Okay everybody - Here goes -The final chapter!

Dr. Spencer Reid woke up slowly. The first thing he first noticed was that he was in a strange bedroom. That in and of itself wasn't unusual. With as much traveling as his job entailed, he frequently woke up in strange hotel rooms. However, the next thing he noticed was that every bone and muscle in his entire body ached. After thinking about it for a moment, he rolled over and smiled at the person sleeping in the bed next to him.

"My wife!" he thought sleepily. "She really is my wife for now and forever!" It was a strange sensation. Technically, they had been married for almost 14 years, but he had never felt that he truly had the right to be with her. Now, all he could think about was taking care of her, protecting her, and just spending forever with her.

"I need to take care of her," he thought. "Where do I start? Breakfast?"

With that thought (and ignoring his pounding headache), he carefully climbed out of bed and quietly got dressed. Where to find breakfast? He wasn't familiar with this part of Las Vegas, but he was sure there had to be a coffee shop somewhere nearby. He let himself out of the apartment and started down the stairs.

Halfway down the first flight, he encountered Ms. Garza, the Building Manager. She smiled when she saw him.

"You're Dr. Porter's husband?" she asked. "The other doctor who isn't a doctor?"

"Yes," Reid smiled. "Dr. Reid. That's me."

"Good!" Ms. Garza declared. "That one, she needs a man. Not for the – you know – but because she is too much by herself. Tries to do everything herself. You'll take care of that?"

"I'll certainly try," Reid assured her. "Right now, though, we need to get some coffee. Where is the nearest coffee shop?"

"More with the expensive coffee," Ms. Garza gripped. But, with smiles and multiple gestures she gave Reid the directions he needed.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"What were you planning on doing today?" Reid asked curiously.

The newlyweds were sitting on Emma's rather lumpy bed eating the pastries and drinking the coffee he had brought back.

"Well, that depends on what you have to say to a question I need to ask," Emma told him.

"A question?" Reid asked. "That sounds serious."

"It's something we never really discussed," Emma explained with a half-smile as she studied her coffee.

"Okay. What is on your mind? You're smiling, so it can't be too bad," Reid observed.

"You're learning," Emma laughed. "However, it does concern our future," she continued seriously.

"Well, first off, you'll need to move out of this apartment," Reid stated. "And, after you've moved, we'll definitely need to get you a better coffee maker. Also, you'll need a car. You can't continue riding the bus around Las Vegas in the evening."

"Wait a minute! Spencer, are you saying I am supposed to continue living here in Las Vegas and flying to see you whenever you want to see me?" The incredulousness of his suggestion filtered through her voice. "Is that what you think constitutes a marriage? Me here in Las Vegas and you there in Quantico?"

"Well, I just thought – " Reid's cell phone rang before he could finish what he had to say. He automatically picked it up and checked the display.

"Hotch," he announced as he stood up and walked to the other side of the room, away from her. "I have to take this."

"Yes, of course, I understand," was as much as she heard of the ensuing conversation. From experience, she could guess the rest. When he turned back towards her, she was standing up.

"Spencer, it seems we have different ideas of what constitutes a marriage," she began. "And, obviously, we should have discussed them before we jumped into this situation."

"I understand that you have a demanding job that takes a lot of your time and also takes you out of town a lot. I also realize that that means I will be spending a lot of time by myself. I have absolutely no problem with that! What I do have a problem with is the fact that you seem to think that I am going to continue living here in Las Vegas and just picking up and running to Quantico or wherever you happen to be at the moment whenever you feel like seeing me. Spencer, I am your wife – I am not a booty call! If you want a booty call, let me know and I can give you a few phone numbers."

"Now, I know you have to leave to join your team. So, why don't you go back to Quantico or wherever the team is headed and think it over? Then, get back to me and we'll talk about it – You have my number!"

With that, Emma walked swiftly across the room and out of the apartment as Reid stood staring after her, wondering what it was that she had originally wanted to discuss.

I am selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best – Marilyn Monroe

To Be Continued ...

And that is where I am going to leave this story for now. To everyone who has taken the time to read and review - Thank you so very much. You are the people who make my day worthwhile. To those who have favored or are following me and/or my stories, another big Thank You! Again, you really make my day.

Do not despair - I have another, final story coming up in this series and I plan to start posting it in a week or so. Please hang in there!