The Date

Disclaimer: I do not own the television show Criminal Minds.

A/N: I'm not sure how the next part should go but there has to be one. So if you have any ideas let me know. I borrowed the fireworks idea from my friend who planned an extravagant date. Also this is set during season 7, a few months after Emily returns. I wrote it then but I didn't post it until now.

And a thanks to those who read! Enjoy!

They had been best friends for years, starting as colleagues and progressing from there. Working together as members of such a tight knit group had strengthened their friendship and trust.

Emily Prentiss had first joined the Behavioural Analysis Unit, BAU, of the FBI, 6 years ago. Over this time and through life and death situations she became friends with Derek Morgan.

On the surface the two would appear like opposites. Derek was a large man, with dark skin while Emile was smaller with porcelain skin. Derek seemed to be the party animal, a player who would pick up different women every night. Emily was more introverted and preferred to be alone with a good book. But over time they developed similarities. Derek loved literature almost as much as Emily. Emily was outgoing and could be rebellious like Derek. In a sense, they brought out the best in each other.

Derek and Emily had put their life into each other's hands many times on the job. Trust like these two shared could not be faked. It was a product of their work and the kind of people they both were. They kept their secrets to themselves, because they were both private people.

Only once before did their stubborn personalities truly cause a rift between the two. Emily's past with Doyle had resurfaced and she refused to show her team any weakness. Derek felt betrayed because she could not trust him. Now, after Emily returned though, they had improved as well as rectified their friendship and were almost back to the way they had been before.

So when Derek needed someone to lend an ear and help him out, who else would he turn to besides Emily?

xXx

The seasons had just turned. Summer was slipping away and autumn was here. The leaves were beginning to change to the many hues of yellow, brown, red and orange. It was time to bring out the sweaters to hold off the sharp winds that were now making their way through Quantico, Virginia.

Emily's had just entered the bull pen, was shrugging off her grey sweater and fixing her dark wind tussled hair when Derek approached her.

"Morning, Prentiss," he threw her a wink, "Can I talk to you for a minute in my office."

Emily couldn't help but smile. He was her best friend, but since getting back to the BAU she had been harbouring more than friendly feelings towards him. The team wasn't set to gather for another hour so Emily replied, "Hey, sure." She put her bags down and followed the dark man up the stairs to his office.

Derek sat down in his chair as Emily shut the door behind her. He had seemed a little nervous, so Emily thought the privacy would be better for them. Derek gestured to the seat across from him and Emily took her place.

"Em, I need a favour."

"Okay, what is it?" Emily asked perplexed that the man she associated confidence with seemed to be lacking it.

"You, know Amanda, right?"

Of course, she knew Amanda- Derek's latest lady friend. The two of them had been dating for five months or so. Emily liked the girl enough, but as soon as it meant that she now had less time with Derek, Emily started to grow cold towards her. No one would be able to notice, Emily was the master at keeping her emotions in check.

"Yes," was Emily's curt reply.

"Well, I ah- want to ask her to move in with me."

Emily was shocked but her response remained neutral, "Okay, but why are you telling me this?"

"I need your help!" He almost sounded exasperated.

"So you need me to help you kidnap her?" She asked sardonically.

"No I have something better I want to do. Do you think you could come over to my place on Saturday at 6ish?"

"Yeah, I guess," Emily knew that she could never say no to him. They were best friends, and she would always do what he needed.

Emily nodded her head and exited Derek's office. She then went into Hotch's Office to ask if they would have a case. Of course the answer was no, they would probably not be needed until Monday. So Emily had no excuse to not help Derek tomorrow.

xXx

Emily showed up at Derek's front door right at 6 o'clock on Saturday.

"Hey," he said as he opened the front screen to let her in the house. Before Emily even had a chance to offer him a greeting he continued, "So I have plan. We're going to set up a romantic evening at the little Italian restaurant off the lake. I already called and I have a secluded table reserved. I'm doing this later at night and we should be the only patrons in the restaurant. I will pick Amanda up around 9:30 and drive her there on my Harley."

Emily was flabbergasted. Not only was she helping to plan and set up Derek and Amanda's date, but she knew that the only way he could have gotten the restaurant to stay open later was if he used her name. Emily was good friends with the owners. But she just nodded her head in agreement as Derek rushed out his plan.

Derek continued, "Then when the sun has begins to set, you will go set up fireworks across the lake. Me and Amanda will watch the sunset over the water, relax and talk. Then I will ask her to marry me!"

Emily's jaw dropped, hadn't he said he was going to ask her to move in?

"If she says yes, which I hope she does. I'll send you a text, "YES, GO" to set off the fireworks. If she does say no, I'll send "NO". Either way after the show is over, you can clean up the fireworks and then you can go home."

"Wait, marry you?" That seemed to be the only thing out of Emily's mouth. She had also heard him boss her around, but that was not her top priority at the moment. Emily had no idea what had just happened, maybe she did not hear him correctly.

"Yeah, well I was going to ask her to move in with me, but that seemed so trivial. She makes me happy and she's the second woman I've ever felt like this with. I think I love her."

"Derek, you think?" Emily was mad at her friend now. It was quite obvious to Emily that there was no thinking going on.

"There's only ever been one woman who I have felt more for, but I know nothing with her will happen. I figure I'm not getting any younger and my Mama wants some grandbabies."

Emily took offense to his last comment, "There's nothing wrong with being single at our age!"

"I didn't say that." Derek defended himself. "So…will you help me?

Emily rolled her eyes, crossed her arms then finally nodded. Derek pulled her in for a thank you hug and Emily relished the fact that this might be the last time she could hug him for this long. She knew that if he was going to get engaged her time with Derek would be severely limited because any fiancée would wonder why he needed would still need a female friend.

Suddenly Derek became curious and asked "Em, have you ever wanted to settle down?"

"Yes," Emily replied and quickly broke eye contact with Derek as she took a few steps away from him. Then she whispered, "But it won't ever happen now…"

"Sure it will," Derek had heard her last statement and squeezed her a little tighter to comfort her. At that moment Emily realised that she not only liked Derek, but she may even been in love with him.

xXx

Derek and Emily drove separately down to the Italian restaurant on the lake. Emily spoke to the owner to confirm what Derek had planned. The owner, Giuseppe, even gave Emily a bottle of wine to give to Derek.

Emily hung around the restaurant while Derek went back to his car so he could head home to change and pick up Amanda.

She was approached by Giuseppe, "Would you like to be the waiter for your friend?"

Emily immediately declined his offer. If she had the opportunity to do, she may end up sabotaging Derek's date. So instead walked around and decided to wait for Derek to text her. The whole time she was walking, Emily regretted agreeing to help Derek. She should have said no, and then Garcia could be doing this instead.

Emily returned to the restaurant in time to see Amanda and Derek pulling up on his Harley. Amanda's arms were wrapped tightly around Derek and she was leaning into him. Emily watched the duo get off the bike, and saw Derek extend his hand to help Amanda. The pair walked arm in arm up to the restaurant and shared a passionate kiss. Emily had to look away to avoid the jealousy that wanted to explode out of her.

As Emily followed into the restaurant behind the pair, she heard Amanda harshly whisper, "What's she doing here?"

So Amanda hated her too, how convenient. Emily then heard Derek come to her rescue, "She's my best friend and also the one helping me make this date work right."

Emily had to smile at his response. She then told Derek, "I'm going to go set up. Just text me." She then tried her best to smile at the couple but it became more of a grimace. Emily walked away and hopped into her car.

xXx

The sun had set and now the dark night sky was beginning to sparkle with stars. They were reflecting back off the water, looking like diamonds hidden beneath the surface. Even though it was a beautiful night, Emily was glad this evening was almost over. She was patiently waiting by the fireworks with the lighter in hand for a text from Derek.

Emily hoped Amanda would say no, so that Derek would need help getting over the girl. But also part of Emily wanted Amanda to say yes, because if she really did make Derek as happy as he said who was she to get in the way of his happiness.

She was torn between her duty as a friend and her feelings towards Derek.

Suddenly her phone vibrated. It was the text from Derek that would alter her life. She clicked on the message and it read…

To be Continued!