Title: Four times Emily held a child in front of Morgan... And one time she didn’t
Author: Dri
Ratings: PG
Characters: Emily, Morgan, Reid, Baby Henry
Spoilers: Is baby Henry a spoiler?
Warnings: A bit of fluffy, perhaps
Author’s notes: This fic is finished, going through beta. I’ll be posting a new chapter every couple of days or so. Also, there would be no fic at all without the help of my betas, who endured my changing of sentences and whole paragraphs without giving up on me. Any remaining mistake is mine because these ladies rock.
Disclaimer: They belong to CBS, and I’m not making any money with this fic.Four times Emily hold a child in front of Morgan

*****

The Second Time

The second time Emily and Derek comforted a child, well, the child wasn’t necessarily in need of comfort. Emily and Derek just happened to be there.

Emily and little Henry were sitting in the patio, enjoying the warm sun and the quietness outside, away from the voices and laughter coming from the christening party inside JJ and Will’s house. Emily rasp-berried the baby’s face and he gurgled in delight, getting fistfuls of Emily’s hair and trying to chew on it.

Little Henry was six months old, weighing what seemed to be a ton and with the behavior of an angel. Something JJ rushed to deny; yes her baby boy had his moments. The sparkle in her eyes and pride in her voice told Emily a different story, though.

The few times Emily had accepted the invitation for a visit, little Henry had behaved to perfection, fussing very little and only crying to announce he was hungry or needed changing.

That morning at the church, Henry had proved his mother right by constantly reaching for the candle Reid was holding by his head, or babbling in Garcia’s arms right along with the priest during his christening, going for the droplets of water the priest was pouring over his head.

Emily had loved every single moment of it.

And those baby smiles.

Little Henry also had this bright toothless smile that was a gift reserved only for JJ and JJ alone. Will had reason to feel a little put out, even if he were a good sport about it. He was the father, after all.

Emily was the one who had no business being jealous. However, she just couldn’t help it. She wished for nothing JJ had. Her friend deserved to be happy and well loved like only mothers could be.

And JJ was a mother. Emily wasn’t.

Emily just wished someday she would be the one in the receiving end of toothless smiles and unconditional love. She vowed she would never let this little proofs of love go wasted, like her mother had. Those were feelings Emily was starting to understand. Something she wasn’t so sure her mother ever had.

“Hey, little man. There you are.”

Morgan was carrying a bottle and wearing the smile that rivaled the sunlight and that in the beginning had caused Emily’s stomach to flip.

Crouching in front of Emily’s chair, Morgan shook the bottle in front of the baby, who reached out with chubby hands to get it. Morgan laughed and let Henry get his finger instead.

“Can you keep your eyes away from this beautiful lady for a few minutes? Your mama wants you to have this bottle,” Morgan said, fingering the baby’s round nose. Henry squealed.

“Shut up, Morgan.” Emily said, blushing even if she knew Morgan meant no harm with the compliment. She had come to accept the flirting as part of Morgan’s good nature. “He’s too little to be exposed to your pick up lines.”

Morgan laughed and handed her the bottle. “Wouldn’t have worked anyway. You’re too smart to fall for lame pick up lines.”

“Yeah, and maybe that’s why I’m single and just about ready to become a spinster.”

The hint of frustration lacing what was meant to be a joke surprised Emily and made Morgan’s smile falter a bit.

“Easy, Prentiss. I’m about ready to become a spinster myself.” Emily snorted at the joke. “It’s true. Just ask my mamma.”

“Does she know about those many bed notches out there with your name on them?”

Morgan had a beautiful belly laugh, contagious. Soon Emily was joining him, and for some time along with Henry’s suckling and cooing, it was the sound backing their light banter.

“You know, we’re too young and too pretty to be turning ourselves into spinsters,” Morgan said, grinning.

“Perhaps we should find ourselves backups,” she said good-naturally. “You know, just in case.”

“Yeah, just in case,” Morgan replied with a playful smile as little Henry played with his finger. “A back up plan sounds nice. Not that we will ever need a backup,” he rushed to add.

Emily laughed. “Never! We’re too good looking for that.”

Morgan laughed too, and that’s how Reid, hands tucked in his pockets and lips stretched in a thin line found them a few minutes later.

“JJ is calling everybody to eat cake.”

“Thanks, pretty boy. We’ll be right back in,” Morgan said, smiling at their friend.

There were traces of curiosity in Reid’s semblance, his eyes flipping from Morgan to Emily, brain without a doubt working a mile a minute. After a few seconds too long, he tucked his hair behind his ear, favored them with an awkward smile, and went back to the house.

Baby Henry and Morgan were having a thumb match and having the time of their lives.

Emily grinned.

*****
Continue in the third time