(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)
Merry Christmas!
Hope everyone has a great Christmas. Enjoy this little update. It's only short since it's Christmas Day and I'm updating a few other stories.
"Spencer, hold my hand," JJ said, offering her hand to the wayward child. Spencer hung back and grabbed onto the offering, a sheepish smile aimed at JJ.
"I've nevew been to Disney Wowld," he whispered, his voice pitchy with excitement.
JJ grinned. "I know, which is exactly why I need you to hold my hand at all times."
They had already gone through security, getting in quickly with their fast passes and opting for the ferry trip to the Magic Kingdom. Penelope said it would be a great experience for the boys. Derek hadn't agreed, he'd been to the restrooms twice since they reached the park and his face was slightly pale. He even turned his nose up at a freshly made funnel cake.
They made the quick decision to go to Tomorrowland first since it was where Jack and Henry ran off to (and by consequence Spencer too.)
JJ caught up to them and grabbed Spencer's hand.
"What did I say?"
Spencer looked up innocently, a small frown on his face. "Huh?"
"You can't run off like that."
"Oh... sowwy... whewes Jack and Henwy goin?"
Jack circled around, avoiding Aaron who tried to grab him and keep him close. "We're going on space mountain first. All of us!"
"I'm not!" called Garcia from the back of their pack. Morgan threw an arm around her and smirked.
"Oh yes you are, you and me, baby girl. You can scream all you wa- ow!"
Garcia smacked Morgan's arm away and motioned to the kids. He just shrugged and continued smirking.
They got into Tomorrowland and Spencer gazed around with awe in his eyes.
"Yes!" Henry pointed to a large building in the corner. "It's space mountain! Come on, come on, come on!"
"What's 'pace mountain, mummy?" Spencer asked, squinting up at JJ through the sun's rays. She pointed to the large entrance, the line looking hopeful with no one outside.
"It's inside there; it's a big rollercoaster."
Spencer stepped back. "Oh," he mumbled.
The boys were nearly there at that point and Spencer tried his best to hang back.
"Awe you goin' on?"
JJ looked back at the ride and gave a slight nod. "Maybe. The boys will have to measure themselves first. Uncle Dave won't be going on."
Spencer looked back at Dave, letting out a relieved sigh.
When they got to the entrance Henry sprung before the measuring chart, closing his eyes and crossed any finger he could.
"Oh no..." mumbled Hotch and Henry's eyes snapped open.
"What!?"
"You're too tall for the ride."
Henry looked at the chart and gave a smug smile to see he was above the line. He fist-bumped the measuring chart and strolled over to Jack.
"I wanna sit at the front," he insisted.
"Spencer, come stand in front of the measure."
Spencer gave Aaron a doubtful look but he trudged over anyway. Henry giggled and Spencer looked at the chart to see he was well under the line.
"Awesome," he said, hopping over to Dave. "We tan go get ice tweam while dey wide."
Dave chuckled and took Spencer's offered hand in his. "Can we now?"
"Yea, I'm not sure I agreed to those terms," said JJ.
"Actually," continued Rossi, smirking at JJ as he chose his words. "I think that's a great idea, Spencer."
Dave happily waved the family off, winking at Garcia who wasn't all that keen about getting on the coaster. He watched them disappear into the building before looking down at Spencer.
"What was that genius idea you had?"
Spencer frowned thoughtfully. "Eat ice tweam?" he asked, his voice heightening with hope.
Dave bent down to Spencer's level and winked. "Bingo!"
"Tome on den! Befowe dey get back!" Spencer said, tugging at Dave's hand.
Dave walked slowly from the entrance, looking around for places that sold ice cream. It only look five minutes before they were in a line for it, Spencer swaying on the ball of his feet.
"Flavour: shoot, kiddo," Dave said as they got to the front of the line. Spencer's eyes grew wide in panic and he scanned the flavours.
"Um...um... you wushing me!" Spencer whined, not taking in any flavours in his panic.
Dave chuckled and gave the server a smile. "Could I get the mint-choc-chip," he said, coaxing Spencer forward to examine the flavours.
The server nodded and smiled down at Spencer while reaching for her scooper from a murky pot of water. "And what will your grandson be having? We have lots of flavours to-"
"Woah, woah, woah," Dave held his hand to stop the young lady who just stared back, scooper half in the mint-choc-chip tub. "He's my nephew, not my... khm... grandson."
The woman paused, looking between Spencer and Dave, before she nodded with a giddy smile. "Sorry. What would you like young man?"
"'nilla!" Spencer looked up at Dave and grinned.
"You sure, kiddo? They have loads of other flavours. What about cookies and cream?"
Spencer frowned. "But gwandpa Dave, you said I tould have whatevew I want..."
Dave cringed at the name Spencer used and he smiled sheepishly at the server who had scooped his ice cream into a waffle cone.
"Alright then, a vanilla please. In a tub though."
"Sure," the server said, eying Dave suspiciously.
Dave handed over cash in and hastily grabbed the ice creams and the server smiled a little too warmly.
"Enjoy the rest of the day with your 'nephew,'" she said contemptuously.
Dave grabbed Spencer's hand and led him quickly to one of the outdoor tables. Spencer sensed something wrong when Dave sat him in the seat opposite him and deposited his ice cream without a word.
"Thank you... gwand... Dave..." Spencer mumbled, realising his slip-up. Uncle Dave didn't like being called grandpa he thought, mentally scolding himself. He craned his neck forward to give his ice cream a tentative lick.
Dave watched him and finally chuckled to himself.
"That's alright, kiddo. Guess I forget how old I am sometimes." Spencer smiled back at him as Dave carved into his ice cream with his tongue.
"Never again!"
"It wasn't that bad, baby girl."
Garcia marched ahead of Morgan shaking her head.
"You made me go in the front! Why did you make me go in the front!" she cried, swallowing quickly following her words. She raised her head to the sunny sky, thanking god she was out of the claustrophobic conundrum that had been the ride's entrance and exit.
"Right, can we get out of Tomorrowland and back to todayland," Garcia said.
"I'm not sure there is a Todayland... there's a frontier land-"
"I'm joking, Hotch." Garcia smiled sheepishly at Aaron who just nodded and blushed. He cleared his throat.
"How about fantasy land? It's just over here." He pointed across a bridge to where they could see other structures in the distance.
"What's over there?" asked Henry.
"Fantasy stuff," Jack said with a shrug.
"I think the snow-white ride's over there."
Dave looked down when Spencer seemed to seize up. The boy started bouncing excitedly and he pointed where Aaron had moments before.
"Lets go!" he said. Aaron grinned at Spencer, knowing the boy was partial to Snow-White. They'd watched it during Aaron's sick leave... and Aaron was forced to watch it twice.
"Alright, lets go." Aaron looked down at the map and started leading them. Jack hurried after him, chatting about the big rides on the other side of the park.
They found the Snow-White ride quickly with the boy's excitedly competing to spot it first.
They got to the end of the line and Aaron stepped quickly in front of Spencer to check the height minimum. He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Need to check my height, daddy. 'Scuse me!"
"Spencer..."
Aaron turned around to face Spencer.
"Buddy, I'm not sure you're tall enough."
Spencer frowned softly and let go of Dave's hand. He was sure he'd grown an inch or two.
Aaron watched the boy sadly, knowing Spencer had grown around two centimetres since their last theme park visit. It still left him a little below the average two-year-old and definitely below the ninety-seven centimetre minimum.
Spencer stood at the height chart and looked up to see he was under the line. He looked back at Aaron who just motioned him away.
Spencer trudged away from the chart and Henry bounced over and grinned proudly when he was over the chart.
"I tan't wide it," Spencer mumbled sadly. He stepped right up to Aaron and leaned into his leg.
"It's... never mind, bud. We can find something better."
"But I wanted to go on the Snow White one..."
"I know." Aaron looked around at the team who looked almost as sad as Spencer. Aaron reached under the boy's arms and lifted him into his embrace.
Garcia stepped forward and ran her hand down Spencer's back.
"I think it's a rollercoaster, like the last one, sweetie."
Spencer turned his face into Hotch's shirt.
JJ grabbed Henry and pulled him out of the way. Aaron could feel his shirt start to grow sodden and he sighed heavily. He wished he'd never introduced Spencer to Snow White.
"I'll stay with him, you guys go on. I'm sure me and Spencer can find something to do," Aaron said, looking directly at JJ.
Morgan stepped away from the entrance. "If little man can't ride, neither will I," he said. He grinned when Spencer lifted his head a little, his brown eyes sparkling with tears. Garcia nodded and flicked her sunglasses back on.
"None of us will go on it," announced Jack. He pinched Henry when the younger boy started to grumble. "None of us," he ground out and Henry folded his arms but didn't continue to try and argue.
Spencer raised his head from Aaron's shoulder and mustered a smile at Jack before nodding.
"Thanks..."
"How about we..."
Rossi spun around when his eyes landed on another ride and a smile spread across his lips. "What about that one?" he said.
Aaron turned and looked at where Dave was pointing. He furrowed his eyebrows.
"Dave..."
"This is great!"
Aaron held onto the bar as they dropped down in their flying elephant. He caught Dave laughing at him from where he was waiting at the exit.
"Old bastard," he muttered before grinning at Spencer and holding his shoulders.
"Look! Thewes Henwy!" Spencer threw his finger forward, aiming it at two elephants in front of them where Henry was waving. Morgan grabbed the boy's other hand and waved them both. Spencer twisted his head around and waved behind them where Jack and Penelope were, smiling at JJ's camera as they passed by.
"Tan we go on dis again, daddy?"
Aaron frowned and looked down at Spencer's pleasing face.
"Ask Grandpa Dave."
I think the Disney aspect of this story is going to be much longer than I thought, probably several chapters.