On Christmas day Emily woke up feeling completely different from any other Christmas she had celebrated in her life.
She got down the stairs and met her mother in the kitchen.
"I always forget that you can actually do things" she joked when she saw her mother cook breakfast.
"HA HA" Elizabeth mocked "You're so funny" she put down the utensils and walked up to her daughter "Merry Christmas angel" she kissed her cheek and Emily hugged her "Merry Christmas mom" they shared a sweet smile and then the two Prentiss women worked together on breakfast.
It was something so new for the both of them but at the same time it felt like the homey feeling had been laying deep down in their hearts for so long but never got the chance to get out.
It was something they had been craving for so long, probably without even knowing.
"So, I want you ready in a hour" Elizabeth stated once they were done with breakfast "We have to be up and running"
"What?" Emily's eyes widened "No mom please" for a split second her whole world crushed down and the ground beneath her feet crumbled.
She had been so sure that things were better, that her mother had finally understood her but for that split second she feared that everything was going to be ereased.
That she was going to go back to square one.
That she had to give up on the refound happiness.
That she was going to lose it all again.
For that split second her breath was knocked out of her lungs.
Elizabeth chuckled "It's not what you think honey"
At that, the young girl remembered how to breathe again and calmed herself down.
"Wait then- why?" she asked, not panicking anymore but now very confused.
"Well, we need to be somewhere. I've got something to show you" Elizabeth tried to hide her smile from her daughter who looked skeptical "What?"
"Emily it's a surprise. Stop asking questions because I'm not going to answer them"
"Mom! Come on!"
"No. Also, I was thinking we could go to the restaurant unless you want simple past for you Christmas lunch. Pick one and let me know"
"Restaurant. Definitely"
"That was blunt. And quick"
"You said it yourself that you suck"
"I didn't say that I suck"
"You said you can't cook"
"I said I can't cook a Christmas lunch"
"What's the difference?"
"AH! What's the difference? Uhg, you know what? I don't even want to talk about it. Go get ready"
"Does this place have a dresscode or something?"
Elizabeth smiled sadly at the young brunette.
She knew Emily didn't feel like she belonged in that world and that she just wanted to be a girl of her age who didn't need to worry about impressions and lookings or at least, not as much as her world expected her to do.
"No honey" she whispered softly "Wear whatever you want"
"For the restaurant also?"
Elizabeth kissed her daughter's head "For the restaurant also" she squeezed her shoulders, let the moment sink in and then patted her butt "Hurry up"
"MOM!"
"Emily!"
Emily shook her head and went upstairs to get ready and thirty minutes later she came back down "Aren't we going to open the presents?"
"I know you want to but I promise we will as soon as we get back. I have an appointment and it's Christmas morning so it's a special favour. We can't be late"
"Kay" Emily shrugged and smiled at her mother's excitment.
"Let's go"
The drive in the car took 20 minutes and Emily had no idea where they were going.
"Can you give me a hint?"
"No"
"A little one?"
"No"
"Are we going to meet a person?"
"Yes"
"Who?"
"I'm not telling you"
"What does this person do?"
"Emily, stop. We're almost there"
"But mooooommmmmm!"
Elizabeth sighed "Patience patience dear"
Emily stayed in silence for the rest of the time, until they arrived at a huge, fancy and modern bulding where as soon as they got off the car, her mother walked to a man and shook his hand.
"Good morning Miss. Prentiss" the man said and her mother politely smiled exchanging the greetings and then introducing Emily to him "She is going to pick it"
"Pick what?" Emily asked confused.
The man smiled and shared a look with her mother before bringing them to another area of the building "A car, Miss. Prentiss" he nodded to the room full of brand new cars.
Emily's eyes widened and she immediatly turned to her mother "WHAT?"
Elizabeth laughed "You heard him"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
Elizabeth nodded, trying to keep the tears at knew this car was more than just a car but she didn't want to get into it right now.
"Go on. Let him help you" she said, trying to mask her emotions and Emily decided to ignore it for now but she knew deep stuff was going to come later.
They spent two hours getting on and off cars, trying things, hearing all the informations about all the cars they had in the dealship and finally Emily had the perfect car.
It was a black Jeep Compass .
It was fun and safe and stylish and oh boy, she loved it.
Elizabeth read it on her face as soon as she saw it and couldn't help but love the happiness shining in her dark, beautiful eyes.
"OH MY GOD! OKAY. I LOVE IT. THIS IS THE ONE!" she exclaimed excitedly.
The man, whose name was Adam, smiled at her excitment and told them to follow him in his office so they could take care of datails and paperwork.
That's when her mother stepped in while Emily stood there, smiling and uncapble of believing that it was happening.
It only sank in when she sat back in her mother's car and she remembered that Adam told her the car was going to be ready in a week.
"Oh my god mom, I still can't believe you did this" Emily said when arrived at the restaurant.
They had spent the whole morning in the dealership so lunch was long overdue.
Elizabeth chuckled while she scanned through the menu, in the special Christmas lunch section.
"I know you wanted your own car" she said sofly and Emily smiled at her when she put down the menu.
"Emily" she sounded very serious now "I know you hate it. My job. My world-"
"Mom I don't hate it-"
"Honey, it's okay. Let me finish" she smiled sweetly making sure her daughter knew she wasn't mad or disappointed "I know you don't like it and you feel like you don't belong in it. And maybe you don't. The fact that I belong in it and you're my daughter doesn't make you automatically a part of this world. Maybe by extention. But not really. And I know I've forced you in it for your whole life and this caused you more pain that a human being should experience at your age"
Emily's eyes filled with tears
"I've dragged you all around the world and never once stopped and tried to put myself in your shoes. It must have been hard. All the changings and everything. I just assumed that if it was fine with me it was fine with you too. But how can it be fine for such a small girl who only wants to play with friends and have fun? It can't be fine and I found out way too late. I know presents can't fix the things I broke within you. They can't give you back all the things I took away. But this-" she choked on her tears "This car. It was important for me that you had it because I know that having to ride around with a personal driver is the first reminder of the normalcy you never had. So I guess this is my attempt to tell you that this life is yours and yours only and now you can be your driver and take yourself wherever your heart wants. You're the driver. You make the rules"
"I'm-" she stopped to swallow the tears "This is my way to tell you that it's okay if you don't want to be a part of my world but also a way to meet me halway. I hope" she chuckled darkly "I want you to know that this is not a "I'm sorry I messed you up. Take the car and let's pretend nothing ever happened" present. It is a "I'm sorry. I know. Let's move forward, starting with me giving you the freedom I never allowed you"
"Mom..." Emily tried to hold back the sobs "I don't know what to say" she laughed and patted her hand "You don't have to say anything amore mio" Emily smiled and the italian pet name.
"I don't need you to say anything. I need you to understand what this present represents"
"I understand" Emily said immediatly. Like it was a promise. Like it was a pact.
And it felt like it.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded at her daughter "Then all I need you to say right now is what you want for lunch" she joked, hoping to lighten the moosd.
Emily laughed and started reading the menu once time though, Emily knew something had changed within herself.
She cast a glance at her mother from time to time because she was seeing her, once again, under another light and it was surreal.
Her mother just told her everything she ever wanted to hear.
Shejust told her that she didn't need to be a part of something she didn't just let her free to be what she wanted and do what she just apologized, once more, for forcing her to be in a world she didn't want and never asking about it.
And yet, Emily wasn't happy. Not completely.
She studied her mother and something was missing in her eyes.
She looked like she wanted to shake off some worries and some fears.
Emily's heart sank when she realised her mother feared she had lost her for good now.
Did her mother really think that?
Emily couldn't let her believe that letting her go meant that Emily was going to leave and shut her out of her life.
She couldn't let her think that now she'd just walk away because she wasn't forced to do anything anymore.
And surely she couldn't let her believe that every time Emily spent time with her, it was out of obligation.
Because it was not.
Everything she ever wanted was a mother to live and spend time with.
She was not going to let her think that now, having a choice was going to mean that she'd never choose her mom.
She'd always choose her mom.
"Mom" she said "I'm sorry. I-" she had to find the right words to explain this but it wasn't as easy as she initially thought.
Elizabeth in fact looked confused and worried.
Probably thinking that she said or did the wrong thing.
"Look. You're right. I hate it. I hate the dresses and I hate the fact that I can't breathe in those things and that most of the times they show way more than I'd like and that old men hit on me all the time because of it. I hate the fact that they're all fake and have a second meaning to everything they do. I hate the inuhaminty some of them have inside of them and the fact that it's all about what's on the outside and never in the inside. But-" she sighed and licked her lips at her mother's frown.
"But it is part of who I am. And it might not be all my world or my favourite part. But it's part of it...a great part of it. Because it is your world. And you're my mom. How could something yours not be part of me? I hated it and I probably will always do but I never had a reason to like it. Because I thought that it would always come before me. Because I thought that you preferred that to me and because I thought you were like them. Caring about what's on the outside and not on the inside. And I thought that it was a reason to be disappointed in me, because I wasn't like that. Like them. Now it's different because I'm older, and we're here and we're different. We healed and I have all the right reasons to give this world another shot. For you. I don't know how and if this will work and I can't promise that I'll love it but I was thinking we could make a deal..."
"What kind of deal?"
"Well, I can be there for the very important things. The ones you think I need to be at. And the ones...well...the ones you want me to attend. You really want me to"
Elizabeth's eyes softened "I guess...this is the meeting you halfway you were talking about and hoping for"
"I don't want you to feel forced honey, I-"
"I don't. I want to do it. It's right. I don't want to shut you out of my life and I don't want to be shut out of yours. Until we find something that is 100% suitable for the both of us, like maybe a private island somwhere" they both laughed at the joke "Halfway is right" she became serious again "It can't be that bad now that well...now that I have you"
Elizabeth smiled at her daughter and Emily returned the exact same smile.
"In case it wasn't clear, I'm keeping the car. Even if I still choose to be in your crappy political world" Emily cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
"Oh and I also want cannelloni and Beef Wellington, with potatoes. You pick the appetizers and the wine"
Elizabeth giggled and called the waiter to give him their orders.
Throughout the whole lunch, both of them couldn't help but think that that one was the best Christmas lunches of their lives.
Probably the best lunch ever. Period.
"Is Aaron coming over later?" they were done with lunch and now they were having a walk around. Enojoyng the lights and the snow and the Christmas spirit.
"Uhm, I actually don't know. I haven't called him yet"
"You could invite them all over" Elizabeth said, holding on to her arm "Unless they have plans with their families, of course"
Emily shrugged "Maybe tomorrow? You could meet them for real this time but today I kinda want to be with you"
Elizabeth smiled, moved by her daughter's words "Whatever you want, querida"
Emily chuckled "I think you're the woman with the longest list of pet names on Earth"
They walked in silence for a while then Elizabeth spoke again "You know...I like him"
"Aaron?"
"Mhmh. He's sweet and seems absolutely in love with you and-" she noticed the smiled on her daughter's face "And he makes you smile" she said sofly
"He's also funny and put up a fight with me when it came to Christmas decorations" Emily smiled "I'm very happy you've got him"
"I'm happy too" she said "And you'll adore the rest of them as well. They're amazing!"
"Tell me about them. You've never told me much"
"Well..."
She told her all about Penelope's good heart and explosive personality.
Spencer's bright mind and Derek's protective side.
She told them how they all felt like brothers and sisters, especially JJ who she shared really important things with.
She told her about the patience and determination they had in the beginning, when she was hard and closed off.
About the way they didn't give up on her and made sure they'd be there when she needed them.
"I really can't wait for you to meet them"
"I can't wait to meet them either. I was also thinking that before I leave I'd like to invite Erin Strauss and her husband for dinner. You know...after all they've done-"
"That's awesome. I agree"
Elizabeth smiled "I'll give her a call tomorrow"
"Great"
"Oh and by the way, Aaron also passed the test"
"Speaking of which, are you saving the bad questions for a special moment because I expected the worst but you were...nice"
Elizabeth chuckled "I never wanted to ask those questions. That was never the plan. I'm not an embarassing mom. At least not like that. I just wanted to know him"
"Well, I think you know everything you need to know about the embarassing...stuff"
"Oh, since you mentioned. Honey, have you been going to the doctor for checkups?"
Emily groaned "Ughh mom, you were doing so fine"
"Honey, I'm serious" Emily sighed because it was clear that her mom was indeed serious so she tried to be as honest as possible "I- uhm- I did in the beginning but last time was still in Rome"
"EMILY!"
"WHAT! It's not like it's ejoyable"
"Well, you have to. With all that happened-"
"No need to remind me"
Elizabeth sighed "Honey, I just want you to be okay"
Emily looked at her mother and knew her mother was taking care of her and making sure she was fine "I know"
"Awesome!" she exclaimed "I'll add booking an appointment for you to the list of things to do before I leave again"
"Do you really have to go back?"
"Ma chèrie I-"
Emily sighed "I know. I know. It's okay. I'll try to visit. Maybe during Spring break or something"
"That'd be great. Spain could use you"
Emily laughed and enjoyed the rest of the day with her mother.
"Hey" Emily said on the phone. Her mother had fallen asleep on the couch while watching Home Alone so Emily gently shook her and told her to go to sleep and now she was in her room, changed in her pajamas, sitting on her bed and finally speaking with her boyfriend.
"Hey there" Aaron said.
It was pretty late but she was glad he picked up.
She smiled and bit her lip because she knew he'd always pick up for her.
"Merry Christmas" Emily whispered."Merry Christmas to you too"
"I'm sorry I didn't call sooner it's just that my mother-"
"Hey, it's okay! It's Christmas, everone's busy. Plus, we saw each other yesterday and we'll see each other tomorrow"
"Are you saying you didn't miss me?"
"I'm saying I love you"
"I'm not sure I heard those words"
"Well, you'll hear them now. I love you, and of course I missed you"
"I love you too and I also missed you"
"Did you have fun with your mom?"
"OH MY GOD! YOU HAVE NO IDEA!"
Aaron chuckled and smiled at the happiness in his girlfriend's voice "Tell me everything"
"So I wake up. And she's making breakfast. We eat and everything and then she tells me to get ready as soon as possible because we have an appointment somewhere and can't be late"
"What? Are you trying to tell me that you actually had fun at one of your mother's things?"
"No. Never. Shut up"
Aaron laughed.
"So she doesn't tell me where we're going and like I only find out when I literally get inside this huge room where guess what?"
"What?"
"CARS AARON! CARS!"
"SHE GOT YOU A CAR?"
"SHE GOT A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT ON CHRISTMAS MORNING SO THAT GETTING TO PICK MY OWN CAR COULD BE MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!"
She told him all about the speech she gave her and how much it meant for the both of them to have that conversation and she explained that they reached another level in their relationship because they finally found a compromise without hurting each other.
Something that could make them both happy.
"And what did you do?" she asked him when she was done with her updating.
"Usual. Nothing special. And I definitely didn't get a car"
"You have a car"
"True"
"Did JJ like the present?"
"I gave it to her tonight. I didn't want her to feel weird right in the morning and also I didn't know how my parents would feel about it. You know, I didn't want to make anyone sad"
"Of course... was she sad?"
"She cried. But- she wasn't sad. She said she was happy that she could wear it again" Aaron had their sister's necklace fixed for JJ. He knew she loved it and that her heart phisically broke the moment the necklace broke so he decided to get it fixed for her but he didn't know if it was a good Christmas present.
So he had talked about it with Emily and she thought it was a great idea so she now wanted to know if she had messed up royally or not.
"She loved it"
"I'm so glad she did and by the way, my mother loved you"
"What?"
"Yeah. She would swap and have you as her son instead of me as her daughter if she could and she also said that you guys could come all to the house for dinner or something. I'm not sure what she has in mind. I think like tomorrow or whenever you all can"
"I'm really happy things are going great with your mom baby"
"Me too" Emily whispered.
They kept talking because it was always so easy and time flew every time they were together but after a while Aaron yawned.
"Bebe, are you tired?" Emily said softly.
"No I'm good. Go on"
Emily giggled and smiled because he was the sweetest man on Earth and she loved him so much.
"It's okay. Go to sleep"
"I don't want to" he said "I like hearing your voice. I haven't heard it all day" Aaron said but it was so clear that he was about to pass out.
"I'll stay on the phone. You get in bed and close your eyes and I'll stay on the phone"
Aaron smiled because he did what he was told and heard Emily speak softly in his ear until he fell asleep.
Soon enough, Emily heard his soft snores and waited a little to make sure he was truly asleep and then hung up.
Then she looked around and got up from her bed to go in her mother's room.
She was sleeping soundly so Emily tried her best not to wake her while she climbed in bed with her.
She panicked a little when she felt her mother move but then she felt her reach out and hold her.
With a smile on her face, she laid there in her mother's hold.
Content with her life.