My first attempt at this fairytale/Criminal minds story. The other characters will come into play in time. Warning: Beth & Erin bashing (mostly Beth). Read and review people! I'd love to hear what you think about this new venture of mine. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Neither Cinderella or Criminal Minds belong to me. So there.


It is prudent, dear readers, that we should start this story with the ever constant words of 'Once upon a time'. For indeed, it was once upon a time, in a land where magic is as free as the birds in the sky, there lived a young woman, whose beauty surpassed all in the land. Hair as dark as the midnight sky, and eyes as warm as melted chocolate; the lady most certainly was not a classic beauty, and yet everyone who laid eyes on her agreed that the fair skinned beauty was the fairest among them all. And that, dear readers, is where our story, begins…

A sprawling mansion lay across rolling green grass, and the magnificent structure threw long shadows on the ground, framed by the last rays of the sun bleeding mournfully throughout the skies. What was once a place of joy and cheer had now become a place of mourning, at least for three days. But, as Emily Prentiss walked slowly behind the coffin bearing her father's cold body, bitterly wiping away tears of grief, she was certain that the pain of losing her father, the only parent she had ever known would mar the happy memories they had shared.

Of course, she thought, as she spared a disdainful glare at the loud (and most certainly false) wailing emitting from her stepmother and stepsister, not everyone was as broken up as she was. Erin Strauss and her horrid daughter Beth would no doubt relish in the wealth left behind by her father. Shuddering, Emily drew her wrap around her tighter; she shuddered to think of what the two insidious women would do to her now that her father was no longer there to protect her. But, her eyes narrowed and she straightened her shoulders and drew herself to her full height, she was a Prentiss and Prentisses never let anyone tread over them, and she certainly would not be the first and only one to stray from her family's signature trait.

The funeral, as dreadful an event it was, was a stately affair with all the pomp and glory befitting the man who was once a Lord of the land. Even the King and his dark haired son were in attendance, though Emily was glad the royal dup had forsaken their protection detail, choosing instead to honour a good friend by standing to the side silently. Sensing their gazes on her, Emily turned towards them and dipped into a graceful curtsey, which they returned with a nod of their royal heads. Peeking through the dark veil covering her face, she wondered at how her childhood playmate, the Prince, had grown. She wondered if he had any inkling of the times they had spent together.

The priest spoke a few words, and as the service ended with those in attendance making the sign of the cross, Emily, as Lord Sebastian Prentiss's eldest and remaining blood, and true heiress, stepped forward and delicately placed the bright white rose onto the oak of her father's final resting place. She pressed her gloved fingers to her lips, and onto the coffin, "Goodbye papa, I shall love you forever. Greet mama for me, and perhaps we shall see each other again one day." Straightening, she turned blindly, tears starting to gather in her eyes when she bumped into a solid frame.

Emily's eyes widened when she registered the royal seal on the person's fine clothing, and without raising her head, she bobbed a quick curtsey, "I apologize, your Highness." Moving to step away from the Prince, she was again surprised when a hand grasped her elbow lightly. Finally looking up, she met the dark brown eyes of Prince Aaron, who stared down concernedly at her. Somewhere in the back of her mind and grief, Emily recalled seeing dimples on the child prince's face. "Are you all right, my Lady?"

All right? All right? Emily felt blood rushing through her ears, feeling the urge to scream at the Prince, at anyone. I'm not all right! My father is dead and I am left to leave with the two most hateful people in the world! Instead, she cleared her throat and shook her head, shying once more away from his intense gaze. "I am quite fine, your Highness. I apologize once again for bumping into you." Not giving him a chance to reply, she glided away, not caring if she had just broken protocol by ignoring the prince, nor did she care. Her father was dead and surely, surely she had the right to ignore proper protocol for just one day.

Finally, it was over. One by one, the mourners came forth and offered their deepest condolences, and Emily was so tired of smiling and curtseying and saying thank you; as if she should thank these people for mourning the death of her father. But Emily was nothing if not a gracious hostess, and while Erin and Beth had wandered off at some point, no doubt to the coffers to greedily count the share of gold that was now theirs, Emily stood, like some Greek marble statue, tall and pale and beautiful and many a person swore that she looked more angel than human that day.

"Hello Emily, cara." King David, or nonno Rossi, as Emily used to call him when she was a toddler, came forward and enveloped her in a warm hug. King David and Lord Prentiss were firm friends, and David looked on the little brunette girl in pigtails as his own. His big heart ached to see the forlorn look on the child's face now, and wished he could whisk her off to live with him at the palace. Alas, Erin Strauss (who David knew by reputation as a woman who could be somewhat of a, in coarser terms, a bitch) was proclaimed to be Emily's legal guardian and he could do nothing to alter the law. He only hoped that Emily would succeed in making the hag and her simpering daughter's life a living hell.

Emily sagged gratefully into the King's arms, the first true smile of days gracing her lips. "Hello nonno Rossi. Thank you so much for coming." And she meant it; Lord knows how much she loved the gruff but warm man. Seeing him there made things a little more bearable. The older man peered down at her and tugged the veil off, "Let me see you, cara. Have you been eating at all? Because if you're not, you know you'll always be welcomed to nonno's kitchen." He gave her an exaggerated wink, delighted at the light laughter he managed to tease out of her. "I'll even cook you your favourite linguini myself, just say the word."

Shaking her head, she reached up to press a kiss on his cheek, "I'm fine, nonno." She shrugged helplessly, "It's just so hard, and I have to live with the Dragon Lady and her lapdog. Can't I come live with you?" Directing pleading eyes at her surrogate grandfather (really, David was quite affronted; why he was but a few years older than the deceased Sebastian!), she was dismayed to see the regret in his eyes. Reaching forward to pet her hair gently as he did so many times in the past, David sighed, "I'm sorry, cara. Your old nonno is as bound by the law as you are."

Before either of them could say another word, a shrill call shattered the protective little bubble encircling the two. Emily groaned and pressed one final kiss to David's cheek. "Nonno, I have to go. I cannot let her see how close we are or she'll find some way to exploit it." David rolled his eyes and for a moment Emily forgot that he's the all-powerful King everyone feared. He was just her nonno Rossi. He jerked his head and the Prince, who stood behind him silently all the while discretely staring at the beauty talking to his father, moved swiftly to stand by him. David petted Emily's cheek once and smiled fatherly, "You know where to find me, cara. I'd like to have some fun riling up the Dragon, too." She laughed and David smirked to see how entranced his son was by her. "Of course, nonno. You best get going; thank you for coming again, you as well, your Highness." Father and son executed a hasty bow before striding out of the grounds, narrowly avoiding Erin, her insipid daughter clutching her fan in tow.

"Emily! Emily, you ungrateful child! Where are you?"

Emily gritted her teeth and turned towards her stepmother, pearly whites grinning menacingly at the woman. "Right here, stepmother. Greeting our guests." Erin waved her off impatiently, her blonde hair piled up high above her head wobbling dangerously. "You remember your new duties, Emily? They are to start right now! I will not stand to have such a filthy house."

Beth grinned maniacally and fluttered her fan, "Oh mama! You forget; she's Cinder-Emily now!" Her mother smiled indulgently at her and pinched her cheeks, "But of course, my dear. Go along now, Cinder-Emily! Those chores will not do themselves!"

Emily grimaced; how she would like to throttle the duo! If only. But at present, she could only sigh and nod dutifully, shooting them both a venomous glare from which they cowered. Emily Prentiss trudged back to the house, head held high though her heart sank with the prospect of her new role in the Prentiss household… as a scullery maid.


Ah, so some of the CM crew have already made their appearance! By the way, according to Google Translate, nonno means grandfather in Italian. Seeing as this is a fairy tale, let's just pretend that it's possible for Rossi to still maintain his Italian roots. What do you think of this chapter? Good, bad, neutral? Drop a review and let me know what YOU think should be included and I'll try my best to incorporate them into the story. Thanks!