The next morning, Emily was jittery in a way she rarely became anymore. Derek, on the other hand, was calm, cool, and collected. It didn't help that Emily was throwing back the coffee. She did not end up getting that good night's sleep she knew she needed. She and Derek had a lot of lost time to make up for, both talking and not talking.

The two had gone in early knowing Hotch would be there early. They hoped to beat some of the others to the office for a bit of privacy. Requesting a private conversation with Hotch was sure to draw some attention.

Derek knocked on his open door with Emily a couple of steps behind. "Hotch, do you have a few minutes?"

"Sure. Come in," Hotch replied. He always kept such a straight face but they could see his wheels turning when he looked up and saw Emily was there too.

"We need to talk to you."

"Okay. Have a seat."

"Prentiss and I," Derek began slowly. It didn't matter how much he had practiced in his head, the words got lost on his lips. Did he mean to say Emily? No, he had specifically decided that saying Prentiss would sound more professional. "We…"

Emily knew it wasn't fair to leave him hanging there to explain by himself either.

"Derek and I are… Well, we're together."

Hotch paused only a few seconds. "Romantically?"

"Yes. Romantically," Derek confirmed.

Hotch looked back and forth between the two of them at a very rare loss for words. Emily felt her face growing hot.

"I don't know what the policy is on this, but I'm assuming it's not ideal," Derek said. "But we really want the chance to keep the team together."

"I see," Hotch replied.

Emily felt like if this was her one opportunity to plead their case, she better take advantage of it.

"I know things have been weird since I got back. But I promise this isn't the reason why. I just need time. Time to get back in everyone's good graces."

"I understand that and I wouldn't hold that against you," Hotch said. "But the nature of your relationship is different. I have to be honest, I don't think it is technically allowed by bureau standards. I'll need to consult some resources and let you know for sure."

"What if we could guarantee that it wouldn't cause any issues within the team?" Derek asked.

"How so?" Hotch replied.

"Off the record?"

"I would prefer that, yes."

Here goes, Emily thought. Derek was about to admit all their secrets.

"Emily and I were involved long before she left, and no one ever noticed. I'm sorry we kept it from you, but it was never supposed to turn into anything serious." Derek looked at Emily. "But it did."

Now Emily's face was really hot. They basically just told him they had a long-term casual sex arrangement and then fell in love. Who wouldn't want to tell their boss that?

"I see. And by long before you mean…"

"Years," Derek said.

"Years?"

"Years," Emily confirmed again.

"That stays off the record," Hotch said. "As far as the bureau is concerned, this just began. We can't have that senate committee hearing we just went through brought back up. I will consult the FBI's policies and let you know if the team can remain intact."

"Thanks, Hotch," Emily said.

He nodded. "I'll do what I can."

"Please. If it's at all possible," Derek added. "Thanks, Hotch." The pair stood up to leave his office.

"Morgan and Prentiss?" They turned their heads back to him. It wasn't lost on him how many times he had said their names together when giving case assignments. "Congratulations. You two have always worked so well together. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you."

Now, the waiting game. "That wasn't half bad," Emily murmured quietly to Derek after they had walked out.

…

They decided to call Derek's mother the evening after they had told Hotch. It all happened so fast and it felt wrong she didn't know yet. Emily didn't feel it was necessary to say anything to her mother yet. They weren't the closest. But she promised Derek it was about her and her mother, nothing to do with him, and she promised she would mention it the next time they caught up.

"Mama, I have some news for you. It's good news, don't worry."

Emily could hear through the phone Fran's relief and then excitement. "Well don't keep me waiting!"

"I owe you an apology. When the team was back in Chicago, I wasn't completely honest with you. You were absolutely right about Emily. She is more than just a coworker."

"Oh my goodness, Derek! That makes me so happy! I knew it, I knew there was something in the way you looked at her."

"Yeah, well we're a little slow on the uptake I guess. It took losing her to figure it out."

Emily watched Derek grinning from ear to ear. She enjoyed the moment briefly, then decided to busy herself elsewhere and give them some privacy.

"So was I right all the way back then? You were already together?"

"No, not exactly. But I was lying when I said I didn't have feelings for her."

"Not exactly?"

"There may have been a kiss before then," Derek said with a vague chuckle. Fran knew her son better than that but wasn't going to ask.

"It makes me so happy to hear you this happy."

At his mother's request, Derek called Emily over to say hi to her as well before they ended the call. Derek felt lighter than air. He gave his mom so many reasons to worry in his line of work. It felt good to have her sharing in their happiness.

…

They knew Hotch would need a bit of time to straighten things out. The team went to Boise for a case and Prentiss and Morgan were on their best behavior, probably going a little too far to act indifferent toward each other. They were desperate for Hotch to find a way.

When Hotch gave the two of them their instructions on the jet to visit the crime scene together, which was typical, he held their eye contact just a couple of seconds longer than usual. The man still had the best poker face in the unit though.

A week later, two days after they had returned from Boise, it appeared they were going to get their answer.

"Morgan and Prentiss, a moment, please," Hotch said. They drew stares from Reid and JJ as they got up and walked to Hotch's office together.

"Here we go," Derek murmured quietly. They sat down across from his desk.

"Regarding your relationship, Strauss doesn't love the idea of you two remaining on the same team. If a case ever goes wrong, if the wrong choice is made in the heat of a tense situation, this relationship will draw extra scrutiny. Whether it's deserved or not. That said, she doesn't want to lose either of you. Of course, neither do I." Prentiss and Morgan stared silently, letting him finish. "She is willing to allow it. Technically on a trial basis, but I think that's more for show than anything else. You two are in the clear."

The couple sighed with relief. "Thank you, Hotch. I'm so glad to hear you say that."

"Don't celebrate too soon. She wants us to make clear to the team that this is the exception, not the rule. We need to tell everyone else. Today."

"Let me get this straight," Derek said. "I'm being required by my section chief to disclose to all my coworkers who I'm sleeping with?"

Emily placed her hand on his. "Derek, we really don't have any room to set the rules. Just be glad it's going to work."

Logically Derek understood that. But it was the principal of the thing. It was kind of twisted.

Emily knew they would've told the team soon enough anyway. She was just stressed about how they would take it that she and Derek have been keeping the secret from them for all this time.

"I'll call a meeting at four," Hotch said. "I have a feeling this will be a distraction today and I don't want to derail the day too soon."

"Fair enough," Derek said.

When Emily sat back down in the bullpen, JJ gave her a questioning look. "We'll explain later," Emily said.

Later came very quickly, as it often does when you're dreading something. Maybe dread was extreme. It was just going to be awkward.

"Briefing room in five minutes," Hotch announced.

Reid looked at his watch. "Surely we're not leaving town this late in the day?"

Confusion grew on everyone's faces as they sat around the table and saw that Penelope was also unaware of the reason for the meeting. If it had been a new case, she would be ready to present it.

"I have been asked to go over some HR policies and procedures with you all in light of a new team dynamic," Hotch said to start the meeting. "It is typically the stance of the bureau not to allow relationships within a working team. An exception is being made on a trial basis, but I must be clear this will not become the new standard."

Emily and Derek could no longer stand the questioning looks flying around the room.

"Emily and I are dating," Derek interjected. Dating sounded too casual and new. "More than dating."

"We're…" Emily was running into the same issue with how to phrase this. "We're in a relationship."

She looked at him with a funny face questioning how that sounded and he just chuckled.

"We're in love," Derek said.

That was a bit more forward than Emily would have suggested, but it gave her butterflies nonetheless. She accepted his outstretched hand.

The room was silent for a moment. But then all hell broke loose. Penelope squealed while everyone else talked over each other.

"Oh my God, what?" JJ looked excited. "Congratulations!"

"Well, well, well," Rossi said. "Can't say I'm all that surprised."

They were all talking over each other. Meanwhile, Reid was data dumping. "Statistically speaking, 58% of people have engaged in a romantic relationship with a colleague. Most keep it a secret."

"I knew it!" Penelope said. "Well of course I knew it, but I mean I knew it again, I knew Emily loved you!"

Emily looked at Morgan questioningly. He had forgotten to tell her he told Penelope. It was back when they thought they had lost Emily.

Questions started flying about when and how and for how long.

"Okay," Hotch interrupted. "The real reason for the meeting is to make clear that this is not to become new standard practice. Relationships amongst bureau employees are not encouraged and within a team they certainly must be reported." Hotch droned on with everything Strauss was requiring him to say. Derek and Emily weren't bothered, they were just grateful Hotch stood up for them.

"I have to ask that you save any questions for Prentiss and Morgan for outside of the office. As far as the bureau is concerned, this just began." Hotch gave them the subtlest of looks, but for him that was practically a wink. "Look at that, it's nearly five. Everyone have a great weekend and I'll see you all Monday."

It was only ten after four. They felt like kids being let out of school early. Hotch really did have his moments.

Within twenty minutes, the team was gathered at one of their favorite bars toasting the couple.

"I have to know when this began," JJ said. Everyone was all smiles and laughs as they grilled the pair.

"Any theories?" Derek goaded.

The problem with Hotch letting them know this was happening just today is that Derek and Emily hadn't had a chance to discuss how much they planned to reveal to their friends. But Emily figured honesty was the best policy. Well, within reason. Some intimate details should still be kept private.

Rossi spoke up. "I should have known something was up when Doyle first came around. Derek and I went to her apartment working the case and Emily's cat was rubbing up against Derek's legs like they were best friends."

"Sergio and I are cool," Derek joked.

"I've long noticed similar habits and mirroring body language," Reid remarked. "But I just thought that was a result of being longtime partners in the field."

"That sure didn't hurt," Derek said. He put his arm around Emily and pulled her close. Emily was never huge on public displays of affection, but this felt nice.

Hotch joined the group for once, slipping into the bar a little late. He sat down at their table.

"We're trying to figure out when this began," JJ said to Hotch to catch him up.

"There was also that case where Emily and I went in to face the unsub alone, but you were really only mad at her and not me," Reid said. "That was odd."

"That's right!" Rossi said. "I think Aaron and I both clocked that."

"I'll admit I decided to turn a blind eye to that," Hotch admitted. "I was starting to get suspicious."

"For me it was how jumpy Emily was talking to Derek's mother!" JJ said. "But I didn't think it was because you were actually seeing each other."

"Oh my God, she had me nervous!" Emily agreed. "It was like she could read my mind."

"I know it!" JJ said. "You kept blushing and avoiding eye contact and leaving me to speculate on Derek's dating life!" They all laughed at the memory of Fran Morgan's prying.

"She had a good sense about us," Derek agreed, now looking at just Emily. "She kept pushing me to admit I had feelings for you."

"She did?"

"Yep, right behind the kitchen door. I was afraid everyone was going to overhear."

"She's good. She knew better than we knew ourselves."

"Wait, so you were or weren't together then?" JJ asked, confused by Emily's comment.

"Define together…" Emily mumbled.

"Oh my God." JJ laughed.

"We may or may not have started off pretty casual. And that's all I'll say on that," Derek said.

The team enjoyed a fun night of teasing, prying, and mostly celebrating their friends. It was wonderful to see their happiness.

Plus, Penelope and JJ would make sure to get their share of additional details from Emily at their next girls night.

Overall, everyone realized there were plenty of signs they should have picked up on. It's just that no one thought the two were capable of that secret.

Everyone snuck a few looks at Derek and Emily that evening, wondering if they'd really been so blind. The two were sitting closely, stealing glances, and sharing smiles. They were doing all the simple little things they wanted to do but suppressed for years.

The team saw so many horrible, depraved things every day. This was a sweet memory to be tucked away for a rainy day. For when they needed to be reminded of all that was good and beautiful in the world.

The End