Ah, friends. Your reviews always bring a smile to my face. Thank you.

I have a feeling you "Demily" fans will enjoy this one... ;)

Happy reading =)

"Love is only a word, until we decide to let it possess us with all force. Love is only a word, until someone arrives to give it meaning." – Paulo Coelho, Manuscript Found in Accra

I run my fingers through her hair, reveling in the feeling of her body pressed up against mine. Her breathing has finally slowed back to normal, and our bodies have come down from the high, finally relaxing. I'm overcome with exhaustion, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep with her in my arms, but my mind won't turn off.

I find myself thinking about that day, all those months ago, when I began to realize she was thinking about leaving. We'd gotten called away soon after to the case that almost cost JJ her world, and I'd nearly forgotten about Emily's hesitancy to put down roots. Then the bomb had gone off, and there was that split second of panic when I realized I had no idea where she was, and it was forgotten completely.

Instead, my protective instincts had gone into overdrive as I chased after JJ and began to search for Emily, all thoughts of her potential departure shoved to the side. The panic began to swell in my chest as I feared turning a corner and finding a scene similar to one I'd already experienced. A scene that still appeared in my nightmares. A cold warehouse floor, a pool of blood, an empty expression on her face, a cross between fear and exhaustion in her eyes.

There was no relief when I heard her call out in reply to my shouts. My mind conjured the worst possible scenarios because there was something in her voice that didn't sit right with me. Looking back, I suppose it was all to do with inhaling all that smoke and dust, and probably being thrown back from the blast, but at the time I'd read it as something else. The relief had only settled in when I saw her with my own eyes.

I let out a heavy breath as I close my eyes briefly to banish the thoughts. But my mind won't comply, and instead my thoughts turn to our discussion before JJ's wedding.

The shock on her face when she realized I knew was heart-breaking. I don't know if she'd planned on avoiding it until one day she just didn't come into work anymore, or if she hadn't come to terms with everything herself, but she seemed so genuinely surprised that I'd figured it out. She'd had such a lost look in her eyes. And to hear it was something she'd been grappling with since she returned? It hurt. I knew things had been tough for her, with me being an idiot, and Reid being angry, but I never imagined she'd considered leaving.

"I- I thought buying a house and putting down roots was gonna fix this feeling. It was gonna give me…what I wanted. But it hasn't. It's bigger than that."

I knew she needed support. The guilt was eating at her. I knew she needed someone to tell her it was okay. And despite the protests in my mind, I'd reassured her. I'd given her what she needed.

But the days had passed, and the arguments in support of letting her leave had weakened. By then it was becoming rather clear I didn't want to lose her. Again.

And then I'd walked in on her playing that piano, and all my carefully constructed reassurances to myself that I was doing the right thing went out the window. I knew at that moment I couldn't let her go. So I kissed her.

It feels like it was yesterday that we were laying in the backyard, staring up at the stars, and yet I feel like I've known her for a lifetime.

Things are good. Really good. She's happy, and I feel a goofy grin spread on my face as I realize just how happy I am. It occurs to me that we could probably spend a million evenings like this, and I'd still never grow tired of it. There was a certain sense of home that I had come to associate with her, and being here, with her in my arms just feels…right.

I look down and press a kiss to her head, tightening my hold on her for a moment. I feel her smile in response as she inches even closer somehow, and in that one moment, all my careful planning, ironed out details, and brainstorming go out the window. All the elaborate schemes, and grand ideas fall to the wayside. Instead I'm left with a certain simplicity.

"Marry me," I say quietly, turning slightly to look at her.

Her mouth drops open ever so slightly as her eyes widen in surprise. "What?" she whispers breathlessly.

"Marry me," I repeat, meeting her gaze.

I see a smile spread as she nods. "Okay." She tilts her head up and presses a passionate kiss to my lips.

"Hang on," I say as I pull away reluctantly.

Her expression turns to a pout. "We just got engaged and you want me to "hang on"?"

"Yes, you crazy lady, because you're missing a rather important part of the engagement," I say teasingly as I reach over to my bedside table. I pull out a small box and flip it open before grabbing the ring inside. Turning back to face Emily, I hold out the ring to her and grin widely.

"It's beautiful."

"It's a puzzle ring," I explain. "It's made up of 6 interconnected rings that you put together to form the ring. It reminded me of you."

"Why?"

"Because figuring you out was never an easy task," I say with a grin. "And I never would have wanted it to be," I add when I notice she's ducked her head down. To drive the point home, I tilt her head back up and kiss her gently.

She smiles and holds out her hand, letting me slide the ring onto her finger. I let out a breath of relief.

She frowns at my action. "Did you really think I'd say no?"

"I was worried it wouldn't fit, actually. Those rings are not easy to resize."

She chuckles. "It fits perfectly. How'd you guess the size?"

"I may or may not have borrowed your grandmother's ring that you wear on occasion."

"Very sneaky, Mr. Morgan," she says with a grin.

"Anything for the future Mrs. Morgan," I quip. She wrinkles her nose. "What?" I ask, noticing her expression.

"I just…Mrs. Morgan?"

"What, you're not going to take my name?"

"Why would I?"

"Because most women-"

"I thought we'd established I was not most women."

"Well, yes, but-"

"Maybe if I was younger…but I've been Emily Prentiss for over 30 years now. I think it's pretty established."

"I guess," I say with a shrug.

"Is that okay?" she asks, and I find myself surprised by her worried tone.

I look down at her. "Of course it is, Emily. I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. The rest are details that I don't much care to iron out. So if you want to be Emily Prentiss, then Emily Prentiss you shall be. I will have to insist you wear the engagement ring though – it cost me a pretty penny."

"I wouldn't dream of not wearing it," she assures me. "Far too beautiful not to."

I wake up slowly, my eyes blinking away the remnants of sleep while I stretch my arms out. I look down to find Emily wide awake and staring at the ring on her finger.

"Having second thoughts?" I tease, secretly hoping the answer to that question is a resounding "no!".

"No," she says, turning her gaze up to meet mine. "Not at all. I was just looking at it in the light. It really is beautiful, Derek. I love it."

"Good. I'm glad you like it."

"Love it," she corrects. "I love it."

"Right. So who are you gonna tell first?" I ask, genuinely curious to hear her answer.

"Who are we going to tell first, you mean."

"What, no surprises for the ladies night tonight?"

"Shit, I forgot that was tonight," she pauses for a moment as she thinks. "Shouldn't you tell your family first?"

"We can call Mama before tonight. Do you want to call your mom too?"

"We're having lunch on Monday, I'll tell her then."

"Okay," I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and wrapping my arms around her.

Suddenly she pulls out of my arms. "What are we going to tell people?"

I frown in confusion. "…that we're engaged…" I offer tentatively, confused as to what she's getting at.

"No, I mean when they ask how you asked."

I grin widely. "Well, we could go with the truth."

"We are not telling your mother that you proposed after sex-"

"Mind-blowing sex," I correct with a cheeky grin. I'm rewarded with a glare for my efforts.

"Seriously – what are we going to say?"

I shrug. "The truth – I asked you to marry me while we were cuddling. They don't have to know we were naked at the time."

"Garcia will jump to that conclusion."

I shrug. "Let her. I don't see the big deal."

"It's private though," Emily says with a frown that I find completely adorable. Here was a fierce, independent, and strong woman reduced to a pile of worry and anxiety over people finding out our engagement had happened in the glorious after-glow of some really great sex.

"Princess, I will go along with whatever you want to tell them, but I really think honesty is our best bet. Besides, they'll be focused on the main point of it – the rock on your finger."

"I guess. But we are definitely not telling our mothers."

"No," I agree. "My sisters would never let me hear the end of it," I admit.

She chuckles, but our conversation reaches a natural silence. I take the opportunity to look at the ring on her finger, finding a sense of happiness and peace radiating through my body as a result. Things were falling into place for both of us.

"Hey, Derek?" she says quietly.

"Mm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Princess."

So...how was that for a proposal? Adorable? Sweet? Romantic? Cheesy? Kitschy? Did I get a chuckle outta you about Emily's predicament? Let me know...I love me my reviews.

I owe some thanks to Lexie4MP for the quote...it served as wonderful inspiration for this conversation. And the puzzle ring thing? Been rather enamoured with them for a while...this just provided an opportunity to use one. :)

'til next time!