Hey guys! New chapter today! It's an overall short and smooth chapter. Almost to 20 chapters! The next chapter will be posted on... Saturday (The Day before my birthday!) Alright, Enjoy and stay safe.

Chapter 17

"I guess dessert plans are canceled, huh?"

Emily looks at Dani and gives her a small smile. "I wouldn't say cancel. Just a change of guest numbers."

Dani nods. "In that case, I will go get the cake," she walks inside the kitchen and opens the fridge. "I make no promises for leftovers if you don't join me now," she told Emily from the kitchen.

Emily chuckles and stands up. She walks inside the kitchen and sees Dani grabbing two plates from the cabinet. She takes out the cake from the fridge and places it on top of the kitchen counter. Emily grabs the kitchen knife and cuts two slices of chocolate cake. She hands Dani a plate and they both sit down at the table. They start eating.

Dani is eating her cake when Emily starts up a conversation. "Dan, I am really sorry about the events that happened tonight. I never thought my mother could be so… ignorant."

Dani looks up at Emily, meeting her eyes. "Hey, it's all good," she said while smiling.

"If I would have known that she was going to act like this, I wouldn't have invited her over," Emily said, sorry in the agent's eyes.

"It's not your fault. Em."

"It's just that I never wanted you to feel uncomfortable here." Emily pauses and takes a breath. "I want you to feel proud of who you are and where you come from. Never embarrassed or ashamed."

"I will admit that I did feel quite awkward," said the teen. "But this isn't the first time I felt that way because of where I'm from. I have been called worse from other places," Dani said with a small smile. Emily just looks down at the table.

"Hey," Dani said, placing her hands on top of the table. "I heard what you told your mom when I left to go answer my phone."

"You heard?" Emily asked. Dani nodded. "I guess I didn't keep my volume down as well as I thought I had." she murmured.

"Nope, not really," replied the teen. "I heard what you said about me. About you considering me part of your family," she says with a small smile. "Those words mean one hundred times more to me than what your mother said."

Emily smiles and places her hands on top of Dani's. "I meant every word I said, Dan."

"I know. Thank you. Without you, I don't know where I would be."

"Don't think about it, Dani," the agent said with a reassuring tone, squeezing Dani's hands.

"I know," Dani said. "But sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I never met you. I was already going in the wrong path. I would have probably ended up like one of my family members," she said with a slightly sad tone.

"Dani, look at me," the agent said while holding Dani's hands. Dani looks up and meets her eyes. "The important thing is that you are here and that I love you no matter what."

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Emily is inside her office reviewing case files. It's around eleven in the morning and she has been reviewing files for a few hours. She loved her position of Unit Chief of the BAU. She has worked hard to obtain this desired position without using her influence of being the daughter of Ambassador Prentiss. From proving to be a worthy member of the team to former Unit Chief, Aaron Hotchner, to being a very dedicated and determined person in her job, earning herself the respective title. This title would take a toll on her from time to time. She was the front of the line of the team. Everything has to go through her. This means more work and responsibilities, which would stress her out. It never got out of control though, she was a person who loved overcoming challenges.

Emily hears someone knocking on her door. "Come in," said the agent.

Tara walks inside the Chief's office with a mug on one hand, "Hey, I thought you could use this," she said, pointing at the mug.

"Thank you," Emily said with a smile. "Have a seat," she tells her, gesturing her hand at the chair in front of her desk.

Tara sits down and hands over the mug to Emily, "How was dinner yesterday?"

Emily lets out a loud sigh. "It didn't end in the best terms."

"I see," Tara said with a nod. "There was a clash of Prentiss's I suppose."

Emily nodded and took a drink of her tea.

"What exactly happened that ended dinner early?" Tara asked, curious for an answer.

"My mother was acting like a total jerk towards Dani," the agent replied, placing her mug down.

"How exactly?"

"She was making rather prejudiced comments against Dani," Emily said. "But what ticked me off the most is when she said that Dani isn't my legitimate child. That I should start building my own family because Dani is just a temporary child."

Tara nods slowly, comprehending what Emily told her. "Knowing you, I highly doubt you let that slide."

"I didn't. I was not about to let Dani feel uncomfortable inside her own house," said the agent.

"I'm sorry dinner didn't go as planned," said Tara. "But I am glad you stood up for Dani," she said with a smile.

"I would face anyone when it comes to defending Dani," Emily said. "She has stood up and faced the world alone for too long. It's about time she has someone to face the world with."