A/N: I know the delay in this story has been long. Life has gotten in the way and I apologize for that. I'll try to update more often. Happy reading.
"It's so beautiful here" Emily said out loud with a wistful sigh. Emily felt Mick wrap his arms around her from behind and rest his head on her shoulder. "You ever think about that?" Mick asked while motioning towards his parents, who were slow dancing together. "Sometimes, but I'm smart enough to know to be a realist." "Well I could really give you that someday if you let me." Mick said in a low voice against Emily's neck. She didn't turn in his arms but leaned back against his body, "You want to marry me?" Mick dropped a kiss to just under Emily's ear and stood up straighter. "Yes. Someday I would like to, if you let me. I told you that I wasn't going anywhere and that I wasn't going to leave you or Lani's life. My question is would you want to put up with my family for a lifetime?" Emily grabbed Mick's hands, that were still around her, and turned her head and kissed his lips softly. "Your dad is the dad that I always wished I had growing up. Your mom, God, your mom is such a sweetheart and so loving and accepting. Jenna is so funny and protective. Nico is a rocking little guy that lights up her and Lani's world. You, you are Lani's whole world. She doesn't do anything without her bear, that she now calls Micky Bear. You are a father to her and I can't thank you enough for that." Emily paused during her little speech to rest her arms on Mick's shoulders. "Now Jeanine and Simone are another story. Their boys are really sweet but they are…" Emily said with an exasperated expression on her face.
"I'm sorry about that. I really am. Jeanine is just-" Mick stopped talking when he saw the look on Emily's face. "What is it?" Emily shook her head. "No come on now Em. Don't shut me out. I know that the wheels have been turning in your head since you met her. What are you thinking?" Emily had her bottom lip securely pulled between her teeth. She let out a sigh and grabbed Mick's hand and dragged him towards a quieter place nearby. "Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe Jeanine is a victim?" "Victim?" "Mick don't take this the wrong way but has anyone ever thought that maybe Simon did something or is holding something over Jeanine's head?" "No I haven't. Do you think something happened?" "I don't know but it's just a vibe I've been getting from her." "Why didn't you say anything to me?" "Because it wasn't my place just like it still isn't. You asked me a question so I answered."
Emily started to pull away from Mick but he pulled her back. "I'm sorry that this feeling you've been getting from my sister is making you uncomfortable. I don't want to ruin this feeling that we have right now. Dance with me?" Emily smiled and grabbed his hand before the pair moved to the dance floor. Emily and Mick only managed to get two dance songs in before Mick felt a tug on his pants. He looked down and saw a smiling Kehlani. Emily smirked and playfully rolled her eyes, "Looks like daddy's little girl wants a father-daughter dance." Emily gently placed her hand on Mick warm cheek. "You are her father. She's made that pretty clear just as you've made it clear that you're here to stay. You know she has you wrapped around her finger so just go." Mick smiled and picked his little girl up. Emily watched from afar as Mick and Kehlani danced. She watched how both of their faces shined with joy and happiness. Emily blinked back the tears and reached for her phone as she heard it ring from her purse. She smiled at the picture flashing on the screen before moving off to the side to answer it.
"I'm so sorry that I'm just now calling you back Em, but it has been nuts around here." "It's okay JJ. I've been a little busy myself." "I got your pictures. Kehlani is getting so big and cute. She looks just like you, which is something I'm grateful for by the way. You do know that you only sent me and Garcia pictures, right?" "Yeah I know." "And you only sent me the picture of Kehlani at some sort of cabin. Why just send that one to me?" "Because out of everybody, you're the easiest person to have this conversation with." "What conversation? Are the two of you okay?" "We're fine JJ. Actually we're better than fine." "Okay now you lost me." "I'm seeing someone" Emily blurted out. "Oh. Is he treating you right? Is he treating Kehlani right? Em I swear if this guy has laid a finger on either one of you-" "Whoa whoa whoa JJ. It's not like that. He's pretty damn perfect. He practically worships the ground I walk on. He'll move mountains for Lani in a heartbeat. He's everything that I could hope to ever have in a father figure for Lani and a partner for me." "So, what's the problem?" "I have no idea if you guys will like him or not. That's really important to me but at the same time, the amount of love I feel for him outweighs the opinion of others." Emily heard JJ take a deep breath on the other end of the phone. "Emily, after everything you've been through, you deserve to be happy. If you found someone who cherishes you and your daughter, then trust me, no one will stand in your way. Rossi is like a dad to you and Hotch is too in a weird way so they'll have to warm up to the guy. Reid is like your little brother. He won't like it at first but will get used to it. Penelope is Penelope. She loves everyone and she will give your boyfriend the benefit of the doubt after running a full background check on him. Morgan is like your big brother. Of course he'll be protective and suspicious, probably for a while, but once he realizes that you are happy, then he'll back off slightly. And for me, I won't threaten the guy or anything but I can't speak for Will" JJ finished with a laugh. "So, who is he?" JJ asked curiously. Emily glanced over at Mick, who now had Kehlani on his knee, as he tried and failed to successfully feed himself and Kehlani.
"Mick Rawson" Emily said in a dreamy daze without even realizing it. She didn't even register JJ's gasp until she heard the phone drop. "JJ? Are you there?" Emily heard JJ scramble for the phone. "Mick Rawson? Sam Cooper's Mick Rawson? British Mick Rawson? Oversexed, egotistical, arrogant, hot British dude with a sexy accent, badge, and gun Mick Rawson?" Emily laughed and looked in his direction again smiling, "Yes that Mick Rawson." "Oh my God! I can't believe it. Tell me everything! Size, stamina, quirks, does he cook, body, how he is with Kehlani, have you met the parents, has he met your parents, car and-" "Wait a second. I can only answer one question at a time. Size is big, stamina is never-ending, his only quirk is that he sprawls out like a dead body when he's sleeping but so does my baby. He cooks but so do I. His body is amazing. He's her whole world and she has him wrapped around her finger. I'm kind of in the middle of meeting the parents. He hasn't met my parents yet. He has a motorcycle but he's looking into buying an SUV because of Lani." "I'm so happy for you Emily. Wait, is he going to move to London or are you coming back to the States?" JJ asked with her fingers crossed, silently hoping that her friend would come back. "We haven't talked about that yet." "That's an important conversation to have. How long have you been seeing each other?" JJ asked curiously. "About three months." "Three months? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" "Because we were trying to figure out what we were. I was trying to figure out what I wanted. We've been mostly long distance and he's here now because his parents renewed their vows today. He's been great since the beginning. He hasn't pressured me into anything. It's actually been the other way around" Emily said with a half-laugh.
Emily and JJ talked for a while more before Emily saw Mick walking towards her with a plate of food. She ended the call with JJ and grabbed the food from Mick. "Hey there beautiful." "Hey there handsome." "So, was that your mother or JJ?" "How did-" Emily started to asked with a confused look on her face. Mick leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I'm a profiler too darling and a damn good one if I do say so myself." "So modest." "I have you for that." Emily playfully shoved Mick as he pulled her in for a kiss. Mick and Emily stood completely content and silent in one another embrace for a while before Emily broke the silence. "Were you ever the type growing up that wanted kids?" Mick figured this question would come at some point because he had made it this far in his life without having any children of his own. "Actually yes, I've always wanted children." "So why don't you have any or do you?" "I do have a child." Mick could barely suppress the snicker that threatened to slip out as Emily's eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly. He grabbed her chin with his thumb and index finger and kissed her quickly on the lips. "I have a daughter Emily. Her name is Kehlani." Emily physically relaxed and jabbed Mick in the ribs. "That wasn't funny." "It was a little." Emily saw someone walking in their direction out the corner of her eye. Her and Mick turned to see Nina with a nodding Kehlani in her arms. "I think that this one is all partied out" she said with a smile. Emily grabbed Kehlani out of Nina's arms and she immediately laid her head in the crook of her mother's neck and draped her left arm over Emily's right shoulder. Nina ran a gentle hand over Kehlani's curls once more, "She so precious. Emily, I gather that the two of you will be around more often?" Nina asked hopeful. Emily reached and grabbed Mick's hand before kissing it. We're not going anywhere." Nina smiled brightly at her son and his new-found love. "Mick your father and I are about to head out." "Yeah, we are too so that the ladybug can get some rest."
Emily and Mick started to go in the general direction of the car before Emily pulled away. "I'm going to the restroom before we leave." "Okay. I'll wait here with Lani." Emily went to the restroom and did her business. As she was washing her hands she felt eyes on her and looked up to see Jeanine glaring at her. "Why are you still around Emily?" "Why do you hate me so much Jeanine?" "What makes you think that I hate you?" "It's obvious. You smiled at my daughter for a split second before you whole demeanor changed and you started looking at her with hatred. That lets me know that you either truly want a daughter or you had one once before and now you don't. You look at me with disgust and when I'm near your brother that look turns into bitterness and jealousy. The fact that Mick fought for me eats you up. Those things tell me that you wish you still had the confidence that you used to have. You hate that Mick and I are so happy because you're so unhappy. You hate that he fought for me because you know that your husband would only fight to keep controlling you." Jeanine's face softened for a split second and Emily saw her armor start to crumble.
Guess I finally hit the nail on the head.
Emily took a step closer to Jeanine. "What did Simon do to you Jeanine? It must have been something really awful. It hasn't stopped, has it? How long do you think that it'll take before he forces your boys to be just like him? This is unhealthy Jeanine. I know it's not my business, but if you want to talk about it then I'm here." Emily watched as Jeanine's body language did a complete 180. Just great. Jeanine the super bitch has come back out to play. "You're right Emily. My life is none of your business. Get a husband first before you start attacking mine. I'll be happy when my brother comes to his senses and gets rid of you. I don't need or want your help." Jeanine brushed past Emily pretty forcefully and stormed out the bathroom. Emily took a few deep breaths and left the restroom and found Mick. "Hey I was starting to think that you fell in." Mick said with a laugh. "I was freshening up for you" Emily said with a wink. "You don't have to try and look good for me. You're perfect the way you are." "Aren't you a charmer?"
Mick took Emily's hand and they once again started walking towards the car. Mick buckled Kehlani into the car seat. She started to stir and panicked when she didn't feel her bear. "Micky Bear! I want Micky Bear!" She said between sobs as tears made their way down her face. Emily and Mick looked around for the bear but couldn't find it in the car. "She must've left it near your parents' table." Emily said. "I'll get it." "No, it's okay Mick. I can go. I'll be back." Emily said as she gave Mick a quick kiss and headed back into the reception area. Emily was kneeling with her back turned to the open space. She found the bear under the table and scooped it up. She turned as she stood and was face to face with Simon. "Nice to see you again Emily." Emily was uncomfortable under his gaze and with being in this close of proximity with him. "I thought you and Mick were gone." "We're leaving now." "Your little girl didn't have her bear." Simon's voice and tone made Emily's blood run cold. He sounded like a predator hunting his prey. "You stay away from me and my daughter" Emily hissed through her teeth. Simon took a step closer and Emily took one back. "You stay away from my wife. I don't know what you said to her but it stops now. It'd be a real shame if something were to happen to you or your precious little girl." "Is that a threat?" "It's a mindful suggestion. Enjoy your night Emily." And with that he stepped away from Emily but made no move to walk away. Emily all but charged past him and never looked back as she made her way back to Mick and Lani. "You find it?" Mick asked as her looked up from crouched down at Kehlani's level. "Yeah she must've dropped it under the table when she was with them." "Ready to go?" Emily blinked a few times before answering, "Can we go back to the lodge?" "You don't want to go back to my parents' cabin?" Emily shook her head furiously and gave a nervous smile. "I want the two of you all to myself just a little while longer." Mick shook his head and opened Emily's door for her. He went around and climbed into the driver's seat. At the last second, Emily looked out the window and saw Simon staring at them before Mick pulled off.