Spencer was standing in the arrival hall, waiting for Kenneth. Once again. Slowly Spencer began. to get used to waiting. Those were the challenges, if you had a friend who lived in New York. He thought of the first time, he was waiting for Ken. Spencer smiled, he was so insecure back then, Ken was so blatantly flirting with him, he was able to ignore this fact for a while, but at some point this tingling sensation got out of hand and Reid just had to find out, on a strictly scientific basis, of course, how it would be, to kiss Ken. It was here at the airport, Spencer smiled at the thought ...
"Come on, Spencer. Stop fumbling around at your outfit. You look good, good enough to eat, to be exact. "
Ken showed a number of pearly white teeth and gave Spencer an appreciative glance. Reid was wearing a dark red, very skinny jeans (in his opinion) a black shirt without a tie and put a red sweater over his shoulders. Of course he was wearing his obligatory sneakers, he at least wanted to wear a part that felt familiar. JJ had been shopping with him and talked him into this, Spencer would have never chosen this outfit by himself.
They attended a hobby - book reading, Kenneth was always looking for talented writers, he could take under contract. They sat side by side, Reid had to watch Kenneth all the time. If someone would have asked him, what the young man at the desk was talking about, Reid wouldn´t be able to answer this question. Too close Ken sat with him, sometimes he touched him, as if by accident, Spencer felt shivers running down his spine. Surely it was just his imagination, the air shimmered in the small bookstore in Georgetown? And Ken's aftershave smelled so damn good, sandalwood. The flapping in Spencer's belly was getting worse, was it possible to fall in love with someone you just met for the third time ?
Kenneth of course noticed Spencer's restlessness, he smiled to himself. The little genius had no idea, how sexy he was and what effect he had on others. In the left hand corner was a guy, who made every effort to flirt with Spencer, who didn´t notice that at all. Kenneth grabbed his hand and Reid did not pull away. Although he turned red, but accepted, that Ken held his hand. This was the first moment, Spencer thought about how it would be like, to kiss Ken. He had kissed Lila, or rather she him, but Spencer had the vague feeling that it would be different, with Kenneth.
He drove him to the airport, Kenneth had to catch a night flight back to NY. There was an important meeting the other morning.
"Are you all right, Spencer?" Ken asked, because Reid was really quiet. They stood in the terminal building and the boarding light was already on.
" I- I do not know ," Reid muttered and looked at Kenneth, " b-but, I have to do t-this now."
And then I kissed him, Spencer thought. Simply, because it was right. Since then they barely stopped. But that first kiss would always be something special for Spencer, the first time their lips touched, tentatively, but Ken was so gentle and careful, Spencer didn´t feel funny or felt forced or something and Ken always was that way. Spencer was happy with Ken, even though he had never seen himself in a partnership, and certainly not in a same-sex, but Rev. Kincaide said it, at Hotch and Callie 's wedding. Love was the most important thing and you can´t choose, you just fall in love. And it´s okay, the way it is, Spencer thought.
oOo
"I'm really sorry, ´bout the tomato juice," Renee said apologetically. Somehow the glass slipped from her hand and changed Ken's pristine white shirt into a work of abstract art.
"I 'm of course paying for the damage, I always do."
Given her very embarrassed image, Ken had to laugh, "So, things like that often happen to you? "
Her grandfather had mentioned something like that, Ken remembered.
Renee nodded, " it 's as if I would attract this magnetically. One of the reasons I became a psychiatrist, I´m keeping away from scalpels and other sharp objects. I'm afraid, my success rate wouldn´t be the charm. But I like working with people, kid´s especially and I can listen, that's the important thing. "
"You´re gonna open a private practice in DC? " Ken wanted to know.
" Phew, good question. I currently have a part-time job at the municipal crisis intervention service, I 'm starting in a couple of weeks. And then there's something I have to do. What do you think about promises, Ken? "
"One has to consider very carefully before giving a promise, Renee. And you have to keep it, I guess."
Unless it would be a pretty unconventional promise, Renee thought. Grandpa Ike told her, Aaron and Jack got along, but of course, they missed Callie. And a loving, female hand, in the words of her grandfather.
"Some promises are easier to fulfill than others." Baker noted, Renee had become thoughtful.
"Yes they are," Renee said softly . "My promise was very important to someone. However, it not only affects me. It's complicated, I'm afraid. But it´s always like this. " Renee laughed, " and what are your secrets, Mr. Kenneth Baker? "
oOo
Derek was licking his second sundae and watched Jack and Becca. They were pressing their noses at the aquarium with the penguins.
"How is sweet-pie's Grandma ?" he wanted to know.
"Not good, Morgan. Abby needs a new hip, after that there´s gonna be a rehab. She has postponed it until now, because of her son. Meanwhile, it is very difficult for her to walk, she is 78, Derek. "
Morgan nodded, "and Becca? "
Hotch sighed softly. " I don´t know Derek. I promised Jack, Becca wouldn´t have to go to other people or an orphanage. It was very important to him and honestly, I love this little girl. I´m thinking about taking custodial care for her, Abby has asked me to. It would be a good thing for all of us, we all have lost so much, Morgan. But after everything she's been through, she needs a stable environment. I guess, a lone widower who works for the FBI, who has to leave his son with other people often, isn´t quite the dream of childcare service. It would be different if Callie was still alive. We wouldn´t hesitate for a moment."
"You still think of her, pretty often, right? " It was more a statement than a question.
" Sometimes, when I get home from a case, I take the CD out of Jack´s room. The one she recorded for Jack. I´m listening to it. Actually I can repeat every word she says. And for a little while, I can fool myself. I feel her close to me, hearing her voice. And my world keeps on turning." Hotch admitted hesitantly.
Morgan had to swallow. He put his hand on Hotch 's shoulder. " Wouldn´t it be easier if you had someone?" he asked cautiously.
Hotch looked at him seriously, " I cannot even begin to imagine, to fall in love again, Derek. I know, I made this promise to her, but I 'm afraid I've promised her something I cannot keep." Hotch escaped a regretful tone.
"Becca, Jack. Your noses are certainly cold, they will fall off soon." The children began to giggle and rushed on to Hotch.
" I do not believe you," Becca laughed and beamed at Hotch, "you´re kidding, right?"
Hotch laughed, " of course, sweetheart, noses don´t fall off so easily."
Becca hugged Hotch fiercely. "I love you so much," she whispered in his ear.
"I love you too, Becca." Hotch said quietly.
Jack grinned. It was a good thing, his Dad and Becca liked each other. He was also fond of Becca and he wanted her, to be his sister. Unfortunately, Jack had no idea how this was about to happen. Actually, you got brothers and sisters in other ways, Jack knew. Mom and Dad had to undress and be quite nice to each other and if you were lucky, finally a little brother or sister was the result. Jack had noticed before, Uncle Dave and Aunt Jessy doing that kind of thing. Aunty Jessy was squealing. At first, Jack was asking himself, if Aunty Jessy was hurt, but then she started laughing and Jack went back to bed, unnoticed. Jack was puzzled, his Dad was alone, so it didn´t work this way. He decided to talk to Grandpa Ike, he was a doctor and knew such things.
oOo
Meanwhile, Derek went in thought through his female acquaintances, to find perhaps something suitable for Hotch. He needed someone to love, urgently. On the other hand, he couldn´t hand over one of his former one-night-stands to Hotch.
Hm, if Hotch was willing to try online dating? Derek cast a critical eye on his boss, probably not.
But if he didn´t know anything about it? Derek could even make a preselection and introduce Hotch veeery random to one or the other lady. Very briefly Derek was touched by the thought, that this was a pretty stupid idea, but as mentioned earlier, it only touched him very briefly.
Maybe because of brain icing, as a result of too much ice cream.
oOo
Kenneth Baker's secrets were revealed very quickly, as it turned out. The fact, Ken was Callie 's former publisher and knew Hotch and her grandfather was almost like a heavenly addition for Renee.
"Tell me something about Aaron. " Renee asked.
"We know each other quite well, " Baker said. "Callie left Jack the rights for Ferdinand, Hotch manages them for his son. He is a very honest , sincere man, Renee. He has a huge heart, but he hides it very well, he does not show his feelings very often, but with Jack he is completely different. And he cares about a classmate of Jack, who has lost her father. Again, Renee, a huge heart. "
Renee nodded, it coincided with what her Grandpa had said.
oOo
Somehow it didn´t matter, when you left home, Ike thought, the traffic jam on the Beltway was always there. He placed his Chevy at the airport parking lot. Just in time, Ike noted with looking at his watch, the plane with Renee was about to land in 15 minutes.
Ike was looking forward to his little Froglet, the two years she spent in Berlin, had been hard for him.
" Spencer? Is that you? " he said in surprise, " what are you doing here?"
Reid was startled briefly, he was already thinking about Ken, or to be more specific, what they would do in the next two or three hours. Spencer blushed.
" Oh, Dr. Malone. I'm waiting for Kenneth, he has been in Leipzig, on a book fair. LH 7258 is delayed for half an hour. We´ll have to wait. Usually Lufthansa is one of the most punctual airlines, they account for 16.87 %, of delay, followed by American Airlines with 21.32 % and Qantas with 22.99% " Spencer spread his knowledge and Ike Malone smiled, how could anyone keep so much useless statistics in mind. However, Lufthansa made their reputation, less than 10 minutes later the plane was on the runway.
Renee and Kenneth entered the arrival hall together. Quite surprisingly, it all went smoothly at customs for Renee, the customs officer took it apparently not bad, that she rolled the suitcase over his toes. Ken watched, fascinated, how she gave the poor man an apologetic look with her huge brown Bambi eyes, how she was batting her eyelashes and in a very innocent-looking gesture she put a strain of her hair behind her ear.
"I'm very sorry," she breathed. The guy just waved her through.
"If I ever want to smuggle something, Renee, only with you as a companion," Ken laughed. Obviously, the young woman was a sly old dog. If this ominous promise was, what Kenneth had in mind, then Hotch did not stand a chance, Renee was going to eat him alive.
" Spence! " Ken yelled, he discovered his lover immediately. Spencer showed the transfigured face, Derek mentioned and put his arms around Ken´s neck. Then he kissed him in front of everyone.
"Modern times," Ike said and hugged his granddaughter lovingly. "Hello little Froglet," he said happily.
oOo
" Good Lord, chocolate wonder, Hotch is going to kill us for this!" Garcia squealed when Derek presented his plan to her, later this evening.
"Oh, come on. Don´t worry, baby girl. Hotch will not even notice, what 's going on." Morgan tried to calm her.
Garcia plopped down close to Derek on the couch.
"Don´t imagine this to be easy, Muffin. You want to set up a false profile of our boss-man on a dating site. The first problem is already, we don´t have a pic, were Hotch shows something like a smile. And you 'll agree with me, we can´t take that wedding photo of him and Callie."
Morgan briefly muttered. "But women love men with a melancholy aura. " Derek replied.
Garcia frowned, "but they don´t want someone, who´s image says I-know-what-you-did-and-I-put-your-ass-in-jail-for-it."
Derek began to laugh, " Hotch doesn´t look like that... ok, you're right. Why don´t we put this photo stuff aside, Pen? There are loads of profiles without any pic´s. We just put it on and see, what´s gonna happen. And if there is something promising, we´re thinking about the picture again?"
Morgan looked for consent.
"Something promising? Gosh, Derek. We´re not on a horse auction, looking for a broodmare."
Derek tilted his head and Garcia put her hands to her mouth, "Oh God, that's exactly, what we´re doing here!"