"You don't want me to go, do you?" Mia said, as she got dressed in Reid's bedroom.
"There is no right answer to this question, Mia", Reid said. "I want you to be happy."
"But I want to know what you think", Mia said.
Reid turned to her and put down his crossword puzzle. "I don't like long distance relationships. I've seen them burn bright and fizzle fast. But I'm not going to stop you from going." He walked over to her and took her hands in his. "This truly is a golden opportunity and we don't know how long the window will stay open on this."
"But how long is our window?" Mia said, sadly.
"I'm not going anywhere. It may take some adjustment, but I'm not going anywhere." Reid kissed her forehead. He went to the drawer. "I have something for you. For good luck and love."
"Love?" Mia said, sitting down.
"Yes. Love. I love you, Mia." Reid said sitting down next to her.
"That's..." Mia choked, "that's the first time you've admittedly said it out loud."
"I wanted to make sure it was special when I said it. Like at a fancy dinner or something. But then I realized, you're special all the time. And I love you. All the time." Reid leaned in and kissed her softly. "Here." He handed her a box with a red ribbon.
"I love you too, Spence. So much", Mia said taking the box. She went to open and Reid stopped her.
"No. Don't open it. Not now. Wait until you finish the interview. Then open it. Please." Reid stood up. "You better hurry up; you have a train to catch."
Mia sat on the train headed to Manhattan, New York, thinking about Reid. She was finally happy, in a good, healthy relationship. He career was at an all time high and this really was an opportunity of a lifetime. Still, all she wanted to do was head back to Reid's and cuddle in his arms. The conductor called for her stop. Mia got off the train, walked three blocks and stood in front of the building where David Tutera's office. She got off the elevator on the 19th floor where the receptionist directed her to and paced in front of David's door. She pulled out the small box Reid had given her and toyed with it in her hand when the door opened.
"Ms. Rossi?" David said opening his door.
"Mr. Tutera." Mia said extending her hand to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"We don't shake here, Miss Missy", David said, pulling her into a hug. He let her go and looked in her face earnestly. "You're not here", he said.
"Excuse me?" Mia said.
"You're not here. I mean your mind is a mile away. And I'm going to guess it's with whomever gave you that box you're not opening", David said smiling. "C'mon, let's go in my office. Can I get you anything?"
Mia sniffed. "No. I'm good."
"Uh huh", David said. "Tell me."
Mia didn't waste anytime in going into the story of her and Reid, how he saved her, and how she was happy with him and how he finally told her this morning that he loved her.
"You lucky girl", David said. "Most of us are still searching for that." He kept his eye on the box in her hand as he spoke. "I'm not going to lie, you're credentials are amazing. I need you on my team; I think we could do extraordinary things together." He paused. "Open it."
"But he said to wait until the interview was over." Mia said.
"OK, It's officially over", David said with a smile. You're hired. Now open it."
Mia laughed quietly and took the ribbon off the box. When she opened it, she gasped.
"Is it a ring? Tell me it's a ring!" David said squealing.
Laughing, Mia took the locket necklace out of the box. She opened it and on the left side there a picture of Reid and his mom. On the right side there was a picture of Mia and her mom. Both pictures were taken when they were very young. Tears started to pour from her cheeks.
"He's…"she cried, "so thoughtful." Mia said through tears. "Our mothers are both in facilities… and we share… we were the ones…" Mia covered her face unable to speak anymore.
David came around and took the necklace and put it around her neck. Mia turned around and looked at David. "I have to respectfully decline. I need to go."
David smiled. "I'm sorry, I do not accept declines. But I do except transfers."
"Transfers?" Mia said, wiping her eyes.
"Transfers. Officially, you are hired on in my New York office. You position begins two months from today." He smiled at her. "That's when the Virginia office in Springfield opens. I want you to run it."
"Are you serious?" Mia said, jumping out of her seat. "I'm a blubbering mess and you're hiring me and letting run my own division office?"
"You're not a blubbering mess. You have vision and heart. You care about your clients." David sat down behind desk and Mia followed suit. "I've seen your work. I was actually at the Humphrey wedding. And I saw what you did with the Von Claire's. Those were some very hard to please clients, and they did nothing but rave about you. If you can do that, you can run my VA office. You'd still have your own business, and it can extend off of my company. So you could still do your own planning, but you'd have a team, actually three teams and you can take care of the southern most parts of the area. So what do you say?"
Mia stood, and walked around to his side of the desk and hugged him. "I say yes! You got yourself a division director!"
"Good", David said. "You got a little time? I'd like you to consult with me on this wedding I'm doing this weekend. It won't take long; I just want to run a design by you."
"You bet I do!" Mia said. They left his office and walked down the hall.
"Monday, I want you back here at 9am. We have some paperwork to do and then you're free and clear until the office opening." David said.
Mia stopped and debated hugging him again. David looked at her and smiled.
"Go ahead", he said smiling. "Bring it in here", he said, holding his arms out.
The team met at Rossi's house to celebrate the Hotchner's baby news and JJ and Will's victory in court. Reid stood over by the fireplace in a slight funk, nursing a drink. Mia came in and tapped him softly on the arm.
"Hey Handsome. Can we go talk?" Mia said.
"Sure", Reid said, following her into the garden.
"So I actually met with David Tutera today, not the interviewer." Mia said.
"Oh? And how did that go?" Reid said.
"Well. You're looking at the new Division Director for David's Virginia office." Mia said, saying the last part quietly.
"Well, OK. Congrats. You're going to do so…wait, what?" Reid said. "Did you say Virginia office?"
"I did", Mia said smiling.
"You're staying?" Reid said loudly, the team now standing at the patio doors looking out.
"Yes, I'm staying. After he made me open my necklace, which by the way I love, and I started blubbering…"
"You cried in front of David Tutera?" Reid said, laughing a bit.
"Yeah", Mia said. "And then he made me tell him our whole story…"
"You told him our story?"
"He can be very persuasive", Mia said laughing. "Then he hired me on the spot and told me he was transferring me to the new VA store he's opening in two months."
Reid hugged Mia tightly and yelled out loud.
"Who hoo!" Reid yelped.
"And get this!" Mia said, shouting too. "I get to keep my business and become a division of his. New business cards and everything!"
The team came outside and gathered around.
"OK, somebody wanna tell us what happened?" Rossi said.
Mia ran down the day's events and everyone cheered.
"We're celebrating so much tonight!" Penelope said. "This is incredible!
"Wait there's something else!" Mia said.
"More?" Morgan said.
"What else is there?" Emily said.
"I got to consult with him on a wedding he's doing this weekend!" Mia turned to Reid. "That's why I was late, Pumpkin."
"Pumpkin?!" the team said in unison.
"She calls me Pumpkin; deal with it", Reid said smiling.
"I'm getting a byline on the credits for this wedding!" Mia said excitedly.
Hotch lifted his glass. "This has been one heck of a celebration!" he said. "Congrats everybody. Cheers!"
The team put their glasses in and said, "Cheers" in unison.
Rossi stood the back. He took out his phone and called his friend.
"Worked like a charm", Rossi said.
"I knew it would. Did the picture fit?" the friend said.
"Yep. Got her crying and everything. Wish I could take credit for the job thing, but there was no way I letting those two separate. They're just too good for each other." David smiled.
"So are we planning a wedding soon? I'd need to alert the authorities." The friend said laughing.
"Not yet. He's still got to ask. But I don't think it'll be too long. The ball is rolling. I'll keep you abreast." Rossi hung up with a goodbye. "Man, this is just too fun", he whispered to himself as he walked back over to his family laughing together.