The Last Letter from Your Lover

Chapter One

Hey y'all! Another long intro lol. This is my first Jemily fic that has made it to actually being uploaded. I'm not totally confident in my writing abilities when it comes to this ship just yet, so any critiques or suggestions are always welcome! This story also has moments of Willifer. There are sensitive subjects, so please check out the warnings before you read if you're easily triggered by things. I used to be strictly a Demily shipper but my friend pagetbrewstersswife on AO3 (check out her page if like Hotchniss, Jemily, Temily, Demily, etc!) gave me a specific point of view when it comes to this ship and I was hooked after that! There will be LOTS of time jumps in the first couple of chapters while laying down some roots for the rest of the story but they slow down a bit after that. I hope you enjoy! xoxo

• TAGS ARE THERE AS A TRIGGER WARNING! •

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June, 2012

The shock of Will's icy hand intertwining his fingers with hers brings Jennifer back from her wandering thoughts as she stares out the car window. How depressing it must be for a spouse to deal with their partner's nervous breakdown rather than them be spending time together on what should be their honeymoon, she thinks to herself. Though his skin is cold, she knows his heart is warm with the desire to fix her. His love for her was never in question; it was her love for him.

There's something in his eyes that's different when he looks at her now. It's been that way since she had woken in the hospital. Maybe it's pity, or resentment. She's not completely sure. She offers him a small smile and slight squeeze of the hand before turning her head to the window again. The bottom of it had began to fog up from humidity considering it was now shifting from morning to afternoon. The dew on the grass had practically dried already and the birds were singing their morning songs a little less. It's that weird time of the year in Virginia where the mornings are still cool but quickly followed by warm muggy days. The grass is green and plentiful and as they pull into the driveway of their home, she can see that her sweetbay magnolias had bloomed while she was away.

Will releases her hand from his and puts the car into park but doesn't immediately get out. A shallow sigh is heard from him before he finally speaks. "I just wanted to warn you that your mom is here. She's been helping me with Henry and the household stuff. I know you decided to keep this quiet from the team for more reason than one, but I needed someone who knows you as well as they do to guide me on the best path in order to make sure I do right by you and your healing." There it is. The kick when you're already down. Her mother is the last person she wants to see right now. Yet instead of turning on her heels and taking off for the hills, she quiets the frustration inside her chest and gives him an understanding nod. "That's okay. I'm glad you had someone here to help you." She lies.

Lying had become almost second nature to her this last couple of years. She lied whenever she held him at night. She lied everytime she gave him a kiss and told him 'I love you' before she hurried out the door for work. She lied when she had told him she needed to stay late, more times then she would like to admit. Honestly, towards the end, the only thing she didn't lie about is the love she has for her son. Her Henry.

Even with the fear inside of her, put there by the knowing accompaniment of her mother, the joy in his eyes when she walked through the front door was enough to ground her. She had only been gone two weeks. They had been on cases longer than that in the past. But, during those times she would video chat with Henry every night possible and call him and his father any chance she got just to check up on them. She couldn't do that after voluntarily committing herself though. Her arms wrapped around him tightly and she didn't plan on letting him go until she heard his soft giggles tangled in her hair, "You're squishing me, Mommy!" The almost four year old exclaimed with excitement. She managed to wipe away the lone tear that had started to run down her cheek before she pulled away to look at his face again. "I'm sorry, I just missed you so much." She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and stood up off of her knees.