It was the strangest feeling to be so nervous on the way to see a man she'd known more than half her life. Walking up the steps to the government building, the ambassador's daughter smoothed the wrinkles in her skirt and tightened her hold on her new briefcase.

Of course she wasn't happy that she had to move her daughter across the country. That was a headache in its own. It didn't matter how many times she explained to the young girl that the move was what was best for them. Everything to children her age seemed like the end of the world.

Following an agent into the West building, Emily walked right up to the security desk beside the metal detectors. "I have a meeting on the sixth floor."

The younger man looked up from his computer. "Name?"

"Emily Prentiss," she smiled.

Typing the name into the database, the security officer nodded. "Here's your guest pass," he said shortly, handing the plastic to her over the desk. "You're permitted for two hours. The front desk will be alerted if your pass is not checked out by that time."

The brunette nodded, quickly making her way through security and to the elevators, clipping the ID badge to the bottom of her blazer.

"New agent?"

Looking up to the strong voice Emily almost nodded. "Hopefully."

Hearing the elevator stop on the right floor, the brown eyed woman stepped into the BAU's lobby entrance. Stepping toward the glass doors, the D.C native almost felt herself smiling.

"Lost, sugar?"

Turning at the cheerful voice, Emily shook her head "I don't think so. This is the Behavioral Analysis Unit, isn't it?"

The perky blonde in the orange dress gave a nod. "The one and only." Blue eyes lighting up, the woman who Emily guessed was a BAU agent stepped right into her personal space. "Are you here for Hotch?"

Emily smiled. He still used the nickname she had given him. "I am," she almost laughed. "Do you happen to know where his office is?"

Immediately the blonde linked her arm with Emily's and led her into the bullpen. "Oh my raven haired beauty, I cannot tell you how excited I am," she gushed. "I'm Penelope, by the way. I'm the tech goddess here at the BAU and I have the pleasure of seeing our grumpy bossman every day."

The brown eyed woman frowned. "Grumpy?" That wasn't the Hotch she remembered.

"But now he can have a smile on his face!" Penelope grinned. "All because of you!" Leading Emily over to the desks closest to the catwalk, the blue eyed woman smiled. "My beautiful gentlemen, Hotch's new love interest is here!"

Emily's eyes bugged. "What?"

"Love interest?" The darker of the two turned in his chair. "Baby girl what are you talking about?"

"Remember when Dave said he found a lovely lady to get Hotch's mind off of Haley? This is her!"

Haley? Emily knew that name. "No," she spoke quickly. "I'm not. I'm here for an interview."

The blonde in her orange dress looked to the newcomer, her face fallen. "An interview of love?"

"I'm sorry," the ambassador's daughter replied, shaking her head. "There's an open position on the alpha team I'm being considered for."

"Emily Prentiss."

Turning at the familiar voice the single mother grinned at the sight of the older man. "Aaron Hotchner," she laughed, letting him take her into a hug. "My God, how did you get even taller?" Pulling back, she left one hand on his bicep. "And you've got some muscles now?"

"College does change a man," the Unit Chief joked. "And now the job? Excess gym time." Looking to the rest of his colleagues, Hotch turned his friend to face them. "I assume you've met Emily."

The scrawny agent who hadn't yet spoken almost raised his hand. "Prentiss? As in Ambassador Prentiss?"

Emily did her best not to make a face. "My mother," she nodded.

"Secretary of State Lawrence Prentiss?"

A smile this time. "My father."

Hotch was fast to put a hand on his friend's arm. "We do have a meeting to get to, so I apologize but we do have to leave you."

Penelope watched with wide eyes as her boss put a hand to the brunette's back as he led her into his office. "Holy Sam I Am," she breathed, seeing the pair hug once more through the window. "Tell Dave to call the other woman and cancel that date. Emily totally can be his new flame!"

Derek's head slowly shook. "I don't think so, baby girl. They're friends."

"He's hugging her!" the blonde almost screamed. "Since when does bossman hug anyone?"

Pulling away from the older man, Emily finally set down her briefcase. "It's so good to see you. I'm sorry I haven't been able to call you recently."

Hotch's head shook as he made his way behind his desk. "Don't apologize. I've been busy too." Sitting down he looked at the brunette before him. She had thinned out a little bit but her hair and eyes were just as dark, her ivory skin still untouched by the sun. "You look beautiful."

Emily blushed, smoothing down her skirt before sitting down. "Thank you. I feel a lot older than thirty, let me tell you."

"You don't look a day over twenty," he countered.

The brunette laughed. "I can't say the same for you." Leaning forward, she let her eyes squint. "Are those some gray hairs I see?"

Hotch grinned. "That's what a four year old can do to you."

Emily's eyes widened. "A four year old?"

The older man turned a picture around on his desk for his friend to see. "His name is Jack." Letting his friend take the picture in her hands, he smiled. "He looks more like Haley."

Emily's head shot up. She knew that name was familiar. "Haley," she nodded. "How is she?"

The Unit Chief's smile slowly fell. "We're no longer together, but she's doing well to my knowledge."

Smiling, the brunette set the picture back on Hotch's desk. "Well this boy shows pure Hotchner blood."

"I keep hearing that," he nodded. "What about you? Any kids?"

Emily felt her body still. After he left his posting at her mother's home they sent letters, later emails, and made phone calls here and there, but never had she spoken of her daughter. She didn't need another person in her life to judge her. "A daughter," the brunette spoke slowly. Despite her anxiousness, thinking of her daughter made her smile.

Hotch shared his friend's grin. "I bet she looks just like you." He knew how strong those Prentiss genes were.

"She really does," the younger woman chuckled.

"Are you starting to see that Prentiss stubborn just yet?"

Emily playfully rolled her eyes. "Just a little."

The Unit Chief was quick to open the new day planner Dave had given him to write down her new number. "We'll get them together and we can catch up. How does that sound?"

She hoped he couldn't see her gulp. "Sounds great."