Author's Note: As promised here's the next chapter, heavily Avery/Garcia centric. But never fear, there's still some Avery/ Spencer fluff! Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know with a review :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Criminal Minds!

Chapter 13

Avery's POV:

"Bu-bye Caleb! I'll see you tomorrow!" I said brightly, waving to my last child as he walked out with his mother. I started to clean the toys Caleb and I had been playing with as quickly as I could. Ordinarily I would have slowed down and taken my time, but I knew that Garcia was either on her way or already waiting up front for me and I didn't want to keep her waiting too long. Luckily, my kids were already gone; JJ and I had worked out a system for the kids' pickups over the weekend. Every morning, JJ came to pick up my small family to drop us off along with Henry, and leave the car seats for everyone up front. This way whoever was available to pick me up could just take all three of our kids. It was a pretty good system, but soon we'd need to add one more car seat to the list, as Jack was starting at the center next week. It took very little convincing from me to my boss to get him a spot; I was admittedly the best assistant teacher there, and she (along with most of my coworkers) would do just about anything for me. Tonight JJ had picked up my kids, bringing them her house for a playdate until Arrow could pick them up.

As I cleaned up the rest of the toys, I couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of sadness at the realization that my normal pickup routine wouldn't happen. Usually Spencer was the one designated to pick the kids and I up every day, and I would be a liar if I said I wasn't going to miss our daily chat. We never really ran out of things to say to each other, and I found myself falling harder and harder for him with each day. I'd thought I'd had it bad when we first met, but it was nothing compared to the level of attraction I felt towards him now.

Finishing my task, I grabbed my bag, and turned to shut off the light when I saw Garcia standing near the door looking around my room with fascination. I smiled and headed over in her direction.

"Hey, I was just on my out to look for you, sorry it took so long. Caleb's always the last one out, like clockwork always at 5:55", I apologized. She waved her hand, as if to indicate that it was no big thing.

"Don't worry about it!" she said, confirming her wave. "So this is where you work huh? What sort of rainbow bright color is this room named after?" I giggled.

"This is one of the classrooms I work in, this is the Green Room. It's for our young two-year olds, toddlers who aren't ready for potty training yet", I explained as we walked out of the room.

"One of?" Penelope questioned. As we passed the larger, more open classroom in the front of the center I pointed it out to her.

"This is the other classroom I work in. It's called the Purple Room, and it's for our little baby friends that are too small to walk yet. I work in there in the mornings, and switch to the Green Room after lunch", I explained. Garcia smiled and made one of those 'awww' sounds as we walked into the front of the center. I grinned at her as I checked out on the computer we kept up on the front desk, but frowned as I looked around. Usually my boss was here late, finishing paperwork or schedules, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Garcia how did you get in here", I asked confused. You needed a key fob to get into the center, and even if you had one you needed a special fob to get in after 6:00. Surely someone had to have let her in, and she would have had shown ID to make it past the front door.

"Oh that nice woman with the short hair let me in. I showed her my credentials, and then she started raving about you. How it was so nice that you were going to finally get out, and what a wonderful girl you were. Naturally I talked to her for a long while about you and your amazing attributes, and then she said she had to run out and that you should lock up", Garcia explained. "So you must be a pretty good assistant, cause I don't think she'd let just anyone lock up her business for her. Kudos!"

I laughed at Penelope's play by play, and motioned for her to follow as I locked the center. Spencer or no Spencer, this was going to be a fun night.

SPECNERAVERYSPECERAVERYSPENCERAVERYSPENCERAVERYSPENCERAVERYSPENCERAVERY

"No way, you cannot buy that", I laughed as I tore a now very unhappy Penelope away from a very, uhm, bright looking sweater in a display window. It had a series of puppies set in rhinestones all over the bright fabric, which was practically neon. It screamed 'Garcia', but I couldn't let her buy it in good conscious. I giggled at her child-like pout and dragged her onward through the semi-crowded mall.

"But it was so bright and fabulous", she complained. I gave her my 'no-nonsense' look I often gave my toddlers when they were eyeing another kid's toy, and she rolled her eyes at me. "Fine, fine. But can we at least stop for some food in the food court? I'm starvinggg", she complained finally, dragging me in the direction of the food lines. I smiled at her, and agreed. As we sat in line for some sandwich shop and I listened to Penelope chatter on about that sweater's potential I couldn't help but smile. We'd been shopping together for a few hours, and I was so glad I'd agreed to come. Penelope was a great person, and we'd really connected as friends in the time we'd spent together. She lost her parent early like me, and she was really sweet and funny. I really loved her sunny disposition, and being around her just made me feel calm.

"Avery. Avery, it's your turn", she said, breaking my thoughts and nudging me gently. I realized she'd already ordered her food, and now it was my turn. I smiled at the teenage boy behind the counter, who looked extremely flustered.

"I'll just have a large Diet Coke", I said, handing him the money. It was my cop-out; I still didn't want to eat in public, and people wouldn't think anything was really off if I was drinking something. And since Diet Coke didn't have any caloric value, I didn't feel bad having it anyways. Garcia frowned as the kid handed us our orders and we looked for a table. "What's with the frown?" I asked, already pretty certain of what her answer would be.

"We've been shopping for hours, you worked a full day before this, and you aren't even a little bit hungry?" she questioned suspiciously. I kept my face blank, and merely shrugged in return.

"Nah I'm more thirsty than anything else. I had a really big lunch today", I explained coolly. Which was not technically a lie; I had eaten lunch at work today, I just wasn't willing to admit how hungry I was now. Although having to try on outfit after outfit had significantly decreased my desire to eat in all honesty. Penelope eyed me with disbelief as we sat down at an empty table.

"Yeah but I thought you had to eat your meals in the same proportions as your class did, you did say that didn't you?" she questioned. Damn. I had told her that. I shrugged once more, forcing a smirk onto my face.

"Yeah I do, but today I decided to sneak some extras. It was breakfast for lunch, my favorite", I replied. She didn't seem convinced, so I decided to change the subject quickly. "So about this party, what day were you thinking?" This seemed to work, she brightened significantly as she started speaking.

"Well the team doesn't have anything planned for Saturday afternoon, and I thought we could do it then", she explained. I nodded, relieved we'd finally switch subjects so soon. She and I chatted for a while about Saturday, her eating her sub and me sipping my pop. It was comfortable and friendly, and I was feeling very relaxed as we decided on some minor details. Suddenly I felt my phone buzz inside my pocket, and I curiously pulled it out. Usually the only people who texted me were coworkers wondering if I could take their shifts for them, or my friend Laura from work sending funny pictures of her son Kayden. I was overjoyed to find that it was none of those people.

"Well sunshine who just made your night?" Penelope asked, leaning over my shoulder to peer at my phone.

"It's Spencer", I answered, beaming. She grinned as well.

"Oooooo and what does our boy wonder have to say on this wonderful evening? Did he finally propose?" she joked good-naturedly, elbowing me a little. (Note: Spencer's texts will be in italics and Avery's will be in underlined italics)

"'It was all kinds of strange not seeing you and the kids after school today. Now who will explain the ins and outs of daycare gossip to me?'" I recited from my small screen, smiling wider at hearing the words aloud. The way Spencer really cared about my trivial life and the way he could so accurately match my feelings so perfectly was still a wonder to me. Penelope made another one of those 'awwwww' noises, and scooted her chair closer to mine.

"I always knew you guys were made for each other. What are you gonna answer back with?" she questioned. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't manage to stop smiling long enough to really seem sassy.

"Oh you 'always knew' huh? The whole 5 days we've known each other?" I teased. She gave me an exasperated look. I giggled. "No need for you to know everything about Spencer and I's non-relationship. Get back to your side of the table Penpen". She frowned at me before sliding back to her side of the table.

"Whatever Cupcake, I can just read your texts later anyways. And who are you kidding? Non-relationship", she scoffed. I just laughed at her, and quickly typed back a reply.

'I missed seeing you more than I thought. And it really is a shame I didn't get to share, one girl even got fired today!'

"You know sweetheart, I think you're gorgeous, and so does Reid. And you can tell us anything", Penelope said softly, giving me a strange look. I furrowed my brow in confusion as my face flushed with a pink color. I didn't like where this was headed.

"I guess, but why do you say that?" I questioned softly, ignoring the new text message I'd just received. Penelope looked at me sympathetically.

"I say that because I know how you feel Avery. I know how it feels to not feel comfortable in your own skin, how it feels like everyone's eyes on you all the time, and most importantly I know how it feels like you need to hide everything from everyone. And I know that you probably won't share with any of us, at least not yet. And that's understandable, and totally okay, but I'm just saying that you should know how beautiful and special and incredible you are", she said quickly. "You're such a wonderful girl and I just wanted you to know, when and if you do want to talk, about anything, I'm here".

"Thank you Pen", I said gratefully, eyes threatening to tear up. I'd thought we'd strayed from the subject, but clearly Garcia was more perceptive than I thought. I appreciated her effort, I really did, but I didn't want to talk to anyone about this, not yet. She smiled in understanding, and quickly stood up.

"Alright sweet cheeks, I think its way past my bedtime. Whaddya say we head on home? Something tells me you have a boy genius to talk to anyways", she said smirking. I blushed and looked at my phone sheepishly. "Don't worry darling I won't really read your messages…probably", she said walking away. I frowned. She was kidding, right?

I spent the ride home chatting with Garcia about what we'd bought tonight, and also texting Spencer. After we'd sat in Garcia's car, I finally looked at the messaged he'd sent.

'Fired? What on Earth did she do?'

'She fell asleep during naptime for the second day in a row. Seriously, who falls asleep watching kids? X( ', Unfortunately this was true, I'd walked in after my break to find my only other staff was asleep in my room. To say I was pissed off was an understatement.

'It sounds comical if you get past the general irresponsibility of it all'

'Mmm I suppose so. How was your day? Catch any bad guys?'

'Unfortunately not. But I did read 2 books on child development today; I was thinking of you', my heart fluttered at his admission. He really thought about me today?

'Oh really? Is it safe for me to assume you know more about kids than me now? :) Maybe you could teach me a few things', I answered, flirting a little just because of his 'thinking of you' comment. Flirting had become natural, easy for us over the past few days. Unfortunately, that was all we'd done was flirt.

'On the contrary dear, I just have a clear understanding on how their psyche develops. Put me in front of a diaper and I would be completely lost', smiling at his use of the word dear I replied quickly.

'Bless my soul, I think I've found Spencer Reid's fatal flaw. Can't change a diaper, how typically male'

'I blame only child syndrome. Did you have fun with Garcia tonight?'

'Yes of course I did! She took me out of my house, and shopping. She's pretty much my favorite FBI friend right now'

'Hmmm'

'What?'

'Nothing, I was just under the impression that I was your favorite BAU member'

'Spence you hold the top spot always. Penelope is just a close second :)'

'Really?'

'Really really :)'

'Reading that just made me really happy', my heart fluttered. I'd made him happy.

"What says our boy wonder tonight?" Penelope questioned as we pulled up to our house. I smiled.

"Oh just talking about one of my stupid coworkers, you know, talking about life. That's all", I generalized. She smiled knowingly.

"Uh huh. Sure angel", she laughed. "Well m'lady this looks a lot like your house to me, so I will bid you adieu. See you around!" She leaned in and gave me a hug, before I smiled and opened the door.

"Bu bye Pen! See you Saturday", I called as I closed the door and headed into the house. As I climbed the steps, a white envelope on the ground nearby caught my attention. Curious, I picked it up and saw it was addressed to me. After locking the front door, I ripped the envelope open, quickly scanning the note. As I read my eyes widened in fear and shock, and I felt myself reach for somewhere to sit. Leaning against the door, I read the note over and over again, trying to convince myself that it wasn't real. Not wanting to wake the sleeping members of my family I did the only thing I could think of. I shakily pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Spencer. He answered after only two rings.

"Hello? Avery?" he said.

" S-Spencer? I n-need your help", I said, trying and failing to keep my voice strong.

"Avery? What is it? What's wrong?" he asked quickly. I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm my shaking body before answering.

"H-he, he left me a note. He… oh God. He knows where I live. The guy who killed Sam, h-he knows where I am".

Author's Note: UhOh. Unsub after Avery? Will Spencer protect her? Review for faster updates!