Ian Doyle's villa: August 19, 2004

Emily Prentiss sat on the couch in Ian Doyle's Tuscan villa. He was pacing in front of her, he had pushed the coffee table about five feet in front of the couch sometime before she arrived. He stopped directly in front of her and she knew this wasn't good. Had he found out who she really was? Or was it something she could simply solve, like why she was late, why she hadn't told him she was pregnant, or something else that she could easily solve by words and kisses.

Emily slowly raised her head so she was looking up at Ian, she had the most honest look she could perform, and after all, she wasn't an award-winning actress. She was, however, an undercover CIA agent working for Interpol to take Ian Doyle down. But how could she? She loved him for goodness sakes! She was carrying his child in her womb. She was raising his son. She had changed her mind about marriage for him, to marry him. She wanted that, she wanted to marry him, have more of his babies, raise his kids, be the one he could absolutely trust with everything. She wanted to be Lauren Reynolds. She wanted that life, she didn't want to think about doing the right thing. She didn't care if she would be known as a traitor, she didn't care if she would be known as a fugitive. She didn't care if she had to go on the run or hide out or anything. She didn't care. She just wanted to be with Ian, be his wife, be Declan's mother. The moment her eyes met his, she knew that he knew.

"You know, don't you?" Emily asked, it was more of a statement than a question.

"That you betrayed me?" Ian asked in a growl.

Emily started to stand but was pushed back down by Ian, "Ian…"

"Quiet," Ian ordered, starting to pace again

"Just let me explain." Emily said, not listening to his order for her to be quiet.

Ian stopped and sat on the edge of the coffee table, right across from her, "Go on." He wove a hand in front of himself, gesturing for her to speak.

Emily took a deep breath, "First off. Yes, I did betray you." She started, deciding to be honest with him and not try to work around it. What did she care if the case gets blown? She didn't want him to be arrested, "My name is Emily Prentiss. I'm a CIA agent and I was recruited by Interpol to work with a team of agent to take you down."

Ian rubbed his hands over his face, trying to think, he didn't know what he was supposed to do. He was mad, mad enough to hurt her, but he couldn't hurt her because he loved her. He loved Lauren Reynolds, not Emily Prentiss. He tried telling himself that, but when he did he always wondered how different the two were, they were two halves of a whole, and technically the same person. Ian hoped that maybe she wasn't acting the whole time, "How could you?" was the only thing that came out of his mouth, though he had so many questions for her, "I told you everything. I told you about my son. I asked you to marry me and help me raise my son." he stood up.

Emily nods, "I know, but…"

"But nothing! You lied to me. You claimed you loved me when it was just for work!" Ian yelled, mad at her, he was so mad at her he just couldn't stop himself from yelling.

"Not everything was a lie, Ian." Emily said, her voice a bit stronger now, "I do love you. When I told you I loved you I meant it."

Ian stopped and stood there, like a little kid that had just gotten in trouble with an adult that wasn't his parents, a rough comparison, yes, but still. He looked at her and waited for her to speak or anything. Damn, he wanted to kiss her and hold her and believe everything she said was true, but on the other hand he wanted to ring her neck for lying, but he couldn't do either. He couldn't act on impulse, something he was so used to doing, he had to remain calm.

Emily stood, "Everything I said, aside from my name, date of birth, and profession, was true." She said, slowly walking over to him.

"And why should I believe you?" Ian asked, his voice more calm and showing a small amount of how much she'd hurt him.

Emily stood in front of him now, due to the slight height difference she had to look up to him a bit to see eye-to-eye, she gently touched his cheek for her hand, "I do love you."

Ian didn't flinch away from her touch, "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"I couldn't." Emily said softly, slowly stroking his cheek with the pad of her thumb.

"Why? You said you loved me." Ian said.

"I do love you." Emily said softly, "But if I would've told you, what would've happened?"

Ian sighed, knowing she had a point, if she had told him sooner he'd probably have killed her on the spot. All anyone would have to do is ask Liam how his temper worked, and how he reacted when finding out Lauren was really Emily. Liam had been with Ian when he found out, he had seen how mad his best friend got. Hell, Liam wanted to kill Emily, he thought of Ian as a brother and hated that she had fooled them all.

Emily looked him in the eyes, "Ian…" she said softly

Ian looked at her again, "How can I trust you again? Or ever believe a word you say?"

Emily's breath caught a moment, was he really suggesting that they'd still be together? She didn't know, but that gave her the small amount of hope she needed. "I can prove my loyalty to you, I can prove my love, and I can gain your trust back if you'll give me that chance." He words were strong yet spoken soft.

Ian nodded, "Tell your Interpol friends that you were suspected of being undercover-" he started

"But then I'll be extracted and-" Emily had interrupted and Ian gently covered her mouth.

"But tell them that you talked your way out of it and we still believe you. Say you need three more weeks to complete the mission." Ian said calmly.

Emily nodded, "Alright…and if they don't believe me?" she asked as soon as Ian uncovered her mouth.

"Make them believe you…you're good at that." Ian said softly before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Emily thought about the stakes, what she was risking by helping him, but then she thought about what she was gaining; a loving family, something she had always wanted. A man who would protect her, hold her at night, kiss her. A son, though not by blood, who looked up to her and let her know that there was still goodness in the world. And a daughter, unborn yet and unknown to Ian, but the little life inside her grew each day and made her more fearful and more aware of everything she was doing. She knew what she had to do to keep her family safe.