The next day, Derek and Emily woke up with the alarm clock ringing loudly. Morgan made it stop and wrapped his arms around the brunette and kissed her forehead.

"Good morning" he smiled and Emily smiled back.
Soon they were making their way down to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Bells" Emily said when she spotted the girl getting some orange juice out of the fridge.

"Morning" Bella said and Emily hugged her.

As they ate breakfast Morgan and Emily noticed that Isabella was totally fine and seemed just as happy as she was the day before. They exchanged some looks as Bella went on and on about her niece and nephew. Once the girl was done eating Emily told her to get her things so they could go. Bella quickly went upstairs.

"I don't think she knows what day it is yet" Emily said.

"Either that or she's playing tough" Derek said.

Emily gave him a look and said "I don't think she is, Derek"

"Should we tell her?" He asked.

"Not right now." Emily said. "I don't think she'll leave the house if we tell her"

"Em, I don't think she's like that anymore" he said.

"Somethings never change and believe me when I say that the moment she finds out she'll be a mess" Emily said. "She doesn't talk about it and I know that she misses him so much and she's hurt about the whole thing"

"We can tell her when we pick her up from school then" Derek suggested.

"Yeah. We can take the afternoon off and just stay at home with her" Emily said and Derek agreed.

Suddenly Bella walked in.

"Are you ready?" The small brunette asked. Emily and Derek smiled and they headed out the door.

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"Be safe. I love you" Bella told her mother and Derek once they parked in front of the school.

"You too" Emily smiled as the girl gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek.

Bella was about to walk out of the car when Derek said "you forgot me". The girl giggled and kissed his cheek.

"Bye. Love you" the 9 year-old said and ran out to meet her friends.

"I just hate this." Emily breathed out. "She's like a bomb today and we're just waiting for her to blow up"

Morgan held her hand. "We'll be here for her when she does." He said and started driving to the BAU.

At the school, Bella met Chloe and Gavin at the entrance and they said their other friends were in their classroom helping the teacher. So they headed inside. Bella sat in front of Chloe and turned to talk to her friend. Mazzy and Gavin soon joined and they talked for about 25 minutes while the teacher organized a projector and a few other things for the class.

"Good morning Class" the teacher said and everyone turned to face him and pay attention.
"Today we are watching a movie" he announced and the kids cheered. "It's a documentary and I think it will help you guys understand a little bit better and get ready for our test" he said.

"Finally" Gavin told Bella. It had been a while since the last time they watched a movie in class.

"I'd like you to write a few things down before we start" the teacher said and went to write something on the board. Isabella got her things to write and copied what the teacher wrote. Once done she turned to Gavin and asked "what day is today?" and once Gavin told her it was like she was frozen. She just sat there and didn't say anything or move. She couldn't believe she had forgotten. She couldn't believe it had been a year already and she just missed him the same. She felt like she was about to explode as her heart started racing.

"Bella, are you okay?" Gavin asked. "Bella! What's wrong?" He asked now worried and Bella unfroze.

"What?" She said.

"Are you okay? What's the matter?" He asked.

She felt like she wanted to say she was fine but she couldn't make up the words. She panicked and got up. She walked to the teacher and said "water". The man was a bit confused but agreed so the girl went outside.
Isabella went to the bathroom as fast as she could. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Emily's number.

.

At the BAU, Morgan and Prentiss arrived to find the team at the bullpen. JJ spotted them and ran to Emily.

"How are the babies?" She asked excited.

Emily went on and on about how the trip went and how happy Bella was and how cute the babies were. She showed everyone some pictures and they were all smiling and awing over the twins. Conversation was going light and happy till Emily's phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and turned to show it to Derek.
He gave her a sad smile when he saw the word "Bella" and a picture of the girl on the screen.

"Hello?" Emily said.

"Mom" came Isabella's crying voice.

Emily let out a deep breath just knowing and feeling bad for the girl.
"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I just want you" Bella cried.

"I'll be right there" Emily said. "Get your things and go find Carrie. Tell her I'm on my way" Emily added. Carrie was the principal's secretary.

"Okay" Bella said.

"I'll be right there, Bells" Emily said again and hung up. She got her bag and said "I need to go get her"

"What happened?" JJ asked confused.

"Is she getting bullied again?" Rossi asked.

"No it's..." Emily started but Spencer cut her off.

"John" Spencer said and everyone turned to him. "It's a year today"

Everyone's heart broke for the girl. They knew how hard those things could be.

Emily gave her team a sad smile and turned to Morgan. "Are you coming?" She asked.

"Of course" he said and they headed to the elevator.

.

At school, Isabella went to the principal's office to find Carrie. She told the secretary her mom was going to pick her up because she was feeling sick. The woman told her to take a seat to wait while she got her bag. Carrie left and soon returned with Bella's backpack.

"Your friend Chloe packed everything for you" Carrie said.

"Thank you" Bella told her.

The woman gave her a sad smile, the kid didn't look good at all.

Bella waited and soon Emily and Derek arrived. When Bella saw them at the door she got up and walked to them keeping her head down. She got to her mom and Emily grabbed her hand. Bella was trying hard not to explode. They walked outside and Morgan grabbed her bag.

"Let me carry this for you" he said and she handed it to him.

She made the mistake to look up and when she saw his face she couldn't help it and tears started rolling again. Emily quickly jumped into action and wrapped the girl in her arms. Bella sobbed as Emily stared at Morgan unsure of what to do.
They stood there for a while and then Derek signed the car so Emily let go of the hug and they walked to the car. Bella got in and laid down facing the seat and the whole way home she didn't say a word. She felt like she just wanted to disappear and cry and not talk to anybody.
Derek and Emily knew she needed some space so they let her be. Soon they parked the car at home. Bella got out and went to the door. Once Emily opened it the girl ran upstairs dropping her bag at the beginning of the stairs. Emily was about to run after her but Derek grabbed her arm.

"Let her" he said and Emily took a step back. "Let her deal with it for a while. We'll be here if she needs us" he said and they went to sit on the couch.

Upstairs Bella walked in her room to find Lulu laying on her bed. She jumped on the bed and hugged the dog tight and just cried. She just let it out. It took about 15 minutes for her to calm down and another 10 for her to stop crying. She got up, washed her face and went downstairs. She walked in the living room and Emily was resting on Morgan.

"Mom" Bella said really low. Emily heard and turned to face her. What she saw broke her heart. The child was so pale, her eyes were red and Emily could see new tears forming in them.

"Come here" Emily said. Bella walked to them and Morgan scoot over so she could fit between them. She sat down and suddenly tears started streaming again. Emily wrapped the girl in her arms and Bella rested her head on her mother's chest. No one said a word, they just held her and let her cry.

After sometime the room was in complete silence and it stayed like that till Bella said "why didn't you tell me this morning?"

Emily took a deep breath and said "I didn't want you to be upset. We were gonna tell you once we picked you up from school"

"You thought I wouldn't remember the date?" Bella asked.

"I wasn't thinking straight, honey. I just... I didn't want you to be upset" Emily said.

There was a bit of silence again. Bella was just thinking about it all. Thinking about everything she'd been through in the last year.

"Mom" Bella said. "Can we go to a church or something?" She asked thinking that's what people did on those days.

The question took Emily by surprise. Bella had never shown interest on going to church before. She went a few times with her father, they were Catholics but never really frequented a church.

"Of course" Emily said. If she was being honest she didn't want to go but Bella was asking so she felt like she should take the girl.

"Right now?" Bella asked.

"Yeah. Go get a jacket" Emily said. The small girl let go of her mom and went to her bedroom.

"Are you okay?" Morgan asked when he caught Emily lost in her thoughts.

"What?" Emily said.

"I asked if you are okay?" Derek said.

"I guess" she said.

"Do you want me to take her?"

"No no. I think she needs both of us there" Emily said and Derek nodded.

Suddenly Bella walked back in.
"I'm done" Bella said.

Emily got up and grabbed her hand and they headed to the car. Instead of going on the front seat Emily got in the back with Bella. The girl buckled up and Emily threw one arm over her shoulders letting the small girl rest on her.
The car ride was quiet and soon Derek parked in front of a church.
It was a very cold day and Emily could see Bella was shaking. She wrapped the girl in her arms and they walked to the church. Once inside, Emily let go of Bella and the girl led the way and took a seat on the back. Prentiss and Morgan followed and sat next to her. The child just sat there and looked around. She suddenly rested on Emily and grabbed her hand.

"I don't know what to do" Bella whispered. Emily and Derek just looked confused. "It didn't help" the girl said and looked down.

"What do you mean?" Emily asked.

Bella's eyes filled with tears. "Uncle Shepherd said once that he fells close to his Dad at church. I thought I..." she said and started crying. Emily wrapped her arms around her and ran circles on her back.

"It doesn't work like that for everyone, honey" Emily said. "But no matter where he is he loves you so much. And he knows how much you love him and you miss him. You don't need to come here or go anywhere to feel close to him. He's right here" Emily said and put her hand on Isabella's chest. Bella looked up and her face broke their hearts. They couldn't take seeing her in pain.

"I miss him so much" she said.

Emily hugged her tight again and Bella started sobbing. Emily pulled the girl to her lap and got up. People were starting to look at them to see what was wrong so they left. Emily carried Bella to the car and got on the back with her. Derek drove home and when he parked the car Bella was fast asleep.

"Baby we're home" Emily said and Bella woke up.

They went inside and Bella was about to go upstairs when Emily grabbed her hand. "Come sit with me" she said and they went to the living room. Emily sat on the couch and pulled the small girl to her lap. She held Bella like she usually did and the girl relaxed in her mother's embrace. Emily started soothing her hair and soon Bella feel asleep. Derek called Hotch and took the afternoon off. Then he sat next to them and turned the tv on. Twenty minutes into it and Bella woke up. She got off Emily and sat between them. Morgan grabbed her hand and she looked up at him. She suddenly hugged him tight and Derek and Emily looked surprised. Derek hugged the girl and felt her little body shutter. He pulled her to his lap and just kept hugging her tight. Soon she calmed down and sat up straight.

"Are you alright?" Derek asked.

Bella shook her head no. Derek wiped her face and said "you're gonna be okay"
She rested on his chest and said "I know"

Emily grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Can you stay home with me today?" Bella asked her mom.

"Of course we can" Emily said with a sad smile.

They spent the rest of the day watching tv in the living room. Bella was very quiet and refused to be away from Emily. Around lunch time, Derek went to the kitchen and made some mac and cheese for them while Bella and Emily snuggled on the couch. The girl barely ate but she didn't feel sick she just didn't feel hungry. In the afternoon, JJ called to check on them and Derek told her what had happened and also that the girl would be okay. JJ suggested stopping by with Henry to cheer her up and keep her mind off of it but Derek thought it would be best not to. He said he wanted her to have some time to deal with her feelings so JJ said she would stop by some other day. For dinner Derek went out and bought ingredients to make hamburgers, he thought that could help a little. When he got back home he told them and they joined him in the kitchen. He fried the meet and Bella and Emily put the rest together. This time Bella ate it all and even laughed at a few jokes Morgan made. Every time she did so Emily smiled at him glad to have him in their lives. After dinner they watched some tv and soon it was bed time and Emily went to tuck Bella in.

"Sweet dreams B" Emily smiled and kissed Bella's forehead. Suddenly Bella grabbed her hand.

"Can you stay with me tonight?" The girl asked with tears in her eyes.

"Of course I can" Emily said with sad smile. Bella moved a bit to the side and Emily laid next to her. She hid on her mother's chest and soon fell asleep. Emily stayed a while longer and then went to talk to Derek.

"I'm gonna stay with her tonight, okay?" She said.

"Sure" Derek said. "Anything go get me" he said and kissed her.

Emily got ready for bed and joined Bella. She wrapped the girl in her arms and soon fell asleep too.

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The next morning Derek woke up and realized they were late. The alarm clock didn't go off. So he ran to wake up Emily. She woke up and then woke Isabella who was rather moody that morning.

"Come on honey. You gotta get ready for school" Emily said.

"No" Bella said and turned to face the other side.

"Bella, I know you're upset. It's okay to be sad and upset but you have to go school you already missed yesterday" Emily said.

"I'm not going!" Bella said between her teeth and hid under the blanket.

Emily got out of the bed and went to her bedroom.
"She won't get up" Emily told Derek.

"Let me try" he said and headed there. He walked in and she was still hiding. "Hey Bella" he said and sat next to her. She didn't answer so he pulled the blanket off. "Time for school" he said.

She turned around.

"You need to go to school" he said.

Bella thought of being mean and pushing him away by quickly saying something because she was upset and didn't want to go to school but she didn't want to hurt him. So she turned around and said "I don't wanna go" with a normal tone but sounding sad.

Derek saw she was trying hard not to cry.
"Do you want to stay home with me?" He asked and she nodded letting a few tears fall. Derek pulled her up and hugged her.

"I just don't want to talk to my friends about any of this again" Bella said sounding upset.

"Bella you know you can't miss school like this" Derek said making her look at him.

"I know but it's just today. I promise, Dad" she said and suddenly when she called him Dad she looked down and more tears just fell.

Derek hugged her tight again.

"I know how it feels like and It's okay to be upset. I know you miss him a lot. I know that... but I also know that you need to go on no matter how hard it is." He said and she let go and looked at him with tear filled eyes. He wiped a tear on her right cheek and said "your mom and I will be here for you for whatever you need and we won't let you slip into that little girl who wouldn't leave the house"

"I know... and I don't wanna be like that" Bella said.

"You just need a day off?" Derek smiled.

"Yeah" Bella said.

"Okay" Derek said and hugged her again. She let go and covered herself up with the blanket.
"You can stay here for another hour but then we're going out. A day off doesn't meant staying home all day" he said.

She nodded and he left the room. He went to his bedroom and Emily was finishing her make up.

"You need to change or we'll be late" Emily said rushing to get something in the closet.

"I'm staying home with her" Derek said.

Emily stoped what she was doing and went back to the bedroom. "Are you sure this is a good idea? We've been through this before and tomorrow she'll just cry and ask to stay home again. I know she's upset but school is school and it won't help if she just stays home"

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea but I talked to her and I think she just needs a day off" he smiled and walked to Emily.
"I'll take her to the mall and try to get her mind off of it and then later I'll try to get her talking" Derek said and kissed Emily on the lips.

"Just don't allow her to be rude or mean to you, okay? I don't want her to do that" Emily said.

"I know. Don't worry" Derek said.