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Reid held tightly to JJ's hand as they strolled through the empty park. The sunlight filtered through the leafless trees lining the pathway was golden, pearl and opal. It had been years since he'd risen early enough to watch a sunset, and that morning, he awoke with the feeling that he needed to get out of his apartment and feel the autumn chill and breathe the cold air until it washed away all memories of gunfire and blood.

"Thanks for suggesting the park," JJ whispered as they walked. "The air is so sweet, and the sunrise is beautiful."

Reid nodded as they topped a rise in the sidewalk and passed out of the avenue of trees. The November sky matched the light's quality, with a bit of blue beginning to spread slowly out from the white blaze of sunrise.

"You're welcome, Jenn. I thought we would use a few minutes outside."

JJ shivered a bit as a wind blew the last of the fallen leaves into a frenzied dance across the golden-green lawns. Reid looked down and asked. "You cold."

"A bit, but I'll be fine. Let's sit down for a minute."

"Alright."

The couple found a wooden bench next to the walkway and sat. Reid curled his arm around JJ's shoulders and gently squeezed. "I am a little surprised that no one is out. It's cold, but it seems that there's always one or two runners early in the morning."

"I should've run today, but I didn't feel like it."

Reid looked down at her and said. "I know. It's been like a dream in some ways. A nightmare."

"Yes. I'm so glad I have you, Spence. I don't know how I'd go back to work."

"Jennifer. You're the strong one. You did what you had to do."

JJ nodded and blew out a breath. "Spence. Is it wretched that I don't feel bad for killing Battle?"

Reid gaped at her and then looked at the grey stones of the pathway before meeting her eyes. "No. As I said, you did what you had to do. Gideon told me the same after I killed Phillip Dowd."

"I wanted to protect my family."

Reid tugged her closer and hugged her. "You are our warrior, Jennifer Jareau. When I saw that it had to be you, I was afraid, but I knew you'd be fine."

"It was so strange," JJ said after a moment. "When Morgan called me and told me that I needed to get in behind Battle, I felt frightened, but also as if an incredible sense of peace came over me. It felt like when you're with me. You project such quiet strength to me every minute we're together. I knew you were thinking of me and with me in spirit."

"I was thinking of you and hoping so much that you'd be alright, and you were. Garcia is safe. You protected all the agents in the bullpen. You're my hero."

JJ kissed him and put her head on his shoulder, and they were silent for a long time as the sun climbed higher in the sky, and the mists of the morning began to fade away as the sky turned blue.

"Hey," Reid said into her ear. "You want coffee?" JJ burst out laughing as Reid smirked at her. "What?" Reid said and tried to look offended.

"You always know how to make me laugh when I need it."

"What is so amusing about wanting coffee?"

JJ playfully smacked his shoulder. "You know what I mean."

Reid sighed with mock irritation. "I suppose I do. Come on."

JJ stood up and said. "We'll go to Starbucks, but only if you buy me something sweet to go along with coffee."

"You have a deal."

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JJ watched as Reid slept soundly. Their commercial flight had arrived at ten pm Vegas time, and by the time they'd checked in and settled down, it was after midnight. JJ hadn't expected to sleep, but the hotel that Garcia had found for them was surprisingly quiet and luxurious.

JJ pulled on her robe and slowly made her way into the suite's living area. She found a setup for making coffee and smirked as she thought about brewing a pot to see if the smell would pull Reid out of the arms of Morpheus.

When Reid did enter the room half an hour later, his eyes were half-closed, and his hair stood up in disordered clumps. He needed a shave, and he was beautiful to her eyes. "Hey," he said in a gravelly voice as he headed straight for the coffee pot.

"I knew the smell would wake you."

Reid poured a cup and made his way to her. He sipped it and then kissed her. "I love you."

"Love you too. Did you get enough sleep?"

Reid nodded his head and yawned, which made her giggle. "I see."

He finally smiled at her and took another quick sip of the coffee. "This is great, but seeing you standing there in your pink robe with the sunlight in your hair is all the stimulation I need."

"Down boy, we have a busy day." JJ reminded him.

Reid yawned again and said. "I know. How are you feeling?"

JJ shrugged. "I thought I'd be more nervous, but strangely, I'm not. Is that weird?"

"Yes, it is bizarre," Reid said thoughtfully and then laughed when JJ narrowed her eyes. "Just kidding, beautiful."

"You're a bit of a smart-ass after your first cup of coffee."

Reid pursed his lips and looked out the window. "It's good to be home, so I feel like teasing you."

JJ squeezed his free hand. "I am so glad you're home."

"Thanks. You ready for something to eat, and then we'll see mom?"

JJ nodded and blew out a breath. "I lied. I'm starting to feel more nervous."

"I can't talk you into feeling more at ease, but I know that mom's extremely excited to see you, so I predict that the meeting will go without problems."

"I hope you're right."

"I am," Reid said and kissed her. "Come on, let's order something from room service.

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"It looks like a nice place," JJ said as she joined Reid at the driver's side of their rental car. "Oh, that was an inane comment to make."

Reid took her hand and kissed it. "No, it's not an inane remark. It is nice here."

He looked around the parking lot that ran the three-story building's length, constructed of red-brown brick with green grass and leafless trees surrounding the property. A man dressed in a red coat hurried down the walkway to a car at their left. He nodded to them as he climbed into a large black pickup truck.

"I know him," Reid told JJ as they walked up to the front door of Bennington. "That's Jeremy. He's one of the RN's here. He's a single dad who works nights so he can be home for his son before school."

"Do you know all the staff?"

"No, just the ones that have worked with my mother. I recognize so many of the other nurses and aides, but there is a lot of turnovers. Working with patients who have a mental illness is a tough job."

Bennington didn't look like a hospital. Instead, it reminded JJ of a nice hotel with burgundy carpet and white walls decorated with Thanksgiving colors. They turned left after leaving the elevator, and she let Reid lead them to the end of the hallway that opened into a vast room with windows, tables, chairs, and sofas. "This is the common room. I called ahead to let them know we're coming and mom decided that she wanted to meet us here."

JJ looked around and saw a familiar face sitting at one of the tables, writing furiously in a notebook. "Mom is an avid journaler," Reid said, and JJ smiled at the pride in his voice.

"Hi, mom."

Dianna looked up as they approached her table. "Oh, Spencer." JJ watched as mother and son embraced. When they separated, and Reid turned to her, the joy on his face made her heart sing.

"Mom, this is Jennifer Jareau."

Dianna hugged her tight. "I remember you, my dear. If not for all of Spencer's letters, I may have forgotten, but he writes about you all the time."

"I'm so pleased to meet you again, Mrs. Reid."

"Please, call me Dianna."

"Thank you, Dianna."

"Are you two okay with staying in here for a bit? We've all had breakfast, and most of the others are visiting with family in their rooms or watching an old black and white movie in the video room. They always show Miracle on 34th street, Thanksgiving Day. I know it is a wonderful movie, but I'd like something else once in a while."

JJ smiled and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I can see how you'd feel that way."

"Come," Dianna gestured to one of the chocolate-colored sofas that faced one of the windows. A nurse in dark blue scrubs, with her red hair in a ponytail, approached them. "Dr. Reid."

"Hello, Sarah."

"I came over to see if Dianna needs anything."

"No, I'm fine. I'm sure you have others to attend to that need more attention than me," Diana said.

"Don't tell anyone, but Dianna is my favorite," Sarah said, and her blue eyes twinkled.

"We won't," Reid said and smiled at JJ. "This is my fiancé, Jennifer Jareau. "This is mom's night nurse."

"Nice to meet you," Sarah and JJ said at the same time.

They all laughed, and Sarah said. "Well, let me know if you need anything."

"We will," Dianna said and sighed when Sarah left the room. "She's such a nice young woman, but Jennifer, I want to talk to you."

"Alright."

"Tell me everything my son hasn't told me in his letters."

"Mom!"

"Hush," Dianna said, and JJ nearly laughed at the chagrin on Reid's face.

"Well, I'm not sure what Spence's told you."

Dianna pursed her lips. "There's a great example. Why do you call him Spence?"

JJ looked at Reid, who raised his eyebrows, but didn't speak. "Honestly, I'm not sure. It fits him somehow. I like calling him something that no one else does."

Dianna nodded. "I understand. What about how you began dating? I've heard the story from Spencer, but I want to listen to your side."

JJ told Dianna the truth about the Redskins game, the aftermath, and how she finally decided to take another chance. "I decided that it was only fair that I ask Spence out after he worked up the courage to ask me to the game."

"Good," said Dianna. "I like her, Spencer. She's fair-minded."

"Yes," Reid said and took JJ's hand. "She is."

"Now, tell me about your ring. Spencer told me that a gentleman called Mike designed it for you."

"Yes. Did Spence tell you that he saved Mikes' life?"

A brilliant smile lit up Diana's face. "No. He leaves out details like that from his life all the time."

"I'm not surprised."

"Jennifer!"

Dianna and JJ smirked at him, and Reid rolled his eyes. "I hardly think beating the odds by sheer luck is cause for celebration."

"Spence believes that because CPR's only effective seventeen percent of the time when performed outside of a hospital, that he's not a hero."

"I see," Dianna said. "If anyone can beat the odds, it's my son."

"I agree," JJ said and squeezed Reid's hand.

"Can we talk about something else?"

Dianna shrugged. "Whatever you want, sweetheart."

Three hours later, Sarah entered the room. "It's lunchtime, Dianna."

"Good. I'm hungry."

JJ smiled and began to stand. "Is there a restroom I can use," she asked Sarah?

"Sure, I'll show you."

"Thank you."

"So," Dianna turned to Reid. "Tell me why you're upset when you look at Jennifer."