Criminal Minds x Reader

Happy Birthday, by the Way [A.H]

"Happy birthday" he said, guilt flooding in his eyes.

But it was too late. You looked at the clock on the wall and saw the time. It said 12:03 am, the next day.

You had been sitting alone at the dining table, staring at the single chocolate muffin in front of you for about 2 hours. A lone candle flickered on top of it, a reminder of the special day that had just passed. It was your birthday, yet you had spent it all alone.

You didn't spare him a single look and carried on with your reports, your head down on the paper and your lips in between your teeth.

You heard his footsteps come close to where you were sitting but paid no mind as you held in your tears.

You had been waiting for him all day, hoping that he would at least remember and wish you. First at work, when you were at your desk and Spencer gave you a single pink rose he had bought that morning while Derek approached you with a cup of coffee from your favorite place. Then before leaving, asking him if he was coming with you but you received only a dismissing 'No'. You had played it cool thinking maybe he had a surprise for you that he couldn't allow himself to ruin.

But you were wrong. God, if you were wrong.

Because as the clock struck midnight, you realized that he had completely forgotten.

He forgot. Your own boyfriend forgot your birthday. Ouch.

You blinked back tears and kept your head down on your work, your pen twirling in between your fingers.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Shit, I just-" he tried, words dying in his throat.

Still, you said nothing.

He crouched down to your level and tried to lift your chin up with his right hand but you turned your head away and didn't bother to acknowledge him any further.

It all hurt too much.

A sob then left your lips. The tears now streaming freely down your face. You felt his arms wrap around you, his face buried in your neck.

"I can't do this anymore, Aaron" you whispered, "I can't keep feeling neglected and forgotten. I know your job is important, but so am I"

He held you tighter, his own tears falling now. "I'm sorry, Y/N. I promise to make it up to you. I'll take a few days off work and we'll do whatever you want" he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

You knew he meant it, but the damage had already been done. As much as you loved him, you couldn't keep living like this. You needed to be a priority in his life, not an afterthought.

With a heavy heart, you pulled away from him and walked away. You stopped just before opening your bedroom door, your hand on the handle and your head slightly tilted to the side. "Dinner is in the oven. Eat, please. I want you to have enough energy tomorrow to save the world again, even if you can't help us anymore"

You didn't know what the future held for the two of you, but one thing was for sure, you couldn't keep living in a relationship where you felt forgotten and unimportant.

You walked through the room and into the bathroom. Switching on the lights you placed your figure in front of the mirror, wiping your tears with the sleeves of your sweater. You sadly smiled at the face in front of you. Happy birthday, by the way.