Note- This one shot is written for CCOAC Challenge 22. The assignment given to me specified a pairing and three things that had to be included in the story. It needed to be centered on Valentine's Day too.

Don't Know Much

Reid and Emily

February 2012

"In my world," Emily Prentiss said, as she sat on the jet surrounded by her teammates as they were flying home from a case, "Valentine's Day doesn't exist."

Hearing this, Reid arched an eyebrow in surprise. He knew she was not much a fan of the usual romantic conventions like marriage, moonlit walks, candy hearts, the standard dozen red roses, chick flicks and greeting cards with sophomoric poetry inside but he didn't realize that she had such hate for this holiday also.

JJ said "It's usually totally overrated."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Derek said. "I've had my share of pretty hot and fantastic V-days in my day. You just gotta find the right honey to share it with, get yourself some chocolate syrup, whip cream, maybe a pair of edible panties, some smooth jazz and do your thing."

Rossi smirked. "I've never needed accessories to enjoy myself but everyone is different."

The teammates laughed and Derek chuckled before saying "Try it, old guy. You might just like it."

"Well I'm spending tonight at home with my favorite man," Emily said. "My cat."

JJ said "Cats never break your heart. I should have gotten a cat."

"You're lucky with Will," Emily argued. "If I could find a man who would adore me like that...who wanted to give me a home and a baby...but there are only a few Wills in the world and a whole bunch of jerks who couldn't find a g-spot with a road map."

"Ouch!" Derek cried. "That's harsh."

Reid said, in his perfectly scientific way, "Some women are not able to easily reach climax but usually the problem lies with a man's unwillingness to be patient and attentive. When a man puts his partners needs above his own the large majority of women can climax on most occasions. Sadly too many guys still think the g-spot is nothing but a myth when actually it is a group of nerves located-"

"Spence! We get it!" JJ cried.

He bit back the rest of what he was going to say. He knew he rambled at times and got lost in the facts too often. It made most people find him hard to relate to and he felt the same about most people he met- especially women. That is why he hadn't ever been in a serious and long term relationship in all his thirty years.

Though, contrary to popular belief, he had dated and slept with a handful of women. There was even one woman who he had hooked up with for most of the Spring and Summer after he got addicted to drugs. It was during a time when his defenses were low and she just wanted someone to make her feel good. That was something he could do. Something he needed at the time. But it had never been a love affair.

He had plenty of crushes in his lifetime, too, starting back when he was eleven and in high school but he had never been in proper, real, soul stirring, life changing love...until now...maybe. Though he knew so much about so many topics that some people might even say Dr. Spencer Reid was an expert on everything, he was no expert on romantic entanglements so he couldn't say for certain if what he felt now was love or another useless crush.

Could a person be in love when the other person didn't even know about it? Was unrequited love really anything at all or just a foolish fantasy, a balm for an aching soul? He wasn't sure but he knew what he was feeling and he knew that, after all this time, it was not going away.

Still he was probably going about this all wrong with what he planned to do. The odds were this would blow up in his face.

XXXXXXXX

They sometimes rode the train home together and tonight, lucky for him, was one of those nights when they did. The weather was unseasonably warm for this time of year and had been for months now so they weren't shivering or traipsing through snow as they walked the couple of blocks to the station.

Once they were on their way Reid asked "Do you really hate Valentine's Day as much as you said earlier?"

"What is there to like about it?"

"I don't know. I've never celebrated it personally but some people seem to think it is a very romantic day out of the year and, as I understand it, some women are quite disappointed if they don't receive a token of affection on that day." His voice was speeding up as he reached into his messenger bag and fumbled with the wrapped present before pulling it out. "With that in mind, I...um...got you this."

She startled. "Reid, you...that's sweet but you...I can't believe you got me a Valentine's Day present."

"Every woman should have one and it would be a sin if a woman like you, Emily, went without, even if the only gift you get is from a man like me."

"Trust me," she said, as she took the gift, "I know how rare it is to know a man like you...You're blowing my mind here, Reid. Am I...I'm probably reading too much into this, right?"

He didn't answer and she opened the present to find a delicate ankle bracelet.

He said "I notice you wear those sometimes. I hope it is okay."

A tender smile curved her lips. "It's beautiful. Thank you..." She chuckled. "You must really feel sorry for me that I'm all alone again another year."

"Not at all. I hope you know it is not a pity present."

"Then what is it?"

He took it out, crouched by her feet and asked "May I?" as people watched them.

She nodded and he slipped the bracelet on. His hand gently stroked her ankle for a moment before his eyes met hers again. "It's just a token of affection, that's all, Emily."

She got a little bit teary as she said "Everything has sucked so much lately and then you go and do this...and now I can't hate this holiday...You sure know how to mess up a girl's bad mood."

"You're welcome."

He sat next to her again and they finished the ride home, a slight change in the air between them. He wasn't sure she would return his feelings but his heart was full anyway because he had made the woman he loved happy.

And wasn't that what this day was all about? Reid might not know much about love but he knew this much...and it was just enough for Emily for today. When she reached out and took his hand, as they left the train, he fell in love with Valentine's Day and a little deeper in love with her...as hope took hold of them both.

(Look at this face,

I know the years are showing.

Look at this life,

I still don't know where it's going.

I don't know much

but I know I love you

and that may be all I need to know.) (Ronstadt and Neville)

THE END