When Cruz and Reid returned to the conference room with the food, Emma was standing on the far side of the room talking with JJ. After putting the take-out cartons on the table, Reid walked over to join them.
"I think I'll check out the food," JJ didn't need to be told. "And, I'll put some of the spring rolls to one side for you, Emma. They are always the first thing to disappear." She walked away leaving them alone.
"Cruz says that I was out of line," Reid began. "And that I shouldn't have made those comments about your outfit."
He hesitated before continuing. "I know that sometimes I say things that I shouldn't," he confessed. "It's just what I do, and I am sorry I upset you."
"I told you I was coming as Amy Pond," Emma reminded him. She noticed that he had balled his hands up into fists as they hung by his sides. She reached over, picked up the right one, and gently opened it up.
"Relax," she told him. "Take a deep breath and relax."
"I know what you told me, I just never realized – " Reid trailed off. "I probably should have asked more questions," he added softly.
"Spencer, it is kind of hard to ask questions when we so rarely talk," Emma pointed out. "And then, when we do, everything is so rushed! We never get a chance to really talk things through."
"I could call you more often," Reid offered hesitantly. "It's just that in my – previous relationship – things like that were more structured. And between my job and your two jobs our schedules rarely coincide."
"And, Spencer," Emma smiled shyly. "You need to realize that this is all new to me. I have never been in a relationship before, and I'm not sure how to deal with situations like this. Heck, I have never even been on a date!"
"What?" Reid questioned, surprised. "You're telling me you have never been on a date?"
"Never!" Emma declared. "We have been married for almost thirteen years, even if you didn't know it for the first twelve, and married women don't go on dates. This weekend would have been my - our - first date. And, you can see how that turned out!" She blinked back tears.
"I'm sorry," Reid apologized. "Please don't cry! I know that we are in an – unusual - situation where we are married and yet we don't really know each other, and there are a lot of things we need to figure out. But, we never seem to have the opportunity to do that."
He hesitated for a moment before adding. "I know I have told you this before, and please don't get upset with me, but you really don't need to work that second job. If you would let me help you – "
"And, as I have told you, I stand on my own two feet," Emma reminded him. "I did let your father pay off what was left on that one small student loan because I know he feels guilty about getting us into this situation. However, I still feel really bad about that."
"You and my father seem to be getting along," Reid sounded slightly jealous. "Maybe, when this is all over with, I could come visit him and spend some time with you, too?"
"Maybe - ," Emma told him tentatively. "Now that the tourist season is winding down, I can probably get some time off from my job at the ice cream stand. And, that would give you a chance to visit your mother, too. I know how much she enjoys seeing you."
"We could start – dating – " Reid suggested, blushing.
Garcia bustled over. "As much as I hate to interrupt you two," she said. "Everyone has picked up their lunch and we are getting ready to resume discussing the case. Maybe, when this is all over with and our team has again saved the world, you two can take some time and work on your relationship."
Rossi and Cruz both noticed that Emma willingly sat down in the chair Reid pulled out for her, next to the one he had been occupying.