Two long years of a relationship and there was never one slip up in blissful secrecy. With the stress and dangers off the job, yours and Spencer’s relationship stayed far off the record.

The first few months after your addition to the team was a repeated pattern of behaviour; Spencer stumbling over his words a little too much around you (much to Morgan’s enjoyment) and staring and catching your eyes for just a moment too long. Not to mention the latching to your side, always provoking some topic of conversation he hoped would interest you.

It’d been some late night after a draining case when you two ended up his hotel room together. He rambled for nearly an hour, his hands moving animatedly with a bright smile on his lips, beyond relieved to have someone who would listen to him. You’d been listening patiently until he eventually trailed off, stammering as he found your attentive eyes on his, barely containing a look that had originally made no sense in his mind. It took a painfully long moment of hesitation and fumbling before his hands found your own and his lips captured yours with overwhelming tentativeness, as though the moment would shatter and the walls would crumble around him, reality fading to his imagination.

Following that, everything was kept away from the ranks, reluctant to the teasing embarrassment and HR complications that could arise if rumor infected the BAU. Unfortunately, word had spread like wildfire due to Spencer’s helpless obviousness but nothing beyond. He was merely some kid with a crush to the team.

Two years after that day was the only mistake ever made.

Piles upon piles of folders and paperwork towered upon every agent’s desks, the clock ticking later as the workload slowly dwindled. Only a few remained in the bullpen, Emily and Morgan hunched over their respective desks, slaving over the ever persistent paperwork, while Hotch and Rossi remained in their offices.

Spencer’s eyes occasionally darted over to yours as he watched you work, an imperceptibly fond smile on his lips. He shut his last file after completing it, tossing it in the basket on his desk as he stood up.

“I’m heading out,” he announced, slipping his jacket on his shoulders. A few hums reverberated from the team, hardly acknowledging his departure. He crossed the strap of his satchel across him, his feet naturally gravitating towards your desk. If he’d been in his right mind, it might’ve been a simple passing — a ‘friendly’ glance in your direction as an extra goodbye and a promise to see you in his apartment later — but his overly exhausted mind had him leaning against your desk, an affectionate hand landing on your shoulder.

“Bye, baby, I’ll see you later,” Spencer murmured softly, giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze before he started to turn away only to he stopped by a chorus of voices.

“Baby?” Emily and Morgan echoed, puzzled and amused expressions turning towards the both of you.