"Bridget." Dad greets, plopping on my bed with a grunt. "Did you have a good birthday?"

I glance up from my book slowly. Is my dad actually inquiring about my day? In my room? I am convinced that I am living in some sort of alternate universe.

"Uh, yeah I did. It was good." I answer softly, returning to my book.

"Bridget, focus on me." He intrudes as he puts his hand on my book and forces me to release it.

I whimper once I realize that I do not have bookmark for it, so let it fall onto my lap.

"Where's Mom? Shouldn't she be in here too since you are acting all weird?" I point out with a sneer.

Dad hangs his head and shakes it with a smile balancing on his lips. He bends down and picks up a small little box wrapped in blue wrapping paper.

My eyes lighten up instantly like a child on Christmas morning and snatch it from his hands. I hold it in my hands for a moment and absorb the weight of the box. It feels different and look at Dad and try to guess what it is. I can't take the suspense for much longer than a millisecond, so I begin to unwrap the present with pure determination. To my surprise, a brand new phone is revealed to me. My mouth gapes somatically at the sight of such a mysterious object in front of me.. Honestly, I never thought this would happen.

"Holy shit-ake mushroom Dad!" I gasp, rotating the precious box in my hands.

"Don't get all excited, alright? You got to make a deal with me." Dad counters, pressing pause on my excitement.

A deal? That could mean practically anything, which was not a good thing. I am set on keeping this phone, so I am going to have to oblige no matter what.

"Tomorrow JJ and Will are hosting a team dinner. Normally bringing kids would be out of the question, but I want you to come with. Everyone loves you, so I don't see your presence being an issue for anyone but your mother and I."

Dad's attempt at making a joke makes me cringe, but in regards to the odd invite, I feel compelled to attend the dinner. Knowing that JJ and Will are healthy eaters, the probability of good food is lower. On the other hand, if Rossi shows up, the food will be stellar.

"So, what do you think?" Dad urges impatiently.

"Okay."

"Okay?" 

My quick acceptance catches him off guard.

"Yeah. I said I will come."

"You really want that phone don't you?"

"Yup." I respond absentmindedly, already half way into the box.

Dad sighs. "Go to bed soon."

I pause and look up at him. I know this is my moment to thank him- truly thank him.

"Thank you for this, Dad. I, um, know that this was probably really hard for you to do for me, but I appreciate it. Really, I do. So thank you." 

Dad simply nods and retreats from my room without a spoken word.

I put my focus back on the phone and begin to open it frantically. I swiftly pull off the thin plastic sheet over the screen and place the phone in my hand. I can barely contain myself as I turn on the phone.

This phone is only one of the many signs that everything is going to be okay.

"Bridget!" Dad shouts from the kitchen. "Let's go!"

I frantically apply the last swipe of mascara to my lashes and run to the kitchen. Mom and Dad are waiting for me while holding Tupperware containers filled with some sort of appetizer.

"Ready." I proclaim proudly, grabbing my phone from the table and slipping on my newest pair of heels.

My parents stand expressionless in front of me. What the hell did I do now?

"Bridget. We are going to a dinner party, not a frat house. Go change!" Mom demands.

"Please? I am simply expressing my true self." I counter, spinning around so they can all get a view of my outfit.

"Are the booty shorts really necessary?" Dad groans, pressing his temples forcefully. Mom quickly puts her hand on his arm to calm him.

"Mom did you actually cook something?" I blurt, in hopes of changing the subject.

"Bridget, could you actually listen to us for once?" Mom replies, quick-witted as ever. 

"Okay, okay, enough of this. Bridget, did you actually think you could attract a 25 year old guy wearing that outfit?"

Damn. Didn't expect that one.

"Can we just go? I am only going to this stupid party because you made me." I retort.

Another reason may be because the hottest man on the planet is most likely going to be there. Henry Lamontagne. God damn. He is about 7 3/4 years older than me, but age is just a number. From his latest instagram post, he is definitely single and hopefully ready to mingle.

"Oh my God is this about-" Dad begins with a huge sigh.

"Henry." Mom concludes

"Yup." Dad strains.

"Oh my god." Mom cowers her head.

I run to the car and sit down. I wait for my parents to arrive; I know they are talking about me in the house, no doubt.

"Okay." Dad grunts as he sits down on the seat. "We need to talk."

"Dad, I really don't want to change my outfit." I whine.

Dad opens his mouth and peers out the windshield before turning to speak to me again.

"Henry is nearly as old as your brother. I don't need you dressing up as some-," Dad stops to examine my outfit once again, "-prostitute to get his attention. Odds are that he won't even be there, okay? Besides, the last thing you need right now is a boyfriend . . . especially one nearly eight years older than you."

"Put on this cardigan, Bridget." Mom tosses a sweater in my direction that ends up whacking my face.

I pick up the cardigan and look hopelessly at it. Mom wants me to wear this with the outfit I have on already? Even Rossi will think I look ridiculous, and his fashion sense is quite frankly ancient. So early 2000s.

I reluctantly slip on the cardigan and lean my head against the seat. I really do not want to attend the party, but if it means having a phone, I am all in. In reality, Henry is just an added bonus to me attending this gathering. Michael will probably be there, but he is a little too young for me. Attractive, but too young.

"Control yourself. I swear if I see you flirting with an adult man, you will be in huge trouble." Mom warns, shooting me a firm stare through the rearview mirror.

My eyes bulge, and I have the urge to scream. This woman ruins all my fun. I barely hang out with people as it is, and she won't let me swoon over one guy for a few hours?

"Okay, okay." I oblige to get them off my back for a moment.

Eventually, we pull up into the driveway among multiple other cars.

Before Mom steps out, she shoots me another glare, and I throw my hands in the air in mock surrender. She rolls her eyes and shuts the door behind her. I slide out the back and follow behind my parents. Looking at JJ and Will's beautiful house, I wish Mom and Dad chose to buy a house rather than an apartment.

Mom rings the doorbell and Will appears with a soft smile. "Emily, Hotch, Bridget. Welcome. Come on in. Thank yawl fahwar thuh appetizers Ah preshate it. JJ will bay very thankful."

Mom, Dad, and I stand the awkwardly as he motions for us to come inside. Mom smiles and nods while Dad simply chooses to walk in the house without a response.

"What the heck did he just say?" I whisper to my mom as we stroll down the hallway.

Mom shrugs and moves instantly once she sees her team.

"JJ!" Mom greets warmly as they welcome each other with a large hug. They hold onto each other for a bit, enjoying the embrace.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't miss Bridget!" Rossi shouts, causing everyone to look at me.

"Hi." I reply, scanning the room for Henry.

"How was your birthday, kid?" Luke questions.

"It was really good! I finally got a phone." I add, beaming.

"Wow! I never thought the day would come. Now you gotta add all of us to your contacts so we can blow your phone up with case details."

"Watch it, Alvez." Dad warns, shaking Luke's hand.

I attempt to show a somewhat-genuine laugh, but all I accomplish is an odd neck movement.

"Bridgie, Bridgie, Bridgie!" Garcia says in a singsonging manner. She shuffles over to me and pulls me into a hug. 

She pulls me tight against her and I sense that I am centimeters away from losing my breath as a whole. Finally, she releases me, and I gasp for air like a fish out of water.

"Good to see you too, Miss Penelope." I reply with a snicker.

"JJ," I interrupt Mom and her conversation, and she looks at me disappointedly. "Are Henry and Michael here?"

JJ scans my outfit and clenches her teeth. "Well, I believe they are currently upstairs doing God knows what. The upstairs area as a whole is extremely dirty at the moment, I haven't been able to clean up there for weeks." She explains, rubbing her forehead.

"You know, it is probably best for you to stay down here and socialize anyway. How about you go talk with Spencer or something?" Mom offers.

I turn and look at Spencer who is sitting alone on the couch reading some book. From where I am standing, it looks like he is talking to himself, which makes me uncomfortable. I'll be straight up- Spencer was really cute for a while, but he is seeing someone at the moment.

"Okay." I hesitantly make my way over to the couch and sit a few feet away from him.

"Hi!" Spencer greets with a smile, closing his book to focus on me.

"Hi. What are you reading about?" 

I innocently ask this question without realizing that I just made the worst decision humanly possible. I just asked Spencer Reid to tell me what he is reading about. I am about to receive a boatload of unnecessary information regarding what he is reading.

Just as I said, he begins to speak a mile a minute. He tells me how he is reading about how the brain and body are linked but separate or something along with a bunch of information that went in one ear and out the other. Moments before I am going to plan an escape route, Dad calls me and Spencer over to the table where the rest of the team is. I scurry off of the couch.

"What's up? I question.

"Here." Rossi responds. "Have some carbonara before we begin."

I grab the bowl from his hands and begin to eat. As I eat, I continue to think about my container of carbonara at home that is calling my name.

"So," JJ clears her throat, "your parents informed us that you have been told to look into what careers you can go into."

"Oh my God." I complain with an obnoxious groan. "Is this how you planned to convince me? Seriously? I didn't think that me wanting to be a writer was that big of a deal to you. Wouldn't you want me to do something I actually enjoy doing rather than something I hate?" 

Mom and Dad almost look ashamed. Everyone began shooting quick glances at each other. It was quite clear that everyone was aware of this little plan or whatever.

"Just sit down and here everyone out. It wouldn't be the worst thing ever to just sit and listen for a few minutes, right?" Dad points out.

"Fine." I grunt, sitting down next to Luke. 

"Being a part of this team is more than anything I could have ever asked for. It is like rainbows and unicorns and a bit of gore all mixed into one!" Garcia exclaims.

Her excitement is slightly overwhelming- and a bit odd- knowing how she takes graphic images. I continue to listen anyway.

"I know you want to have a career in writing, but this is such a great opportunity for you. I mean, you already have a big ol' family right here!" Mom adds joyfully.

I scan the table at the several faces staring at me. Did I really want to work with these people anyway?

"By the time I even get a job in the FBI, you all will be either retired or dead." I declare blankly as Mom mouths to zip it or else.

"Ah mean Ah met JJ thoo thus job an Hotch an' Em met each other too. Thus job wuz thuh start uh uh brand new chapter fahwar us." Will butts in, sounding as southern as one could sound.

"Will's right. You talk to a handful of people in this job on the daily. I met Will on a case many years ago, and I am forever grateful. Hey, and look at your parents, Bridget! They worked together for over a decade and didn't get married until well... eighteen years ago!" JJ adds.

How that woman can understand Will is beyond my knowledge.

"Um," I pause for a moment, "I really appreciate your effort to convince me to join the BAU. You all are amazing people, and I am glad I got to grow up around adults like you, but I know it isn't the right place for me. Writing is my true calling and I have known it for a while. Plus, I think it will be worth it to take my own path for once in my life. Just for you guys, I'll give it some thought, okay?"

Everyone is silent as they sink in the information I gave them. It was hard declining such admirable people, but the job is too much for me. I mean kudos to them for being able to take on such a mind-strangling job. The job has always been captivating to me, but I am a big wuss when it comes to blood and death and everything in that category. Therefore, being an FBI agent is not my first option, but maybe a close third.

"Well, it was worth a shot." Rossi concludes with a snort, breaking the silence among us. "How about some carbonara?