Freeport, Texas, 10 days later . . .

The upbeat country song came to an end, and some of the dancers on the dance floor left while others were hanging around for the start of the next song. In the middle of the floor, Amber spotted her mother, dressed in a white country style blouse, and calf-length five point skirt, edged with fringe, holding hands with husband number five. After a year and a-half of living together, and judging from her visit last November, Amber figured many arguments later, Carl had finally asked Margaret to marry him. When Amber had received the call at the end of January, it hadn't been a surprise to her that her mother had said yes. The news had however put off talk of her own wedding, as her mother had suggested a double ceremony. There was no way Amber planned on sharing her special day with her Mom. She was appreciative that Spencer had been understanding of the situation when she had told him about it.

Looking to the seat next to her, she realized how lucky she was to have Spencer Reid in her life. He was patient, kind, loyal, and caring - everything anyone could ask for in a life partner. Almost losing him a little over a week ago had really driven that point home to her.

The slow melody of Rascall Flatts' song "God Bless the Broken Road," began to fill the room. As the couples on the dance floor began to sway in time to the music, Spencer got slowly to his feet.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, holding his hand out to her.

Though still reluctant to go out on the dance floor for most fast songs, Amber was appreciative of the fact that Spencer had learned to dance since they had gotten back together. They had put his Valentine's gift of dance lessons to good use. Despite a few bruised toes at the beginning, Spencer had finally caught the hang of most of the dances, though he swore he hated the Salsa. At their most recent lesson, the one right before the ordeal out in Colorado, their dance instructor had started to introduce the Swing. Though it was still early, Spencer had seemed to enjoy it, for which Amber was grateful, as she had taken a liking to Swing dancing over the years. Amber had even convinced him to join a country line dance group lesson about a month ago. Though cases sometimes caused him to miss them, he seemed to be enjoying it, and Amber had no trouble convincing Will to be her partner on the nights Spencer couldn't make a lesson.

"Are you sure you're feeling up to it?" Amber asked, looking up at him in concern.

Spencer and Prentiss had both only suffered minor injuries at the hands of Benjamin Cyrus. The doctors at the hospital in Colorado had determined that Spencer's ribs were only bruised. Both agents had been given a couple of days off upon their return, and the bruised ribs had kept Spencer out of the field this past week. The doctor had cleared him for field duty on Thursday, the day before they had flown out here for her mother's wedding. Having bruised her shoulder blade and some ribs herself before, Amber knew how painful they could be, and so hadn't been expecting Spencer to dance with her. She was just glad he could be here with her.

"I'll be fine," Spencer told her.

Placing her hand in his, Amber got to her feet, the fringe of her skirt moving lightly against her bare calf. As she had stood up with her mother during the ceremony, Amber's outfit matched her mother's, except for the color, the blouse and skirt being a dark blue with white fringe.

The two of them made their way out onto the dance floor. Relaxing into one another's arms, the couple swayed slowly to the music. Amber rested her head on Spencer's shoulder as the dance continued, enjoying this time that they had together. Amber was grateful to be able to hold him in her arms when she thought about how close she had come to losing him a few days ago. If he and Morgan had been just a little later coming out of that building . . .

Amber quickly tried to put those thoughts out of her mind. She knew they wouldn't do either of them any good. They both had a dangerous job, that was just the simple fact of it. She had lived with that realization her entire life. First with her father, then for herself, and now with the man that she loved. Worrying didn't do any good. She knew that the best thing she could do was to make every moment that they were together count.

"So, now that your mother's wedding is almost over, can we get back to discussing our own wedding?" Spencer asked, softly.

"Not today, Spencer," Amber replied, trying not to think about how many of her parents' weddings she had gone to over the years and wondering how long it would take before this turned into divorce number seven. The thought that this one might actually work never even crossed her mind.

"Are you having second thoughts about us?"

Amber could hear the slight panic in the words. The fear that he might be losing her again. She raised her head, shifting slightly in his arms so that she could look into his eyes.

"Not about us," she reassured him. "I love you. Love being with you, but being here reminds me of how many marriages and divorces my parents have gone through."

"I told you. We aren't your parents. We can make this work."

"I'm sorry but my belief in those words is wavering today," Amber told him. "Can't we just enjoy the rest of the day without any talk of the future? You have to be at work tomorrow, and who knows where your next case might take you. I just want to enjoy the last half-hour or so we have left before we need to leave to catch our flight."

The two of them had checked out of their hotel this morning, anticipating heading straight for the airport from the reception. The six-fifteen flight from Texas would mean it would be near midnight when they got home, giving Spencer eight hours before he had to be at work. It wasn't the best situation, but with Margaret choosing to be married on a Sunday it was the best they could manage with the limited time they could both get off together. Amber had managed to get leave for Monday, meaning she didn't need to be back at Station Washington until Tuesday.

"I can live with that," Spencer replied, kissing the top of her head, as she rested her head on his shoulder once more. ~At least for now, ~ he added silently, unable to shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him.

The two fell silent, both lost in their own thoughts. As the song came to an end, the DJ addressed the group. While the man announced the throwing of the bouquet and attempted to gather all the single women present out on the dance floor, Amber and Spencer headed back for their table.

"Amber, honey, aren't you going the wrong way?" Ginny, Margaret's sister, said as Amber and Spencer passed her table. Amber's aunt nodded toward the dance floor, where Margaret was standing at one end of the floor and female guests were gathering at the other end.

"I'm spoken for this time, Aunt Ginny," Amber replied, holding up her left hand to display the diamond on her finger.

"That's right! Margaret did tell me you had gotten engaged. Is this the lucky man?" Ginny asked, her gaze shifting from Amber to Spencer.

"Yes," Amber said putting her arm around Spencer's shoulders. "Aunt Ginny, this is my fiancee Spencer Reid. Spencer, my mom's older sister, Ginny."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Spencer replied.

"Are you in the Coast Guard, too? Amber is so involved in her career, Margaret's always fretting about not ever becoming a grandmother. I've got two grandkids already, myself. They're such a joy."

"I actually work for the FBI, ma'am," Spencer replied.

"Oh, well I guess nobody is perfect," Ginny replied.

"It was good seeing you again, Aunt Ginny," Amber replied, as she gently started pushing Spencer in the direction of their table. "Perhaps we can catch up again before the end of the reception," she added, having no intention of actually doing so. Ginny had a way of turning any conversation into a lecture, something that Amber didn't really want to deal with today. "Right now, I just want to get off my feet."

Amber leaned over and gave her aunt a quick kiss on the cheek before a heading for the table she had been sitting at with two of her cousins. As soon as the meal with over she had retreated from the head table occupied by her mother, new stepfather and her stepfather's friend and his wife, Spencer and herself and had joined Bill, Sheila, and their spouses. Bill's eight-year-old daughter was also at the wedding.

"Did I say something wrong?"Spencer asked as they wove through the tables.

"No. Not really. It's just anything concerning the FBI or the Marines is a bad subject when it comes to both my Mom and her sister for obvious reasons. Just figured I'd spare you the lecture on why you're career choice is wrong," Amber told him.

Spencer nodded as they joined Sheila, her husband, Lou, and Bill's wife Jen at the table.

"Where's Bill?" Amber asked not seeing her cousin.

"Taking pictures," Jen said, waving a hand toward the dance floor. The DJ just about had everyone organized. "Merissa is hoping to catch the bouquet."

"Don't you want another bouquet to add to your collection, Amber?" Sheila said, smiling across the table at her cousin. "The last one you caught was at my wedding wasn't it," she added. She and Lou had gotten married in July the summer before.

"No thanks, I've caught quite enough bouquets in my lifetime. Besides, it either was catch the bouquet at your wedding or get hit in the face by it. I wasn't even with the group trying to catch the bouquet!" Amber replied, getting laughs from Jen and Lou.

"What can I say, I've got bad aim," Sheila replied.

"Yeah, right. You played softball for eight years. You purposely threw the bouquet in my direction."

"Well, it was accurate wasn't it. You've finally got a ring on your finger," Sheila said.

"Maybe I should have thrown you my bouquet," Jen commented.

"I was actually able to hide during the throwing of the bouquet at your wedding, thankfully," Amber said, thinking about Jen and Bill's wedding which occurred the summer before she had gone to Caltech. Reaching out, she picked up her glass of Jack and Coke that she had been drinking before going out to the dance floor with Spencer.

"You know the throwing of the bouquet is a modification of a tradition that dates back to medieval Europe," Reid interjected, getting the attention of everyone at the table. "During that time, the bride didn't expect to wear the dress again and because it considered a type of fertility charm, the single women at the event would chase the bride following the wedding and rip off pieces of the dress. Eventually it became more custom for the bride to keep her dress either for sentimental reasons or to pass onto their daughters and so the bride started throwing other objects as a distraction, the bouquet now being the most commonly used."

"So where exactly did you find this guy?" Lou asked lightly, pointing to Reid but looking at Amber. "I bet he could make a killing on Jeopardy."

"Sorry," Reid commented, realizing that they probably had no interest in the information he had just rattled off.

"Hey, it's cool," Lou said. "I'm only messing with you. I enjoy finding out little trivia information like that."

"Yeah, he studies the Trivia Pursuit cards for exactly that reason," Sheila said, smiling over at her husband.

"You never know when some piece of information that seems trivial might come in handy in the courtroom. The more you know, the less the defense can get by you," Lou responded.

"Spoken like a true prosecutor," Amber commented, remembering Aaron Hotchner saying something similar over one dinner her father, Wendy and she had shared with him and Haley some years back.

The adults' conversation was interrupted by a youthful voice.

"Mommy, look what I caught!" eight-year-old Merissa exclaimed as she ran up to her mother. In her hands was the bouquet.

"That's wonderful honey," Jen told her, as she gave her daughter a hug.

"Hope this doesn't mean I've got to start chasing the boys away," Bill commented, as he followed his daughter toward the table at a normal pace.

The DJ was now addressing the guests again. Calling for the people to get back out on the dance floor.

"Son, you're going to be fighting a losing battle there," a new voice chimed in. An older gentleman, with a full head of silver hair, and black three piece suit walked up behind Bill and rested his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "There are three examples right at this table. Jen's father didn't scare you away, I couldn't scare off Lou, and obviously Amber found some guy brave enough to face her father."

"Well hopefully I can keep them at bay for a little while," Bill replied, sitting down next to his wife and pulling Merissa into his lap.

"So, Amber, do I get a proper introduction to your fiancee or do I have to introduce myself?" the gentleman asked.

"Uncle Bill, this is Dr. Spencer Reid. Spencer, this is my Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill is a judge for the city of San Antonio."

"It's an honor to meet you, sir," Reid said getting to his feet, and holding out a hand to the older gentleman.

Bill Sr. shook the offered hand. "Doctor huh? What field?"

"I actually hold doctorates in chemistry, mathematics and engineering," Reid replied, as Bill Sr. let go of his hand. He automatically put his hands in his pockets.

"Impressive," Bill Sr. commented. "And what do you do, Dr. Reid?"

Remembering Amber's comment about the FBI being a sore topic with her Aunt, Reid wasn't sure how to answer that question. He glanced down at Amber for support.

"Spencer works for the FBI, Uncle Bill. He's actually working in the same unit as my Dad."

"That's right. You did say Dave had rejoined the bureau," the older gentleman replied. Unlike his two sisters, Bill had always gotten along with David Rossi and refused to condemn the man just because he and Margaret's marriage didn't work out. Especially after Margaret's third marriage, when Bill started to realize that the blame couldn't possibly rest entirely on the men in his youngest sister's life. "So what's it like working with your future father-in-law?"

"It's okay. I have a lot of respect for Agent Rossi."

"That's good. It's always good to get along with your family. Right Lou?"

"Yes, sir."

Right then the first strands of the electric slide filled the room.

"Grandpa, dance with me?" Merissa asked, grabbing her grandfather's hand

"Lead the way, Princess," Bill Sr. replied. "Nice meeting you, Dr. Reid. Perhaps we will get a chance to talk later."

"Nice meeting you, sir."

As Reid sat down again, Jen and Sheila were getting to their feet, ready to drag their husbands out to the dance floor.

"You two going to join us?" Sheila asked.

"Not this time," Amber replied, although she did enjoy this particular dance and although she had been trying to teach it to Spencer, she knew he wouldn't be up for it today.

With a shrug the four of them headed toward the dance floor.

"You could have joined them," Spencer told her.

"I'd rather stay here with you," she told him, reaching out and taking his hand.

"I don't think I'm ever going to learn what is a safe topic with which members of your family and what isn't," Spencer commented. "On either side of your family for that matter," he added thinking of a wedding for one of David Rossi's nieces that Spencer had gone to with Amber about a month ago.

"Family politics at its finest," Amber commented, with a smile. "If you can navigate through one of my family functions without wanting to throw something through the closest window, then it's a good day. Especially on this side of the family."

The ringing of Spencer's cell phone could just barely be heard over the music filling the room. Taking the phone out of his pocket, Spencer looked down at the screen to see Hotch's name and number appear.

"It's Hotch. I guess, I should take the call," Spencer said, dreading what a call from his unit chief would mean.

Amber nodded, as Spencer got to his feet. She watched him head for the closest exit, the phone already up to his ear as he walked. Desperately, she hoped that Spencer wasn't getting called away right away, but knew that it was a possibility. Amber also knew, that if that was what the phone call was about, that she wouldn't make it any harder on Spencer than it already was. It wasn't like he wanted to leave her. To not spend the last evening of their shared time off with her. However, if the team needed him, she knew that her fiancee's sense of duty wouldn't allow him to say no. Nor would she want it any other way.

Her days in the Coast Guard had taught Amber the meaning of duty and loyalty. How many times had she given up her time off because her comrades had needed her? That was just the nature of the job. There were really no such things as days off or holidays when you were a member of the Coast Guard or one of the other service branches. Amber knew that was how Spencer and his teammates felt too. Like her own father, the members of the BAU took their jobs seriously. If she got a call from her superiors saying that they needed her, Amber knew she would go. She would feel compelled to. How could she ask Spencer to feel otherwise?

It hadn't taken her long to see how much of a family the members of Spencer's team were, just like her flight crew in Kodiak had been. A family that had welcomed her into their numbers with open arms. JJ, Emily, Penelope and Morgan weren't just Spencer's friends, they were her friends too. And she saw how good they were for Spencer. How much they all cared about one another. They were the type of people that she knew Spencer needed in his life. The type of people that didn't come along that often. Friends that would be there no matter what directions their lives took them, just like she still kept in touch with Maria and Vince.

Spencer had told her that he would give up his job with the BAU to stay with her when her next transfer came through. She didn't doubt that he would. Spencer had never made her a promise that he didn't keep. What she was starting to ask herself though was if she wanted him to make that sacrifice for her. If he was willing to walk away from his job for her, shouldn't she be willing to do likewise? Not to mention, that at this point she would be walking away from a career only. Though she got along with her new co-workers at Station Washington, they weren't close knit. At least not in the way the flight crew she had left behind in Kodiak had been. Amber knew she had already left her work family when she left Alaska. Was it right to ask Spencer to walk away from his family? Away from the only real support he had in his life beside herself? Her current contract with the Coast Guard ended at the end of October and Amber found herself wondering whether she wanted to re-sign or not.

Her cousins found their way back to the table, bringing Amber out of her thoughts.

"Where did Spencer get to? Dad didn't scare him away did he?" Bill asked as he held the chair out for his wife.

"No. He got a phone call," Amber replied. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go see what is keeping him," she told her cousins, getting to her feet. She didn't want her cousins to be an audience when Spencer informed her what the phone call was about.

Weaving her way through the rest of the tables and wedding guests, she soon reached the door Spencer had walked out moments ago. Pushing the door open she stepped out into the Texas heat, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. As she spotted Spencer, he was just putting his phone away.

"Do you need to leave?" Amber asked.

Spencer shook his head. "They don't need me until tomorrow. Hotch called, because he doesn't want me flying back. The next case is in Bryan, Texas, so I'll drive up and meet up with them tomorrow. Agents from the Houston field office are going to drop an SUV off at the hotel for me later this evening."

"I guess that means you'll need to get a room for tonight?"

"JJ is already arranging it."

"Of course she is," Amber said with a smile.

"She's also cancelling both of our plane tickets for tonight and getting you on a flight to D.C. in the morning," Spencer added, his voice revealing his hesitancy. "I hope you don't mind. Hotch asked if you would want to stay here the extra night and I didn't want to have to call him back after coming back in to talk to you, so I just told him to tell JJ to switch the ticket. I mean you don't have to go back to work until Tuesday so . . ."

His words trailed off into silence as Amber placed her hand over his mouth. "Spencer, it's fine," she told him. "If you had asked, I would have told you to have her switch the ticket. Do you really think I would pass up the chance to stay with you tonight?"

Spencer shook his head in response. "Well no, but I didn't want you to think . . ."

Spencer didn't get any further as his words were cut off by Amber's lips meeting his own. Not protesting the action, Spencer put his arms around her, returning the kiss, the words he had meant to say going right out of his head.

"Let's not tell anyone here the change in plans," Amber said, as the kiss came to an end. She looked up at him without stepping out of his arms. "If they know I'm not getting on a plane, they're going to expect me to stay until the end of this thing and I'm about ready to leave."

"It's your mother's wedding," Spencer said, having expected Amber to want to stay at the reception longer with the change of plans.

"Correction, my mother's fifth wedding. Not to mention, I've been alive for four of them and remember three of them. Who knows, we may be doing this again in a couple of years," Amber told him, taking another step back from him. "Come on, let's go be sociable for the next," she glanced down at the watch she was wearing, "twenty minutes. Maybe share another dance."

"Lead the way," Spencer replied, as he took her extended hand. The two walked back into the building hand in hand.

As they walked into the building, a slow song was playing so instead of heading back to the table, the two of them headed out to the dance floor. When one song came to an end, Spencer felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning slowly he found Bill and Jen standing there.

"Mind if we switch partners. I'd like a dance with my cousin before she leaves and Jen doesn't bite, I promise," Bill said, earning him a playful swat from his wife.

"No problem," Spencer replied, graciously switching dance partners for the one dance.

Meanwhile, Bill took the opportunity of the dance to talk to his cousin privately for the first time that day.

"When your mother told me you had gotten engaged, I was surprised. You used to swear at family weddings that it was never going to be you standing up front and exchanging vows."

"Well, we're all entitled to change our minds. It is a free country after all," Amber said with a laugh.

"And Spencer is so not the type of guy I thought you would fall for. I always saw you falling for a guy in uniform, who lived and breathed the military life style, but Spencer seems like a great guy in a high school geek sort of way."

"Bill!" Amber scolded.

"I'm sorry. He just reminds me of the brainy kid my friends and I always made fun of in high school. Of course he was the valedictorian, went to Yale and is now running his own corporation so maybe we should have been nicer to him," Bill told her. "Seriously though, from what I've seen, the guy puts you first, and that's exactly how it should be. I hope you two will be as happy and Jen and I are."

"Thanks, Billy," Amber said, with a smile. She had always been close to Bill, the two of them sharing the same birthday even though Bill was three years older than her.

As the song came to an end, the DJ announced the cutting of the cake. Meeting back up with Spencer, the two of them headed toward the table with the cake on it, to watch the little ceremony take place. The crowd booed teasingly when the bride and groom fed each other the cake in a civilized manner. While the cake was being cut and distributed, Amber took the opportunity to say good-bye to her mother and stepfather, saying that she and Reid really should be going. After saying good-bye to a few more relatives, Amber and Spencer both carrying a piece of cake wrapped up on a plate headed outside once again, and to their waiting rental.