"You guys pulled me in here on a Sunday!" Garcia cried into her head piece. Back in Quantico, she sat isolated in her cave, surrounded by her screens and worlds of color.

"We're not exactly having a good time over here, Garcia." Reid replied. They sat in the front seat of the SUV outside the station. Reid held the phone up so both he and Riley could hear, talking on speaker.

"A Sunday! I had to come in on a Sunday, bringing a very wonderful romantic weekend with Kevin to an abrupt end. Just because you're a little love sick puppy, Dr. Reid, doesn't mean you have to ruin the experience for the rest of us."

"Love sick puppy?" Riley asked, glancing over at Reid. He avoided her eye contact, his face warming up. It was turning red.

"Who was that?" Garcia asked. Of all the times for Morgan not to keep his girl in the loop. Reid was going to get him for that later.

"Garcia… you remember Riley, don't you?"

"Nice try, Reid! Like Hotch and Rossi would actually bring you in on a case with-"

"Hi, Garcia!" Riley called, leaning closer to the phone. "I can have Spencer take a picture of me if you're still not convinced."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. "Riley, it's so good to hear from you!" She finally exclaimed. "How's Seattle?"

"Miserable… the weather, I mean. It's miserable." Now it was her turn to avoid Reid's gaze. He watched her blink a few times, moistening her lips slightly. The quirky nervous habit that drove him wild. "Uh… what have you got for us?"

"Well, I ran the names you guys gave me. It wasn't easy. Most of these kids have left the Seattle area. I checked school records, they dropped out either during the previous semester or before the fall term started."

"Not surprising," Riley said. "Do you realize how many kids drop out of college after just one year?"

"Over 30%. As well, almost 50% of the remaining students never graduate." Reid answered quickly.

"Thank you, Brianiac, I was being rhetorical." She replied, smirking. Reid and Riley locked eyes, sharing a familiar correlation. Unaware to each other, they both were thinking the same thing: that this was the first it felt normal between them. They barely noticed when Garcia began talking again.

"Well, fear not, my doves. Because I was able to locate two people, still in the land of academia. Hayley Tyler and Samantha McCall.

"According to their records, it seems they and Maria were close. In the same class since Kindergarten, all cheerleaders, Hayley and Maria were even roommates their first year."

"Not anymore?" Riley asked, finally looking away from Reid. He kept his eyes on her, watching as a few curls swept gracefully over her shoulder.

"Not, it doesn't seem like it. Maria and Hayley are clean. Samantha appears to have a few arrests for underage drinking and drug possession. Pretty baby, you just gotta to say 'no'." Riley shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"It's harder than you think, Garcia," Reid replied. Riley looked over at him, appreciative. "Any idea where these girls are?"

"I found Hayley's Facebook page. Everyone's on the social network scene nowadays. Facebook doesn't hold a candle to Tumblr, though. Got to be honest. Anyway, her status said Samantha and Hayley are working a double shift at Leadworth. Did a little search, it's a restaurant close to campus."

"Thanks, Garcia," Reid said. He had a sudden idea. "Maria had three brothers. Can you see if they're still close to Seattle?"

"Your wish is my command. I'll keep you posted, my lovelies!" she announced. A click sounded their disconnection. Reid grabbed his cell and flipped it closed.

"Off to Leadworth, then?" Riley asked as Reid started the car.

She debated asking him. It had to be embarrassing, but her interest could not be extinguished. Nosiness trumped humiliation every time. "I gotta ask… what did Garcia mean?"

At first appearance, Riley thought he hadn't heard her. Examining closer, her eyes traveled to his hands. His long fingers wrapped around the steering wheel tightly, making his knuckles pure white.

"Spencer?" she pressed.

"Nothing," This was not the time or place to go into this. He hadn't finished the internal debate on whether he ever wanted to bring it up. Still, Emily's words rang in his heads. He had made the mistake of letting her go. This case couldn't last forever; soon they would give the profile. Within time, unsub or no unsub, the team would leave. He would never see her again.

Thinking about leaving her again hurt too much. He pushed it out of his mind. People could so easily avoid thinking about unpleasant things, until finally the inevitable caught up with you. Like last time. The last week with Riley had been amazing. He had taken time off, his excuse was to help her pack, but she had shipped most of her things the week before. It felt more like a romantic getaway than the unraveling of a relationship. Once in awhile, a lump would drop in his stomach, counting down the days… down to the hours… of how long they had left. But he'd push it away and just absorb the angel in his arms. He had so many chances to tell her, but instead of bringing up what could prove to be an uncomfortable discussion, he just pretended it wasn't going to happen. Now it might be too late.

He also couldn't forget standing in the squad room, moments ago. He had watched her eyes, those rich brown eyes that still dazzled him and made him weak at the knees. He watched her lips move over her vaguely misshapen teeth, using every fiber of strength in him not to pull her to him and kiss her. Had they not been in the center of a crowded room, he wasn't sure he'd have been able to stop.

Riley watched him, staring start ahead, never looking in her direction. She regretted asking about it. It was one of those moments you're unable to stop from speaking and immediately regret once it came out. What good could she perhaps have expected to come of it? He had said he moved on, just like they were supposed to, remembering their four months only as a great love affair everyone hoped to hold in their lives. The kind you'd tell your children about… hypothetical children, of course.

But what if what Garcia had said were true? Riley didn't know what was so special about her that could make anyone love sick; despite the fact her colleague had become so obsessed, it nearly cost both her and Spencer their lives. Even after all she put him through – the cruelty, the lies, the danger – only to end up leaving him… he couldn't possibly still love her… but maybe he did.

Spencer is better off without you. A voice said in Riley's mind. You know that. It's better he realize that now than allow him to waste his life with you.

The rest of the trip was ridden in silence.

Overcast settled in and the temperature dropped several degrees. Reid noticed Riley shiver as she got out of the car. He hated himself for wanting to pull her to him and keep her warm. Reid thought longingly for a moment, burying his nose in her hair and inhaling her scent. That might have been the thing he missed most of all; late at night, lying close to her in bed and breathing in the smell of her perfume and shampoo. Roses. She loved the smell of roses. He could lay there for hours, just watching her sleep.

Before she could notice his distraction, Reid moved quickly to the front door. Riley felt a little hurt as he rushed in, not bothering to hold the door open for her like he usually did. After a deep breath to keep her emotions concealed, she joined him inside.

Inside was fairly busy. A scene for young people, mostly. Reid and Riley had both felt a bit out of place there. Then again, neither one could relate to others at that age when they were that young. Getting doctorates and in the FBI seemed a much better use of time to either one.

"Hi, welcome to Leadworth," a young red haired hostess said, approaching the podium. "Table for 2?"

"No, we were wondering if we could speak to Hayley Tyler and Samantha McCall." Reid said, flashing his ID. Riley didn't bother whipping hers out, seeing as her ID lacked the matching badge.

The hostess's eyes seemed to want to pop out of her head. "Oh," she said. "Uh… I'll get them, hang on."

She rushed off quickly, leaving them alone once again. Each was making deliberate attempts to ignore the other one, internally blaming themselves for the awkward tension between them now.

As Reid looked around, he took in their surroundings. Despite the loud college students, he was reminded of the day a year ago when his entire life changed. Standing outside the diner when he first spotted Snow White, with her hair braided, sparkling eyes behind her glasses, getting more and more annoyed the longer she waited for him. Reid had never told her the truth about that day.

Her focus faced out the window. The perfect opportunity to observe her again. Riley continued to rub her hands together, cold. "I should have brought your gloves." Reid said out of nowhere.

Confused, Riley turned to him. "Excuse me?"

"You left a pair of gloves in my apartment." Reid explained. "Along with your toothbrush and your extra pair of glasses with the crack in the lens."

"And you still have them?" Riley asked, sounding surprised.

It seemed this was beginning to backfire. Reid shrugged, "Yeah," His chest was beginning to feel tight, his heart beat quickening almost painfully. She stared at him, amazed. "What, it's not like I built a shrine to you."

"No, I think it's sweet." She replied, gently massaging his forearm. Her hand slid down from the limb and into his, entwining their fingers together. Her eyes glistened slightly, giving them an even brighter spark. "It means you still care about me."

The sound of the restaurant was beginning to fade around them. Their bodies managed to move closer to each other, barely allowing space between them. She was close enough to kiss now, and Reid leaned instinctively into her. She didn't back away.

"Excuse me?" a voice said, pulling them out of their world. "Are you the FBI?"

Two girls, both dressed in black pants, a white button down blouse and a black apron, stood before them. One had long blonde hair, pulled into a loose pony tail. The other had short black hair, almost like a boys. They stared at Reid and Riley nervously. It wasn't every day the FBI showed up for someone.

"Hayley and Samantha?" Reid asked, his hand still clasped with Riley's.

"I'm Sam," the blonde said. "This is Hayley. This is about Maria, isn't it?"

Despite the threat of rain, Riley and Reid brought the two waitresses outside, away from the prying eyes and noise. "Where were you guys on Friday night." Reid asked.

"I was working!" Sam said, more directed at Hayley at first than the agents. "Hayley and Maria went to a movie."

"So you were still good friends with Maria?" Riley inquired. "Considering you stopped being roommates last year."

"Maria and I were like sisters." Hayley corrected. "We were close; we understood each other… but, like sisters, when you're forced to share a room…"

"You realized your relationship was better when you weren't around each other all the time."

"Exactly," Hayley said.

"When did you and Maria separate?" Reid wondered.

"Well, see, Maria was upset about a fight with her mother. I took her to that new Ewan McGregor movie to cheer her up. Half way through, her phone went off. She went to answer it, came back a moment later for her purse, looking really annoyed, and said she had to go…" She suddenly looked guilty. "I should have gone with her, I'm sorry."

"This isn't your fault." Reid explained. "Did she say where she was going?"

"No… but it couldn't have been far. I mean… if it were, she would have asked for a ride. Maria doesn't take the bus unless she's desperate."

"And that was the last you heard from her? Either of you?" Riley made certain.

"Yeah," Samantha assured.

"Did she mention what she fought with her mother about?" Reid remembered earlier at the morgue.

Samantha rolled her eyes. "Maria fighting with her mother was more routine than a rainy day in this town. At this point, when she bitched, I just tune her out."

"You guys seem really close," Riley remarked. "So she and her mother didn't get along."

"Maria's mother was constantly on her case about something." Hayley explained. "If she wasn't yelling at Maria to change her major back, she was taking things out on the poor girl. She made her life a living hell."

"Linda Engles seemed pretty upset about her daughter's death." Reid explained.

Samantha gave a sarcastic chuckle. "I swear, that woman was insane. Do you have any idea what that girl went through?"

"Yeah," Reid said, nodding, "I do."

Riley took a tentative glance at Reid, yearning to pull her to him. She knew, better than anyone probably, the internal struggle he constantly put himself through over his mother. The never ending shame for putting her in a home added with the guilt of finding as little time to see her as possible. Despite the immorality, it was helpful being his therapist before girlfriend.

"Would Maria possibly go off with a stranger? Accept a ride perhaps?"

Samantha shook her head. "Absolutely not. She was careful. If Maria wasn't driving her car, she had taken self defense classes, she stayed in well lit areas, she always carried pepper spray and made sure we did, too. She would never talk or take a ride from someone she didn't know."

Reid nodded, having one last question. "Just one more thing… did Maria have any connection to the number eight."

"Eight? Not that I can think of," Hayley said. She looked at Samantha, who was just as perplexed as she.

"Okay," Reid handed her a business card. "Give us a call if you think of anything else that might help. You have no idea what information could help the case."

Hayley took the card, each saying a goodbye and headed back inside. Reid and Riley stood, noticing the sky was getting slightly darker as the hour grew later.

"Well," Riley said, "What have learned from this?"

Reid opened his mouth to answer, then stopped. "You tell me."

"What?"

"You're supposed to be helping with the profile. Explain to me how what the girls told us is going to help."

She looked unsure. "…Spencer… no, I don't know-"

"Don't over think it. Just… listen to your gut. What are sure of?"

Taking a deep breath, she thought it over. "Well… odds are… she knew where she was going so well, she didn't noticed being followed."

"Why is that?" Reid asked, trying to get her into the mindset of a profiler.

"Because she was careful. Someone doesn't take self defense and carry protection unless they're scared. Scared can be good, it keeps you fast and alert… okay… both her close friends have alibis, so she wasn't going to meet them. Maybe… it was her mother. She was annoyed, agreed to come home… and didn't want to bring her friends into a family situation. You'll do almost anything to avoid being embarrassed by your family, even put yourself in danger."

Reid nodded. "That's good."

Amazed, "Really?"

"Give yourself some credit, you're a smart girl. I told you that you would make a good profiler."

She cocked her head at him, skeptical. "When did you ever say that?"

"Last year, when we walked home… we stood outside my apartment and it started snowing."

It suddenly dawned on her. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."

"Oh, well, that explains it." Reid said, despondent.

"I didn't mean I forgot about that night…" She exclaimed, her hands going to his upper arms, lightly gripping at the fabric of his coat. "I think about that night all the time."

Reid leaned in closer to her, brushing her bangs with his forehead. "Me, too."

Following his own advice, Reid did what his gut told him. This time, with no obvious eyes around, he moved further into her personal space. Just before contact, he watched as Riley's eyes slipped closed, and connected his lips with hers. She responded, kissing him back, letting her arms slip around his neck, able to bring her body closer. His own arms went around her waist, removing the remaining centimeters between them, just as the rain began its drizzle.