So this is pretty short…. Sorry, but I haven't posted anything for ages as I've been on holiday and wanted to get something out… So here is a little teaser.

He stood to the side as she took the last few steps towards the check in desk. He watched her intently, taking in every inch of her, knowing that this would be the last time he'd see her in the flesh for some time. He watched her fingers gently grasp the passport and gracefully hand it to the lady behind the counter…. Gracefully…. How do you manage to hand a passport over gracefully? He wasn't sure, but he knew that's exactly what Emily Prentiss did, always, without even trying.

"Are you two travelling together?" The young blond woman asked from behind the desk, looking from Morgan then to Emily.

"Er, no." The brunette answered disappointedly, the end of the last word trailing off as if she just realised.

"Ok…" The blond smiled, "…..two bags is it?"

"Yes…." Emily nodded. "…. I'm staying out there for a while." She added, feeling the need to justify two bags.

"Lovely, can you just put them on the conveyor belt please."

As Emily went to reach down, Morgan beat her to it and grabbed for the bags, placing them down as directed.

The younger woman glanced up at Emily with a little raise of the brow and small, warm smile…. A smile that said, 'he's a sweetie'….. and Emily couldn't help but return the smile with understanding, then looking over to Derek who returned to stand dutifully at her side, oblivious to the women's silent acknowledgement of him.

"Ok, you'll be departing from gate forty five which opens in just under fifteen minutes. You should make you way there now." The chirpy woman said, handing back Emily's passport and boarding pass.

She gripped the documents as they walked slowly towards departures, stopping a few meters short of the security check.

Emily looked down at her watch.

"I guess I better go through now. Not much time till I have to board." She almost sighed.

"Yeah. Sorry for making you late." He forced a smirk, but there was a sadness behind those eyes.

And they just stood and stared at each other, neither of them knowing what they should say or do next….. and this was exactly why she hadn't wanted him to bring her here. This was just too hard.

She suddenly felt tightness in her stomach and a wave of nervousness flow throughout her entire body and he spotted it straight away.

Her lips took a downward turn and he watched the colour in her face drain away.

"Hey…." He started softly, "….. You ok?"

She pursed her lips and he saw her jaw quiver as she tried desperately to prevent her tears.

He wanted to stop it. He couldn't bare to see that face, so all he could do was pull her into him and wrap his strong arms around her shoulders, her head naturally falling against his chest.

"It's ok….." He whispered into her dark tresses, at the same time closing his eyes and taking in her beautiful scent. "…..You're gonna be absolutely fine."

There was a short silence….

"What am I doing?" He just about heard her mumble into him.

And right at that moment, hearing her broken words, he wanted to squeeze her tighter and tell her to stay…. Tell her to stay for him…. For them….. For everything they could have together. She'd given him a taste and he wanted more.

At that second he realised how much he had taken for granted. He thought she'd always be there. That he would always be able to run to her…He cursed himself for not learning his lesson when he thought he'd lost her once before….. and he hated himself for it.

But as he felt her body against his, clinging onto him like a scared child about to be taken away he knew he had to do this one thing for her; He swallowed hard, took a deep breath and placed his hands around her slender arms reluctantly prising her body from his.

He looked her straight in the eyes,

"Emily…. This isn't forever, but you need to do this. You need to go and find out if this is right for you. If it's what you want. And if it's not…..?" He smiled, gently tucking a piece of wayward hair behind her ear, "….. then come home. It's that easy." He whispered.

That familiar gentle tone calmed her and she gratefully smiled, knowing this was killing him inside. As much as he tried not to show it, from the moment she had told him she'd been thinking of leaving since she'd been back, he could not mask the hurt behind those dark eyes.

The way he held her earlier in her bedroom…. It was desperate and pleading. So now…. Now when he's looking at her with those same sad sad eyes, trying so hard to be strong for her. To encourage her. To support her…..Just made her question herself even more… What on earth was she doing leaving this behind?

But she had to go. She had to try. Whatever she was feeling now, she knew that something wasn't right with her life in DC. Time away in London would give her time to think. To figure it out.

"Derek…." She said softly, "…Thank you."

He frowned questioningly, "What for?"

"For everything…"

"I didn't do anything." He murmured.

She chuckled slightly at his oblivion to his own ability to read her and always say the right thing, despite how he felt.

"I really am going to miss you." She whispered, unable to stop the moisture welling in her eyes.

He placed one hand on her cheek, tracing her soft skin with his thumb, wiping away the wetness.

"I'm gonna miss you too….." He swallowed, the backs of his eyes stinging from the pressure the tears were bearing, "…..more then you'll know."

His words broke at the end, but he took a deep breath and stopped himself. He didn't want her sat on a flight for nine hours with a picture imprinted on her mind of his sad face or a feeling of guilt in her heart. No….. He would be strong…. For her.

"I meant it you know." She said

"What?"

"You coming to visit."

She watched as his eyes crinkled at the sides, shining back at her as he smiled, "Try and stop me….." He winked, "…..And in the mean time, thanks to Miss Penelope Garcia we have this new fangled thing called Facetime or something."

She laughed, "You sound like Rossi."

"Hey…." He protested playfully, his brow dipping making her laugh a little more.

He made sure to burn that image in his mind. That smile…. That laugh…. Those eyes.

His face softened and his pout turned to a small smile and his eyes bore into hers.

"I'm just a click away….." He uttered, nodding towards the iPad sticking out of her bag. "….Anytime night or day. Ok?"

"You too." She nodded pursing her lips together. He blink rate increased as the moisture began to swell once more, but before he would allow those tears to start falling again, he leaned in and let his lips meet hers softly, pressing gently. They lingered for just a few seconds and then parted, but only slightly. He leant his forehead against hers and ran his hand over the back of her hair, "You take care…. And enjoy it Emily." He whispered.

"I'll try." She uttered.

"You'll knock 'em dead. Just like you did us." He added.

Before she could reply, he pecked at her lips again and pulled away.

"C'mon, it's time to go." He muttered, fighting against every instinct.

She nodded and smiled sweetly, "Ok…. But I'll speak to you soon."

"When you land." He told her, ending with a wink.

"Of course." She chuckled.

He took her hand and guided her their last few steps…. As far as he could go. As they halted, he squeezed her small hand tight and she turned, entwining her fingers between his. She reached up and gave him one last kiss and as her lips lingered on his, just barely, she whispered into him, "I love you….. I'll see you later", before loosing her grip and walking away.

She couldn't say goodbye….

And she couldn't look back…. Not just because tears now streamed down her face, but because she wanted to remember that smile as she kissed him, not the pained expression she guessed was painted on his face right now.

That pained expression that watched her slowly wind her way through security until eventually her small frame was merely an outline in the distance and he mouthed, I love you too as she entirely disappeared from sight.

He climbed into his SUV and reached for the ignition, but something caught his eye. Sat on the passenger seat was a book. He recognised it…. The oldest book she had that had been given to her by her grandfather which had once belonged to his father. She kept it on the top book shelf in her bedroom and when she had shown it him, she handled it as though it was a thin piece of fragile glass.

He carefully picked it up and spied the note sticking out from between the browned pages. Sliding it out gently, he held it in front to read…. Look after it for me. I'll miss you. All my love Emily x

Listening to plane after plane take off, his hands gripped on the steering wheel tighter and tighter until they shook a little….

She was gone….

And so there was no point in sitting there anymore… And he wouldn't of, but for the tears blinding him.