I do not own Criminal Minds. And my thanks to my sister for being my beta. I hope everyone had a good Christmas and I hope you all have a Happy New Year. See you next year!

Chapter #45

Reid sat in his Volvo in the Fantasy's Dolls parking lot, looking at his clock, realizing it was close to ten o'clock at night. He waited for his girlfriend where he hoped that she would stop and he can grovel for her forgiveness.

On his way back, he spotted a florist shop where he was able to buy a dozen long-stem red roses and a teddy bear, holding a blue heart with the words, "I'm sorry" embroidered on it. They were lying in the front seat beside him as he took a slip of his lukewarm coffee. His big surprise was going to take time, but he wanted to try to fix things between them right now.

He honestly felt ridiculous sitting there, like he was her stalker. She didn't need another one. But he knew that he couldn't go back in there.

He watched a group of people leaving the club where he saw Ashley and Darcy in the middle.

Reid grabbed the flowers and the bear and climbed out of the car. He leaned against his car and patiently waited. He saw Darcy nodding his head at him where Ashley looked at him.

Ashley shoved her hands into her pockets of her jacket, keeping them warm as she walked up to Reid.

"I'm so sorry," he quietly said as he held out the teddy bear. Ashley took it, holding it in her hands. She wrapped her right hand around its arm as she gave a smile. She looked up at him again.

"Thank you. Do you want to tell me why you were being an ass earlier?" Reid didn't answer her; instead he stared at his feet.

"Spencer, if we can't get through this, then how can we get through other problems in life." She heard him letting out a sigh. Ashley waited for him to speak, but he never said a word.

Ashley leaned forward to where she was inches away from his face. She set the bear down on the car's hood.

"Fine," she said. She started to walk away from him. Tears were once again, starting to form in her eyes. Was it really over between them?

"I was scared," Reid shouted out. Ashley stopped, turning around to face him again.

"I was scared," he said again, but in a normal voice. Ashley went back to him.

"What, what were you scared of? You weren't really scared of Julian, were you?" Reid didn't answer her.

This was getting no where, Ashley thought. It was late, she was exhausted and sore. And Darcy with his goons were waiting, she didn't want them to be waiting for her all night.

Taking matters into her own hands, she asked. "Doc, are you thinking that I am going to go home with one of them."

"No," he quickly answered defensively, but he wouldn't look at her in her eyes. Ashley bends down her head, trying to get into his line of sight. Finally she grabbed his face, squeezing his cheeks together where he made that fishy face; she pushed him up where he was now looking at her.

"Yes," he finally admitted through his fishy face.

Ashley let go of him, "A year or so ago, I would have. But I was using cocaine and drinking, I did it to get the money to pay for my habit." Ashley took his left hand into hers.

"Do you remember when you told me that I can have any guy that I wanted?" He nodded yes.

"Well, you're right." He looked up at her, where you did not to be a profiler to see the fear in his eyes.

"I chose you," she said.

"It's just," he said, explaining himself before stopping himself.

Ashley shook her head, "No, just say it. This is difficult for you; we need to get through this now." He let out a sigh.

"I had sex three times, but I know that you had more practiced . . ." He said before he started to stuttered.

"Spencer, are you comparing yourself to other men." He looked at her, not answering.

"First of all, three times? Seriously, after that toe trick, the hand, and," she started to list the things that they had done. Reid raised his right hand up.

"Yes," he said, stopping her. "I had sex three times. I just read about the stuff that we had done."

Still holding on to his hand, "OK, I know that I had more experience than you. But do you know that saying, it is quality, not quantity?" He nodded yes.

"Out of those men, women, couples, none of them were real."

He looked at her, trying to understand, "I don't understand."

"I didn't know their last name or even if their first names were real. I had no feelings toward them. No love, caring, nothing. All I had was disgust and that was toward me. The Scorpions used me to get the money. I did it so I can get the drugs and wouldn't get beaten. I was a tool for Julian to get what he wanted. The only reason that he fixed my hip was so I could perform better," she explained, using her fingers as quotations for "perform." He nodded.

"No one had ever brought me gummy bears and wanted nothing in return. Or brings me postcards, even after I tell you over and over that you don't have to. Or how about opening my pill bottle or bottle water for me without being asked or even teased me about it."

"I would never do that," he protested.

She nodded, stepping closer to her. Still holding to his hand, she placed it on her chest where he can feel her heart beating. He can feel heat rising to his face.

"You are the only one that has my heart. You're the only one who I shared my bed with. No one else," she said.

She pointed her finger toward the club, "I don't give a crap about them. I just go in, shake my ass and then leave." She touched his face with her hand where he closed his eyes, leaning his head toward it.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me," she said, letting go of his hand that was still on her chest. She placed it on the other side of his face. She can feel tears building up, which this time, she didn't fight them. She let go of his face and slipped her arms around his waist.

Reid wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He felt warm drops of water landing on his hand where he realized they were his own tears.

"So no more me Tarzan, you Jane crap."

"I promise," he said quietly, still holding her. Ashley pulled away from him where they kissed. Ashley turned her head toward Darcy and his goons who were still waiting.

"I have to go," she said, "I'm going to crash at Darcy's place. I am not in the mood to deal with Rose tonight. One of his guards is going to drive my car for me. My hip is killing me. I'm not in good condition to drive right now."

He nodded his head. "How about you stay with me," he asked, sliding his hands down her arms, threading his fingers through her hand.

She smiled, "As much as I want to have make up sex with you right now, I'm exhausted. I'll end up falling asleep before we begin." Reid's face turned a bright red.

He coughed, "I was thinking of running you a hot bath, followed by a foot rub," he said.

She smiled, "OK, but give me two minutes to say goodbye."

She went over to Darcy who held out her bag and smiled. "Everything is ok now?"

She nodded yes. She handed him the key to her car. "You were right, he was scared."

"Excuse me," he said, bending his ear forward with his finger. "I didn't hear what you said,"

"Smart-ass," she called him. He smiled.

"I'm going to stay with Spencer tonight," she aid.

"That's fine, but I still want to see that contract." Ashley agreed, handing him the key.

"I'll drop off the copy at your place."

Reid opened his car door when Ashley returned. He took her bag from her when she climbed in. He set her bag in the backseat beside his messenger bag.

The roses and the bear were in her lap as she settled back in her seat as Reid started up his car. She closed her eyes when he pulled out of the parking lot.

By the time, Reid parked his car in the underground parking lot in his apartment; he realized that his girlfriend was already sleeping.