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"When can I open my eyes, Spence?"

Reid glanced over at his new fiancé from the driver's seat as he piloted the car down a DC side street lined with small shops. "We're almost there?"

JJ didn't respond except to nod reluctantly, as Reid found the only parking spot left on the street and pulled in. "We're here. You can open your eyes.

JJ opened her eyes, and he watched her squint in the grey light of the Saturday afternoon. "Where are we?"

"Over there," Reid indicated a shop with the name of Mike's Jewelry Design.

"Spence?"

Reid got out of the car, hurried around, and opened the passenger side door for JJ. She stepped onto the sidewalk and shivered a bit in the November wind. A few leaves swept past them, buffeted by the breeze. Several people passed by with their minds clearly on their lives or their eyes on the sidewalk.

"Come on," Reid took JJ's hand and led her to the door.

"I think they're closed," JJ indicated the signage.

"To the public, but not for me," Reid said cryptically. He knocked despite the closed sign.

JJ watched as a tall man with a body that looked like he needed to lose about twenty pounds and a smiling round face and dark hair opened the door.

"Come in, come in," he encouraged.

"Hello, Mike," Reid said and surprised JJ by shaking the tall man's hand.

"It's good to see you, Spencer."

"And you, my young friend. Is this the one you've told me so much about?" Mike asked as he shut the door and ushered them through his show roomr.

"Yes. Please meet my fiance, Jennifer Jaraeu."

"Hello," JJ greeted Mike.

"It's good to finally meet you," Mike growled in a voice that matched his size. "Come, we'll go into my office, so people on the street don't assume I'm open despite the sign."

"Spence," JJ said as she looked about the showroom. "What's going on?"

"Mike is going to design our rings."

JJ's eyes went wide as she surveyed the glass cases around them. They were all polished to a high shine and displayed loose gemstones of every kind and several completed pieces that reminded JJ of a shop she'd seen on 5th Ave in New York, not Tiffany's but high end.

"Spence, I – "

"It's alright," Mike said and clasped her hand. "Come with me, and I will explain."

JJ followed Reid and Mike to a narrow space between two display cases and then through a wooden door. Inside she found a large office overflowing with photographs of jewelry pieces in various stages and several drawings of more on a massive oak desk. There were three chairs pulled up to the desk, and coffee cups on a tray with a steaming pot.

"Would you like coffee? It's a cold day."

They agreed to coffee and sat while Mike poured out their hot drinks. He indicated a smaller pot of cream and a bowl of sugar.

"Now," he said as they flavored their coffees. "I know you're wondering what's going on, Agent Jareau."

"Please, call me JJ."

"JJ. I met your fiancé in a café two years ago. I suffered a heart attack, and he saved my life."

"You did," JJ said to Spencer, who'd gone pink in the cheeks. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Yes," Mike said and took a sip of his coffee. "I was much heavier than you see now. The heart attack and Spencer's kind actions made me reevaluate my life. I have lost over two hundred pounds and have about twenty more to go. I'm off all of my meds, and I am training for a 3k this summer. I plan on walking it, but next year, I hope to run the distance."

JJ reached for Reid's hand and squeezed it. "Congratulations, sir."

"Please call me Mike. I haven't seen Spencer in a year, but when he stopped in last weekend and told me about your marriage, I told him that I'd be happy to design a ring for you. I tried to tell him that he could have it free of charge, but he forced me to agree to a thirty percent discount on anything in the store."

"I wanted him to agree to ten percent, but he threatened to throw me out."

"Spence is right," JJ said. "We must pay you a fair price for your work."

"Saving my life is priceless, and I want to repay Spencer, but I won't argue with you. Instead, we must get to work and pick out your stone, JJ."

JJ looked at Reid, and he nodded. "Mike has a selection ready for you. I have seen them and agree to the four Cs."

JJ furrowed her brow. "What?"

"Cut, color, clarity, carat," said Mike as he went to a wall safe and opened it.

JJ gasped at the stones on black velvet that Mike brought to her. He set them on his desk and gestured. "These are a few of my finest stones. They are D, VVS1. The grading means that they are colorless and very, very slightly included. Flawless diamonds are so rare that I've only seen and sold two in my career."

JJ's eyes went to one of the square-cut diamonds, but it was much larger than she thought feasible, so she looked at a smaller oval-shaped diamond that sparkled in the white light over their heads. "This is so beautiful," she whispered.

"Yes, it is but wouldn't you like this one," Reid pointed at the square-cut diamond."

"Even with the discount, I'm sure it's too much."

Mike and Reid looked at each other, and Reid chuckled, then sighed. "I suppose I should've told you long ago, Jenn, but I'm not exactly broke, which is why I fought Mike on trying to give away his diamonds."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I went to the Bellagio on my twenty-first birthday and broke the bank during a high-stakes poker game. They let me play because they thought I was a dumb kid that needed a lesson. I made enough money to pay for my mother's care no matter how long she lives. I have enough left over to live if I decide I want to retire. That game is what got me banned from every casino west of the Great Divide."

JJ stared at him in disbelief, and then she shook her head and laughed so long, Reid said. "Hey, it's not that funny."

"It is because I'm imaging the look on their faces when they realized what you are."

Reid rolled his eyes. "It was their fault for calling me a skinny kid."

Mike threw back his head and laughed merrily. "Oh, to have been in that room."

"I agree," JJ said.

"Can we get back to the selection," Reid said irritably.

"Yes."

Later, JJ and Reid left the shop with Mike, who'd promised them the ring would be ready in a week. They separated, and when Reid got into the car, JJ leaned over and kissed him.

"Why are you kissing me in the car?"

"Because you are amazing?"

"Someone with my skills winning at poker isn't that fantastic, JJ. it's a skill and – "

"No. I mean that you saved Mike's life. That's – we'll I don't have a word for it."

"Thank you, Jenn."

"No, I should be thanking you. The ring's going to be wonderful, and you spent more than I wish you had, but the best part is that we're going to be together forever." JJ said and kissed him again.

"Yes. We are." Reid said as he started the car. "Now, about the money spent on the ring. I'm a little putout."

JJ stared at him. "What? I thought you're loaded?"

"I wouldn't go that far, but you're the one that asked me to marry you. Shouldn't you pay for the ring?"

JJ narrowed her eyes at him, and he gave her a huge, fake smile in return. "Cute, Dr. Reid."

"I think it's only fair as you're a liberated woman who has her own money and –"

"Spence!"

"I'm just teasing," Reid said and pulled out into traffic.

"It's a good thing you're driving," JJ said, and then she grinned at him. "Just wait until we get home."

Reid glanced over at her and then smirked at her cat-like expression. "I think you're going to be too busy telling your mom and friends all about the ring."

JJ shook her head and then said. "You're right, of course."

"I know."

JJ laughed because the look in his eyes was priceless. "So, tell me more about the day you met Mike."

CMCMCMCMCMCMCM

"I still can't believe this ring," Garcia gushed as she looked at it for the fifth time.

"Yeah," Emily agreed. "It's beautiful and looks expensive."

JJ sipped at her glass of white wine. The three of them were having a pick-me-up after the case in Montana. "Well, I'll tell you a secret if you agree to keep it to yourselves until Spence decides he wants to share it with the guys."

"What?" Garcia said as they watched people from their corner booth under low lights.

JJ told them the ring design story and the discount they received but left Reid's account of the poker game in Vegas to herself.

"I am not surprised," Emily said as she fingered the glass that carried her drink.

JJ looked down at the ring, which had the center stone she'd loved, plus smaller diamonds cut the same at both sides in a platinum setting. She couldn't wait to wear the matching wedding rings they picked out.

"My gorgeous genius is – " Garcia trailed off as she searched for the right word.

JJ and Emily looked at each other and smirked. "I think you're getting a little sloshed," Emily said.

"No, just pleasantly buzzed."

"I'm trying not to think about the Pear of Anguish," JJ shuddered.

Emily shivered and then said. "Well, the good news is that it's over, and those poor women can have a decent burial. God, I'd hate to be their families."

They were silent for a long time until Garcia said. "Let's talk about the wedding."

JJ burst out laughing and then shook her head. "Garcia. We haven't decided on a date yet. Slow down."

Garcia waved her drink as she spoke, and some of her alcoholic concoction dripped onto the wooden tabletop. "You need to put a ring on it before someone notices how hot he is since he started dating you and tries to steal him away."

"First," JJ said and held up a finger after another sip of her wine. "Spence has always been hot, but I know what you mean. Second," JJ held up another finger. "Someone tries to steal him away, and they'll have to deal with me."

"Yes," cheered Emily, and they all collapsed into giggles.

JJ wiped her eyes and sat up straight. "Well, I think it's time for me to go home. It's after midnight, and Garcia needs to sober up before we have to work tomorrow."

"You just want to go home to Reid, not that I blame you," Emily said.

JJ grinned at them, and they both rolled their eyes. "Yes, I do."

"You're so lucky," Garcia complained and then downed the last of her drink. "I wish I had someone like Reid."

"We all do," Emily said.

"I am lucky," JJ said and followed the ladies out into the chilly November night.