I See you, Y/N. (Emily Prentiss X Reader)

-29- the perfect vacation*

TW:  mentioning of Mental Health Problems/ ED/ Anxiety/Depression

Smut Warning 😉
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Emily's POV

"That was really delicious, Sweetheart."
I say and lean back in my chair contentedly while I look at Y/N.
She is sitting opposite me, her nose is red from a slight sunburn and her dimples are clearly visible from the way she smiles at me.
"I thought so too, Darling." She replies and my heart warms when I hear this answer.

The last few weeks here in France have done her a lot of good.
It took a while, but Y/N has really blossomed.
Her eyes have regained their beautiful sparkle, she laughs a lot more and more honestly. And she eats, not just because she notices my worried looks, but because she enjoys it.
She is becoming herself again, or rather the woman she always wanted to be and never could.
Her wounds have healed and even though her knee hasn't gotten much better, she seems to be coming to terms with it more and more.

I am so proud of her.

While I'm lost in thought, Y/N gets up and starts to carry the dishes into the kitchen, but I jump up and hold her back.
"We'll do that later. The sunset is about to start," I say and hold out my hand invitingly.
She smiles at me and jumps up and down on her tiptoes.
The same reaction as every evening.

It's just so cute.
She loves the sunsets.

I entwine our fingers and hand in hand we step out onto the terrace, which is already bathed in orange-golden light by the evening sun.
I drop onto the lounge chair without letting go of her hand and pull her onto my lap.
Y/N lifts her legs to the side, giggling, and lets them dangle on the other side of the lounger so that she's sitting comfortably on my lap. Then she leans against me, her head resting on my shoulder.
I put one hand around her thighs and pull her closer to me while my other hand strokes her back.
So we sit there in silence and watch the sun setting behind the sparkling sea.

"I love you, Y/N/N. I'm so glad you're feeling better." I whisper and stroke her cheek as we continue to look out to sea.

"Only because of you, Darling. Thank you for your patience, your love.
I could never have done this without you." She answers in a shaky voice and tears gather in her eyes, as she raises her head to look at me.

"Thank you for not giving up on me," she adds.

I think about the last few weeks we spent here.
The therapy exercises that she first did alone behind closed doors until she dared to ask me for help.
How she became stronger and braver from exercise to exercise.
How she beamed when something worked that she hadn't been able to do for a long time.
I think about all the nights we held each other while she couldn't stop crying and I had to fight back my tears.
The moments when she slipped back into the darkness and I was afraid of whether I would get her out of there again.
The days when I was kept awake at night by panic and couldn't think of anything else but losing her.
The days when I was allowed to support her on the beach because the crutch in the sand didn't help.
How we spent hours in the sea because she felt as fit in the water as she used to.
The evenings when we watched every sunset, just like now, cuddled up together on the terrace.

"Never. I will never give up on you, Y/N.
My heart belongs to you."
I say and gently cup her face with my hand.
Her eyes light up and her smile warms my heart.
She leans forward and closes the gap between us.
Our kiss sends a shiver down my spine and fireworks through my head.