Author note – Thank you for all of the reviews and followers. This is a bit slow burning for the first couple of chapters and recounts a few scenes from Hindsight, but from Emily's point of view, so if you're new to my story you may like to read that as well. I would also like to say that I miss living in London, so I may have indulged myself a little.

Second chances – chapter two

July 2012

Emily walked along the Strand towards Shaftesbury Avenue, taking in the theatre signs; listening to Black taxis' beeping as they made their way through the heaving traffic; the sounds of family days out; smelling the food being prepared in coffee shops. She made her way towards the crossing of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. Once there she was greeted by the statue of Freddie Mercury, staring out at his audience, the sign behind him declaring 'We Will Rock You.'

After being in London almost a month, she had finally found some time to wander around to explore her new city. Her new job was good, a bit hectic preparing for the Olympics, but the team she was working with were lovely and made her feel welcome. Her assistant had suggested some places she might like.

Of course Emily missed DC and her family. She talked to everyone in some form at least once a week and ladies night had been replaced by online scrabble with Cheeto Breath and All-knowing Oracle, where the words became more questionable as more alcohol was consumed. But rather than dwell on thoughts of homesickness, Emily decided to find places she could show them if they ever turned up on her doorstep, like she'd made them promise.

Around the corner from the larger than life statue she found a shop specialising television and science fiction memorabilia that Penelope and Spencer would love. A little further on a small café where she purchased a mozzarella and Parma ham Panini, which she could see herself sitting in with Dave over a cup of coffee.

Emily had already found the place she would like to show Hotch, JJ, Jack and Henry. The London Eye, so the boys could see all of London, picking out places she should show them once they were back on the ground.

As she made her way back towards Trafalgar square, she decided this was where she would like to show Derek. They would sit on the steps of the National Gallery and just people watch. The world bustling around them; children climbing on the huge lion statues at the edge of the fountains; old men feeding the pigeons while reliving their life stories with one another; tourists' clicking their cameras at street performers. Laughing occasionally at something the other pointed out, they would need very few words.

Derek.

The way Emily missed him went beyond homesickness. Thinking back to the night she told him about leaving, the way she had invited him in after he accompanied her home from JJ's wedding, how Morgan looked as he leant down to kiss her. Briefly, she had felt a twinge of anger at him; that he had waited till then to make a move. Emily had dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. They both needed that night, to say goodbye, a chance they hadn't gotten with the Doyle debacle.

After they had kissed in the kitchen, she had tried a hide a yawn from him. Chuckling slightly at her, Morgan offered to go home. Emily had looked up at him and simply shook her head as she grasped his hand and led him to her bed. She lay in Derek's arms as they talked through her plans to move, wherever they may take her. Emily jokingly promised that he would be her emergency contact if anything happened to her, a promise he'd obviously taken seriously enough to ask if she meant it. Looking into his eyes, seeing his worry, she told him she had. After that not much talking had taken place, as he rolled them over and his mouth hovered over hers, as he waited for her to tell him to stop. Emily had curled her hand in his shirt and tugged him down to her. They had only shared kisses, but Emily had felt his want when they awoke the next morning.

'Morning,' she whispered as she looked up at him.

The look of hunger that had answered was enough to make her wonder what would have happened if she stayed in DC.

Not wanting to think of what if's, she placed the rubbish from her sandwich in her bag and continued her journey on towards Leicester Square.