Chapter 9

"We should get a dog."

Spencer glanced up over the edge of the book he was reading, one eyebrow raised in speculation at the ridiculous –and random- statement that Julie had just made. Her green eyes sparkled back at him over the rim of her coffee cup.

He chuckled lightly, resuming his reading. "Absolutely not."

"I'm serious, Spencer!" Julie laughed, reaching across the table and snatching his book out of his hands before he could protest. "Let's get a dog."

He raised both of his eyebrows now, willing himself to humor her. "Why a dog? Why now?"

After all, it was just shy of two months since Julie had moved into the apartment with him, and this was the first time that she had ever made any mention of wanting a pet around the house.

"Oh, I don't know." She shrugged, resting her chin against her propped up arm. "I've just been thinking about it. It might be nice to have a dog around the house when you leave to work on cases and such."

"Oh, so you plan on replacing me with a dog? I see!" Spencer joked, feigning seriousness. Julie giggled, lightly hitting him in the arm with his book.

"A dog certainly wouldn't complain so much, that's for sure." Julie jokingly retorted back to him.

"That's it!" Spencer jumped up from the kitchen table, causing Julie to let out a surprised gasp and fake a light scream in amusement as he picked her up from her seat in one swift motion and held her princess-style in his arms.

"Spencer!" She squealed between laughs. "Put me down!"

"Uh-uh. I don't think so." He carried her a few steps until he had her backed against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist and arms clutched behind his neck. He crashed his lips into hers, a gesture that he had become quite familiar with over the past weeks with his new companion – and one that he never got tired of.

Julie deepened the kiss, her hands rummaging through his hair and his mimicked the action at her waist, tugging at the hem of her shirt, wishing it were already on the ground.

"Spencer," Julie reluctantly broke the kiss. Spencer didn't answer, but rather continued to nip and suck down a trail on her neck and collarbone, causing her to gasp in pleasure. Over the past two months, he had gotten quite good at learning how to please a woman.

"Spencer," Julie repeated, practically out of breath. "I have to get to work. I have to waitress in a half hour."

"You have time." Spencer sucked at a spot just beneath her collarbone, and, judging on the way it made her moan, it was certainly going to leave a mark.

Julie gave in eagerly after that, pulling her uniform shirt over her head in one quick motion.

Spencer stopped for a moment, taking her in, the slightest hint of a smirk on his lips.

Julie immediately read his expression. "What?"

"Oh, nothing." His smirk widened. "I just hope that your replacement dog can keep up with this."

Julie rolled her eyes and couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, shut up." She spat out with a grin, her lips meeting his once again.

….CMCMCM…..

For the first time in such a long time, life was completely good for Spencer Reid.

He felt as though things had simply finally aligned; perhaps, if there were such a thing as karma, it was finally balanced in his favor. In his opinion, it was about time.

The only negativity in his life came from work – which was rather unusual for Spencer Reid. Hotch, of course, still greatly disapproved of Spencer's new relationship, and made this abundantly clear whenever possible. However, considering the fact that Julie's case was closed, and she was not directing Spencer's work in any negative way (if anything, his mind was clearer and sharper than ever), there really was not much Hotch could do, especially considering that reprimanding the young agent would hurt the entire team's performance. Morgan had also begun to show signs of disapproval, but Spencer ignored them both; he wanted to pursue this relationship with Julie, and he had never been happier.

The two months that he had been with her had flown by, yet, simultaneously, he felt as though he had known Julie his entire life. As silly and ridiculous the circumstances were in the beginning, this relationship had never felt more natural to him.

He was content.

….CMCMCMCMCM…..

Spencer entered his apartment later than evening, smiling softly when he saw Julie cozied up on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, her nose buried deep in some profound literature she had chosen from his –their, rather- bookshelf.

She looked up at him, returning the smile. "Hello, darling."

Spencer didn't reply with words, but rather, took his hand from behind his back, revealing a single lavender rose.

Julie placed her book next to her and sprung up from her seat on the sofa. "Oh, Spencer." She took the flower in her hands, admiring it. "You're absolutely lovely. Thank you." She wrapped her arms around him, careful not to press the flower too tightly.

"Lavender roses are a symbol of true affection." Spencer said, matter-of-factly, spewing out facts as always. "They also represent enchantment. Purple was associated with the nobility in the olden days, which gives them a sense of royalty and honor." He shrugged, a lopsided smile on his face. "All things that remind me of you."

Julie smiled lightly, placing her hand against his cheek for a moment. He nuzzled into her touch. "You're too good for me, Spencer." She said softly, admiring his soft features, speaking more to herself than to him.

Spencer shook his head at her in disagreement. "You're everything I could want and more." He placed a light kiss on her lips, and he could feel her smiling against his touch.

Julie turned away after a moment, headed to the kitchen to place the flower in water. Spencer set his satchel down on the coffee table.

"Let's go on a date tonight." He called over to her, suddenly.

Julie poked her head out from around the corner, the look on her face clearly amused. "A date?"

"Yes, a date." Spencer shrugged. "I think that would be nice."

Julie paused for a second, and then shrugged as well, her smile never fleeting. "Sure, why not?" She wandered her way back towards Spencer. "That's what couples do, after all, right?" She winked at him. "Give me a few to get ready and then I'll be right out."

….CMCMCMCMCM….

Spencer sat across the table from Julie, wondering how on earth he had ever gotten paired with a woman like her. He wasn't sure what sparkled brighter in the restaurant lighting – her eyes, her smile, or her jewelry – but, nonetheless, she was radiating beauty. It was times like this that he felt the most confused, simply because he was, well, himself, and he was simply not destined by any standards to end up with such a lovely woman. It was also times like this that he worried – for just a millisecond – that perhaps Hotch's warning had some truth behind it – that things were just too good, and that, at one point or another, the other shoe was bound to drop and send both of their lives into chaos.

However, Spencer, being the chronic avoider that he was, quickly pushed those thoughts out of his mind, and concentrated on the perfect situation in front of him.

"…but, anyway, that's how my first day of college turned out to be a total, textbook definition nightmare." Julie finished up a story with a laugh.

"You know, believe it or not, my first day might have been worse than that." Spencer returned her laugh.

"Oh, really." Julie leaned in across the table, a twinkle in her eye. "Well, now you have to share."

"Oh, please. What's to share? I was twelve years old and rode my bike to class – I'm sure you can figure the rest out for yourself."

Julie laughed lightly with him, taking a sip from her wine glass. "You're brilliant. That's nothing to be horrified by."

"Most of the time." Spencer gave a small chuckle, before turning slightly serious. "Though, sometimes, I tend to just feel so… out of place."

"Spencer, you have a gift." Julie placed her glass down, leaning in slightly towards Spencer. "Anyone who can't appreciate that isn't worth your consideration."

"Well, I'm glad that you see it that way." Spencer smiled at her. He paused for a moment. "You know, Julie… I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've gotten used to being odd and misunderstood. Even my friends, even Morgan and JJ, they can't always keep up with me, and that's okay, but with you," He took a breath, wanting to choose his words wisely. "You make me feel free."

Julie tilted her head slightly, looking at him thoughtfully. "I think that's the best compliment that you could have ever given me." She blushed ever so slightly. "I don't think I've ever been so honored."

"Oh, stop." Spencer laid his hand on top of hers. "You really do flatter me too much. You have me up on a pedestal."

"And you deserve to be on it." Julie replied immediately. "You'll always be my hero, Spencer, and I never want a day to go by that you don't remember that."

Spencer looked into her eyes, never feeling so much at home with another human being. What he said to her next was the most natural and content phrase he had ever muttered in his entire existence:

"I love you, Julie – and I think that I always have."

Julie inhaled quickly but pleasantly, before a smile slowly passed across her features. "I love you, too, Spencer – and I know that I always will."

To Be Continued

A/N: Again, a huge thanks to all who have stuck with this story – you all are great. Next chapter will get interesting, to say the least. Hope you all stick around. Review if you get a chance! Much love xx