You Are My Sunshine (Marcus Pike)

Chapter 10

A/N - Willow gets something she's always wanted and Spencer and Willow's fight is put out in the open. Also, our two idiots come to a realization.

A few days after Willow and Spencer's fight, Willow got a call from the curator the team had helped.

"I have a few spare hours, so if you wanna bring your work with you I can take a look."

"Oh, wow. Thank you, sir." Willow rushed to Marcus' office and closed the door.

"Willow? What's wrong?" he asked her.

"I got a call from the museum. The curator wants to take a look at my work. So I kinda need a few hours."

"Take the afternoon off."

"Are...are you sure?"

Marcus smiled. "Willow, just take it."

"Thank you, Marcus." Willow leaned over his desk and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Marcus wanted to turn his head and kiss her lips instead, but he held back. He wasn't even sure what they were at this point.

They went to dinner together nearly every night and there were affectionate touches exchanged.

Willow grabbed her things and drove to the museum.

"Oh, Miss Reid!" the curator greeted her.

"Willow, please."

"Follow me to my office and we can get started."

Willow followed him to his office and handed him her sketchbook.

"Do you normally focus on figures in your art? Or landscapes?"

"I draw what I find interesting."

The curator flipped through a number of sketches before stopping on one. "Could you do a bigger version of this?" he asked, showing it to her.

Willow blushed. It was the sketch of Marcus' eyes she'd done months ago. "Um, yeah."

"It would be a commission of course and we'd reimburse you."

"You mean you want to pay me?"

"These are very good. We'd love to include some of them in the next exhibition, if you're interested that is."

"I'd love to, sir! I've always wanted to be an artist!" Now she would finally get the chance. She just needed to break the news to her family.

With the help of Rossi, she gathered everyone at his house, including Marcus.

After dinner had been served, Rossi stood up with a glass of wine in his hand. "Willow has something she'd like to announce."

Willow looked at the BAU and Marcus. "You know that case at museum?"

Marcus nodded.

"Well the curator commissioned a piece and he wants to debut it in the next exhibition along with some of my other pieces."

The table erupted in congratulations from everyone except Spencer.

"Spencer?"

Spencer looked at up at his sister. "What? I heard you."

"You're not saying anything."

Spencer shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"

Willow's anger was starting to rise. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe that you're happy for me?"

"Willow, the chances of..."

"I know what the chances are! And I don't care!"

"Spence..." JJ said.

"No, JJ. Let him say what he wants to," Willow snapped.

The BAU had never seen Willow and Spencer fight like this. Sure, they got into disagreements, but they usually sat down and talked it out.

"Are you sure it's not him convincing you to do it?" Spencer gestured to Marcus.

"Hey, man..." Marcus said, about to defend himself and Willow.

"Marcus has nothing to do with this!"

"Really? Because ever since he came into your life, you've changed!"

"I have not!" Willow stood up and threw her napkin on her plate. "I am tired of hiding behind a mask. Well, not anymore. I actually get to be myself with Marcus. I don't have to put up a front. I don't have to pretend that it kills me every time I'm compared to you. Or how it breaks my heart when someone gives me a backhanded compliment, even when they don't mean to. Sometimes I wish you weren't my brother Spencer. Maybe then it would hurt less."

Willow stormed out of the dining room.

Marcus stood up and said, "Thank you for dinner, Rossi. We'll call you with details later." He grabbed Willow's things and followed her to the car.

The dining room remained silent as the grave. No one knew what to say and all of them felt slightly guilty that they'd never seen the pain they were putting Willow through.

Willow stood by Marcus' car, blinking back tears. She jumped when she felt Marcus' hand on her arm.

"I know that didn't go how you planned."

"Please. Can we go home?"

Marcus nodded and opened the car door for her.

She'd been staying at his place more often than hers. She claimed it was because Spencer didn't know where he lived, so he couldn't find her even though they both knew Penelope probably knew his address. But Penelope was the one person Willow could trust not to spill her secret to Spencer.

As Marcus drove, his hand was on Willow's thigh rubbing circles into her skin. He could feel her still vibrating with anger, so he switched on the 80's station.

Another 80's love ballad was playing.

Marcus sang along under his breath.

Willow looked over at him.

Marcus noticed her looking at him and took Willow's hand in his. He finally reacted on his impulse and kissed the back of her hand.

Willow's eyes focused on his lips before flickering up to Marcus' eyes. I love you.

Marcus' eyes mirrored hers. I love you too.