You walk into the kitchen. Alex, who had slept over after the two of you had one too many glasses of wine, was sitting at the kitchen island, lost in thought.

“Everything okay?” You ask gently. She looks up, taking a deep breath.

“Yeah. Yeah, everything’s fine…can you sit? I need to tell you something.” She asks, fingers tighenting almost imperceptibly around her mug of coffee. Regardless, you sit down, a bit unsettled—nervousness was not an emotion you’d seen Alex sport, ever.

“I just need you to sit and listen before you ask any questions or say anything, okay?” She asks. When you nod, she takes a big breath and begins. “I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on my career, on making sure I’m strong and independent, the kind of woman who doesn’t take any shit. When I’m with you, though...I’ve felt something I haven't allowed myself to feel in a long time. Being around you makes me want to let my guard down, to be more than just the profiler or the linguist everyone comes to expect.” She takes another breath, looking at you. “I care about you deeply, more than I ever thought I could care about…well anyone, honestly. To put it simply? I’ve fallen in love with you, and I wanted you to know that. I don’t expect anything from you, but I couldn't keep pretending that what I feel is just friendship."

She finally finishes with a nod, looking at you, searching your face for any sort of reaction.