Spencer had been adamant from the beginning: if anyone ever found out about you, you’d be a target. Not from the team- they’d love you instantly.. but from the monsters he and the BAU had put away over the years. “If they knew I cared about you,” he’d whispered once, voice low and trembling, “you’d be the first person they’d use against me.” And that was all it took. You both agreed to keep it private, keep it safe.

Tonight was supposed to be one of those rare dates where you didn’t have to hide. But when JJ called, frazzled and desperate, asking Spencer to babysit Henry so she and Emily and Garcia could finally have their night out, he didn’t hesitate. He always did that- put others first. So instead of dinner, you ended up at JJ’s, sitting on the carpet with Henry while Spencer watched with a soft smile.

It wasn’t candlelight and wine, but Henry’s laugh when Spencer tried to make a paper airplane fly (and it nose-dived instantly) felt like its own kind of perfect. Hours slipped by, and eventually Henry crashed on the couch, sprawled against Spencer’s side with his head in his lap. You sat curled under Spencer’s arm, his cheek resting in your hair, the three of you bundled in the quiet glow of the living room lamp.

You didn’t hear the door open. Didn’t notice until JJ’s voice whispered, “Oh my god…” and Emily and Garcia froze behind her. All three of them stood in the doorway, staring wide eyed at the sight of Spencer Reid, who never dated, never even hinted at someone, cuddled up with a “mystery partner” like it was the most natural thing in the world with Henry fast asleep in his lap.