Second Chances – chapter twenty four
February 2016
It was an unusually warm day for February. Emily stood in front of the full length mirror her hands pressing along her tummy, trying to see if anything was out of place. Her dress was on, make-up and hair done. She had fifteen minutes to go before she had to be downstairs. Her mother and Penelope were downstairs dealing with some last minute issues, trying to keep the day for Emily as stress free as possible.
She found it strange that she wasn't nervous. When she left the BAU four years ago, Emily had no idea that her new beginning would bring her back to DC; no idea that she would be marrying Morgan. Their new start was beginning today, and no matter what the future brought them they would deal with it together.
Elizabeth knocked once on the door before opening it without waiting for a response. "Sweetheart, does the best man really need to wear tennis shoes with his suit?" Emily rolled her eyes at her mother, trying not to laugh.
"Mother," Emily sighed. Her mother held up her hands in surrender at Emily's tone.
"Okay." Their eyes met in the mirror and held. "You look beautiful Sweetheart," Elizabeth told her warmly. Emily felt the blush creeping up her neck. "I'm so proud of you Emi." Her arms encircled Emily at the waist, and Emily leant into her, returning the hug.
"Thank you for all of this," Emily told Elizabeth, still keeping eye contact through the mirror.
"I wanted it to be perfect for you; it's what every parent wants for their child. I'm very annoyed at your father."
"It is perfect. My family is all here and he hasn't been a part of that for years, that was his choice."
Elizabeth breathed out heavily. She and her former husband had been ambitious when they were younger and it had been part of the attraction. At first they had been a loving family, but with the years of travelling, and changes of assignment their family slowly broke down. Both of their careers had led to their divorce, but her former husband had next to nothing to do with Emily since her teenage years. Eventually being fed up with trying to fit his daughter into his work schedule, he chose work rather than his daughter who was starting to act out, a call for attention that Elizabeth regrettably had been unable to recognise till years later. Elizabeth had hoped the wedding would bridge the gap between father and daughter like it had between herself and Emily. But he had been too stubborn.
Emily tilted her head as she contemplated her mother. "Are you okay?"
Her mother gave her a small smile. "Of course, I'm just thinking of the past, when I should be thinking of the future. In less than an hour that man waiting for you downstairs is going to be your husband." Emily smiled at Elizabeth's words. "Derek adores you. I couldn't ask for a better man for my daughter." Her voice broke slightly and Emily slipped her arms completely around her mother, kissing her cheek. Elizabeth allowed the comforting contact for a moment before pulling away. "I don't want to ruin the dress."
"Mom, its fine." Emily pulled her back into an even tighter hug, Elizabeth didn't resist this time. A knock came on the door a few moments later, making them pull away from one another. "Come in," Emily called out.
Dave poked his head around the door. "I have been ordered to report for aisle duty," Dave told them as he looked at Emily. "You look beautiful, Bella." He turned to Elizabeth. "Penelope asked if you could go downstairs. They are about to start."
Elizabeth gave Emily one last warm smile before leaving the room. Emily watched the door for a moment before turning back to Dave.
"Is Morgan at the end of the aisle yet?"
"No, he's talking with Reid and Hotch just outside on the patio," Dave paused. "You're not thinking of making a run for it, are you Kiddo?"
"No," Emily laughed. "Can I borrow your phone?" Dave looked amused for a moment.
"How do you know the rest of ours haven't been confiscated too?"
"There's no way Pen would have taken Hotch's phone off of him."
"Oh, she tried, believe me Kiddo, she tried."
The night before Penelope had demanded Emily and Morgan have no contact till the ceremony, not even by phone. After a long discussion, they had both handed their phones to the techie, before she and Emily left to spend the night at Elizabeth's. Emily raised her eyebrow at Dave, and he handed over his phone.
She quickly dialled Hotch. The unit chief immediately answered his curiousness evident in his voice. "Dave?"
"Sorry Hotch, it's me Emily. Could you hand the phone over to Morgan?" She heard him chuckle on the other end of the phone.
"Okay, hang on." There was muffled speaking, and Emily heard the phone exchange hands. "It's for you."
"Hello?" Morgan answered.
"Hi," Emily said quietly, ignoring the smirk Dave threw at her. She turned towards the window that over looked the driveway.
"Hi," she could hear his smile through the phone. "You gonna come join me down here Princess?"
She glanced at the clock on the wall. "In a few minutes. Are we ready for this?" She asked quietly, knowing he knew what she was referring to.
"We are," his voice was wistful. "Uh, I've got Baby Girl tapping me on the shoulder, she looks pissed." Emily laughed at the image that popped in her head.
"Just wanted to tell you I love you," she told him.
"I love you too."
"I'll see you soon."
"Can't wait."
They both hung up. Emily turned back to Dave. "Nervous?" He asked
"No, but I have no idea how you did this three times."
He smiled sadly, he wasn't offended. "It helps if you marry the right person the first time."
There was a knock at the door. Penelope popped her head in. "You guys ready? We're starting."
As they reached the bottom of the staircase, Emily and Rossi waited as Penelope made her way to her place at the front next to Elizabeth. Emily peaked in at the small gathering of people in her mother's garden. She could see Amy and Annabel a couple of rows from the front, just behind JJ, Will and Henry. Hotch, Beth and Jack were seated just behind Fran, Desirée, Sarah, and Helen. There were a few other friends.
Morgan stood at the front, Spencer to the side of him. Morgan was smiling, but Emily could see a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. Emily gulped back the lump that formed in the back of her throat.
The music started to play and Emily felt Dave move closer to her and offer his arm. She kept her focus on Morgan as she wrapped her arm around Dave's. As soon as they stepped onto the aisle, Morgan's eyes connected with her own and Emily saw the nervousness replaced by relief. They exchanged a small smile as Emily walked down the aisle. Emily could barely hear the whispers and murmurs as she kept her focus on Morgan.
As they reached the front, Dave let go of her arm and gave her a kiss on the cheek, before shaking hands with Morgan. Dave took her bouquet of gerberas and passed it to Penelope as he took the seat next to her. Emily felt Morgan slip his hand into hers, and she tightened her hold on his fingers.
The Registrar began to speak. "I would like to start by welcoming everyone to celebrate the union of Derek and Emily. The essence of marriage lies in committing oneself to the other person entirely as a friend, confidant, companion, and lover. This decision should never be made lightly, but should be considered with utmost care, respect, and loyalty.
"Emily and Derek are taking a step together and celebrating their love with the sanctity of marriage. And that is why, we are here to share their love with one another and give our blessings and wishes to them for a beautiful and happy marriage.
"Emily and Derek, today you have come here with an intention to marry one another and join hands forever. Now I believe Emily and Derek have prepared something to say to one another." The registrar nodded to Morgan to start.
Morgan took a deep breath. He had tried writing down what he wanted to say to Emily, but whenever he tried he hadn't been able to convey what he wanted it to. Standing with her in front of their family and friends the words came naturally to him. "Emily ten years ago when we became partners at the BAU, I had no idea that I had found someone who I could share the rest of my life with. I promise to be there when you need me, to comfort you and encourage you, to be your best friend. After years of hiding my feelings, I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you." A tear slipped from his eye and Emily reached up with her free hand to wipe it away, her palm lingering on his cheek. Morgan turned his head to the side to place a kiss on it. Her hand dropped to Morgan's free hand.
Emily's own eyes watered as she started to speak. "Soon after we met I confessed to being a nerd. I started to quote Vonnegut to you, and you finished it for me. 'So be careful who you pretend to be'. You have always been able to see the real me, no matter how much I tried to hide it. When I was lost, you found me and brought me home. For the rest of my life I promise to walk by your side, to love, help and encourage you. I will share your laughter and your tears as your partner, lover and best friend." The tears fell freely from Emily's eyes, but she didn't reach up to wipe them away.
The registrar's words barely registered with Emily as she and Morgan kept eye contact. She watched Morgan's lips as he repeated the words the registrar instructed him to say. Emily felt herself doing the same when it was her turn. Emily felt Morgan's hand leave hers as he turned to Reid for her wedding band. He pushed it onto her ring finger as he spoke. "With this ring, I wed thee. I shall love you, honour you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live. This is a symbol of my undying love for you."
Emily saw out of the corner of her eye Penelope move to her side and Emily took the ring offered to her. She pushed it onto Morgan's finger as she repeated the same words. They stood staring at each other as the registrar spoke his last words. "By the power vested in me by the Marriage Act, pronounce Derek and Emily to be married. You may now kiss your bride."
Derek's hands let go of her hands to take hold of her waist to pull her to him. Emily ran her hands up his arms, wrapping them around his shoulders as their lips met. They pulled apart, laughing as they heard the clapping and cheering of their family.
Author note – one more chapter to go. Let me know what you think.