Disclaimer- I do not own CBS or Criminal Minds

A/N- Hope you enjoy this installment.

REID'S APARTMENT

SATURDAY DECEMBER 1

FBI PROFILER: I could really use your help with something Charlie. I need some advice.

MATH WHIZ: What's up my friend?

FBI PROFILER: Well, Lyssa's birthday is Tuesday and I wanted to throw a party for her. She doesn't have any family close by and she grew up in foster care so I'd wager that it's been a long time since she's had one, if in fact she's ever had one.

MATH WHIZ: That's really nice of you Spencer.

FBI PROFILER: You don't think it's a bad idea?

MATH WHIZ: Of course it's not a bad idea. What did you have in mind?

FBI PROFILER: Lyssa's into all things Japanese so I thought I'd take her out to a Japanese steakhouse and afterward, well that's the part I'm having trouble with.

MATH WHIZ: You could always have a little party in the park afterward. They're for public use and she likes the outdoors right? Just put up some pretty decorations, maybe get her a little cake. You could have some of your friends in the BAU help you out

FBI PROFILER: That's a really good idea Charlie. Thanks.

MATH WHIZ: No problem Spencer. Always glad to help.

BAU HEADQUARTERS

MONDAY DECEMBER 3

When Reid arrived at the office on Monday morning, running a little late owing to the fact that on the one night he'd actually managed to get sleep his alarm had decided not to go off, he quickly threw his things under his desk. Then, after checking to make sure that Hotchner was nowhere to be found, the young agent made his way down to the office of Penelope Garcia. When he reached the small office he knocked lightly on the door.

"Enter o seeker of knowledge," a voice called out from within.

With a small smile on his face Reid opened the door and stepped inside the office.

"Hey sweet boy," Garcia said as she spun around in her chair to face him. "Welcome to the office of omnipitence. How may I be of service today?"

"I. . . um. . . I was actually wondering if you could do me a favor tomorrow night Garcia," Reid stuttered nervously, his gaze downcast. "If you're not busy of course."

"What do you need?" Garcia asked, a curious look in her eyes.

"I want to throw a surprise party for Lyssa," Reid confided to the digital intelligence officer. "And I need some help with the set up."

"I'm in," Garcia said quickly. "And I'm sure the others would like to come to. They all seem to really like your girl Spencer."

Reid blushed. "Thanks Garcia. I'm going to take Lyssa out for Japanese tomorrow night and then to the park for a little celebration."

Garcia nodded, a smile on her face. "Leave the planning to me sweetness. We'll give your girl a party that she'll never forget."

"Thanks," Reid said once again but before he could go any further with his words of gratitude there came another knock on the door and, a few seconds later it opened to reveal Hotchner. "We're having a meeting in the conference room and I need the whole team." Hotchner paused at this point, his gaze focused on Reid. "What are you doing down here?"

"I was going to get him to deliver these reports to you sir," Garcia said, always slightly more professional when speaking to Hotchner, offering him a stack of file folders. "But since you're here now I guess I can deliver them personally."

"Alright," Hotchner said, accepting the folders and turning back toward the door. "Upstairs in ten minutes."

Reid mouthed the words 'thank you' behind Hotchner's back and then turned to follow his boss out of Garcia's small office. Chuckling softly to herself the BAU's computer tech got to her feet and left her office a few steps behind the others.

"Man," Reid thought to himself as he followed Hotchner back upstairs. "I really hope we haven't caught a new case. Now is not a good time."

Within ten minutes the members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit had assembled in the conference room and as soon as they were all seated Hotchner addressed the group. "I just called this meeting to remind everyone that you have a month to get your yearly physical and psych eval completed in order to stay eligible for active duty. The sooner everyone does this the better."

There was a collective groan issued from the entire group as this was never a pleasant experience.

"Sorry guys," Hotchner said. "Not my rules."

"Can't believe that was what this 'important meeting' was about," Morgan muttered to himself as he got to his feet to leave the conference room. "Couldn't he have just told us that individually at our desks?"

"He could have," Jareau said with a smile. "But what fun would that have been?"

"What are you talking about?" Prentiss wanted to know. "What does fun have to do with it? Hotch doesn't have a sense of humor."

"You're wrong," Reid said quietly, still seated at the conference table. "Hotch has a sense of humor, it's just usually MIA."

"I heard that," Hotchner called out from the hall way just outside the conference room.

Everyone quickly scrambled to their feet and filed out of the room, no one making eye contact with the leader of the BAU. No one, that is, except for Gideon. He paused at Hotchner's side and gazed into the younger agent's dark eyes. "Prentiss asked me a question a while back and I'd like to pass it on to you."

"And what might that be?" Hotchner asked.

"Do you ever feel like a high school principal?"

"All the time," Hotchner replied.

"I thought as much," Gideon said with a smile. "I used to get that feeling a lot. Now I feel more like the guidance counselor."

Hotchner twitched a smile as he gazed at the former leader of the BAU. "You fit that role really well Jason."

REID'S APARTMENT

LATER THAT DAY

As soon as Reid arrived back home from work he immediately pulled out his cell phone and dialed Lyssa's cell number. The young man listened to the ring tone, hoping that Lyssa would answer and that she didn't already have plans for tomorrow night.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lyssa, it's Spencer."

"Spence! What are you up to?"

"Just got home from work. Listen, I just called to ask you whether or not you had plans for tomorrow night?"

"No. I figured I'd spend the night doing homework or something equally as boring."

"In that case, cancel those plans. How would you like to go out to dinner with me instead?"

"That sounds like fun. Where are we going?"

"That is a surprise. You'll find out tomorrow. I'll pick you up around five if that's alright with you."

"Works for me. It's a date."

"Well I'll see you then. Love you."

"Love you too Spence."

Reid flipped his phone closed and heaved a sigh. He wasn't used to being the decision maker in this relationship however he really cared for Lyssa and he wanted her birthday to be really special. "Please don't let me mess this up."

LYSSA'S HOUSE

TUESDAY DECEMBER 4

It was almost five o'clock and Lyssa groaned to herself as she rushed around her house, trying desperately to finish getting ready before Reid arrived to pick her up for their date. As always, Shiro-chan was running around behind her, trying in his own way to help her out.

"Calm down Shiro," Lyssa said, momentarily ceasing her mad dash to turn around and smile at her little dog. "I appreciate the gesture but I really don't need your help."

The little white dog sat down and cocked his head to one side. The he jumped to his feet and ran to the door, his tail wagging furiously. Moments later the doorbell rang. Pinning back a stray lock of her chestnut hair, Lyssa walked over to the door and opened it.

"Happy birthday," Reid said as he offered her a bouquet of red roses in a crystal vase.

"Thank you," Lyssa said softly as she accepted the flowers and motioned for him to come in to the house.

Reid stepped through the door, leaning down as he did so to give the dog a pat on the head. "Hey Shiro-chan."

Lyssa closed the door and placed the flowers on her coffee table before turning to offer Reid a broad smile. "So are you going to tell me what exactly we're doing tonight?"

"In due time," Reid said, pulling a small, gift-wrapped box from the inside pocket of his sport coat. He blushed slightly as he offered her the little box. "This is for you also."

Speechless, Lyssa accepted the tiny box and, with shaking hands, slowly untied the bow that was holding the box closed. Once the ribbon had been removed Lyssa pulled the lid off the box and gasped as her gaze fell upon a tennis bracelet comprised of small, blue stones. "They're topaz," Lyssa said as she picked up the bracelet and gazed at it more closely. "My birthstone."

"I-I hope you like it," Reid said, attempting to gauge her reaction to his gift.

"I love it," Lyssa said, tears forming in her vivid blue eyes as she threw her arms around him. "Thank you SO much Spencer."

"You're welcome," Reid said as he returned her hug. "Are you ready for dinner?"

"Almost," Lyssa said as she fastened the bracelet around her slender wrist. "There, now we can go."

Reid twitched a smile and led the way out to his car. He opened the passenger's side door, waited for Lyssa to get inside the car, and then closed the door. Then he quickly walked around to his side of the car, got inside and turned the key.

"So where are we going?" Lyssa asked once again.

"You'll see when we get there," was all that Reid would tell her.

"Aww you're no fun," Lyssa said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine, if you don't wanna tell me then I don't wanna know.

Reid simply smiled, her attempt at reverse psychology not affecting him in the slightest. The car ride to the restaurant was fairly silent although it wasn't an awkward silence, more of a companionable atmosphere. That is until Reid pulled in to the parking lot that he'd chosen. At that point Lyssa let out an excited squeal as she turned to her boyfriend. "How did you know?"

"Profiler," Reid said simply, something resembling a smirk appearing on his boyishly handsome face. "The way your house is decorated, the huge collection of anime DVDs that you own, not to mention the fact that your dog's name is Shiro-chan. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that you really like the Japanese culture so it wasn't a huge leap to assume that you'd also like their food."

"That's why you're the smart one," Lyssa said as she got out of the car.

"Hmm," Reid said as he met her at the front of the car and offered her his arm. Lyssa wrapped her arm around his and together they entered the restaurant, Lyssa unable to keep the smile off of her face. This had to be the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her and she was deeply touched.

Lyssa and Reid enjoyed a quiet dinner together and then Reid led the way back out to the car. "I'll be sad to see this night end," Lyssa said in a quiet voice as Reid got into the driver's side of the car.

"You aren't ready to go home yet are you?" Reid asked, a mischievous grin on his face. "We still have one more stop to make."

"Where?" Lyssa asked, curious.

Reid merely shook his head as he pulled out of the parking lot. He had no intentions of telling her their destination and after the ride to the restaurant Lyssa knew that she wouldn't be able to get the information out of him so she merely waited patiently. More or less.

Reid smiled as he watched Lyssa fidgeting in her chair out of the corner of his eye. This was turning out better than he could have imagined and he could only hope that Garcia would come through with her end of the night's festivities as planned.

"The park?" Lyssa asked as Reid pulled in to a parking space in front of a deserted public park.

Reid nodded as he turned off the engine and got out of the car. Confused Lyssa followed suit, getting out of the car and walking around to the spot where Reid stood. She gazed up at him with a questioning look in her blue eyes and he smiled down at her. "I thought we could take a stroll around the park."

"Alright," Lyssa said, pulling her jacket closed and linking her arm in his.

Reid led the way across the park to one of the covered picnic areas, which was illuminated with colored lights. "I wonder what's going on over there?" Lyssa wondered out loud as she gazed over at the lights.

"Let's go see," Reid suggested, stepping off the path and cutting across the grass toward the picnic area.

"Spencer!" Lyssa said. "We can't do that!"

"Sure we can," Reid said. "You said you wanted to know what was going on. Come on and we'll see."

This said Reid proceeded to drag Lyssa across the lawn toward the illuminated picnic area. And when they were within a few feet a bunch of people jumped from behind the benches and yelled, "SURPRISE!"

Lyssa jumped, not having been expecting this, and Reid was also surprised by the number of people who were standing under the multi-colored lights. There was Garcia and Morgan, whom Reid had known would be there, as well as Prentiss, Jareau, Gideon and Hotchner, Haley and their son Jack.

"Happy birthday," Garcia said as she walked over and placed a hat on top of Lyssa's chestnut hair.

"Thank you," Lyssa said softly as she gazed around at the decorations. Now that she was closer she saw that the multi-colored lights were actually Japanese paper lanterns and the streamers and banner that had been hung from the rafters actually had little anime characters all over them.

"You like?" Garcia asked, as she forced a matching birthday hat onto Reid's hair, completely ignoring his protests. "I made them myself."

"I do like," Lyssa said, tears once again appearing in her vivid blue eyes. She pulled Garcia in to a hug "Thank you so much."

"Well come on," Garcia said, pulling away from the younger woman and taking her by the hand. "We have cake and I promised Derek that he could have some since I forced him to help me with the set up."

"Alright," Lyssa said with a smile, allowing Garcia to lead her over to the picnic table where a cake had been set out along with chips and sodas. "Thank you guys so much."

"You're welcome," Morgan said, offering her one of his famous smiles as he began to light the candles that were already in the cake.

Reid came to stand beside Lyssa and he whispered in her ear, "Make a wish."

"I wish this could last forever," Lyssa thought to herself as she blew out the candles.

TBC. . .