Spencer Reid had been desperate to see the new exhibit since he found out about its existence, Docents weren't meant to be in there and so Reid had stayed late and under the cover of darkness took himself to see the exhibit. He had been in the almost finished room for about twenty minuets and had just learnt all about buckler shields when a voice, deep and powerful, nearly scared him out of his skin.

"You're not meant to be in here."

The voice was a statement rather than something filled with emotion. Reid turned his head to look at the owner of the smooth voice, Doctor Hotchner. Their dark eyes locked for a split second and if Reid didn't know any better he would have said he saw shock in the older man's eyes. He and Doctor Hotchner hadn't actually met but he had seen photographs of him in museum leaflets, it had to be said he looked like a slightly older version of...no it wasn't right to think about that.

"I'm so sorry, Doctor Hotchner. I just couldn't resist. I was desperate to see the exhibit and I wanted to get a head start for when people ask questions."

"That's alright, I'd probably do the same in you position."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not? Museums are better at night, more peaceful."

Reid was just glad he wasn't being yelled at but unknown to the young Docent Hotch just couldn't resist talking to him. To Hotch the voice of Spencer Reid was like thick honey mixed with golden sun, sweet and bright with the bitterness of coffee at the very end. Also known as perfection thought the Vampire. Before Hotch could find something else to say Reid spoke and filled the void.

"I don't normally break into exhibits in the middle of the night, Doctor Hotchner. I'm...I'm em, working on my phD in Medieval European History."

"Ahh, and the historian in you couldn't be silenced?" Hotch said with a slight smile. Faint but there.

The Vampire had no idea how he seemed so calm, he hadn't expected to find the reincarnated form of his lover stood in an almost finished exhibit in the middle of the night. Maybe almost six hundred years had made him better at schooling is emotions than he thought.

"Yeah, something like that. Again sorry, Doctor Hotchner."

"Oh please, Hotch is fine." Or you could call me Vasile again. "No one really calls me Doctor Hotchner. Even Cruz calls me Hotch."

Reid smiled, not only his he handsome beyond belief and looks like...no! No! You're not thinking about that. He's kind and a gentleman that's all there is to it. Reid chastised himself.

"Okay...Hotch."

Aaron liked the sound of his latest name in Reid's honey voice, it made him feel human again; but only for a second. Hotch couldn't resist spending time with the young man, and it seemed to the Vampire that spending time with Reid would be the best way to help Doru re-emerge.

"I'd be happy to help you with your phD and give you any pointers."

"Really? That would be fantastic." Reid beamed.

"Good. But I do need coffee to function." It was true, though he was a Vampire and had no need for food or drink Hotch did have an obsession with coffee. "Join me?"

Reid smiled, Hotch had just found him randomly in an exhibit and minuets later had offered to give up his evening to help a kid he'd never met.

"Em, sure."

"Great, there's a twenty-four hour diner down the street."

"The Night Owl Diner?" Hotch nodded. "I love it there."

Reid pulled his bag up from the floor and slipped the satchel over his shoulder and followed the older man.

The night air was cool and refreshing, it didn't take more than five minuets to walk over to the diner all lit up in red and blue fluorescent lights. Reid was surprised to find they walked in a comfortable silence, like nothing needed to be said. Spencer felt like he had know Hotch all his life. Reid was normally nervous around people, but Hotch was different there was just something about him that made Reid feel safe; and that hadn't happened in a very long time. There was a table at the very end of the diner, right of the door, and the two quickly sat and ordered coffee. Their waitress had on a bright yellow uniform and had flowing golden hair that was only a few shades away from matching her dress; she couldn't be older than eighteen. Her lips were painted with a shimmering pink gloss while here eyes were lined subtly, thanks to her name tag the two men were able to put a name to the face: Samantha . As she walked away another waitress, one with dark red hair and an ageing face, made her way to the table adjacent to them. Hotch had his back to the waitress and the food as he staired out the window, looking for something to say not that Spencer knew that, but Reid could clearly see the chicken stakes topped with gravy and it made his mouth water.

"I haven't had that in ages." Reid mused aloud.

"What the chicken stakes?" Asked Hotch before Reid had even realised he had spoken.

"How did you..."

"I can smell it."

It was true Hotch's sense of smell was unmatched when it came to humanity and probably most of the animal kingdom as well: Hotch really believed that the only thing to match his sense of smell was a wolf with a grudge. Hotch had killed more times than he could count and there was a time when he hadn't been very picky about who he killed, yet he flat-out refused to harm wolves. Even when he was a human with the name Vasile Stolojan he refused to kill wolves, they were majestic creatures that deserved respect not mindless animals that killed everything they came across.

"We could order dinner, if you like? I haven't eaten today." Informed Hotch.

Aaron hadn't eaten actual food beyond coffee for about three days, whereas he had fed on blood in the early hours of that morning. It came from a rather sleepy but surprisingly sober teenage girl on her way home after a party. She had strangely tasted faintly of Oranges. He was just happy she hadn't been on drugs, Hotch couldn't get high or drunk for that matter, not that he hadn't tried on several occasions, although he could taste it. Heroine was the worst, it was bitter and clung to his tongue and refused to let go for days. Surprisingly Hotch found that ecstasy was the best, it has a sweet finish, not that he fed on drug addicts or anything it was just something he had noticed over the years.

"That sounds like a good idea." Reid answered bringing Hotch back to reality.

"Good."

Mere seconds after Doctor Hotchner spoke Samantha, the waitress, returned carrying two cups of steaming coffee. She set them down on the grey table with a bold smile that reached her baby blues. She was very beautiful it had to be said, but Aaron Hotchner, Vasile Stolojan, Nikola Kasza, Aaron Knight; whoever he was only had eyes for Doru, no Reid. God this is getting complicated Hotch thought to himself.

"Can I get'cha anything else?" Samantha asked.

"Em yeah." Began Reid. "Can I have the chicken stake with extra gravy, please?"

Samantha jotted it down on her little notebook and then looked over to the older man.

"The same, please."

"Coming right up." With that and another cheerful smile Samantha wandered off to the kitchen.

A blanket of silence descended, but only for a moment as Aaron quickly did away with it. Silence between him and Doru had always been present but silence between him and Reid was not awkward just new. Yes, new was the word Hotch would use. He decided he would get to the point.

"I know you're a genius. That much is obvious, that and everyone we know keeps telling me." Reid smiled a little at that from under his mass of short curly hair, Hotch longed to ask if he had joined a boy band but he pushed that way. "What my question is, though, is why wait until now to get your phD?"

"I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life for a long time. When I was a kid I wanted to work in a library or just generally anywhere with books. My Dad wanted me to be brave and have a job worth talking about so I thought maybe join the BAU in the FBI but then he left. I ended up getting degrees in random things like Chemistry and Engineering. It wasn't until recently that I figured out I should work in history. I've always loved history especially European history. Specifically the Medieval period."

Reid was surprised at himself with how well he had opened up to the Doctor he had just met. It had nothing to do with the dreams, No Spencer! He chastised himself. We're not going to think about those, especially not while he is here.

"We should always do what makes us happy. No point in being miserable in a profession." Aaron said as he took a sip of coffee. "What will you do once you have your phD?"

"I don't know, I haven't thought that far ahead." Reid thought for a moment. "Maybe go back to Nevada, get a job in Carson City that way I'm not too far from my Mom."

Hotch nodded and took another sip of cooling coffee the whole time screaming please don't leave me! Please don't leave me! Please don't leave me! In his head. Suddenly the food arrived and young Reid dove in, he really was hungry. The chicken was warm and soft as he chewed and the extra gravy was the perfect accompaniment. Though the Vampire had no need to eat human food he did enjoy it, all the different flavours and the way seasoning had progressed over the centuries; it was a secret pleasure of his.

"So what is the topic for your dissertation?"

Reid finished chewing his piece of chicken before answering the older man.

"Its on Radu cel Frumos and his rule after Vlad was imprisoned."

So, you are writing a dissertation on the exact time period we lived in about the exact battles I was in. Oh yeah, Doru is definitely still in there. Hotch's mind spoke.

"You've always been a fan of Radu." Hotch stated before he could stop himself.

"What?"

"I said, have you always been a fan of Radu?"

"Oh, yeah I have. I think he was a rather effective leader."

Well I dodged that. The Vampire thought.

"Interestingly, Romania back when it was Wallachia is my area of expertise."

"I know, Garcia keeps telling me to talk to you about it."

"Well, Garcia is full of bright ideas."

"They're definitely bright."

The two chuckled at the joke for a few moments before returning to their main topic. They spoke for a long time and Hotch should have been shocked by Reid's level of knowledge but he wasn't, that was just how Doru was, he remembered everything. After a while Hotch was just listening to Reid's honey voice with his mind answering and responding via autopilot. The brunette could have recited the menu and Aaron would still have been enchanted. Reid and the Vampire had almost finished their meals when a loud buzzing filled the diner, it was quickly revealed to be Reid's cell phone. He answered with a sigh, was he enjoying talking to me? Hotch asked himself.

"Hello."

Hotch's hearing was unmatched by humans just like his sense of smell but he didn't let on as he was sure Reid would find that rude. Instead, he tried not to listen and finished his chicken stake.

"Yeah, I can call her. It should help." Reid said goodbye to the doctor, not that Hotch was meant to know that, and hung up only to turn his attention to Hotch. "I'm sorry but I have to go. My...my Mom, she's not well."

Reid stood and then fished about in his leather satchel for his wallet. As soon as it came into sight Hotch raised his hand in protest.

"I'll pay, I did invite you."

"Oh you don't hav..."

"No, I insist. My treat. I hope your Mother feels better soon."

He'd heard every word the doctor on the phone had said, get well soon would have just hurt Reid and so he offered his support without upsetting his darling Doru. His mother would never get well.

"Thank you. That's really kind."

With that Reid left the Vampire alone in the Night Owl Diner.

Spencer Reid sat alone in his book covered apartment, slumped on the couch looking down at his cell phone. Diana had been suffering an episode but he had managed to talk her down to the point that the doctors could actually help her. The episodes really took their toll on not only her but him as well, they were stressful and Reid hated seeing his mother like that. Diana had never been a bad mother, she'd never hurt him not intentionally anyway. She'd read to him as a child and taught him everything she knew. Yes, Diana Reid was a good mother in the grand scale of things and that was why it hurt him so much when she had an episode. It was like who she was got washed away in a schizophrenic flood and he was the only thing that could push back the water sometimes.

He knew she couldn't help them but he really wished she had chosen a better time, Reid had been with Doctor Hotchner, no Hotch, he corrected himself. The man with dark hair and eyes he could get lost in if he wasn't careful. At first in the exhibit Reid hadn't noticed, but when the older man stepped into the light Reid felt like all the air had been knocked from his lungs. Vasile. Spencer had endured dreams for as long as he could remember, childhoods hour. The dreams were always in the same setting, a castle high up and overlooking a great river. And there was always a man named Vasile, tall and strong with short jet black hair and hazel eyes. At first Reid had thought little of them, a child's mind was filled with imagination. However, as he grew older the dreams branched out and were no longer flashes and innocent words but kisses and deceleration of love. Reid was well aware he was homosexual but there was something about dreaming of Vasile that wasn't lust but... love.

Seeing Aaron had startled him somewhat, it had to be coincidence that his imagination of a solider he knew nothing about beyond his name and appearance, and The Hale Museum's Curator of The European Early Modern Era, looked exactly the same, HOtch was a little older but the features were still the same. Right down to the honey coloured ring around his iris. No, nothing but a coincidence, Reid tried to convince himself. The only reason I find Hotch attractive...attractivewas an understatement, sexy as hell would have been closer to the truth...is because he looks like someone I've dreamed about since I was a kid. Little kids have imaginary boyfriends, mine has just stayed with me, that's all. Reid sighed, he didn't believe a word his mind told him and so he decided just to go to bed. His talk with his mother had tired him out and Reid was at his happiest when he dreamt of Vasile.

It was Vasile's birthday and Doru had let himself into his lovers room with the intention of surprising him with a birthday gift; namely himself. Doru would have stripped and sprawled seductively on the bed but he knew how much Vasile enjoyed removing his clothes and so he had decided to keep his clothes on. Training only went on until three o'clock and so Doru would only be kept waiting for a few moments longer. He chuckled to himself thinking about how Vasile would go from battling Ion Miklos to bedding his son. Suddenly the door opened revealing the very last person he wanted to see. Safiye. Even though Doru knew he would always have the knight's heart he couldn't help but hate Safiye for she would bear him children and get to kiss him in front of everyone else.

"What are you doing in here? You should not be in here." She demanded an answer.

"I need to speak with Vasile. And why are you in here, you should not be here either."

It was true, neither should have been in someone else's bedchamber without permission but Doru knew Vasile would prefer to find him there rather than Safiye.

"I am to be his wife." Doru felt himself cringe. "I can do as I like. And I do not appreciate a barbarian's son telling me what to do. Now get out before I have you thrown out."

Doru hated her even more after that sentence. Still he left Vasile's rooms without protest, there was something evil that surrounded Safiye and Doru had no intention of angering it. Safiye followed him out, after all he was right she had no business being in there.

"I think I will go and watch my betrothed finish training." She said with an emphasis on the word 'my'.

She got to go and watch Vasile while Doru just went to the library and cried.