Lia Prentiss had spent her whole life surrounded by people who would risk their own lives in a heartbeat to save hers. It's all she was raised on. Except for her absent father. All she knew was his name, and that he was most likely the reason for her mother's tears every so often. Emily Prentiss, the most organized and focused woman Lia had ever known, had only forgotten to call Lia when on a case twice in her life. Every other time, she had called at least once every damn night. That's what worried Lia so much. Even when her mother was fighting the world's worst scum, she made time to call home. She would call without having slept for more than three hours in a week. So, that's what's landed Lia here, on her way to see the only man who wouldn't risk his life for her. The only person "in her life" that abandoned her.
"Aunt Pen, just tell me. I know you were going to say something. Mom's been missing for at least 48 hours, maybe more. Please. You know someone who could help, you all do. I've seen the looks you've been sharing with Aunt Jayje, the unspoken tension between everyone and Uncle Spence, the anger on Uncle Derek's face as he realizes he knows to help, come on Pen. Tell me."
"Hon, your mother is a very independent woman. She took a while to open up to us when she first started here. There was only one person that she truly depended on. And, I'm sorry to say it kiddo, but that man ended up being your father. Now, I know that's not what you want to hear, but that's what's on everyone's minds today. He was always able to predict her next move like no one else. He and the Italian Stallion together were unstoppable if Em was in trouble. It's like they knew all of her thoughts. I know it doesn't make much sense, and I know you think he abandoned you, but cupcake, he didn't know. If he did, he would've come running because that's who he is. I shouldn't have said anything, but if anyone could find her, it'd be Hotch."
"Thanks, Aunt Pen. I know you think he could help, but we both know how much his absence has hurt Mom over the years, I can't bring him into this. That's too much. I'm sorry."
"Babe, you have no reason to apologize. We understand, and that's why we didn't bring it up. We loved your father, kid, but we love you more." Penelope hugged Lia and everything seemed like it'd be okay again.
Pulling into the parking lot of the law office that her father was working at, Lia took a deep breath and thought about her mom to regain her confidence. She was about to meet her father. Part of her wished it was under different circumstances, but she also thinks she'd never meet him under any circumstances.
Going up to the receptionist desk, she tells the young girl that she needs to speak to Aaron Hotchner as soon as possible. The receptionist looks less than pleased at her insistence and lack of an appointment, but she asks for her name and calls Hotch anyway. "Tell him my name is Emilia Prentiss." Lia had a pretty good idea about what his reaction would be to seeing the love of his life's daughter standing before him without a warning, and she didn't want to drive her deadbeat father to the hospital today. While she was waiting on the all-clear to meet the only man in the world that could help her, Lia starts thinking about all the bad things she'd been trying to avoid considering since the moment she came home from school to discover her mother's sudden absence. What if the man she's waiting to see couldn't find her either? What if she was putting herself through all of this for nothing? What if he doesn't even want to help? He hadn't tried to find them years ago.
"Emilia? Mr. Hotchner will see you now." Standing and taking a deep cleansing breath, Lia gathers herself and enters the office. Little does she know, Hotchner is doing the same thing on the other side of the closed door.
"Mr. Hotchner? My name's Emilia. Everyone calls me Lia. I needed to speak to you about a few things concerning.. Well let's just say it's concerning my mother. I know this is going to be a difficult conversation, and it's long overdue, but I think you know why I found you. At least, you know part of it. If you didn't, your profiling skills aren't as impressive as I thought." She takes in the speechless man standing before her. She knows it's a lot, hell it's a lot for her, but it needs to happen quickly. They have to find her mother. He can't seem to grasp the young woman standing before him. Her existence baffles him. She's a perfect blend between him and the one he left behind. He knows he abandoned her, but he isn't proud of it. He's overcome with grief as he stares into a reflection of his own hazel eyes. This girl has the same determination as her mother based on the little information he has so far. When he opens his mouth to speak, she cuts him off.
"Before you say anything, allow me to try to answer your questions to avoid the painfully awkward conversation. Yes, my mother's Emily. I know a little about your rela— complex friendship, and all you need to know is I don't blame you for not being a part of my life. You didn't know. But, I do blame you for not coming back to her. From what I hear, you had a special thing going, and you tossed her to the curb as if she meant nothing to you. No, don't try to rebut my claims, we don't have time. We can sort out the specifics later. All that matters right now is that you help me solve the problem that I came here with.
"My mother is focused. In fact, she's the most focused person I know. I grew up surrounded by profilers. I've seen people who are devoted to what they do, and my mother is no different. No matter how taxing her job as unit chief has been, she has called me at least once every night that she's on a case since I could crawl. She only failed to do so once before now, but that's irrelevant. Sorry. She didn't call Monday. She didn't tell me she was leaving. My aunts and uncles, her teammates, had no idea where she could be. Today's Thursday and we still can't find her. Aunt Pen— her friend Penelope Garcia, technical analyst, can't find a trace. We have no idea where she's gone. I talked to Pen, and she said you may be the only one that can help. And if you know anything about how stubborn my mother is, multiply that amount by ten and you've got me. I wouldn't be here if I had any other option."
After a brief, but heavy, silence, Aaron stands back up, having sat to avoid passing out somewhere during Lia's speech. He quickly grabs his keys. "I'll drive."
With a triumphant grin, Lia happily follows her father out the door. Maybe this would work after all.
"Can I ask a few questions? You've done a thorough job of explaining the general situation we're in, but I can't help but wonder about some specifics. How old are you?"
"Mr. Hotchner, with all due respect— actually, I take that back. I don't respect you. Mr. Hotchner, I'm not having this conversation right now. I'm sixteen. You know the night I'm referring to as my conception, and I ask that we end this discussion now before I say something that puts more tension between us than there is already. I'm not ready for any of this. Let's just find my mother and part ways. We don't need anything from you. We don't want anything from you. You've obviously found something in life more important than us. My mother could be—"
"She isn't." He interrupts, scared to hear the next word out of the girl's mouth.
Livid, she turns to him. "You cannot promise me that. You of all people know the odds of her survival. We both know this isn't good. Don't give me false hope out of pity or denial or whatever the hell this is." She speaks with a coldness he can only recognize as Emily's when she speaks to hide her own emotion.
Grateful to see that Aaron wasn't going to respond, Lia turns back to the window and thinks about another time that her mom couldn't call home. She's always wondered what happened that night. She knew better than to ask when she looked at her mom's face.
"I promise, Lia. I'll only be gone for a few days. I have to take care of something that's long overdue, babe. And you get to stay here with Aunt Pen and Clooney!" She speaks to the five year old while stroking her long raven hair, regretting leaving her already. When the girl turns to look up in her eyes, Emily sees nothing but Hotch's gaze staring back at her.
"Okay, Mommy. But I'm only agreeing because Clooney is silly and Aunt Pen will watch cartoons with me." Lia looks less than pleased, but her eyes sparkle at the mention of playing with Clooney and Penelope. "Okay, baby girl, I'll just be gone for a few days. I'll call every single night. I love you!" Giving her daughter one last hug, Emily walks out the door of Penelope and Derek's home, off on what she described to Lia as a "personal case."
Emily was gone for 10 days. On the eighth day, Lia waited up almost all night waiting for a call from her mother. She had promised to call every night. She always called every night. Lia didn't want to worry Aunt Pen, so she didn't mention it. She went to her room, curled up with a stuffed sloth her mother brought her from a case, and cried.
She never knew what happened that day, but her mother returned with a new edge of sadness. She was going to ask, but she thought twice when she walked to the kitchen to see her mother crying and embracing Aunt Pen. She hid behind a wall, debating whether or not to go in, but then she saw Uncle Derek with his head hung low. He hit is fist on the counter hard. The noise alone scared Lia, but the pained look on his face was more terrifying. She never spoke of that trip again, and she never mentioned that her mother forgot that phone call.
A pothole broke Lia out of her reverie. With a sigh, she wiped the tears from her face and broke the silence. "Ya know, I don't hate you. I know I can come on strong sometimes. I'm just scared, Mr. Hotchner."
"I understand. Hell, I'd understand if you did hate me. I'm not too fond of myself right now. But please trust me. We'll find her." He looks at her and notes how much she looks like her mom. Based on the length of her fingernails, he deduces that she inherited her mother's nail-biting habit. The thought amuses him. At that moment he knows he's going to devote the rest of his life to these girls. He's going to make things right. He has to.
With a stray tear or two escaping, Lia sighs. "She didn't call."