"Promise me you'll call?"

Spencer's eyes pleaded with you as he asked the question, as if you would ever say no.

"Of course," you nodded, linking your fingers with his, "every day. And if you ever need me don't you hesitate to call me too okay?"

"Okay," he said shakily, before scrunching his eyes shut in a pained expression, "I'm sorry, I didn't think I'd get this emotional."

"Aw, Spence, come here," you cooed, pulling him down into a tight embrace, "Three weeks won't be too bad, I promise. Your mom needs you. But if it's too much, you know I'm only a phone call and a plane ride away."

"I couldn't ask you to fly all the way out there," he said pitifully, "The team needs you."

"And the team needs you, but in order for you to be at your best for the team you need to go make sure things are going well with Diana," you reassured him, soothingly carding a hand through his soft hair.

He nodded against your shoulder before gently pulling back, "This is just so strange for me, I've never had someone that made leaving my apartment so hard."

You fought back tears. It hadn't hit you until that moment that he was actually leaving, even if it was only for three weeks. The thought of any empty apartment made you shiver.

"C'mere," you said once more, pulling him into a fierce embrace, "I love you, sweet boy."

He melted into you, murmuring, "I love you too" with his arms constricting around your waist. You both stayed like that for a moment before sharing one last lingering kiss.

"Go, your plane leaves in half an hour and you know how D.C. traffic is," you said, patting his chest.

He looked deeply into your eyes, a form of connection you had learned was very special for Spence, since eye contact was really difficult for him. His eyes were full of emotion as he simply turned his head to the side, leaning down slightly.

You blushed, grinning widely as you leaned up to press your lips to his cheek.

He grabbed his bag, muttering last minute "bye"s and "don't forget to call"s.

Once he was down the hall and in the elevator, you did one last check to make sure you had all your things packed before locking up the apartment. Spencer knew you were going to stay with Garcia for the first week and half and Emily for the second week and half.

While you and Spencer both knew you were more than capable of defending yourself in case of emergency, you couldn't help but feel a little uneasy having the rather large apartment to yourself. It just felt so empty without Spencer there, so when the girls offered to rotate you staying with them, you couldn't help but feel relieved.

You grabbed your bags and headed down in the elevator to the lobby of your apartment building. You said bye to the attendant as you left, hopped in your car, and make your way over to Penelope's.

"There she is! Our favorite girl!" She exclaimed as she opened the door for you, her (formerly Emily's) cat, Sergio, propped up in her arms.

You grinned, "Hey, I figured I would drop my stuff off first and we could head in together?"

"Minimize the carbon footprint," she nodded in agreement, "I like the way you think."

You dropped your bags on the couch, keeping your go-bag on your shoulder, "Thanks again for inviting me to stay with you. I would've gone crazy with the apartment all to myself."

Penelope had returned to doing her makeup at the kitchen counter, "It's no problem, my sugar plum. This is the closest thing we get in adult life to sleepovers, so I took the chance."

You giggled at her comment, always impressed with your friends optimism.

"How do you think Pretty Boy's going to hold up without you for three weeks?" She asked cheekily, a smug smile on her face as she smudged her eyeliner.

You sighed, "I'm a little worried about him. I mean, I don't want to sound like one of those obnoxious couples that has to be joined at the hip all the time, but we haven't been this far away from each other for this long since we started dating."

Penelope nodded, "I get it, and I don't think it's obnoxious. I think it's sweet that you'll miss each other. Maybe this separation will be healthy, though."

You shrugged, "Maybe. Spencer's just an anxious person, and he's worried about his mom on top of it. I'm scared he won't eat right or sleep enough and that'll just make it worse."

She stood up from her stool, throwing the rest of her makeup in her makeup bag and enveloping you in a tight hug, "Relax, okay? Please? Spencer will be just fine. He's a grown man, and while he sometimes lacks common sense, I'm sure he can remember to eat and sleep."

You hugged her back before pulling away to rub your eyes tiredly, "I know. I guess it's just that when he's here, he needs me, or at least he makes me feel needed. And I need him too. We take care of each other, and nothing feels right when we aren't taking care of each other."

You were trying not to cry, not wanting to embarrass yourself, when Penelope pulled you into another bone crushing hug.

"Y/N, that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard," she said, "You can still care for each other even if you're not in the same place, you know. Just let him know you love him and miss him and that you'll see him again very soon."

You nodded, wiping your runny nose with the back of your sleeve and dabbing your damp eyes, "Thank you, Pen. You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," she teased, booping your nose lightly before grabbing her purse, "Now let's get going, shall we?"

Hotch called everyone to the round room shortly after you arrived, announcing that the team had been called in on a serial stabbing case in Southern California.

Wheels up in thirty.

You texted Spencer to let him know you were going to be on the West Coast for the next few days. He didn't respond until after you had already landed, and you assumed it was because he had been on his own plane.

Arrived in LV. Be safe. Text when there. Love you <2

You grinned down at your phone at the very grandpa-style text. Spencer was horrendous when it came to technology, even with his massive intelligence.

Just landed. Also, it's <3 to make a heart, sweetness, but I appreciate the effort. Love you too ;)

"Oooh, someone's texting Pretty Boyyyy," Morgan hollered, in hopes of embarrassing you.

You rolled your eyes, whacking him in the arm as he nudged you. Your pink tinged cheeks gave you away.

"Where is Pretty Boy anyway?" He asked.

"He's visiting with his mom for the next three weeks in Las Vegas. They're starting her on a new trial treatment and he needed to be there for her," you explained, chewing on your bottom lip anxiously.

"You're worried about him being gone for so long aren't you?" Morgan said with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey," you pouted, "no profiling each other!"

"Hate to break it to you, Y/N, but it didn't take much profiling to figure that one out," Emily interjected.

You groaned, "Okay, yes, I'm a little worried, it's just new for both of us."

"Didn't you both have lives before each other?" JJ chuckled.

You shot her a look, "You talk about missing Will and the boys nonstop on every case, even if we're gone for two days. You should understand."

She raised her eyebrows, putting her hands up in mock surrender, "Sorry, touchy."

You stuck your tongue out at her and everyone cracked up laughing.

Around lunchtime, you received another text from Spencer.

Lunch with mom and Aunt Minda. Tacos. I'm having salad. Wish you were here :(

You smiled as you typed your reply, a warmth spreading throughout your body knowing he really did miss you.

Glad you are eating good food! I wish I could be there too. I'm currently eating chips and looking at victim pictures. Not a good combo.

You continued to analyze the pictures while popping your favorite chips in your mouth when he responded.

Hotch sent file. I gave thoughts on possible connection. Hope you catch unsub soon.

You sighed, wanting more than anything to have him there to tell you all his theories himself.

Me too. Call tonight?

He replied almost instantly.

Yes. Call when you get to hotel. Love you <3

You shook your head, grinning as you typed your reply.

You got the heart right this time! I'm so proud. Love you too, sweet boy <3

That night, you called Spencer while Emily "had to ask Hotch something," for an hour and a half.

"It's good to hear your voice," Spencer sighed.

You giggled, propping the phone between your ear and shoulder while you filed your nails that you had a nasty habit of biting, especially when you were anxious.

"You just saw me this morning."

"I know," he said, "but I'll still never get tired of hearing it."

You smiled, "Well it's good to hear your voice too. How's Mama Diana?"

Spencer's voice lightened, "She's doing really well, actually! Her new medication has been working great. She was even telling me some stories from her long term memory, which is really good."

"That's amazing, Spence, give her my love," you said sweetly.

"I will," he reassured you, "She's asked about you a lot. She really was hoping you could come with me this time."

You frowned, "I know, we really need to both make a trip down there soon, even if it's just for a weekend."

Then you realized your location was only a thirty minute plane ride from where Spencer was in Las Vegas. You figured if the case wrapped up in time, Hotch might let you have the weekend off to go see him. You didn't mention it to Spencer, in fear of getting his hopes up and it not happen.

Plus, you loved a good surprise

"Definitely," he agreed, "Did you eat dinner?"

You smiled, "Yes, I did. We all had takeout from a local place. Did you?"

Spencer sucked in his breath, "What time is it...ten thirty? I didn't realize it was that late. I haven't eaten since lunch at twelve."

"Spencer, you know that's not good for you," you said, trying your best not to sound naggy. This is what you had been worried about though, "Go get something, even a snack."

"No, it's too late, I'll be fine," he protested.

"Go down to the lobby of your hotel and get a bag of peanuts or a protein bar or something," you said instructively, "Your body needs it."

"You'll never know if I don't," he said in a teasing voice.

"You better," you chuckled, "Or I'll call Mama Diana and tell her you're not eating enough."

"She already tells me that every time she sees me," he rebutted, "But you're right, you know you're always right. I'll get something as soon as we hang up, I promise."

You talked more about whatever came to mind until it was pushing eleven thirty.

"You should get some sleep. Hotch probably wants you at the SUVS at six," Spencer advised, yawning as he spoke.

You nodded, even though you hated hanging up. Going back to being somewhat disconnected from him always formed a little pit in your stomach.

"Yeah, I probably should. Please tell me if you need anything, you know I'm only a text or call away, no matter what I'm doing," you reminded him, even though he definitely already knew.

"I will, and you do the same okay?" He replied, "I love you."

Your heart stuttered at the way his voice cracked slightly when he said 'I love you,' wanting nothing more than to reach out and hold him.

"I love you too, bub," you said fervently, "And I miss your face."

It was something cringey you always said either of you were gone, even though that didn't happen often, because it was cheesy enough to bring a smile to both of your faces without fail.

"I miss your face too," he chuckled, "and every other part of you."

You both hung up shortly after, and you got the sick feeling that this was only day one. It hasn't been too bad, but you were anticipating the next three weeks to just get worse without him by your side.

This got super long so I'm just going to do a part 2? Sorry there wasn't a whole lot of plot here but hopefully it'll be a good setup! Love you guys and hope you all have a blessed 2021! ~🌸