Were it not for the brightly coloured walls and the sunlight streaming over the bed, Spencer wouldn't have realised he wasn't at home. It could only mean he had grown comfortable with this new arrangement. He rubbed his eyes and looked over at his bedfellow. Her back was to him. He placed a hand on her arm.
"Monica?", he said softly, "Wake up"
She threw the covers off and sat up at breakneck speed.
"Wha-what? What is it?"
He tried not to laugh.
"Nothing. Just... Monday"
She closed her eyes again. Reid began to straighten her hair that had stood up at weird angles.
"You have a class in two hours. Come on", he said, patting her hair down, "Why don't you get out of bed and I'll see about breakfast?"
That seemed to awaken her. She looked around absently, then pulled the covers off herself.
"I got breakfast covered. I got it", she got out of bed.
"You sure?"
"Yeah", she ambled over to the bathroom.
Spencer sat in bed, looking after her with a smile. He put his feet on the floor and hit a soft lump instead. Bubbly kept on snoring. Spencer whispered to him,
"Sorry"
He tiptoed around the old dog and walked out of the room.

At her breakfast table, they feasted on crepes. Spencer sat across from her and enjoyed the hearty meal.
And the sight.
Monica's dark hair framed her face, bringing out its best features. Her nose satisfied him. It was a perfect geometrical shape.
"You look lovely today", he said.
She smiled at the news she was reading.
"Thanks. You do too"
"Yeah? What am I wearing?"
She didn't have to look up from her tablet.
"A light purple shirt, grey trousers, a striped blue tie, grey sweater vest, brown shoes, purple and pink socks, and... pink boxers"
His jaw stopped moving. Monica put the cup of tea to her mouth.
"How did you know the colour of my underwear? We didn't have sex last night"
"I have my ways"
"Monica"
She looked up, grinning,
"I checked you out while you were changing. I'm sorry!"
He tried to give her a disapproving look but laughed instead.
"You're a Peeping Tom!"
"You were looking all sexy in your manly underwear and you were humming! What else could I do?"
Shaking his head, he gathered their empty dishes and headed for the sink. He walked to the table again and picked up his bag from the floor.
"I'll text you when I can. Have a great day", he said.
"Dr. Reid?"
He was walking to the door, and retrieving his car keys from the bag.
"Yeah?"
Monica said from behind him,
"I liked what I saw"
He didn't stop walking, not wanting her to see the colour in his face or his embarrassed smile.
"Bye!", he exclaimed and closed the door behind him.
The woman gave him stomach flutters, seriously.

When work proved to be excruciatingly slow that day, he thought of surprising her. She loved surprising him. Maybe he could return the favour. After getting Emily's permission, Spencer Reid set out for Mary Washington University.

Universities made him nostalgic. It was in such institutions of learning that his true potential as a student had been honed. He was enjoying being back on a college campus.
"Excuse me", he stopped the woman who looked like a faculty member, "Do you know where I can find Dr. Monica Knight?"
The woman couldn't help him. Spencer thanked her anyway and headed for the teachers' lounge. It wouldn't look good for his girlfriend if he just barged in there. Thankfully, someone stepped out of the lounge and Spencer consulted him.
"Excuse me. Could you tell me where I can find Dr. Monica Knight?"
The man raised a thick, shapely eyebrow.
"Who's asking?"
"I'm Dr. Spencer Reid. Hi. Do you know Dr. Knight?"
The man folded his arms over his chest. His muscles flexed under his casual shirt.
"You're looking at her boyfriend, pal. What do you want with Monica?"
A sharp pain pinched his chest, but only for a moment. It was impossible. Spencer didn't break eye contact.
"You're lying"
"Why would I be lying?"
He tried not to sound pissed,
"For one, she doesn't like heavy brutes with an outdated perception of masculinity"
The man's face erupted into a wide smile that did nothing to disarm Spencer.
"Monica sure knows how to pick them", the man offered him his hand, "I'm Gabriel Lawley. Sorry about the ribbing. When you told me your name, I couldn't help myself"
When left hanging, Gabriel put his hand back in his pocket.
"Monica's mentioned you before. We go way back. We were lab partners her freshman year at Richmond. Shame she left for Oxford next semester"
Spencer didn't bat a lash. Prof. Lawley cleared his throat.
"I think I saw her leaving. Take a left down that path. They park the bicycles there"
Spencer left.

Walking as fast as his feet would permit, he located his destination. Monica had her back to him as she took her bicycle off its pedestal. Wanting to be romantic for once, Spencer slowly walked up behind her and put his arms around her.
He was greeted with a swift kick in the stomach.
"Motherf... Dr. Reid! Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!"
He had doubled over in pain and she pulled him up. Monica was frantic.
"What are you doing here? You scared me! Oh dear, I am sorry. I thought you were a pervert"
Frail as she looked, his girlfriend had a killer hoof. Spencer summoned enough energy to speak.
"It's okay", he croaked.
Monica fussed over him.
"I am so, so sorry. Does it hurt too bad?"
"It feels like my guts imploded", he winced.
"Oh no. Let me take you to the nurse. Come on. Can you walk?"
He managed. Monica supported his form over her smaller frame. She held his arm across her shoulders as they walked.
"Darling, I love you but... never sneak up on me again. I am one of those naturally jumpy people"
"Noted"
"I feel terrible though. My poor boyfriend. This is a nice surprise?"
He gave her such a look she shut up.

"Stop rubbing my stomach. I am not a baby", Spencer exclaimed.
Monica meekly pulled her hand back. After visiting the campus clinic, they were sitting in the cafetaria. A balding man in a tweed coat passing by their table, stopped to chuckle and say,
"Fraternising with students, are we, Dr. Knight?"
Monica didn't miss a beat,
"Choke on my dick, Perkins. Piss off"
Perkins sauntered away, chuckling still, while Spencer looked to his girlfriend for an explanation. She sighed.
"Ah, what the hell. I was gonna tell you anyway. I turned in my two weeks' notice today"
He raised his eyebrows,
"You're quitting your job?"
"I know it's a coveted position and I should be grateful and all, but I can't take any more of this place. Everybody's trying to shove each other into the dirt. My students were the only reason keeping me here. Finals Week starts next Monday. So when I leave, I'll leave knowing I didn't abandon them"
"But you love teaching"
"It's not just that. I don't even care about botany anymore"
He wondered aloud,
"What are you going to do?"
Monica said,
"I got an offer for a research project. It's more about forestry than botany. They need a plant expert"
"That's great", he smiled, "You wanted a change anyway"
"That's true. The actual field work should only take a month but..."
"But what?"
But she didn't seem happy. She looked up at him.
"The job's in Australia"
And his smile withered.

"Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love"

- George Eliot