Emily smiled wide as she watched her daughter take the order of some of their regular customers. It only took about a half hour of training to get her to the employee of the month position, and her mother couldn't be happier.

"Emmy, baby my eyes are over here."

Emily bit her lip to keep from laughing as she nodded, pouring a cup of coffee for the old man sitting at the counter in front of her. "Sorry Charlie, was just making sure Amy was ok."

Charlie nodded as he lifted his shaking hand to scratch his temple. "That little girl of yours is quite the waitress, Emmy. Little Amelia is well on her way to being a great young lady. And she's pretty, too."

The brunette nodded as she shoved a curl of ebony hair behind her ear. "I know. I think she takes after her daddy."

"No, no little Em. She takes after you, she surely does. Can't you tell? The beautiful dark hair? The dark eyes and her very fair skin?"

Emily's eyes narrowed on the man in front of her as she batted the cook's hand away from her ass. "Charlie, Amelia has light brown hair and green eyes."

Charlie furrowed his brow as he set down the coffee cup and looked up to Emily. "Then who the hell was I talking about?"

Emily let out a bark of laughter as she rubbed her hand down the man's arm, watching as her daughter walked over with a smile on her face. "Hey Amy. Everything ok?"

Amelia immediately nodded, her smile wide as her ponytail swayed behind her. "Yeah, everything's great. I got complimented by four guys, and two women. Oh! And some lady gave me a tip." She held up a check, that her mother immediately took out of her hand.

Emily's eyes widened as she sent an accusing stare to her smirking daughter. "Amy, this is a check for one hundred dollars. And the woman wrote on the side 'cute eyes, little mama'."

Amelia grinned as she let out a laugh. "I know!"

Emily shook her head as she shoved the check into her apron pocket. She took her daughter's arm and brought her behind the counter. "That's not funny, Amelia. You're working here, not trying to let older women hit on you. Which, by the way, is really odd and kind of creepy. Who was the woman?"

The young brunette shrugged as she set down her pad and pen and picked up two plates full of scrambled eggs. "I don't know. I don't think she's from here, you know? I mean, we're a tiny town. I would have remembered her from somewhere."

Emily nodded as Amelia passed her, and she looked up to see three men entering through the door. Her eyes immediately landed on a tall, dark haired man in a suit. His eyes were dark brown and his dimples grew as he sat down in front of her, his two friends sitting right down by his sides. She let a small smile grace her features, feeling all three sets of eyes cast her a glance. "Out of towners?"

The man smiled at her as the dark man next to him sent her a laugh. "How could you tell? The suits?"

Emily shook her head as she looked to the darker man. "Partially that. And," she smiled back to the one right in front of her, feeling his eyes travel down her outfit. "Partially because all of the people here know each other. But you three are not very familiar to me."

The dark man lifted his hand, and Emily immediately took it with a smile. "I'm Derek. And we three work together."

The man on the other side of the brunette smiled awkwardly as he fixed his collar. "I'm Spencer."

"And I'm Aaron."

Emily's soft smile was let out as her eyes passed over all three of them. "Derek, Spencer and Aaron." She cleared her throat quickly as she looked down to her pad of paper. "Ok, so what can I get you three?"

Aaron arched his eyebrow as he smiled at her. "Maybe you can give us some menus before we order. You know, kinda helps with the decision making."

Emily closed her eyes as she mumbled a curse, and quickly took three menus out from under the counter. "I'm so sorry. I'm in some weird mojo today."

Spencer quickly set his menu aside and gave her a goofy grin. "Can I have the coffee with the Premier Special that consists of ham, bacon, three eggs over easy and five pieces of toast. Oh! And with a side of butter, if you could."

Emily's eyebrows lifted at the young man as chuckles came from both Derek and Aaron. "You read that menu that fast?"

"Well yes."

Without another question, Emily quickly turned to give his order to the cook.

Aaron smiled at the woman in front of him before glancing at a young woman carrying a tray from the kitchen. "Um, excuse me. Isn't that young lady to be working here?"

Emily smirked as all three men stared at her. "Not when her mama owns the diner."

Spencer squinted at the brunette woman as Aaron rubbed his temple. "Are you her mother? And the owner?"

Emily nodded as she held her hand out for the young gentleman, and smiled softly. "I'm Emily Prentiss, and the little girl is my Amelia. She's fifteen."

Aaron shook his head as his hands painfully gripped the edges of the menu before him. "Miss, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

She shook her head as she took the menus from him and Derek. "It's fine, I get it a lot. She's only started yesterday, but she's been pretty good. Gotten a lot of tips for the place." She sent a small smile to the man in front of her before picking up the coffee pot and began filling the cup in front of Spencer. "So, what can I get you?"

…

Amelia looked up from the smiling customer and looked out the window to see a man slamming the door to his truck, his smoldering eyes glaring at the diner. Amelia's smile immediately faded as the man stomped up to the doors, and she quickly ran to her mother who was behind the counter. "Mama!"

All the patrons, including the three men in front of Emily looked her way. "What is it, Amy?"

"Daddy's comin' up the steps."

Emily's eyes immediately widened as she set down the coffee pot and took off her apron, letting the pink dress she was wearing show. It was a pale pastel with a small white collar, and it ended just at her knees. "Take these men's order, sweetie. I'll be right back."

All the customers and the workers watched as she walked out of the diner, meeting the man out by his car. Even everyone who was still seated could see out the window and how the man shoved her back against the truck. Aaron immediately got up when she saw her slapped hard across the face, and ran through the entrance doors. "HEY!"

Emily and Johnny both looked up to see Aaron storming towards them. Emily immediately shook her head but stayed silent, as she softly bit her lip and stared at the floor.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Johnny shoved the man away from him before grabbing Emily's arm. "It's none of your business what I do with my girl." He looked down to the scared brunette and dug his nails into her flesh. "Get in the car, Emily."

Aaron stepped closer and shoved Johnny, just like he did to him a moment before, letting the grip he had on Emily loosen. "Step away from her."

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"I think I'm federal agent Aaron Hotchner and I won't let you hurt this innocent woman, while her young daughter is watching just from inside."

Emily cast a worried glance toward the windows to see her daughter staring out to her, along with every other customer.

Johnny let out a smirk as he sent daggers towards Emily. "Maybe I should just go and bring Amy home with me."

Emily immediately shook her head as she grabbed onto his hands. "Please don't, Johnny. Just leave her alone, please. I can take it, I promise."

Aaron grabbed Johnny by the arm until he fell back, and he effectively punched the man in the leather coat in his jaw.

Emily watched in horror as Aaron kicked her boyfriend in the side, and bent down only to punch him in the nose until it bled. "Stop it!"

Johnny groaned as he stood, looking to the man in the suit, who Emily was holding onto for comfort. He spit the blood that formed in his mouth onto the dirt before shoving the couple out of the way. "I'm comin' back, Em."

The two brunette's watched as Johnny drove away, before Emily began wiping the dirt from Aaron's suit. "Aaron, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"

Aaron quickly nodded before grabbing the younger woman by her shoulders, seeing the worried look in her eyes. "Are you ok? All of that…it apparently wasn't a first time thing."

Emily shook her head before wiping her eye, and backing up towards the stairs that led to her diner doors. "It really doesn't matter. We should get back inside so I can get your breakfast ready."

"Bu-"

"I said we should get back inside, Aaron."