Chapter Text
Morgan, Prentiss, JJ, and Hotch had noticed Spencer’s weight gain. It wasn’t a huge amount or anything, but trained professionals like themselves noticed things. And five pounds on his frame stood out more than it would on someone else.
Morgan thought Spencer had taken up cooking. He tried to talk to him about a recipe he had read about for pasta with pesto and Spencer had shaken his head and said he hadn’t read anything about that.
Prentiss thought it was him eating too much while they were on the private plane. Once, she tried to take away a piece of fruit he had grabbed while they were discussing their current case. Spencer had been surprised and gave her a funny look.
JJ wasn’t sure why Spencer would suddenly gain five pounds. She knew his habits, from what he liked to eat and how often he would forget to eat. She didn’t want to bother him though, like Prentiss and Morgan had. She kept it to herself, but still wondered why.
Hotch had an inkling as to what was going on. Haley liked to make food for him.
It was Garcia who had cracked the case.
In the middle of the conference room, right after discussing the end of their last case, Garcia had slammed her palms down on the table in her charming and subtle way.
“Who is she?” She cried, pointing at Spencer dramatically.
Spencer blushed immediately, but tried to hide it. “What-what are you talking about?”
“You’ve gained weight. You smile when you go home. Someone is making food for you, damn it!” Garcia brandished her hands.
Hotch grinned.
Morgan blinked, and then said, “Way to go, kid!”
Prentiss and JJ share a look that read We need to meet her.
Spencer smiled. “Her name is (Name) and we’ve been seeing each other for about two weeks now.”
And it was true. Ever since (Name) had invited him into her apartment to help with cookies, they had spent more and more time together. Spencer asked her to dinner two weeks ago and she had said yes.
It was going great, actually.
“I knew it,” Garcia said, smirking proudly. “When are we going to meet her?”
Spencer paled. “Uhm.”
He wanted (Name) to meet everyone, he truly did. But he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable or anything other than happy.
“You’re a part of our family,” Prentiss said, smiling at him. “We want to meet her, but only if you want us to meet her.”
And that’s why he stood outside of her apartment that night, wringing his hands. Deep down, Spencer knew that he would never truly get over the butterflies in his stomach that she caused. But as he was waiting to gather the nerve to ask her to dinner with his team, he wished they would go away for once.
He knocked, and waited. A moment later, (Name) stuck her head out. Smiling, she had ushered him inside and sat him down at her dinner table while she finished the last touches on the creme brûlée on her stove.
“I wanted to ask you something,” Spencer said.
She looked up and smiled.
“I know it’s soon, but...I want you to meet my team,” Spencer avoided her eyes until he felt her sit down next to him.
“I agree that it’s soon, but if you want me to meet them, I would love to meet them,” she answered, laying her hand on his shoulder.
Spencer’s heart swelled. It was even better than what he had hoped she would say.
A week later, Spencer and (Name) are walking to the restaurant Morgan picked. Somewhat of a neutral territory, he said. No pressure. Spencer was feeling a bit of pressure.
(Name) stood next to him and took his hand, squeezing it in hers. “Let’s go, I can’t wait to meet your team.”
Spencer smiled and he wondered why he was even nervous in the first place.
At the table, (Name) sat next to Spencer and Garcia (who had claimed it since she was the one who “cracked the case”). Morgan, JJ, and Prentiss sat across from them with Hotch sitting at the head of the table.
To Spencer, it felt like his family meeting his girlfriend for the first time. Which, of course, was exactly what it was.
The team began talking, asking (Name) about herself and her past. She told them of her education and her baking, to which the team replied about that’s how they knew Spencer was seeing someone.
“Five pounds on his frame stands out more than others!” Prentiss joked.
“You should bring some baked goods into the office,” Morgan suggested.
(Name) smiled and asked what everyone’s favorite dish was. She made a note and grinned, telling everyone that she would be able to bring in one baked good a week.
Morgan was gleeful, Garcia said a prayer of thanks that Spencer found a baker, JJ smiled, Prentiss was excited about her monkey bread, and Hotch was elated that Spencer was grinning as much as he was when he looked at (Name).
This life isn’t easy. It’s hard, especially with loved ones outside of the job. But he had a good feeling about Spencer and (Name).