Ok… Firstly, I know I'm a bad writer for posting another story when I haven't finished the other (Our Fight…), but I promise I will post another chapter of that soon. I just had this idea and had to get it down. This is set post season 7. Rated M for later themes/chapters….

He could have caught a plane, but he figured the drive would help him clear his head of everything and focus his mind….. But who was he kidding? His mind hadn't been focused on anything else since he found out where she was.

He stopped short of his destination by just a few miles in the town of Wilmington, North Carolina….. A town for the wealthy, high class folk. He sat in the small, but quaint café sipping on a hot cup of coffee he had craved from the moment he set off from DC that morning, letting his mind drift off watching the people go by about their business. He wondered if she had ever sat here and looked out onto this beautiful view….. Clear blue skies, a light breeze skimming across the fresh warm sea and folks walking bare foot across the white sandy beach. He wondered if she had ever felt this peaceful and content sat here, just as he did for the few seconds that he managed to wipe the past four years from his mind and concentrate on what was in front of him.

But the feeling didn't last; He dug his wallet out of his back pocket when the waitress put the check on the table and flipped it open. As he went to grab a ten dollar note, he spied the dog end corner of a photograph peeking out from one of the sleeves. He grasped it gently with his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out, revealing her face….. Emily Prentiss; her eyes smiling and her mouth wide open wearing one of those ridiculous foam fingers on one of her hands and his old Chicago Bears cap on her head, with Soldier Field stadium in the background, full of happy spectators. He chuckled warmly to himself as he remembered that day vividly;

She had mockingly complained all morning about him dragging her to see a football game on one of their rare weekends away, yet when she got there, her excitement took over and she was jumping up and down at every touch down. When he teased her she frowned, and proceeded to inform him that she was just enjoying watching a load of buff guys running around in tight trousers. The football was incidental. He told her he had some of those of his own and she told him to find them, but as he looked for them that night, she entered his old bedroom, wearing nothing but his college football jersey. That had been his favourite part of the weekend…. He'd laughed as she pushed him back onto the bed and she'd held her hand over his mouth telling him to be quiet or his mom would hear and she could never look her in the eye across the table at breakfast the next day…. It actually turned out that she couldn't look her in the eye all day….

He smiled contemplatively as he looked at the picture… They'd been together for six months at that point and he remembered that feeling…. That feeling of it being the happiest he'd been in a long time. May be ever. And she was happy too…. Or so he thought.

It was six months prior to that that she had told him she was thinking of going to London on the night of the wedding. It taken him less than three hours to tell her not to go and get into an argument with her. It took twelve hours for him to turn up on her doorstep the following morning, hung over and bleary eyed, to apologise for what he had said, but then retract that and tell her that he wasn't really sorry, he just wanted her to stay….. He'd fix those cracks and she could buy that house and he promised he'd make it worth it. He promised he would make her happy.

Hotch told her to stay too… He'd recommend a transfer to Counter Terrorism…. 'A change is as good as a holiday,' He'd said, 'Just give it a go.'

Rossi told her that running away wasn't going to fix anything, but that he would support her no matter what. Reid told her she couldn't leave them; They were her family. Garcia cried and begged her not to go again. JJ said nothing, just looked at her with those big blue eyes, full of tears, pleading silently to stay…

And that's what happened.

She stayed. She transferred to Counter Terrorism. Derek got his girl. She got the house. He fixed those cracks…. Filled them with love, passion, contentment and fun.

Love, passion, contentment and fun…..

"So…." Morgan mumbled, wrapping his arms around her naked waist as she lay with her back against his chest and her head nestled in the crook of his neck, "…tell me about this new team of yours."

She shrugged, picking up a fist full of frothy bubbles in her hand and placing them on the end of his nose, "Nothing to tell really."

"Oi…" He chuckled, splashing the hot bath water with his big hand, a spray of water splattering across her face. "….Tell me or you're getting dunked."

"Just try it mister." She warned playfully.

"What if I do this…?" He said, leaning down and kissing her neck slowly, "….Now will you tell me?" He mumbled into her skin.

"Mmmmm…. That is going someway to convincing me." She sighed.

"What about this?" And his hands began to wander up the sides of her waist, over her chest and rested upon her shoulders, his strong fingers massaging the supple flesh.

"Ok. Ok. You win…." She conceded.

"Go on then."

"Well, you know Brannigan. Ex Police Chief. He's good. Really knows his stuff, but he's a man of few words. I like him…." She mused, "….. Maddison is deceptive. Everyone looks at her like she's some sweet, meek blond, but gees you should have seen the other day taking out a suspect. I actually laughed at the guy's face as she had his arm twisted up his back. I like her too."

"Tough cookie eh?"

"She could give you a run for your money." She teased.

"Hey…!" He protested, playfully pinching the piece of skin at the base of her neck.

She laughed, then continued;

"You know Jordan and then there's Kyle… David Kyle…" She sighed, "…. Came with the same reputation you did."

"What's that?" He asked with a frown.

"Ladies man. Cocky, arrogant, tough guy…. You know." She shrugged.

"Ok. Right! You're in for it…." He said, grabbing the sides of her arms and playfully beginning to push her down.

"Wait! You didn't let me finish!" She called out, grasping the sides of the bathtub.

"Ok, you've got five seconds."

"He came with the same reputation as you…. But unlike you, that reputation actually turns out to be true."

He paused, taking time to process what she had said, and by the time he did, she turned around and slinked her body up his, until her smile mirrored his.

"What so I'm not a tough guy?" He muttered, one brow raised.

She leant in and kissed him sweetly, "Well ok…." She mumbled into his mouth, "You are a tough guy, but the difference is, you are my tough guy."

"Always." He whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist once again and pressing her into him.

Always…..

He drove along the coastline as his memories swirled round and round his mind. So what happened? How the hell did they get to this? For four years he was unable to answer those questions. He wondered if taking this left turn along this small lane would change that.

The magnificent houses became further and further apart, getting larger, the farther the distance between them. The lane was getting narrower and dustier the more remote he got and just as he began to think he may have taken the wrong turn, he found the place he wanted…. 'SeaScape' read the wooden sign outside.

He sat in his SUV and stared at the beautiful white beach house. Wind chimes and an array of multi coloured windmills all dancing to the sway of the sea breeze. It looked so peaceful and it made him question if he was doing the right thing…. Was he just about to upset this apparent happy balance?

But he had come this far. It had taken him weeks, months, years and endless conversations with Garcia to finally make the decision to come; Taking a deep breath, he slowly climbed out of the vehicle and trudged along the white gravel path towards the front door. As he did so, he frowned noticing the windows. There were bars…. Thick steel bars painted white on every window; This was a high end town. There had barely been a crime in five years…. One of Garcia's many revelations about the place she had located Emily in. Why on earth would she need bars?

He stood and looked at the door for a few seconds, holding his arm up to the buzzer three times before finally pressing it. He heard the chimes echo throughout the house and his eyes darted around his surroundings as he nervously waited. Just as he noticed a tiny camera looking down on him, peeking from behind a hanging basket, the door began to creek open.

His heart was thumping as she appeared, but his view was partly obstructed by the painted iron bars.

He moved his head to try and get a better view and then just stared at her, entirely lost for words. He was shocked by the sight…. It was her face… her hair, but she somehow looked different. He tried to process it in his mind, but his thoughts were interrupted by her familiar voice.

"What are you doing here?" Her words were monotone… quiet.

"Emily…?"

"I told you not to come for me." She said slowly.

He frowned in disbelief, "Is that really all you've got to say to me?"

"I…"

She stuttered and her eyes widened as she looked at him. Her coldness hit him in the face full force.

"Emily..?" He repeated.

"I'm sorry. But I asked you not to look for me….." She swallowed hard, "…I asked you." She said, almost pleadingly.

"You didn't ask me Emily. You told me." His voice raised a little, the fact he was struggling to see her through the steel bars adding to his frustration.

"What do you want Derek?"

"What do I want…?" He spat, "….I want you to open this god damn thing so I can talk to you properly." He said, gripping the cold metal and attempting to shake it, but it held firm.

"Where do you get off coming here out of the blue and deman…"

She stopped dead in her tracks, both of them immediately distracted by the voice resonating from behind the brunette in the hallway.

"Mommy…! Mommy…! Look what I did."

Morgan stared at the little girl who suddenly ran into view to stand by his former girlfriend, holding up a sheet of paper.

Emily's face immediately changed. She smiled sweetly at the little girl and took the drawing from her.

"Wow. That's really good sweetie. Why don't you go and put it on the fridge?"

He guessed she was three to four years old. Her hair was long, wavy and dark. Her skin a beautiful pale ivory colour just like Emily's, but as she turned to look at him noticing the stranger, he saw her eyes. They weren't like her mother's, but he did recognise them… piercing big blue eyes staring back at him.

"Are you selling something?" She asked, leaning her head to one side as she eyed him up.

He shook his head slowly with a half smile, "No…" He uttered, the word failing to completely leave his lips.

Emily glanced an apologetic smile at Derek as she stood behind her daughter, lightly placing her hands on her shoulders, "No. This is Derek…. A friend."

"From the photo?" She asked, straining to look upward to Emily.

"Yes, from the photo…." She began, kneeling in front of the little girl, "… Now why don't you go a play for a bit? Let mommy talk to Derek."

"Ok mommy."

But instead of turning to walk away, the little girl took two steps forward and put her hand through the bars, offering it to Derek. He crouched down and took her tiny hand in his.

"Nice to meet cha'." She said, emphasising the 'cha' with an exaggerated nod of the head and a firm shake of his hand.

An amazed laugh fell from his mouth, "Nice to meet you too sweetheart." He uttered in that deep, soothing tone that caused Emily to close her eyes momentarily as it took her back.

But there was no time for that. Bringing herself back to the present time, she patted the child gently on the head, "C'mon baby… Go play." Emily whispered.

"Ok mommy."

The little girl turned and ran out of sight.

Derek took a deep breath before standing slowly to come face to face once again with the brunette.

"Wow." He almost whispered, raising his brow.

"I know." She breathed, a tiny smile threatening to don her lips.

"Look Emily…" He started, holding a hand out as if pleading, "…. I'm sorry I just rocked up like this. I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanna talk… Please, can we just start over?"

"Ok." She nodded.

"May be start with opening this gate?" He said hopefully.

"Of course…" She uttered with a small smile, reaching out of sight for the key, "I'm sorry. Come in."

Moving to the side, she allowed him to pass her and signalled towards the kitchen at the end of the hallway. He moved cautiously, taking in the surroundings as best he could, just in case it was the only time he would see them.

"You want a drink?" She asked, as he took a seat at the large, antique oak kitchen table.

"I'll have a coffee thanks."

"Black, one sugar?"

"Yeah." He smiled, finding himself happy for the mere fact she remembered how he took his coffee.

He scrutinised her now that he had an unobstructed view as they remained in silence and she made the coffee. She was thin… not the slim, toned, healthy Emily he remembered… but thin. Her shoulders blades threatened to pierce through the white cotton vest top she wore, her face was gaunt and her skin had lost its glow… it's beautiful brightness. She almost looked ill.

"How have you been?" He asked, lost for what else to say. He'd waited for this moment for four years and this was all he could manage.

"I've been ok…" She answered, her words nervous and quiet, "… You?"

When he said nothing she turned to look at him. Those familiar dark brown eyes bore into her, the hurt from the past few years pouring out of them. She couldn't bare to look at them, so she turned back to pick up the mugs of steaming coffee and walked over to the table, placing them gently down and sitting opposite him.

"How's everyone else? The team?"

He nodded, "Yeah… they're good."

She forced a small smile, "I'm glad."

The atmosphere was thick. She felt her skin burning all over, anxious for him to begin really talking to her and his hands were shaking, nervous for her to begin giving him answers he was now very unsure he wanted to hear.

"You didn't tell me her name." He said, delaying.

A warm smile suddenly lit up her face, "Taylor. Her name's Taylor."

"That's pretty."

"I always liked boys names for girls. I don't know why." She lightly chuckled nervously.

"I know…." He swallowed hard as he gazed at her, "….. I remember."

She remembered…

The day they sat in the park on a roasting hot day. He'd turned up at her place the morning after she'd been on a tough case as a surprise, a picnic basket hanging off one finger and a grin taking up most of his face. He drove her to Rock Creek Park and they sat eating the sandwiches and drinking the soda he'd packed, watching the numerous families dotted about… some playing, some eating, some laughing…. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear, "If you had one of those…" Pointing to a little brother and sister running around in circles after one another, "…what would you call him or her?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Come on. Every girl has thought about that." He teased, tickling the sensitive spot on her side, just above the waist.

She squirmed under him, "What would you call yours?" She deflected.

"I said every 'girl' Emily."

She chuckled, "Come on. I know you have names."

"You really wanna know?"

She nodded.

"Ok. For a boy… Riley. I like Riley."

"Hmmm…" She mused, "….I like that."

He grinned at her and squeezed her a little, "May be one day we can make a little Riley then." He whispered.

She twisted her head to face him, planting a soft kiss to his lips, "May be." She breathed.

"So come on…" He began, pulling away from her just a little, "…. Names!"

She scrunched her nose, "You're probably gonna think this is weird, but I actually kinda like boys names for girls."

"Eh?" He looked confused.

"You know like, Alex, Jordan, Charlie, Taylor… Names like that."

"Hmmm…." He pondered, "…they sound pretty cool."

"Exactly."

"Well may be can make one of those too." His words muffled as he placed a soft kiss to her temple.

"May be." She smiled.

May be…

"She seems like a real sweet girl Emily." He said sincerely, watching her intently as she smiled, looking as if she was somewhere far away.

"Huh?" She mumbled, falling out of her trance.

"I said she seems like a sweet girl."

"She is. She's amazing…" The brunette shook her head as if she didn't believe it herself, "…. She's a good girl."

"I can see that."

He lost her gaze as she looked downward and he saw her chest rise before she met his stare once again, "How did you find me?" She asked.

"How do you think?"

"Garcia." She stated.

"Of course."

"I didn't think you'd involve her."

"Why not? She misses you too. Everyone does."

"So why now? It wouldn't of taken her four years to find me."

He shook his head, "Four years I have battled with myself Emily. The part of me that loves you wanted to do what you asked and not look for you. But the other part of me that loves you…" He paused as those beautiful eyes he remembered connected with his. It was if she were shocked by his words, "…..I wanted to know if you meant it."

"Meant what?" Her words broke.

She watched as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. It was folded up, but it was clear from the hundreds of crease lines that it had been scrunched up into a ball at some point….. She was pretty sure roughly four years ago.

He opened it up and held it out to her, "I will always love you….. That's what it says…."

He put the piece of the paper flat on the table and pushed it towards her with one finger. She glanced momentarily at it, but quickly looked back up to him, not needing to read it. She remembered.

He read again, "Derek. I will always love you. Please believe that. I hope one day you can forgive me. I'm sorry…"

"Please don't look for me." She interrupted slowly, not removing her gaze from upon him.

"All my love, Always. Emily," He finished off, staring at her.

But no response…

"Well? Did you mean it?"

"Which part?" She asked sheepishly, just buying more time.

He shook his head with a sarcastic half smile, "You know which part."

But she didn't answer. Just glared at him, her foot tapping incessantly on the tiled floor, pressing her lips together to hide the quiver.

"Y'know…" He sighed, realising she was not just going to give this up easily, "….For the past few years I've tried to forget you. Tried to move on. I've tried to be so angry with you that I didn't love you anymore….. But I failed. As long as I believed you might still love me, I couldn't move on and in the end I gave in….. I had to come and find you and find out one way or another."

"You should hate me." She uttered, an odd determination in her eyes.

"Yeah, may be I should. You walked out on me with no explanation. One day you loved me and couldn't get enough and then the next…." He paused, leaning forward and took a deep breath, "…. Those few weeks before you left you were so cold. And then you just went. You broke my heart Emily…. So yeah, I should hate you. But I'm not gonna accept that there wasn't a good reason for you leaving the way you did. There has to be."

She stared blankly at the table, taking long laboured breaths.

"Emily. I…"

"Yes." She interrupted with some force.

"Yes what?"

She looked up, staring him in the eye, "Yes. I still love you Derek…." Her chest heaved faster and the moisture began to form in her eyes, "…But it doesn't change where we are now."

"What both miserable and alone…? Yeah great place to be Emily." His tone becoming more angry.

"I'm alright." She uttered through gritted teeth, her finger now tapping in time with her foot.

"Alright?" He scoffed with a sarcastic smile and a shake of the head, "…Look around you. You're living in the middle of nowhere like a prisoner in your own home. You've got bars up every window and door. I saw at least three hidey holes for automatic weapons and that's just what I could see from the hallway. You've got security cameras everywhere, five locks on the front door and you're living in a place where the crime rate is zero. What is going on?"

"Nothing." She defended.

"That's bullshit. I mean do you ever go out? Does Taylor ever leave the house?"

And at that moment, as he saw the look in her eyes change from sorrow to venom, he regretted those last words.

"Emily, I'm sor…"

He stopped as she suddenly stood, pushing her chair back with some force and heading for the other side of the room. She ripped a calendar off the wall and flung it down on the table in front of him.

"Here…" She said pointing to her familiar writing, "…. Monday is swimming. Tuesday dance class. Wednesday playgroup. Thursday birthday party. Friday…"

"Ok Emily." He pleaded.

"Don't you dare question my ability to bring up that child. I love her more than anything." She spat.

"Of course. I know that and I'm sorry. But I'm just trying to figure out what the hell's going on."

She grabbed the calendar and returned it to it's place on the wall.

"Emily. Don't you think I deserve some explanation?"

She remained in silence, positioning herself by the kitchen sink, grabbing what crockery she could find and throwing it in the sink…. Something was bound to soon break.

He sat and watched her, then distracted, glancing over to the photos of Taylor pinned on the walls. That sweet little girl, with a beaming smile looking right at him. She was the answer, but he didn't want to believe it.

"So. Does he know?" He called out in an attempt to be heard over the abrasive crashing noises.

"What?" She said, stopping what she was doing, but keeping her back to him.

"Does he know?"

"Who?"

"Kyle…"

She flinched as the name left Morgan's lips…..

What do you think? Next chapter is nearly done.