A/N: This idea has been plaguing me since I started working on The Midnight Hour. I was hoping it would leave me, but apparently it is not going to. Sigh! Anyway, I don't own CM or any companies affiliated with Criminal Minds. I hope you enjoy!

~C.C.

Chapter 1: Make It Work

June 6th

Alexandria, Virigina

Zahara Morgan sat quietly on the steps staring out into the backyard. She watched him navigating the backyard, socializing, laughing and smiling at most appropriate time. He was smooth and suave, flirty at all the right times, charismatic and kind. He was perfect and he was hers; supposedly. She was different from all the other girls she had dated. She didn't look like them. They were Barbie dolls- plastic, with fake boobs, fake hair and botox injections. They all ranged from the color of rose-petal-crème to porcelain white. They were the Blue-Eyed Angels, the Harajuki Girls, the females that every man dreamed of sexing and yet she didn't fit the category.

She was a sista. In every sense of the word; from her cocoa-almond-fudge skin tone, to her high cheek bones, full lips and dimpled cheeks. She was lush, thick in all the right places. She was brutally honest and in the same instance she was shy and introverted. Her beauty was extremely understated. She often flew under the radar, but when she was noticed, she became the irresistible vixen. In those moments she was the girl that men eyed, wondering how the sex would be, but knowing that they wouldn't get past that one night.

She deserved better, so she had always looked past them; until she met him. She knew better, than to fall for those beautiful brown eyes, and his x-rated voice, but she couldn't help it. It was the way he smiled at he, the smile that she learned was the infamous Morgan smile. It was the way he said her name as if he tasted every syllable. It was the way he stared at her, as if he was searching the very depths of her soul. It was erotic, it was breathtaking and terrifying all at once and she was instantly hooked. She had fallen for him, put up with his bullshit and married him. And now she was sitting here by herself, angry and miserable, all because she was madly, sickeningly in love with him.

She rolled her eyes as she thought about their argument. It had been no more than an hour ago when they both said some pretty hurtful things to each other. But his words hurt her the most. He married her because she was pregnant. Not because he loved her, but because she was carrying the extension of him and his name. And he wanted to be there for her, because it was the proper thing to do. Not because he wanted her, not because he enjoyed her, but because they messed around and she got herself pregnant.

She wanted to crawl into bed and have herself a really good cry, but she couldn't because it was their bed and she knew she'd smell him and driver herself crazy. She wanted to hate him; she wanted to disassociate herself from him and a part of her, a part of her wanted to teach him to love her, but she knew that he had to learn to do that on his own.

"Zahara, darling, are you okay?

She looked over her shoulder to see her mother-in-law standing behind her. She smiled at her before nodding her head.

"Everything's fine, Ms. P."

"Then why aren't you out there beside your husband."

Zahara looked into her mother-in-law's intelligent eyes and gave her a soft smile. "I think he needs his space."

"You've only been married for six months, how much space does he need?"

Zahara stood slowly as she placed on hand on the railing and pushed herself up. "I don't exactly know, but I will tell you this much. I wish I never got pregnant."

She turned slowly and walked into the house, leaving her mother in law on the steps to ponder her words.

* * *

"Why are you still with her?"

He said nothing as he took a sip of his can of soda. "Bethany, what does it matter?"

"It matters, because I should've been Mrs. Morgan."

He put the can down and looked Bethany over. Everything about Bethany Daniels, screamed "fuck me". And he had. He had fucked Bethany whenever, wherever and he would admit that the sex was spectacular. And while he admitted that the sex was spectacular she still wasn't Zahara. Everything about Zahara screamed "Love. Home. Shelter.". It was in the way she kissed him, nice and slow, lingering to satisfy the taste. It was in the way she treated his mother and grandmother. It was the way she held him when the nightmares took over. And it was definitely in the way she held him inside of her, when they made love. He had only made love to one person in his life and that was her. He knew the first time that she allowed him to touch her like that that he was safe. That he was free. And each time they came together afterwards he found himself longing for her and her touch. She was his safe haven.

"I chose the right woman, Bethany. You just have to accept that."

She saddled up to him, her breast flush against him and smiled. "You know you still want to fuck me, D."

He pushed her off him. "Whilst that may be true. I am still married."

"Do you even love her?"

"Yes, that is the question of the day, do you love Zahara?"

* * *

She lay on her side, her head cradled in the pillows on their bed. She rubbed her stomach and felt the tears fall as she watched their wedding video. It was the best day of her life and ironically, she thought it was the best day of his life. Apparently, she was sadly mistaken. And yet she felt it was real. He looked her in the eyes, eyes filled with what she thought was complete love and adoration and vowed to love her forever. She wanted her forever to last past six months. She wanted to hurry up and have this baby and be done with. After she got herself together, after she got back to work, she'd free him. They didn't have to be married in order to be parents. Kids grow up in single parent homes all the time; they came from divorced and separated homes all the time. And their baby wasn't going to be any different. Hell, she was raised by her father and she turned out great. So, this should be a piece of cake, right?

Wrong. Her conscious answered her. Yeah, she grew up in a single home, but her mother had died when she was a kid. Her father never remarried because he loved her mother too much. But the truth was that Zahara wasn't designed to be a single mother. She was designed to love and be loved; to have the husband and the kids, the house with the picket fence and the dog. And she thought that she had it with him. God, how wrong she was.

* * *

He turned to stare at his sister. She stood their arms folded across her chest staring up at her older brother as if he was the petulant child. From her stance he knew that he was in some kind of trouble. He looked back at Bethany and smiled that Morgan smile.

"Of course, I love her. She's my wife for Christ-sakes."

"I'm glad you clarified that up." His sister said as she placed her hand on his arm. "Come walk with me."

He didn't say a word just turned to be guided across the yard. They had walked a little ways before they had reached the gazebo that he had built for Zahara. They both walked up the steps and took a seat on the swing that was installed.

"Be honest with me Xavier, do you love Zahara?"

"I married her didn't I?" He responded.

"Xavier Daniel Morgan.

"Phoenix, where is this coming from? You have never questioned anything I've ever done. So, why are you questioning my relationship with Zahara?"

"Where is she?"

He stood up at the question. "What?"

"Where is your wife, Xavier?"

He took a deep breath and looked out at the yard. "I don't know. "

"I think that's a problem, considering that she's the one that's throwing us this party."

Xavier sighed and looked at his sister, "You act like I'm always supposed to know where she is every second of every day."

"Your father knew where I was every second of every day."

Without blinking he ground out the only words he seemingly knew."I'm not my father."

Phoenix looked past him to see their mother ascending the steps. Xavier turned slightly and felt his mother's gaze solely on him. Phoenix took that as her cue to leave.

"I'm going to go check on, Zahara. Can't have her pushing that baby out too early."

No one said anything as Phoenix disappeared from the gazebo. Penelope stared up at Xavier and saw everything that she loved about Derek staring right back at her. She stepped closer and gave him the mother glare.

"You are so very right about that son. You will never be Derek Morgan."

Xavier stared down at his mother. She was no longer the vibrant blonde she had once been. In fact for as long as he could remember, his mother had never been blonde. Her hair had been a variety of red or brown, but never blonde. She was only blonde in the pictures and in her memories.

"Ma, I don't want to argue with you. I just want to enjoy my day."

"Without your wife, right?"

He didn't respond he just looked at her.

"You shouldn't have asked her to marry you, Xavier."

"I married her, because I wanted my kid to have my name and to protect her."

"So you don't love her?"

"Of course, I love her. She's having my baby, Ma."

A slight chuckle escaped her lips,"For you to be supposedly nothing like your father, you're dumb, just like him."

Xavier never got the chance to ask his mother for clarification, because his phone rang. He looked at it before turning pleading eyes on her. She simply nodded and he answered.

"Morgan." He bit out.

He listened to the person on the phone and sighed. "Now?...No, I promised Zahara that I'd be her when she had the baby. I can't break my promise to her."

Another sigh escaped his lips as he looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Yeah, I'll be there within the hour."

He hung up the phone and looked over at his mother who was staring at him expectantly. "Mommy."

She held up her hand and shook her head. "She's your wife. Not mine."

He kissed her forehead, "Ma, come on. I gotta go."

"She's your wife, Xavier. You owe her at least that much respect."

He hated when she was right, and for the record she was always right. He had to say goodbye to her at least. "Call me if anything happens to her."

"Why should I?" She asked him.

"Because like it or not, she's still my wife and my responsibility."

With that Xavier stepped off the gazebo and headed back towards the house, leaving his mother with his words. Penelope took a deep breath before stepping down unto the grass, she looked up towards the sky before clasping her hands into prayer.

"Derek, I don't know where you are, or if you can even hear me, but I need you to get your son and do whatever it is that Daddy's do. And I'mma need you to do it now, because he's about to lose the best thing that's ever happened to him."

* * *

Bethany slipped up the stairs and into the master bedroom to find Zahara lying across the bed. She took all of her in. She stared at her Senegalese twisted hair and the tear stained face and wondered what the hell Xavier saw in her. In her personal opinion the girl had nothing on her. Their marriage was a mistake and she was going to be the one to correct the problem.

"Can I help you?"

She turned to become face to face with Phoenix Morgan. She smiled softly as she tried to figure out her lie.

"I was, um, looking for the bathroom."

Phoenix raised a perfectly arched eyebrow in disbelief. "Downstairs by the backdoor."

She laughed slightly. "The house is so big, I got lost."

"Right, well let me show you where the bathroom is."

Phoenix didn't wait for her to agree she just turned around and walked down the stairs. When they got to the bottom and pointed out the bathroom. Phoenix took hold of Bethany's arm.

"I'm only going to say this one time. Stay the hell away from my brother."

Bethany laughed, "And if I don't."

Phoenix stepped to her and smiled. " Little girl, don't test me. Because I will be quick to show you why I have a CCW. And trust, I always carry."

Phoenix moved her arm to show the gun holster that she was wearing. "Now what you know about that?"

The glass door opened and Xavier strolled in. He stopped as he saw the two of them standing by the bathroom. He took in Bethany's body language and knew that something was admiss.

"What's going on?" Xavier asked as he walked closer.

Bethany batted her lashes and smiled. "We were just having girl talk, right Phoenix?"

Phoenix looked at her and scoffed before turning to face her brother. " I don't like her, Zay."

Xavier stared back at her confused. "You don't like who?"

Phoenix looked back over her shoulder, "Her."

"Phoenix."

She held her hands up in a gesture of god-will "We good, I just let her know how I deal with strays I don't like," She turned back to look at Bethany. "Don't heed my words if you want. But, I will gua-ran-tee you, I will set this piece off and it'll be on like 'Chitty-chitty- bang-bang'. Ya dig."

Under any other circumstance Xavier would have laughed, but he knew better. Phoenix was deathly serious. He placed his hand on his sisters shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"That's enough Sista Souljah, I think she's got the point," He said as he walked away

Phoenix shook her head as she stared at Bethany. "Naw, I don't think so, Zay. I truly believe that I'm going to have to shoot her."

* * *

"Zahara!" He yelled as he ran up the stairs.

He received no answer as he reached the landing. He pulled his shirt off as he turned the corner into the bedroom before yelling her name again. He tossed the shirt into the hamper as he kicked off his shoes. He moved further into the bedroom taking off his jeans. He tossed them across a chair as he moved to the bathroom.

He called her name again right before he stepped into the shower. Still no answer. He turned the water on and sighed. He was truly starting to hate this. He'd give it to Zahara, she was the queen of the silent treatment. She could go days on end without speaking to him. He had learned that early on in their relationship. She'd let him stew in his own shit until she had processed it and was ready to deal with. He also learned that her silent treatment was the quiet before the storm. And the one thing he did not want to deal with ever was Hurricane Zahara. He had seen Zahara in action one time and that was when she had verbally ripped his step-father a new one. It was beautiful and he had to admit that it was at that moment her felt that he was truly in love.

He finished his shower and grabbed a dry off towel, wrapping it around his waist before her entered the bedroom. He stepped in to find his clothes, gun holster, handcuffs, phones, credentials and wallet laid out on the bed. He stopped short and looked around the room. No Zahara. He quickly dressed and turned to leave the room when he heard a voice. His voice and it was quivering. He turned to find himself on the television, stroking Zahara's cheek on their wedding day.

* * *

She was beautiful. That was the only thought that ran through his head as the pastor began to perform the ceremony. Her skin glistened underneath her gown. In that moment he realized more than anything that he loved everything about her. From her smile to the way that she smelled, everything about her was infectious. He smiled a soft smile as tears ran down her cheeks. He lifted his hand as wiped the tears away with the pad of his thumb.

"Zahara, my love," He said softly.

She looked at him earnestly waiting to hear the vows that he so eloquently prepared. And yet, he didn't want to say anything, he just wanted to kiss her, to hold her until the end of time. He cleared his throat and prepared to say his vows.

"Zahara, my love. You are my greatest gift, my greatest joy," He said his voice cracking the entire time.

Zahara gave him a soft encouraging smile and he smiled back continuing. "I bring myself to you this day to share my life with you. You can trust my love, for it is real. I promise to be a faithful mate, and to unfailingly share and support your hopes, dreams, and goals. I vow to be there for you always."

And without warning tears begin to run down Xavier's cheeks his voice wavering even more. "When you fall, I will catch you; when you cry, I will comfort you; when you laugh, I will share your joy. Everything I am, and everything I have is yours, from this moment forth, for all eternity. For you are my earth, the barer of my seed, my queen."

* * *

He paused the tape and stared at himself. He had stood before God, their family and friends and spoke the words from his heart. He had lied to her earlier. He married her not because she was pregnant. He married her because he had loved her. He knew he loved her the moment she walked into his life, she was his breath of fresh air.

He dropped the remote control as the breeze pushed into the room. He stared at the opened French doors and crossed the room to step out onto the balcony. He found her sitting their quietly staring out onto the street.

"Zahara, my love."

She turned slightly to look at him and his heart dropped. Her face was swollen and her eyes were puffy and red and he knew instantly that it was his fault. He kneeled beside her and placed his head in her lap. He placed his hands on her stomach and rubbed slightly. The flutter of his child kicking his hand brought a smile to his face. He continued to rub lightly, before pressing soft kisses to her belly.

"Don't you have to go in?" She asked as she stared out into the horizon.

He lifted his head. "Yeah, I do."

"Well then, I won't keep you."

He rose to his feet and stared down at her. She wouldn't look at him, she kept herself distant from him on purpose. He gently clasped her chin in his hand before leaning down to give her a kiss on the lips. She accepted it, before rubbing her hand against his cheek.

"Be safe. Come back to me in one piece. Do you hear me Xavier Morgan." She murmured softly against his lips.

"I hear, you love."

"Xavier, I mean it," Zahara's voice was raw from emotion. "Come back in one piece."

He stared down at her. "I promise. Zahara, despite all that I had said; you do know I love you, right?"

She stared at him, " I love you, too, Zay." She paused as she kissed his fingers," I love you too."

"I gotta go, but I'll be back soon."

She simply nodded and he kissed her one last time before heading out the door.

* * *

Xavier grabbed his ready bag and keys before heading down the steps. He entered the living room to see his mother and sister sitting in the living room talking with their step-father. He glanced at his step-father before looking to his mom.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm heading out. I should be back in a couple of hours. Call me if anything happens to Zahara," He said as he placed kisses both on his mom's and sister's cheek.

"Will do," Phoenix replied.

Xavier turned to walk out the house when his mother called his name.

"Xavier." Penelope said softly.

He stepped back into the living room. "Ma'am."

"Have you forgotten your manners?"

Xavier looked at her and smiled. "No ma'am."

"Must have, you've forgotten to speak to your father."

Xavier's eyes flashed as he turned to seize up his step-father. "My father died twenty-six years ago. And as far as he goes I don't speak to unwanted guest in my home."

Phoenix quickly rose and grabbed Xavier's arm. "C'mon Zay. I'll walk you out."

"I can see myself out. You just take care of my Baby Girl."

Xavier turned to leave just as Penelope took a deep breath. He slammed the door behind him, not knowing that he had just unlocked Pandora's box. He ran down the steps and walked the path to the driveway, whistling to himself.

"Zay!"

He stopped and looked up to see Zahara leaning against the railing.

"Yeah, baby."

She tossed down a small gray box that he caught in his hand. "Happy Birthday, baby."