Emily took a deep breath as she heard Kate locking the door from the outside. This was it: she was alone in her apartment with JJ. It used to be simple; they had done this before. When Emily was first transferred to the BAU, she and JJ spent most of their time together. For most of the first year, they were inseparable friends. For the other two, they were still inseparable but were something more than friends but less than lovers. JJ has spent many nights in Emily's apartment, as Emily had spent many nights at JJ's house but today was different.

They had tiptoed around their feelings for almost two years, and ignored them altogether since Will and the proposal. But it was now obvious that they couldn't hide anymore. Emily needed to tell JJ how she felt and live with the consequences. Slowly and purposefully breathing out, Emily walked downstairs to face JJ.

To Emily's surprise, JJ was walking around, looking through her kitchen cabinets. "What are you up to Jay?" Emily asks, walking behind her friend unable to keep from smiling at the frazzled blonde. "I was going to start making us something, I figured we should eat." JJ answers, moving to the other side of the breakfast bar and taking a seat at a stool.

Now, openly laughing, Emily says, "But JJ, you can't cook!"

"Oh, I can too!" JJ says, feigning hurt feelings. "I can cook just fine."

"No, no you can't. I still have nightmares about your chili." The brunette responds laughing as she moves around her kitchen and starts boiling water. Walking towards the fridge and grabbing five tomatoes, she hands JJ a knife, cutting board and says, "here chop these. Try not to ruin them."

Laughing and pleased with the friendly banter, JJ takes the tomatoes and says, "fine, I will be the sous-chef. But only because you are hurt."

"How generous of you." Emily says sarcastically as she fills a pot with water to cook the spaghetti.

They cook and chop in silence for a while, taking sometime to enjoy each other's company. Neither wanting to interrupt the friendly banter and atmosphere even though both know that they need to talk. Finally, Emily says, "Kate doesn't want me to be alone tonight."

"I can stay." JJ responded. It wasn't a hard decision to make. She also didn't want Emily to be alone and had already decided she was staying when Kate left.

Continuing her answer, as if she it was part of the conversation, JJ said, "I am breaking up with Will," and quickly followed it with, "is this size okay?" Lifting the cutting board and two chopped tomatoes.

"Perfect." Emily answered unable to stop herself from smiling. "The tomatoes, they are perfect."

They continued to chop and cook in silence. After she was done chopping the tomatoes, JJ sat back and observed Emily as she made the pasta sauce from scratch. Unable to stop staring at Emily, JJ sat comfortably on the stool and dreamed about the future; a future where this could be her life.

They would get back from work and Emily would cook dinner. They would eat and discuss their day, drinking wine and enjoying each other's company. They would then clean the kitchen together; stealing glances and kisses while they did it. Finally, at the end of the evening, they would share a bed. And as she looked around the apartment, dreaming of watching TV in Emily's living room, having long dinners around her breakfast bar and making love against the large window facing D.C., JJ was pulled away from her dreams by the sight of a suitcase, opened and messy by the staircase leading to Emily's bedroom.

"Where's Kate?" JJ asked, hoping that it wouldn't lead to an argument. She needed to know who Kate was to Emily; and she needed to know now.

"Surgery; heart transplant." Emily answered without looking up from the salad she was making.

"How long is she staying with you?" JJ confidently asked. It is now or never.

"She isn't sure." Emily responded, quickly and curtly. She knew what JJ wanted to know but she found herself unwilling to relinquish her upper hand. It was obvious that JJ was jealous. It was obvious that JJ felt something for Emily. But until Emily knew what and how much, she was going to use Kate as a shield. And in an attempt to change the subject, Emily asks, "wine?"

"No." JJ answered quickly, unwilling to let go of the her line of questioning, "When will she find out?"

"I don't know." Emily answered just as quickly. "Dinner is ready." She says, with a smile, hoping to but an end to the conversation.

"Emily, we need to talk." JJ says, now looking directly at the brunette.

"I know, we do. But not now." Emily responded, also looking straight at the blonde. Reaching towards JJ's hand, Emily took her hands and gently kissed the tips of her fingers. JJ was surprised by the action but even more surprised at her response. Her whole body warmed up immediately by Emily's touch. Emily's lips were soft and felt perfect against her skin. She swallowed hard and felt her cheeks reddening.

Oblivious to JJ's physical response, Emily continued, "let's do this right. You have to deal with Will," and JJ quickly interrupted, "and you have to deal with Kate." And after a brief silence, Emily continued, "so let's do this right. Let's talk about us when there is an us to talk about."

JJ reluctantly agreed. She understood Emily's reluctance, she also didn't want to disrespect the commitment had made to Will but she wanted certainty. She wanted to know that Emily would be there when Will was gone. She wanted to push until Emily committed to her but she knew that it wasn't fair. She couldn't ask for Emily's commitment when she was still committed to another.

"Fine, you win. We'll eat." JJ answered hoping to return to the pleasant banter they had enjoyed previously.

Even though Emily avoided her questions, JJ couldn't deny that dinner was wonderful. They talked about the case, politics, work, friends, religion. Conversation flowed easily and comfortably. Emily was calm and relaxed and JJ was reminded of how much she missed this side of Emily. They held hands and touched, too much for too long and for no good reason. This was clearly the beginning of something and it was that knowledge that allowed JJ to let go of Kate and Will and her lack of certainty as to how things stood with Emily.

It was almost 3am when they finished cleaning the kitchen and said their goodnights. JJ sat on her bed in the guest room and openly smiled at the thought of Emily. She could still feel Emily's finger interlaced with her own; Emily's hands on her shoulders; Emily's hand on her leg. She could still smell Emily's hair and remembered exactly how it felt to have her hands on the brunette's hips. And relishing the feeling that soon, very soon, Emily would be hers, JJ fell asleep.

"This smells so good." Kate exclaimed as she walked into the apartment and took a seat at the breakfast bar. "What are you making?"

"Just omelets and some bacon. Want one?"

Violently nodding yes, Kate reaches towards the coffee pot and pours herself a cup of coffee. "How was surgery?" Emily asked tentatively.

"Fine." Kate answered, taking the first sip of her coffee and grabbing bacon off Emily's plate. Emily wanted to ask more but knew not to. Kate would have volunteered good news.

"How was Jane?" Emily asked, now less tentatively.

"She is fine. We talked. It's complicated…" Kate answered, reaching for more bacon as Emily pulled the plate away. "You get bacon when I get the story," Emily said with a smile.

"Fine!" Kate said as she reached furthered and stole another piece of bacon. "I love her; I mean, I am in love with her and she is in love with me and all that mushy crap. But I still don't want to get married and she still doesn't understand why."

"Why won't you marry her?" Emily asked though she knew the answer all too well.

"Marriage is a failed institution Emmy. It doesn't work" Kate answered taking yet another piece of bacon from Emily's plate.

"Don't over-generalize it, Kate. Our parent's marriages didn't work but that doesn't mean that the institution is a failed institution." Emily answered. Kate simply rolled her eyes, unwilling to have this conversation with Emily. They had had it many times before and neither of them was about to change their minds.

"Have you called your mother?" Kate asked, only partly to change the subject. "You need to call your mom. She is concerned about you." Now it was Emily's turn to roll her eyes. "Emmy, she loves you and worries about you." Kate said, finishing her coffee and pouring herself another cup.

Looking around the kitchen for the first time, Kate, smile spreading on her face, asked, "you are making an awful lot of food for just the two of us? Where's FBI Barbie?"

Head slightly crooked to the side, Emily says, "FBI Barbie, really? How long have you been waiting to make that joke?"

Both openly laughing, Kate answers, "a couple of days. Where is she?"

"Upstairs." Emily answers as Kate made "oooooooooooo" noises.

"Did you guys…talk?" Kate asks with a mischievous smile.

"She is in the guestroom. Yes, we talked and that is all we did. She is breaking up with Will."

"About time!" Kate exclaimed and, sitting on the breakfast bar, gives Emily a big hug and a peck on the forehead. "So, is this happy ever after for Agent Prentiss and Agent Jareau?" She asks, now with her best friend between her legs.

"We have agreed to talk about it after she deals with Will. It seemed inappropriate to have any conversations about us while she is still engaged." Emily answers now openly and obviously happy.

"Good. Okay, I am going to go to sleep so that you and Jareau can have a romantic breakfast." Kate said but before she had a chance to jump off the breakfast bar, Emily held on to her legs and, determined, said, "tell me about Jane."

In resignation, Kate explained, "she says she is willing to give up on the marriage proposal if I am willing to move in with her. She wants us to move back to the US. Memorial has offered us both jobs. I love her but I am not sure I am ready to change my life for anyone."

"What are you going to do?" Emily asked putting her arms around her friend.

"I am not sure. Can you see me moving to DC?" Kate asked truly wondering if she could do it.

"I have dreamed about you moving to DC for a decade!" Emily answered with a smile. She had dreamed of it- she missed Kate. Until the BAU, Kate was the only friend Emily had.

"What if it doesn't work, Emmy?"

"What if it does, Kate?"

"I don't believe in happy ever after." Kate said, leaning against Emily's frame.

"I do. And you will be. We will be happy ever after." Emily announced. "Trust me, Kate. Take a chance."

Desperately trying to change the subject Kate asks, "how are you feeling?" as she inspects Emily's bruises and ribs.

"Fine. Just a bit of a headache." Emily answers, wincing at what had quickly become a full medical examination.

"Your ribs are still very bruised. You shouldn't go to work today." Kate said but before Emily had a the chance to voice her disapproval of that decision, Kate continued, "its really your choice: you can go back to a hospital and have a stranger take a look at you, which will likely require them to run a full battery of exams, or you can wait another day and I will give you a doctor's note. Your call."

Knowing full well she had won the argument, Kate says, "I need to take a nap." Giving Emily a quick peck and jumping off the counter, she continued, "have breakfast with JJ and enjoy your day off. Dinner date?"

Leaning against the counter and reaching for her friend's hand, Emily answered, "yes. Dinner it is."