Hey guys, so, I wasn't really happy with my first story because I basically had nothing to continue the series with, so I'm going to write another one to start it off. Hidden Talent is still available, but just note that the future series kicks off with this one.

Now on with the show.

oOo

A few years ago...

Spencer Reid, or better known as Matthew Jackson by that point, raced through the hood of Philadelphia as he slung a black backpack over his back and pulled the left side of his jacket on. He was probably going to be late to whatever Michael was going to if he didn't hurry.

He guessed that Michael had snuck out earlier to the studio so Spencer wouldn't get involved with whatever Lucious had gotten them into this time. Unfortunately for Michael, he didn't know that Spencer woke up at six like clockwork and slept in for an hour, but thought he slept soundly until seven. He left before seven that morning.

"Hey Matty!" a voice behind him shouted. Spencer nearly tripped as he turned to see who it was while still running.

"Oh hey, Uncle Chris! You heading to the studio too?!"

"Yeah! Come on boy, you can hitch a ride!"

Thank God. Spencer thought as he ran to Chris, who was already standing behind the open driver's side door of where his Fiero was parked in front of his apartment building parallel to the sidewalk.

Spencer lowered his backpack onto the floor in front of the passenger side seat and slid in just as Chris closed his door. As soon as he shut his door, the car started and they drove off.

"You ever get tired of the hood?" Chris asked as they reached their first red light.

"Sometimes. But it's better to live in the hood with an actual family than living in the nice suburbs with a deadbeat father."

"Amen to that. You got any clue what Michael's got planned?"

"Nah, but if anything, it's probably something Lucious came up with."

"You think so?"

"Definitely. Johanna told me that Cookie's been complaining to her about Lucious being away all the time at the studio, so at least there's something up with him."

"Probably is. What's the probability it's about Empire?"

Spencer sighed, then the car started to move again. "At this point, I don't even know. Michael and Lucious have been working on it ever since they met each other on these same streets. On top of it all, the move from Vegas to Philadelphia has put stress on everyone. I mean, we're all the way across the country."

Chris looked over at him for a brief moment before keeping his eyes on the road again. "Something tells me you've been wanting to let that out for a long time."

Spencer looked up from the floor of the car to the windshield, but not at Chris. "I got a letter today."

"Yeah? What did it say?"

"A newspaper clipping of his engagement. He's getting married in two days. In PENNSYLVANIA. That's a three hour and a fifty-two minute drive from here if you take the I-476 North and the I-80 West."

"How old are you?!"

"Eight years and twenty-three days old. I'm not gonna even bother to check the time because Ben mistook my watch for his waterproof Timex."

"Why'd he send you his engagement notice?"

"I don't know. Hate? Vengeance? There are too many factors and variables."

"You tell Michael?"

"No, he's been too busy unpacking everything and jump-starting the company with Lucious. Besides, I already burned that thing up at our last bonfire with Joey."

The Fiero finally pulled into the parking lot of Empire Entertainment's studio. It wasn't much. Just a short red brick building with a small parking lot. A few other broken down junk cars were in the lot too, but only about two or three. Spencer had heard rumors that the building used to be an old meth lab, and while he hadn't believed it at first, he was starting to think the rumors were true because of the ammonia smell that had gotten stronger since Michael and Lucious rented the place.

Chris threw the car into park and looked at Spencer.

"Do you trust Michael?"

"With my life."

"Then why didn't you tell him about that letter?"

A few seconds of awkward silence ensued before he answered.

"I don't know."

Chris sighed and opened his door. "Come on, then. Who knows, there might be stuff out here we don't want to see."

Spencer shrugged. "I guess. There might be a crazed butt-stabber or two out here."

oOo

Did any of you get that butt-stabber reference? ;-)