Derek sat in the SUV speeding along the highway in quiet contemplation.

Derek was brought out of his thoughts by his passenger. Derek looked over at Rossi and said, "You didn't have to come."

Rossi looked over at Derek and said, "Yeah I did. For one I know you would do the same for me, and you wouldn't take no for an answer, and two Penelope would kill me if something happened to you."

Derek took a breath to steady himself and said, "Thanks I appreciate it."

Rossi nodded and said, "Anytime…..anytime."

The two men sat in silence after Rossi called the prison to make the proper requests.

Rossi clutched the file in his hand. He didn't even want Derek to touch it. It was Buford's file, and it was one of the thickest he had ever seen.

Rossi took his sunglasses off and nervously cleaned them. He was unsure how all of this was going to go down. Derek could fly off the rails, or simply show Buford that the young man he tried to break, despite Buford's effort made it. Not only had Derek made it, he thrived. He was an excellent profiler, pretty damn good with restoring houses, and finally healed enough to go after the one woman he ever really wanted. And now Agent Derek Morgan was going to be a father.

Derek pulled up to the jail. He went to the maximum security gate, both agents were instructed to show their credentials.

Both men fell into step with each other. Rossi once again gripped the file a little tighter in anticipation for what was about to happen.

Once they were inside they took their sunglasses off and tucked them into the top of their shirts. Once again they had to show their credentials. They had to remove their utility belts and empty out their pockets as they walked through the metal detectors. Once on the other side they placed their utility belts back on and slid their guns in their holsters.

An older gentleman greeted the two agents. Mike Branson had been a warden for a long time. He got requests like this a lot more than people think. So when Agent David Rossi called he was happy to oblige. Sometimes the vile creatures, such as Carl Buford, need to be reminded exactly why they are here.

Derek and Rossi shook the man's hand. Then Mike handed Derek the file that was sent by his baby girl.

Mike said, "They are bringing Buford now. You have about an hour with him."

Derek said, "I seriously don't think we will need that long but thank you."

Rossi nodded his agreement at what Derek had said.

They were led over to table. Derek had the fight the urge to run. For just a moment that terrified boy inside of Derek came to the surface.

There sitting straight up in his orange jumpsuit was Carl Buford.

Carl flashed a warm smile at Derek, and scowled at Rossi.

Both agents sat down in front of Buford.

Rossi and Derek placed the files down they were holding.

Buford asked, "What do I owe the pleasure of your company today." Buford didn't take his eyes off Derek.

Rossi knew what Buford was trying to do. Buford was trying to look in Derek's eyes and see the hurt and damaged he caused.

Rossi smacked his hand on the table and said, "Look at me. Do you know why we are here?"

Buford said, "No."

Rossi said, "Let me enlighten you." Rossi took the photos out of the file.

Buford looked down at them and shrugged. Buford said, "I didn't do that."

Derek who hadn't spoken since sitting down said, "In a way you did."

Buford scoffed and said, "The hell I did."

Rossi tapped the first photo. It was of the first crime scene.

Rossi said, "Rodney Harris did this. Do you know why?"

Buford said, "No I don't." Buford turned his attention back to Derek.

Derek said, "He did this because you fucked him up beyond repair. You destroyed him. I know he was a gang banger and all, but he didn't deserve what you did to him."

Buford said sharply, "I didn't do anything. I showed him love, like I showed all the others. Even you Derek. When you father died who was it that took care of you?"

Derek looked at Buford with all the hatred he had felt for the man in front of him.

Derek with venom dripping from his voice said, "Listen you sick son of a bitch you ruined so many childhoods. You weren't helping you, were tearing these boys to shreds. You have no idea how many lives you have ruined."

Buford said, "No offense but what about you? I mean you look like you turned out just fine."

Derek said, "Yeah despite you, I do pretty damn well for myself."

Rossi could feel the tension rolling off of Derek.

Rossi showed Buford the next few pictures of the crime to get the same reaction out of Buford repeatedly.

Once they had gone through all the photos, Buford didn't look sad, or sick, or even thoughtful. Derek sadly thought, "Why should he? Isn't he a murderer after all?"

Rossi placed the photos back in the file.

Then Derek pulled his photos out along with a list. "James Barfield, Stanford, Kyle Manning, Georgia Tech, Quinton Jones, "4th round draft pick, NFL, Stanley and Richard Hale Brown University…Buford the list goes on and on."

Rossi said, "Derek Morgan Northwestern University. You know what I don't get Buford, how delusion you truly must be to think you had anything to do with those boy's success. Yes a few of them fell through the cracks, but once the youth center was taken over by the neighborhood, high school graduates in the area almost tripled. So you see Buford you didn't do shit. Those boys worked hard."

Buford scoffed and said, "You know the best part of it. Knowing that I held their lives in my hands. Derek over here ran through how many girls? I made him do that."

Rossi started to stand up. Derek shook his head no and said, "Rossi this is what he does."

Derek showed the pictures of the boys at their graduations. "You see this Buford. You didn't win. Everyone of these boys are well adjusted. They are doing exactly what they wanted, and they did it without a damn thing for you. And just in case you are wondering…I work for the B.A.U I study pieces of shit like you, and I know exactly how you think. You are pathetic. By the way I am engaged, and I am going to be a father. I did that without your help. So you see Buford you are just a pathetic narcissist, who couldn't molested, beat, rapped, and murdered boys, because you were never man enough to have a real relationship."

Rossi said, "See Buford… This is what the truth looks like." Derek held up a photo of Rodney Harris. Rossi continued. "This is what you created. Does this make you proud? See, this is what your help does. Now if you'll excuse us we have a dinner with two very pretty ladies to get to."

Derek and Rossi stood up. They made their way towards the exits. Buford shouted out, "Derek you were my favorite."

Derek stopped Rossi from turning around.

Once outside Both men let go of the breath they had no clue they were holding.

Derek slid his sunglasses on and said, "I don't think I could have done that alone, but you tell anybody I got mushy I will hunt you down."

Rossi laughed and said, "This is you mushy. Good grief."

The men sat in silence the entire ride home. Rossi wanted to give Derek the chance to process what just happened.

Once they got back, the two men walked into a house full of their B.A.U family, and Morgan's family.

Penelope was the first to get up and hug Derek.

Derek looked at Penelope and through a shaky voice said, "Not yet baby."

Penelope kissed Derek's cheek and softly said, "Later."

Fran hugged her son next. Fran clapped her hands together and said, "Okay people its going to get cold."

Derek kissed his mom's cheek and went to wash up.

Derek looked in the mirror, and for the first time in a long time Derek allowed himself to really take a good look.
Joey knocked on the bathroom door and said, "Morgan get your ass out here."

Derek barked out a laugh and said, "Okay."

Derek opened the door. Joey and Derek shared a look. Joey never came forward about what Buford did to him. Joey thought it would be too much for Fran.

Joey asked, "How you holdin' up?"

Derek said, "Well considering P was kidnapped, and I went and saw Buford, I am peachy fucking keen."

Joey said, "Come on smart ass."

Everyone was at the table talking loudly and laughing. Derek refused for this day to be about his baby girl being take, or about Rodney, and Buford. He just wanted a beer, good food, and his woman."

Absent mindedly Derek pulled Penelope into his lap in the middle of dinner. Normally Fran, or Des would have said something, but they let him have it.

Penelope who was talking to JJ and Emily about dresses rubbed soothing circles on Derek's back. Frankie and Joey through their two cents in about the bridesmaids dresses. According to them, the shorter and the tighter the better. Hotch rolled his eyes at their antics. Des told them if they wanted short and tight, they could wear them.

Reid said, "That is not something I want to see, after all I have an eidetic memory."

The rest of dinner was spent like that.

Hotch's phone rang, and everyone became quiet. Hotch stared at his phone like it had the plague.

Aaron sighed and said, "Hotchner….Thank you ma'am…See you then."

Emily said, "Well you didn't bite her head off, so what's up?"

Hotch smiled and said, "Two weeks. Starting tomorrow."

Penelope said, "Oh thank God."

Derek said, "I hear you mama."

Rossi said, "I have a great way to spend two weeks with my lady."

Derek yelled, "Rossi."

Rossi shrugged and said, "She is moving to Virginia, more specifically with me."

Derek said, "I guess…Mom are you okay with all this?"

Fran said, "I really am son."

Derek said, "Well okay then. Rossi remember what I said."

Rossi laughed and said, "You didn't hear shit, so you don't know shit."

Both Derek busted out laughing. No else got it.

Des said, "Great now they have inside jokes. Good luck mom."

Fran said, "Des hush."

There was a knock at the door.

Fran said, "Oh yes that is Kevin. I forgot that I invited him. He said something about putting Penelope's systems they way he found them, or he would be wiped off the grid. Whatever that means."

JJ said, "Trust me. You do not want to know."

Fran said, "Joey go open the door."

Joey came back in the dinning room with Kevin in tow.

Derek said, "Hey Lynch. Thanks for everything you did."

Kevin straightened his glasses and said, "No problem. Penelope I am glad to see that you are safe."

Penelope said, "Thanks. Hey how did your proposal go. I noticed you never came to our BBQ."

Kevin smiled brightly and said, "She said yes. We also bought a little farm that we are going to spend our summers on, and I bought enough Nasonex and Claritin D to supply a hospital."

Frankie coughed the word, "Dork."

Fran smacked the back of his head.

Everyone laughed. Fran said, "Kevin eat."

Kevin said, "Thank you ma'am."

Literally everyone at the table shouted, "Mama Morgan."

Kevin said, "Oh..I uhh…sorry."

Derek said, "Lynch mom doesn't deal well with the work ma'am. Seriously eat up. It's getting late you guys need to head back to the hotel. Plus apparently tomorrow I get to help my mother pack up none of your business how many years worth of stuff in this house."

Sara said with a pout, "I am going to be the only Morgan left in Chicago."

Derek looked at Des and asked, "What is she talking about?"

Des sighed and said, "I have been accepted into the academy."

Derek returned the sigh and said, "Of course you are. Well you are more than welcomed to stay…..Spencer already offered didn't he?"

Des smiled and said, "Yep."

Derek looked at Spencer and said, "Pretty Boy I know where you live and I will hurt you."

Penelope said, "Derek what did I say about being a big boy." The entire room erupted in laughter.

Joey said, "Sara first of all you still have us."

Sara rolled her eyes and said, "Well now I feel better."

Frankie said, "Hey, hey…be nice. Plus I know you have a lot of single friends that would like a little Frankie magic."

Derek said, "Frankie what did I tell you ? Man settle the hell down."

Frankie said, "I suppose you are right. Hey Sara you got any friends with a nice, big ol'…"

Fran gasped and said, "Francis Patrick Murphy."

Frankie said, "What?! I was gonna say big heart."

Derek said, "Sure you were."

Everyone stayed up perhaps a little too late talking and having a great time.

As always read and review!

Would it be really bad if I never ended this?