Emily slowly rocked back and forth in the hammock while attempting to read a book. It had been a week since she'd seen Derek kissing Tamera. It shattered her heart into a million pieces; her friends tried to defend him by saying that she misunderstood. What bothered her more than anything was that him cheating was a very real possibility. She loved their connection, but she couldn't let go of the insecurity that he was a player. She felt like a fool for believing that a tiger could change his stripes. She felt foolish for believing that she could change his player ways. She felt foolish for trying to make this work living in two different places. She just felt foolish. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard, "Hey you." Emily turned around to see her mother holding out a glass of raspberry lemonade. "Hey mom." "Mind if I join you?" Emily sat up in the hammock and moved over to let her mother sit down. They let the wind swing them back and forth gently. Emily looked at her mother out the corner of her eye, "I assume you know? Who told you?" Elizabeth sipped her lemonade, "Your sister." "Who told her?" "Your father. Koa told him." Emily laid her head on her mother's shoulder, "I'm so stupid. Here I am, being faithful a mother to his son, and he's acting like he's single. I thought we were on the same page, but I'm the idiot getting cheated on." Elizabeth thumped Emily on her forehead and heard a soft 'ow'. "Emily, darling you are an idiot. You're an idiot for what you're saying now. Relationships are hard darling, but that doesn't mean that they aren't worth it. I believe that Derek is afraid. He's afraid that you're too perfect for him. He's afraid that you'll leave at any moment. He's afraid that you'll want more than he can give. The man is simply afraid. I don't think that he'd knowingly cheat on you—while on a videochat with you and Hank. Hank is not his child, he's your child together. You feel that he was a player, but what were you? You were sexually free as well—just more reserved about it. Don't throw stones when you live in a glass house sweetheart. You want him to be completely honest and vulnerable with you…doesn't he deserve the same from you?"
Emily started to cry and her mother pulled her close. "I love him so much." "I know." "What do I do?" Her mother kissed the crown of her head, "You fight for him. You fight for your relationship. It's time for some hard decisions to be made and some tough conversations to be had. The time for avoidance is over—put on your big girl pants." Elizabeth wiped Emily's tears away. They relaxed in silence and the comfort of one another.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Back in DC, Hotch was currently walking to his front door to end the persistent knocking. He was surprised to see Morgan standing there. "Come in Morgan." "I'm sorry to interrupt you, I know that you probably have Jack." Hotch waved off his apology, "Jack's in his room playing video games." He motioned for Morgan to have a seat on the couch, "What's on your mind?" Hotch watched as Morgan struggled with his thoughts; Hotch flashed back to the time when he was accused of murder in Chicago and trying to hide his past—the expression was identical. Hotch waited patiently for Morgan to speak, "Morgan you know that you can tell me anything that you need to." Morgan finally forced it out, "I have to leave the BAU." Hotch felt it coming from the moment he and Emily told the team about their relationship. Through the years, even a blind man could see that there was undeniable chemistry between Prentiss and Morgan. They'd all bet on it and JJ was the winner of that team bet. He knew if Morgan lost Emily, then he'd lose himself. It had been hard on the entire team trying to watch him bounce back and be a single dad. In reality, Hotch knew that he'd only hold out for so long before he needed to leave and be an active father to his son. Hotch had been contemplating leaving himself until everything balanced out between the job and Jack.
"I understand Derek. I know that your heart is in Chicago. I know how hard this has been on you. I respect your decision and will give you a glowing recommendation if you need it." Morgan looked at him in disbelief, "Just like that?" Hotch chuckled, "If I have learned anything, it's that you can't allow this job to rip your family away. Family is sacred and it should always be put ahead of the job. I wished that I learned that lesson sooner." Both men stood and Hotch gave him a rare smile before pulling him into a hug, "Go save your family. We'll miss you, but we have phones, computers, and airplanes. You're not getting rid of us that easy. There will be some red tape that should take about a week, so you have that much time to tell the team in your own way. You've got a great woman. Go and be happy Derek."
0o0o0
Emily was in her garage fixing the transmission on one of her new projects, when she felt the atmosphere change. She felt his presence but wasn't prepared to face him. "What do you want Derek?" He took cautious steps, "A chance to explain." She let out a sigh to cover up the sob that threatened to slip out. "Go ahead Derek." "Will you look at me?" Emily didn't move, so he kept talking. "I know what you saw and I want to explain. I would've never, ever done anything like that to you. Emily I love you more than I've ever loved any woman, including Savannah. I have no idea why she showed up at my place and I swear I pushed her away the minute she kissed me. For crying out loud, you were holding our son. I would never allow him to see womanizing behavior from me and think that it's okay. I love you so much that it hurts sometimes. I don't care if I have to prove it to you every single day until we die, but I can't lose you. You mended my heart when I thought it was impossible. I've given up the job because everyday away from you and Hank breaks my heart more and more." Emily turned around and dropped the wrench she was holding, "You quit the BAU for me?" He walked closer to her, "I quit for us." Emily took a step back from him, "Derek we have a lot to talk about." His heart constricted, "Are you leaving me?" A lone tear rolled down her face and she choked out, "I don't know."