Author's Notes: Sorry to keep you guys waiting. Here's the second chapter of Change for the Better. Enjoy!


Chapter Two: Celebration

The moment of shock was all worth it as Annette dropped the bags she carried on her shoulders and ran straight to Spencer. She pretty much pounced him and kissed him, the weight of the both of them tipping his chair back and nearly spilling them over. Morgan let out a whistle and a few claps as Garcia and Prentiss looked in awe. Hotch smiled and exchanged a glance with Rossi, who smiled back and was happy for his "BAU" daughter.

When she pulled away from Spencer, Annette pressed her brow against his, running her fingers through his hair while he kept his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Is this for real? You're going to be on the team?" he asked.

"It's temporary, but yes," Annette replied. "I'll be with you guys for the next few weeks while JJ is on maternity leave."

"Why temporary?" Morgan asked, which caused Annette to get off of Spencer so she could face him.

"The Director's been wanting to put me on a team for the past year and a half," she replied. "Back then, I didn't want to because I was content with working independently and close to home. The Director respected my wishes, but he still tried to persuade me to join a team as I helped close more cases.

"My assisting you guys in Vegas put me on the radar yet again, and the old man and Hotch persuaded him and Chief Strauss to put me on the team. It's temporary to give me the feel of working with a team full-time. At the end of that trial period is when I'll make my decision to transition here full-time or go back to my old roots in Albuquerque.

"If there's one thing that makes me just as anxious as facing down certain types of UnSubs, it's change. So, I hope you guys bear with me as I adapt."

She smiled slightly when she felt Spencer kiss her cheek.

"Annette, you became a part of this team when you and Reid got together," Prentiss announced. "And honestly, we could use your ability to see the same thing from different angles. You're going to be fine, okay?"

Annette nodded.

"I was wondering why there's so much bustling, and now I see why."

They all looked to see a woman approaching them and joining the group. Exchanging a glance with Spencer, Annette got off of him and straightened herself out so she could introduce herself.

"You must be Agent Jordan Todd."

"And you must be Agent Annette Lennox. I've heard so much about you."

The two women shook hands.

"I'm going to tell you right now, Agent. This team can be a bit of a handful, but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way."

She let out a small giggle at the reactions of the others, but it didn't last too long when Spencer grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms.

"I can say that my hands are full now that I've got you."

Annette laughed and shook her head, and the others laughed with her.

"You two are such a cute couple," Jordan pointed out. "No wonder the others like to gush."

"Well, now that Annette is officially here, how about we hit the bar and celebrate?" Rossi suggested. "Drinks are on me."

"If you're buying, then I'm definitely in," Morgan replied.

"We are draining the bar tonight!" Garcia exclaimed.

"What do you say, Annette? You in?" Prentiss asked.

"On the old man's tab? Bring it on," Annette replied.


Annette prepared to throw the dart in her hand as she tested her right arm, intending to aim for the bullseye. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she focused her gaze, and with a slow exhale, she threw it. Sure enough, it hit the bullseye and won her the game.

"Whoa!" Prentiss exclaimed. "JJ might have some competition when she gets back. She's usually the one who wins."

"Is that right? I better be careful not to steal too much of her thunder. She's probably got eyes in the back of everyone's heads," Annette stated, grabbing her drink and downing the last of it.

"That victory calls for another drink," Morgan said before flagging one of the waitresses. "What were you drinking, Annette?"

"Gentleman Jack," Annette replied.

She had changed out of the simple long-sleeved shirt she wore and into a white, V-neck, bell-sleeved crop top. With a simple pair of jeans that hugged her hips and a pair of pale pink, knee-high suede boots, most of the men in the bar almost broke their necks as they watched her walk.

She leaned back against the edge of the table, grabbing a piece of popcorn to throw in the air and catch in her mouth. She watched as Prentiss and Jordan gathered the darts together to play another round, and the waitress came back around with a new glass of Gentleman Jack.

"Thanks, ma'am."

As she prepared to throw another piece of popcorn, Spencer watched her from the bar, studying her from head to toe. He liked how her jeans emphasized her slender hips, and when she leaned back to catch the popcorn she threw, he thought her to be gorgeous.

He was prepared to stare at her for a moment longer when an announcement began to cut through the speakers spread throughout the bar.

"Okay. I hope everyone is having a good time tonight. We're going to change the tune and slow the music down a notch. So, grab yourself a partner and get on the dance floor."

"Ooh. Where's my hunk of chocolate thunder?" Garcia asked as she went to look for him, causing Annette to chuckle and giggle. Just as she was about to step away from the table behind her, a pair of arms snaked around her waist from behind.

"Want to dance with me?"

Spencer's whisper in her ear sent a pleasurable shiver down her spine as she turned towards him and kissed his cheek.

"I would be honored, Doctor Reid."

She took a sip of her drink before heading to the table where Hotch and Rossi were sitting.

"Spencer and I are going to dance. Can you watch my drink and my purse for me, old man?"

"Of course. You lovebirds enjoy your dance," Rossi replied with a smug grin.

"Look at the kids, Dave," Hotch announced with a smile, and Annette felt her cheeks heat up. Spencer shook his head as he escorted her to the dance floor. Other couples had gathered, and Annette managed to catch Morgan and Garcia a few feet away. Despite never having a date for the dances she attended in high school, she did dance with Tyler and Kyle. At the very least, she wasn't too clueless about what to do.

Her breath hitched as she wrapped both of her arms around his shoulders, feeling her body tremble when he wrapped his arms around her waist. When the song began to play, she recognized it as the country song, It's Your Love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. She gulped as they began to dance in a circle, and she leaned into his shoulder, too shy to look him in the eye. She felt her heart racing, and it only seemed to accelerate with each passing second.

She stole a few glances at the other couples that were dancing, taking note of the men gazing lovingly at their women. Having delayed it for as long as she could, Annette allowed herself to look at Spencer, and she was sure her heart leapt up her chest at the way he looked at her. His hazel eyes had the look of gentle, loving and tender, and it was reserved just for her. It was as if the other couples around them had disappeared from the bar, and they were the only two people left in the world.

One of her hands moved to tangle in his hair, her fingers kneading the back of his head like the day he surprised her for her birthday. Looking away with a small smile, Annette rested her cheek against his chest. As she breathed in his scent and listened to his heart, the anxiety she felt since the previous night was slowly dissipating, and as she danced in a slow circle with him, she could only hope that the anxiety would fade with time as she adapted to the change.


"What are you thinking about?"

Annette's question caught Spencer off guard as the two of them laid down on his bed in his apartment. He offered for her to stay with him during her trial run of working with the team, which she happily accepted. The numerous books he had on his shelves would be easy for her to drown in during her stay.

He gazed at her lovingly, his eyes locking with hers.

"I just find it hard to believe that you're really going to be here for a while," he replied.

"It's not a dream or an illusion, Spencer," she said in a low purr that made his heart leap. "I'm here. So, you better get used to my presence on a daily basis."

He reached towards her, caressing her cheek with his hand, and his touch made its way down her neck to the area where throat melded into shoulder. Annette breathed out a small, satisfied sigh as she took in his touch, and if she could feel it forever, she would happily welcome it.

She brought her left hand up to touch his cheek before leaning towards him, kissing his lips. A small mewl left her throat when he continued caressing her neck and shoulder, and she was sure he had stolen her breath when he deepened the kiss. Her mouth glued to his as the hand caressing his cheek moved to tangle in his hair, her heart ready to burst out of her chest from the exhilaration.

Eventually, she had to force herself to pull back (despite not wanting to), placing her free hand on his chest and giving him a gentle push. Her cheeks were warm as she gazed into his eyes, and she saw her gaze reflected in his own.

"Something else is on your mind. It's the only reason you'd kiss me like that."

He was silent as he caressed her neck, eventually twisting a strand of her hair around his finger.

"Did Rossi tell you about Henry Grace?"

"Oh yeah. He talked about that case when he picked me up."

She also recalled how Rossi held her hand during the drive to the BAU headquarters as he opened up to her about it. He even identified Henry as a worse version of Michael Boudreaux, which she saw, considering his personality.

"The old man said that he talked about me, apparently saying I represented the Golden Ratio and thus, am beauty in of itself. His God complex was his twisted way of trying to mess with you guys."

The hand that was caressing her clenched into a fist, crinkling the lacey strap of her camisole top.

"What's wrong?"

"He was right about one thing," he replied.

"What?"

"That you represent the perfection of beauty."

"Spencer-"

She was cut off when he kissed her hard, plundering her breath once again. His grip on her strap never loosened, and as much as she wanted him, Annette knew she had to stop it, and gave him a gentle push on his chest for the second time.

"Spencer, you've got an UnSub on the mind again," she whispered, her voice gentle but also firm.

He breathed out a sigh as he pressed his brow against hers.

"It's just that I love you a lot, and what he said made me want you."

"Hey."

She reached out to touch his cheek.

"I know it hasn't been a year yet, but I just want you to know that these past several months with you have been the best thing to ever happen to me.

"However, it's like I said after we closed the stalker case. I want it to be at a time when neither of us are thinking about the job and UnSubs.

"Do you remember our first kiss?"

He smiled slightly at the memory.

"How could I forget?" he asked, causing Annette to chuckle.

"Since it was my birthday, we weren't thinking about UnSubs. I don't want an UnSub to be the reason we become intimate. I want it to be of our own, respective accords, and at the right time when we're both ready."

Spencer knew what she was talking about. In fact, he couldn't deny that Henry Grace's taunts were fueling him, and he would rather be fueled by his own will and feelings.

"Thanks, Annette, and I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I appreciate your way of telling me, though. I didn't mind the kisses."

Spencer chuckled.

"So, while we're on the subject of intimacy, do you think we could talk about it?"

Annette smiled as she sat up in bed.

"If you want to talk, then let's talk, Doctor."


They stayed up late into the night having their intimate conversation and getting to know each other on a much deeper level. They held hands and gazed into each other's eyes as they asked questions, shared secrets and let themselves be vulnerable. Spencer was nervous the whole time, but Annette, just as nervous as he was, never let go of his hand or looked away from him. In that span of time, they seemed to have learned more about each other and also gained a better understanding of what they wanted to try down the line.

"Was this…awkward at all?" Spencer asked, stuttering halfway through his question.

"I'm not going to lie. It did feel a bit awkward, but it was in a good way," Annette replied. "I got to learn more about you, and I feel even closer to you because of it.

"How did you feel about it?"

"Shy, but for the most part, the same way."

"For this relationship to continue working out, we have to learn to trust each other. It was once said that without communication, there is no relationship. Without respect, there is no love. Without trust, there's no reason to continue.

"In addition, if you truly love someone, being faithful is easy, and when two people really care about each other, they always find a way to make it work, regardless of how hard it is."

She rubbed her eye when she felt herself growing tired, and she positioned herself to lay on top of him, resting her cheek against his heart.

"I trust you, Spencer. All I have to do is look into your eyes, and I know that I don't have any reason to doubt you."

He was sure his heart would burst out of his ribcage with her words and her being so close to his chest. He wrapped one hand around her, rubbing her back, which she let out a sigh and nuzzled her cheek against him.

"And I trust you, Annette. I always have and I always will."

He heard her breathe out another sigh before her breathing steadied to that of sleep. He fell asleep not long after her, and did not bother to fight it. It would be the first of many nights in a row in which he would hold her in his arms, and he was more than happy to welcome it.


End Notes: Fluff galore! Next chapter will be out in a day or so!