"Yum", Kari said in between bites. "I can't decide", she said, taking another bite of blue velvet cake.
"Me eeefer", Reid said, with a mouth full of cake. He gulped and swallowed. "I like the blue velvet and I like the strawberry marble."
"I like the blue velvet and the vanilla bean", Kari said sipping her water.
"So, since it seems like we both like the blue velvet…" Reid got on his knees and crawled toward Kari ready to kiss her when someone knocked on the door.
"I'll get it, you little devil", Kari said, tapping Reid on his nose and getting off the floor. Reid groaned on the inside. She had lost a lot of weight from the surgery a few months earlier, but since she started getting gaining it back and getting fuller, he could barely keep his hands off of her.
"It's the Morgan's love", Kari said, stepping aside and letting Penelope and Derek inside. She gave a quick hug to Penelope.
"You're losing weight, Penny", Kari said.
"And you're starting to fill out again", Penelope said. "It looks so good on you!"
"Tell me about it", Reid said, hugging Morgan real quick. "What brings you guys by?"
"Well. We were at Rossi's and David was there and he said since you guys had to cancel you second tasting today…"Morgan said raising a platt.0er of cake in the air.
"Ooh yum, more cake!" Kari said, taking the platter from Morgan. Penelope laughed. "Want cake, Penny?"
"You know I do!" Penelope said, sitting on the sofa while Kari got comfortable on the floor.
"You guys got a fire started. Nice", Morgan said.
"Yeah, it's not even the middle of September, and it's starting to turn colder", Reid said, stoking it with the poker. "Plus, Kari loves it and well, I can't say no to her."
"Is that why you cancelled your tasting?" Morgan said chuckling, with one eyebrow raised.
Reid turned bright red. "Is it that obvious?"
"Man, you go have fun. She's a beautiful lady, and in love with you. Go ahead, Pretty Boy, do your thang!" Morgan said, clapping him on the back.
Kari held out her fingers. "Spencer. Taste this."
Reid ate the cake from Kari's fingers and lingered a bit on her tips. Kari giggled softly.
"What do you think?" Kari said. Spencer kneeled down in front of her.
"That nothing could ever taste as good as your fingers", he said.
"Aww", Penelope said, looking at the two of them.
"What flavor is that?" Reid said, scrunching his face up suddenly. "That's got a back fire kick to it!"
"It's called Mexican Cocoa."
Penelope laughed. "My mom used to make that all the time. It does have kick!"
Reid leaned in close to Kari. "I still like the blue velvet", he said leaning closer. "You have, a smudge, right over here…" Reid kissed Kari's bottom lip and when she wrapped her arms around him, Penelope started to sigh happily.
"Uh, Mama", Morgan said, when they didn't stop after the first kiss. "We may want to get going."
"I think you're right, Hotstuff", she said, getting up. They left quietly, smiling at the couple as they continued kissing on the floor and feeding each other cake.
"They are so freaking cute!" Penelope said as they closed the door.
David and Kari were sitting patiently at the round table after hours, waiting for Reid and the team to come back.
"I still can't believe this is happening", Kari said admiring her ring. "I'm marrying the man of my dreams!"
"Pretty excited, huh?" David said chuckling. "No more jitters? No more hyperventilating?"
"Not at all. In three days, I will be Mrs. Spencer Reid."
"More like 2 days and 18 hours", Spencer said, coming up behind her and kissing her cheek.
"Are you guys OK?" Kari said. The team looked like they had been through hell.
"Just really tired", Rossi said, sitting down.
"Well hopefully not too tired. We need to go over some last minute details and then we're all set."
"What's left?" Rossi said.
"Well. We've got the wedding planned. In your rumpus room, right?" David asked.
"Right", Rossi said. "And the reception is in the garden."
"Absolutely." David shuffled some papers. Now Kari, when are you parents arriving?"
Kari started to bite her bottom lip. "My parents?"
"Yes, Dear. Your parents, you know, your dad? I assume he's walking you down the aisle?" David said, not looking up.
Kari stayed very quiet. "Is that necessary?"
"Well, technically, no", David said, looking up. "What are you not telling us?"
"Kars", Spencer said.
"I spoke to my parents. They got asked to do a reunion tour. Last minute. It's a big deal. Very big. Huge even", Kari said.
"They're not coming?" Rossi said.
"I'm afraid not", she said with a small smile. "But they said they'd sent gifts and call as often as they could…"
"Not fair", Penelope said, grabbing Derek's hand. "Not fair at all."
"Baby Girl", Derek said. "She could do like you and Mom did. Just walk alone."
"But it's not the same", Penelope said.
"It's fine", Kari said. "I'm marrying Spencer. I don't need anything else. I can walk alone."
"Or", Rossi said. "You can walk with me."
"Really?" Kari said, her eyes shinning brightly with a few unshed tears.
"Absolutely. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Kari jumped out of her chair and almost tackled Rossi in a hug.
"I'm going to take that as a yes", David said, laughing at the two. "OK, last question, Miss Missy", he said.
"Shoot", Kari said, wiping her eyes.
"What song are you walking to?" At this question everyone in the room groaned audibly with laughter.
"What am I missing?" David said.
"Well", Spencer said. "My fiancée here is a bit of a, shall we say, metal head?"
"Oh boy", David said. "Is she doing Beautiful People too?"
"Nah", Kari said smiling. "Manson is OK, but I'm more old school. I was thinking ACDC or Pink Floyd."
"Oh great", Spencer said. "My future wife is walking in to "Another Brick In The Wall."
Kari punched him lightly. "I didn't think you knew that song! Actually, I was thinking of going another direction."
"Do tell", David said. Kari took a piece a paper from her small notebook, wrote down a song title, folded it and sent it flying to David in a perfect airplane across the table.
"Really?" he said, opening the plane.
"Yep", Kari said.
"Then it shall be so."
"What?" Penelope said. "What song is it?"
"Nope", Kari said with a devious smile. "It's a secret."
"Even from me?" Spencer said with a fake pout.
"David, is that it?" Kari said, ignoring Spencer.
"Yep, we're done. Rossi's place 11 am, sharp."
"Good", Kari said standing up. She grabbed Spencer's hand and led him out the room.
"I'm sorry Sweetie. But it's a surprise, especially for you."