"…true love is never blind, but rather brings an added light." -Phoebe Cary
"I still think that this is a stupid tradition." Emily grumbled as she packed up her bag along with her wedding dress, shoes, and all of her makeup.
His deep laugh filled the room and he wrapped his arms around her. "Trust me, we know Princess." Derek teased, reaching up and brushing a lock of hair off her face. "But it's just for one night. Tomorrow night we will be a married couple and we will be able to spend every night together as husband and wife.
Dark eyes rolled and Emily nodded. "Fine. I mean, I know that we don't spend every night together but this is different somehow." She mumbled, her forehead resting against Derek's chest. His lips dropped a few gentle kisses on the top of her head.
"I know, but just think. In less than 12 hours, we'll be man and wife." He whispered softly, holding her against his chest. They stayed like that for a few long moments, lost in their own thoughts, bodies intertwined, hearts beating independently, souls together as one. Reluctantly they pulled apart and Derek grabbed Emily's dress bag while she grabbed her duffle bag and they walked over to the Rasheed-Wallace's. The door swung open, Mackenzie in full uniform, keys in hand. She gave them an apologetic smile.
"Hey, sorry, I'll be back in a few hours. I have a client that's attempting to skip town." She said shouldering her bag, her hair pulled back in a severe bun. "Taala is in the house, she just got back from the hospital so just walk in." Jogging to her vehicle, she climbed in and roared off leaving Derek and Emily standing in stunned silence.
Little footsteps broke the silence and Noah toddled over, his arms up in the air. "Emmy, up." He ordered. Cuddling against her, he gave Derek a shy smile. "Hi Dek."
He smiled at the boy and dropped off Emily's bag and hung up her dress in the front closet. Taala walked in, her hair up and wet and gave the couple a smile. "Hey. Kenzie just left, she'll be back in a few hours." She said, giving them a smile. "Uh...I'll...give you guys some time." She said quietly, reaching for her son. Noah buried his face in Emily's chest and grunted softly. "Go way Immi." He mumbled.
Taala shook her head and sighed. "I'll be in the backyard." She said giving them some space.
With a gentle smile, Derek leaned forward, his large hands cupping her face, his thumb brushing over the smoothness of her cheek. "Just one more night, Princess." Leaning forward, he captured her lips with his before feeling two small little hands pressing against his chest.
"My Emmy. Dek, go way." Noah squealed, giving him a glare that was Mackenzie right over.
Laughing, Derek shook his head. "She's your Emmy tonight, bud." He said ruffling the little boy's curls. The space between them grew as he took a step back. "I'll see you tomorrow at three." He said softly, squeezing her hand gently.
"You better be there, Derek."
His eyes met hers with a serious gaze. "There is no doubt I will be."
Dark eyes followed him as he headed through the doorway and back to their home. She gave Noah a soft smile, dropping a kiss on his curls. "Guess you're my date for the night." She said to the little boy who grinned up at her. Walking out into the backyard, she sat down beside Taala and gave her a smile. "Thanks for letting me stay here and use your place as homebase tomorrow."
"Not a problem." Taala gave her a smile and nodded towards the ice tea on the table beside her. "Not happy about the arragents?" Despite being the unit chief of the behavioural analysis unit and a skilled poker player, Emily's poker face was easy to read.
"It's just a stupid tradition." Emily mumbled, putting Noah down on his feet.
Taala's eyes were soft as she gave her friend a smile. "I get it. I hate it when Mackenzie has to go do a court martial on an aircraft carrier or has to go across the country to do research for a case, but at the end of the day we're married and I know that she is coming home to me. You and Derek are the same way, you two will have each other at the end of the day. One more night isn't going to change that."
The older woman broke off eye contact, following the little boy who was toddling around the backyard chasing a soccer ball.
"We've started trying to get pregnant." Emily spit out quietly. "For a few months now. So far nothing." She ended, her eyes tearing away from Noah. "I want to give Derek a family, one that he deserves."
Taala hummed softly, staying silent for a few moments before speaking. "Stop putting pressure on yourself. Give it a few more months, have fun, spend time together. Making a baby shouldn't be work and you shouldn't have expectations. If then you still aren't pregnant, come talk to me and we can do some tests on both you and Derek." She gave Emily a gentle smile. "But right now, you should be worried about getting married, NOT having a baby, okay? And if you want really good birth control you are welcome to come babysit my two legged terrorist ANY day."
Emily nodded and gave Taala a smile. "It's kind of surreal that we're getting married tomorrow." She admitted softly.
"I felt the same way when I married Mackenzie." Taala admitted. "But for different reasons." She laughed. "Anyway, hair and makeup are coming around 11 am tomorrow and the photographer is coming as well. We'll get to Dave's around 230…"
The butterflies that Emily had thought had subdued months ago took off. Her face blanched and she blinked a few times before looking back at Taala.
"It just hit you, didn't it?"
Nodding, Emily inhaled sharply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. "Tomorrow, I'm going to be Emily Morgan." She whispered.
She laid in bed staring up at the ceiling. It had been a couple of hours since she had gone to bed and still no sleep. Pulling out her phone she sent Derek a quick text.
I can't sleep.
His reply came quickly.
Me neither. Take a blanket and go to the backyard.
The lights were still on in the hallway as Emily padded out in sweats and Derek's Bears hoodie. Mackenzie sat at the table, one leg under her, a pair of clear framed glasses on her face. She glanced up and gave Emily a smile. "Sorry, am I disturbing you?"
"No, I couldn't sleep." She gave her a smile. "Can I take a blanket outside?"
Taking off her glasses, Mackenzie nodded and went and grabbed a blanket from the couch. "Sure." She gave Emily a smile. "I told Penelope that I'd make sure that you two are following the rules."
Emily shrugged and took the blanket before heading out back.
"Sit with your back against the fence." Derek's voice ordered softly.
Wrapping herself up in the blanket, Emily sat down at the base of the fence, her heart almost flying out of her chest when she felt Derek's hand under the fence. She placed hers in his larger one and sighed.
"Are you nervous?" He asked, his own back leaning against the wooden fence.
At first she wasn't sure how to answer that. Nervous? Maybe. Excited? Definitely. "I'm not nervous about marrying you, Derek. I know in my heart and soul that we belong together, and I'm not nervous about going in front of our friends and family to express our love to each other. I'm ready."
Across the fence, Derek audibly exhaled. He squeezed her hand. "I'm ready too, Princess."
The night wore on and he stifled a yawn. "We should go to bed." He said finally.
"Yeah." Squeezing his hand, she slowly got to her feet. "I'll see you tomorrow, Derek."
"I'll see you tomorrow Emily."
They went their own ways for the last time in their lives.
She heard Penelope and JJ before she saw them, burying deep under the duvet on the bed. The duvet was ripped off and Penelope grinned down at her. "Come on, bride. Let's get ready for your wedding." She sang dropping beside Emily. "Today you will become Emily Morgan…"
Rolling out of bed, Emily sighed and looked at the faces of her best friends. "I think I might puke." She mumbled, pressing her fists into her eye sockets.
"Let's get some food into you and we can start getting ready for your wedding!"
JJ offered Emily an apologetic smile and her hand. "Let's go, Em. Your prince charming is going to be waiting for you."
Nodding, Emily got up and kicked Penelope and JJ out of the room so she could change into the slip she was planning on wearing under the dress. She emerged and gave everyone a shy smile, her mother, Fran, and Derek's sisters had already arrived.
Mackenzie flew by, dropping toast with peanut butter and banana cut on it, and a glass of water. "Protein, water, simple carbs." She said in way of explanation. Her hair was pulled high on the top of her head and she started to order the make up artists, hair stylists and photographers around with marine precision. "Remember, this is Emily's day!"
Makeup was applied, dresses on, hair done. JJ, Penelope, and Tara dressed in their blue bridesmaid dresses, and Emily in her ivory dress. Her makeup was gentle and understated, her hair in soft dark curls down her back.
"You look amazing, dear." Elizabeth Prentiss said softly, kissing her daughter lightly on the cheek.
"Derek's gonna crap his pants when he sees you. Or's gonna cry." Desiree said with a laugh. "You look so beautiful."
Looking at herself in the mirror, Emily exhaled deeply. She looked like a princess out of one of her books, she could barely recognize herself. Her lip quivered and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay.
"You can't cry yet." JJ said coming up from behind Emily, wrapping her arms around her best friend. "You look so amazing, Em. Now let's go find your Prince."
Derek readjusted his tie for the 30th time and looked at himself in the mirror. The grey shirt set off the blue off the blue of his tie and his black suit. Running his hands over his head and face, he looked at Rossi in the reflection of the mirror and frowned.
"Man, how did you do this four times?"
With a smirk, Rossi came up behind him, hands on Derek's shoulders. "Because I wasn't nearly as nervous as you are now. That would probably be one of the key signs that I wasn't ready to marry any of those women." He said honestly. "You guys have been in love for years, it just took you idiots longer to figure it out." Straightening Derek's suit jacket he gave him a smile. "Well, I'm going to go wait for the ladies." He said with a small mock bow.
Turning to Luke and Spencer, Derek sighed. "The justice of the peace is here?" He asked nervously, his hands wringing in front of him.
The youngest agent nodded. "Everything is ready. I just saw the photographer come in, should we head out?" He asked, straightening his tie. Luke grabbed Derek by the shoulders and led him out into the backyard.
People were starting to fill in, his mom walking in and wrapping him in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you." She whispered in his ear. "Your dad is too, I know."
Derek exhaled softly through his nose as he tried to calm his pounding heart, the blood rushing in his ears. He chased unsubs for a living, faed down some of the most dangerous people in the country without batting an eyelash, but here he was, his palms sweating and his heart racing. The music cued and he, Spencer, and Luke headed to the back where the arch was set up.
Ambassador Prentiss walked down the aisle and took her seat, then his mom and his sisters.
His eyes closed and took a deep breath as he walked out behind them, a shaky smile on his face. Spencer followed and took his place beside him then Luke. He swallowed hard Tara and Penelope walked down the aisle and finally JJ. They all looked radiant in their dresses, their hands gripping white lilies and blue orchids.
Henry, Michael, and Noah all walked down the aisle, hand in hand, Henry holding a small box.
Swallowing repeatedly, his eyes searched desperately for a flash of white to let him know that Emily, his Emily, was going to walk down the aisle. Then the song played. Every little part of their wedding was a little bit different and this was no exception. Instead of Canon in D major, the song "Marry Me" by Train flowed and he smiled seeing Emily, with Dave at her elbow, walk under the arch.
Promise me
You'll Always be, happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you, When all the music dies,
There had never been a more beautiful vision in the world than seeing Emily Prentiss, soon to be Emily Morgan, walking down the aisle towards him.
He promised himself he wouldn't cry, but some promises were meant to be broken. Tears rolled down his cheeks as Emily got to him, Dave putting her hand in his, clapping Derek on the shoulder before stepping aside to stand with Luke and Spencer.
"You look...you are…" His lips came together in a tight line, his eyes closing as he tried to center himself. When he opened them back up, dark eyes were staring back at him. Emily gave him a gentle smile, one that she only used with him. One that said I trust you with my life without so many words. He nodded, their fingers interlacing as they turned to the justice of the peace.