Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

A/N: I've noticed in most of the Reid/Prentiss pairing fics that either Prentiss makes the first move, or it just happens. I thought it'd be fun to see Spencer make the first move. This story takes place after the episode Risky Business. This is totally unrelated to my other Reid/Prentiss fics.

"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." -- Bertrand Russell

Spencer Reid had been thinking about Gideon a lot lately. He missed Jason Gideon, so much that he had put aside chess, since it was always a reminder that his mentor was gone. As he thought about Jason Gideon, Reid began to see how in so many ways his mentor avoided engaging with people. When the team went out socially, Gideon seldom went. There was so much about his life and past he kept hidden.

Spencer Reid made a decision. He decided he wanted to live life more fully; to be more engaged with people and the world. These thoughts led him to Emily Prentiss.

He remembered when she first joined the BAU. She was 10 years older than he was, but back then, he felt like he was the older one. Her desire to prove herself and to please everyone was palpable. He knew that feeling; it was how he felt when he first joined the BAU. His attraction to Emily didn't start then, it emerged over time. It was one of those feelings he ignored and repressed, because when he acted on feelings like this before, it always ended in rejection and humiliation.

Well, not always. He thought about Lila and he thought about Austin. Neither of those had lasted, but that was more a function of geographic distance than anything else. Perhaps it was the memory of those minor victories, and the potential for happiness that made him contemplate taking the risk. There was substantial risk, sure, but as a native of Las Vegas he knew risk always held the potential for reward. So he decided to ask to her out.

But everyday, he found a reason to put it off. Everyday, he racked his brain for the right way to ask her out. Playing chess with Jason Gideon was a challenge, but for Spencer Reid finding a way to ask out Emily Prentiss was overwhelming. The only thing that ached more than the desire to connect with her was the fear she would reject him.

Then there was the plane ride when she was playing with the star puzzle. He asked her what it was, and she told him it was an impossible puzzle to solve, her frustration on her inability to solve was evident. Then she told him the story behind it, how a prince was trying to woo a beautiful woman by catching a falling star. He dropped it, and then put it together to prove his love.

"That doesn't make any sense."

"What do you mean?" Her retort came out harsher than she had intended but he didn't even blink.

"You can't catch a falling star, it would burn up in the atmosphere."

By now everyone's attention was on the two of them. This was going to be a classic Reid moment, deconstructing a romantic story.

"Well, it isn't a literal story Reid. It's a fable."

"It doesn't teach a moral. Fables teach morals."

Emily should really know better than to split hairs with reid, but she just kept on. "Well, then it's just a romantic story. Anyway, the point is it's just about impossible to solve because you have to put the pieces together exactly right." Then she stopped, as he put the star puzzle in front of her, put together perfectly. "There's a lot to hate about you Dr. Reid."

Reid had a feeling if he asked her out right then and there her answer be a resounding no.

"Try playing poker with him," Rossi said.

"Or chess," Morgan added.

"Or Go" said Garcia.

Everyone smiled knowingly, about Reid's ability with games and puzzles acknowledged. Emily couldn't help smiling. but she suddenly noticed something about Reid. Is he embarrassed? He looked uncomfortable. Despite her irritation with him, she felt sorry about the interchange between the two of them turning into something he would feel embarrassed about.

A little bit after they landed, when they were getting ready to go home Reid paused at her desk for a moment. "Uh, Emily, I just wanted to ask you something."

"What is it Reid?"

He hesitated for a moment. Don't back down, he told himself. "I was just wondering if you'd like to go out sometime."

She froze. He meant just a friendly dinner, right? "What do you mean by go out? Like for a few drinks?"

"I meant, you know, out, just the two of us. Dinner and a movie, maybe."

"Dr. Reid, are you asking me out on a date?" Her voice had a teasing tone to it, but not maliciously so.

"Yes." This was the moment, he knew, when he would either be elated, or humiliated.

Emily thought about him for a moment. She thought about their exchange on the plane, but also thinking what would a date be like with Reid. He was likely to be romantically clueless, especially after their exchange on the plane. Then again, there were times Reid could be a lot of fun. She remembered Halloween two years ago when Reid came dressed up for Halloween. Maybe...

"Sure, Reid, it sounds like fun."

In retrospect, Emily thought, it would have been much more fun if they had had their date that night. Instead, they arranged to have it on the weekend. That left them with several days to think about it. For the most part, they were able to go about their day-to-day business without anyone noticing anything being different. Mostly.

One day at the office, Emily kept having difficulty concentrating on her files. After the tenth time her mind drifted, she was irritated with herself and thought to herself, what's wrong with me? It's just a date with Reid.

Just Reid, that's all. What could possibly happen? She just happened to glance over at him at that moment and noticed he seemed deep in thought. That must be how he lives his life, deep in thought. Then she had a thought, what if he brought that same intensity to everything. Would that include sex? She shook that thought away, she didn't want to think about it. She got up and walked out of the bullpen.

Spencer noticed when she left the bullpen. All week he noticed when she did everything. He had been trying to focus on his current research project for the last twenty mnutes, but his mind kept wandering to how things might go on his date with Prentiss. He didn't think life was going to get more complicated when he asked her out. Then he really hadn't expected her to say yes. He wasn't someone people said yes to. Of course, Emily Prentiss wasn't most people.

Let it go, he thought. It will be just like the date you went on with JJ. It'll be awkward, and at the end she'll say you're a good friend. That'll be it. Don't even hope for anything more than that.

While Reid spent his energies re-focusing his mind on his work, Emily went to JJ's office. "I need your help JJ," she said.

"Yeah sure, I have nothing else to do." Her sarcasm was lost on Emily.

"I didn't think this would freak me out, but it just is. I mean I have this hanging over me head, and he's just sitting there"

"Emily, really, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Reid asked me out on a date."

JJ blinked, and then in her silkiest, most comforting voice said," Sit. Tell me all about it."

"You went out with him once, didn't you?"

"Yeah, Gideon sort of pushed him into it. I mean it was nice and all, but ... he asked you? Really? What prompted it?"

"I have no idea. I keep telling it's just Reid, but every time I look at him, I keep imagining what he's like on a date."

"On our date, he was nervous, but I think that was different. He was younger, and a Redskins game is sorta out of his comfort zone, you know?"

"But he's been on other dates, right?"

"Not that I know of, well there was that movie star he made out with on a case."

"Excuse me?"

"You could ask him about it on the date."

"Somehow I don't think so. I mean, there was that bartender who sent him her number." She was quiet for a moment. "He is kinda cute, isn't he?"

"I guess." JJ looked at Emily for a moment. " You like him don't you?"

"We all like him."

"You like him enough to go out on a date." She had a mischievous smile on her face.

"You know what, forget I said anything."

"Emily, you know he's probably just as nervous as you are."

Emily wasn't listening anymore. She was just walked out, just as Garcia was walking in. "What's with Emily, "she asked.

JJ smiled. "Close the door and I'll tell you."

The night of the date, Emily and Reid had an unusual discussion about where they were going to dinner. Reid a few Indian restaurants he liked, but he knew Emily like Italian.

"I'll make you a deal Reid. You pick the movie if we eate Chinese."

"Chinese?" He swallowed hard, and Emily smiled.

"You get extra points for trying to eat with chopsticks."

"You've heard about me and chopsticks."

"I'd love to see it first hand, though."

"Ok, deal." He might regret that, but he hoped the movie he had already picked would make up for it.

So that night, Reid picked Emily up at her place and took her to a Chinese restaurant, where she got the the thrill of watching him struggle with chopsticks. She laughed at lot, but never in a way that made him think she was making fun of him. Her laughter just seemed to convey warm to him. Part way through dinner, she actually apologized.

"I'm sorry Spencer," she said.

"For what?"

"For making you try to eat with chopsticks. I think I just didn't quite bel;eive you couldn't do it well. There really isn't much that you don't do well."

"There's a lot I don't do well."

"Like what?"

"Shoot a gun."

"At the range, maybe. Anytime we're in the field and it counts, you hit what you're shooting at."

He smiled.

"So, what movie are we seeing tonight?"

"Well, there's actually a Rocky Horror Picture Show revival tonight."

"You're kidding me, right?"

"Nope. You get to see me struggle with chopsticks, I get to take you a true cinematic experience."

Emily laughed. " I just would never imagine you at Rocky Horror."

"You don't have to imagine it. You're going to see it."

Going to see Rocky Horror with Reid was an experience. He sang along with all the songs, and even go her to sing too. It was, Emily realized, the most fun date she had been on in a long time. This was nothing like what she imagined a date with Spencer would be like. She was almost dreading it ending. Far too soon,m they were back in front of her brownstone.

She looked at him, seeing him feel a little awkward as to what should happen next. "Do you want to come in?"

"Yes, but I'm not."

"Excuse me?"

"I've been thinking what to do if we got to this point all night. All week actually, and I think that deep dwon, you're an old fashioned girl."

"Woman, Spencer. I'm not a girl, I'm a woman."

"You are that and more. I just...I'm afraid if I go in tonight, there won't be a next time."

"Maybe if you don't there won;t be a next time."

He didn't quite know what to say to that, so he kissed her. Before she knew what was happening, she was kissing him back. She didn't know how long they were kissing, but she realized there was not a single man she had ever dated or been with that kissed quite like this. Is it possible that Spencer had more experience in this area than anyone realized. When it was over, they were looking at each other lost in each others eyes. She didn't remember what they said next to each other. She was certain she wanted at least one more date with him.

Monday morning, Emily was still thinking about that kiss, and what to do about Spencer Reid. All weekend, Emily thought about her date with Reid, kept thinking what might have happened if he had come in. Did he feel the same way? Dating a co-worker was mine-field of consequences, but some risks were worth taking. Still, she wondered if he would be willing to take those risks.

"So how did it go?" it was Morgan.

"How did what go?"

"Your date with Reid."

"What? How did you " as she started to ask the question she saw Garcia and JJ talking across the bullpen. Damn it! Why did people find it so hard to keep things quiet around here. Just as she was contemplating how to answer, Reid came into the bullpen.

She had an instant plan.

"Reid, Morgan wants to know how the date went," Emily said.

Reid's response was to kiss her right there and then. It wasn't a quick kiss, but the slow, long kiss .

Emily's first thought was, "Oh God we're making out in the bullpen." Then she thought, "Damn, we're making out." Then she didn't reall have any thoughts at all.

His only thought was," Whatever it happens next, it's worth it."

When they stopped kissing she looked in his eyes and said," Do you think this is going to get you a second date?"

"No. But I'd really like there to be a second date."

"Excuse me."

They turned to see everyone, including Hotch and Rossi.

"I think you might not have understood main thrust of the sexual harassment seminar we had last week." Hotch said.

"Actually sir," Prentiss said, "at the seminar they said sexual harassment was unwanted and unwelcome contact. This was very welcome."

"Unless you're worried that someone might be offended by the public display of affection," Spencer said, "Is anyone offended?"

Everyone but Hotch laughed. Hotch smiled, shook his head, and walked away.

"So about a second date, " Reid began. Emily put her hand on his mouth.

"If you decline my invitation to come in this time, there will be no more dates, understood?"

"I really have no intention of refusing any invitations you want to make."

"Prove it. Kiss me again."

He did.

A/N: Okay, I admit mostly the story was an excuse for the two of them to make out in the bullpen in front of everyone.