A/N: OS of a different first date for Emily and Andrew set sometime after 14x07.

It'd been a long time since Emily Prentiss had been this nervous. Heart pounding, stomach fluttering, breath quickening as she walked down the hall toward Andrew Mendoza's apartment. Her hand hovered by the door as she tried to work up the courage to knock, until her knuckles finally rapped lightly against the door seemingly on their own accord. A few moments later, she heard movement from behind the door and before she knew it, she was face to face with the rather handsome special agent-in-charge of the DC field office.

Andrew's smile was bright as he grabbed his wallet and keys, leading her down to his car. He'd told her to dress casually, it was a mid-day date after all, but Emily wasn't clued in to their destination until he parked and pulled two National's baseball caps from the backseat. "I believe I promised you ice cream and a game," he said as he fit the cap on her head.

They ate hotdogs and ice cream, drank beer, and swapped stories about their lives at the bureau. Andrew explained the rules of baseball, mocking Emily lightly for never having been to a game until she told him about growing up overseas, where understanding sports like soccer and rugby were much more beneficial to her social life. Emily couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so hard with anyone other than a BAU teammate. Andrew was witty and animated but also kind and compassionate.

"I had a really good time today," Emily voiced as they exited the stadium.

"I'm glad, me too." Andrew replied, taking her hand in his as they continued towards the parking garage. Gentleman that he was, Andrew lead her to the passenger side, intending the get the door for her. Before he had the chance to, however, Emily stopped him.

Maybe it was the fact that he'd just taken her on the best date she'd been on in over a decade, or that Andrew Mendoza looked just as sexy in his t-shirt and dark jeans as he had in the suit he wore when she met him, but before Emily could overthink it, she kissed him. Hard.

Pulling back a moment later, she steels herself for any potential pushback, but then he's the one kissing her, pulling her closer and sliding a hand into her hair. His tongue runs along her bottom lip until she opens and Emily can't help the moan that escapes when their tongues touch for the first time. They kiss until the need for air forces them apart and both smile as she rests her forehead against his, the two of them breathing heavily.

"I like you," Andrew whispers into the space between them.

"I like you, too," Emily replies, smiling wider until she feels Andrew pull away and gets a look at his face.

He looks pensive and he opens his mouth to speak but it takes a second before any sound actually comes out. "I haven't considered dating anyone seriously in… well a long time. I like you, a lot, and I don't want to string you along so I need to tell you something," he starts. Emily swallows, nodding because the shift in mood is making her too nervous to speak. "I have a daughter," Andrew finally says.

Emily takes a deep breath, licking her lips before responding. "Oh, alright."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. If I'm being honest, I haven't really dated since her mother and I divorced 4 years ago and I'm not sure what the proper protocol is on when to mention children and exes but Keely is… she's my whole world and so I just needed you to know."

A small smile graces Emily's lips as he speaks. She hears the uneasiness in his voice but also sees the way protection and love in his eyes at the mention of his daughter's name. "It's not a deal breaker," Emily assures and she can see the relief in his eyes. "Why don't we get out of this parking garage and you can tell me about her, if you're comfortable with that." Andrew smiles and nods, pecking her forehead before opening the passenger door.

Andrew spoke the entire drive back to his apartment, telling Emily all about his daughter. Keely was 13, in the 8th grade, and lived in New York City with her mother. They'd moved to New York at the start of the school year, so Andrew currently only got to see his daughter one weekend a month or for every other holiday when he either drove up to the city or his daughter took the train to DC. Keely was athletic and smart. She was co-captain of her soccer team, student body treasurer and a member of National Junior Honor Society.

Emily enjoyed hearing Andrew talk about Keely. Sure, a part of her was freaking out inside as she considered the possibility that if this worked out between them, she'd be a mother. Stepmother, she corrected herself. Emily had always wanted kids but figured at this point in her life that dream was behind her. She was no idea what being a stepmother might entail, let alone a stepmother to a teenager, but Keely sounded delightful and Emily promised herself not to ruin a relationship with the man beside her based on fears about a potential future that was still largely unknown.