Author's note: I'll admit, leaving that cliffhanger was a little mean of me, but come on. You know you love it! :) Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it just as much! This was my favorite chapter to write so far. Read and Review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of its characters!

Chapter 8

Spencer's POV:

I had finished out my workday fairly well, considering I had coworkers who just couldn't help but to bring up Avery every few minutes. Although Avery had become the favorite topic of my mind's conversation, I felt awkward talking about her to my coworkers; their implications and theories about her only served to embarrass me it seemed. They also gave me hope that there could be something between her and I that I really couldn't see, and that hope was a dangerous thing.

Nevertheless, by the end if my day I was completely exhausted. I shivered in the cold March weather as I walked to my car in the dark parking lot. In an effort to keep Avery off my mind I'd volunteered to stay late and finish up some paperwork from our recently solved cases. Before that our briefing on the unsolved case here in Quantico. Apparently the latest victim's son (David was his name, I think Avery mentioned) had told police that his mother had been receiving strange letters from someone for a few weeks prior to the discovery of her body. A quick check with the other victim's families revealed this to be a new evolution of this unsub. In addition, the coroner's report on all 3 women had come back; each woman had died due to some sort of blunt force trauma to her body. They'd been beaten to death. Morgan pointed out that since our unsub took an unusual amount of time between hunts, and our victim's cause of death was some sort of trauma, he/she was most likely keeping them for a while before killing and discarding them. And since each woman had been dumped in some sort of facedown position, Prentiss noted that indicated some sort of guilt on the unsubs part. We agree to review the profile and begin fresh Monday morning.

The rest of the team headed out to the bar after the meeting for some Saturday night drinks, but I just wanted to work and go to bed. Right when I came home I tossed my keys aside and fell onto my bed, shoes and all. After toeing off my converse I sighed and grabbed a book at random from my shelf. My brain was going into overdrive, and I was never going to get to sleep with this much on my mind. I mean how could I sleep when all I could picture were the bloodied bodies of those poor women? Picturing them made me sicker than it usually did because this time it was real; this unsub had the potential to take away someone I cared for very much, and I would stop at nothing to keep Avery safe. I'm not sure why I was so interested in being her savior all of the sudden, but I was bound and determined that Avery would never know the pain those women had.

Oh, Avery. Just thinking of her name sent those butterflies in my stomach wild. She'd been through so much in her life, more even I'm sure than what I knew about, and had still come out smiling. She was a one of a kind girl, sure, but I'd been attracted to her even before knowing who she was or what her background was. There was something about her that just clicked with me. Maybe it was the way she was easy to talk to, or the traditionally 'nerdy' interests we both seemed to share, but I just couldn't help but seem powerless to the connection I felt to her. Her looks, though completely secondary to her personality in my mind, were far too beautiful to allow my mind any peace either. Her hair was long and beautiful, and when I'd accidentally touched it I swear it felt like touching real satin. Her eyes were big and round, hypnotic and easy to read. Avery was one of those people who wasn't afraid to wear every emotion on their face, and for her all of them could be found in those big, wonderful eyes. Her face was round and rosy, and her body was indescribable. I'd be a liar if I said I hadn't looked at her body once or twice (or a few times) throughout the day. Her clothes weren't tight, but they weren't baggy and they displayed her wonderful figure. Avery's hips and bottom were rather large, and her waist was proportionately smaller, as were her ankles and calves. Her hands and feet were large, and her legs and arms were long. Her clothing choice seemed to favor a grungy sort of look, but an effortless one at any rate. Thinking of Avery soon drew my attention completely from my book, and I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. It really was going to be a long night.

Just as I started to focus on my book once more, my phone rang and startled me. I jumped a little before looking at my caller ID, finding that an unknown number was calling. Surprised, and highly suspicious I answered tentatively.

"Hello?" I said, hoping it was just someone with the wrong number.

"Hey, Spencer? It's Avery", a melodic voice said in my ear. I shot straight up in my bed; it was Avery. "I know it's pretty late, and I'm sorry if I woke you, I actually probably shouldn't have called this late. I don't know what I was thinking", she continued almost sheepishly. I shook my head vehemently, until I remembered that she couldn't see me.

"No no you didn't wake me. It's not that late, and I'm glad you called", I said honestly. I cleared my throat, "What's up?"

"I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did today. You were fantastic with the kids, and you made today really special for them. And for me too", she said softly. "So thank you". I choked up a little, Avery was the sweetest woman alive.

"It was really nothing. Your kids are amazing, and I'm so happy that I contributed to your special day", I replied. "How did things go at your new home?" This seemed to be a great question, Avery launched into an animated account of everything that happened to her and her family after leaving the BAU. I simply listened, adding in comments where it was necessary and smiling at her obvious excitement. Ordinarily, I would have never gone that long in a conversation without talking, but if Avery was the one doing the talking I could listen forever. At some point the conversation shifted and we began talking about something off topic and that was all she wrote, as they say. We both shared our favorite books and movies, food, anything and everything we could think of. We talked for so long, and eventually we began talking about something, and Avery commented on my frequent use of statistics. I groaned as I apologized.

"I'm sorry, I'm trying to work them out of everyday conversation. I've been told that the can be very odd things to say most times", I said sheepishly. Great, I was sitting here having the best conversation of my life and I'd forgotten to leave out those stupid statistics. Avery giggled.

"No don't you dare! I mean do what you want obviously, I'm not in any position to tell you what to do, but I happen to like your statistics", she said. My heart soared, she really like the way I spoke?

"I think they're interesting, and quirky in a really cute way", she amended quietly. My chest beat so loud that I was sure she could hear it over the phone. She thought I was cute? Surely I was dreaming. It WAS getting rather late.

"Really?" I finally questioned, hoping that I hadn't dreamed her last comment.

"Really", she said softly. Then she yawned adorably. "Sorry for yawning in your ear", she said laughing. "I guess I didn't realize how late it was getting. Time flies".

"Yeah it is getting late", I noted sadly. "I'm sure you'll be wanting to go to bed soon, I should probably let you off".

"That's probably a wise idea Dr. Reid. ", she teased. "But I wanted to ask you something first".

"What is it?" I asked curiously, ignoring the way my body reacted to the way she called me doctor.

"Well Rossi is actually the one who got me this cellphone, against my will I might add, and he also got presents for the kids. I wanted to have the kids help make him a cake and a card, you know as a thank you. Arrow has some sort of meeting he said, and he's going to be gone all day, but that he was the only one who had to go. I was hoping you could maybe drive us to the store and help us bake the cake then? I mean only if you want to because I know that you guys almost never get days off and I totally understand if you don't want to and-"

"Avery", I said cutting her off. She was speaking faster and faster, as if she were nervous that I was going to say no. As if I could ever turn down an opportunity to spend time with her. "Of course I would love to help you all, although I must admit I'm not much of a baker", I chuckled. She giggled as well.

"Seeing as Jack and Henry will be doing most of the work, I think your lack of experience will work in your favor", she said playfully. "How about I just text you, when we're all awake and ready, to give you Arrow's address?"

"Your address", I reminded her gently. I wanted her to remember that she did have a home now.

"My address", she clarified. "Sound like a plan?"

"It sounds wonderful", I admitted.

"Okay then... goodbye Spence. Sweet dreams", she said softly.

"Goodnight Avery. I'll see you in the morning", I said wistfully. It was a promise. She hesitated before I heard the dial tone signaling the end of our conversation.

I couldn't believe I was so lucky; I thought my time today with Avery was all I was going to get, but now I could look forward to another whole day with her. I felt so incredibly happy now, simply remembering all that we'd discussed. Avery was the brightest, kindest, and most interesting girl I'd ever met. I was completely and wholly invested in making tomorrow an incredibly special day for her, her family, and myself. Hopefully, if things went well I would be able to ask her to spend some time with just me. My chest twisted nervously just with the thought; was that too close to asking her on a date? Hotch just got her back, surely even if he were suddenly okay with me seeing her he wouldn't allow her to go out so soon? Would she even say yes? How would I even begin to ask her? It wasn't like I had any experience in this field. Maybe I would give Morgan a call before going over? Then again, maybe I didn't want Morgan's kind of advice.

All my fears dissipated in smoky wisps when I thought of the girl that was causing me so much self-doubt. I smiled and began getting ready for bed, deciding I would figure this all out tomorrow. I was certain I could sleep now, knowing that I would see her soon. I was also fairly sure I knew who would be making a starring appearance in my dreams tonight. After all, she did say to have sweet dreams.