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I glance at the clock and then at the doorway. The girls and Reid were supposed to be here half an hour ago. Not that we really have any time restraints, but it is still a little bit annoying.
“Well, you know women, always late,” Rossi muses as he walks out of his kitchen and into one of the many living rooms in his mansion.
“Careful Rossi, if Emily hears you say that she’d fight you.”
“She’d be late to the fight.” Rossi shoots back, smiling. I know he is joking. In all honesty, he is the one who is most often late. We all joke that he gets lost in his enormous house and can't find the way out. In reality, we don't know why he is usually late but we all have our theories. I think he spends more time styling his hair than JJ, Garica, and Emily combined, but that's just my idea.
My phone buzzes from where it is set on the table next to the couch I am sprawled out on. I grunt, sitting up to reach for it as it buzzes a second time. I quickly read the messages. One is from JJ: Reid was having some sensory issues. We took some time for him to calm down, on our way now.
The other is from Garcia: Be prepared
I squint at the more than cryptic text from her. I get some pretty weird messages from the tech whiz, but this one is a little concerning. Be prepared for what? If Reid was having a really bad sensory overload he just wouldn't come to Rossi’s so she isn't saying prepare for that. I shrug, falling back on the couch, my legs dangling over the armrest.
“They're on their way,” I call out to Hotch, who is sitting in the armchair next to me. I also shout to Rossi who has since moved back into the kitchen to finish preparing our dinner; Gnocchi, and some secret sauce. The whole team has been pestering him for months to tell us what it is, but he refuses. I have to give him some respect though for his resilience because we can be pretty annoying when we want to know something.
Rossi doesn't respond but Hotch nods. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. I sit up to get it but Hotch stands up first so I lean back. Hotch disappears into the kitchen and down the long hallway leading to the front of the house. I can hear the door open. Hotch says something and some giggling from the girls ensues.
I listen as they move from the entryway and into the kitchen.
“Looking good,” Rossi exclaims and because I can't see him from my vantage point on the couch, I can only assume he is talking to Garica, who always looks like she bathed in a rainbow before she goes anywhere.
I look up and see Hotch and Emily walking into the living room. Hotch has an odd look on his face, almost like he is suppressing a smirk. It is a weird look on him and I begin to grow a little concerned. Emily blatantly has an evil grin on her face and a wine glass in her hand.
“Sup Morgan,” she says slyly, looking expectantly at me as if I am somehow supposed to know whatever it is that is going on.
“Okay, what is happening?” I ask.
“What do you mean?” Emily’s voice is high and playful.
“Garcia told me to 'be prepared' and now Hotch is smiling and you are acting weirder than usual.” I glare at her. I may be a profiler, but trying to figure out whatever is going on here is beyond my ability.
“Nothing is going on, you're being paranoid.” Emily says, looking past me and smiling. I turn to see JJ and Garcia walking in. Garcia has a glass in her hand too and JJ is chewing something. No doubt they were kicked out of the kitchen for sneaking food before Rossi was done cooking. Garcia sits next to me, swinging her legs up and resting them across my lap. JJ takes the floor next to me.
“Is he okay?” I whisper to her, referring to Reid. I don't really understand how his sensory issues work, but ever since we started dating a few months ago, I've tried to learn.
“Yeah, we figured it out. He got new pants and didn't like how they felt but the rest of his jeans were in the wash, but we took care of it,” she answers, and again there is that face that looks like she is trying to hide a smirk.
“You guys are acting weird,” I say flatly.
“Are we?” Garcia asks. Her wine glass is already almost empty, and with a final swig, she finishes it. Emily has long since downed hers.
“Yes.”
“Well, maybe we just need to loosen up some, you should get me more wine to help the process.” Garcia drawls, smiling at me. I roll my eyes but get up, grabbing her glass.
“Wait, me too,” Emily says, holding up her empty glass. I take hers too and move to the kitchen. I can hear Reid and Rossi talking but the wall between the living room and kitchen makes it hard to hear what they are saying.
I walk through the doorway, looking down.
“Hi, Morgan,” Reid calls. I smile.
“Hi pretty-” and then I look up. Both wine glasses slip from my hands. My mouth falls open and my eyes widen.
He is wearing a skirt.
He is wearing a knee-length maroon skirt and a tucked-in, coffee brown t-shirt. His glasses sit low on his nose and his hair is crudely brushed out of his face. His beat-up black converses seem to complete the look. He has a soft smile on his face. He looks beautiful. Not cute, not attractive or handsome or pretty, straight-up beautiful.
“Morgan?” he asks, shifting uncomfortably, holding his messenger bag closer to his side. I blink.
“Uh- you look- um- wow,” I stutter, the words tripping on my lips. I can't peel my eyes away from him. This person is my boyfriend. This beautiful amazing smart person is my boyfriend. For a minute I am speechless. I can't believe I was lucky enough to snag him.
“You look so stupid.” I startle as Emily comes up behind me, jabbing me sharply in the ribs. I hadn't even heard her walk in.
“He doesn't look stupid he looks like he's in love.” JJ corrects her, a large grin on her face.
“So he looks stupid?” Emily quips, causing JJ to shove her playfully.
“I got a picture to remember it!” Garcia chirps. I finally peel my eyes away from Reid long enough to see my entire team smirking at me. I blink a few times, trying to compose myself.
“Aww, he doesn't even have a snarky reply, Reid you really left him speechless,” Emily says, clasping her hands in front of her chest and smiling sweetly. I roll my eyes but feel myself begin to blush.
“You're just jealous you don't have a boyfriend as hot as mine,” I reply cooly, walking over and slipping my hand around Reid’s waist. He smiles, leaning into me.
“I didn't know you owned a skirt, pretty boy,” I whisper into his ear as Emily indignantly mumbles something about how she doesn't even want a boyfriend and so cannot be jealous.
“I don't, it's Emily’s. I didn't like the jeans I bought. They didn't feel right so she lent me this. Do you know she keeps clothes in her car? Is that something women do?” he asks. I smile, shrugging.
“No idea. You look good though.” Good doesn't even begin to describe it but I have already embarrassed myself enough, and stuttering out how hot he looks in front of everyone isn't something I need to do.
“Yeah I got that from your reaction.” he jabs at me. I roll my eyes but smile, pulling him even closer. And I don't think I have ever been happier, my friends around me, my beautiful boyfriend tucked into my side.