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A/n Happy Valentine's Day and thank you all for your kind support. Stay safe.

"Everything is ready, PG. You good to go."

Garcia glanced up at JJ, who appeared nervous. She smiled at her friend and said, "I've got this, peaches. Go."

JJ sighed, then said. "Thank you, Penelope. I owe you big time for this."

Garcia waved her away with one ring decorated hand. "Are you kidding? If anyone can distract Morgan, it's me."

JJ smirked, which made Garcia wiggle her eyebrows. "I know," she said and rolled her eyes.

"Then, go, my lovely."

JJ hurried from Garcia's office, and Garcia picked up her phone to dial a long memorized number. "Hey, hot stuff. I need you in my office for a minute."

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JJ waited for five agonizing minutes then grabbed a pile of case files from her desk. She walked as casually as possible to the bullpen. Perfect. Morgan was gone, and Emily was talking to Reid about something.

"Hey," Emily greet her. "That better not be an active case. The last one in Connecticut was enough for me."

"Nothing truly urgent, just some consults for everyone," JJ said as she went about leaving new work on the team's desks.

"Good because I have a date tonight."

"Anyone I know," JJ asked.

"Hamilton in white-collar crime."

"He's cute," JJ said and watched Reid out of the corner of her eye.

Reid pulled the top file from his stack. It was very thin. He gave JJ a puzzled look, and Emily said. "Hey, what are you two doing for Valentine's Day."

"Nothing," they both said at the same time.

"Uh, huh. Why do I think you're both fibbing?"

"We're not," they said, again in perfect unison.

Emily's eyebrows went up. "Alright, what's going on?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Reid said.

Emily turned her attention back to JJ. The media liaison shrugged her shoulders. "We agreed not to do anything for Valentine's Day. We both think it's a waste of money.

"Did you know that greeting card companies started the Valentine's Day celebration to sell more products after the Christmas Holidays?"

Emily turned her eyes on Reid. "Come on."

"Don't worry about us," JJ said. "We're fine. You have fun with SSA Hamilton, and we'll take care of ourselves."

JJ left without waiting for Emily to reply. Emily turned to talk to Reid, but he had his head in a file folder. She narrowed her eyes and thought about pushing the issue, but a couple of agents, including Morgan, entered the bullpen, so she went back to work.

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Reid opened the thin file and bent his head to read a folded piece of paper. Meet me at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown. 7 pm sharp at the bar and bring your go-bag.

He slipped the folded paper into his pocket and continued to stare at the empty folder until Morgan said. "Hey, Pretty boy, you with us?"

Morgan smirked at him when he said. "Huh."

"I asked Emily what plans she had for Valentine's Day, and she has a date with SSA Hamilton."

"I know."

Morgan turned to Emily. "Why does he know before I do?"

Emily smiled like a shark ready to kill lunch. "If you'd spend time at your desk instead of hanging out with Garcia."

"Hey, I don't spend all my time with Garcia."

"Whatever. Look, it's nearly five, and I have a date. See you later."

Emily grabbed her bag, gave them a parting grin, and hurried from the bullpen. "So," Morgan turned his attention to Reid. "What're you and Blondie doing tonight?"

"Nothing," Reid said flatly and reached for a file. "Can't talk. I'm busy."

"Okay," Morgan shrugged. "Just curious."

Reid ignored Morgan until he thought he could leave without appearing suspicious. It was a quarter of six when he rushed out to the elevator and rode down with Sharp and Anderson, who talked so animatedly that Reid wondered if something was going on with them.

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Reid entered the hotel bar at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown at five minutes to seven. He stopped at the doorway and looked around. The size of the room appeared large enough to hold JJ's rental home three times. He saw that someone decided to decorate it in tones of gold and bronze with the bar running down the north wall. The bar also featured tables and booths lighted by overhead cones that focused light down instead of out. He decided it increased the intimate atmosphere and made the room appear smaller.

As he entered and tried to decide where to sit at the bar, he noticed a woman sitting amongst the bar's patrons. She sat at the bar with her back to him. Her hair fell to her back in golden waves. He didn't recognize the purple gown she wore, but it dipped low in the back, and he gulped audibly.

Reid pulled nervously at his tie and walked to the bar. He took the seat next to the blond woman and ordered a beer when approached by the bartender.

When he glanced left, he saw the woman watching him. She smiled as she slowly stirred her drink. "Hello."

"Um," Reid sipped his beer and said. "Hello."

"So, what's a great looking guy like you doing in here alone. If I were your girlfriend, I wouldn't let you out of my sight."

It finally clicked what he needed to do. "Oh, well, I'm not from around here."

"Really. Does traveling mean that you forget about your girlfriend?"

"No, but we have a certain understanding?"

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad because I come in here all the time, and I've never seen anyone as hot as you."

"Thank you."

Reid noticed that she'd finished her drink. "Um, can I get another for the lady," he asked the bartender. "And a beer for me, whatever you have on tap is fine."

"Thank you, and it's Jennifer."

"Spencer."

"Hm, what do you do, Spencer."

"I'm an engineer."

"Are you. Interesting. Do you build buildings, or something else?"

"I'm working on a project in Mclean, an apartment complex."

"Sounds fascinating."

Reid took a sip from his beer. "It is, but the traveling can become – boring, especially when you're always alone."

"Hence the arrangement with your girlfriend."

"Yes. Does that bother you?"

"No, because I have the same understanding with my man."

"Then you travel as well."

"No, but he does. I'm in public relations."

"I see. Do you enjoy it?"

"Sometimes, but it can get rather tedious, always trying to please a client, and then they flip out when you tell give them advice they don't want to hear. It can be maddening."

"I'm sure."

The two of them were silent for a moment as other patrons moved around them and music played in the background. The noise level in the room had increased as time passed, and talking was difficult.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

Reid gaped at JJ then remembered the game they were playing. "Yes."

JJ handed him a room key. "Give me ten minutes, then come up to the seventh floor to room 719."

"Seven is my lucky number."

JJ winked at him and walked away. He watched her leave and felt himself go hard as she sashayed through the crowd. He downed the rest of his beer.

"I hope you're not letting her walk away," said the bartender.

"Never," Reid said and ordered a second beer.

"You're a lucky man. I watched her flick off three guys before you sat down. What's your secret?"

Reid looked the man in the eye. The bartender had dark hair, a scar under his left eye, a tall but lean build. His eyes reminded Reid a bit of Gideon in color, but there were also full of leering curiosity.

"I listen."

The bartender shrugged and moved away. Reid looked at his watch, waited another five minutes then left the bar for the main lobby and the elevators.

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"Wow," Reid said as he lay on his back and tried to remember how to breathe correctly.

"Yeah."

"Is that all you have to say? You ripped my shirt."

JJ rolled over to him and grinned. "I couldn't help myself. You were so hot and sexy in the bar. I had to get you out of your clothes fast."

"I forgive you but only because of what you just did to me. Where did you learn that?"

"Emily. "

'What?"

JJ laughed as Reid began to squeak, and his face turned scarlet. "It always amazes me when men freak out because women give each other tips on sex."

"I'm not freaking out."

"Spence."

"Okay, but don't think I'm going to thank Emily for your latest trick."

"I hope not. It's none of Emily's business what I did with the information."

"I'm glad we agree."

JJ kissed his chest, and he sighed. "I love you."

"I know, but I do have one bone to pick with you."

'What?"

"You're squeaking again."

"Jennifer."

"I'm kidding, Spence. I was curious why you're "girlfriend's okay with you picking up strange women in bars."

"Come on, Jennifer!"

JJ slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Remember that she might be okay with it, but I'm not."

Reid rolled her over and kissed her until she said. "What were we talking about?"

Reid wiggled his eyebrows. "I'll remember the rules. If you remember, the same goes for you."

"Deal."

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"So, how did you pull this off," Reid asked as they were dressing the next morning. "The room is beautiful, and the room service delicious, but this had to cost more than you can afford."

"It does, but I've been saving for this since the day we decided to start again."

Spencer stopped buttoning his shirt. "You have?"

"Yes. I knew that I wanted to do something special for us at some point, and Valentine's Day and our five-month anniversary in a couple of weeks seemed like the right time."

Reid pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Thank you, but I don't need all of this."

"I know, but you deserve a break. Also, you've been so strong for me over the last few days. I love you very much."

"Jenn, you don't have to make anything up to me from the other night."

"I'm not. This night was for me as well."

"Okay, well, what do you want to do with the remaining time we have before we have to go back to work on Monday."

"I think we should go back to my place and get some actual sleep. I'm exhausted."

Spencer laughed and hugged her tight. "I'm glad you said so. Maybe afterward, if the weather is decent, we can go for a drive out of the city."

"Okay, but we take my car."

Reid tossed his tie at her. "You're not funny, but also right."

"You're the one that said he wanted to buy a new car."

'Yes, but I still can't decide."

"You want to go shopping."

"No, I'll leave that for another day."

"If you say so."

"I do."

JJ kissed him and then said. "What is it?"

"I remembered that I forgot about the gift I bought for you."

"Spence."

Reid ignored her and went to his bag. He pulled out a small box and handed it to her. She opened it, and tears filled her eyes. "They're beautiful."

Inside the jewelry box lay a pair of small butterfly earrings made from gold. JJ put them on and said. "How do they look?"

"They're lovely but not as lovely as you, beautiful."

"Oh, Spence, I love you so much."

She kissed him until he pushed away. 'It's nearly checkout time. Let's leave that for when we get back to your place."

"After I have a nap."

"Agreed. Let's go, Jennifer."

They picked up their bags and hurried out of the hotel room and into the brilliant sunshine of a new winter day.