***Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds (*sniffles*)

"Hello?"

"Spence," JJ said, her hand trembling a bit as she tucked the phone into the crook of her neck between her ear and shoulder. "Hi."

"Hi," Reid's voice echoed over the line. "How are you?"

"Good." JJ fumbled through her purse to locate her car keys. "And you?"

"Excellent," Reid said in a cheerful voice. "Class was great today. They were all so absorbed in the material. I don't think I saw a single person texting."

JJ grinned. "Well, they have a pretty great professor."

She could practically hear Reid blushing on the other end. "So, how's the BAU?"

Sighing, JJ stepped into the elevator. "Pretty boring, actually. We're in between cases. We mostly just sat around playing poker and teasing Brian about his new girlfriend."

"Aw, man! I missed poker?"

JJ smiled, imagining Reid's pouting face. "Well, you didn't miss much. Tara cleaned me out. I was actually calling to see if you'd like to come over for dinner tonight. Will has the boys, and I better get used to cooking for myself, considering I won't be able to afford going out to eat anytime soon."

This had Reid chuckling. "Sounds great! Not that you lost money, of course. And I'd be happy to buy you dinner any time."

The elevator chimed, and JJ made her way across the parking garage to her car. "Thanks, Spence. How does 7:00 sound?"

"Perfect. Do you want me to bring anything?"

JJ pondered this for a moment. "Maybe a movie? Yeah, bring that."

~

Twenty minutes into the movie, JJ was regretting her decision. Reid had selected an old western featuring John Wayne, and while she appreciated classic movies, she just couldn't get into it.

So instead, she began focusing on Reid's body movements. The way he tapped his foot along with the clopping of the horses, and casually slung his arm over the back of the couch, then proceeded to pretend like he had an itch on his left shoulder. It was endearing, really.

Every so often, Reid would glance over at her and catch her staring, which would send JJ's gaze flying back toward the television set. She probably spent more time looking at him than the movie. But who could blame her? The film was in black and white, and here Reid was sitting beside her in full color.

JJ was so caught up in her thoughts, she almost failed to notice when the movie ended and the credits began to scroll across the screen. Reid cleared his throat, brought his hands together to clap a few times, and then turned to her.

"How'd you like it?"

JJ smiled. "Oh, it was great. Lots of action."

Reid cocked an eyebrow at her, but said nothing. They both stared into their laps, JJ fidgeting with her necklace.

"Well, it's getting late," Reid said at last, rising to his feet. "Thanks again for dinner. That lasagna was delicious."

"Thanks for not minding the burnt cheese," JJ replied, standing and leaning against the edge of the couch. "And thanks for the movie. That was great."

Reid grinned, hovering in the middle of the living room. "See you at work tomorrow?"

"Yeah," JJ said, reaching out her arms to hug him. "Although, wait, tomorrow's Saturday."

"Oh, right," Reid stuttered, flushing red as they parted. "Well then, I'll ... I'll call you."

"Rad," JJ said, flashing him a thumbs up. Rad? What the hell was wrong with her?

Reid cracked open the door, bowed his head ever so slightly in her direction, and then vanished.

~

"Rad?" Garcia said, nearly choking on her coffee. "Are we back in the '80s? Where are your shoulder pads and spandex?"

JJ glared at her friend from across the table. They were seated in a coffee shop a few blocks away from JJ's condo, and Garcia was forcing her to relive every second of her terrible date with Reid.

"I'm just kidding!" Garcia laughed, touching her friend's arm. "You were nervous. It's actually kind of cute."

JJ scoffed. "Yeah. Sure."

"Look," Garcia began, "you had a second-date slump. Everyone does. Luke and I did when we started dating. It's perfectly understandable. You've been friends for so long, you just don't know how to be with each other in a non-platonic way yet."

"But our first date was so perfect," JJ argued, clenching her coffee mug in both hands.

"Yeah, but now things are getting serious. There are no expectations on a first date. But a second? I spent my entire second date with Luke thinking about shampoo commercials and praying he wouldn't notice the gash on my thigh that I got shaving my legs that morning."

JJ laughed, already beginning to feel better. "So what do you think I should do?"

"You need to get used to the idea of the two of you as a couple. Don't waste your time on these cliche date nights. Do something normal for the two of you, where you can both be comfortable." Garcia's eyes brightened. "Oooh! I just had the best idea."

"Do I want to know?" JJ asked, pausing mid-sip.

But Garcia was already pulling out her sequined wallet to pay the bill. JJ reached for her plain, black wallet, but stopped when Garcia shook her head.

"Keep your money, babe. This is on me."

"Luke told you about the poker game, huh?"

Garcia grinned. "He might have mentioned something."

~

Reid was confused as he hung up the phone. Why was JJ asking him to meet her at the BAU runway? Was there some sort of work emergency? Or was she planning on breaking up with him, and needed the jet to make a quick getaway after it was done?

When Reid arrived, he was surprised to find JJ standing outside the jet, alone, in a cute green dress. Her hair fell down around her shoulders, and she wore a pair of silver flip-flops on her feet. She looked like Tinkerbell, minus the wings.

"What is all this?" Reid asked as he approached her in his purple button-down and slacks.

"You'll see," she replied, then reached out to take his hand.

Reid let her lead him onto the jet, his mouth opening wide as he took everything in: a table set for two, with a square pizza box sitting on top beside a vase of red roses; a deck of cards; a bottle of Pinot Noir. She had decorated the sides of the jet with twinkling lights.

"Do you like it?" she asked, her eyes not quite meeting his.

"Jennifer ..." he breathed, smiling at her, "it's perfect."

JJ motioned for him to take a seat across from her. She raised the lid on the pizza box, and the oaky smell of pepperoni and sausage pizza wafted through the plane.

Reid poured the wine, and just like that, they were talking and laughing, reminiscing about the time Henry dressed up as Reid for Halloween and the time JJ beat Reid at gin. They whipped out the cards, and engaged in a ruthless battle of war which seemed to go on forever, until Reid laid down a nine to trump JJ's six.

"I win!" Reid hollered, raising his hands above his head.

JJ snatched the cards off the table and began to shuffle them. "Rematch."

Reid smirked at her. "This is fun."

"Easy for you to say," JJ huffed, the cards shooting out of her hands and across the table. Reid laughed, then reached across the table to take her hands.

JJ blushed. "I'm sorry for acting so weird last night. I guess I've just been nervous."

Reid nodded. "Me too."

"You have?"

"Of course!" Reid laughed, squeezing her hands. "But this is also the happiest I've been in a really long time."

JJ's heart rate picked up. "Me too."

A moment passed between them, their eyes locking, neither saying a word. JJ was the first to break the silence.

"So, what was up with that movie choice?"

"What do you mean?" Reid asked, a glint in his eyes. "I thought you said you liked it."

"Okay, we both know I wasn't the biggest fan," JJ said, earning a snicker from Reid. "But seriously, who brings a western on a date?"

"It was a private joke!" Reid said, still holding her hands. Then, lowering his voice, "You know, because of the whole cowboy thing?"

JJ's skin prickled. She could not believe she hadn't thought of that sooner. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't put that together!"

Reid laughed. "In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best film for a second date. A fourth or fifth, maybe."

Rolling her eyes, JJ looked down at the small piece of crust on her plate. "And what about a third date?"

Reid's face reddened. "I don't think third dates need a movie. They're about enjoying each other's company."

JJ smiled. With the lingering words of Garcia floating in her brain, she felt emboldened. "Do you think we could enjoy each other's company more if I sat next to you?"

Her words clearly caught Reid by surprise. He gulped, his face matching the tomato sauce on his napkin. "Uh, yeah, definitely."

As JJ moved over to settle into the seat next to Reid, she felt her stomach muscles clenching with nerves. Reid kept his hands folded in his lap, but pivoted to face her, his knees brushing against hers.

"Better?" JJ asked, her mouth dry and her speech raspy.

Reid nodded his head, his shoulders rising as he inhaled a deep breath. "You look beautiful, by the way. I don't know if I said that yet."

JJ blushed, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "Thanks."

This was stupid. Why was she taking so long to kiss him? They both clearly wanted to, and they'd already done it twice before, so what was the big deal?

JJ mustered up her confidence and focused her gaze on Reid's eyes. Maybe he needed a sign, a signal of some sort. When he finally looked back, she held steady and prayed that he would maintain eye contact. He did. Pleased, JJ flitted her gaze down to his lips, pausing for just a second to make sure he got the message, then lifted back up to meet his eyes again.

Reid slowly began to lean forward, and JJ did the same. After two painstakingly long seconds, their lips were touching.

JJ placed one hand on his neck, inviting him to come closer. Reid reached around her back, pulling her toward him as they deepened the kiss. She felt electric, as if every nerve in her body was buzzing inside her. Curious, she peeked one eye open to look at him, but Reid's eyes were closed, immersed in the moment. She smiled against his lips, then began to run her fingers through his hair. He had so much hair, which turned out to be great for her, allowing her to play with each long strand.

Shifting his weight, Reid leaned gently against her, cupping her chin in his hand. He was an amazing kisser, which caught JJ by surprise, considering he hadn't been with that many women. There was something about his custom combination of intense passion and loving tenderness that brought her to the edge of ecstasy.

All at once, Reid yanked back, his hand on his abdomen. His facial muscles were tensed, his eyes squinting as if he was in pain.

"Are you okay?" she asked, immediately wondering what she'd done wrong.

"Yeah," Spence heaved, wincing again. "It's just ... the seatbelt buckle ..."

JJ looked down, her eyes wide. "Oh, I'm so sorry. How bad does it hurt?"

Reid relaxed a bit, letting out a deep breath. "I'm fine. Just a sudden stabbing, pinching sensation. No big deal."

JJ frowned, patting at her hair. "Is there anything I can do?"

Reid was blushing hard now. "No, I'm good. Just ... give me a minute."

JJ melted into her seat. Wait until Garcia heard about this. No, she wouldn't tell her. This was Spence's business, and no matter how much she needed her best girlfriend, she would not betray his trust by leaking his personal secrets to the infamous blabbermouth, Penelope Garcia.

But then, Reid began to laugh. Stunned, JJ looked over at him.

"We just can't catch a break, can we?" Reid said between bouts of laughter, while JJ looked on in concern. "Third wheels, ex-husbands, dead mothers, damn seatbelts ... what's next?"

JJ snorted, which got Reid going again. Soon, they were both buckled over.

"Maybe you'll wind up in jail again," JJ kidded, and Reid all but lost it.

"One of us will probably get shot or blown up," Reid added, while tears sprang from JJ's eyes.

"Again," they both said at the same time, howling with laughter. JJ clutched her rib cage, enjoying the burn of a good belly laugh.

When they finally settled down, JJ nestled herself against Reid's side, her head on his shoulder. She felt tired, and warm, and blissfully happy, like that wonderful moment upon waking when you forget all your troubles and just lay there in bed, appreciating the cozy stillness.

"I'd do it all again, you know," Reid said, her hair tickling his chin. "I'd wait sixteen more years if I had to."

JJ beamed, her eyes closed to prevent the tears that threatened to spill out. "I love you, Spence."

"I love you too, JJ."

***Author Note: The more I write about these two characters, the more I fall in love with them. I hope this chapter made you chuckle, squeal, smile, cry, whatever suits your fancy!

If you enjoy this fanfiction, you'll definitely like my YA series, so please check out my self-published books 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 (and again and again and again) for all the support!