See, I warned you guys this could run away with me. I should never have tried to say it'd only be three chapters :P Right now it's looking like 4, maybe 5, lol. So I'm not going to predict it now. I'm just going to say less than 10 LOL

Enjoy!

Spencer couldn't believe that the day was finally here. He stood in line with the other students in his senior class and waited for that moment when his name would be called. It took everything he had not to vibrate with excitement. Today, it was going to be official. He was graduating! Twelve years old and he was graduating high school. No more classes here, no more dealing with the other students, no more getting shoved in lockers or dropped into dumpsters, no more eating his lunch in the dark corner of the library just to make sure he'd eat it okay.

"Alisha Derry!"

Just this final day, this last moment, and he was done here. He'd walk across that stage when they called his name and he'd take the diploma and then he'd be done. What he'd do next, he didn't know, but it had to be better than here. He knew what he wanted to do. More than anything in the world, he wanted to go to college. But he also knew better than to think that was going to happen.

"Lottie Henderson!"

Maybe once he hit eighteen. Maybe then, he could get a scholarship and find himself somewhere to go. But not now. There was no way his father would let him go. And his Mom…he couldn't just leave her alone. Spencer had been taking care of her for so long, he didn't know how not to. If he wasn't there, she'd never remember to take her meds, or to eat, or to even get up out of bed some days. Who would make sure she did all those things? Who would get her to her doctor appointments? Dad certainly wouldn't. He was too caught up in his new affair with his secretary that he didn't even bother hiding from his family. Hence all the 'business trips' that he'd been taking. A blessing in disguise, those. They did much better without him around. When he was home, it never boded well for either Spencer or Diana. Just another reason for him to stay. If he left, who would be there to get between his mother and father when they fought? On her bad days, Diana didn't remember that she needed to watch her tongue when she spoke to her husband. She didn't understand just how dangerous it was to ignore him. Nor did she even really notice when her slender son got between them and took the blows meant for her. If Spencer wasn't there to do that for her—he shuddered to think of what might happen.

"Tim Raymond!"

The name was called and Spencer sat up a little straighter, shaking off his dark thoughts. They were almost to him.

He heard the voices cheering for Tim and a momentary pang hit Spencer's heart. There would be no one out there to cheer for him. His father was on a 'business trip' and his mother had barely woken enough for him to tell her that he was leaving. There was no way she would've been able to get up and come here today.

"Brittney Regis."

The next name was called and Spencer shook off his melancholy thoughts. Nothing was going to get him down. Not here, not now. His name was next! It didn't matter that his parents weren't out there to cheer for him. It didn't matter that he was alone. Later tonight, when his Mom was awake and having one of her lucid moments, he'd show her his diploma and she'd light up with that smile that she got when she was so very proud of him, and maybe they'd sit together in her big bed and talk and laugh together until they were both tired, and then she'd read to him until he fell asleep beside her, pretending for a moment that he was a child once more, not an adult in a child's body.

"Spencer Reid!"

The sound of his name had Spencer's head jerking up. His legs trembled ever so slightly as he rose to his feet. The whispered comments from some of the others in his class meant nothing to him. He ignored it as he'd always done and he made himself climb those stairs to walk across the stage. The principal was reading off the list of awards and achievements that Spencer had earned and Spencer flushed ever so slightly when he reached the man. The list ended and the audience gave a polite applause and then Spencer was stunned completely by someone suddenly calling his name, cheering and catcalling loudly. He couldn't help but turn and look out into the audience and what he saw had him both blushing and grinning broadly. There, standing halfway down the middle aisle, were Remy LeBeau, clapping and cheering his heart out.

Spencer's cheeks were burning as he left the stage, clutching his diploma to his chest. Still, his grin never left his face through the rest of the ceremony.

The minute they were all released, the place became jam packed as people tried to find their friends and family. Spencer tried to look around for his friend though he knew it was almost hopeless inside of this crowd. He had no choice but to follow the press of bodies out to the cafeteria where everyone was gathering for an after-graduation buffet that had been set up. There, people spread out a little more and it was a little easier for everyone to breathe without being pressed hip to hip against everyone else.

Spencer didn't even make a full scan of the room before he found who he was looking for. Or, more accurately, Remy found him. He heard a voice call out "Spencer!" and he turned around to find Remy and making his way through the crowd. The Cajun raced around and past people and straight for him. When he finally broke out of the crowd, he caught Spencer and yanked him in for a huge hug that had Spencer laughing. Pulling back, he flicked a hand up at the tassel hanging from Spencer's cap. "Look at y', Mister Graduate! Congratulations!"

"What are you doing here?" Spencer blurted out, his shock and joy evident in his words and on his face.

Remy let out a merry laugh that turned more than a few heads around them and had a few of those people smiling. There was something infectious about Remy's laugh that always caught people's attention and made them want to smile. "Got a ride to go wit' m' new license. Where de hell else am I gonna be, huh? Aint everyday y' see a firefly graduate." He explained. Even as Spencer smiled and blushed once more, Remy reached out and stole Spencer's cap and stick it on his own head so he could ruffle the young boy's shaggy hair. He slung his arm around Spencer's shoulders again and tugged him in close to his side so he could flash a cheeky grin at him. His eyes were showing just slightly over the top of his sunglasses and they were lit up with the absolute joy that seemed to accompany him always. "So, got any plans here, Einstein?"

The nickname that came out like a slur from anyone else held a note of fondness when it came from Remy. Still, Spencer wrinkled his nose at it and gave a none-too-gentle nudge to Remy's ribs with his elbow. "No, nothing. I was just planning on heading home after this was done, actually."

"Well, y' do now." Remy informed him. He drew his arm in just enough to put Spencer in a brief, mock-headlock. Then he relaxed is grip a bit and his arm just rested casually on his shoulders. His easy going view towards touch was so at odds with Spencer's world. Hell, it was at odds with the normal world. No sixteen year old he'd ever met talked or acted quite like Remy did. No one that Spencer knew, of any age, touched as easily or as openly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Neither one of them mentioned his parents' absence, for which Spencer was grateful. He didn't feel like getting into that right now. Today was his day, his celebration, and he was with someone who had become his best friend and whom he hadn't seen in eight months. Someone who had driven across country just to come to Spencer's graduation ceremony. Spencer slid his arm around Remy's waist and let his friend lead him out of the school, smiling all the way.

He couldn't help his delighted laugh when he saw the car that Remy was leading him to. Cars weren't Spencer's thing and he had absolutely no idea what make or model it was. But it was all long, sleek lines, and a bright red that matched the glow of Remy's eyes when he was happy, and it looked old, like it needed some work, but that was perfect for Remy too because Spencer knew that his best friend liked to work on cars. Remy dragged him over towards it, grinning proudly. "Aint she a beaut?"

"It suits you." Spencer said agreeably.

Remy let go of him to head to the driver's door, tipping his head down just enough to wink over the top of his sunglasses at Spencer. "Sleek, sexy, an purrs wit' de right handling? Sounds 'bout right."

Instant blush heated Spencer's cheeks and Remy's laughter filled the air. Spencer chose to ignore it while he quickly pulled his graduation robes off, leaving him in the slacks and shirt he'd worn underneath, and he stuffed both his robe and his bag into the backseat.

"So," Remy drawled out once they were both seated and buckled in the car. "It's y'r special day, firefly. Where y' wanna go eat, hm? Any place y' want."

"There's a diner just two blocks down the road that makes delicious burgers." He knew how much Remy enjoyed a good burger. Spencer had no real preference where they ate, personally. Just having his best friend here was enough of a treat for him. He hadn't expected this at all. Sure, he knew Remy had known his graduation was coming up, but he hadn't expected the man to drive out here for it. No one had ever really cared that much before. Not even his own family had been able to make it here for his graduation today. Yet Remy had. Remy had driven over seventeen hundred miles to be here for this important day in Spencer's life. Sure, part of it was because the teen had a new car and he couldn't resist driving it and showing it off. But he'd driven it here. He'd come here, for Spencer. No one had done that for him before. It left Spencer with a warm, light feeling inside.

The look that Remy sent his way told him that his best friend had guessed at least part of his thoughts. He had an uncanny ability to do that. Somehow he was able to hear beyond what Spencer said in a way that often had Spencer teasing him about becoming a telepath on top of everything else. It was always worth it to see the disgusted look that Remy would get. He wasn't exactly fond of telepaths. They both knew that wasn't Remy's power, anyways. He just seemed to understand Spencer.

Showing that same understanding now, he didn't call Spencer out on choosing a place that they both knew Spencer had picked solely because Remy would like it. Instead, he nodded as he turned the car on and put it into gear. "Sounds bien to me."

There was one request that Spencer would make for himself, though. Turning in his seat, he bit on his lip for a second before asking. "Can we get it to go?" The last thing that Spencer wanted was to be in another crowd of people.

"Whatever y' want, petit. It's y'r day today." Remy's grin was quick and bright. "So, tell me, how's it feel to be a graduate at twelve? Y'r putting y'r po' Remy to shame here, I hope y' know! I aint even graduated yet. T'ough, m' tutor t'inks I might be able to, if I finish up a few t'ings over dis summer."

"Really? Remy, that's wonderful!"

School hadn't been easy for Remy, he knew. Having spent the first ten years of his life on the streets had left Remy solely lacking in a normal education and he'd had to fight hard to get to where he was now. It helped that he was exceedingly bright. Far brighter than he gave himself credit for. He just had a slight bit of trouble in a normal learning environment. ADHD, the schools had tried to say. Slow, another had said, and Spencer remembered how upset Remy had been at that. His letter had been shorter than normal and slightly depressed. The next one had been more cheerful, though, as he'd told Spencer all about how Jean-Luc had pulled him out of school and gotten him a private tutor, under whom Remy had excelled. He was a smart kid who just happened to learn a little differently than others. Sitting down at a desk all day and being forced to stare at books and learn in that kind of environment didn't work for Remy. The classroom was a torture device for him. He worked much better when allowed to move, to stretch around and let out the energy that was always in him. He was much more of a hands on learner.

Remy smoothly pulled his car out of the parking lot and set off in the direction that Spencer pointed. "Y' still t'inking about applying for dem scholarships y' was talking about? I'm sure dere's plenty of places dat are gonna want some genius like y'."

"Remy." They'd had this conversation before, plenty of times. Spencer sighed and rolled his eyes. "You know college isn't any option for me right now. Besides, I'm only twelve. What college would take me anyways?"

"Plenty! Y'r age only proves how much of a genius y' are. Dey'd be lining up to take y' in!"

"That's if they could manage to get past the fact that they'd have a mutant on campus." Spencer shot back. There was no argument Remy could give for that. They both knew that his eyes would make things difficult. Some places would probably reject him on that alone. Seeing the way Remy's hands clenched on the wheel and the slight clench to his jaw had Spencer pushing past his usual boundaries and reaching out to lay a light touch on Remy's arm. "It's fine, Remy. I'm needed here at home, anyways. Mom needs me. It's only five years, three months and seventeen days until I'm eighteen. I'll apply to plenty of places then." And he'd be able to help his Mom then, too. At eighteen he'd be able to act in her best interests and get her set up in a place that could take care of her properly. Somewhere that could give her the full time care he knew she needed.

A long sigh slid from Remy. "Y'r too damn old, firefly." Letting go of the wheel with one hand, he reached out and patted lightly over Spencer's hand which had still been resting on his arms. Then he visibly pushed back all the depressing talk and the thoughts it'd brought and he smiled once more. It wasn't as bright as before, but it wouldn't take long to get there. "Enough of dis. Today's a day to celebrate. We'll get our food and den find ourselves somewhere quiet to sit an eat."

The diner came up in the distance and Spencer pointed it out to him. Soon, the car was parked and the two were climbing out, meeting by the hood and heading inside together.

They weren't even a step inside the diner before Spencer found himself inching just a little closer to Remy. The bright, cheerful, sassy person he could be when alone with Remy vanished the instant that they got into a more public setting. It had only taken one outing for Remy to learn that lesson when they were younger and it was one he hadn't forgotten. For some reason, it was easy for Spencer to speak with Remy. He had no troubles talking to him or sassing him—habits that Remy encouraged, often laughing when Spencer said something sassy or blunt—or any of those things. Being with Remy was just easy for him in ways that being around others wasn't. When he got around others, he reverted back to the scared, shy boy he'd been his entire life. His eyes lowered, instinctively hiding them behind shaggy bangs, and his shoulders would hunch in an effort to make himself appear smaller.

In one of those easy gestures that only Remy could manage, he slung his arm around Spencer's shoulders again and led him up to the counter. He kept his arm there, too, as they ordered their food, and he made sure Spencer stayed safely tucked against his side until they had their food and were once more outside. He only let go when they got close and he had to let him get into the car.

They headed out of town with their food until they reached a place where Remy could turn off and park on a deserted little dirt road. The two climbed out and sat themselves down on the trunk of the car with their food and drinks spread out beside them. Even though it'd been months since they'd seen one another, since they'd really been able to do anything but write, it was easy to fall into conversation together. Alone like this, they'd always been good at talking. Spencer told Remy all about the senior project he'd had to complete and Remy complained about the massive essay his tutor wanted him to do. There were other stories, too, ones told just to make Spencer laugh. Remy told him about more practical jokes between him and Henri—those were always ongoing, it seemed. A war that would never end. He told him about Henri trying to switch the sugar for salt, thinking Remy would use it for his coffee, only Jean-Luc got there first. Spencer laughed so hard at that he would've fallen off the car if Remy hadn't caught him.

It was good and it was easy hanging together out there. Spencer felt more relaxed than he had in months.

They'd just finished their meals, the garbage put into bags and tossed into the backseat of the car, when Remy pinned Spencer with a steady look and said "Okay, spill it."

"What?" Confusion wrinkled Spencer's brow.

"Y' been fair to bursting with somet'ing fo' de past two months, an I been waiting patiently fo' y' to tell me what it is. I'm tired of waiting. So, spill."

Oh. Spencer flushed a little. He hadn't realized he'd been that transparent. There was something that he'd been wanting to tell Remy. Something he'd been eager to tell him, really. He'd just been waiting for the right time. Apparently, that was now. "I wasn't trying to keep it a secret." Spencer told him. "I just hadn't figured out how to share it with you yet."

Remy took a long drink off the soda in his hand, eyes on Spencer and eyebrows lifted.

That look was easy enough to read. Spencer rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. I, well…I mean, um…" The words he wanted just wouldn't seem to come. Nervous and not quite sure why, he couldn't seem to say what he wanted to say. He blew out a frustrated breath. "Maybe it's just easier if I do this." He set his cup down and then lifted one hand up. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Remy sit up with sudden interest. Drawing in a breath, Spencer focused the way that he'd taught himself and he watched as five little flames came to life, one over top of each fingertip, each one a different color. Red, deep red, orange, yellow, and white.

"Y'r powers kicked in." Remy breathed out. Utterly unafraid, he scooted over until he and Spencer were pressed together side by side and he could lean in to get a closer look. "Always knew it'd be somet'ing wit' fire. Didn't know y'd be able to make it."

"I can play with it a little, too." Spencer said. He brought his hand up, turning his palm outwards, and the little flames moved as well, growing. With a small gesture he sent them out a bit where they started to zip and zoom in front of them like, well, like little fireflies. "They seem to be different colors, depending on how hot they are. I can change the temperature," All of the little flames changed into that darker red, and then regular orange tinged in yellow. "The shape and the size." This time the flames came together, forming one big one that Spencer made expand and then shrunk back down again. Then he broke it apart until there were twelve little flames, which he set to twisting and spinning around one another in patterns and swirls. "And I can make it disappear." With careful thought, he drew his hand back in, and the flames smothered away with only a small wisp of smoke to show they were there.

Spencer hadn't showed this to anyone. He hadn't even told anyone. No one had been around the night that they'd been triggered and he'd made damn sure to work hard to gain control after that so that no one would have to know. People were scared enough just by seeing his eyes. If they saw what he could do—there was no telling how they'd react.

The only person he'd wanted to tell was Remy. He knew that Remy was the only person who was going to be happy for him. Who would be excited, not afraid.

He was right. Remy was smiling and his whole face shone with his excitement. Without a care for their cups, he grabbed Spencer up in a tight hug, almost knocking them and the cups down. Spencer flinched at the initial contact and then melted into Remy's embrace and hugged back, laughing, as Remy squeezed him. "See, I told y'!" Remy said when he pulled back, grinning broadly at him. "I told y' dat y' was a firefly!"

"Somehow I just knew you were going to say that." Spencer said dryly. His eyes were shining happily, though, the flames in them dancing.

Remy grabbed their cups and then scooted back into the empty space. "C'mon!" He thrust Spencer's cup at him and then patted the spot at his side. "Get over here and show me what y' can do. Make me some fireworks, firefly."

Spencer was laughing when he slid over and lay back on the car at Remy's side. "You are so strange."

"Oui. Now, c'mon!"

What else could he do? Lifting his hand, Spencer called on the flames and made him some fireworks.