Spencer walked into the office the next morning with a bit more pep in his step than usual. Something that Derek noticed instantly.

"Someone's looking happy this morning," He teased as Spencer walked past his desk. "Care to share how the rest of your evening went?"

Spencer's cheeks went bright red, a dead giveaway he did have something to share, but he simply shrugged.

"We just shared a taxi and said goodnight."

"I've never seen someone look so cheerful after a goodnight that didn't have a happy ending to it," Derek informed him. "There anything else you'd like to tell us?"

Spencer sighed, feeling a bit torn. Out of awkwardness and respect for Mikayla, he didn't want to blab to his whole team about what had happened, but he was out of his depth here and not sure what to think about it all. Some advice could be handy.

"Alright," He said, his voice much lower than before as he noticed that every member of the team seemed to have one ear turned to their conversation. "We kissed."

"A kiss!" Derek hollered, leaping out of his chair to pull Spencer into a 'bro hug'. "My man, tell me how you managed to swing that one!"

"Shh, keep your voice down!" Spencer hissed, his cheeks darkening even more as he glanced around the room. His eyes landed on Penelope peering out of her office and he felt a twinge of guilt, knowing how close her and Mikayla were. Was it bad form to kiss a coworker's estranged best friend? Spencer didn't know, but he had a feeling it was and this was why he needed advice.

"Sorry, man, but c'mon. You gotta give me some details."

"I didn't 'swing' it," Spencer confessed. "She kissed me. She went to shake my hand and you know I don't like that, so I told her how kissing is actually less likely to spread germs than shaking hands and so she kissed me."

Derek tossed his head back laughing at his clueless friend.

"What a line," He chuckled, patting Spencer on the back. "You're charming without even trying to be."

"I didn't mean for it to be a line," Spencer insisted. "I say that to a lot of people and no one else has ever wanted to test the theory. But I, uh, I'm not really sure what to do now. Do I text her or are you supposed to wait a certain amount of time? Should I tell Garcia?"

"Did you get her number?" Spencer nodded. "Then text her. Tell her you had a good time, that you enjoyed her company, anything to keep the connection there before she has time to lose interest. Waiting around and playing games is pointless, doesn't get you anywhere. As for Garcia, I think she may have heard some of this conversation, but I'll handle her for you. You just enjoy your sudden luck with the ladies."

Spencer nodded again before glancing at Penelope one more time. She didn't look impressed, but as much as he didn't want this to come between them, he wanted to see where it would go. Derek was right, he didn't usually have much "luck with the ladies" so if one was finally willing to give him a chance, he wasn't going to give up that easily.

So, trusting that Derek would keep his word and talk to Garcia, he pulled out his phone and opened a message to his newest contact.


I received two messages at almost exactly the same time.

The first, from Spencer, read "Hello, Mickey. It was really nice chatting with you last night and lovely to meet you. Don't worry about the taxi fare, this ones on me - Spencer Reid"

And the second, much less pleasant one was from Penelope. "Mikayla, are you serious? I gave you one rule and you couldn't even follow it? So much for being changed by your time in Europe..."

I'd been expecting the message all morning, but it didn't make it any less stressful when it arrived. I had followed her rule, I didn't hit on or even flirt with Derek Morgan. She hadn't mentioned anything at all about Spencer and my actions were in no way intended to be malicious.

"I stayed away from Derek, that was your rule. Can we get lunch so I can explain myself at least?"

The reply took her a lot longer, probably as she tried to think of some excuse why she couldn't meet me, but after a tense few minutes she answered.

"Fine. Meet me at DNV Rooftop in an hour."

It was short and to the point, but it was better than her straight up refusing so I counted it as a win before turning my attention back to the message from Spencer.

"Are you sure? That's very sweet of you Spencer :) Maybe we could grab a drink some time soon? My treat to make up for the fare"

My phone buzzed again almost before I even had time to put it down.

"You don't have to make up for anything, but a drink sounds great. It can be tricky making plans in advance with my job, but how about we aim for tomorrow night?"

"That sounds perfect!"

I smiled to myself at his eagerness, enjoying the fact that there was no waiting hours for a response to try and seem like you weren't that bothered or putting off a date in case something better came up. He was a nice boy who perhaps didn't have much experience or confidence with women, but he was charming in his own wonderful way.

When my phone didn't buzz again, I assumed he'd gotten busy with work and decided I should face the music and busy myself getting ready for my haranguing from Penelope.


Not wanting to upset Penelope even more by being late, I made sure I was early for our lunch date. I got us a nice table and ordered her favourite drink and prayed she would give me a chance before she got too angry with me.

But the look on her face as she marched across the restaurant towards me made it clear she came with very little patience.

"Look, Penny," I sighed. "Can we at least order our food before you tear a strip off me?"

Penelope sat down in a huff, but nodded her head.

"I guess so," She mumbled. "I just don't understand what game you're playing now."

So much for ordering food first...

"I'm not playing a game," I insisted. "I'm not toying with anyone, I'm not trying to make you mad or do something just because you told me not to."

"Then why are you messing with Reid?" Penelope asked, avoiding eye contact as she always did when forced to have a confrontation she would rather not have. "He's not your type. He's not some confident, strong willed asshole gym rat who needs to be to be taken down a peg. He's a sweet, shy, polite young man who is way out of his depth when it comes to women."

"That's what I like about him," I confessed. "He's not my usual type. He's so sweet, he actually listens when I talk to him. And he's so smart! When we were chatting last night, I felt like I could listen to him forever. I find him so intriguing."

"He's not like your normal men," Penelope repeated, her voice firm. "He doesn't have much experience with women and what experience he does have is overshadowed by his lack of confidence."

I scoffed a tad at her concerns as I sipped my drink.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," I informed her. "You should've heard the line he used last night to get me to kiss him!"

Penelope looked at me with confusion in her eyes for a moment before it dawned on her what I meant.

"That wasn't a line! He tells everyone that fact because he doesn't like shaking hands. And the kissing he was referring to is the double cheek kiss they use in Europe instead of a handshake! I would've thought you would know that since you're supposedly so well travelled!"

Another dig at me. Penelope had gotten feistier since I left which was nice to see, but made things harder for me.

"Okay, so I misread the situation or maybe I just wanted to kiss him and was looking for an opportunity," I confessed. "But I'm not messing with him. I have changed, Penny. I don't want another jerk boyfriend who does coke every weekend and treats me like crap. I want someone I can connect with, someone I can see a future with. Maybe that won't be Spencer, we haven't even been on a date yet so it's hard to judge, but he's different and adorable and I would like to at least get a drink and see where it might go. But if you don't want me to then I won't and I won't hold it against you."

Penelope watched me suspiciously as I concluded my little rant.

"He was so excited about it all this morning," Penelope admitted. "He was terrified and embarrassed, but he was so excited that a girl had actually taken an interest in him. I don't want to ruin that, but I don't want him to get hurt."

I smiled at the thought of Spencer being nervously excited about our kiss.

"I don't want to hurt him," I insisted. "It might not go anywhere, but I'm not out looking to string him along or break his heart. Besides, I'm always the one who gets shit on in all my relationships so I don't know why you're so convinced I'll be the one doing the damage."

"Because," Penelope started, a soft smile finally appearing on her face. "You're like a hurricane, Mickey and Reid is like the warmest sunny day with clear blue skies, but just enough of a breeze to make the heat enjoyable."

"What the hell does that mean?" I laughed.

"You don't realize it, but you whirl into people's lives and toss everything upside down then dart off before you can see the damage you've done. But Reid just wants what's best for everyone around him. He struggles to put himself first and will do anything for the people he loves."

"I'm trying not to be that person anymore," I repeated for what felt like the millionth time. "I know I've done wrong in the past, I know I've been a horrible friend to you and don't deserve for you to even be here talking to me now, but I've grown up a lot the last couple of years. I know how I was living and coping with things was toxic and I don't want to be like that anymore."

"Alright," Penelope nodded after a moment of thought. "I believe you. But I swear to god I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb if you do so much as make him frown. And trust me, I've learnt exactly how to do that over the years dealing with all these psychopaths we chase."

"I don't doubt you would," I smiled. "It's nice that you guys are such a close little family."

"We are and Reid's the baby so we're all very protective."

"Good to know," I winced, thinking back to the size of Derek's muscles and how much I would hate to be on the wrong side of them.

"Now can we please just have a nice lunch and catch up? I want to hear all about your life over the last three years!"

Penelope smiled and nodded before holding up her glass.

"To fresh starts?" She suggested as I held up my own drink and gently clinked it against hers.

"Absolutely."