By Fabrisse
Rating: FRM
Pairing: Reid/Prentiss
Disclaimer: They're fine. I'm just playing with them.
Author note: This is my response to the current prompt at lj user="criminal_prompt", which is "Winter." The title is from a Loreena McKennitt album.
DC didn't know how to handle snow. Anyone who knew the city knew that.
Reid was always amazed that his teammates assumed he didn't handle snow or cold well, either. The desert at night had its own version of bone-numbing cold, and CalTech wasn't that far from Big Bear. He didn't ski, but he'd go along with friends and classmates and watch them ski. He'd even tried cross-country a couple of times and enjoyed it.
Besides, winter had its compensations. The silk long underwear his mother had given him his first Christmas back east was one of them. Cashmere sweaters over well-worn cotton shirts were another. Just because he shopped at thrift stores didn't mean he didn't appreciate quality.
He liked the feel of heavy coats and wool jackets, the skritching of corduroy trousers, and the weight of a down comforter over him at night. The dress shoes and socks that were part of the FBI dress code were far more comfortable in the winter than during the overpowering humidity of a DC summer.
He'd never needed religion, but he understood the urge to fight the short days with warm candlelight.
Winter gave him free concerts at the National Gallery on Sunday afternoons and movies at the Library of Congress.
***
The first time he asked Emily to join him, she'd begged off saying silent movies just weren't her thing. He took her at her word, and, the following week asked her to a Sweet Honey in the Rock concert at the Kennedy Center.
This time she'd accepted. They'd wandered up to the roof once the concert was done and talked about a capella music and the politics of performance.
The following week, Emily had come to him and proffered an invitation to the Higher Achievement regional spelling bee that night. He'd enjoyed it more than he thought he would and took her to Gifford's for ice cream afterwards. They'd talked about her tutoring and his philosophy classes and whether or not Swiss chocolate ice cream tasted better with Swiss chocolate sauce.
They went ahead and made plans for the Chopin recital at the Phillips collection that Saturday night, and, somehow, they realized at the same moment that they were dating. Reid walked her to the Archives/Navy Memorial Stop and made sure she got on the right bus. He kissed her softly on the lips as the bus pulled up, and walked the mile home with a grin on his face just remembering Emily's shy response.
For the next several weeks, they shared nothing more than conversation and a few quiet kisses. Cases got in the way of concerts, and profiles took precedence over quiet meals in Georgetown. They'd gone to see the National Christmas tree one evening, and as Reid went to put her on the bus toward her home, Emily pulled him on board with her.
They rode in silence to Q street and stopped to pick up burgers and fries from Five Guys before going to her house. Emily turned on the gas fireplace, got them plates and glasses of iced tea, and they sat on the floor of her living room talking about books until Reid finally worked up the nerve to pull her into his arms.
These kisses weren't gentle or shy, but Reid followed her lead about where his hands should rest. After an hour of achingly slow making out, he brushed his hands over her forehead and said, "I should go."
"The bus will run for another couple of hours."
"I should still leave now. Would you like to see 'Much Ado about Nothing' at the Folger? I can get us matinee tickets, and we could grab dinner afterwards."
"Shakespeare and food? How can I turn that down?" Emily's smile warmed him all the way through.
***
A case had kept them from making the performance, but Reid had been able to exchange the tickets for a performance on Christmas Eve. Emily's family had gone to Europe for the holidays, but this year she hadn't joined them.
They walked back to Reid's apartment together, wrapped tightly in scarves and coats, knuckles brushing through their gloves. He kissed her in front of his apartment door, and her response left him in no doubt.
Once they were inside, Reid took her coat and hung it with his. "Would you like something to drink? I usually fix hot chocolate after a walk like that."
"That sounds good. Where's the bathroom?"
He pointed it out to her and went to the kitchen to cook.
"Wow, when you said hot chocolate, you meant the real stuff. I figured I'd be lucky to get instant."
"I consider good hot chocolate to be one of the great luxuries of winter." He smiled at her. "Would you mind stirring?"
She took over and he went to get the mugs. He gave her the Star Trek mug that beamed them all up when the hot milk was poured, and took the FBI Academy mug for himself. They went into the living room sipping slowly.
They talked about the performance, the theater, the walk. When they both put down their mugs for the last time, Emily stood and took his hand. "Show me your bedroom."
He smiled and walked them down the short hallway.
***
Now, in the dawn of the New Year, Spencer Reid pulled his lover closer to his side. There were many joys to be found, in spite of the snow falling outside.
Emily turned in his arms and smiled up, sleepily, and together their bodies drove winter away.
~
end