Rossi is younger…a lot younger and Hotch too.
Spencer had never wanted to rule a kingdom; he was the firstborn son, so it was his responsibility to take it over. He glanced over at his cousin JJ who was laughing at his face, "Spencer, you have to learn how to dance! I can't believe you've gone this long without knowing how."
Spencer groaned, "I know the basics! I'm just not good on my feet."
JJ giggled and sat down on a bench, fixing her dress. She always hated wearing them, she loved wearing pants but seeing how she was visiting the castle for the summer she was required to wear them.
He glanced up when he saw his best friend, Aaron Hotchner, walking with JJ's lady in waiting, Emily Prentiss. "Prince Spencer, your mother and father are leaving for their month long trip, they wish to say good bye to you and Lady JJ."
Aaron was his best friend and some would say wingman. He was always next to Spencer, helping him whenever he needed it or giving him a shoulder to lean on. They all four got up and walked to the carriage that was holding his mother and father.
His mother held him close; she had always spoiled him rotten while his father took a less then desirable approach and practiced tough love, "I'm sorry that we will be missing your eighteenth birthday son…but the kingdom-."
"Is always first, I know father…I would rather the people get what they need then me have a proper birthday, thousands of people rely on you."
His mother's eyes shined with pride, "Spencer while we are gone…I have a new guard for you, and one for JJ too."
Spencer shook his head, "But I have Aaron."
Aaron smiled, and the queen laughed, "Yes but I wouldn't want anything to happen to Aaron or Emily, they are like my second children, think before you speak Spencer. With the neighboring kingdom becoming violent I don't want to take chances."
Spencer blushed looking at Aaron apologetically, but the man just smiled slightly at him, "This is David Rossi, he is JJ's new body guard and this is Derek Morgan, your new body guard."
Spencer looked up to see two very tough men walking over. The oldest looked only to be six or seven years older then he, and the dark man looked only to be four or five. "They've been trained since their infancy to do just this; they are the best of the best."
JJ was eyeing the older man and Spencer could tell what she was thinking, both men were very attractive. He knew that JJ loved Emily as more then a lady in waiting so he knew she wasn't looking at the man to date, but it was hard not to notice their good looks.
The older mail was tall, dark and handsome with a charming smile, but strength and smarts radiated off of him, letting you know he was in charge and reliable. The second man, Spencer couldn't help but admire. He was dark skinned, and had a small stubble on his chin. His eyes were bright and the smile he gave the Queen was the most beautiful thing Spencer had seen, he could tell that even Aaron was surprised by it.
"My lord." Both men muttered at the same time and bowed, he hated hearing that…it was one of his most dreaded words and he hated the bowing even more.
It was times like this that Spencer missed his little brother and sisters. One was only a view years behind him, being only sixteen, Edmund was much more suited for the role of king, but seeing how he had been unlucky and born second, Spencer was the one to receive the crown. He had two little sisters, one eleven, Georgina and the other nine, Catherine.
The all three adored their older brother, and Spencer felt the same to them. All three would be back before the end of summer, visiting their aunt and uncle, which Spencer had been excluded from now that he was eighteen.
As the carriage drove away JJ, always being the more diplomatic of the two, lifted her hand to shake David and Derek's hands. Both men stared in surprise before shaking it, Spencer glanced at Aaron only to find him watching David.
He knew Aaron liked men; they were close and knew everything about each other. Spencer envied him for his choice on the matter, he would have to marry and produce an heir, although he wasn't sure which sex he liked he hated the fact that he would never be able to choose.
"Aaron, I'm sorry about what I said…I didn't mean to make it sound like that…I just thought that…that…"
Aaron was used to his stuttering and inability to interact well with others. It was one of the things that his father hated about him; he was far from the diplomatic prince that he was supposed to be. Not that he didn't love this kingdom, no he loved it more then anything. He just didn't want to rule it.
"My prince, you did nothing wrong. I am here for your protection just as even JJ is."
Spencer blushed at this and looked down, "But I would never want any of you to be sacrificed for me."
He looked up when he heard Emily, and saw the woman touch his arm. "That is while you will be a great king one day."
Suddenly everyone was looking at him and he blushed again, "I have a dancing lesson."
He turned swiftly and started walking away, he heard Aaron explaining to Derek and David about his inability to socialize well and he heard Derek mumble, "Shouldn't a price be good at that…"
Spencer inwardly flinched, he knew that it was just another list of flaws that his father kept against him and he sighed, getting back to their instructor, who was a nice man. He was partnered with JJ and Aaron with Emily, but the instructor stopped him multiple times, "You there! Can you dance?"
They turned to look at Derek who smiled and nodded. He swapped Spencer places and Spencer watched in ashamed admiration as Derek swept JJ across the floor. The two of them were smiling and he found himself watching Derek more then he should.
The shame burned through him, he couldn't master a small dance. He looked up to see David stopping the instructor giving him a small pat in his back, "I think that's enough for today, Spencer looks a little under the weather."
He shot David a thank you and watched the instructor leave. Derek and JJ were laughing at something and Emily was whispering to Aaron who again was watching David. Spencer sighed, "I'm going to the library. Please feel free to do whatever it is you like, that includes you Aaron, I'll just be reading enjoy yourself."
JJ took the chance to latch on to him, "You promised to show me how to fight."
David followed after JJ, Aaron, and Emily and Derek looked longingly after them. Spencer could understand, they were going outside and he was staying in, "Derek."
The man's attention snapped back to him and he smiled slightly, not even close to the smile he had given any of the others. For some reason that hurt Spencer and he stiffened, "You can see the library from the courtyard, how about I sit by the window so you can see me?"
The man looked surprised but Spencer could see that he was about to protest, "Derek, there is the library keeper there at all times, go outside and have fun, I promise to sit by the window."
He turned before any objection could be made and he slowly made his way to the library. He had lied to Derek…the library keeper only came when summoned or on Sundays…but he didn't want to keep him inside with him.
Spencer loved the outside and he was actually one of the best sword fighters…but today he wanted to be with his books. When his father was gone was the only time he got to freely sit in the library and read. His mother had specifically bought it for him, when he showed such an interest in books.
He grabbed a book off the shelf and then opened the window and sat down, nodding his head when he saw that Derek was watching the window. He sat quietly reading, smiling slightly as he quickly finished the book, he had always been a fast reader and for some reason he retained everything he read.
His mother called it a miracle while his father called it odd. He picked up another book but found that he like watching the group outside. He wished his brother was here, Edmund would have loved playing with the group and Georgia loved being with Emily and JJ.
Catherine loved them too but thought her brother got to lonely and followed him everywhere. It had taken him weeks to get her to stop and go play outside; after he heard his father complaining that she was turning out to be like him.
JJ was mimicking Hotch, while David through out helpful pointers, he was fighting with Derek and Emily sat in the grass. She had already been trained in swordsmanship and even hand-to-hand combat. His uncle refused to let JJ walk around with out anyone to protect her.
The group was laughing and Spence immediately felt lonely, he knew it was partly because he had chosen to be but also because he wasn't good with people. He never fully understood how Aaron put up with him everyday…he had even heard his father offer Aaron another position.
He had been trying for weeks to get Aaron to take it but the young man refused saying that he would rather be next to the prince, being an advisor and friend then any other position.
He looked up to see Emily standing in the doorway. He blinked, surprised because he had just seen her in the courtyard, "I saw you thinking to hard, Spence."
Emily was one of a kind and he was happy that his aunt and uncle were going to allow for JJ and her to be together, something that his father had thought disgusting and a weakness on his brothers part.
"So why did you lie to Derek about the library keeper?"
Spencer blushed but smiled slightly, "I didn't want to keep him inside, and it's obvious that he is a physical type of man…he wanted to be outside."
She smiled at sat down at across from him at the window, "You are the nicest man I have ever meant Spence…and you know I don't lie…especially when it comes to men."
Emily had been beaten all her life first by her father and then by a husband. Spencer's uncle had been passing through the village he resided in and JJ had been so angry when she saw Emily walking down the street covered in bruises, that his uncle had nullified the marriage, and offered Emily a job at their estate.
"Thanks Emily… so how long do you and JJ have to wait?"
The blush combined with the bright smile made him smile; Emily was just infectious, "As soon as she turns nineteen, we are going to live with Penelope Garcia."
Spencer couldn't help the grin that split across his face at the name. She was known as the medicine woman, witch, enchantress…it didn't matter what you called her as long as you didn't mess with her. She had the royal guard protecting her and she was one scary sorceress.
"She does live all by herself in that big house…"
Emily giggled, "She welcomed us with open arms, she is very lucky she was born a female so her brother inherits the estate and not her."
He sighed at the subject, "Sometimes I wished that I wasn't born into this family…or that Edmund would have been born first…or something would happen so he could have the throne…he wants it and deserves it."
Spencer was thinking out loud but he felt a hand on his face and he looked up, "Spencer the only way that you can give Edmund throne is by death or disownment. Don't ever wish death upon yourself."
He blushed stuttering but was cut off when JJ yelled from the courtyard, "Spencer! Let's go for a ride!"
The only thing besides books that he enjoyed was horses. He loved riding them, and he loved being near them. His heart went out to them having to be locked up in the stables and having saddles placed on them.
They made their way from the library and into the stables, JJ grinned at him, "When I'm ready you will have to help me be the very best at swordplay."
"Your majesty knows how to fight?"
Derek had asked the question and Spencer was surprised at how deep his voice was. He felt goose bumps trail up his arm, and he looked over at Derek giving a small nod but Emily laughed, "The Prince is the best in the kingdom."
He blushed at the statement and walked to his horse. The stable hands knew that he loved tending to his own horse so they smiled and bowed before walking over and helping the others.
Spencer felt eyes on him and he petted his horse's nose before looking up. Both David and Derek where watching him. "Your highness, why do you refuse help?"
David shot Derek a look, warning him but Spencer smiled slightly, "David never be afraid to ask me a question. I do not refuse help I just simply do not need it. I love working with the horses, so the stable hands allow me to do it."
David grinned at the young prince, "Thank you your highness."
Spencer flinched and Aaron spoke up, "Call him Spencer. He hates titles."
Spencer smiled and turned back to his horse. "Hey Zeus, how have you been?"
The horse responded with a snort, nuzzling Spencer's shoulder. Spencer laughed and petted his nose, kissing it lightly before getting the saddle. It always took him a little longer to get ready but he loved talking with Zeus, so when he finally pulled himself onto the saddle the others where outside waiting.
"Spence it always surprises me how big Zeus is."
He smiled over at JJ, "well I'm pretty tall, he needs to be large to handle my weight."
Aaron chuckled when Emily blurted out, "But you barely weigh anything."
"But my height makes me proportioned different; he has to be large to actually balance me…and I'm not that small."
The group laughed and Spencer blushed before turning Zeus around and setting off in a slow walk, the others followed, "Where do we want to go?"
JJ practically squealed and Spencer thanked the heavens that her horse, Daphne was used to it and didn't spook easily, "Penelope's!!"
Spencer looked up at the sky and then at Aaron, who shook his head, "No Aaron says it's going to rain, we can't make it before it does. I promise that in the next couple days we will go though."
David smiled at Aaron, causing him to blush and Spencer was a little taken aback, no one had ever made Aaron Hotchner blush…
"How about the orchard?"
He glanced over at Derek, who was watching him with intense brown eyes and he blushed looking forward and nodded, setting off into a gallop. The rest followed and Spencer smiled as every problem dripped away as Zeus ran.
On Zeus the only thing that mattered was riding, and he loved the freedom it gave him, even if it only lasted for a couple minutes.
They spent three hours at the orchard before heading back to the castle, although he hated to go back. Dinner was served and then it was time to sleep. Derek's room was across from his and he almost groaned, he didn't know how to feel when he was around…the man didn't tlak to him or smile the way he did with the others.
Spencer laid down in his bed and sighed, closing his eyes. He didn't want to think about anything right now. His father was gone and he had time to just be Spencer…and that was all he needed.