Ten years ago

"I can't believe you're not going to be back" Lauren complained as she spoke down the phone to her aunt who was currently in New York on a case, on the twenty forth of December.

"I know honey" Ellen spoke down the phone "but I will phone you in the morning…all the flights have ground to a halt here and there is no way out until the twenty sixth"

"Okay…okay" Lauren said

"Why don't you see if Spencer can come over? Then you won't be all alone" her aunt suggested, having an ulterior motive of course, it was the season of good will.

"Spencer said he is busy studying…he has exams at the start of the year" Lauren complained as she thought about sitting in the house by herself for a day that was supposed to be with family.

"Just give him a call Lauren. I doubt he would want to disappoint you" she laughed once and Lauren rolled her eyes;

"Goodbye Aunt Ellen" she said

"Have a good Christmas darling" her aunt said

"You too" and then she hung up and placed the phone back onto the worktop. She wandered back into the living room and looked at the large tree which stood proudly in the corner, its lights twinkling and the baubles glittering. Presents were stuffed under the tree and there was no one with her to open them the next day. Grumbling to herself, Lauren moved back into the kitchen and reached for the phone;

"Hello" Spencer answered

"I'm alone" Lauren stated

"Okay" he wondered where she was taking this conversation

"My aunt is stuck in NY because of the snow and so there is no one else here" she said

"I heard about the snow…it looked bad" Spencer stated

"Spence" Lauren snapped "would you pick up the hint? Come over to my house for Christmas"

"Lauren" he complained "I have exams"

"We both know you'll ace them and no one works on Christmas Day" she called his excuse

"The emergency services do" he replied

"Spencer" she warned him "just come round, please?" she begged him

"Fine" he gave in "give me half an hour"

….

"How are you not freezing? And that is my top" Spencer said when he saw Lauren walk back down the stairs on Christmas Eve, wearing only his top and some shorts whilst Spencer was still dressed in his pullover, white shirt and cream trousers.

"You left it at my house" she replied and brushed past him into the living room where the TV was playing to itself as Spencer went to check she had locked all the doors. Lauren flopped onto the sofa and curled her legs beneath her before Spencer walked back into the living room and sat beside her;

"Just because I left it at your house doesn't necessarily mean it is your automatic possession" he informed her and she rolled her eyes at him;

"Would you like me to take it off?" she asked, grabbing the bottom of the top and lifting it slightly as Spencer shook his head and turned red;

"It's fine" he squeaked "keep it"

"What do you think would happen if we opened the presents now?" Lauren asked Spencer who narrowed his eyes at the presents under the tree which Lauren was staring at.

"I think that defeats the whole point of Christmas" he admitted "and you're not opening them until tomorrow morning"

"Yes boss" she saluted him

"Spencer" Lauren shook his as she went into the spare room and saw him sprawled out on the bed. The bedside light was still on as Lauren moved over and jumped onto the side of his bed as he bounced up and down.

"What?" he grumbled and she frowned

"And a Merry Christmas to you too" she swatted him on the arm and he sat up, pushing his hair behind his ears

"Happy Christmas" he said and looked at the girl knelt in front of him

"You coming then?" she asked "Present time!"

"Alright, alright" he said and climbed from the bed whilst Lauren remained knelt on it until she suddenly bounced upwards and grabbed his hand, rushing down the stairs with Spencer in tow.

"How old are you Lauren?" he teased her

"Ten when it comes to Christmas" she admitted and handed Spencer the present she had bought him from under the tree;

"Why thank you" he said and began to unwrap it as Lauren opened up a present her aunt had bought her and she watched Spencer.

"Lauren…this is mad…how did you find these…?" Spencer gasped as he looked at the present and she winked;

"I have my ways" she smirked as he held a collection of Charles Dickens novels which were all first edition.

"Well you always say that you used to love them and yet they're not on your bookshelf at your apartment" she told him and he nodded.

"I know…my mother used to read them to me" he shrugged "but thank you"

"You're welcome" she said and Spencer crawled under the tree and searched for the present he had bought her. Lauren opened it quickly and in a small box there was a charm bracelet. She held it up delicately and her eyes went wide as she looked at it;

"Spencer…" she gasped and he removed it from her hands and placed it around her wrist;

"Each charm represents something…like the chess piece which is when we first met…the fish from that time we went up to San Francisco…then there is the card from the trip to Vegas…a rubber ring because we basically spent all summer in your pool…popcorn from that time you threw it everywhere watching horror films…and a slice of pizza considering that is our favourite take out" he explained to her and she then threw her arms around his neck.

"Glad you like it" he laughed and Lauren breathed in the scent of him;

"I love it" she replied simply.

….

Thank you to Coydog22 and Duchess of Lantern Waste for reviewing my previous few chapters. And thank you to Korethiopia321, I'm glad you like Reid and Lauren, he is my favourite character and shouldn't be single! It makes no sense, hope you enjoyed the Flashback and I will try and think of adding more in