Coffee Shop AU
"How are you?"
"...Actually I'm not doing great..."
"Well. You're not doing as bad as everyone else. Hotch just got stabbed and lost Jack and Haley to WitSec. Emily is dealing with her mother and Rossi is dealing with his ex-wives. Everyone is dealing with something."
"...Oh. Yeah."
~~~~~~~
"There's a lot to hate about you, Dr Reid."
[Chuckles]
"Play poker with him sometime."
"Try playing chess with him."
"Or go."
[Scoff]
~~~~~~~
"Oh, that explains why I'm going to Rossi's tomorrow night. I want to see if he really can cook. You coming?"
"I don't know. I'm not so sure I can make it."
"Look, Reid, I know you're mad at us because we didn't tell you what really happened, and I understand that. But I promise you, we had no choice. You mourned the loss of a friend. I mourned the loss of 6. [Sighs] This whole thing gave me an ulcer. Please don't give me another one."
"..."
~~~~~~~
"What is this?"
"My resignation, John. Effective immediately."
"Why not give this to Agent Hotchner or Section Chief Strauss?"
"Hotch wouldn't take it and act like I'm being childish. Strauss... Going to Strauss would cause a big fuss and just get the team on my case. I also know that you would understand and just take it as it is."
"...It's been a pleasure, Dr Reid."
"It has, Assistant Director Sheppard."
8 months later
"So. Where are we going today?" Rossi asked as they left the office.
"There's a new coffee shop that opened up a few months ago. I go there with Jack on Saturdays." Hotch replied, walking towards the elevator.
"You take Jack to a coffee shop?" Rossi asked in surprise.
"No. It's a toy store and a bookstore as well. The others will meet us there." Hotch explained, pressed the elevator button for the ground floor.
"Ahhh." Rossi nodded.
~~~~~~~
"Hotch!" A collection of voices called out by the front of the coffeeshop. The sign above them read 'Genius' and held pictures of a coffee mug, stack of books and toys.
"Go in!" Hotch called out to them as he jogged up to the group. The group in question consisted of Jennifer Jareau, Emily Prentiss, Penelope Garcia, Derek Morgan and David Rossi. The team stalled, waiting for Hotch to catch up before they all entered the establishment. They found a free table near the counter and sat down, watching as a barista turned to talk to them.
"Welcome to Genius! What can I get for ya?" The barista smiled.
"We'd like 3 black coffees, 2 cappuccinos and a caramel frappe, thank you." Hotch ordered and watched as the barista began to prepare their drinks.
"If you're wondering about something, feel free to ask." The barista stated as he made their drinks.
"So. How long have you worked here?" Emily asked, intrigued.
"I'm one of the owners, actually. My husband and I own this place and next door and we live upstairs with our son, Jax." The door opened and a chestnut-haired man with a cane walked in.
"Doc! You're back!" The customers around the team exclaimed in unison. The barista smiled and walked around the counter, wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed him passionately.
"Luci!" The man smiled, finally turning towards the team. The team gasped in surprise. The man before them was Dr Spencer Reid, former SSA and BAU.
"Reid?"
"Pretty boy?"
"Boy wonder?"
"Spence?"
"Kid?"
"Oh. It's you." Came the unenthusiastic response. Reid looked at them in thinly veiled disgust. "And it's Doctor Reid, MD. Not kid, Pretty boy, boy wonder or any variation thereof."
"You're...You're married?" JJ stuttered as she looked at the two men before her.
"Yes, I am and I am also a father."
"PAPA!!!" A young voice called out, and a small figure ran into Reid's legs. Reid smiled and ran a hand through the figure's legs.
"Jax..." Reid said fondly.
"I missed you, Papa." The form mumbled into Reid's legs before releasing the tight grip and looking up into Reid's eyes. The figure was a small chestnut-haired boy aged around 6.
"I missed you too."