"New Year"
December 31, 2012
Charlie smiled at the sight of his family in his living room, laughing as Colby regaled them with a story about a recent arrest where their perp thought he could outrun him. They could never outrun him. He was looking forward to the New Year – their new addition, in particular. Yet, there was a part of him that was saddened. He couldn't help but think about Spencer. The team, himself included, had been completely stunned when he told them what he told Maeve. Charlie felt for him, for the fact that he was complied to make that choice. He also felt guilty for teasing him about Lila a few years ago. As a man of logic, he saw the sound reasoning behind Spencer's decision. As just a man, however, he wanted his little 'brother' happy.
That had been nearly two and a half months ago. He was dying to know their relationship status, but he also didn't want to pry that information out of the younger man. He was trying to remain optimistic since he had witnessed the love shining from both of their eyes that day. Not remotely scientific, but he was holding on to it until he was told otherwise.
"You okay?" Charlie looked over to see Liz standing next to him. "You seem distracted. Worried about baby Eppes?"
Charlie smiled. "I'm okay, although, yes, distracted. Not about baby Eppes though."
The agent tilted her head. "What's up?"
He shook his head. "Just wondering how Spencer's doing, how 2013 might be for him." Liz smiled and nodded, shoulder bumping him before heading back to the rest. She could tell it was best to let that be, to leave the mathematician to his musings for now.
+ - x / + - x / + - x / + - x /
Reid climbed the stairs to his apartment, worn out from the last case in Texas. At least it distracted him from the fact that he still desperately missed Maeve. He couldn't believe it had been 67 days. He knew that she had to take as much time as she needed, but it had been the longest 67 days of his life. After having weekly phone calls and letters with her, he hadn't realized just how big of an adjustment it would be to go back to solitude. He wouldn't change anything; just knowing she was alive and free from her nightmare was worth it. He just missed her.
Now he was about to start 2013 alone. Just like every year. He had begged off Garcia and Morgan's attempts to get him to join them at a party. If he was going to be alone, he'd rather do it with a book than in a crowded bar. As he turned to face his door, he blinked when he noticed a package propped up against it. He bent down and picked it up, noting the simple wrapping with a small cloth bow wrapped around it and no label. He was quite curious and quickly opened his door, tossing his bags down by his couch before peeling back the paper.
He smiled when he saw The Narrative of John Smith under the paper. He bit his lip and opened it, wondering if there was a note. He couldn't stop the smile that crossed his face when he recognized Maeve's handwriting.
Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone. We find with another. –Thomas Merton
He barely had time for that to fully sink in before he heard a knock on his door. He took a deep breath as he set the book down on the back of the couch and headed to the door. One more breath and he opened it; his heart soaring was he took in her beautiful, smiling face.
"Hi," she greeted.
He grinned, "Hi." He paused, "You came back."
She nodded. "I hope my gift shows you I'm not going anywhere."
Reid bit his lip, wanting nothing more than to kiss her - their first kiss - but he wanted to be sure. "Are you sure you've had enough time to think clearly about this?"
Maeve smiled and nodded. "I'm ready, Spence. I'm back at work, adjusting, but back. I've seen my parents; moved into a new place." Her smiled faded some to show she was serious. "Got closure with Bobby. He could tell I had moved on before I had even opened my mouth. Told me he could see it in my eyes, Spence. That I had found someone and that it wasn't him." She reached over and took ahold of his hand. "You know those other women you mentioned?" Reid nodded. "The difference between them and me is that they only met you for a short time, during their crisis. They didn't get to know you like I did, like I do." She ran a hand through his hair, resting it on his cheek. "I know what's in here," her finger gently tapped his temple before her hand slid down and rested on his chest, over his heart. "And in here."
Her words – her touch – were all he needed to hear and feel. Reid closed the distance between them, gently cupping her cheek with his free hand. When their lips met, it was gentle, sweet, and full of promise of a future together. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, seeing her love shining in them. It was different than any other look he'd been on the receiving end of and it made his heart race. "I've missed you."
Maeve smiled, "I've missed you Spence. I love you."
"I love you too Maeve," he whispered back before their lips met once more. So much for starting the New Year alone; he couldn't be happier to be wrong.
+ - x / + - x / + - x / + - x /
Charlie laughed as Larry attempted to draw something for Nikki and his dad to guess during a round of Pictionary. The agents had decided they didn't want to attempt poker with the professors so this became their game to play while they counted down to 2013. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Fishing it out, he grinned at the caller ID and quickly excused himself outside.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Hi Charlie."
The mathematician blinked at hearing a woman's voice when his caller ID had said 'Spencer Reid' on it. The particular voice that he heard made his heart so happy. "Maeve?"
"Yes, sorry for the confusion. Spence thought it would be funny if I called you from his number."
Charlie chuckled softly. He could easily deduce what that meant. "I've never been more grateful to be confused."
"Thank you, Charlie."
He raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For pushing Spence to push me into letting you all help. You have no idea how great it feels to finally have my life back. Actually, to have it even better than it was before," she answered. Reid squeezed her hand as they sat facing each other on his couch. It was nearly one AM in DC and the new couple had brought in 2013 traditionally, Reid enjoying his first ever New Year's kiss. After savoring the moment for a while, the first person the profiler had wanted to tell was his old professor.
"You are so very welcome," he answered and then paused. "Maeve, take care of him. He's like a brother to me."
"I will Charlie, I promise." Reid raised an eyebrow at that, curious.
"It's our turn, Charlie," Amita commented, sticking her head out the door.
He nodded and Maeve heard that as well. "I'll let you go, Charlie. I'm sure Spence will call you again soon. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year to you two as well." They said their goodbyes and looked back at their loves.
Both geniuses, each on a different coast, were thinking about how amazing this next year was going to be.
A/N: First of all, I'm glad so many of you were perfectly okay with how that went down in the last chapter. Secondly, I didn't want to drag that relationship drama out too long but give Maeve what seemed like a reasonable amount of time to get closer to normal. You didn't think I would actually keep them apart, did you?
Since that is now resolved, this story will go back to its normal focus – our geniuses. Remember this is about Reid and Charlie's friendship, so don't expect a lot of Reid/Maeve. This relationship will, however, change the dynamics of our bromance and the trajectory/life choices made by Reid that would not have occurred if she had died as she did in canon. But I still think there are a couple of things they can talk about for the remainder of season 8 and through season 9. I've written the final chapter and this story will be ending right before season 10 of CM, which will be explained at that time (so 6 more chapters to go).