Reid drifted in and out of consciousness, unable to realize if he were in reality or his own imagination. But by the strangeness of the feeling, he guessed he was dreaming.
He jolted awake, to an unfamiliar ceiling above his head. He couldn't actually be awake, as he quickly realized where he was. The book was no longer hugged tight to his chest, but instead the warm body of none other than Maeve herself was nestled within his own. He cried out, stopping himself as he watched her regular breathing, her breath stirring strands of her hair. He almost forgot to breathe, watching her in contentment, reveling in her striking beauty. Her features were even more graceful then he remembered, her complexion radiant and flawless. He wished it could stay like this forever. But that's when he saw her.
No. No...It can't be her. She can't take one more thing from me.
Rage boiled up from his entire being, as he stood up and faced the woman who had taken Maeve's life along with her own: Diane Turner.
She greeted him with a sadistic gleam in her eye.
"Ah, Spencer, Spencer, Spencer...I knew you would come here one day."
"What do you want...you're already dead. Haven't you taken enough? Done enough to make me suffer?"
She brushed her finger against her lip and then onto his, making him flinch away form her touch.
She chuckled darkly.
"I may be dead in real life, but I can haunt your happy little dreams for as long as I want. And it was never about you...Tsk, Tsk. So self centered. It was always about her. I wanted her to suffer. I wanted to know how it felt to be neglected, hurt and have the last words you said to her be 'I don't love you.' She didn't deserve anything she got, that ungrateful, disgusting, bit-"
Before she could say another word, Reid pushed her violently against the wall, beginning to strangle her. She struggled, but laughed:
"You can't kill me. I'm already dead. Even if you do now, I'll just come back tomorrow. And the next day. And-"
"Then I'll kill you every night for the rest of my life. I will send you to hell myself."
Diane tried to say something, but failed as the final air she had was gone. Reid let go, and she fell to the floor, dead. He panted, tired and horrified that he had just killed her with his bare hands, even if she was already dead, and even though this was all a dream. He would never be able to do this every night, and his bluff was as weak as it sounded. No anger inside him could make him become one of those sick psychopaths who enjoyed the sensation of squeezing the life out of their victims, or worse.
"Spence?"
He whipped his head around.
"Maeve...?"
She was the same, her bright eyes shining even with sleepiness, her auburn hair curled gently as usual.
"Why are you up? I'm sorry if I woke you with my snoring."
Reid flashed a look behind him. Diane's body had disappeared, no evidence suggested she was ever even there. Why would it? It was a dream after all.
"You don't snore, Maeve. I just...had to use the bathroom."
She laughed.
"Even the boy genius has to go sometime. What goes in, must go out."
He had missed her sweet voice, and everything about her. Without realizing it, a tear had fallen, rolling down his cheek.
"Spence? Oh, Spence! Don't cry...What's the matter?"
Reid forced a smile, barely able to hold back.
"It's...nothing. I'm just...so, so, happy to see you."
She looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it..."
"Well, in that case, come back to bed and let's get some more sleep. You were really warm."
Reid laughed, his heart breaking for the second time.
"Of course, Maeve."
He climbed back in with her, as she curled up beside him, her arms around him. He could already feel her breathing slow. He had to tell her. He had to, now.
"Maeve?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
She tilted her head back, her hazel eyes searching his own, nothing but compassion inside them.
"I know. I love you too."
She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, with every bit of gentleness she had to offer. Her gaze lingered for a second longer, before she buried her head into the crook of his neck, and began to snore softly.
Reid couldn't believe it. His first kiss was in a dream, with Maeve...something he had thought would never be possible.
For the first time, he didn't think. It was like time had stopped, encapsulating the moment of love they could only share in their dreams. His brain stopped doing the calculating, pondering, and answering. For the first time, he was normal.
He pulled Maeve closer, and allowed himself to relax against her petite frame, finally able to find peace.
YOU ARE READING
Criminal Minds Family Vacation (Mostly Jeid)
FanfictionDISCLAIMER: I do not own any Criminal Minds characters, backstories, references, etc. Everything in the franchise belongs to its producers. Word Count of completed story will be about 40,000-45,000. The main ships within are Reid x JJ, Hotch x Pre...
