Hotchner smiled slightly as he read the text and replied, then set the phone aside and pulled out the envelope his earlier visitor had given him. He read through the papers inside then picked up his phone again and sent another text.

Reid walked through the airport concourse until he found the gate her flight was assigned to, then sat down and waited, sipping at the coffee he'd bought a few minutes earlier.

Checking the flight status board, he noted 'on time' for her flight and then took out his cell phone and saw he had a number of texts waiting for him. Navigating through them, he answered hers, and the one from Hotch, but ignored the few others that waited there. That done, he settled in to wait for her plane to land.

The BAU team delivered their profile to the local police department and law enforcement concluded the investigation with a quick and relatively uneventful arrest. Morgan and the team headed back to the office, stopping first for some takeout dinner and ensuring they ordered enough food to include Garcia and her protector as well.

Rossi was driving the SUV, Morgan sat next to him while Lewis and Jareau sat in the back, discussing the case. Morgan was uncharacteristically quiet and this didn't escape Rossi's notice. Once back in their bullpen, and after the food had been distributed, Morgan headed into his office. Rossi followed.

"Gonna tell me what's up Morgan?"

Morgan sighed as he sat down, setting the food container on the desk in front of him, and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Waving it around he said, "I texted Reid. Three times now in the last twenty-four hours, and I get no reply. He got the texts, cause the phone shows me they've been seen."

"He's busy, Derek. Don't take it personally."

"It's not that, Rossi. He was in touch a couple days ago. And now Hotch has gone to Las Vegas too. I'm just wondering what's up. Hope everything's okay in Pretty Bo-, er, Reid's family."

Rossi nodded.

"I called Hotch, let him know we've completed this case. Asked him if it was okay to give everyone tomorrow off. He started to say something about Reid, Rossi, and then he stopped and just said yes of course, we've all earned it."

She came through the arrival gate, reclaimed her suitcase and headed through the doors to the concourse, smiling broadly when her eyes found Spencer standing by the barrier waiting for her.

Despite her awareness that he wasn't overly fond of public displays of affection, she dropped the handle of her suitcase and threw her arms up around his neck in an exuberant hug. To her surprise, he not only returned the hug, he surprised her with a considerably substantive kiss, which she was more than happy to return.

"I've missed you," she whispered against his hair. Kissing the top of her head, he replied in kind. Then taking hold of her suitcase, he led the way out of the airport to his waiting car.

"I hope you don't mind that I told Agent Hotchner," she started.

He shook his head. "Of course not. But he called me. He's coming out too. Missing a case to come out and see me," Reid was mystified.

"He cares, Spencer. You're not just a team member to him, you're like family."

He smiled slightly, puzzled but pleased that his boss was actually dropping work and travelling thousands of miles to be there with him in person.

"When does his flight get in?"

"Not until later, but he said not to come pick him up, he'd grab a cab," Reid answered. "He wants us to spend the time with my mom, not coming back and forth to the airport."

She nodded. "And how's your mom doing, Spence?"

"You'll see for yourself, we're going there now and you can finally meet her."

"I'll stay here with you tonight, Baby Girl," Morgan announced, dismissing her protective agent for the night. After placing a takeout container in front of her, Morgan sat down next to her and proceeded to help himself to an eggroll.

"Sir Hotch said we could all have tomorrow off?" Garcia asked, wanting confirmation of what she'd heard earlier. Morgan nodded. "Did he say why he was going to see Reid?" Morgan shook his head. She pursed her lips and wondered again why Hotch was being so secretive.

A knock on the door woke Reid up. He'd taken her to their hotel room after meeting his mother. One thing led to another and they'd ended up making love and falling asleep entangled in each other's arms. It was just past 8 pm and Reid realised Hotch's plane had probably arrived by now. Hastily throwing on his pants he moved to the door. His suspicion was confirmed when he opened it and found his unit chief standing there.

"Just wanted you to know I've made it. I'm just down the hall, Reid, in room 1445." Reid nodded acknowledgment and again thanked Hotchner for dropping everything and coming.

"Did you guys eat dinner already?" he asked. Again Reid nodded.

"Okay. Well. Then I'll see you in the morning?"

"Yeah, let's meet downstairs for breakfast tomorrow morning before we head over to Bennington's. And," he paused before extending his hand for a handshake, "Thanks for everything, Hotch."

"Anytime, Rei-Spencer."

The weekend passed and Monday morning, the BAU members assembled in the office first thing. Hotchner, who'd flown back from Vegas late Friday night to keep his promise to Jack, was in his office perusing reports and signing them.

Garcia, with her protective agent next to her, was busy at her computer. Rossi, Morgan, Lewis and Jareau were congregated around Jareau's desk, armed with coffees. Jareau was on her phone with her husband. Hotchner had not shared a word about his visit with Reid. And by now, Morgan, especially, was a little annoyed. He had still not received any replies to his texts to Reid.

"None of you have heard from him either?" he ventured.

Lewis and Jareau shook their heads. "Not since the day he left, no." Rossi replied. "What is it, Morgan? What's up?"

"I don't know. Obviously Hotch knows something, I have no idea when or if he's gonna share-" he stopped midsentence when the elevator door opened and Reid stepped off, holding hands with the same woman they'd seen in Hotchner's office on Wednesday morning.

There was a wide smile on Reid's face. Furrowed brows on Morgan and Rossi and a look of confusion on Lewis' face greeted him. JJ quickly concluded her phone call. Hotchner saw them through the office window and came down to acknowledge them.

"Thanks again for your help, Agent Hotchner," she said extending her hand for him to shake. "But now I have to get back to work," she turned to kiss Reid goodbye, whispering a quick 'see you later.'

He followed her with his eyes as the elevator closed behind her. His colleagues quickly circled Reid.

Morgan stepped forward, "All right, all right welcome back," he said, clapping Reid on the shoulder. "But, OUT with it, Kid. What's going on?"

Reid and Hotchner shared a secret smile.

"You didn't even introduce us." Morgan complained.

"She knows who you all are," Reid replied, rubbing his jaw absently with his left hand.

"Reid! Welcome back! What's going on here?" Garcia tottered down the stairs to join them, enveloping Reid in a hug.

"Hotch?" Morgan redirected his inquiry. Rossi's face registered his suspicions but he smiled and watched Morgan squirm. Hotch threw up his hands, "What happens in Vegas…" he trailed off.

"Oh my God!" JJ interjected, reaching for Reid's left hand. "It IS! You got married?!" She held up his hand, with the new ring upon it, for all to see, before throwing her arms around him in a huge hug.

Morgan frowned for just an instant. "In Vegas? Without us?" and as soon as he said it, he realised, 'Oh, for your mom! That's awesome, Kid."

"We need to celebrate," Rossi announced, as they all extended their congratulations, "Glad to have you back, Reid, I think we all missed you."