Puzzle

(Note: Post the crash in 5x11 'Retaliation')

Spencer already tucked Jack in, showered, read an entire book, fell asleep and dreamed a very good dream when he felt an arm around his waist. The lips on his nape and now earlobe tickled him and he realized he wasn't dreaming after all. He turned on his back and peered to find the star of his dream looking right at him in the dim light of the room. Those lips were forming a smile, a genuine, open, thankful one; the kind that still baffled him.

"Long night?" Spencer shifted under him.

The reply came in a form of a kiss, a real, breath-taking, oxygen-depriving kiss. It took Spencer a moment to recall what he had asked when Hotch finally answered the question. "Had to go over some details with Prentiss."

Spencer was still getting his breath back when he made an observation, "She didn't want to take sick leave."

Hotch didn't bother with a response. In fact, Hotch didn't bother with the subject at all as his lips found Spencer's neck.

"But you persuaded her." Spencer tried his best to keep his voice steady and not giggle.

"Hence the details I needed to go over before she left," Hotch said before tasting the skin behind Spencer's ear. When a warm, searching hand slid under Spencer's old T-shirt and brushed his nipple, he knew it was no use in pretending. He giggled.

"You're not showered."

Hotch would have had reminded Spencer how that had never stopped them before if he wasn't so determined. No. Desperate. Spencer was tempted to ask Hotch what had had gotten into him, but then Hotch's other hand found its way inside Spencer's shorts. There was nothing coherent came out of Spencer's mouth again that night.

The coffee made everything better, if that was possible after the night like that. It wasn't until a figure came into his peripheral vision and wouldn't go away that he looked up from his mug.

Emily had a smug, knowing look on her face and Spencer realized he had forgotten to wipe the stupid smile off his.

Spencer said, "I thought you had a week off."

"I do." Emily looked amused. "I just came by to pick up something I forgot."

"Oh." He sipped his coffee as he watched Emily walk over to her desk. "What did you forget?" It wasn't in his nature to intrude, but it was still early and the look on her face made him a bit jumpy.

"Funny you should ask." Emily grabbed something out of her top drawer. When she revealed it, Spencer gulped.

"You know what's funnier?" Emily walked back to him and leaned against his desk, all the while playing with the object in her hands. "I saw one just like this in Hotch's office yesterday."

The coffee didn't taste so good anymore.

"I asked him about it and he said it was a gift."

Yet Spencer couldn't seem to stop drinking it.

"He didn't say from whom and I didn't ask." Emily's voice changed. It wasn't as amused anymore. Spencer looked up. "So, I told him the story. You know, the one with the young prince trying to put the shattered falling star back together to win the love of his life. The one you said was improbable."

Spencer thought he probably looked like a scared kitten because suddenly Emily looked guilty and a little embarrassed. She pushed herself off of his desk and cleared her throat.

"Anyway, he agreed with me that it was romantic."

Spencer watched Emily put her star puzzle inside her bag. She gave him a small smile, gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze and left.

He looked down at his empty mug. He needed another coffee.