Aww, only two reviews. Now that either means I'm doing something wrong here, or you guys are simply fed up with the story. Which is it? Leave me a review to tell me where it went wrong and what you want different. Anyway, thank you so much to Rugbygirrl and Guest for reviewing. Read and review; remember, criticism IS accepted as long as it's not to tell me that Hotch and Emily suck. *wags finger* Play nice lovelies.
Now, the Profiler's Choice Awards 2013 hosted by Jekkah & PandoraBox82 over at the Chit Chat on Author's Corner is running again, and you can find the guidelines over here: fanfiction dot net slash topic/141001/96466893/P%20rofiler-Choice-Awards-20 13. Nominate the fics that you love and if you think my stories are good enough for a nomination, I'd be absolutely honoured. So nominate away folks!
It seems as though the l dark haired duo have captivated everyone else, and they could do nothing more than gape at their dark beauty and whisper amongst themselves, wondering at the identity of the divine woman currently nestled in the Prince's strong arms as they moved and twirled around the dance floor. At long last, an eternity it seems, the music dies down and bit by bit the magic starts to wear off.
Emily blinked as she and Prince Aaron stop dancing, the bright lights reflecting off the chandelier piercing through the haze of contentment that appeared to have wrapped around them. The Prince offered her a tentative smile, and Emily's heart cracked a little to see the smile that once, so long ago appeared only for her. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered into a frenzy when she felt his calloused fingers grip her hand all the more tighter.
Aaron smiled down at the beautiful woman in his arms, but soon groaned when he caught sight of a determined brown head starting towards them. He leant his head downwards, just enough to whisper into Emily's ear, "Shall we take a turn in my private gardens, my Lady? I shall like to get to know you better, if it is to your liking." Emily smiled and nodded once, cocking a brow when she followed Aaron's line of sight to see Beth, looking rather petulant coming towards them. Pursing her lips, she directed a coy smile to the Prince, "I suppose even princes require help, sometimes."
She held her hand out and Aaron, grinning boyishly at her comment, bent to press a kiss onto her hand, relishing the touch of her soft skin against his lips. "Then I would be greatly honoured if my Lady would save me from my predicament." Emily rewarded his flattering words with a brilliant beam and nodded, "It would be my pleasure, your Highness."
"But before you two lovebirds depart, I'd like to speak to the lady, Aaron, if you don't mind." The younglings started a little as King David walked up behind them, tapping his son on the shoulder. Aaron's brows furrowed in concern, "Is something the matter, father?" Dave waved his hand unconcernedly, "Nothing you need to worry your head off, Aaron. I'll just be a while with the young lady, and she's all yours." He winked at Emily, and a niggling thought appeared at the back of her mind. Did her nonno know who she was? But no one should be able to see through the glamour, her fairy godmothers had assured her, not unless she told them who she was.
Leading her away from the crowd, King David spoke conversationally, "I didn't expect you to turn up tonight, not after your stepmother said you were ill." Emily rolled her eyes; of course David would know it was her and of course Erin and Beth could only come up with flimsy excuses like her being ill. Falling in step with the older man, she shrugged, "You knew they would never let me attend this ball, nonno. By the way, how did you know it was me?" David smirked and tapped her nose affectionately, "I'm your nonno, Em, I know about your fairy godmothers and what they're capable of." He snorted, a hint of hapless tenderness in his eyes, "Young Jennifer and Penelope are good girls, and besides, I've seen too many glamours in my life to not recognize one, especially on you."
Emily felt a smile creep up on her lips; she once heard her father fondly describe David as "the greatest gossip in the entire kingdom, far worse than the maids" and it appeared her nonno's reputation was true. There was certainly nothing he didn't know. "I'm sorry nonno, but I need to go and find Aaron. I have to leave by midnight and I fear I won't have enough time to convince him that well…" Emily suddenly seemed at a loss for words but David knew just what was on her heart. He tilted her chin up slightly and kissed her forehead, "My son may be a fool for leaving you as he did all those years ago, but he knows now that he loves you and it's always been you." He winked at her again and Emily felt somewhat relieved at Dave's optimism and candor, "Besides, I have a feeling he knows just who you are. Now all you have to do is let him know you still love him and we can finally get rid of that annoying girl currently stalking him like a madwoman."
The twinkle in Emily's warm chocolate eyes brightened and she impulsively hugged Dave, whispering hoarsely to him, "Thank you so much, nonno, I love you." Dave's eyes softened and he brought his arms around to envelop her slim frame, "I love you too, cara. Now go, I'll be waiting for the news that you'll be my new daughter-in-law." The brunette beauty let out a sultry laugh and pressed a kiss to Dave's cheek, "And for that to happen I must take my leave now. Perhaps I'll see you later."
The dancing had resumed in the ballroom, the initial uproar over the arrival of the mysterious woman forgotten for the moment. Yet Beth had not given up in her pursuit of the Prince; she didn't care who that tart thought she was, waltzing in like that and occupying the Prince's precious time. She would be the Prince's wife and she was grimly determined that nothing, no one would stand in her way, for what Beth wanted, she got.
And yet, Emily's brunette, less polished, less intelligent, less everything counterpart didn't take into account the presence of a bird of prey following her movements with his sharp gold eyes. Beth would do anything and everything to make sure she got the Prince; Jason would do everything in his power and then some to make sure that never happened. And as Jason preened his carefully groomed grey coat, he let out a small chuckle. He was definitely looking forward to interrupting the annoying woman's plans; after all, birds were supposed to be a nuisance, were they not? Well Jason the owl was about to let her know just how much of a nuisance, and pain they could be.