A/N: I'm sorry again about the uber-length of the chapters. It appears my muse is running wild with them. Hope you enjoy. Please read and review.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds or Huff. Just having some fun.
Beth had gotten up early Friday morning. She couldn't sleep. Huff's face kept waking her up. Her mind still couldn't process the fact that she had told him she wasn't ready yet. She was starting to think that maybe there was something wrong with her. It was at that point she pulled off the covers and walked downstairs. She was quiet so as not to wake Emily up, but she realized when she got downstairs that was a pointless consideration.
Emily looked up from her newspaper and smiled. "Hey sweetie. How'd you sleep?" she asked. Beth smiled and nodded. "Really well, that bed is so comfortable," she replied. Emily frowned and Beth knew she'd been caught out. She should know, never lie to a profiler. Hell, even before Emily had joined the BAU you couldn't lie to her. She could always tell. It was her skill.
Beth shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose I didn't sleep well, but I'm honestly feeling better than I was yesterday," she assured her cousin. Emily smiled and nodded. "Ok. Well, I've got a few ideas for today if you're up for it?" she offered. Beth nodded eagerly and poured herself a cup of coffee.
"I was thinking we could hit Georgetown and check out some shops, grab lunch in the city, then come home and get ready for drinks at Auld's with the team," she suggested. Beth nodded again, happy that Emily's plans were exactly what the both of them needed. Emily needed to relax and to see her friends, and Beth needed distractions. Byrd was holed up in his room for the week, studying for finals. Izzy and her friends were headed to Las Vegas for their annual "gaming" trip. And Huff was working and living in a hotel. So this was perfect for keeping her mind off her own problems.
The two women ate breakfast in peace, before heading upstairs to shower. They met back downstairs twenty minutes later, both dressed casually, for a relaxing day of shopping and chatting.
Emily and Beth were rifling through the sales rack at Box Vintage when Beth's cell rang… for the fourth time that hour. And once again, Beth hit cancel and put her cell back in her pocket. Emily frowned. Initially she wasn't going to push her cousin. But four times in an hour, that was excessive, even for a Beth/Huff fight.
"You gonna keep doing that?" she asked quietly. Beth sighed and pulled a light pink cardigan from the rack. "Probably," she replied. Emily nodded and bit her lip. She turned to face Beth and pulled on as supportive a face as she could muster. "Sweetheart, I really think you should answer it. He could have something to say," Emily said. Beth shook her head. "I don't know if I care right now," she shrugged. Emily frowned and Beth smiled sadly. "Too much has happened to make it as simple as a conversation over the phone," she explained.
When it looked like Emily wasn't giving up, Beth took a deep breath and led her outside. She turned and started them walking down the footpath. "Russell let it slip that Huff…" her voice trailed off and she stopped suddenly. Emily frowned and squeezed her shoulders. "Honey, what is it?" Emily asked, though she was already fairly sure of what her cousin was about to tell her. Beth took another breath and looked up at Emily. "He slept with someone. I mean… Russell was wasted so he wasn't exactly cooperative with giving me the details, but he did tell me that much," she explained.
Even though she'd already considered this possibility, hearing Beth say it aloud boiled Emily's blood. Emily had heard stories about Russell, Huff's womanizing, alcoholic, drug-dependent, skeeze-ball, best friend. But she also knew that he was honest, almost to a fault. But Huff loved Beth. Didn't he? So how could he go and do something like this? Then Emily thought about it further and was a little disturbed at where her thoughts led her. She shrugged them off and turned to Beth, trying to think of something supportive to say.
Emily shook her head. "I don't…" she mumbled. Beth chuckled sadly and nodded. "I know. Neither do I," she said, turning to continue walking down the street. Emily followed but stayed silent. "He'd just moved out and… But… is it bad that I don't hate him? That I feel like it's not that bad? I mean, what does that say about the state of our marriage?" she pondered aloud. Emily shook her head. She and Beth had always had a similar take on things so it didn't surprise her to hear that.
"I suppose, part of you may be trying to salvage some control over the situation. And thinking that it's ok is enough of a surprise to everyone else, that you'd be in control. Part of you may be thinking what I assume he was, that you were separated so it makes it ok," Emily mused. Beth nodded in understanding. "I guess it's a little of both. And…" she smiled sadly, "At least he waited until he'd moved out." Emily rubbed her cousin's shoulder and nodded.
"So Beth, tell us some embarrassing Emily stories," Morgan asked, laughing at the horrified look on Emily's face. Beth chuckled and nodded, thinking about the stockpiles of stories she could throw out there. Emily raised her eyebrows at Beth and she shook her head. Hotch was all ears, excited to get a glimpse into the seemingly secret life of Emily Prentiss.
"Alright. Uh… when I'd just had Byrd, what now… 16 years ago… God. Uh, Emily came to California to help out a bit. She was just through her first semester of post-grad at Georgetown so she had a couple of weeks break. She was adamant that she could change his diaper without my help. Now, don't get me wrong, my little cousin is the smartest person I know, but I don't think any amount of brains could've prepared her for this," Beth said, the hilarity of the situation causing her to laugh. Emily groaned again and took a sip of her beer.
"I was in the kitchen, making lunch, when I hear this blood-curdling scream. I raced upstairs and found Emily standing in front of the change-table, cringing, her t-shirt covered in pee. When she'd finished putting Byrd's new diaper on, she handed him to me and ran to the bathroom. I followed her and she's in the bathroom scrubbing her mouth with toothpaste and mouthwash. The kid had peed in her mouth," Beth finished, the punch-line of the joke resulting in the rest of the table erupting in laughter.
"He peed in your mouth?" Reid asked, shock written on his face. Emily blushed and nodded. "That's… disgusting," he said, shaking his head. Emily threw her hands in the air, "That thing is like a freakin fire hose. It's not like he was aiming. It just… happened," she cried out. Beth pat her cousin's shoulder. Hotch leant over, "If it makes you feel any better, it happened more than once to me too," he whispered. Emily smiled and pat his arm. "Thanks," she whispered back.
Beth looked up when her cell began to ring again and she looked at the caller ID. She pat Emily's arm. "It's Daddy. I'll be back in a second," she explained. Emily nodded and smiled. "Say hi to them for me," she replied. She watched Beth walk out the door, a concerned look on her face.
"Everything alright?" Hotch asked. The others had all dispersed into their sub-groups. Will and JJ, and Garcia and Kevin were on the floor, dancing. Reid was at the bar, talking to Rossi. And Morgan was talking to a table of beautiful women. Hotch noticed Emily watching the door for Beth. Emily nodded and smiled. "I'm fine. I'm just tired I guess," she replied. Hotch nodded and glanced around the bar at their friends. "Beth seems to have lightened your mood," he commented. Emily smiled and nodded. "She has. She's my best friend," Emily explained. Hotch nodded. "Well, it's good. You need to cheer up," he said.
Emily huffed. "Uh, do you really wanna go down this road again?" she asked, looking at him sideways. Hotch chuckled and shook his head. "It was merely an observation Emily, not a free pass to make any inferences about my need to see the lighter things in life," he teased. His mind went to the night before, to the things that he'd wanted to say to Emily, and the things he'd ACTUALLY said. He shook his head. Maybe he'd get another chance but for now, he squeezed Emily's shoulder, for now Emily just needed a friend.
Beth returned to the table and sat back down. "Everyone ok?" Emily asked. Beth nodded. "Patty had called Dad freaking out about Mom's birthday," she explained. Emily nodded and smiled. "How is everyone? Uncle Jim still playing golf every other day?" she joked. Beth chuckled and nodded. "Yep. And Patty's still judging him for it," she teased. Emily laughed. Patty was the "hippy" kid, the one who believed that golf clubs should be boycotted because of the chemicals used on the grass, and that alternative medicine was the way of the future. Emily still loved her cousin, but she definitely had a different relationship with each of the two sisters.
Emily turned to Hotch and explained what Patty was like, Beth adding nods and raised eyebrows for extra effect. Hotch chuckled at the boycotting joke and Emily looked at Beth. "What?" he asked. "It's not just a joke. Sophomore year in college AND three days after she gave birth to her youngest, she was in protest rallies outside the Lakewood and Princeton Golf Clubs," Beth explained. Hotch burst out laughing and shook his head. "Who knew Emily Prentiss was related to such a felon?" he teased.
Beth chuckled, "That's nothing compared to some of the stuff we used to get up to. Oh…" she sighed, a faraway look in her eyes. She turned to Emily and pat her arm, "Do you remember that summer in Rouen?" Beth mused. Emily nodded and sighed, sitting back in her chair. "All we needed to have a good time was an old Indian man wearing a swimsuit and smoking a pipe," she laughed. The two women looked over at Hotch, and burst out laughing at his befuddled expression. Beth stood up, excusing herself to go to the bathroom. "I'll let you explain that one to him," she said, nodding towards Hotch. Emily laughed and nodded, watching Beth walk away.
She turned back when Hotch cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows. "An Indian man wearing a swimsuit and smoking a pipe?" he asked. Emily chuckled. "Uh… I'm not sure I want to tell you this one. You are my boss after all," she joked. Hotch shook his head. "Not tonight. Tonight, I'm just your friend Aaron. And Aaron would definitely like to hear this one," he replied. Emily rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine. But as a "friend," it's your duty to keep this one a secret. I mean, no-one. You tell NO-ONE, deal?" she asked. Hotch nodded and held out his hand. Emily shook it and smiled nervously.
"Our grandfather lived in France when we were younger, right up until he died a few years ago. I was doing a gap year in Paris at the time, between high school and Yale, and Beth came to visit. We went for a drive one week, out to Rouen where Pappy lived, and it was a Friday night. We were two young girls out to have a good time. Mind you this was the late eighties, in regional France. So the local bar was the best we could do," Emily started. She took a deep breath and continued.
"We met a couple of guys and kind of hit it off. But Beth was dating Huff at the time so she wasn't really up for continuing the good time save for a couple of dances and a game of pool. The guys offered us a ride home and we agreed. We were just grateful for a ride back to Pappy's. But apparently they were a little cut that we weren't intending on continuing the party. They left us stranded on the side of the highway about halfway to Pappy's." Hotch looked horrified. Beth returned to the table and noticed his face, before turning to Emily. "Did you get to the good part yet?" she asked. Emily shook her head. "Nope. I got to the part where the guys have driven off," she explained. Beth nodded. Now the face made sense. She sat down again and waited for Emily to continue.
"So we're just walking along the highway, hoping to catch a break, when we hear the sound of horse's hooves on the bitumen. We turn and here is this old man, steering a horse and buggy. He was Indian, wearing denim overalls and a white singlet, smoking a pipe," Emily explained. Hotch wrinkled his brow. "He offered us a ride to Pappy's, saying that he would welcome the company. We were chatting as we rode up the hill and Beth was a little drunk and blabbering about how cute our "little saviour" was, when he pipes up and, with the most disgusting eyebrow waggle, says "You should see me in a swimsuit," Emily and Beth mimicked in unison.
Hotch winced at the image, while the two women burst out in laughter. "Oh, that thought kept me awake for about a week," Emily exclaimed, shaking her shoulders. Beth pointed at Emily, shaking her finger. "And you lied, Agent Prentiss. YOU were the one who called Raj "cute." Emily's jaw dropped and she was about to defend herself, but conceded, her shoulders sagging in defeat. Hotch chuckled and pat Emily's shoulder. She sat up straight again and raised her hand. "Ok, fine. I admit it, it was me. But I personally blame the alcohol. Those French guys mix a mean martini," she argued.
Hotch was at the bar with Rossi, getting the next round of drinks, and Emily was outside checking a message that had rung through earlier. Beth leant over to Morgan and tapped his arm. When he turned, Beth cleared her throat.
"So what's going on between Hotch and Em?" she asked. Morgan wrinkled his brow and glanced over at the bar, then back at Beth. He shook his head. "Nothing. At least not that I'm aware of. Why?" he asked. Beth shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sure it's nothing. He just popped over to Em's last night to apologise for a fight they'd gotten into at work," she explained. Morgan's brow wrinkled further. "A fight? They didn't have a fight. In fact, they were perfectly fine yesterday. Even after Emily got herself discharged from the hospital early," he explained. Beth nodded and smiled. "That's Emily Prentiss," she muttered. Morgan smiled and nodded. "If it helps answer your question, they have been spending time together outside of work for the past six months or so. Since Hotch was injured. And in that time they've both gone through a lot so… I guess they're a lot closer than they used to be, even closer in private than what they show when they're at work. But I honestly don't think there's anything romantic going on," he explained. Beth nodded and smiled. "Thanks Derek," she said. Morgan nodded and turned back to ask Garcia if she wanted to dance.
Emily dropped into her seat and Beth looked over. "Everything alright sweetie?" she asked. Emily forced a smile and nodded. "Fine," she replied, glancing around the bar and finding Hotch at the bar. "What's going on Em?" Beth asked, raising her brow. Emily rolled her eyes. "Just gotta set up a doctor's appointment. Not looking forward to it," she explained. Beth nodded and turned back to her conversation with JJ.
Emily sat back and sighed, when Hotch returned to the table with the drinks. He frowned when he saw Emily's expression. "Everything ok?" he asked, leaning close to whisper. Emily bit her lip and nodded towards the dancefloor. "Do you want to dance?" she asked. Hotch paused, before nodding. He stood from his seat and held out his hand, which Emily took, and led her to the dancefloor.
When they reached the floor, Hotch turned and placed a hand on Emily's waist, pulling her close. "So what's going on?" he whispered. Emily bit her lip, running her hand over the shoulder of Hotch's dress shirt. "Huff just called me," she said quickly. Hotch frowned. "Beth's husband?" he asked. Emily nodded. "He knows she always comes to visit when things go to shit. He went to their place and realized she'd gone. He asked me if I'd seen her," she explained.
Hotch raised his eyebrow. "And what'd you say?" he asked. Emily shook her head. "I said I hadn't heard from her. I had no idea what to say," she explained, tears welling in her eyes. "I shouldn't have lied, I know that…" she said, her voice trailing off. Hotch shook his head. "Hey, it's not your fault. You have a responsibility to your cousin. If you felt like she'd want you to say no, then you have nothing to apologise for," he assured her.
Emily nodded and looked up. "But then I lied to her. When I came back in, she asked me what was wrong and I made up a lie about a doctor's appointment," she explained. Hotch smiled. "Well, maybe you can call up your doctor and then you won't be lying," he suggested, hoping to cheer her up. Emily chuckled and nodded. "Thanks Hotch," she muttered quietly.
He shrugged. "That's me. Prince Aaron," he joked. Emily smiled. "Well… I wouldn't go as far as prince," she teased, "Humble man-servant maybe." Hotch huffed and stood up straight. Emily chuckled and pat his cheek. "I'm kidding. You're a good friend Hotch. And I appreciate the help," she said quietly. Hotch smiled ad nodded. "It's the least I can do," he replied. They were silent for a moment before Emily tipped her head towards the table. "I guess you wanna get back to the table huh?" she asked. Hotch shook his head and tightened his grasp on Emily's waist. "We can at least stay until the end of the song," he replied, "Or do I smell?" Emily chuckled and shook her head. "Not at all. You smell fantastic. And the end of the song sounds perfect," she replied. Hotch smiled and pulled her close.
Beth looked up from her conversation with JJ and found Emily's seat empty. She looked around the bar and was surprised to find Hotch and Emily on the dancefloor. She smiled when she saw Emily laugh. Beth was glad there was someone in Em's life that could make her laugh like that. It'd been a long time since she'd seen that smile. Hotch said something and Emily shook her head and pat his cheek. Huh. That was… playful. Maybe they weren't involved, but there was definitely something more than just workmates. Beth shrugged. Whatever it was, she was glad.
The song ended and Emily thanked Hotch for the talk... and the dance. When they returned to the table, Beth looked up at Emily and she nodded. "Well guys, I have some great painkillers and a glass of water waiting for me at home so..." Emily said to the table. The others nodded and said goodnight to Emily and Beth. "See you Monday yeah?" Morgan asked. Emily looked at Hotch and nodded. "Absolutely. I have an appointment in the morning, but I should be in just after the briefing," she explained. The others nodded and the girls turned to walk out.
"So did you have fun tonight?" Emily asked. Beth smiled and nodded. "I did," she replied. "Thanks Emily. For tonight. It was just what I needed," she added, squeezing Emily's hand. Emily smiled and wrapped her arm around Beth's shoulder. "Anytime cuz. For you, anytime," she replied.