Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the TV series, Criminal Minds.
Green
By
N. J. Borba
Emily gazed through the viewer of her beloved camera and framed the perfect shot of Derek and their daughter standing under the oak tree in their front yard. Beth had her hair done up in a French twist with ringlets framing either side of her face. And her emerald green dress practically sparkled in the soft evening sunlight. Strapped up in her gold heels, the teenager stood almost as tall as her father. And she wore a grin that was nearly as wide as the Grand Canyon. Derek's smile was fainter; revealing undeniable pride, but incalculable worry. He'd agreed to let their little girl go to the prom with Henry, but he still wasn't overly thrilled by the idea.
She took the shot then looked up from her camera and waved Henry back over. The tall, sandy-haired boy wore a dark tuxedo with matching green cummerbund. He had his father's eyes and his mother's smile. "Let's get one with the three of you," Emily suggested, wanting to document every second of her daughter's first dance.
Morgan stiffened as Henry walked over and wrapped his arm around Beth's waist. He shot the boy a warning look just as Emily snapped the picture. "Sorry," Derek apologized to the woman who he'd finally made his wife after three years of living together with their daughter. Beth had been five at the time; a flower girl in her own parents' wedding. They were not the most traditional bunch, but they were Derek's pride and joy. And he'd spent the last month leading up to this prom reminding his daughter, in not so veiled threats, that if Henry tried anything funny with her he'd never let her date again until she was forty.
After a few more pictures, Beth and Henry slowly managed to edge their way toward the car. "So, you'll have her home by nine-thirty," Morgan eyed the boy.
"Daddy," Beth's cheeks flushed from embarrassment. "We're going out to dinner first and the dance doesn't even start until eight-thirty," she explained. "And mom already said midnight."
Derek's eyes widened as he turned to aim his stare at Emily. "Did she?" He watched his wife nod with all the confidence in the world. And damn if he wasn't ready to cave like he usually did in regard to her lead. The main reason Beth was even going to the prom was Emily's doing. Morgan's eyes returned to the girl. "Ten-thirty."
Beth sighed. "Eleven-thirty," she countered.
He felt his heart give in to her big brown eyes and knew he was the worst negotiator in the world. "Eleven-thirty," Derek agreed, looking to Henry again. "If you are even one second late, I will not hesitate to have the team out looking for you two."
Emily slung the camera's shoulder strap over her left side and stepped forward so she could hug Beth. "I love you, baby. Be safe," she said. In a softer whisper, Emily added, "And your dad is just joking about sending the team after you."
"I heard that," Derek piped up. "And no, I'm not."
The two most precious women in Morgan's life chuckled. Emily leaned in to kiss her daughter's cheek, but the girl stopped her. "Mom, you'll mess my make-up," she protested, good-naturedly. "I love you guys," Beth told her parents as Henry opened the passenger's side door for her. "By daddy," she waved, blowing him a kiss.
Derek waved back and even smiled for her as he watched Henry pull out of their driveway. A few seconds later he spun around to face his wife. "My baby is wearing make-up?" Morgan sighed, shaking his head. "I'm feeling like an old man right now."
Emily grinned. "It's just a very small amount of make-up. You didn't even notice, did you?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, but couldn't stay upset. "I think you'd probably let her get away with murder if it was only a small amount of murder," Morgan playfully accused as he abruptly lifted her off her feet and scooped her up into his arms.
Her laughter filled the air. "I'm impressed you still have the strength for such things, old man," Emily teased, cradling her camera against her chest with one hand. Her other palm pressed against the back of his neck and drew his head down toward hers. Their lips met and a spark of desire raced through both their bodies; desire that had yet to wan as the years passed. Moist lips gently parted as they deepened the union, giving the tree, the birds and the neighbors all a clear view of the love in their hearts. With a satisfied sigh, she sagged against his broad chest. "Maybe you can show me what else you still have the strength for," she suggested.
"How about dinner out tonight," he replied. "Just the two of us. We haven't done that in a long time."
She nodded. "Not exactly the thing I had in mind, but dinner sounds good too."
Morgan carried her toward the front door of their house the way he'd done the day they moved in, and also the night of their honeymoon, which had been spent at home while Garcia and Kevin had watched Beth at their place. He dipped his head again and stole another kiss, a quick one. "Well, someone told our daughter she could stay out until eleven-thirty tonight, so there will be plenty of time later for what you had in mind," he promised.
End
