A/N: Well, this is the last chapter. I hope you enjoyed this short story and you'll stay tuned for my next effort :D Thanks for reading!!

Chapter 4

For a moment there was complete silence in the conference room, as everyone was trying to digest the information that had just been shared with them. JJ knew that dropping a bombshell like that on her co-workers was not going to be appreciated by them, but she had to get it out, because it was killing her to be without Emily.

When the members of the team decided that they must have heard JJ wrong, for a short moment they just looked at the media liaison incredulously, until Garcia spoke, "You're in love with Emily? Our Emily?" She asked, looking at her friend a little shocked and a little concerned.

"Yes, our Emily." JJ confirmed, looking at Emily affectionately and then turning her eyes back to the rest of the team. "I have been in love with Emily for quite a while now. And for some time I couldn't even admit it to myself, because I was so freaked out about having romantic feelings for a woman. And I'm sorry to be dumping this one you, but you guys are like my family and this affects the team and I just needed you to know." She took a moment to breathe before she continued. "Emily and I had been together for over 8 months until she broke it off, because I had been too damn scared to admit to anyone how I really feel about her. During the time we were together we both were doing a pretty damn good job, even when we fought, so I truly wholeheartedly believe that our being together did not compromise our work. And even during the time we were broken up, we still kicked ass. We were not really speaking, but we still kicked ass." JJ said and she could see Emily chuckling at her statement. It was so good to see Emily laugh. "So I believe Emily and I can make it work, I really do. And you guys know how much I care about this job and about what we do, and I would never do anything to compromise that. But I love Emily. I love her so much that I can't get through the day without thinking about her." JJ was now looking Emily directly in the eye, and even though she knew the rest of the team was still there, she needed to get this out. "Because Emily made me happy, happier than I had ever been in my entire life. When we were together, it felt like everything was right with the universe. And I don't know how she did that, but she made me feel safe and secure and at peace and I miss that. I miss her." JJ looked at Emily and she could see hoe emotional the brunette was getting. "And I want her back in my life. And this time I want everyone to know that I am completely and hopelessly in love with her and it physically hurts me to not have her with me the way we used to be. So if she wants me to, I will scream from the rooftops how much I love her if that's what it takes for her to take me back." JJ finally finished, realizing that she really didn't want to say anything more in front of the entire team.

She was trying really hard to hold back her tears and it almost scared all of them to see her so emotional. They were certainly not used to seeing JJ like this, but each of them knew that when love was involved, reason really didn't play a huge role.

"I'm a freakin' communications liaison, so there, I communicated." She said with a small laugh. "Probably a little more than you all wanted to hear, but there it is. I'm done now." She added, relieved that she managed to convey everything she wanted to say.

Hotch knew that they were going to have to talk about it, but he also knew that right now JJ needed to talk to Emily alone. It was so obvious from the way they kept looking at each other that they had so much to say to each other, so much to explain and he certainly wasn't going to be the one to stand in the way. So he slowly stood up and silently made his way out of the conference room, the rest of the team soon followed suit, leaving only JJ and Emily in the room.

When the door closed behind their colleagues, Emily kept studying JJ intently and soon realized that JJ almost found it difficult to breathe. She could see the blonde breathing heavily and she knew how difficult it must have been for her to do that. But she did. She admitted in front of the entire team that she loved her, and that was certainly a good start. Not quite what she had in mind when she kept telling JJ that they needed to tell people, but she figured it would do. A part of her was a little mad at herself for driving JJ to do something like that, but the bigger part just could no longer be OK with having JJ as her secret girlfriend. She wanted the real deal with the blonde and when she looked at JJ standing in front of the screen, for the first time she thought that maybe it was what JJ wanted as well.

"That was quite a speech." Emily finally said standing up, a little hesitantly, since she didn't really know how to proceed. She could see the blonde smiling at her, still a little astonished by the words that had just come out of her mouth a couple of minutes ago. Not that they weren't true, but she surprised herself at how eager she was to let everyone know how much she loved Emily.

"Well I meant it." JJ made it a point to look Emily directly in the eye. "I want you back in my life. I want us to be us again. It's only been a couple of days, Em, but I can't stand it. I don't ever wanna go to sleep or wake up alone. And I don't ever want us to be the way we have been in the last couple of days. And if you want, I'll tell every damn person on the planet that I'm in love with you." JJ whispered and Emily could see that she meant it. She took one step closer towards the blonde, seeing how nervous she was becoming again. "I'm sorry for the way I chose to inform everybody about this… us…" JJ continued with her heart pounding, "I just couldn't wait any longer, because every second apart from you hurt so badly. And I don't ever wanna see you look at me like you're having doubts about my feelings for you. That's the way you looked at me in the last couple of days and I don't ever wanna see that look in your eyes again. And I just don't want…" JJ continued her heartfelt confession, but apparently Emily didn't need to hear any more. She just needed to feel the blonde again. And with that realization she crashed her lips onto JJ's, because it had been too long since she felt that sweet taste. As soon as their lips met, Emily pulled JJ into a gentle embrace and she could feel the blonde shivering, still a little freaked out about her admission a couple of minutes ago. But she reciprocated the kiss, burying her hands in Emily's hair, almost taken aback how amazing it felt to be in Emily's arms again.

"I don't care how you told them." Emily whispered when they broke apart to breathe. "I'm just glad you did. And I'm sorry sort of bullied you into doing that…"

"No, don't, Em." JJ cut her short "Don't apologize. You didn't bully me into doing anything. It was wrong and unfair for me to ask you to pretend like we don't mean anything more to each other than just friends or colleagues. Because what we have is beautiful and amazing and I really do want to share my happiness with everyone. I do." JJ affectionately caressed Emily's cheek and smiled at the brunette gently. "I don't wanna give up the best thing that's ever happened to me just because I'm scared of the way people are going o react or whatever it really is that I'm scared of, because honestly I don't think I even know anymore. But I do know that I don't wanna face another day without you or knowing that I'm hurting you. Because that's the last thing I wanna do, you have to believe me."

"I do. I do believe you, JJ. And I never doubted for a second that you love me, contrary to what I might have said to you, which by the way I'm sorry about." Emily said, referring to their break-up conversation a couple of days ago. "I just couldn't…"

"I know." JJ whispered, running her fingers gently on Emily's lips. "I know. But I think I took a step in the right direction to show you that I no longer wanna keep hurting you that way." JJ looked at Emily with so much hope in her eyes and Emily just melted.

"Definitely the right direction." Emily laughed as she leaned in for another kiss. It had only been a couple of days since they last kissed before that morning, but to Emily it felt like forever. It took all the strength in her not to give in to her feelings for JJ in the last could days and she was extremely relieved she didn't have to stay away from the blonde anymore. It was too damn hard and truth be told, she had no idea how she was going to do it in the long run. But now she didn't have to, because JJ had just told everyone about them and now the blonde was in her arms, telling her she loved her, and Emily felt like things were finally on their way to being the way they were supposed to be.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to see what you knew all along." JJ suddenly started, still guilty over how much she had hurt Emily.

"Which is?"

"That we deserve a life together." She smiled and she took Emily's face in her hands. "A real life together. I want that, Emily, more than anything." JJ closed the gap between their lips for the third time that morning. "I love you."

"I love you too, but I guess you already know that." Emily smiled back at the blonde and saw her nodding happily. "Good."

"So what do we do now?"

"How about what regular couples do?" Emily suggested. "Dinner tonight? You know, in public? Like a date?" Emily proposed, praying to God that the she was going to like the answer she hears.

"I'd love that." JJ agreed, a wide smile spreading across her face. "I would be honored to go on a date with you, Emily Prentiss."

"OK then." Emily's heart was racing as she took JJ's hand and pulled the blonde in for another kiss. "Pick you up at 7?"

"I will be waiting." JJ grinned and she realized she hadn't looked forward to anything in a long time as much as she was looking forwards to her date with Emily.

"You wanna go by Hotch's office?" Emily suggested with an apparent grimace on her face.

"Want? Not so much." JJ laughed. "But after my performance this morning, I believe I owe him this much. And I'd rather get this over with now."

"Let's go then." Emily said and the two of them made their way to their boss's office. They knocked and after hearing a short 'Come in' they entered.

"Hey, we figured you'd have something to say to us."

"As a matter of fact yes I do." He said firmly, but his tone wasn't hostile, so the two female agents hoped that maybe it wasn't going to be that bad. "Sit down." He asked and Emily and JJ made their way towards his desk and took their seats. "Look, I could lecture you on how fraternizing between the agents is frowned upon and how it could compromise the team and our job… But the truth is that in the past few months both of you have been at the top of your game as far as the job is concerned, and if you plan on carrying on this way, I personally see no problem with the two of you dating. It is your choice and your responsibility to make it work and I will make sure no one other than you has any say in this. Deal?"

Both Emily and JJ sighed deep sighs of relief and Hotch could hear them say almost simultaneously 'Yes sir" before standing up and walking towards the door.

"See you on Monday?" JJ started. "Unless there is something else you need us for?"

"No, Monday will be fine." Hotch smiled and watch the women leave.

Once in the hallway, JJ motioned for Emily to follow her into her office. She wanted to continue their conversation, but somehow she doubted that the BAU hallway was the best place to do that.

When they entered JJ's office, Emily looked at JJ meaningfully and asked, "OK, now that the whole fraternizing issue is settled, are you sure you still wanna do this?"

"Do what?" JJ asked, a little surprised. "Be with the most amazing woman in the world?" She gently took Emily's hand in hers. "Yeah, I think I do." She smiled and was surprised to feel Emily tremble a little at her touch. "I've been keeping you this secret long enough and it's time I bragged a little about this kick-ass FBI agent that I'm dating."

"Are you now?" Emily grinned flirtatiously. "Do I know her?"

"I don't know, you might." JJ cocked her eyebrows as she put her arms around Emily's neck. "She's beautiful, so beautiful that she takes your breath away. And she has the most captivating eyes, ones that you can look into and completely get lost in them. And her smile makes your heart stop. And she is caring and compassionate and she always knows how to make you feel better. And when she tells you that she loves you and that she believes in you, you really feel like you can do anything." JJ stopped for a moment and she could see that Emily was becoming a little emotional, but she decided to continue. "And when she kisses you, you feel like the whole world ceases to exist, because when you feel her arms around you, nothing else matters."

"Like this?" Emily finally closed the gap between her and JJ's lips in a kiss that she had been longing for ever since they entered JJ's office. JJ allowed herself to relax completely when she felt Emily's hands on her back and Emily's tongue slowly entering her mouth when the kiss was becoming more and more passionate.

"Yeah, like this." JJ whispered panting, as the two of them broke apart once the lack of oxygen became an issue. "Exactly like this."

"She seems like a real catch." Emily teased, a wide smile on her face, as she ran her left hand through JJ's hair.

"She is." JJ grinned as she looked at the amazing woman in front of her and she realized that only someone who wasn't in their right mind would ever want to keep someone like Emily a secret. Anybody sane would be proud to tell everyone they knew about this amazing person they were with. And this was what JJ intended to do. "Listen, I was planning on visiting my family back in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Would you… would you like to go with me?"

"Only if you're sure you wanna take me." Emily replied, knowing what a big step it would be for JJ. "I don't wanna push you."

"You're not." JJ smiled and looked deep into Emily's brown eyes. "I just think it's high time they met the love of my life." JJ kissed Emily's lips softly. "She's pretty extraordinary, you know?"

"Looks like you really lucked out with her." Emily grinned, pulling JJ closer to her and she could see the blonde giggle a little.

"I most certainly did." JJ smiled as she wrapped her arms around Emily tightly and pulled her into an embrace. She breathed in Emily's scent, enjoying the warmth of Emily's arms around her. And she knew that if she had anything to say about this, this was the woman she was going to spend the rest of her life with, making sure every single person she met knew exactly how amazing Emily was and how much she loved her.

THE END