from me.”
Emily felt herself flush, the praise going straight to her core. She let herself be bared, the lamplight catching on every line, every scar, every silver strand. For a moment, she hesitated, old doubts whispering, but Y/N’s eyes only darkened with desire.
“Let me touch you,” Y/N pleads, hands sliding over Emily’s hips, cupping her ass, squeezing just enough to make Emily gasp.
“God, yes,” Emily whispered, her voice low and trembling. She pressed Y/N back into the pillows, their bodies flush, her thigh sliding between Y/N’s legs. She felt the heat there, the slick, the need and it made her bold.
She kissed Y/N hard, greedy, her tongue claiming, her hands rougher now, squeezing, groping, memorising the way Y/N’s body responded. Y/N moaned into her mouth, hips canting up, desperate for friction. Emily rolled her hips, grinding down, feeling her own arousal spill over.
“Emily, please.” Y/N gasped, breaking the kiss, eyes wild with want. Emily’s hand slid down, fingers slipping between Y/N’s thighs, teasing, circling, not quite giving in.
“Tell me what you need, sweetheart,” Emily murmured, her breath hot against Y/N’s ear.
“Let me hear you beg.”
Y/N’s voice was barely more than a whimper.
“Need you inside me. Need you now, Emily, please.”
Emily pressed two fingers in, slow and deep, and Y/N cried out, the sound raw and shattering. Emily groaned, the heat of it almost overwhelming.
“That’s it, baby. Take me. Show me how much you want it.”
Y/N clawed at her back, desperate, hips rocking to meet every thrust.
“Fuck….don’t stop please.”
Then, as Emily bent to suck at a nipple,
Y/N’s head tossed back, her voice cracking on a word that neither of them expected.“Mommy…..please, oh god, don’t stop, Mommy.”
Emily froze, the word landing like a thunderclap in her chest. For a heartbeat, everything went silent. Y/N’s eyes flew open, panic and embarrassment flashing across her face.
But Emily’s arousal spiked, sharp and sudden, drowning out everything else. She felt a surge of power, of want, of something forbidden and electric.
“Say it again,” Emily demanded, her voice rough, almost unrecognisable.
“Say it for me, baby.”
Y/N swallowed, cheeks burning, but her hips never stopped moving.
“Please, mommy, I need you. Need you so bad.”
The sound of it set Emily on fire. She thrust harder, deeper, her mouth everywhere, biting at Y/N’s neck, sucking at her breasts, claiming every inch.
“That’s my good girl,” Emily growled, her own need rising with every plea.
“Let mommy hear you. Let mommy make you come.”
Y/N was lost to it, writhing beneath her, legs shaking, hands fisting in Emily’s hair.
“Yes…..yes, mommy, just like that, don’t stop, don’t stop.”
Every time Y/N whimpered the word, Emily responded with more. More fingers, more pressure, more praise, her own body thrumming with need. She wanted to give Y/N everything, to see her unravel, to own every sound and every shudder.
“You’re perfect, sweetheart. So good for me, so fucking perfect. You’re mine, aren’t you?” Emily panted, her own voice coming apart.
“I’m yours, mommy, I’m yours please, please.”
That was all it took. Y/N broke, crying out Emily’s name, then “mommy” again and again, voice breaking as she came, body arching into Emily’s hand.
Emily held her through it, kissing her, whispering filth and love, feeling her own body tremble with the power of it all. When Y/N finally stilled, boneless and panting, Emily pressed their foreheads together, her chest heaving.
“I didn’t know I’d want that,” Emily whispered, her voice guttural and new.
“But god, I love it. I love hearing you say it. I love making you mine.”
Y/N smiled, dizzy and dazed, her hand tracing the lines of Emily’s face.
“Then you’ll hear it as much as you want.”
Emily grinned, kissing her deep.
After, the room is quiet except for their breathing and the distant hum of the city. Emily lies on her side, hair tangled and cheeks flushed, her arm draped across Y/N’s waist. Y/N traces absent circles along Emily’s back, feeling the slow rise and fall of her breath, a rhythm that feels like home.
Emily lets out a soft, contented sigh and buries her face in the crook of Y/N’s neck.
“I could stay right here forever,” she whispers.
Y/N smiles, pressing a kiss to Emily’s forehead.
“I wouldn’t let you go even if you tried.”
They lie tangled together, their bodies still warm, legs entwined beneath the sheets. Emily’s hand finds Y/N’s, their fingers lacing easily, like they’ve done this a thousand times before. For a while, there’s no need for words. Y/N runs her fingers through the silver at Emily’s temple, marveling at how natural it feels to hold her, to be held.
Emily’s breathing slows as she relaxes into the embrace, her earlier nerves melted away. After a while, Emily tilts her head up, eyes shining in the dim light.
“You still sure about all this?”
Y/N smiles, brushing her lips against Emily’s.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Emily laughs softly, her voice low and sleepy.
“Good. Because I don’t ever want to go back to pretending there’s nothing between us.”
Y/N tightens her hold.
“Me neither. I want all of it. All of you.”
Emily rests her head on Y/N’s chest, listening to the steady heartbeat beneath her ear. She feels safe, cherished, and maybe for the first time in years, completely herself. They drift together, content and close, letting the night hold them.
1 week later
Y/N steps out of the elevator, the familiar hum of the BAU bullpen washing over her. She hasn’t missed the paperwork, the early meetings, or the cases. But she’s missed this, the way everyone greets her, the way the team feels like a second home. She barely makes it ten feet before Penelope appears, dressed in neon pink and hugging her like she’s made of glass.
“You’re back! You’re really back! And you look…” Penelope narrows her eyes, then grins,
“… suspiciously happy for someone with a bullet wound.”
JJ and Tara are close behind, both grinning wide. JJ gives Y/N a gentle squeeze.
“We missed you. You look good.”
Tara nudges her, eyebrow arched.
“And not just healthy. Is there something you want to tell us?”
Y/N tries for innocence, but she’s never been good at hiding anything from them.
“What? I can’t be glad to see my favorite people?”
Penelope gasps, feigning shock.
“Oh my god, she’s glowing. You’re glowing. Is this a new moisturiser or…?”
Emily appears from her office just then, hair perfect, poker face firmly in place, but her eyes flicker when she sees Y/N. There’s a heartbeat of silence as their gazes lock, just a flash, but it’s enough. JJ leans in, stage-whispers,
“I already know.”
Emily clears her throat, trying for professionalism.
“Welcome back, Y/N. Good to see you.”
Y/N bites her lip to keep from smiling too wide.
“Thank you, Emily. It’s good to be back.”
Penelope bounces on her toes, barely able to contain herself.
“Okay, is anyone else seeing what I’m seeing? There’s a vibe. Like, a definite vibe.” Tara laughs.
“Oh, there’s more than a vibe. There’s practically a neon sign.”
Y/N looks at Emily, who’s fighting a losing battle with a smile. For a second, the whole team is grinning like they’re in on the best secret in the world. JJ nudges Y/N’s arm.
“We’re really happy for you. Both of you.”
Penelope claps her hands, beaming.
“You deserve it. After everything? You both deserve some actual happiness.” Tara nods.
“And don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with us. Sort of, but you know what Penelope is like.”
Emily finally gives in, her smile soft and real.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice gentle, and Y/N can’t help but smile back.
Y/N looks around at her friends, her family and feels a rush of relief. She doesn’t have to hide, not from them. For the first time, being back at work feels like coming home. Penelope hugs her again, whispering,
“Call me later. I want all the details.”
Y/N laughs, her cheeks pink.
“Maybe not all the details.”
The team laughs, the tension broken,
“Debrief in 10, everyone.” Emily shouts as she walks back to her office.
The team gathers in the briefing room, the energy buzzing brighter than usual. Y/N is settling into her old seat, feeling the weight of normalcy returning. Emily stands at the front with her tablet, the rest of the team filing in. Rossi and Luke arrive last, coffee in hand, trading quiet jokes. Emily clears her throat, ready to start.
“All right, everyone, let’s get….”
Penelope, sitting next to Y/N, is practically bouncing in her chair. She leans in and whispers,
“I can’t believe you’re actually back! And that you two are….”
JJ coughs pointedly. Tara shakes her head, grinning. But it’s too late, Penelope’s eyes go wide, her words hanging in the air.
Rossi, always perceptive, raises an eyebrow. “That you two are…?”
Penelope freezes, then blurts,
“A COUPLE!” The word echoes around the room. Silence falls for half a second, and then Luke nearly spits out his coffee. Emily’s eyes go huge. Y/N covers her face, groaning. But Penelope’s already on a roll, babbling,
“I tried to keep it in, but it’s just so romantic! She got shot and Emily was at her bedside every day and now they’re in love and oh no, I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud, was I?”
JJ and Tara burst out laughing. Rossi gives Y/N and Emily an appraising look, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.
“Well, it’s about time. I was starting to think you two would never figure it out.”
Luke grins, shaking his head.
“Seriously? You two kept that under wraps for how long? I need to up my detective game.”
Emily, cheeks flushed, holds up her hands.
“Yes, it’s true. We’re together. And yes, HR knows.”
Y/N finally lowers her hands, meeting the team’s eyes. She expects teasing, maybe a little awkwardness, but all she sees is a room full of smiles.
Rossi lifts his coffee in a toast.
“To happiness, and to Y/N being back where she belongs.”
Luke reaches over and fist-bumps Y/N, grinning.
“Glad you’re back. And… good for you both. Seriously.”
Penelope, still beaming, squeezes Y/N’s hand under the table.
“Sorry for spilling, but I couldn’t help it. You two are too adorable.”
Y/N laughs, her nerves dissolving. Emily catches her eye, sending her a look that says, See? We’re going to be just fine.
The briefing resumes, but the atmosphere is lighter, warmer, full of the kind of family feeling that only this team can create. Afterward, as they file out, Rossi lingers at the door. He leans in, voice low.
“You’ve got my blessing, Y/N. And you, too, Emily. Life’s too short for anything less than happiness.”
Emily nods, grateful.
“Thank you, Rossi.”
Outside the room, Penelope is already planning a celebratory dinner, JJ is texting them heart emojis, and Luke is shaking his head, still smiling. Y/N catches Emily’s hand as they head down the hallway, both of them trying and failing to hide their grins.
Rossi’s house smells like garlic and rosemary and something slow-roasting in the oven. The table is set with his good china, wine bottles breathing next to carafes of sparkling water, and candles flickering in the early evening light. Y/N’s plate is already full, thanks to Penelope piling on another helping of Rossi’s famous lasagna. She can’t remember the last time she was so surrounded by warmth, actual and emotional. Penelope clinks her glass.
“A toast! To Y/N, for coming back to us in one piece. And to Emily, for… well, we all know what for.”
Emily, sitting beside Y/N, blushes and nudges Penelope with her elbow.
“You’re never going to let this go, are you?”
Penelope beams.
“Not a chance! It’s my new favorite thing.”
Luke grins.
“Honestly, it’s pretty adorable. You two are like… I don’t know, the office’s worst kept secret.”
JJ raises her glass.
“We’re just glad you’re both happy. And Y/N don’t ever scare us like that again, okay?”
Tara leans back in her chair, sipping red wine.
“Seconded. We had to eat Rossi’s ‘comfort food’ for weeks, he literally never stopped feeding us, I swear I gained 5 pounds. It was touch and go.”
Rossi, feigning offense, waves his fork. “Excuse me! I’ll have you know my risotto is world-class.”
Emily laughs.
“It was excellent, Rossi. But I think we’d all rather have Y/N back.”
Y/N grins, soaking in the easy affection.
“I missed you all too. Even the risotto.”
Rossi winks.
“That’s amore.”
There’s a lull as everyone digs in, the only sounds the clink of cutlery and the occasional sigh of contentment. Penelope, not one for long silences, leans forward conspiratorially.
“So, are you two going to do something disgustingly cute now, or should we keep embarrassing you until you do?”
Y/N rolls her eyes, but she can’t help turning to Emily, who just shakes her head and laughs. Y/N squeezes Emily’s hand under the table, and Penelope lets out a little squeal. Luke smirks.
“Seriously, Garcia, let them breathe.” JJ grins.
“Or at least let them finish their meal.”
Tara leans in, eyes twinkling.
“I’m just happy Y/N is here with us.”
Emily looks around the table, her voice soft.
“We’re lucky to have you guys.”
Penelope raises her glass again.
“To family. The one you choose.”
Everyone echoes it, glasses clinking, and for a moment the laughter fades into something softer, a sense of gratitude, of belonging. Rossi stands, gathering plates.
“Who wants dessert? I made tiramisu.” Luke groans.
“Man, we’re spoiled.” Penelope claps her hands.
“I’ll help! JJ, you’re on espresso duty.”
Tara and Luke follow Rossi into the kitchen, still arguing over who makes the best coffee. JJ trails after, promising to keep the espresso machine from exploding.
Left alone for a moment, Y/N leans into Emily, her voice low.
“This is nice. I didn’t think coming back would feel so easy.”
Emily smiles, brushing a stray hair from Y/N’s cheek.
“It’s our people. They make everything better.” Y/N nods.
“I love you.”
Emily grins, squeezing her hand.
“I love you, too.”
From the kitchen Penelope calls,
“We heard that!” and everyone bursts out laughing.
The night stretches on—full of dessert, stories, and the kind of happiness that’s been hard won. No secrets, no shadows. Just family.
2 years later
It’s a quiet Sunday morning, sunlight spilling through the kitchen windows and painting gold across the table. Y/N is perched on a stool, hair mussed from sleep, reading the paper and sipping coffee. Emily stands at the stove, flipping pancakes, her heart thumping so hard she can barely focus on the task. They’ve been together for two years now, a year of living side by side, learning each other’s rhythms, turning a house into a home. Emily’s still surprised by how right it all feels, how natural it is to wake up with Y/N every day. She watches Y/N laugh at something in the comics section, the sound bright and easy.
Emily’s chest aches with how much she loves her. She turns off the burner, wipes her hands on a dish towel, and walks over.
“Hey,” she says, voice softer than she means. Y/N looks up, smiling.
“Hey yourself. You’re burning your pancakes.”
Emily laughs, nerves making her giddy.
“Doesn’t matter. I, uh… I wanted to ask you something.”
Y/N sets the paper aside, suddenly alert.
“You okay?”
Emily nods, taking a shaky breath. She pulls a small box from her pocket. It’s nothing flashy, just simple, elegant, exactly what she knows Y/N would love. She sinks down on one knee, hands trembling. Y/N’s eyes go wide.
“Emily.” Emily’s voice is thick.
“I know this isn’t some grand romantic gesture. I know it’s just pancakes and pajamas and a kitchen that always smells like coffee. But I love you. I love every morning and every fight over whose turn it is to take out the trash. I want all of it, forever. Will you marry me?”
Y/N stares, stunned, tears welling up. She laughs, choked and bright, and drops her coffee spoon with a clatter.
“Of course I’ll marry you! God, yes.”
Emily slides the ring onto Y/N’s finger, both of them laughing and crying and trying not to knock over the table in their scramble to hold each other.
Y/N kisses her, slow and smiling, forehead pressed to Emily’s.
“You’re such a sap,” she whispers, grinning.
Emily shrugs, her voice thick with happiness.
“Only for you.” They sit there on the kitchen floor, tangled up, pancakes forgotten, sunlight streaming in.
The team is gathered in the conference room for their usual Monday morning debrief. Files are stacked, coffee cups steaming, Penelope’s nails tapping out a rapid rhythm on her tablet. JJ and Tara are quietly catching up, Luke is wolfing down a bagel, and Rossi is already sipping his second espresso. Emily and Y/N slip in together, trying (and failing) to look casual. They sit close, hands brushing under the table, barely containing their excitement.
JJ glances up and immediately narrows her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips.
“You two are acting weird. Spill.”
Penelope perks up instantly.
“Oh my god, is it a puppy? Did you get a puppy? Or wait did you elope in Vegas? Please say you eloped in Vegas, I have a feather boa in my car just in case.”
Y/N laughs, shaking her head.
“No puppies, no Vegas. But we do have news.”
Emily grins, catching Y/N’s eye for a moment before turning to the team.
“We’re engaged.”
There’s a split-second of stunned silence, then total chaos.
Penelope shrieks, launching herself across the room to hug them both at once.
“Engaged! Oh, I knew it! I KNEW IT! Let me see the ring! Oh, it’s perfect, you two are perfect!”
Luke grins, high-fiving Y/N.
“Congrats, you guys. That’s awesome.”
Tara beams, squeezing Emily’s shoulder.
“About time. I’m so happy for you.”
Rossi raises his glass of espresso.
“To love, and to two of my favorite people finding their forever.”
JJ slips around to hug them both.
“You deserve every bit of this happiness. When’s the wedding?”
Emily laughs, cheeks flushed, and Y/N squeezes her hand under the table.
“We haven’t picked a date yet. We just wanted you all to know first.”
Penelope is already pulling out her phone.
“I am making a Pinterest board and you cannot stop me. Also, Emily, I expect to be your maid of honor, or at least the head of the glitter committee.”
JJ leans in, grinning.
“I call bachelorette party planning. And if you need a venue, Rossi’s backyard is basically wedding-ready.”
Rossi shrugs, deadpan.
“It’s true. I make a mean risotto for a hundred people.” Luke raises his coffee.
“Just tell me when to rent a tux.”
The energy in the room is electric, laughter, hugs, more happy tears than either of them expected. For a moment, just one moment, the weight of the job, the scars and losses, all fade away.
3 months later
The sun is drifting low over Rossi’s backyard, casting everything in honey gold light. Rows of white chairs are filled with friends and chosen family, flower petals scattered along the aisle. Penelope is at the front, dabbing her eyes with a tissue, wearing something bright and glittery. JJ stands beside her, bouquet in hand, grinning at the small, happy chaos. Y/N stands at the end of the aisle, heart pounding, hands shaking just a little. She catches sight of Emily just before the music starts, standing tall, her hair soft around her face, a smile so full of love it knocks the breath out of Y/N’s chest.
The music begins. Emily walks down the aisle, eyes never leaving Y/N. For a second, everything else drops away, the nerves, the whispers, the years of almost, not yet, and maybe someday. Now, it’s just them. When Emily reaches Y/N, they both laugh softly, nerves dissolving as their hands find each other. Rossi stands before them, officiating with a warmth only he could bring.
“We’re here today because these two stubborn, brilliant women finally decided to make it official.” Everyone laughs, the tension melting into joy. Emily’s voice is steady, but her eyes shine.
“I spent years thinking I couldn’t have this. That maybe I’d missed my chance. And then you turned my world upside down, and I realised I didn’t just want you, I needed you. I love you, Y/N. I want you for the rest of my life. Every dull morning and every extraordinary one. All of it.”
Y/N wipes at her eyes, grinning.
“You always say I’m the brave one, but this is, it’s the bravest thing I’ve ever done. Loving you is the easiest, scariest, and best thing I’ll ever do. I promise to make you laugh, to hold your hand when the world gets heavy, and to come home to you, always.”
Penelope lets out a little sob, and JJ squeezes her hand. Luke winks from the end of the row, and Tara smiles, tears in her eyes. Rossi clears his throat, beaming.
“By the power vested in me by the state and by popular demand…..” the team laughs again, “….I now pronounce you married. You may kiss the bride.”
Emily pulls Y/N close. Their kiss is soft, a little shaky, but full of relief and promise. The applause is thunderous, Penelope cheering, JJ whistling, Rossi dabbing his eyes now too. They face their friends, fingers intertwined, grinning so wide their cheeks hurt. The world feels light, brand new, and full of possibility. Later, as the sun sets and the music plays, they dance under strings of lights and a sky full of stars, surrounded by the family they found.
The night has thinned to just close friends and family, the lights strung above the backyard twinkling against the deep blue of late evening. Plates are empty, shoes have been kicked off, and the team is gathered at the edge of the makeshift dance floor, laughter fading to a hush as the final song begins. Emily finds Y/N’s hand, their fingers fitting together as naturally as breathing. The music is slow, something soft and old, the kind of song that wraps itself around two people and makes the world disappear. Y/N rests her head on Emily’s shoulder, their bodies swaying in gentle rhythm. Emily’s hand settles on Y/N’s waist, grounding them both. For a while, neither says anything; there’s no need. Every promise has already been spoken, every secret already shared.
They dance in a little circle of light, the world beyond them dim and distant. Emily presses her cheek against Y/N’s hair, breathing in the scent of her, and lets the moment stretch.
“I can’t believe this is real,” Y/N whispers, voice thick with emotion. Emily holds her tighter.
“It is. It’s ours.”
Y/N lifts her head, eyes shining.
“Thank you. For waiting for me. For loving me.”
Emily smiles, tears pricking her eyes.
“There was never anyone else.”
As the last notes of the song drift into the night, the crowd, Penelope, JJ, Rossi, all of them applauds softly, but Emily and Y/N barely hear it. They are lost in each other, in the quiet certainty of this new beginning. Emily kisses Y/N, slow and sure, and the world narrows down to the two of them dancing, laughing, loving, held tight in the gentle glow of forever.
And for once, the ending feels just like a beginning.