Title: The Magic of the Season; Happy Christmas (War is Over) Part 1 of 4
Rating: T (same as the show)
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, they belong to Criminal Minds and its network, creator, writers and actors and actresses who bring them to life. I also do not own the song Happy Christmas (War is Over) John Lennon's family likely does. Please don't sue I am a poor barista.
Summary: Reid is surprised to see Garcia at a jazz club one night, and due to the magic of the season love begins to blossom between the pair.
Notes: This is a Christmas fic exchange from Chit Chat on author's forum, and is for Ellen Julie I hope you enjoy it! My prompts were "Happy Christmas War is Over" by John Lennon, Snow, Christmas Lights and Christmas hearts. I decided to use all of the prompts and each of the chapters is based off one of the prompts, thus it is four parts long. As always I will update daily unless something strange happens. I'm working like crazy and getting a cold maybe reviews will make me feel better.
Spencer Reid sat at the back of a jazz club, alone, drinking ginger ale. One of his friends was performing that night, and although he usually tried to frequent places which served coffee he wanted to support his friend. He had always liked this kind of music, with lyrics which meant something. There were times he wanted to ask his co-workers to join him but he was always afraid they would find it strange that a man his age would enjoy this genre of music. The song had stopped and everyone clapped.
"Next I'm going to do a cover. It's a popular one but one of my all time favourites. I know it's early so if you're not ready for Christmas music you may want to step out for a smoke." The crowd laughed. "I'd like my friend Penny to join me on this one, since she's the one who taught me that even Christmas songs can be beautiful."
Reid could see a woman closer to the front trying to argue with him. Finally she stood up and went to the stage. Reid was shocked when he realised that he knew the woman. She was dressed differently, her dress was a little less flashy, red with small white polka dots, her make up was more subdued, even natural, and her hair was curled with no accessories; but she was still the same Penelope Garcia.
"Give it up for the beautiful and talented Miss Penny G!" the singer exclaimed.
Reid had never seen Garcia look so flustered before. Her cheeks were pink and she was fidgeting a little with one of the rings she wore. He had never seen her look so nervous before. One of the other band members handed her a microphone. She smiled at him to say thank you, and the band began to play a very jazzy version of the John Lennon song "Happy Christmas War is Over."
Reid listened to her sing along with his friend, and was amazed. He never knew that his co-worker could sing like that. The way she looked and sounded she could have been a lounge singer. He knew the song but he had never heard it sung with such soul and passion before. As the song went on she began to sway a little bit to the music, and for the first time he noticed just how beautiful Penelope Garcia was. She was a classic kind of beautiful that intrigued him.
When the song was done the crowd was on their feet, Reid included. Garcia got off the stage and tried to get back to her seat. Reid went over to where she had been sitting with a bottle of water in his hand. She was flushed. She get even more red when the singer thanked her again and the crowd roared.
"I thought you could use this," Reid told her handing her the water.
"Thanks," she said then looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Reid what are you doing here?"
"Damian is an old friend of mine. I had no idea you sang jazz."
"I don't."
"I just heard you sing, I know great singing when I hear it. You are a natural up there."
"You're so sweet Doctor Adorable, but it's not a big deal. It's just something that I do and I really don't think I'm that great."
"There is a whole room full of people who disagree. You got a standing ovation."
She laughed. "They were just being nice, silly. Care to join me for a glass of wine to calm my nerves?"
"I'll join you for a drink but I'll stick to ginger ale. I haven't had a drink is three years."
They went got their drinks, pop for him and a glass of white wine for her. "Cheers all the same," she told him smiling.
"Sociable," he replied with a nod and raised his glass to meet hers.
"Reid, did you really think that my singing was good?"
"Yes, I did, that was the most beautiful cover of that song I have heard, there are many covers of that song because of who it was written by and the meaning behind it. Also many musicians feel that more traditional Christmas songs have been sung too often so they try to cover newer more unique songs, but even those tend to have more covers than most other songs."
Garcia smiled. "You do know a lot about everything. I love Christmas songs, actually I love everything about Christmas, all the lights and colours, and people are always in such a better mood around the holidays. It's all so magical."
"I've never really understood the magic of Christmas."
"Maybe I could teach you?"
"I'd like that. It still amazes me how positive you can be considering what you are surrounded by every day."
"I wouldn't have any friends if I let those things affect me. We all need our escapes."
He nodded. "I understand that, that's why I come out to these jazz clubs. It's nice to run into a familiar face though."
"Maybe we can go together some time?"
"I'd like that, Garcia. Maybe I'll be able to hear you sing again."
"I make no promises. It's harder when I know I know someone in the audience."
"I think you're a great singer, honestly."
"You're sweet Spencer, and good for my ego."
"Next time you sing I'm going to tape it so you can hear for yourself how great you are."
"I'd rather you didn't sweetpea, really I don't need to hear it, I'd hate it and never sing again."
"That would be truly be a shame."
The two of them chatted for a while about their favourite jazz artists, enjoying being able to get to know one another outside of work. Every once in a while someone would politely interrupt to tell Garcia how great she had sung. She would always politely thank them, trying not to look embarrassed and then they would let her go back to her conversation with Reid. Neither them had noticed how late it had gotten until a very drunk man came over to them.
"You sure are pretty, lady," he drawled. "Good singer too."
"Um, thank you," Garcia whispered, trying to go back to her conversation.
"That's all you got to say, you were amazing, and you just sat here this whole night with this guy."
"That's because I wanted to, you're incredibly drunk and you don't wanna embarrass yourself."
"How would I embarrass myself by telling you that you're gorgeous and I wanna get to know you?"
Reid could tell by Garcia's body language that she didn't want to get to know the guy. There was something about him that worried him as well. He had noticed him watching the out of the corner of his eye for over an hour.
"Because she's my girlfriend," Reid explained.
"I haven't even seen you touch her all night."
Before Garcia could say anything she felt Reid's lips crash against hers in a very deep and passionate kiss. She couldn't believe that Spencer Reid was actually kissing her, in public. Garcia was even more shocked that she was enjoying kissing him so much.
"Sorry man," said the drunk, backing away.
Reid pulled away from her a moment later, with a stunned look on his face. Garcia couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. She took his hand, squeezing it gently to reassure him that it was all right. He still look dumbfounded and a little embarrassed by his action. His cheeks were turning slightly pink, but she just smiled at him reassuringly.
"I um, Garcia- Penelope? I'm sorry?" he whispered.
"It's okay boy genius. You're a really good kisser."
He went so red, even the tips of his ears changed colour. Before he could say anything she leaned over and kissed him again, this time more gently. He wrapped her arm around him, while he gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb. Garcia deepened the kiss while Reid tried to forget that he was at a bar enjoying kissing his co-worker.
"You want to go back to my place?" she whispered, pulling away from him a few minutes later.
"Mm, I'd like that," he told her.
The two of them left the bar, and went to her car, which Reid drove to her place since she had had a few glasses of wine. He parked in front of her building and she got out. Reid followed her upstairs. As soon as she opened the door he was bombarded with Christmas decorations, even though it was just past Halloween.
"It looks like Santa's workshop in here," he laughed.
"I know, isn't it awesome? I told love Christmas!" she explained.
"It matches your personality, but there are no decorations outside."
"It totally sucks, the condo association won't let us put Christmas decorations anywhere where other tenants can see them. It kind of bugs me, but the rest of the year I really do love it here though. Now we are not here to talk about Christmas decorations and condo rules Doctor Reid."
"Are you sure you want to do this with me?"
"Of course I'm sure. You're a great guy, and you asking me that proves it."
"But you've been drinking."
"I've had four glasses of wine, and I won't drive if I'd had one, but that doesn't mean I'm drunk. You had to have felt something or you wouldn't have agreed to come over."
He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "Of course I do, you're intoxicating Penelope. I'm just worried about how this might change everything at work."
"Then we keep this quiet until we know how far we want to take this?"
"All right, it might be hard to keep this from a group of profilers."
"I know, but just for a little bit. Only Derek knows that I broke up with Kevin, and no one ever knows what's going on inside that giant brain of yours, so it might not be as hard as you think."
"I do want to see where this goes."
"I want this too, and it's not just a rebound thing, either, Spencer."
"I never said that."
"I just needed to tell you." She took his hand. "My bedroom is just over here."
He brushed his lips against hers again, and pulled her closer to him. She sighed happily and gently pulled him toward the bed with her. When they got to the end edge he gently lowered her onto the bed, never breaking the embrace. Garcia shivered when she felt Reid's lips begin to travel down her jaw line.
"You're so gentle Spencer," she whispered.
"This is how I always am," he assured her.
"And people tease you about not being a ladies man."
"I'm not, I just know how to make a woman happy when she wants me to."
"I so want you to."
His lips then began to again explore her jawline and chin, with slow precision. She was already moaning softly and he had barely touched her. Garcia couldn't believe that it was really Reid who was making her so happy. She hadn't really thought about him romantically until that night at the bar when he came to her rescue. The surge she felt when his lips touched hers was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
"May I?" Reid whispered, his fingers on the zipper of her dress.
She could only nod, and tears began to fall down her cheeks. Reid immediately stopped what he was doing when he saw the tears. He gently wiped them away and pulled away from her slightly, but she pulled him back toward him.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I've never been with anyone like you before, it's a good thing, Spencer, really."
She kissed him again pulling him back toward her and onto her bed. Reid followed her, kissing her back. His long fingers slowly pull down the zipper of her dress. Garcia moaned happily, not believing that Reid was really the person who was making her feel so good. Both of them knew that this was the start of something very special and unique.
End Part 1
Notes: All of these are going to end before the juicy bits sorry, I want to keep this for most ages because it deals with Christmas. I hope you enjoyed this. The timeline is a little quick on this too because I just finished a Garcia/Reid longifc. I hope you enjoy it! A big thanks to Ellen Julie for the prompts.
