"She was my dream. She made me who I am, and holding her in my arms was more natural to me than my own heartbeat. I think about her all the time. Even now, when I'm sitting here, I think about her. There could never have been another."

― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Their case was in Virginia, meaning they didn't have to travel. Emily stood in the BAU round table room, her hands on the small of her back, her feet spread out shoulder width apart. The deep red merlot shirt flowed over her changing form. She had sent JJ, Luke, Reid, and Rossi out to talk to the local LEOs and examine the crime scene. Tara and Matt stayed behind to help build a geographic profile, and help Emily speak with the families and the victims. Currently, it was quiet, Emily staring at the board. They had been going all day and Matt texted Derek that maybe he should bring up a smoothie for Emily. She turned her nose up at the sandwiches they had ordered from the deli in downtown Quantico and it had been a long day so far.

When Derek came up onto the BAU floor, Matt gave him a slight head nod and motioned towards the mezzanine. He took the steps two by two, a smoothie in hand. Opening the door, he placed it on the table before standing behind his wife. His hands reached around and gently cupped her baby belly and held it up gently. Her body relaxed, leaning back against him. "Matt said you haven't eaten yet."

"The pastrami smelled disgusting." She replied, a shrug rolling through her shoulders, her eyes never moving from the cork board in front of her.

"I brought you a smoothie." He said gently, making no attempt to move as he felt her small body relaxed and her energy calm. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to her neck. His eyes moved up and looked at the board. "Need an extra set of eyes."

Sighing, Emily ran her fingers through her hair. "I dunno, it just seems...something's wrong and I can't figure out what." Voice in the bullpen announced the team's arrival back, though neither Derek nor Emily moved.

After a few moments, and numerous shadows walking past, they separated and Derek placed the smoothie in her hands. "Drink." He ordered gently. "I'll come back in a few hours with something else. Any aversions or just general feeling gross?" He asked, his hands shoved deep in her pockets, rocking back on his heels.

"Anything with meat." She admitted slowly.

"Aright, I'll bring pasta or something that doesn't have meat in it." Derek gave her a smile. "You sure you're okay?"

Another nod. "Yeah, just stiff." Moving to open the door, she gave Luke and Reid a smile as they hovered around the door. "We can get the rest of the team and talk about our findings." Emily sat down at the table, a soft groan slipping from her lips. Both Reid and Luke exchanged worried glances.

"Are you okay Emily? You aren't going into labour early, are you?" Luke questioned, looking between his boss and his friend.

A frown wrinkled her forehead and Emily shook her head. "No, just a child hammering on a vital organ." She uttered, rubbing a spot high up on her belly. The rest of the team filtered in, JJ giving Emily a look, her eyebrows arching.

Emily ignored it, and picked up the smoothie, sipping it slowly. She waited it a few moments as the rest of the team filtered in. Exhaling softly, she adjusted herself high enough in the chair that she was slightly more comfortable. "Alright, what do we have?" She asked, putting down the cup ad looking back at the team.

Ideas, facts, and theories came out around the table, discussed and debated. Emily winced, pressing her hand to her belly, though stayed focused on what Matt was saying. After a few moments, whoever was doing the kicking and punching calmed and Emily exhaled the breath she didn't realise she was holding.

They were able to create a preliminary profile and they set out the boundaries of his hunting grounds. The assumption that his killing had slowed, until they got another phone call from the local LEOs. Rossi and JJ were at the coroner's with the body of the last victim, and Matt and Luke were at a previous dump site, leaving Emily, Tara, and Reid.

"Let's go." Emily said as she pulled herself to her feet. She arched her eyebrows as Reid who was starting to open his mouth to protest. "I promise I'll wear a jacket." She retorted, heading to her office.

Tara and Reid exchanged a glance and the older of the two agents got to her feet. "We're on Emily duty today I guess."

"But wait, do we know how her blood pressure is? And when was the last time she saw her OB? Women who are pregnant with multiples have a four time higher chance of going into preterm labour than in other pregnancies…" Reid scrambled to his feet. "I mean, I learned how to deliver babies but I'm not sure Emily would want me to see...that part of her. Or Derek for that matter." He frowned and followed Tara out of the room. "Wait...Lewis…"

The cool wind whipped around them as they stood in the field. Emily and Tara looked far more at home in boots and their FBI windbreakers than Reid did, their hands shoved deep inside their pockets, Emily's pulled taught over her stomach. There were two more bodies, the women that had been abducted two days ago. Both raped, tortured and murdered. They walked around the scene, noting footprints, the way the grass was stamped down, how the victim's arms were crossed over their chests and partially covered by dried grass and fallen leaves.

Emily was about to comment on how this was the first sign of remorse when her vision swam in front of her, greying on the edges. Warmth washed over her, sweat beading in her hairline running down her back. She lost her footing and fell to the ground, crumpling in a pile in the dust and dry grass.

"Emily!" Tara was quickly beside her, on her knees in the dust, using her windbreaker to prop up the other woman's head.

Long eyelashes fluttered and Tara waved to Reid with the order of water. "Hey, you're okay." Tara said gently, brushing sweaty locks off her forehead. Her dark fingers pressed gently against her carotid, feeling her heartbeat fluttering wildly. "When was the last time you ate, Em?"

Her head was spinning as Emily stared up at her friend's face. Her mouth was dry, her body hot and sweaty. Finally, almost painfully slowly, Emily nodded weakly. "Y-yeah." She mumbled, her tongue licking dust dried lips.

Reid came back with a bottle of water and helped Tara sit Emily up slowly. "Are you okay Emily? Are you going into labour? DO YOU NEED TO PUSH?"

She laughed, soft and careful, but she laughed. "I'm not in labour." Emily said sitting up. "I had a smoothie, but Derek was going to bring something else to eat." She explained making a face as she raked her fingers through her now dirt caked hair.

"Your heart rate is pretty fast, and you're warm. You're probably dealing with low blood sugar." Tara said gently. "Reid, do you have anything in your bag? Candy bar or something?"

The younger agent dug through his bag and pulled out a juice box and a granola bar which he handed to Tara. She tore them open and passed it over to Emily who took a small sip of the juice and took a bite of the granola bar. After a few minutes she started to feel a bit better. The two taller agents helped her to her feet, Tara's arm snaking around her waist.

"Derek said he's going to meet us at the office. He has some food and juice." Reid said with a small smile. "He got caught up with a case. He also said that he has a change of clothes if you want to shower."

Emily nodded, leaning heavily on the taller agent. They got back into the SUV and Tara pulled out a package of juicy fruit gum and passed it over to Emily. "Chew." She ordered as they headed back to Quantico.

She was feeling better once they got back, less light headed and her hands had stopped shaking. Derek was waiting at the front for them, a grilled cheese sandwich in one hand and a strawberry banana smoothie in the other. Tara stayed close to Emily while Reid jogged ahead and spoke to his friend. When the two women approached, Derek handed Emily the smoothie and gave Tara's arm a thankful and gentle squeeze. He led his wife over to the tables that were set outside and sat down across from her.

"I'm sorry."

Derek shrugged. "Em, it happens. I mean, I'd be much happier if you could eat more consistently, but being pregnant I know that's not always possible. I'm just happy that Tara and Reid were with you when it happened." He said watching as Emily tore off a piece of the sandwich and chewed it silently.

"You have the right to be angry." Emily said softly as she chewed slowly.

"No I really don't." Derek replied with a shrug. "You're pregnant. You had an aversion to the food and your blood sugar plummeted. Low blood sugar happens, like I said I'm just happy that you had people with you when it happened."

Nodding, Emily took a sip of the smoothie and glanced up at her husband, a small smile playing on her lips. "Reid asked me if I needed to push." She said softly. "He was ready to deliver two babies."

Their laughter was caught in the wind and swirled around them. Derek shook his head and grinned at Emily. "Jesus, I can only imagine."

"No, he was ready, Derek. Like...I think Spence was going to get me on my back with my feet up in the air."

His head leaned back and Derek laughed, his body shaking. "Remind me not to have Reid in the room when you give birth." He laughed looking back at his wife. "Feeling better?"

Nodding, Emily took the last bite of the grilled cheese and brushed her hands free of the crumbs. "Yeah." She held her hands out in front of her and they were steady, no sign of the shaking from earlier.

"Good." Derek smiled and leaned across the table and gave her a soft kiss. "Sorry I was late with bringing you your sandwich." He said when he pulled away. "Got caught up with a case."

It was Emily's turn to shrug. "It's fine, Derek." She said, a small smile on her lips. "We'll get through it together." A soft kick made her smile and she got to her feet and walked over to the other side, gripping his hand and pressing it against her belly. "See, I'm okay."

"Which baby is that?" He asked, pressing his other hand lower on her skin.

"That one is definitely baby A." She said with a laugh. "Baby A is lower, and pretty sure that's a foot. And Baby B is here." Emily moved his hand so it was close to her breast. "Up higher. We'll have to see how they're sitting at our next ultrasound."

A grin washed over his face and Emily placed her hand on top of his. "Next week." He said softly. "And we'll actually be able to see their faces."

"You're gonna be that nerd that frames their 3D ultrasound pictures, aren't you?" Emily accused with a soft smile.

"The biggest nerd." He replied laughing. "And everyone is going to get a picture." Looping his arm around her waist, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Okay, let's go back inside, nerd. I have a killer to catch." She joked.

His grip tightened as they walked into the building and into the elevator. They stopped at the BAU floor and he walked out with her, his arm tight around her.

Reluctantly he let her go, squeezing her hand as he watched her walk the stairs up to her office.

"She's fine, Derek." Tara said as she walked by, giving him a reassuring squeeze on his forearm.

"I know." He watched her duck into her office and sighed, running a hand over his face.

Matt walked by and gave him a small smile. "Do you want to go out for beers this week? We can get a sitter for the kids and Kristy's been bothering me about visiting Emily."

Nodding, Derek gave the younger man a smile. "Sure, that would be great."

Matt nodded and started up the stairs. "I'll get Kristy to text Emily. And Derek, this is all normal, okay? The feelings you're having, they're totally normal."

He released the breath he didn't even know he held and nodded before heading back to his office and back to work.