Chapter 8: Almost Christmas.
The B.A.U had a case in New York. JJ was not there because she left to New Orleans to spend the Christmas with Will's family.
Spencer and some other members of the team asked, after finished the case, to stay in the city for a few hours.
Emily allowed it and said they must be at the hotel in an hour to take the bus to the airport.
Spencer walked around with Luke and Matt while Rossi y Emily stayed at the hotel.
"Are you going to buy a present for Lisa?" asked Matt.
Luke looked down "No, she will be working and we aren't good"
"Oh man, that sucks" said Matt.
"Yeah. I got the feeling she might broke up with me"
Matt patted his shoulder "if that happened you have us, right Spencer?"
He nodded "of course, we are a family" he smiled at him "how is Rosemary going?"
"She's amazing, so different from her siblings" said Matt "she sleeps more" he laughs "and how are things with Max?"
"Great, she asked me to spend Christmas with her family"
"That's important man" Luke said "when a woman wants you to spend a holiday with her family it's because she sees a future with you"
"I remember when I met Kristy's family. It was really awkward cuz he was part of the marines and he was a huge man. And with his gun ready to shoot me"
Both men laughed softly "you are here which means he didn't kill you. Unless you are a ghost" commented Luke.
"At the end of the night we were drunk and singing country songs" they both laugh and reached a Macy's and walked in.
Matt went to the children department, Luke went to the pets department and Spencer to the art supplement department.
He wanted to buy her an art kit, she mentioned she wanted one for her work at the Smithsonian but the one perfect for her was too expensive. So he thought he could buy it for her. He was well paid because of his three .
He remembered her saying the name of the kit so he looked for it. When he found it he got it then buy a present for his mother and thought to buy something for Sammy but then remembered Max asked to buy presents together for her family.
Before Spencer knew they have a case, Max called to see him at the coffee shop to talk and she wanted to show him some changes she made for her program for blind kids."It's perfect, so don't worry. The only problem with them is that they don't know how look green. Especially the kids that were born blind. Because if hey could see before and after an accident they ended up blind could be different"
"Ok, I understand" she took notes "Oh, by the way... um... my dad wanted me to invite you to our Christmas' party" she said biting her lip "it's a tradition, he likes to invite us and our boyfriends or in Michelle's case her husband and child. You don't have to go if you don't want to... we can spend New Year. I know you maybe want to be with your mom and..."
He smiled softly "Max?"
"Yes?"
"I would like to go" her face was of release "in fact I would prefer to meet your dad and sister at Christmas than after a kidnap" she nodded.
"G...good... um... can we go buy them presents together? We exchange presents at 12 after dinner" she looked at him.
"Sure. Maybe on Christmas day we can go to my mom's hospital. I want you to meet her" she smiled and kissed him gently.Then he got a call that they have a case. They said their goodbyes and he leaves.
But he decided to buy Sammy a present since he was so nice to him and he was the reason he and Max are dating.
He brought him a magic set. It was the one he once used to leard magic tricks.
After he played texted Luke and Matt to let them know he will go to check other stores.
He wanted to give Max something else, so he decided to check the Metropolitan museum and buy two tickets valid for a month.
He then checked his phone and realized it was almost time to go back to the hotel so he called a taxi and tell him the address of his hotel.
When he arrived he went up and got his suitcase. Then he went down and there were Rossi and Emily.
"Wow Spence I'm surprised to got a lot of things"
"Actually I just have 3 presents here. A dress for my mother, an art kit for Max and a magic set for Sammy, her nephew"
"That's so sweet of you" said Emily.
"Also got two tickets for the Metropolitan museum for us. We can come any day for a month"
"A very nice gift too. I got Krystall her favorite martini liquor and a pair of earrings"
"I brought Andrew a new helmet for his bike and his favorite after lotion, which is also my favorite" she smiled.
"Love is in the air" said Luke teasing them.
"What did you got for your girl?" Asked Emily.
"A box of her favorite snacks and a new toy" Rossi and Emily looked confused "Roxy needs her treats too" they roll their eyes but they could tell that something was not right because him and his girlfriend so they did not continue the questions.
Then they focused on Matt "what did you get?"
"I brought clothes for Rosemary and my other four kids. They needed something new for Christmas so I got them something. The toys are their mother's duty" he laughed softly "I got Kristy a new pair of earrings and a matching necklace"
"That's amazing" said Emily as their official cars arrived. They went to the airport where the jet was waiting and before they took off each text their couple to let them know they are on their way home.
The next day the bureau announced the vacations period and they leave for two weeks.
Emily left to Denver, Luke went to Florida to be with his family. Matt and his family stayed in Washington as well as Spencer.
A day before Christmas Max was helping him decorate his house. She wanted him to have some Christmas spirit.
"So after this we should go to buy our presents" she said while decorate the Christmas tree "I think I saw a nice present for you"
"I already got you present" he announced while he walked towards her holding two cups of coffee and some cookies she bought from Michelle.
"Oh really? Where?"
"New York. I saw something that reminds me to you and I brought it"
"Well, well, well... Doctor Reid is full of surprises huh?" She smiled "now I'm very curious what you got me"
"I'm pretty sure you will love it" he smiled "also I got something for Sammy. I know we promised to but your family's presents together but he made it possible we met so it's the less I can do for him" he ate a cookie after that.
"You are so sweet and kind with him" she stood up and kissed him gently "what did you get him?" She asked rubbing his cheek.
"A magic set" he smiled looking into her eyes. They faces were close.
"I thought you would buy it to him" she laughed "I'm sure he will love it" she ran her hand into his hair gently "we better finish this" she moved away and he looked at her.
He just walked to help her finishes to put the decorations and when the tree was done they connected it and the lights were on.
"It looks great. Thank you Max" he hugs her from behind and kisses her cheek.
"You are welcome" she smiled turning around to wrapped her arms around his neck "Spencer... I know we are just starting and I know I asked to take things slowly but honestly I never felt this happy in a long time. You are a proper gentleman, you respect me and you treat me great, you protect me... even from your own demons and I wish you could have the confidence to tell me, honey... you won't push me away" she played with his hair.
"I know and I'm sure the deeper we went into our relationship, I will feel more comfortable"
"You can trust me" she kissed him softly while he wrapped his arms around her moving her closer.
They kissed some more until they broke it to catch their breath.
She sighed looking in his eyes. She wanted to go further but was not sure yet. She tried to move away but he stopped her.
"What happened to you that you want to take things slowly?" He looked at her "because my reasons are the things I had to see at work. I don't want to tell you all the details because, I still have nightmares. But you... what happened?" He asked again.
"Mike Davis... I really wanted it to work. We dated for two years and we went fast. We had a few dates, we kissed almost immediately, we had sex shortly after that. We even moved in together. But then the magic stopped. He stopped being nice and treated me bad. He cheated with everyone. My dad was right. Beside him I always picked good boyfriends. Mike hurted me and I'm afraid that happened because we did things to fast"
"Max... baby" it was almost a whisper and the first time he called her that. She liked it "I would never do that to you. I'm respecting your choices and I won't hurt you the way he did. You deserve happiness and when you are ready to take all those steps. I will take them with you"
She had some tears in her eyes and smiled at him "Thank you Spencer. I'm so happy we met and to be with you" she hugs him placing her head on his chest.
He rubbed her back gently "you are so important to me and I don't want to lose you" he looked down at her. After some more minutes she stopped to cry but did not break their hug "we should go to buy the presents. Tomorrow I can't because Michelle got Eloise and me a reservation to an exclusive beauty saloon and I don't think we will see each other until the night when we have to leave for my dad's house"
"Ok then let's go. It's getting late" he said as she, reluctantly, broke the hug then went to get her jacket and put it on. Spencer also put on his jacket and holds her hand walking out his apartment "so where to?"
"We could go to a new mall center. They have lot of stores and we will find just exactly what we want for them"
"Awesome, you tell me where is it" she nodded then they both got into the car and Spencer followed her instructions and arrived to the mall.
He parked his car. It was full of cars. They both got out of the car, he held her hand as they walked in the mall.
"Ok I think ladies first. Theres this store Michelle and Eloise love. It's on the second floor. They have clothes and accessories for that clothes. I would like something for them"
"Sure no problem. Let's go there" they both walked to the store she wanted to go. There she checked some clothes for her sisters. At the end she picked a cute light green dress for Michelle and a striped blouse.
Then she wanted to go to get something for her dad and Michelle's husband.
"They like sports" she looked around thinking.
"Sports are out of my experience, Max" he looked at her.
"Could be a jersey but I'm not sure their teams. My dad was born and raised in Virginia and Phill is from here so maybe the Nationals?"
"It's up to you... but I think it could be better if we bought them a ball of some kind of sport. For example if they prefer football over baseball, we can brought them a football" he suggested.
"I like it... ok... um... Phill loves football so I will get him a ball and my dad loves basketball so I can buy him one of those" she looked up and him "you are a truly genius" she teased.
He made a sarcastic laugh "very funny... Maxine" he smirked "ouch!" She hit him playfully and he faked being hurt.
"Let's go Spencie. I want to buy a present for Sammy as well... and for you" she said the last part under her breath.
He listened but decided not to speak. They walked in the store and they got a football and a basketball for those two men and after pay Max looked at him "ok Spencer. Now I will go to get your present and Sammy's"
"Why I can't be there to get his present?"
"Because I will go to the same store to buy both and if you are there, you will find out" she said "so stay here. I will be here soon. Drink something. Check out other stores I don't know"
"Ok just because you asked"
"Good" she smiled and left him. She walked to the store she wanted to go.
She had been thinking about what to give to him. He is a genius so she cannot give him books. He has the classics, he has all the psychology, sociology, philosophy books ever made, he has everything his mind can use. He even has books in other languages. He has El Quijote in Spanish, he has books in Russian, Korean.
So intellectually she cannot give him something new. She decided to give him something that will be better for him.
Something she made. Max found in the mall a place to design your own t-shirts. You bought a white one, and threw paint on it until you are satisfied. Then they kept it to let the paint dry and then they gave it an special treatment to protect the design.
It is something special because she made it but also something they both can enjoy. She loved his dress shirts, ties and suits they looked perfect on him and made him look really handsome but she want him to relax with her so when they have a relax date she will ask him to were this.
She paid for it and got it wrapped up then walked to buy Sammy her gift. She wanted her nephew to improve his abilities to paint so she bought him a little paint kit and color books specials for a twelve years old.
After that she left to walked back to where she left Spencer. When she arrived she saw him talking to an old man.
She smiled and walked towards them "hey Spence"
"Oh hey Max. This is Daniel Collins. A former FBI agent. He was part of the negotiations team"
"Nice to meet you sir" she smiled "I'm Max, Spencer's girlfriend"
"Nice to meet you young lady. Well I will let you both enjoy the rest of the day. See you around Spencer" he stood up and left them.
Then Max took the seat he was using "ok I bought the two presents"
"Perfect I ordered a coffee for you but I told the guy there I will get it later because you weren't here yet"
"Thank you" she kisses his cheek and walked to told the guy how she wanted her coffee then returned to their table.
They talked some about the FBI agent she just met. How he started to talk to him.
Then they both returned to his apartment "so I was thinking if I left my family's presents here and I will just take with me your present. Because I also think it's better to just go in your car"
"I'm agree. I will left then under my tree and you will call me when you are ready?"
"Yes. I will be almost all the morning in the saloon and then I will go to my apartment and get dressed"
"Ok perfect see you tomorrow" they kissed and she got out the car and he did the same. Then his eyes followed her until she got in hers and until she did not leave he did not move.
When her car was out of sight he got the presents and went upstairs to his apartment.
He put them under his tree and went to change and laid in bed. He waited for her text saying she arrived to fall asleep.
OOooOOooOO
I wanted to just have a Christmas chapter but the next will be the actual Christmas eve and Christmas day.
This one was more focused in developing their relationship with that conversation. Hope you liked and we will read in the next chapter.