Thursday evening was the last evening the team would be spending in Los Angeles at least for this trip. Since Rossi had requested an evening on Rodeo Dr. the team agreed to go there. They met Lila and William Reid in Beverly Hills shortly before 4pm. Lila and William arrived in the parking garage she had suggested shortly before the team. Reid and Lila had been in constant communication and she knew the team was less than five minutes behind her.
Lila smiled broadly as she saw the two suburbans pull into their parking spaces on either side of her rental car. The group then exited their vehicles.
After shaking hands with his father, Reid said "Dad, I'm sure you remember Derek Morgan and David Rossi. Let me introduce you to the other members of the team. This is Aaron Hotchner, our unit chief, Emily Prentiss, Ashley Seaver and Penelope Garcia. Reid then stepped away from the group and embraced his wife. "How was your day, Babe?" He whispered tenderly.
"I'm glad your Dad was here so I had someone with me for my final trip to the rental house. I told him how brave and wonderful you were during my stalking. I was sad but I keep telling myself that this time tomorrow we'll be on our way to LAX." Lila said with a sniff as William Reid and the team exchanged handshakes and other pleasantries.
Although not a profiler William had noticed that everyone but Morgan was cordial no matter what they may actually have thought of the older Reid. Morgan, however, while polite was clearly wary of his young colleague's father. As the group turned to face the younger Reids who were still in an intimate embrace, the couple leaned toward each other and shared a passionate kiss.
"You'll get use to it." Rossi said smugly to William Reid noticing the father's face beginning to blush as he watched his daughter-in-law run her fingers through her husband's hair.
"At least she's dressed." Hotch interjected as Reid pulled Lila closer molding her body to his exactly as he had already done in front of the team several times.
"Every morning this week she's said good-bye to him in their hotel room doorway wearing just one of his shirts and a pair of underpants." Rossi explained to William Reid whose blush was continuing to deepen.
"Anytime you two want to come up for air." Morgan said in a raised voice before turning and facing the senior Reid his voice filled with anticipation. "What room are you in?"
"I'm in Room 208. I was thrilled the hotel had a room available next to the team's block of rooms. Lila says I'm next to her and Spencer." William offered with a smile after clearing his throat as the young couple's kiss ended.
"Yea good luck with that," Morgan said with a chuckle.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way can we get back out in the sunshine?" Prentiss asked directing her question at the married couple.
"Give me a minute. He's stifling. My poor hot honey" Lila said as she began undoing his tie. "Don't you guys want to leave your ties and jackets in the cars too? It is 85 degrees and this is Beverly Hills so there will probably be some paparazzi around. Do you guys want to look all uptight?"
"Don't answer that Aaron." Rossi said with a laugh as Morgan took off his jacket and handed it to Penelope, Morgan then quickly removed his tie, and began unbuttoning his shirt revealed a black t-shirt underneath.
When Lila who had just put Reid's sweater and tie in her car saw that Morgan had been wearing a t-shirt underneath his dress shirt all day, she gave him a horrified look.
"Don't start with the natural and sensual with me, Mrs. Reid." Morgan teased hoping unsuccessfully to bait William Reid and causing both Lila and Reid to laugh.
Noticing the confused look on William Reid's face, Rossi said "Don't ask. You don't want to know, trust me."
Lila them helped Reid un-tuck his shirt from inside his pants and began undoing his top shirt buttons as Morgan asked "Can we have one evening when pretty boy isn't half naked?"
"He's not half naked and besides he kept his shirt and tie on Tuesday night for the gallery opening. I think he looks incredible when he's dressed casually especially when he hasn't shaved for a couple days." Lila offered sadly.
"As much as we all love our little junior g-man, I can't picture two or three days of peach fuzz doing that much for him." Garcia said her voice filled with doubt as Lila and Reid glared at her and Morgan put his castoff clothes plus the women's jackets in one of the suburbans.
"Actually Spence's facial hair is dark and grows in quickly. When he doesn't shave he definitely looks closer to 30. Once when his hair was long someone thought he was Johnny Depp. I can definitely see the resemblance. I have pictures I'll show you tomorrow on the plane." Lila offered.
"Romeo resembling Johnny Depp, sorry darling but that's proof that love is blind if I ever heard it." Morgan said with a laugh as Garcia, Seaver and Prentiss all giggled.
When the group was finally ready to leave the parking garage, Lila said "I want to give you a little lesson in paparazzi 101. They can't come into any building including the parking garage but they will be on the street and will take pictures through the windows into the stores. They will ask questions but I promised Mary an interview exclusive so I really can't answer any questions."
"Should we take our rings off?" Reid asked nervously.
"No, we have waited so long at be able to wear our rings 24/7. We're not taking them off, Honey. People can speculate. That's fine. We've been all over town this week. I'm actually surprised more people don't know or haven't guessed. But I can't give details until after the interview. So I'd appreciate if everyone just ignored any questions." Lila offered as they began to walk.
"How was your drive down from Las Vegas?" Rossi asked William as the group descended a flight of stairs in the parking garage.
"Uneventful. I arrived at the hotel a couple minutes after noon. Spencer's directions were incredibly thorough and accurate. Lila and I had a lunch before we left the hotel." William offered.
"Did you drop the house keys off at the rental agent's office?" Reid asked his wife.
"Yes. I don't think I've forgotten anything." Lila said.
"What about your car?" Seaver asked.
"It's a rental. I donated my old truck to a charity last week and rented the car. They have a desk at our hotel so all I need to do is make sure I have all my things out of it and turn in the key." Lila explained as she paused to put on her sunglasses after they stepped onto the sidewalk. "um David there are several stores in this block with gorgeous leather goods. Let's just start walking and if anyone sees a store they'd like to go into just say something." Lila continued.
"Did you know that Beverly Hills actually has five zips codes, 90209, 90210, 90211, 90212 and 90213? 90209 and 90213 are used for post offices boxes only. The combined area of 90211 and 90212 is smaller than the area of 90210. Currently we are in 90210." Reid offered looking at his wife who smiled proudly as they walked hand in hand.
As they passed the third store, Rossi saw a pair of shoes he liked. As Lila took off her sunglasses before entering the store a paparazzo who had been standing with several others on the opposite side of the street squealed "Oh my God. It's Lila Archer."
The paparazzi ran across the street so quickly two of them were almost hit by a 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder. The team quickly entered the store and spent the next hour shopping while as Lila had warned them the paparazzi took dozens of pictures of them through the glass windows. Luckily by the time the team finished shopping the paparazzi had left. Rossi bought 2 pairs of shoes, 2 belts, and a new wallet. Lila bought three ties and a wallet for Reid and a tie for his father. Hotch bought a belt. Morgan bought two ties.
As the group exited the store with their bags, Hotch looked at his watch and said "It's already after 5. Where is the restaurant you mentioned, Lila?"
"It's a block north and then over one block to Beverly." Lila explained.
"Sir, I'd like to walk down to Wilshire. It's only a couple blocks. I'd like to at least look in the window at Jimmy Choo's." Garcia said nervously.
"Mama, we've got enough to take back to Quantico without you indulging your shoe fetish." Morgan whined as Garcia glared and the others except for William Reid giggled.
"Alright, I'll go to the restaurant and get us a table. Anyone who wants to shop some more that's fine. But let's meet up no later than 6." Hotch said with a sigh.
"Aaron, tell them you're with me. It may help." Lila suggested.
Rossi and Mr. Reid decided to join Hotch hoping they would not encounter the paparazzi again while Morgan and Dr Reid decided to stay with the women.
As they walked the three men continued talking. "Lila seems lovely and very much in love with Spencer. She was absolutely gushing about him all afternoon. Spence this and Spence that. Spence is so brave. Spence is so wonderful. I'm so happy for him but also a little surprised. She isn't exactly what I would have pictured in a wife for him. You're the profilers." William said.
"It's certainly been an interesting week. I've been married and divorced three times plus in our business our lives can depend on expecting the unexpected so there isn't much that surprises me anymore. Derek is still having some trouble." Rossi offered.
"I'm sure everyone knows Spencer's childhood was challenging but Derek seems almost protective of Spencer." William offered.
"Derek and Spencer have a very special relationship. Derek views Spencer as the little brother he never had. Yes, sometimes his teasing can be a bit much. Derek is the same way with Penelope but Derek would take a bullet for either one of them." Hotch explained.
"But Lila is clearly doing something right. I've never seen Spencer so happy or so relaxed. We see his brain and his youth, we know he has other qualities but on the job that's what we need. She sees the whole person. She does a great job of gently nudging him out of his comfort zone. She does tend to over share. We've found it is best not to be drinking when she speaks." Rossi offered
"He did imply that calling me was her idea." William said pensively
"Yes calling you is an excellent example. We're not saying he wouldn't have called you but she gives him the confidence, the emotional support." Hotch explained as the threesome arrived at the restaurant. "There will be nine of us including um Lila Archer." Hotch told the hostess.
"I'll be right back, sir I just need to get a table set up for you." The hostess said before quickly heading into the restaurant.
The hostess returned and seated them in an area of the restaurant which could not be seen from the windows. The three man ordered drinks and appetizers while they waited for the rest of the group. Seaver and Prentiss arrived first each carrying a bag from Jose Eber. Garcia, Morgan and the younger Reids arrived promptly at 6pm; Lila and Garcia were each carrying a bag from Jimmy Choo.
"We tried we really did." Morgan said with a laugh as he pushed Garcia's chair in for her.
"They were both restrained relatively speaking. Considering most of the shoes were between $600 and $800 and some were over $1,000." Reid offered.
"We each spent $495. Mine are 3" peep toes with a leopard print patent leather. They're not for work. They're for Kevin." Garcia said proudly showing off her shoes before noting the confused looks on several faces.
"Mine are black flats with neon colored stars." Lila said as she showed the group her purchase.
"What would you suggest, Babe?" Reid asked he wife tenderly as he opened his menu while she and Garcia placed their purchases back in their respective bags.
"Everything is good. I'm going to have a corn beef sandwich. I've been craving corned beef on rye all day" Lila offered
"Craving? Are You?" William asked tentatively fearful his son would think he was overstepping.
"No, soon." Reid replied flatly having promised Lila he would be on his best behavior and knowing it was an obvious question given she had just used the word craving.
"Are you two sure about that, things happen?" Prentiss taunted.
"I'm on the pill and I'm always very careful to take them at the same time every day. I think it's just the stress of everything – meeting all of you, making sure I'm leaving the rental house in good order, getting rid of my truck, having my things go into storage, anticipating our new routine." Lila offered with a sigh.
"You have been inhibited." Reid said sadly before putting his arm around her and giving her a reassuring kiss on the head.