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"Stop fidgeting," Morgan hissed at Reid.

The chapel had filled to the brim. Reid didn't know who most of them were. The faces didn't matter though. He could think only of Emily. The minutes passed like hours while he waited to see her come down the aisle with her father.

Then, the music began. The tune was recognizable, but he couldn't think of the name. His hands began to sweat profusely. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the double doors at the back of the church. Garcia came in first. She wore some kind of gold dress that fell to several inches below her knees. Her hair was down in curls around her shoulders. He noticed it didn't have its usual pink or blue streaks. She wore her ruby red glasses though and seeing that made him feel like his universe hadn't tilted on its side. JJ and Mai came in wearing identical dresses to Garcia. They smiled at him. Why did it matter if their dresses matched? He'd have to ask Emily about that.

Why are you thinking about that now? Pay attention!

He wrenched his eyes back to the doors as the music changed and became the familiar Wedding March. Emily appeared in the doorway. His breath had gone. Someone had knocked it from his chest. She looked like some ethereal angel. He didn't know what kind of dress she wore and didn't matter because she would soon be taking his hand and promising to love him for the rest of her life. No one had ever promised that to him outside his mother. He didn't know how to feel about it.

His hands began to tremble and his heart to race so that he felt like he might faint. It became increasingly difficult to breathe as she came closer on her father's arm. Something dropped over his sight and hearing, like when he had a very interesting book and could block everything out of his mind. She occupied everything in the universe.

Someone elbowed him hard in the side. His tunnel vision lifted and everything came rushing back to his eyes and ears.

"Pay attention," His best man whispered in his ear.

Reid moved forward stiffly, like a tin toy soldier, to meet Emily and her father. She smiled at him and all his nerves fell away.

Robert kissed Emily's cheek and put her hand in Reid's hand. The familiar warmth of her touch slowed the frantic beating if his heart and he could breathe.

Reverend Eagan began to speak. Emily winked at Reid he felt his face growing hot. She smiled as one solitary tear tracked down her face. The reverend asked, "who gives this woman to be married to this man?'

Reid didn't listen to Robert's answer. He didn't hear anything until the cleric asked him. "Spencer Reid do you take Emily Prentiss to be your lawfully wedded wife."

"I do…"

"Emily Prentiss… Do you take Spencer Reid as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do…"

Reid exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Everything began to pass in a blur. The blessing of the rings came next. The ring Reid bought for Emily had an inscription on the inside. "Half my Life," written in Latin. He received Emily's ring from Reverend Eagan and put it on her finger. His voice trembled as he repeated the words. "With this ring I thee wed."

Emily took his ring from the Reverend. It felt cold on his finger as she slipped on repeating the same words to him. The coolness of the metal somehow made all of this real. Tears bean to slide down his face as they both promised to wear the rings as a sign of faithfulness and love.

Then it was over. Reverend Eagan called them man and wife. Spencer kissed his new wife tasting the salty tang of tears on her lips. His heart sped up again as they faced the crowded church and listened to the reverend introduce them as Dr and Mrs. Emily Reid.

The music started again. They walked back down the aisle together. Emily winked at him when he looked over at her. It was over. It had really happened. She was his wife. A new life waited for them and Aaron, but first, he had to get through the reception.

----

The reception tent was huge. The same theme of white and pink flowers with gold and white ribbons, decorated the tables distributed on the green grass of the Prentiss Estate. The tables could seat up to six people apiece. White candles lit the tent with golden light, and were scattered throughout the space. They pushed back the shade of the space and the twilight that descended on the guests as they gathered.

The Prentiss mansion stood in the background, lit with more golden light that spilled off the marble and onto the tent. A walkway from the house to the tent could be found by following more white ribbons tied to old-fashioned looking street lamps painted white and spaced out at six-foot intervals.

"This is some reception." Rossi said as he followed JJ and Henry into the spacious white tent.

"I'll say…" Will said.

Garcia, Kevin and Aaron entered ahead of Will and JJ. Kevin carried the baby. Aaron didn't look too pleased with the situation Rossi noted. He kept reaching out for Garcia, who finally took him out of Kevin's arms. They young man looked relieved beyond words, which made Rossi laugh.

"Dr Reid looks a bit overwhelmed." Mai said to Hotch, who had entered with her and Todd.

"You would be too if you were meeting senators and diplomats for the first time at your wedding reception."

All of Reid's friends and the team found spaces together at three tables close to each other to the left side of the tent. Robert and Elizabeth Prentiss joined Hotch and Jack with Rossi and Helga.

Morgan joined Garcia's table. He started playing peek-a-boo with Aaron, who screamed with laughter and delight at the game.

"What a beautiful child." A very tall, black haired woman said to Garcia as she passed the table. "Is he your son?"

Garcia giggled at the look of chagrin on Kevin's face. "No, he's my godson," Garcia said. "He belongs to the bride and groom."

"Oh…" The woman moved on as if she had smelled something bad.

"Who was that?" Morgan asked scowling at the woman's retreating back.

"That's Mr. Prentiss' cousin. I met her years ago." Hotch said.

"She must not be close to the family." Morgan observed as Aaron jabbered at him.

"She's not!'

"Let's not let her attitude, spoil our fun." Garcia said.

"I'm with you baby-girl."

----

Reid shook hand and hand as he met Emily's cousin from California, Senator Evans from Michigan and the Mayor of Alexandria, an old college buddy of Robert. Reid met three different Congressmen and two more Senators. Their names were all running together in his head when a very large woman in a brilliant orange dress actually hugged him.

"This is my Great Aunt Stella," Emily said.

"He's as good looking as Elizabeth bragged." Great Aunt Stella looked Reid over so thoroughly, he began to feel like the prize stallion in a stud farm. Would she ask to see his teeth next?

"When I heard Emily had snagged a doctor," She enthused. "I looked up everything I could find about you."

She pulled him along as she began to recount his entire life history to him as though she'd memorized it. He looked around frantically, but Emily had deserted him for the chance to coo over a college friend's new baby.

"And so Dr Reid, I thought your latest paper on hand writing analysis and the psychotic mind was absolutely brilliant," Stella enthused.

"Aunt Stella…" Robert's voice said from behind them.

Reid could have cried with relief!

"It's time to let the newlyweds have their first dance together." He took the woman's arm.

Emily appeared at his side. Dancing seemed like a better alternative to Aunt Stella so he decided not to complain. He put his arms around her and swayed onto the dancing area.

"Sorry about Aunt Stella," Emily said.

"No you're not," Reid corrected.

"Okay, I'm not… Will you forgive me?"

"If you promise we can leave soon. I want to be alone with my new wife." He said softly in her ear.

His warm breath sent shivers down her spine. Her heart began to thump like a frightened hummingbird.

"I promise to get us out of here as soon as is possible. We still have to cut the cake and pose for more pictures and -"

He stopped her with a kiss that had people applauding and cat calling.

"Wow… I thought you hated public displays of affection." She said breathlessly.

"I changed my mind!"

"Okay, I'll make you a deal. We leave after the cake and after I throw the bouquet."

"You've got a deal."

Soon after Elizabeth asked Reid for a dance.

"I thought you were going to rest after you put in an appearance." Reid gently scolded her."

"I want to dance with my new son."

He went pink to the ears.

"Spencer… I know you have a mother you love very much."

He nodded as they moved around other dancing couples that included JJ and Will, and Garcia and Kevin.

"I know you have Helga. Emily told me how close you are to her."

Reid nodded again.

"I wondered," Her voice broke a little. "I wondered if I could be a mother to you too." He gaped at her and she laughed. "I promise not to interfere in your life."

"I don't think you would." Reid squeaked.

"I'd be proud to call you son."

"Thank you Elizabeth. I'm honored."

"I won't ask you to call me mom unless you're comfortable with it."

He looked relived so she smiled, then grimaced in pain.

"Elizabeth…"

"I'm okay Spencer."

"No you're not," He danced her over to Robert and Emily who danced and laughed together.

"She's in pain." He told Robert.

"Spencer!"

"She should rest." Reid ignored Elizabeth's protests.

"Yes you should mom."

All of them scowled at her in unison. "Okay… I'll go on up. Someone save me some cake."

"Only if you go straight to bed," Robert bargained.

"I will, but first I need to say something."

"Mom!"

"I love you both. Congratulations. Be happy my children," She hugged Emily and put a hand on Reid's shoulder.

"Thanks mom."

"Yeah, thanks Elizabeth," Reid said.

Reid put an arm around his new wife and watched as her parents left the party and the tent.

"I'm so happy I can't believe it's real."

Emily kissed him. "It's real Spencer Reid. I have an idea though, stay right where you are."

He watched her go to Garcia and get Aaron. Their son reached out for him as soon as Emily got close.

"I thought we'd have the next dance as a family."

"Okay…"

Reid took the baby and tucked him into the crook of one of his arms. He put the other arm around Emily as another tune began to play.

Aaron jabbered at his father. He put a small hand on Emily face as they danced across the small dance area at the front of the tent. Some of the audience applauded them, but Reid didn't hear it. His family had finally stitched together like a fine tapestry.

"I love you Emily."

"I love you too Spencer."

Aaron jabbered and drooled.

"I think that means he loves us." Emily laughed.

Reid kissed the baby's head. "I think you're right."

"I know I am." Emily kissed him on the cheek.

"We're so lucky." Reid observed.

"No…" Emily disagreed. "We're blessed!"