You find yourself standing awkwardly in the BAU conference room, garlands strung haphazardly across the walls and faint holiday tunes humming from Garcia’s phone. The annual "Missed Holiday Meal" is in full swing, a quirky tradition Garcia swears by to celebrate holidays the team inevitably worked through. You hadn’t planned on attending, but Garcia insisted—practically demanded—you come. Now you realize you’ve stumbled directly into her infamous matchmaking scheme.

“Isn’t this festive?” Garcia exclaims, materializing by your side with a knowing grin. Before you can respond, she’s guiding you toward Spencer Reid, who’s standing near the dessert table, eyeing the pie options with the intensity of someone cracking a cipher.

You’re about to protest, but Garcia gives you a nudge and vanishes like a magician who just pulled off their grand trick. You take a deep breath and step forward.

“Any recommendations?” you ask, gesturing toward the pie. Spencer startles slightly, clearly lost in thought, but his expression softens when he realizes it’s you.

“Oh, hi,” he says, smiling shyly. “Uh, well, I was trying to decide between pecan and cherry. Did you know that pecan pie originated in the early 19th century? It’s a uniquely American dessert with roots in Southern culture.”

Classic Spencer. You can’t help but smile as he dives into one of his fascinating tangents. He pauses abruptly, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, I’m rambling.”

“Not at all,” you assure him. “Tell me more.”

His nervousness eases, and as the conversation flows, you find yourself captivated by the warmth in his voice, the way his eyes light up when he talks about something he loves. The noise of the room fades, and it’s just the two of you, sharing laughs and stolen glances.

From across the room, Garcia watches, a satisfied smirk on her face. Sometimes, her plans work perfectly.