I truly apologize for taking so long to post this. For the longest time I have been suffering with a broken, abcessed molar, and finally the pain became too unbearable. Thru Divine Intervention, I found a dentist who took pity on me and extracted it. All of a sudden I'm clearer in thought, but I'm still in the throes of sleep deprivation, so bear with me as I try to crank out chapters between 3rd shift and sleep.
And for the record, I can't believe all of you got the test results wrong! The clue is in Chapter 10!
Last but not least: Please stop reviewing and telling me how I should spell the word "through/thru/threw". There are THREE acceptable spellings - each with definitions! I will use all three to help to propel my stories. Don't like it? Oh well, live with it.
The Last Unbroken Heart
Settled into the oversized chair in Dave's study, Emily watched the shadows cast by the fireplace dance on the wall. Her mood was sullen and detached. Inside, she was trying to come to terms with the blood test. It's not possible; it can't be possible, her mind screamed. But the test results didn't lie. Emily Prentiss was going to be a mommy.
"Where do we go from here?" Emily's voice cut thru the silence.
"Well, Em, from what I can see, we only have two options: Give up, or make this work," Dave reply simply as he sipped the aged scotch. The news that he was going to be a father had both rocked and stopped his world. And if his profiling skills were still on target, he would bet his bank account that Emily was feeling the same.
"You're suggesting that we stay married because I'm pregnant? Isn't that a little self-serving?" Emily retorted. Her anger boiled under the surface at Dave's suggestion that she tie herself to him for the sake of a child.
"It's the best solution," Dave argued. "Our child deserves two parents."
"Our child deserves two parents who love each other," Emily corrected. "From the beginning, it's being cheated."
Dave weighed Emily's statement. He nodded. "You are correct. Maybe we don't have love on our side, but we are married, and that it a start in the right direction. This could work."
"How? Neither one of us planned anything that has occurred over the past few weeks, so explain to me how putting on a show is going to make a farce of a marriage work," Emily stated bluntly.
"We're seasoned profilers, Em. We can do this."
"We're not even in love; that's not a great start to a happily ever after."
"We have a child on the way," Dave pointed out matter of factly as if that was the answer to every problem.
"And that's the best reason you can think of to stay married? I think you've lost your mind."
"Unless…" Dave let the word drag out. "There are alternatives if this doesn't work out."
"What are you really saying?"
"I do support a woman's right to choose." In honesty, he didn't, but there was nothing he could do to change her mind if she chose to make that decision. His gut soured at the probability, so he sent a prayer heavenward.
Em's eyes narrowed in anger as the meaning of Dave's words became clear. "I would never! This baby wasn't planned, but it's anything but a mistake." Her hands spanned her abdomen as if to protect the innocent life inside.
A bit of relief went thru Dave. "I know it isn't a mistake. Babies are blessings. Especially this one."
"Being married to you is anything but a blessing," Emily countered, her feelings still stung by the implication that she would abort her baby.
"All three of my ex-wives eventually felt that way," Dave mused with a slight snort. "At least you aren't going into this with blinders on." He twirled the scotch in his glass before sipping.
Outside the windows the wind blew with a menacing howl, as the rain fell heavily against the panes. In the distance, thunder rolled ominously. A few seconds later, lightening lit up the dark sky. From his cushion in the corner of the room, Mudgie raised his head and growled back his own warning.
"Give me nine months, Emily," Dave offered. He promised himself he wouldn't beg, but the baby was making it almost impossible to hold up his end of the bargain. "Let me have the chance to prove to you that being married to me isn't the hell on earth the rumour mill at the FBI has made it out to be. And who knows, you might find that you like being Mrs. David Rossi."
"It won't work."
"It could, if you give it half a chance."
"Staying married for the sake of the child is just as bad as marrying for the sake of a child," Emily stated.
"And breaking up because of one is equally as bad. Caroline left me and filed for divorce after our baby died. She never talked to me about it, nor did she give me a chance to hear my side of the story," Dave remembered broodingly. He could still feel the cold chill his late ex-wife left after departing wordlessly every time he entered the room. He still could feel the ache in his heart from when he went to hug her and she pushed him away. And he could feel the same thing coming from Emily. Only this time, he wasn't helpless. Life had given him too many lessons to learn from.
"Are you saying that the baby and I are your second chance?" Emily asked cautiously. The seasoned profiler in her couldn't miss the emotions that had raced across Dave's face. She had no doubt that Caroline's memory was still haunting him.
Dave templed his fingers under his chin and let his breath out slowly. "And if I said yes?"
Emily sighed sadly. "It's not going to work."
"Give me one good reason," he argued.
"There is too much water under the bridge… Too much time has passed. Maybe if this had happened a few years ago… But now…?" She shook her head. "We don't even really like one another."
"I wouldn't say that, Em. We got along fine during those two days in Vegas," he reminded her softly.
Emily lowered her eyes. There was no denying that they had gotten along during those days and that last night. Especially that last night. She wanted to pretend that he hadn't taken her to those heights when he made love to her; she wanted to pretend that it had all been a dream. And when he pushed her into a corner with demands, she could forget the man Dave Rossi was in Vegas, and it would be so easy to get up and leave.
But she was looking at the man sitting across from her, and something made her reconsider walking out the door.
"Nine months," Dave offered. "Give our marriage that long. You already own fifty percent of all I have, so, you're not losing anything by saying yes." The olive branch was fragile – at best – but it was all he had left. "And you know Walter already has the paperwork drawn up, so everything but custody is worked out," he continued.
"Then you will let me go without a fight?" she asked, testing the waters.
"I can do that," Dave conceded. "I have one request: Don't keep me from my child. No matter what does and doesn't happen, I want to be a part of their life."
"Just so you honour my request that you will not be sharing my bed," she returned.
The memory of Emily's body pressed against his as he made them one and the way she cried out his name – her lips pressed to his as he claimed her – flashed behind his eyes. His body went hot. She was so close to him, he could reach out and touch her. And she was carrying his child – his miracle. He wanted to hold her and assure her that everything was going to be alright.
Dave gave himself a mental shake. Em wouldn't appreciate the gesture, and she was still armed. He was in a no win situation – much like the ending to all three of his marriages, he mused bitterly.
"Okay. You have a deal." He extended his hand. Emily took the offering and shook to seal the promise. "I want you to stay here. The room you have will be yours to do with as you please."
"Thank you."
For the first time in weeks, they could feel themselves begin to relax as the truce started. And it felt good. Emily leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. She could get thru the next nine months without any problems, she reasoned, no problems whatsoever. It was going to be smooth sailing.
"So, out of curiosity," Dave's voice cut through Emily's reverie, "when are you going to tell the BAU ladies?"