Disclaimer: Criminal Minds belongs to CBS and ABC and maybe some other alphabets, but not me.

Not-So-Tearful Good-byes

"Wait!"

Joy set Tyler down so he could run to the conference room.

He launched himself at Morgan's leg. "Don't leave without saying good-bye."

"Hey, Little Guy." Morgan lifted the toddler onto his hip and pushed back his tangles. "I wouldn't leave without saying good-bye."

"Oh."

The agent chuckled and hugged Tyler. "I got something for you."

"Really?"

Morgan nodded and picked up the chocolate lollipop stashed on the top of his bag. "Now, you have to ask Mama when you can have this."

"I can't have it now?"

Joy smiled and leaned in the doorway. "You can, Tyler."

"Yeah!"

Morgan helped him unwrapped the treat. Tyler held it out to the agent. "Bite?"

"Thank you." Morgan ate a tiny corner, then Tyler stuck it in his mouth and sucked the chocolate. He laid his head on Morgan's shoulder with a sigh. "Gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Little Guy. Here." He handed Tyler a business card.

"What this?"

"It has my phone number, so you can call me. And on the back," he flipped it over. "Is Penny's number. She wants to talk to you too."

Tyler grinned and hugged Morgan. "I want to talk too."

"I'll keep this safe." Joy took the card and slid it in her back pocket.

"You can call whenever you want," Morgan assured Tyler.

The toddler nodded solemnly.

The agent hugged him tightly. "Be good for Mama."

"I will."

Morgan set Tyler back on his feet and turned to Joy. He awkwardly held out his hand. She laughed and slipped under his arms, giving him a hug. "Thank you."

"Just doing our jobs."

"Thank you for that too, but I meant Tyler." She ran her fingers through her son's tangles. "Good luck."

"We'll need it. And he really can call me and Penny," Morgan pointed to her back pocket.

"And he will." Joy smiled. "Your car is here."

Morgan sighed and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Good luck to you too, Detective."

"Joy. I think if you're going to have a phone relationship with my son, you should at least call me Joy."

"Good luck, Joy." He grinned. "Bye, Tyler."

"Bye, Morgan."

Joy glanced down at her son and rolled her eyes at the chocolate smeared on his face. "Come on, Tyler. Mama has to clean you up before dinner with the grandparents."

"Bye, Joy."

She smiled up at him as she wiped Tyler's face with a tissue. "Later, Morgan."

He ruffled Tyler's hair one last time before walking out of the Freehold Police Station. Outside, he slipped on his sunglasses before climbing in the SUV.

"Everyone good?"

"Yes."

Hotch nodded and began to pull out of the parking lot. Morgan glanced out the window and grinned when he saw Joy and Tyler standing on the sidewalk, both of them waving as the SUV pulled out of the lot and into traffic.

Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own. –Carol Burnett