Accidental Attractions

chapter sixteen

Thank god JJ's parents decided to stay in a hotel as to not spoil our time of celebration, if you know what I mean. While at dinner I noticed that her mother never stops talking. Don't get me wrong she is very sweet, but wow I don't know how she has that much to say all the time. JJ seems very used to it after dealing with it her whole life. Her dad on the other hand is very soft spoken and kind. He says I have an old soul. He talks about how JJ was when she was little. Full of energy and hope for the future. Bunny and witty, and she loved animals, especially dogs.

"Remember or old lab, Mick. Aw you two were best friends." Mr. Jereau said to his daughter. "He used to sleep in bed with her every night. They hardly ever spent time apart besides school." He says directing his attention to me.
"Aww, Jayje, you never told me you had a childhood dog. He sounds amazing." I said, grabbing her hand. I noticed the conversation made her uneasy. "Sweetheart what's the matter?" Her mother chimes in. This dinner is getting increasingly longer, it feels.

"Um, i am not really the biggest fans of dogs anymore." She said, looking to the ground, ten our hands, then back at the floor. "What? Since when? You used to be obsessed with dogs." Her mother said, the smile on her face fading. It seems she is beginning to see how much she doesn't know about her only living child.

I squeeze her hand slightly, as to hopefully reassure her. I know the topic is hard for her. She smiles slightly at the gesture. Her dimples make me warm inside. I can smell her perfume from here. It reminds me of the day we met. She was wearing the exact same fragrance, it's her favorite. My stomach turns knowing that the subject hurts her slightly. The night it happened was one of the first time we went in the field one on one together.

"Um, well. A couple years ago, the team and I went in a case in some rural town I don't know where. Spencer and I paired up to search a barn where we thought the unsub, the subject, would be. We split up to cover more ground. It was one of the worst mistakes I've made. Spence was kidnapped and I hadn't realized." She sighed heavily, feeling the pang if guilt she still felt for leaving him that night. "I then uh, entered the barn and found a bunch of angry rabid looking dogs. They uh, attacked me."

My heart dropped. I remember that night clearly. I felt so bad for her, I could see how much she was hurting. "I was ok, but Reid wasn't. He was tortured and drugged, and it was my fault. I promised to never split from any of my team mates again." She said, catching a hitch in her voice. Her parents were stunned. Again they were taken aback by information about JJ they hadn't known, but they felt like they should have.

"Hunny, I am so sorry that happened to you." Her dad said, a small, sad, smile on his face. He reached across the table to grab JJ's free hand. JJ smiles back at him sweetly.

"I am sorry too." Her mother spoke up. "But I'm hurt you didn't tell us this. I'm hurt you didn't share such important things with us, that you have cut us out of your life essentially." JJ scoffed. "Excuse me, but I did no such thing." She seemed a bit taken aback by her mother's attitude. "How could you say that. It was something very personal that I didn't share with anyone besides the people who were there. I get injured all the time in the field, it's not a big deal. Yes you are my mother, but you are not entitled to know every aspect of my adult life. I understand where you are coming from but, I don't see you making an extra effort to visit me, or to contact me. You only came because I was hurt. I don't need your pitty visits mother, and I certainly don't need you to belittle me for not telling you every time something bad has ever happened to me in the field." JJs attitude has completely shifted, she's fuming.

"I'm your mother, and you didn't even tell me you were gay for heavens sake! You act like I didn't give birth to and raise you." Her mothers voice becoming shaky. Mr. Jereau placing a somber hand on his wife's arm in an attempt to calm her.

"Ok fine, if you feel so strongly about it, let's go over it shall we! Well at first Spencer was in love with me and he was the only one at the bau you who even batted an eye in my direction for like a year. Then one of my team mates shot someone illegally and was replaced by none other than the love of my life. I didn't know I was gay till like nine months ago, and even now it's still new to me. Anyway, then Gideon, my father figure up and left, leaving everyone fragile. He was replaced by David Rossi. That man has inspired me in so many ways. He's been more of a parent in the last couple of years of my life than you, mother, have ever been." At this point JJ is almost yelling. Her mother's expression staying firm while her fathers is wavering in embarrassment for his wife.

"Let's see, then what. Oh ya, then Emily and I became best friends. She became my person, my partner in crime. We solved hundreds of cases together. Then things began to get harder, for everyone on the team. Hotch's marriage fell apart. Dereks past was revealed and it was damaging for him. Garcia's life was threatened by a stalker who shot her, then I shot him. Rossi's ex wife died and she asked him to let her. Hailey, Hotch's ex wife, was then shot and killed by a man he'd tracked for years. Then Emily, I don't even know where to start. She has been the best friend I could have ever asked for." She said, teary eyes and calmer than before.

" Her past caught up to her. She did lots of good before the BAU, but it left someone she used to know very unhappy. That man ended up branding her, then stabbing her through the chest with a stake. She she went into cardiac arrest but then was resuscitated. But for safety reasons, she had to fake her death. We didn't see her for a long time. It wa s the saddest time of my adulthood. She then came back to save me after I was kidnapped, which you know about. She flew from London to save me. Our friendship is what kept me going in that time of pain and suffering." She looked to me and smiled.

"I love you more than you could ever wrap your head around. You have saved me so many times, physically, and emotionally. I will never be able to repay you. But will sure as hell try." I could feel a hot tear stream down my cheek, which she then calmly wiped away, then kissed me on the forehead. My body felt weak with love for this woman. My insides were warm and my heart was beating fast.

Her mom looked disappointed in herself for acting the way she did. Her father felt saddened for all the hurt his daughter has insured in her short life. "I am sorry I haven't been so open with the both of you. I haven't been as good with sharing my personal life and emotions with people since Roslyn. I will try to do better, but for now I think it's best if you leave." She says looking to the tile below us.

I smile sadly to her parents as her mother nods silently in agreement and her dad kisses her on the forehead on their way out. I turn to JJ and engulf her in a hug. She hugs back and I can smell her perfume again. And I can feel her soft hair against my cheek as she rests her head in my shoulder. Her face is warm from yelling and crying. I could feel each breath she took with the entirety of me, and I took in every heart beat of hers that I could feel and I smiled thinking about how she is still standing after all the suffering she has insured. "I love you. with all that I am, and all that I will ever be." I whisper.

I love the most amazing person to have ever walked the earth and she loves me back. Every breath, every hour of my life has come down to meeting the women standing in my embrace. I am happy.

A/N
Wow that was a roller coaster. This chapter took a while I'm sorry it's been so long. This is not the end of the story, although the end is coming. I will make the chapters longer an jucier hopefully. But until then vote and comment. I love hearing your opinions.