A/N: This is the final chapter in my "prequel" story. Please read and review and look for the follow-on story "reunited." Thanks so much for your reviews so far.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Emily spent the next morning reading through the papers Peter had sent. She agreed with him signing over his custody rights to Emma, and the San Francisco house. She also agreed to him keeping the Sacramento cottage. She agreed with everything. When she had read through the papers for the fifth time, she sighed. She picked up the pen and signed. Easy as that. With the same flick of the pen she used when picking up the groceries, she was divorced. When she sat back on the couch she felt a wave of emotion for what she had just lost. Emma was playing on the Peter near the window, and toddled over to her mom. Emily reached over and picked up her daughter, pulling her close. "Why don't we go for a trip to visit Grandma, Nanny, and Poppy?" Emily said to her daughter. Emma just smiled when Emily said Poppy.
Emily and Emma's flight had just landed. She picked up their belongings from the baggage claim and pushed the trolley through the airport. She ran her fingers through Emma's hair as she pulled her cell out of her pocket. "Hey Pip. It's Em," she said quietly. "Em. How you going?" Pip answered as she dressed her son. Emily smiled. "uh, we've landed. Just walking through the airport now. I just… I want to thank you and Dan for everything. I know I've been falling apart for the last couple of weeks and I just… I can't really tell the guys on the team yet, not until I meet with Strauss, but I really appreciate your support. Especially with this new big change," she said.
Pip smiled. "Em, it's not a problem. You're our friend, and Dan's partner. And we know that you don't have much in the way of support on the west coast so we were always going to give you that," she explained. Emily smiled and nodded. She looked around the arrivals gate and saw her parents and step-mother. "I know all of that. I just… I wanted to thank you guys. But I have to run. Just saw my parents," she said. Pip nodded. "Alright. We'll see you in a week. Give the birthday girl a big kiss from Uncle Dan and Aunt Pip," she said. Emily agreed and said goodbye. She put her cell in her pocket and waved at her parents.
They quickly walked over and Emily gave her dad a big hug. "Daddy," she said as he wrapped his arms around her. "Hey sweetheart," he said. They turned to laugh at Emily's mom and step-mom doting over Emma. "Let's go party hey?" he said. Emily smiled and nodded. "Let's go party," she repeated.
Emily spent ten days with her parents. She explained what had happened. Her dad had sworn to kill Peter, but Emily quickly soothed the former SEAL's temper, saying that she could take care of herself. Simon shook his head. "That boy promised me he'd take care of you. He promised me he would love you and give you everything you needed." Emily forced a smile. "Well, he gave me Emma. So really… I can't complain," she said. Simon smiled and kissed his daughter's forehead. "Sweetheart. I am so proud of you. And if you need anything you call me ok? I'll jump on the first flight to San Fran," he said. Emily pat his belly. "Ok Daddy," she whispered as she snuggled into his chest.
The family had a small celebration for Emma's first birthday. Just Emma, Emily, and her parents. They spent the day spoiling her with presents and playing in the park. Emily didn't want to tell her DC family, knowing that they would probably all want to kill Peter. But she was just starting to pull herself together and didn't want them to see her weak and vulnerable. Besides, if the meeting with Strauss went well, she may be back in DC sooner than the BAU team thought.
Emily was sad to say goodbye to her family but assured them she'd see them soon. She picked Emma up and grabbed their carry-ons and walked down the gangplank to the plane. Seven hours later and they arrived back home. Emily walked into the house and sighed. This time, she wasn't scared to come home. She quickly put Emma to bed and then jumped in the shower. She could get through this. She would get through this. And even if she didn't get the happily ever after, at least she had her little princess. And that was more than some people got.