Disclaimer: see my profile.

A/n hello all. This one-shot is a bit AU. It takes place after the season 14 finale, "Truth or Dare." In my world, Spencer met Max around the time of the season 13 finale, and they are about to get married. Spencer has kept Max a secret from the team because he's finally decided to separate his home and work life.

A/n two If you are a JJ fan and unable to see the character called out for her behavior, then please turn back now.

"Are you ready," Spencer asked the woman at his side.

"I've been looking forward to this for a whole year."

Spencer kissed her forehead and knocked on JJ's door. After a moment, Will answered. He smiled in welcome, but his eyes showed confusion as he noticed Spencer's companion. "Hi, Will."

"Hello, Spencer."

"I'm sorry to drop in on you, but is JJ here."

"Yes, come on in."

Spencer led his fiancé into the LaMontagne living room, as Will shouted. "Jennifer, Spencer's here."

A minute later, JJ entered the room with a tense smile firmly in place until she noticed he held hands with a stranger. "Um, hi, Spence." She stopped short instead of trying to hug him as if she didn't know how to react to his presence.

"Will, JJ," Spencer turned to the woman next to him and said. "This is my fiancé, Maxine, or Max as she prefers. Max, this is JJ and Will LaMontagne."

"Ah, it's nice to meet you," JJ said politely, but there were hurt and anger in the depths of her cobalt blue eyes. Once, those eyes had infinite power over Spencer to make him agree to anything she wanted, but that power had long ago broken its hold over him.

"Yes, it's great to meet you," Will said, and Spencer saw something in Will's eyes that he filed away for later.

"I'm glad to meet you both," said Max.

An awkward silence prevailed as Spencer took a brief look around the living room. It hadn't changed in the month since he'd last visited, but there was something in the air that pleased and irritated him. It wasn't an odor or a sight, but a feeling.

"Why don't you sit down. JJ, it's time for me to pick up the boys." Will said, and Spencer thought he heard relief in the tone.

"Ah, right. See you later, babe." JJ made a show of kissing her husband, and then he was gone.

"The boys are with friends."

"It's okay, JJ. I'm glad it worked out like this. It's less awkward."

"So, you're getting married," JJ said inanely, as the fire of anger stoked in her eyes, but her tone remained neutral."

"Yes, and I can see you're not pleased."

"Why would I be upset," JJ responded defensively.

"Because of what happened a month ago. Remember, JJ. You said you'd always loved me."

"Spence –"

"No," Spencer held up a long-fingered hand. "We're not going to play games. I want to get this out in the open with Max."

JJ's eyes went to Max, who was a short woman with dark eyes, golden blond hair, and an air of someone confident and no-nonsense. She wore a grey jacket, a light blue blouse, and jeans with sneakers. Her makeup was perfectly suited to her face. Max didn't smile at JJ when their eyes met; instead, she studied JJ as one might an interesting insect.

"Fine, what do you want to say."

"I don't have much to say. I'd rather let Max do the talking. She's not happy with you, JJ, and I don't blame her."

"Max," JJ began. "That night I said what I said to distract him, I never thought that Spence would take it seriously and – "

"Stop," Max interrupted. "Spence told me everything, including what you said to him at Dave and Krystal's wedding when you tried to backtrack. I don't care how you feel about my fiancé. You made your bed, and you'll have to lie in it. Just know that you won't be lying in it with Spencer."

"I have no intention of destroying my marriage over a life and death revelation. I did what I had to do."

"No," Max said. "You could've come up with another lie and made it stick. Spencer told me that you beat him at poker earlier that same day. That means you're a skillful liar, you even bragged about how great you can lie. Was that the truth or did you benefit from a lucky draw of the cards and take advantage of Spencer's certainty that he could win?"

"I –"

"Mrs. LaMontange –"

"Call me JJ," JJ interrupted desperately.

"No, I don't think that's a good idea. You see, that is a perfect example of what is wrong with your relationship with my fiancé," Max pointed out scornfully. "You're Spencer's teammate, and it's time you went back to a professional relationship."

"Spence."

"Don't look at me with your sad eyes, JJ," Spencer said. "Max is right. I let our relationship become too casual for a working association. I've allowed you to think that you can treat me whatever way you wish, including dredging up past feelings that are better left buried," he concluded.

"If you feel that way, why are you here?"

"Because you're the mother of my godsons. Regardless of how I feel about you, I love them. I wanted them to meet Max because we're getting married. It's no longer feasible for us to keep our relationship a secret from the team. Emily's known about Max since the beginning because I wanted Max as my emergency contact and to be held in the loop if something happened to me."

"May I ask how you met."

"No," Spencer said. "You don't need to know."

JJ sat silently, studying Spencer and tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to –"

"Don't say it," Spencer insisted as he ignored her misty eyes.

JJ furiously wiped at her tears and nodded. "If that's what you want."

"It is."

Several minutes passed in silence until JJ finally broke. "I never meant to hurt you."

"Which time," Spencer asked. "Be specific, JJ, when you invited Garcia along on our date. Granted, that was my fault for letting Gideon push me into asking you. I should've stood up to him and said no, but I was naïve, and I felt guilty that he'd spent so much on the tickets. I wish I'd know they came from Dave, and I wouldn't have felt guilty about the money. I had a massive crush on you, and you knew, yet you said nothing."

"What would you have me say," JJ asked petulantly.

"How about, "I'm sorry, I've done anything to make you think that we have more than a professional relationship." Hearing those words might've hurt me, but I would've gotten over the sting much faster. I wouldn't have pined over you for years."

"You were my first love," JJ blurted out and dropped her eyes when Spencer scowled.

"So, you admit that you weren't lying to me."

"No, I wasn't lying, but I love my husband. I'd never do anything to hurt him."

"Does your husband know," Max asked."

"What?"

"You heard me," Max shot back. "Does he know how you feel about Spencer?"

"No."

"I didn't think so."

"I don't appreciate the sarcasm. I barely know you."

Max straightened her spine. "You don't get to use that tone with me, Mrs. LaMontagne. Spencer is mine, do you understand me?"

"Yes, perfectly."

"Good, what you chose to tell your husband is your business, but I suggest you talk to him because one day he will figure it out and then – well, I hope for your sake he is a forgiving man."

JJ was about to speak when the front door opened, and her boys spilled into the room. "Mommy," Michael's jubilant voice cut through the tension like a razor. "Guess what I found."

JJ scooped up the small boy as he ran to her without realizing his Godfather sat in the room. "What?"

"I found this in Stevie's backyard." The small boy held out a pretty pink rock that looked like quartz."

'Oh, that's so beautiful."

"It's for you, mommy."

"Thank you, Michael. I love it."

"Uncle Spencer," Henry called out. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Spencer said and hugged his godson. "How are you?"

"Jamie and I played soccer. He taught me to bounce it off my head."

"He did? Will you show me later?"

Henry nodded as Michael hurried to his Godfather. "Uncle Spencer," said the little boy.

"Hey, Michael," Spencer hugged him and kissed his forehead. "Guys, I want you to meet Max. She and I are going to be married soon."

"Max is a boy's name," Henry pointed out.

"It's short for Maxine. I don't like that name," Max said with a kind smile.

"Oh."

"It's nice to meet you both," Max went on. "Spencer's told me so much about you."

"Do you like magic," Henry asked.

"Oh yes, especially when Spencer does it."

"He taught me a trick. Can I show you?"

"Only one, and then we have to go," Spencer said.

"How come you not stay," Michael said.

"Because your mommy and daddy weren't expecting us this time. Soon, we'll all get together and have a picnic at the park."

"Yay," Michael shouted.

"Michael, remember your inside voice," Will said.

"Sorry, daddy."

"Henry," Max said. "Show us your trick."

CMCMCMCMCMCMCM

Later, Max and Spencer curled up on his couch after dinner and a movie. "You okay," Spencer asked.

"Why wouldn't I be," Max wondered.

"Max!"

Max sat up and looked Spencer in the eyes. "I'm fine. You're the one I'm worried about."

Spencer sighed and stretched his arms over his head before tucking Max back into his embrace. "I feel free, finally. The resentment I felt toward JJ when she made her revelation is gone. I feel like we can work together. We'll never be close again, but it's okay. I was wrong to allow her to invade my life so completely. You helped me see that I need a definite line between my work life and my personal life. Thank you, Max."

"You're welcome. I do like the boys, though. They are cute and sweet."

Spencer nodded and smiled as he stroked her hair with his fingers. "They are pretty great. I'm glad they like you."

"Me too."

They were silent for a long time until Spencer said. "What do you want to do now?"

Max blew out a breath. "We need to get invitations addressed, or we could work on the seating chart again, or we could look at flowers –"

SPencer stopped her with a kiss and a whispered suggestion in her ear. "Seriously, is that all you ever think about?"

"Yes, when I'm with you."

Max rolled her eyes. "It's a good thing for you that I don't want to deal with the wedding tonight."

"I know," Spencer said with a shrug.

"Oh, you," Max exclaimed and jumped to her feet. "Come with me, lover."

THE END