A/N: The section written in italics is part of the dream Emily has as she sleeps and is a memory of the past.

As I am getting conflicted stories on Hotch's age when I research it and I'm not even really that clear on Emily's, so I'm going to fudge things just slightly for this story.

There is sexual content within this story, but this chapter is free of this and can be read by all ages.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NPH 3. If you aren't already following this series, I recommend that you make your way to my author profile page and start with NPH 1, as some or all of this will not make sense otherwise.

DISCLAIMER: I sadly do not own Criminal Minds, its storylines or characters. I can only claim to manipulate them for the purposes of this story.

This take on Emily's past is entirely of my own devising.

Memory Lane – Chapter 1

Emily hung up the phone and yawned hugely. She felt absolutely beat and despite having had a great few days with Jack, the fun couldn't quite outweigh how very sore and achy she felt all over. Now that she'd made it home safely and called Hotch to tell him this, she was ready to take every minute of her next day off to sleep.

Resting her head on the pillow, she found she couldn't immediately drift off as she normally did because her head was swimming with what had almost happened between her and her boss. And oh, had the disappointment been sharp and deep that he hadn't followed through on what he'd started.

She growled low in her throat as remembered sensations from that night long distant combined with the more recent events of the last few days to make her writhe with longing.

She took several slow deep breaths and used thoughts of time spent with Jack Hotchner to distract her and the next thing she knew she was asleep and her mind was sliding down memory lane.

New Section-

Emily Prentiss climbed out of the town car her mother had sent to collect her from the airport despite her wishes to make her own way and sighed heavily before thanking the driver for his time. Her mother had never cared who was inconvenienced, as long as she had her way. Her years spent away at Yale without her mother's constant presence had been an absolute blessing and now she was home, to 'embrace family life' as her mother put it. She knew that was code for making appearances at many of the parties her mother would have arranged for her return. She would have avoided outright visiting her mother if she hadn't been constantly picking at her for the last six months to come home because she was missed.

She checked her watch. Just in time for lunch and she'd put down good money that her mother had arranged a supposed 'Welcome Home Emily' party for that evening; not for her to benefit from though. No, her mother would have invited all her political friends. There'd probably be a couple of men there her mother deemed worthy of her daughter's attention as she attempted to match make and Emily would hate the whole thing and before the night was out they'd have their first fight of her visit. She started wondering if she could convince any of her friends to take a long vacation with her just so she could avoid the next three months of misery and grief being under the family roof would cause her before she joined the State Department in the fall.

The door opened as she approached it and she smiled, genuinely happy to see the woman at the door.

"Frannie!"

"Emily darling, you're home. Come here baby, give me a hug and let me look at your gorgeous self."

Emily laughed in delight as she bounced into the long-time housekeeper's arms and was enfolded in warmth and the scent of frangipani and lime. When her mother had restricted her love in the face of preserving her image and emotional stability after her beloved husband's death, Frannie had stepped up to ensure the youngest Prentiss had all the love and attention she'd needed in the wake of losing her favourite parent.

"Honey you look absolutely stunning. The time away at college has obviously suited you perfectly and I absolutely adore the curls in your hair. I don't miss the goth you at all."

Emily affected a pout. "But I thought you loved all of me Frannie?"

Frannie laughed and stepped back. "Still tugging at the heartstrings I see. Well at least that hasn't changed. Now, I'm sure you'll be pleased to know your mother is out at a lunch meeting that won't see her back here until 3. I'm also sure you'll be less than pleased to know your attendance is required at a dinner party your mother is throwing tonight down in the Summer Room."

Emily groaned and muttered, "I knew I should have put money down on that one." She accepted Frannie's sympathetic frown with good grace and asked reluctantly, "I don't suppose she forgot to order me a dress for the evening since I destroyed everything when I left?"

Frannie laughingly replied, "Not on your life love. If it helps any I was the one who chose the dress for you; in a lovely fire engine red."

Emily's eyes lit up like they used to do at Christmas. "You didn't!" Frannie nodded slowly and she clapped her hands in delight. "Frannie, you are the greatest. Mother will freak!"

"Yes well, just tell her if she asks that it was the only dress in your size and matching her strict specifications to be found on such short notice."

Emily smiled with pleasure as she followed Frannie through to the kitchen for lunch. Her mother didn't like loud, bright colours at her dinner parties and particularly not for the parties she held out at the Summer Room (which was really more of mini mansion anyway) because the colours clashed with the soft pastels the place had been designed in and usually also clashed with every gown worn by the other guests. As a teenager forced to endure parties that she could care less about, she'd often gone out of her way to find and wear the most outrageous gowns possible; loud colours, short hemlines and plunging necklines included. Anything she could find that would get her kicked out before she was even invited in the door.

"So tell me about the specifications?"

"Floor length, not figure-hugging and completely covering of your bustline. As a result you have a gown that is strapless and flowing from the top to the floor with a foot long train. It'll go beautifully with your complexion and those delightful curls of yours."

Emily tipped her head slightly to the side. "So maybe I should find something to whiten my skin and have my hair straightened?"

"Don't you dare; I want you to shine tonight. Your mother has selected a delightful dinner companion for you that you might actually like. He reads incessantly and loves Kurt Vonnegut. He's a self-proclaimed nerd at heart and he loves nothing better than leaving his parents parties and sneaking into the kitchen to talk with the cook. I've had several conversations with him, including warning him about your little rebellions at these events and you should have seen his eyes light up with kindred glee. His suggestion was that you both make your appearances and say your hello's and then sneak out to go walking in the garden down to the pond."

"Ooh, he almost sounds reasonable. Do you happen to have a picture of him floating about?"

She placed it on the table as if she'd anticipated the request and Emily felt intrigue slide through her as she took in his handsome features and the devilish glint in his eyes. "He looks like he was born to mischief. What's his name?"

"His name is David and quite frankly I think he was born for you darling."

End-

A/N: If you enjoyed this, stay tuned because it's about to get juicy and just a little bit naughty with an appearance by one the hunkiest FBI BAU agents alive.

Also accept my apologies if the italics annoyed you as much as they annoyed me; I just couldn't figure out a better way to signify the dream. As Emily remembers the rest of what happened while she is awake I will do away with the italics, just to make things easier for everyone.