surrender, criminal minds [ 2 ]

029. birthday

Madelyn walks into the BAU and has two cups of coffee and a donut. She puts her stuff down at her own desk before grabbing one of the coffees and the donut.

"Happy birthday." She says, placing the two items on Spencer's desk.

"Wh-what?" He asks.

"Your birthday. It is today." Madelyn says.

"Right. Yeah, I-I know. Thanks." Spencer says. "I just-- I didn't expect anything. Especially from you."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, it was the twins' idea. I just had to actually buy it and bring it here. And you have your six pounds sugar in there, too." Madelyn says.

"You didn't poison it?" Spencer asks.

"If I was actually gonna kill you, I'd be a lot smarter than that." Madelyn says.

"Noted." Spencer awkwardly nods.

"Oh, also, um... Reese needs you to come over later. He's, uh, he's having trouble with math... and I know absolutely nothing about math, so if you could fit that in..." Madelyn says.

"I-- yeah. Yeah, sure." Spencer nods.

"Cool." Madelyn returns to her desk.

+++

"Mom, you said he was coming." Reese groans.

"He said he was. He stayed later than me, I'm sure he'll be here soon." Madelyn says.

"Can you call him?" Reese asks.

"Baby--" Madelyn's cut off by a knock on the door. "I'm sure that's him."

Lanie grabs the stool and looks through the peephole.

"It's him!" She announces. She gets off the stool and moves it to the side before opening the door. "Hi." She grins up at him.

"Hi." Spencer smiles at her. She grabs his hand and drags him into the apartment, shutting the door after. "Hey." He greets when he sees Madelyn.

"Hey." She smiles as Lanie runs off into the kitchen. "You should follow her."

"Why?" Spencer asks, his eyebrows furrowing.

"You should just follow her. You'll see Reese, too. Homework." Madelyn says.

"Right." Spencer nods.

He walks towards the kitchen, Madelyn following him. When he reaches the area, he stops at what he finds.

"Happy birthday!" The twins shout, each having big grins on their faces. Reese blows in a noise maker.

"Wh-- what is this?" Spencer chuckles.

"They wanted to celebrate your birthday." Madelyn says. "There's no help needed for homework. For tonight, at least."

"Do you like it?" Reese hopefully asks.

"I-- yeah. Yeah, I love it, you guys. Thank you." Spencer says, letting out a small laugh as he walks over. Lanie grins as she stands up on the chair closest to him and puts a party hat on his head. She kisses him on the cheek before getting off the chair.

"Mom said you liked the coffee and donut." Lanie says.

"Yes. I did. Thank you." Spencer nods.

"That was her gift. We came up with the dinner." Reese says.

Spencer's eyebrows furrow and he turns back to Madelyn who is glaring at her son.

"You said it was their idea." He frowns.

"Um... it's been a long day. We're all forgetting everything." Madelyn says.

"Nuh-unh. She made us leave early so she could stop and get you coffee and a donut." Lanie says.

"You two wanna be grounded?" Madelyn asks and the kids immediately divert their gaze to the table. Spencer gives Madelyn a confused look. "Okay, fine, maybe I still care a teensy, weensy, tiny, miniscule bit." She admits. Spencer smiles a little. "Do not give me that look."

"What look?" Spencer asks, pressing his lips together.

"That look." Madelyn hisses.

"We got pizza. Mom said you liked Indian food, but there isn't one super close to us, so it would've been cold by time it got delivered. Pizza got here about 5 minutes ago." Lanie says.

"Pizza works." Spencer assures.

"And we bought cake." Reese says, pointing to the store bought cake.

"Plus ice cream." Lanie adds.

"Sounds like a full meal." Spencer says.

"Did you do anything for your birthday at work?" Lanie asks.

"Um... no. No, not really." Spencer says. "Pretty relaxed day."

"Wait, Garcia didn't get you anything?" Madelyn quietly asks.

"Um... nobody really, uh... acknowledged it." Spencer says.

"Wait, they forgot your birthday?" Madelyn asks, dragging him away from the table.

"It-- Banks, it's fine. I'm fine. This is good enough." Spencer says.

"No, it--"

"Please, do not tell them. I don't-- I'm okay with it. It's fine."

"Reid--"

"Madelyn, please." Spencer says, his eyes begging her to not bring it up.

"Okay." She nods.

"Thank you." He sighs in relief.

"Can we eat now?" Lanie asks. "The pizza's gonna get cold."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm definitely hungry." Spencer says, taking his bag off and putting it on the floor. Madelyn purses her lips as she thinks about what he just told her.

+++

Spencer stayed longer than he expected, incapable of saying no to whatever the twins asked him to do.

They have a movie on and Reese is asleep on a pallet on the floor. Madelyn is sitting on one end of the couch while Spencer is sitting on the other end. Lanie is asleep and curled into Spencer's side, her legs taking up the space between the two adults.

After the movie ends, Madelyn carefully gets up and turns the TV off since both kids are asleep.

"I, um... I should go." Spencer quietly says.

"Yeah." Madelyn nods.

Spencer carefully gets up, doing his bets to gently lower Lanie to the couch. He winces when she stirs, but relaxes when she stays asleep. Quietly sighing out of relief, he takes the risk and brushes her hair out of her face.

Spencer gets his bag and goes to the door, opening it and stepping out. Madelyn stands by the door.

"Thank you... for today. Whether it was yours or the twins' idea." Spencer says.

"Yeah, of course." Madelyn gives him a small smile.

"I know I really don't deserve it." He says, frowning.

"It's fine, Spence." Madelyn says. "Goodnight."

"Ma--" He starts but she already shut the door. He sighs, closing his eyes, and rubbing his forehead.