Chapter Thirty-Six:

June 9, 2012

Spencer sat at his desk messing with the stuffed little white creature that to any normal person would appear to be an animated marshmallow. A gift from Gwen, the creature from Doctor Who now sat on his desk next to his phone. For the most part he didn't keep things on his desk, but it was Lizzie's suggestion, and he was warming up to the idea of making the desk just a little bit more cheery. He thought about Garcia's office and how it was dressed to the nines in it's own Garcia fashion.

It was just about time for him to head out and make his way home, but he had one stop to make before he left the BAU. Grabbing his signature messenger bag, he made his way up to Morgan's office. While the conversation that was about to take place might be the slightest bit uncomfortable, and Derek was sure to take pleasure in it, he knew no better person to talk to about what he was planning.

Certainly there were some more knowledgeable BAU members who could talk to him, but none of them had been with him through the entire ordeal like Morgan had. Morgan had joked and kidded with the genius, he provided advice, moral support, and when he needed him most, Morgan was there and was willing to knock some sense into him. Maybe Spencer could have gone to Rossi or Hotch, but Morgan was the one who knew the most, and Spencer understood that the one who knew the most was certainly the one who would be able to help him the most. Plus there was something the two older men had gone through that Morgan hadn't, so that was an added bonus.

Spencer knocked on Morgan's door before opening it to see that the older agent was on the phone with someone. Derek waved him in with flick of his wrist and gestured to one of the comfortable office chairs meant for visitors. Spencer took his time to glance around at all the sports memorabilia and he relaxed some as Derek muttered a quick "I love you" to his mother before hanging up.

"What can I do for you, kid?" Derek asked, reclining back in his desk chair. Officially they were both off the clock so there was no need to be too proper. Derek kicked his feet up on the dark wood desk and raised an eyebrow.

"I need to show you something, and I need your advice," Spencer began. He pulled the flap up off his messenger bag and fumbled slightly as he dug around, clearly looking for something. He swallowed hard as his hand closed around what he was searching for.

"Okay. I'll see what I can do," Morgan said. He put his feet back on the ground as Reid put a small black box in the middle of his desk. Morgan stared at the box for a moment before reaching forward. Morgan's gaze slid up as his smile grew. He held the box between two fingers and gave it a small shake. "Is this what I think it is?" he asked.

Reid gestured for him to open the box. "Do you think she'll like it?" Reid asked nervously.

Morgan opened the top of the box and stared at the simple engagement ring. He let out a soft whistle as he pulled it from the padding that kept it upright.

The ring had a simple white gold band. Morgan couldn't be sure of the karat or anything like that, but he didn't need to know. There were three diamonds total. Two smaller, circular diamonds sat on each side of the pristine square cut diamond in the middle. He held the ring up to the light and smiled at the way it glinted in the light.

It was a simple look. It wasn't large and obnoxious like some rings he had seen. It wouldn't swallow Gwen's long fingers, and it wasn't a large sparkly diamond, but rather an average sized diamond cut in such a way that it's brilliance could be seen without special lighting.

Derek put the ring back in the box and looked it over one last time before closing it. "So you're going to propose?" he asked. "When? How?"

"Tonight we met a year ago today, and I was hoping you could help me on that last part."

"Kid, she's not my girlfriend," Morgan said sitting back. "Are you thinking a traditional proposal, dinner and then you pop the question? Or are we going more for unique?"

"Unique. Gwenevere wouldn't settle for anything less," Spencer said taking the box back. He opened it up and stared at the diamond for a bit. It wasn't an expensive ring. He knew that Gwen would never want something over the top or large. It was an engagement ring that would fit her casual spirit just right. There were certainly plenty of unique and unusual rings just like her, but none of them actually screamed "Gwenevere". The simple three stone ring just looked right, and it felt right, and he knew that it was the right ring even when there were more elegant and more expensive rings.

"Remind me of how you met," Morgan said.

"I was having a bad morning and spilled my coffee on the way into the BAU when I stopped at Espresso Shot! for more coffee. I had a headache, and she knew. I was just sitting at a table when—" Spencer stopped talking when he was struck with an idea. A brilliant idea, the perfect proposal for tonight. One that was definitely unique and sure to make Gwen happy. "I think I've figured it out."

"Glad I could be of service," Morgan said with a chuckle. He stood up and grabbed his jacket. "Come on, I'll walk you out."

Spencer put the ring back in his bag and pushed himself out of the chair. "What if she says no?" he asked as a last minute panic set in.

"She's not going to say no," Morgan laughed. He waited for Reid to walk into the hall before he turned off his office light and closed the door. "She loves you to the moon and back. I'm pretty sure you would know by now if she were going to say no. You two are crazy about each other, and you almost make a single guy like me want to settle down."

"Morgan," Spencer started. He swallowed once more. "Thanks." He jogged a couple steps and waved to Morgan.

"I expect full details tomorrow! In fact, lunch at the pizza place across the street from Gwen's would be great!"

Spencer waved him off with a thumbs up and continued on his path out of the BAU.

0o0o0o0

It was six thirty by the time Gwen walked through the back door. She had spent the day babysitting Jenny's child and appeared to be exhausted as she dragged her feet through the front door. Spencer had been seated on the couch waiting for her to come home, waiting for the perfect moment.

Spencer rubbed his temple and let out a small groan as he closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and settled into the couch and crossed his arms. He felt Gwenevere take the spot next to him. Her long thin fingers caressed his cheek and he opened one eye wincing slightly in the light. "Hey," he smiled slightly.

"Do you have a headache?" Gwen asked quietly. She grabbed the TV remote and turned off the offending noises that came from some action sequence. They weren't watching the show anyway. Lizzie and Greg were working at the dining room table on some end of year homework, and Gwen had only just come home.

"Yeah," Spencer answered with a nod. He winced again and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'm going to get some Advil," Gwen said pushing herself off the couch. She kissed him on the cheek and disappeared down the hall.

Spencer pushed himself up slightly and opened his eyes, waiting for her to come back.

Greg looked over at Spencer. "Dinner almost ready?" he asked pointing to the kitchen. Spencer had decided to cook tonight. Breaded pork chops were cooking in the oven, and by the smell alone, he could tell they were almost done.

"Yeah, you should set the table," Spencer said with a nod. He winced again at the movement.

Gwenevere came from the bathroom holding the pill bottle in her hand. "I think I may need to get a new bottle of Advil. The bottle is starting to feel a little light," she mused. She pulled the top off and tipped the bottle over an open hand as she walked back over to the couch.

She stopped half way between the couch and the hall and stared at her hand. Surrounded by a few small red pills was a diamond ring. She looked up to find Spencer standing only a few feet away. "Spencer?" she asked. She looked back down at the ring as Lizzie and Greg moved closer to watch the scene unfold.

Spencer took this as his cue to move closer to Gwen. He gently took the hand that held the ring and pills and plucked the ring from her palm. He met Gwen's eyes and swallowed. "Gwenevere," he started.

Gwen kept looking at Spencer and then down at her hand where the ring had been, and then at the ring Spencer held in two fingers.

"We met a year ago today, and we both agreed not to make a big deal of an anniversary like this," Spencer continued. "However, I think we need to think about that day. We met over a bottle of Ibuprofen, and you lovingly called your coffee 'plasma'. I knew then that I was about to have a conversation with a crazy person. Any sane person would have realized that coffee has no life sustaining chemical."

"Says you," Gwen laughed as she felt herself begin to tear up. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand that was still holding the Advil bottle.

"Let me finish," Spencer smiled as he shook in laughter. He was trying to keep his cool as he proposed. It didn't seem to be working. Gwen brought out the lighter side of his personality. "I've seen my share of crazy, but you were different. You were intimidating, impulsive, and hyper, and you scared me frankly." He looked away as he said the last part, but he still smiled.

"Stop making me laugh," Gwen giggled as she sniffed again.

"But then you and I met in New Orleans, and I saw that you weren't always crazy, and I think it was then that I started to realize just how special you were. You were unique, refreshing, and a complete mystery, and I was instantly pulled in. Albeit a little reluctantly at first. I still wanted to know you. I wanted to get to know you and I wanted to see you smile more."

Gwen shook her head as she bit her lip. She couldn't believe this was happening. Spencer Reid was holding a ring in front of her, and he was pouring his heart out. She felt her hands getting clammy and she wondered if she should put the ibuprofen tablets back in the bottle to keep the protective coating from being rubbed off in her hand.

"If this past year and all of its trials and triumphs tells me anything," Spencer said. "It tells me that I wouldn't be able to live my life without your crazy, impulsive, and happy-go-lucky presence in it. So… Gwenevere Thompson, will you marry me? Will you let me spend the rest of my life with you?"

Gwen closed her eyes and gave Spencer a huge grin. She couldn't find the words to describe how happy she was. She only nodded rapidly before she dropped the pill bottle and ibuprofen tablets on the ground. "Yes!" she said loudly. "Yes, Spencer Reid, there is nothing I would rather do than marry you."

Greg and Lizzie jumped up and high fived each other before hugging each other and bobbing back and forth like Bobo the clown. They started to sing "Gwen and Spencer sitting in a tree" giddily as they grinned from ear to ear.

Gwen started to laugh and jumped on Spencer. He fell to the ground as he wrapped his arms around her. He sat on the ground holding Gwenevere tightly as she kissed him. She gripped the front of his shirt and sat on his legs keeping him right where she wanted him. Spencer pushed Gwen away from him slightly and grabbed the ring off the ground and held it out for her. "May I?" he asked.

Gwen only smiled and held out her hand so that he could slip the ring on her finger. "How did you get my size?" she asked looking at him. She got off his legs and looked over at Lizzie and Greg who were now only singing their song quietly.

"When you went out shopping with Garcia a few weeks ago and she was looking at rings in the jewelry store. She made you try on a couple and kept a mental record of what size you wore so she could tell me."

"You set me up!" Gwen yelled. "I love it!" She looked down at the ring and her eyes softened. She brought her hand up to her mouth so that she could kiss the ring.

"Does this mean there's going to be two Dr. Reid's now?" Greg asked.

Spencer and Gwen smiled at each other before hugging again. "I love you Spencer Reid."

"I love you Gwenevere Thompson."

THE END…

FOR NOW

0o0o0o0

Author's Note: Holy crap, after two years of my life dedicated to this story, it's actually complete. Over 100,000 words, over 375 reviews, almost 200 favorites, and nearly 200 alerts, and this story is done. I can't believe it myself frankly. Maybe that's because I never thought it would end. I always imagined it would go on for a while, and yet, here it is the end of the first year of Gwen and Spencer's relationship. It's a little sad isn't it?

I never thought this story would become the popular success it did. It's my most reviews story in the Criminal Minds fandom, and I never expected that. Most people don't take kindly to an original character, but you guys did. So, thank you. Thank you for sticking around for two years, and for the months without updates.

And keep an eye out for the sequel. If you want a title… Well, you're getting one. Stolen Hearts and Poker Chips. It'll take me a bit to hammer out the first chapter but I'll try not to keep you waiting too long.

Thank you, again.

Ren