𝓼𝓪𝓯𝓮 ➣ 𝓼. 𝓻𝓮𝓲𝓭

𝓮𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

"Cooking is the most sensual art form," Rossi said from the other side of the counter. "And these are my paints."

"So your hands must be brushes." Garcia grinned.

"Don't interrupt," Rossi said as everyone tried to keep their laughs in. "In a pot of boiling water, we cook our spaghetti until it's al dente..firm to the tooth."

He passed out a noodle to everyone, Mara chuckling as she bit it. "Now, in a large pan, we fry up our pancetta, keeping a sharp eyes that the edges are crisp. But careful not to burn the onions."

Rossi opened his mouth to say something but the doorbell cut him off. Mara set down her glass and moved to get the door.

She opened it and met Reid's brown eyes. And his new haircut.

Her mouth fell open in shock. "Reid, you look great."

"So do you." He smiled gently, one hand going to her hip to move past her, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before heading into the kitchen.

Mara stood there, practically astonished that Reid kissed her cheek. She quickly got it together before shutting the door and heading back into the kitchen.

Reid smiled at JJ and gave her a hug, Mara's words finally making sense to him. They all ate dinner together and shared multiple bottles of wine, Mara able to show off all the Italian she learned while she was in Italy.

Mara couldn't help but feel like maybe now things were getting back to normal. That the team she lost seven months ago was back and they were accepting her with open arms. Even Reid.

Reid sat in the seat next to her at the dinner table and halfway during the dinner, Reid couldn't help but notice that Mara had gone quiet.

She was fidgeting with her hands underneath the table and Reid noticed the nervous habit when she first returned. The one-two-one pattern tapping her fingers together. He couldn't help himself as he reached over and set his hand on top of hers, settling her.

Mara seemed shocked that Reid was touching her. Making an effort to comfort her. He turned to her as everyone else found a conversation, no one paying attention to them. "What's the matter?"

She only smiled and gripped his hand tighter. "Nothing, Spencer, everything's perfect."

After dinner, Rossi moved into his large living room and turned on some music. Derek and Penelope were the first to start dancing to the music. Mara smiled as she watched the two dance. Next were JJ and Rossi, swaying gently along with the music. Mara stood by and watched her team, her family, enjoy time that wasn't spent around a round table.

She was snapped out of her daze when Reid offered her his hand, which she gladly took and allowed him to pull her onto the makeshift dance floor. Mara set a hand on his shoulder, the other in Reid's hand as he lead on the dance floor. She couldn't help but remember what else he lead in.

She tried to keep her distance, thinking that he was only dancing out of pure curtesy and not because he actually wanted to. Not until the hand set on her waist flexed and pulled her closer to him. She looked up at him, meeting his hazel eyes and watched a small smile pull at his lips.

He suddenly directed her hand around his neck and pulled her even closer, seemingly hugging her as they swayed to the music. Her arms settled around his neck, his arms wrapping around her waist and their chests pressed together. They were as close as they could get and yet, they wished they could get closer.

Mara closed her eyes and ignored the tears behind them. She'd missed him so much. So much it hurt when she thought about him. When she was relocated, there was a gaping hole in her heart that Reid had filled at one point. She tried to fill it with others but Reid was the only one. Her chest ached with how hard it was not to call him just to hear his voice. Now, he was right here and Mara couldn't believe it.

Reid only dug his face into her neck and thanked God, the same one he prayed to when he lost her in the first place, that she was back here and in his arms again. Things were so complicated right now. Neither of them were ready to let each other in, much less learn to love a different person. Both Reid and Mara wished they could go back and change the way it ended. Change the people they became.

Reid suddenly pulled away and spun Mara around, pulling her into his chest. She laughed, a sound Reid indulged in, sniffling and wiping the tears away. Reid wanted to stop and ask her why she was crying but he already knew. Because he was feeling the same way. Nostalgic for the time when things were normal between them. Grateful they had each other again. Angry that they know it'll never be the same.

"I'm sorry," Mara whispered, pulling away from him. "I need to go."

Reid opened his mouth to say something but Mara only squeezed his hand and wished everyone else goodnight and left Rossi's house.

She bit down hard on her lip to stop from crying. She'd done things harder in the past seven months but walking away from Reid because she knows they'll never be more than mere work colleagues broke her heart.

She moved into her car and sighed heavily, rubbing her eyes, not caring if she disturbed the makeup on her face.