Emily Prentiss is fresh from high school and looking for a way to pay for her apartment in Georgetown. Aaron Hotchner has just made the decision to stop practicing law and join the FBI. Their paths cross when he offers to give her a lift home from work... and the rest as they say is history.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.

It's 1990, Emily is 19 and Hotch is 25. (for the sake of the story Emily's birthday is the same and Hotch's is the 2nd of November)

"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over."

Emily Prentiss limped out of the club at two in the morning and made her way down the quiet street, with one hand on her pepper spray just encase.

She'd spent all day attending classes and for the last three hours she'd been dancing in six inch heels... but she needed to pay the bills and burlesque was the easiest option as it had flexible hours and the tips could be quite good.

She smiled as she thought of the look of horror that would be on her mother's face if ever she found out how her daughter really managed to afford her apartment... that would defiantly taint her political image.

She looked at her watch and seen it was already two in the morning... damn it, her apartment was on the other side of town and she had an early class in the morning.

She picked up her pace, hopping she'd not miss the bus that was on the next block.

Just as she rounded the corner thought she seen it speed of into the night, leaving her stuck in a red light district at two in the morning wearing nothing other than her 'work outfit' covered by a long jacket and thigh high boots... jeez she couldn't look more like a prostitute if she tried!

She walked two blocks, keeping her head down so no one would try and talk to her, before she noticed an all night cafe with a pay phone on the back wall that she could use to call her friend Lily.

She walked in; ignoring the weird looks she got from the customers, and went to talk to the middle aged woman at the counter.

"Excuse me but could-" Emily started, but she was cut off by the woman.

"I'm sorry honey but we don't serve your kind in here... It's bad for business." The woman whispered rudely, not wanting to cause a scene.

"Oh no, you don't understand... I'm not a hooker; I just want to use your phone to call my friend... I need a lift home." Emily said quickly, not bothering to whisper.

"Sure you do, and the phone's not working anyway." The woman said coldly, still not believing Emily's story.

"Um, excuse me, but I could give you a lift." A tall dark haired man said who was sitting in the booth right behind Emily.

Emily wasn't sure at first... I mean he could be a slime ball like most of the guys she knew... but there was something different about him... something that made her trust him.

"Uh, sure thanks." She said with a smile.

The man got up and paid for his food before escorting her out to his black BMW which was in the street.

Once inside it Emily looked around, there was a picture of a blonde haired woman on the dash board and Emily guessed that was his wife... there were also case files in the back seat so Emily guessed he was a lawyer or agent of some sort.

"I'm Aaron by the way, Aaron Hotchner." The man said as he started the engine.

"I'm Emily Prentiss." Emily said with a smile.

"Right then Emily, where you heading?" Aaron asked as he pulled out of his paring spot.

"Georgetown, anywhere around Wisconsin Avenue would be great." Emily replied, looking ahead at the lights of Capital Hill visible in the distance.

"Georgetown! You don't seem like the... I mean it's... um... It's expensive there." Aaron finished finally, not wanting to insult Emily.

"It is." Emily said, choosing to ignore the fact that he to obviously thought she worked on the street.

"So... um... what is it you do... I mean, you don't have to answer that... never mind!" Aaron stammered.

Emily couldn't help but smile, Aaron was obviously trying exceptionally hard not to put his foot in his mouth... and failing miserably.

"I'm a burlesque dancer, but it's only to pay the bills." She said. "Is that your wife?" She asked pointing to the picture, and trying to change the subject.

"No, she's my fiancée, Hailey." He said smiling brightly at the mention of her name.

"Oh right, she's very lucky." Emily said, trying to be nice... but at the same time meaning it as Aaron did seem to be a kind person, and he was defiantly handsome.

"I'm the lucky one really." Aaron said with a smile. "She's had to move here just because I've decided to join the FBI."

"Oh really? What'd you do before?" Emily asked, with genuine interest for the life of a man she hardly even knew.

"I was a criminal prosecutor, but I decided that I wanted to be a step closer to the action than just putting them away, I wanted to catch them as well." He said with a small smile.

"Oh... well it was brave of you to follow your dream like that." Emily said quietly, with a supportive smile.

"Thanks." He said, stopping the car as he spoke, signalling to Emily that she'd reached her stop.

"Right well good night." Emily said as she stepped out of the car.

"Night." Aaron said, before Emily closed the door.

She stood and watched as he drove off into the night, wondering if she'd ever see him again... hopping that she would as she really wanted to know more about him for some reason.

She then turned slowly and walked towards her apartment, still thinking off Aaron Hotchner.

There first chapter done. Tell me what you think of it =)