"You've reached Dr. Wilkins! I'm apparently out fighting the forces of evil, so leave a message and I'll get back to you."

Reid slammed his cell phone onto his desk in frustration. That was the twenty-second time he'd tried, counting the night of the Ball, and she still had her cell off!

She had phoned Hotch Sunday, the day after the Ball, asking for four days off. He had agreed, and she had apparently gone out of town, because when Garcia had gone over to check on her she wasn't home. Today she should have been to work, but if she was coming, she was extremely late.

"I could kill myself," he mumbled, half to himself, and half to Morgan.

"She should be here anytime, man. Quit worrying."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she never came in to work again." Reid folded his arms on his desk, and hid his face in them in despair. "I can not believe I just let her walk away, when she was my date!"

"Neither can I," mumbled Morgan.

"Oh, thanks," replied Reid in a sarcastic tone. "Your support is overwhelming."

"Look, I'm not taking up for you. Just because some long-lost girlfriend of yours shows up doesn't mean you have the right to ignore your date! Besides, I took it that you were over Lila."

Reid looked up. "I-I… I don't know. It's just, she's always sorta been… Ya know, that first love."

"Reid, I don't even remember my first love. Now look at it this way: If you get involved with her, when she's done filming here, she'll go right back to California. I suppose then you'll expect Holly to be waiting for you, open-armed?"

"Uh…"
"Well, she won't. You can't use a woman like that. Now, you can't wait until Lila leaves to make that decision. You've got to decide now: Holly, or Lila."

Reid stared at his hands, unsure of how to answer. Just then the door to the BAU opened, and there was Wilkins.

"Oh, my, God," Morgan breathed.

Wilkins wasn't her usual self. Her hair was straightened revealing the almost scene-haircut she'd apparently always had. Her choice of blouse showed more than she ever dared show before. She wore a mini-skirt and stilettos, she'd replaced her messenger bag with a black purse, and she'd been very generous with her makeup.

Reid slowly stood as she neared, intending to bring up the Ball.

She strode instead of her usual shy scurrying, and she wore an almost permanent smirk. All the way around, she seemed like a different girl.

"W-Wilkins?" Reid stuttered, but she strode right past him.

o-O-o-O-O-o-O-o o-O-o-O-O-o-O-o

Reid walked slowly back from the break room, hoping to avoid Wilkins.

"Spence," her heard her say. Even her voice sounded different. And what happed to that formal-names-at-work rule? he thought.

Reid looked around. She was at his desk –in his chair – with her feet propped on the edge of the desk. "Yeah?" he croaked. Everyone else - Morgan, Prentiss, J.J., and Garcia – stared at her too.

"Well actually I was going to ask all of you: Tonight's Friday night, and I was thinking that if you guys didn't have any other plans that we could all go clubbing."

Reid's jaw dropped and all the others were speechless.

"W-what?" Morgan managed.

"There's this great club - Peabody's Night Club – on Virginia Beach. It's so great. I went the other night. The DJs are great, the drinks are fantastic; it's just a fun place!"

Garcia was the first to get over her shock. "I-isn't that place a good while away from here?"

Wilkins shrugged. "I don't know; Maybe a hundred and thirty-six miles away."

J.J. recovered next. "Well, I can't go. I'd be too far from home if anything happened to Henry."

Wilkins shot her a fake "too bad" look.

"I'm in," said Prentiss.

"Me too," added Morgan, cautiously.

"I'm game if he is," Garcia giggled.

What is wrong with these people? Do they not understand that there's something wrong with her? Reid thought, his jaw still out of place.

Wilkins looked at him, waiting for his reply.

"I… Clubs aren't really my thing." Morgan glared at him, warning him not to say no. "B-but, I guess I could."

"Perfect!" she said, her happiness dripping with sarcasm.

o-O-o-O-O-o-O-o o-O-o-O-O-o-O-o

"Wilkins,"

"Holly," she corrected.

Reid paused. "Holly, I wanted to talk to you about the night of the Ball."
"What about it?" She took a sip of coffee. Reid had noticed she didn't use any sugar in it; unlike her.

"About… about Lila. I shouldn't have just… ignored you for the rest of the night."
Wilkins laughed; a genuine, really amused laugh. "Spence, if that bothered me I wouldn't be in the BAU right now!"

"B-but. You're different. I-I mean, you left the day after-"

"Babe, everyone needs a break now and then. If you must know, I went out to Virginia Beach on a little vacation. What, you think I was running from you?" She stifled another laugh. "No, no, no. You've got me all wrong, Pretty Boy. And I'm different? A change of wardrobe hardly changes a person."

"T-then, it didn't bother you?" Reid was unsure whether she was lying or not.

"'Course not, hon!" She ruffled up his hair, and headed for the door. "Hey, I'll prove it. Why don't you bring Lisa – I mean Lila – with you tonight?"

Reid stared at her, trying to decide what to say. "Yeah, ok," he finally managed. "I will."

o-O-o-O-O-o-O-o o-O-o-O-O-o-O-o

Sooo, Holly's gone off her rocker! :D Yay! lol Not really. It's all just a big show to prove to herself she can be a Lady Marmalade too. :]

I think we're winding this story down folks! :[ It's gonna be sad when it's over. I'll be bored! D: I'd estimate there's… maybe five chapters left?

Oh by the way, Peabody's is a real night club in Virginia Beach… Yay for authenticity! :D