Title: Au Natural (Part 24)
Author: dustytiger aka Trista Groulx
Rating: T (like the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I do not on CM. I am still poor. CM still belongs to its creator, network, writers, actors and actresses who bring it to life weekly.
Summary: Prentiss and Reid are getting married, but what brought them to this point?
Notes: Hey sorry this one is a little late folks I haven't been home today… so happy to be home. It was nice to have so many kind reviews when I got in. I will reply to those I can after I eat my dinner.

It had been over a week since they had visited with Reid's mother but he still felt guilty about everything that had happened. Prentiss tried to reassure him that she understood that his mother was sick but it was hard for him. His mother had never accepted any of the women he had brought to meet her but he truly thought that it would be different this time. What he had with Prentiss was more serious than anything he had shared with anyone in his life. He loved her and he thought that would make the difference for his mother. He decided to make it up to her he would give her a day at the spa with her friends. Prentiss was shocked when she realised what he'd given her.

"I'm sorry about what happened with my mom," he told her handing her an envelope.

Prentiss took the envelope from him and opened and was surprised by the gift that was inside. She had not been expecting a voucher for the spa, and she certainly wasn't expecting one so expensive. There was enough there for her to spend most of the day there with her friends. As much as she loved a day of pampering and relaxing with her friends she thought it was too much. He had already explained everything and she had told him she understood what had happened but she could tell he wanted to do more. She knew how much his mother meant to him and she would never to anything to get between them.

"Spencer you didn't have to do this. What happened wasn't your fault," she assured him, looking down at the voucher he'd given her.

"I wanted to, and I feel badly about what happened," he explained.

"And we talked about it, I understand, really," she tried to assure him, running her finger along his cheek.

"I want to give this to you, please Emily take it you deserve a day of relaxation with your friends."

Prentiss knew that she would hurt his feelings more if she didn't accept the gift, but she was worried that it was too much. She had been trying to plan a spa day for a while but she didn't want to have it happen like this. She'd known that what his mother had said had really upset him and that he was going to try to do something to make it up to her. She thought it might be another home cooked dinner or night out but not something that seemed so extravagant.

"We knew this could be the outcome and it isn't you who should be apologising to me," she told him.

"I should have known," he sighed. "She's always reacted poorly to the women that I've introduced her to. I wanted it to be different this time but she didn't and I want to make it up to you."

He'd wanted very much for his mother to accept his new relationship because this one was different from the others, this one was serious. He'd wanted to tell her that they were living together and he was already thinking about marriage, but he hadn't gotten the chance. Instead he had to spend his visit with his mother defending Prentiss as his mother tried to tell him that she was just like every other women in his life who had left in the end. He felt guilty because he'd told his mother about Prentiss faked death but never about how close they had become since she'd been home.

"Spencer you didn't want to lie to her any longer. We both knew this could happen and I'm fine with the way it ended up playing out, honestly I am," she assured him. "It doesn't change anything between us. I don't want you to think you need to give me extravagant gifts when things don't work out as you'd planned."

"I'm doing this because I love you and I want to show you that not just because I screwed up. Next time I won't get something so big but this is bought now so you may as well use it. I've heard you all say you don't get to get away as much as you'd like and this will help. Enjoy it."

She kissed his cheek. "You don't owe me anything."

"I know I wanted to give you this because you're the only woman I've known who didn't allow my mother to scare her off."

"It will take a lot more than your mother, who has a very good excuse for acting the way she does, to scare me away from you Spencer Reid," she assured him.

He nodded. "There's still a part of me that's nervous you might change your mind about that. I know how difficult my mother can be."

"I know about your past, and how much you went through with your mom growing up, which is why you are so close to her. I also understand why you're so worried but I have no intention of leaving and hope you feel the same way. I know how much your mother means to you and while I had hoped she might accept me I'm fine with letting you have time with her when you need it because she's your mother and the only blood family you have. That's what you do when you love a person Spencer you find a way to make it work."

"Thank you Emily." He kissed her cheek softly.

"Now that we have that settled we have a day off and no one asking us to do anything with it. What do you feel like doing?"

"We still haven't been able to go see the new exhibit at the Smithsonian if you're still interested."

"I think that's a good idea."

The day was gray and miserable and spending it in a museum seemed like the best thing to do. Reid was still amazed that he had found someone who he didn't think it was odd to spend an afternoon at a museum. They left the apartment shortly after and drove to the museum. Prentiss enjoyed that they could spend an afternoon together at the museum hardly speaking but still connecting. She was sure she would never get sick of going to this kind of thing with him because she enjoyed watching him almost as much as she enjoyed the exhibits.

As they walked around the museum her mind began to wonder what it might be like to go with their children to a museum. She wondered if the children they might have would have the same thirst for knowledge he did. His excitement was almost child-like. She had wanted to ask his mother what he was like growing up, but knew she might never get the chance to. Unless she suddenly changed her mind about how she felt.

After they had spent a few hours at the museum they decided to go for dinner. The rain had cleared up but it was still overcast as they walked toward the restaurant. They almost always went to the same place after they went to the Smithsonian. After they were seated Prentiss began to text her friends to set up their spa day for their next Saturday off.

End Part 24

Notes: So that was that I hope you enjoyed it. Isn't that a nice surprise? Which means another ladies' chapter coming up!