Home of Emily Prentiss – Morning

The loud shrill of her phone reminded Emily that she had drank way too much last night. She'd lost count after a while but she kept putting them away one after the other. It had been a while since she'd allowed herself to truly let go and relax. London had only made her more and more of a tight ass. Everything and everyone seemed so formal and stuffy and she missed her family terribly.

Eyes closed tightly she wasn't sure what was screaming louder her head or the phone as she sent her arm from under her comforter in search of the offending electronics.

"Hello?" She murmured groggily.

"Oh no! Get up, now, Emily Prentiss! We have way too much to do today!"

"Ugh! Garcia are you kidding? It's still dark!"

"Dark? Pull your head from under the covers and look around my friend! It's almost eleven! Now get up and let me in; I'm pulling up in front of your place now!"

"No way! I haven't even showered…"

"I have coffee and bagels and JJ is on her way over! Now move it, Missy!"

Emily heard the phone go dead and she cursed out loud under the comforter. She couldn't talk her way out of this day not when Garcia had her mind made up. So, with extra care she slowly lifted her body from the bed and headed to the front door.

Home of Aaron Hotchner –

Hotch was elbows deep in pancake batter when the doorbell rang. He heard Jack's footsteps racing to the door as the bell sounded again. He grabbed the dishtowel and headed to the front of the house to stop his son from opening the door before he got there.

"Daddy, somebody's at the door! I remembered, I didn't open it just like you told me!"

"Good boy, Jack! Thank you. Daddy will see who it is."

Hotch looked through the peephole and then without hesitation opened the door. Smiling, the petite express mail girl handed him the small envelope and then began punching numbers on her handheld scanner.

"Good morning, Sir. Aaron Hotchner?"

"That's me. Thanks."

"I just need your signature."

Hotch signed for the envelope and then closed the door looking into the curious eyes of his son.

"What is it Daddy? What is it?"

Hotch noticed the familiar name and address and without opening it set the envelope on the small table next to the door.

"It's just something from Aunt Emily, that's all. We'll open it later."

"Okay, it's pancake time!"

Jack grabbed Hotch's hand and they both headed to the kitchen. It was odd that Emily would send him a letter express mailed when she was coming to town and could have given it to him in person. He pushed the thought aside for now and focused on his rare time with his son. The team was meeting up at Rossi's later and he'd be sure to ask her about it.

Meanwhile…

The two men with thick British accents talked in hushed tones; One sat in a dark four door sedan parked across from Emily's apartment and the other was an ocean away in a dark stuffy office at Interpol. It was important that the two stayed in touch and kept her in sight at all times. Too much was at stake to make a mistake now. They knew they were taking a risk using her in their plans, she was strong, determined and stubborn, all things that could cause their plan to backfire but it was worth it, he had to pay for what he did and what a better way than at the hands of his close friend Emily Prentiss.

Emily was finally showered and dressed and ready to head out for a day of shopping and silliness with her two best friends. Her head was still throbbing but she was looking forward to the time. She'd met no one in London that came close to replacing JJ and Garcia and she suspected that she never would.

"Now, that's more like it!" Garcia yelped as Emily joined them in the living room.

"You look a thousand times better than you did thirty minutes ago." JJ teased.

"Well all I need now is a handful of aspirin for this hangover and I'll be good to go."

The three laughed, grabbed their jackets and purses and headed toward the door.

Home of Derek Morgan –

Something was bothering her; she seemed distracted on the ride to her place last night. She was such a private person and she kept her feelings held tightly within her not readily willing to share what bothered her. Her secrets had nearly gotten them all killed and he hoped that she had learned that nothing good came from secrets. He knew that he wouldn't be able to handle another season like the one that nearly destroyed their friendship and their lives.

His mind drifted to last evening; he'd walked her to her door and after she had unlocked the door and said goodnight she stopped him as if she had something to say and then suddenly had second thoughts just like the old Emily…he was worried but he wouldn't push…not just yet, anyway.

"Derek?"

He turned to see fear in her eyes and tears. He hoped it was just a mixture of joy of being home and fatigue from her long flight. Then just as quickly it was gone…everything, the fear the tears and her mask was on covering what she did not want him to see.

"What's up?"

"Um…thanks for the ride…I'll see you tomorrow at Rossi's?"

"You're welcome and yeah, you'll see me at Rossi's tomorrow. Get some rest."

He turned and walked down the hall toward the exit. He wanted to look back but he was afraid that he'd see the fear and the tears again and he was afraid that he would not know what to say or how to get her to share what obviously had caused her mood to shift pulling her to a dark scary place…

Nonetheless, it was good seeing Emily again, he thought. Penelope was beyond happy to have her friend home even if it was only for a week. They were all like a family and it was hard on them when she moved to London especially since they had just gotten her back. Morgan still blamed himself for her "death" it didn't matter what the department shrinks or Hotch or anyone else had told him he knew in his gut that if he'd gotten to her just sixty seconds earlier things would have been different; she wouldn't have died and she wouldn't have felt the need to move thousands of miles away from her home and those she loved and who loved her. One consolation in all of it was that now Ian Doyle was dead and could no longer hurt his friend or anyone else. Seven months of intense searching every inch of the world and under every proverbial rock had led to his arrest and eventual death. Morgan didn't regret how it had ended. Emily was safe now to live her life in happiness and peace. But for now even for a short week she was home and for that he was grateful; seeing the smile on his Baby Girl's face made him smile too.

Home of David Rossi – Later that evening –

They were all together under the magnificent roof of David Rossi. His home, a mansion he often reminded them all playfully, was warm and welcoming and right now the air was filled with the smells of pasta and Dave's special Italian sauce with homemade meatballs. Lots and lots of expensive wine flowed endlessly as tonight was sure to be another one that would leave most of them too drunk to drive home which meant Rossi would surely have several overnight guests. He loved the company and he loved having them in his home which most times was empty.

"Welcome everyone! Can we raise our glasses in a toast?"

They all stopped, wearing similar smiles and raising their glasses on his command waiting for his toast.

"No matter where we come from, or where we go, whether near or far, one thing never changes…we will always be family! To life, love and those we hold dear, Cheers!"

"Cheers!" They all repeated in unison touching glasses together and then sipping and laughing and silently sending up prayers of thanksgiving for good food and fun and precious time together.

"So Emily, how did you manage to get time off from the frisky clutches of Clyde Easter?" Penelope joked.

"Well, it seems as if Mr. Easter has a new love interest who lives in Paris and he's been aching for a holiday in the City of Lights!"

"Ahh…how did you manage to let him get away, Mon Ami?" Penelope persisted.

"For the last time I am not nor have I ever been interested in Clyde Easter!"

"Okay, okay…I thought I saw a little twinkle in his eye when I saw you two in London last year."

"A twinkle? Are you sure that wasn't a twitch?"

"Come on, Baby Girl, give it a rest. Maybe Prentiss doesn't want you in her personal business." Morgan said.

"But…"

"No but's… besides, you are way too busy over here to be worried about anybody else's personal life."

Morgan planted a long passionate kiss on her lips that silenced her mid-sentence and caused moans from the rest of the room.

"Rossi hurry up and feed us before we're all too sick to our stomachs to eat!" Hotch joked.

The evening was amazing and Rossi had outdone himself with the food; every bit was like being transported to Italy. Emily felt so comfortable with all of them and in her mind she was already planning her return trip back to the place she'd grown to consider home. Then her phone rang…a call from a long distance away threatening to steal the joy that had been absent from her heart for a long time. She excused herself from the room; she didn't know why she felt that she had to seek privacy in order to talk to her boss on the phone.

"Emily Prentiss." She said formally.

"Emily, Dahling…why so official?"

"Clyde…why are you calling? I thought you were in Paris?"

"I am but I thought I 'd check in to see how things were coming."

"Things…are coming okay."

"You seem troubled."

"No, I'm fine."

"You remember your orders don't you, Emily?" He asked sternly.

"I remember my orders." She answered as if her mind had suddenly taken her far away.

"Good. I hope you don't let us down."

"Never."

"That's good to hear. I have a friend in town in case you have any problems and you can't fulfill your mission."

"What do you mean, problems?"

"If you decide that you can't follow your orders, then he will complete the mission for you, is that clear?"

"Yes, it's clear. I will finish the mission. I know my orders." She rambled robotically.

"That's what I want to hear."

"What happens…after the mission?"

"You know what happens."

"Yes…I know…"

"Now go back to your friends and enjoy your evening."

"Yes. Goodbye, Clyde."

"Goodbye, Emily."