Beauty and the Genius

Chapter 2

When the team arrived back at Quantico, Gwen was waiting for them.

"What is she still doing here? I would've left hours ago," JJ said.

"Maybe she's like Hotch and she sleeps, eats, and breathes criminal profiling," Morgan suggested.

Rossi, on the other hand, knew precisely why she'd stayed until they got back.

Spencer ignored them and walked up to Gwen's desk. "Hey," he said.

Gwen looked up and smiled. "Oh, hey Spencer. Ready for that drink?"

He nodded.

"Great." Gwen stood up and grabbed her things before walking over to her father. "Buona notte, papa (Goodnight daddy)."

Rossi kissed her cheeks. "Buona notte, principessa. Stai attento (Goodnight, princess. Be careful)."

Gwen playfully rolled her eyes. "Sempre. Inoltre, se qualcuno cerca di attaccari, prendo la pistol di Spencer e gli sparo (Always. Besides, if someone tries to attack us, I'll just take Spencer's gun and shoot them)." Gwen walked back over to Spencer and looped her arm through his.

Spencer looked at Rossi, who was walking up to Gideon's old office.

"Come on. I know a great coffee shop not far from here," Gwen told Spencer.

"Won't it be closed at this hour?"

"It's a twenty-four hour one."

Spencer laughed. "Wow."

"I know right? I told them they should make their motto, "Here to satisfy your caffeine cravings. No matter what time!"

"Maybe instead of consulting on occult crime, you should consult on mottos and slogans."

The two of them continued to banter as the elevator doors closed.

Morgan wiped away a fake tear. "They grow up so fast."

Emily laughed.

True to her word, they started out discussing how Samhain had evolved into Halloween, despite it technically being the early morning hours of November 1st.

Which eventually led to the question Gwen knew Spencer had been waiting to ask. "So how'd you get into studying the occult?" Spencer asked.

Gwen shrugged. "Call it growing up with a strict Catholic family. I mean, my dad isn't but my grandmother sure is. We visit her in Italy every now and then."

"And Rossi didn't mind?"

Gwen snorted. "My father doesn't tell me to do anything. He trusts me to make my own decisions about my life."

"Do you have a specialization? Any particular thing you like to study?" Gwen shook her head.

"Not really. I've studied just about any path you can think of. Although, the subject of witchcraft has always interested me. Thankfully, in most civilized societies being a witch doesn't warrant a burning or hanging."

"About 0.4% of American's identify as Wiccan or following some earth based religion. The rates of people becoming interested in witchcraft have actually been on the rise whereas the number of people identifying as Christian have been declining in recent years."

Gwen's eyes went wide as he spouted off more information about religion and rates of people identifying with different sects.

Spencer noticed the look on her face and stopped talking.

"Why did you stop?" Gwen asked him.

"People normally find it annoying when I ramble on about something."

"I found it interesting."

Spencer's cheeks turned pink. "Really?"

Gwen nodded. "Yeah. I love learning. It's also refreshing to meet someone who takes me seriously. Most people are like "Magic isn't real. What? Do you think we live in Harry Potter or something?" or "Oh, that's interesting, but what kind of career can you have researching that? So I know what it's like to have people constantly put you down because of your interests. You don't have to hold back with me."

"Oh. Okay."

Gwen leaned forward and put her head in her hand. "Honestly, I could listen to you talk all day." She winked at Spencer as his cheeks turned a brighter pink.

Spencer laughed nervously and ran a hand through his hair.

Gwen giggled, seeing his reaction.

"Um...I should probably be getting home. Never know when they're going to call us in," Spencer said, "But...can I walk you to your car? I won't if that makes you comfortable. You're more likely to being attacked walking alone since you're female." Spencer's eyes went wide. "Oh my god. I didn't mean it like that! I just meant..."

Gwen cut him off, preventing him from embarrassing himself any more. "I'd like that."

They left the coffee shop and walked back towards the FBI parking garage.

Spencer's mouth dropped open when he saw her car. "This is your car?"

Gwen blushed in embarrassment. "Yeah. My dad bought it for me. He kind of insisted. Well I guess I'll see you later."

Spencer nodded. "Yeah. Later."

Gwen raised up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, Spencer."

"Buona notte, Gwen."

Gwen smiled. "I...I assumed it meant goodnight. Going off the way Ro...your father said it," Spencer told her.

"It does."

"Okay. Well goodnight."

Gwen giggled. "Buona notte, Spencer."

Spencer turned around and walked towards his car with a smile on his face.

Gwen had a matching one as she got inside her car.