Author Note – thank you all so much for your lovely reviews. I had a bit of a block while writing this chapter, and I thought about rewriting it several times. I would love to know what you all think about it, so if you have time please let me know.

Distance – chapter three

"Seriously Baby Girl, what have you got in the bag?" Morgan said as he struggled through the door with Penelope's huge bag. Putting his bag down in the entrance of her living room, Emily held her hand over her mouth as she tried to hide her smile.

Penelope wrinkled her nose guiltily as she looked over her shoulder at the bag. "I have some equipment as well as some gifts for Emily from the team."

"Gifts? Reid and JJ gave you small packages, nothing that weighs a ton."

"There's a care package from me," Penelope explained as she glanced around Emily's apartment. "This place is amazing."

Morgan finally put the bag down next to where Emily had placed his and looked around. The building may have been old, but there had been a lot of work done to the restoration. It was pretty impressive, except for the rickety elevator. Looking around the living room he recognised some her things from her apartment, as well as some photos that had been taken at JJ's wedding and Emily's leaving dinner. His eyes finally fell on Emily as she stood to the side, almost self-consciously as they examined her new home. She knew they were looking for signs that she hadn't settled in, any causes for concern.

"Very nice," Morgan said making eye contact. His heartbeat quickened as she sent him a proper smile, grateful for his approval.

"You haven't noticed the best bit yet," Emily said with a twinkle in her eye as she moved to the side to reveal a deep window seat in front of the most spectacular sights they had ever seen. "The view is the incredible."

Penelope went to stand beside her. "Wow," Penelope said softly as they looked out over London. It was such a clear day they could see the London Eye in the distance.

Morgan looked over their shoulders at the view, it was incredible. He could see why Emily was enchanted by it. He glanced in her direction, relieved that she and Penelope were distracted by the sight. She was relaxed, more than she had been in DC. "Beautiful," Morgan quietly as he leant towards Emily. Her head swivelled to acknowledge him and her breath caught when she saw he was staring at her intently. Morgan watched as the pink flush travelled up her neck when she realised he had been speaking about her as well as the view.

"It really is," Penelope said in awe. They both turned to the blonde, relieved when they realised her attention was on the scenery, their little moment had gone unseen by her. They shared another look and Emily sent him an enigmatic smile before turning back to the window, licking her lips quickly.

He noticed the small differences between the ways she reacted to things, momentarily wondered how long she had been hiding from them before she left, slightly worried that she'd managed to achieve it for months. She had started to open up to him before she left, and he was glad that her walls hadn't erected themselves once again now that she was in London. The phone conversations had evoked a mixture of feelings in him; he was happy she felt more relaxed but there was part of him that wished she had found that peace while she had been at home.

Morgan's gaze followed Emily as she moved away from the window brushing past him as she did, her perfume wafting over him as he inhaled discreetly. It was the same one she had worn one night when she spent the night at his house. The same scent that lingered in his bedroom, on his sheets, for almost a week after she left.

Emily turned to look at him with an apology in her eyes as she walked backwards away from him. "I only have one guest room, so unless you're willing to share, someone's got the pull out sofa." Her hands ran across the piece of furniture in question. Morgan nodded in acknowledgement. They all knew he wouldn't let Penelope sleep on the sofa. Emily gestured behind her to the open plan kitchen. "Obviously make yourselves at home. The next few weeks are going to be so busy."

Penelope twirled to face them. "We can worry about that in the morning; right now I want to catch up."

A few hours later Morgan took a sip of his wine as he sat on the sofa opposite Emily and Penelope as they reclined on the window seat. Due to the warm summer, they had opened the window and as day turned to night the air cooled and a slight breeze was drifting in. Emily had opened her presents finding her favourite candy from home, pictures from Henry as well as a photo album compiled by Penelope of her time with the team. Emily loved it all but she had been delighted, although a little confused when she found a hand knit scarf from Reid.

"He said it's for when the weather gets cold." Morgan explained when she looked questioningly out the window.

She now wore the garment looped around her neck, the tear drop pendant he'd given her peeking out underneath it, as she listened to Penelope tell her about the two months she had been gone. "Hotch threw out the first twenty agents who applied for your spot on the team," Penelope told her when Emily asked if anyone had filled the vacancy. "But Agent Blake is starting while we're away," she said with a cringe. When Emily gave her a reproachful look, Penelope gave an ashamed shrug, offering a weak excuse, "I hate change."

Emily glanced worriedly in Morgan's direction. He knew she was silently asking if everything was okay with the techie. Morgan nodded that it was. They all missed her, but Penelope seemed to be taking it the hardest. Her rejection of the replacement before she even started showed just how hard it was on Penelope, she looked for the good in everyone, accepting them into her life quickly. Morgan knew the guilt of her reaction was weighing down on her.

"So what's your new job like?" Penelope asked. Morgan tried not to smile as he heard the veiled strain in her voice; she was looking for any reason to convince Emily to come home. He watched Emily roll her eyes at the question as she realised the same thing he did. He was glad that she was being good natured about the inquisition Penelope had launched at her; the thought of launching his own inquisition had crossed his mind more than once when he spoke to Emily on the phone.

"It's good," Emily started gently, shaking her head when Penelope scrunched her nose. "I never thought I would like a desk job." Morgan suppressed his laugh; she hated paperwork almost as much as he did. "But it's okay. The preparation for the games has kept us busy, so it hasn't felt like normal paperwork. I'm glad you guys are here to help though. Our tech guys are good, but not PG good."

Penelope tried to smile but ended up having to hide a yawn behind her hand. "I thought jet lag might be a problem, but I think after all the travelling today it'll be easy to get a good night's sleep before tomorrow's briefing," she glanced quickly between the other occupants of the room and Morgan almost didn't see it. He frowned but let it drop as she yawned again and stood. "I'm going to call it a night my Lovelies." Penelope bent to kiss Emily on the cheek before making her way over to Morgan. "Sweet dreams," she told him as he stood to receive his kiss on the cheek.

"You too Baby Girl."

"Night Pen," Emily called as she left the room. They listened as she made her way up the hallway, and entered the bathroom to brush her teeth. A few minutes later, she crossed the hallway to the guest room, the door shutting softly behind her.

Morgan looked between the sofa and the window seat. Emily still sat to one side her head leaning on the padded back, instead of moving to the middle. She looked peaceful as she gazed out of the window and Morgan felt bad about disturbing her, but he couldn't help it as he sat next to her. Her head shifted to look at him, but didn't rise from its' position.

"Hi," he said as he looked down at her. Morgan felt warmth spread through him when she smiled softly at him.

"Hi," Emily whispered.

Not for the first time Morgan regretted how they left things at the airport, wishing they hadn't been so self-preserving as to not lay claim on one another. He knew it had been the sensible thing to do. Morgan had wanted to ask her to stay, but didn't want to complicate things for her. He didn't want her to stay only to resent him in the future when she didn't feel better. Emily needed to decide on her own whether or not to come home.

"Is she okay?" Emily asked nodding in the direction of the bedrooms.

"She's fine, just finding it difficult to adjust," Morgan told her lightly. "Garcia misses you, we all do." He paused. "Are you happy here Emily?"

Emily turned onto her side, her body facing him. He could see her mind working as she figured out the best way to answer the question. "I am," she said eventually. Morgan fought the urge to back away. Emily read his discomfort and she hastened to add, "It doesn't mean that I don't miss home or the team, because I do every day. I'm happier because it's easier here, there's less pressure to feel better."

"I can understand that." And he did. When he had been accused of murder, he hated everyone knowing the team had been digging around in his past. The looks of sympathy and compassion he'd received from all of them made the situation worse. He'd put on a façade to make them think he was dealing with it, so the pity would end. Just like Emily had done.

The silence stretched between them as they listened to the bustling streets below, the excitement of the games was well under way. He lowered himself so he could rest his head next to hers, looking into her eyes. He was reminded of the first night they spent together, lying next to each other as they processed the new development in their relationship. Present day, Morgan felt the need to reach out to tuck the errant lock of hair behind her ear, but wasn't sure how she would react.

"Sometimes I feel like a coward," Emily whispered. Morgan furrowed his brow in confusion. "I know it must seem like I ran away."

Morgan shook his head. "You needed to do what you felt was the right thing to do. We understand that, our egos are a bit bruised because we didn't realise what you were going through before you told us you were leaving." This time he did reach out and push the strand of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek. Emily accepted the contact, leaning into it. She opened and closed her mouth twice, second guessing what she wanted to say. "What?" He asked gently.

"I want you to know that I didn't run from you."

She was braver than he was as she broke the self-imposed limbo they'd placed themselves in. It had been a silent agreement not to discuss the two weeks before she left. He'd meant what he said in the airport. It was in his dark bedroom that he was assaulted by the memories; the way she sighed when he kissed her neck, the shiver that ran through her when he touch her hips, the way she moaned his name when she came undone in his arms.

"I wanted to ask you to stay," he told her sombrely, his fingers dropped from her face to the pendant.

Emily didn't back away like he expected her too. "I know, part of me wanted you too. Do you regret what happened between us?"

"No," Morgan admitted. While it may have been easier for them if they hadn't crossed the line from friends to lovers, Morgan knew he would have always regretted not knowing if anything happened to either one of them after she moved. "Do you?"

"No," she smiled sweetly at him. "I found it strange."

Morgan had to bite back his nervous laughter, slightly afraid what her explanation was, and worried he might have done something wrong. "Why?"

Emily's looked downwards, her soft chuckle sounding in his ears. "I think it's safe to say that neither of us has ever been in the type of relationship where we've been completely comfortable to wake up with another person in the morning," Emily paused for his nod of confirmation, continuing when he did. "What I found strange was that it didn't feel uncomfortable."

Morgan let out a sigh of relief. "I know what you mean." With all the years they'd been friends and the close confidence they'd always held, he'd thought the morning after might have been awkward. Instead, he found himself craving her company. His hand was still on the pendant, stroking it as he gazed at her. Her hand covered his hand gently, still his movement.

"Do you want to share with me, instead of sleeping on the sofa?" Emily offered softly.

Morgan paused. He'd barely thought of nothing else since he'd received the orders to come to England, wondering if he'd be able to let her go again. "Is that a good idea?"

"Probably not, but I've missed you," Emily admitted as she stood up from the window seat, stretching as she did so. She turned so she was facing him, her eyes inviting him to follow her as she walked away, leaving the decision up to him.

…..

Author Note 2 – should he follow her?