A/N: Spencer and Luke look for a place to live…

Chapter Thirty Two

Doodles Travel by Paper Planes

"We'll need place for all your books, so a proper study" Luke said before he took another bite of his Kung Pao chicken, savouring every bite as he sat on one end of the sofa across from Spencer, their feet legs meeting in the middle as they were enjoying their relaxing evening. His arm was still bandaged and it ached to move it but it wasn't nearly as painful as before, and he sort of matched Roxy curled up on the floor, who's injury had healed greatly but the small patch of fur was taking its sweet time growing back. Spencer meanwhile had his odd socks on proud display in their mix of legs on the couch cushions and eating his dandan noodles with a fork, the chopsticks not even attempted though Luke hadn't noticed yet how the genius avoided such utensils.

Spencer nodded, the pair had been going over what they were looking for in a new place and while Spencer's apartment would do it wasn't nearly right for the long run…and that's what they were discussing. Ultimately it had come about in regards to whether they wanted to rent or buy, being together they could really set up a foundation for their lives together and if they were going to buy the place had to be right for their individual and long term plans. "A garden for Roxy would be good, a decent place to go for walks…" Spencer said as he glanced down to the happy doggo nuzzling a chew toy and occasionally making it squeak.

"Yeah" Luke smiled, enjoying how Reid was thinking of the wants of the beloved pet "what do you think Roxy? sound good?" he asked as though she could understand him but she just looked up with the mention of her name and continued to wag her tail and happily receive a short scratch behind the ears. "At least one guest room…you got any preferences for the kitchen? it's not like it's my skill area" Luke joked about his own poor cooking as he took another bite of take out.

Spencer giggled, "hmm…you mean its' not of the utmost importance to you and your expert cooking experience to have an inbuilt chef grade double stove? proving drawers?" he teased.

Luke laughed too but then thought over the words "what's a proving drawer?" and Spencer's eyes looked thoroughly entertained by his cluelessness so Luke qualified "I've heard of it and I presume it's an actual drawer" which only made Spencer giggle more.

"It is a drawer" Spencer confirmed "it keeps the space warm, usually for bread making and getting dough to rise" he explained and saw Luke realise just what it was with a sheepish expression "and no, it's not a necessity in a new home" the genius concluded with a smirk.

They'd talked about budgets and with their joined incomes they were in a really good position to find a new home, plus there were a lot of new properties hitting the market around this time of year so it was entirely likely they would be moving soon which was fine by them, for some to jump in might be scary but for the happy pair of not only lovers but dear friends it would be a welcomed change. Luke was just happy for them to be talking about their wants in life, just a general implication here or there and it was enough, making enough space for whatever might come their way. There was something electric in the air about planning your future, nothing concrete, but it felt so damn good to have someone on the same page, holding up your wants equal to their own and with your most favourite person too.

"Okay…well you know me, I'm not fussy and can get by just fine in the wilderness so anything with you and Roxy in it is good for me" Luke said, and however cheesy it sounded he could say it was true.

Back at work Spencer and Luke arrived together and a smiling Penelope was waiting to greet them with coffees, she'd heard the good news the day before and was ecstatic for them, her feeling obvious on her grinning face. It was probably the only thing keeping her from fussing and reprimanding the newbie about getting hurt on the job. "Why hello my lovelies" she greeted and said "now what does mama want with her morning coffee?" making them chuckle, each kissing her on the cheek respectively as they received their coffees. "Sugar - correct" she smirked and then started her long string of questions about what they were thinking in regards to moving in together.

After explaining the fruits of last nights brain storm she heavily implied she would be looking on their behalf, also that she would be putting in a word with her dear chocolate thunder given his expertise in properties, and there was no arguing with her. Their day focused mostly on writing reports and other boring paperwork, Spencer getting through file after file at his usual break neck pace and getting lost in his reading. Luke was writing up his report around his injury, the tedious forms around it not exciting his brain as his eyes wandered around the bullpen and he eventually got lost in watching his very focused partner.

Spencer wasn't the standard idea of masculine, but when he studied words with confidence it was hard to explain, Spencer was a delicate form of handsome, his mind eventually summoning the word 'genteel', something noble in his pretty cheekbones and brilliant eyes. However many synonyms as he could list for all the ways he found Spencer to be desirable there was a childlike part of him that just wanted to define him as someone he loves to bits and that's enough. A cheeky thought occurring to him as he decided to indulge his youthful romantic side and plucked a piece of blank paper to use and started his silly idea, knowing Spencer would adore the stupidly sweet gesture.

Moments later the genius was so focused on his reports that he hadn't noticed until it was too late that he had caught anyone's attention and he snapped out of his work bubble when a small paper plane suddenly glided onto his desk. He paused a moment in surprise before looking up, glimpsing at a smirking Luke who immediately turned back to his work though his pen remained still, shaking his head Spencer smiled and noticed that over the fold in the middle the two halves of the wings met to create a love heart drawn in pen. It looked just like the sorts of things children would send to each other like love notes in class, not that he had ever had one given his age difference and awkwardness throughout schooling but he did recognise the behaviour.

Smiling at his boyfriend's cheesiness he carefully flattened out the plane to see another love heart drawn in the middle of the sheet with 'Luke + Spence' in the middle, even a little arrow hitting the heart and underneath was a note saying 'do you want to go steady?' and Spencer had to not laugh out loud but he couldn't help the goofy grin. Glancing up again at the playful ex-ranger again the man had been caught watching him before going back to pretending he was working and the good doctor felt his heart doing flips the whole thing was so cute.

When Luke received the paper plane back, the nose of it hitting his shoulder before he caught it with an amused grin and opened it immediately. Inside he saw Spencer had written a note underneath the previous one answering and playing along 'really? I thought you were going to prom with that Penelope girl from computing class?' and Luke too had to stifle the laugh at the ridiculous road their messages were taking. Writing and sending the plane back, this time hitting Spencer square in the chest and the young agent clumsily catching it before opening.

'Really! She's just a friend, besides I was her back up date - she's going to prom with that Phil guy. You're easily the cutest boy in school to me, please go steady with me?' came the adorable message lifted right out of a silly teenage crush movie. Smiling, Spencer read over the words and came up with a reply as well as a little something extra to add before carefully throwing it over, his throws not nearly as great as Luke's but he could make it well enough.

Luke caught the plane out of midair before it could go wayward and opened it to something utterly precious, not only was there the message saying 'Of course I'll go steady with you!' but also the cutest drawing he'd ever seen. It was small but delicately done, much like a mash up between the art styles for Roald Dahl's books and Tim Burton's doodles and for all it was simple it had a charming quality to it - it depicted a little house and through one of the windows could be seen a drawing of Luke lifting a dumbbell, then other had Spencer reading a book and the details of his wavy hair really got Luke's smile widening and in an upstairs window was a doodle of Roxy looking happy.

It was so lovely, especially as they were depicted living together as they were planning and it warmed his soul to see it captured in such a darling drawing, also just to discover the surprising little talent of the genius'. Turning in his spinny chair to look at the smirking young agent Luke knew he must be wearing the sappiest grin on his own face and he didn't care, instead he just exaggeratedly held the flattened paper over his own heart with his hand gesturing that he would hold the plane and messages dear and Spencer just giggled quietly at the silly and romantic display.

It took Tara walking by for Luke to finally pocket the plane in his bag carefully before returning to work, she eyed him curiously wondering what he was hiding as the shift in behaviour had been obvious and he was smiling a little too much but she ignored it, this time, and as she passed Spencer's desk seeing a similar grin she had to just assume it was them being cute dorks to each other as usual. She took some files up to Prentiss' office and before she could even knock on the open door to announce her presence she saw Emily and Jennifer watching through the glass at the bullpen, eyes lit up and practically cooing.

"What did I miss?" she asked quietly and Emily waved for her to properly enter the office.

JJ was quick to answer "they've just spent the last few minutes sending a paper aeroplane with messages to each other - how freaking adorable are they?" she beamed, her face had to hurt smiling as she was for so long but it got Tara joining them in the appreciative expression.

"I'm so tempted to send Luke a plane with the word 'dork' on it" Tara said, letting her own childish humour take over for the moment.

But it was Emily who said "I'm not writing 'dork' but I can't help myself…" the unit chief said gleefully as she grabbed a plain piece of paper and started writing on it a simple message and all three giggled and then decided whom amongst them had the best throwing arm for the plane to make its journey.

They decided on Tara once the paper was folded and she subtly stood by the office door making sure they weren't paying attention to her as she launched the simple craft. On it's journey it curled boldly enough through the room that it got both men's attention and landed on the floor between their desks and it was Luke who moved towards it curiously and exchanging a look with Spencer, both looked around for whom had thrown it but Tara had ducked back into the office out of sight in time.

Opening it the unidentified plane read a simple 'we see you' and a smiley face sticking it's tongue out drawn on it too. Luke showed it to Spencer before both heard a sudden burst of laughter and looked up to Emily's door where now all three ladies were boldly standing and having a giggle. Luke just smirked unfazed by it and both men joined in the giggles, the whole thing ridiculous and silly especially given they were all adults and FBI agents at that.

It was only a couple of days later, Spencer getting ready to head into work and only missing Luke all the more now they had decided to live together but hadn't actually done so yet, that he received a call from Derek Morgan. As Spencer was sorting his tie he saw the name light up the screen and he answered it with a friendly hello to receive an even cheerier "hey pretty boy, how's the house hunting going?" the question direct and to the point, but the warm tone in the man's voice was entirely welcome as Spencer continued to get fully dressed as mucha s possible in handedly.

"Uh, alright…we've spotted a couple places that look good but haven't viewed or picked anything yet" Reid answered honestly.

"Good" Derek said over the call in a way that Spencer could feel his friend smirking on the other end somehow "I've been looking around and there was a place I was thinking of buying for myself…but…" he stated to suggest and Spencer, while cautious, was happy to hear about a promising property.

"You like to renovate, Morgan…if it's a fixer upper I don't think it'll quite fit what we're-" he started to say but Derek was quick to interject.

"Nah it's all good, man" Derek said with confidence "don't get me wrong as a welcoming gift I might add some freebie upgrades but it's great already, I saw it just before Baby Girl called me about you looking for a place and it hit me - you'll love it" Derek recommended it and then offered "how about I make the call and you guys can go for a viewing, say Saturday?"

There was no harm in trying and it was even a little exciting, Morgan able to get excitable when it came to houses but if anything he could be overly critical given the amount of work he could do to them and see what he would improve about them. "That would be awesome, thanks Derek" Spencer said sincerely and looked forward to telling Luke when he saw him next.

"No problem, oh…and one more thing" Derek said.

"Yeah?"

Spencer again could tell his dear old friend was smiling as he heard the words "congratulations, pretty boy" followed by teasing kissy noises.

Meanwhile at Luke's apartment he was dressed and ready to leave but had stalled long enough to flip through the beloved photo album Spencer had gifted him, and them, at Christmas. He looked through the photographs and pressed flowers, tickets and receipts with fondness until reaching the next blank page and finding the perfect spot. Reaching into his work bag he pulled out the paper plane he hadn't had the heart to throw away or even take out of his bag until he knew for sure where it was going.

He'd sent the paper plane in a playful little gesture in a silly, happy mood and it gifted him a cute memory, and he knew that in years to come he would look back in the album and see the funny messages and the thoroughly charming drawing of them in their future house however illustrative the concept was on the paper, and remember this stage in their lives. He swore he fell in love with the man more and more very second he looked at the adorable little doodle, for all they weren't realistic in depiction the squiggles and lines were so expressive and purposefully done part of him wondered if the man could have made art for children's books.

Oh well, he supposed he would just have to handle being in a relationship with an endlessly talented genius whom loved him so much it made Luke's tough guy soul melt a bit at every sweet gesture - it was a burden he was willing to bare with a goofy grin and ready to say thank you for every day he got to wake up next to his beloved boyfriend, the reality of them only getting more and more real with every passing moment.

As Luke slipped the plane into its new home in the photo album and admired it for a while it was as though the universe was listening and he received a text from the very man he was thinking of. The text read 'Good morning, I was going to mention at work but couldn't wait, Morgan found a house he say's we should love and we can see it on Saturday. What do you think? Love - Spence x' and Luke beamed down at his phone though no one could see, beyond ready for the next chapter in their lives together.

Quote: "For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home."

― Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss