Reid looks up from his book and turns to Morgan upon hearing that it was Emmi on the other line. Morgan quickly sat up and put the phone on speaker. Reid spoke first.
"Hey Emmi everything okay sweetheart ?"
The air between the two was filled with silence as Emmi tried to compose herself from bursting out into tears. Hearing her daddies voice made her miss them more than she ever thought was possible. On the other line, both Reid and Morgan were both worried and anxious to not hear a response from their daughter besides the sound of faint sobs. Reid leaned into Morgan seeking comfort from the heartache he felt from not being able to hold his daughter and be there physically for her. Morgan was also hurting at the same time as he pulled Reid in closer to him and wrapped him left arm around Reid tightly. Taking a deep breath, Morgan broke the silence.
"Emmi sweetheart, what's wrong? You have me and dad here. Talk to us baby."
"I miss you both." Emmi said softly causing her voice to crack.
"We miss you too baby. So very much. Sorry it is taking us so long but I promise you me and dad will be home very soon. You hang in there with Aunt Pen alright?"
"Papa"
"Yes baby?"
"Why did you and dad chose to adopt me?"
Both Morgan and Reid were stunned. Despite being a genius Reid's mind went blank and so did Morgan's. This is something that is very difficult to talk about on the phone. Morgan tightened his grip on his husband as he spoke on the phone.
"Emmi what do you mean? Your dad and I love you very much if you doubt it. It's just that our job sometimes gets in the way but even so it makes me and your dad love you even more. I am sorry we haven't been around much lately but we have never regretted having you Emmi."
"Papa is right sweetheart. There has never been a day and never will be a day that we regret having you. Sweetheart if there is anything that is telling you otherwise don't believe it. Don't think too much of it."
"Okay"
It was all that Emmi could afford to say. She wanted to tell her daddies everything but didn't have the strength to keep it together once she does. Reid and Morgan knew they were far from being done on this issue. Somehow there is something that is still not settled.
"Emmi sweetheart get some sleep okay? I promise you papa and I will come home soon. Do you want me to read a story while you try to get some sleep?" Reid hoping she would say yes so that he could do as much as possible to make her daughter feel better.
"Yes please dad. Thank you."
Reid took her off speaker phone and settled close against Morgan as he told Emmi to lie down and get comfortable. Softly with his ever so comforting voice, Reid began to read from a book he memorized when he was reading to her at home. After 30 minutes Reid called out Emmi's name but there was no respond – a sign that his princess had fallen asleep. Reid muttered a soft "goodnight sweetheart" and hang up the phone. He looks up at Morgan only to have their lips meeting each other. Both of them were tuckered out from the day's event and were too tired to focus on anything. Morgan made a mental note of calling up Garcia first thing in the morning.