His heart dropped. "Are you serious?" He asked JJ.

She nodded. "I heard it through Strauss' secretary, and it's all over the news. Only they aren't reporting who was in the plane but it was definitely a Prentiss jet."

"Why do they think it was professional?"

"The plane checked out fine when it left the airport and it suddenly explodes? I called ATF and made inquires; they think there was a bomb on board."

"Why would Ethan Prentiss be targeted?" He asked himself. It did not make sense; he wasn't a diplomat, a government official or anything close.

"How did Emily take it?" He asked nonchalantly, masking his actual worry. He knew she would be devastated. How could she not? When the Ambassador brought in the Russian mob, you could tell by the tension between mother and daughter that they did not see eye to eye. Emily must have identified more with her father.

"I haven't seen her come out of Strauss' office yet."

"I'll be right back. Strauss may want us to handle this case." He excused himself and headed towards Strauss' office. He had the urge to make sure Emily was alright. But when he got to the office, the door was open and Emily was already gone.

"Ma'am?" He knocked on her door.

"Yes, Agent Hotchner?" She did not look disturbed at all. She looked like her usual fire-breathing self.

"Where is Agent Prentiss?" He asked.

"Her family came to accompany her. They've already left. I've gave her two weeks grievance."

"How did she take it?"

"She took it quite well. Just as I would expect her to take it. She is excellent at compartmentalizing." Strauss didn't even look up. This woman was unbelievable, he thought.

"But I do have good news. Before Mr. Prentiss' death, he donated a vast sum to the BAU. I was surprised the check actually went through. We should be fine for the budget this year and next. You get to keep your precious jet."

Strauss didn't see his momentary look of horror. All Strauss was concerned about was the budget and not about the agent whose father just died. It was ridiculous. He left abruptly not caring if he offended his boss.

JJ was pacing outside her office. "Well?" She asked.

"Strauss said Emily took it well enough."

"Oh. Well that's good. Do you want me to tell the rest of the team?" JJ twisted her hands like she did when she was anxious.

"Yes."

"Do you think we should visit her? Pay respects?" She fell in step behind him.

"Yes, but not now. We don't want to disturb the family." Of course he was saying that, but planning to drive to her apartment and make sure she was alright. He felt terrible for completely ruining her last evening with her father. He was a horrible person. He would use every excuse he had to see her.

*~*

Emily had never felt so numb. No words seemed to reach her as her male cousins escorted her down the stairs. They did not take the elevator; probably because they thought she might randomly break down in front of everyone and embarrass the family. She felt nothing. No tears or overwhelming sobs. Just numbness. Walking to the limousine was surreal and she hardly remembered receiving the news.

They bent her head and pushed her into the car. She sat straight and watched their mouths move but heard nothing. Could that be from the possible concussion?

She shut her eyes and relaxed against the cool leather. Her last words to her father weren't nice ones. She did not say 'I love you' or 'thank you so much for loving me' or even 'good-bye'. She had been spiteful and mean. Her father pushed one too many buttons on her and pressed the issue of marriage. She did not want to think of her failed engagement or be arranged.

"What about Jason Carrey? He is a nice single bachelor. You always liked him."

She had laughed, "But I don't know him or love him daddy."

"What does love matter? I married your mother."

"And you divorced her for some blonde Twinkie named Cookie." She slung back another cocktail.

"Her name wasn't Cookie it was Cecilia. And I think you should consider it. Your job won't keep you warm at night."

"My job is just fine. In fact, I should just go. I have an early day tomorrow."

"Emily, I just want you to be happy." He pleaded.

"Then leave me alone." She walked out of the Westend Bistro. She did not want to deal with marriage.

"Emily!" She heard him vaguely call, but she was already in a cab.

She wondered what his last thoughts were. Was he thinking of her and how she blew him off? Was he thinking of his own failed marriage? Was he enjoying a brandy, chatting with some business associates. She could have convinced him to stay in the city. An evening of whiny and pleading would have done it.

"Emily? Emily!" Her mother's face was in front of her. They had arrived. She was pulled out of the car and walked into the house. She was so disconnected from her body. It was like she was floating above everyone and just watching. Watching everyone fall apart.

The house was full of her relatives. Flower baskets were everywhere decked with cards. Trays of food were on every surface. Almost everyone had changed into something black. The tablecloths were black. But she was wearing blue. She should be wearing black like everyone else. She should be mourning but she felt nothing. She held her emotions away from her.

Her cousins, Gregory, George and Gloria Prentiss, all sat on the settee. Her mother and two grandmothers sat on the chesterfield. A funeral director was already inside the house trying to talk them into buying a Bronze casket. She sat next to Gloria, who threw herself into Emily's arms and sobbed. Emily patted her back. Gloria was the rightful baby of the family. She was the youngest and spoiled rotten. Her uncles, her father's brothers, paced behind them.

She knew they were bickering but none of it touched her. She could envision the argument without even hearing it. One would want steel; the other would want a huge tomb to show off their money. Her mother would argue that Ethan had been her husband and her grandmother would argue that Ethan was her son.

"My poor darling." Her maternal grandmother hugged her. That brought everyone's attention back to Emily. She was her father's only child.

"Would you like to pick?" Her paternal grandmother laid a book of caskets in her hands. They sat in silence as she turned the pages. They were all watching and waiting for her to start to cry. She could feel it from them. It was too much. She stood up abruptly and ran up the stairs to what used to be her bedroom. She locked herself into the pretty pink room. She stumbled over the dollhouse and toy pony she had when she was little, and into the bathroom. Here would be the place where she could cry and let it all out but she still felt nothing. Her parents had created a monster. A person who could not even cry over their death.

*~*

Hotch debated on whether or not it would be appropriate to bring flowers. In the end he decided against it. He did not know how well he would be received. He hadn't spoken to Emily at all today. He couldn't pull into the Ambassadors driveway because there were so many cars. That worked in his favour, because he wanted to avoid her family if he could. He just wanted to check on her. Instead of opening the front door, he snuck into the house from the side. He did not know where Emily would be.

He was in an expansive kitchen. In his suit and dark hair, he blended in. Not too many people (and their seemed to be many) gave him a second look. He stopped in front of a portrait of child-Emily. Then it hit him. What the hell was he doing inside Emily`s parents house the day her father got killed? What the hell was he going to say to her? He needed to leave right away, before someone saw him here. Too late.

"Agent Hotchner?" Elizabeth Prentiss' voice rang out. "What are you doing here?" She approached him. She looked as impeccable as ever.

"Ambassador." He greeted. "My condolences." They shook hands, him desperately trying to think of one of the excuses he had, had in mind. They seemed to escape him now.

She stared at him blankly waiting for an answer. The Ambassador had more family to greet and more funeral to plan.

"I just wanted to make sure Emily was alright." Might as well be honest. That did not seem good enough for the ambassador. "And to make sure she knew that if she needed another week, that she could take it. Section Chief Strauss wanted me to pass that on." He made up.

"Thank you very much Agent Hotchner. I'm sure my daughter will appreciate that gesture. But she's lying down at the moment. She doesn't want o be bothered at this time."

"No, no, I completely understand." He agreed.

"Are you attending the funeral?" She asked, walking him out. "It will take place at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Wednesday at 11. We are holding a wake here tonight and tomorrow, 4 until 6 and then 7 until 9."

"I will notify everyone in my office so they can pay their respects. Thank you Ambassador." He felt so relieved to get out of there. But he forgot to ask how Emily was.

*~*

It was the day of the funeral. Emily sat in front of her childhood vanity. She had dark circles around her eyes from not getting any sleep. Gloria was brushing her long dark hair. She spent the last two days up here in her bedroom. She refused to come down for the wake. She did not deserve to be down there. Even her mother had cried over her ex-husband, but Emily could not. She had no idea why she couldn't. She wanted to. She could not break down those walls.

Elizabeth Prentiss entered the room. "We have to leave soon." She announced. "You're not wearing that green dress Emily. You must wear black."

"I'm not going." Emily said softly. Everyone would be expecting her to weep when she couldn't.

"Of course you are." Elizabeth picked out a dull black dress from the closet. Emily had temporarily moved back into her mother's house. "Come on. Get changed."

"No mother." Emily refused. Gloria pinned her hair back, but continued playing with it. Her cousin looked a lot like her, only younger. She was also care-free and untroubled.

"Yes, Emily. You must go. It is your duty to represent this family now that your father has passed. Now change." Her mother was firm, as always.

"I'm wearing what I'm wearing mother. It was daddy's favourite." She hated the past tense. She took comfort from the fabric. She had worn all her father's favourites. Sure they were old and annoyed the hell out of her mother but it meant a lot to Emily.

The funeral passed by quickly. Emily zoned out and stared at the mahogany casket that was empty. There were no bodies to bury. She sat in between her mother and grandmother. She could almost feel everyone's eyes on her.

The painful part was waiting at the doors and being subjected to hugs and kisses as everyone passed by. The line seemed endless.

*~*

Hotch and the rest of the team waited in line. Derek had joined Lexi and her parents.

"Oh my god." Lexi said leaning across him to see down the line.

"What?" He said as her mother slapped her arm for cursing.

"Keaton is here. In front of your boss."

"Whose Keaton?" He spotted the tall dark-haired man in front of Hotch.

"Emily was engaged to him years ago. But then she found out he was sleeping with her co-worker. It ended very badly."

"Why the hell would he do that to her?" Derek asked.

"It's complicated. He's an asshole anyways. I'm going to go warn her." Lexi moved out of the line.

*~*

Emily saw him before he saw her. She felt so tired. It was like the last straw had been broken. All bad things started with Keaton. He was the source of most of her problems. He tried ruining her life and she still went back to him. She needed to feel something. She wanted to feel anything whether it was terrible angst or heartbreaking sorrow. The tiniest of sobs broke from her throat and she trembled. Her mother eyed her warily. That was the signal to excuse herself.

*~*

Hotch was about ten feet from Emily. He could see her swaying and shaking. He saw her take a step back and exit the corridor. She did not look well. Her face had been pasty white. He made the decision to follow her. Only two other men also did. The man before him joined him and another one who resembled Emily.

But Hotch was the one to catch Emily in his arms when she fainted.

*~*

So what did you think of this chapter? Long and sad I know, but it is needed for this storyline. I hope you enjoyed it! Please review.