"It's hard to turn the page, when you know someone won't be in the next chapter, but the story must go on..."
-Mary-

Maya rests in the hospital bed after getting her bandages changed. She was still hurting, but Derek was by her side the whole time. A knock came from the door and both Maya and Derek stopped mid conversation and looked over to see Hotch standing in the doorway.

"I just wanted to say I'm glad you are okay, Agent Regan" Hotch gives his comforting words as gives her a handshake. "You two take as much time as you need" Hotch says and Maya and Derek lock eyes, both of them stammering to find the right words before Maya looks to Hotch. "About that..."

"We were thinking it's time we move onto other things. This job puts us at a higher risk of being a target and in danger... we don't want to be the targets anymore" Derek informs and Hotch looks between the couple with an accepting smile, but sad eyes.

"We still want to catch the bad guys, but right now we need to focus on ourselves and the family we want to start" Maya adds, Derek grabbing her hand reassuringly.

"It's going to be hard saying goodbye. There's not many agents like you two" Hotch says as Maya smiles brightly from the compliment. "This is for the best" Derek voices before he and Hotch share a meaningful and sincere handshake that turns into a brotherly hug.

"What's all the hugging about?" Rossi asks as he walks in with a bouquet of flowers and hands them to Maya gracefully before both Maya and Derek explain their decision to leave the team and focus on themselves and their family.

"You two will be amazing parents. And I'll be a great uncle Dave!" Rossi cheers as he bends down and places a kiss on the top of Maya's head before bringing Derek in for a hug. "You two take care" Hotch says before he and Rossi leave the hospital room, allowing Maya and Derek to dwell on their impulsive, but needed, decision.

"We're really doing this" Maya sighs as she gently sets the flowers down on her nightstand. "I wouldn't want to do with anyone else."

NATALIE

A few days later, Maya was able to leave the hospital. She came back to the office, the rest of the team knowing about their departure and Natalie was the first-person Maya wanted to see. "How are you feeling?" Natalie asks as she places a reassuring hand on Maya's shoulder before Maya waves her off, letting her know that she's just fine.

"I wanted to give you something, you know, before you go" Natalie says as she and Maya take a seat next to each other and Natalie pulls out a large picture, that's framed, out of her work bag. "What's this?" Maya says as she is handed the medium portrait and when she sees what is in the framed, her heart melts with happiness.

"I had Garcia find a picture of your mom and she found this one of you and her. It was one of the only ones she could find so I had someone draw it out and frame it" Natalie says and Maya traces her fingers over the neatly drawn picture of her and her mother.

It was the one of the only times she had seen her mother happy. That was the day she knew her mother shouldn't be with her father, but there was nothing Maya could do to stop the relationship. It kept going until there was no way of pulling her mother away from him.

"Thank you for this" Maya says as she sets the picture down on the desk and wraps her arms around Natalie, her sister who she didn't have a good relationship within the beginning, but she's glad it's gotten to this point now and hopes their relationship continues to thrive and get better.

"You are going to be extraordinary, Natalie. This job is hard, but you're strong" Maya compliments as she pulls away from the hug and smiles at Natalie with love.

"I love you" Natalie says and Natalie nods her head, "I love you too."

JJ

Maya walks into Derek's office and sees JJ looking around. "Oh, I was looking for you. I thought you had left without saying goodbye" JJ says as she rushes towards Maya and wraps her arms around her, sad to say goodbye, but happy to see that she will be doing better things.

"I would never" Maya jokes as she and JJ pull away. "We've been through a lot" JJ says, "You mean getting tortured by guys we used to work with? Oh, trust me, I know" Maya states as she takes a seat next to JJ, who sits in one of the seats across from Derek's, now old, desk.

"I'm going to miss you" JJ says, her voice starting to crack before she looks away, Maya noticing that she's wiping a tear. "Hey, I'll be back one day" Maya says as JJ sniffles in her tears.

"You don't understand how much I care about you, Maya. I know our relationship wasn't easy after Emily was gone, but it was only so the team didn't know we knew each other before" JJ explains as Maya places her hand on top of her knee, rubbing it soothingly as she allows JJ to air out her emotions.

Meanwhile, JJ stares down at Mayas delicate hand reassuring her before she locks eyes with Maya again.

"I love you" JJ says, starting to regret it before Maya chuckles, nodding her head. "I love you too" Maya says before she pulls JJ in for another hug. JJ was slightly hesitant this time, but hugged back anyway, inhaling Maya's scent for one of the last times.

"I got to go say goodbye to Garcia, but I'll miss you JJ" Maya says as she places a friendly kiss on the side of her cheek before standing to her feet and leaving the room with a smile. Meanwhile, JJ places her hand on the side of her cheek where Maya placed a kiss. "I'll miss you too..." JJ says softly to herself before sniffling in her tears once again.

GARCIA

"Derek was already here. I can't handle this again" Garcia says as she plops down into her chair near all of her computers. "I'm sorry, love" Maya says as she stands above Garcia, taking hold of her hand.

"Promise me you'll call, and we can plan dates or something-" Garcia rants before Maya interrupts her, "I'm going to need my bridesmaid to help me plan the wedding" Maya says and Garcia's eyes light up before she stands to her feet and wraps her arms around Maya's neck.

"Oh, thank god! If it were up to you, the whole wedding would be sad" Garcia says, making Maya furrow her eyebrows in confusion as they both pull away from the hug. "I mean that with love" Garcia says, sending a smile to Maya.

"I'm really going to miss everything about you" Maya states. "That means a lot considering you hated me when you first met me and I apologize for snooping through your file but turns out that made our friendship thrive and now you love me and I love you and- yeah" Garcia sighs as she finishes her large rant, taking in a deep breath.

"This won't be the last time you see me" Maya reassures as Garcia nods her head repeatedly, "I hope not" Garcia states before she pulls Maya in for one last hug, this one meaning so much.

REID

Maya and Derek decide to tackle Reid at once since they know how much he hates goodbyes and change. And now, he's losing two people he cares about at once and everything would be change.

"I hope you aren't too mad at us, kid" Derek says as he and Maya stand in-front of Reid, who turns to face them after having his back towards them. "I'm sad, but not mad. I know you guys are leaving for a reason. I know things will change, but I know you'll always be a phone call away" Reid says as he fidgets with his fingers.

Maya places her hands on top of Reid's and uses her finger to lift his head up so they're making eye contact. "I remember when you and Derek first met each other. I see when you got close to him, his breath hitched, and his pupils dilated. That right there showed me that you two deserved to be together" Reid explains, a smile forming on Maya's lips as she turns to look back at Derek with loving eyes.

"Just- promise me you'll let me be the first one to know if you're pregnant" Reid begs and Maya burst out into laughter before she pulls Reid in for a hug, Derek tagging along. "You got it, little brother" Derek says, accepting Reid's promise.

"Now you have to promise us that you will teach our kids, whenever we have them, chess and- and whatever else you know" Maya states as tears cloud her eyes. "Of course, of course. I can do that" Reid nods, a chuckle leaving his mouth.

"We got to go turn in our badges" Derek says softly and Maya nods before her and Derek give Reid one last goodbye hug.

HOTCH

"Agent Regan, Agent Morgan. It was a pleasure working with you" Hotch says as he extends his hand. "You have to give me a hug this time" Maya says as she walks around Hotch's desk and proceeds to give him a hug which he happily accepts.

"I hope to see you again" Hotch says and Maya nods her head before she pats Hotch's back and looks into his eyes. "You will."

With that, Maya then takes Derek's hand and walks to her desk where they left their boxes of stuff. Maya lifts up hers and stares down at the picture that Natalie recently gave her too her and smiles down at it as her and Derek make their way to the elevator.

As they exit the glass doors, Maya isn't sure when she will ever return to them, but for now, she's glad she's leaving them. She is glad that she is finally going to be happy with the love of her life and father of her soon to be children.

She'll always remember the happy memories she shared at the BAU, but she will also remember the bad and know that they made her into the strong women she is today. The BAU will never have another Maya Regan. She is strong, dedicated and able to put her emotions aside for the greater good. She's the ultimate bad ass that the team will forever remember and see her as family. Maya's story isn't over, it's just going on a little break.

Maya and Derek stand in the elevator before looking over at each other, knowing good things are to come for them...

THE END...

"Goodbyes hurt when the story is not finished, and the book has been closed."
-JND-

THANK YOU FOR READING ENDLESSLY...