A/N: PHEW! Completing this chapter took AGES. And soon you'll see why… (gulps) BUT, before moving ahead…

THANK YOU, so very much, for your reviews and love! It's such a pleasure to type to you guys. (HUGS)

Awkay, before I chicken out… It's time to go. Just…

BEWARE, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO HURT! I'M SORRY.

Hello, Goodbye

There are very, very few things in the world that have the kind of an impact on a parent as their own child screaming in complete, utter terror. "DAD! Something's wrong with pa!" Those final words only added fuel to the fire and Derek was running.

The first thing he noticed upon barging into the public toilet was his son, more terrified than he'd ever seen the boy. A pair of impossibly wide eyes looked at him pleadingly. "Dad, you… You've gotta help him! I was just talking, and then I heard a thud and…"

The explanation continued but Derek couldn't focus enough to hear a word. Because that was when he finally spotted the feet sticking out from underneath a closed door, and a pair of mismatched socks. The last time he felt as cold as he did then was when… He swallowed, hard. "Hank, go and get a doctor, will you?" How he succeeded in sounding so calm he'd never know.

Hank obviously didn't want to go but also realized that there was fairly little choice. After a one more, scared glance at his pa's feet the child ran. As soon as the boy had left Derek turned his whole focus on his husband. "Spencer?" He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Matthew, can you hear me? What's wrong?"

There was no response and Derek decided that he was done with waiting. It was a small fortune that Spencer had been in too much hurry to lock the door. He tore it open and what he encountered nearly brought him to the floor as well.

Spencer had slumped down and now lay horribly still, face deathly pale. The color of the man's skin created a stark contrast against the vivid bruising forming quickly to Spencer's temple. It didn't take a profiler to realize that the man had hit his head on the way down, very hard.

It took a few seconds too long for Derek to recover from his shock enough to move. But after that he acted in a flash, and was by his husband's side before he realized what was happening. "Spence? Spencer!" He grabbed the man's shoulder gently and shook as hard as he dared to. By then his heart was hammering to a point where he wondered how much more it'd be able to stand, and fear squeezed around his throat. When the unconscious man didn't react to his actions he stopped resisting the temptation and caressed the soft cheek, a sudden wave of longing making him shudder. He swallowed, feeling too much for comfort. "Spence, wake up."

Still no reaction. And in that moment Derek threw all caution to wind. Gently, gently he gathered the man he loved to his arms and got up, then sped to motion. He didn't make it far from the toilet until he encountered Hank, who was running towards him with a panting doctor. The look that appeared to his son's face at the sight of his unconscious pa was painful. Which was why Derek focused firmly on the medical professional. "I…" He cleared his throat when his voice broke. "I don't know what happened, but… Our son, he… He found him, like this…"

The doctor, who was slowly regaining his breath, nodded. "Right, right…" The man took a one more mighty breath. "Follow me."

Derek did, without a beat of hesitation. He pulled Spencer even closer, the need and desire overwhelming him. And hated himself for noticing how good and right it felt to finally get to hold his husband again, even if it had to be like this.

What he didn't notice was how even when unconscious, Spencer curled instinctively a little closer to him, two of the great many wrinkles on his forehead smoothening.

It'd been a painfully long, horrible day. Leaving with her daughter's eyes shining from tears and possibly fever had been awful enough on Maeve. Facing one of their biggest benefactors, a tall man in his late fifties name Ronald Rummer who looked exactly like a rat, was pure torture. Her apologetic looking boss only invited her because Rummer refused to associate with anyone else. And apparently a dying child wasn't a good enough reason to stay away. The entire time Maeve kept checking the time, feeling the exact, immeasurable weight of every ticking away second.

A great deal of her worst fears were confirmed when she was finally able to check her phone and found a message from Matthew, announcing that Morgana had been rushed to a surgery. She hurried back to the hospital to encounter a chaos. And her husband being shifted from Derek's tender arms to a gurney.

Far more emotions than she would've wanted to cope with at the moment flowed through her, making her shiver. Confusion, worry, fear, jealousy… She immediately hated herself a little for the last one. "What happened?" was all she managed to utter. Seeing the mistrust on the face of the doctor treating her husband, she decided to clarify. "I'm his wife."

The doctor appeared even more perplexed for a while, then shook it off. "Matthew was found unconscious. The tests haven't been done yet, but I suspect that he suffers from exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition. He may have a concussion as well." The medical professional didn't seem sure if he should direct his words towards her or Derek. "Has he… been under a lot of stress lately?"

That was like a knife through Maeve's heart. Unable to vocalize just what she and Matthew had been going through she nodded, fighting a brave battle against the tears filling her eyes. Oh god, Morgana…!

The doctor nodded back. "Alright." The man tried to offer a comforting smile. "We're going to look after him. We're taking him to ward 3 for some tests and to give him some treatment. I promise that you'll hear as soon as we find out something."

Then they were already taking Matthew away. Maeve moved to follow. Until she saw a solemn faced woman she recognized as Morgana's primary doctor walking towards her. If she'd felt cold before it was nothing compared to what she experienced at that very moment.

"Stay", Derek urged gently, eyes and tone genuine. "Spen…" The man shook his head, denying himself something. "Matthew will be alright. I'll go there and keep you updated."

Jealousy reared its head again and it took all of Maeve's willpower to smother it. This wasn't about the two of them. "Thanks", she breathed out, feeling utterly spent under the thunderstorm of adrenaline and emotions.

She watched, helpless to do little else, how Derek moved to head towards Matthew. Then, after several deep breaths, she turned to face Morgana's doctor. Her heart hammering and falling to pieces in her chest.

Because somehow this felt like the end.

Perhaps it was a small mercy that in the middle of all the chaos no one noticed the tiny, barely audible whimper that slipped past Spencer's slightly parted lips when he was stolen from Derek's arms.

An hour and a half later found Derek, Maeve and a by then sleeping Hank from the same waiting room. Which was every bit as pleasant as could've been expected. At one point Derek popped out and returned with two takeaway mugs of coffee. He handed the other one to Maeve. "I had a feeling that you might need this."

Maeve sighed gratefully. "I do. Thanks." Taking the first, savoring sip she nodded towards the boy. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah. Just… overwhelmed. It's been a long day."

Maeve shivered and took a new sip. It didn't help her feel warmer. "It has", she agreed in a murmur.

Derek hesitated, then took a seat so that Hank was separating them. "Look, I… I'm sorry, for your daughter." The man considered for a long time before continuing. "Is… she…?"

She nodded, not wanting him to finish, and wiped her eyes. They ached. "She, ah… She's been fighting for so long. We don't know…" She trailed off.

"If there's anything I can do…"

"I know", she interrupted him, more sharply than he would've deserved. He was a good person. This might've been easier if he wasn't. She sighed and looked at him. "Sorry. And… Thanks."

He nodded, then turned to see how Hank was doing. Only to discover that the child wasn't there anymore. His whole form stiffened. "Did you see where he went?"

For the first time in… Maeve couldn't even remember how long a smile touched the corners of her lips. "I think I may have a hunch. Don't worry, he's safe."

When Morgana first woke up she frowned upon facing a boy she'd never met before. Then, slowly, recognition dawned. Although she was in pain and exhausted a tiny smile made its way to her bluish lips. "Hank?"

The boy blinked twice with surprise. "Yeah. How…?" He seemed to run out of words.

Morgana giggled, even if it hurt. "'course I know my brother, silly", she rasped. Hating how every syllable seemed to be a struggle. She shifted, trying to find a position in which her chest wouldn't have felt so tight. Her smile widened while she struggled to keep her eyes at least halfway open. She then frowned. "You look sad."

Hank sighed, and looked so much like her daddy – their daddy – that it baffled her. She moved, ignoring the agony it brought on her. Then patted the empty space on her bed, issuing a wordless command.

Hank obeyed just as soundlessly. And soon the siblings who only just met lay side by side, both deep in thought. The only sounds in the room were her unnaturally loud breathing and the machinery that used to scare her. She wasn't scared of much anymore.

"Hey." Hank nudged at her shoulder gently, tentatively. He pointed through the room's window. "See that constellation? It's Cassiopeia."

Morgana smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Pretty", she declared. Then pointed, the best as she could lift her hand. "That's my favorite one."

"It's called Andromeda. There's a pretty cool story about it. Do you wanna hear?"

Of course she did. Over the next half an hour she was introduced to a lot of constellations and the tales surrounding them. Of princesses and princes, monsters and heroes, love and betrayal. She would've wanted to hear even more but eventually exhaustion won over. Andromeda

Hank seemed to notice. A look of uncertainty appeared to his face. "You look tired. You should sleep."

"You too", she insisted stubbornly, stifling a yawn. Feeling him relax, she closed her eyes contentedly. Just before falling asleep she found herself whispering. "Hank? I'm glad that daddy will have you here. You'll look after him, right?" After I… can't.

She was already fast asleep when Hank was finally able to whisper back. "Yeah. 'Course I will."

Leaning against the doorway Maeve, who'd been keeping an eye on the kids in case they needed something, wiped away tears although more flowed instantly. And cursed the injustice of everything from the bottom of her aching heart.

When consciousness began to rush back in Spencer realized that he recognized the scent surrounding him. Not the reek of a hospital, the one that made his stomach turn. But the cologne. He also recognized the fingers combing softly through his hair. The realization was so overpowering that it nearly made him lose consciousness again.

The hand froze. "Spe…? Matthew?"

Both names echoed in the slowly awakening man's skull, so sharp and heavy that it felt like they might damage the bone. His companion (Derek, Derek, DEREK!) helped him to a sitting position, and he shivered when a straw was placed gently to his mouth. The drink vanished when he'd exhausted himself entirely with five mouthfuls but the supporting arm didn't falter for even a second. He groaned, leaning against the other's comforting warm. A pair of arms wrapped around him, reflexively and protectively, stealing what little breath he'd obtained.

"Shh, shh…" One of the hands moved behind his back. "You… You haven't been looking after yourself lately. And… Well, today your body decided that it'd had too much. Do you remember?"

Yes. Yes, of course he did. He remembered too much.

Two people who loved him. Who swore to spend the rest of their lives with him. Two lifetimes. Two children…

Oh god, Morgana…!

He was moving far faster than would've been wise, startling Derek. "Hey! What are you…?"

He swallowed hard, unable to get rid of the lump in his throat. "Morgana… She… I need to…"

"Okay, okay." Derek took a deep, shuddering breath, then another. "I'll help you to a wheelchair, and I'll take you to see her. But no more overdoing yourself, you hear?"

He nodded. In that moment he would've promised anything, as long as it meant that he'd get to go and comfort his little girl. Anything…

Derek began to help him up, and as they stood side by side a nurse could be heard humming in the hallway. The familiar melody hit Spencer like a sledgehammer. 'As Time Goes By'. Their first waltz as a married couple…

/ Smiles. Laughter. Loving eyes looking into his. A kiss. "And when two lovers woo, they still say 'I love you', on that you can rely, no matter what the future brings, as time goes by…", Derek sang to his ear in a whisper. /

"Spencer?" That name… That familiar name…! "Spence, you need to breathe, honey." A slip of a tongue Derek most likely didn't even notice. So familiar that it felt like a home. "Spencer, breathe!"

But he couldn't. Couldn't think. Couldn't focus. Couldn't… breathe…! Nor could he stop the tears of pain, sorrow, guilt, terror, joy and confusion running down his cheeks. "I'm sorry", he gasped, so quietly that it was a miracle if the other heard. "I'm sorry…! I'm sorry…!"

He tried to reach out. Attempted to explain. Wanted, desperately, to ask whether anything of the flashes in his head was real. But he had no breath left, no words on his tongue, no strength to grasp the hand slipping away from him. Then Derek was gone, calling out to a doctor.

And Spencer felt like both his head and his heart had been torn in two.

They did everything they could to calm down Spencer. But nothing worked. And eventually Derek realized that there was only one thing he could do.

Ignoring the protests of medical professionals, he helped the still borderline hysterical man to a wheelchair and started the journey. As soon as Spencer realized where they were going the man calmed down. And then they reached Morgana's room.

Maeve, who'd been standing by the doorway, frowned at him, then saw Spencer. "Matt? What are you doing out of bed?"

Spencer didn't listen. With what had to be the last of his strength the man pushed himself up and hugged his wife with force he shouldn't have been capable of at the moment. Derek barely heard the whispered words from where he stood. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

Maeve held him back with visible confusion, and looked towards Derek for answers. The older man had none. Understanding as much, Maeve tightened her hold on Spencer and kissed his cheek, then began whispering soothing words.

At that point Derek couldn't take it anymore. He wasn't a selfish man. But this, seeing the man he loved being looked after by someone else… With the day's horrific scare still lingering…

Derek turned and began to walk away. He needed some more coffee, the stronger the better. It wasn't until he entered the elevator he finally broke down to tears, the weight of everything crashing down on him.

"Matt?" A kiss. "You're waking up, aren't you?"

"Hmmh." He sighed and leaned heavily against Maeve's familiar body, seeking comfort. Then, slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. He… wasn't in the same hospital room anymore… "What…?"

"You… had it a bit rough. Derek brought you here, and you fell asleep." Maeve seemed to be hiding something, but he didn't have the strength to question her. She searched his eyes. "Are you… okay, now?"

Of course he wasn't. He was scared, confused, sad and in pain. But at least he was coherent, now. So he nodded. "Morgana?"

Maeve's smile had a tinge of sadness to it. She nodded to their left. "See for yourself."

There were two hospital beds in the room. In the second one slept Morgana, but she wasn't alone. Hank slept beside her, one protective arm wrapped around the sister he'd never get the chance to really know. Although this was the first time the children met they held hands firmly in their sleep.

He chuckled hoarsely, because it was better than to break down to tears again.

"Hank?" That voice was gentle and familiar. As was the hand caressing his head. "Hank, wake up, now. It's time to go home."

Disoriented, the boy groaned and fought his eyes halfway open. The face he encountered made all fatigue fade away. "Pa?" He was sitting up so quickly that he surprised them both. "You okay?" His gaze scanned the man from head to toe. Despite paleness and obvious exhaustion the man did seem to be alright.

His pa nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, of course I am. I'm sorry that I startled you." Something about those eyes… seemed different. Perhaps that was what made Hank react.

Stunning them both equally, he wrapped his arms around his pa as tightly as he could. "Don't go", he blurted out breathily. "I… I'm still mad, but… I'll get better, I swear. Just… Don't go, please, don't leave us again." Once was bad enough, almost killed him. A second time…

He felt his pa swallow roughly. "I won't Hank", the man swore quietly, like a secret between the two of them. He wasn't quite old enough to hear the tears. "I'm not leaving you."

The man began to hum softly, and it was to that familiar melody Hank fell asleep. He remained asleep through the ride home, and for eleven hours afterwards. As soon as he woke up he sent his pa a text and didn't settle for a long overdue breakfast until ten minutes later, after he'd received a response assuring that the man was still okay. Hours later Hank realized that the melody that lulled him to sleep was the same one his pa sang often when he was a kid.

Was it a coincidence, or…?

Maeve didn't know how long she'd been sleeping when she woke up to find Matthew standing by the room's window, gazing out with vacant, pained eyes. She frowned and checked up of Morgana, who seemed to be resting peacefully, before focusing on him. "Matt? Have you slept at all?" There was barely any reaction, which served as a reply. "What's wrong?"

He swallowed thickly. "I… shouldn't ask this of you, but… There's something I've been thinking about."

The following day Morgana woke up to a very much welcomed, happy chatter. The second her eyes opened they widened, and a huge grin spread across her face. "You're the BAU-team, aren't you? Daddy showed me a picture uncle Derek sent him."

A woman with bright colored eyeglasses and a kind smile that didn't reach her eyes approached her and kissed the top of her head. "We are, sweetie. I'm your aunt Penny. And these…" She nodded towards the four others. "… are JJ…" A beautiful blonde smiled at her. "… Alex …" A brunette with kind eyes gave her a small wave. "… Hotch …" A solemn faced man gave her a nod. His eyes were so very sad… "… and Rossi." A smiling man who made her smile right back gave her a wave. "Your daddy invited us here to throw you the best birthday ever."

Morgana giggled, surprised that it didn't hurt. "It's not my birthday", she pointed out.

"Now what was that?" Rossi scolded playfully. "Don't tell me that you don't want all these gifts. And the cake."

Her eyes sparkled. So very tired, but full of life. "Cholate?"

"Nothing else would do, princess", Penny confirmed.

A step away from the room her parents stood watching as Derek joined the others with the cake and everyone laughed. Both held back tears. "Thank you", Spencer murmured, kissing his wife's hair. "For…"

"Of course." Maeve squeezed his hand reassuringly. "They were your family, as much as Morgana, Hank, Derek and I. They…" She gathered herself for a few moments. "They needed to get to meet her."

The thought was unbearable. Spencer shuddered and kissed her again, wishing that he could just wake up from this long, cruel nightmare. To a reality where no one was hurting, where his little girl… "Are you sure that you don't want to call your parents?"

Maeve nodded firmly. "They made their choice, when they decided that they weren't going to accept you. Us. Morgan… She doesn't need all that around her, not now."

Spencer sighed, leaning his head against the back of his wife's. Without a warning her scent mixed with Derek's. Memories – real or not, he didn't know – mixed together and he shivered again.

"Matt?"

He shook his head. "Just a headache." Which was tearing his skull apart. A loud cheering announced that the cake was brought in. "Now let's go in before they eat that monster without us."

The party was perfect. And afterwards the whole family of three slept together in Morgana's bed, tangled together so tightly that it was impossible to tell where one person ended and the other began. On the room's wall a clock kept ticking on mercilessly.

Morgana kept hanging on for a couple of more days. But her heart was weary and so was she. When she lost consciousness in the middle of emptying a cup of juice her parents knew that what they'd been dreading since her birth was almost at hand.

Morgana deserved better than to pass away in a hospital room. So they carried her as far from there as she could take, which happened to be the hospital's garden. To their relief no one was there so they got to spend their final moments with their daughter alone.

Morgana knew that she'd go soon, too. Even though she was still a child she felt it, with everything in her. There'd been a lot of days when she'd been scared of this. But now… Now she was perfectly calm. Ready. She didn't even feel pain anymore. She was just tired, every bit as exhausted as someone who'd spent their whole life fighting a war. And she felt cold.

Her daddy seemed to notice as much, because he wrapped her coat a little tighter around her. Then kissed the top of her head gently. "Go to sleep, sweetie", he murmured. "It's okay to close your eyes."

Morgana frowned and snuggled closer to the familiar warmth of her parents. Her eyes stung from more than just the brightly shining sun. "What if I have bad dreams?" she whispered, not having the strength for anything louder.

What was that noise? Her mommy caressed her hair with a trembling hand. "You won't", she promised. "Daddy and I… We'll watch over you, I promise. For always. Even when you can't see us there."

"Promise?" Morgana mumbled, her eyelids becoming heavy.

"P-Promise", her daddy murmured, this time unable to hide a slight stutter from her. He pulled her closer to his warmth, so close that she felt his heartbeat. "It's… It's what mommies and daddies do. They always look after their children. No matter how far apart they are."

It was a comforting thought. Because… Maybe she was still scared, just a little bit. She'd never even been to a bus without her parents. How was she supposed to make this long journey all by herself? "What if get lost?" It was a long way, after all. What if…?

"You won't", her daddy swore with such certainty that it made all doubts disappear. He squeezed her hand and she wished that she had the strength to hold back more firmly. He sounded so very sad, both her parents did… "And when… when you get there… You'll be healthy, sweetie. And happy."

"I know." And Morgana did. She looked at her parents and wished that she would've gotten the chance to see them smile a one more time. "Don't be sad. I'll be okay."

Her daddy kissed her hair once more. Her mommy began to hum her favorite lullaby. Those were enough to convince Morgana to finally close her eyes. She relaxed to the embrace of her parents, listening to her mommy's humming and her daddy's heartbeat. Slowly yet surely both began to sound quieter. Eventually she barely felt the hands holding and caressing her.

When it stopped feeling cold Morgana knew that it was time to go and sighed for the last time.

TBC

A/N: Oh boy…! (takes a deep breath) I'm so, SO SORRY for putting you through that! But now… Now it's done. And I PROMISE, it'll get better! Slowly but surely.

Those poor things, though! (whimpers)

So… Thoughts? Rants? PLEASE, do leave a word or two to the box down below!

Awkay, I need at least a couple of hours of sleep. Until next time! I REALLY hope that I'll see you all there.

Take care!