CHAPTER 129

THERE IS A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT YOU, RICHARD

"Hey guys, we just got this delivered." Tara walked in on Tuesday morning, holding a big colorful box with a pretty bow on top.

"Oh, do you think it's a bomb?" Luke laughed, as soon as he saw Tara struggle with the box. He then helped her put it down, on top of his desk.

"Judging by the dimensions and the weight, I'd say it is probably a body part. Like a souvenir, maybe from a killer we've caught before and he's now out of jail. It's most probably a limb. Well, a chopped up one, so it would fit." Reid commented.

"Oh Spence, this is just the way I wanted my day to start…" JJ brushed by his side, on the way to her own desk, before she saw the colorful box.

"Come on, guys. You don't think this could be anything bad. It looks like a package from a preschooler. Seriously, relax." Matt commented, eyeing the package. It looked like something his kids would come up with, for Father's Day.

"How about we just read the card?" Emily joined them, walking down the stairs from her office, after having heard all the commotion at the bullpen.

"Dear BAU…" Emily started reading. "You guys are awesome and I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. Enjoy the treats and have a great, productive day! And, you know, obviously - stay safe! XOXO, Angela Hunter."

"Oh, Baby Boo is just the sweetest!" Garcia squealed, already reaching out to grab one of the cupcakes, as soon as Emily lifted the box lid and revealed what was inside.

"Ah, not so fast! There's a PS to that note: Chocolate frosted ones with the sprinkles are reserved exclusively for Dr. Reid!" Emily read the last line on the card.

Angie would have liked to handwrite it, but the website had given her the option to have it all printed out and ready for delivery, so she'd gone for that, instead.

"And here I thought it wasn't possible to like her any more!" Reid blushed, grabbing one cupcake in each hand, afraid that someone might get to his favorite flavored ones before him.

In her mind, JJ made a parallel between Angela and Emily, when Emily had returned from Interpol and had brought Reid's favorite cupcakes to the office.

"Prentiss, we need to do something about that girl…" Rossi whispered.

He had been huge supporter of the 'Angela Hunter belongs to the BAU' cause that Emily had started, weeks ago.

Without saying a word, Emily walked to her office and for the next few hours she found herself working on yet another document. The petition-oriented one she had recently created for Angela had been emotional, personal, a request. This one, however, was much more legal and would bare many more consequences for her, if anything went wrong.

"Hello? Yes, I would like to speak to Mrs. Prentiss, please."

"Good day, Madam. Who should I inform her for?"

"Prentiss."

"Yes, who should I inform is calling for Mrs. Prentiss?"

"Prentiss! It's just Prentiss."

"Yes, you have reached the Headquarters of Mrs. Prentiss. Please identify yourself."

"Prentiss!" The person on the other side of the line was growing impatient. And angry, more so because the person asking them to identify themselves had known them for years.

"Madam, I am afraid without a name and a title I cannot put you through to Ambassador Prentiss."

"The other Prentiss!" They replied with a growl. "If any of you people even remembers there is another Prentiss out there!" They added snarkily.

"Oh…oooh. Hold the line, please." The man suddenly realized the reason for the confusion.

"Hold the line? Who does he think he is? He watched me grow up. He dragged my suitcase to each airport, every single freaking time this woman dragged my ass to another country. Ugh. Hold the line… I'll hold your throat while you gag, how about that!?" Emily kept on mumbling to herself, enraged by this phone call already.

"Ambassador Prentiss." A few seconds later, another female voice sounded.

Why would she introduce herself like that? She knew who was calling.

"Mother?" Emily reminded her. Clearly that parental connection meant nothing, not just for the staff.

"Emily, it is so…unexpected to hear from you." The woman sighed and Emily could figure out, by the rushed tone, that this was not a good time for a phone call.

"Relax, I'm not dead again. Not yet anyway. I don't need money and I'm not in trouble with the law." Emily replied to all the questions that Elisabeth Prentiss always asked her, so she could move on to discuss what was actually important to her.

"Then why are you calling?"

"Why am I calling?" It was so incredibly hard for Emily not to blow up and give her a piece of mind. Were those the only reasons why she'd ever be allowed to call?

"Well, yes. You never call. I figured something must have happened." Elisabeth replied while flickering through the papers on her desk and only giving Emily half of her attention, if even this much.

"I need your signature on a document." Emily came out and said it.

"What is it?"

"My divorce papers." Emily replied wittily.

She knew she wouldn't be given much attention if she explained in detail what the paper was actually about, so why not jump at this perfect opportunity to let her Snarky Asshole Prentiss side shine?

"Divorcing so soon?" The woman gasped, she sounded genuinely surprised.

"Mother, I'm not even married!" Emily reminded her. How could she not know?

"Listen sweetheart, I have to cut this call short. I have the Governor on the other line. Send that document to my assistant and I will sign it, okay?" The woman insisted.

Before Emily could open her mouth to say a word, the phone call was finished.

"And weirdly, this was the nicest conversation we've had in years…" Emily whispered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.

She took some time off, mentally, during lunch break, to cool off and to re-think it all. The BAU team went to a restaurant on Campus and everyone was cheerful while discussing just about anything, but Emily kept to herself. In her head, she was revising every word she had written on that document. She also mentally prepared herself for the consequences. But this was her last resort, she had to try.

After lunch, she was even more convinced that filing that document officially was the only option. Also, not the best option. But she just had to do it, for Angela's sake.

As soon as she was back in the office, she saw an incoming e-mail from 'the other Prentiss', as she called her mother, with her signature on it.

Seconds after that, the document was sent in officially, from Emily's Bureau e-mail account.

"She deserves this…" Emily kept reminding herself, overcome with fear of losing her job over this.

It was one thing to beg the Director to do something for her team, but doing what she had just done was a whole new dimension of 'crazy'.

"Bonjour, how is your day?"

Emily sighed, receiving this message. This was most definitely not the best time for a chat with Richard. She had just spent two hours in the meeting room, with her team, going over a few things, since they weren't on a case at the moment.

"Hi, it's horrible. I just did something borderline stupid and so unlike me. Might need to search for a new job soon. How was your day?"

She replied quickly, hiding that burner phone under a pile of documents that she had to revise, now that she was back in her office. Her team had the habit of barging in her office without even knocking, so she wouldn't want to risk anyone seeing her with a second phone in hand. Especially not Garcia.

"Oh? If you know it was so risky, then why did you do it? And uhm, my day was boring and uneventful, which I am quickly realizing is the better option here."

His text made her sigh. Boring and uneventful? She was praying a day like that would come, for her.

"Because I believe in the cause and there is no stopping me when I'm on a mission to accomplish something. I don't want to talk about it, okay? Hey, if push comes to shove, do you think there would be anything for me at your…company? Job? Work place? Organization? Gang? Whatever it is called. I kind of do like Paris and I wouldn't mind a change of scenery."

She wasn't thinking straight. The real Emily Prentiss would never leave her job, her team, her family. She would never leave Angela, not like this…and not in any other way possibly imaginable.

"We are always on the lookout for new…ehm, talents, at my…uhm, workplace. And I'm positive you'd be more than qualified to get drafted. Now, this next statement goes against everything I'd personally want, but…I hope it doesn't come to you, moving away from your entire life and the people you love."

Oh, he was sweet. If he managed to make her smile at a moment like this, then he was a keeper.

"Yeah, this is just my angst speaking right now. I could never leave this place. It's my home. And after years of running and hiding, pretending and trying to figure out who I am and what I stand for, I finally fit in here. I love my job and I love my colleagues. I've just lost some faith in the people above me, but it's fine. Who doesn't hate their boss, right?"

Her text made him laugh, in turn. It was time for him to sound everything but modest.

"Actually, my employees love me! Plus, I give the best birthday presents ever. Oh and you should see the crazy stuff I come up with for the holidays – Easter, Christmas and so on. Man, I'm the best Boss in the world!"

Emily shook her head. There it was - that French arrogance that she had grown to love. She clearly knew he was not bragging, but rather being smart and maybe a little sarcastic with those words.

"Well, there is a lot to love about you, Richard. I have no doubt in my mind that you're a great Boss. Mind being my Boss? And no, this was NOT supposed to come off as a sexual advance. I actually mean it. At least you'd finally grant me my damn internship request and I can finally sleep a whole night, without interruptions. Ugh! I'm sorry, I'm being so negative right now. It's just a lot to go through, on my own."

At this point, Emily left the phone right in front of her. The Hell with everyone, if they busted her texting. She also realized she put his name and the word 'love' in one sentence and that kind of made her a bit self-conscious.

"There is even more to love about you, Emily. I have no doubt you're a strong woman, you said so yourself. We all go through hard times and we all have to make tough decisions, especially if we are higher up on the ladder. And you told me you're the Boss in your team. So, think about the way you inspire them, the way they see you. And then think of ways you could appeal to your own Boss, make him or her respect you, make them grant you that wish. I know little about you, Emily, but I know you would stop at nothing, when you put your heart into something. Keep on being fierce, okay? As for me being your Boss…be careful what you wish for! I might make you pay for it, so you may not be able to sleep at night…and yes, this was supposed to sound sexual. Damn it, you're better than me at innuendos! I'm almost jealous."

He ended his text with a laughing emoticon. He never really sent such huge texts, so he was amazed when he saw a whole screen, full of nothing but his own words.

"I like your innuendos, don't worry. If you want, I could give you a crash course in 'speaking dirty', but that would cost you…hehe. I just can't wait to leave this place and come to Paris, relax a little, think about nothing and nobody, eat my favorite foods, soak up some sun and just…breathe! I'd be fine if we spent the entire weekend on the terrace, with some wine and a good cheese platter. I just really need the change of scenery right now. And I really want to see you."

How did she manage to change topic from suggestive sexual content, to an innocently relaxing weekend? Emily realized she was just rambling, pouring out random things and thoughts.

"Oh, I wanted to ask you if it's okay with you if we went for a lunch at someone's place? No pressure, it's not a friend or a family, it's just someone I recently met – an elder lady from Guatemala. She invited me and I could never say No to some great home cooked food from a foreign country. I'd like to take you. You said you wanted something laid back and chill, so you might enjoy this. That woman is super sweet and she would love to meet you."

Richard had been toying with the idea of giving Consuelo a call. The woman had told him that it was an open invite, for him and the woman he had told her about, when they were being held hostage. This was the best time to cash out on the invite.

Emily smiled wide when she read his message, for so many reasons. He was very thoughtful, he asked permission, but he also asked how she felt about it. He didn't disregard her feelings. That was a first with her and a guy. He had listened when she told him she didn't want fancy restaurants, but rather something small and cozy and a Latino woman cooking for them was the perfect way to spend their lunch time on a weekend. Plus, he hadn't been told this yet, but Emily was worldly. She had traveled around the world extensively, she loved different cultures and she was more than curious about foreign cuisine. This was not perfect, it was beyond wonderfully amazing. And last, but not least – he had figured she wouldn't be comfortable meeting his actual family and friends, so he had asked her to lunch with someone he had only just met as well. All of that was speaking volumes to her little profiler heart.

"That sounds lovely. Wait, how does she even know about me? Didn't you just meet her? Awh, Richard, are you going around, telling people about me? I don't know if that's cute…or creepy…but I kind of like it, hehe!"

He was busted, so there was nothing else left, but to come clean.

"Yes, we met very recently. And I might have mentioned a certain woman I'm interested in. She was curious to see you. Okay, yes, I'm busted. Punish me? :P"

Emily chuckled. Punish him? Oh, she certainly had a few ideas of how to do just that…and the 'gadgets' to do it with.

"I surely will. Now, I hate to do this, but I really need to go over some budget stuff and I need to send it in within an hour, purely because I might not even have this job in an hour, so I'd rather go out with all boxes checked. Thank you for keeping me company and distracting me from my intense lifestyle. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

Emily realized she had lost track of time. Yes, it was cute and fun to sit around and text, but that was not what she was paid to do in that office.

"No problem. Good luck. Budget is a bitch, I would know! Talk to you tomorrow, ma chérie."

She smiled and put the phone away in a drawer before she leaned over her computer and spent the next sixty minutes trying to make sense of all the numbers and charts that she saw. Emily hated budget calculations and she would never admit it out loud, but she kind of sucked at it, too. She always took longer than any other Unit Chief, to finalize her monthly budget report. Then again, she always started doing it an hour before the deadline, so it was a given she'd be the last one to hand it in.

"WTF EMILY!?"

An angry text came to Emily's work phone, minutes after she submitted her budget report that same evening.

"I didn't go over the budget, relax! And I handed it in just in time!" She texted back quickly.

"I'm talking about your other e-mail. You went way over the line of INSANITY! Prentiss, are you trying to get yourself fired!?"

"I'm trying to get justice for something I'm passionate about." She replied.

"You do know your dumb ass complaint has to be processed by my office first, before it goes through to the Government? And you do know the Director's already read it himself, right?"

"Yes, Ben. I know. I personally wrote both yours and his e-mail down in the Recipients line, when I sent that document. And I don't care. I'm not going to be disregarded and silenced, like a little girl. I don't care who he is - it doesn't give him the power to treat me like garbage. Denying my request was one thing, but being an asshole to me is not something I'd ever let go, hence, I'm filing a complaint against him. Simple as that. Emily Prentiss has been silenced by a man, one too many times before. No more of that crap. I have a voice and I have an opinion and I also have the right to speak for myself. Now, if you don't like my choices, feel free to never speak to me again. I simply do not care. I respect you, Ben, but I'm not going to let you, or anyone else, treat me the way I do NOT deserve to be treated! Have a good day and send the Director my best regards."

Emily would have never been so honest and forward with her words. That texting session with Richard just earlier that day had given her the courage to be fierce.

"Tell him yourself! He has requested to see you in his office, first thing tomorrow morning."

"Great. I love it when they cave in and do damage control. Can't wait to see what he bribes me with. However, this complaint is going through to the Government, as soon as it gets processed by your office, so do me a favor and get back to work – file that thing already!"

With that last text reply, Emily put her phone on Silent and went to the Bullpen. She just needed to be surrounded by the people who respected her, despite the fact that Rossi took it upon himself to tease her about cooking with cooking wine, instead of drinking wine, then Luke pointed out how her shirt was unbuttoned and she felt incredibly embarrassed, and then Reid had come up with a theory on Emily being an alien, for whatever reason. It all made her laugh, she enjoyed being teased by those weirdos. All of them needed the fun, when they were not active on a case. That was what kept them grounded.

At the very same time, a few floors up, in the same building, something else had been happening - something that Emily had no idea about.

"Benjamin, I'm going to need your phone for just a second." The Director stated as soon as his assistant walked in his office, after he called him in urgently.

"Sir…" Ben looked distressed. He had already read Emily's e-mail attachment and he knew the Hell that was about to break loose.

"Your phone, Benjamin?" The Director urged him.

"We are going to text Agent Prentiss and see where she stands." He added.

"Sir, all due respect, but Agent Prentiss is like a friend to me. I understand the job and the consequences she would have to face, but I am not comfortable playing her like this…"

"Benjamin, shut up and start typing." The Director was a man whose word shall never be disobeyed.

Ben sat next to him, so they would both be looking at the screen of his phone. There was no way Ben could hide whatever it was that Emily would reply to him.

"WTF EMILY!?" Had been the first text that he had sent.

As the texts kept coming, the Director's smirk grew wider. Ben had turned to take a glimpse of his face a few times and he was confused. The man did not seem pissed off, at all, not even when he read how Emily called him an 'asshole'.

The entire chat, Ben had been forced to type the words that came out of the Director's mouth. Emily had to think it was Ben talking to her, as a friend, while the Director needed to see what Emily would say, to a friend, in that situation. And oh, that woman had no filter.

"Tell her I have requested to see her first thing tomorrow morning." The Director requested, as his final text to that woman.

Ben complied and they both read Emily's snarky reply before this mess was over and done with. Ben felt incredibly guilty, but he had no other choice.

"She is perfect…" The Director mumbled to himself, as Ben was on his way out of the office, keeping his head down and feeling used and sorry for himself, and for Emily, too.

This was the third time Ben had heard his Boss say those words, about Emily Prentiss. Each time he had kept quiet, but this time those words struck a nerve.

"Perfect for what?" Ben mustered enough courage to finally ask, as he turned around before he'd open the door to leave this office.

"You'll see. You'll all see…" The Director smiled.

Why wasn't he mad? Upset? Enraged? Disappointed? Why was he so calm and almost…proud?

"JJ, a word?" Emily had been overthinking something for hours now.

It was the evening and the first few people on her team had already left the building. She saw JJ gather her things before she would leave, so this was her chance to talk to her.

"Sure, what's up?" JJ walked over to her with a smile.

Emily pointed to her office, clearly wanting some privacy. Reid, Tara and Rossi were still hanging around the Bullpen and she wouldn't want them overhearing anything.

"Is everything alright?" JJ was alarmed when Emily closed the door after them.

"I think I might have accidentally dropped the "L" word on him…" Emily blurted out.

"Woah…" JJ's eyes grew wide. This was definitely way too soon. Then again, she didn't know much about that relationship.

"Here, come. Check it out…" Emily sat on the couch, with JJ by her side.

She let JJ scroll through the latest chat and she just stood there, biting on the knuckle of her thumb, waiting for JJ's thoughts.

"Oh my God, Emily! You asked him to be your Boss? Most importantly – you're thinking of moving to Paris!?" JJ gasped, reading the beginning of the conversation.

"Shh, shut up and keep reading!" Emily urged her.

She hadn't meant to let JJ read everything, but if she only read the part of the conversation where Emily dropped the "L" bomb, it wouldn't be clear, as it would be way out of context.

"Oh…" JJ chuckled when she got to the important part.

"So, what do you think? Did I make a fool out of myself?" Emily felt like if she bit her thumb any harder, blood would come streaking.

"Wait, he replied somewhat the same. No, I think you're fine. He wasn't weird about it and your statement was way too general. It was referred to the things he does, not to him, personally. I don't think you should stress over that. It came out casual and I think it was kind of sweet, in an innocent kind of way, you know?" JJ commented.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Emily, relax. Even if you told him you loved him, why would that be a problem? If you feel that way - tell him. Yes, it might be too soon, but only you know how you really feel. And, as I see, you're being more than open and honest, with the way you talk to him. That's a good thing, Emily. Relationships are built upon trust and mutual respect, and what I'm seeing here, well apart from all the sexual underlining, is just that – trust, respect and honesty. I think this is good for you, Ems."

Emily sighed with relief. She needed to hear those words.

"Also, can I just say how cute it is that he invited you to that lunch? It's a step, but not a huge enough step to make you want to run away. And before you try to deny it - I know you, you'd run for your life if you felt like something was moving too fast. Don't you dare try to deny it." JJ added with a smirk.

"Well, yeah. I have to admit I am like that. But not with him. JJ, I don't know what it is, but I like talking to him. And I've never been much of a talker, with guys…if you know what I mean."

"I know what you mean. I've been in the same hotel with you and that…what was his name…that guy you dated briefly…like, a few years ago…the one who called the Ladies his 'sweet vanilla cupcakes', remember?" JJ blushed. She had never really told Emily about that.

"Shit…How…?"

"My room was two doors down. And yes, it was still audible. I slept with the windows opened. Or rather – I tried to sleep…" JJ gave her a judgy look.

"Oh my God…" Emily's cheeks turned red, she put her palm on her forehead and she could not stop laughing.

"I thought your room was downstairs. I made sure I was the only one up on that floor…"

"It was, originally. And then I figured out that the water in the bathroom was not running, so I got upgraded to being your neighbor. Or rather, downgraded. Although, I'm sure the downstairs floor wouldn't have made much difference if those windows were still open. Woman, you are wild!" JJ had kept that secret for years. She was glad it was out now, so that she could tease Emily mercilessly.

"I did not need to know that…" Emily shook her head, feeling way too ashamed to even speak. "I'm sorry. I had no idea…Wow, and to think this wasn't even the best…ehm, experience I've had."

"Oh, because it could get worse? Like, louder?" JJ challenged. She wouldn't want to hear that.

Emily just bit her lip and remained quiet.

"So, change of topic…" JJ suggested, for the sake of he own sanity. "I like this Richard guy. He seems educated and well behaved. When can I meet him?"

"Ooh, not anytime soon. I'm taking this one slooow. I'm known to burn things when I go too fast." Emily commented, clutching onto the phone.

"Good. That's actually a very good decision. I'm proud of you, Em."

"Proud? Why?" Emily was not sure where JJ's words had come from.

"Well, for being honest with a guy and for not trying to run away. I feel like you actually want this to go further than just a random hook up. I've known you for years and I've never seen this side of you. I think you actually really like this guy. And, again, he sounds like a keeper."

"I really do like him. And it's weird, because I know absolutely nothing about him, other than his name."

"Then ask him. He seems honest enough, he'd tell you."

"Yeah. Uhm, here's where the Emily that you've known for years has screwed up, yet again. You see, I kind of told him I don't want to know anything about him. Well, about his job, anyways. And he's been begging me to let him tell me everything, but I've shot him down each time."

"Oh, why?"

"I just…I have this weird feeling. I know he's a good guy, but I feel like…I don't know. Like something else is going on, like there is something I need to know, but it's something I wouldn't like. He said so himself. And I just…I don't want to risk it, you know?"

"Well, I don't think you're being rational here, Emily. It sounds like he has some truths that might hurt, but it also sounds like he has been doing his best to get your permission to share those truths with you. I think you're being selfish here. Just remember that, one day, if things blow up, you owe him the courtesy of listening to his version of the story. It would be the right thing to do."

"I know and I've promised him that. I'm just not ready for more truths. I have secrets of my own that I've been dealing with recently and I just can't add one more secret to that list, even if it isn't my own…if that makes sense."

"It does make sense, Emily. But you can't get into a relationship, based on secrets."

"That's exactly what he said when we agreed to give 'us' a chance…"

"Well, he sure is a wise man then. Ball is in your court now. Play the game wisely or you might end up losing something that was worth fighting for. And I see how much you're fighting for it, Ems."

Emily did not speak. She let JJ's words sink in for a long moment. She was right - Emily needed to be more open to the truth, even if it would hurt her.

"Thanks for the talk, ChayChay. I really needed to hear all that. Well, not the part about the hotel…I'll have nightmares about that revelation." Emily laughed, wondering how JJ had managed to keep this a secret for so long. The two of them discussed the most private things on a daily basis.

"Thanks for coming to me, for advice. I appreciate that. And I love you, but I really need to get back home. Henry and I are having dinner at his favorite place tonight and I don't want to be late. Will and Mickey are watching cartoons and ordering their favorite pizzas. It'd this new little thing we do where we spend one-on-one time with the kids and we clearly rotate the kids."

"I'm glad things at home have settled down. I've been worried about you. Now go, sneak in a hug from me, if Henry lets you."

"Hug? He is in the phase of 'give me my damn space' now. Although, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I said it was from you. He adores you. You have a way with kids, Em-…"

"Mhm…" Emily muttered, thinking of JJ's last words and also cutting her off before she'd go on her usual rant about 'I can see it, Em – you…kids…I can see it'. And it wasn't even that Emily was annoyed when JJ gave her that speech. It was just too much to handle, since she knew it in her heart that she agreed completely, with all the valid points JJ always made as to why Emily Prentiss was 'mother material'.

REVIEW REPLIES:

"rmpcmfan" In the show, Emily was shown talking to a female therapist. In my mind, this is the same therapist, I just named her Martha Allen, as we didn't know the character's name, on the show. I just made Martha be a bit older, so that she'd be like a 'motherly' figure for Emily to look up to and almost like the 'cool, young grandma' figure for Angela to obsess over and to feel confident enough to confide in. Also, because Martha is said to have been with the Bureau for maaany years, hence why she now handles the Brass, as she's accumulated so much knowledge and she can be of help for those more complicated cases, like Emily's trauma. You're right - Angie's trauma is not something a newbie therapist can deal with. It's not the 'OMG, the Academy is so hard!' kind of a complaint, so anyone who only follows Academy-related patients would be utterly useless, in Angie's case. And it should by now be absolutely clear that Angela has some pretty screwed up trauma going on and she never utters a word about it, for so many reasons. Martha feels like the only one competent enough to decipher Angie's crazy words about monkeys and panthers. Also yeah, the Black Panther just popped in my head, as I needed a new animal to speak about, lol! It's symbolism is impeccable and no other 'mystical' creature could ever fit Emily better! Well, maybe a vampire, lol! As for the parallels between Angie and Emily - they are there for a reason, Detective *wink*. Cat's out of the bag - Monkey is a female! Although, Martha had known this from the start. The trauma and abandonment issues (therefore - trust issues!) that Angie has could only have derived from a female, since Angie is not really one to obsess over boys and relationships, so if it had been a case that a guy had dumped her, she'd not even care (important to note here that it may NOT even be a romantic relationship that caused her distress...it might be something from the childhood!)! Also, Monkey's past is just as shadowy as Angela's. (Another parallel?) Angie is desperate to leave Monkey behind and she has 'projected' her feelings for Monkey onto Black Panther now, instead. Martha frowns upon this whole 'projecting one's feelings to another human being' thing, but Angela has her reasons for doing it and it does make her feel VERY good, right now. She's getting close to Emily Prentiss and she's learning about the things Emily Prentiss likes to do and she enjoys that. As for Morgan - I'm waiting for a moment that would make sense, for him to reappear in the BAU life. And there might be a bit of a...ehm, controversy around that. One reason - remember how upset Derek was when Emily came back from the dead, on the show? He was clearly happy she was alive, but he felt betrayed by Emily, whom he loved dearly and spent every second of his day by her side, as her work partner at the time. Well, tables turn...and Karma is a bitch. :P Maybe Morgan would have to face the wrath of someone (or multiple someones) else who'd be upset at his little 'I've been here all along' stunt.

"sweetkid45" LOL, a pissed off Emily with an axe is something I want to see! And yeah, Emily sure loves her chocolate :P We'll see how Emily finds out and how she handles the news. She does have some tricks up her sleeve, when it comes to Angela's future career. And thank you :)!