Hello! It is my most extreme pleasure to honor a request from a reader Bazinga(.)waterMELons. She wants an H/P and Rossi/JJ story. I was more than please to do it! Although I have to apologize to you that it came out much later than I had promised you.

And to my wonderful and beautiful beta, HRGHfan35, who without her magic, this would have been below par!

I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters!

Enjoy!

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Beginnings

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"So, you have made up your mind?" Ambassador Prentiss asked of her daughter.

"Yes, mother." Was the reply.

The Ambassador looked up sharply from her papers. "Yale." She made it sound as if it was a bad word. "Why not Harvard? I know a couple of deans there…"

Emily shook her head as she moved about the study and walked along the book lined shelves that covered three walls; she had read most of the books on these shelves and she wondered if her mother had.

"I'm trying to help you, Emily." She had stopped reading as she watched her daughter moved around gracefully. She pursed her lips as she thought that all those years of expensive and the best dance tutors resulted in her present physique. Something she had wished would attracted some young politician but her daughter had stubbornly refused any offers.

Finally Emily turned around and shook her head, "Mother, I want to do this my own way. I want everyone to see me for me, not Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss' daughter. I don't want special treatment or … or preferences."

The Ambassador continued watching her only daughter for a while before she sighed, her shoulders slumped slightly. "All I want is for you to be happy. I want you to…" she waved her hands about. "Be happy. I want you to be able to concentrate on your school work and not worry about rent on your apartment or…or work!"

Emily shook her head as she chuckled; her mother would not get it. Ever.

"I'll survive, mother. And just so you know, I have submitted letters to Harvard, informing them of my decision to attend Yale. I really hope you'd understand, mother. Father did."

Elizabeth Prentiss harrumphed, "Your father spoiled you! He always lets you do what you want without making sure it will be safe for you. And he is always making me the bad parent!"

Emily began to shut down; it was always the same old argument about how her father spoiled her, indulged her and their arguments over her. That was why she decided to go to a school where the ambassador had no influence over her or the school.

"Mother, we are not going to have this conversation. I'm leaving in three days and …" her sentence was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Elizabeth glared at her daughter, "We shall talk about this later, before you leave." Then towards the door, "Enter."

Emily turned away from her mother and the visitor; she hated when her mother gotten into her role of Ambassador and politician. She picked up a book from one of the shelves and sat down on a chair and began to read.

As the visitor began to talk, Emily began to listen to his voice, the book ignored. He had a low bass tone and soft. But there was strength in it and she found herself drawn to it. She looked up from the book and saw a very pleasant back view of the visitor. She guessed he was in his mid twenties and quite tall. His physique was pleasant; not fat nor thin and from the slight bulge on his arms, he seemed muscular as well.

Wonder what he looked like? I mean his face, is he handsome or dashing, or plain?

But more importantly, is he a climber? She hated them. Always trying to impress mother so she would gave them high recommendation. As well, they would try to hit on her, hoping to gain favors. She smiled at those moments when she had to gently let them down, letting them know they were wasting their time because she and her mother did not get along.

"Emily?"

Of course, there were some remained persistent because they were really interested in her but sadly, those that did were married men. She had no interest in married men. Her best friend's parents were going through an ugly divorce because he cheated on her mother but it wasn't just that, she simply abhorred cheaters. It showed how low their principles were to their marriage vows. No, not interested at all and no intention to even contemplate.

"Emily! Pay attention!"

She was jerked out of her reverie by her mother's stern voice. Turning to face her, Emily saw him.

He was handsome, gorgeous and an alpha male persona. There was not one iota of meekness in him. Grr!

"Emily, come met my newest detail. FBI Special Agent Aaron Hotchner." The Ambassador introduced.

FBI?

"Um mother, why the need of FBI's services?" Emily asked without acknowledging him.

Hotch watched her in slight irritation; how rude. Just because she was the Ambassador's daughter didn't mean she could act high and mighty.

"Emily! Where are your manners?" She demanded.

Oops! It was rude of her!

Quickly, she turned her attention to him and smiled sincerely, "I'm so sorry. It's just that your presence and the purpose caught me by surprise. I'm Emily and it's really nice to meet you, Agent Hotchner." She held her hand out.

Hotch watched her and saw that she was pretty-ish and seemed out going. Her smile certainly looked real instead of the usual paste it on her face and smile without feelings. And she was sincere in her apologies, could it be that he might be wrong in his assessment of her earlier?

"Ahem." Emily cleared her throat, she was beginning to look foolish with her hand out and he was flatly refusing to take it. How rude he is!

Realizing he had committed a social faux pas, he quickly grabbed her hand and shook it hard, jarring her whole hand. "Do forgive my rudeness. Er, how do you do?"

Really Hotchner? Is that the best you can come up with? What a schmuck!

Emily arched an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Instead she continued to stare at his features; his eyes were as dark as onyx and piercing. She almost shivered thinking of how he would look when he was in the throes of passion. The recipient of those eyes would be rendered putty under him. His lips, they looked deliciously kissable. She wanted to test her theory and as if a magnet, she began to lean forward towards him.

Hotch was perplexed; she had not said anything but kept staring. Do I have something on my face? Damn, I hope lunch was not sticking in between my teeth! Shouldn't have had that bacon cheeseburger. He was very tempted to run his tongue along his teeth within his closed mouth but would she see that?

I need to release her hand. Holding her hand this long would be misconstrued but her hand; soft but strong, small yet firm. And it felt so right to hold onto her.

"Okay Agent Hotchner, here are the list you requested." Elizabeth handed Hotch a piece of paper from her desk.

Moment broken, Hotch finally retracted his hand from Emily and turned to her mother.

Emily snapped herself from the moment. Moment, where was that? What just happen?

She watched him in a daze as he took the paper from her mother. They were talking about something that was on the list but she was not tuned into it. She was mesmerized by what had happened. Did he feel it too?

He must have, judging from the duration he held her hand. His hand. They were strong, firm and assured. They were very comfortable and safe. She felt safe in his hand and she was not sure why she felt that. After all, she had met him for a total of less than two minutes. Strange, she had never felt that way at all.

I need some air! Can't breathe here!

"Um mother, I'm going for a walk. I'll see you around." She said as she went to the door.

Elizabeth looked up and nodded, "Don't forget, we're not finished with the discussion."

"Yah, I'll be back."

"Wait, Miss Prentiss." Hotch called out and Emily stopped moving and turned to face him. "Ambassador, if we're done? I'll like to do a perimeter walk."

Elizabeth beamed, "Certainly Agent Hotchner. Maybe Emily can take you around."

Emily closed her eyes for a moment and then opening them, she nodded. "My pleasure. Agent Hotchner?" She pointed outward.

Hotch nodded at Elizabeth and left, walking out with Emily by his side.

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End of Part 1

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Please let me know how it is! And thank you my new friend, Bazinga(.)waterMELons for the prompts! And hoped you like it so far!

Thank you!

Lizzie