Title: Matters of the Universe: Too Many Cooks(Part 5 of 15)
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I still do not own CM, it's a pitty really, it belongs to many people, writers, directors, actors, actresses, creators, network types none of whom are me. I also do not own the quotes at the beginning. They belong to the people who wrote and preform them, and likely SOCAN as well.
Summary: Reid and Prentiss meet in a bar one night before she joins the team, but things don't go how she plans. What happens when they have to work together?
Notes: The prompt for this part was "Reid's Cooking Skills Examined" we also had to at some point mention Lila Archer. I decided to give her a rather large role. Thank you for the fuzzies. I am fading slowly but there are only two more days to go! Thank gosh starbucks keeps me well caffeinated to keep me smiling!

"You made a move, Don't change your mind, Too much to lose, We've crossed the line, Between friends and something more, Was it all a big mistake? 'Cuz if it was it's much too late to undo, And I don't really want to let you go, But I still don't know, How I feel about you, What this really means, It's crazy to want you, Is it meant to be?" The Weekend (Temporary Insanity)

Reid was nervous and excited about having Prentiss over that night. It wasn't often he got to cook for anyone. Usually people assumed that he couldn't boil water but the young genius had a secret love for preparing food for the people he cared about. He was just putting the last ingredients into the pot when heard the door buzz. He went to the door, forgetting he was wearing an apron that read "Genius in the Kitchen" with a fire blazing people running away printed on it . When he opened the door Prentiss laughed.

"Spencer," she chuckled. "Your apron!"

He looked down, and the tips of his ears went red. "It was a joke from Morgan. I didn't want to have to change after you arrived. Dinner is in the oven so I can take this off now."

"Only Morgan would buy anyone something that tacky."

"Would you like me to open that bottle of wine and pour us each a glass while we wait for dinner to finish cooking?"

"Sure, how long do you think it'll be?"

"Less than an hour, I made salad if you're hungry we can start that whenever you'd like."

"Let's relax with a glass of wine first and then we'll see how we feel."

He nodded and went back into the kitchen with the bottle of wine. Waiting for him she began looking around the apartment. Nothing surprised her about where Reid lived. It was an older building, and his apartment hadn't been updated. There were books everywhere, and it even smelled like musty book pages. She smiled when she saw him come back with their glasses of wine. She took the one he offered her and took a small sip, then set it down on the table.

Reid ran his hand along her cheek softly, putting down his own glass of wine. He then brushed his lips against hers. Prentiss mewled at the feel of his lips pressed against hers and soon opened her mouth to him for further exploration. Since their first date they had not been able to talk about what had happened and she was glad that Reid didn't regret their actions. She pulled away a moment later and laid her forehead against his, running her hands along his face and through his long hair.

She could tell he was smiling as they shared the sweet embrace, despite how everything had started out between them she was happy that they were able to make things work. They shared a long embrace before Reid pulled away. She growled losing contact with him, he ran his hand along her cheek softly to reassure her he didn't want to leave but he had to. He stood up and went into the kitchen. He took the food out of the oven.

"It's ready," he told her. "Can we continue that after we eat?"

"Sure," she replied uncertainly, she stood up and went into the kitchen, taking their wine glasses with her.

They were just starting their meal when there was a frantic knocking at the door. Reid went over to answer it. Prentiss was surprised when a young blonde woman pushed her way inside, and hugged Reid, kissing his cheek. She was even more surprised that Reid didn't pull away from the pushy woman. The woman was closer to Reid's age, and Prentiss wondered why he would date her instead of the young blonde who now had her arms wrapped around him comfortably. Reid didn't hug her back but he didn't seem that uncomfortable with the attention either.

"Spencer!" she exclaimed. "Thank gosh you're home! I need you to do me a huge favour."

"Lila, is this important can it wait?" Reid asked her unsurely.

"I know you Supervisory Special Agent Doctor Reid if this waits you have to go off on one of your cases and I don't get any relief! Will you just hear me out?"

Prentiss wasn't sure what she was seeing, but the blonde woman didn't seem like she was part of his family. She couldn't believe that she had let her guard down so quickly around Reid just because he was part of the BAU team. She could tell that the young man was uncomfortable but she was mad that this woman had come in and ruined their evening.

"This really isn't a good time, my – uh Emily is here," stammered Reid.

Prentiss wasn't sure what Reid was to her but she thought she was more important to him than that. She couldn't stand to be in the same room with the young blonde woman who looked like a model. She realised she was just being naïve trying anything with someone so much younger than herself. She had promised herself she would not rush into anything anymore. She should have known that the way he had acted at the bar the first time they had met should have spoken louder than all of the things he'd done since. He was trying to placate her, she was sure of it and she wasn't going to have it. She needed to leave before she was sucked in again.

"I was just leaving," Prentiss growled getting her coat.

"Emily, please I can explain," Reid tried to protest.

"Whatever Reid, I'll see you at work on Monday."

Before anyone could say anything else Prentiss was out the door, leaving Reid and Lila alone in the apartment. Reid pinched the bridge of his nose knowing that he had messed everything up with Prentiss. He hoped that he would somehow be able to make this up to her. He could tell how hurt she was by everything that had just transpired.

"Who was that?" Lila asked.

"I had hoped she would be my girlfriend," sighed Reid. "Now I'm not sure she'll talk to me other than when we're working."

"I'm so sorry Spencer. I knew I should have called."

"What's going on?"

"I didn't know where else to go. You're the only person I can trust. I just assumed you'd be alone, I messed everything up for you. I am the worst person in the world." Lila was holding back tears.

"I'll find a way to make Emily understand. What's going on? What's wrong?"

"I need you to do me a huge favour."

"The last time you asked me a favour I ended up on the cover of some tabloid magazine with speculation about my being your boyfriend. I can't do that for you right now. I just met Emily and it was under horrible circumstances, it's amazing she wants to talk to me at all. I won't be able to make things up to happen if she sees the photos of us from before, and then we are photographed again. I don't know what to tell her about you, she's a profiler she'll know you're not a member of my family."

"If you trust her, tell her the truth. But you know I can't have that shit about me in the papers until I tell my family. Please Spencer, I promise it'll be the last time. I'm not taking any jobs after this one and I'm going to go home for a month or two and tell everyone the truth. I can't let them find out in the media. I'm so sorry Spencer, I don't want to ruin your life, I just don't know who else I can trust."

"All right, but this is the last time I'm doing this, Lila, and if Emily has any questions I need to be able to get ahold of you."

"I promise Spencer." She hugged him tightly. "You're such a good friend, Emily will be lucky to have you."

"I just hope she'll understand. I don't know why she would go through all of this for me."

"I'd say because you're worth it. Thank you Spencer you are an amazing person."

"Then why do I feel so conflicted?"

"Because you know you want to help me because you're my friend, but you don't want to hurt Emily."

"You're right," he sighed. "I'll help you, but if I need help explaining this to Emily."

"I'll help you too, thank you."

Reid nodded and knew what this meant. It wasn't the first time Lila had come to ask him for a favour, and it always ended the same way. As much as he didn't want to go out he knew that they would end up at a coffee shop talking, in hopes that someone might see them together and snap a picture. Their friendship seemed to be a favourite of photographers that liked to follow her around. There was something about the actress and the awkward genius that they couldn't get enough of, if only they knew that their relationship was really only a close friendship. They gave each other something they both lacked in their lives a sense of normalcy.

End Part 5

Notes: I know I'm evil. But you also know I love happy endings. Also it's better then where the timeline could have lead me. We also had to use Lila in the fic at some point. I gave her a big role. Fuzzies would make me giddy! Don't forget to check out Wing Man :D