Title: Love and Logic

Author: AnitaB

Author's notes: This is a prequel of sorts to "Sense and Poetry." But in this one, we get to see more of the rest of the team. They wouldn't miss JJ and Reid's wedding for the world.

Love and Logic

By AnitaB

Chapter one: Impatient People or Get me to the church on time

It was killing him. And it was a stupid tradition to begin with. Primitive, superstitious folklore at the most generous he could bring himself to be. But she liked traditions. And before he'd dragged himself out of her arms yesterday morning, he'd gotten a soft thank you and a sweet smile. He'd also gotten her kiss and the tangle of her hair around his fingers. He hadn't gotten the sight or sound of her at all in the near 24 hours since then. //Stupid traditions.\\

"What time is it, Hotch?" Reid straightened his cuffs for what had to be the millionth time. The tux didn't fit right over his normal, very practical chunk of a watch.

"One minute and forty five seconds later than the last time you asked, Reid. You got her to say yes, months ago. Why are you suddenly nervous now?" Hotch brushed Reid's hands off his bowtie to straighten it himself, along with the shirt collar and jacket lapels. "You think JJ's getting cold feet?"

"No, she's not. And I'm not nervous, Hotch. I know JJ wants to marry me, even if I don't know exactly why. I just … miss her." Reid twitched his fingers over the ring box in his pocket. She was already wearing his engagement ring and this wedding band would join it on her finger today. "It's been months since I had to go a full day without seeing her. And even longer since I had to sleep alone." He dragged his fingertips off the little velvet box and let Hotch fiddle with the antique cufflinks on both his wrists. "I don't like sleeping alone anymore."

"I know exactly what you mean, Spencer. At least your fiancé travels with us on cases. My wife stays home." Hotch gave him a twist of a smile as he got the cufflinks even.

"I guess that shows that Reid really is our resident genius, huh, Hotch?" Elle watched from the doorway as two male heads turned at the sound of her voice. She was wearing a bride's maid's dress of course. But Reid wasn't marrying a dummy. It was a simple, nearly functional formal in a reddish color. JJ told him it was burgundy, but that color looked nothing like the alcohol. "Or does JJ get the credit for picking you?"

"I'm not sure that there's any clear relationship between intelligence and romantic decisions." He watched Elle's head give him back his traditional question-tilt. "Or no one smart at all would marry any of us. Intellectually speaking, anyone in law enforcement is a bad bet emotionally. Cop marriages have a much higher divorce rate than the average American couple."

Hotch nodded with a hint of world-weariness in his eyes. "Those are the statistics. But we know better, don't we?" Then his eyes held a smile as they flicked to the hand Elle was holding a bouquet with. Hidden behind the baby's breath and white lilies were her engagement and wedding rings. Jason Gideon, their boss and leader, had his matching wedding ring where he was wrangling the other groomsmen into their tuxes.

"Speaking of knowing better, your bride sent me with a message." Elle walked forward to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "JJ says you should remember to breathe and that she's missing you as much as you're missing her." Elle smiled at him as she slid the long straight pin of a boutonniere that matched her bouquet through his lapel. "And don't lock your knees like you did at the rehearsal. But that last bit is from me."

He could see it happening again behind his eyes. But what else could he do when the most beautiful woman in the world gave him that smile and look as she'd walked toward him down that aisle. How was he supposed to breathe around his heart in his throat. Reid hadn't passed out, but it had been a close call. And she'd been in a business suit at the time, not even her dress. JJ always stole his breath. "Thank you, Elle. Tell her…" He paused a moment, searching for the right words. "Tell her I'm waiting … very impatiently to become her husband and I miss her so much."

"I'm sure she knows, but I'll tell her." Elle turned to Hotch with a smile. "You have ten minutes to get him to that altar."

"No worries, Elle, I'll have him there with minutes to spare."

"I've waited far too long for this to ever be late, Elle. I haven't seen JJ in more than a day. We'll be there."

000

Brides were supposed to be nervous on their wedding days. But JJ wasn't nervous at all. In ten minutes she would be walking down to aisle to become Mrs. Reid. Spence would be standing at that altar in his tux, watching her walk to his side like she was his world. She missed him, so much…his eyes, his hands in her hair, his lips on hers. //Spence,\\

She couldn't keep chewing on her lip or she'd have to redo her lipstick… again. In just a few minutes, JJ would get those long, sensitive fingers on her skin, sliding a wedding band onto her finger. He would stare into her eyes and make a promise with his voice and his kiss.

Dr. Spencer Reid loved her with everything he was and to this day, JJ still didn't understand what she'd done to deserve the devotion of such an incredible man. "What time is it, Penelope?"

Her friend and matron of honor smiled before not looking at her watch. "The same time it was the last time you asked." Penelope flicked the hem of the train into place and handed the bride a bouquet. "Three minutes after you sent Elle to give Reid your message and one of your flowers."

"Well, he needed one. And this whole full day apart thing hasn't been easy on either of us." JJ fought the urge to bite her lip and played with her engagement ring instead. "I miss him, Pen. I couldn't get warm last night."

A wicked little laugh turned her head. "Well, sweetheart, that's what you get for having traditional parents. You wouldn't believe the things Derrick and I did the night before our wedding. Warm was just the beginning."

"Not wanting to know and not believing aren't the same thing." JJ gave her best friend a smile and glanced at the doorway. "I just don't need those pictures in my head."

"Reid's pining too." Elle stepped in through the far door and joined the two women in front of the full length mirror. "He said, and I quote 'Tell her I'm waiting very impatiently to become her husband and I miss her so much.' Hotch promised to get him to the altar on time."

Now JJ couldn't help biting her lip. Her man could be so damn sweet. He didn't seem to understand sometimes that he was exactly what she wanted in a guy. Sweet, smart, stubborn enough to stand his ground and yet willing to compromise. Her Spence made her heart beat faster and still listened to her ideas. And today she was lucky enough to marry him.

"Jason and Derrick are riding herd on the assorted little ones." Penelope passed her the lipstick tube and waved a hand at her. "Hailey's got your dad ready at the end of the aisle. If you quit messing up your makeup, I think we're almost ready for this show to get on the road."

"I've been ready for weeks." JJ knew she was still wearing what the girls had started calling the "Reid daydreaming" expression. It was right there in the mirror as she fixed her lipstick for the last time. "Let's send in the kiddies. It's time for a wedding."

Time that had felt so damn slow since Spence had left her with a kiss yesterday morning finally seemed to speed up. The next thing she knew, JJ was standing next to her father and watching little five year old Daniel Morgan walk down the aisle arm in arm with her niece Sally. Just behind Danny was his twin brother Cody with a three year old Erica Gideon on his arm. The boys had their mother's bright smile and their father's charm, as proven by the adoring expressions on her flower girls' faces. Behind the children walked Elle and Jason to be closer to the little girl just in case she decided to make a break for the doors like last time.

Then Hotch with Hailey on his arm turned the corner into the chapel. One more pair of people and JJ herself could make that turn and finally see Spencer waiting for her at the altar. Time slowed again and it felt like hours passed before Derrick and Penelope moved far enough down the aisle for JJ's father to lead her into it.

//Spence,\\ He was… breathtaking. Tall, lean lines dressed up beautifully in a smooth, black tux and a spotless white shirt. But what really changed her heart rate was the look on his face. Love, pure, sweet, hot love burned out of his eyes as they locked on her face. From fifty feet away, she watched him swallow hard and clench his hands into fists. Only the slight tightening of her father's hand on her arm kept JJ from breaking step to go to him. "Daddy…"

"I see it, my little Jenny. That man loves you more than anything else in his world." His fingers stroked the back of her hand as he smiled at her. "Just like I love your mother. Stay right here with me and I'll give you to him quick enough."

Now she was the one in danger of passing out. JJ couldn't seem to drag enough air into her lungs around the lump of her heart in her throat. Her heart was pounding hard against the inside of her ribs. The feeling of drowning and flying at the same time only got more intense with each agonizingly slow step to Spencer's side. She needed him, right now. She needed his hands, his voice, the sweet, desperate heat of his kiss.

Was this damn aisle getting longer?

000