Undercover Love

"Spence"

"Happy birthday to you!"

They sing together but only two of them sing with any sort of ability.

"Happy birthday to you!"

Hotch's dead panned hollow voice is barely heard over the very pour singing of Morgan.

"Happy birthday dear-"

There's a mixture of names used. 'Pretty Boy', 'Spence', 'Kid', and 'Reid'.

"Happy birthday to you!"

Reid's fluffy brown hair is teased by Morgan's large hand," make a wish, pretty boy."

Reid smiles and blows out the candles. He doesn't manage it in one breath but he gets it eventually.

"Alright kid," Rossi hands him a wrapped gift with a proud smile," open my first."

Emily rolls her eyes," Dave, you're supposed to eat the cake first."

Rossi waves his hand at her," shush. Open the it, kid."

Reid grins, like a little boy about to go tricker treating, and tears into the blue wrapping paper. "A cook book." He opens the old cover and smiles when he sees red pen in the margins and old stains.

"It's a family tradition to pass down this cook book," Rossi says and points to some of the older writing.

"Tradition?" Reid repeats now weary of the gift. "Why'd you give it to me? I can't cook."

Rossi smiles at the genius," we're a family Reid."

Reid still doesn't understand," why not Hotch? You're closer with him."

Rossi laughs and puts his hand over the book," lord, kid!" Rossi laughs for a moment before patting the book," I'm giving you the cook book because I have faith in you. Aaron can't make a ham sandwich, I know you can. That's why I'm giving it to you."

Reid looks down at the cook book in his hands and then stands up abruptly," thank you." Rossi isn't prepared for the skinny arms that are thrown around his neck.

"Hey," Rossi pats his back," no problem kid."

Reid smiles at the book and seats back down," I've gotten a cook book before."

Rossi smiles and shrugs," yeah, I kinda figured."

JJ slides her present on to the table next," here."

Reid, who's got a smile stuck to his boyish face, nods and tears it open. He smiles. "A scarf."

He holds the soft fabric tenderly.

"I noticed your other one had gotten a hole in it," JJ says, it had taken her and Will forever to find one that looked like the old one he had.

"Thank you," Reid says and tucks the scarf away.

Hotch clears his throat and slides his own present to the table," here."

Reid's fingers stop as soon he gets a small glimpse at the object under the paper," no. Hotch-"

Hotch seems perplex by Reid's behaviour.

Reid rips the rest off and just stops and stares at the book," first edition... Sherlock Holmes."

Reid's so cought up in the old cover that he missed the chuckles that are shared around the room.

"You're welcome," Hotch says softly and Reid nods still smiling happily at his gifts.

"Here," Emily brushes against Hotch, an action that doesn't slide past Rossi, and lays her own present on the table. "I'm not sure if it's as good as the others but.."

Reid shakes his head as he opens the paper," I... It's a scrapbook... I've never received a scrapbook." He flips through couple pages and stops," how..who took this?" He softly touches a photo of himself and the team at dinner. They're all there.

"The bar we went to hung it up and I simply asked for a copy," Emily says dumbfounded at how excited he seems.

"Thank you," he hugs her too and as he does he looks over her shoulder at Hotch. "This is the best birthday I've ever had."

Morgan steps in and tosses his own present down," here, pretty Ricky."

Reid burst out in laughter when he gets down the the bright yellow cover," How To Use Chop Sticks For Dummies."

Garcia doesn't even wait for Reid to calm down before her present is forced into his hands.

"A jacket!" He slips it on over his sweater," it's like the doctors!"

Garcia claps her hands excitedly," yes! I knew you'd love it!"

Rossi, upon noticing that all gifts have been given, picks up the knife," thank God! Let's eat cake!"

Emily's hand swiftly comes to her mouth and she pushes past Hotch and leaves with haste.

"Emily?" He calls but she keeps going. "Emily!"

JJ pushes past the distraught Unit Chef and runs with Emily to the bathroom.

"Emily! Honey," JJ calls and rushes into the bathroom with Emily. "Honey, what's wrong?"

Emily doesn't get a chance to answer, instead she pukes up that days meal.

"Oh my God. You guys... you're..." JJ stands dumbfounded in the doorway of her stall.

"JJ, please." Emily begs and JJ comes in to hold back her and rub her back. "He can't know."

😊😊😊😊
That's that! Hope you guys liked it.

Shout out to RoseJackson362 for the present ideas!

Thanks to everyone who likes and comments, it means a lot!
-SH