I attended weekly therapist appointments. It took me four weeks to get back into the field. A whole two months passed before the therapist signed me off with no need to return.

I was relieved when I walked out of the last appointment.
I didn't have the nightmare every time I closed my eyes anymore; it was only once every so often, and it wasn't as traumatizing. I could calm myself down and go back to sleep. I didn't wake to it in cold sweats.

I had spent the weekend with Mick and his parents; they came from Wales to visit him and meet me. They stayed in my spare room, as Mick's place was only one bedroom.

They were nice, they seemed to like me enough. They certainly liked me more than my mother liked Mick. They didn't seem bothered by our career choice. Although, his dad was a detective in Wales. It was in their family.

The weekend went well until it was time for them to leave, and I overheard Mick telling his mother that she would have grandchildren in the future. She has asked him if he was sure that I was "the one" and he assured her that he was positive.
I panicked, and then I told him I was going out with JJ on a Sunday night, and then went to a hotel.

When I walked into work this morning, I was quiet. I didn't greet anymore verbally, just gave a small smile and sat at my desk. I started my paperwork immediately, and it didn't take long for Garcia to come out and stand beside my desk.

"…Yes?" I asked, still not looking up.

"You look grumpy. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I hoped she would just accept that either nothing was wrong, or I didn't want to talk about it. That was never the case with Garcia, though.

"Is something going on with Mick? Are you having nightmares again?"

"No. Garcia, I have a lot of work to do, and I just want to do it quietly. Please, leave me alone." She seemed upset with that, mostly because I wouldn't trust her with my issues, probably. She didn't question me again. She spoke with the other three for a short while and then took the file she had been holding the whole time, up to Hotch's office.

I got through three field reports before I couldn't ignore my need for coffee any longer. I made my way to the breakroom and poured out a mug. I sat down in there with it for a second and stared at the wall while I thought.

I didn't even know if I wanted to have kids. Sure, I liked children, but having your own is different to taking care of other people's kids. When I watched Henry or Jack, I could always give them back to their parents and return to my life as normal. Having my own kids would mean sacrificing my lifestyle. I would have to move to a new apartment, probably have to buy a whole house with a yard and a fence.
I would need to resign because I was sure Mick wouldn't. He was traditional, after all. He would prefer I be home with the children and he work to provide for us.

I would have to give up travelling and going out with the girls or the whole team whenever I wanted. I would have to miss events because I wouldn't be able to find a babysitter.
Being a parent was a full-time job in itself, and I wasn't sure if I wanted that.

"Emily!" JJ called out to me. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her. "I've been trying to get your attention for like two minutes here. Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine." I nodded.

She bit her lip and hesitated before closing the break room door and sitting across from me. "Tell me what's wrong."

I sighed and shook my head as I looked at my coffee. "I met Mick's parents on the weekend. They're lovely people, they seemed to like me enough. I overheard Mick talking to his mother last night and he told her that I was "the one" and that she could expect grandchildren.
"I think that he's moving a little faster than I am. I don't know if I want kids, I don't know if he's "the one". It just freaked me out. I couldn't even be in the same room as him afterwards; it gave me too much anxiety. I stayed at a hotel last night and told him I was with you."

She was quiet for a few moments as she processed my words, "Do you remember that case with Carrie Ortiz? Those adoptive brothers were killing families, and the submissive brother let her go because he reminded her of his biological sister?" I only nodded in response. "You wanted to take her. You wanted to bring her to DC and look after her. What's the difference between that and your own kids?"

"The difference is that she was already raised, JJ. All I would have needed to do for Carrie was provide a home and financial support. For my own kids, I'll be giving up everything I have. I don't know if I want that."

She was about to speak, and then the door opened and Reid froze, "…Sorry…I just need coffee."

"That's okay, we're done." I smiled at him and stood with my mug. I gave JJ a look that told her the conversation was over, and then I headed out to my desk to finish the mountains of paperwork.

We didn't have a case this week. Mick was called out on Monday morning.
I spent three nights by myself, and I realized how lonely it felt now. I used to have no problem coming home to an empty house and spending some time alone; the day with the team was more than enough to keep me sane. Hell, sometimes it was too much time with the team.

Eight months with Mick and now I hated being by myself at night. Not only was I bored with no one to talk to, I didn't feel as safe, either. That was a strange feeling; I had never relied on anyone else to keep me safe before.

I texted him on my way out of work earlier with no response. When I heard the key in the front door, I nearly ran to him. I stood at the end of the entry way and smiled when he turned from closing the door and saw me. He smiled back and approached me, pulling me into a kiss and then a hug. I returned his hug tightly.

"Miss me?" He smiled as we parted.

"Yes." I smiled and kissed him again.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?" He asked. I shook my head in response. "Can I take you out for dinner and talk to you about something?"

"Can we order Chinese in and talk about it?" I counter-offered.

"Done. I need to go shower; do you want to order dinner?" I nodded this time and he kissed me once more before heading upstairs with his go-bag.

I ordered too much food for the two of us, but I could never just pick a few options from the Chinese restaurant.
I got the cash out of my bag and left it on the table for easy access, and then I sat down on the couch with a glass of red wine.
He grabbed a beer when he returned downstairs, freshly showered with his hair still damp. I smiled when he sat beside me and I kissed him softly. "How was your day?" I asked him, running my hand through his hair.

"The guy shot his brains out before we could arrest him, but the victim he had was okay. Prophet got him out in time."

"Why is his nickname Prophet?" I asked curiously. I had wondered this since the case we worked with them years ago.

He shrugged his shoulders, "He got it while serving in San Quentin. He's not religious; I suppose he probably led a few people through prison life and that's where it came from."

I nodded, "Well, what did you want to talk about?"

"Right. My lease is up at the end of the month," He looked at me, "I need to let them know if I will be renewing it or not…"

I nodded again, "Do you like your place?"

"…Sure."

"Then renew it." I smiled. He watched me for a few seconds before he sighed and sat forwards, grabbing his beer from the table. He drank it and didn't speak again. I heard the knock on the door, and he got up before me, insisting that he will get it.
We ate the Chinese and watched a movie. After I had three glasses of wine and he had four beers, we decided to go to bed.
I couldn't wait to sleep in on the weekend. One more day to go.

"Oh!" I exclaimed loudly, dropping my head into my hands as the realization hit me.

We had just finished briefing a case on the plane where the victims were all in the process of moving in with their partner when the two of them were murdered. It made me think about Mick's apartment, and then I realized what he has been asking last week.

"…What?" JJ asked me. She and Hotch across from me were watching me, as was Reid beside me and Morgan and Rossi on the couch, who were yet to move after the briefing.

I shook my head and laughed to myself, "Thursday past Mick told me that his lease was up at the end of the month, and said he needed to let them know if he was renewing it or not. I told him to renew it because he likes his place. I just realized that he was trying to ask if he could move in."

They all laughed, clearly amused by my stupidity. I ran my hands down my face before grabbing my phone from my pocket. I opened our texts and texted him quickly:

"I just realized what you were asking about last Thursday. Don't renew your lease."

"I'm sorry…how did that not click? What did he say, exactly?" JJ asked. I recounted the conversation to her and she nodded, "Okay, so there was no outright "can I move in" question. Considering you already had wine and it was at the end of the day, I'm not that surprised that it didn't occur to you right then. However…you were together on Friday night and all weekend, were you not?" I nodded. She laughed again, "And it never came up in conversation again?"

"No," I shook my head this time, "He clearly thought that I knew what he was trying to say."

"Have you spoken about you overhearing his conversation on children with his mother?"

"God no. I'm never going to bring it up in the hopes that he forgets that he wants kids."

"You don't want kids?" Reid asked now, "You love having Henry and Jack?"

"I can give Henry and Jack back!" They all laughed again.
It was only an hour flight to Wilmington, North Carolina. We were about to land already.

When we walked off the plane, I heard my phone receive a text. I looked at Mick's message:

"Thank god for that. I thought you knew what I was talking about."

Morgan and I were straight to the first dumpsite when we landed. He teased me about Mick on our drive there, but stopped when I made a few remarks towards him. He could dish it out but he couldn't take it.

Viewing the scene, there were quite a few factors for the profile, and I had a feeling this case wouldn't be overly long or hard. A few days and we'd be on our way home again.

A few days and I could see Mick again. I didn't even want think about how attached I was getting.