After work, Emily and Spencer picked up takeout before going to her apartment to catch up over dinner. Since he had stayed with her after he came to her about using Dilaudid months earlier, they still tried to get together one on one frequently outside of the BAU.

With Emily the only one on the team that knew about his struggles with Dilaudid, it gave him the opportunity to talk openly about it with less risk of interruptions. She had approached him about dinner after noticing how nervous he was when the team was called for their routine random drug screens the day after they arrived back from Kansas City.

It had been the first one for him since he was held by Henkel. Theoretically he knew that based on when he last had Dilaudid that he test should come back negative.

Should.

But this was a make or break moment for him in that if it came back positive all the hard work he had done with Dr Nelson would be compromised. And the risk wasn't just to him. The risk also existed for Emily. Hotch. Gideon. While all of them could deny knowing about his struggles, he knew none of them would. The anxiety would be there until he knew the results of his test.

Sensing that he needed to take his mind off the results, Emily had suggested dinner and then a game of his choice. After agreeing, he chose poker.

After the finished their food, Spencer helped Emily clean up before they sat back down at her table to start their poker game After dividing up an assortment of candy and snacks they were using, Spencer dealt the cards.

As they played, it quickly became clear to both that they were closely matched in terms of skills. After five hands, Emily was up by one though by the time they had gotten to ten, they were evenly split.

Spencer looked at her surprised, "where did you learn how to play?" It wasn't very often that he played against someone who had a similar skill to him. And as a distraction tactic it was working as he was having to focus more than he generally would on the game.

Emily smirked as she looked back at him as she said, "my grandfather taught me how to play when I was about seven. We would play every time I saw him as long as my mother wasn't around. He said it was a good way to learn to read people."

Spencer looked at her thoughtfully before saying, "it's true." before pausing for a minute then he continued, "have you ever played by counting cards?"

Emily groaned before responding, "yup. Was even unfortunately enough to be kicked out of a casino when I was caught." That had not been one of her better moments.

Spencer looked up at her surprised before saying, "me too. I'm banned from Las Vegas, Laughlin, and Pahrump because of it. Where for you?"

"Monte Carlo. Spring Break during my first year in college." Emily responded.

"I was 13 at spring break during my first year of college." Reid answered as he shuffled the cards suddenly feeling awkward.

Emily looked over at him as he was looking down at the cards he was shuffling. She could make a sarcastic comment but she had observed several times the hurt that quickly crossed his face when someone, usually Derek, would make a smart aleck comment when Spencer was being sincere.

The goal of today was help him relax and take his mind off the upcoming test results. After rearranging the snacks in front of her for another minute, she said, "then I guess that means you did something else for spring break that year."

Spencer looked up at her surprised and after briefly thinking about it, he started to tell her about rare books room at his university where he had spent most of that week when he was 13. Seeing his animated response, Emily sat back and listened to his account of his finds in the rare books room years earlier.

####

As they took a break from poker, Emily said, "Spencer, I want to thank you again for your help on my thesis."

Spencer smiled back at her and said, "I was happy to. Oh, you presented your thesis last week. How did it go?"

Emily let out a big sigh and smiled before responding, "it went well. They had some questions and comments but nothing major. I passed and now cleared to get my degree."

"That's great." Spencer said before pausing before continuing, "I know we made the list to have if anyone asked about why we were spending time together but do you want to collaborate on publishing a paper?"

"Sure."

####

As they were starting to play again there was a knock on the door. When Spencer stopped what he was saying and looked at her, Emily shook her head and said, "it's fine. Let's keep playing."

Emily wasn't concerned because she almost certain she knew who it was. Ever since she had stormed out of her parents house weeks earlier, she had expected that her mother would show up at her apartment at some point. She had been ignoring calls, voicemail and emails since that night, not wanting to talk to her mother. Not yet. Maybe not ever again.

While over the last few weeks, the shock of the revelation had diminished, the betrayal she felt remained. Until she had her feelings figured out, it was better to wait to talk to her mother.

Unfortunately for her, the Ambassador seemed to be done waiting for Emily to respond to her attempts at contact. A second more persistent knock on the door was then heard. A minute later, they heard keys jiggling at the door.

Emily stood up and Spencer walked around and was standing next to her when the door opened and her mother walked into the apartment.

"Emily,'' the Ambassador said as she walked into the apartment and shut the door.

Emily crossed her arms as she replied sternly, "Mother."

The Ambassador looked around the apartment before her eyes rested on Spencer before she said, "why didn't you answer the door?"

Emily could feel the fear coming off of Spencer as her mother stared at him. Stepping forward to put her between them she said, "I have a guest. Since I wasn't expecting anyone I chose to ignore it."

The Ambassador huffed before responding, "you would have known I was coming by if you had answered your phone or checked your voicemail."

Emily narrowed her eyes and said, "what do you want Mother?"

The Ambassador took a step forward as she said, "we need to talk Emily. It's time for your friend to leave."

Emily cursed to herself wishing that she had suggested Spencer leave when her mother first arrived. Now that her mother had essentially demanded he leave, she would be going into their talk in a weaker position if she acquiesced now.

However this was not the way she wanted Spencer to find out about her previous relationship with Hotch. She was certain that her mother was going to push that topic given what she found out last time they spoke.

Additionally given the reason that he came over that evening, she did not want to ask him to leave like this as she wanted to check in with him before he went home.

Looking at her mother, Emily responded angrily, "excuse me. This is my home. You can't just arrive her unannounced and demand my friend leave."

The Ambassador shook her head and said irritatedly, "if that is what you prefer. Let's go to the office and talk then." before walking out of the room and up the stairs heading towards the office fully expecting Emily to follow her.

She shook her head and she watched her mother ascend the stairs before turning back to Reid. She squeezed his shoulder and said, "don't leave. I'll be back as soon as I can."

She waited until he nodded and then climbed the stairs.

####

"Why are you here?" Emily exclaimed as she walked into the office and closed the door behind her.

"You haven't been returning my calls since you walked out on Edward and I weeks ago." her mother answered.

Emily shook her and said, "I'm aware. I wasn't ready to talk to you. Still not ready. Do you have any idea how much it hurt to hear what you and Edward did?"

The Ambassador sighed and then said matter of fact, "it was what needed to be done. He was an unsuitable match for you. Just like the young man you are entertaining downstairs."

Emily looked over at her shocked. Not only did she not have any regrets for what happened years earlier but her mother was still trying to interfere in her life. Walking towards her mother, she said indignantly, "what in the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. You have known since you were a child what was expected from you in terms of who you would marry." the Ambassador replied sternly.

Emily crossed her arms and replied, "while you had expectations, I have my own. For your information Dr Reid is one of my colleagues at the BAU. We were discussing collaborating on publishing a paper as well as play poker."

She really hadn't wanted to explain who Spencer was and it really wasn't any of her mother's business who she chose to socialize with. However, given that the Bureau had already questioned her and Spencer about a possible relationship, she felt she needed to clarify to protect Spencer. She wouldn't have put it past her mother to ask questions that if well placed could cause issues for both of them.

"Doctor?" her mother questioned.

"Yes"

"That is certainly impressive for the young man." her mother said before shaking her head before she continued, "however it doesn't change anything. Emily now that you know I think you can agree that you should not be working with Aaron Hotchner."

"Excuse me."

"Emily it is improper. What if someone finds out. He's married and has a child. It could be a scandal. We had already arranged for you to be given consideration for a position at the State Department. All you need to do is take the Foreign Service Exam." Her mother stated.

Emily laughed mirthlessly before she said, "that's all?" before pausing before she said fiercely, "I'm going to say this one more time. I am not quitting my job. Stop interfering in my career."

Elizabeth Prentiss sighed before standing straight and walking up to stand in front of Emily, "at least think about it. And come by for dinner on Sunday. We will have a very nice young man there for you to meet? You're not getting any younger, Emily."

"No. No I will not think about it. No I will not be at dinner on Sunday or meet any more of the men you keep throwing at me. Stay out of my career and stay out of my personal life. If and when I decide to marry, it will be on my terms."

"That is unacceptable." the Ambassador replied angrily.

"No that is reality." Emily said before pausing before continuing as she looked around her office, "also Mother, I am moving out of this apartment sometime in the next 6 weeks. I will leave the key with security downstairs once I've gotten all my things out."

"You don't need to move," her mother responded worriedly as she could feel the hold she had on her daughter continuing to get weaker.

Emily laughed and shook her head before saying, "yes I do. You showing up here tonight and letting yourself in to interrupt one of the rare evenings I have to socialize clearly illustrated to me that you have no respect for accepted boundaries. I have been paying you rent for this apartment and I deserve to be shown the respect that any tenant should receive at the very least. Just because you had a key didn't mean you were entitled to just come in to force me to talk to you."

Her mother huffed saying, "make sure you send Anna your new address." as she walked to the door.

"No, you have my cell number. If you need to talk to me call and leave a message." Emily responded and held the glare her mother shot at her determined not to be the one to look away first. After a couple of minutes, the Ambassador looked away before walking out of the office, down the stairs and out of the apartment.