12. Cider - Pairing: Morgan/Reid


Spencer sighed as he dropped another bag of decorations from Garcia's car on the couch. "Is this it?" he called out to her.

"Yes!" she replied ,making her way from the kitchen, Derek following after her. "Thank you for helping, 187!"

Spencer gave her a smile before stretching his arms a bit. "Don't know why I was doing all the heavy lifting," he mumbled, shooting a glare in Derek's direction.

"You're the one who needs to exercise his arm after getting shot a few weeks ago," Derek told him, walking over and wrapping an arm around his waist, kissing the top of his head.

"Which I'm still angry at you for," Garcia commented as she began to unpack the bags.

Spencer rolled his eyes and leaned into Derek. "I'm pretty sure this wasn't the exercise my doctor intended," he said, watching the growing pile of decorations on his couch. "I still don't know why we're hosting the holiday party this year," he added, looking to both Garcia and Derek.

"Rossi's redesigning one of the rooms in his mansion, and we have the next biggest space," Derek said.

"You really didn't know?" Garcia asked, turning to him with a raised eyebrow.

"I think it was decided upon when he was sleeping on the jet," Derek spoke up.

"And you never told him about it?" Garcia asked, sounding skeptical. "That was two days ago."

"I guess I forgot," Derek said with a shrug. "It's not like I told him this morning-"

"But you did tell me this morning. You woke up me up an hour before I wanted to be, on our day off might I add, and told me to help you clean the house," Spencer said, cutting him off.

"I had other things on my mind," Derek said in his defense, making eye contact with Spencer.

Spencer then blushed as he recalled the memories from the past few nights. "Still would've been nice to have a little more warning."

"Well, you're off decorating duty, how about that?" Derek asked, chuckling slightly.

"Can I take over the kitchen then?" Spencer asked, hope filling his eyes.

Garcia went to object, not knowing how Spencer was in the kitchen, but Derek spoke before she got the chance. "All yours!" he replied and pulled Spencer in for a kiss. Spencer grinned as he pulled away and walked to the kitchen, locking the door behind him.

"He's doing all the cooking?" Garcia asked, eyeing the locked door. "I know he's a genius, but does that translate to cooking?"

Derek grinned. "You'll find out later tonight."

Garcia sighed and went back to the decorations. "Luckily this is also a pot-luck," she mumbled under her breath.

Derek heard her and rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, Mama, everything's going to be fine."


Later that night, the BAU team had gathered at Derek and Spencer's house. Rossi had brought an assortment of Rossi family recipe cookies. Both Emily and JJ had contributed some apple and pumpkin pies that they had made together. Hotch brought spinach artichoke dip along with the appropriate dipping foods. Garcia had contributed eggnog, along with an assortment of hors d'oeuvres.

The highlight of the food table had been the cider that Spencer had presented after spending the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen. Originally, everyone had been a bit hesitant as no one, other than Derek, had experienced Spencer's cooking.

"Is it safe?" Rossi had joked.

Derek rolled his eyes and gotten a glass for himself, being a bit over dramatic as he took a sip and grinned. "Pretty Boy, this is your best recipe yet!"

Spencer grinned and wrapped his arms around Derek. "There, see? Not poisoned," he said, jokingly glaring at the rest of the team.

The team chuckled and the cider was passed around. After a few minutes and hesitant sips, everyone looked over at Spencer, shocked.

"You made this from scratch?" Rossi asked.

Spencer smiled. "It had started as a home economics project I was forced into in order to graduate in high school. The teacher was shocked, though, and it ended up being a hit. I made it a few times for the school's Christmas parties, even after I graduated."

"Then you're definitely making it from now on," Emily announced as she poured herself another glass.

There was a round of agreements from the rest of the team and Spencer couldn't get the grin off his face.

"Good job, baby boy," Derek said, kissing Spencer's temple.