A/N – thanks to everyone who is reading, reviewing and alerting this story, this story was always very close to me. Also please check out the poll on my profile, I am planning the sequel to 'Tempe Secrets' and would love to know people's views.

Chapter 11 – Normality –

Six days later – 8am Monday

Emily and Kate sat still in the Mercedes which was parked right in front of the elegant but imposing building. Emily closed her eyes for a moment, it had been her mother that had suggested this school, since she had told the Ambassador that she was going to adopt Kate then she had insisted on the best for the 9 year old.

"Are you ready kiddo?"

"I guess so, how about you?"

The tension quickly ebbed away as Kate grinned at Emily, because this was not only Kate's first day at the new school it was also Emily's first day back at work.

"Yes well I'm sure that we'll both be fine! I've spoken to Hotch and I'm leaving early to pick you up later but..."

"I know if you have to go away on a case Aunt Pen or the Ambassador will pick me up and look after me."

It pulled at Emily's heartstrings as Kate spoke, she didn't like the idea of leaving her but they both knew that it was inevitable and Kate was never going to stand in Emily's way of helping others like herself. Emily's only concern after talking to Kate, was sorting out who was going to look after the young girl whilst she was away. Garcia had leapt at the chance, unworried about the nightmares Kate had, and she had stayed over one night to ensure that she knew how to comfort the young girl when they occurred. But Emily knew that sometimes Garcia had to work late or even travel with them so she needed another option and was completely astonished when her mother offered to help.

The previous Thursday Afternoon:

"I can't believe how happy she is Emily, you are certainly doing a good job."

"Thanks mother."

Ambassador Prentiss had invited Emily and Kate around for the afternoon and mother and daughter were sitting on the garden bench watching Kate swinging on the rope swing attached to the old apple tree in the garden.

"When are you going back to work Emily?"

"On Monday, Kate starts school then so it makes sense to go back rather than sit at home worrying about how Kate is getting on, I also can't put it off forever."

"So you're staying with the BAU?"

"Yes mother."

"So who is going to look after Kate when you get called away on a case?"

"Garcia has said that she'll come and stay with Kate but..."

"You could have asked me."

Emily looked in surprise at her mother, partly due to her interruption but mainly due to her mother's comment.

"Kate can stay here with me when you get called away. I don't mind, I've got the space and I'm without an assignment at the moment so it does make sense."

"But Kate she..."

"Suffers from nightmares?"

Emily nodded as she glanced towards the young girl who was still playing happily by herself.

"Emily don't worry, she'll be fine, trust me."

"I don't know what to say mother, other than thank you."

Emily smiled at her mother and was pleased to see the gesture returned. After the isolated, political childhood Emily had endured it was now that she started to see some maternal instinct in her mother, unfortunately for Emily it was over 30 years too late.

After successfully settling Kate into her new class Emily took the short drive towards Quantico, it felt a bit strange but Emily was looking forward to being back at work. It was just before 9am when she walked into the bullpen, Emily knew that Hotch and JJ would already be in but she was slightly relieved to see that neither Reid or Morgan were in as it gave her a chance to settle in before they arrived and started joking around.

Hotch saw Emily arrive and sit quietly at her desk, immediately her gaze fell on the never-ending pile of paperwork on her desk. Hotch was glad that Emily was back and hoped that she wouldn't take too long to settle back into the routine, the team had missed her calmed and assured presence. He thought about going down and asking if she was ok but in the end he decided against it, he'd give her 10 minutes to get her bearings once again.

Garcia came bounding out of her office, having caught a glimpse of her friend arriving on the bank of CCTV monitors that adorned one of the walls in her office. Emily had wandered over to the break area to get herself a much needed cup of coffee when she heard a familiar squeal of delight behind her.

"Emily it's so good to have you back!"

Garcia quickly wrapped her arms around Emily and hugged her tightly.

"Garcia put me down! You saw me two days ago!"

Garcia laughed as she let Emily go and allowed her to finally pour her coffee.

"Yes but that was at the weekend, when we went shopping, I'm happy that you're back here!"

Emily smiled at her friend and felt herself relax, knowing that the team would make her transition back as smooth as possible.

The rest of Emily's day passed without incident, with each member of the team coming over and welcoming her back, JJ apologising profusely for the amount of paperwork that had found its way onto her desk. Eventually Emily found herself able to concentrate and started to tackle the files, before she knew it the day had gone and it was time for her to pick Kate up from school.

It had just gone 6pm when Emily opened the door to her condo, her and Kate carrying work and school bags respectively whilst Emily also had a Chinese take-out bag in her left hand.

"Right then, shall we get changed and then eat?"

Kate simply nodded as she walked past Emily and headed up the stairs. Emily had noticed that the young girl had been quiet and withdrawn since she had picked her up from school, Emily had left her alone so far but knew that she had to talk to Kate about was bothering her soon.

"So how was your first day at school?"

Emily had waited until they had sat down at the table and had started to eat before she began her gentle interrogation.

"Fine."

Kate kept her head bowed down as she spoke, moving her food around the plate with her chopsticks.

"Did you make any friends?"

"No."

Kate replied abruptly and refused to bring her head up to look at Emily.

"Come on Kate, talk to me sweetheart, what's the matter?"

Emily got up off her chair and walked around the table so that she stood beside Kate as she put her arms around the girl's shoulders and then crouched down beside her.

"Kate please!"

"It was just really difficult ok. Everyone was nice and everything but they kept asking me questions all the time. Where am I from? What do my parent's do? Why did we move here?"

Kate stopped to take a breath as she felt the tears start to fall gently down her face, she turned to face Emily and managed a small smile as she let Emily reach across and softly brush the tears away.

"I'm sorry Kate, I know that all of this change is hard for you, but you have to remember that you can always talk to me."

"Thanks Emily, I know."

Kate sniffed as she reached up to dry her face before she looked seriously at Emily.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course darling, anything."

Kate took a breath as she composed herself.

"I know that we've only just started the paperwork and everything, but I told everyone that my surname was Prentiss. I loved my parent's and they'll always be a part of me, but I live with you now and you want to adopt me, you're going to be my mom...is that ok?"

The room fell silent as Emily felt the tears begin to trickle down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, and it's too soon."

Kate turned around and tried to continue to eat.

"I would be honoured."

Kate's ears pricked up at the sound and she turned back around to look at Emily and saw a wide smile across her tear stained face. Kate instantly leapt out of her chair and wrapped her arms around Emily, knocking her over in the process.

"Oops, I'm sorry!"

Kate quickly moved off from Emily and stood up with an apologetic grin on her face.

"Gosh if I knew that was going to happen I might have had a different response Kate!"

Emily picked herself up off the floor and walked back over to the table, taking a hold of Kate's hand she sat back down and lifted the girl onto her lap.

"Are you sure that it's ok for me to call you mom? I know that it's kind of sudden but when everyone at school was asking me all these questions about my parents I didn't know what to say so I kept quiet but that only made things worse as they started to make fun of me and..."

Emily reached up and put a finger on Kate's lips in order to stop her rambling.

"Take a breath Kate! Of course you can call me mom, whatever makes you happy and I would love you to think of me as your mom! I'm sorry you had such a crappy day at school, come here."

Emily pulled Kate in close to her, resting the girl's head against her shoulder as Emily bent down and kissed her softly on the top of her head. Emily felt her heart pounding hard and fast, she felt relieved that Kate was finally beginning to feel at home and part of a family, now she just had to hope that she didn't let her down.