#faafil

✨Celebrating #MultiamoryMarch with Fooled Around (and Fell in Love)✨

Thank you to @polyamships for all you do to promote polyam in fanworks. As part of #MultiamoryMarch I wanted to hype my ongoing Criminal Minds fanfic series. Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) is a queer rom-com AU exploring queer identities and relationships.

This series focuses largely on the relationships between Tara Lewis, Emily Prentiss, and Jennifer Jareau, but it also delves into all types of relationships (platonic, romantic, and polyam) between the ensemble of other Criminal Minds characters.

Primed For Your Love: Prelude

Rated: Teen || WC: 15,800 Ships: Jennifer Jareau/Will LaMontagne, Tara Lewis/Doug Fuller, Emily Prentiss/Linda Barnes

Set before Part 1 of the series, 'Primed for Your Love' focuses on the defining moments in Will, JJ, Tara, and Emily's lives that led them to where they are at the start of Part 1.

Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) - Part 1

Rated: Mature || WC: 80,800 Ships: Jennifer Jareau /Will LaMontange, Jennifer Jareau/Emily Prentiss, Tara Lewis/Emily Prentiss

Jennifer Jareau had the perfect life. She worked in an elite sector of the FBI known as the behavioural analysis unit. She had just married the love of her life, Will LaMontagne. She had everything she could have ever dreamed of—

Or so she thought. JJ’s personal trainer, Emily Prentiss, managed to upturn everything JJ had thought she wanted.

So what will JJ do about it?

Ready For Your Love: First Interlude

Rated: Teen || WC: 25,000 Ships: Derek Morgan/Luke Alvez, Luke Alvez/Spencer Reid

Set between Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) Part 1 and Part 2, the first interlude of the series features all of your favourite Fooled Around characters from a new point of view. Largely focusing on Spencer, Luke, Derek and Penelope, 'Ready for Your Love' tells the story of how Derek came to realise two very important facts:

1. He has a massive crush on Luke. 2. Perhaps, he isn't as straight as he originally thought.

Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) - Part 2

Rated: Explicit || WC: 88,000 Ships: Emily Prentiss/Tara Lewis, Jennifer Jareau/Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau/Tara Lewis, OT3: Je T'Emily (JJ/Emily/Tara)

It's been nine months since Emily Prentiss began dating both Tara Lewis and Jennifer Jareau.

Tara and JJ work together and have always been friends, but now they also share a girlfriend. The three of them have become incredibly tight knit but JJ and Tara realise their friendship has been shifting towards something...more.

There are plenty of reasons why they shouldn't journey into this new territory but the heart wants what the heart wants.

[Untitled Second Interlude] COMING SOON!

The second interlude will bridge the gap between Part 2 and Part 3 and include backstories of Beck Wilson and Elle Greenaway.

Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) - Part 3

Rated: Explicit || WC: 219,000 Ships: OT3: Je T'Emily (Jennifer Jareau/Emily Prentiss/Tara Lewis), Tara Lewis/Rebecca Wilson

When JJ/Tara/Emily decide to buy a house together, Tara volunteers to renovate it into their perfect dream home. In order to follow through on her promise, Tara enlists the help of a general contractor, Beck Wilson -- but Beck's construction skills aren't the only thing that garners Tara's attention.

JJ, Tara, and Emily, must find a way to navigate all of the changes in their lives while keeping their relationship afloat. Will unexpected feelings, secrets, and jealousy threaten the foundation of everything they've worked hard to build?

[EXTRAS]

A collection of add-ons for Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) including: art, playlists, author's commentary, screenplay mock-ups, character bios, and more

All art for Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) was done by the incredible @artcake

Fandom: Criminal Minds Relationship: Jennifer Jareau/Tara Lewis/Emily Prentiss Rated: Mature || WC: 5972 || Series: Fooled Around AU Tagging: @polyamships

Summary:

JJ, Tara, and Emily celebrate their one year anniversary as a throuple. The [Fooled Around AU] is a wholesome, queer rom-com, with a healthy dose of polyamory.

Author's Note: Today, 22 July 2025, marks both the THREE YEAR anniversary of Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) - Part 1 and subsequently, my return to writing fanfic after a seven year hiatus. What better way to celebrate this triumphant series, than to write the OT3 celebrating their first anniversary together?! More sentimental rambling below the cut...

What I've Been Reading:

JJ/Emily, Tara/Penelope || Rated: E || WC: 43,369 Author: @swpf

Why I Love It: This is such a great read! The introspective look at all of these women is both refreshing and titillating. I love both of these ships and watching two couples try (and often fail) to get the other pair together is one of my favourite fic tropes.

Tara/Rebecca || Rated: E || WC: 3132 Author: swpf

Why I Love It: If you want my full essay about how perfect this look at Tara/Rebecca is,, check the comment section of the fic. In the meantime, just know this is a beautiful piece that explores what it was like for Rebecca to watch Tara diffuse a bomb in the field in 17x06 and how that led to them getting back together.

Tara/Penelope || Rated: T || WC: 14,714 Author: swpf

Why I Love It: Hot butch mechanic Tara Lewis, need I say more?? This AU is delicious. The interactions between Penelope and Tara are so enthralling, I couldn't stop reading. This is an incredible little AU full of hilarity and queer joy. (And Queer Joy 😏)

JJ/Emily/Tara || Rated: E || WC: 1376 Author: Anonymous

Why I Love It: Je T'Emily smut!!!!! This is just extremely sexy.

Tara/Emily || Rated: T || WC: 1103 Author: @mammothluv

Why I Love It: The balcony scene in 13x16 is one of my favourite Temily moments in canon. This was a beautiful take on that scene and just a really wholesome fic. I'm always a sucker for Temily fluff.

What I've Been Writing:

Tara/Penelope || Rated: E ||WC: 13,268+ (WIP)

Notes: After this 'one-shot' evolved into a three chapter fic, I've decided to continue exploring this dynamic. There is definitely more to come, after putting together an outline of where I want this one to go, I think it could be around 8 chapters in total. Stay tuned for more hot, sexy, Dom Penelope!

[UNTITLED HOLIDAY FIC]

JJ/Tara || WC: TBD

Notes: It's that time of year again! This year's holiday romcom will focus on JJ/Tara! In the same vein of Homo For the Holidays, I'm planning for this to be a festive, Hallmark-esque, tropetastic, romcom fic.

[Ready To Be Loved - A Fooled Around Interlude]

Derek/Luke, Luke/Spencer || WC: TBD

Notes: This is the second installment of my three-part Fooled Around expansion! I'm so excited to share this look at how Luke and Derek came to be a couple. I've wanted to explore their relationship more ever since I wrote FAAFIL - Part 2. Not sure when this will be ready for posting, so just keep an eye out!

ICYMI:

JJ/Tara || Rated: G || WC: 1932

Summary: In the Jareau-Lewis household, there was a Halloween tradition of rotating who got to choose the family costumes each year. This year, it was six-year-old Michael's duty to choose the theme of their costumes…

More CM Fic Recs Under Cut

It's been a minute since I did one of these, but I wanted to share some fics I'm loving right now!

What I've Been Reading:

Tara Lewis/Rebecca Wilson || Rated: M || WC: 1755 Author: @swpf

Why I Love It: Hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggg!!!!!! This is an absolute MASTERCLASS in writing angst. I cannot believe it's a mere 1700 words, because it really felt like five times longer with how much depth of emotion exists within this one shot. There are lines that will haunt me for days to come, my favourite being : 'They fit so well together that Tara was beginning to wonder how she’d ever dated anyone else before. If this was affection, what the hell had she been doing previously?'. This one is a HELL of an addition to the Tara/Rebecca fic list. Absolutely loved it.

Tara Lewis/Penelope Garcia || Rated: E || WC: 6345+ (WIP) Author: swpf

Why I Love It: This is the follow-up fic to 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love'. Let me tell you what, this AU has EVERYTHING! Butch!Mechanic!Tara, Femme!Bartender!Peneleope, Butch!Tattoo Artist/Goth!Emily. Honestly such a GREAT mix of characters and I adore the explorations of love, both romantic and platonic. The first two chapters are out now and I'm already hooked. Cannot wait for more.

Emily Prentiss/Penelope Garcia || Rated: T || WC: 2335 Author: swpf

Why I Love It: This is just so soft and wonderful. Fluff that will make you squee and kick your feet in delight. A beautiful New Year's one-shot with two of my fave characters, what's not to love?

Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid || Rated: E || WC: 1344 Author: @justjasper

Why I Love It: Reading JustJasper's Moreid fics has made me a true believer. I love the way this author handles smut and vulnerability and relationships. Everything is perfect and so so so sexy!

What I've Been Writing:

Jennifer Jareau/Tara Lewis || Rated: M || WC: 53,000+ (WIP) Update: I've just posted Ch 07 (of twelve) and WHAT A CHAPTER it is! This week's update offers insight into what's really going on with Tara. Also featuring everyone's favourite hillbilly grandma, in her absolute element. I love this chapter so much and I am looking forward to revealing many more plot twists in the back-half of this holiday fun-filled rom-com

[Multi] Derek Morgan/Luke Alvez, Luke Alvez/Spencer Reid || Rated: T || WC: 5242+ (WIP) Update: I just need to edit chapter 2, but it will be posted by the end of the month! I'm looking forward to delving into this previously unexplored side of the Fooled Around AU

On-Hold WIP:

Tara Lewis/Penelope Garcia || Rated: E || WC: 20,000+ (WIP)

Author Note: I am ABSOLUTELY still writing this fic. I've just been momentarily distracted by the Jara holiday fic (that has gotten so out of hand). There will definitely be more hot and steamy Tenelope in the next month or so. Please subscribe to this fic so you know when I update <3

More CM Fic Recs Under Cut

THE FEMSLASH ART WALL IS DONE!! I decided to turn some of gifted and commissioned art from my fics into posters so I could hang them over my desk. It started when I made the Fooled Around poster, then I decided to do a whole series.

It was such a fun project. Looking forward to these works inspiring even more femslash.

Close ups of each print below:

OG @queerminal-minds | 2015

Art by a good pal I am so thrilled to have a copy of this hanging up again! It's such an important piece, it truly was the peak of an era

Homo for the Holidays | 2022

Art and Poster Design by @cargopantsprentiss

i can't be wrong (to be craving you) | 2023

Poster Design by Me

*All of the below feature commissions by @artcake and poster designs by me*

Tara & Emily by artcake | 2022

(Not based on a fic, I just love this drawing)

I Believe in a Thing Called Love | 2024

Fic By @swpf

Between You & Me | 2023

(The fans in question are me, Doom Them and @gaelic-symphony in case anyone wonders 😅)

Do What I Want (Over What's Right) | 2024

Primed For Love: A Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) Expansion

Primed For Love consists of three parts; a prelude (set before Part 1), an interlude (set between Parts 1 & 2), and another interlude (set between Parts 2 & 3). This mini-series offers readers a new look into the backstories of each of the characters in Fooled Around (and Fell in Love).

Primed for Love: Prelude [NOW POSTED] Rated: Teen | WC: 15,800

The Prelude tells the stories of the pivotal moments in the lives and relationships of Will LaMontange, Tara Lewis, Emily Prentiss and Jennifer Jareau which led them to Part 1.

Ready for Your Love: First Interlude [NOW POSTED] Rated: Teen | WC: 25,000

Set between Part 1 & Part 2, this first interlude focuses on Luke Alvez, Penelope Garcia, Derek Morgan, and Spencer Reid and the story of how Derek and Luke started dating.

Primed for Love: Second Interlude [COMING SOON]

The Second Interlude will focus on Elle Greenaway, Maeve Donovan, and Beck Wilson

Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) is a queer rom-com AU that explores coming out at any age or stage, polyamory, and friendships, but above all else, the love shared between JJ/Emily/Tara.

*Character portraits and other FAAFIL art are all by the magnificent @artcake

[READ 'READY FOR YOUR LOVE' ON AO3]

Spencer/Luke, Luke/Derek || Rated: T || WC: 25,000 Status: Completed

Summary:

Set between Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) Part 1 and Part 2, this interlude features all of your favourite Fooled Around characters from a new point of view. Largely focusing on Spencer, Luke, Derek and Penelope, 'Primed for Love' tells the story of how Derek came to realise two very important facts: 1. He has a massive crush on Luke. 2. Perhaps, he isn't as straight as he originally thought.

WC: 15,800 || Rated: Teen

Primed for Love is a four-chapter prelude, set before the events of Part 1. This new expansion serves to tell the back stories of the pivotal moments which led to the intertwining of Will, JJ, Tara, and Emily's lives.

Chapter 1: William LaMontange Jr

After his relationship falls apart in New Orleans, newly single Will moves to DC at his best friend's suggestion. Derek then decides to play wing-man to help find Will the perfect woman.

Chapter 2: Tara Lewis

Upon joining the BAU, Tara finds out she doesn't have the capacity for both her job and her relationship. Good thing she doesn't mind being single.

Chapter 3: Emily Prentiss

Things fall apart between Emily and the married woman she's been sleeping with. In an Autistic burnout tailspin, she turns to her two best friends, Spencer and Luke, for comfort.

Chapter 4: Jennifer Jareau

JJ and Will buy a house together and despite her ongoing claim that she never wants to get married, JJ realises maybe, just maybe, Will LaMontange is her forever.