Most, if not all, of the things that occur in this chapter have happened to me (editor frog) at some point while in a hotel. Cookies!

"That pie was like eating heaven," Austin said as she grabbed her bag. Smiling like a little kid, she nearly raced up the front walk to the hotel the couple were staying at for the night. "What made you pick this place?"

"I didn't," Reid said honestly, looking at the gigantic building. It was a Hilton, and from the looks of the place was fairly new. "Garcia told me she was booking all my stuff for this trip…"

"Probably didn't trust you to do it yourself," Austin teased.

"Hey, I can book my own room," the profiler said simply.

"Yeah, for one," the former bartender countered. "And for business purposes. I'm sure Garcia picked something nice."

The pair walked up to the front desk, Austin staring around a the mahogany paneling that lined the counter and the cherry finish along the walls. A small 'wishing pond' sat in the middle of the entryway, with a waterfall that cascaded down from the third floor. "Look, Spencer—there's giant goldfish in here!" the woman cried, giggling.

"Those are koi fish," Reid said, peering into the pond. Realistic looking fake plants had been scattered among some real ones, giving the place a more elegant feel than the accommodations he was accustomed to receiving on the job. "But they do look like goldfish, don't they?"

Austin just smiled. Then the pair made it up to the front desk.

"Welcome," the clerk said. "Checking in?"

"Yes," Reid said, handing over his credit card. "I have a reservation…"

"Mmm hmm…let's see," the clerk said, pecking away at her keyboard. "Oh. Yes. Vacation?" she asked, looking at both him and Austin.

"Yes," Austin said. "This place is gorgeous."

"Thanks. People really like the fish—have to keep some from throwing pennies in to make wishes half the time. The coins hurt the fish." Pulling two key cards from the pile on the desk, the clerk coded them to the room the couple would be occupying for the night. "Now, your reservation was open, so whenever you decide to check out just come back," she explained. "Have a wonderful stay."

"Thanks," Reid said, taking the key cards and the printout of his bill. He could swear he heard the clerk humming a tune he recognized, something to do with "so in love as we, bewildered by the world we see." Austin snatched one of the keys out of his hand and scampered down the hallway, searching for a directional sign. "What floor?" she said. "I'm beat."

"Um…room 312," Reid read, not noticing as the elevator patiently made its way down the clear glass enclosure of a shaft. The design was so that guests could see the view of the lobby and entryway, as well as enjoy the sight of the lush plants and waterfall pond below. As the couple got on, Reid decided to look over the bill later and watched Austin wriggle with excitement. "It's a hotel room, Austin. Same furniture in every one."

"Now, you don't know that," the woman replied.

"Believe me, I've been to hundreds of hotel rooms since I started at Quantico," he countered. "They're pretty much the same."

"And if you're vacationing?"

"Doesn't matter, Austin," Reid said. "It's still the same."

"The mindset is different. All those other times, you were in a room to work. Now you're here to relax. Trust me, it makes things completely different."

Reid remained silent, but his expression said that he wasn't so sure. Austin nearly ran down the hallway, stopping at a door near the stairs. "Here it is, our home away from home tonight," she said. "Wonder if it'll be like the last place…"

A chuckle escaped Reid's lips. The night previous he and Austin had ended up staying in a room that had had a screamer on one side, a squeaky mattress on the other and a roof that leaked. Reid had silently taken the name of the place down and vowed to 'repay' Garcia for the booking in his own time.

Austin pulled her door key out of the lock and opened the door. "Oh, Spencer," she said, her voice full of surprise and delight. "Really…" The smile on her face was enough to put a confused look on her companion's.

"What?"

"A hot tub? Wow." Reid had to gasp for air as Austin kissed him long and hard on the lips, his shoulder blades stinging from being shoved backwards onto the wall as she did so. "Oooh!" she said as he heaved oxygen into his lungs. "I know just the thing…" Quickly the woman left the room, a huge smile on her face. "Don't go anywhere…I'll be right back!"

Reid stared at the tub in disbelief. He liked spas—had been thinking about putting one in his apartment, actually—but this one was clearly designed for two, and it looked like it could swallow the profiler whole. Large mirrors had been set into the walls surrounding the tub, giving a 'view' that was clearly meant for a 'romantic' evening.

There has to be some mistake, he thought, pulling out his bill. As he carefully read the receipt, he realized it was no mistake.

The young man looked at the tub. He looked at the bed—a king size with soft sheets and extra pillows. He remembered Austin's bright eyes and happy smile as she'd found out the 'accomodations' were more than she'd expected.

Smiling a little, Reid sat his bag on one end of the giant bed. Why not? he thought. I could use a happy memory involving water…

Just then the door creaked. "Austin? Is that you?" he called out, not being able to clearly see the door.

"Room service, sir," a woman said, pushing in a cart. "Your wife asked that we send this up."

Reid decided not to correct the woman. "Thanks," he said, handing the waitress a tip. Once she left, he perused the contents of the tray. Austin, how could you…? he wondered. Wow.

A covered tray was heaped with fresh strawberries, all with the tops cut off. A pot of heated chocolate sat next to it on a special flameless burner, warming the confection but not burning it. A small plate of carrots and celery covered another, a container of dip nestled in the middle. There were two cans of instant whipped cream, and a giant box of chocolates that had yet to be unwrapped. Two carafes of something hot sat on the other end, and the smell of flavored coffee and hot chocolate filled Reid's nostrils. A bowl of peppermints completed the spread, and on a separate shelf on the cart stood a bottle of bath salts.

"Guess she really likes the room," Reid said to himself as he began to unpack a little. Though they probably would only stay a day or two, he still liked to unpack—it made him feel like he wasn't living out of a bag day in and day out.

The door creaked again, and Reid stood up from the dresser to see who it was. Once he did, he smiled. "So that was the surprise?" Reid said, motioning towards the food.

"That, and something else," Austin said. "Something for the big kid now."

Reid looked a little perplexed. "Huh?"

"Just make yourself comfortable and I'll hop in the shower. Oh, and start running that bathtub!"

"Okay," the profiler called out as he heard the shower start to run. She really wasn't that dirty, he thought to himself. I mean, not that I noticed…well, not to me…oh…" Reid could feel his cheeks blush as his own mind tripped over his thoughts. To take his mind off of that, he studied the directions for the spa carefully and began to fill the tub. He also added a capful of the bath salts, and he smiled as the tub began to fill with scented bubbles—the scent wasn't too flowery or too strong. Then his mind jumped to the thought of being in the tub. With Austin. A beautiful, intelligent, capable, completely naked woman. The thought of her being in the tub with him set Reid on edge a little.

"Uh…Austin…" he called, settling nervously on the edge of the bed.

A second later the bathroom door opened, and the woman padded out on slightly dripping feet, a towel covering much of her frame. "Yeah?"

"Um, about the tub…"

"Oh, Spencer. I love it." At that, Austin dropped her towel.

Reid's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. "Wow," he said, his voice trying to keep up with his thoughts.