"Welcome," Rossi greeted Chriscelia and Spencer with kisses to their cheeks and hearty embraces. He wore jeans, and a gray pullover with the arms pushed to the elbow.
"Thank you for hosting this party for us," Chriscelia said.
"Yeah, thanks, Dave."
"You're welcome. I'm honored you asked me."
"It was all this guy's idea, but I'm glad he asked," Chriscelia tilted her head in Reid's direction.
"Me too. Why don't we go out back?"
Rossi led them through the house and to the backyard. Spencer recognized the delicious smell of Rossi's homemade Carbonara, among other odors wafting through the house.
"It smells like your impromptu cooking class six years ago."
Rossi winked at him. "I thought I'd have the same menu because I want to make new and positive memories for the team."
"Thanks, Dave."
The cool April air wafted lazily through white lights strung into the trees when they exited to the backyard. Three large tables set in a semicircle with gold tablecloths and vases with blood red roses. Spring flowers garlanded the edges of the yard and over the doorway to his house. Spencer caught the scent of the flowers mixed with freshly cut grass and a bit of Chriscelia's perfume and Rossi's aftershave.
Rossi looked at his watch. "I'm sure the rest of the team will show up soon. Why don't you two stay out here while I play host? Help yourselves to the antipasti on the bar."
"This is so beautiful," Chriscelia said as she turned circles, taking in all the decorations.
"I like the music."
Chriscelia listened, then smiled. "Ella Fitzgerald."
"Dance with me."
"Now, the others will be here any minute."
"I don't care."
She took his outstretched hand, and he tugged her in close. She lay her head on his chest and heard the beat of his heart as they moved slowly around the tables.
There's a saying old, says that love is blind
Still, we're often told, "seek, and ye shall find"
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind.
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
"I found my, "certain lad," Chriscelia said into his chest.
"I found my, "certain woman," Spencer responded and twirled her around.
Chriscelia laughed and let her head fall back. The white lights spun around her, and she thought of playing with sparklers as a child on the 4th of July. Yes, there should be fireworks exploding around them like a couple in an old-time movie.
There's a somebody I'm longin' to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could, always be good
To one who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart, he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
Someone to watch over me.
Spencer dipped her then kissed her as she laughed with delight. "Hey," someone said from behind them. "This isn't the prom."
They broke apart to see JJ, Will and Garcia and Sam. Luke, Tara, and Stephen and Monica followed the LaMontagnes, and Emily followed them with Morgan and Savannah.
"Hi," Spencer squeaked.
"Hello," Chriscelia greeted them and tried to ignore the heat of a blush on her face.
"You're nauseatingly cute together," Emily judged, and the others nodded.
"Yeah, I can't leave you alone for five minutes," Rossi said as he reentered the backyard.
"Sorry," Spencer said, but he couldn't stop smiling.
"Alright, what is happening," Stephen said. "Somethings different about you, Spencer."
"Yeah," Emily said. "I noticed it too. You've had a new light in your eyes for the last couple of weeks."
"That's why you're here," Rossi said.
"What's going on, pretty boy?"
"Chriscelia and I are getting married."
"Now that is a rock," Tara said surveying Chriscelia's left hand. "I approve."
"Oh, my boy has excellent taste," Garcia admired Chriscelia's ring with bright eyes.
Emily took Chriscelia's hand and studied the princess cut one carat solitaire diamond. "Simple, yet beautiful, like you."
"Thank you, Emily."
"Hey," Morgan swept Spencer into a hug. "You did good, my man. Chriscelia's a good woman, and beautiful to boot."
"She's the best thing in my life."
"I know what you mean, little brother."
"How's Hank?"
"He's doing good. He's getting a bit steadier on his feet. Sarah's here for a visit. She's looking after him. She said to tell you hello. I think she's a little jealous of Chriscelia. She's had a bit of a crush on you since you were in Chicago ten years ago."
"Really?"
"Sure, why not?"
"I had no idea."
"No idea about what," Luke asked.
"Nothing important."
Luke's eyebrows went up, but he changed the subject. "Congratulations, Spencer. You're a lucky man."
"Yes, I am."
Tara pulled Spencer into a hug. "You did well." She said and winked at him. "She's amazing."
"I know, and I'm happier than I thought possible."
"Everyone," Rossi interrupted their congratulations and the admiring of Chriscelia's ring. "Dinner is served."
Stephen pulled Reid aside as the others made their way to the tables. "Spencer, we haven't had a chance to speak since you came back from Vegas. I wanted you to know how sorry I am that you lost your mother. JJ and Morgan speak highly of her. I gather she helped on more than one case."
"Yes, she did."
"Then she must have been an exceptional woman."
"She was, thank you for saying so."
"Hey, you two, stop yacking and get over here," Chriscelia hollered as the other's laughed.
"You heard the lady," Stephen said.
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"That was some spread," Tara said. "You outdid yourself, Dave."
"I concur," Spencer said.
"Agreed," Emily said. "Thank you."
"You're all welcome. You know me, I love to cook."
JJ and Will, Garcia, and Sam and the Morgan's got up to dance. Rossi asked Tara, but Spencer and Chriscelia stayed at their table with Stephen, Monica, and Alvez.
"What a perfect night," Monica said.
"Yeah, it's beautiful," Luke said.
"Have you decided on a date," Monica asked.
Spencer and Chriscelia looked at each other and smirked. "We have."
"Hm," Luke said. "I take it, you decided on a non-traditional date."
"Late October, the 28th to be exact."
Stephen was about to comment when JJ came over to the table. "Spence, you want to dance with me?"
"Sure."
"Keep your hands to yourself," Chriscelia ordered.
"Celia," Spencer squeaked, mortified.
"I wasn't talking to you," she winked at JJ.
"Well, I will do my best. He is pretty cute."
"You guys," Spencer complained as his cheeks went pink.
"Why don't we dance?" Luke asked Chriscelia. "Then you can keep an eye on them."
"Oh, you guys are not funny," Spencer said, sourly and they all laughed.
Morgan and Garcia joined them on the dance floor and Chriscelia watched Luke watching them dance together. "So, what's going on between you and Penelope. The last I heard, she only marginally tolerates you."
"I'm not sure. I try to be nice, but she insists on calling me, newbie. Do you know that she once said she'd take the stairs when we met in the elevator? I'm no Derek Morgan, I know that, but you'd think she might be a little nicer."
"I think a woman like Penelope Garcia doesn't give her loyalties lightly to anyone. You might have to work for it."
"I just want us to be friends, that's all."
"Good luck."
At the end of the song, she found Spencer, and they sat out the next dance. Luke danced with Tara and Sam with Emily. Penelope and Morgan were sitting at another table with Rossi and Savannah. Will and JJ danced near Stephen and Monica.
"Why are you smiling?"
Chriscelia shrugged. "I'm happy. I'm engaged to a hot, sweet, gentle guy who loves me. Therefore, I smile."
"There's more to it than that," Spencer said.
"It's nothing. I just think it's funny how Penelope treats Luke. They're hopeless."
"Well, I think she finds it hard to accept that Luke took Morgan's place on the team. They're very close, and she doesn't want to get hurt that way again."
"Are you sure, because I think there's more to it than that."
Spencer studied his fiancé, then shook his head. "You're way off on that, Celia."
"You sure, because sometimes an outsider can see what others can't," she said with authority.
"Then why is Garcia so intolerant of him."
"There's a fine line between love and hate."
Spencer chuckled, "I still think you're way off."
"You could be right. Perhaps it's just that I'm so happy, I want everyone to be happy."
"Me too," Spencer said and took her hand. He grinned at the sensation of her engagement ring on his fingers. It felt like it belonged there, just as she belonged in his arms and his heart.
"Let's dance," she said and tugged him out of his chair.
"They're a perfect couple," Tara said to Stephen as she returned to the table.
"Yes, they are."
"Remember when we were engaged," Monica asked Stephen, and he nodded. "I thought I was the luckiest man in the world, and now I know I was right." He kissed her cheek, and she smiled. "You've always been a flatterer, Stephen."
"I mean it."
Garcia was the next to grab Reid for a dance. "Sorry," she grinned at Chriscelia. "I need to dance with my sweet cheeks."
"How can I object?" Chriscelia wondered and went to talk to JJ and Tara.
"How are you?" Garcia asked as new music began, it's sweet melody blending perfectly with the end of the day.
"I'm fine, great in fact. I can't wait to get married, Garcia."
She shook her head and smirked at him. "I can't believe how changed you are."
"I'm not changed," he argued.
"Yes, you are. Chriscelia's made you happy, Spencer. You can see it in your eyes, and the way you carry yourself," she observed. "There's a new light in your eyes."
"I find myself waking up in the morning and wondering how all of this happened," Reid said. "I can't figure it out."
"I told you that everything happens for a reason."
Reid smiled at her. "For once, I believe you."
"Good, because I like seeing you this way."
"Thank you."
"Everyone," Rossi interrupted the dancers. He turned down the music and gestured to them. "Grab your glasses. I want to make a toast to the happy couple."
"I thought you're supposed to wait until the wedding," Derek hollered.
"You, be quiet," Rossi scolded, and they roared with laughter.
"To Spencer and Chriscelia," Rossi began. "My mother always said that every good thing finds us when we're ready for it. I know you two are ready to face what life brings to you, be it good or bad because you have each other. May you always walk life's road together."
"Here, here," Morgan said as they clinked glasses and took sips of champagne.
"Thank you all for coming," Reid said. "And, thank you, Dave, for hosting this party for us. You've made our announcement a true event."
"Yes," Chriscelia said. "Thank you. I want to say to all of Spencer's friends, thank you for taking me into your hearts. If anyone had told me that four months ago I'd meet someone like Spencer, and through him, all of you, I would've said they were crazy. Thank you for bringing so much laughter and light to my life and thank you for loving Spencer."
"It's not always easy," Rossi said, and Spencer choked on his champagne. "Why?" He squeaked, and they all shook their heads, as Rossi rolled his eyes.
"Because you go off on annoying tangents, and you give inappropriate statistics at the worst possible times."
"When?" Spencer wondered, genuinely perplexed.
"Remember flying in the jet with tornados threatening to hit at any time?"
"What about evil twin, eviler twin," Emily said.
"Or, what about how many results you get when you type death into a search engine," JJ put in.
"Come on, you guys," Spencer protested.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Chriscelia said as they laughed, "but I think we need to talk," she said to the team in general.
"No!" Reid said.
"Yes," said the remainder of the team.
"I want to hear these stories, too," said Will and Sam at the same time.
"Me too," Monica chimed in.
"Guys," Spencer said again, and his face was so red, Chriscelia thought he might spontaneously combust from embarrassment."
"We're just kidding," JJ said.
"I wasn't," Rossi said.
"This is some party," Spencer complained. "I get no respect."
"Sure, you do, kid," Morgan said. "I respect you."
"I think it's time for us to leave," he said to Chriscelia.
"You can't because I made dessert and there's a fresh pot of coffee in the maker."
Reid shook his head and said to Chriscelia. "Are you sure you want to marry into this crazy family of mine?"
"Yes," she said resolutely. "I'm not afraid."
"I'm glad you said that because I need someone on my side for a change."
"Oh, he's so picked on," Morgan teased.
"I am," Spencer said, but he began to laugh.
"All right, the comedy portion of the program is over," Rossi said, drily.
"Yeah, let's have dessert," Garcia said."
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Spencer exited his bathroom and found Chriscelia dressed in pink, white and yellow striped pajamas, and a pink tee-shirt with Tweety-Bird on the front.
"Cute," Spencer said. "Love the tee-shirt."
"Thanks," she said. "It's comfortable."
"I take it this means I won't be getting laid tonight as you're not wearing anything seductive."
Chriscelia narrowed her eyes. "Watch it, my friend. You might be sleeping on the couch tonight."
"It's my apartment, remember."
"No, I haven't forgotten."
"Then I think you should sleep on the couch."
She reached over and smacked his shoulder. "I can't believe you said that!"
He sat and tried to pull her into his arms, but she slid away. "Oh no, you don't get to cozy up to me, after suggesting I sleep on this old thing."
"I was kidding," he pouted.
She slid back to him and tugged him into her arms. "I know, babe. I was just teasing you."
"I don't think I should forgive you," he said loftily.
She kissed him, and he sighed. "Well, I think I can be persuaded to forget, eventually."
"Slow down, tiger. Let's just sit here for a few minutes. I want to your arms around me."
"I think I can handle that," Spencer said and stroked his hands through Chriscelia's hair. "I love the texture of your hair."
Chriscelia let her head rest on his chest. "I love the sound of your heartbeat. There's something so soothing about it."
"Did you have fun tonight?"
"Yep. Your team is so great. I can't believe how they've accepted me and treated me like one of the family."
"You make me happy, and they want me to be happy, so yeah, they like you."
She lifted her head and kissed him again. "You make me so happy, Spencer. I love you."
"I love you."
She returned her head to his chest. "I want to stay this way forever."
"Me too."
Spencer pulled an old quilted blanket his Aunt Thelma had made for his mother, from the back of the sofa and threw it around them. "Let's not worry about weddings, or work, or anything, Let's just breathe in and out and enjoy each other's company for a few uninterrupted moments.
"Sounds good to me."
