***Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. But to the real owners and writers—Call me. We can make this Season 16 happen, y'all! ;)

(Four months later)

Reid paced the carpet of JJ's living room, wringing out his hands. His eyes kept shifting between the closed apartment door and the frowning jack-o-lanterns perched on the windowsill. He and JJ had helped the boys carve them last week in honor of Halloween, his all-time favorite holiday. He still remembered the year Henry had decided to dress up as his "favorite profiler," which turned out to be none other than Reid himself.

The memory brought a smile to Reid's lips. He knew the boys were curious about why Reid was suddenly a very large presence in their lives—in the last month alone, he had taken them apple picking, bowling, and taught them how to build an erupting volcano. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Reid knew that he was secretly terrified the boys would reject him once they discovered the real reason for their parents' divorce. He wanted to capture every good moment he had left with them, before he became the evil monster bent on replacing their daddy.

But it had felt surprisingly normal, hanging out with JJ and the boys. Like he had been a part of the family all along. Like it had always meant to be this way.

Reid jumped as the door clicked open, revealing JJ dressed in a black pantsuit and carrying a black leather purse. She smiled when she saw him.

"How did it go?" Reid asked, trying to make his voice sound calm.

JJ dropped her purse onto the coffee table. She straightened, brushing the hair out of her eyes as she met his gaze. "I'm officially divorced."

Reid nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching as he struggled to contain his emotions. "How do you feel? How's Will?"

"Okay," JJ sighed, collapsing onto the nearest couch cushion. "It was very civil. Tiring, though."

She glanced over at him, studying his face. "How were the boys?"

"Good! They're upstairs reading. I think I'm rubbing off on them!"

JJ smirked. "You realize they're probably just watching YouTube videos, right?"

Reid's mouth dropped open. "They wouldn't ... Henry quoted an entire sentence from 'Ender's Game' and said it was the best thing he's ever read!"

This elicited a laugh from JJ. "Yeah, his teacher said he's been doing that. Flipping to random pages and memorizing lines so it looks like he's doing his homework."

"I'm going to have to talk to him, aren't I?" Reid replied, shaking his head. "What ever happened to the kid who knew e=mc squared?"

"He grew up," JJ said, a bittersweet hilt to her voice. "Besides, that was just something Garcia made him memorize. That's probably where this all got started."

They exchanged a grin, thinking of their colorful friend and her penchant for sticking her nose into places it didn't belong. The three of them had shared so much together since they all first started working at the BAU. But there was one memory they had shared which Reid would have preferred to have kept between himself and JJ, and he was determined to rectify that now.

"So," he began, clearing his throat, "I have a proposition for you."

"Ooh," JJ said, rubbing her hands together. "How fancy."

Reid blushed. "I was wondering if—now that you've settled things with Will—you would consider maybe going somewhere ... just the two of us? Without the boys. I probably shouldn't have said it like that. You know I love the boys, it's just—"

"Doctor Reid," JJ interrupted him, cocking her head. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

Reid felt his face flush red as he stammered, "Well, yes, that would be the technical term. But if you don't want to call it that, we can—"

"I'd love to," JJ cut in, reaching for his hand.

Reid's ears burned as he grinned at her. "Great! Thanks! I mean, that's good. Awesome. I'll ... I'll call you."

JJ beamed.

~

The next day, JJ was at her desk filling out paperwork when her cell phone rang. She felt her stomach do a flip as she saw the name of the caller.

"Hey," she answered, careful not to say his name. Alvez was sitting at the desk across from her, in perfect view of every blush and smile to hit her cheeks.

"Good afternoon, JJ," Reid said over the line. "Have I caught you at a bad time?"

"No, this is perfect," she replied, risking a glance up at Alvez. "I was just doing some paperwork."

"Good," Reid said, followed by about seven seconds of unbearable silence. JJ opened and closed her mouth a few times, hoping to break the tension, but alas, Reid continued. "Is Will watching the boys tonight?"

"Yes, he has them for the next three days," JJ said, although she had an inkling she wasn't telling Reid anything he didn't already know.

A gust of wind—or breath—blew over the phone mic, causing JJ to pull her cell away from her ear. "Are you outside?"

"Sorry, I just wrapped up class," Reid said, and his words were followed by a loud bang. "There, I'm in the car now. Can you hear me alright?"

"Loud and clear."

"Good. So, listen ... I was hoping you would be free tonight. There's a place I'd like to take you."

JJ could hear her heartbeat drumming through her ears. She took a deep breath, coaxing herself into calm. "Oh, yeah. That sounds great."

"Great!" Reid all-but shouted into the phone. "I'll pick you up at 5:30. Wait, does that give you enough time to get ready?"

JJ thought this over for a moment. If she left work at 4:00, that would give her 40 minutes to get home, then another 50 to shower, put on some fresh makeup, and decide what she was going to wear. "Sounds perfect. I'll see you then."

As she hung up the phone, JJ avoided eye contact with Alvez, who was watching her from his desk. He cleared his throat, eyebrows raised. "Does someone have a hot date tonight?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," JJ replied breezily, pushing her hair back over her shoulder.

"Sure you don't," Alvez said with a smirk, while JJ went back to the now-hopeless task that was finishing her paperwork.

~

"Just a minute!"

JJ launched herself across the room, stumbling a little in her high heels. Reid was waiting for her on the other side of the door. Reid, who had knocked on her door dozens of times before, who had seen her in just about every state from fancy to unkempt. So why was she so jittery?

JJ took one final look at herself in the mirror: red blouse, dark blue jeans, black stilettos—nothing over-the-top or too fancy for a first date. But was it the right choice? Would Reid think she was underdressed? Overdressed? And where the heck was he planning on taking her?

Sighing, JJ ran a hand over her hair, smoothing down the flyaways. She hadn't been on a first date in over a decade. What if she'd forgotten how to date?

And she wasn't just going on a date with anyone. This was Reid. Her best friend, her confidante, her first love. Talk about pressure.

Shaking her hands out and letting out one final, exaggerated exhale, she turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Spencer Reid stood in the doorway, his hair slightly tousled by the wind, wearing a pair of jeans, a red sweatshirt, and a white cap.

JJ blinked. Yep, definitely overdressed. "Hi!"

"Hi!" Reid said, grinning back at her.

A girlish giggle escaped JJ's lips. She cringed inwardly, praying Reid hadn't noticed.

"You look beautiful," he blurted out, pink rising to his cheekbones.

JJ blushed. "Thanks. You look ... sporty."

Reid chuckled. "That's a very accurate description, yes. Are you ready to go?"

JJ hesitated. Did she have everything? Purse, keys, phone, money? Would Reid offer to pay? Or should she? "I think so."

"Great!" Reid said, reaching out a hand. "Your chariot awaits."

JJ's eyes widened in surprise. "Very smooth, Doctor Reid."

Closing the door, JJ allowed Reid to lead her down the pathway toward his car. When he opened the door for her, she giggled again. What was her problem?

"So," she said as Reid got in and put on his seatbelt, "where are we going?"

Reid smiled. "I'm surprised you haven't profiled me and figured that out."

JJ cocked her head. "Is that a challenge?"

Switching the car into drive, Reid peeked back at her beneath his shaggy hair. "Yeah, it is."

"Okay," JJ laughed. "You're on."

~

As they inched closer to their destination, JJ's heart leaped into her throat. "Oh my God. Reid. Seriously?"

Reid grinned. "Surprised?"

"But how did you find tickets on such short notice?"

Reid flicked his blinker on, taking a right turn. "I may have bought season tickets over the summer. Just in case."

She gasped. "You have season tickets to the Washington Redskins?"

Reid shrugged, his eyes sparkling. "I thought we could take a trip down Memory Lane. You know, minus Garcia."

JJ felt hot tears springing to her eyes. She couldn't believe this. After all these years, they were finally getting a second chance at their failed first date.

"Unless ... you don't want to?"

JJ snapped out of it, shaking her head. "Are you kidding? This is incredible! But I didn't think to bring a jacket, and it can get pretty cold up there."

Reid smirked. He pressed on the brakes. They were stuck in traffic, about a half-mile from the stadium. "Check the back seat."

Confused, JJ shifted until she had a clear view of the seats behind them. Sitting in the middle was a large rectangular box.

"What is that?"

"Why don't you open it and find out?"

JJ lunged for the box, sliding her fingernails under the lid. It opened. As she tore through the tissue paper, her eyes lit upon a red-and-white Redskins jacket.

Her heart soared. "Is this for me?"

Reid laughed. "Of course it is! Try it on. We're not moving any time soon."

JJ squealed, unbuckling her seatbelt. She wrestled the jacket over her shoulders, pulling her arms through and zipping it up. "It fits perfectly. I love it! Thank you!"

A warm smile spread across Reid's face. As he turned to stare at her, the car behind them beeped.

Reid jerked forward again, surprised to see that the line of cars was progressing forward.

"Seatbelts on," Reid said, shooting her one last look. "Here we go."

~

"What? How can they call that a fumble? Number 42 was clearly down by contact."

JJ grinned, studying Reid. He had learned the rules of football quickly, and decided he was now capable enough to serve as acting referee.

"So the Eagles take over there, right? No kickoff?"

"No kickoff," JJ nodded, taking a sip of their shared Coke. She hadn't wanted to order her own, because she had a bad habit of drinking when she was nervous, and really didn't want to miss a single play because of a desperate need to pee.

"I can see why you love this game," Reid shouted over the thrum of the crowd, adjusting his cap. "There's a lot of strategy involved. It's kind of like chess."

"Yes!" JJ smiled, laughing. "I've been trying to tell you that for sixteen years!"

Reid flashed her a crooked grin. "Better late than never?"

She nodded. "Better late than never."

At the end of the first quarter, they each ordered a hot dog. Reid inhaled his, accidentally smudging ketchup onto his nose in the process.

"You look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," JJ giggled, while Reid stared back at her, oblivious.

"Huh?"

"You have a little ketchup on your nose," she said, motioning to her own nose with her pinky finger.

Reid looked down at his hands, which, too, were covered in ketchup. "Crap. We didn't ask for napkins."

"Here," JJ said, placing her hot dog down in its basket. "Let me."

JJ used her clean pinky finger to dab at Reid's nose, wiping away the ketchup. As her finger came in contact with his skin, she noticed his eyes widen, pupils dilating. It wasn't until after she'd pulled away that she realized she'd been holding her breath.

"Thanks," Reid said, looking nervously from her to the field.

JJ blushed. She put her pinky to her mouth, sucking the ketchup clean. Reid watched her, his face burning with heat.

The moment was shattered by a roar from the crowd as the Redskins picked off the Eagles' quarterback. JJ resumed eating her hot dog, but for the rest of the game, her focus was only halfway there, the other half consumed by the flame sitting beside her.

~

Reid pulled into JJ's driveway and shifted the car into park. He unlatched his seatbelt, hyperaware of his own rapid breathing. Could JJ hear him panting away like a dog at the vet?

"Wait right there," he said to her, hopping out of the car. He scrambled around to the passenger-side door and held it open for her, brandishing his arm like an idiot.

"Again with the chivalry," JJ beamed, taking his hand. "I'm impressed, Doctor Reid."

Every time she called him "Doctor Reid," Spencer would get shivers down his spine. There was something so attractive about hearing her say his name in this way.

"I had fun tonight," he said, whisking her down the pathway toward the house. "I hope you weren't too cold."

JJ patted his arm. "Not at all. Thank you again for the jacket. For all this. It was ... perfect."

They came to a stop in front of the door. Reid ran a hand through his hair, then cleared his throat. "It looks great on you."

A blush crept over JJ's features. "Thanks, Spence. You look nice in red. Very handsome."

The rhythm of Reid's heart intensified, a feat he hadn't thought was even possible. "Well, if you ever want to go to another game, I have season tickets."

JJ laughed. "I'd like that."

They stood in silence for a moment, staring at each other. Then, JJ's phone chimed. A text.

"It's probably the boys saying good night," she said, glancing at her cell. "Right on schedule."

Reid nodded. "I should get going anyway."

JJ smiled. "Right. You're probably exhausted from teaching all day."

It was at this moment that Reid noticed he was still holding JJ's hand. Feeling sad that their night was about to end, and a little brave after she'd agreed to the date to begin with, he reached out to wrap her other hand in his.

"I'm glad we got it right this time," he said in a quiet voice.

JJ looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "Me too."

Reid leaned in a little, then pulled back to check her expression. At JJ's smile, he leaned in further and pressed his lips against hers in a gentle kiss.

When he pulled away, JJ's eyelids fluttered open. She beamed at him, squeezing his hands.

"Good night, Spence."

A boyish grin came over Reid's face as he backed away. "Good night, Jennifer."

***Author Note: Not gonna lie, I really enjoyed writing this chapter. It gave my Jeid heart so many feels. I hope you enjoyed it, too! Thank you so much for reading, for commenting, for favoriting and following. You guys rock! Also, get excited because a lot is about to go down in these next few chapters. :D Oh, and I realize the Washington Redskins changed their name, but I wanted to keep it in here to reference their Season 1 history. So just pretend that this fanfic takes place in another place and time, where people can still go to football games in large crowds without having to wear masks ... A parallel universe, perhaps? :P

If you enjoy this fanfiction, please check out my self-published book series on Amazon (see link in my profile). For some Jeid videos I've created, check out my YouTube channel (also linked in my profile). Thanks again for all the support!