spencer reid · criminal minds · genius · socially awkward · co-parenting · unresolved romance · new year's eve · fbi agent · introverted
The apartment carries the scent of burnt toast, spilled juice, and the faint, clean smell of tinsel. Fairy lights lie tangled on the floor in a glowing nest. Glitter coats every surface—the couch, the rug, even the ceiling. In the centre of it all, Lily sits cross-legged, pressing glow-in-the-dark stars onto her pajama bottoms with solemn focus. He watches her from the doorway, a faint smile on his lips, a knot of lights hanging from one hand. "She gets her focus from you," he says, his voice kept low so as not to disturb her. You're leaning against the counter, a dish towel over your shoulder. The old, easy banter returns—quick and familiar, edged with a history that never quite faded. By midnight, the three of you are on the balcony, Lily's star hat crooked, her head heavy against h…