Title: Au Natural (Prologue)
Author: dustytiger aka Trista Groulx
Rating: T (like the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I do not on CM. I am still poor. CM still belongs to its creator, network, writers, actors and actresses who bring it to life weekly.
Summary: Prentiss and Reid are getting married, but what brought them to this point?
Notes: I have been working on this for a long time now but it's finally ready to post. The prologue is a bit of a tease but I promise it'll be worth it. The idea for the beginning of their relationship has been haunting me for a while but you'll see how this plays out. In this fic Prentiss doesn't leave. Not really overly AU cause she hasn't yet on screen we just know it's happening. This whole fic is pretty much just about happy stuffs after dealing with Reid's headaches you'll see. The title took me forever but I listened to a See Spot Run (band not movie or book) and here it is… finally!


"Reid, breathe man," Derek Morgan reminded Spencer Reid.

It was only then that Reid noticed that he had, in fact, not taken a breath since the doors had opened revealing Emily Prentiss in a long fitted ivory halter top dress. He took a deep breath and couldn't stop staring at her. The hundreds of people who were in the historic church seemed to have disappeared and all he could focus on was that they were really going to be married. He forgot that he once thought he might elope and embraced the moment. The only thing that mattered to him was that by some stroke of luck he was able to have this moment. The socially awkward genius, who believed at points in his life that he would never find a girlfriend, let alone a wife, was watching the love of his life walking toward him happy to accept him as hers for the rest of their lives.

Prentiss' mother had chosen almost everything to do with the wedding, the guest list, the menu, the location, the flowers, the groom's attire, leaving Prentiss to choose her own dress and the couple to choose the date and wedding party. The one thing Prentiss had insisted upon was that she didn't want a substitute to walk her down the aisle, although David Rossi had offered, many times. If she could not have her father beside her she would do this her way. Emily Prentiss was going down the aisle herself when her eyes locked with Reid's, taking deep even breaths trying to forget how many eyes were upon her. She knew some of the dignitaries who didn't know her well were going to whisper about her choice but it didn't matter to her. Rossi had offered more than once to walk with her but she just didn't feel right accepting the offer. Her mother thought it was her daughter just being stubborn, and maybe she was but she wanted her dad and no one else.

When she reached her soon to be husband she took his hand and nothing else mattered to her. The journey had brought them to this point hadn't been easy but they were there and no one could dictate how she felt in that moment. There was a point she thought she might never be able to have him in her life again and now they were standing at the alter together. She couldn't help but feel blessed especially after everything they had gone through to get there. As much as she knew that eloping like he'd thought they might would save headaches she also knew she wanted this moment, taking his hand after walking down the aisle and she knew doing it any other place but this church she'd always wanted to be married in would not feel as perfect. She was thrilled, and despite having such a large group gathered the only people she really noticed was the wedding party; their family.

Morgan, who was the best man, was standing next to Reid scanning the people in the pews, no doubt looking to see who he might be interested in getting to know better during and after the reception. Both David Rossi and Aaron Hotchner were standing beside Morgan looking far too comfortable in their tuxes and in the situation she wondered how many times they had been groomsmen before. She made eye contact with each of her maids of honour, Penelope Garcia and Jennifer Jareau. Garcia was already starting to get misty eyes while JJ was whispering to her son to stop fidgeting. Little Henry Lamontange was the ring bearer but being only two he was playing with the pillow, his fingers, his tie, his buttons and anything else he could distract himself with, much to the chagrin of his mother.

The minister cleared his throat and began the ceremony. The whole church remained fairly quiet as they exchanged their vows, which they'd written themselves. Prentiss even began to tear up as Reid promised his eternal love for her. It still amazed her that he had given her a second chance and that had led to this. When she began to recite her own vows she promised not to let her past hurt them again which caused goose bumps to form on Reid's arms and she could see there were tears in his eyes which he was trying to hide.

The minister looked at Henry. "Can I get the rings?"

"Mommy gived 'em to Unca Dewek cause I was a loose 'em!" Henry replied, making the crowd chuckle.

The minister smiled at the little boy as Morgan took out the rings, giving them to the minister. He gave Reid Prentiss' ring. As he placed the ring on her finger his hands were shaking. She smiled at him trying to reassure him that it would be all right and he seemed to relax. It still amazed her that she had such an effect on him. When he put his ring on her finger her emotions finally got the better of her, everything started to feel much more real. The tears that had been welling up for the better part of the ceremony finally began to fall. Reid instinctively used his thumbs to wipe her eyes as he had done the times she had cried in front of him in the past. It was a sweet and loving gesture and there were content sighs heard from various guests in the church.

Finally the ceremony ended and as she kissed him gently could feel the blush of his cheeks. As much as he had told her he was all right with this she had wondered how the kiss might go. She knew he never liked public displays of affection which was part of the reason she'd originally wanted a smaller ceremony. Even with everything almost over she still found it amazing that he'd agreed to do this for her. After they left the chapel they went to a park her mother had chosen so they could have their pictures taken.

Prentiss never thought the photographs could take longer than the ceremony. But her mother had insisted that almost every photo be shot and reshot until she felt it was just right. Again she was amazed by Reid's ability to grin and bear it. She knew that when she looked back on the day the pictures would bring back fond memories but she still wondered if her mother was taking it a step too far. She was starting to get annoyed by everything when Reid reached over and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear lovingly. She smiled at him and for a moment all the stress started to disappear. It amazed her that he knew her well enough to know exactly how and when to do something so sweet.

After the pictures were finally done being taken they got into the limousine to go to the reception. Both of them were glad for a few minutes alone together. Prentiss ran her fingers along his face tenderly. He again brushed her hair away from her face. There was something about that simple gesture that took her to another plain and she hoped he'd always do it. She closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of his long fingers across her cheek. He then brushed his lips against hers in a sweet embrace.

"I love you," she whispered pulling away from him.

"I love you too," he assured her.

"I still can't believe you endured all of this today just for me."

"Emily you were there for me when I thought I was going to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, or cancer or some kind of inoperable brain tumour that might leave me not remembering how to tie my own shoes. You helped me find out what was wrong with me and to learn how to live with the diagnosis. I would do anything to show you just how much that meant to me and if that means one day of being incredibly uncomfortable in order to become your husband then I'll take it."

"Spencer I wanted to help you, but today is different."

"I don't see it that way. I know this wasn't exactly how you thought our wedding might be, but I know that none the less you are happy, and that's what matters to me Emily." He kissed her softly.

"Mmm," she sighed into the feather light kiss. She kept thinking about how in a few hours they would be on their honeymoon where no one would be able to interrupt them for a full week. She never thought that she would find a way to coexist with her mother, but somehow being with Reid had given her that chance. She knew that a part of it was because her mother had always wanted her to be introduced as Doctor and Missus at her wedding, but somehow Prentiss had found someone who made her happy, who also was approved by her mother and they had become closer than they'd ever been as a result. Reid endured anything her mother threw at them just to see Prentiss happy and she couldn't ask for anything more. It still amazed her that they had found their way to this place after her faked death. There was a point she was afraid she would never earn his friendship again and now she knew and so did a lot of other people who were there that day that they had each other's hearts; and were committed to each other for the rest of their lives.

End Prologue (or the beginning really)

Notes: So that's that. I've had this written for months now but I needed the fic to be pretty much done before I started to post it. This is gonna be a long one. I will update daily barring something strange happening with ff. Let me know what you think lovelies. heart and hugz -trista