~BEXLEY POV~
As we sat in the small bar, I couldn't help but laugh as Derek danced with Penelope. He'd tried to convince her for at least five minutes and when she'd finally said yes, they hadn't even started really dancing before she was stepping on his toes. Eleanor seemed to finally be relaxing as she talked with David and Aaron about their jobs. She'd been a little uneasy when I'd first asked her to join us but had agreed nonetheless. I was glad to see that she wasn't miserable after all.
JJ, Will, and Spencer were able to share a laugh as they discussed how Henry, who was on a play date with Jack and Aaron's sister-in-law, had taken on the trend of his godfather by refusing to wear matching socks.
"How is work going, sweetie?" Eleanor's sweet tone caused me to smile. She never wanted anyone to feel left out on anything.
I'd tried convincing her a few times that I would rather just listen and stay out of the conversations, but she'd quickly reminded me that you can't get to know someone if you don't try. Getting to know the members of the BAU wasn't something I really wanted to do considering I would have to leave, but I'd agreed with her nonetheless.
"It's going fine. Nothing exciting." Unless you count falling off of a ladder.
A slow song came on, which I hadn't been expecting from a bar, and then I saw Will extend a hand to JJ. She smiled and after she took his hand, he led her to the dance floor. I saw Eleanor's smile grow bigger as she stared at the couple.
"There's someone out there for everyone." She said longingly and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. From what she'd told me all she'd ever wanted was a marriage and children. She'd told me she'd come close once but the man died in the war and she never looked again.
This was another reason I was waiting so long to leave Quantico. She'd told me on several occasions that she thought of me as family and that, before I'd come along, she'd been very lonely and that she was grateful to have someone to look after.
"Bexley, do you like to dance?" She asked me and I gave a light laugh but could feel a small blush covering my cheeks.
"I wouldn't know. I've never tried. It seems kind of silly and I'm already pretty clumsy." I hoped she would let it go, but judging from the look in her eyes, I could tell she wasn't about to.
She and Rossi exchanged a look and a nod. He turned to look at someone and I felt my stomach do a back flip. "Well then you should experience it at least once. My old bones can't hold up to it tonight but you kids go and have fun."
I turned around then to see Spencer raise an eyebrow at him. I hoped that it went straight over his head what Rossi was implying. Aaron gave the smallest hint of teasing away in his eyes as he looked at Spencer. "What do you think, Reid?"
Realization then dawned on him and I looked down at the glass of coke in front of me. I bit my lip nervously and desperately wished I'd have been brave enough to stay home tonight. I took a deep breath and looked back up at Spencer.
He stood from his chair and held his hand out. "Will you dance with me?" he asked and I felt my heart leap up into my throat. Instead of trying to talk, I simply took his hand and let him lead me to a corner of the dance floor.
He grabbed one of my hands and gently rested it on his shoulder and placed one of his hands on my lower back. He let the fingers of our free hands interlace and I felt the oddest feeling of being… safe.
~SPENCER POV~
I figured we'd be safer to simply sway back and forth on the dance floor instead of worrying about stepping on each other's feet. I had never been one for dancing and I never planned on needing to learn, especially for something like this. I thought back to the dreams of dancing with Maeve in the library and noticed how dancing with Bexley now wasn't so different.
I looked into her warm golden eyes and saw that she no longer looked guarded. She was no longer scanning for any signs of danger but was simply staring into my own brown eyes and I couldn't help but wonder what she saw or what she was looking for.
I let my hand fall from hers but only to place it on my other hand at her back. She surprisingly lifted her hand to around my neck and placed her head on my chest. I rested my cheek on top of her head and could smell the smallest hint of vanilla shampoo in her long red hair.
I realized then that we'd stopped dancing and we were simply embracing in the bar. I wondered where her mind had gone off to and what had changed to make her seem almost vulnerable. I heard someone clear their throat and looked to see Garcia smiling sweetly and Morgan with a similar teasing grin.
I immediately felt her arms drop from around my neck and I placed my hands in my pockets. When I looked back to her, I could see that her walls were back up despite the teasing grin that she shot Morgan and Garcia.
"Did he finally give you a break?" Bexley asked and Garcia laughed.
"After about the thirty-seventh time I stepped on his toe, he was convinced." The girls laughed and Morgan rolled his eyes.
"I figured it would be polite to give you a break. We may have stopped earlier, but I figured you were having fun stepping on my toes." We all laughed at this and made our way back to our table.
Rossi smiled and looked to Bexley. "Did you have fun?"
She took her seat beside Eleanor and laughed. "No toes were stepped on for either of us, so I guess you could say that."
JJ and Will walked back over a minute later and took their seats back. "I'm glad you decided to come with us tonight." JJ said with a smile.
"I am too." Bexley said before taking a sip of her coke. I felt a smile spread across my face as I watched her.
"She's the only person I know who pretty boy would dance with in a public place." The group laughed and Penelope very calmly elbowed Morgan.
"Pretty boy, huh?" I bit my lip and looked down.
"It's an old nickname." A couple of laughs broke out at the table and I couldn't help but join in.
It wasn't long after that before Hotch stood up and looked at the time. "We'd all better head back and get some rest. Duty calls early in the morning." A groan broke out at the table and I heard Hotch chuckle as he left.
With a goodbye, we parted ways. Bexley, Morgan, and I made our way to his car in the parking lot quietly. The only sound that could be heard as we made our way back to mine and Bexley's apartments was the music coming from Morgan's radio.
"Thanks for the ride, Derek." She said and he gave her a smile.
"Anytime, beautiful. See you in the morning, pretty boy." I got out of the car and made my way just around the driver's side to her when I heard the window roll down. "Try not to stay up too late."
I felt my heart pick up and almost tripped over one of the steps. I quickly caught my balance and looked back to see him laughing as he rolled up his window.
"Are you okay?" I turned back around to see Bexley smiling.
I nodded and quickly added, "I'm fine." I ran my fingers through my hair and laughed as I considered reprogramming Morgan's iPod again. I'd have to think of something different than me screaming again.
We made our way up the stairs and she turned to me suddenly. "I had a great time tonight. Thank you for asking me to go with you."
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a great time spending time with you. We should do this again sometime."
She smiled and looked down as she said, "I'd like that."
We arrived at our doors and I turned to tell her goodnight when I thought back to Maeve. After almost three years, I still thought of her every day.
As I looked at Bexley, I thought of how I'd waited so long to take the chance of seeing Maeve that I never got the chance to hold her. I promised myself that I wouldn't make that mistake twice and as I weighed my options of what I was about to say very carefully.
"Bexley." She looked away from her door and back to me with a smile as she waited for me to continue. "Would you like to have dinner with me some time?"
Her golden eyes widened in shock before going ever so calm as she seemed to think of what to say next. I waited patiently for her answer and she looked down at her toes. She laughed then and I raised an eyebrow at her.
"What?" I asked and she looked up from her feet, a smile on her face. Her golden eyes held uncertainty and humor in them, her walls ever present.
"I swear I'm not laughing at you. You'll just have to forgive me if I act awkward. Most girls go on their very first dates as teenagers." She let out a soft laugh and this time I laughed with her.
I was surprised to find her less experienced than I was in the dating field, but this was one question of curiosity that I'd rather ignore.
"Goodnight, Spencer." She said as she opened her door.
"Goodnight." I told her and walked inside my apartment. Hell was going to be paid tomorrow because I knew that I wouldn't be able to do anything but think of how to plan a first date.
***Well, there it is. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. R&R and have a great day.