COFFEE ~ Spencer Reid [1]

chapter four, side a; surprise

season one, episode four; plain sight

side a

ARABELLA CARSON WAS HAVING A HECTIC MORNING. Admittedly, staying up until 4am to bake and perfectly ice a cake for her best friend (and arguable crush) wasn't exactly the smartest choice of her lifetime, but it was better than nothing.

Other agents watched in curiosity as the copper-haired girl ran through the building— balancing Spencer's cake, decorations, and his gift in her arms. Not to mention the large birthday cake hat seated snuggly atop her copper curls.

Storming into the bullpen, all eyes landed on her, wide-eyed agents all staring at the peculiar mess of an agent as she cleared her throat. "BAU Agents, listen up! I don't give two shits what you're all doing right now, today is a special day and we have...." Ara paused, shuffling everything carefully onto one arm so she could check her watch.

"20 minutes to put up these decorations before the BAU's resident genius arrives, so all of you better buckle down and get to pinning! Now!" She demanded. JJ, Morgan, Gideon and Hotch looked to each other before shrugging and grabbing some sort of decorations.

"What's happening?" Elle asked— walking back from the kitchen area with a cup of coffee in her hands— looking to Derek as the charming agent laughed, playing around with the birthday hat he had stolen from Ara's head.

"Spencer's Birthday. She did this last year as well." He explained and Elle nodded with an "o" expression before the copper-haired girl approached them both.

"Morgan, run to the store and get candles." Ara demanded, throwing him her credit card and the charming agent grinned deviously. "Yes ma'am." He nodded cheekily before he all but sprinted to the elevator.

"No trick candles, I mean it!" She yelled after him in a scolding tone, and he turned with a grin. "You got it!" He called back before he chuckled and disappeared into the elevator. Ara huffed before turning to Elle who was watching them in amusement.

"Do I get a birthday like this?" The brunette woman then questioned and Ara laughed. "Of course. I take birthdays very seriously. Kal and I barely got to celebrate ours during our childhood so this is my way of making up for it." The Carson girl explained and Elle gave her a sympathetic smile.

Elle was glad that the copper-haired girl was comfortable enough with her to open up about it, even if it was so briefly. It's not easy to talk about it, so she was glad Ara felt confident enough in their friendship to have mentioned it.

"Well, Spencer is one lucky guy to have someone who would plan something like this." Elle stated, throwing an arm over Ara's shoulders and the copper-haired girl laughed, leaning into the brunette woman.

"Where'd you find the time to do all this with Jay and everything?" The brunette woman questioned and Ara laughed.

"Jay always has a field trip on Spencer's birthday. He hates it because he loves Spencer and never wants to miss it, but he makes up for it, by making a gift for him." The copper-haired woman stated as they continued walking before Ara paused— Elle pausing with her.