The eye contact was smoldering; however, she took off running in the opposite direction instead of where she should've been going. He desperately wanted to run after her but he didn't—and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.
2 weeks earlier
Emily woke up in unfamiliar settings, then it donned on her that she was in her boyfriend's apartment. For a moment, she thought about how easy it was to accept the offer of moving in with him. "I've never lived with a boyfriend before. Then again, he isn't just a boyfriend. She was brought out of her musings when she heard muttered swearing. She smiled to herself and looked around the bedroom. It's like Animal Kingdom in here. She chuckled to herself noticing how much damage they did to the bedroom. Although her G-string was hanging on the doorknob, the rest of her clothing had been picked up. It was the little things like that that makes her fall harder for him. She got out of the bed slowly and walked into the bedroom. She figured out weeks ago that after one overnight visit to her place, he bought all the products she used. She opened the large built cabinet wall of the bathroom with a mega-watt smile. He bought her favorite bar soap, body wash, wax strips, deodorant, perfume, tampons, face wash, and hair products. The only thing that have was her makeup, but she could forgive him for that. She went about doing her morning routine before leaving the bathroom and grabbing the silk robe he bought for her.
She quietly walked into the kitchen and watched him creating his famous pancake art. She stood there just staring at this beautiful specimen that was all hers. She was so busy staring that she couldn't catch herself before he noticed. He smiled that gorgeous smile at her, and she melted as usual. "Since this is your favorite Disney movie…I present you with Mufasa and Simba." Andrew finished with dramatic effect. Emily laughed and walked over to him, "I'm still amazed at how good you are at pancake art." He punctuated his thanks with a kiss. While Emily enjoyed her breakfast, including her happy dance, Andrew just stood in awe. He was beyond happy to have a woman—his woman—like this. He respected the hell out of her professionally, but he completely adored this side of her. He was unaware that she was contemplating having a serious conversation. Emily walked over to Andrew and hopped up on the counter in front of him. They locked eyes, "May I help you with something Spicy?" Andrew teased. Emily bit her lip, to suppress a laugh, "I still don't get why you call me that Drew." He kissed her jaw, then her ear "Because you're feisty as hell." His deep voice and proximity gave her goosebumps. Emily pressed her forehead against his and whispered, "Are you ready to meet the Prentiss'?" Andrew kissed her temple, "You mean your parents? Only if you want me to." Emily hesitated for a moment, "I have a thing I need to be at tonight. My parents will be there and I'm hoping that you will too." Andrew smiled at her nervousness, "What's this thing?" Emily shook her head, "You're going to think I'm an idiot." "No I won't. Try me."
Emily let out a dramatic breath, "When I first joined the BAU, I had a really bad weak spot for children. I'd even offered to take in a child victim whose family was murdered. I got my ass chewed out by my boss but I didn't let it go. Before making a grand decision, I had a long talk with my dad and brothers. I bought a big plot of land in Manassas; basically I turned it into a safe haven/orphanage. Any child that we came across on a case, that had no family or anyone willing to take them in, had the option of staying there. The first girl I saved Carrie is in charge of it and she loves it. Tonight, is a celebratory dinner for Ellie Spicer getting into Princeton early." Emily finally looked up at Andrew and felt like an idiot based off of his hard to decipher expression. "I told you that you'd think I was an idiot" she hopped off the counter with a huff and tried to escape; Andrew caught her by the waist and trapped her body in-between his and the counter. She wouldn't meet his eyes, so he lifted her head. "I don't think that you're an idiot. I think you're incredible. You offered a place for them to feel safe and help one another through their trauma. That's amazing! Are you sure that you're real?" Emily blushed, "Yes I'm real. I just know what they're going through" she finished in a whisper.
Andrew was extremely perceptive, so he followed her into the bedroom. He leaned against the doorframe and watched her body language. She was ridged and stiff, classic signs that her defenses were about to go back up. He said the only thing that he could think of, "My parents are dead. My uncle raised me. My mom was an El Salvadorian illegal; she was so stunning, sweet, and a great cook." He stopped talking momentarily to see Emily sit on the bed and give him her full attention. He said, "I was 10 when my mom killed in a drive-by. I blamed myself because I begged her to go to the ice cream truck after she'd told me no 4 times. But I was a mama's boy and she gave in. She—she wouldn't have been standing there if I'd just accepted no. I held her as she died." Emily saw the tears flowing, wanting to embrace him, but she feared that she'd break this trance he was in.
Andrew kept talking, "My dad wasn't a good guy. I grew up in Deanwood…the worst neighborhood in D.C. My dad was a drug dealer and a gang banger. There were few options for black men in Deanwood. You either sold drugs, ran with a gang, or were a janitor. My mother fell in love with a drug dealer and they had me. She thought that she could save him; honestly, I believe he took advantage of her because he knew she'd never him because she had nowhere to go. After the shooting, a war erupted between my dad's gang and a rival. Narcotics and the Gang unit came and did a sweep. Most of the kids on my block had someone to stay with, but I didn't. My dad was sentenced to 30 years. The cops had been building a case against him for months. My dad's brother, Darron, was the last person that I thought would step up and take me in. I barely knew the man but he's the reason why I didn't follow in my father's footsteps. At the time, he was working for ATF in Denver. We stayed there for a few years until the office in Baltimore offered more opportunities." He looked at Emily, his tears long forgotten, "Drew, you said your parents were dead." He laughed, "My dad started a battle with the Aryan brotherhood in prison; he finally started a war that he couldn't win. He died in prison 4 years ago." Emily crossed the room fast and hugged him tight. He returned the hug, afraid to let go after revealing such vulnerability, "Emily, I understand their pain too."
Emily choked on a sob, "My mom got remarried when I was 8. My biological father abused her. She could never hide the bruises from me. It took me stabbing my father when he beat her unconscious, just for her to leave. I hated her for so long; I hated that I had to grow up to protect her, I hated that she let him make her feel useless, I hated that she chose him to be my father, and I hated that it took so long for her to leave. After she got remarried, I stopped hating her. I finally knew what having a family and a father meant. My dad is my everything; he is so gentle, patient, funny, supportive, and strong. My brothers—God my brothers—are amazing. I finally saw my mom happy and safe. There were many times that he could've killed my mom and I would've wound up only God knows where. That haven that I built means so much to me, because it could've been me." Andrew lifted Emily's face and wiped away her tears. "Drew, I'm going to say this before I lose the nerve. I am hopelessly in love with you and for once I'm not afraid. For once, I want to take a real chance on happiness."