Henry and Reid sit in silence across from each other at a diner. The two are staring intently at the chess game that is ongoing on the table between them, their picked at plates of food long forgotten during the battle.

Reid picks up his knight and moves it to the spot he had chosen on the board.

"Checkmate," he says calmly as he places the piece down.

Henry studies the pieces on the board for a moment before letting out a sigh and running his hand through his shaggy blonde hair.

"Damn," he says under his breath, toppling his king over and finally looking up at his godfather in front of him. "I almost had you that time," he says with a smile.

"You are getting better," Reid admits smiling back and the young boy. "I had you about four moves back though. That move you did with your rook, never should have done it. That is what got me this win."

The older man starts to collect the pieces as Henry leans back and raises his hands above his head, stretching out.

"One of these days I'm going to beat you," Henry says with a smile. Reid smiles back.

"So, how is Claire? Things going well with the two of you?" the older man asks.

"Things are good. She finally told her mom about me and turns out, she was really cool about it," Henry admits not looking at his godfather but instead picking at his nails. Reid can't help but smile at the act, knowing that Emily had most certainly been the one to influence that behavior. Sure, Henry was the spitting image of JJ but his personality and mannerisms often reminded him more of his brunette mom than his blonde.

"When can I meet her?"

"She'll be at my birthday party next weekend," Henry says excitedly. It would be the first time Claire would get a chance to meet his whole family. While he knew it was going to be a little overwhelming, he also was really happy they would all get a chance to finally meet one another.

"Can't wait," Spencer says with a grin.

"Hey can I ask you something?" the young man finally questions after a few minutes of silence between them.

"Anything," Reid answers as he continues to clean up the game.

"Have you ever been in love?"

Reid stops his movements and glances up at the boy in front of him. He has a very surprised expression on his face.

"I have," he replies quickly, the memory causing a quick twinge of pain before settling back down to his gut where he had left it long ago.

"Was it Maeve?" Henry asks. Spencer is visibly shocked by the mention of her name as his eyebrows shoot straight up. "I heard you and Mom talking about a few years back. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"Henry, it's totally fine," Spencer replies making sure to make eye contact with his godson. "It was a long time ago but yes, I was in love with her."

"Didn't you only meet her once?" Henry asks. Reid nods in agreement and Henry looks down before his next question. "So, would you say it was like, love at first sight or whatever?"

"Henry, I'm happy to tell you all about my relationship with Maeve and my feelings for her, but I'm getting the sense that this might be more about you and Claire than it is about me and my past relationship," the older man states. "Are you asking me this because you think you are in love with Claire and you are concerned that it can't be real because you haven't known her long enough?"

"Don't do that," Henry says leaning back in the seat and never letting his eyes leave Spencer's. "Don't analyze me right now."

"I'm not."

Henry considers the older man for a moment before finally leaning back in his seat.

"Okay, maybe you were right. I just… I don't know how to know for sure if I actually love her."

"Is there a reason you need to put a label on your feelings right now?"

Henry is surprised by the question. Sometime he forgets that all these people in his life that he trusts and turns to for advice are professional profilers who are trained to get information from people and read them before they even know they are being read.

"Promise not to tell Moms?"

"I can promise I won't bring it up to them, but if they ask..."

"Yeah yeah, you won't lie to them," Henry finishes for Reid. He knew the rules. He looks down and starts to pick at the cold fries that remain on his plate of food. "It's just that the other night, we were talking on the phone and when we were saying goodnight… she just said it."

"Did you say it back?" Reid questions but seeing Henry's face he already knows the answer. "So, what happened?"

"Nothing. I mean, things are good and everything, I just acted like I didn't hear her I guess. She hasn't said it again and she never brought it up. But it got me thinking I guess," Henry replies.

"About if you feel the same way?"

"I guess so."

The waitress who had been helping them stops over and drops the check at the table now that she sees they are done with their game and Spencer takes it with a smile. he quickly pulls out his wallet and drops cash onto the table before sliding out of the chair, Henry following him.

"You know Henry, I've learned that love is different for everyone. I mean take your moms for example. That love took a long time to grow into what it is today. It didn't start out with the two of them in a relationship and in love, it was something that grew from their friendship first."

"Please, do not recite their love story to me, I'm already scarred enough from hearing it as many times as I have," Henry says chuckling a little and getting a huge smile from Spencer at the same time.

"All I'm saying is that is just one example of how love grew. You asked me above Maeve," Reid says as they make their way to his SUV. He hadn't talked about her in a long time and a part of him was sad at the thought of her while another part of him was excited to tell the story of how he fell in love with her to his godson. "I would love tell you all about it. How I knew I loved her before I even saw her. How I felt from the very first moment I spoke to her."

"Really?" Henry asks glancing at the older man now in the driver's seat. "You'd do that?"

"Henry, there isn't much of anything I wouldn't do for you, you know that," Reid admits starting the car. "But I have to ask, is there a reason you are asking me about this instead of say, one of your moms or even your dad?"

"Maybe," Henry admits as the car starts to move forward. "I guess I just get the feeling that Mom isn't a huge fan of Claire, that's all. I know she says she likes her and everything, but sometimes it just doesn't feel like it."

Spencer smiles but keeps his eyes on the road. He knew where that feeling Henry was having was coming from because it was the first impression he got after talking to JJ about the new girl in her sons life as well. It took a lot more conversation for him to realize it was exactly about Claire specifically, and instead more about the idea of Henry growing up that was bothering his blonde best friend.

"I know that isn't true," Reid offers to the boy next to him. Sometimes it was hard to be in the middle of a situation, specifically when it came to Henry and JJ and Emily. Henry would often confide in him and so would his moms. The trouble was figuring out how to help them without spilling the information he had gained from the other. He had gotten better at it over the years, but it was never easy and he is reminded of that now.

"Even so, if I said something to her I know she would just get mad and say I'm too young to even know what love is."

"Do you believe that you are too young?"

"I don't think you can put an age limit on when someone can feel something. If you feel it, you feel it, you know?" Henry remarks and Spencer nods in approval.

There is silence between them for a few moments until finally Spencer clears his throat and glances at Henry next to him.

"So you really want to hear about Maeve, huh?"

Henry listens in silence during the drive to Spencer's story. In some ways, the story almost doesn't seem real. Like it was created for a movie or television show. Something that could never actually happen. Except Henry knows that this did.

Eventually, when the story is finished, just as they are pulling up to his dad's house, Henry turns to Spencer and opens his mouth.

"Wow… I'm sorry Uncle Spencer. I really am. If I would have known all the details I never would have…"

"Don't ever be sorry for asking me to tell you the truth," Spencer replies before the boy can finish. "Besides, if my story with Maeve can help you in anyway, then it was worth telling." When Henry doesn't reply for longer than a minute, Spencer frowns. "Did it help?"

"Oh yeah, for sure," Henry replies. The young man starts to unbuckle his seatbelt and reaches for the door handle to exit the car.

"Henry?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad you talked to me about this," Spencer answers, a warm smile at the edges of his lips. "You know, when you were born and your Mom and Dad asked me to be your godfather, I didn't really know what that meant."

"You mean there was something you didn't know?" Henry asks a little surprised at the confession.

"Surprisingly, yes. Honestly, it was a little terrifying to not understand."

"Why did you agree to it then?" Henry asks.

"I don't know, I guess I just thought it meant I would get to babysit you from time to time, bring you really cool gifts on your birthday and spend holidays with you and stuff. All the things I would have done anyway even if I wasn't given the title." Henry chuckles at the man before he continues. "Also because when your Mom asked me, I was holding you in my arms and I was looking at your little face peeking out from the blanket. I had never held a baby before. I was nervous, worried I would drop you or something. But in that moment, holding you for the first time, meeting you for the first time, I just knew. I knew that you would be one of the most important people I'd ever meet in my life."

Henry watches the older man but doesn't really know how to respond to such a sentiment. He offers Spencer a smile before pulling the handle to exit the vehicle and closes the door behind him. He turns back, leaning into the open window of the car.

"Thank you," he offers.

"It was fun," Reid responds.

"No, I mean, not for dinner and stuff," Henry retorts but quickly furrows his brow. "Of course, I mean, thanks for dinner and everything too but I meant…" he trails off, not quite sure how to put it all into words.

"Like I said, thank you for confiding in me and asking me," Spencer offers when the boy doesn't finish.

Henry nods and starts to make his way up the steps to his house, Spencer watching him closely to ensure he makes it inside before driving off. But before he reaches the front door, Henry turns around again.

"I meant thank you for being my godfather. Even though you didn't know what it meant. Thank you for saying yes when they asked."

Reid feels his heart swell with pride. Pride for the young man in front of him that he had watched grow up, pride for helping to shape him into the kind of young man that would even want to thank him for being his godfather.

"It's a privilege Henry. From the moment I laid eyes on you, being your godfather has been my privilege."