TITLE: Once Upon a Movie Night - Chapter One

BY : Tubbie

RATING: T or that thing we know as PG to be safe

BETA'ed by: Linda/brynna

SYPNOSIS: Alex goes to the movies.

COMMENTS: Fairy Tales. Who knew?

DISCLAIMER: Everything relating to Criminal Intent is owned by Dick Wolf an NBC productions. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.

Alex kicked back in her seat, and was all set for the movie she had come to see. Friday night at the art and classic cinema, what a great way to start the weekend. One of the older movie houses in the city, the Nostalgic, had been renovated in recent years and it had been always a favorite place for her to relax. She needed the distraction of a movie to put the newly closed Marlow case out of her mind. The exhaustion from that case had caught up to her and she really need to unwind.

'Oh boy, here is a glitch. Where did this guy come from?' Alex thought. 'Why do the tallest people sit right in front of me, and with a pointed hooded sweatshirt on, to boot?'

"Hey, shortie, could you move over or slump way down? You're blocking the screen."

Slowly the hood moved from side to side in a negative gesture.

"So how do I improve my view?"

Without turning around, the hooded figure pointed a finger at Alex, then rotating his hand downward to point at the seat to the right of himself. Something about the movement reminded Alex of somebody. Just then, a snarky thought crossed her mind. 'Let's play.'

"Sure, why not!" Grabbing up her red licorice candy and bottled water, she made her way down a row and occupied the offered seat. The hooded one stared straight ahead, not showing his face or talking to her.

"You were right, the view is much better here," said Alex, fighting back the grin that tried to creep into her voice. "I'll have you explain this great seating arrangement to my popcorn-retrieving boyfriend. Oh, look, here he comes now."

The hooded figure froze and his breathing seemed to be on hold. A pause, a beat, a skip. Alex figured even a boyfriend on crutches would have appeared by now.

Her voice that no longer fought a grin stated, "Give it up Bobby. That's a lame disguise."

With his chin down, the hood tilted to the right, he now rotated to view a smug looking Eames.

"It's not a disguise." Goren began to unzip and remove his hooded sweatshirt. Alex noted his casual attire of a black T-shirt under a black polo shirt, with just broken-in jeans.

"So, where is your boyfriend?" Bobby tried to sound casual. His flat verbal delivery might have worked if Alex hadn't noticed his eyes darting about the theater. His gaze kept lingering on males carrying popcorn bags.

"I'll let you know when I get one. Besides, what guy would want to come with me to see a 1946 French version of Beauty and the Beast?"

"Uh, I would." Bobby muttered under his breath.

Pretending not to hear that, Alex broke out her licorice vines, offered one to Bobby and asked, "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I came to see this Jean Cocteau movie. It's considered one of his best."

"I wouldn't have thought a fairy tale would intrigue you this much."

"Once upon a time makes it all right to be a child again. As a child, one can believe anything is possible, a state of mind entirely based on faith." Faith. The sound of the word seemed to make him smile. "Sometimes that's a nice state of mind to have. Besides, this is great place to meet Beautiful, intelligent women and steal their snacks." Bobby grinned as he reached over to pilfer a hand full of unguarded licorice.

"Hey, that's my dinner," Alex said, in mock protest.

"No, it's not. We'll eat after the movie."

The theater lights dimmed and a preview started. As Alex sat back and enjoyed the roominess of her seat, she realized Bobby could use a tad bit more room.

"Bobby, take your arm off the armrest."

"Which one?"

"The one between us."

He looked a bit perplexed at this request. Once his arm had moved Alex flipped the cup holder armrest back between the two seats, his puzzlement changed to awe. He reached up and pulled the armrest a small degree back down, then returned it to rest out of the way.

"It's called Love Seat-Style Seating." Alex answered before being asked. "I'm sure it's a marketing tag line that sells lots of tickets. Get comfortable, I've got more seat here than I need. Scout's honor, I won't bite."

Bobby shifted and stretched out. "Here." He put his right arm around Alex and pulled her close to him. Alex's eyes registered surprise, but the fit was very agreeable. He reminded her, "No biting, that includes nibbling." She rolled her eyes.

With that the movie began. Alex, untroubled by Bobby's mass beside her really relaxed for the first time that day and simply enjoyed his nearness. It was a surprise to Alex to find her constantly in motion partner was absorbed enough to sit quietly. It wasn't every man who could be content to watch a classic French fairy tale. But then Bobby was far from what anyone would call an every man.

The city, the crimes, the stress, the ugliness that was part of their daily lives was forgotten for the next ninety-six minutes. Here in this dark theater they could drop their formal attributes and relax.

Something in the film would amuse him and he would give a quick squeeze. She in turn would nod in agreement. If an image caught her fancy, her body would shift ever so slightly, but the tiny movement wouldn't be missed as he would look her way to acknowledge her reaction. Through out the movie this silent dance of communication went on. If a patron would have noticed them, they would have seen two very in-sync people. Nobody would ever have guessed this was the first time the couple had ever been to the movies together.

Two major case detectives relaxing from a grueling day, pick a fairy tale to watch.

Who knew?