the only exception

𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

Lorelai enters the BAU an hour earlier, clutching a bag filled with forks, plates, and napkins. She delicately holds onto her homemade birthday card on her free hand, making sure not a single scratch was on it. She had spent all week working on it, adding in some last-minute decoration the day before Happy Birthday to a Great Guy with a heart of Au(gold).

The elevator doors opened and she walked out to see Morgan waiting there for any team members arriving early.

"Lorelai! Thank goodness you're here", he spoke gratefully, "Could you help me out with the streamers? I'm really not that great with interior design."

They continue walking to their desk. Lorelai puts her bag on her chair pulling out the eating utensils.

She turned and looked at him, "hand them over."

"Yes ma'am", he complies.

She grabbed the streamers and began to unravel it. Lorelai started to make a pattern around Spencer's desk as Morgan watched, she felt his eyes and looked up.

"Grab something, we only have an hour before Spencer shows up," she said as she continued.

He nodded grabbing the happy birthday sign taping it to the back of Spencer's chair. That is when Elle walked in with the drinks.

"You guys are decorating?" she asked.

They both nodded.

"Cute," she continued.

Then JJ walked in with the cake, "do I put it on his desk?"

They all looked at her and nodded.

"Oh, JJ. I got the candles," said Morgan handing them to her.

JJ read them then let out a laugh, "trick candles?"

He nodded as Elle and Lorelai smiled at each other.

********

By the time Spencer got to the BAU everything was set and ready for his arrival. He walked through the doors of the office as everyone made eye contact with each other trying to hide their smiles. Spencer furrowed his eyebrows as he noticed all of them trying not to smile. When he reached his seat he saw a happy birthday sign on the back of his chair along with a cake on his desk.

He sat down then looked up at his colleagues as they gathered around his desk. Morgan got a lighter from the kitchen and started to light all the candles on the cake as JJ put a hat on his head that was embroidered with the words happy birthday.

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Reid, happy birthday to you," they all sang.

Elle smiled, "make a wish."

Spencer blew on the candles but not a single one went out, so he tried again.

"Come on man. Blow, baby, blow" Morgan said with a laugh.

Elle laughed, "I thought you were full of hot air, Reid."

Spencer shook his head with a small laugh continuing to blow.

"Come on, Reid," Morgan repeated with another laugh.

JJ and Lorelai snickered.

"They're trick candles, Spence. Okay?" JJ said, "they're gonna come back on every time."

Spencer blew harder as JJ explained to him.

Morgan grabbed on to Spencer's hat, "oh, mommy to the rescue."

"Mommy?" Spencer furrowed his eyebrows.

They all laughed.

"Happy Birthday, Spencer," said Lorelai as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He held her arms around him lightly patting them.