Prentiss' eyes widened. She pushed Reid away and instinctually wiped her lips. It was just like in high school when her mom would catch her making out with some guy in her bedroom.

She whipped around to see her mother glaring at her. "Uhhh… Mother?"

Her mother cleared her throat and crossed her arms. "Emily, can I speak to you for a minute?"

Prentiss nervously nodded. Reid squeezed her hand, and she gave him a look of appreciation. Her mother dragged her over to the balcony.

"Emily!" her mother yelled in a hush whisper. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Kissing that man like that on the dance floor? You look like some… some cheap floozy making out!"

"Mom!" Prentiss cried. "For your information, Reid and I are dating now, so we'll kiss when we want to. And I'm not in high school anymore. You can't tell what I can and can't do."

"But, Emily-"

"No buts, Mom. I know you're worried that I'm ruining your reputation, but my actions are no longer connected to your reputation. You can continue having your snooty party, but you have to stop trying to control me."

There was a huge silence.

Ambassador Prentiss sighed. "I suppose you're right, Emily. But right in the middle of the dance floor?"

"Mom, it was just a kiss! It's not like we were having sex!" Her mother winced. "Look, I'll try and keep it to a minimum, but seriously. Stop butting in. Okay?"

Her mother rolled her eyes. "Fine. But don't do anything stupid."

Now Emily rolled her eyes. "Okay, Mom." She turned and walked back into the ballroom. Reid was still awkwardly standing alone on the dance floor.

"Hey," she said as she sidled up next to him.

"Emily, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. My mom was just being herself. Now, where were we?"

Reid grinned. "I believe we were about here." He wrapped his arms around her waist and continued dancing with her.

"You know, Em, you're not a bad dancer at all."

Prentiss giggled. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks. But you haven't seen me attempt the Cha Cha Slide."

"The what?"

"The- never mind. I'll show you some other time."

Prentiss couldn't help but smile. She thought it was adorable how Reid didn't know anything related to pop culture. She loved the way he was so smart and had so much in his brain. But most of all, she loved the way he cared about her.

Meanwhile, Reid still couldn't believe that he was dancing with Prentiss. She looked so incredibly gorgeous. He was, compared to her, someone insignificant, inconsequential. But she had chosen him.

Prentiss and Reid danced song after song. Some songs they just listened and gazed at each other. Other songs they talked and laughed about everything. Every once in a while, Prentiss would lean in for a soft kiss. Nothing to frighten her mother, but enough to keep Reid on his toes.

They danced the night away. Neither of them noticed that by the time the gala was over, it was already 11:00. The quartet stopped playing. Reid and Prentiss reluctantly stopped dancing.

"Umm," Prentiss said. "So, I have to say goodbye to my mom and dad, but after that, do you want to come back to my place? I mean, just for a little bit. To have drinks or something."

"Yeah, I'd like that. A lot."

"Great," Prentiss smiled. "I'll just say goodbye to my parents and then-"

"Wait. I'll come with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I should say goodbye to them too. I mean, now that we're together…"

"Right," Prentiss said. "Right. Now that we're together…"

She reached for Reid's hand and took him to say goodbye to her parents.