PERFECT PLACES, emily prentiss

'tis the damn season

Abby's startled out of a rough, teenage kiss by the sound of her bedroom door opening. She feels her blood run cold as the tall figure of her father comes into view, his face a deep red. "Sortit!" He screams to the other girl on the bed, who scrambles out of the house without another word.

Now Abby's sat frozen on her childhood bed, listening to her father scream obscenities. "Vous êtes la honte."

She sees her sister down the hall, screaming as he pulls out a revolver. He points it at Abby, blasting her more times than the gun holds bullets. She screams as the ammo pierces every atom of her body. "Stop! Please, Stop!"

"Stop! Abby, wake up."

"Abby, wake up!"

Abby sits up in her bed, Emily holding her arms as she scans the room. Trying to calm the panic attack that somehow formed in her sleep, she places her head between her knees and slows her breathing.

She's not sure how long they're like that, but eventually she feels Emily stroking her back and hears the whirring of the heating. She rubs her eyes, sitting up to look at Emily. "Sorry."

"It's alright." She nods. "That's the third time this week, maybe you should see someone."

Abby shakes her head, "I've done therapy, this time of year just brings them out. I'll be fine, really."

She studies Abby, finding she seems to be telling the truth. "Can you talk to me?"

"I think. Just... not right now." She glances around her room again. "What time is it?"

"Almost five." Emily says, her eyes soft. "I have to go into the office for a consult, try to get some more sleep. I have melatonin in my bag if you need it."

"I'm alright." She nods, laying back onto the bed.

As Emily prepares for work around her, Abby's mind wanders. The dreams are never realistic, because the one line from her father that truly haunts her still doesn't feel real. Ne jamais revenit. Those three words ruined her life, and all she can do is replay that moment in her head until she hears her front door quietly shut.

November has always been hard for Abby. The holiday season that was once a holy celebration with her family now riddled with grief and loneliness. Buried memories excavating themselves will her to hibernate through the winter, but she still hasn't figured out a way to do that.

Abby knows she's not going back to sleep, so she brews a pot of coffee and turns on her iPod in her art room. Watching the colors blend together calms Abby's pounding heart, and soon the sun has risen and she's painted a field of lavender.

♡

Emily returns to Abby's apartment that evening, startled by The National blasting from a back room. She stands in the doorway of the art room, watching her girlfriend paint the exterior of a castle. When Abby looks up from the canvas, she almost drops her brush. "Hey." She smiles.

"Hey." Emily replies, moving next to her and exchanging a quick kiss. "What are you painting?"

"Château de Caen." Abby looks back to the painting. "It was my favorite place to go as a teen."

"Really?" She asks, insinuating for Abby to continue.

Abby nods, before standing up. "Come with me."

With a confused Emily in tow, she slips on her converse and pulls a pattered picnic blanket out of a closet near the front door. She leads Emily up a set of stairs in the back of her apartment building and though a metal door, to the roof of the building.

Abby lays out the blanket, laying face-up to admire the sky. Emily lies next to her, interlacing their hands. "Tell me about the castle."

"It's gorgeous." Abby says softly. "There's this hidden ledge on one of the ramparts that I used to sit on with Lucy."

"Who's Lucy?"

Abby pauses for a moment. "Lucille, she was my little sister. She- she died in '97."

"I'm sorry." She whispers.

They sit in silence for awhile, until Emily speaks up again. "The bureau's been having me see a therapist since I returned from France."

"Sounds fun."

"For sure. Anyways, she thinks I should tell you the reason I was in France." Emily sighs. "It's just... it's a long story. I don't want things between us to change."

"Neither do I." Abby turns her head to look at Emily. "Let's wait a bit, just a little longer of this. When it's time, we can have those conversations. All of them."

Emily nods, allowing them both to exhale. They watch the sky turn all shades of blue, pink and purple, only heading inside once it's pitch black.

♡

Abby wakes up with the sun, rolling over to an unusual sight. Emily's typically awake before her, either from a case or a nightmare, but today Abby gets to savor how peaceful she looks. Her lips are slightly parted, and her jet-black hair gracefully borders her face.

Emily's nightmares appear to be less common than Abby's, although in reality they just don't wake up her partner as often. Maybe a therapist would help, but Abby isn't willing to give it another shot.

Eventually Emily stirs, a soft smile gracing her face when she notices Abby's piercing blue eyes on her. "Morning." Abby smiles, her eyes locked with Emily's.

"How long have you been up?" Emily asks, concern ghosting her expression.

"Not too long." Abby replies. "Has anyone ever told you how gorgeous you are?"

"I'm not sure.. I think they were talking about you, though." She raises her eyebrows, making Abby giggle.

The silence is deafening as Abby traces Emily's torso aimlessly, the couple simply enjoying each other's presence. "I was thinking about getting flowers surrounding it." Emily says after some time, referring to the scar on her stomach.

"That sounds pretty." Abby smiles, tracing her finger up towards her breasts.

"Figured I would ask the expert for some help." Emily continues, her breath hitching as Abby ghosts her nipple.

"I could-" She starts, but she's cut off by the dreaded sound of Emily's phone.

After a short call, she turns to Abby. "We'll finish this later."

"Can't wait." She smiles, ignoring the disappointment in her chest.

Even after Emily leaves, Abby stays put in her bed. Her mind plays their conversations from the past weeks over and over again, leaving her to obsess over the future.

Why can't the past stay in the past?

emily's notes;
inspired by taylor swift ofc.
anyways stream evermore!!
ALSO happy new year!!