Title: Hiding Place
Author: Trista Groulx (dustytiger)
Rating: T (same as the show)
Disclaimer: I don't own CM, it belongs to CBS et al. And I don't own the song that inspired this fic Serena Ryder and her record label do. Don't sue I am just a lowly barista.
Summary: Reid wakes up to find Prentiss curled up to him. Where will their relationship go?
Notes: We're almost at the end. This is the last part before the epilogue. I hope I tied up some loose ends, and I'm sure you can figure out what the epilogue will be about. Hearts to all of you who are enjoying this little fic.

Darling can I touch your face? And let your skin be my hiding place, I promise I won't take up too much room, In you

Reid wasn't sure what to expect when he went to visit his mother. He kept thinking about the night before with Prentiss, and that morning when they had gone to look at his childhood home. It hadn't changed as much as he expected, and he told her all about his childhood. What parts of the house he liked, which room had been his, where his book shelves had been. As much as he wanted that piece of his childhood to hold on to, they decided not to make an offer on that house. There were a lot of good memories there, but they were memories from a different time in his life, and if they were going to keep a home closer to his mother he wanted something that was theirs with no memories for either of them. He was glad to be able to say goodbye to that part of his life and move forward with his future wife.

He knew he had to talk to his mother about the possibility of moving closer. He knew that things might not go well, but he had to do it. Prentiss had offered to go with him, but he told her it would be easier for his mother if he spoke to her. She had been through enough stress being at the hospital. He asked Prentiss if she would be all right with going shopping while he spoke to his mother. She agreed after he reassured her that he did want her to be there, but they needed to put his mother's health first.

Reid went into his mother's room at Bennington's, relieved that she really was all right. Reid went over to where she was sitting, and took her hand. He knew that she knew that something was going on. He wasn't sure how to tell her what he needed to tell her. He knew that she would be upset, and he was worried she might have an episode, she had been through so much. He wanted Prentiss next to him, holding his hand, but he had to think of what was best for is mother, and that was hearing the news from him, and only him.

"How are you feeling, Mom?" he asked.

"I know you didn't come here to ask me how I was feeling Spencer," Diana told him.

He nodded. "I didn't, Emily and I were talking last night, and I thought that maybe it would be good idea if you moved closer to Virginia."

"Spencer, you want to rip me from my home again!" Diana cried. "Why would you do that to me? You're usually such a good boy. Did she put you up to this? I knew a temptress would come and brainwash you one day!"

"Mom Emily is my fiancée, please don't speak of her like that. This isn't like that. Emily and I were talking while you were in the hospital. It's hard having you so far way, but this is your choice. If you chose to stay here we plan on buying a home here for the time we need to be here."

"You will not waste your money that way!"

"Mom you're important to me. I've made up my mind. You're not going to change it."

"I can't move, Spencer. You know that. I can't be so close to so much government. They'll monitor me."

"Mom, we've talked about this before. Think about it, please. Besides if you do move closer to Virginia you'll be closer to your grandchildren."

"Spencer William Reid!" she snapped. "You got that woman pregnant out of wedlock?"

"Mom, no clam down, please. Emily isn't pregnant. But we have talked about having children at length, and when the time right – after we are married, we are going to have a child together."

Diana's eyes began to water. "Spencer you are growing up too quickly. Stop."

"Mom you knew this would happen one day. I love Emily and I want a future with her. Emily and I also want you to be closer to us."

"This is my home."

"I know it is, and I understand that you might not want to leave the area. We could arrange it on a temporary basis at first. Maybe six months, to see if you enjoy it."

"I complicate your life Spencer, I'll never understand why you didn't put me in here and forget all about me."

"I love you Mom. I could never do that. Doctor Norman has recommended a facility he thinks you'll like. When you're ready we'll see what happens after six months. If it's too difficult of an adjustment for you can come back here."

"Promise me Spencer."

"I promise Mom. I want to be able to see you more often, and if something does happen I want to see you more quickly if something happens to you."

"You worry too much."

"I know, but you're my mother."

"I'll try it Spencer, does that make you happy?"

"Thank you Mom."

"Will you read to me?"

"Of course."

Reid found a book on the shelf and began to read to his mother softly. He read for over an hour before she told him she was tired, and needed to rest. He put the book down and left her room. He then called Prentiss. They agreed to meet back at the hotel. When she got back to the room he wasn't surprised by the bags in her hands. He was glad that she had enjoyed herself while they were there.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"Better than I thought it would. At first she didn't want to listen. But she understood we wanted her to be closer. She decided to try it and if she doesn't like it she'll come back here. I don't want to force her into anything this time. I hope she likes it in Virginia, though."

"I hope so too, Spencer."

Prentiss wrapped her arms around him tightly. He sighed happily glad to be in her arms. He felt so safe there. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulled her closer to him. She smiled and tucked her head on his chin. There were times they wished they could stay like that for days, wrapped up in each other's arms. They both enjoyed having each other to go to when something went wrong. She moved a little to kiss him softly. Reid ran his hand along her face, enjoying the embrace. She pulled away a few minutes later, resting her head against his.

"Spencer, do you want to get married while we are here?" she asked him.

"Is that what you really want?" he asked.

"I don't know, it seems like a good solution. My mother showed me the start of her guest list, and she's already got two hundred names written down."

"I don't want us to be married because it's an easy way out. When you're sure you want to get married here, then we'll do that, because the ceremony doesn't matter to me, you know that. But I know it matters to you, and I don't want you to regret any part of it, and I think we would both regret not having our friends there."

"Spencer I don't want you to have to suffer through whatever my mother has planned."

"You're worth it," he assured her. "I know there's a reason you haven't said no to this big wedding she's planning."

She nodded. "The money we're using, my dad put it away for me so I could have my dream wedding. He wanted to me to be happy, I want to use that money the way he wanted me to, even if it won't be exactly what we want."

"As long as our friends and my mother are there whatever else you or your mother want is fine by me. Whatever you want Emily, that's what I want. I told you when I proposed that I considered you my wife, and that night was ours, and it was the happiest night of my life. The most amazing woman I'd ever met agreed to marry me when I thought I'd end up alone."

"Don't say that."

"You've seen where I grew up, you know about my history with women. When I first met you I knew you were different, and I almost pushed you away, but you forgave me for some horrible things I told you. That's when I knew you were the woman I wanted but I wasn't sure how to pursue you, and that morning when you woke up next to me was the most amazing moment of my life. I thought nothing would top that, then you told me you loved me, and I thought nothing could be better. When you agreed to marry me I was sure nothing could be better, but Emily I want to see you walking toward me wearing a beautiful white dress even if it's only so that I can silence the doubts."

"All right, Spencer, you'll get that. But if I can't handle my mother it might be in some chapel here, okay?"

"That's fine, as long as that's what you really want, because you know what I want."

"I do, and I love you."

"I love you too."

The two of them kissed softly and began to make their way toward the hotel bed. Both of them wanting to forget for a moment everything that was happening around them. Whenever they were together it was like the rest of the world, all the troubles disappeared for a moment. They had found a place in each other where they could hide, and neither of them was going to let it go. They curled up on the bed together, Prentiss laid her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He pulled a blanket over them. They laid like that for over an hour before they began to kiss and explore one another's bodies again. They didn't say another word but they knew they were closer than they had been in a long time.

End Part 9

Notes: Next part is the epilogue wow I can't believe it's almost over. Thank you so much for all the support. I hope you enjoyed this.