We walked through the doors to the bull pin, eager to put our office things away and leave, "I don't know about everyone else," I walked to my desk and opened my top drawer, "but I'm ready for a nine hour nap." I said as I plopped file folders into the drawer. Those would need to be looked over and filed, but I could always come in early tomorrow and do it.

"I wouldn't get to cozy with that thought if I were you…" J.J said with a smile as her eyes shifted to the hallway and a brightly dressed blonde bombshell marched her way to me.

Garcia stood in front of me, taking her final step in her hot pink peep toe heels with a purpose, "Are we ready?" She carried her purse the straps hanging by the bend of her elbow.

"Ready for what?" I blinked and looked from Garcia to J.J. All I could think about was sleep; I wasn't prepared for guessing games.

"Girls night - you promised." Garcia answered. The tone in her voice was an indicator that I wasn't going to be getting out of this. Her glasses made her eyes more intense as she stared me down.

I didn't see any harm in trying though, "Does it have to be tonight? We just got back." I finished putting my things away and closed my desk drawer, "Maybe we could do a girls day tomorrow?" I slung the strap to my to-go bag over my shoulder.

"Tonight is the only night where we could all be there." Garcia replied not taking her eyes off of me.

"Tomorrow I start looking for another case…" J.J stood next to Garcia, "and you will have to file reports."

"I-" I stammered and looked to Spencer hoping maybe he knew a way for me to get out of this, but it was useless as he shrugged his shoulders, giving me a face that read, I don't know, I just work here. "Ah," I sighed, "alright, could I at least get a shower first?" I asked.

Emily joined us as we walked towards the door. Garcia stopped for a moment and dug through her purse, pulling out a bottle of perfume. She sprayed it all around me and grabbed my wrist, twirling me around in a circle through it, "You're good." She stated as she put it back in her purse.

I laughed through a groan and looked back to Spencer. Morgan chuckled loudly and Spencer smiled encouragingly - or through amusement, the corners of his lips pulled tight, trying not to laugh - and waved as I was being pulled out the doors and into the parking garage. The four of us piled into J.J's car after putting our bags in the trunks of our own, "Alright, where are we heading to?" J.J asked.

"Well," We strapped our seatbelts around us, "there's the Chinese place on the walk." Emily suggested.

"That's fine with me." I put in my vote and put my hair back in a pony tail. It had been a long couple of days - I had forgotten completely about girls night - and was going to head home to get a quick shower before heading over to Spencer's and demanding entrance. The girls should be lucky I love them.

The drive itself was a quick one, we were there within minutes. The host welcomed us, the warm air hitting our faces and giving relief to our noses, and showed us to a table taking our orders - and that was the exact amount of time it took for the questions to start flying, "Are you and Reid a thing now?" That was the main one that they wanted answered. It almost felt like we were in high school, they leaned forward on the table all smiling ready for me to answer, like we were just out for lunch.

I sighed, something I felt like I was going to be doing quite a bit in this conversation, "Yes," I flinched and tried to get them to quiet down as they squealed and made other testaments of excitement, "whatever I can do to make this stop, please tell me." I smiled awkwardly.

"Sorry, Bre! We're just so happy for you guys!" Garcia's smile graced her face as she fixed one of her pink hair poofs that fell low when she squealed.

"That's great and all, but you guys can not act any differently when you see him." I sat back as the waiter brought a tray of food over to our table. He quickly sat our plates in front of us and left.

"Aw, come on, not even a little teasing? It's not every day I can make Reid speechless." Emily smiled reaching for her chop sticks.

I passed on the chops sticks, reaching for a fork, "No, I don't care who all actually knows. Until proven otherwise, Hotch doesn't - and even if he does - we're going to act like he doesn't and its going to be one big secret, okay?" I eyed them; I didn't want to have an awkward conversation with my boss if it could be avoided.

"Did you really just make Hotch our Ross Geller?" Garcia asked trying not to laugh.

J.J's face twisted in amusement, "Did you really just make that reference?"

Light laughter broke out between the four of us and we ate and discussed whatever had come to mind, with momentary pauses for questioning about Spencer. I was beginning to get passed tired, my body just function without direction from my brain and was starting to get a head ache from the red and gold color scheme of the restaurant, but I was glad to have been swept away for the night. It was easy to forget the light the breaks the darkness when working a case; all the different things we sometimes have no idea about - when we'll catch the un-sub, who the next target will be - was enough to make the light disappear.

Our waiter came by, picking up our bill and walking it to the cash register, "So when are you two getting married?" J.J asked with a grin breaking out across her face.

"Marriage?" I asked. This topic had suddenly taken a hard left, Spencer and I had just started dating.

"You know what they say, first comes looove…" Emily poked me lightly in the shoulder.

"Then comes marriage…" Garcia continued trying to hold in another squeal. She bit her tongue as she joined in on poking me.

I batted their hands away, "Okay! I think that's enough Spencer talk for the night," I laughed, stretching and letting out a yawn, "am I the only one ready for sleep?"

J.J checked her watch and sighed, "I can't believe I let time get away like that." She said as we all stood. It had only been two hours, but with our schedule time was precious.


I stood by my car digging through my bag, J.J just dropped us off back at the parking garage so we could get our cars to have a way to work in the morning, but I couldn't find my phone. I wasn't about to leave without it and I didn't take it out during diner; maybe I had accidentally put it in my desk.

I sighed and marched over to the elevator and pressed the button to call the elevator, it lit up and the machinery within began to move. While it made it's way to the ground floor I glanced over my shoulders every few seconds that passed, large empty spaces did that to me at times - all the security cameras in the world wouldn't be able to stop me from doing it.

When the doors parted I stepped inside and pressed the button for my desired floor. The doors closed and space around me jerked, sending the lift upward. I yawned loudly and leaned back against the wall, it lightly vibrated against my head. I closed me eyes, it was a strange form of relaxing, but I was willing to accept it. The elevator slowed suddenly before stopping completely, it dinged and I could hear the doors open.

I could barely open my eyes and had every intention of letting the doors close again without moving so much as a muscle, "Embreonna?"

My eyes shot open, what was he still doing here? I smiled and pushed myself off from the wall, "Spencer, shouldn't you be home? I know sleep doesn't come easily, but I'm sure you have better coffee." I fought the urge to grab his hand, instead I lightly brushing past him - appearances, appearances.

He stifled a chuckle and followed me to my desk, keeping a few steps behind me, "I have the best coffee. I was just on my way out, actually, decided to do my paperwork tonight."

I opened the drawer I had loaded up three hours earlier, my phone was on it's side caught between the side of the drawer and the files stacked inside. I smiled retrieving it and closing the drawer; I held it up trying to mentally tell him to not let me lose it. He nodded and I dropped it into the darkness of my bag, "Well," I started as we walked back to the elevator, "how does a night at the old Harlow place sound?" I asked.

A hint of a smile pulled at his lips. The low lighting the building had during the night made it impossible to miss the rings under Spencer's eyes. I imagined we looked like a pair of raccoons plotting our next trashcan capper, "You know, that sounds great."

We called for the elevator and took it back to the ground floor, the uncomfortable feeling that had me looking over my shoulders just minutes earlier had gone away or at the very least didn't appear to be a concern with Spencer by my side. My car was the only one on this side of the garage, I disabled the alarm as we neared it. "Did you eat anything?" I asked him.

We got into the car, Spencer closed his door and reached for his seatbelt as he replied, "No, I was going to in between files, but then I got focused and forgot to stop." I smiled, putting the key in the ignition and giving it a twist. The engine roared to life.

"I'm sure there is something I can cook up for you in my place." I thought aloud to myself. I put the car in drive and pulled out of the parking spot and out of the garage.

The seasons were beginning to change; I hadn't noticed before tonight, we were flying back and forth from place to place, spending any time we had out of the office trying to create a social life. I could see it now though, they way my breath hung in the air - it would soon be time for hot chocolate, oversized sweaters and the leaves would change color and fall. It was around this time that Spencer and I first met, it didn't surprise me that it was my favorite time of year.

"You don't have to." Spencer had spoke after a few streets of silence.

We sat at a red light, I looked over to him confused, "I don't have to what?" I looked to the road as the light changed to green. I pressed on the gas.

"Cook for me - you don't have to." He had lost his stutter when he spoke to me, he was more comfortable with everything I hope, but he wouldn't look at me.

"Why, aren't you hungry?" I turned into my neighborhood. Lights in the majority of the windows were out, everyone else already in bed or just now beginning to get ready for sleep.

"I am, I just don't want you to think you have to play part to any gender role because of our dating." He finally looked over to me as I pulled into my driveway.

I put the car in park and looked over at him, "Spencer, me cooking for you would be more because you're my guest in my home and less because of our dating. If you want - if it'll make you feel better, when we're at each other's places we can cook together." I turned back the key and the car fell to silence. I pulled the key out and held the bundle of keys and key chains.

I could barely make him out in the dark, but saw the outline of his smile, "That," He took a pause, mockingly thinking about it, "that could work."

I opened my door, "Let's go see what we can make a mess of." I got out of the car closing the door behind me and Spencer moved to do the same.

The car alarm chirped as it activated, the headlights flashing for a moment before settling back. Spencer stayed close as we climbed the few steps of my stoop; I unlocked the front door and let Spencer in, "Make yourself at home." I smiled and closed it behind him, making sure to lock both the key lock and the dead bolt. Turning on the lights I still felt the chill from outside, I decided to change into anything other than what I was wearing before we got started, "I'm going to change real quick, the bathroom is just there if you want to change too." I pointed to the bathroom at the end of the short hallway.

I dropped my bag in the corner of my bedroom, I'd have to change everything out later. I would normally do it now, but I had more important matters to attend to outside my bedroom door - maybe down the hall, I wasn't entirely sure where he was at the moment. I stripped out of my work clothes and pulled on a pair of grey sweats and a forest green jacket.

I walked back out to the living room - Spencer had changed and waiting for me there. His back was turned to me, his hands in his pockets as he glanced around the room; probably noting all the differences between here and the last place I lived; this was the first real chance he's had to do so.

"Do you also treat your home as a museum?" I walked up behind him snaking my arms around his torso and nuzzling my forehead into his back, eyes closed.

"It all looks different." He replied.

I raised my head and made an attempt to look at him over his shoulder. "Only the house is different, everything else is the same. I promise."

He smiled, turning his head to look at me over his shoulder and kissed me on the edge of my forehead, above the end of my eyebrow. My eyes closed and his stomach growled as he pulled back. I think it was the first time I've ever heard it that loudly before, "Food." Was all I said before grabbing his wrist and leading him into the kitchen.

"I hope this isn't something you picked up from Garcia." He joked. I released his wrist with a laugh and turned on the kitchen light and began looking through the cabinets.

After looking through everything I found I had everything for the making of spaghetti, "If you're willing to wait about an hour?" I asked holding up the noodles.

"An hour for spaghetti?" He took the box out of my hands looking at the directions on the side.

"Only if you want it done the 'right way'." I answered using air quotes. On one of our recent cases Rossi and I went out for lunch; when his food had come back he complained about how the noodles to his dish weren't cooked all the way and proceeded to tell me how to do it properly on the way back to the station. I made sure to tell him that he was lucky he had a relaxing voice or I wouldn't have been as willing to listen. He only laughed in reply.

"Sounds good to me." Spencer handed the box back to me, "Do you still cook to music?" He asked.

"Yeah, there's no other way. It's to quiet otherwise. The stereo in the corner over there," I nodded to the area of the floor as I pulled out a pot from one of the bottom cabinets, "if you wanna turn it on for me."

He nodded and walked over, crouching in front of the small music machine and switched it on. I was pouring water into the pot when Dean Martin began to pump from it's speakers.

"Perfect!" I called to Spencer as he walked back over to me - it was one of Rossi's rules of cooking - always have Deano as your guide. I turned off the tap and set the pot on the stove top. The burner burst with a small ring of flames and settled as I set it on the proper temperature, "This calls for more waiting than anything and it's already," I grabbed Spencer's wrist again checking his watch, "midnight." I sighed and leaned back against the counter.

"Well, we'll just have to pass the time then." Spencer gently took my hand in his and gave my arm a tug, pulling me away from the counter. I couldn't stop myself from smiling when he put his hands on my waist and pulled me in close to him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck filling any gap between us, "The doctor dances?" I asked looking up to him, sure he would know the reference. His eyes closed, his forehead pressed against mine; my eyes closed from the overwhelming feeling it gave me as we slowly moved in a circle to the music.

How lucky could one guy be?
I kissed her and she kissed me.
Like the fella once said
"Ain't that a kick in the head?"

We've slept in the same bed together most nights since we started dating, it didn't exceed anywhere past that, but something told me it would never make me feel as close to him as I do in this moment with him, right now. Does that make sense? Does it need to in order for it to be right?

Spencer was a man of science and based most of his opinions of life on cold hard facts. What facts would he need in order to come to the same conclusion that I had? Would it have to be biological? How fast his heart would beat when he saw me, when our hands touched, when we kissed? I felt close to him, but there was still so much I didn't know - things I needed to know.

The room was completely black.
I hugged her and she hugged back.
Like a sailor said quote,
"Ain't that a hole in a boat?"

Would he be able to allow it to be something bigger, just once?

I could hear the water boiling behind me, I gave Spencer a peck on the lips before breaking away to put the noodles in. "Since it's already so late I'm just going to use sauce from a jar, but for the love of all that's good - don't tell Rossi. There's a small package of beef in the fridge if you want to get that started." I said.

Spencer nodded opening the fridge, "My head keeps spinning. I go to sleep and I keep grinning," he pulled out the beef while singing along with Dean, "if this is just the beginning," he made a small spin behind me stopping and setting his chin over my shoulder for a moment, "my life is gunna be beautiful." I smiled as he moved the skillet setting on the back burner to the front and began to cook the meat.

We finished cooking and I sat with him while he ate and struck up a conversation of the Doctor Who reference he wanted to let me know he didn't miss catching. When he finished eating I took his bowl and ran hot water in the sink to let all the dishes we had used to soak overnight - as I did this Spencer walked around me looking through every cabinet and drawer that was in the kitchen, "Looking for something?" I asked as he passed by me a second time.

"I'm just memorizing where everything goes." he stretched the last word in the way he does when he's also thinking while trying to talk to someone at the same time.

"Right," I said once everything was gathered into the sink, "I'm going to put away the leftovers and then I vote on trying to sleep."

Spencer pulled a plastic container from one of the lower cabinets and tossed it up to me before turning off the stereo, "Only if we can watch some Doctor Who first. I can't stop thinking about it now." He laughed and smiled widely.

I let out a small laugh, "I have netflix on my laptop, it's on my bed." I told him as I loaded the rest of the spaghetti into the container. I sealed the lid onto it and put it in the fridge; I could hear Spencer already in the bedroom loading up my laptop. It was going to be a long night, but the good kind.


I groaned, reaching out for my cell phone on the nightstand, I slapped my hand down on the table top a few times before my hand landed on my phone. I held it in front of my face, squinting at the light - it wasn't what was ringing. I tossed it to the foot of my bed. Netflix had stopped at the end of an episode of Classic Doctor Who, Spencer and I had fallen asleep, and Netflix was asking if we were still watching. He still laid asleep next to me, not giving so much of a stir to acknowledge the ringing.

I turned the corner of the covers down and sat up, my feet falling off the side of the bed. The house phone. The land line. I rubbed my eyes applying the lightest pressure with my finger tips and let my hands slide down my face in an attempt to keep my eyes open. Who would be calling now? I moved slowly out of the bed to not wake Spencer, of the two of us he needed sleep more than I did, and walked out to the living room.

It had to of been one of my team - wouldn't they call my cell? The only reason for the land line was in case they needed a second number for me, if my cell wasn't working or if I had lost it somewhere. I don't remember giving my number out to anyone else. I didn't care who it was as long as the ringing stopped.

I followed the blinking orange light through the dark living room, the light switch was in the opposite direction and the phone gave off just enough for me to find it. With the phone in hand I answered, "Hello?" I yawned. Not very polite, but neither were they, calling in the middle of the night…early in the morning? What time is it?

"Hello, sweetheart." My breath caught in my throat. I had only heard this voice in my nightmares for the past four years. What fresh hell was this? "Have you missed me?" I knew him enough to know it wasn't a rhetorical question - he wanted an answer.

My mouth had gone dry, I swallowed hard to no relief, there wasn't anything I could say.

"I know you're there. If you won't answer that, would you answer another for me? That doesn't count -" He chuckled to himself and after a moment he asked, "Does he treat you right?"


So that's it for this story.
But there will be a sequel if anyone is interested.
Thank you to those who have reviewed, you are awesome. Thanks for putting this story on your favorite and alret lists. ^.^ And even if you just read a chapter and wasn't interested, thanks for your time.
If you're new to the party - reviews are still welcomed, especially since I'm currently writing the sequel. Let me know what I need to work on?
Thanks again! I'll try and have the sequel up soon!