Telling The Team and Marriage Proposal
They'd been together for 3 years and 8 months, and if you asked Spencer, he'd probably tell you how many days as well.
Today was one they wouldn't be able to forget. JJ was being forced to take a job at the Department of Defence. Both Spencer and Garcia had stayed behind at the BAU, spending a little more time with JJ, Spencer telling him that he'd catch a taxi home.
When Derek got home and let out Clooney, he sat down and let himself fall into memories.
He and Spencer had finally moved in together after they had gotten back from La Plata County. After finally seeing Spencer alive after those few days with Benjamin Cyrus, Derek had insisted he move in. They had already been spending more time at Derek's apartment, and Derek didn't want to take his eye off of Spencer. Then there was the case in Las Vegas that led Spencer to an unwanted reunion with his father after almost 20 years. When they had gotten home, they spent the weekend in bed together. Just being there.
The thing was, the team didn't know that they were together. Or if they did, being profilers and all, they were doing their best not to show it.
There was never the case of not wanting to tell the team. They knew, hopefully, that the team would support them. They never really talked about actually telling the team, both deciding that if had come up, they'd be honest.
No one has said a thing.
There was the case with The Reaper in Boston. Spencer and Derek had sat apart up on the jet home, and Spencer took the train, but the moment they were both in the house, they didn't let each other go. Spencer had been shaking when he finally got to wrap his arms around Derek after everything, and they couldn't help but be grateful to be together.
The anthrax scare was exactly that. A scare. It frightened them, both of them. The look that Spencer gave him through that glass door after he said "I'm sorry," was a look that Derek didn't have to have an eidetic memory to remember. He wanted to break down right then and there, say screw the case and stay with Spencer. Derek knew though that Spencer would want them to finish the case. And they did. The following weeks when Spencer was released from the hospital, the team had agreed that he should stay with someone and Derek offered first, no one objected.
After Canada, when Spencer was shot in the knee and The Reaper had gotten Hotch, they stuck closer together. When Derek was temporarily promoted to Unit Chief and his hours were extended, they got through it. Even recently, with Billy Flynn and Ellie, it just proved to Derek and Spencer how right it was for them
to be together.
"And we need to stay together," he mumbled.
"What was that?" The sound of Spencer's voice surprised him and he looked up to see the other man standing in the doorway to the living room.
As Derek stood, he could see Spencer's face was still slightly pink and his eyes were red rimmed. "Come here, Pretty Boy," Derek whispered as he wrapped his arms around Spencer. The younger man instantly responded as he wrapped his arms around Derek and shoved his face into his shoulder. They stood there holding each other, both knowing it was what the other needed.
"You going to be okay?" Derek whispered into his ear as he rubbed an arm up and down Spencer's back.
Spencer nodded into his shoulder. "Eventually," he mumbled.
Derek stepped away and grabbed one of Spencer's arms, gently pulling it and guiding him to the couch.
"So, there's something I want to talk to you about," he began as they both sat.
"What is it?" Spencer asked as he leaned against Derek.
"I've actually been thinking about this for a while, and I think now with JJ, this might be the time do it."
"I'm not following," Spencer said.
"I want to tell the team," Derek blurted out.
"Tell the team about what?" Spencer asked as he licked his lips. "Tell them about us?"
Derek bit his lip and nodded. "I think this might be the best time, but I understand if you don't-"
"No! I do!" Spencer said quickly, cutting Derek off. "We just need to think about how we're going to do it."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, I would prefer something different than just getting them all in the conference room and saying something like 'Derek and I have been together for a while now, by the way. Now return to your regularly scheduled work day'," Spencer explained, smirking.
Derek snorted as he thought it over and let out a soft chuckle. "You're definitely right about that."
"So, how are we going to do this?" Spencer asked.
"I actually think I know how," Derek replied.
Spencer raised an eyebrow. "Really? That quick?"
Derek wrapped an arm around him and pulled him into his side. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course," Spencer replied instantly.
"Then I need you to let me do this, because I think it might be the best way."
"So, when are we going to do this, if you don't mind me asking?"
Derek's smirk turned into a grin. "Tomorrow."
Spencer had watched that night as Derek made calls to the team, telling them he was planning a last-minute cookout at one of his properties and the whole team was invited. Derek had also insisted on carpooling. That's how he found himself sitting shotgun in Derek's SUV, Garcia and Emily riding along with them.
"Where exactly is this house of yours, Morgan?" Emily had asked as they left the city and the scenery began to turn into rolling hills and farms.
"It's been a little secret of mine," Derek responded with a smirk, looking back at her through the rearview mirror. "Not everyone is special enough to know this location," he continued with a wink.
That's what made everything click in Spencer's head. He knew that things had looked familiar, and he just couldn't place why. He sat up a little straighter and stole a glance at Derek, the one look confirming the location for him.
"I'm surprised you hid this even from me, my chocolate Thor," Garcia commented with a small pout.
Derek grinned as Emily snorted and Spencer rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, mama! Proves that some things can be hidden from the oracle."
"What's even more surprising is that you got Reid to come along with us," Emily teased lightly.
Spencer furrowed his brow and looked back at her. "What does that mean?"
Emily shrugged and gave him a smile. "You're a city boy, Reid. Just weird to think about seeing you outside willingly."
Spencer scrunched his face slightly before turning forward, remaining silent.
"Pretty Boy's full of surprises," Derek said.
"I'll say," Garcia said with a small laugh. "I didn't even know he owned jeans. So imagine my surprise when I got to Derek's this morning."
The afternoon had passed by fast, it being filled with laughter, food, and the feeling of their family being together. A feeling they all needed to feel right now.
As it was beginning to grow dark, the seven of them were sitting around a firepit Derek had built, all sharing small stories and enjoying the company.
"So," Rossi spoke up, turning towards Derek. "Why are we all out here?"
Everyone turned to Derek. "What do you mean?" Derek asked, faking innocence, causing the others to chuckle.
Rossi rolled his eyes in response. "There's a catch to getting us all out here."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Can't a man treat his friends to a good time?"
"Of course he can," Hotch replied. "I agree with Dave though, there's a reason you got us all out here."
"Do you all feel like that?" Derek asked, looking around at them. They all nodded in return and he shook his head before looking over at Spencer.
"There are two reasons I brought you out here, actually," he said as he stood up. They watched as he made his way over to Spencer, holding a hand out to the genius.
Spencer hesitated, but took it, Derek helping him to stand. He then guided him over a little, a few feet away from the others.
"What's going on?" JJ asked, looking between them.
Derek bit his lip and turned to Spencer, who nodded. Instantly, the two simultaneously grabbed each other's hands, squeezed them and turned towards the group, waiting for a reaction.
"About damn time!" Rossi announced as he pulled out his wallet, grumbling. "You couldn't tell me two months ago?" he whined as he pulled out a couple bills and handed them to JJ, Emily and Hotch doing the same.
Spencer blushed and turned away from the group, causing the others to laugh and Derek to chuckle as he pulled the other man closer to him.
"Do you two know how long I've been waiting for 187 and you to say you're together?" Garcia asked. "I swore you guys were going to come out after everything with the anthrax."
"I had Halloween last year," Hotch complained.
"Christmas," Emily said, sneering.
"The big sister always knows," JJ said as she happily put her winnings into her pocket.
"I can't believe they bet on us," Spencer mumbled.
Rossi snorted. "I can't believe you guys thought we didn't know."
"What tipped it off?" Derek asked, looking around at them.
"The case in Vegas," was Rossi's reply.
"I thought the same," JJ added.
"You offering to have Reid stay with you after he got out of the hospital," Emily told them, Hotch nodding.
"Really?" Garcia said looking at them in surprise. "I caught on earlier than that."
"When?" Spencer asked.
"New York," Garcia said with a smile.
Derek and Spencer looked at her confused before realization came to them. She smirked. "The way Reid was on the phone after he heard about the ambulance blowing up? I've never heard him like that."
"And usually you're the one I have to worry about," Derek mumbled, kissing Spencer's temple, causing his blush to darken.
"Now you said you had two reasons for us coming out here?" Rossi said after a few moments. "I'm guessing the official coming out was one, but what was the other?"
Spencer looked at Derek. "I was wondering that as well."
Derek grinned and he turned to Spencer, giving him his full attention. "I'm sure you've noticed that-"
"We're standing in the same spot we did on our first date?" Spencer finished for him, grinning. The girls let out a chorused 'aww' but Garcia, despite being one of them, shushed them and waited for Derek to continue.
"This place holds one of our best memories, and I was hoping for another one to happen, one that seemed more permanent," Derek began, reaching forward and taking both of Spencer's hands in his. "There were numerous ways that I could've gone about doing this. Pulled out every gimmick, every trick, every generic love song that popped in my head. Those work for other people, people who think they need to prove something, but I've never been as positive about something than I do now, or meant something so much when I say I love you." Derek's thumb was rubbing over the back of Spencer's hand, the two of them never breaking eye contact. "I figured the best way for me to this was with words."
"What exactly is this?" Spencer asked, his voice shaky and quiet.
Derek squeezed his hands reassuringly. "This is me declaring to the world how much I love you. This is me declaring to the people we consider family how much you mean to me. Most importantly, this is me declaring to you that I don't think I could live my life without you."
"Derek-"
"I know there's a tradition about this, but we don't need that. We don't need a ring, we just need us," Derek told him. "Spencer Reid, I love you and can't imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?"
Tears pooled Spencer's eyes as he instantly began nodding and wrapped his arms around Derek, pulling the other man into a kiss.
The applause, cheers, and well wishes of their friends were heard. Their family looking at the two men with happiness, knowing they belonged together.
The two broke for air, but stayed as close to each other as they could, foreheads resting against each other, eyes closed as they both embraced the love that surrounded them.
"I love you," one whispered as he held the other close.
"I love you, too," the other replied. They were lost in each other, where they were meant to be.
