Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the TV series, Criminal Minds.

Family

By
N. J. Borba

"Hey, it's me again."

Derek had already seen it was her on his caller ID. He'd even been tempted to not even answer due to that fact. "Hello again, you," he pushed the words out, trying really hard not to be upset with her.

"Okay," Emily began. "So, I just found some fresh spinach and I was thinking that I could make a big spinach and feta salad to go with the chicken and rice pilaf I'm planning for tonight. How does that sound?"

He took a deep breath, shaking his head even though she couldn't see his exasperation through the phone. "I think it sounds just as good as the last eight suggestions you've made. Honestly, they're not coming here for the food. You could serve my mother and sisters peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and they wouldn't mind."

"Right," she scoffed at his response. "They're flying in to meet their granddaughter and niece for the first time; a child who is two and a half years old; a child I didn't tell any of you about for the last three years. How many strikes against me is that already? I'm certainly not adding PB&J to that list."

"Fine," Derek realized he wasn't going to win the argument against her. "Just stop calling me about all of this."

"You don't even care," she huffed.

Morgan resisted the urge to hang up on her right then. He loved her to death, but she could be more of a handful than Beth some days. Of course, they'd only been living together for a few weeks before deciding to throw his mother and sisters into the mix. Derek knew that was a lot to ask of a new relationship, but he really hoped that the initial tensions would soon fade. "Yes, of course I care. But you are obsessing," he pointed out the raw truth.

"I am not obs…"

"Emily," he stopped her before she could further protest. "You have called me ten times in an hour. Please, just pick something, buy it and get home. I have to leave for the airport in an hour and you have my car. I love you, good-bye," he finally hung up without waiting for a reply. Morgan felt a bit bad, but she was really starting to get on his very last nerve.

Derek dumped the cell phone onto the kitchen counter and was about to head upstairs to check on his sleeping beauty when there was a knock at the front door. Morgan detoured to the entry, peeked through the window at the top of the door and smiled. He yanked the door open with surprise and delight. Morgan stood on the porch and wrapped his arms around the woman standing there. "Mama," he stepped back, kissing her cheek. "What are you doing here?"

Fran Morgan chuckled. "I did tell you we were coming to visit, didn't I?"

"Yes," he grinned. "I just meant that you're early. I was planning to pick you and the girls up at the airport later."

"We were offered seats on an earlier flight and I really didn't have time to call you, it all happened so fast," she explained. "And then we decided to take a cab from the airport here to save you the trouble. Well, actually we took two cabs. The girls headed to the hotel first thing to change and get settled there. But I couldn't resist stopping here first to see you right away."

His smile grew brighter, so pleased to have his mom visiting. It was a rare occasion that it wasn't him flying to Chicago to see all of them. Derek put his arm about her shoulder and ushered into the house, closing the door behind them. "What is this talk about a hotel? I thought we agreed that you'd all stay here with us."

"You said it was only two bedrooms. That's hardly enough space for five adults and a child," she replied, gazing around the house. It was small, but cozy and very tidy. There were even bunches of fresh flowers in several places. Clearly that was Emily's doing, because she knew her son never kept house to that extent.

He took her purse and sat it on a chair in the entry then led her into the living room. "There's a full basement set up with beds for Sarah and Desi, and you can stay in our room and Emily and I are planning to sleep on an air mattress in Beth's room."

She waved a dismissive hand at his suggestion. "I can't put you out like that."

"Mama, you're not putting anyone out. I promise. You flew all the way here, I don't want you spending money on a hotel too," he continued to protest, wondering why all the women in his life were trying to be difficult this particular day.

"I'd spare no expense to see my granddaughter. Neither of your sisters seems to be in a hurry to give me grandbabies. Beth could be my only one, which means I plan to spoil her rotten. So, where is she?"

Derek sighed, admitting defeat for the moment. Hopefully he could try again later to convince her to stay with them. "Beth's still napping. We weren't expecting you until later, remember?"

"Right," she nodded. "Well, where is Emily?"

"Um," he wasn't sure what all he should tell her about Emily's sudden neurotic behavior. "She's just at the store, should be home soon."

Fran spun around, having sensed a note of something in his voice that seemed guarded. "I really hope she's not going to any trouble on our account. I wouldn't want her making a big fuss about this visit."

He shrugged off her words. "No, of course not. Emily's not much of a fusser." Derek directed her toward the kitchen at the back of the house. "Would you like something to drink? How about some water? Or iced tea, maybe some lemonade?"

His mother frowned as she came to stop beside a kitchen counter. She faced her son and noticed that he was having trouble making eye contact with her. "Derek, I've know you since the day you were born. Do not try to lie to your mother."

"Okay," his shoulders sagged a little. "Emily is a little nervous about the visit. But you didn't hear that from me," he held his hands up for a moment, but smiled as he went about getting his mother something to drink.

They both sat down at the kitchen table and sipped lemonade, chatting about her trip. Beth came wandering into the room about twenty minutes later; her duck tucked under one arm as she sleepily made her way to Derek's side. "Daddy, up?" she asked, wanting to be held.

"Hey, sweetheart," Morgan plucked her off the floor and sat her on his lap. He kissed her forehead as she snuggled against his chest. "You didn't take a very long nap. I bet you knew that your grandma was here, didn't you?" he asked. Derek directed the girl's attention toward his mother. "Can you say hi to grandma?"

Beth looked at the woman and seemed a little confused. "Grandma? No," she shook her head.

Derek chuckled and flashed his mother an apologetic smile. "I think she's used to Elizabeth as grandma. She obviously doesn't understand," he looked down at his daughter. "This is my mommy, she's your other grandma," he tried to explain.

Fran smiled to watch her son interact with the girl. "Beth, maybe you'd like to call me something else?" she suggested. "How about, Nana?"

The child laughed. "Nana, eat!" she exclaimed.

"Oops," Morgan couldn't help chuckling along with his daughter for a moment. "I'm afraid that nana is what she calls bananas," he explained.

His mother laughed with them, happy to see them enjoying their selves. For many years Fran had worried that her son was far too entrenched in his career. She was proud of the work he did, but she'd often hoped that he'd finally settle down and start a family, have a life away from the stresses of work. Now that he did, she was thrilled for him. "I can see where that might be confusing," she agreed. "Well, Beth," one hand reached out to stroke the girl's cheek. "I'm so glad to finally meet you, and I'm sure we'll figure out something for you to call me. As long as it isn't granny, because…"

"Granny!" Beth shouted.

Morgan cringed. "I should have warned you she's really good at repeating things," he bounced the girl on his knee. "Aren't you, smart girl?"

"Smargirl!"

The woman couldn't stop smiling as she stared at the child. "You know what?" Fran addressed the girl. "You, and only you, have permission to call me granny. If that's what you'd like to call me," she concluded.

Beth's little brown eyes sparkled as she grinned. "Hi, granny," she said, looking directly at her grandmother and batting her eyelashes like a pro.

"Hello, sweet girl," Fran replied, leaning in to kiss the girl upon her cheek. "You are a charmer just like your daddy, aren't you?" she winked at her son before quickly returning her attention to the child. "Would you like to sit with me?" the woman held her hands out to her granddaughter.

Derek watched as Beth turned to look up at him, an inquisitive expression on her face. "It's okay, darling," he encouraged her, but decided not to push the matter. He'd leave the decision fully up to Beth to make. And he was over the moon when the child carefully reached out to be taken by his mother. Morgan had hoped for an easy introduction to his family. He'd had a feeling Beth and his mom would get along famously, but one could never be sure. Now, as Beth settled onto his mother's lap, he heard the older of the two whispering all the plans she had for their visit; trips to the park and zoo, baking cookies and playing on the swing outside. "Good to see that spoiling rotten promise has already kicked in," he teased his mother.

They all heard and saw the back door open as Emily stumbled in, balancing three canvas shopping bags in her arms. "Derek, I swear to God I'm going to kill you for hanging up on…" she stopped short when she spotted him sitting at the table with his mom and Beth seated on Fran's lap. Her mouth hung open as the bags were dropped onto the counter. "I, um…" Emily swallowed the huge lump in her throat.

"Mama!" Beth cried out and reached for her.

Emily silently thanked her daughter for being on her side. She moved around the counter and went straight for Beth, cautiously eyeing Derek in the process. "Hey, baby," she greeted her daughter. "Did you have a good nap? Are you ready for a snack?"

Fran and Derek got to their feet. "Emily, it's so nice to see you again," his mother spoke first.

"It's good to see you, too," Emily replied amiably. She tried not to glare too hard at Derek as she ground out the next words in his direction. "There are several more bags in the car," she let him know in a not-so-subtle manner. On one hand she was upset with him for hanging up on her and wanted to punish him by making him get the bags. One the other hand, standing there facing his mother, Emily changed her mind and decided she wanted to escape. "Never mind, I'll go get them," she began to hand Beth off to him.

"No," he shook his head, edging toward the door. "I'll do it."

She licked her lips and then mashed them together in a thin line as he quickly vanished out the back door. Emily had the distinct feeling she wasn't going to see him or the other groceries for a few minutes longer than it would actually take to retrieve them from the car. "You're early," she said to Fran, carrying Beth over to the refrigerator. Emily pulled out some juice and poured a glass. Then she grabbed some sesame crackers from the cupboard.

"I'm sorry about the surprise," Fran apologized. "But I jumped at the chance to see you all a little earlier," she explained.

"All of us?" Emily whispered doubtfully to herself as she moved across the room and sat Beth down at the table with her crackers and juice.

"Yes, all of you," Fran had picked up on the words, despite how softly Emily had spoken them. She watched the younger woman tend to Beth with patients and kindness, kissing the child atop her head before she went to the task of putting away groceries. "Emily, I understand that you're nervous about all of this and I…"

Emily looked up, a package of lasagna noodles in one hand and a block of cheese in the other. "Nervous? I'm not nervous. Why would you think I'm nervous?" there was a defensive tone to her words. "I want you to get to know Beth; you and Derek's sisters. I'm the one who planned all of this, so what would I have to be nervous about? I'm not nervous."

Fran smiled, knowingly. "Really? Because you just said the word nervous five times," she pointed out. "And if I was in your shoes I'd probably be a complete mess."

The smallest hint of a smile passed over Emily's features. She couldn't help admire the woman's honesty. "Derek told you I was nervous, didn't he?"

"It might have slipped out," Fran nodded. "But only because I could tell he was lying. A mother always knows when her child is trying to lie."

Beth was making her crackers walk along the edge of the table when Emily glanced her way. The smile on her face returned, fuller and more genuine. She looked to Fran again. "Hopefully I won't have to test that theory for several more years," she said, moving to the fridge first and depositing the cheese.

"I hope not, too," Fran smiled, helping to pull some items out of a bag. "I also hope you know I don't hate you, Emily. I wasn't terribly happy when Derek first told me about Beth and everything that had happened. I love my son very much, but I know he was just as much to blame for all of this. And when he told me that the two of you had agreed to let the past go, I was very willing to go along with that mind set."

"More juice, pwease!" Beth called out from across the room. Her head was turned toward Emily, lips curled in a happy grin.

As Emily went to fill Beth's glass, Fran followed her and sat down by the child. "I still can't believe how much she looks like Derek. Even more so than in the pictures you sent. She looks so much like you, too, of course."

"That's good," Emily chuckled as she returned to her previous task. "I guess that means I took the right baby home from the hospital." There was a brief moment of silence before the two of them erupted into laughter over her comment. And Emily felt a twenty pound weight lift from her chest.

They were both still laughing when Derek returned, two bags in each hand and one in the crook of his left arm. He sat a few down on the floor so he could get the others onto the counter without dropping anything. Derek looked up at Emily for a second then he glanced over at his mother. He was afraid to say anything for fear of breaking the happy spell that seemed to be cast over the two women. "My goodness," Fran got up again and joined them at the counter. "Did you buy the whole store?"

Emily wore a sheepish smile as she shrugged. "I couldn't decide, so I got a variety of things. They had some great fresh spinach. I thought we could do a salad with it, or I have a recipe for a spinach lasagna that's really good."

"I think a salad sounds nice," Fran offered her opinion.

"I thought so too," Emily glanced over at Derek, who had yet to say a word since returning. "And I was going to grill some chicken with it and make a rice pilaf."

Derek's mother nodded along. "All of that sounds lovely."

"Does it sound better than a peanut butter sandwich?" Emily asked, pointedly eyeing Morgan again as she spoke.

"Much," Fran replied.

One of Emily's elbows caught Derek in the side. "I told you so," she whispered.

Morgan rubbed his rib cage and made a face at her, pretending to be more hurt than he really was. Actually he was more shocked that anything. "So, what just happened here?" he asked. "I was gone for less than five minutes and when I come back the two of you are the best of friends and laughing, and ganging up on me?" Derek pulled several boxes of cereal out of one bag and watched the two women smile conspiratorially. "Maybe I'll just leave the two of you alone," he tried to make a getaway.

"Oh, no," Emily grabbed his arm. "You're helping me with dinner."

"I can do that," Fran offered.

Emily shook her head. "No, no. Your only job during this visit is to get to know your granddaughter," she handed Fran the bag of crackers she'd gotten out for Beth earlier. "She'll probably want some more of these soon."

Derek and Emily watched his mother sit down with Beth again and strike up a conversation with the child. Morgan put the cereal away in the pantry cupboard and then snuck up on Emily, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. He kissed her cheek and nuzzled her neck. "I'm sorry I hung up on you," he whispered in her ear.

She smiled, turning around in his arms. "And I'm sorry I was obsessing… a little."

He let her off the hook for her 'little' comment, even though he knew it had been a lot of obsessing. "I'm really glad you and mama are getting along."

"Me too," Emily's smile broadened. "If your mother is any indication, I can't wait to see your sisters. I already liked your family a lot when I met them in Chicago, now I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better."

"Our family, Emily," he corrected her, pressing a soft kiss against her lips as he heard Beth jabbering on excitedly about ducks and the park. Morgan smiled when he listened to his mother respond to the child with equal enthusiasm. "Our family," he reiterated.

End