Title: Matters of the Universe: And Away We Go... (Part 8 of 15)
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I still do not own CM, it's a pitty really, it belongs to many people, writers, directors, actors, actresses, creators, network types none of whom are me. I also do not own the quotes at the beginning. They belong to the people who wrote and preform them, and likely SOCAN as well.
Summary: Reid and Prentiss meet in a bar one night before she joins the team, but things don't go how she plans. What happens when they have to work together?
Notes: This one was a chapter that ended up being author's choice. But another element that we had to use is in it about the "bumbling virgin" aka Reid's lack of experience with the ladies (or not so lack of that in this case). This really hard to only update every second day I'm not gonna lie. Thank you as always for the support it means so much. Sorry if there was any strange typings in the last one I got stung in the finger by a wasp and could hardly type. That's one of the reasons I always have stuff more or less done before I post haha... would have sucked to not be able update because of an icky bug!

"Golden locks on suffragettes, the pretty girls smoke cigarettes. Cutting class and sneaking out at the macho boys break billiard balls ,but they never catch you when you fall. But I will be there and I will do you right. 'Cause I'm alright, wrapped up in your arms. I'm quite the sight, wrapped up in your arms." Danny Michel (In Your Arms)

Reid and Prentiss had just finished eating, and were sitting on his couch. He had his arm wrapped around her. They were watching an old movie they found that Reid had never seen before and Prentiss assured him was a classic. She laid her head on his shoulder comfortably. She liked that she was able to relax with him and not have to worry about putting up any walls. She never felt like she had to hide from him. She could spend hours talking with him about just about anything, but she could also spend those same hours wrapped up in his arms saying nothing at all.

They were both relieved that everything seemed to be finally falling into place for them. Despite the bumps in the road they had faced, but together they had been able to move forward and wanted to keep moving. They had had some false starts and stops, but for the past month everything had finally been going smoothly. They had been perfectly honest with each other, about their pasts and what they might want in the future. They were still keeping their relationship a secret from the team and most of their friends because they liked the little bit of privacy they were able to enjoy together.

"This is nice," she sighed happily.

"It is," he agreed, he brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "I love you Emily."

"Sp- Spencer I-."

"You don't have to say it if you're not ready, but I needed you to know. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I couldn't keep it to myself."

She smiled and kissed him softly. "I think I feel the same way, but I'm worried that if I tell you how I feel you'll be taken away from me."

"Has that happened to you before?"

"Yes, it has. I know that you're different from the other men I've dated but I still worry about my past. I am terrible in relationships."

"I haven't been in many relationships either but I know how I feel." He ran his fingers along her cheek. "It took a lot for us to get to this point I would be an idiot to let it go now. If you want to take things more slowly that's fine. I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise for how you feel Spencer. I'm just trying to make you understand that I've been down this road before and it doesn't always end well."

"I thought you of all people would see me as something more than socially awkward with women. I may not have a lot of experience but I do have more than most people think I do. I have never understood why men feel the need to brag about the women they've been with and that's why everyone seems to think there has been none. I have been hurt before and I have hurt someone before and I would do anything to prevent doing that to someone else or to feel that way again."

"Spencer," she whispered. "For a man who says he doesn't have a lot of experience with relationships you certainly know how to make a woman feel more at ease."

"You make it easy for me Emily. You let me be myself and let me learn at the pace I need to in order to feel comfortable. You're different from anyone else I've known and I have faith that we can make this work if we want it to work out."

"I do want this between us, but I'm still nervous about work."

"We can let our relationship grow and still not let it affect our work. We have been doing all right so far. I'm in no hurry to tell everyone," he assured her.

"What?"

"I don't mean it negatively. It's nice to have something that I don't have to share with the team. I enjoy not having to hear Morgan's opinions on this relationship, or Garcia blowing what we are sharing out of proportion. I like everything the way it is. It's still new, but it's comfortable and getting other people's opinions might change that."

"I can understand that."

"I don't want to hide forever, but while we're still learning where this is going to go I think it's easier if our opinions are the loudest."

"You're right, and this does make me happy Spencer. You make me happy, I was starting to think I might never find this." She brushed strands of hair from in front of his eyes. "I do love you, Spencer, but I'm scared."

"I'm scared too, Emily but I want to keep moving forward with you. Everything that has happened recently has just proved to me that I want you to be in my life for the foreseeable future."

She leaned in and kissed him softly, unsure what she could say after what he had just told her. Her heart was soaring, and her mind was racing, but for the first time in a long time she didn't feel like she wanted to run away. She wanted a future with Reid and now that he was offering it she decided she wanted that. She deepened the kiss and he pulled her toward him. After a few long moments she felt his hand slipping under her shirt.

"Spencer," she gasped. "This is going to change everything."

"I know," he assured her, his hand still hover on the hem of her shirt.

"If we continue tonight there's no going back."

"I know. Do you want me to stop?" He nuzzled her neck placing soft kisses on her jawline. "Because I'll stop if you ask me to."

"No, I – that feels so good Spencer, I want this I just want to be sure that we understand that this is a line we can't uncross. "

"I know, Emily, and I know that I want this. Do you want this?"

She nodded. "I do want this Spencer."

His hand slipped further under her shirt. She moaned softly as he did this then moved to kiss him again. She hungrily kissed him back, excited and nervous about what was going to happen next. Prentiss then began to unbutton his shirt, and soon had his chest exposed. She ran her hand along his bare chest then pushed the garment off his shoulders. She was surprised by what she exposed and was excited to see more.

"I want to go slowly," he told her running his fingers through her hair.

She smiled at him and ran her hands across his bare chest. "I don't think I can do that."

"We only get to have our first night together once I want it to last, after tonight we'll do things your way."

"I trust you," she whispered before kissing him.

He knew that those three words meant more than the three words she had shared with him before. After everything they had been through since they had met he'd made it hard for her to trust him, and knowing that she did meant that there was even more at stake if he made a mistake. He knew he wanted to take the next step with her, and that it was already more serious that anyone he'd been with before. They both knew that there was no turning back, but they both knew they needed to take the next step forward together; even if it meant keeping a secret from their closest friends.

End Part 8

Notes: I have had to work with a debbie downer at work, please keep the happy updates coming. Mine might be moving a little different from Wing Man but I hope everyone is liking the idea we're doing here.