A/N: Alright guys, here is the big date chapter!

-IF-

The blonde media liaison stood facing the open door to her walk-in closet while clothes littered the floor and bed behind her. With a hand firmly fisted on one hip and the other resting against her forehead, JJ let out a sigh of defeat. She had nothing to wear. Despite having an extensive variety of clothing to choose from, thousands of dollars poured into her shoe collection alone, she could not find the perfect combination of material the she felt would knock Emily off of her feet.

Desperate and at her wit's end, she did the one thing she had been hoping not to do. She called Penelope Garcia for backup. Not that she didn't want to spend the time getting ready for her date with her best friend, but she knew the relentless jokes and jabs would do nothing but make her already shot nerves, worse. Nevertheless, desperate times called for desperate measures. So the blonde picked up the phone and she selected the computer tech's number and waited for the woman to pick up, "Hey Pen, could you come over early? I know you're not supposed to get here until seven to watch Henry, but I need your help." No further words were needed as JJ hung up the phone and sat down on her cluttered bed to wait until her reinforcement arrived.

Thirty minutes later, Garcia sat perched in the same spot JJ had occupied when the tech walked into the room after letting herself into the house. She watched as the media liaison tried on the third outfit in the past five minutes. As the fit woman shimmied into the skin tight dress, Garcia continued with her questions, "So, she really hasn't told you anything? You honestly have no idea about tonight?"

Breathing heavily from the effort of squeezing into the garment she was already certain she wouldn't be wearing, JJ huffed, "Not a single word. And before you ask, I've already tried to use Henry to get it out of her, but she's apparently drafted him to her side because he is just as stubbornly tight-lipped about the whole thing as she is being."

Even before JJ could finish attempting to zip up the dress, Garcia indicated with a quick shake of her head that the outfit wasn't the one to go with, "Too slutty," she explained quickly before going back into thought about the evening ahead for JJ. "And you said she's being avoiding you since she asked you out?"

Looking down at the red, skin-tight dress, JJ agreed with Penelope's assessment and began the process of peeling off the red material before answering, "Well, I wouldn't exactly call it 'avoiding.' I think a more appropriate term would be that she's being evasive. And aloof. And thus my problem of finding something to wear. I have no idea what we're doing or where we're going, so I don't know how to dress," JJ ranted as she trekked back into her closet for hopefully the final time.

Garcia really did feel bad for her friend. JJ was normally a cluttered person, but as the tech looked around the room at the clothes and shoes scattered everywhere as though a tornado had whirled through, she knew that the blonde was truly nervous. So going against her normal nature, she decided to take pity on the woman and try her hand at reassuring comments, "Look, JJ, this is Emily Prentiss we're talking about here. The woman has been madly in love with you since the day she laid eyes on you. Just calm down and breathe for a minute. You could wear a brown paper bag and Emily would probably still think you're the most beautiful woman in the world."

Garcia watched as JJ's head popped out of the closet before hearing her speak, "Are you actually trying to be nice? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

Smirking as the blonde head of hair disappeared in a flash back into the giant closet, she responded, "Yeah, don't get used to it Buttercup. I think I'm developing hives just from that one comment."

After a moment of silence laced with grunts and huffs, Garcia's eyes widen the moment she watched JJ walk back into the room, fully clothed this time. "That's it. That's the one," Penelope gasped as she took in the sight before her.

Looking down with a questioning glance, JJ wasn't as convinced, "Are you sure? I just put this on because it is literally the last outfit in there. It's not my usual date style."

"Emily Prentiss will be a puddle of desire the moment she sees you. I guarantee," the tech reassured.

Taking a moment to navigate the dangerous maze of clothing that had become her bedroom, JJ stood before her full length mirror and had to agree with Garcia. She looked hot. Finally smiling because she had found her outfit, JJ whirled around in delight. "You're right Pen, this is the one."

"Of course I'm right. I'm always right."

Rolling her eyes, JJ simply walked back towards her bathroom to apply her make-up and finish getting ready. With the normal girl talk passed back and forth between the women, the media liaison felt her shot nerves begin to calm down. Once that happened, the smile already on her face only grew with the thought running repeatedly thought her mind, "I'm finally going on a date with Emily."

-IF-

"Alright Henry, remember the plan?" Emily asked calmly, despite her ever increasing anxiety level. She guessed that JJ would be busying getting ready for the date all day, so she had picked Henry up from his grandparents the day before after work and kept him overnight. And anyway, she needed the time to prep the small boy to assist in her plan.

"Oh yeah, Opewation Twansformer is going to be a success!" Henry exclaimed as he looked up at her with a smile spreading across his face.

Emily could only join him as she also smiled at the code name for their plan. She should have known that when she let him pick the name, it would have something to do with the cartoon. Looking down at the excited child, she felt her own nervousness ease just being in the presence of his enthusiasm. "Well, we're almost there so do you want to practice one more time?"

"Nah, I got it wemembewized," he replied confidently as he allowed his curious gaze to wonder around for the umpteenth time during the ride over. "Hey Aunt Emmy?"

"Yeah Champ?"

"Can we wide in a limo all the time?"

The innocent question brought a chuckle from deep within as she responded while running her fingers through straw-colored hair, "Not all the time. But on special occasions we can."

"Like my birfday?!"

"Yeah, like your birthday," Emily reassured, already fearing she was slowly creating a monster.

Looking from the enthusiastic child to out of the window, Emily realized with a startled breath that they were finally on JJ's street in her quiet neighborhood. At the same moment, the normally attentive profiler heard "We're here, Ms. Prentiss," spoken clearly from the front.

"Thank you, James," Emily responded in kind. Taking a steadying breath, she looked down and spoke to Henry again, "Alright Champ, we're here. Remember your job?"

Emily never received a response, because in a flash of yellow hair and boyish energy, Henry tore from the back seat the moment James opened the door, and raced to the front door of his house. Emerging from the back herself, Emily grinned as she heard a quiet, but energetic, "Goooooooo Opewation Twansformer!" drift through the air. She had faith Henry would remember what to do. So now, all she had to do was sit back, and wait. Staring into the darkening sky, breathing in the cooling night air, she leaned against the black limo, and did just that.

-IF-

Having finished getting ready with only five minutes to spare, JJ and Garcia sat in the living room, still talking girl stuff. One woman remained anxious and excited, while the other continued to try and sooth those frazzled nerves. So when the front door swung open without warning, they both sprang to their feet, JJ's hand automatically flying to her empty hip where her gun usually sat. But when they spotted Henry looking around, they both sighed as relief flooded their veins.

When JJ finally actually took in her son's appearance, Garcia's presence faded into the background, and she was left speechless at the sight before her. Henry, her little boy, looked all grown up in a small tuxedo, obviously freshly bought and tailored to fit his small body. And in his hand, was a bouquet of a dozen gerbera daisies in vibrant colors that seemed brighter when paired with the beaming smile on her son's face. Before she or Garcia could get one word out, Henry walked until he was standing right in front of his mother and said, "These are for you Mommy!"

JJ smiled as she gazed into her son's shining blue eyes. With one hand, the mother reached out and took the offered bouquet, and with the other, she ran her fingers through the blonde hair of her son. The media liaison couldn't stop her eyes from growing misty at this development. Of course Emily would find a way to incorporate Henry into this important night, even though he wouldn't be going with them. The gesture, so pure and so thoughtful, spread a warmth through JJ's body that served to almost completely sooth her nerves. Forcing herself not to let any tears of joy fall, JJ swallowed before responding, "Thank you Henry, that's very thoughtful."

"Aunt Emmy let me pick them out. I liked them the best because they had lots of colors." Taking a moment to stand up a little straighter, a little taller, Henry moved his eyes from the bouquet to connect with those of his mother. "Are you weady, Mommy?" He asked innocently.

JJ watched in amazement as Henry actually played at straightening his bowtie, while waiting for her to respond. "Yeah," she whispered, "I'm ready."

Smiling grandly because this was his favorite part of the plan he had practiced with Emily, Henry turned so he was standing beside and facing the same way as his mother. Lifting an arm, he extended his elbow in an invitation for JJ to place her hand in the crook of his arm. When she did, the little boy looked up and said, "Wight this way m'lady. Your cawwiage awaits."

Garcia, hanging back, watched as Henry escorted his mother towards the front door with all the poise of a young man.

Emily lifted herself up from her casual lean against the car the moment she spotted the mother and son make their way through the front door. She saw that JJ was distracted for the moment as the blonde was still gazing down at her son lovingly and awe-struck. A curtain of blonde hair fell over JJ's face, but if Emily had to guess, she'd say the look would mirror that of Henry's, full of happiness and love and joy. And so with her private moment to just witness the two of them together, Emily felt her breath catch at the beauty, grace, and body of the blonde woman.

In the span of a few seconds, the profiler drank in every detail of the media liaison, and felt herself grow heavy with desire at the sight before her eyes. She was pleasantly surprised to find that JJ didn't wear a dress, as she thought the blonde would. Instead, she was outfitted in three-inch silver stiletto heels and skin tight black skinny jeans that hugged every curve, and stretched with every motion of those athletic legs. A sparkling silver top caught the last remaining sun rays as it peaked out from beneath a cropped, fitted, tailored white suit jacket with the sleeves slightly pushed up slim arms to show off several silver bands and a large silver watch. It was going to be nearly impossible to keep her hands to herself all night, as was her plan. This would be a proper first date, even if it slowly killed her.

Having taken in every detail of her adorable son in his tailored tuxedo, JJ was finally able to lift her head and look for Emily as the two of them continued to walk down the stone path away from the house. When her eyes found the brunette, she lost her breath again, for the second time that evening. There was Emily, standing before a shiny black limousine, wearing an exquisite black dress that could only have come from a designer with a foreign name. Not able to remember the last time she had seen the profiler in anything but a power suit or sweats, the blonde fell the pull of lust curling wickedly in her belly. The one shouldered dress was tight and hugged all the right curves of the brunette as she stood tall and regal as ever in shorter, one-inch pointed black stilettos of her own.

Just as they each finished raking her eyes over the figure of the other, JJ and Henry came to a stop just before Emily. "Hi," Emily breathed out as nothing else seemed to enter her lust filled brain.

"Hi," JJ responded in kind. Smiles slowly spread across both faces as they just stared and looked into each other's eyes. Blue searching and analyzing brown.

"Can I come wif you?" Henry asked excitedly from below serving to break the spell the two found themselves in.

Clearing her throat, Emily shifted her eyes to connect with a different blue pair. "Not this time, Champ. Remember? I am taking your Mother somewhere special. But we made a deal for next weekend, don't forget and make other plans," Emily finished with a smile as she watched Henry's frown disappear.

"Oh yeah! The zoo!" The little boy cheered as he continued to stand with his mother's hand resting in the crook of his arm. He somehow knew that now wasn't the time to jump or move around.

"Exactly." In this moment, Emily was grateful for the little boy. It made her focus on words, instead of the emotions she was fighting to control at the sight of JJ. "Hey, did you tell your mom what we practiced?" Emily asked before she had to send him back inside.

Shaking his head, Henry then turned, took his mother's hand that was resting on his arm into his two smaller ones, looked up into her curious blue eyes, and said, "Mãe, você está linda."

When the same curious blue eyes shifted in a questioning glance, Emily easily translated the heavily English accented Portuguese, "You look beautiful, Mother."

Now smiling in understanding, JJ leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to her son's head and whispered, "Thank you so much Henry. And you are quite handsome yourself sir, looking very dashing in your new tuxedo."

When the exchange was over, Emily reached over and signaled for a high-five from the small child. "Operation Transformer was a success!" she said. And as though that was the secret code, JJ didn't get another word in as Henry ran back up the path and disappeared into the house.

Realizing they were finally alone, JJ slowly turned back to face Emily. When she did, she found a single, long-stemmed red rose being offered to her. "Henry picked out the daisies, but I wanted to get you a small token as well," Emily explained as she passed the rose to JJ's free hand. She feared it would be too cliché, but at the dazzled look in the blue eyes, she knew she had made the right choice.

"It's perfect," JJ whispered, amazed. She was already beginning to feel swept off her feet and she hadn't even left her neighborhood yet.

Leaning in to place a gentle kiss on a blushing cheek, Emily lingered for a moment before stepping back to trace over every curve, line, and dimple of the face before her. After a few seconds of shared silence Emily said, "Every day you take my breath away with your beauty. But tonight…tonight I fear I may never catch my breath again."

"Oh Emily, you're going to make me cry! And before I can even tell you how stunningly gorgeous you look in that dress," JJ replied as she searched the brown eyes still slightly above her own despite her three inch heels.

"No crying allowed on our first date," Emily teased as she turned to open the door to the limo. "Shall we?" she asked, so prim and proper, as she placed a guiding hand in the small of JJ's back to help steady the blonde as she climbed into the back. Once Emily climbed in herself, James, always silent and hidden in the background, shut the door and circled back around to the driver's door. Without another word, the limo pulled from the curb and began the trek towards the next portion of the evening.

-IF-

Sipping the rest of the chilled champagne in her glass, JJ's eyes widen when she realized what parking lot the limo was pulling in to. "Is this a mistake?"

"Mistake?" Emily asked confused.

"Yeah. A mistake. Because there is no way you got us a reservation here. It's the most exclusive restaurant in DC!" the blonde exclaimed as she looked back out the window at the chic building that housed the French restaurant, Nuit Noire.

Chuckling softly, Emily simply responded, "I know the owner."

Looking back towards the brunette, JJ thought, "Of course she knows the owner," before actually saying, "Well, sometimes I forget how connected you are." Before turning her gaze back to the crowd of people around the front of the building, all no doubt trying to find a way to get a table for the night.

Having obviously lost herself in the excitement of the moment, JJ didn't realize the limo had stopped until she felt Emily gently removing the champagne glass from her hand. The next moment, the door was being opened by the dutiful James.

When the two women emerged from the back, Emily's hand found residence in the small of JJ's back as the brunette confidently guided the pair to the front doors. "Have you ever had French food before?"

"A few times. But I'm sure nothing up to this level."

"Well then you're in for a real treat," Emily responded softly as she reached forward with her free hand to open the door before JJ could even think about doing it herself.

And once they entered the restaurant, it was like the noise and rush and stress from just outside immediately evaporated. Instead, a hush fell over them as they walked up to the maître d'. Without even saying a word, the tall, thin man immediately sprang into frenzied action, "Ms. Prentiss, right on time. Your normal table is waiting. Right this way."

"Thanks Mark. Mark, this is Jennifer Jareau, my lovely date this evening."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Jareau," the man, who JJ decided she definitely liked, winked when he looked back over his shoulder at her.

The blonde smiled in response. And before she knew it, the trio reached a small, private room in a secluded area of the restaurant. The room, lit only by dozens of candles, was cozy and sophisticated all at the same time. When she finally turned back to talk to Mark, she found he had silently disappeared, leaving only a softly smiling Emily, soft candle glow warming her naturally tan skin.

Emily's eyes racked over every possible inch of JJ's porcelain skin. The candle light, which she had instructed be ready before they arrived, cast sultry shadows moving lazily over the already glowing skin. How could she be this lucky? Without being able to contain her need any longer, the brunette closed the small distance between the two of them within seconds. Reaching up, she used one finger to direct the blonde's chin up until she captured blue eyes with her searing brown ones. Licking her lips in barely contained restraint, Emily's raspy whisper floated through the air, "With you standing here, cloaked in candlelight, looking stunning in that outfit, I'm finding it very hard to control the urge to kiss you."

"So don't," JJ breathed out as she shifted her eyes to taking in Emily's full, inviting lips. All the blonde could think about was how unsatisfied she had been since Emily's little teasing act earlier in the week.

But just when JJ thought Emily would close the distance and capture her lips in a passionate kiss, she realize in dismay that the brunette was stepping backwards, not forwards. Returning her questioning eyes to the brown ones slightly above her, the blonde got her answer, "I wouldn't want to disrespect you by breaking proper first date etiquette." Before JJ could fathom a response to such a ludicrous notion, the profiler stepped all the way back and motioned towards the table set for two just feet from where they were standing. Walking the two of them over, Emily pulled out JJ's chair and waited to assist the blonde in sitting before taking a seat herself.

When they picked up the menus, JJ immediately panicked because she couldn't read a word as everything was written entirely in French. Seeing the alarm spread across the previously happy face, Emily started assisting the blonde, explaining what words meant chicken, fish, and so on.

Within mere minutes, a waiter came by to take their orders, and to bring a bottle of wine that JJ didn't remember Emily ordering. "You must come here a lot."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, you have your own private room. They already know what wine to bring you. Everyone seems to know your name. And I wouldn't be surprised if the chef himself brought out our food."

As if on cue, a string of servers entered the room, followed by another tall slim man. This one wore a stereotypical chef's outfit. Widening her eyes at Emily as if to say, "I told you so," JJ sat back as their meal was laid before them on the table. As the servers cleared out, the chef remained at the table looking lovingly down at Emily. "Ma chérie, Emily! It's been too long since you come in. And who is this lovely creature you have with you?" the chef asked in English still heavily accented by French.

Again, JJ immediately decided she liked this man. She smiled her most dazzling smile up at the boisterous man as Emily introduced the two, "Gaston, this is Jennifer Jareau. She was kind enough to be my date tonight, so I'm trying to really impress her," the brunette finished with an uncharacteristic wink before standing and enveloping the man in a hug, something else entirely uncharacteristic of Emily.

"Date? Ma chérie, you've never brought a date here before," Gaston gasped dramatically. And looking towards JJ he said, "I have known Emily since she was a small child. Not once, even in the beginning, have I ever met one date." Leaving Emily's side, the chef circled the table, took JJ's hand, kissed it lightly and said, "Enchanté mademoiselle."

Feeling her smile grow even more, JJ decided to play this for all it was worth and try to dig into the ever elusive past of one Emily Prentiss, "And how long have you known her?"

Already liking the blonde beauty, Gaston knew he would tell her anything, even if Emily pretended that she didn't want him to. Because when he looked at the little girl he watched grow up, he saw a love and passion gleaming in the brown eyes that he had never seen before. A love and passion that was mirrored in the blue pools he now gazed into. "I think she was nine years old when I met Emily. Her mother had just been moved to France for her job, and I was hired to be their personal chef. Has she cooked for you yet? I taught her everything she knows," Gaston finished as she squeezed JJ's hand and let go to turn back to face the woman he considered the daughter he never had. "She lived in my kitchen. And when her mother was moved again, to Russia next, they took me with them. I cried when ma chérie left for college."

Though she was somewhat uncomfortable with the amount of history that was being delved into, she saw the look of fascination rest on JJ's face. She knew she couldn't stop the conversation now. "How did you end up here then?"

With a hearty laugh that seemed like shouldn't fit his frame, Gaston replied, "Why Emily of course! She called and said she wanted to open a French restaurant, but wouldn't move forward unless I would come be the head chef. And so voilà! Here we are!"

"Gaston!" Emily exclaimed followed by a quick click of her tongue. What followed was a series of French words exchanged between the two. Though JJ didn't understand a single word, she knew enough to know that Emily spoke the language perfectly, with no American accent tainting the beautiful language.

Emily had hoped, though it was a silly thought, to make it through dinner without JJ realizing she was the full owner of the restaurant. But of course Gaston and his giant mouth ruined that notion. Still, by the end of their exchange, she was smiling and moving in for another hug with the man she considered more her father than the one whose name appeared on her birth certificate.

"Well, I do not wish to intrude on any more of your time. I must return to the kitchen to make sure those imbeciles have not burned the place down. JJ, it was a pleasure meeting you. Take care of my little girl for me." And with a final wink and an infectious grin, Gaston disappeared.

When the two were alone once more, and Emily seated again, JJ looked over with a twinkle in her eye and started, "So, you know the owner?" she asked sarcastically.

Deciding to just play along, Emily replied, "Funny thing, it turns out you know her too."

"You should have told me. Does anyone know?"

"You mean at work? No, I haven't told anyone. It's my little secret. And now, it's our little secret to share," Emily finished smoothly as she took a sip of the red wine shimmering in her glass.

Yet again, Emily managed to say just the right thing to make JJ's heart flutter. With no adequate comeback, the blonde just smiled and took a sip of her own wine before saying, "I forgot that you're fluent in French. I always remember the Portuguese, obviously, and Spanish because they're so close. Russian is now ingrained in my mind, for obvious reasons. But the French, I just forgot. You should speak it more often," she finished looking over her glass suggestively as she took the final sip of red wine.

"And why is that?" Emily asked obliviously.

JJ just shook her head because the profiler was honestly blind to how intoxicating it was to hear her switch between languages effortlessly. It was time she was informed. "Because it's sexy." And when Emily almost choked on the small piece of fish she had just put into her mouth, JJ smiled because she had gotten the reaction she was looking for, so she decided to continue her explanation, "French is the most romantic, sexy, beautiful language in the world. I don't understand a single word of it, but it sounds like a love song just gliding off your tongue."

Usually so smooth, so in control, Emily found herself beyond flustered at the new development before responding, "I…well…yes. Um…French is a very beautiful language. And fun to speak too. I could teach you, if you want to learn."

"I don't really want to learn, I just want to listen to you. I could listen to you speak Portuguese or French all day long."

Swallowing with great difficultly, Emily took a moment to gather her thoughts and control her breathing. Finally finding her calm and regaining some typical Emily confidence, she said, "Well, that can certainly be arranged," before she looked up with lust filled eyes to meet the mischievously glinting blue ones across from her. Two could play that game Jennifer Jareau. "Vous avez un peu de nourriture…ici," Emily finished in a scratchy, lust-filled voice as she reached across the table and gently ran her thumb across one of JJ's soft cheeks.

Closing her eyes, JJ leaned into the touch as she asked, "What did you say?"

"I just told you that you had some food on your cheek," Emily responded with nonchalance as she went back to taking another bite of her fish.

"Emily!" JJ exclaimed, embarrassed at the thought of food anywhere on her face.

"What? You said you could listen to it all day. You didn't specify what you wanted me to say!"

"Well, not that! I wanted you to tell me that I look beautiful or that this was the best date ever or something like that. Not that I have food on my face."

"I'm sorry. How about this then? Votre sourire est plus lumineux que le rayon le plus brillant de soleil. Which means… your smile is brighter than the most brilliant ray of sun." Immediately, Emily knew she said the right thing because the smile she was just talking about, found its way onto JJ's face. And the candlelit room seemed dull in comparison.

-IF-

Back in the limo, Emily poured another glass of chilled champagne for JJ as they sped down the road. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to get me drunk Agent Prentiss," JJ finished happily, certainly feeling the effects of all the alcohol she had consumed over the course of the night.

"I would never do such a thing. I'm simply wining and dining my beautiful date. That's hardly a crime."

When JJ noticed the direction of the limo, she shot a curious gaze at Emily before asking, "This isn't the way back home, so where are you taking me now?"

With a shy smile, Emily responded, "If it's alright with you, I thought I would take you to one of my favorite places to escape to."

Eager for any opportunity to delve deeper into the mystery that is Emily Prentiss, JJ nodded her head in agreement. And in less than five minutes, the limo was dropping them off at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. "This is one of your favorite places to escape to?" JJ asked in almost disbelief.

Feeling shy and nervous, the brunette answered, "It's not because he's my favorite president or anything. I just, I love the view at night and I love the way everything is lit up in a warm glow. And it's almost always empty at night, giving me time to think and just…be."

Looking up at Emily as she gazed toward the large moment above them, JJ couldn't help but feel her heart give itself even more over to this mysterious woman. So instead of responding with words that at the moment would feel empty and fake, JJ stepped into Emily's side and laced their fingers together while bringing her other hand to grip the bicep of Emily's arm. Leaning her head on the shoulder of the woman she knew she would never be able to live without, they both stood in silence and just stared at the large monument.

Carefully detangling herself from JJ's grip, Emily turned to face the blonde. Once again, JJ was cloaked in the warm glow of the surrounding monument lights and Emily found herself in awe at the figure before her. She couldn't stop her hands from moving up to gently cup JJ's face as she continued to search the blue eyes, partially hidden in shadows but still shining brightly in the darkness. In a moment of confidence, Emily opened up, "You are so beautiful, Jennifer Jareau. Sometimes I fear that I won't find the right words, or enough words, to convey how I feel, what I feel, for you."

Reaching up and gripping Emily's wrists in her hands, JJ continued to gaze into the deep chocolate eyes, "Don't you think I have the same fear, Emily?"

Not exactly expecting that response, Emily moved her hands until she held both of JJ's in each of hers. Bringing their arms down, the two women stood, facing each other, fingers interlocked, looking into each other eyes. "But it's easier for you. You haven't spent your entire life being taught that showing any form of emotion is a weakness."

Her face softening, JJ could hear the confidence begin to leave Emily's gentle voice. "That's true. However, what I feel for you is all new for me. I've never felt the way I feel for you, for any other woman before."

Hearing the admission, Emily's eyes grew wider at the realization of what JJ was saying. Nevertheless, she felt the need to clarify, "And how, exactly, do you feel towards me?"

Shocked by the bluntness coming from the brunette, JJ felt her smile grow. She hadn't expected Emily to be so open to a conversation like this on their first date. But if emotions were what she was looking for, then emotions were what the profiler was going to find. "Oh, I think you know…"

"No, I don't think I do," was all Emily responded as she waited on baited breath for the answer. If she was thinking clearly, if alcohol wasn't buzzing through her system, if lust wasn't clouding her judgment, she surely wouldn't be indulging this conversation. But with such a lethal combination coursing through her body, the brunette couldn't steer herself away from this line of conversation.

"Well if you must know, and you honestly haven't figured it out already, I suppose it's my duty to inform you," JJ stalled. She enjoyed watching Emily all but squirm in anticipation. The brown eyes begging for her to continue. Finally finding some sympathy, JJ's smile grew wide as she simply stated, as though it was the most obvious fact in the world, "I love you, Emily Prentiss."

Still honed in on those shining brown eyes, JJ watched as they grew wide in wonder and surprise, then begin to glisten with joy and pleasure. After a few moments, a smile slowly started to form on the plump lips she had been yearning to taste all night. Broken from her thoughts, all she heard was a shaky, "Yeah? Really?" from the smiling brunette.

"Really." With a confident step forward, Emily closed the small gap between them. JJ's head naturally tilted up as Emily's mouth hovered just above her own. But instead of their lips meeting, the media liaison felt the brunette's forehead rest delicately on her own. Smirking because she knew exactly what was happening, JJ was surprised that Emily was showing such control and restraint. Instead of being disappointed, she allowed herself to be amused. In a teasing voice JJ was the first to speak, "First date etiquette?"

Taking a moment to clear her throat suddenly swollen with desire and emotions, Emily responded, "Yeah. First date etiquette." Stepping back, Emily locked eyes with JJ and continued, "You make it very difficult to protect your honor when you say things like that…" Emily trailed off.

"So maybe don't worry about my honor. It's not like we haven't kissed before you know."

"This is our first date. The proper rules will be followed. I want tonight to be as perfect for you as it already has been for me," the brunette finished with a hopeful smile. But that smile slowly started to fade as she locked eyes with the blonde. "Jen, what you said. I…well…look. I just think…Well I feel…I just don't know…" Emily stuttered and mumbled uncharacteristically.

JJ could see the nerves rippling across the tan skin as Emily struggled with how to respond. Stepping in to save the woman from herself, JJ soothed, "Emily, you don't have to say it back." Taking Emily's right hand, JJ placed it above her heart before making eye contact again and continuing, "I give you my heart, unconditionally. I know that words are difficult for you, that emotions and opening up terrify you. But I'll wait for you. That's part of loving someone, being willing to wait as long as it takes. And for you, I would wait until the end of time."

When JJ finished, Emily found herself speechless, yet again. Using her free hand, the profiler reached up and wiped off a lone tear running down her face. And nodding her head, Emily looked deep into JJ's crystal blue eyes, dancing with shadows and love, and tried to convey that she felt the same way, but she couldn't voice it in so many words just yet. So the two women stared as each other, in silence, just taking in the love and comfort they found in each other's eyes.

After a few silent moments, shared in ease with one another, Emily turned to face the Lincoln memorial once more, making sure to lace her fingers tightly with JJ's, and began speaking in a shaky, nervous voice. But what came out of her mouth wasn't exactly something JJ had been expecting, "Did you know that there are exactly 58 steps of the Lincoln Memorial? Two of those steps represent the two terms he served in office and the remaining 56 represent his age when he was assassinated." JJ almost wanted to laugh at the drastic change of subject, but couldn't help but be endeared at this new development with Emily. It appeared that the brunette was full of useless factoids, and she seemed to spit them out when her nerves got the better of her. Still smiling, and once more resting her head on the shoulder beside her, JJ continued to listen, "Then, there are 87 steps from the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial, which is equal to 'fourscore and seven years ago,' from his famous Gettysburg Address."

Feeling what she thought was laughter bubbling up inside of her, but quickly realized was much more than just laughter as the emotion started to spread all over her, JJ forced it back down and instead squeezed Emily's arm in affection and said, "Thank you for showing me this. It means a lot to me that you would bring me here, and let me share this with you."

Squeezing JJ's hand in acknowledgment, Emily whispered, "You're the only person I've ever wanted to share this with." She might not necessarily be able to say all the words that she was sure JJ wanted to hear. But she was able to at least show her affection with actions.

The blonde couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face at the admission. In Emily words, that was basically a profession of love.

After a few more silent moments soaking in the peace and quiet of the night in front of the monument, the two women turned to climb back into the waiting limo. With easy conversation, they sped back to JJ's house. When the limo arrived, James rushed to open the door before Emily could open it, as was often the case when she chose to use the limo service she often hired. But tonight, in a dress and heels, and distracted by the beautiful blonde beside her, Emily failed to win the silent war between her and James.

With a resigned sigh because the date was drawing to a close, Emily walked with a beaming JJ towards the blonde's front door. And when they arrived, JJ turned until she was facing the brunette with her back toward the door. Looking up into chocolate eyes, the blonde asked, "So are you going to just stay here tonight? I think you have some clothes here, if not you can borrow some of mine, like normal."

Smiling wickedly, Emily responded, "Tsk, tsk, Jennifer Jareau. It's not proper first date etiquette to ask a woman in to stay the night you know."

Eyes widening in shock, the blonde could barely fathom a response, "But that's not…this isn't really…I thought you were just kiddi-" but she was silenced when a single finger was placed lightly over her lips.

"This is our first official date. And as such, I'm going to treat you like the lady you are by giving you a simple, chaste kiss, and then watching you safely walk inside while I back away slowly to my waiting car."

"Em, come on, this is different. That was cute during the evening, but now you can't be serio-" but once again, her words were cut off. This time, by the soft lips that molded perfectly with her own. Emily was right, the kiss was simple, chaste, sweet, gentle, and everything the kiss at the end of a first date should be. But she didn't want a first date kiss, when she knew there were other, more satisfying kisses hiding within the compartments of Emily Prentiss. She wanted the kiss that she had been fantasizing and yearning all week for. So taking matters into her own hands, JJ wrapped her arms around Emily's neck, and pulled her closer until their bodies were molded together. Deepening the kiss, JJ let out an involuntary moan of pleasure as she felt Emily's hands tightly grip her hips as the brunette lost some of that famous Prentiss control. Not being able to resist, Emily pushed, pushed, pushed until JJ's back hit the door, and the blonde went limp with anticipation.

And just as JJ's hand starting tangling in brunette locks, and Emily's hands started wondering beneath the shining silver top, the porch light flickered on and off in rapid succession. Pulling apart reluctantly, the two rested foreheads and panted the same air as they caught their breaths. "Saved by the light. Or babysitter. However you want to phrase it," Emily chuckled. She was either going to hug or kill Garcia the next she saw the woman. She had yet to decide. "Well, that would be my cue. Good night Jen."

"Goodnight Em," JJ whispered. With one last gently lingering kiss, Emily slowly backed away from JJ. And just as she promised, the brunette didn't turn around until the blonde had disappeared into the dark interior of her home. With a grin still spread goofily across her face, Emily slid into the waiting limo, trusting James to take her safely back to her condo.

-IF-

A/N: So? It got pretty long, that's why it took all this time to write. But what did y'all think? I hope everyone enjoyed it! Let me know!