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A/n, thanks to all who've supported this story. Please enjoy the next chapter.

Bowling with Nuns

Reid parked his Volvo and scanned the parking lot. Abby's candy apple red vehicle stood out from the other cars around it. Her car always made Reid smile. He left his Volvo and hurried across the parking lot. The sign over the double doors read "Lucky Strikes Lanes." The blacktop shimmered in the heat of the blazing summer sun.

When he reached the doorway and stepped inside, the change from bright sunlight to the dim interior with neon lights creeping up the walls made him stop and blink until his eyes adjusted. He put away his sunglasses and began to search the large room ahead of him.

The sound of bowling balls hitting pins and scattering them to the wooden surfaces of the lanes washed over him, as did voices calling each other. He could hear the pinging, ringing, clanging arcade games from the next room.

The interior of the building was blessedly cool and more brightly lit down at the lanes. Reid noticed that only half of the bowling lanes were in use. Reid went to the man working the counter and asked a question. The man nodded and pointed down the left side of the room. "Over there. Get your shoes first. No street shoes on my floors."

"Ah, got my shoes," Reid said and lifted a beige sack.

"Lane three's over there."

"Thank you."

"Hey," said the man who wore a red shirt with the establishment's name on the front and a name tag that said Myron. "What's your business with the sisters?"

"I'm terrible at bowling, so I'm here to watch, that's all."

Myron sized him up and then pointed a gnarled finger at Reid. "Nobody ever comes in here to watch the sisters and Ms. Scuito. You mind your manners, boy, or you'll answer to me."

"Yes, sir," Reid said and fought not to smile. "I will."

"Good. I suppose you're alright being Ms. Scuito told me to direct you her way."

"I promise I'm on my best behavior."

"Mind you remember my floors," said Myron, then turned away to help new customers at his desk.

He found Abby and the nuns at Lane 3 after changing shoes. Reid only bowled when friends from outside the FBI managed to drag him out, but he kept bowling shoes and ball for hygiene purposes. This time, he'd sit back and watch Abby's team practice, and then they'd have dinner.

"Hey," Reid said as he approached the team."

"Spencer," Abby greeted him with a kiss on his cheek.

Reid took in her costume, this time a light blue skirt, white shirt blue bow trying her hair into a ponytail, bowling shoes, and white socks. She looked straight out of the fifties, and he loved it.

"This is Sister Rosita," Abby said and gestured to a formidable-looking nun in full habit. Sister Rosita's dark eyes pierced him, and he knew she was no pushover.

"This is Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid."

"Abby told us about you, Dr. Reid. You're with the FBI."

"Ah – yes, Sister."

Sister Rosita nodded and introduced the remaining nuns. Abby smirked at Reid and said, "Thanks for meeting me here. We'll be finished in about half an hour."

Reid nodded and sat down to watch them practice. He realized after only five minutes that Abby and the nuns were one of the best amateur bowling teams he'd ever seen.

"Nice," he yelled when Abby picked up a 3-10 split.

Abby bowed and then hurried over to sit next to him while Sister Rosita took her turn. "So, what do you think," Abby asked.

"The trophy you told me about is well deserved."

"We have a charity tournament coming up in a few weeks. I can't wait."

"Tell me where to donate," Reid said.

Abby smiled and gave him another kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Also, I want to see the tournament. Let me know where and when it is."

"It's going to be here. Myron donated the lanes for a Saturday afternoon."

When Abby cheered enthusiastically for Sister Rosita's strike, she interrupted Reid about to speak, "Yes," she shouted. "I think you're bringing us luck."

"Me," Reid squeaked. "Why do you say that?"

"Because everyone's bowling their best game today. I think you need to be at the tournament."

"I never thought of you as superstitious."

"I'm not, but sometimes luck is a good thing."

Reid thought about his belief in odd socks and luck and couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Twenty minutes later, they left the bowling alley together. The sun was nearly down. The nuns said goodnight, and Reid walked Abby to her vehicle.

"Where do you want to go for dinner?"

"Why don't we go to my place? We could grab takeout on the way."

Reid's eyebrows went up. "Um, sure. You okay with that."

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't, and it's not as if you haven't been there," Abby said. "This last week's been so crazy. I kept myself from going nuts by thinking about today."

"Yeah, the school's usually all I need to feel grounded, but I keep thinking about work and wondering – well – I don't want to think about it.

NCISCMNCISCMNCISCM

An hour later, they cleaned up the mess they'd made with Greek takeout. Abby found Reid looking at the crucifixes she'd hung on her wall. "Too many?"

"No, but I was thinking about Emily again. I'm sorry. I wish I could stop – going over the same ground repeatedly."

Abby met his eyes. "I figured out that you're not very comfortable with touch, hence the kiss on the cheeks today. I want to kiss you properly."

"We have been going out for a couple of months," Reid said

Abby kissed him and cut off what he was going to say. He liked the taste of her lips, still seasoned from the Gyro she'd eaten. He tugged her to him and felt her hands in his hair.

"Wow," Abby said when they separated.

"Yeah," Reid breathed. "Um, I think – "

"No, don't speak," Abby said, pulling him forward and kissing him again. Her hands found their way between them as Reid began to nibble her ear and work down to her neck. He groaned as she opened the zipper on his slacks and reached inside.

"Abby," he pulled away. "Are you sure –"

"I said, I don't want to talk," she led him away from her camelback sofa toward the coffin.

Reid stopped and pulled away. "I can't," he said, staring at the coffin. "I want – but – I can't be there.

Abby followed his gaze and her eyes widened as she tried to catch her breath. "I'm sorry, Spencer."

"I just can't. It's too close to - "

"I know, I didn't think."

"Come with me to my apartment, Abby."

She nodded and took his offered hand. "Let's go."

NCISCMNCSICMNCISCM

Abby slipped into her shirt and skirt but left off her shoes and socks. She padded out to Reid's kitchen and began to look around for the coffee maker. She found the machine and Reid's coffee stash.

Twenty minutes later, Reid walked into the living area. He wore a tee shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. "Hey," he said and ran a hand through his mussed hair.

"You have no food in your fridge," Abby said from his sofa. "I was going to make some omelets or pancakes."

"Yeah, um, I usually don't eat breakfast."

"No wonder you're so skinny."

"Are you hungry?" Reid asked as he joined her on the sofa.

"Not right now. I'm exhausted for anything but sitting here for a while if you don't mind."

"I'm glad you're here, and I'm thrilled that you didn't throw me out last night when I freaked out a little."

"No, it's fine. I'm the one that should apologize, Spencer. I planned the entire scene. I'd meet you at the bowling alley, get food, and have sex. I didn't think about the coffin. I love sleeping in it and didn't even think about you. I am sorry."

"I'm sorry," Reid said. "It's your home. You shouldn't feel uncomfortable in your place, Abby."

"I sleep in a coffin, Spencer. That's one of my quirks, but it's hardly normal."

"I hope one day I'll feel better about it, and then we can enjoy what we did last night."

"So, you are thinking long-term for us," Abby asked as she cuddled up to Reid.

"Yes," Reid said and began to stroke her black hair. "Is that what you'd like as well?"

"I like you, Spencer Reid, and I'd like to get to know you better. "

Reid kissed her and sighed. "Good because I envision a day when I won't think about Emily and death and losing a friend when I look at your coffin. Instead, I hope to see it as your place of safety and comfort."

They stayed on the sofa until Reid's stomach rumbled, and Abby laughed. "Why don't we order some breakfast, and then I'd better be going."

"I am hungry."

Abby hugged him. "I hope so after last night. You're insatiable!"

"I! You're the one that seduced me."

Abby untangled from him and stood up. "Do you want to argue about last night, or do you want food?"

Reid pretended to think as Abby rolled her eyes. "Okay, but I want to hear the story about the tattoo on your back."

"You like it," Abby said with a wink.

"Yes, very much."

"One day, I'll tell you about it, but not today."

"Not nice, Ms. Scuito, not nice at all," Reid teased.

"Go order some food for us," Abby ordered and went to pour out a cup of coffee for Reid.

"Yes, ma'am."