A Second Chance

Accidents Happen

That week at work, Emily acted different around everyone. She wasn't her normal snarky and sarcastic self. Instead, she was serious and professional with all the members of the team. The reason for that was because she was contemplating going back to London. She knew her sudden departure would raise red flags, but she couldn't stand not being able to do anything about the whole Sophia situation. Prentiss wanted to leave before she got too close with her kid and before any more feelings got hurt.

That Friday once everyone went home, Emily went up to Hotch's office and told him she was planning on heading back to London soon. Of course he was surprised and asked why. She told him she was behind on a lot of work and that they needed her back there.

By the following Monday, the news got around that Emily was once again leaving. Sophia went to the office after school and when she found out, she was shocked.
"Where's Emily?!" she demanded to know.
"Lastly I saw, she was in Hotch's office," JJ replied dryly.
Sophia caught that and asked,
"What's been going on between you two?"
"What do you mean?" the blonde asked.
"It just seems like you're always mad at each other now," the child pointed out.
JJ sighed. Sophia was right. Whenever they were in the same room together there was tension and everyone in the room with them could sense it as well.
"Sweetie there's nothing going on between us, we're both just stressed out over all our work we have," JJ lied and gave Sophia a reassuring smile.
Just when she did, Emily walked out of Hotch's office and closed the door. When she looked up, she spotted Sophia by JJ's desk. Instead of going over to talk to her like she usually did, Prentiss went over to her desk area and sat down without saying a word.
Sophia was furious.
She hated being given the silent treatment and being ignored. Instantly, she marched right on over to Emily's desk.
"Hey-" Prentiss started to say.
"What's wrong with you?" the twelve year old was dying to know.
"Nothing," Emily replied with a smile.
"JJ said the same thing, but I know you're both lying. Something's going on and no one will tell me!" the girl stated.
Emily just shrugged.
"Why are you going back to London then?" Sophia questioned.
"My people need me," Prentiss replied with.
"You're really leaving?" Sophia wanted to make sure.
"I'm really leaving," Emily said back.
She could tell Sophia was disappointed and she felt bad.
"So when do you go back?" the girl wanted to know.
"I got a flight back for Saturday-"
"That soon?" Sophia asked and cut Emily off.
"Sophia, it's not a big deal," Emily tried to tell her.
"Well to me it is," the kid told her.
"And why is that?" Emily asked back.
"Ugh, you just don't get it," Sophia sighed and turned to walk back over to JJ's.
Emily quickly stood up and lightly placed a hand on the child's arm to turn her around.
"Hey," she said softly.
When Sophia turned around, Emily could tell how sad the girl looked and how it was already too late for her to leave without hurting her feelings.
They've only known each other for a month, but in that month they spent so much time together and Sophia started to see Emily as someone she could trust and go to for anything. They created a bond that was stronger than any Sophia had ever had with anyone before. The two had so much in common and Sophia was drawn to Emily for a reason that only made sense to some.
Prentiss pulled Sophia into a hug and whispered,
"I'll only be a phone call away. You can always text me or call, you know that."
"Yeah, but it's not the same," Sophia told her.
Emily pulled back and looked into her daughter's eyes when she said,
"I know, and I'm sorry, but right now it's the best I can do."
The girl nodded and said,
"Will you come back for my birthday at least?"
Without thinking, Emily replied with,
"Sophia your birthday's in like four days, I'll still be here-"
"My birthday is in February," the child corrected her.
"No, it's January 13th, that's Friday," Emily said, still not understanding that the child doesn't know her real birthday.
"Emily, I think I know when my birthday is. It's February, 26th."
Thats when it hit her.
"Oh, right sorry I must've gotten your birthday mixed up with someone else's, sorry," Prentiss said quickly.
Sophia arched an eyebrow at the women quizzically.
"How about this. This Friday we go out to dinner and celebrate your birthday early?" Emily offered.
"Who's we?" Sophia wanted to know.
"Whoever. The whole team can come," Prentiss said.
"Deal," Sophia replied and gave Emily a small smile.