A/N: Hello again, everyone!

A shout-out to ahowell1993 for reviewing the first chapter and fishtrek, ShinyOshawottKing1, MiiichelleYu, historylover27, hjkayla40, and Narelle's FOURTRIS for following and/or favoring the story.

My apologies if I had made any mistakes but do enjoy the chapter!

Reid had just stepped out of his car and was now standing in the parking of the Spice Culture, a local diner that does Indian cuisine. He asked Hotch if he could have Élise meet him there.

He took a quick look at himself in reflection of the diner window before walking in; it was just as he would typically wear to work: a simple and purple long-sleeve button shirt with a tie, dark pants and Converse sneakers and even had his bag with him on his shoulder.

He couldn't help but think Élise was not nervous about this blind date.

"Dr. Reid?"

He turns and sees,

"I take it you're Élise Bastien?"

Élise felt equally nervous about this blind date. She was in a similar outfit she went to work today—even though she took a quick shower before coming—sky blue blouse, gray jacket and pants, and black loafers since wearing heeled shoes almost all day occasionally hurt her feet. Her short hair was pulled back from her face and didn't bother to wear any makeup other than the usual lip balm and lip gloss.

"And I take it you're Dr. Spencer Reid." She said as he was sitting down.

Reid smiled before he sat down, "Pleasure to meet you."

"Same. I'd shake your hand, but Hotch told me you're not into the whole hand-shaking. Perfectly understandable. I respect that." Élise soon started to ramble. "Did you know it is p-pr-preferred to fist b-bump since they spread less germs than handshakes? And especially since hands carry germs that can spread infections to others; a-an-and some of those infections can be serious, including the ones that can't be killed by the everyday standard antibiotics?" She pressed her Cupid's bow's lips tight once she stopped and paused for a moment. "Oh! I'm…sorry. I-I-I…I saw this health blog on the Harvard website and…"

"It's okay. At least you know why I prefer not to shake."

"Still. I-I…I like to read."

"I can tell. I do, too. I saw you reading."

Things got a bit silent for a moment, which soon ended when a short and dark-skinned waitress approached their table, smiling,

"Hello and welcome to the Spice Culture. What will you be having?"

"I'll have the tandoori chicken, please, along with the Naan for the two of us and some rose Kulfi."

"Okay. And you, ma'am?"

"I'll have what he's having. And we'll both have some coffee and water."

The waitress took her menus and left to get their meals, "You're going to love the tandoori chicken; it's amazing."

"I'm going to take your word for that, doctor."

Reid chuckled, "Oh. I'm sure Hotch told you I'm not that kind of doctor."

"Well, what kind of doctor are you? Did you just recently graduate from medical school?"

"I have three PhDs, actually."

"Three PhDs?"

"Yeah. In Mathematics, Chemistry, and Engineering. I also have two BAs in Psychology and Sociology; I'm also completing an additional BA in Philosophy."

"Wow! Hotch was right; you are a genius."

"Well, I don't believe that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an I.Q. of 187 and an eidetic memory and can read 20,000 words per minutes."

Élise's dark brown eyes widen, "20,000 words per minute? I'd wished I had that, even though I have SLD."

"Specific Learning Disability?"

"Yeah." Reid noticed she said she had SLD with embarrassment. "I didn't bother to take the SATs."

"You know, some of the most brilliant minds have some kind of learning disability; Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell."

"I've had people, even teachers who thought and called me stupid; they thought and believe I wouldn't do well in school."

Their meals and drinks came, "Seriously?"

"Yeah." Giving Reid a soft smile, "But this: I graduate from high school a semester early but still got the chance to graduate with my class, I went to community college first to save my parents money; after I graduated from there, I transferred to Rutgers University in New Brunswick where I studied English and Political Science; graduated with honors and then I went to Harvard for law school and graduated with honors. And believe me, I studied really, really hard, especially on the LSATs to get into Harvard Law."

Taking a sip of his coffee, "I guess you proved those wrong."

"That's the best revenge you can have on someone; proving them wrong. So, how did you get your start in the FBI and the BAU?" Élise took a sip of her coffee.

"I graduated from a Las Vegas high school when I was twelve; I attended Caltech and MIT; Yale was my backup school. I got recruited to join the FBI and I joined the unit when I was 22."

"Cool. So, it doesn't seem so long ago you joined, huh?"

"Yeah. So, how did you get your start as a lawyer?"

"I participated in moot court, Model UN, student government when I was in high school. When I transferred to Rutgers, I did internships. When I was at Harvard Law, I was part of the law school's review, a student volunteer for the state's US Attorney's Office and a summer associate for the firm as they had an office near Cambridge; the firm hired me immediately for their DC office after I graduated as a first-year associate. After a year there, through connections, I got an offer to be a federal prosecutor for the US Attorneys. And…I guess you can stay the rest is history."

"I understand from Hotch you became quickly known as the Silent Eliminator, the Silent Enforcer."

"Yeah. For my silent and by-the-book enforcement to the law to get the job done. As well as for my ability to eliminate those who stand in the way of justice, regardless of who they are."

"I can see you have a strong moral compress as well as a strict legal ethics code when it comes to your work."

"I guess you can say I'm determined to make the world a better place to live."

"Same here."

"I hear from Hotch about what happened to you and your colleague. Are you okay?"

"I got held hostage and assaulted in the abdomen twice with a rifle by a narcissistic and ephebophilic, statutory raping cult leader who attempted to murder myself, Prentiss; she even took a beating for me, and others because he thought he was doing God's will. But I'm feeling alright; I'm starting to feel better."

Élise just had to shudder, "Ugh. Well, I'm glad you two are okay. That pompous Attorney General Hotch told off. But on the bright side, the person who did that to you is probably in hell right now."

"I'm sure."

"Why do people use religion and God as an excuse to justify their actions?"

"It's a mystery, alright."

Élise put a small piece of tandoori chicken into her mouth. "Mmm. This is amazing."

"Told you."

Élise gave him a playful look. "Hotch didn't mention you were a know-it-all."

"I don't know everything, despite the fact that everyone thinks that I do."

"I figure." Élise tasted the rose Kulfi. "Oh, so delicious!"

"I know, right?"

"You didn't have to drop me off or walk me to my apartment," Élise said as they were walking to the second floor of Élise's building.

"I wanted to, and I figured it's better than waiting for the next bus."

Élise blushed. "A genius and a gentleman." They stopped at her front door. "Well…this is it."

"Yeah."

This was a brief moment of silence before,

"I had such a great time." Élise spoke again.

"I did, too."

"Remind me to thank Hotch the next time I see him."

"Or I could thank him for you."

"You're such a gentleman."

Reid smiled. "I was raised to be one by my mother."

"Your mother did a wonderful job raising you."

"Thank you."

All of a sudden, Reid and Élise gave each other a quick but gentle kiss on the lips. They froze for a moment before,

"Well…goodnight, Spencer." Said Élise.

"Goodnight, Élise." Just as Reid started to walk and Élise opened her door,

"Oh, wait! I…don't have your number."

"Oh, it's in your pocket." Reid said as he pointed at her. "Goodnight, again." Reid waved.

"My pants pocket?" Élise asked herself as she locked in her home security. She went through her pockets before finding a plain white card with his name and number.

"Hotch never mentioned you were a magician either." Élise smiled. "I'm impressed."