Emily sighed heavily and rolled her eyes as the other bridesmaids shrieked and giggled over something just out in the corridor. She must be getting old if she thought these other women were acting childishly. Or maybe she was the only sane one.

She caught the eye of her friend that had dragged her into to this frilly, lacey mess. The bride.

"Chocolates and flowers are not something to giggle over," Emily complained, jerking her head at the cluster of bridesmaids at the door.

Apparently, some of the groomsmen thought themselves some sort of suave romantic and left the aforementioned gifts of flowers and chocolate for the bridesmaids. There were even scattered rose petals over everything. Emily had not been impressed. It wasn't even good chocolate.

"Your just saying that because you already got your Valentine's Day flowers," Olivia, the bride, pointed out.

Emily self-consciously touched the flower that had been fashioned into a corsage-bracelet thing. Its pink tips matched her dress.

"One flower," Emily corrected.

It was Spencer's traditional yellow rose he always gave everyone on Valentine's day. Only this year, hers was a silk one because he knew she was going to be with Olivia late last night and all of today and she'd have no access to a vase or glass of water. He'd somehow managed to sneak it into Olivia's dressing room at some point. Which was impressive because there had been at least one person in here all day and no one claimed to have seen him. Emily believed them because none of these people were capable of lying with a straight face.

There had been far too many squeals when the other bridesmaids (she couldn't remember any of their names) saw her holding it. None of her explanations of Spencer's tradition had abated their excitement. Especially when they realised that Emily could wear it.

"A flower that a friend gave you," Olivia said pointedly. "On Valentine's Day."

Emily just rolled her eyes again.

"It's his tradition," she tried to explain again. "The yellow-"

"-means friendship," Olivia said with a dismissive wave. "I know you said."

"It's just him being sweet."

"Sweetly romantic."

Shaking her head, Emily decided that it wasn't worth it to try and persuade her otherwise. The woman had romance on the brain and who could blame her? It was her wedding day after all.

"We'll be right back, Livvy!" A blonde bridesmaid chirped, exchanging looks with the other bridesmaids and then bursting into laughter.

Emily was sure that she had been told all their names at one point but for the life of her she couldn't remember nor did she particularly care. She was only putting up with them for Olivia.

Speaking of Olivia, the bride rolled her eyes good-naturedly and waved them away.

"Just don't be late for the wedding," she instructed. "That's my job."

With squeals and far too high-pitched shrieks, the other three bridesmaids bustled out of the room to God knows where. Ah, sweet silence.

"Sorry about them," Olivia said in the most unapologetic tone ever.

"This is what happens when you choose your bridesmaids from your childhood friends," Emily complained.

"Hey, I stayed close to all of you," Olivia retorted but without any real heat. "I can't help it if you're the one that's weird."

"They're weird," Emily muttered childishly.

"You're all weird," Olivia said diplomatically.

"So are you. Did you really have to have a Valentine's wedding?" Emily grumbled.

Olivia just smirked knowingly and shook her head. She knew that there was no malice behind Emily's words.

"It's so romantic," Olivia said teasingly.

Emily arched an eyebrow. "A wedding tends to be romantic no matter what the date. A Valentine's Wedding is just plain cheesy."

"I like cheesy," Olivia said unashamedly.

She really did. Case in point, the heart shaped floral arrangements and the seemingly endless couple pictures of her and her soon to be husband. Also draped with hearts. Everything was basically festooned in hearts.

"Well, there's nothing cheesier than being the only unmarried bridesmaid at a wedding taking place on Valentine's Day."

Olivia gave her a sly look. That did not bode well for her.

"Just wait until after the ceremony. I'm going to hand you the bouquet."

"Don't you dare."

Olivia just grinned at her but then shook her head.

"Marcie would probably cry," she said dolefully. "The red head," she added at Emily's blank look.

"Ah."

Of course. She was the one who kept badgering Olivia about following all the wedding superstitions. She almost had a panic attack when Olivia said she didn't have anything blue. Though, she didn't appreciate Emily volunteering to scribble on Olivia with blue pen. Apparently that was bad luck? Emily had never heard a superstition about that before but you never know. It wasn't like she was familiar with wedding superstitions. Spencer probably was.

Speaking of superstitions, Emily did not want to be a part of this bouquet throwing nonsense. She didn't know anyone for it to be good-natured and funny (as opposed to creepy and awkward). Well, she knew Spencer. Obviously. But-

"Oh, I know that look, Emily Prentiss!" Olivia crowed, shuffling herself as close to Emily as she could with that enormous skirt of her dress. "You have someone in mind with that bouquet."

Emily could feel her cheeks heating up as she pointedly looked away. Of course, this didn't deter her friend in the slightest.

Olivia gave her a searching look. Emily shifted uncomfortably. The woman's glance almost matched Hotch's interrogation glare.

"It's that pipecleaner of a friend you brought as a date," she guessed.

"He's not a pipecleaner," Emily defended.

"Honey, he's over six foot tall and ganglier than a teenager."

Emily opened her mouth to refute that statement (there were definitely muscles under those sweaters) but then snapped it closed. She did not need teased on how she knew Spencer had muscles. Nope. Unfortunately, Olivia could read her like a book. The woman tried to unsuccessfully sidle closer to her. A nigh impossible task when you were ensconced in a big poofy skirt.

"Oh, tell me about Dr Agent's muscles."

The woman even added a damned eyebrow wiggle for God's sake!

"Spencer is an FBI Agent," Emily deflected and in defense of her friend. "Of course he works out."

Or has a Derek Morgan to keep him in shape? Same thing.

"Spencer?" Olivia repeated, frowning in thought.

Enily gave her a curious look.

"Yes," she replied slowly, Spencer wasn't exactly an odd name.

"Wait, he's the one who gave you the flower!" Olivia exclaimed

"Yes."

Emily didn't know where this was going but she suspected that she wouldn't like it.