Chapter 16: The Wedding
An hour had passed, and Joy, Shawn and Kai arrived at Rossi's mansion. Rossi and Shawn greeted each other in Italian. Hayden kissed Kai and Joy and Garcia hugged each other tightly. Then the doorbell rang. Rossi and Hayden answered the door. It was Morgan and Prentiss.
"There they are!" smiled Rossi. "Derek, Emily, this is Hayden Montgomery."
"How do you do, Derek?" said Hayden.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Morgan.
Prentiss greeted Hayden in French. Hayden replied to Prentiss in French.
"She's my favorite so far!" smiled Hayden.
Morgan and Prentiss saw Garcia and they approached her.
"Hey," said Morgan.
"Hey, back," smiled Garcia.
"Pen," said Prentiss. "We've decided to start dating each other on a regular basis. But, we both need to know, is that okay with you?"
"Yeah," said Garcia. "Morgan's flirted with you almost as much as I've phone flirted with him over the years. But, after I started dating Sam three years ago, my bond with Morgan remained solid. And, my bond with you has always been solid, Em. I love you guys. Always!"
"Ohh..." warmly said Prentiss.
"We love you, too, Penelope," said Morgan.
"Always," said Prentiss.
"Good!" smiled Garcia. "Group hug!"
Morgan, Garcia and Prentiss group hugged each other.
"And, you're his Baby Girl, now, Em!" said Garcia.
"Oh, no," said Prentiss. "You're his Baby Girl always and forever, Pen."
Hotch, Beth and Jack walked up.
"Hi, everybody," smiled Beth.
"Beth!" smiled Garcia.
Beth and Garcia hugged each other.
"Hey, Jack!" smiled Morgan.
"Derek!" smiled Jack.
Morgan and Jack gave each other five.
"How's life in Hong Kong?" asked Prentiss.
"Actually," answered Beth. "I've decided to move my work life back to DC. Aaron said you've returned from London because you've missed everybody that you love. So, I'm following your example, Emily. I miss my two guys!"
Prentiss and Beth hugged each other. Sam showed up and he kissed Garcia.
"Hi," smiled Garcia.
"I've missed you!" smiled Sam.
"I've missed you, too," whispered Garcia.
"Well," said Morgan. "Rossi said that there's a big fountain out back. Let's go take a look, guys!"
"Great," said Hotch.
"Yeah!" said Jack.
"Let's go!" smiled Garcia.
Outside, JJ, Reid, Sandy, Henry and Diana arrived in Rossi's backyard and greeted Joy's family, Stephen Gideon, Chief Mateo Cruz and his wife, Abigail, Agents Anderson, Gina, Ashley Seaver and Jordan Todd. Rossi and Hayden approached JJ and Reid.
"This place is beautiful," said JJ. "You really know how to throw a party!"
JJ hugged Rossi.
"What can I say?" said Rossi. "I'm the host with the most! Jennifer, Spence, this is Hayden Montgomery."
"Hello, Jennifer," smiled Hayden.
"Hi," smiled JJ. "And, please, call me JJ. Dave has told me so much about you."
Reid and Hayden greeted each other in French while Kate Callahan and her husband, Chris walked up to them.
"Hi, guys," said Callahan.
"Kate!" smiled JJ. "Chris!"
JJ hugged Chris while Reid hugged Callahan.
"How's Elizabeth?" asked Reid.
"She's great," answered Callahan.
"Megan and Markayla are at home babysitting her," said Chris.
"They send their love," said Callahan.
Seaver walked up to them.
"Hi, Kate," smiled Seaver.
"Ashley!" smiled Callahan.
Callahan hugged Seaver. Dr. Alex Blake and her husband, James walked up to JJ and Reid.
"Hello, JJ. Spencer," said Blake.
"Alex!" smiled Reid. "James!"
Reid hugged Blake while JJ hugged James.
"What are you two doing here?" asked JJ.
"What do you mean?" asked James.
"We're here because you've kept your promise, JJ," smiled Blake.
"Promise?" asked Hayden.
"What promise, JJ?" asked Reid.
JJ looked at Reid.
"Uh," answered JJ. "When we said goodbye to Alex at your apartment..."
JJ looked at Blake and James.
JJ continued, "...I promised that I would invite her and James..."
JJ looked at the backyard decorations.
"...to..." continued JJ.
Then, JJ looked back at Reid.
"...our wedding!" finished JJ.
"Our wedding?" asked Reid.
"Wedding?" asked Hayden.
Reid and JJ looked at the backyard decorations together. Everybody smiled at Reid and JJ.
"Okay," said JJ. "What's going on, everybody?"
"I have a confession to make," said Rossi. "At the St. Augustine police station, I overheard the two of you talking about wanting to get married immediately. So, this isn't just a family party for Hayden. This is your wedding night!"
JJ and Reid happily gasped. Sandy stood alongside JJ while Diana stood alongside Reid.
"Did you guys know about this?" asked Reid.
"Yes," answered Prentiss.
"Penelope called me," said Sandy.
"I didn't know," said Hayden.
"I...had a feeling," said Diana.
"Dave texted us before he made his announcement on the jet," said Hotch.
Morgan smiled, "Here, take a look!"
Morgan showed Hayden, JJ and Reid Rossi's group text on his cell phone screen.
"'I'm announcing a family party for Hayden Montgomery at my mansion tonight after we return from Florida...'" read Hayden.
"'...but the party is really...Reid and JJ's wedding night.'" read JJ.
"'It's a surprise...'" read Reid.
"'Don't tell them it's their wedding.'" read both Reid and JJ.
"Oh, my God!" smiled JJ. Her heart started beating rapidly.
"Surprise!" smiled Rossi.
"David," warmly smiled Hayden.
"And, Rossi had me help him set up the place for tonight," said Garcia. "I invited everybody over here to celebrate your wedding!"
"You two wanted both of us to attend your wedding," smiled Sandy.
"And, here we are," smiled Diana.
JJ hugged Diana and Reid hugged Sandy.
"My dad has a saying," said Blake. "Can't celebrate unless the whole family's here!"
"Wise words," smiled Callahan.
"Wise man," said James.
"But, I didn't rent my tuxedo, yet," said Reid.
"We have your rented tux inside the mansion," said Morgan.
"But, I don't have my wedding dress," said JJ.
"Yes, you do," smiled Sandy.
"We've brought it here," said Garcia.
"It's inside," said Prentiss.
JJ cried happily.
"A minister?" asked Reid.
"On his way here," answered Hotch.
"Our wedding rings?" asked JJ.
"Henry?" said Garcia.
Henry brought both wedding rings from JJ's house. He pulled them out of his pocket.
"Auntie Penelope said I was the Ring Bear," said Henry.
JJ laughed, "That's 'Ring Bearer,' honey. My bridal bouquet?"
"Inside with your wedding dress," answered Prentiss.
"They've thought of everything, Jennifer," smiled Reid.
"Oh, my God!" smiled JJ. "I love you guys! Thank you!"
JJ hugged Rossi while happily crying. Reid happily hugged Garcia.
"You guys are the best!" smiled Reid. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," smiled Garcia.
"Come on, JJ," said Sandy. "Let's get you ready for your wedding."
Garcia kissed Sam on the cheek.
"I'll see you later," smiled Sam.
"Yes, you will!" smiled Garcia.
JJ and Reid kissed each other's lips gently.
"I'll see you in a little while, my groom?" smiled JJ.
"I can't wait, my bride," smiled Reid.
Sandy and Garcia took JJ inside the mansion. Henry stayed outside with Diana.
"Mom," said JJ.
"Joy," said Rossi. "Please go with them and then let me know when JJ is ready."
"Why, dad?" asked Joy.
"Because I have a daughter to walk down the aisle tonight," answered Rossi.
"Awww," warmly smiled Hayden.
"Guys," said Joy. "Wait for me!"
"Come on, kid," said Morgan. "Let's get you ready for your wedding."
Reid hugged Diana. Morgan and Prentiss kissed each other's lips. The other guests were surprised to see the two of them kissing each other.
"I'll see you a little later?" smiled Prentiss.
"I'm looking forward to it!" smiled Morgan.
Reid and Morgan went inside the mansion. Prentiss stood there smiling.
"Wow!" said Todd.
"When did they become a couple?" asked Seaver.
"Very recently, kid," answered Rossi.
"Love is in the air," smiled Hotch.
"Definitely!" smiled Beth.
An hour later, Joy came out of the mansion to tell Rossi that JJ was ready. Rossi and Henry walked inside the mansion. Joy put on some beautiful piano music on her father's record player. Henry came back out escorting Sandy back to the others. Henry stood next to the minister at the alter. Reid came out next wearing his tuxedo and he stood next to the minister. Morgan and Garcia came out next. Morgan was also wearing a tuxedo as Reid's best man while escorting Garcia on his arm as JJ's maid of honor. Morgan kissed the top of Garcia's head and he stood next to Reid while Garcia stood on the opposite side of Morgan. Everybody looked back at the mansion entrance.
Rossi escorted JJ outside to Reid. JJ was wearing Sandy's wedding dress and holding her bridal bouquet while smiling at Reid with a glow. Reid smiled back at JJ with a glow. Diana, Sandy, Callahan, Joy and Prentiss started crying happily. Rossi and JJ reached the alter. Rossi proudly told the minister that he was giving the bride away. Then, Rossi Italian-kissed JJ's cheeks and he joined Hayden and the other wedding witnesses. The minister asked JJ and Reid for their wedding rings. Henry walked up holding a pillow with both wedding rings on it. JJ kneeled down and she kissed Henry on his forehead. Reid placed JJ's wedding ring on her finger and then JJ placed Reid's wedding ring on his finger. The minister pronounced Reid and JJ husband and wife and he permitted Reid to kiss his bride. Reid and JJ happily looked into each other's eyes.
"Hello, Dr. Reid," smiled JJ.
"Hello, Mrs. Reid," smiled Reid.
JJ and Reid happily kissed each other on the lips. Everybody cheered for them. Hotch kissed Beth. Callahan kissed Chris. Blake kissed James. Joy kissed Shawn. Rossi kissed Hayden. Cruz kissed Abigail. And at the alter, Morgan winked at Prentiss and she smiled at him with a glow. And, Garcia saw Sam winking at her, and Garcia smiled with a glow. An hour later, everybody had their fill of food. Rossi clinked a spoon on his wine glass ready to make a toast to the bride and groom.
"Lately," said Rossi. "Parties that I've thrown here were celebrations for good people whom we had lost. Tonight, I'm happy to say is the opposite of that. Tonight, we celebrate the joining together of two very special people. Two friends whose trust and respect for each other through good times and bad times helped them fall in love. Two soulmates whose special love for each other brought them here tonight. Time has proven that nothing could keep these two apart! We love both of you! To Jennifer and Spencer!"
Everybody sipped their drinks to Rossi's toast. Rossi put some music on his record player. JJ and Reid shared the first dance together.
"Happy, JJ?" asked Reid.
"I'm elated," answered JJ. "I'm finally married to my best friend and my first love. Are you happy, Spence?"
"I'm very happy," answered Reid. "I've married the woman of my dreams. We're having a baby together and my mom is here. Thank you for making my dream come true, JJ. How did I get so lucky?"
"No," smiled JJ. "I'm the lucky one, Spence. You've made my dream come true!"
JJ hugged Reid closely while they continued sharing their first dance as a married couple. On the next song, Reid danced with Sandy while JJ danced with Henry. On the third song, Reid danced with Diana and Sandy danced with Henry and JJ danced with Rossi.
"Okay," said Rossi. "All of the single women gather around over here. It's time for the bride to throw her bouquet to a possible future bride!"
Seaver, Todd, Gina, Beth, Sandy, Hayden, Prentiss and Garcia walked over to Rossi's spot. JJ turned around to throw her bouquet behind her to the crowd of single ladies. Rossi moved out of the way.
"I don't want to be here, Em," whispered Garcia nervously. "What if I catch it?"
"Pen," said Prentiss. "Relax. Look at all of these women here. As Reid would say, 'Garcia, you have one chance out of seven to catch the bouquet!'"
"I'd rather it be a zero chance," whispered Garcia.
"Okay," said JJ. "Here we go! One, two, three!"
JJ tossed the bouquet behind her back and it flew towards the group of ladies. JJ turned around to see that Prentiss had caught it. Prentiss was so surprised that she couldn't move. Gina, Seaver, Todd, Sandy, Hayden and Beth happily applauded Prentiss. Garcia looked over at Prentiss and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank God!" whispered Garcia. "I'm not the next bride!"
"Okay," said Rossi. "Our possible future bride gets to dance the next song with our possible future groom who catches the garter belt!"
All of the single women except Prentiss walked away. Rossi, Hotch, Morgan, Anderson, Stephen and Sam walked over to where the single ladies were standing. Prentiss moved away from the men. JJ sat down in a chair and she helped Reid lift up her long skirt to remove the garter belt from her leg. As an overprotective father, Rossi warned all of the single men not to stare at JJ's leg too long or he would make sure that they stopped staring at her. Reid held JJ's garter belt in his hand and JJ lowered her long skirt and she stood up. Reid turned around to throw the garter belt behind him to the crowd of single men.
"Okay, Spence," said JJ. "Here we go! One, two, three!"
Reid tossed the garter belt behind his back and it flew towards the single men. Reid turned around to see that Morgan had caught JJ's garter belt. Hotch, Stephen, Anderson, Rossi and Sam smiled and applauded Morgan. Prentiss happily smiled and she swiftly jumped into Morgan's arms and they danced closely together to the next song on Rossi's record player. On the next song, Reid danced with JJ. Blake danced with James. Joy danced with Shawn. Cruz danced with Abigail. Callahan danced with Chris. Anderson danced with Gina. Diana danced with Henry. Rossi danced with Hayden. Hotch danced with Beth. Morgan danced with Garcia. Prentiss danced with Sam.
On the next song, JJ, Prentiss, Garcia, Callahan and Joy all danced together. Reid danced with Diana. Beth danced with Jack. Sandy danced with Henry. Rossi danced with Seaver. Hayden danced with Shawn. Stephen danced with Todd. On the final dance, JJ danced closely with Reid. Prentiss danced closely with Morgan. Blake danced closely with James. Rossi danced with Joy. Hayden danced with Kai. Stephen danced with Seaver. Hotch danced with Garcia.
Morgan was talking to Anderson, Seaver, Todd, Sam, Cruz and Abigail. Prentiss was talking to Blake, Gina, Stephen, James, Shawn and Chris. Reid and Garcia sat Jack, Henry and Kai down in some chairs with JJ, Sandy, Diana, Callahan, Hotch, Beth, Joy, Rossi and Hayden watching them. Garcia also sat down in a chair. Jack pulled a card out of Reid's deck of cards and he let Henry and Kai see which card it was without Reid seeing it. A Queen of Diamonds. Then, Jack put the card back in Reid's deck.
"Boys," said Garcia. "Keep your eyes on him. He's very sneaky with these cards!"
"This isn't sneaky," said Reid. "This is merely magic. Kai, please blow on these cards."
Kai blew on the deck of cards.
"Okay. You, Henry?" said Reid.
Henry blew on the deck of cards. Reid pulled a card out of the deck. A 6 of Hearts.
"Is this your card?" asked Reid.
"No," said the three boys.
"No?" said Reid "This isn't your card? Okay, wait."
Reid tapped the deck twice and he waved his hand over the deck. He pulled out another card. A Jack of Spades.
"Is this your card?" asked Reid.
"No," laughed the three boys.
"You're kidding!" said Reid. "That's not it, either? Hold on."
Reid thumbed through the whole deck of cards and then he looked at Garcia.
"Wait a minute," said Reid.
He pulled a Queen of Diamonds from Garcia's left ear. Garcia gasped.
"Is this your card?" asked Reid.
"Yeah!" laughed the three boys. The group of grownups laughed at Garcia's reaction.
"How did you do that?!" asked Garcia.
"Wait a minute," said Reid. "Don't move. Don't move."
"Why not?" asked Garcia.
"There's something in your hair," answered Reid.
"What?" said Garcia. "What is it? What's in my hair?"
Reid reached into Garcia's hair and he pulled a long multi-colored ribbon from Garcia's hair. She was screaming happily. Kai, Henry and Jack were laughing hard. Morgan, Prentiss and the others heard Garcia's screaming and they were all laughing while looking at Garcia.
"Holy guacamole!" smiled Reid.
"Get him!" laughed Jack.
Henry, Kai and Jack all jumped on Reid tickling him. Hotch, Sandy, Diana and Rossi smiled. Garcia, JJ, Joy, Hayden, Callahan and Beth were all laughing hard.
"JJ," smiled Joy. "Can you, Henry and Spencer come to Kai's next birthday party?"
"And, Penelope, too, JJ?" asked Hayden.
"Give us his birthdate and your home address and we'll be there," smiled JJ.
Joy and JJ happily hugged each other.
"Thanks, sis," smiled Joy.
"Well, Hayden," said Rossi. "What do you think?"
"Your family is beautiful, David," smiled Hayden.
Rossi and Hayden hugged each other. Hotch gave Rossi two thumbs up while JJ was smiling at him. Rossi smiled back at Hotch and JJ. Then, everybody watched Reid and JJ happily cutting the wedding cake together.