Disclaimer: see the profile

A/n this Christmas story is set this year, but leaves out any possible health concerns for Dianna Reid. It is a sequel to last year's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," with Rosa and little Mary.

The sun, so eager to die at the earth's western horizon, burned orange and gold as the rental car turned off the snow covered black top and pulled into the parking lot behind its destination, Briarwood. It was December 21st, the winter solstice. It was just the right time for a small vacation at a tiny Vermont bed and breakfast, Spencer Reid thought as he parked the car.

He shut off the ignition and turned to his passenger, who slept with her head drooping on her shoulder. Her long, black hair waved across her face and puffed gently with each breath. He wanted to see her bottomless dark eyes that held him as her willing captive every time he looked at her.

"Rosa," he said and touched her shoulder.

She jerked awake, sighed long and loud and brushed her hair from her face. "Hey," she greeted him with a smile that sent shivers down his spine.

"We're here."

She pushed up and whistled. "Wow, it's gorgeous. Nice sunset."

"I had it made, just for you."

She rolled her eyes. "Cute."

"I did!" he repeated in fake-hurt tone.

"Aw…" she said unsympathetically. "That's so nice."

"If you're going to laugh at me, I'll get my own room and you can sleep alone."

She reached over and squeezed his hand like a vice. "So sensitive."

He grinned at her and said. "Did you know that the colors at sunrise and sunset are made from air molecules and air-borne particles that change the white sunlight we see? Blue and green have shorter wavelengths and scatter more strongly. At sunset and sunrise when the path is longest, blue and green are removed completely. We see orange and red, which have longer wavelengths."

"I love your silver tongue," Rosa said.

She reached over and kissed him until he had to push her away from want of oxygen. "We should go inside," he pointed out.

She ran her fingers through his wavy hair. "Now that is the best idea you've had all day.

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"Oh my goodness, this is amazing," Rosa exclaimed as they entered their assigned room.

"Yeah, it's definitely pleasing to the eye."

"You have such a way with words," she said as she explored the room.

It was dominated by a huge canopy bed with thick, mahogany stained, wooden posters at each end. The bed clothes were as white as the snow outside the window. The canopy was brilliant white lace that looked antique despite the pure snowiness of the material.

In one corner of the room, on a matching mahogany stand, stood an old fashioned pitcher and bowl. The porcelain was decorated with pink roses, and green leaves. On the shelves below, sat two baskets of potpourri in late fall colors. They perfumed the room in such a way that made him inhale deeply and with much satisfaction."

He went to one of the big, sectioned windows that were hung with curtains edged in matching white lace. "Great view."

Rosa joined him and he put his arm around her waist. He loved to just be with her and hold her tight in his arms. She smelled even better than the fresh potpourri, or the cold, crisp air they'd walked through to reach the door.

"Yeah," Rosa was saying. "Looks like the sunset is nearly over."

The color in the sky had turned golden and cerulean blue at the edges. The fir trees were nearly black and they threw shadows that disappeared against the snow.

"This was a great idea," Rosa said.

"I wanted to get you out of the city after your undercover assingment."

She hugged him hard around the waist because his beautiful hazel eyes, full of concern, loved her.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I don't know how I survived my job before I met you."

"You had Lee."

She grinned up at him with sparkling eyes. "A cop's partner is like a sister, or brother as the case may be, which is all well and good…" She winked at him and he went a little pink in the cheeks.

"I'm not sure I'm going to like the termination of your thought process." He said cautiously.

"On the other hand, Lee isn't a man. She isn't tall, handsome, with wavy hair, puppy dog eyes and magician's hands."

"Come on," he pulled back from her, or attempted to pull back, but she held on tight. "I don't have puppy dog eyes," he insisted.

"One of these days, I'm going to get you in front of a mirror at just the right time."

He kissed her and all thoughts of trying to understand the effect he had on women in general and her in specific, fled.

"Why don't we make ourselves comfortable in that nice, big bed over there? That quilt looks to die for."

"It's only 4 pm," he squeaked.

"Then we'll call it a pre-dinner quickie."

"They don't serve dinner here," he squeaked.

"I did my homework. There's a great restaurant a mile down the road. We can "relax" a little then go get something to eat."

"If you insist," he replied resignedly."

"Don't pretend you won't enjoy it. I happen to know better."

"True, as long as you're not gentle," he requested solemnly.

"I've no intention," she retorted. "Now," she tugged on his hand. "Come with me, big guy."

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The restaurant down the road took all the business from the bed and breakfast and patrons from the little town down the road. Someone had named the place, "The Black Dog." Despite the name, the atmosphere was fantastic, in Spencer's opinion.

"I'm glad we decided on a late dinner," Rosa squeezed his hand across the scarlet linen table cloth.

"I like this place," He said happily. "It's small, and quiet and it smells delicious."

The Black Dog, established in 1809, had begun its existence as a huge, two story private family home in 1785. It was a true log cabin and just large enough for twelve tables on the ground floor and ten more on the second floor under a steeply pitched roof. Spencer liked the view that looked out over the first floor. They had a table next to the railing and he began to people watch.

"Hey," Rosa tapped his hand. "What's so interesting down there?"

"Oh," he grinned at her annoyed look. "I'm supposed to be paying attention to you."

"Smart guy," she said calmly, but he knew he was in trouble. "I suppose you think that since you "got some," before this wonderful, romantic dinner, you can ignore me."

"Rosa!"

"I must be losing my appeal."

"Rosa!"

"I bought a new dress and put up my hair and –"

"You made your point," he interrupted and she grinned at him.

"I'm just jerking your chain, babe. I love to watch you profile – I mean people watch."

He narrowed his eyes at her as their server approached with their meals. "That wasn't funny."

"Come on, Spencer. I was just kidding."

He pouted for a minute, then smiled. "I think that when we get back to our room, I'm going right to sleep."

She stopped in the act of lifting a forkful of colorful roasted vegetables to her lips. "You think so."

"Yes," he said primly. "You should have thought about the consequences before you decided to tease."

"I'm a homicide detective, don't mess with me."

"You better eat instead of bragging. I think your blood sugar is plummeting."

"I can't wait to hear the explanation for this." She finally took a bite of her vegetables.

"You've obviously forgotten that I'm a trained FBI profiler."

"What does that have to do with plummeting blood sugar?"

He paused to chew some of the crunchy and delicious dinner roll he'd just buttered.

"Because forgetfulness it's a symptom of low blood sugar."

She watched him stab his fork into his thinly sliced steak. "I haven't forgotten you're an FBI agent. Why do you think I go out with you?"

He smirked at her around more of his bread. "Will we ever have a serious conversation?"

"No! Why? Teasing you is much more fun."

"Remember that, the next time I tease you."

She grinned and sliced into her chicken. They ate in silence for a while. She watched him go back to people watching. She loved observing him while he went about his favorite hobby whenever they were in public. It made her grateful and so happy she'd been in the right place and time to meet him.

"What are you thinking?"

She realized that he'd finished people watching and most of his meal. He gazed at her with his beautiful eyes and chills began to run up and down her spine. She shivered despite the roaring fire in the huge fireplace on the first floor. Getting lost in his eyes was her favorite pastime.

"I was thinking that I'm the luckiest woman on the planet."

Pink rose in his cheeks as he reached for her hand. "I must argue with you again."

She rolled her eyes. "Why? My love."

"Because I'm the luckiest man on the earth. A beautiful, intelligent, ass kicking woman loves me and puts up with all my oddities."

"Your oddities make you sexy," she informed him after swallowing more of her vegetables.

"If you say so."

"I do say so, and after all, it's my opinion that counts."

By the time their dessert arrived, along with more excellent wine, he'd completely thrown off the after effects of her horrible last case.

He watched Rosa cut into the chocolate ganache cheesecake that was a house specialty and saw that she'd relaxed, too. It was more than the beautiful drive up from Virginia to snow covered Vermont. It wasn't the fantastic sex or the delicious meal. It was getting back to the easiness that had been lacking since her short undercover stint.

"What are you thinking?"

"That I never want to spend three months away from you again."

Her eyes, so deep and dark and beautiful were serious now, and full of love for him. "I'm done with undercover work."

"I'm ecstatic," he admitted.

"Me too. I missed you so much, baby."

"You saved the lives of a dozen women about to be sold into slavery. I'm so proud of you."

"It was everything I learned from watching you. If I hadn't spent the last two years learning your tactics, I don't think I could have forced out their location for that – well, we are in mixed company so I'll watch my language."

He squeezed her hand and spooned up more of his Tiramisu. "I'm glad to be of service, my lady."

She rolled her eyes again. "Watch it, mister."

They lapsed into more comfortable silence. It was nice to be back in a rhythm that had served them so well in the last two years. She was back in his arms where she belonged at last.

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The moon shone full and white in the window, when Rosa opened the door to their room. "Oh, it's so beautiful in here. Don't turn on the light for a minute, please."

Spencer shut the door behind them and led her over to the bed.

"Is that all you ever think about? She joked. "I want to look at the moon."

He didn't respond and she could feel that his hand was shaking. He wouldn't meet her eyes in the clear light of the moon.

"Hey, I was teasing."

He reached into his pocket and removed a small, black box.

"Spencer!"

"I wanted us to come up here so I could ask you something."

"I –"

"Shh… Don't interrupt."

She saluted him and now her hands were shaking and she couldn't quite breathe properly.

"I love you, Rosa Castillo. I wanna tell everyone that you belong to me."

"Belong," she said and burst into laughter at the look on his face.

"Hey, I'm trying to ask you to marry me."

"I'm sorry, you're doing well. I'm really nervous."

"I'm nervous too, you know?"

"Oh right. I am sorry, Spencer. I just love you so much it hurts. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. "

"Does that me you'll marry me?"

She threw her arms around him and kissed him as her tears mingled with his. "Yes," she finally shouted. "Yes, I will marry you."

He laughed with complete relief and opened the little ring box. "I hope you like it."

"This moonlight is extremely romantic and all, but I want to see the ring. Turn on the light."

He switched on the bed side lamp. They both blinked for a moment then her eyes latched on to the ring. "It's breathtaking. I love it."

She watched like a hawk as he slipped it on her finger. It was about half carat, round solitaire, and the light of the lamp made it sparkly like the sun on new snow. It was just the sort of ring she'd always imagined.

"It's just like what I thought I'd have, but how did you know?"

"Because I know what you like."

"Have I ever told you I love profilers?"

"Profilers, as in plural," he teased.

"Oh, you."

She shoved him over on the bed and straddled him. "Just for that, I will be gentle this time."

"I'm sorry," he whined.

"You should have thought of that before you decided to turn into a smart ass."

"I promise to be good."

"Too late."