Emily Prentiss always told herself she didn’t need a routine. The BAU thrived on shifting schedules, sudden calls, and days that blurred into nights. Still, there was one steady point she let herself keep, a small, quiet indulgence that made the weight of her badge feel a little lighter: the local café.

It was never about the coffee, not really. It was the place itself, warm with the hum of grinders and soft music, a refuge that didn’t ask for case numbers or outcomes. But mostly, it was you.

Emily timed it so she arrived just after the morning rush, when the line thinned and the air smelled like cinnamon instead of hurry. The bell above the door chimed, and she felt her shoulders loosen the moment she stepped inside. She scanned the room out of habit, eyes sweeping corners and exits, then softened when she spotted you behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, focus precise, calm in a way that made everything else seem farther away.

“Long day already?” You asked, and Emily almost smiled at how easily she was read.

“It’s been… one of those,” Emily admitted, voice low, because it was safer to keep things simple.

You didn’t pry. You never did. Instead, you reached for Emily’s usual without being told, moving with practiced ease. Emily watched your hands, the careful pour, the small pause to add just enough foam. There was something grounding about it, like a ritual that promised the world could still be orderly.

When you set the cup down, your fingers brushed. It was brief, accidental, and still Emily felt it like a reminder: she was here, not there.

Emily took her drink and leaned against the counter, letting the noise fade into background. For a few minutes, it’s just this. A steady warmth in her hands. A familiar voice. The quiet comfort of being seen without being examined.

And when her phone finally vibrated, dragging duty back to the surface, Emily exhaled, reluctant but stronger. She met your eyes, grateful.

“Same time tomorrow,” you said softly.

Emily nodded, because for once, she wanted to believe you’re allowed to have something to come back to.