Champagne Mistakes Chapter 13 (final chapter)

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. These characters belong to CBS and whoever else holds rights to them.

AUTHOR' NOTE:This was orginally intended to be a oneshot, but the support and encouragment I received inspired me to continue with this story. My goal with it was to take the slightly dysfunctinal start of their relationship and turn it into a happy, heatlhy, adult relationship and I believe that that I have accomplished that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who's taken the time to read this story and reply. Your comments make my day. And it means the world to me that you were enjoying my efforts.
You rock. Seriously.
Love, Samantha.

Emily had never doubted her ability to do the job. Had never questioned whether or not she deserved her position on the team. She had, however felt a great deal of uncertainty and doubt as to whether or not her teamates believed in her. Whether they thought her parents had pulled strings to get her onto the team. Whether they truly trusted her to have their backs. Whether they actually liked her or were just being friendly to her because she was there and they didn't have much other choice.

It had taken her a long time to finally feel like she fit in, to feel like it was her place to tease Reid about his tendency to spout statistics instead of engaging in actual conversation, to feel comfortable getting a shot or two in at Morgan about his physicality, his prowess or any number of other things. It had taken months before she'd felt secure enough in her place to run with Garica's banter or sit across from Gideon on the plane and talk theology and ideology.

Even then, sometimes, she'd have these little moments of doubt. The bi-product of living in so many different places as a child, of constantly moving and re-settling into new enviroments, new cultures, new versions of herself. Even though the team had been nothing but warm and welcoming, there was still that niggling voice in her brain questioning if they really meant it, if she'd really found a home here with them.

It didn't occur as often as it used to and it was much easier to quell now than it had been but it was still there.

Or at least, it had been.

Emily had a feeling that it wasn't going to be making an appearance again any time soon. Not after the way the team stepped up to support her and JJ when they announced that they were going to move in together.

Hotch and Gideon offered to go to bat for her with Strauss. Garcia had offered the services of her technical wizardry, stating she could block the change of address in the system or do any other number of things that were against Bureau policy to shield the two of them from detection. And, every one of her teamates had offered to help with the move.

Simple things, really, but Emily knew what kind of trouble Hotch and Gideon could bring upon themselves by going to Strauss and endorsing her and JJ's relationship. Especially Hotch, if he admitted that he'd known about it about it and not reported it. And Garcia was willing to risk her career to help keep Emily and JJ protected.

Those were the kind of things that people only did for the ones that they loved.

For family.

JJ kept saying that the BAU was a family and now, finally, Emily was able to believe it. And it was an amazing feeling, being part of that.

Which is why even though she declined their offer to help her move (there was no way she trusted the guys to move her furniture without scratching it) and hired a professional company to get all of her things to JJ's unscathed, she did invite everyone over for dinner the weekend after they'd gotten all of their things settled. A quasi-housewarming.

"When you said you wanted to invite everyone over for dinner, I thought you meant pizza and chicken wings or chinese food or something. I didn't think you meant you were going to cook for them."

Emily glanced over at JJ, who was leaning against the kitchen doorframe gazing at her in amusement.

She offered up a wry grin. "It's not as if I'm cooking everything from scratch. The chicken came pre-cooked from the deli, all I'm doing is re-heating it. The potatoes are from a box and the rolls came from a tube."

JJ pushed herself off the doorframe and strode into the kitchen, stopping when she reached Emily's side. "The vegetables are fresh," she pointed out.

"Yeah. And it took great culinary skill to boil them in water."

JJ slid an arm arcoss her shoulders and rested her head against Emily's. "So, you're not Martha Stewart. But you know what, she's got nothing on you when it comes to pulling off sexy in an apron." She pressed a quick kiss to Emily's cheek than pulled back to tug at the front of the red-checkered apron that the dark haired woman had donned to protect her clothes while she prepared dinner.

Emily grinned as she gripped JJ's hips and twisted them around so the blond woman was backed against the counter and she was pressed against her.

"You know, we haven't christened the kitchen yet," she murmured against the skin of JJ's neck before brushing her lips across it.

After moving Emily's stuff in the Saturday before, they'd spent the rest of the weekend "christening" the house. They'd made love in their new, queen sized bed, the spare bedrooom, the living room and Emily's new office.

"And we won't be doing it now, either," JJ muttered, pushing Emily back as the doorbell chimed through the house.

Emily let out a sigh of dissapointment and dropped her arms from around JJ's waist.

"Just remember, this was *your* idea." JJ stepped past her and Emily bit back a curse, then turned to watch JJ's backside as she strode from the room to answer the door.

An hour later, Emily's dissapointment was if not forgotten at least tamped down by the company of her teamates, her family. While dinner had finished cooking they'd sprawled around the living room sipping wine as they talked, joking and laughing and just enjoying the downtime spent together.

Now they were settling themselves around the table, crowded in close because it wasn't meant to sit seven. They jostled for elbow room and constantly bumped against each other as they passed dishes and condiments and started in on their meals. It was awkward and a little loud and Emily couldn't help but smile at the site of if.

Slowly the commotion died down and regular conversation reigned as they ate.

During a lull in the conversation, JJ tapped her glass, earning the attention of the others. Even Emily turned to her,curious. JJ had been planning this but she hadn't breathed a word of it to her lover. The seed had been planted in her mind a few days ago, something Emily had said during her tearful confession.

All eyes were on her and JJ knew she should be nervous. People usually were in times like this. And not only was she going to do it, but she was doing it publicly. But, she wasn't nervous. Not in the least. In fact, she felt rather calm as she raised her glass to her guests.

"Emily and I want to thank you for all your support," she began. "You mean the world to me, to us. And we're lucky, no blessed, to have you in our lives."

"We love you, Jayje, Emily." Garcia replied, and was supported by a murrmer of agreement.

JJ couldn't help but grin at her tone, as if were a foregone conclusion.

"Which is why I wanted to have you all here for this moment." With that she put down her glass and turned to face Emily, who was seated beside her. "I wanted to do this in front of the people that we love. The ones who were the most instrumental in helping us navigate our lives and our relationship." She stared deep into Emily's chocolate brown eyes, watching them grow wide as she began to understand the situation.

This was a kind of full circle moment for the two of them, considering how their relationship had come about.

And the doubts that Emily had harboured in the beginning probably still lingered, even if her dark haired lover would never voice them. JJ hoped that this would be enough to silence them, once and for all.

"You said you'd marry me if it were legal but to be honest I could care less about a white dress and a fancy ceremony. All that matters to me is that you know that I love you, with everything I have and that I want to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me."

Emily's eyes had begun to mist over the moment she'd started talking and now tears were falling freely down her cheeks, though she did manage a smile at the words she'd used only a week before being echoed back at her.

JJ's hands were shaking as she dug into her pocket and pulled out a simple gold band with the infinity symbol etched into it.

Emily's throat worked as she reached up and clasped JJ's hands in her own. "I love you, JJ." Her words were thick and hoarse. "I want to spend every moment of the rest of my life with you."

She released JJ's hands, allowed the other to grip her wrist gently and slide the ring onto her finger.

The rest of the room faded away as the two of them stared at each other, quietly amazed at the turns their lives had taken to bring them here, to this moment.

Their moment was interrupted, however, by their teamates clinking their glasses, demanding a kiss, like at a wedding.

Only too happy to oblige, JJ cupped the back of Emily's head and pulled her in close.

FIN