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BITTERSWEET
::  xx. | just for a moment

It was the next day and Vanessa thought it was a good idea for a family breakfast. She was stirring the pancake mix when Miguel wrapped his arms around from behind. He noticed her hair was curled up in those curlers, he thought she might be trying a new style for a change — he liked it.

Vanessa picked up the whisk out the bowl and turned to Miguel, "Taste?"

His arms were still wrapped around her waist, "I'm not the cook here."

Vanessa rolled her eyes and rubbed her finger against one of the spirals. She then put her finger in her mouth to taste the batter. She hummed with a slight nod, giving her own cooking an approval. Just before whatever was going to happen next happened, the front door rang.

"I'll get it." He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly before heading to the door.

He sighed as he approached the door, not wanting to open it because he just wanted it to be him and his girls for now. Whatever was on the other side of that door was going to completely ruin it for him.

His hand gripped the knob and twist it, pulling the door open.

"Agent."

"Is Vanessa home?" Jennifer's brows rose as she subtly tried to look behind him to see.

With a careless look, he moved to the side and let her in. He watched as she went into the kitchen and shook his head disapprovingly as he shut the door. He never liked police or more so, the FBI.

• • •

Vanessa turned around at the sound of footsteps, "So who was tha— jj!"

Jj smiled, "Morning. Sorry to barge in like this, I wanted to talk to you. In person—." She felt Miguel standing behind her, "And alone."

With an awkward clear of his throat, Miguel cleared the kitchen and made his way up the stairs to see if his daughter was awake.

Jennifer and Vanessa were now alone in the kitchen. As Vanessa slid on her oven mitts to pull the bacon out, jj continued to go on of what she was going to say,

"Is it safe to have him here?" Jj whispered, "Last time you two were kidnapped."

Vanessa put the bacon on the stove, "I appreciate the concern but I'm pretty sure I know what's best for me and Cole."

"Of course you do. I don't mean to overstep—"

"Then don't." Vanessa interrupted, "Just because you wear that badge doesn't mean you know everything."

Jj sighed, "Look, I just came to check on you guys and to invite you to a dinner party with the team. I heard Elle will be there and everyone's meeting will."

Jennifer didn't wait for a response back. She was already running a tad late for work so she bolted right after getting those words out, not leaving any room to let Vanessa get a word in. It wasn't like vanessa was going to say no to a team meeting but she really wasn't up to meeting Jennifer's boyfriend.

• • •

After awhile of Jennifer getting to work, she's been at her desk doing paper work and whatnot. There was no case yet, so everyone was doing their own thing at their own time. Lost in her paper work, she didn't hear Hotch call for her until around the second time her name was mentioned.

Jj got up from her desk and made her way up to hotch's office. She closed the door behind her and he gestured towards her to sit in the chair across from him.

"Jj, you have the file? Do you understand the matter?" Hotch questioned.

Jj leaned back, "I do and I don't like it."

"I understand. You have a relationship with Vanessa and Cole but Miguel has moved in now, which means we view this as a whole." He concluded, "I think it's time Miguel comes off the streets."

Jj furrowed her brows, "We hunt serial killers Hotch, not drug dealers."

Hotch slid a file in front of Jennifer. She opened it and her eyes grew wide. She was surprised, shocked. She honestly didn't believe what she was seeing.

She leaned in, "Hotch are you sure?"

"He has been there at every single one of these murders and that can't be a coincidence, jj." Hotch spoke.

"It has to be. I don't know him well but from what I've seen, he's a family man. He loves cole and Vanessa. This —" Her hands gestured over the file, "Doesn't make any sense."

Hotch nodded understandingly. "As far as Strauss is concerned, this is our priority. I don't know them like you do, but we will play at the theory if he is being framed or if this is a coincidence."

Jj gave him a slight nod as she stood up. She headed to the door but before exiting, Hotch had one last thing to say.

"Oh and jj, this is confidential."

She responded with her eyes, understanding well of the situation. She opened the door and left back to her desk. She pulled out the file on the Reigns family and looked through it more. None of this seemed right to her. She hated that she had to keep this from Vanessa. It just sucked. She sunk down in her seat with a sigh, already dreading every moment of this new investigation.

• • •

After everyone wrapped at the office, they all headed to the sushi restaurant. As they all left, Vanessa was just about to head out and meet them as well but she decided on a whim that she wanted to bring Miguel as well.

"I'm not going." Miguel protested.

She crossed her arms, "Give me one good reason before I drag your ass out."

"Easy!" He exclaimed, "They're agents and I'm a criminal. You know how many times they caught me? Now you want me to sit down and have a dinner with them? Hell no! Hard pass."

"Miguel . . . " Vanessa trailed off.

He shrugged, "I'm not going. End of story. I'll see you when you get back."

Vanessa huffed as she made her way to the door. She exited her home and headed to the car. Jj sent the address to the restaurant not too long ago so she was ready and equipped to head there. She was looking forward to seeing everyone since it's been awhile and getting to know Emily.

Once she got there after a twenty minute car ride, it wasn't that difficult to find a parking spot. She soon got out the car and headed into the restaurant.

As she was approaching the front desk, her eyes scanned the room and finally landed on a table at the far left in the back. The whole team was there and jj with a man Vanessa could only assume could be her boyfriend.

Vanessa walked across the room and approached the table. As soon as jj saw her, the blonde immediately got up from her seat and went to go share a hug with her friend.

"So glad you could make it." Jj gave Vanessa a tight squeeze.

"Me too." Vanessa lightly chuckled.

Jj pulled away with a smile as she reached for will's hand, "And I want you to meet will." She introduced the two, "Will this is Vanessa."

"Thee Vanessa?"

Jj nodded excitedly as will stuck out his hand.

Vanessa took it, "You make it sound like I'm a celebrity."

"Well the way jj talks about you, you are." He smiled.

"Oh and there's the missing link!" Penelope cheered as she saw Elle heading towards the table.

Everyone got up and shared hugs with one another. After they were all greeted, they all sat back down. Will pulled out a seat for jj and jj pulled Vanessa next to her as Will sat on the other side.

For some reason Vanessa felt like a sour thumb, the odd one sticking out. It was now odd to be at a team dinner now for her. She wasn't sure if it was meeting will or because knowing that the team has a history with Miguel which she realized then puts her in a sour spot. Or it could be the fact that will and jj are holding hands under the table and she has these uncontrollably butterflies swirling around in her stomach that she can't get rid of when she's even next to jennifer.

She didn't think she would dread the dinner . . . at least not this much.

a/n:
END OF ACT 2