Home of Derek Morgan – Monday Morning –

The sun was just beginning to rise but Derek had been awake for hours. He dreaded the day and what it would mean for him and his infant son, Hank. The home he'd built for Savannah had already changed and it felt cold and dark without her. Still, the thought of leaving was hard to fathom; the idea felt like betrayal and he pushed the thought aside as he headed to the kitchen to put on a fresh pot of coffee.

Derek blamed himself and it didn't matter what his friends and family said to the contrary, he was to blame for his wife's death. He should have been home; instead he was off chasing unsubs like he was most days and nights. He'd given her plenty of reasons to leave; after all, she could have done a whole lot better, yet she insisted that she was in it for the long haul and that she was fully aware of what life with him would mean. Still, his crazy schedule, long stretches of time away from home and the horror stories he would tote back like souvenirs, were topics of countless arguments between them.

He was riddled with guilt and the vision of finding her brutally beaten in their home would haunt him and the nightmares of arriving too late to save her would join the other nightmares that he was doomed to wrestle with for the rest of his life. He was sorry and prayed for a chance to tell her how sorry he was, but it was too late and now his son would grow up without a mother; without knowing the amazing woman and mother that Savannah was. He hoped Hank would not blame him when he was old enough to understand that Daddy wasn't a hero after all.

10 a.m. –

The doorbell rang and Derek knew who it was before he answered it. Penelope had always been a constant reliable friend to him and a loving consistent godmother to Hank. They both needed her now more than ever. He opened the door and gobbled her up in his arms finding solace as she wrapped her arms firmly around his body. No words were exchanged as he stepped aside to let her in. He could tell that she had been crying and because she was his best friend, he could tell that she had tried desperately to hide the tear stains behind a mask of strength and courage for him. He would never tell her that he saw the pain and that he knew that she was hurting for him. He closed and locked the door as she exhaled and turned to face him.

"How are you holding up, Hot Stuff?"

"As well as can be expected, Baby Girl."

"Where's Hank?"

"He's upstairs; Ma is getting him dressed."

"Everyone is meeting us at the church and then we'll all come here after the services for the repass," she added.

"Thanks."

"Don't thank me."

"No, really, thanks for everything. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do this without you."

"Sure, you would but I love you and I'll be here for you as long as you and my godson need me."

He pulled her against his body and held on for dear life. He didn't want this day, not like this, not with Savannah dead and her parents blaming him and accusing him of neglecting her. He never expected his life to come to this but here he was, and he hadn't a clue how to survive and how to be the father that Hank needed. Penelope held him as his body shook beneath her embrace; this was all she could do; she had no words and no remedies for the horror that had fallen upon his life yet again.

"He's going to be alright; he's going to be alright."

11 a.m. Cypress Community Church

The small chapel was filled with Savannah's co-workers and friends from college and medical school. Most of them he had never met. Her life before him had taken place outside of Virginia and she had not shared much of it with him. Her parents on the other hand, had been quite vocal with their disapproval of their only child's marriage to Derek. In their opinion their daughter had married beneath her station in life and the fact that Derek was a law school graduate and a decorated federal agent did not change their view of him. Luckily for Derek his interactions with them had been limited over the years.

As much as Drs. Charles and Lydia Hayes disliked Derek, they doted on Hank; over-doing it when it came to holidays and birthdays. Derek always felt that it was their undercover way of showing him what they could do for his son and what he could not. Nevertheless, Derek encouraged Savannah to visit her parents and to take their son to Boston as often as she wanted so that he could know both sides of his family.

Derek was the last to enter the chapel; holding Hank in one arm and holding Penelope's hand with his free hand. He felt the eyes of pity from those in attendance and he felt relief knowing that his friends and family were there. Savannah's parents never looked up as he took his seat on the front row next to them placing Hank on his lap. Lydia pulled the little one into her arms and Derek did not protest.

The service was a blur and without the written program he knew that he would not remember the soloist who sang, "Amazing Grace," and he would not remember the pastor's sermon, or the words spoken by at least a dozen of those who shared fond memories of his late wife. The occasional movement of his son and he bounced from lap to lap, was his only tie to the present; that and the sweet fragrance of Penelope's perfume.

1:30 p.m. Home of Derek Morgan

Savannah's parents had managed to remain cordial during the services and during the repass. Fran had outdone herself preparing a feast enough to feed two armies. Hotch, JJ and Will, Reid, and Emily who had flown in the night before surrounded Derek and Hank as if they were armed guards. Derek's sisters helped Fran in the kitchen while keeping an eye on their brother. They knew that his in-laws blamed him for Savannah's death, and they were not going to stand for any outburst from them; not today.

"It was a beautiful service, Derek."

It was the first words Lydia had uttered to him that day. The older woman looked at the others who seemed to form an impenetrable wall around Derek; she was surprised that they were still standing there.

"Thank you. I'm glad you and Charles could make it."

"Savannah is…was our daughter, Derek; of course, we would be here. We just don't understand why the services weren't in Boston; that's her home."

"This is her home, Lydia."

"Well I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, won't we?"

"I'm sorry…I can't do this, not today and…"

"Derek, my husband and I hoped we could speak to you in private before we leave town."

"Of course. Is tomorrow afternoon okay?"

"Yes, that will be fine."

Then as quickly as she had appeared, she was gone, rejoining her husband who had made himself comfortable near the bar. Penelope had noticed the short but tense exchange and quickly made her way across the room. JJ's look of concern as well as the others did not escape her.

"Hey Handsome, how about I fix you a plate; your mom has really outdone herself."

"Thanks Baby Girl but I'm not hungry. I better go check on Hank."

"I can do that."

"No, it's okay I need to see him right now."

"Do what you need to do Morgan we'll hold down the fort here," said Hotch.

Morgan slowly pulled himself to his feet and headed toward the stairs climbing them one by one as if his body weighed a ton. Hank was all he had left of Savannah; he had failed her miserably and he was determined not to fail his son too.