Author Note – I'm really trying to spread out posting my chapters, but I just can't seem to help it. Let me know what you think.

Second chances – chapter ten

June 2013

Reclining in her plane seat, Emily tried to relax as much as possible but felt the excitement building the closer they got to DC. She had all but begged Easter for a long weekend. It was the first time that Emily had returned to DC since she had left for London; it was the first time she would see Morgan since he had visited her, two months earlier.

After their talk, the rest of their week had flown by. He had met her for lunch on Tuesday, meeting Amy, who had immediately been charmed by his smile when he invited her to join them. Saturday afternoon had come too quickly for them, when they had to say goodbye at Heathrow.

They had tried to have contact in some way every day, by email or text if they couldn't speak on the phone or via Skype. Apparently his almost constant checking of his phone had led to Penelope asking him if he had a new girlfriend, wondering why she hadn't met her yet. Spencer had expressed his happiness for them to Morgan after they spoke, promising not to reveal their relationship to the others till they were ready.

They were planning on revealing their relationship to everyone this weekend. They still hadn't figured out how they were going to tell everyone. Of course Spencer already knew, but Morgan suspected Rossi had figured something out due to comment Rossi had made on his return; and she had heard the smirk in JJ's voice as the blonde had asked her how Morgan's visit was.

The captain announced their descent into Dulles, and Emily buckled her seat belt. Morgan would be waiting for her. With a slight bump of the landing, she felt her excitement grow, she tried to remain as calm as possible exiting the plane. Years of travelling had taught her to pack light; she only had a carry on so she didn't have to deal with baggage claim and getting through the checkpoints had been surprisingly quick.

Soon she found herself standing in the doorway of the arrivals searching the crowd of waiting families with her eyes, and then she saw Morgan, still in his work suit, leaning against a pillar watching her. Her smile almost split her face in two as she walked towards him.

Morgan's arms immediately opened as Emily got within a few feet. Stepping into him, his arms closed around her, their eyes closing in relief as they held one another. Emily opened her eyes as she felt Morgan's hand rise to turn her cheek, his lips claiming hers and she moaned into his mouth as he deepened the kiss.

When the need for air became too much for her, Emily pulled back, not leaving his hold. Looking up into his twinkling eyes, she smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," he whispered back, while running his hands from her waist to her shoulders. She pecked him on the lips again before he let go of her so they could leave the airport, his hand resting on the small of her back, guiding her. As they walked, Emily kept turning to look at him, not quite believing that she was home. Once they were in the car, she asked him about the plans for the weekend.

"Well, tonight we're meeting the rest of the team for dinner and drinks. Then I believe that JJ, Alex and Penelope want to drag you out tomorrow night," he smiled, remembering their conversation regarding the next ladies' night. She smiled along with him, knowing he trusted her with deciding what details to share with their friends. "And then hopefully a lazy Sunday before I drop you back here Monday," he told her trying to keep his tone neutral at the thought of her going back to London.

At the mention of their next parting, she wanted to lighten the suddenly sullen mood, and Emily posed a bet. "So, maybe we shouldn't tell anyone about us, just let them figure it out. They are profilers." Morgan nodded along with her reasoning, not really thinking she was serious. Apparently she was. "Wager? Breakfast in bed for the winner. Who do you think will acknowledge it first? I'm going to go with Rossi." Morgan laughed in response, contemplating his bet.

"I think it will be Alex."

"That's not fair, I don't know her," she told him at the thought of meeting her replacement.

"Fair? I already told you about Rossi," Morgan said noticing how she nervously pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. "Don't worry you'll like her." Emily smiled at him for trying to reassure her. The rest of their journey to Morgan's house was spent in comfortable silence.

They retrieved their bags from the trunk and walked up the steps to the front door, where they heard Clooney give a warning bark from the inside. Unlocking the door, Clooney, a grey Alsatian, greeted them wagging his tail as he realised it was his master, eyeing Emily with a tilt of the head as she entered. He seemed to like it when she bent down to stroke him.

Standing to face Morgan, Emily suddenly found herself backed up against the front door, Morgan's lips on hers; she kissed him back, feeling his tongue lightly caressing her bottom lip. Breaking away from his lips, Emily tilted her head back to give him more access, groaning as he kissed his way down her neck, she asked "How much time do we have?" Her hands had already found the buttons of his shirt, undoing them.

"A couple of hours," he mumbled into her collar bone, nipping her there, as his hands came to grip her waist, lifting her so she could wrap her legs around him.

"Then take me to bed," she told him as he walked to his bedroom.

Two hours later, a freshly showered Emily stood over her small case, open on the bed, in just her underwear. She heard Morgan moan as he entered the bedroom after his shower. Emily looked at him over her shoulder.

"Princess, we are never going to leave the house if you stay dressed like that," Morgan told her, his eyes trailing down her slim body.

Pulling her black dress with a thin red belt at the waist out of the bag, Emily decided to tease him further as she turned to face him. Keeping eye contact with Morgan, Emily stepped into the dress, slowly pulling the arms up until just the back needed to be zipped up. Turning her back on him expectantly, Emily nodded over her shoulder at the zip before facing forward again. She felt him step up behind her pulling the zip up. Task complete, Morgan gently moved her hair out of the way to place a soft kiss at the nape of her neck; she closed her eyes as she felt a spark of arousal run through her.

When he moved away to his chest of drawers, she found herself sighing slightly with disappointment, but decided to busy herself with finishing her hair and make-up.

Half an hour later they were parking across the street from the bar. They were only a few minutes late, but through the busy crowd gathered at the bar they could see all their friends seated at a table at the back of the room in the corner. Emily looked at Morgan, apprehensive at what was about to happen. He looked slightly nervous as well. They were both very private people, and they were about to become the centre of attention.

As they crossed the street, Morgan's hand rested on her back once more, and stayed there as he opened the door of the restaurant and ushered her in ahead of him. Stopping just inside the doorway, Emily looked at her family, watching them for a moment. The enormity of what was about to happen began to sink in; thankfully no one from their group noticed their arrival, all involved in conversations with one another. Morgan sensed her worry and gripped Emily's hand, squeezing gently in reassurance, and he pulled her after him as he pushed his way through the patrons of the bar. "No backing out now Emily," he told her quietly.

Approaching the table, they heard a big scream. "Emily!" Penelope squealed as she jumped to greet Emily, pulling her into a bone crushing hug. The technical analyst held onto Emily for a moment before she pulled back to get a better look at the brunette. "I can't believe you're finally home."

"I finally found some time for a long weekend," Emily told her, as she pulled away to hug JJ and Rossi.

"You look very happy," Rossi whispered in her ear. Emily looked at him quizzically as he discreetly nodded his head in Derek's direction. Her face flushed slightly as she smiled at him as he winked. He would let them tell everyone in their own way.

After hugging Hotch, she engulfed Spencer in her arms, holding him tight as she whispered in his ear, "Thank you." Spencer pulled away with a gentle smile.

Looking around she spied another brunette standing shyly to the side of the group of profilers. Alex Blake. Offering her hand to the woman, she introduced herself. "Hi I'm Emily."

"Alex," she said, shaking Emily's hand. "This is a bit weird, isn't it?"

"Just a little," Emily agreed.

Everyone took their seats in the booth, Emily sitting next to Morgan. Leaning into him slightly, she whispered in his ear, "I want pancakes in the morning. Rossi already called us out." Morgan's eyes connected with the older man's across the table, as Rossi nodded at him, smiling in approval.

The next few hours were spent exchanging stories from the past year. Morgan had been right, she did like Alex, and Emily thought she was a good fit for the team. They had shared interests, discussing the books they both loved and the places they travelled.

Emily's gaze settled on Spencer a few times, grateful that he had encouraged Morgan to come and see her. What she observed made her worry. He seemed subdued, only contributing to the conversation when asked something directly; a complete contrast to when she had spoken to him at Halloween.

As the night progressed the bar began to fill with more people, making the temperature in the bar rise. Moving to the outside seating area, Emily sat with Penelope, JJ and Alex discussing their plans for the next night.

"London looks good on you Em," JJ told her.

"It is," Emily replied, taking a sip of her drink. "Gave me a chance to think some things over." JJ nodded in understanding. They're conversation in Paris that night had been brief; but JJ knew how isolated her friend had felt, she could barely imagine how coming back had overwhelmed Emily.

"So, I want to know if there's a man you're hiding overseas," Penelope cut in. Emily sputtered, knocking her glass as she put it on the table, spilling a little bit. Grabbing some napkins from middle of the table, Emily started to clean it up as she decided she would try to wait till Morgan was at her side when she revealed them to Penelope. Emily was worried about her reaction. Even though Morgan flirted with the blonde, they were nothing more than friends. But keeping their new relationship from everyone would hurt Penelope. Discreetly glancing to where Morgan standing was at the edge of the seating area talking to the others before she answered.

"Huh? A man?" Emily repeated only for the tipsy Penelope to point at her accusingly.

"Repeating the question," she exclaimed a huge smile appearing. "A sign that you're lying; so who are you doing the horizontal tango with?"

Emily was saved from answering by an arm moving in between her and Penelope, grabbing her now empty glass. "Anyone need a refill?" Morgan asked an eyebrow rose towards Emily. Taking it as her cue, she jumped up saying she would help Morgan at the bar, leaving the others behind.

Standing at the bar, she leant slightly into Morgan as he ordered their drinks. "Are you okay Emily?" He asked concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, I just didn't realise how nervous I would be," Emily answered.

"You know that they'll be happy for us, don't you?" He told her, stroking her back with his fingertips, knowing how it made her tingle. Her eyes snapped to his, seeing his smirk as he continued the action, blatantly teasing her in the middle of the crowded bar.

"I know that," she said, biting her lower lip. "But telling them that you're the one making me happy is what I'm finding hard." His fingers stopped moving as he frowned and she struggled to explain. "It's not that I don't want to tell them, I know they just want us to be happy. I want you, I want this and I'm not reconsidering us, I promise. But it's the pressure of their expectations of our relationship that I'm scared of not living up to. If things go wrong, we're not the only ones who will be heartbroken," Emily clarified.

"They're our friends, they won't have expectations, they know how hard long distance is going to be, JJ especially. All that everyone will want to do is support us." She nodded, feeling the urge to kiss him for being understanding. As if sensing her want, Morgan glanced over her shoulder seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Alex and JJ were talking at the table, Reid, Rossi and Hotch shared a laugh at something Rossi had said, he didn't see Penelope and presumed she had gone to the bathroom. Morgan ducked his head to press his lips to Emily's, immediately relieved when she returned the kiss without hesitation.

Losing themselves in the kiss, they didn't notice Penelope gaping at them from the doorway of the bathroom, before regaining her composure, and walked over to them. Emily heard a small tap on Morgan's shoulder, breaking away from him, she saw a speechless Penelope standing behind them. Emily's eyes held a guilty look as she locked gazes with Penelope over Morgan's shoulder. Turning to see who had tapped him on the shoulder, Morgan started to speak. "Baby Girl…" he began.

"It's you," Penelope interrupted quietly. "You're the one who's been making her so happy." The technical analyst said, sounding a little heartbroken, as she poked Morgan in the chest. "Emily's your new girlfriend?" She questioned, and Emily held her breath as she heard the hurt in her friend's voice. Stepping closer to Morgan, Penelope kept poking him as she spoke. "I may love you Derek Morgan," Penelope paused. "But if you ever hurt her or stop treating her like a princess, I will unleash hell on your digital world."

Emily expelled the breath she'd been holding as Penelope side stepped Morgan to sweep her up in a hug, a huge smile on her face. "I'm so happy for you," Penelope whispered in her ear. Pulling back, the bubbly blonde pecked a shocked Morgan on the cheek. "I would like a vodka and cranberry juice," she told him as she looked back to peer at Emily over the rim of her glasses. "And you missy, I want details of this Heavenly God," she said waving her hand in Morgan's direction. Morgan, overcoming his shock, chuckled as he added her drink to the order.

All of the commotion had drawn the attention of the rest of the group, Emily glanced over her shoulder to find them looking at the three of them in interest, smiling at the development. Emily's jaw dropped a little as she saw Hotch and JJ pass money to Rossi, with him smugly accepting it. Emily blushed slightly as she felt Morgan's fingers intertwine in hers as she let him lead her back to their friends, feeling uncomfortable at being the centre of attention.

Morgan's fingers never released their hold on hers as they sat, and silence overcame the group. The others looked at them expectantly. Neither of them knew what to say, they hadn't really discussed this part. Fortunately they were saved by Rossi.

"So, I guess you had a good vacation, huh Morgan?" Rossi asked as Morgan pulled Emily's fingers to his mouth to place a kiss on them.

"Very good," he told the group, never taking his eyes off Emily.