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The first 7 years of Emily Prentiss’s life could only be described in a positive light. She was only 8 years old when she began to feel it, the unrelenting pressure that her mother was starting to put on her. At the time she lived in France with her parents and her mother’s older sister. Her Aunt Amelia worked alongside her mother Elizabeth at the embassy. Shortly after her 8th birthday, Emily’s father, Robert got assigned to embassy in Belgium. Emily stayed in Paris, and she only saw her father on weekends, he would fly in on Friday nights and out again on Monday mornings.It started slow. Emily wasn’t sure if it was just Elizabeth adapting to Robert not being around but after a while it became apparent that this was really who her mother was. Emily’s days started to blend together, every day the same. School in the morning, then straight home where a tutor would await her to go through whatever that day’s subject was. After dinner, the day would end with Emily working up until her bedtime on homework or extra schoolwork that her mother had assigned her.At the end of every week, Elizabeth would sit to review the feedback that Emily was given on her work during the week. Emily would sit quietly under her mother’s intense gaze. Elizabeth had a habit of reacting first and thinking later, this meant that any small mistake Emily made was heavily scrutinized. She was only in the 5th grade, her mother had insisted that she skip the 4th grade and at first Emily was more than happy to, but at the time the young girl didn’t realize what it would mean.Emily often found herself running through the embassy after her mother would shout at her for whatever it was the little girl did wrong that time. The young brunette would seek solace in her aunt’s embrace.The quiet of Amelia’s office was interrupted when Emily came bursting through the door. Amelia looked up from her paperwork to see her niece’s eyes red and her cheeks tear stained. She pushed her chair back from the desk and opened her arms to the child. Emily wasted no time, running into her aunt’s arms. Emily sobbed into Amelia’s shoulder.“Emmy, what happened?” Amelia spoke softly as she rubbed Emily’s back.Emily pulled away to look into her aunt’s eyes. “Do you think that I am fat?” The young girl could barely get the words out between sniffles.Amelia’s eyes widened and she placed both her hands on Emily’s face, wiping away tears with her thumbs. “Of course not. You are a beautiful young girl. Why would you think that?”“I was in the playground today and we were all taking turns to push each other on the big swing. On my turn I told them to push me higher and one of the boy’s said that they were trying but I was too fat.” Emily started to sob again. “I was a little upset about it, so I told Mom in the car and…she said, ‘I told you that you needed to lose weight’. How could she say that?”Amelia pulled Emily into another hug. “I don’t know princess. I don’t know.” Amelia felt her body ignite with rage; how could her sister be so ignorant? Emily was a young girl, how could Elizabeth burden her like that?It didn’t stop there, Elizabeth continued to make snide comments about her daughter’s weight. Every time Emily was eating anything sweet, she could feel her mother’s stare burn into her body. Sometimes when they were out to eat and Emily would order a pasta dish, Elizabeth would say “Are you sure you need that?” or “That’s a lot of carbs, what about a salad?”Emily would feel her eyes well upon hearing those comments. It was a heavy thing for an 8-year-old. Whenever Emily would feel the stare, she would immediately give up her dessert or whatever food it was that she was eating.It only got worse as Emily grew older. Emily was only 10 years old when she started the 7th grade. Amelia would often come home late at night, after Emily’s bedtime to see Emily crying at the dining table trying to read her textbook while her mother watched her. Amelia would quietly watch from afar as Elizabeth would ceaselessly question her daughter on the material of the textbook and Emily would do her best to answer. However, the young girl would get an earful if her answers weren’t up to Elizabeth’s standards.Amelia watched as the clock would tick to 11pm, 1 and a half hours after Emily’s bedtime. The young girl’s puffy eyes would be heavy as she fought off the exhaustion of the day plus the additional fatigue of crying continuously. Eventually Elizabeth would dismiss her, and Emily would scurry up the stairs to her room as fast as her legs could carry her.“She’s just a kid Liz. You can’t be so hard on her.” Amelia sat down across from her sister at the dining table.Elizabeth scoffed as she stood up, slamming her hands against the marble tabletop. “Not this again. She is not your daughter Amy. I know you’re her favorite, but I am her biological mother, and I let you be a part of her life. Stay out of it.”At that moment Amelia picked silence. She didn’t want to even imagine her life without Emily in it.Emily pulled her duvet up to her chin as she heard her mother approach her room. She clenched her eyes tight as if to will her mother away from her room. Emily heard Elizabeth’s hand land on the door handle, so she did her best to pretend to sleep.The door swung open, and Elizabeth flicked the lights on “Emily, aren’t you going to say goodnight.” Emily muttered an apology and got up to wish her mother a goodnight. Elizabeth hugged her daughter tight, “It’s for your own good Emily, you’ll see that someday. Get some sleep, don’t be drowsy tomorrow. I love you.” With that Elizabeth left the room and Emily sank to the floor in a silent cry.
You swore that you loved me but where were the clues?I died on the altar waiting for the proof
Eventually, Emily pulled herself up off the floor and to her bed. Her tears still flowing. Soon after her room door opened again. “Emmy, princess, are you sleeping?” Emily let out a relieved sigh. “No.” she said shakily.Amelia was quick to sit at Emily’s side, pulling her into a hug. “Why is she so mean?” Emily sobbed into her aunt’s shoulder. “How can she be so mean then come wish me goodnight like nothing happened?”Amelia sighed shakily. She was truly at a loss for words, “I don’t know Emmy. It’s okay, I got you.” Emily started hyperventilating, “Why didn’t you stop her?” Amelia rubbed the young girl’s back, “Shhh, it’s okay.” She said placing a soft kiss on Emily’s forehead to calm her. “I couldn’t, you know that. But it’s okay I am here now.”When Emily was 14, she and her parents moved to Rome. Which means she had to leave her aunt behind. A life without Amelia scared Emily more than anything else in the world. But she would have to cope. So, she made a life for herself, away from her mother. Emily made friends, but it wasn’t enough to protect her.Still every day she would go back to that house that was haunted by her mother. Every night when Emily went to sleep, she hoped and prayed that Amelia would magically find her way to her side. Every night she dreamt of better times, of getting out of this place, escaping to college and becoming independent.When Emily turned 17 it all seemed to reach its peak. She felt numb, no longer felt an ounce of empathy or compassion for the woman she called her mother. She still talked to Amelia regularly, as far as Emily was concerned, Amelia was the mother she never had.Emily became a shell of a person, just a trophy for her mother to parade around. “Emily is top of her class. Emily looks just like me. Emily is going to be an ambassador when she’s older.” Elizabeth would say. Emily’s blood boiled, she in no way shape or form looked like her mother. In fact, she bared an uncanny resemblance to her Aunt Amelia. “She’s gorgeous, so thin and smart.” Elizabeth’s friends would comment. “You did a great job raising her, Elizabeth. I hope my daughter is like Emily when she grows up.”Emily wanted to cry and scream. She’d never wish her life on any young girl. She had tried for so long to make Elizabeth see the error of her ways but in true narcissistic fashion she never understood. Eventually Emily just gave up.
I stopped CPR, after all it's no useThe spirit was gone, we would never come toAnd I'm pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free.
Emily looked in her full-length bathroom mirror and she couldn’t recognize herself. She was dangerously skinny. There were 2 small deep scars on the inside of her wrist, she had put them there at age 14 but she quickly learned that they were much too obvious. Hence, the matching ones by her hip bone, far away from prying eyes.She started at Yale at 18. Her parents stayed Rome when she moved back. On the holidays she would head down to DC, where her dearest Aunt Amelia was now living. When her parents moved back to DC, Emily was like a brand-new person. She was in therapy, had gone through ED recovery and she was happy.~After her 21st birthday Emily had gone no contact with her parents, and she had been doing great. Now she was 27 and had been working just over a year at her dream job, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. She was also in a relationship.Aaron Hotchner started out as her tight-lipped Unit Chief but over the course of her time there she had gotten to know his softer, funnier side that it seemed that only she could bring out. As a teenager she never ever thought that a man like him would fall for her. He was good, pure, a beacon of hope in a dark night. She, however, in her opinion was damaged beyond repair.Emily was stood at Spencer’s desk, discussing some paperwork with him and Derek when she saw her enter out of the corner of her eye. She could not believe her eyes. Elizabeth Prentiss was stood in the BAU. Before her mother could see her Emily excused herself with a thinly veiled excuse that she needed Hotch to validate her report. Derek just rolled his eyes; the team knew of her and Hotch’s relationship.Hotch was taken by surprise when Emily scurried into his office. She quickly shut the door behind her and drew the blinds. Aaron noticed her slight panting, “Em? Is everything alright?” Emily leant against his door, “My mother is here.” Aaron didn’t know much of Emily and her mother’s relationship, but he did know that Emily no longer spoke to her parents.In the year they had been dating, Emily never once spoke of her parents. She did however tell him a myriad of stories about her Aunt Amelia, and he was excited to meet her when the time came.Emily peaked through the blinds and saw Elizabeth approach Spencer and Derek. “Aaron, um, we don’t have much time. She’s gonna come for me, just know that I am not who she says I am. The me that she knows is still 14 years old.” Emily gently held Aaron’s face between her hands and placed a kiss on his lips, “I love you.”Before Aaron could say anything there was a knock on the door. He was ready to tell whoever it was to wait but Emily let go of him and said “Come in.” Morgan peaked the door open, “Emily, your mother is here to see you.” Emily nodded her head and Derek let Elizabeth in.“Hello Emily, it is good to see you.” Elizabeth began, “I don’t think we’ve met, Elizabeth.” He extended her hand to Aaron. Hotch took her hand, “Aaron Hotchner, I am the Unit Chief. May I ask, what is the reason for your visit?” With every second that passed, Aaron could feel Emily slowing slinking away from Elizabeth. “I mean no bother; I was just hoping to have a quick conversation with my daughter.” He sensed Emily tense up by his side, her hand came up to grip the back of his jacket as if begging him not to leave.“I’m not sure if that’s possible Ambassador, we are all extremely busy. In fact, Prentiss and I were just discussing a consultation for the SFPD.” Elizabeth practically ignored Hotch and reached her hand out to grab Emily’s wrist. Emily released her grip on Hotch and tried her best to keep a straight face. Aaron’s eyes met hers and she let out a shaky breath, “It’s alright Hotch, it shouldn’t take too long.” Emily shot him a weak smile and he reluctantly agreed, excusing himself under the pretense of coffee.“Mother, what is it that you need?” Emily kept her voice strong, and her eyes void of feeling. “Emily, there is something I need to tell you.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “I got a call from the hospital this morning, your Aunt Amelia had a heart attack. She’s gone.”Emily looked up from the ground to meet her mother’s eyes. She watched her mouth move but she couldn’t hear the words. The air started to grow thick, and vision began to blur. “I have to sit.” Emily said barely over a whisper.Emily sat down on the couch, her hands immediately in her hair, pulling at it slightly. She shook her head repeatedly. “This isn’t happening.” Her hands moved from her hair, scratching at the skin of her face and neck. Her skin was burning. “Get if off. Get it off.” She rocked forwards and backwards. Her tears creating little streams down her cheeks.
And I'm just getting colour back into my faceI'm just mad as hell cause I loved this place
Elizabeth sighed and rolled her eyes, “Always with the dramatics. I don’t know why you’re so upset; you haven’t seen her since you were 14.” Emily didn’t respond, her hands just moved up to her ears and her eyes squeezed shut. “Stop it, you’re being ridiculous. She was my sister, stop making this all about you.”Emily’s eyes flew open, “You don’t know anything about our relationship so stay out of it.” Her voice was quivering as she tried to hold back her panic attack. Elizabeth rolled her eyes again, “No wonder you put on so much weight when you went to Yale. I bet she was letting you eat all those terrible foods.” Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Emily. She reached out and pinched the practically non-existent fat on Emily’s stomach. “You could stand to lose a few pounds before the funeral. But there is no time, it’s on Friday.”The healed scars on Emily’s hip began to burn, begging to be reopened. She felt her stomach lurch and Emily went running out of Hotch’s office, sprinting down the hallway towards the restroom.Aaron watched as Emily ran through the bullpen in a flash. He shared a look with JJ, and she went off after to check on Emily. Aaron walked back into his office where Elizabeth was sitting on the couch. “Is everything alright Ambassador Prentiss?” Hotch asked. “Everything is fine, Emily is just having one of her moments.” Elizabeth replied nonchalantly. “Ambassador, I think it’s time for you to leave.”Elizabeth stood up, “But Emily and I aren’t done chatting.” Hotch shook his head, “Yes, you are.” He took a step towards her, “Let me make one thing clear. Emily is the strongest, kindest and most amazing person that I know, and I care about her very much. So, believe me when I say, it’s time for you to go.” Elizabeth gathered her things and nodded her head, “I see how it is.” Aaron let out a sigh out relief when she left the bullpen.Aaron saw JJ stood outside the restroom door, “How is she?” He asked. “She won’t answer me, but I think she might’ve thrown up.” JJ sighed sympathetically. “That’s alright, I’ll stay with her. You can head back.” Aaron said as he bent down in front of the bathroom door. JJ nodded and walked back to the bullpen.“Hey sweetheart, it’s just me. I’m right here, take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” Aaron said as he knocked lightly on the door. He smiled slightly when he heard a soft, “Is she gone?” from the other side of the door. “Yes, she is. I sent her away and came straight here.” He replied. Aaron stood up hastily when he heard the door lock starting to unlatch.When Emily opened the door, her eyes were red, and puffy, sweat sticking her bangs to her forehead. Aaron opened his arms to her, and she gladly accepted. Emilly through her arms around his neck, crying into his jacket. Aaron held her tight, pressing soft kisses into her hair. “It’s alright, sweetheart. I’ve got you.” He whispered to her.Once she had calmed down, he pulled away to look her in the eyes, “Do you want to talk about it?” He asked. Emily shook her head then rested it back onto his shoulder, forcing herself back into his embrace, “Just don’t let me go.” Her words pulled at his heart, “Never” Aaron replied. “Em, let me take you home.” Emily looked up at him and shook her head, “I’m fine.” She protested. “Emily, I’ve never seen you like this before. Even though we see traumatic things on a daily basis. I have never seen you so distraught and I’m worried about you. So please, let me take you home. There’s only 2 hours left in the workday; the team will be fine.” Emily nodded hesitantly.Hotch returned to the bullpen to collect his and Emily’s things. He had sent Emily down to the car first. “Hotch? Is Emily, okay?” Spencer asked meekly. “I’m not sure.” Aaron answered truthfully. “I’m going to take her home, we’ll see how it goes from there.”Emily remained silent for the duration of the car ride. She didn’t speak until she had unlocked her front door. She and Aaron walked into her apartment, “Why don’t you go freshen up, I’ll make you something to eat.” Aaron said as he set their things down by the front door. “Aaron. You really don’t have to. I’ll be alright.” Emily did her best to reassure him. Aaron studied her face, her eyes were red, her eyelids seemed heavy, and her cheeks stained with smudged mascara.Aaron shook his head and held her gently by her upper arms. Emily let her eyes flutter shut when he placed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere. Let me take care of you.” Aaron said. Emily fell forward, releasing her body weight onto him. Aaron rubbed her back, “I love you.” He said kissing her hair. “I love you too.” Emily replied softly.Once Emily was upstairs in her room she shed her office clothes. She put on a pair of shorts and opened her dresser looking for a t-shirt. In her dresser she saw an old t-shirt that Amelia had left at her apartment last month. Emily felt tears flood her vision as she lifted it to her heart, hugging it close to her. Emily walked over to her full-length mirror. As she slipped the shirt over her head memories raced through her mind. How could she live without her Aunty Mia?
So long, LondonStitches undoneTwo graves, one gun
In a fit of rage Emily grabbed the empty water glass on her bedside table and threw it at the floor. Upon seeing the glass shatter into pieces Emily felt a sense of relief. Emily bent down picking up a piece of glass. She danced it across her fingers, “Glass cuts people by accident all the time.” She thought to herself. With what she felt was sound reasoning, she pressed the glass firmly into her palm. Emily sighed with relief as a red stream flowed down her palm onto the floor.“Emily! Is everything alright? I heard a crash!” She heard Aaron exclaim as he walked up the stairs. Emily quickly ran into her ensuite, locking the door. She stared at the red still flowing down her palm. Her heart was racing, she needed more. As the thought graced her mind her scars started to burn again. Emily lifted her shirt looking down at the small scars that littered her hip. Each scar no more than an inch and a half, just enough to provide some relief. Emily exhaled shakily and pressed the shard of glass into her hip, adding to the tally marks.“Em?” She heard Aaron open her room door. “Em, are you okay?” He asked again approaching the ensuite. She heard the door rattle as he tried to open it. “Sweetheart, are you okay?” He asked again, knocking on the door this time.Aaron turned and studied the scene behind him. Clothes on the floor. Broken glass. Then he spotted it, a drop of red on the hardwood. His eyes followed the trial. Aaron swiped away the drop outside the bathroom door. “Sweetheart, open the door. Let me help you.” Emily sighed, “I’m okay. Just washing out the cut.” Aaron could hear the tension in her voice. She was lying to him; the faucet wasn’t running. She was never resistant to his assistance when she got hurt. “Sweetheart. Did you hurt yourself?” Aaron spoke slowly, the question loaded with fear. The question was open to interpretation, but they knew exactly what they were talking about.There was nothing but silence and just like that Aaron knew the answer. “Em, open this door now.” Aaron’s voice was stern yet desperate. “Emily, I’m serious.” He knocked on the door again. “Emily, open the door now.” Emily wanted to open the door, but she couldn’t bring herself to get up off the floor. She looked around her, the blood from her hip staining her clothes, dripping onto the tile. “Please Aaron, help me.” She said through the tears. Aaron felt his heart break a little bit at the sound of her voice. It was void of its usual playfulness. “Stand back.” He said and kicked the door in with a bang.Aaron saw her sat with her back against the bathtub, a bloodied shard of glass by her side. “Emily, sweetheart.” He sighed as he crouched down in front of her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She cried repeatedly. Aaron kissed her forehead, “No, you don’t need to be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Aaron wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Can I see?” He asked and she nodded hesitantly.Aaron lifted her shirt and assessed the area. He checked the wound and noticed the matching scars around it. All the times that he and Emily were intimate she insisted on darkness and now he knew why. “Emily…” He breathed out weakly. “It’s okay. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Aaron lifted her onto the counter and pulled a first aid kit out of the bathroom cabinet. He gently cleaned the blood and tended to the wound, once he put on the dressing he wrapped the cut on her palm. Emily just enjoyed his presence and rested her head on his shoulder, still sniffling quietly. “Let me get you a change of clothes.” Aaron retrieved a set of pajamas for her. “Can you help me?” She said barely over a whisper. He smiled softly and nodded.As Aaron lifted the shirt of her body, he noticed other scars that were likely self-inflicted. He wanted to know, needed to know who made her feel like she had to hurt herself. But now wasn’t the time, he would know soon enough. Once she was dressed Aaron washed her face and brushed her hair. He tucked her into her bed and pressed a kiss to her forehead, “Take a nap, you’ll feel better.” He spoke. “But I want to talk to you. Tell you why I’m…this way.” Emily protested softly. “And you can but not now. You look exhausted, just 30 minutes. I’ll clean up and then we can talk over dinner. Okay?” Aaron sat beside her and stroked her hair. “Okay.” She agreed and let the heaviness of her eyelids win. Aaron pressed another kiss to her head.When Emily awoke, she looked to the clock on her bedside table, it had been an hour. She flicked on the lamp and noticed her room had been cleaned. She wondered down the stairs and saw Aaron sitting at the counter with a file. He was wearing his pajamas. Aaron turned to face her, “Hey sweetheart. How was your nap?” He smiled softly. “It was good.” She replied. “I made dinner. Bacon, mac and cheese, your favourite.” Aaron got up walking over to the stove. Emily’s mind flitted to her mother’s words from earlier in the day, “I’m not hungry.” She could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t buy that for a second. “Just a little but, to keep you going.” Aaron scooped a bit onto a plate and placed it on the dining table in front of her.Emily looked up at him with pleading eyes. “We’ll eat together.” Aaron put some on his plate and sat opposite her. Emily hesitantly lifted the food to her lips. Emily poked at the food for a while, “She died today.” Emily broke the silence. Aaron eyes shot up to meet hers. “Aunty Mia, she died this morning. Mother told me.” Aaron sighed, he reached his hand out to hold hers, “I’m so sorry Em. I know she meant a lot to you.” Aaron kissed her knuckles.“She was the mother I never had. Elizabeth wasn’t always the most caring or compassionate mother. Everything had to be on her terms, everything was about her. Every time I tried to express my feelings, she just made it about herself. My dad was no good. He was away 5 days a week and he never really bothered to learn my side of the story. As far as I’m concerned, he is just some spineless coward who always sided with mother. I stopped telling her things, lied to her about a few things.” Emily explained. “Huh, this one time when I was 13, I lied to her about how many past year papers I did, and she got so mad she threw that giant cinderblock of a binder at me. Well, it didn’t hit me, and I don’t she was intending for it to. I thought I was going to faint, and I guess she could see me about to lose balance and actually said ‘don’t you dare faint.’ Then she just kept scolding me.” Emily chuckled lightly.“Aunty Mia, she was everything my mother wasn’t, she was supportive and loving. She loved me at my best and my worst. She helped me when I felt like I was beyond help. She brought me back to life, thought me that life was worth living. And now…she’s gone.” Emily looked down at her plate, a stray tear fell to the table. “It feels good. Telling you all this. I was worried that you wouldn’t want me anymore.” Emily met his eyes again. Aaron got up from his chair and made his way to sit next to her, he held both her hands in his. “I will always want you, no matter what. I love you no matter what you’ve gone through.” Aaron leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you too.” Emily smiled. “Will you go with me? For the funeral, on Friday?” Emily asked. Aaron kissed her softly on the lips, “Of course I will.”“Just promise me one thing?” Aaron said. “What is it?” Emily asked. “Please don’t hurt yourself ever again. Just come and talk to me, whatever it is we will figure it out. Just please. Please don’t the woman I love.” Aaron begged; his eyes full of tears. Emily chuckled. “I won’t, I promise.” Aaron smiled, “Good, now please eat. Don’t think that I didn’t notice you only ate 2 bites.”Later that night Emily laid her head down on Aaron’s chest as they settled into bed. She let out a heavy sigh after a while, “I miss her Aaron.” Aaron kissed the top of her head, “I know.” Aaron held her close to his chest, he could feel her crying softly. “She would have loved you. She was so happy when I told her about you.” Emily spoke between her tears. “I wished you could have met her.” Aaron hugged her tightly, “I wished that I could have met her too. Thank her for raising such an amazing person.” Aaron kissed Emily again. He rubbed her back until her breathing evened out and she fell asleep.~After a long 3 days, it was Friday, Aaron and Emily were standing outside the church. “Are you sure that you’re okay?” Aaron squeezed Emily’s hand. “I have to be. I can’t let her leave without knowing how much I loved her.” Emily rested her head on Aaron’s arm. “Trust me sweetheart. She knew.” Aaron kissed the top of Emily’s head.As Aaron Emily walked through the church Emily was met by a few mourners all wishing her well. Emily walked up the coffin leaving Aaron standing a few paces behind her. “Hi Aunty Mia, um…I’m not really sure what to say. Thank you…for everything that you did for me. Thank you for being there for me, for taking care of me. Thank you for loving me and for saving me. I have an incredible life now and I wouldn’t have it if it weren’t for you. I love you so much and I’m…going to miss you…so much. Emily voice cracked as a small sob came out. Emily reached down and caressed her aunt’s face, “So very much.”
For so long, LondonHad a good runA moment of warm sunBut I'm not the one
“Um…I brought Aaron with me. You would’ve loved him. He’s been amazing and he loves me for who I am.” Emily turned to face Aaron, extending her hand to him. Aaron accepted her hand and joined her. “This is Aaron, he is my rock and the light of my life.” Emily explained. “I know that we never got the chance to meet but I just wanted to thank you for raising Emily the way you did. She is my whole world, and I promise to look out for her now that you are gone.” Aaron said. Emily sighed and rested her head on Aaron’s shoulder again. “I love you, Aunty Mia. I’m going to be alright. You can rest now.” Emily kissed her hand and held it to Amelia’s forehead, “Goodbye.”Emily kept herself glued to Aaron’s side all throughout the funeral and burial. She made sure to avoid her parents at every turn. Not that it bothered her mother much. Elizabeth always had to be the center of attention even at her own sister’s funeral.Later the couple attended the reception at Amelia’s house. Emily contemplated skipping it, but she decided to use this opportunity to show Aaron one of her most favourite places. She led Aaron through the house showing him old photos and telling him fond stories. Emily hadn’t noticed but everywhere they went Aaron heard people talking about Emily. About how she was a terrible daughter. How she betrayed her mother, how she abandoned her family. He had no doubt that they were Elizabeth’s friends.He chose not to dwell on it, his focus purely on making sure Emily was doing okay. Aaron and Emily were stood in the living room studying the pictures on the mantel, Emily telling him the story of a camping trip she and Amelia took when she was a girl. “Emily, darling, I didn’t think you would come?” An older woman interrupted them. “Mrs Stevens. What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I come? Aunty Mia meant the world to me.” Emily frowned. The older woman furrowed her eyebrows, “Your mother made it sound like you had no intentions in keeping touch when you moved for college.” Emily chuckled dryly, of course Elizabeth had spun an alternative narrative. “I had no intentions in keeping in touch with my parents. Aunty Mia and I remained very close.” Emily informed. “Oh, it appears that I’ve been misinformed. My deepest condolences.” Mrs Stevens wished. “That’s alright, thank you.” Emily replied.After the woman had walked away, Emily grabbed Aaron’s hand dragging him up the stairs. “This was my room.” She told Aaron as she pulled a key out from her bag and unlocked the door. “She kept it locked so nobody would ever disturb it. I have one and the cleaning staff has one.” The door swung open to reveal Emily’s teenage bedroom. “She kept everything the same since I was 18.” Emily walked into the room grabbing a teddy bear of her bed. She hugged it close to her chest. “Did she give you that?” Aaron asked as he sat down at the bay window. “On my 8th birthday.” Emily sat down beside him.Their peace was disrupted by Elizabeth storming into the room. “Emily! Nobody is allowed up here.” She scolded. Emily quirked her eyebrow, “It’s my room.” Emily held up the key. Elizabeth looked around the room, noticing the memorabilia of Emily’s college years.
“Agent Hotchner, do you attend funerals with all your employees.” Elizabeth scoffed. “Only the ones I’m in love with.” Aaron smiled down at Emily and squeezed her hand. Elizabeth huffed and walked off.Emily grinned up at Hotch, “I can’t believe you said that to her.” Aaron laughed, “Do you think she liked it?” He asked. “In no way shape or form.” Emily laughed, “But I liked it.” At the sight of her smile Aaron felt his soul take a sigh of relief. “That’s all that counts.”A little while later Emily found herself wondering around the house by herself. She was feeling better, not good but better. Which was what made her force Aaron to take Strauss’s call out on the porch. When she entered the living room everyone stopped chatting to stare at her with disgusting looks. She recognised the people to be her mother’s friends and acquaintances. She spotted a few people fussing over Elizabeth.Emily’s face went stone cold, she knew what was coming.She was bombarded by insults and criticism from all the people in the room. She was only able to make out a few things before her ears started to ring. “You betrayed your mother.” “Look what you’ve done.” “Heartless daughter, abandoning her mother.” “She gave you life.” “She gave up everything for you.” Emily felt the pressure in her building. With every word spoken it built to critical levels. “She loved unconditionally.”Emily’s eyes shot up from the floor, “Enough!” She shouted. “Do you people even know who you’re defending?” The room fell silent. “You say I betrayed my mother? So what? Maybe she deserved it, did you ever think of that? So, what if she gave me life, that doesn’t mean that I owe her anything.” Emily watched Elizabeth’s face harden. There was only one thing that Elizabeth cared about and that was her public image.
And you say I abandoned the shipBut I was going down with itMy white-knuckle dying grip
“I fought for my relationship with my mother. I fought to improve it but when I continuously got nothing in return can you blame me for giving up? No understanding, no compassion, no love. All anybody ever wants is to be loved. So can you blame me for looking for it somewhere else?”
Holding tight to your quiet resentment andMy friends said it isn't right to be scaredEvery day of a love affairEvery breath feels like rarest airWhen you're not sure if he wants to be there
“Unconditional love.” Emily huffed. “My mother doesn’t know what that is. My mother’s love has caveats. What are they you might be wondering? Good grades? Yes. Top of the class? Yes. Size 0? Also, yes. Even if it meant that I had to starve myself for the duration of my teenage years.” Emily locked eyes with her mother, she wasn’t backing down this time. “But as a little girl all I wanted was mommy’s love so I abided by her rules but there was no reward. No prize for being who my mother wanted. Every time she said jump, I did but unbeknownst to me the next time I would have to jump even higher.”
So how much sad did you think I had,Did you think I had in me?How much tragedy?Just how low did you think I'd go?Before I'd self-implodeBefore I'd have to go be free
“I didn’t abandon anyone, but I did escape someone.” Emily stood in the silent room. All the heads no pointing towards Elizabeth. Emily could had sworn she saw a few tears roll down her mother’s cheek. As Aaron walked back into the room he could sense the shift in the tension. Aaron stopped at Emily side; he placed his hand on the small of her back. He ran his thumb across the material of her dress as if to ask if she way okay. “Get out.” Elizabeth said through gritted teeth.Emily chuckled lightly and turned to Amelia’s lawyer, “Lucas, do you happen to have Aunty Mia’s will by any chance?” Emily asked. “I do, but I haven’t read it yet.” The man replied. “Do you mind just skimming over it right now?” Emily asked. Lucas nodded and got the file out of his briefcase. “It says that the sole beneficiary to all Amelia’s assets, including any investments as well as property is Emily Elizabeth Prentiss.” Lucas read.Emily smiled at the crowd. “So with that being said. Would all of you, in the nicest way possible please get the fuck out of my house.”Aaron shut the door behind the last person, the only other people left were the caterers cleaning up. He found Emily in the sitting room looking at photos on the mantel. Sensing his presence Emily spoke, “This one’s, my favourite.” Emily picked up the picture frame showing it to him, it was a picture of Emily and Amelia. They were both wearing matching Santa hats, both wore the same toothy grin. “You look just like her.” He commented. “Yeah, I always thought so too.” Emily smiled putting it back.“Em, I think we need to talk about what happened while I was outside?” Aaron sat down on the couch. “What about it?” Emily asked nonchalantly, not taking her eyes of the photos. “Maybe we start with you telling me what the hell happened in the first place?” This time Emily turned to face him, clutching a picture with both hands.Emily sat down beside him, “I did what exactly what she always wanted me to do.” Emily showed Aaron the photo. It was a picture of Amelia laughing, she wore large sunglasses and a sunhat. “And what is that?” Aaron asked Emily. “I stood up to my mother.”