After the applause and cheers had finally died down, Garcia and Will Reid began directing everyone to a visitor's room where they had arranged for the reception to be held.
As a beaming Spencer Reid proudly escorted his wife down the hallway, he looked at the chain around Emma's neck. "You have two rings on there, now," he observed.
"The second one is yours," she told him with a smile. "It is the one I used for our proxy marriage. My mother brought it with her today and gave it back to me. She has had it all these years and I thought it was time that the two rings were finally back together again."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Oh My Gosh – Penelope!" Emma gasped as she and Reid walked into their reception. "This is incredible!"
The visitor's room had also been decorated in a riot of colors, matching those used in the chapel. A sumptuous buffet of various finger foods had been set up along one wall of the room with the main focus point being a three tiered wedding cake with ivory tinted icing (matching the bride's dress) and light blue trimming (matching Reid's and his father's cummerbunds as well as Dr. Diana's dress). Live flowers completed the cake's decorations.
"I hope you like it," a familiar voice told Emma.
"Donny!" Emma turned and gasped. "When I smelled all this marvelous food I should have know it was you who was responsible for it!"
"The minute Mr. Reid called me, I started planning the menu," the man told her with a grin. "And, when he said I could have free rein, I took him at his word!"
"Dad?" Emma looked over at Will Reid. "You organized all this?" She gestured towards the buffet.
"I had some help," he admitted with a smile. "Donny assured me he knows what you like to eat and Penelope had some input on that, too. And, as for the cake – "
"I told them about your chocolate addition," another man's voice joined them.
"BEAR!" Emma forgot all about her dress as she threw herself at the large man who had been her guardian for so many years. "I am so glad to see you!"
"Try to keep me away," the smile showed through his beard. "Now – "
He turned his attention to Reid and held out his hand to shake. "Congratulations, Professor," he told the agent. "I want to remind you that you are now officially responsible for Emma's safety and well-being. If I ever hear anything that indicates that you aren't doing your job – Just remember, I know people!"
"Not to worry!" Reid grasped the proffered hand. "She's with me now!"
"I'm with you?" Emma burst out. "Like I'm some piece of property that is being passed around?"
"Nothing like that," Bear hastened to assure her. "We all know that you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. However, on occasion, everyone needs help. You might want to keep that in mind." He gave her a shrewd look.
"Okay," Emma was temporarily mollified.
"Uncle Spence – Uncle Spence!" Reid's godson, Henry, rushed over. "Nobody will let me eat until the two of you start eating - And, I am hungry!"
"Okay, Henry," Emma laughed. "Spencer?" She held out her hand to her husband. "Do you want to start enjoying our reception?"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
As Emma and Reid circulated among their guests, talking, laughing, and enjoying the food, no one noticed a short, dark haired man watching warily from the hallway, taking care to stay out of sight. He was almost sure that none of the guests would recognize him, but he didn't want to take any chances.
Elliot Williams winced as he remembered how he had been unceremoniously picked up by the Arizona police and returned to Bennington Sanitarium. He had honestly tried to get to Mexico as Moira had told him to, but it was all just too overwhelming. Plus, he felt so much safer here at Bennington where he had structure and responsibilities. He had even been involved in setting up the room for the reception.
As for Moira, she had been happy to hear that he was back in place – watching and waiting for 'her' Spencer to reappear. And, Elliot was certain that she would be delighted with his report on this latest occurrence. Now, maybe, just maybe, he could even snag her a souvenir or two from the wedding.