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"I can't believe we almost said no to this," Reid said as he tied his tie.

"I'm glad we didn't," Emily said, spraying on perfume. "It's Valentines Day Spencer."

"I know… I just can't believe we have a night all to ourselves." He declared.

"I hope Aaron's okay." Emily worried as she smoothed the dress she wore.

Reid put his arms around her waist. "He's going to be just fine. We've left him alone with Helga before," He reminded her.

"I just feel kind of selfish coming here when he's suffering."

Reid hugged her tight and kissed her neck. "Come on Emily…" He whispered seductively in her ear. "Helga's been through this before, she knows what to do. He loves her. He was sleeping peacefully when we left. Let's just enjoy our 'first date' okay?"

Emily laughed. "I can't believe we're engaged and here we are on our very first official date. It's crazy!"

Reid pulled away, walked around her and looked her over very carefully. "It doesn't matter to me that we've done everything backwards. You look so beautiful tonight. That's the all that matters to me."

"Really?"

She spun around in her dark violet dress that gathered in at the waist and flared at the hips. It fell to just below her knees. The straps holding it up were spaghetti straps with a low cut heart shaped neckline.

"Y-yes…" He stammered going pink in the cheeks. "I have something for you. I was going to give it to you at home tonight." He pulled a small black velvet box from his messenger bag and handed it to her with trembling fingers. "I h-hope you l-like it," He squeaked.

She opened the box and removed a thin gold chain with a simple gold locket. She opened it and found miniature pictures of her and Spencer inside.

"It's beautiful!" She breathed. "Thank you so much."

"Here… I'll help you put it on."

She held up her hair with trembling hands as he moved closer and put the pendant around her neck. The scent of him washed over her and she shivered. He kissed her neck and heat fired in her belly. "You have my heart." He said softly. "I just wanted everyone else to see."

She turned in his arms and kissed him. Her mouth opened and their tongues began to battle intensely. The heat in her belly flared into fire. She didn't realize she was groaning until his lips were gone.

"Um… We s-should go down to d-dinner." He stammered crimson faced.

"Do we have to?" She could barely breathe.

"Well JJ did get us this room and dinner. Her friend runs the place. It might be embarrassing if we don't go down for dinner."

"Spencer Reid! We have a four-month-old baby. We've seen each other naked. We have sex on a regular basis now. I don't think anyone would mind if we skip dinner on Valentine's Day for other things." She ran a fingernail down the front of the dark blue dress shirt he wore.

"Emily!"

"In fact…" She went on while playing with his tie. "I think it's expected."

"That's my point!" He squeaked. "They'll all know what we're doing!"

"You're so cute when you're embarrassed."

"Emily!'

"Okay, we'll go down and eat. JJ said the food is first class." Emily relented.

Reid hugged her close. "Remember my place for later." He whispered.

"You're a tease Spence."

"I love you."

Tears backed up in her eyes. He could move her so deeply at the most unexpected times. "I love you too baby."

----

The hotel restaurant had a four star rating. The name over the door was said simply, "The Grille at Jefferson House."

The décor was all wood paneling. Mahogany tables were scattered around the room. Rose silk upholstery covered the chairs. The lights were set in old-fashioned glass and metal sconces. Etching on the glass sconces made them appear as wavering gas when lit.

A man in a black tuxedo greeted them as they stepped through the carved wooden arch that held the name of the restaurant. "You must be Dr Reid and Agent Prentiss," he said quietly and in a very haughty voice as though federal officers and genii were an affront to his job.

"Yes we are," Reid said clutching tightly to Emily's hand.

"The owner sends her compliments and commands that you be seated at the best table in the house." He said looking them over as though they were dressed in rags.

Reid pulled at his tie. "Um… thank you."

Emily stared at the maitre d' until he turned away and led them from the entryway. "What a snob!" She whispered to Reid. "I wonder why Susan puts up with him."

"It's like something out of a book or an old movie." Spencer agreed with a shy smile.

"Here's is your table sir. Will you have wine tonight?" He said with a look on his face as though he smelled something nasty on his shoe.

"Maurice!" A woman's voice interrupted the maitre d'.

"Yes ma'am?"

"I'll take care of Dr Reid and SSA Prentiss myself."

A very short round woman dressed in the white pants and coat of a chef stepped out of the shadowy background of the room. A white cap hid her raven hair. Her unusual blue eyes twinkled with delight at the couple. "I'm Susan Baker. The Jefferson house is my place."

The very tall, thin grey haired maitre d' bowed to his boss and walked away in a stiff legged gait with his nose in the air.

"I apologize for Maurice. He sort of came with the place. I bought it three years ago and refurbished it into what you see." Susan said as the couple sat down. "Please choose anything you want from the menu. It's on the house."

"We can't do that!" Reid protested.

"Of course you can. JJ is a great friend. We went to college together and she'd gotten me out of some tight jams. I owe her big time." She winked at Emily. "I'll send your sommelier right over."

Then she was gone, disappearing into the back room as if she'd never been there. "Wow!" Reid said.

"Yeah… I think I like her a lot," Emily said as Reid pulled out her chair.

"Me too," He said looking like he was admitting to stealing the collection plate money from church.

Emily picked up her menu. "I think I'm going to have the crab cake."

Reid made a face. "No fish for me."

"Oh baby, I forgot. I'll get something else."

"No!" He took her hand over the real linen instead tablecloth. "You have what you want."

"But Spencer -"

"It's okay! I am tired of constant reminders of Georgia and Tobias Henkel. Have what you want. It's time for me to stop wallowing."

"Hey…" Emily reached over and took his hand. "You're not wallowing. My God Spencer, you were beaten, tortured, forced chose between life and death of strangers. That's just what Rafael and Charles did to you. I think," She said swallowing against the tears of sympathy that wanted to fall, "I think Tobias visited the worst torture on you."

"Emily… He saved my life."

"Yeah, after he killed you with torture, and drugs. I know Charles and Rafael physically hurt you. Tobias administered the drug to you against your will. He forcibly addicted you."

"And I was the one that refused to turn my back on them after it was over."

"Spencer…"

"It's true Emily."

"Excuse me." A voice said from their right. "I'm Mary. I'll be your server today." A medium built blond woman wearing a white shirt and black skirt approached them. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes we are," Reid said firmly. "She wants the crab cake with leek cream sauce."

"Spencer!"

"I'll have the veal jus with risotto roasted pumpkin."

"Very good sir," the server took their menus and left.

"I didn't think you'd eat anything on this menu." Emily said. "I thought you're a junk food kind of guy." She smiled at him.

"I thought I'd try something new. Besides, this was the only thing on the menu that I really recognized."

"Spencer!"

"Look, I told you I'm not going to wallow and I mean it. I know you think I wasn't responsible, but I was. I could have asked for help at anytime and I didn't."

"We didn't help you." Emily said miserably.

"I wouldn't have let you Emily. Don't you understand?"

"I know…" She said quietly. "I just wish -"

"If wishes were pennies I'd be a millionaire by now. I have all that I need in my life. I have you and Aaron, and Helga."

"And Sophie," Emily said slyly."

"And Sophie," he rolled his eyes as the sommelier brought their wine and decanted it."

"You can pretend all you want that you're indifferent to her, but I know better."

"I admit it, she's great. Are you happy?"

"Yes!"

"Can we talk about something else now?"

Emily looked around the room. No one else was close to their corner table. The walls behind them and to the left and right were glass. A stone walkway surrounded the building and beyond that were denuded oak trees and firs. The black night pressed in on the glass and as she watched, it began to snow lightly. It was like being in the middle of a snow globe that someone turned upside down.

"Emily?"

"I was just looking outside. This is a beautiful spot."

"It is beautiful."

"We should have done this a long time ago." She said squeezing his hand.

"Yeah… Why didn't we?" He asked looking confused.

"We were too busy pretending we didn't love each other."

"Why?" He asked, looking even more perplexed.

"Because we…" She trailed off; the power of his eyes was turning her brain into mush. "I can't remember."

Their server brought their meal. The spell was broken and they both sat back to survey the plates in front of them. "Looks good," Emily, said.

"Yeah…"

"So do you think Aaron's okay." Emily asked as Reid cut into his meat.

"He's fine Emily… If he wasn't Helga would have called us."

"I know, I just -"

Reid reached over for her hand. "He's fine. We'll go home tomorrow and find him well and happy with Helga. She's the best."

"You're right of course; we'll just enjoy the evening." She took a bite of her crab cake and sighed. "This is the best crab cake I've ever had."

"This is pretty good too."

Emily began perusing the dessert menu several minutes later. "You're not even done with your entrée and you're looking at the dessert menu." Reid squeaked.

"That the best part." Emily said. "I'm going to have Tiramisu."

"What's that?" He asked blandly as he tasted the pumpkin.

She stared at him. "Are you serious? You're the big coffee lover and you've never had Tiramisu?"

"No… What's so great about it?"

"Look at the menu."

He read the description of the dessert and his eyes got huge.

"I told you!"

"I think I'll have some too." He said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You're so cute when you're trying to act like something's no big deal."

"Emily!" He squeaked.

"You're cute when you squeak too."

He went crimson. "Do you have to do that?" He hissed.

"Yes… Hurry up and finish and I'll have even more surprises for you upstairs."