Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

A/N: Shout out to tannerose5 for being the 25th reviewer, and also a shout out to fishtrek, Natasha, Guest, Guest, and Hippichic81 for reviewing chapter 7.

For the two guest reviewers who didn't leave a name, I like being given a name so I can address the guest reviewer with a different name than 'Guest'.

Thank you to the guest reviewer who mentioned about getting engaged four weeks after meeting your husband since you helped me make my decision on when Spencer will propose and when they will marry.

I'm happy that I was able to participate in 8 AM Friday morning Zumba while sitting down in a chair while following along with the arm movements. So despite being happy that I can still partially follow my favorite workout routine, I still don't know how long it will take for my partially torn Achilles tendon to heal since having Von Willibrand's Disease caused the torn Achilles tendon to bleed a bit more. I was also told that I will have to work at a slower pace during physical therapy since bleeding disorders like Von Willibrand's Disease and Hemophilia always make it harder for an injury to heal.

This chapter starts a half hour after the last chapter so its still December 15th, 2007 in the beginning of this chapter, and Maeve ended up moving in after Thanksgiving since the lease of her apartment was up in December (With how Maeve was staying over every night when Spencer was home, Spencer asked Maeve to move in with him).


Spencer entered his apartment and he smiled when he saw Maeve sitting on his couch reading a book causing him to join Maeve on the couch.

"Want to go for a walk?" asked Spencer.

"Sure." said Maeve.

A minute later Spencer and Maeve were donning their winter jackets before they left the apartment building.


A half hour later Spencer and Maeve were sitting on a bench in a nearby park when Spencer looked at Maeve.

"Do you want to know what my errand was about?" asked Spencer.

Maeve nodded.

"I was at this park with your father earlier because I wanted to ask him a question." said Spencer.

"What type of question that I couldn't answer for you?" asked Maeve.

"He was able to answer my question, but now it depends on your answer." said Spencer as he got up and knelt down on the ground causing Maeve to gasp, "Dr. Maeve Donovan spending the past two months with you has made me happier than ever. So would you have the honor of becoming my wife?" asked Spencer as he pulled his grandmother's engagement ring out of his navy blue military style pea coat jacket's pocket.

Maeve took in the sight of the vintage engagement ring that was in Spencer's gloved hand.

"Yes." said a teary eyed Maeve as she removed the glove off her left hand.

Spencer placed the ring on Maeve's left ring finger before pulling Maeve into a kiss while ignoring the clapping and wolf whistles from people who were watching the proposal.

"Its a perfect fit." said Maeve.

"I checked one of your rings in your jewelry box and had it re-sized." said Spencer before looking into Maeve's blue eyes, "I hope that its not too soon for us to take this step." said Spencer.

"My parents only dated for two months before they got engaged." said Maeve.

"Your father told me, and one of my teammates told me to go with my gut since you changed me for the better." said Spencer.

Maeve looked at her fiance.

"I don't want to wait to get married, so how about we call my parents and your teammates and ask them to meet us at the courthouse this evening." said Maeve.

"OK, and I should probably call Hotch first and find out if he can contact a judge in the DC area that can squeeze us in today." said Spencer.

"You should do that before you contact the rest of your team." said Maeve.

A few seconds later Maeve was calling her parents while Spencer called Hotch before contacting the rest of his team.


Four hours later Spencer and Maeve were standing inside of a courthouse in Arlington, Virginia when Spencer's teammates came inside.

"What was the cryptic message about?" asked Garcia as she took in the sight of Spencer wearing a suit and Maeve wearing a dress.

Spencer and Maeve smiled at each other before Maeve held up her left hand causing Spencer's female teammates to gasp.

"You did it." said JJ.

"Congratulations, Reid." said Emily as she hugged Spencer.

"Who knew that the baby in the family would be the first to get married." teased Morgan as he patted Spencer on the back.

"Since we're currently in a court house, are you two eloping?" asked Garcia.

Spencer and Maeve nodded.

"I don't want our job to interfere with wedding planning and the day of the wedding, and I know that some of you would be upset with me if I didn't ask you guys to be here while we elope." said Spencer before looking at Hotch, "Thank you for calling a judge that is willing to squeeze us in today." said Spencer.

Hotch looked at Spencer.

"Judge Bishop owed me a favor, so he didn't have a problem getting you two in this afternoon when I explained why I needed him to marry you two as soon as possible." said Hotch.

Garcia looked at Maeve.

"Are you OK with eloping instead of having a big white fairytale wedding?" asked Garcia.

"I love Spencer, and I don't want to wait too long to become Dr. Maeve Reid." said Maeve.

Morgan looked at Spencer.

"At least you didn't run away to Las Vegas to elope, but don't think that you'll be getting away from having a bachelor party." said Morgan

Spencer groaned before Garcia looked at Spencer.

"What about your mom getting to watch you get married?" asked Garcia.

"My mom is well enough to watch through video chat, so I have my laptop with me." said Spencer as he patted his messenger bag.

"I'll be glad to get that set up." said Garcia.

Maeve saw her parents coming towards them.

"There's my mom and dad." said Maeve.

A minute later Mary and Joe approached Spencer, Maeve, and Spencer's teammates.

"This is your team, Spencer?" asked Joe.

Spencer nodded as he quickly made introductions before Maeve decided to ask about the garment bag that her mom was holding.

"Is that what I think it is?" asked Maeve.

Mary nodded.

"Here's something borrowed for you, and I believe that it will fit you." said Mary.

Maeve looked at her mom.

"It will be another hour before the judge will see us, so how about you help me put it on." said Maeve.

Garcia looked at Maeve.

"Can JJ, Emily, and I join you two?" asked Garcia.

"Sure." said Maeve.

Joe looked at Spencer and Maeve.

"Did you two pick up wedding bands?" asked Joe.

"We went to a jewelry shop before coming here." said Maeve.

A few minutes later Maeve was being taken to a room that she could change in.


An hour and a half later Spencer and Maeve were standing in front of a judge while Spencer's teammates, Maeve's parents, and a teary eyed Diana who was Skyping in from Vegas when the judge looked Spencer and Maeve.

"By the power invested in me, and the state of Virginia, I now declare you husband and wife." said the judge before looking at Spencer, "You may now kiss your bride." said Judge Bishop.

Spencer pulled Maeve into a gentle kiss while ignoring the tears that were falling down Emily's, JJ's, Garcia's faces while Morgan wolf whistled, and when Spencer and Maeve were done clapping, Rossi looked at everyone.

"Let's go out for dinner, and its my treat." said Rossi.


Two days later a grinning Spencer set his messenger bag down under his desk before looking at his wedding band when Morgan and Emily looked up from their own desks.

"We both beat you here." said Morgan.

"I wanted a bit more time with my wife." said Spencer.

"So did you and Maeve stay locked in your apartment yesterday?" asked Morgan.

Spencer blushed.

"My man." grinned Morgan.

Emily tossed a crumpled up piece of paper at Morgan's head before looking at Spencer.

"At least having off through Christmas and New Years will be your honeymoon." said Emily.

"I know." smiled Spencer.

"So did you two make arrangements for a weekend get away before spending Christmas with Maeve's family?" asked Emily.

"Joe and Mary are sending us to a bed and breakfast in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia in their place." said Spencer.

"That's nice of them." said Emily just as Garcia made a beeline for Spencer.

"So should we start expecting cute baby geniuses soon?" asked Garcia.

"Can't I adjust to married life with Maeve for a couple of months first?" asked Spencer.

"OK, but I hope that there's a baby genius for me to spoil by the end of next year." said Garcia.


An hour later Spencer was sitting at the round table with his teammates when JJ entered the room.

"Uh, everyone's here. Sorry I'm late. Last night in Fredericksburg, a 20-year-old woman, Molly McCarthy, was abducted. She's the third to go missing in the last 6 weeks. All disappeared from public places. No one's seen them since." said JJ.

"Until now." said Rossi.

"A couple days ago, body parts with cigarette burns were recovered from a national park which was once the site of the Battle of Chancellorsville." said JJ.

"Were they able to make an ID?" asked Hotch.

"It was the first victim, taken 6 weeks ago. Decomp indicated that she had been dead just over a week." said JJ.

"So he likes spending time with them." said Hotch.

"How'd she end up like that?" asked Emily.

"ME found microscopic tool marks on the bone." said JJ.

"I remember reading about a case like this in Spotsylvania county. Similar markings on the bone." said Spencer.

"It was the winter of 1980, also Fredericksburg. 5 women, 16 to 24. Buried in pieces. Same markings. Same civil war battlefield." said JJ.

"Killed the same time of year and left at the same dump site?" asked Rossi.

"It's like an anniversary." said Morgan.

"That case is still open." said JJ.

"Back then the victims were drug addicts and runaways." said Spencer.

"If he spends that much time with them, there's a chance these 2 women could still be alive." said Hotch.

"Wait. We think this could be the same killer? That's a hell of a cooling-off period." said Emily.

"BTK resurfaced after a 25-year hiatus." said Morgan.

"True, but he didn't kill anyone. He only taunted the police." said Spencer.

"Marks on the bone and where he dumps them- that's a very specific signature. Hard to copycat details that were never made public." said Rossi.

"Garcia, check the MO against girls missing in other states. It could explain the long absence." said Hotch.

"I'm on it." said Garcia before leaving the room.

"If this is the same unsub, what's he been doing for the past 27 years?" asked Rossi.

Hotch looked at his teammates.

"With Fredericksburg being a half hour away by car, we're driving out there." said Hotch.

A minute later Spencer was calling his wife.

"You have a case?" asked Maeve.

"Going to Fredericksburg, Virginia so its a local one." said Spencer.

"So do you think you will help solve the case before we head to Williamsburg on Friday?" asked Maeve.

"I believe so, but right now I'm heading to an SUV since we're driving." said Spencer.

"Please stay safe, and I love you." said Maeve.

"I'll try, and I love you too." said Spencer before hanging up.


Spencer was sitting in the back seat of an SUV going over a file.

"The killer has an obvious disregard for women. He sees them as disposable and worthless. You know, he'd need a lot of time and privacy to do this to them." said Spencer.

"Seclusion. Time. Back then, the theory was he was a seasonal worker on one of the farms." said Hotch.

JJ noticed a sign.

"There's the dump site." said JJ.

"It's funny he always dumps the bodies in this battlefield, no matter what the risk." said Spencer.

"It's a respected landmark. He's flaunting. It makes him feel important." said Hotch before making a turn.


Spencer walked across the field towards the Sheriff.

"Sheriff Ballantyne, Jennifer Jareau." said JJ as she shook hands with Sheriff Ballantyne.

"Appreciate you all coming down so quickly." said Sheriff Ballantyne as he shook hands with Hotch.

"Aaron Hotchner." said Hotch before gesturing to Spencer, "This is Dr. Spencer Reid." said Hotch.

Spencer waved.

"Crime scene's right up here. I figured if this is the same killer as before, I didn't want to waste any time before I got your help." said Sheriff Ballantyne as he led Spencer, Hotch, and JJ to the crime scene.

"The other agents are meeting John Caulfield, the sheriff from the original case." said JJ.

"Yeah." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"You know him?" asked Spencer.

"No, not personally, you know, I just heard stories." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"How do you mean?" asked Hotch.

"Well, you know, by all accounts, he was a decent sheriff, good man." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"Right." said Hotch.

"Truth is, we don't get a lot of murders down here, and this case broke him." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"How so?" asked Spencer as he thought about how the Hankel case almost broke him completely until he asked Hotch for help.

"Ah, same old-you know, he started drinking, marriage busted up. Finally they, uh, asked him to retire." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

Spencer stopped walking for a second as he realized that he was glad that Hotch gave him a second chance.

A few minutes later Spencer was walking through a small wooded area while Sheriff Ballantyne pointed at certain scenes.

"There were about 20 kids partying 100 yards that way. Molly McCarthy was taken here. We found a blanket, sweatshirt, and a pair of shoes over there." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"How does someone not see or hear them?" asked JJ.

"t was dark. He had the advantage. Molly's boyfriend was the last person to see her. Said she was alone for a minute, maybe less." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"He's patient, works fast." said Hotch.

"He's perfected his MO." said Spencer.

"If our unsub's pushing 60, he's gotta be strong enough to carry her a long way without her struggling." said Hotch as he watched JJ walk away a bit and put her head in her hands.

Spencer looked at Sheriff Ballantyne.

"I've seen a lot of properties on unmarked dirt roads with no visible street signs, nothing on any maps." said Spencer.

"Yeah. If you don't live around here, it can be hell finding your way around." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"He's definitely local." said Hotch.

"Can you show us the various entrances to this place?" asked Spencer.

"Sure." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

Hotch looked at JJ before looking at Spencer.

"I'll catch up." said Hotch.

A few seconds later Spencer was walking away with Sheriff Ballantyne.


The next morning Spencer was standing by a picnic table near the latest crime scene.

"I got 2 sets of parents waiting for an ID." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"I can help you with that." said JJ.

"Thanks. He didn't spread them around this time. They were in plain sight." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"He's taunting us. He's basically saying, "I'm doing this and there's nothing you can do to stop me."" said Spencer.

"Nobody can get in here without showing their ID at the gate." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"I have a copy of that visitors list, but there's a hundred ways in. These fences back up to personal properties." said JJ.

"He knows these grounds as well as anyone. He could have jumped the fence, disposed of his victims, and walked right back out." said Hotch.


The next day Spencer was standing in the bullpen of a police station when JJ came over with Sheriff Ballantyne.

"There's been another abduction." said JJ.

"Name's Tara Ricker. Family called this morning. She didn't come home last night. We're still trying to locate the vehicle." said Sheriff Ballantyne.

"Well, we know he kills after he takes another victim, so we're running out of time here." said JJ.

"All right, what do we know?" asked Hotch.

"Definitely a copycat. Same MO, Same dump site." said Emily.

"Only you never released any of that to the press." said Rossi.

"No." said John Caulfield.

"He had to learn it from someone- a family member, a friend maybe?" asked Spencer.

"Mary and Robert Wilkinson had a son." said JJ as she looked at Spencer.

"Are you suggesting there is a genetic predisposition to killing?" asked John.

"It's one factor, along with psychology and socialization." said Hotch.

"If you have a combination of genetics and a son who grew up without a father searching for his own identity, it could be a stressor." said Rossi.

"I remember Charlie Wilkinson, when he was 15, killed a neighbor's cat. He put it in a bag and hit it against a tree." said John.

"How old is Charlie Wilkinson?" asked Emily.

"Mary was pregnant with him when Robert died." said John.

Emily quickly did the math.

"That's 27 years ago. That makes him roughly the same age Robert was when he started killing." said Emily just as Morgan's cellphone rang.

"What do you got for us, girl?" asked Morgan.

"I just found the reason why Karen Foley was lying." said Garcia before she started explaining.


Morgan looked at Spencer before focusing on the road.

"Have you ever considered getting a house?" asked Morgan.

"I've been thinking about getting a house since Maeve and I are both avid readers." said Spencer.

"I was shocked at the amount of her books when I helped Maeve move into your apartment." said Morgan as he thought about how he, Hotch, Rossi, JJ, Garcia, and Emily helped Maeve pack up her belongings and move into Spencer's apartment, "Right now I am working on a Victorian house in DC that has four bedrooms, a room that already has built in bookshelves which will be perfect for a library, two and a half bathrooms, and an attic that would make a good home office. The house is also five blocks from the Van Ness metro station so you can still take the subway you usually take. So when get back from Chicago, how about I show you two the house." said Morgan.

"Really?" asked Spencer.

"I want you two to be the first to see the house before I show other people who are looking for a house. So after this case, you should tell Maeve and let me know if she wants to see the house." said Morgan.

"I promise." said Spencer.


Spencer stood by Hotch as he watched JJ and Morgan talk to Charlie's pregnant wife, and when Chrissy nodded, Hotch motioned Spencer to follow him.

"Let's go." said Hotch.

A few minutes later Sheriff Ballantyne was using a crowbar on the barn door while Spencer and Hotch had their guns out, and as soon as Spencer and Hotch entered the bar, Hotch pointed over to where he wanted Spencer to look.

"Reid." said Hotch.

Spencer cleared the area that Hotch wanted him to check before he heard Hotch call him again.

"Reid." said Hotch.

Spencer quickly made his way over to Hotch, where he ended up seeing an ax and some blood.


Spencer was going through journals with JJ, when JJ called Hotch over.

"Hey, Hotch. We got something." said JJ as Hotch joined them, "This was all locked in the closet. Looks like it was Robert Wilkinson's before charlie got his hands on it." said JJ.

"So Charlie went looking for a father figure and this is who he found." said Hotch.

"He was killing animals. It's clear he already has murderous impulses, and... Finding this must have made him feel like it was... Ok, like it was almost his birthright," said Spencer.

""They like it when they get to share me."" read JJ.

"Is there anything in there about where he keeps them?" asked Hotch.

"Nothing yet." said JJ.

"Keep reading." said Hotch before leaving the room.


Spencer was slinging his messenger bag over his shoulders when Morgan got up from his desk.

"Who's up for a drink?" asked Morgan.

"Ohh. up for 5?" asked Emily.

"Count me in." said Rossi.

"Maeve is just starting dinner so I just want to go home." said Spencer.

"Going to get some loving with your wife?" asked a teasing Morgan.

Spencer's face turned beat red.

"Go home to your wife, kid and let me know what she says." said Morgan before looking at JJ, "JJ?" asked Morgan.

"I'd love to, but I'm gonna have to take a rain check." said JJ.

Rossi looked at Hotch.

"Hotch. You up for a beer?" asked Rossi.

"Sure." said Hotch.

Spencer followed his teammates to the glass doors just as a man entered the bullpen.

"Agent Hotchner?" asked the man.

"Yes." said Hotch.

The man handed Hotch a manila envelope while having Hotch sign some papers.

"What is it?" asked Emily.

"Haley's filing for divorce. I've been served." said Hotch before leaving the bullpen causing everyone to decide that they should just go home.


Spencer entered his and Maeve's apartment, and as he headed into the kitchen where Maeve was pulling baked chicken out of the oven.

"I'm home." said Spencer.

Maeve smiled at her husband.

"I made baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables." said Maeve.

"Did you include peas?" asked Spencer.

"I sure did." said Maeve.

A few minutes later Spencer and Maeve were sitting down and eating dinner, when Spencer looked at Maeve.

"Morgan told me that he's currently working on a house that he thinks that we'll both love, so he would like to show us the house when he gets back from Chicago on the 27th." said Spencer as he told Maeve about the house.

When Spencer was done explaining, Maeve looked at her husband.

"We should check it out." said Maeve.

"I'll call him after dinner." said Spencer.

"So are you ready for our first Christmas together?" asked Maeve.

"I am." said Spencer.


Eight days later Spencer, Maeve, and Morgan were standing in the living room of the house that Morgan just showed the newlyweds when Morgan looked at the young newlyweds.

"So what did you two think?" asked Morgan.

"You were right about me liking the house." said Spencer.

Morgan looked a Maeve.

"What about you, Maeve?" asked Morgan.

"I love this house." said Maeve.

"So are you two wanting to buy this house?" asked Morgan.

Spencer looked at Maeve who nodded.

"We'll take the house." said Spencer.

Morgan gave Spencer and Maeve a price causing Maeve to gasp while Spencer looked at Morgan.

"This house should be worth more than the price you just gave us." said Spencer.

"I know, but consider the lowered price as a wedding present." said Morgan.

Spencer and Maeve looked at each other and nodded.

"We'll take it." said Spencer.

"How soon do you think we can move in?" asked Maeve.

"Other than making a few last minute touches when it comes to painting certain rooms the colors you two want and building a few more built in bookshelves in the room that will be your library, you two will have to wait until March 1st to move in which gives you two geniuses enough time to pack up that apartment." said Morgan.

"Thanks, Morgan." said Spencer.

"You two should now go continue spending the rest of your honeymoon together, and I'll see you at work on Wednesday, Reid." said Morgan.


Four nights later Spencer and Maeve were in the living room ringing off the new year with a kiss before kicking off the New Year in their bedroom.