Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or any character associated with it, no copyright infringement is intended.

This is part of the series of one-shots that began with Teddy Roosevelt. What happens when Spencer Reid comes back home

Joseph Campbell said the hero's journey was a cycle, a going and a return. The hero goes away to an unfamiliar place and undergoes trial, then he returns home. He said that the return was in many ways harder than the departure.

He likened it to getting into a wet bathing suit.

That is exactly what it felt like when Spencer Reid came back from England.

When he originally left Virginia a week ago, he didn't really know what was going to happen. After a week in London, he was engaged to Emily Prentiss. For most of the week, he felt happy - happier than he ever felt in his life.

Then he came home and told the team what had happened.

Hotch kept asking him if he had thought this through. Rossi congratulated him, but gave him a kind of pitying look. Morgan asked him what he was thinking. Garcia gave him a huge, bone-crunching hug. Then she began to try to figure out how to plan the wedding.

Finally, everything calmed down and he could work at his desk.

At least, that's what he thought had happened.

He was in the middle of a consult at his desk, when Alex spoke up.

"So, you and Emily."

"Leave it alone Alex."

"What do you mean?"

"I had enough from everyone else."

"Tough."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't leave for a week, come back, tell us you're engaged and not expect us to react."

"Fine. Whatever."

"No, not whatever. You and Emily Prentiss."

"Alex, I've already heard it from both Morgan and JJ."

"Heard what?"

"That's it too soon. That we never dated so what was I thinking? What possessed me?"

"Spencer, why did you leave for England last week? Was it perhaps because of this?" She held up the picture in the society page of James Seibold and Emily dancing. The very picture that started everything.

Reid sighed "Yes. That's why."

Alex smiled, "and do you remember who showed this to you?"

Reid stared at her, then he blinked. It took him a minute to remember that it wasn't his newspaper. He had to replay the events of the last week to remember. "You did."

She nodded. "Do you know why?"

He opened his mouth, only to discover he didn't have an answer. "Why?"

"When she was here, the two of you had a look."

"A look?"

"A wistful look, like you were seeing the road not taken. So I showed you the paper to see what you would do. I didn't expect you to run off like that and woo her. So I only have one question."

"What's that?"

"Did you get a ring."

"What?"

"An engagement ring. Did you get one?"

"Uh...Well...I mean"

"So that's a no?"

"Everything happened so fast."

"She needs a ring."

"Why?"

Alex laughed. "A 187 IQ, and there is still so much you don't know. You should get her a ring."

"I...I'm not certain where to even look."

Alex laugh, a warm, friendly laugh. "I'll help you."

"Thank you."

"That's what friends are for. And don't worry, the others will come around. They just need time to get used to the idea.

"If you say so."

"Just one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Congratulations, Spencer."

"Thanks, Alex."

"You're welcome."