Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds in anyway.

Notes: Damn, and here I was thinking I was FINALLY back on schedule! But I totally forgot on Monday with all the holiday hustle and bustle, but I'm here now. I hope you all had/are having a great holiday season! On another, actually related to the story, note - this one has SERIOUS SPOILERS FOR SEASON 6 and the plot line about Emily. So if you haven't gotten there yet (GET THERE, it's awesome!) read at your own risk.

Thanks to my fantastic beta Little Miss Artist!

Enjoy!

On We March
#9: Pancakes

Word: Pancakes
Season: Season 6 (spoilers)
Length: 750

Everyone has one little thing they simply go crazy over. And Morgan's – muscular, athletic, kickass Morgan's – was pancakes. And Reid – shy, awkward, brilliant Reid - made the best blueberry pancakes Morgan had ever had the pleasure of eating.

So without fail, every Sunday morning, or if they were on a case, the morning after they got back, Reid made a batch of blueberry pancakes. It became a bit of a tradition. A silly one, but one nonetheless. Besides the pancakes, Morgan also loved knowing that Reid was willing to go to so much effort for him every Sunday. Reid loved to listen to the mmmh's and oooh's as Morgan savored each bite and he loved knowing he could make Morgan so happy with something so simple.

So when Morgan had walked down into the kitchen eagerly that Sunday, he froze and his smile hit the floor.

He'd almost forgotten.

Reeling from the loss of Emily followed by her return and revealed lies, Reid had been strung out and confused. Instead of drawing together in times of hardship, Reid had pushed away. It wasn't a break up, but a "temporary separation" as Reid had so eloquently put it. To put it simply, he needed to step back and evaluate his relationships with his friends and his place on the team and he needed to not have to worry about maintaining face for Morgan.

"It's not about you," Reid had assured him. "I just need some time by myself to figure this mess out."

So Morgan gave him time and space and pretended he wasn't falling apart inside. He was hurt by Emily's death and return almost as much as Reid, but he understood. Tried to anyway. Trying not to think about it had seemed the best approach because if Morgan thought about it too much he got mad and upset, not only on his behalf but, having seen what it had done to Reid, on Reid's behalf as well. They were supposed to be a team!

He missed Reid much more than he expected, especially considering it was only a "temporary separation". The missing pancakes were just the icing on the cake.

Sitting down to a breakfast of bland coffee and boring corn flakes, Morgan read the paper and tried to be interested.

~CM~

Morgan flicked his eyes open to stare at the bedroom ceiling. Monday, it was Monday. He had to face the team and, more importantly, Reid, whom he hadn't seen since Friday evening and Reid had explained his need for space. He could call in sick, just lay here all day. It was tempting.

That was the coward's way out though and reports needed to be filled and lives needed to be saved. In other words, he had a job to do. Glancing at the clock, Morgan realized he had just enough time to take a shower if he hurried. Deciding to make some coffee before getting in the shower, he got up and headed down stairs.

"What…?"

"Morning," Reid said casually, as though it was normal to spontaneously show up in someone's kitchen. He was sitting at the table drinking coffee, reading the paper, and nibbling on lightly toasted toast. On the opposite side was a plate of blueberry pancakes, butter and syrup sitting at the ready, and another cup of coffee. "I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to get up," Reid said without looking away from his paper.

"Um…Reid?" Reid looked up at him, toast posed for a bite.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing here?" Reid's casual face fell and was replaced by self-doubt.

"Oh…I'm sorry. I should have asked before just showing up. I can go if you want," he said, rising from the table. Morgan stopped him just as Reid scooped up his coffee cup for a last sip.

"Reid…Spencer, no. I want you to stay, I'm just confused. I thought you wanted-"

"I know what I said. But this weekend…I was really lonely and I realized the only thing keeping me together through this…was you. And while I do need to figure this out, I need you to help me do that. Who knows, maybe you need me a bit too. By that time, I'd already missed Sunday morning so I high-tailed it over here early and made the pancakes. You're a really deep sleeper by the way, and sometimes you snore."

"I do. Need you, that is. I don't snore. And I'm really glad you're here."

"Then have a seat." Morgan complied, eagerly digging into his delicious as always, homemade pancakes.

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