Criminal Minds x Reader

Dinner Party Stories [A.H]

The evening was a picture of serenity, the dinner party at David's house bathed in the soft glow of candlelight. Around the table, laughter mingled with the clinking of silverware and the gentle rustle of leaves stirred by the spring breeze outside. Red tulips adorned the center of the table, their vibrant petals a striking contrast against the ivory tablecloth.

The full moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery sheen over the quiet scene. It was the kind of night that begged for whispered secrets and shared confidences, a night where anything seemed possible.

As the evening progressed and plates were cleared away, Rossi emerged from the kitchen, a decadent chocolate cake in hand. With a flourish, he set it down in the center of the table, the rich aroma of cocoa filling the air.

"Chocolate cake, my specialty" he announced with a grin, gesturing for everyone to help themselves.

You took a small bite, savoring the indulgent sweetness on your tongue. And then, without thinking, you glanced over at Aaron. "You know, this kinda tastes like the cake you made a few weeks ago"

The words were out of your mouth before you could stop them, and you immediately felt a pang of embarrassment. You knew how private Aaron was, and how he valued his private life within the walls of your shared apartment, so his reaction didn't really catch you off guard. He looked genuinely surprised, his brow furrowing in confusion.

The rest of the table fell silent, all eyes trained on Aaron as if waiting for his response. Derek was the first to break the silence. "Boss man can bake?" he exclaimed, his voice incredulous.

Rossi scoffed jokingly, shaking his head. "After years of knowing you, I still find out new things about you" he remarked pointing a finger at your boyfriend, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

But it was Spencer who seized upon the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic, his enthusiasm palpable as he launched into an impromptu lecture.

"Well, statistically speaking," Spencer began, his hands gesturing animatedly as he spoke, "There's a growing body of research that suggests men who are proficient in culinary arts are perceived as more attractive to potential mates. Studies have shown that-"

"Reid," Morgan interrupted with a laugh, "I'm sure Hotch is already considered perfection by pretty girl right here"

With a grin spreading across your face, you nodded and began to regale the group with the tale of Aaron's adventure. "It had this strange frosting on it," you explained, "I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was supposed to be. I mean, it was green and lumpy, like nothing I'd ever seen"

The memory of that moment brought a fresh wave of laughter, your eyes sparkling with mirth as you continued. "I must have laughed for a good ten minutes straight before Aaron finally kissed me on the forehead and told me it was supposed to be a dinosaur"

"Jack insisted on helping me decide the decoration," he chuckled, "It might not have been the most professional-looking cake, but it was certainly made with love"

Morgan grinned, nudging Spencer playfully. "Looks like you've got some competition in the baking department, Reid" he teased, earning a good-natured eye roll from him.

The young profiler shrugged, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "I prefer to leave the baking to the experts" he quipped, eliciting another round of laughter from the group.

Across the table, Rossi raised his glass in a silent toast. "To the joys of fatherhood," he remarked, warmth in his voice, "And to all the unknown stories this party still holds for us"