Before heading to the suite, Christine stopped in the kitchen to pick up a pizza and some soft drinks her staff had waiting for her. When she opened the suite's door, she could hear the shower running and see the flowers Spencer had brought her still sitting on the end table. Smiling to herself, she put the pizza on the coffee table and then went into the kitchen area to collect napkins, plates, and glasses.

As she was arranging the utensils on the coffee table, Reid came out of the bathroom wearing one of The Institute's white bathrobes, with his initials monogramed on it in royal blue.

"You look all washed and fluffed," Christine smiled happily at him.

"This was hanging in the bathroom. It has my initials on it!" Reid sounded truly amazed. "I've never had anything like this before!"

"I was hoping you would like it," Christine walked over to him to examine the robe more closely. "One of the girls does embroidery in her spare time and I had her make it for you."

She looked up at Reid. "You smell good, too."

Reid looked confused. "There was some new kind of body wash in the bathroom," he said. "It wasn't the same stuff as when we were here last time."

"Yes, I know," Christine told him. "I hope you like it. I got it just for you."

Reid sniffed and then commented, "It smells – different."

Christine laughed at his description. "According to the manufacturer, it smells like warm cypress. I don't know what cypress smells like, warm, cold, or otherwise - but it reminded me of you. Now, let's sit down and have some pizza while I go through all these bags and packages you brought."

She moved to sit on the couch, but Reid remained standing where he was. As she curiously glanced at him, he pulled a jeweler's box out of the bathrobe's pocket and offered it to her. "Maybe you should open this first. It's kind of late. It was supposed to be your Christmas present."

"Christmas?" Christine exclaimed. "Spencer, that was months ago."

"Fifty-two days," Reid corrected her. "I've wanted to give it to you, but the timing never seemed right."

Christine hesitated a moment before accepting the obviously expensive present. She opened the box and gasped. "Spencer, a falling star! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Put it on me!"

She took the pendent out of the box, opened the clasp, and handed it to him to fasten around her neck. As she turned her back to him, pulling her hair up and out of the way, she said, "I can't believe you actually found something like this."

"I saw it in the jewelry store window and it seemed appropriate," Reid told her as he fastened the clasp.

"I remember our discussion about falling stars," Christine told him. "That night when we went up in the University's Observatory. I thought they were gorgeous and beautiful and romantic, and you, with help from the Astronomy students, told me that they were just meteors self-immolating."

She turned around so he could admire the pendent. "What do you think?" she asked before throwing her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Reid wasn't a hugger by nature, but he had been on the receiving end of many hugs, most recently from Garcia and JJ. He immediately knew this one was different. He could feel her breath warm on his neck, and smell her hair. He could feel her breasts pressed against him. As he hugged Christine back he closed his eyes, and he could imagine – He wasn't sure what.

Christine pulled away and smiled at him as she put her hand up to stroke the side of his face. Then, her cell phone rang.

"Darn, this had better be important," she said as she picked it up. "Yes?"

"George – Hi!. Glad you made it back," she answered the call. "Yes, the vent fan over the stove area is working. I had the contractor demonstrate it for me before he left on Friday."

She took a deep breath and waited, listening.

"All the instruction books are in a binder on the desk in your office. I checked everything myself," she was starting to sound frustrated.

Again, she listened.

"Okay – Okay! I'm on my way," she concluded the conversation and turned off the phone.

"Problems?" Reid asked, concerned.

"Hopefully, nothing serious," Christine told him as she headed toward the door. "I should be right back. Get started on the pizza while I'm gone. You're probably starving to death!"

Unfortunately, once Christine arrived in the newly remodeled kitchen, pacifying the head chef took longer than she had anticipated. She was forced to go over all the repairs and updates that had been carried out in his absence, and then had to review all the food supplies that had been delivered. By the time she finally got back to the suite, Reid was curled up, sound asleep, on the couch.

Smiling and shaking her head, Christine went into the bedroom, got a blanket, and draped it over him. After dropping a kiss on the top of his head, she settled down on an end chair, opened up her laptop, and began editing a journal article she was preparing for publication. Several hours later, when Reid still hadn't woken up, she went into the bedroom, changed into her nightgown, and crawled into bed by herself.

When Reid woke up the next morning, he was alone in the suite and there was a handwritten note on the coffee table –

Good Morning Spencer! (Christine had written)

We have a group of students coming in at noon, so I had to get to work making sure everything is ready for them. When you're ready for breakfast, just call Room Service. Your breakfast has already been ordered, and they are expecting your call. Let me know when you are ready to leave, and I'll come down to say "Good Bye" and make sure the car is ready to take you to the station.

I talked to Aaron, and no one is expecting you at the office before 1:00 p.m. So, take your time.

Christine

P.S. Don't bother shaving – I love the scruff!

Lying on the paper, were several candy hearts reading – My Boy, Crazy 4 You, and Dare Ya. Reid carefully read them as he gathered them up to put in his messenger bag. Knowing Christine, he was willing to bet the messages were not a random choice.

FINI!

To everyone who has taken the time to read through to the end - Thank You! And, to everyone who has taken the time to comment - Thank You! I very much appreciate your time and effort, and I sincerely hope you like my ending.

And, since the holidays are fast approaching - Io Saturnalia and Happy Festivus! (I have a mental picture of people dressed in togas sitting around eating George's mother's meatloaf! )