PERFECT PLACES, emily prentiss

picture perfect

October's a blur of coffee shop workdays, late-night diner trips, and early mornings for Abby and Emily. They've formed a routine of sorts, Abby driving Emily to and from work when they don't have a case and doing paperwork together when possible.

Today's no different, the couple working at the coffee shop for the fourth day in a row. Four days without a case wasn't uncommon this month, and they aren't complaining. Around lunchtime, Emily checks her phone before looking up to Abby. "I know this is last minute, but Rossi's holding a little halloween party at his mansion tonight and the team is begging to meet you."

"That sounds fun." Abby nods, barely looking up from her work.

Emily's brows furrows. "Are you alright?"

Abby sighs, massaging her eyes before studying Emily. "Are you sure your team will like me?"

"Why wouldn't they?"

"Maybe it's juvenile, but..." She shrugs. "I don't really look, or act, my age, I'm visibly not American-"

She would've continued ranting, but Emily cuts her off, holding Abby's hands between hers. "None of them care about that, I promise. They'll want to get to know you, maybe interrogate you a little bit, but everyone there is unique."

Abby looks at her quizzically, "If you're sure... Does anyone else speak francais?"

"Spencer, probably." She laughs, "But they all know you speak English just fine after what you pulled with Morgan."

She rolls her eyes, looking up to Emily once more. "Another dumb question, are we like... official?"

Emily laughs again. "Do you want to be?"

"Yeah, I do." She smiles, locking eyes with Emily.

"Then we're official."

♡

Even with Emily's reassurance, Abby struggles to chose an outfit for the night. After emptying her closet and Emily's go-bag, she settles on a white button-up tucked into black wide-leg pants, accessorizing with a black belt and gold necklaces.

She spins in a circle in front of Emily, holding her arms out. "What do you think?"

Emily takes Abby's face in her hands, locking their eyes for a moment before dropping her hands to unbutton the topmost button of her shirt. Exposing the tattoos encasing her chest, along with the black lace trim of Abby's bra, she smiles. "That's better."

"You're insane." Abby laughs, leaning in to connect their lips. Between the deepening kiss, she tries to speak, "Won't your boss be there? And his kid? Are you sure it's appropriate?"

Emily reaches for her waist, exploring every inch of Abby's body as though it's her first time. "I'm very sure."

Abby leans in, then pulls away. "We're going to be late."

"Let's be late." Emily moves to her jawline.

Abby removes herself from Emily completely, collecting her phone from the other side of the room. "Not right now, I want to make a good first impression."

Emily groans, collecting her things. "Such a buzzkill."

Abby's fingers tapping the steering wheel along to the music fill the car, something only people close to her know to be a nervous tic. "You know they'll love you, right?"

"I haven't gone to a party since like... college." She shrugs.

"There's going to be ten people, max." Emily rubs Abby's arm as she pulls into the long driveway. "You'll be fine."