Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this writing. Nothing and no one belong to me, except Aimee, Lily, and Carter. I am not associated with anyone in this chapter.
We will be back with the BAU next chapter, promise! And we are starting to give some attention to Rossi ^_^
Chapter 36: Bets & Winnings
Aimee had been in LA for nearly 10 weeks when the shot finally wrapped. The art thieves had been captured and she had helped the LA team on another case in the meantime.
"Two shoots coming up, back to back," Lily told Aimee as she came over one evening to relax. "And, drum roll please, they are all on location on the east coast," she said happily as she and Aimee sat together in Aimee's living room.
"Two?" Aimee asked confused. "I only remember one. A kid's flick."
"Kit Kittredge: American Girl," Lily nodded. "It's a short shoot, scheduled at 28 days. They are also going to be filming an HBO mini series in Virginia and Boston. One about John Adams. You are scheduled to be on the shoot until they leave for Europe."
"I miss Europe," Aimee sighed.
"How about we go on vacation?" Lily suggested. "A week in the Greek isles—hot Mediterranean guys. Or we could go to the Bahamas—hot Caribbean guys. Or, Oh! South Africa. I love their accents."
"Let me guess, hot South African guys with hot accents?" Aimee laughed.
"Hey, we are not all lucky enough to have a hot guy who adores us," Lily pouted.
"And why is that?" Aimee studied her best friend. "You are a sexy, successful, feisty Latina. Why are you single?"
"Because I work more than a medical intern?" Lily sighed. "I have the same amount of free time as someone working 80 hours a week. Wait, that could be because I work 80 hours a week."
"Get another assistant," Aimee suggested. "I think you really do need a vacation."
"Except it will take months to plan a vacation. I need to make sure I have no meetings scheduled, no clients working on anything that can't be handled by my first assistant. Which means no problems with contract negotiations, no new deals, no closings, no unexpected, 3am phone calls because a movie is still filming and suddenly a script needs to be revised but no one can find the right color sharpie pen," Lily vented.
"Have you ever had the sharpie phone call?" Aimee smiled.
"You would be surprised," Lily laughed. "I would so switch jobs with you in a heartbeat. I would love to snap photos of Gerard Butler's ass."
"It's amazing, I've worked on hundreds of films, photographed all over the world, won dozens of prestigious awards for my photography alone, and still, it is Gerard's ass that always gets mentioned," Aimee laughed hysterically.
"I made sure to visit you on set that day," Lily reminisced happily.
"Speaking of butts," Aimee sighed.
"This is where you say you miss your man's derriere," Lily guessed and Aimee nodded.
"Well, he sure as hell misses you," Lily gestured to the bouquets decorating Aimee's house. She received a different bouquet ever week from Derek.
"Aren't they great?" Aimee grinned.
"How do you befriend and win the hearts of every FBI team you meet?" Lily sighed.
"Have you met the LA team?" Aimee asked suddenly. She couldn't remember if she ever introduced them.
"I've met a few of them. The leader, Don Epps, Megan before she moved to DC. And I've met the math nerds and physicist," Lily told her.
"So you haven't met Colby or David?" Aimee grinned.
"Oh no, I know that look. You are going to become a yenta. My grandmother, mother, and brothers are bad enough!" Lily shook her head.
"Just meet them. You aren't interested, I can't change that. Plus, I, uh, kind of lost a bet," Aimee grinned.
"You lost a bet?" Lily repeated.
"Hey, I don't see the future," Aimee pointed out. "I am just as susceptible to losing bets as any one else. So I have to take Colby and David to dinner. So come with us. We are going to Wolfgang Puck's place."
"Hey, I'm not paying," Lily agreed, grinning.
"Plus, you want to meet them," Aimee insisted.
"Why are you taking them to Puck's?" Lily asked.
"If they won they were going to have to take me to the opening gala art exhibit. Black tie, big wigs, everything I'm sure would make them uncomfortable," Aimee grinned.
"I'm in," Lily nodded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Aimee left her Jaguar with the valet driver as she pulled up. She saw Lily was behind her and let the valet take her 2009 mercedes.
"Well?" Lily asked, giving a quick twirl. Her hair was swooped up in a twist that hung loosely around her face, leaving her neck exposed. Her red dress matched her fiery personality, Aimee though.
"Who are you trying to impress?" Aimee teased.
"Wolfgang Puck, of course," Lily grinned. She studied Aimee's outfit. Her blond hair was pulled into a bun and she wore a dark blue gown. Not formal, they were both going for sexy and fun. All in all, she looked like an adorable pixie and would definitely attract attention inside.
"Don't even say I look like a pixie," Aimee warned.
"Ah, there goes my fun," Lily laughed.
"I hate being vertically challenged," Aimee sighed
Lily looked down to her friend's shoes. "It lets you were those gorgeous things. I want a pair!" Aimee was wearing matching blue 3 inch heels that wrapped around her angle, caressing her foot to end at her big toe.
"Lily, hon, you are already 5'7. You would need a tall man to wear these shoes. Me, I need the shoes," Aimee argued. "Luckily, both David and Colby are tall men," she smirked.
They were in the waiting room for only a moment before they saw a car drive up and David gave the car over to the valet. Behind him they saw Colby get out. "Now I see why you wanted me to meet them. You definitely have all the luck," Lily agreed.
"David is the tall black man," Aimee whispered as her friend studied the handsome black man with the goatee. "Beside him is Colby," Aimee said, as Lily turned her attention to the slightly shorter, but still taller than her 5'7," white man. David was slightly leaner, Colby's shoulders broad, especially in his suit jacket. It was clear to Lily that Colby had been in the army.
"Aimee," the guys said entering, kissing her cheek. "I'm beginning to feel guilty," David said.
"Don't be silly. A bets a bet," Aimee grinned. "I would have held you to my winnings if it went the other way. Guys, this is my best friend and manager, Liliana Morales. Lily, Colby Granger and David Sinclair," Aimee introduced. They shook hands before being shown to their table.
They were seated at a round table, sitting boy girl, boy girl. "Well, I'll confess I haven't been here before, so anything you suggest would be great," Colby said easily.
"I know the duck is divine," Lily spoke up. "So is the chef's special, the ," she added.
"You come here a lot?" David asked, then cringed since it sounded like a bad pick up line.
Lily laughed, Aimee's eyes dancing in merriment. "I've been here a lot for business lunches and dinners," Lily nodded. She came when she could write it off as a business expense, hardly ever just for herself.
"Would you like a wine to begin with?" the waiter arrived.
"The '93 Sauvignon," David ordered.
Lily and Aimee shared a look. "How are your friends in Quantico?" Colby asked Aimee.
"Doing what they do. They've had a lot of cases around Virginia and the DC area lately."
"I hear you are leaving again," David added.
"Work. Two shoots on the east coast," Aimee nodded as the waiter brought their wine, pouring them each a glass before leaving it in the bucket. They talked about movies until the waiter arrived again. Colby and Lily both ordered the , while David ordered the duck and Aimee ordered the salmon.
"What case were you working on when you all met?" Lily asked.
"It was an abduction case," Colby said. "What, 3 years ago?"
"Something like that," Aimee nodded. "You were pretty new to the team, I remember."
"Colby was a little reckless when he was a rookie," David laughed.
"Hey, we are both still a little reckless," Colby pointed out. "Now we're just a well oiled machine, though."
"I remember reading the papers, about you being a spy for the US. Why did you choose to stay in LA? Aimee told me you could have gone anywhere," Lily asked Colby.
"LA just became home to me. I liked my team, even if it was difficult winning back their trust," Colby admitted.
"Yeah, we were all pretty hard on him, especially me, when we found out," David confessed, surprising Lily. "But in the end I'm glad he stayed. No one else crazy enough to do this job."
They were talking amicably when their food arrived and time passed quickly as they enjoyed the dinner and company.
"Swing by before you leave,' David said as the valet brought up their cars.
"Will do," Aimee said, kissing him goodbye, then Colby whose car arrived next.
"Well, Lily?" Aimee grinned as they waited for their cars.
"I enjoyed myself," Lily admitted.
"Good," Aimee grinned as their cars arrived. "Because I slipped your number to both of them," she laughed as she got in before Lily could yell at her.
Aimee arrived back home late. She had some down time before the beginning of the shoot, about 2 weeks off. She had already spent nearly a week in LA, and had to get to Virginia for the shoot.
She pulled into her garage, noticing Carter's car was there. Aimee walked into her house to find Carter and Amanda working on a puzzle in her kitchen. "We finished your cookies," Amanda apologized.
Aimee looked to her brother who looked sheepish. "What's up?" Aimee asked her niece kissing the top of her head.
"We wanted to see how your date went," Amanda said.
Aimee frowned at her brother. "I said it was a dinner date, Amanda, not a real date," Carter groaned.
"What's the difference? Isn't a date a date?" Amanda asked.
"This was just me hanging out with some friends. I wanted Lily to meet some of my other friends so we went to dinner. Plus, I lost a bet," Aimee sighed. "So, now I need someone to go to the gala with me. Carter, dust out your tux."
"I wear a suit every day to work, Aims. I have plenty. Which would you prefer I wear? Gucci? Armani?" Carter grinned.
"Smart Alek," Aimee laughed. "But why are you here? I thought you guys were coming over for dinner tomorrow?"
"Amanda wanted to ask you something," Carter said looking at his daughter.
Amanda nodded. "Aunt Lily told me that you are working on the American Girl movie. Can I come? Please? Pretty please?"
Oh boy, Carter knew she wasn't good at saying no to her niece. "You still have 2 weeks of school, Amanda," Aimee pointed out.
"Can I come after?" Amanda asked. "Will you still be working on it?"
Amanda shared a look with Carter. "Let me talk it over with your dad."
"Daddy said I could. He would fly with me to Virginia, he has a meeting!" Amanda said excitedly, thinking she was winning.
She probably was, too. "Why don't you put your glass in the sink and brush your teeth," Aimee said. Amanda was over so much, had lived with Aimee for a time, she had things over at Aimee's house. "I'll talk to your dad." Amanda nodded and left.
Aimee waited for her to be gone. "You alright with that? I think she'll be bored before long."
"She's in the phase of 'I want to be an actress' right now. Plus, she wants to spend time with her Aunt Aims," Carter smiled. "And you know how crazy she is about all that American girl stuff. Mom sends her everything—she has 2 dolls and the three other movies already."
"I know. I don't mind, I mean, I'll need someone to watch her while I work. Maybe she can be an extra for a day. She'll really want to be an actress then," Aimee laughed.
"I'll be there. I do have a meeting. Normally I'd do it over the phone but I can do it in person and take Amanda to the set. She has been wanting to see you at work for a while."
"And would this have anything to do with, oh, I don't know, a certain FBI agent?" Aimee grinned.
Carter returned it with his own. "So, my curiosity is peeked. I don't know what to do about it, though," he admitted. "I haven't really been attracted to anyone since Nikki. Don't get me wrong, I'd notice a fine looking woman, but knew it wouldn't work. Certainly not with Amanda. I can't imagine it working with Emily, but I'm intrigued."
Intrigued enough to pursue, Aimee noticed. "Let me know when you arrive in Virginia so I can pick you up, arrange to have you guys on set. I think it will be fun for both of you. Guess who I learned is going to be on the film?"
"Who?"
"Joan Cusack, Chris O'Donnell, and Jane Krakowski. But, and here's what I find exciting, one of the children is the daughter of Will Smith! I adore Will," Aimee sighed. "He is always a great guy to work with."
"Wait, I met him. You were on MIB 2," Carter reminded her.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot you met."
"Who's in the John Adams HBO thing?" Carter asked. "I might stick around," he teased.
"Paul Giamatti is the title character," Aimee said. "Laura Linney."
"To bad you aren't going to Europe to work on it there," Carter said, leaning back in the chair.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lily called Aimee as she was pulling into the circular drive. Aimee dug her phone out of her purse as the valet took her car. "Lils? What's wrong? Don't you dare say you can't come tonight," Aimee said. "Carter bailed, I need someone here."
"Hey, I knew Carter bailed, so I do what I do and I got you a date," Lily said smugly. "I'm right inside. And believe me; you don't have to worry about being alone."
She heard Lily hang up and she was curious what the hell Lily meant. She was in the middle of putting her make up on when Carter called to say a client was pitching a fit and he couldn't make it. Since she had to leave in 10 minutes, she didn't exactly have time to ask anyone else to go with her.
Aimee smoothed her dress as she walked in. She was wearing a long, A-line blood red evening gown Lily convinced her to buy. Secretly, she enjoyed the outfit. Even if only Lily and her 'date' (probably one of Lily's poor brothers she had dragged to this) would see it.
Lily met her at the door, wearing her own burnt gold evening gown that showed off her tan well. "Okay, he's right over there," Lily pointed.
Aimee looked over, glad for her heels that gave her extra height, and her heart stopped, seeing Derek standing with Carter, looking delicious in his tux. He saw her and his grin lit up his face.
"Lily, you are officially the best girlfriend in the world," Aimee said as she hurried as quickly as decorum, high heels, and floor length skirts would allow. Derek wrapped her in his arms, leaning down for a kiss.
"I definitely am enjoying this vixen look you have going on," he whispered in her ear.
She kissed him softly before turning to whack her brother with her purse. "You know, if you had really bailed on me I would be very upset with you."
"Hey, I thought you would prefer a real date," Carter grinned as he watched Aimee lean into Derek.
"So, what exactly is going on?" Derek asked.
"It's a Gala hosted by the Holocausts museum," Aimee said. "One of my photographs is being placed in the museum, and I have another piece in the silent auction."
"Wait, you have a photo going in the museum?" Derek asked in shock.
"Haven't you seen her work?" Lily asked as she took a glass of champaign Carter handed her from a passing waiter.
"What piece?" Derek asked.
"I took a photo of one of the last living holocaust survivors before she passed away. She visited her interment camp one last time," Aimee said sadly.
That had been a horrible, sickening experience for both of them.
"You okay?" Derek asked comfortingly.
She nodded. "And I have one of the nature shots I did in Virginia up for silent auction."
"How's your book selling?" Carter asked.
"Good. If I ever do another state the publishers want it, too," Aimee grinned.
"It would have to be a small state. Do you know how long it would take you to photograph California in depth like that?" Lily shuddered. "You would never work on anything again."
"What did you mean I definitely wouldn't be lonely?" Aimee asked Lily. "You were very good at being cryptic."
"Oh, your fan club is here," Carter gestured with his champaign.
Aimee looked behind her and saw the LA team, including geeky Charlie and his father, looking around. "I still don't know if I like you hanging with them," Derek teased.
"So says Mr. Suave," she teased him. "There's the director of the museum and the curator. I'll be right back," she said as she walked over to them.
"You okay?" Carter asked Derek.
"It's just weird, she doesn't tell anyone about her ability, I still have the feeling she hasn't told me everything about it, and yet the LA team knows," Derek shrugged.
"She has worked with them for years," Lily pointed out.
Derek nodded. "I know."
"Hey, trust me, she hasn't told any of them more than she told you. In fact, except for Lily, you are the only other person she has really confided in," Carter admitted. He liked Derek, and didn't want his jealousy to put Aimee in a guilt trip. He looked over at his sister talking with some of the museum people and other artists who were participating in the silent auction.
Aimee was finishing her conversation with Hans Jenson, another photographer participating in the silent auction, when she sensed Derek behind her. "Bored?" she asked.
"Hardly," Derek grinned. "You are in your element. It's fun to watch you," he smiled.
"You are going to make me blush, Derek Morgan," Aimee grinned.
"Show me your work," Derek asked. Aimee slipped her hand on his arm as they looked over the pieces for auction.
"Wait, I was with you when you took this one," Derek said, studying her photo. It was a black and white scenic piece of the backwoods in Virginia. "Didn't this place give you the creeps?"
"Yeah, but it was a gorgeous place, and turned out to be one of my favorite shots," Aimee admitted. "I hope it goes for a good price, otherwise my ego is going to be ruined."
Derek grinned. "You are being placed in the museum. I think everyone is probably bidding on it like crazy."
"Let's hope," Aimee smiled.
They were walking into the conference room and met up with Carter and Lily and the FBI team. "Nice to see you again, Derek," David said, shaking hands followed by Colby.
"Derek, Don Epps, his girlfriend District Attorney Robin, Charlie Epps, Allan Epps, and Charlie's girlfriend who also works with the team, Amita," Aimee introduced the Epps family. "You met David and Colby. This is Liz," Aimee introduced the Latina woman, "and Nikki Betancourt. She just came from LAPD," Aimee introduced the statuesque black woman.
"Good work," Derek said. "I was with Chicago PD before joining the Bureau."
"I hear BAU is a different cup of tea, though," Liz said. They talked about the bureau and work while everyone waited for the results of the auction to be announced.
"Aimee, I have to say I was moved by your work," Amita told the smaller woman. Aimee hated being the shortest person in the group. "I can only imagine what it was like to have been there in person with her because I wanted to cry just looking at the photo."
There had definitely been a lot of tears when Aimee was there. "Thanks, Amita."
"What can we say, our Amiya works wonders," Lily said happily as the museum director went on the stage.
Aimee managed to control her blushing when he talked about her work that was being added to the collection and when everyone applauded for her. She was use to being behind the camera, not the center of attention. Derek had his arm around her waist comfortingly.
Aimee was on cloud nine when she heard how much her photograph went for. "I say we celebrate," Derek whispered against her ear.
"When do you fly back?" Aimee asked.
"I'm flying back with you," Derek smiled at Aimee's happy reaction.
"So we will have all day to ourselves tomorrow, too," Aimee said happily.
"I'm thinking of a private celebration at your house where I will share with you everything that that dress has been making me think of," Derek grinned, pulling her close as the valet brought her car around.
"You must be psychic," Aimee teased as the valet opened her door. She saw Derek's perplex look. "That is exactly what I was thinking."
Special thanks, as always, to Sue1313 (Reid is proving difficult for romance. Lila may come into play later, I'll have to see....) and Soccer Bitch (Thanks! I look forward to hearing about it!)!