Perceptions [criminal minds ff]

Morgan, Prentiss, JJ and Garcia have their persepetions

of their 'youngest' challenged.

Do they really know the young Doctor at all?

R/OFC R/OFC R/ MC

[Bit of slash at end, but nothing to involved just a loving kiss and a goodnight's sleep]

The Thanksgiving Gala

The Gala ball was going splendidly.

But no one was really surprised by this fact , since it had been organisied by Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss.

And whatever faults she had, and there were many, everyone in 'that circle' agreed if you wanted an event with a capital E then Elizabeth was the woman to go to.

Even her daughter SSA Emily Prentiss could not deny that fact. Even as she had to resist yet again the urge to punch some male politico/lothario who was talking to her breasts not her face.

"Emily dear! Could I borrow you for a moment?" Her mothers cultured tone breaking through her angry musings without warning. "My apoliogise David."

"Not a problem Elizabeth. I'm sure Emily and I can catch up later," the arrogant man replied with an oily smile and a knowing look.

Emily's red lips thinned as she moved away from her would-be victim,

"Your timing is as immpecable as always Mother. Two more seconds of that letch and my team would have been hunting me," she quietly her mother with a grimace. She shuddered. I really need a long shower, she thought.

"Well I saw you move your hand, as if reaching for your sidearm dear," Elizabeth explained as she contiued to walk and smile at all the faces surrounding them with total ease.

"just as well it was a formal event then I guess," Emily smirked as she smoothed her hand over the red silk of her favourite evening gown.

Her Mother smiled at her only child. They had been working on their relationship for awhile. And though never easy they were getting more comfortable in each others company.

"It certainly suits you Emily. Giovanni is...Oh who is that with Constance Fitzgerald?"

"Constance Fitzgerald? Should I know that name?" asked a bemused Emily. It never ceased to amaze her the number of people herr mother knew on sight and what she knew about them.

"No dear you would not have known her. She left for Europe ..oh nearly 20 years ago to marry some musician. Defied her Father and family to do it too."

elizabeth informed her. Delighting in sharing this little bit of gossip with her daughter.

"Really! Brave woman. So why is she here then?" emily asked while taking in the picture of the woman in her late 40's that her mother was discussing. The woman stood tall at the edge of the dance floor as if waiting for someone. She wore an outstanding creation of Black and Teal that outshone all the little flutter-bys in their trendy styles. Her dark hair was cut into a sharp bob that accentuated her facial features and spoke of the confidence that just radiated from her.

"Oh she returned to the stated about 2years ago when her husband died. As for tonight I think shes just catching up with people before she takes her post with the United Nations in New York."

Emily turned back to face her Mother at that.

"United nations. Im sure that will be posting. What..?" she went to ask but was stopped by her Mothers gasp.

"Oh My! and just who are you?"

Emily turned back to see a tall lean figure move with grace through the clusters of tables toward Constance. Never noticing the ripple of flushed faces and adoring glances that he gained in his wake. He playfully bowed to his parter then escorted her out onto the floor. And was swallowed by the crowd.

"Hmm well that young man is on quite a few ladies christmas list's." the ambassador quipped quite amused by the ruffle hed made through some of the most jaded party people.

"Mother!" emily exclaimed through gritted teeth. What a time for her conservitive mother to come out with that.

"Oh for goodness sake Emily Im married not blind. And although rather skinny for my tastes, I will say he cut rather a fine figure in his suit and properly polished shoes"

Emily couldnt help the smile that spread over her beautiful face at that comment. Unpolished shoes were one of her Mother's pet peeves. She remembered the time she had caught her checking out the shoes of her male collegues at the BAU. She nearly ran up and kissed Reid when her mothers face screwed up at the sight of the good Doctors Black converse.

"Reid!" she said wonderingly as she once again pictured the sophisticated man with Constance. That was who the man reminded her of. Well not the clothes or confidence obviously...but the hair and bodyframe where the same.

And reid could be gracefully but only when he was totally comfortable.

But he would neverr be comfortable here.

In fact this would be pretty close to his idea of hell- and not that far away from hers she admitted to herself.

"GoodGod! Dont tell me he's here?" Elizabeth cried looking quickly about for the untidy, gangly youth of her memory.

"Mother," Emily scolded. "Reid is a very nice, intelligant young man..."

"Who wears odd socks and sweater vests. And has the grace of a hippo," Elizabeth hissed back all the while waving and smiling sweetly.

After all that had been a favourite suit of hers he had ruined.

"Mother! Reid apologised and offered to replace it," Emily argued knowing just what incident her Mother was illuding to.

Poor Poor Reid!

His face had gone from fire engine Red to Snow White in the seconds it had taken his full Starbucks cup to fly out of his hands and land squarely on the lap of the outraged Ambassador.

"Hhmph! So where is he?"

"Not here," Emily sighed at her mothers tone. "Just someone reminded me of him."

"Good," the ambassador stated as she resumed her tour round the room. "This dress is a one off."

"Mother stop it," Emily hissed while smiling at the next bunch of plastic people they came to.

Afterr a couple more hours emily decided she had done more than her duty and was calling it a day. After her goodbys and arrangement for lunches shed never attend, she waited silently under the covered entranceway waiting for the valet to bring her car round.

The silence was broken by the tinkling of a lovely laugh from behind her.

There she spotted the lovely Constance laughing with one of the valets.

"Honestly dont worry about it. It happens all the time," she giggled going round to the drivers side. "He preferrs not to drive...too much going on in his head. Goodnight"

Emily glanced at the passenger side window as constance put on her belt. But the glare from the lamps hid the person from her sight.

Emily laughed at herself as her car pulled up.

With a quiet good night and a wave she was on her way home.

The next morning after a long shower and a strong cup of coffee Emily chuckled even more about her illusions that their resident 'Baby Genius' could be the one who had created the tsunami of fluttering pulse rates among the jaded females of the Hill.

PT ONE