Author's Notes: First thing's first: I know it's been a little over a month since my last update. Following my father's passing, I had to help my mother with all the necessary paperwork for the important matters under his name along with her occasional emotional times as well as my own. I was still trying to write in between those times, but of course, those loose ends had to be tied up first.

Now that all of those loose ends have been tied up and I have had time to clear the remaining fog in my mind, I ended up writing this little piece out of the blue when I began re-watching Criminal Minds on Netflix. I created the OC, whom I named Annette Lennox back during my community college years, but considering where my mindset was at the time, I put her on the back burner and thought I would never write for this fandom in my future. After re-watching a few of my favorite episodes, I decided to bring her back and take the plunge after revising her profile. I have been a nervous wreck all day while I was at work, thinking that I might have screwed up Reid's character, and I really hope I didn't, especially considering it's been years since I watched the show before recently. So, I hope you guys enjoy this piece. The title is accredited to the song of the same name by the band Skillet.

"Love is the hardest habit to break, and the most difficult to satisfy."

-Drew Barrymore

She twirled a strand of her shoulder length, dark brown locks around her finger as she sat idly on the bench and enjoyed the gentle breeze that blew by. Despite the serene and beautiful greenery Julia Davis Park had to offer under the lit street lights, it did very little in calming the raging storm of anxiety and doubt that crashed down on her not too long ago. The lump in her throat feeling like a vast rock, Annette couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears formed behind her chocolate eyes and stained her cream-colored cheeks as they poured. Internally, she was bummed out that she was in Boise, Idaho consulting on a case, and despite a flight back to New Mexico being a short one, getting a flight without the use of the jet would most likely be slim.

A tear hit her left hand, just above the ring that adorned her little finger. It was a simple, solitaire cut sterling silver ring with her birthstone and the birthstone of her fiancé. Both their names and the words "Always and Forever" were engraved on the inside, but after what she had just witnessed and walked away from as a result, she began to wonder if she could really be a part of not only his life, but the team he worked with as well.

Spencer, I love you a lot. There's no doubt about that, but I'm not so sure anymore that I'm the one you should marry. After what we just saw as a result of time and tough decisions, I'm starting to think that I should have died at Michael Boudreaux's hands all those years ago.

It was just a little while ago, back at the police station following them giving the profile and the press conference...

She wanted to throw up after witnessing the killer murder another young woman and livestreaming it. To make it worse, Hotch had ordered Garcia to tag those in the chat log and let the woman be strangled to death. She squeezed her eyes shut, but it didn't block out the victim's gasps for air as she was being killed. When it finally did quiet down, Annette opened her eyes, seeing the lifeless eyes of the latest victim on the livestream. Unable to take it any longer, she slammed her hands on the table, feeling a slight, twinge of pain in her left ring finger, stood up and headed towards the door.

"Annette?"

The sound of Hotch calling her name made her pause mid-step, but it didn't stop the surge of emotions boiling within her.

"I have to sit this case out. I can't do this."

Nobody missed the shaking in her voice, including her.

"Annette, we need you on this one."

Trying her best not to show any tears, she took a deep breath and turned to face him and the rest of the team she had come to love and care for in the past year.

"Not on this case, you fucking don't, Hotch."

Her drop of the f-bomb shocked everyone in the room.

"You let that woman die and not only did we have to watch it, that sick bastard's fans got their entertainment for the goddamn evening too. Watching that woman die scared me, but your decision to let it happen scared me even more.

"Honestly, if this social networking craze kicked off back when Michael Boudreaux abducted and tortured me, I beg to wonder if Gideon would have made that same decision you just made and let me die at the hands of that sick, sadistic son of a bitch."

Her words added to the growing shock of her genius fiancé; he wanted to console and remind her that Gideon didn't forsake her, but he was afraid of adding fuel to the already raging fire.

"Whoa whoa whoa, kiddo. Calm down," Rossi said, putting his hand up to try and reassure her.

"Tell me, old man. Would you have stood idly and watched me die, just like how we had to watch that woman die?"

"You know I wouldn't have forsaken you, and neither would Gideon."

Annette ran her fingers through her dark brown hair, the same hand clenching into a fist and grabbing a handful.

"After what I just witnessed and Hotch's decision on this to forsake that woman's life, I'm now wishing that I had died at Michael's hands all those years ago. Find another agent for a consult. I won't do this anymore. I might as well be dead to you all after what I just witnessed."

She turned on her heel and left without another word, ignoring the calls of both Rossi and Reid as she stormed out of the station. She soon broke into a run, the urge to cry growing as she ran out of the station and into the night. She didn't really care where she ended up; as long as she was away from the police station and the team, that was what mattered to her.

She didn't know what had occurred after she left; not that it truly mattered to her since intended to keep true to her word of sitting the case out. If she had to witness another woman die live on another internet stream, it would break the last bit of thread holding her emotions together.

Tomorrow. She would head for the airport and take a flight back to New Mexico first thing in the morning. She didn't care if she had to sit around for a few hours; if it meant that she could return home, she'll take it. All that she knew is that she couldn't be around any longer.

Her mind made up and after wiping her tears away, Annette stood up from the bench and began a walk back to the hotel. The gentle breeze that blew earlier had died down, being replaced with the evening heat that was the summer season creeping up. As emotionally exhausted as she was, the first thing she needed to do was pack her bag so that she was ready to leave in the morning.

The elevator ride up to the third floor of the hotel was short and quiet. At this hour, most people would be lounging on the couch or sleeping in their beds. When she got to the door of her room and pulled the keycard out of her purse, she hesitated for a brief moment. She had a feeling in her gut, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Taking a deep breath and hoping it was just a feeling that would eventually pass, she put the keycard in and opened the door. Who she saw made her body freeze in place.

Reid was leaning against the bed frame, his hazel eyes focused on her standing in the doorway. Deducing his movements, he had to have asked one of the staff to unlock her door and let him in, and he waited for her, knowing that she would have to return to her room sooner or later. Mentally willing herself to move, Annette shut the door behind her and leaned back against it, keeping her eyes away from him out of fear that she would break and lose her resolve. When she didn't move for the next couple of minutes, he walked towards her until he was standing right in front of her. Her breathing grew heavy, and she gulped at the knowledge that he was so close to her. With the silence in the room dragging on, it only added to the tension flowing by the second.

Rather than speak, Reid took her by the wrist and pulled her towards the bed. When he lied down, he gently tugged her arm, and her body moved as if it had a mind of its own, joining him. The second she was comfortable, he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her slender, hourglass form. Unable to move, Annette simply curled into a ball, bringing her arms to her chest and leaning into him. She inhaled deeply, breathing in his scent and feeling a moment of calm. She didn't have time to change, take a shower or even take off her shoes, and yet, she wasn't really complaining, nor did she feel she had a reason to.

She wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but her voice had caught in her throat, making her unable to speak. In addition, the lull of slumber began to beckon for her thanks to her emotions wearing her out, and she could no longer resist it. She managed to move one arm around his back, curling her fingers and crumpling the fabric of his shirt. She then drifted off to sleep, breathing in the scent of heaven that was him.

Judging by where the moon was in the sky, it had to be around ten, maybe eleven. Annette was sound asleep in his arms, and based on how much time had passed since she returned, she was asleep for at least two hours. He kept his arms wrapped around her, keeping her close and wanting to see that she was right here with him. He also didn't want to sleep just yet, fearing if he did, she would be gone when he woke up.

Her emotional outburst scared him, but what really made him fearful was when she ran off in tears and he felt he couldn't do anything to console her. He wouldn't speak to Hotch or anyone else after she left, but Morgan did offer him a little piece of advice beforehand.

"Wait for her when she gets back to her room. Take her to the bed, get her to lie down with you and then pull her into you. Keep your arms wrapped around her, and don't speak a word the whole time. It's to assure her that you're there for her, and a tight hug from the man she loves is all she needs."

The young genius didn't expect the advice to actually work. He thought she would resist him, especially considering how tense she was when he pulled her into him. What he didn't expect was for her to go lax and calm down almost immediately.

One thing was for sure; he owed Morgan one for this.

She was greeted to a familiar scent as she inhaled deeply and opened her eyes to the dawn of a new morning. She saw the dark, familiar color of Reid's shirt, his arms wrapped around her and her leg resting on top of his. When the events of last night came back to her, Annette felt a little surprised.

I can't recall the last time I ever slept like a baby, especially when I get emotional like that.

She nuzzled her face into his neck.

He never let go of me the whole night. It was like he took out all my frustrations from last night the second he had me in his arms. Even now, I don't want him to let go of me.

The sudden ring of his phone put an end to the moment of tranquility and got him stirring from his slumber. When she felt him move, Annette buried her face into his shirt, wanting to enjoy his scent and closeness for just a little bit longer before he had to go.

He reached into his pocket for his phone, pressing the answer button before bringing it up to his ear.

"Hello?"

His half-asleep voice made her chuckle internally.

"Hey, kid. You're needed back at the station," Morgan replied from the other line. "Bring Annette with you, too."

"Sure thing. I'll wake her up."

It was only when he ended the call did she stir in his hold.

"No need to wake me up."

She pulled away from his chest and allowed herself to sit up, looking down at him. Despite his unruly bed hair, crumpled clothes and half-asleep expression, Annette found him to be so adorable that it should almost be illegal. When she tried to pull her hand away from his chest, he caught it, placing his hand on top of hers.

"Are you heading to the police station?"

"In a little bit. You're coming too."

"Should I?"

He didn't miss the hesitation in her voice and expression.

"This case got to you, and you had a moment, Annette. It happens to all of us."

He had a point there. This wasn't the first time a case got to her, and it wouldn't be the last.

"It doesn't erase the fact that I said what I said, and now that I'm thinking about it with a clear mind, I know I scared you, Spencer. Maybe I got you believing that I'd call off our wedding and break off our engagement entirely."

She hit the nail on the head there, and the brief moment of silence that went on in the room confirmed her theory. Her fingers curled slightly underneath his hand, which he knew was something she did when her emotions attempted to bubble and boil over. Before she had a chance to second guess herself, Reid sat up, leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. Once again, all the doubt that fear that tried to creep up on her had quickly disappeared, and her original plan of leaving dissipated as well. Right now, she wanted to stay by his side and see this case through to the very end.

"I admit that you had me scared, Annette, and I didn't want to lose you."

"Then I want you to know that regardless of what I say when I get emotional, I won't ever leave you. I was yours the second you got my attention that evening two years ago."

"And once we officially exchange vows, you'll be mine forever."

She nodded as he pressed his forehead against hers, the two of them enjoying the moment and realizing that they truly love and belong to each other.

End Notes: I am such a nervous wreck at the moment. Depending on the reaction and responses I get, it will determine whether or not I write more for the Criminal Minds fandom. A part of me really wants to, but we'll see. Fun fact: this piece takes place during the episode, The Internet is Forever (Season 5, Episode 22). Some moments in that particular episode hit me pretty hard, and I could feel the pain Annette was feeling during this piece. My Persona 5 short story is still a work in progress, and I will get back to it fairly soon, especially considering how well the Persona DnD session with my best friend has been going so far. Expect more stuff from me in the future, especially now that I'm slowly coming out of the phase I was in following my dad's passing. Wish me luck, and check back!