You Learn

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

This is a little Emily centric idea I had while listening to the song 'You Learn' by Alanis Morisette. This is set during Season 6 – so anyone who hasn't seen the series this may contain spoilers.

. . .

You live, you learn

. . .

Emily sighed. She was not looking forward to the evening ahead of her. Not one bit. When it came to time spent with her mother two words lead to successful interactions: rare and rapid. The less often they spoke the better they got on, and on the occasion it was necessary to communicate with her mother, she preferred to keep it short and sweet.

However tonight was another matter; Elizabeth Prentiss was having a 'small' cocktail party for her daughter's 40th birthday. As if I want the world to know, Emily huffed to herself as she continued to get ready.

Applying her make-up carefully, as she knew she would be under scrutiny, Emily tried to think of anything but the barrage of snide comments and remarks her mother would make through the course of the evening. At least she had the team to hide behind when it all got too much.

She had considered roping Morgan or Reid into playing the role of her boyfriend, but decided that in the long run it would be more hassle then it was worth. Neither would be good enough in her mother's eyes. Emily had long ago learnt not to play such games with her mother.

So Emily was braving it alone, well at least the arrival.

Standing Emily took one last swig out of the large glass of wine she had poured herself earlier. She looked herself up and down. She was wearing a scarlet figure hugging strapless dress, admittedly when Pen helped her pick it she had been a little unsure. However now she thought about it, her mother would be horrified. Just the look she was aiming for. Forty, smorty – she didn't even look close, on a good day! She laughed, admiring her view.

Okay, so maybe she wasn't exactly where she wanted to be in life, but she couldn't complain. Not really.

Part of her wanted desperately to be a mother, different to her own, but a mother none the less. It was simple wish, but one that continued to elude Emily, due to one small detail that preceded it: a boyfriend that lasted longer than five minutes.

But that one issue aside she had accomplished so much, mainly at her mother's annoyance, which made it all the sweeter.

She was a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI's elite BAU tem. She was respected by her colleague; who over the years, had become much more than purely friends. She may not have her conventional dream family, but she sure as hell had an amazing substitute.

. . .

Emily hesitated getting out of the cab at her mother's plush residence; taking a deep breath she composed herself for the up and coming onslaught of veiled insults.

"You okay?" the cabby asked.

"Fine, thank you," she said, practising her own take on her mother's ambassadorial smile.

As she ascended the steps to her mother's personal residence, Emily's smile fixed.

Barely one step in Elizabeth Prentiss pounced.

"Well there is nothing like cutting it fine," She muttered, kissing her daughter on both cheeks.

"Mother, I am early," Emily responded.

"Not by my standards," Elizabeth cut as she turned to lead her daughter through to the hall.

Emily stood for a moment open mouthed, before she followed, obediently.

"Now Emily I have invited several people I would like you to meet," Elizabeth spoke without looking at her daughter.

Never in her life had she so wished for an emergency recall to FBI headquarters. Please.

"Peter is the son of Ambassador Holmes. Charming young man, I have no idea why he is still single, as he is such a catch. You'll love him."

"Really," Emily said flatly, looking round desperately for someone who may get her a drink.

"Then there is Michael, not my type, a bit too 'action hero' for me, but that's your sort of thing I figured. He's a Major. A little younger then you, but I hear that's fashionable now a days."

Emily rolled her eyes; within five minutes of being in her mother's company all her nightmares were coming true. It was moments like this that she suddenly had an empathy with the killers she hunter.

"Emily, are you listening to a word I am saying?" Elizabeth spun to face her only daughter.

Not if I can help it; "Yes of course mother?" she smiled sweetly.

Elizabeth glared.

"Emily you may well be forty, but you are still my little girl, at least until you are capable of proving you are a woman."

"Sorry," Emily spluttered, "Proving what?"

"Emily, when are you going to grow up and stop playing James Bond? There is more to life then a career. You need a husband and a family. I need Grandchildren."

"This coming from the Ambassador," Emily snorted.

"I may be an Ambassador, but I am a wife and mother too. You can have it all, you just have to make a little more effort," Elizabeth tutted.

"Effort, I'll bear that in mind," Emily bit her tongue, resisting the urge to explain to her mother exactly what she thought of Elizabeth's maternal role in her life.

. . .

Sneaking into the middle of the huddle of her friends Emily sighed. Looking around the overtly familiar faces, she had to chuckle with them.

"If you see my mother approaching this direction, hide me and swear you have not seen me for over an hour. It's that or one of you get ready to arrest me for murder."

"Emily," David Rossi smirked, "Whatever is the problem? You mother is truly delightful."

"Only if you are comparing her to Strauss," Emily spun to face him, "Compare her to a normal person and she is the devil incarnate."

"Emily you mean you're not interested in the charming young man you mother just introduced?" JJ giggled at her friend's situation.

"Jay there is young and there is young enough to make Reid look mature," Emily answered.

Spencer Reid turned to look, not understanding what Emily was talking about.

"Is there any way we can split, I have just about had enough," Emily moaned.

Everyone shook the heads. There was no way they were facing the wrath of Elizabeth Prentiss for their role in the illicit escape of her only child from the lavish party.

Emily vowed if she lived through this experience, she would learn one lesson – never to ever be available at her mother's 'events' ever again.