Since FanFiction is being a buttface and some people have been unable to read this, I'm gonna try posting it a second time. Sorry to the people who think it's another new chapter. Same one.
I am so so sorry for the wait! I hope I haven't lost too many readers. :(
Don't you just love it when everything decides to get hectic all at the same time? Welcome to my life for the last month. If I actually got circles under my eyes, by this point I'd prolly have some to put MGG's to shame. I actually reached a new level of stress and exhaustion so bad that my lower lip twitched for the last two days. I've been so busy, that it actually took me 3 days to write a 800 word short story. And as many days to type it. But, things should be going a little better from now on. Still busy, but better. I can't promise weekly updates, but I will try for at least every other week? Deal?
Anyway, I thank you for your patience. I had had this chapter planned out, but it's been so long, I don't even remember what my original idea was. So, I hope you enjoy this one.
Spencer Reid was exhausted and crabby. Derek had left before he'd woken, which meant no shower sex (which added to Spencer's bad mood). His advisor had requested they lunch together, ruining Spencer's chance to go home and see Derek. Liz had caught him on his way out of the science building and asked him with help on an assignment. They were spotted by Derek's friends on their way to the library and they had joined for some tutoring too. It was evening before he was free to go home.
Spencer unlocked and opened the door, throwing his keys on the small table in frustration. There was a slight crash in the kitchen and a flurry of movement and muttered curses could be heard.
"Derek?" he called, jumping slightly as he appeared in the doorway.
"Spencer, hi," he said quickly. He blocked the doorway as Spencer moved forward. "You're home early," he said without thinking. "I mean, you're home!"
Spencer stared at him, puzzled, before his eyes widened. "You! You're the reason I've been being ambushed all day," he cried.
Derek's eyes showed his guilt.
"I have had a miserable day and it's all your fault," Spencer continued. "Oh my god, did you ask my advisor to lunch with me?" Spencer's jaw dropped as Derek nodded. "Why?" he cried.
Derek swallowed. "I needed time to prepare everything. I blew it on Valentine's Day, so I wanted to make today perfect."
Spencer sighed, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Derek's neck. "You could've asked me to stay out for a while," he said.
Derek smiled sheepishly. "I wanted it to be a surprise." He pulled Spencer into an embrace, Spencer melting against him. "Was it really that bad today?"
Spencer gave a small laugh. "Okay, it wasn't horrible. I just really wanted to see you." Spencer's nose twitched. "Do I smell ham?"
Derek nodded, leading Spencer into the kitchen. "That's why I needed so much time. Baked ham, home-made mashed potatoes, fresh dinner rolls, and carrot cake."
"My favorite," breathed Spencer.
Derek grinned. "Happy Birthday, pretty boy." He leaned in, pressing a deep kiss to his lips.
Spencer hummed happily into the kiss, smiling as Derek pulled away and gently helped him onto an island stool. He watched, nibbling on a dinner roll, as Derek moved gracefully around the kitchen. He smiled as Derek set full plates on the dining table, where a vase with a rose sat between two candles.
He took Derek's offered hand, sliding from his stool and following him to the table. He giggled as Derek drew out his chair and gently pushed it in as Spencer sat. Derek lit the candles and quickly sat, eyeing Spencer across the table.
"This is wonderful," said Spencer, smiling at him. He took a bite of his ham, moaning at the burst of flavor. "Perfect."
Derek smiled in relief. They ate, having comfortable, easy conversation. Derek apologized for the day Spencer'd had and Spencer told him he could make it up to him with a large piece of carrot cake. Or two.
Derek cleared their empty plates from the table, setting some water to boil for tea as he quickly washed the dishes. Spencer grabbed two mugs from the cupboard, handing them to Derek as the whistling let them know the water was ready. As Derek was preparing the tea, Spencer eyed the carrot cake. Unable to resist, he reached out and snitched some of the cream cheese frosting.
"Hey," laughed Derek.
"What?" mumbled Spencer around his finger, still licking off the frosting. "It's my birthday and my cake." He suckled on the sugar coated digit.
Derek groaned at the sight.
Spencer glanced up, finger leaving his mouth with a pop. "What?" he asked, eyeing Derek curiously.
"I just thought of a new use for the frosting," answered Derek with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows as he handed Spencer a cup of tea.
Spencer blushed as he caught on. "Just cut the cake, gutter brain," he said sipping his tea.
"Gutter brain, huh? Liz teach you that one?" Derek chuckled, moving around the counter. "You know you'd enjoy it."
"Maybe for your birthday."
"My birthday's months from now," cried Derek.
Spencer grinned smugly. "I know."
Derek just laughed, shaking his head as he sliced two large pieces of cake. He set them on plates, holding them out in front of Spencer. "Birthday boy's pick."
Spencer grabbed the slightly larger one.
They carried them out to the living room, settling down on the couch and eating in comfortable silence. As Spencer quickly finished his piece, Derek took his plate and cut him another. He waited for Spencer to finish that one before setting the plates on the coffee table and reaching under it, pulling out a wrapped box.
"Present time."
Spencer stared at the box. "You got me a present?" He glanced up at him, brown eyes wide.
Derek's brow furrowed. "Of course, it's your birthday."
"I know, but you cooked such a nice dinner and you baked a cake. You didn't have to get me anything else."
Derek smiled. "I wanted to." He held out the present.
Spencer slowly took it, carefully unwrapping it. Derek chuckled as he folded the paper up neatly, staring at the lid of the box. He took a breath before opening it, hand shooting up to cover his mouth. His gaze snapped to Derek. "Plane ticket? To Vegas."
Derek nodded. "You said you had to wait until you were 18 to help your mom. Spring break is next week, I figured that would be the perfect time to get away from here."
Spencer reached in a shaky hand, picking up the present. He blinked in surprise. "There's two of them."
"You didn't think I'd let you go through this alone, did you?" asked Derek softly.
Spencer flung his arms around Derek's neck, eyes watery. "Thank you," he whispered.
Derek pressed soft kisses to his temple, holding him tightly against him.
After a few minutes, Spencer sat back, carefully setting the tickets back in the box.
"I have one more present for you, well, for us, really," said Derek, twisting his hands nervously. "I, uh, I hope you'll like it."
Spencer eyed him curiously as Derek got up and walked down the hall. He heard the bedroom door open and a strange clicking noise. Spencer's eyes widened as Derek walked back out, a bundle of golden fur in his arms. As Derek sat down beside him, the puppy raised his head sleepily, blinking at Spencer.
"Would you like to hold him?" asked Derek.
"I-I, uh, I'm not that- Dogs don't really l-like me," he stuttered.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine," said Derek.
"Ah," gulped Spencer as Derek placed the puppy in his arms. "O-Okay."
The puppy gave a slight woof before burrowing deeper into Spencer arms, soaking up his warmth.
Derek smiled. "See he loves you."
Spencer slowly stroked the puppy's soft head. "Yeah, I guess."
"Liz helped me pick him out. I went and got him this morning as soon as the pound opened."
Spencer looked up, wide eyed. "He was at the pound?"
Derek nodded. "Someone abandoned him on the side of the road. They estimate he's about two or three months old."
Spencer glanced back down at the puppy. "Poor little thing. Don't worry, we'll take care of you."
"So we can keep him?" asked Derek hopefully.
Spencer smiled. "Yeah, we can keep him."
"Yes," shouted Derek.
Spencer glared at him as the puppy's head shot up at the noise, ears perked, glancing around. "You woke him."
Derek grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."
Spencer's stroking soon lulled the puppy back to sleep.
"The pound named him Clooney," said Derek quietly. "But we can change his name, if you'd like."
Spencer laughed softly. "Clooney. It fits. I like it."
Derek smiled, wrapping an arm around Spencer and pulling him to his side. "Our little family is growing," he said, reaching down to press a hand to Spencer's belly.
Spencer smiled too, leaning his head against Derek's shoulder. "Our family," he said happily, still softly petting Clooney. "I like that."
Totally hadn't planned on the Clooney part. It wrote itself in, I swear. *laugh* I'm so tired, my story has to write itself. Sad.
Since I took so freaking long to update, I am going to let you guys decide on something. It prolly wouldn't be in the next chapter, more likely the one after that, but would you like to know the sex of the baby or not? I already know it, in fact the name of the baby is what inspired me to write this in the first place. But I'll leave it up to you whether you want to know the sex before it's born or not. (The name will not be revealed until birth. Sorry, gotta have some surprises. ;) )
Review if you still love me. *Spencer puppy-eyes*