Chapter 2
Charlotte was sitting at the bar of a restaurant close to her new apartment reading a book, and drinking a glass of wine. She heard someone drop a glass across the room. She looked up from her book to see what was going on when she spotted Agent Prentiss sitting across the table form an older woman. Emily looked super uncomfortable. Charlotte recognized the older woman as Ambassador Prentiss. She had met the older woman at the Luthor Children's Hospital Fundraiser. The older woman had gotten incredibly drunk at the fundraiser, and made a pass at Charlotte. Lena had been laughing about the situation the entire time. The two of them made sure the ambassador had made it back to her hotel. Where the woman had explained that her daughter had just died, and she was sorry for getting trashed at the fundraiser. Charlotte had brushed it off, and listened as the older woman cried about losing her daughter. Lena had helped her get the ambassador situated. Even though she had been uncomfortable with the entire situation. Which Charlotte would be forever grateful for. She sent Lena a text.
'I'm having dinner at a restaurant about a block from my apartment. Ambassador Prentiss is sitting about three isles away with her daughter who was apparently in the witness protection program, and not dead. I didn't know who she was earlier. I asked her daughter out today..'-Charlie.
'This is the greatest moment of my life. I'm laughing so hard. Kara is probably about to take me to a psychiatric ward.'-Lena.
'Yeah. Laugh it up. Emily looks really, uncomfortable. What do I do? Run, or help?'-Charlie.
'Do you like her?'-Lena.
'I could eventually.'-Charlie.
'Help. I'm sure the ambassador would love to see you again, and it would take some of the pressure off her daughter. 😉'-Lena.
'You suck. I love you. Tell the Danvers I said hey.' Charlie sighed wondering why she was about to do this. When she saw Emily run a hand through her hair in a classic sign of frustration. She stood up, and told the bartender where she was headed.
"Emily?" Charlotte. Emily looked up at her with surprise evident on her face.
"Charlie. What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" Emily smirked.
"Um. That's rude, and no. My new apartment is about a block from here. I was just reading, and having a drink at the bar. Are you stalking me?" Charlotte held up her book eyeing the ambassador.
"Of course not. I'm having dinner with my mother." Emily gestured to the older woman who was looking at Charlotte with amused eyes.
"Agent Rossi. It's good to see you again." Elizabeth Prentiss smiled at her knowingly. Charlotte looked at her unsure of what to do.
"Wait. The two of you already know each other?" Emily looked between them confused.
"I met Agent Rossi at the Luthor Children's Hospital fundraiser. You were there with Miss Luthor… If I recall?" Elizabeth smiled at her politely.
"I was. Um… How have you been?" Charlotte.
"You don't have to be so polite Agent Rossi. I got drunk, and if I remember. I made a pass at you in front of your date. You were still kind enough to make sure I made it back to my room unscathed. I will be forever grateful for your chivalry on the matter." Elizabeth. Charlotte dropped her head with a sigh.
"Mother!" Emily laughed.
"Well that just happened. I'm just going to go…" Charlotte.
"Nonsense. You should join us for dinner. Right Emily?" Elizabeth.
"I… Sure." Emily offered.
"I don't want to impose. I was just stopping by to say hello." Charlotte tried.
"It would be a welcome imposition. Please sit." Elizabeth stated more forcefully.
"Yes ma'am." Charlotte choked on her own words. Emily tried to hide her laughter behind her hand unsuccessfully. Charlotte decided the safest seat would probably be the one beside Emily.
"How is miss Luthor?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"She's fine. Still working too much." Charlotte.
"I honestly don't know how you can make anything work with the work hours at the FBI. Let alone being a CEO of a multimillion dollar company." Elizabeth.
"Oh. Lena, and I are just friends. We've known each other since university. We both went to MIT together for our bachelor's degrees." Charlotte explained.
"Well. Still. I'm sorry for being such an inconvenience that night." Elizabeth apologized again.
"It's no problem ma'am." Charlotte ran a hand over the back of her neck awkwardly. Emily was looking at her in amusement. While Charlotte was trying not to meet her eyes. Elizabeth's phone went off, and she stepped away to answer it.
"My mother hit on you!?" Emily laughed.
"Oh my god." Charlotte covered her face with her hands. Emily was still laughing at her. Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"It was kind of you to make sure she didn't get shredded by the media. Thank you for taking care of her." Emily stated after she had finally stopped laughing.
"She was completely smashed. She thought you were dead. I can't blame her for that. She wasn't in her right state of mind to drive." Charlotte shrugged.
"I was in the witness protection program. I couldn't tell her anything. Only Aaron, and JJ knew." Emily explained.
"That must have been hard." Charlotte.
"It was at times." Emily admitted.
"I'm sorry to cut this short sweetheart, but I've been called into the office. Charlie. I do hope you stay, and finish your meal. I paid for everything already Emily. I'll call you to reschedule when I get a moment away." Elizabeth hugged her daughter frigidly while Emily smiled at the contact. Her mother hadn't been one to initiate contact up until recently. Elizabeth squeezed Charlotte's shoulder before she walked out of the restaurant. Charlotte let out a breath. Emily fell back into her chair with laughter while Charlotte covered her face, and let her forehead drop onto the table. The other few patrons in the restaurant looked at them like they were insane.
"Oh my god." Charlotte laughed finally sitting up to take a sip of water.
"I needed that laugh." Emily smiled.
"Happy to be of service. That was the most traumatizing ten minutes of my life." Charlotte put a hand on her chest.
"You didn't have to say yes." Emily laughed.
"You looked super uncomfortable, and your mother kind of scares me." Charlotte admitted.
"Even after she made a pass at you? What did she do exactly? Did you make out with her?" Emily rose an eyebrow.
"NO! No. Nothing like that. She asked me to dance, and I could tell something was off right away. She tried to kiss me, but she passed out before she was able to do anything. Lena helped me get her back to her hotel room. I obviously hadn't put together that you were her daughter." Charlotte explained.
"You wouldn't have asked me if you knew?" Emily rose an eyebrow.
"I definitely still would have, but I probably would have waited a little longer though. Speaking of. How about I buy you that drink. I know I could use one." Charlotte laughed. Emily smiled.
"No." Emily smiled.
"NO? There's a bar right there, and your mom just payed for our food." Charlotte looked at her incredulously.
"You can buy me A drink, but not for the original offer. I'm still keeping that one on the sidelines." Emily winked at her.
"Fair enough." Charlotte smiled. Charlotte moved to sit across from her. The waiter smiled at them politely taking their drink orders. They chatted easily about the BAU while they ate the meal Emily's mother had bought for them.
"Did you drive? I can walk you to your car. I walked here. My apartment is only a block away." Charlotte offered.
"I walked too. My apartment is only about a block away." Emily rose an eyebrow at her.
"On three?" Charlotte.
"Bakerbridge apartments." Emily, and Charlotte both said at the same time.
"Flatmates. Sweet. I'm third floor." Charlotte laughed.
"Penthouse." Emily smiled.
"Well. Can I walk you back to your elevator then?" Charlotte offered helping Emily into her coat.
"I don't see why not since we are headed to the same place." Emily.
They walked slowly along the side walk of downtown Virginia. Enjoying the cool evening air. A van skidded to a stop on the curb. Charlotte and Emily did their best to fight off their attackers, but were swiftly knocked unconscious, and thrown in the van.