Chapter 11 The Morning After

Emily woke up early in the morning and looked around. She was in Spencer's apartment, specifically in his bed. Right now he was fast asleep with his arm draped over her.

Trying not to disturb him she lifted his arm up slightly so she could crawl out from under him. Emily slid her pillow under Spencer's arm where she had been. Apparently the sleeping Spencer was content with just holding a pillow.

She smiled as she went into the bathroom to clean up. She grabbed one of Spencer's button shirts and pair of his boxers to wear. Emily then snuck into the kitchen.

What kind of food does Dr. Reid keep in his apartment? She thought as she went through the cupboards. She might as well cook them both breakfast before they went into work. Junk food. She thought as she opened one of the cabinets.

Emily searched around until she found some food that was obviously met for Diana. She opened the fridge and located some eggs. She then started cooking breakfast. Emily found the coffee very quickly. It was right there by the coffeepot. All he had was sugar. She could live with that.

Reid woke up and looked over on the other side of the bed. Instead of seeing Emily he saw a pillow. She wasn't in the bedroom and the light wasn't on in the bathroom. He tried not to panic. He hoped that Emily didn't change her mind.

There was some noise out in the other room. He relaxed assuming that Emily was out there.

Reid pulled on his pajama pants and walked out to his living room.

Emily was there in one of his shirts and boxers. For some reason Reid was very much attracted to that sight.

"I know you usually order your eggs scrambled so that's what I did. Coffee will be ready in a moment." Emily said.

Reid took a seat at the counter that acted as his dining room table. "Thank you."

Emily placed the scrambled eggs in front of him and then set down a cup of coffee with his sugar. She then took the seat next to him.

"Do you . . . last night?" Reid didn't want to ask the question, but he needed to know. He didn't want this relationship to falter.

"Not in the least." Emily said. "I'm just sorry it took so long."

Reid couldn't help but smile. "I suppose we were both scared. What do you want to tell the team?"

"I think we should wait." Emily said. "Let's see if this works or not."

Reid thought about it for a moment. "I suppose that would be best. I just hope Morgan doesn't try to set me up on another blind date again."

"Just tell him you're not interested." Emily suggested.

"What about Diana?" Reid asked. "She's going to know that there is something happening between us."

"What makes you say that?" Emily asked.

Reid told Emily the entire conversation that he had with Diana while they were looking for her.

Emily laughed. "Well, she certainly seemed to have learned a few skills."

"I know."

"We will have to be upfront with her then. When does she come again?"

"This weekend." Reid answered.

"You really do need to rethink her sleep arrangements." Emily said pointing to Diana's bed.

"I know." Reid answered. "I have been looking for a two bedroom or something. Somewhere that she could have her own things. Kathy said that now that she is older she can spend more time with me."

"I'll see what I can do." Emily answered.

Spencer looked up Emily. "There's something about Diana that I haven't told anyone yet. I think you should know."

"There isn't something wrong is there?" Prentiss asked concerned.

"No." Spencer said quickly. "After Diana ran away from Whitman she hid from him in the woods."

Emily wasn't quite expecting this. Reid hadn't talked about Whitman since he had died.

"Whitman had called out for her, but she knew better than to come, she stayed quiet. She came out of hiding when she couldn't hear him anymore. That was about the time we went looking for her."

Spencer took Emily's hand.

"Diana told me that she heard someone calling her, but she didn't go to them. Diana had said that it was Rossi. She didn't come out until she heard you calling for her. I never did thank you properly for finding my little girl."

"Yes you did." Emily said. "At the hospital."

"I was thanking you and Morgan. It was your voice that drew her out. When Diana told me the truth, I just fell even more in love with you."

Emily didn't know quite how to respond. "I love Diana too. She's a wonderful child and she's a part of you."

After that Reid and Prentiss went into work. They didn't see any harm at coming in at the same time.

The team welcomed Prentiss and made sure that she was alright before they went to work.

When Friday came Prentiss drove Reid to pick up Diana. She said her car was better for the trip then what his was. Reid didn't argue.

Kathy and Reid always drove halfway and met at a parking lot of store. They arrived at nearly the same time.

"Daddy," Diana called hopping out of the car and running to her father, hugging him.

Reid picked her up and let her down.

"Emily." Diana said giving her a hug as well. The two then began rambling in Spanish.

"Thank you Emily for helping her with that." Kathy said after helping load the car with Diana's bag. "She's passed the language efficiency test at the school. That means she won't have to take the additional language course."

"What are you planning on taking?" Spencer asked.

"Geometry." Diana answered. "I can go to the fourth grade class."

The three exchanged a few more words before they left. Emily was driving while Spencer talked with Diana.

"Daddy, why did Emily come to pick me up and why are we in her car?" She asked.

"I couldn't have just wanted the company." Spencer tried.

"Daddy you avoided eye contact and you're blinking."

Emily had to laugh as she wondered which one of Reid's books Diana managed to swipe on her last visit.

"We were going to talk about this at dinner, but Emily and I are dating." Spencer answered.

Diana was excited by this statement she squealed happily and went on and on about how happy she was for them. After that she went on about the latest things she had read about.

Spencer had explained to Diana that she had to keep it a secret.

Diana and Spencer and Emily all spent the weekend together. Strangely they ended up spending most of the time in Emily's brownstone. They both considered it lucky that they didn't have a case come up.

Emily had even helped Spencer in the endless battle of getting Diana to go to bed.

When they were driving home after the weekend Diana wanted to listen to the radio. Spencer had stopped it when a familiar song came on. If I Die Young.

Emily listened to the song and saw Diana humming along. She listened intently to the lyrics.

The ballad of a dove

Go with peace and love

At the end of the song Emily looked at Spencer, silently asking him.

"Lady of Shallot." Reid whispered to her.

They didn't change the station when the next song came on.

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

Yes He did

I think about the years I spent, just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost, and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there, you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Reid and Emily took a hold of each other's hands.

But now I'm just rolling home into my lover's arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you