ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ (ꜱ.ʀ)

vi. MAYA ANGELOU

"Try to be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud."

-MAYA ANGELOU-

ANOTHER CASE FLEW BY, and Ginny was happy to be home. As much as Washington, D.C. could be home. Even after living there for a few years, Ginny struggled to settle in. Now arrived back in the state, tired and emotionally drained, she unlocked the door to her townhouse. Though usually upon entering her house it was pin-drop silent, this time she was met by the sound of pattering feet and two figures in her kitchen. Her hand went straight to her gun, fearful for who would be there when she rounded the corner.

"Georgiana, get your cute butt in here!" Her best friend and practically sister, Victoria, yelled out, her cheery voice echoing through the halls. Ginny's whole body relaxed and immediately filled with excitement as she finally rounded the corner.

With a happy smile, Ginny hugged her friend, "I'm so happy to see you."

Victoria squeezed her back, so tightly it would've hurt if Ginny thought too hard about it, "Did you forget we were coming?" She laughed, pulling away from the hug.

Ginny's face twisted, as a guilty look spread across it, "Possibly..." They laughed together, "It's been a long few days,"

"Well someone has been dying to see you," Victoria wiggled her eyebrows, as Ginny turned around excitedly. A small, 5-year-old girl came running around the corner, her familiar brown curls bouncing with her. Her hand found its way to her mouth, as Ginny's eyes welled with subtle tears.

"Momma!" She shouted, jumping into Ginny's arms.

"Hey baby girl," Ginny smiled, picking her daughter up, holding her tightly in her arms, "You're getting so big, soon I'm not gonna be able to pick you up anymore."

"You work for the FBI and you can't pick up a 5-year-old girl?" Her daughter teased, still latching her arms around Ginny's neck.

"Madelina Monroe, you better watch your mouth," Ginny chuckled, giving Victoria the 'who's kid is this?' look. Victoria rolled her eyes and patted the island seats. Still carrying Maddie, she sat down next to her friend and rested her daughter on her knee.

"We were worried you wouldn't make it back in time," Victoria smiled, unpacking some fast food for the three of them.

Ginny shook her head, "I would never miss these weekends," Her undercover work made it impossible for Ginny to raise her daughter on her own. Not only that but, if the people she had worked with while undercover found out about her daughter it would mean deadly consequences for both of them. Thankfully, Victoria had retired shortly after Ginny found out she was pregnant, leaving the person she trusted the most in charge of her only child. Now once a month, every second Saturday and Sunday, Vicky brought Maddie to see and visit her mom. Ginny wished it could be more, but the less she saw her daughter the safer the both of them were.

"How was work momma? Vicky said you got a new job and that now we could visit more," Maddie beamed, her toothy grin bringing a smile to Ginny's face.

"It was so good!" Ginny exaggerated, "we caught the bad guy, and I hope you can visit more, I miss your cute face every day," She placed affectionate pecks all across Maddie's face, making her daughter giggle and squirm away. Once she stopped, Ginny glanced at the clock, realizing just how late it was, "Hey, what're you doing up so late?"

"Somebody didn't wanna sleep 'till you got home," Victoria smirked, sipping her half drank pop.

Maddie made a guilty face and played with her necklace, the matching half to Ginny's.

"Well I'm home now and," Ginny picked up her daughter and placed her back on the ground, "I say bedtime for you, we'll have way more time in the morning okay?"

"Okay," Maddie sighed and kissed her mom on the cheek, before scurrying off to get herself ready for bed.

As soon as she was out of sight, Ginny let out a heavy exhale, running her hands through her hair. As much as she loved seeing her daughter, it hurt so much more every time they had to leave, "Now how was work really?" Vicky asked, grabbing her friend's hand in hers.

Ginny shook her head and laughed, almost exasperated, "Honestly, I love it," She shrugged, "It's so much less draining than undercover is. I feel safer, less at risk. The team is really nice and welcoming, I mean besides this one guy but I don't care much about him."

"You mean to tell me there's someone on your team being a-" Vicky peeked her head around the corner, searching for the little ears that tended to eavesdrop, "-A bitch? I'll kill 'em".

"That won't be necessary, he's just some crazy smart guy who's going through some shit. Besides, I want to know how you're doing? Maddie's not giving you too hard a time?" Ginny asked, trying to subtly change the subject.

"George, your kid's an angel, always has been and stop changing the subject, I want to know more about this cute crazy smart guy who has a problem with you," Vicky smacked her hand lightly, making both of them giggle.

Ginny shrugged, "I never said he was cute, first of all. And second, I don't think his problem is with me specifically, more just my being there."

"You didn't deny it, so he is cute!" Vicky squealed like she was 16 again, "Tell me more! I must know everything, who is he? Name? do you like him?"

She hid her face in her hands, more so hiding the flush of pink on her face, "His name is Spencer, Dr. Spencer Reid," Ginny quickly corrected herself, "I guess you could say he's attractive." She shrugged her shoulder again, her mind forcing the image of him at Rossi's house the night before. The bright blue shirt contrasting his dark curls and warm brown eyes.

"Wow, look at your face, you 100% like him, I am gonna-"

"Don't even think about it, you are not setting me up with him," Ginny protested, "Did you happen to miss the part where I said, he doesn't like me? Or are you choosing to ignore it?"

"Oh, I heard it! Little enemies to lovers type beat, that's always been your thing." Vicky wiggled her eyebrows, earning a playful shove from Ginny. Maddie came yawning around the corner, rubbing her eyes as she crawled into her mother's lap.

"Looks like someone had a long day," Ginny smiled and kissed the top of her head. Maddie nodded, curling up into her chest, "Well let's go to bed then, tomorrow will be our fun day okay?"

"Okay momma," Maddie mumbled.

Ginny picked her up and carried her out of the kitchen, turning to whisper to Vicky quickly, "Thank you."

Vicky shook her head softly, "Thank you." She said in response as Ginny rounded the corner, disappearing into the night, happily singing their favourite song as she carried Maddie up the stairs.

"And when you speak, angels sing from above," She sang in a whisper tone, "Everyday words seem to turn into love songs,"

This time Maddie joined in with her mom, softly singing together as she placed her in her bed,

"Give your heart and soul to me, and life will always be La vie en rose."