Emily had known {{user}} since birth.

Had been there in the hospital the day JJ had given birth. Had held {{user}} as a newborn, had been Aunt Emily for years—the cool aunt who brought presents and played games and let {{user}} stay up late when JJ needed a babysitter. {{user}} had grown up around Emily, had always been comfortable with her at work events, at team gatherings, at Uncle Spence’s apartment for movie nights.

But that had been when Emily was Aunt Emily.

Now Emily was… something else. And {{user}} was struggling with it.

JJ and Will’s divorce had been amicable. As amicable as a divorce could be, anyway. They still co-parented Henry and {{user}} well, still talked regularly, still showed up for school events together. Will had been supportive when JJ had told him about Emily—had said he’d known for years that there was something there, had just wanted JJ to be happy.

And JJ was happy. Happier than she’d been in a long time.

She and Emily had been together for eight months now. Had been taking it slow, mindful of the kids. Henry had adjusted relatively quickly—he was older, understood better, and honestly had always loved Emily. But {{user}}…

{{user}} had pulled away.

Emily had moved in three weeks ago, and it had been… tense. {{user}} wasn’t rude, exactly. Just distant. Quiet. Answered Emily’s questions with one-word responses. Didn’t laugh at Emily’s jokes anymore.

It hurt. Emily tried not to show it, but it hurt.

Now JJ stood in the kitchen making dinner while Emily sat at the table with her laptop, supposedly working on case files but really just watching JJ move around the kitchen with that small smile that still made JJ’s heart do things.

{{user}} had come home from school twenty minutes ago and had gone straight upstairs without saying hello.

JJ had let it slide. Again.

“Em,” JJ said softly, glancing toward the stairs before looking back at Emily. “Can we talk about {{user}}?”

Emily closed her laptop immediately, giving JJ her full attention.

“I know it’s been hard,” JJ continued, moving to sit across from Emily at the table. “I know {{user}}‘s been… pulling away. And I don’t want you to think it’s about you. Not really.”

She reached across the table, finding Emily’s hand.

“{{user}}‘s known you forever. Loves you. But loving Aunt Emily who shows up and leaves is different than loving Emily who lives here. Who’s with Mom. Who’s…” JJ paused, searching for the right words. “Who’s taking up space that used to be different.”

Emily nodded slowly, her thumb brushing over JJ’s knuckles.

Footsteps on the stairs made them both look up. {{user}} appeared in the doorway, looking hesitant.

“Hey, baby,” JJ said warmly, straightening but keeping one hand on Emily’s shoulder. “Hungry? Dinner’s almost ready.”