Hey everyone, here is the next chapter for you all. I hope you like this chapter and I've decided that Beth won't come into this story. Some of you don't want her in here and I'm not familiar with her character enough to write her in comfortably. I hope that this is okay. I adored writing the end of this chapter, I think that it's because most dances I've gone to ended up with me looking after someone drunk. My prom sucked too. It's not a prom in this chapter but just a nice dance. I love writing Maeve and Reid, I get a little buzz doing it. Regarding me ever writing a CM/ Sherlock crossover fic. Maybe, in the future but not yet. I'm open to it though. Enjoy and I'd love to hear from you all.

Thank you for all the reviews, you're amazing and I just adore you. I want to bake a bunch of chocolate cupcakes and give them all to you. Thanks!

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All mistakes are my own

Spencer opted to walk to school, there was no need for his dad to make two trips. As he came to the school, he pulled out his phone and sent a message telling Hotch that he had made it and he was fine. It was part of the deal they had made with each other. He could walk to school as long as he sent regular messages. He smiled as he watched Maeve get off the school bus. He waited by the tree as she came over. "Hey, Maeve."

"Hey, Spencer. It's a beautiful morning."

"It is," he smiled, he looked at her neck and found the necklace he had brought for her, gracing her elegant neck. "You're wearing the necklace."

"Of course, I am," she smiled at him. "I noticed you were a little quiet over the weekend. I didn't hear much from you. I didn't mean to scare you with what I said. I've just never felt like this around anyone before and never met someone like you. We can just be friends if you want."

"I'd like to become more than friends too," he said. "It's just-"

He hesitated before taking a deep breath. "Maeve, I had a really bad life before my dad came and rescued me. I've been hurt before in so many ways and I'm afraid that my past is going to get in the way and hurt you. My biological father is in prison and I know that he'll stay there. He tried to do something and they will put him away after the trial permanently. What I'm trying to say is, I'd love us to become more than friends, I thought about it all weekend. I just don't want my past to hurt you. I want to tell you the truth before you make any decisions. I've also never been with anyone before. My experiences when it comes to any kind of love haven't been good. Especially the one you know."

"Do you want to talk at lunch? We can talk all we want then. Spencer, nothing you tell me will scare me away. I'm more than happy to become more than friends. Don't be afraid of your past, look forward to a great future."

They sat together on the grass, under the tree and away from anyone that could overhear them.

"I'm ready to listen," she said gently.

"You know what my uncle did to me. It started when I was thirteen, he'd visit for a few days once a year and that is when it would happen. The last time it happened was four months before I met Hotch, my new dad. I still have nightmares. Since I was three, William, my biological father, beat me. He never did anything like my uncle but he was violent drunk most of the time."

"Where was your mother in all this?"

"She had paranoid schizophrenia," he said nervously. "I took care of her till she died. She, uh, she got murdered by the same man who tried to murder me."

"What?" Maeve gasped. "Someone tried to murder you!"

"That's how I met Hotch. A man was killing young men and my dad's team came to catch him. I had to walk home from school after someone slashed the tyres on my bike. The man, his name was Eric, dragged me into a bush and strangled me. He got interrupted but I was unconscious by then. I got taken to hospital where I met my new dad and he questioned me till William came. William signed me out and when we got home, he locked me in the closet. He used to handcuff me to a bar and put tape around my legs and over my mouth when I did things wrong in his eyes."

She put her arm around him. "Oh, Spencer."

"I won't tell you everything about Eric, just know that he got arrested and is now in prison. My dad brought me back here and he gained temporary custody of me."

He didn't ever want to tell her about his attempted suicide.

"I thought you said he was your adoptive dad."

"He is, well, the paperwork is almost through. He's my father now and I'm his son. I had some trouble adjusting to everything being so normal but coming here, I felt like I had a home but I was constantly afraid of being ripped away from it all. I went back to Vegas for my mother's funeral. I couldn't take the pain of saying goodbye so I left the ceremony to get some peace. William surprised me and kidnapped me from the funeral. He beat and burned me during that few hours I was with him. He tried to bury me alive. I begged him not to. He hit me in the head and then I woke up in hospital a few days later. During my recovery, Hotch began the adoption process. The faint bruises I had when I came here are from that. Maeve, I wanted to tell you all this because I don't want you to get hurt. I'd rather tell you this than have lies between us. I really like you, I did the first time I saw you. I understand if you want to walk away."

"I really like you too," she smiled. "I'm not walking away. Everything you've told me is in the past, a past that you've survived and come out stronger from. I'm not scared. I'm not going to get hurt because I know you'll be there to protect me. The fact you've told me the truth and that you trust me enough to tell me, means a lot to me. I know we've only known each other for a small time but I'd like you to be my boyfriend."

"I'd like you to be my girlfriend," he smiled at her.

"It's settled then," she giggled before leaning forward and kissing him. He kissed her back and stroked her hair behind her ear.

Two weeks later

Spencer woke up and smiled when he realised it was the day of the dance. He had gone to dinner at Maeve's house and her parents had amazed him. Her father had asked him about his intentions and he had answered that he just wanted to make Maeve happy. It turned out to be a good answer. He had taken the test for his IQ and now knew it was one hundred and eighty-seven and that he could read twenty thousand words a minute. The teachers were talking about moving him up after a while to the senior class. Deep down, even though he knew the educational benefits, he liked the normalcy of school. At his old school, he would have done anything to escape the bullying but here people were nice and the one person who had tried to hurt him, had permanently been expelled. He didn't want to skip grades anymore, especially as it meant taking him away from Maeve and not seeing her as much.

He got out of bed and washed his teeth, as he finished, he heard a thud come from down stairs. He heard Jack begin to cry. Rushing down the stairs, he found that Jack had fallen down a few of the stairs. Their dad was in the shower and probably had not heard the thud. He picked him up and carried him to the kitchen. "Jack, are you okay?"

Tears came down Jack's cheeks. "I hurt my head and my arm," he sniffed.

"Let me look," he said as he wiped the tears with a tissue. He checked Jack's arm and felt it. Nothing seemed broken and it looked like Jack would only have a bruise on his arm. He looked at his head and felt a bump on the forehead.

"Jack, follow my finger," Spencer said as he moved his finger side to side, up and down. He grabbed an ice pack and put it on Jack's forehead. "Do you have headache? Did you bump it hard?"

"A little," Jack said. "I slipped."

He heard the bathroom door upstairs open. "DAD! Can you come here?"

Hotch came down the stairs quickly and found Spencer holding the ice pack to Jack's head. "What happened?"

"He fell down a few of the stairs, his arm hurts but I checked it and I think he'll just have a bad bruise. He's got a little bump to the head but he remained conscious and followed my finger fine."

"Daddy," Jack said as he reached his hand up. Hotch came forward and hugged his son. He took away the ice pack and felt the bump, it wasn't a big bump but he'd keep an eye on him for the day. "You're okay, kiddo. Just keep that on your head."

"Spencer is like a doctor," Jack smiled.

"Dr Hotchner-Reid," Hotch said before placing an arm around Spencer. "Nice ring to it."

He knocked on Maeve's door and couldn't help the grin that came on his face as she opened it. She was wearing a cream coloured dress that flowed gracefully around her, she wore his necklace around her neck. "You look beautiful, Maeve."

Maeve laughed gently. "Thanks. You look handsome. Very 007."

"Garcia picked it out," he said. Her parents came to the door as she stepped out. "Hello, Mr and Mrs Donovan."

"Hello, Spencer," Mrs Donovan smiled. "You take good care of my daughter, you hear?"

"Yes ma'm."

"Back by eleven," Mr Donovan said.

"Yes, sir" Spencer nodded. "I have my dad and aunt chaperoning us, they volunteered to help with the dance. You don't have to worry."

"Off you go then," Maeve's mother said. Maeve kissed her parents goodbye. She held Spencer's hand as they made their way to the car where Garcia and Hotch were waiting.

He laughed as they danced together. He'd never had a night like this before, never in his life. He twirled her around and felt himself come out of his shell. They had enjoyed some drink and had their photo taken, sat down and talked for a while before coming to the dance floor. Garcia and his dad had kept an eye on him all night, he felt comforted by them watching over them. As the music stopped, he managed to catch his breath. A slow song began to play and he watched everyone come close together. He took Maeve's hands, awkwardly at first, till she placed them around her hips and put her arms around him. He danced with her and never stopped looking into her eyes, they swayed to the music. She rested her head on his chest and let his heart beat, be her music. She came away from his chest and kissed him. He kissed her back and they continued, not caring about anyone around them.

Hotch leaned against the wall with Garcia, he watched as Spencer and Maeve kissed each other, dancing away to a slow melody. He felt great joy as he watched his son dance with his girlfriend. A wonderful girl who had brought Spencer happiness. Garcia looked to him. "Hotch, are you crying?"

He blinked, wiped his cheeks and straightened. "No, I'm not. Just hot air."

"Aww," Garcia said gently before smiling. "I know, it's amazing. I've never seen him this alive either. I love him too and in my eyes, he's my nephew. He knows that. I'm struggling not to cry. Never thought I'd see you do it."

He laughed. "It's just after everything, he's dancing and having a great time. He deserves it. I'm just happy for him."

"I am too," she smiled before hitting his arm. "Now, stop getting so emotional. You're supposed to keep me from getting emotional."

They both laughed gently before looking up to watch Spencer again.

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