This chapter is dedicated to hxchick, LacytheDemonicDuck, Ninja Bagel, isabela tonks, nataliebianca & Sierra Clearwater

**

The phone rang, and Emily groaned as she rolled out of bed. She staggered over to the phone.

"Hello?" mumbled Emily.

"Emily?" She heard a stern voice on the other line.

"Mother?" Emily asked, sounding rather surprised. The sound of her mother's voice instantly shook her awake.

"Yes. How are you?" She asked pleasantly.

"Uhm, fine thanks. Yourself?"

"I'm well."

"Who is that?" Hotch asked, rubbing his eyes as he sat up.

"Who was that?" Elizabeth asked her daughter.

"It's...the television?"

"Don't lie to me Emily Prentiss. You're a terrible liar." Emily rolled her eyes at her mother's tone. She scurried out of the room so Hotch wouldn't be interrupting the conversation.

"Does it mater?"

"Yes it does." Her mother snapped.

"Yes, I am seeing someone, okay? Happy now?" Emily said, rolling her eyes. Her mother made her do that a lot.

"Excellent. I'd like to see you both at dinner tonight."

"Dinner? When was this decided?" asked Emily.

"That's why I called. Now he may join us too." said her mother.

"But..." She began as she thought of her perfect excuse. "He has his kids for the last day tonight. They need to be back to their mother's by nine."

"He has children?" Elizabeth asked, surprised by this fact.

"Yes. Two."

"Are they decent children? You're staying there when he has his children?"

"Mother, I live with him." She sighed.

"You've moved in with a man, with children, and you did not tell me?"

"Why would I tell you? You're just going to criticize." Emily snapped.

"I was going to congratulate you." Elizabeth said quietly.

"Oh," Emily breathed.

"Yes."

"Anyways, they're better than decent. They're fantastic children."

"What are their names?" Elizabeth asked. Emily was totally shocked that her mother was taking interest in what had been going on in her life.

"The oldest one is Riley who's fifteen. Then there's Jack who's 6."

"You should bring them."

"To what?"

"Dinner Emily. Dinner."

"They just got over the flu!" Emily protested.

"Fresh air will do them good." Elizabeth argued.

"Mother, I think we're busy tonight." she lied.

"Didn't I already tell you that you're a terrible liar Emily? You're going to join me at dinner and you are to bring the man you live with and his children. We'll have a good time Emily, I promise." Elizabeth paused. "I miss you Emily."

"Mother..." Emily began to protest, but she couldn't find the words to say. Her mother would have a fit if she knew that she had moved in with Aaron Hotchner. For some reason though, she just couldn't say no. "I guess."

"Great. This shall be fun. I'll call you with the time and place after I make a reservation." said Elizabeth.

"Alright. Goodbye mother." Emily said.

"See you later Emily." Elizabeth concluded as she hung up the phone. Emily sat with the phone still on, unable to move. Telling the team was one thing. Hell, they'd even told Strauss the day of the ball and she didn't have a big issue with it, as long as they were professional at work. But her mother? That was a whole other story. She would accuse Emily of trying to sleep her way to the top. After all, her mother didn't think she'd make it in the BAU at all. She'd love to here that Emily is with her boss; she'd call that the true reason Emily has her job. Emily regained a little bit of the composure she'd lost, and finally hung up the phone. She stumbled into her room and Hotch looked at her oddly.

"So, you going to tell who's got you so panicked?" He asked, his voice full of concern.

"My mother." Emily whispered.

"Oh. What happened?"

"She wants to have dinner-" She began, but Aaron cut her off.

"It won't be too bad. You may have a good time."

"-with you, the kids and I." Emily finished.

"Wait, what?" Aaron asked, shocked.

"Yes, with all of us."

"She knows you and I are seeing each other?" He asked.

"No, she knows that I am seeing someone with a teenager named Riley and a young son Jack." Emily said as she got back into the bed. "I didn't say you."

"Oh, well it doesn't mater now. She's going to know soon enough. You told her we'd be going?"

"Yes, I did. Sorry." Emily whispered.

"Emily, it's going to be fine. She just wants to see you." Hotch reasoned.

"She's going to blow her god damned top when she sees you. You are my boss Aaron."

"Beautiful, just listen. It's going to be fine. It's going to be fun. I swear it." Hotch said, kissing her head. Emily smiled and lay down again.

"I'm going to try and get some more sleep. Who calls at seven thirty to make plans for dinner?" Emily wondered and Hotch laughed.

"We'll have a great time."

"And if we don't?" She asked gravely.

"Then we'll have a great time when we get back." Hotch winked, and Emily laughed. Within a few minutes, tiredness set in and she fell asleep.

**

When it was about noon, everyone began getting ready for the dinner. Emily was so stressed and everyone knew it, so they decided to show her that they cared just as much as she did. Jack did not complain when Hotch drew him a bath. He even stayed in as long as he could, claiming that he wanted to sparkle for Ambassador Prentiss. Jack grabbed Emily's blow-dryer, and had a lot of fun with that. Elizabeth had picked an overly fancy, black tie restaurant, so Jack got dressed up. This time, he picked his own tie and tried to do it up by himself. Though he was beyond unsuccessful, it was still cute that he tried. Riley avoided using any of the products that Emily used and tried to get ready in her room. Her plan was to just not get in Emily's way, and it worked. Hotch tried to help Jack get ready, and he got himself all set up. The reservations were for four thirty. By then, Jack was in a tiny suit with his brown hair combed flat; he had taken to spiking it up, but Hotch insisted on not. Riley had a red spring dress on and he brown hair was curled, as to avoid using Emily's flat iron. Emily had a little black dress on, and Hotch had one of his usual suits on.

At about four twenty five, they all went into the restaurant.

"Here we go." Emily sighed.

"Relax Emily." Aaron said, taking her hand in his. Jack took Emily's other hand and Riley patted her on the back and pushed her forward.

"Emily!" Her mother called and waved across the room. They approached the table slowly.

"Hello mother."

"Agent Hotchner?" She asked, and looked at Emily gravely. "Please tell me this is not the man you're seeing."

"It is." Emily said quietly.

"Oh, I get it." Elizabeth said. "Now I understand how you got your job."

"Mother." Emily began.

"I just never thought that you'd be slutty enough to sleep yourself to the top." Emily's cheeks reddened

"With all due respect-" Hotch began but Elizabeth cut him off.

"And I didn't picture you to be one of those men who slept with their subordinates." This time it was Hotch's cheeks that reddened.

"If she wanted to get to the top, she wouldn't sleep with my dad." Riley said suddenly.

"I beg your pardon?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, think about it. My dad is the head of their team. He doesn't have too much influence high up. If she was interested in sleeping her way to the top, why wouldn't she pick someone who is at the top? My dad wouldn't get her anywhere. No offence anyone." Riley said, and everyone looked at her. Emily buried her face in her hands. To someone who didn't know her, they would have said she was embarrassed. Everyone who knew her well knew what she was really doing. Laughing. Inappropriate laughter.

Besides Emily's laughter, everyone was quiet. They knew she was right. Finally, Ambassador Prentiss spoke.

"I like her. Very outspoken."

"I try." Riley shrugged and sat down.

"Well, why don't we start over. I hope you can all forgive me for my terrible behavior." said Elizabeth. They agreed and sat down. Emily had liked Riley for a while now, but she found a new respect for her after that. She talked her mother down without being rude. Most of all, Riley had stood up for her. She could have stayed quiet and let Elizabeth accuse Emily of sleeping around, but she didn't. Riley must care for her.

The rest of the night went almost flawlessly. Jack's manors were better than anyone else's, which surprised Aaron since Jack was usually a slob. Riley didn't insult anyone and she listened to the conversations politely and gave her input when she could. Emily and Elizabeth spoke kindly to each other; it was plain to everyone that despite their constant bickering, they had missed each other. Plans were made for the next month, and the kids were returned to Haley by nine.

**

"That was actually not too bad." Emily sighed once they finally got home.

"I told you that you'd have a good time." Aaron said, kissing her head.

"You were right. For once." giggled Emily.

"Quiet you." He smiled.

"I can't believe that Riley stood up to my mother. She'd never even met her before."

"Sometimes she's a bit too extraverted for her own good."

"No, it was great. I'm glad she did it." Emily assured Hotch. "I sure wasn't going to defend myself, and she did it without blowing her top. I usually just scream at my mother and get it over with."

"I don't know what to tell you. She sure has come around since she first met you. But, it is hard not to love you." He laughed and kissed her.

"Speaking of which, I seem to remember you saying that we'd have some fun of our own once we got back." said Emily.

"You girls only one thing from us boys." Hotch joked.

"You know it." She said with a smile.

A/N Kind of a fluffy chapter, but don't worry. It is leading up to something :) Please review!! :D