Author's note: this two-shot is inspired by the latest CM promo in which a new character reveals herself to be the daughter of one of the BAU.
Reid loitered behind at the end of the day, while the rest of the team departed one by one. As is always the case with this room full of profilers, the person one wants to speak to in private is the last one to leave the room.
"Rossi, can I uh… have a word please?" Reid started sheepishly, adjusting and readjusting the strap of his sachet and looking for all the world a bashful high school teenager.
"Sure, kid. What's on your mind?"
"It's about your… daughter."
Rossi heaved a great sigh, "I don't think I'll ever get used to that word."
"I imagine you will eventually. Anyone would be shocked to discover a long-lost child, it's one of the things that (for some reason) I have recurring dreams about. Also kidnappings and being mysteriously reverted back to my childhood age and having to be taken care of by the team…"
"Don't envy the psychiatrist who'd have to analyse that."
"It would be a foundation-shaking change for anyone, but it's something I'm sure you'll eventually get accustomed to, and in all likelihood, learn to love."
"You being a kid again?"
"You having a daughter."
"Jeez, that word again."
"But there's something specific I wanted to talk to you about with regards to her."
"You've been dancing around the point for five minutes now, out with it."
"Two minutes, forty-five. She and I… I think she's a compassionate, intelligent, courageous human being, and a case in point if ever there was one for nature over nurture, considering where she's gotten her genes but not her upbringing from…"
"You're beating about the bush again. Not to mention brown-nosing."
"I think she may have romantic inclinations towards me."
"Ah."
"I thought they were one-sided from my end, but I was talking to her earlier about… uh… you, and we got onto the topic of molecularly imprinted polymers and their potential as pharmaceutical tools for-"
"Reid."
"Right. Sorry, I'm not normally this flustered talking about relationships."
"Yes, you are."
"My point is, I felt… attracted to her personality and intellectual aptitude from the beginning."
"Personality and intellectual aptitude. You know, you're the one person in the world who I believe when they say that's what they're first attracted to in a woman."
"I had no clue she could possibly reciprocate my feelings," Rossi grimaced but said nothing. "But then when we were talking…"
"Kid. Reid. If you're asking for my blessing here… that's completely unnecessary."
"I know you've only known her for a week and might not straightaway feel the possessive paternal sentiments towards her, but if there was any risk at all of my interactions with her leading to a rift-"
"Reid, it's not necessary because any father would be proud and honoured to have a gentleman like you expressing… romantic inclinations for their daughter. You're a caring, considerate, protective individual, not to mention bright. And I can't for the life of me imagine you even entertaining the idea of doing anything that could hurt my… daughter."
"Rossi…"
"Criminy, Reid, you have my blessing." The widest, goofiest grin stretched across the young man's face and Rossi felt a sudden pang of affection for the kid. "Now get out of here, it's been a long day and I have a bar to hit."
"Thanks, Rossi."
"Don't mention it kid, you're one of the good ones."
He didn't say it out loud but was considering what it would be like to welcome Reid into his family. It wasn't a terrible notion.