The Nights We Stay Awake (TemperancexReader)

57. "Happy birthday"

Y/n pov

It's just another day, because honestly, i've forgotten all about time these days. My mind has been wrapped in something - or rather, someone - far more important. Temperance. After all these years of dancing around our feelings, we're finally together, and i'm so focused on that, on making up for all the lost time, that a day like today barely registers.

We've spent practically all our time over the past few weeks at her place. It feels like our space now, even though it's still hers. I don't mind. It's where we've grown closer, where we've being to heal. Every time i move, there's still a twinge in my lower back - a reminder of everything my body went through - but it's getting manageable, and it doesn't matter. Not when i'm with her. The pain in just something i've learned to live with, a background hum that i push through. I've been through worse.

Tonight, we're wrapped up in each other, as we often are. We barely make i through the front door, lips locked, her hands all over me as we stubble inside. It's passionate, intense, like every time with her - like we're making up for years od missed opportunities, and the world outside doesn't exist.

Her hands are on my waist, pulling me close, and i can't help but let out a soft laugh against her lips. "We should get inside before anyone sees us."

"Maybe i want them to," she murmurs, her voice low and teasing, and i feel my heart skip a beat.

We barely make it two steps before the lights snap on, and suddenly, there's a loud chorus of "Surprise!"

I freeze, eyes wide, my lips still inches from Temperance. She stiffens beside me as we turn, and my heart sinks at the sight of both our teams standing in the living room - Hotch, Rossi, Reid, JJ, Penelope, Morgan, Booth, Angela, Hogdins, Zach, even Allison, and a few others, like Evan and Cam. It's a full house. Except for Emily, and it stings.

They're all staring at us, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what we were just doing.

"Oh... my god," i whisper, the heat rushing to my face. This is the last thing i expected.

Temperance pulls back slightly, clearing her throat, but i can see the shock on her face. We were definitely not prepared for this.

Penelope's the first to break the silence. "Well, i guess the cat's out of the bag, huh?" she says with a smirk, clearly amused.

JJ chuckles softly, nudging Reid, who's staring like he's trying to figure out the precise moment everything changed. "Told you something was up," she says.

"Happy birthday, Y/n!" Angela calls out, stepping forward with a grin, trying to redirect the awkwardness as if she hadn't just witnessed us practically tearing each other's clothes off.

"Uh, thanks," i mumble, sill trying to process what's happening. My heart's pounding, and not just because of the makeout session we were in the middle of. "I... totally forget it was my birthday."

Morgan raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Yeah, we can see why."

Temperance, always composed, finally steps forward, her arm still around my waist, like she's staking a claim. "You all planned this?"

"Of course," Hotch says, his tone amused but subtle. "It's her birthday, after all."

I glance at Temperance, who looks more relaxed now that the initial shock has passed. She meets my gaze and shrugs, all the fear that she'd admitted seemingly gone, a slightly smile tugging at her lips. "I guess there's no hiding it now."

"Nope," i agree, grinning despite myself. "Definitely not."

Rossi steps forward, holding a glass of wine. "Well, now that the dramatic reveal is over, how about we celebrate? It's not every day we get to throw a surprise birthday party where the person is actually surprised."