"Yawza!" an overly perky voice shouted from the intercom. To Spencer she sounded like an even more hyper version of Garcia, if such a thing was possible.

"Hello, Ashley?"

"The one and only. Now the question is, who praytell are you? I ask you, do you come in peace? Do you mean to try to use swarmy sales tactics to try to finagle me into purchasing an item for which I have no real usage or interest? Are you going to try to kill me? But more importantly, are you sexy?"

"I suppose your sister thinks so," Spencer said, unable to hold back the laughter.

"Oh my mother-****ing Gawd! Are you Spencer?! Like the Spencer? As in the drop dead gorgeous FBI, Men-In-Blackish agent my sister has the privilege of boning on a regular basis?"

"I don't know about all that, but my name is Dr. Spencer Reid," Spencer replied, his face turning redder and redder by the second.

"Well then get your sexy a** up here! I just have to meet you! Well, hold on a minute while I get dressed. I tend to prefer to spend my alone time in the nude and...."

Spencer laughed, his face burning into a shade of red he didn't know existed. After a few minutes, she buzzed him into the building. He walked inside and climbed the two flights of stairs that led to her apartment. Even if he had any confusion as to which apartment was hers, which he didn't, any such thoughts would have dissipated at the sight of the petite, curvacious, thankfully clothed, brunette waving wildly in his direction. He walked towards her and was immediately enveloped into her arms. After a few moments, she stepped back and studied.

"You're even sexier in person. My sister has impeccible taste," Ashley said, studying him appreciatively.

"Thank you," Spencer said, giving an awkward laugh. Although Lila and Ashley were polar opposites in looks and personality, they managed to share the questionable trait of insatiable lust cast in his direction. He didn't quite understand it, but he was grateful that she was happy to see him.

"Please come in," Ashley said, stepping aside so Spencer could do just that. "please excuse the mess. The higher ups let me do a majority of my work from home so...."

"Don't worry about, Ashley. I'm just thankful you're willing to meet me on such short notice," Spencer said reassuringly.

Spencer looked around the apartment as Ashley went to retrieve drinks and snacks for them. She lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of New York City that was as colorful and lived-in as Lila's penthouse was stark and cold. To him, Ashley's place reminded him of Mardi Gras, Christmas, and the Fourth of July thrown into a blender. He could see a large desk, as well as a bulletin board and generously sized eisel in the main living room, which served as mostly her office/work area. Fabric samples and color swatches were on her desk, as was a notepad with sketches of rooms she was designing.

Although there was a lot going on in terms of color and activity, it had an organized chaos feel to it. Ashley was the kind of person who could approach an overwhelming pile of clutter and dysfunction and immediately spot the items she needed. On the other hand, she was also someone who would find herself in a tizzy if her space was disturbed in any fashion, and claim if her space was clean she wouldn't be able to find anything.

Spencer was studying the photographs on her wall, of which there were many. The ones that stood out most were of her and Lila. Although Lila looked uncomfortable and out of place with her father, stepbrother, and half brothers, she looked very much at home and at peace with her younger half sister. He was admiring a photograph of the two of them at a film premiere when Ashley came back into the room with a tray. Although Lila tried to keep herself covered, Ashley looked totally at ease in a pair of camouflage shorts and a brown wife beater.

Her dark brown hair was pulled into a ponytail and Spencer could see a toe ring on her left toe, as well as a rather unusual tattoo on her left leg. It was a green vine with several little monkeys swinging from it. It started at her ankle and wrapped its way to her calf. Spencer raised his eyebrows as she set the tray on the coffee table. He could see cans of Cocoa Cola, as well as well as a bowl of chocolates. They sat down on her sofa and Spencer picked up one of the cans. He watched as Ashley did the same, twisting off the metal part in the process.

"When did you get the tattoo?" Spencer asked, wanting to get to know her better.

"When I was sixteen. I went to a tattoo parlor with a fake ID and for the low, low price of $400 I became the lifelong custodian of George & company. Mom and Dad were kind of pissed, given the fact I was underage and I used Dad's credit card, but oh well. It was sooo worth it. I was grounded for a month, but that didn't stop me from getting this."

Before Spencer could say a word, Ashley turned her back to him and lowered her shorts slightly to show off another tattoo. Spencer stared at it thoughtfully.

"It's....nice," he finally offered, not quite knowing what to say in reaction to seeing his girlfriend's sister's backside.

"You know what it is right?" Ashley asked, pulling her shorts back up.

"I must confess I didn't get that close of a look. The idea of staring at my girlfriend's sister's backside makes me a little uncomfortable."

"It's a tramp stamp you goober," Ashley said with a giggle. Spencer raised his eyebrows and Ashley continued. "I didn't get it because I'm a tramp. I mean, I guess I can be depending on who you ask and what I'm drinking, but mostly I just got it to piss off my parents."

Spencer laughed and shook his head, taking a sip of cola. "I'm most excited about the monkeys, though. I have loved primates ever since I was a little girl. I can really relate."

"Do you make it a habit to fling your feces at other people on a regular basis?" Spencer asked, reaching into the candy dish.

"Only if it's at Lila's horrible screwy bitch of a mother. I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me because I can be a wonderful person, but I hate that woman's f***ing guts and would love nothing more than to set her on fire."

"How could anyone garner a wrong impression based on that statement?" Spencer said rhetorically, savoring a truffle.

Ashley chuckled and popped one into her mouth as well. "What's in the bag?" she asked, gesturing to the shopping bag Spencer set beside the door.

"Oh, I just wanted to get you a little something," Spencer said bashfully, handing it to her.

"Oh Spence, how did you know gifts were a requirement for coming to visit me?" Ashley joked as she peered into the bag.

The first thing she noticed was a bouquet of Calla Lilies, her favorite flower. She took them out of the bag and gently placed them on the table as she looked at her other goodies. As much as she loved the flowers, she squeeled with delight as she pulled out package after package of cookies, candy, and various types of chocolates.

"Lila mentioned your insatiable sweet tooth," Spencer said.

"Spencer, my love, we are going to get along just fine," Ashley said, throwing her arms around him and giving him a hug.

"Good," Spencer said, relieved that their vist was going so well. "it's important to me that I make a favorable impression on the important people in Lila's life."

"Oh, dude, I'm so glad you said that. Do I have plans for you," Ashley said, suddenly looking inspired.