Title: Wedding Date Blues: Dinner with the Prentisses (Part 2 of 5)
Author: Trista Groulx
Rating: T, same as the show
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, I just think they need to get out and play more often. I shall return them unharmed. They belong to their network, creator, writers and actors and actresses who brought them to life.
Summary: Emily Prentiss is told she must attend a high profile family wedding, along with a date. She decides to bring her friend and co-worker Spencer Reid. Reid had no idea what he agreed to.
Notes: I'm glad people seem to like the pairing. I promise it is going to get more fun as time goes on. I am considering making a separate "M" epilogue if anyone is interested.

Prentiss and Reid entered the hotel room together. Reid looked around, he had stayed in a lot of hotels in his life, but none were as nice as this one. It was huge, he had seen apartments smaller then the hotel room they were standing in. It had everything they could possibly need, including a kitchenette and a Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. He noticed there was only was a king sized bed, and a very uncomfortable looking sofa. Reid wondered where he was supposed to sleep.

He carefully put down the bags in his hands, since he had taken in one of Prentiss' heavier bags along with his own. Prentiss meanwhile was hanging up the garment bags she had in the closet. She did not seem surprised by the room, as Reid stood there looking slightly stunned.

"I'm having flashbacks to my childhood," she laughed.

"You've stayed in places like this before?" he asked. "I think I might be jealous."

"There is nothing to be jealous about, moving around and living out suitcases isn't very glamorous, really. I always hated it when we had to live in hotel rooms when my mother was first reassigned."

"I guess not having a home to go to at the end of the night wouldn't be much fun. So even luxury hotels start looking the same after a while?"

She laughed. "Yes, the only difference between this one and the ones I grew up is that there isn't a second bedroom."

"That would be helpful right now. Having two rooms I mean," he admitted. "That couch doesn't look overly comfortable."

"We're supposed to be a couple Reid."

"But we aren't," he reminded her.

"I know, but we can be adults can't we, and share a bed? I've shared a bed with a friend before, it's not that terrible."

"Sure. While we're on the subject of trying to make this look real, you may want to stop calling me Reid while we're here. It's a dead give away that I'm your colleague."

"You're right R- Spencer."

"So, uh, Emily what is the plan?"

"My mother wants us to have dinner with her and my aunt, who happens to be the mother of the bride this evening. Open your suit case."

"Why?"

"You are not wearing a geeky sweater vest when you meet my aunt! Now open your damn suit case and let me see what you packed."

He opened up the suit case without arguing anymore. After having been forced to go shopping with her he knew better then to try to defend himself. Prentiss had a goal in her head, and Reid was just along for the ride. She pulled out a light button down shirt and a pair of brown dress pants for him.

"Wear matching socks, and a plain tie, that matches your socks, please," she said. "I'm going to get in the shower."

"No one is going to see my socks, I don't see why I have to change who I am in order to be your fake date."

"My mother will notice your un-matching socks. Don't argue with a woman who hasn't had a shower and has to deal with her family."

He nodded, pulling out a pair of socks, and a tie, before she disappeared into the bathroom. He was surprised when he heard the water running stop while he was finishing getting dressed in the clothes she had picked out for him. She must have gotten in the bath, since he could hear her humming to herself. The sound was intoxicating, and he needed to distract himself. He picked up the book she had put on the night stand; Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut and began to read it. He hoped that it would be a quick bath at the rate he read.

She came out a few minutes after he had finished reading the book. She was wearing a red dress with spaghetti straps, which went down to her knees. He looked up at her and smiled at her, as he put the book back where he had found it. Prentiss was impressed by the way he looked. She wasn't expecting Reid to pull himself together so well for this. She was glad she had brought him along. He actually looked like the kind of guy she liked to date. She wondered when that had happened.

"Good read?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, it was interesting. I liked it. You have good taste."

"Thank you. You clean up well Reid- I mean Spencer."

"Thanks. You look amazing, by the way. If I really was your boyfriend I might have to be jealous that every other man in the room was staring at you."

"Thank you. If you were my boyfriend you could also keep thinking that you're the guy taking me up to your room. Which, you are, regardless of what this is," she explained, slipping on a pair of stilettos. "So you really don't have anything to worry about."

"Um, wow."

She smiled, glad to have gotten such a positive reaction from him. She picked up her purse, as Reid slipped on his own shoes, and the pair exited the room. When they got closer to the dining room Reid took her hand. She smiled, partly because she was glad he was playing along, and partly because it felt nice to have human contact. She hadn't realised before how much she missed having someone close to her when she walked into a hard situation.

They went into the dinning room where Prentiss scanned the room for her mother and aunt. She knew that they would arrive earlier then they had planned to meet. Even though she and Reid were early, she saw her mother and aunt right away. She went right over to them. The two women at the table stood up to greet them, both of them giving Prentiss hugs.

"Hi Emily," said Elizabeth.

"Hi Mom, you remember Spencer, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes, I do. It's good to see you again Doctor Reid."

"Same to you Ambassador Prentiss," Reid said, shaking her hand.

"Aunt Victoria I'd like to meet my boyfriend, Doctor Spencer Reid," Emily said with a smile. "Spencer, this is my aunt, Victoria Prentiss."

Reid then extended his hand to the slightly younger of the sisters. "Nice to meet you Misses Prentiss."

He let the women sit down first, pulling Prentiss' chair out for her, and tucking it back in for her. She smiled at him, as the two older Prentiss women nodded approvingly. Prentiss was glad that Reid was playing the part so well. She knew she would not have to worry about the wedding the next day. Their server came over to take their drink orders.

"I'll get a glass of white wine," Prentiss said, after her mother and aunt ordered themselves red wine.

"I'll just have water please," said Reid.

"Spencer," said Prentiss. "You can have a drink as well it's not like we're driving."

He shrugged. "I'm not really in the mood."

His senses were already overwhelmed by playing the part of Prentiss' boyfriend, and he knew that if he had a few drinks he would say or do something he would later regret. Prentiss gently patted his knee as if to tell him she understood. He felt a bolt of energy go through him, and he needed to get attention away from where his thoughts were going.

"This hotel is beautiful, and from what I've read it has quite a lot of history to it Misses Prentiss. Your daughter is lucky to be getting married such a romantic setting," he said, making eye contact with the only Prentiss woman who was not making him feel uncomfortable at that moment.

"We were very lucky to have gotten this venue," she explained, smiling at him. "Where have you been hiding this young man Emily? He's very charming."

"Under my bed," laughed Prentiss.

"They work together," explained Elizabeth with a loud sigh.

"It's not like that Ambassador," Reid assured Prentiss' mother, taking Prentiss' hand once again. "A man can only resist those big brown eyes so long before he realises just how special of a woman he has been working beside."

Prentiss actually felt herself blushing. "Spencer, stop," she whispered.

"This is all fairly new to us. We haven't even told the team yet to be honest."

"So what made you decide to be more then co-workers?" asked Victoria, she always liked to get gossip.

"Aunt Victoria!" exclaimed Prentiss, horrified, not sure what Reid was going to say.

"You're always so shy. Let Spencer speak for heaven's sake."

Reid laughed. "It's nothing overly romantic I'm afraid. We were out after a case one night, the whole team, not just the two of. This drunk guy kept on trying to hit on Emily. Finally I got sick of it, and told him to leave my lady alone. Next thing I know she's kissing me, and after that I just knew we needed to get to know each other better."

Prentiss chuckled, knowing that it was actually believable. She decided to play along with his lie. It was such a nice story after all. He had actually gotten a drunk guy away from her a few weeks ago by telling him that she was his girlfriend. Now she wondered if maybe she should have kissed him. She figured all these thoughts were coming into her head because of the wedding. She never would have thought about kissing Reid before they had arrived in the historic, and romantic old hotel.

"The whole team still thinks that all Spencer ever did was get that guy away from me at the bar. They don't even know we've been dating what is it a month Sweetie?"

"Almost," Reid said, smiling. "I have something very special planned for you when we get home. I know you'll love it."

Prentiss noticed her mother was looking less then impressed by this part of Reid's story. "Don't worry Mom, he's a gentleman. He hasn't tried anything. He even offered to sleep on the couch in our room while we are here."

"There is no need for that Spencer," Elizabeth assured him. "I know you won't take advantage of my daughter."

"I have a lot of respect for Emily. Besides if I ever tried anything I know she's armed and is a better shot then me."

Victoria laughed, rather loudly at that, but Elizabeth looked a very unimpressed. Prentiss was trying to stifle her own laughter at what Reid had said. She knew he was trying to be reassuring, but sometimes he said the wrong things. She took his hand and squeezed it gently to reassure him that she wasn't upset about what he had said. It had made the whole uncomfortable situation a lot more bearable.

Reid smiled awkwardly at the woman, glad that the server had come back to set down their drinks, and take their dinner orders. He was having trouble pretending that Prentiss was more then a friend before, now he wanted more. He hoped that he would not make a fool of himself over the course of the weekend.

End Part 2

Notes: I'm not really sure I like how I'm writing Prentiss' mother, but I figured her aunt could be a little less stuffy. I know naming her after another queen is a tad cliché. Next part shall be titled "Friends And a King Sized Bed"