Okay , so I'm back and I think I cured my writers block on this story. I worked extra hard on this chapter and I hope you like it. Thanks to all my regular reviewers for all the advice and support you've given me. To all people who want to tell me something about this story , but don't comment , please comment even if it's just this once. I love to know what you guys think. The quote at the end is from one of my favorite poems ever , and I fangirled when Derek/Shemar quoted it on Criminal Minds. Okay , enough of my rambling. As always thanks for reading and enjoy.
Four Months Later
It had been a long day for a certain brunette in London , even more so that normal. Easter had made Emily go on an undercover mission. Normally Emily wouldn't really have a problem with going undercover if it was important , and only for a day. This time was different. The criminal that Interpol was trying to apprehend happened to know Doyle , but he had a falling out with his former friend when Doyle refused to let him have Lauren. Emily had to slip into the persona she despised, for another day. It hurt to even think about Lauren , let alone become her again. Even though they had caught the criminal Emily's mind was not at ease when she entered her flat in the heart of London. She didn't have to go near as far with the criminal as she did with Doyle , but she brushed her teeth six times at an attempt to get the taste of the man's lips off of her's. She remembered her Skype date with Derek , just before the familiar incoming call sound escaped her computer. Emily ran to accept the call before Derek would have to try to call again. Emily managed to click the green button in time , and Derek's smiling face popped up onto the laptop.
" Hey Princess. It's good to see you." Derek's warm voice comforted Emily to a certain extent.
" Hey , Prince Charming. It's good to see you too but it's only been twenty-four hours."
" How original , on the name and I'm sorry for missing my girlfriend , can you blame me?" Derek laughed , and Emily rolled her eyes.
" Well Prince Charming's the only good name Pen hasn't taken and yes I can blame you for missing me , you just admitted to it."
" Oh I see Miss smarty pants. By the way , do you really like the name Chocolate Thunder?" Derek winked.
" I said that she took all the good names , not that every name she came up with was good."
" What's wrong?" Derek's smiling face turned into one filled with concern.
" What do you mean?"
" Don't play dumb with me. What happened today?"
" I hate that you read me so well. It's not fair. Well , uh , I was Lauren again today."
" Lauren , as in Doyle's Lauren?"
" Yeah , that Lauren."
" I wish I could be there right now, but do you want to talk about it?"
" No, Yes , I don't know I'm just scared."
" Scared of what?"
" I'm scared that my nightmares will come back , London was supposed to be my safe haven , away from all the memories while I recover. Now it's just like home but worse , because I don't have you or the team to help me through it."
" We're still here for you , I'm here for you always." Derek smiled reassuringly , and Emily smiled back at the use of the word always.
" I know , I love you for that."
" Do you want me to stay on Skype as you fall asleep , and then I'll still be here when you wake up."
" No , you really don't need to do that."
" Let me rephrase that sentence. I'm going to stay on Skype and I'll be here when you wake up."
" Derek , it's four o'clock where you are. Isn't that a little early to go to sleep?"
"No."
"Wow , you're stubborn."
"And you're not?"
"Good point."
"Isn't it past your bedtime , Em?"
" How mature , Derek."
Emily woke up to Doyle right besides her , and she almost screamed. Then she began to wonder; Could've her whole BAU experience been a dream? It was too good to be real. Besides Derek had brought up divorce , why would he want to date her again? She got up carefully , so not to wake the sleeping man beside her. Suddenly , Emily felt a cold metal hanging around her neck. She reached for the chain to look at the golden ring. It's kind of ironic she thought, that a ring symbolizing a promise is really based on a bunch of lies she had fed Doyle. Emily made her way down a long hallway to a rather large kitchen. She knew she would have to drink a couple of cups of coffee before she could fully function, and the only other thing to do right now was to get back in bed with Doyle. As the coffee was brewing the sound of footsteps echoed down the long hallway. The tiny feet making those noises belonged to none other than Declan Doyle.
" Mommy?" The tiny boy asked in a whimper.
Emily's heart broke for the boy who had never really known his mother.
" No , it's Lauren , little bug."
" Daddy said you're gonna be my mommy." Declan whispered in an innocent voice.
" What are you doing up so early , little bug?" Emily decided to drop the topic of mommy.
" I couldwn't sleep , a monstwer was chasing mwe."
" I'm sorry Dec , but that monster can't get you anymore. Will you go back to sleep if I tuck you in?"
" Will you sing mwe a song , Lauren?"
" I would be honored to." Emily smiled , and Declan smiled back.
Emily led Declan back to his bedroom and after he was tucked under his rocket ship blanket she began to sing his favorite song.
" When she used to rock me fast asleep , outside the cabin door." She finished the Irish lullaby just as the little boy's eyes were closing.
Emily gently got off the edge of the bed , only to see Ian in the doorway.
" I know you love him Lauren , and he needs a mother." Ian grabbed Emily's hand and began gently stroking it.
" I already told you no ." Emily slipped her hand out of the older man's and returned to the kitchen.
Emily's extremely loud alarm pulled her out of the past. A sudden rush of happiness surged over her when she realized her time in the BAU wasn't just a dream, and she was dating Derek. Derek , the alarm had woken him too.
" Good morning sunshine!" Derek's face made Emily smile.
" How can you be cheerful before your first coffee?" Emily grumbled.
" Well , when I half sleep next you it's very easy." Derek managed to hide his emotions. He could tell Emily had an uncomfortable dream , but he didn't want to force her into talking about it.
" Aww , you're so sweet." Emily rolled her eyes.
" Did you have a nightmare?"
" Nope."
" That's great."
"Uh-huh"
" So what time do you have to be at work?"
" Oh shoot I forgot to re-set my alarm to the right time. I only have twenty minutes to be there. I've got to go , love you." Emily lied.
" Love you too , call you later today." Derek disconnected.
Emily felt bad about lying to Derek , but she really needed the time alone. The dream she had pulled up bad memories , and she didn't want to have to go through it all again. It had taken long enough to get over everything the first time , although she guessed she probably hadn't and probably never really hoped Derek believed her when she said she hadn't got a bad dream. He had his own self to worry about , she didn't need to be in the mix. Why , out of all the things she could have dreamed of did it have to be of the morning before the car crash Lauren died in , the on where she broke someones heart , even if he was a cold-blooded killer. Emily made her way to the kitchen , just like she had that morning , to get a couple of cups of coffee and try to clear her head. She had a long day ahead of her and she knew it.
Derek couldn't believe Clyde had sent Emily on a mission that involved her being Lauren again. His blood was boiling. Derek knew that Emily lied about having to go to work , because she had told him earlier in the week that she didn't work til noon on Thursdays but he knew she probably wanted some alone time , and she wasn't the one at fault.
After he checked to see if he had Clyde's number , Derek thought about all the things he could say to Easter. Oh , the things he wish he could say , but Derek knew Easter was still Emily's boss and he could unfairly take things out on her. Finally , Derek dialed the number of the man that took third place on his list of people he doesn't like (right after Doyle , and Buford and right before Cyrus). It rang a few times before there was an answer.
"Oh, Derek . What a pleasant surprise." Clyde answered , not sounding very pleasant himself.
"Clyde , you don't like me and I sure as hell don't like you. So let's cut to it . Why would you let Emily go on a mission , as Lauren again?"
"It was vital to the mission , besides how did you find out so fast? Does your little girlfriend keep you updated? Well either way what happens under Interpol command is none of your business anyway."
"None of my business? Anything that can hurt Emily is so my business. The only thing both of us have no business in is letting Emily get hurt. Are we clear?"
"Are we clear? The only thing I have to do is protect my agents, not their feelings. Nothing but feelings got hurt yesterday , so you can go cry elsewhere, Derek. It's really been a pleasure but I have actual business to attend to." The line died.
Derek really disliked Easter. He was a real as****e. Why Emily agreed to work for him again in London , he didn't know , but if she was happy he was happy. Emily wasn't happy right now and neither was he. He just hoped Clyde wouldn't relay their conversation to Emily.
Emily walked to the glass elevator in London Interpol office. The two cups of coffee she had drunk hadn't helped her at all. She was still tired , and she still was thinking to her dream from the night numbers in the elevator were all pushed and the elevator was jammed 's long ride to the to the top floor would have annoyed most people but Emily was thankful for the time it gave her to think. The ding of the elevator stopped Emily's train of thought , as she stepped out of the elevator. By the time Emily stepped out she was already thirty minutes late. She walked by the bull pen (much like the BAU's) as a group of people gawked at their boss , she was always an hour early but never a minute late. Until now. Emily continued towards her office , her black heels clicking against the hard floor. As she got closer she realized Clyde was standing by her door , rather impatiently. Emily tried to slide past him , because she wasn't it the mood to talk to anyone , especially Clyde.
" Nice try , Prentiss."
" Oh , I didn't see you there sir."
" Derek called me this morning."
" Really about what?"
" Oh the usual , you know how he thought me sending you on a mission , as your boss I might add was uncalled for.I must have forgotten that because I'm your boss that doesn't even mean i can give you work to complete."
" Oh , could you imagine? Someone who actually looks out for me! That sounds awful , darling." Emily had to hold back laughter as she rolled her eyes.
" I would fire you Prentiss , if you weren't such a good worker. I think you're a little to much sarcasm , to be a leader at Interpol though."
" I think you're a little to heartless and narcissistic to be anything. I'll save you the trouble of keeping me at Interpol though. Good luck finding someone to replace me , no one wants to put up with you. I quit." Emily pushed past Easter and slammed the door in his face.
Within the hour Emily had packed up her belongings into three medium-sized various photos , some of Henry and Jack , some of the team , and some of Derek and Emily were all packed into one of the boxes. Emily's collection of Vonnegut novels were no longer on a shelf , the walls were bear and the room was completely the way it was when Emily had first came. Boring. Emily passed the bullpen once again , passing another group of gawkers on her way to the glass doors.
The familiar sound of an incoming call beckoned Emily to her laptop.
"Hey Princess." Derek smiled.
" Why did you talk to Clyde?" Emily asked, frustration clear in her voice.
" Why? What did he tell you?" Derek gulped , worry lines showing on his forehead.
" That he had the right to make me work , which he did."
" What did you say to him?"
"I told him he was just angry because someone cared enough to yell at him for something he did to me , and then I quit."
" You quit!" Derek bursted into laughter.
"It's not funny , Derek!" Emily soon started laughing too.
"Then what happened.?"
"I told him good luck finding someone who would put up with him."
" I wish I could have seen his face."
" Yeah , I wish you were here."
" Are you coming back now that you quit?"
" Only for a visit , not for sure on moving."
"Promise me you'll move back someday."
"I promise , someday."
"But I have promises to keep ,
and miles to go before I sleep."
~Robert Frost
Stopping by Woods On A Snowy Evening
