Emily Prentiss One Shots

Mountains

This fics on the chopping block

"Em, honey, wake up," you whisper into the soft hush of early morning.

Light seeps through the curtains in pale ribbons, brushing across Emily's face as her lashes flutter open. For a moment, she's caught between dreams and dawn, her eyes slow to focus on you standing by the bed. You watch the sleep fade from her features, replaced by that familiar look that always makes your chest tighten. Half curiosity, half tenderness.

"What is it, love?" she murmurs, her voice roughened by sleep. "Did something happen?"

You shake your head, unable to hide the small, secret smile tugging at your lips. "No crisis this time. I just... have a surprise for you. Get dressed and meet me downstairs."

For a heartbeat, she only blinks at you, and then the spark of excitement flickers to life in her eyes. You can see her pulse quicken in the hollow of her throat as she sits up. There's something so endearing about how she trusts you. How she doesn't ask questions, just rises and moves as though the day itself is waiting for her.

When she comes downstairs, the sight of her steals your breath for a moment. Her hair's still a little wild, her sweater soft and loose, but her eyes—God, her eyes—shine with quiet anticipation.

You take her hand, lacing your fingers through hers, and lead her outside. The morning air is crisp enough to sting, the kind that wakes you up from the inside out. The car waits in the driveway, windows fogged from the cold.

"Where are we going?" she asks, her tone a mix of suspicion and laughter.

"It's a surprise," you say again, unable to hide the grin. "You'll see soon. But... check the bag at your feet."

Emily looks down and finds her favorite snacks nestled inside, along with a folded blanket and your phone already cued with her playlist. You catch the way her lips soften, the exact moment her guarded heart melts a little more.

"You thought of everything," she says, voice quiet, almost shy.

You glance at her, warmth spreading through you like sunrise. "You deserve to be thought of."

The car hums to life. The road winds out of town, and the music fills the silence between you. She hums under her breath to the familiar songs, fingers tapping lightly against her knee. Every so often, you steal a glance. Her hair illuminated by the early light, her smile flickering like something sacred.

Hours slip by like seconds. By the time you pull into the gravel overlook, the world has turned gold.

"We're here," you whisper.

Emily looks up and gasps. Below you, the mountains unfurl in waves, bathed in sunlight and morning mist. She steps out slowly, the cold air catching in her lungs, awe softening every line of her face.

"Y/n," she breathes, eyes wide. "This is... beautiful."

You step beside her, sliding an arm around her waist. "I wanted you to see something that feels like you: quiet, strong, breathtaking."

She laughs under her breath, a sound full of disbelief and affection. "You're ridiculous." But she leans into you anyway, her head finding your shoulder.

The world feels still up here. No city noise, no past, no future. Just the two of you and the sky. You hold her closer, feeling the rise and fall of her chest against yours, the soft thrum of her heartbeat echoing your own.

After a long moment, she tilts her face up toward you. "Thank you," she whispers. "For this. For knowing exactly what I need before I do."

You brush a strand of hair from her face, your thumb tracing her jaw. "Emily Prentiss," you murmur, "you deserve mornings like this every day."

She studies you for a long second, her eyes glassy with something she doesn't try to hide this time. "I love you."

The words land between you like sunlight breaking through clouds. You freeze, breath caught somewhere in your throat.

"You do?" you whisper, the corners of your mouth trembling into a smile.

She laughs softly, the sound barely audible over the wind. "Yes. You see every part of me. Past the armor, past the sharp edges. You see me."

And before you can stop yourself, you're kissing her. It's not rushed, it's reverent. Every ounce of joy, disbelief, and relief pours into that moment.

When you finally pull back, you can't help but smile. "I love you too, Emily."

She grins, still breathless. "Let's take a picture."

You set the phone on the car, framing the view behind you. Emily slides her arm around your waist, her cheek pressing to yours. You can feel her smile against your skin just before the timer clicks.

The camera captures it: the mountains, the morning light, and two people standing in the middle of forever.

As the shutter sound fades, Emily whispers, "This is my favorite picture already."

You look at her, heart full to the brim. "You're my favorite everything," you say.

And with your hands still intertwined, you both turn back toward the horizon—silent, grateful, and impossibly in love.