EDIT 8/16/13
A/N I'm sorry for my tardiness, life gets in the way sometimes. Okay well I put in some real fluff for you guys today or tonight where ever you are. :) As always I remain without criminal minds in my list of assets.
P.S. Keep in mind I am a math nerd.
"So where to first? Toys? Clothes? Any preference, kid?" Morgan asked as the duo stepped into the local mall. Spencer shook his head no from his comfortable position on Morgan's hip. "Alright then let's get the boring stuff out-of-the-way first, clothes."
Half an hour later, Morgan found himself in the middle of the children's department running out of arms. Spencer refused to be put down, but holding all the clothes was getting cumbersome. The two had picked out an assortment of different clothes for the boy, including some warmer clothing since it was already late September. Vegas may not be getting any colder but the east coast sure was.
"Hey buddy?" Morgan said as he kneeled to the ground. He set down all the clothing and turned to Spencer, "I can't hold all your clothes by myself, so I was wondering if you could hold all the stuff not on hangers? Like these shorts, and these jeans? Can you do that?" Spencer nodded. "Good" Morgan said as he picked up the unhung clothing and passed them to Spencer. Morgan then proceeded to pick up all the clothing on hangers.
"Alright. That's much better" Morgan commented. "Okay so we have shirts, pants, jackets. Let's grab some more underwear and socks and some pajamas."
Morgan and Spencer made their way towards that section of clothing. "Alright, can you hold these too?" Morgan asked handing Spencer a pack of underwear. Spencer nodded and grabbed the item. Morgan remembering Spencer's insistence on mismatched socks grabbed a pack of cartoon socks and an assortment of colored socks, "These okay buddy?" he asked. Spencer smiled and reached for the socks, nodding his head. Morgan smiled and handed the socks over, "Alright just some pj's and we are done with clothes."
After getting some pj's for the kid, Morgan headed to a cashier to pay for the clothing. Relief washed through him when he saw there was no line. He walked up to the counter and placed everything he was holding on the counter. Then he began to unload Spencer's arms, eventually everything was on the counter for the salesman.
Morgan couldn't help but make a threat assessment of the man. He was a white man in his late 30's, average build, blond hair that was beginning to bald, wrinkled clothing, and unshaved face. Has worked here for years, but he is obviously not a hard worker, hence the lack of manager status. He's separated from his wife, probably divorced from the tan line on his ring finger. In conclusion, Morgan decided he was no threat to Spencer.
"Lots of clothes here for the little guy huh? Did you find everything alright?" the man spoke as he was ringing up the clothes. Morgan noticed the sad look in the man's eyes at the small clothes. Definitely divorced, wife probably took the kids Morgan added to his profile of the man.
"Uh yeah thank you." Morgan responded. The man continued to ring up the purchases, eventually all was rung up and paid for. Morgan took the three bags in one hand, resettled Spencer on his hip with his other arm and made his way out of the store.
"Alright, Pretty Boy toys next?" Morgan asked, but Spencer didn't respond. "Spencer?" Morgan asked, turning his head to look at the boy. Spencer was looking off at the stores to their right, his eyes glued to the front display of a bookstore. "Spencer do you want to go in the bookstore?" Morgan asked. Spencer nodded frantically a large grin on his face. "Okay let's go" Morgan said and he turned to make his way to the bookstore.
Once inside, Spencer began to fidget. He was becoming very excited. Morgan smiled at the boy's energy, "Want me to put you down bud? You could look at the books easier that way."
Spencer nodded, but once he was on the ground he clung to Morgan's leg. Morgan sighed, "It's okay Spencer I'm right here. Why don't you hold my hand and we can go look at some books okay?"
Spencer nodded and loosened his grip on the agent's leg and gripped his extended hand instead. Together they made their way over to one of the bookshelves. Morgan had tried to lead Spencer to the children's section but the boy led them to the adult fiction section. Spencer ran his small hand over the books, tracing their spines until he found one that interested him.
Morgan sunk a look at the title, "Empty Planet?" Morgan asked with a raised eyebrow. Spencer looked up at him and smiled. He motioned for Morgan's ear, so Morgan crouched down next to the boy.
Spencer leaned over to whisper in Morgan's ear, "It's a science fiction novel about machines replacing human beings in the future written by David Hansberry but actually that's a pseudonym. The author's real name is Professor Ursula Kent. Many famous authors use pseudonyms. …." Spencer continued his rant on pseudonyms. "However they are not limited to the literary world." Spencer paused stopping his rant, sighing slightly he spoke again, "My mom didn't like this book…." Spencer trailed off.
"Well do you like this book?" Morgan asked. Spencer nodded. Morgan smiled, "Well then it looks like we gotta get it then." Spencer smiled and continued his way down the rows of books. By the end of their trip to the bookstore, Morgan had two more bags to carry full of 10 books. Morgan had to limit Spencer, so from his initial mountain of book. Morgan only bought: Empty Planet, The Narrative of John Smith, A Mathematician's Apology, Fermat's Last Theorem, two chemistry textbooks, Tristan and Isolde, The Parliament of Fowls, In Search of Lost Time and a poetry book. Spencer had given a little spiel about each book, though he still would only whisper in Morgan's ear.
Morgan smiled the entire time, listening to the boy speak with so much enthusiasm. Not only his passion behind the words, but the words themselves. The boy was a genius, beyond smart. The things he said blew Morgan away like, "Hardy uses apology in the sense of apologetics which is the discipline of defending or justification of a stance" when talking about one of the math books or at least Morgan believed it is a math book, but it doesn't sound like any math Morgan had seen before.
So as Morgan left the walked out of the bookstore he couldn't help but think, "My Spencer is one special boy. My special boy."
Once the two were out of the bookstore Spencer stopped walking. "What? Spencer what's up?" Morgan said turning to the boy. Spencer just lifted his arms indicating he wanted to be lifted. Morgan sighed, "Alright, hold on." Morgan scooped Spencer up and settled him on his hip. "Alrighty then how bouts we go get us some toys?" Spencer grinned and placed his head on Morgan's shoulder.
Morgan knew Spencer wasn't a regular seven-year old kid, and Spencer's choice in toys was no different. Spencer had picked out a jigsaw puzzle, and two more Lego builds. Spencer was holding the three boxes, while Morgan was struggling with the weight of the bags he had in one hand and Spencer in his other.
As they were walking towards the check-out, Spencer reached out to one of the selves. "What is it buddy?" Morgan asked. Spencer didn't answer, he just kept reaching toward the self. Morgan looked over and saw what Spencer wanted, "You want one of the collapsible spheres?" he asked.
Spencer shook his head and leaned up to whisper in Morgan's ear, "That's not what they are called. That is a Hoberman sphere. It was invented by Chuck Hoberman, and it's not really a sphere. Technically, it's an icosadodecahedron that means that it is made up of 20 triangles and 12 pentagons. It is actually an interesting solid in mathematics.…." Spencer continued for a couple of moments.
Morgan smiled at his little rant, "Well that is very interesting. So would you like a Hoberman sphere?" he asked. Spencer nodded. "Ok well I ran out of hands, as did you. Um so I'm going to put you down is that ok? I'll be right here the whole time."
Spencer looked extremely anxious and scared but he nodded his agreement. Morgan placed him on the ground, "It's ok bud, once we get this all paid for and in another bag I'll be able to carry you again. Ok?" Spencer nodded. Morgan picked up one of the spheres and lead Spencer to the check-out. Unfortunately there was a line and Spencer seemed to be getting more and more anxious.
Spencer's small hands were clutching the three boxes tighter and tighter as the line moved. His protector's presence was comforting but the people and noise were beginning to become too much.
Morgan sensed the anxiety and bent down to Spencer's level. "Hey buddy it's okay. See look only two more people and then it's our turn. Okay?" Spencer put his boxes on the ground and put his arms around Morgan. "Oh buddy it's okay" Morgan wrapped his arm holding the sphere around the boy.
Just as he did this a voice interrupted the moment, "Excuse me sir but the line's moving" a slightly frustrated voice sounded from behind the two.
Morgan turned his head to the source of the voice. A short, brunette woman was standing next to a rather tall balding white man. She was on the plump side, and she carried a few extra pounds as well. Both were dressed casually, but still in expensive well put together outfits. After his quick observation of the couple, Morgan spoke, "Oh, sorry about that. Little man here doesn't like crowds."
The woman gave a tight smile, and the husband answered, "Well looks like the next register is open, can you hurry it up?" he asked in a slightly hostile tone.
Morgan sighed. He really did not want to get angry over this or start something in the middle of a toy store, with Spencer so close. So he took the high road, gave a short nod at the couple and ushered Spencer and all their stuff over to the register. He set Spencer on the counter, and then went to put all their items on the counter as well.
The employee ringing up their order was a teenage girl. She smiled at Spencer then turned to Morgan, "Got yourself a well-behaved cutie pie" she commented. Morgan smiled at her and nodded. He got his wallet out and paid the girl.
He then turned to Spencer, "Thanks for sitting there so nicely, buddy" Morgan commented to the boy. Spencer smiled and lifted his arms to be picked up. "Alright up we go" Morgan said as he picked Spencer up with his one free arm. As they walked out of the store Morgan asked, "So want some lunch?"
Before Spencer answer a small growl escaped from his stomach. They both laughed, "Well then let's go get us some food" Morgan declared as he walked towards the food court.
Half an hour later the two found themselves in a corner table with an array of food. Spencer had never eaten half of what the food court offered and was simply in shock at the quantity of choices it provided. Morgan decided that they would try a little of everything. He didn't know how he was going to manage it, but eventually they got all their food to their table with a little help from two very nice old ladies.
Morgan was just finishing thanking them. The older of the two just hushed him, "Oh don't you worry. We just love seeing little ones happy" she said with a smile.
"Besides looks like lil britches needs to put some meat on those bones" the younger one laughed, "And a big stromg man like you needs to keep his strength up." She winked and gave Morgan's bicep a squeeze.
Morgan thought of an older Garcia and laughed at the woman. "Well thanks again, oh I'm sorry I never got your names."
The older one smiled and introduced themselves, "I'm Penny and this here is my younger sister Isa."
Morgan laughed again, "Penny as is Penelope?"
Penny nodded, "Why yes that is correct."
"Can you also guess Isa?" Isa asked with a smile.
Morgan continued to chuckle, "Um let's see …. nope I'm drawing a blank."
"Louisa" a small voice spoke up. The three turned to the voice's source, Spencer.
"Well typically Louisa is shortened to Lou or more often Lulu but Isa is also an acceptable informal moniker" Spencer spoke again in the same soft voice. He sounded slightly nervous, but not scared. Morgan was speechless. Spencer was speaking out loud, and in front of two people he had just met. Morgan was beyond happy.
"Why yes you little smarty. That is correct. Momma named me after Aunt Lou, so I couldn't take that nickname. Penny here actually dubbed me Isa" Isa answered.
"Well we are off. It was nice meeting you two. Take care" she said as she turned to leave.
"Yes do take care" Isa added.
"Thanks again" Morgan said as the two women left. He was still smiling. Those two had gotten Spencer to speak, and he was far past thankful. Turning back to Spencer, "So how about we dig in?" he asked. Spencer nodded and began to pick at the different foods. Morgan smiled at the boy. He was looking forward to spending as much time he could with this little boy.
A/N Okay so big math nerd here, hence A Mathematician's Apology and Fermat's Last Theorem and the Hoberman sphere. Seriously good books to read even if you aren't into math. Also some of the other books I used were from the show can you guess which and from what episode? Let's see anything else I want to talk about? Oh yes did you like Isa and Penny?