Author's Note: Hey guys! So bear with me, this chapter is sort of a filler, just to establish some clarity for some of the character's feelings and emotions as of right now. I promise the chapter after this will be longer, and better and have some serious Garcia/Avery time. So review this chapter and let me know what you think!

Oh and I don't own Criminal Minds, Doctor Who, or any characters from any of those shows!

Chapter 12

Hotch's POV:

All morning I'd thought long and hard during my meeting (not really paying attention to too much else) about what I wanted to say. I agonized, dreading the conversation. I'd figured there were basically two ways it could go. On the one hand, I could tell Reid that it was completely inappropriate for him to ever consider pursuing a relationship with Avery. In truth, I liked that plan for the simple fact that it would work; there was no way that Reid would ever consider even really speaking to Avery after that. Their conversations were already getting too personal for my liking. Even though they'd only known each other for a day, I'd seen that things were moving too fast with them; it was only a matter of time before they made a step forward. The thought alone terrified me. I just got Avery back, I wasn't about to let her be swept away by someone else. However I liked Reid, and I was certain that type of confrontation would not only make things awkward between us and the team, but it would hurt him as well. I liked Reid, I didn't want to hurt him.

On the other hand, I could tell Reid that I'd saw the way he looked at Avery, and that I was okay with it. In that case I'd also have to give the fatherly 'if you hurt her, I hurt you' speech; which I admittedly had always wanted to give. Before Haley and I had found out that we were going to be having a boy I'd imagined intimidating my daughter's future suitor; no one could manage a scary face like I could, and I knew it. I'm sure that would be completely effective in keeping Reid in line, but it wasn't a conversation I was sure I wanted to have with Reid.

The truth of what I wanted lied somewhere in the middle. As much as I didn't want Avery to be distracted from our family by any man, I also realized that I really didn't have a say in that area of her life. If she were going to be involved with a man, why not Reid? Reid was about as innocent and sweet as a person could be; maybe he was the lesser evil in this situation.

Spencer looked, to put things mildly, flustered. As I explained what we were going to be talking about her, his eyes got wide and he turned pale. I indicated that he should sit in one of the chairs in front of my desk, and he shakingly made his way over. As he sat, I noted that he was biting his nails more than usual. I softened a little bit, knowing that he was just as anxious (maybe even more anxious) than me.

"Reid, calm down. I'm not angry", I said gently. It was the truth. I was confused, apprehensive but not angry. He seemed only slightly placated by this; he stopped biting his nails, but the color had not yet returned to his face. "I just want to speak to you about Avery. I know it's maybe a bit premature, but I just want things to be clear".

"Okay", he said nodding and clearing his throat. He looked down, then looked up with an expression I knew well. It was the face he often made in the field. The face made when he was preparing himself for bad news, for something he didn't want to hear. I felt a little sick at the realization that it was being directed towards me. I nervously cleared my throat as well.

"Reid. I see the way that you guys interact. It doesn't take a profiler to see that you guys are…interested in each other", I ground out. We both awkwardly shifted in our chairs; this really wasn't a conversation either of us wanted to be having. "I wanted to let you know that, as far as I'm concerned, that it's alright. I'm not going to interfere with whatever happens. I may be your boss, but that's not my job". Reid let out a long breath that I hadn't known he was holding. Most of the color returned to his features, and I leaned back, satisfied that he was relieved.

"I want you to know however, that though as your boss it's not my job to interfere with your personal relationships it is definitely my place as Avery's uncle", I continued firmly. "And we both know, I'm not just her uncle. And she's got a lot going on right now, and as her uncle I also want to be sure that you two aren't going to jump into anything right now. Because if the last two days are any indication, you two will. Not that I have any serious reservations about that, but I need you to understand what her life is like right now and please try to take things more slowly". His face seemed to pale, then flush, but he nodded anyways. I appreciated his solemnness about this, he really did seem to be serious about Avery.

"Understood", he replied. Though I could tell he was still nervous, he looked me directly in the eyes. I nodded as well.

"Good. Now let's get back to the rest of the team. They're prepared for a lot of things, but two kids on a sugar rush? Not exactly their area of expertise", I chuckled, standing up. Reid managed to crack a small smile as he stood up as well, and I clapped a hand on his back as we headed to the door, but I frowned, feeling as if I'd forgotten something. Suddenly I remembered, stopping dead in my tracks and smirking. I still had to give Reid my fatherly warning. As he opened the door to my office, he gave me a questioning look. Smirk firmly in place, I walked past him and started down the stairs. That conversation could wait for another day, and I'd be damned if I wasn't excited for that day.

Spencer's POV:

As Hotch and I walked to the break room I couldn't help but try to internally slow my thoughts and my heartbeat, which were both racing a mile a minute. I knew that I was eventually going to have to face Hotch, but I had never expected for things to happen so soon. Nor had I ever expected things to go quite so…smoothly. Not only had Hotch admitted that he basically had no problem with Avery and I as my team leader, but he'd also seemingly said that he had no problem with Avery and I as her surrogate father. The thought alone was baffling, but also extremely relieving. It didn't mean anything had changed between Avery and I, but in a strange way I felt like it definitely had. I felt like I could be able to pursue however it was I was feeling without reservations. The amount of stress that I'd felt before our talk had been unnerving, and now I felt like I could breathe freely again. The simple knowledge that I was free from the pressure Hotch's disapproval was completely liberating.

Did this mean that anything had changed between Avery and I? I mean I was sure of my feelings, but they were the exact same feelings that I'd felt yesterday and this morning. The entire time I'd known Avery I'd always harbored strong feelings for her; Hotch had made it seem as though I was going to have a relationship with Avery, and every time he'd alluded to such a relationship I'd felt my heart lift and flutter. Clearly I felt strongly enough for Avery to want a relationship, but did she? Hotch was right, there was a lot changing in her life right now, why should I even consider a relationship with her right now? Was that what I was even doing? I'd only known her for a short time, it did seem too fast to even give a shadow of possibility of a relationship.

It seemed as though my conversation with Hotch had brought me more questions than it did answers. Although my thoughts were still racing, my heart had seemingly calmed down to a normal rate before we entered the break room. Inside, to my amusement, we indeed had found the two boys in what seemed to be the height of a sugar rush. The boys were running around the various tables, with chocolate all over their faces, yelling about screwdrivers and telephone boxes. I chuckled and smiled for the first time since my talk with Hotch; Henry had clearly taught Jack about the Doctor. The boys finally rounded the table closest to the door, and immediately ran into Hotch and I. They looked up at us, with sheepish expressions dominating their small faces.

"Sorry Arrow, sorry Spencer", Henry said. The look on his face told me that he was genuinely sorry for running into his uncle and I; he was such a sweet kid. Avery was a lucky girl to have such a good boy.

"Daddy! Henry was telling my all about the Doctor and we were playing and I guess I was the alien and Henry he almost, he almost got me but...", Jack babbled incessantly to his father. One thing was certain, Jack hadn't inherited Hotch's knack for silence. While he was babbling to his father, who was listening with rapt amusement, Henry turned to me.

"Spencer will you play Doctor Who with us? You can be the Doctor cause you met him", he said with a hopeful expression. I laughed at him, his chocolate covered face and earnest expression practically made my decision for me. How could I resist?

"Course I will Henry", I said, kneeling down to his level. "But how about we wash your face first? You look like the cupcake may have missed your mouth entirely". At this, he giggled and I heard a different, more melodic giggle from behind me. I turned to see Avery and Rossi standing in the doorway, Rossi holding Amelia. One look at the smile dominating Avery's beautiful face was enough to make my stomach erupt in butterflies.

So much for slowing down my heartbeat.

I straightened up, facing Avery, and smiled back at her. She came over to where we stood, and placed herself quite close to me, our arms touching.

"He's right Hen, did any of that cupcake make its way into your lil tummy?" she questioned him as I tried, in vain to control my heart. It was beating so loudly, I was sure that everyone in the room could hear it. Henry giggled, along with Avery and I, as he nodded his small face.

"Based on the way they were running around before I'd say he definitely got some sugar in him", I managed to say, despite feeling breathless at the way Avery stood so close to me. Granted, she'd stood much closer to me this morning, but it appeared I'd never really get used to her presence in close proximity. I wasn't sure I even wanted to. But as I watched the way that Avery joked around with her brother while she took care of his messy face, I was sure that Hotch was right; I definitely wanted a relationship with Avery. I didn't know when, or how, or even if anything would happen, but in this particular moment I was convinced that I was willing to do almost anything to try to make it work.