A/N: co-written by Auraya-of-the-White. I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ITS CHARCTERS. Please read and review

The team had just come back from a mentally strenuous case and for some odd reason Hotch decided to stay longer in Texas for a while. Tonight was Friday, bar night for the team, but sadly this time Agent Prentiss couldn't go, even though she could use a couple of drinks. She tried to sneak out of the office without anyone noticing one step, two steps, and three steps but no such luck. She jumped slightly as she was stopped by somebody's voice.

"And where do you think you're going?"

The voice was deep and kind. She turned around to see Morgan leaning behind her against the wall. JJ was standing next to him holding a file in her hands.

"It's Friday," she emphasized, "We always go to the bar on Fridays. You know that Emily," JJ said, with a hint a frustration in her tone.

Garcia and Rossi approached the group, listening in on the conversation.

"I can't go tonight." Emily sighed regrettably.

"Why can't you go?" Garcia questioned.

"You guys ready to go?" Reid yelled from across the bullpen.

"Prentiss isn't coming." someone mumbled disappointedly in a low voice. The tradition of bar night would not be the same without Emily.

"I wish I could join you, but I have other plans for tonight."

Silence fell, everyone was curious but no one wanted to pry.

Finally, JJ spoke up, "Like what?"

"Here we go," Emily thought, "I have to go to the airport," she coughed out.

She had an incredibly wonderful team, but they were always curious and once they got a hint of something interesting, they would never let go.

Morgan shifted to a standing position, "Airport? Why?" he asked.

"I need to pick up my cousin." she said calmly hoping they would drop the matter.

Instead Rossi added his opinion to the conversation, "Can't she take a cab to your place?"

Emily was beginning to get a little annoyed, "No, she doesn't know where I live and she doesn't have the key."

Of course, Rossi would be the one to make a wonderful suggestion that never worked out right, "Why don't you call her and give her the address for O'Malley's and she can take a cab there and have a drink with us?" he offered.

Emily let out a laugh, and sternly told Rossi, "No."

The team was silent and slightly confused. Emily seemed very defensive about this cousin of hers. She didn't usually get irritated with the team's inquisitive questions that fast.

Emily headed off towards the elevator, a smile playing on her face at the thought of her cousin at a bar.

"Why not?" Reid shouted after her.

She turned around, took two steps forward and smirked "She's only twelve." Emily then disappeared into the now open elevator.

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She had gotten off the plane quickly, her row close to the front. The airport was open and airy, and she could easily see the signs pointing to baggage claim. She walked quickly through the uncongested hallways.

She stood, waiting, in front of baggage carousel six, watching the conveyor belt circle round and round. It took about five minutes for her flight's baggage to start showing up. She looked at the bags: black suitcase, brown suitcase; gray, black, brown, gray, gray, ugly floral print, black, brown…wait, ugly floral print was hers.

She quickly ran to it, trying to snatch it before the rotating carousel caused it to disappear around the bend. She yanked at it to no avail, the suitcase wouldn't budge. The more she struggled, the more she seemed to annoy the other people around her. She ignored their mutterings, they could lend a hand.

As she continued to pull and walk with her heavy suitcase, a hand entered her vision, strongly grabbed the handle of her suitcase and lifted it off. She turned around to see a physically fit man with black hair, a broad stern face, and brown eyes placing her suitcase in front of her.

"Thanks, sir." she mumbled shyly, looking down.

She was about to leave when her eye caught something… he had an F.B.I badge hung around his neck on a silver chain.

"Do you work for the F.B.I?" she asked enthusiastically.

He looked at her before narrowing his eyes and replying with a concise but firm, "Yes."

The man had a very stern and serious aura that surely frightened many away, but she couldn't stop there, she pressed on excitedly, "My cousin works for the F.B.I, she is in the B.A.U, her name is Emily Prentiss!"

This statement made his eyes widen in surprise for a split second. He barely nodded in recognition before he left quickly without looking back. She shrugged, intimidated by the strange man and exited the airport through a revolving door.

The smell wasn't much different then L.A. The air seemed faintly cleaner but the universal sounds of traffic filled the air. She stood at the curb, her floral suitcase standing next to her with its handle extended. She was just about to pull out her cell phone from her backpack when a black SUV pulled up in front of her.

**************************

Perfect, she was right on time. Emily pulled up to the curb into a temporary parking spot next to her cousin.

Wow, her cousin had changed over the years. Emily had expected her to be wearing an expensive dress carrying a soft pink suitcase; all dressed up like a proper lady.

She had never been more wrong. Instead, her young cousin wore a neon green shirt with a black and white striped vest over it, faded grey denim skinny jeans, and a pair of silver and black high top shoes. She had changed so much since last time Emily had seen her, five years ago. Her hair wasn't put up and naturally curly like it used to be. Now it hung down and was flat ironed perfectly straight.

Her cousin had grown into her own individual person away from the ideal daughter she used to be. She and Emily were more similar than either one realized.

*************************

She hadn't been able to see into the SUV because of the tinted windows but now she didn't need to. Emily was approaching her, arms outstretched. They hugged briefly and then Emily loaded her luggage into the car.

Wow, Em hadn't changed much since last time she had seen her. She used to have straight hair that partially curved in at the bottom, and now she still had straight hair, instead layered, with no curves. It worked for her… she liked it.