Strange Love// Spencer Reid// Criminal Minds

13

"You're going on a date with Pretty Boy?" Morgan grinned, coming inside my apartment.

He had come by to "check on me." See how I was doing, or so he says. I knew he was coming over here to question me about our "date."

After Reid got in that night, I told him that he should get some rest, so we postponed the date. Sure, I've always had a crush on Reid, but it wasn't anything serious. The thought of romantically being involved with him made my heart flutter. I couldn't figure out if it was good or bad.

"Maybe so." I shrugged.

"Garcia called me on the way up here, we've got a new case, expected in 30 minutes," he said, crossing his arms. "We're going to San Bernadino this time."

My phone rang just as he said it, Reid's goofy face popping up onscreen. I picked it up, answering it. "Spencer, hey."

"Hey, Madeline," he said, his voice filled with sadness. "I just got called in for a case."

"Oh, no." I said, looking at Morgan.

"Maybe we could reschedule, again?" 

"Of course," I said to him. "I'll see you when you get back."

I hung up and turned to Morgan, who was grinning his ass off.

"Say anything and I'll physically assault you, right here."

He lifted his hands. "I'm not going to say anything."

"He seemed really upset." I frowned.

"You know, San Bernardino has good food," he said. "Also might have an extra jet."

"What are you suggesting?" I asked, crossing my arms.

Morgan shrugged. "First dates are always the most special."

"I could fly you in when we're nearly done with the case and you two could stay down there for a few nights," he smiled. "You know, getting-"

"Please don't say it," I cringed. "Please."

***

Reid's POV

I was standing outside Clark Preston's house, where we just arrested him, successfully solving the case. I'm glad we prevented him from taking more victims, I'm just upset that Madeline and I had to postpone our date..again. I had finally worked up the nerve to ask her out and we can't even go on our date. 

Just as the car pulled away with Clark in it, my phone rang. 

"Reid." I mumbled.

"Hey, Spence." Madeline said as I practically felt her smile.

"Hey, Maddy, what's up?" I asked, my mood instantly boosting. 

"Nothing really, how's San Bernardino?"

"We just finished, we're gonna wrap up the paperwork and then we're getting on the jet," I sighed heavily. "I'm ready to go home."

"I don't know, the San Bernardino air is so much more fresh than Virginia's." She laughed as my eyebrows furrowed. 

"What?" 

"And you look awfully good in that bulletproof vest."

I turned around, seeing Madeline standing behind a car, her phone pressed against her ear. I grinned, quickly hanging up and going over to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist as her wrapped around my neck, hugging her tightly. 

"Ow." She said, her lips pressed against my ear.

I loosened my grip, looking back at her. "Sorry, sorry, what-what are you doing here?"

"I felt so bad about missing our date, I thought I'd come to you." She smiled.

"You're amazing." I grinned at her.

She reached out, taking my hand, our fingers intertwining with each others. 

I told Hotch that I was going to leave with Madeline and he smiled at us. Hotch has rarely ever smiled. I put my bulletproof vest in the SUV, taking a cab. 

Once we finally agreed on an Italian restaurant, I opened up the car door for her, following her inside. I pulled the chair out for her, letting her sit down. 

"Thank you." She said, still grinning.

We both ordered some sort of fancy pasta, Madeline insisting that we had to try red wine. I obliged, ordering a bottle of Cabernet. Our waitor poured us both a glass, Madeline taking a small sip before scrunching her face up.

"It's so bitter." She laughed, setting it back down.

"You know, wine was first discovered in 4100 BC when the early humans climbed trees to pick berries, liking their sugary flavor, and then begun collecting them. After a few days with fermentation setting in, juice at the bottom of any container would begin producing low-alcohol wine," I start to ramble on, like usual. "Things started to change in- I'm sorry, you're so not interested in this."

"No, I am," she smiled, leaning forward. "Wine was discovered by accident, yeah?"

"Basically." I smiled, meeting her eyes.

Madeline's POV

We ate our food, Reid telling his cheesy jokes that, even though I didn't understand, the way he laughed and grinned, I couldn't help but laugh. He was so adorable.

We finished our food and our two glasses of wine before deciding to take the long way to the hotel. Reid could say something simple, or even stupid, and I would still burst into laughter.

Just him having a smile on his face could bring me to tears. 

As his fingers intertwined with mine, I looked up at him, meeting his chocolate brown eyes, smiling softly.

That's when I knew. I knew that I was in love with Spencer Reid.