Thanks for all the reviews and follows…. Some of you may have figured this out, but hopefully you will still enjoy the rest of the story

"Does he know?"

"Who?"

"Kyle…"

She flinched as the name left Morgan's lips.

"Kyle?" She questioned, turning to face him.

Kyle…

Morgan sat, staring at the small handwritten note that she had left on his desk at some point before he had gotten to work that morning. It was her handwriting….. a little messy, but not as messy and rushed as usual. There was something elegant about it… The way she looped her 'y's. The way the 'D' for Derek was extra large and sweeping. The way the lines were perfectly straight and the writing all joined up in jet black ink. It was a small note, but she had taken her time….

'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.

All my love, always.

Emily x.'

But the large 'D' was soon smudged as he quickly tried to wipe the solitary tear that had fallen upon it. He bit his lip in frustration, mad with himself for ruining it. But then he was mad with her. It was her fault. Why had she done this? Why did she leave with no explanation? Why did she leave him all alone? Why?

He scrunched up the paper in anger and with venom, threw it across the room, pounding his fist on the desk before burying his face in his hands. The salt water stung his eyes as he scrunched them tight willing this feeling to disappear so he could think straight, but as he battled with himself, an interruption came;

"Hey Morgan…"

The dark profiler quickly looked up to see the Agent from Emily's Unit...

David Kyle chuckled, "Gees man. You look like shit."

"What do you want Kyle?" Morgan sighed impatiently, no time for anyone right now.

"What happened to Prentiss?"

The profiler's brow dipped, "What are you talking about? Did something happen to her?" He asked swiftly, standing up.

Kyle shook his head, "You mean you don't know?"

"Jesus Christ Kyle…." Morgan spat impatiently, raising his voice and quickly walking round the desk, "….Will you just tell me what the hell's going on."

"Prentiss left a resignation letter on Brannigan's desk this morning….." He shrugged, "….She's cleared her desk and gone. Not a word. We've not seen her and we'd like to know what's going on."

The Agent paused and watched Morgan who stood as still as a statue, staring at a blank spot on the floor.

"Morgan…?" He continued, taking a further step into the room, "….You mean you don't know what's going on?" He paused, "… She is your girlfriend."

His words were suspicious and the dark profiler shifted his gaze up to Kyle, examining his face.

"She is your girlfriend. Right?" Kyle asked, an expectancy in his tone.

Morgan remained silent, but his chest was heaving…. Slowly, but it was heaving.

A smirk crept across the tall Agent's face, "You split up." He stated, way too much satisfaction in his words for Morgan's liking.

His face scrunched up even more and he closed the gap between them, but Kyle did not flinch at the sudden movement, just stood steadfast.

"What's that got to do with you?" Morgan growled, his forefinger pressed against Kyle's chest.

The blond Agent held his hands out to the side in surrender, but the smirk widened, "Hey, it's not my fault you couldn't keep a tight reign on your woman."

"What the hell does that mean?" Morgan snarled, his face barely an inch from Kyle's.

"Hmmmm…." Kyle started, air escaping from in between his lips, "….Let's face it, she's always been a bit of a wild child. Difficult to keep a woman like that satisfied."

Morgan shoved his forearm across Kyle's chest, knocking the Agent back against the wall, "What the hell are you getting at? What do you know Kyle?" The dark profiler growled, the words slow and enunciated.

"Nothing… " He shrugged, "May be I'll just try calling her….." Kyle uttered nonchalantly, "…. Now if you don't mind." He glanced down at Morgan's grip on him, maintaining his air of coolness.

The profiler held his stare on the tall man for a few seconds, his dark eyes locked onto Kyle's piercing blue eyes. Eventually he took a step back, then watched as Kyle slid to the side and casually began to walk away, but not before stealing one last glance at Morgan…. One smug, knowing smirk. What the hell was his game?

What the hell was his game?

"Yes Kyle…." He muttered through gritted teeth, "…. Does he know he's got a daughter?"

"Derek, just leave it." She uttered.

"No." He said firmly, shaking his head.

She looked him straight in the eyes, "Don't do this."

"Oh, I'm gonna do this." Morgan stated, "… If he's the reason you left me the way you did, I wanna know."

"It's not him…." She said shaking her head. "…He's not the reason….."

"That's bullshit Emily!" He spat, "…. Taylor is the…."

"Shut up." She interrupted, staring at him. Her nostrils flared a little as the anger began to rise. "Don't bring her into this."

"But she is his right?"

"Just get out." She growled, slow and quiet.

"What?" Morgan asked, taken aback.

"I said get out!" She barked, stepping forward and flinging her arm towards the front door.

"He doesn't know does he?" Morgan stated, refusing to move.

"It's none of your business!"

"None of my business…?" He scoffed in disbelief, "…. It is if you left me for him."

"Is that what you think?" She asked, taking another step towards him and glaring at him straight in the eyes.

He shrugged and held out his hands, "What else am I supposed to think?"

She just stared at him, shaking her head slowly.

He stood there, not knowing what to do. He didn't know where to look. What to say. Where to go with this and she was showing no sign of helping him out.

He glanced up to the picture of Taylor that hung above the fridge and saw Kyle's eyes glaring back at him. His next question was really irrelevant to him, but the only thing he could think to say.

"But if Kyle's got a daughter, surely he has the right to know…" He muttered, the words flat and unconvincing.

"I owe him nothing." She spat.

Morgan looked at her with searching eyes. Where was his Emily? The woman that stood before him was cold, angry and bitter. He had come all this way to find her; To get some answers. Make things better. To tell her he loved her… and this is what he got in return.

He shook his head, placing his hands on his hips, "I don't understand any of this. I mean Kyle? Seriously Emily?" He raised his voice, "…. David fucking Kyle!"

She made a sudden movement, gliding past him and shut the kitchen door, turning to lean against it. She took a long breath and then looked up at him, "I'm glad you think so highly of me Derek."

He exhaled dejectedly, "What the hell am I supposed to think….?" His tone more pleading, "…What would you think?"

She shrugged her shoulders tiredly and walked past him, her arms folded around herself.

He pursed his lips together as his chest heaved, "Just tell me goddamit!" He snapped as the frustration grew in him.

She flung round to face him, her eyes large and wild, "I mean it Derek. Just get out and leave me alone." She said forcefully.

"Emily, I…"

But before he could finish his sentence, she flung her body round to face away from him, gripping the work surface to steady herself, "Just go!" She shouted.

He stood and watched her for a few seconds…. He could see her fragile frame expanding and contracting as her breaths became deeper and faster.

He took some deep breaths himself in an attempt to calm down before closing the gap between them, slowly and carefully. But as he lifted his arm to touch her shoulder in some sort of offer of an apology or peacemaking, she flinched away from him and it broke his heart once again, remembering that same reaction time and time again all those years ago.

He swallowed hard as he glanced at her fingers gripping the wooden surface with the skin over her knuckles turning bright white from the strain…. He thought her bones may just snap in two.

"Was it me?" He uttered, "Did I do something wrong?"

She placed one hand to her forehead, rubbing her temple hard and then shook her head slowly.

"Ok….." He breathed, "Look. Emily. May be I shouldn't have just turned up like this and expected you to…." He exhaled, thinking of the words, "….. Well, it was never meant to go this way. I just wanted to talk, but finding out about Talyor has just thrown me. It was just a shock."

He waited for a response, but nothing came, "I know you….." He continued, his words now soft and a little broken, "This isn't the real you right now. I know it isn't, but I backed you into a corner and I get it. Whatever you did back then, I know you would have done for a good reason and whatever that reason is, you can tell me."

Taking in a long defeated breath, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small card. He slid it onto the counter and in front of her, "….I've booked into a motel in Wilmington for three nights. My cell number is on this card. If you change your mind and want to talk, please ring me. We can do it on your terms."

She stood like a statue, still refusing to look at him.

"Bye Emily." He whispered, before turning to walk away.

He began to make his way slowly through the hallway, but halted as he heard a sniff coming from behind him. He turned back and saw her still stood in the same position, but her shoulders were juddering and her head hung low. He stared, battling with himself whether he should go to her, but just as he was about to take a step back, his attention was suddenly drawn to the room off to the left. Taylor was stood in the doorway, leant against the frame, gazing at him.

"Are you leaving Derek?" She asked, looking up to him with curious big eyes.

He turned to see if Emily was watching, but she was now nowhere to be seen. Taking a step towards the little girl, he leant down to her.

"I am sweetheart…" He said, holding out his hand to her, "….. It was nice to meet you." He winked with a smile.

Taylor shook his big hand and gave him the sweetest smile he had seen in a long time, "Are you coming back to see mommy again?"

"I hope so kiddo…." He whispered, ruffling the top of her head gently. He glanced aback again, but she still was not in sight. "….. Now, can you do one thing for me when I go?" He said looking back at the little girl.

She nodded dutifully.

"Go and give your mommy a big big hug."

"Why?" She asked, cocking her head to one side, "Is she sad?"

He pressed his lips together subduing his sad smile. She was just a miniature Emily talking back at him, "No sweetheart. She's fine, but I think she'd like a cuddle."

"Why don't you give her a cuddle then? You can give bigger cuddles than me."

He chuckled, "May be next time…." He half smiled. "…. But I've gotta get going now." He uttered as he stood, "See ya Taylor." He whispered, then turned and made his way out of the door.

As he walked slowly along the drive way he could hear several clicks from the numerous locks on the other side of the front door being shut tight. He dared to look back once again. He could see nothing at the door for gate, but smiled as his eyes spied the little girl tucked in between the net curtain and the window enthusiastically waving goodbye. He gave a prolonged wave back, then took a deep defeated breath and turned away praying that wouldn't be the last time he saw her.

Emily slid the last of the dead bolt locks and then turned, letting the door take the full weight of her body. Her head fell against the wooden frame and she exhaled in an attempt to slow down the rapid beat of her heart against her chest. The image of him with that look he had just given her was burnt into her brain …. That look of bewilderment and hurt; She had seen it all before and as she closed her eyes, she drifted back to the last time she'd seen him look at her that way…. The last time she'd seen him.

"Emily?" She heard him call out as she closed his front door behind her.

"Yeah I'm here." She responded, her words tired after a tough day.

She forced a smile as he appeared in the hallway, a big happy grin on his face as he wiped his hands on a dish cloth.

"I hope you're hungry…." He began, making his way over to her and signalling for her to turn around, "….I made your favourite."

"You shouldn't have gone to any trouble Derek."

He slipped the heavy coat off her shoulders, hung it on the coat hook and turned her back around, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Em, I know you've been stressed lately. I just want to cheer you up." He uttered leaning in.

But she did it again, just the same as she had for the past few weeks. She turned and offered only her cheek.

He allowed his lips to linger on her skin a little longer than necessary to allow time to compose himself, before pulling away. He held her arms, looking at her with those pained dark eyes, pleading with her to explain. But they stood in silence;

As he let go of her, she felt that bolt of guilt pierce through her again and she wanted to say she was sorry for doing this to him. She wanted to put her arms around him and let him hold her…. make her feel safe as he always did. She wanted to tell him the truth. He deserved that….. but those walls she had built around her and all those years of her life she had trained herself to keep it all in, were taking over. Everything was shutting down.

"C'mon…" He whispered, the dejection in his voice not lost on her, "…the food will get cold."

She watched him hold out his hand to her, ready to lead her to the kitchen as he used to, but before she could refuse, he pulled his arm back, knowing what was to come from her and walked away.

She was breaking him…. And it was breaking her. She couldn't watch herself do this to him for much longer.

They sat, both half heartedly eating the food he had prepared, small talk about their work day scattered with momentary awkward silences, until he let his fork fall onto the plate and leaned back in the chair, staring at her.

"Emily. We need to talk." He uttered.

She dipped her head, staring at her plate, pushing the food round.

"Emily…" He said a little firmer.

"I need some water." She said, standing immediately and making for the sink.

She grabbed a glass and just as she went to lean towards the faucet she felt his hands on her hips. She jumped as she turned to face him and within a split second the glass hit the floor and smashed into a thousand pieces.

"Are you serious Emily….?" He sighed, pressing his lips together to hold in the frustration building, "…. I can't even touch you without you jumping out of your skin."

She swallowed hard and shook her head, "No, It's not like that." She bargained.

"So will you please tell me what the hell is going on? For weeks now, you haven't let me near you. You've been distant and you won't talk to me anymore."

"We just talked." She offered weakly.

He scoffed sarcastically, "You know what I mean. What the hell is going on with us?" He looked down and she saw him take a laboured breath in, holding in his tears, "…. I miss us." He mumbled, returning to her gaze, his dark eyes glistening from the moisture.

She definitely couldn't do this anymore….

"It's not you Der…"

"Don't you dare." He interrupted, a hint of venom in his tone.

"What?" She muttered.

"Don't you dare say 'it's not you, it's me'." He almost growled with a shake of the head.

He stared at her intently, pleading for answers, but all he saw was her face begin to break and tears form in the corners of her eyes.

"I can't do this…" She stuttered, her breaths more rapid and her chest heaving.

"Emily?" He said making a move to shift a little closer, but it happened again. She flinched and before he knew it, she had slid to the side and was rushing out of the room.

"Emily!" He shouted, following her into the hallway.

"I can't breathe Derek…. Please…." She said desperately.

She stopped in the open doorway and looked back at him, tears streaming down her face… "I'm so sorry…" She paused, gasping for breath, "…. I really am. But I can't do this anymore."

I can't do this anymore…

"Mommy?"

She opened her eyes almost startled upon hearing her daughter and feeling the small tug on her hand.

"What's up sweetie?" She smiled down to Taylor.

"Why are you crying mommy?"

Emily quickly wiped the streaming tears off her face with the back of her free hand.

"I'm ok baby." She assured.

"But Derek said you weren't sad."

"What do you mean? What did Derek say?" The brunette asked, kneeling down so she was eye to eye with the little girl.

"Derek said I should give you a cuddle, but he said it wasn't because you were sad. But you are sad."

"I'm not baby. I'm fine…" She said, brushing Taylor's hair off her shoulders and behind her back, "….Now how about that cuddle."

The little girl smiled and flung her arms around Emily's neck and brunette held on to her tight, not wanting her to see the tears that returned as she thought of the man who had just walked away…

I miss us too.