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𝑬 𝑽 𝑬 𝑹 𝑮 𝑹 𝑬 𝑬 𝑵
❝ 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝙸 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚍 ❞

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ㅤ𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐅𝐄𝐖 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐅𝐔𝐋. There were no major cases that took them anywhere, and they spent most of their time in Quantico just finishing up some paper work and making sure they get everything correct. Hotch and Gideon were there, basically breathing down everybody's to make sure that everything was perfect and done on time.

Of course, Spencer was the first to finish every day. May's usually the second or third—she and Elle were often neck and neck—but she always, always has to stay a bit longer. And that's because she's essentially the only one who can read Spencer's chicken scratch with astonishing accuracy. Derek finishes last. Though it's not because he's slow, it's simply because he's a perfectionist. Unlike Spencer who likes having as much information as possible, Derek prefers making his reports concise.

The way they each make their reports are very consistent with their personalities, and as much as he hates paperwork because it keeps him from his family, Hotch enjoys reading them. Oddly enough, those reports help him understand his team better.

Derek, of course, realized that this steady influx of somewhat relaxing days was rare for the BAU, so he took this opportunity to finally take May out on a date. Inwardly, he was panicking. He knew a lot about May, given how long they've known each other and have worked together, but all that information seemed to escape him every time he imagined how he should take her out.

He knew she liked woodcarving; it's her number one hobby. But he didn't want a repeat of their first ever hangout, where she taught him the basics. He knew she liked nature, but she just got back from her hometown, and he knew she already took the chance to surround herself in it. It felt like all the normal date ideas he's aware of are things that she might not like and it was driving him crazy.

The only thing he could think of doing was ask her best friend, a.k.a. his current frenemy.

Spencer Reid, at first glance, is probably the least intimidating member of the team. He was tall, yes, able to tower over everyone, but he was lanky. He's awkward. For all intents and purposes, he presented himself as a nerd. But somehow, every time he faced Derek, he appeared like a completely different person. He was understandably even more intimidating, glowering at the man whenever he'd breathed the same air as May.

But Derek was desperate. So, once the others have gone home at the end of the day, he walked towards Spencer who immediately eyed his approaching figure. Spencer decided to stay behind longer to talk to Gideon about a certain case they've been consulting on.

"What are you doing?" Spencer frowned, staring at him with a confused expression. He was on his way to his own desk when Derek intercepted him. "Why are you acting weird?"

Derek finally stopped in front of Spencer, looking around to check if they were alone before asking, "Can you help me?"

"With what?"

"I can't think of a good date idea for May," he admitted.

Spencer gave him a skeptical look. "Derek Morgan can't think of a date idea?"

"Not you too," Derek groaned. "Yes, I am a huge flirt and yes, I've been in relationships but I haven't been in a lot of them! I just like to flirt, okay?"

The hazel-eyed man shook his head. "You don't have to convince me, Morgan. Convince May."

"Yeah, I'm trying!" He whisper-shouted, looking around again. "So, any ideas?"

"Have you thought about her interests?"

"Yes, I've thought about woodcarving, but we've done that already. I thought about hiking, but she just got back from doing all that! I think," he shrugged. "I would take her to a museum, but--"

"She's been to every museum here in DC," Spencer cut him off. "She and I used to go to one every weekend, starting from when we first lived together. We've been to all of them."

"Damn, Spencer, stealing date ideas."

Spencer scoffed. "Not my fault you waited this long to ask her out."

"Hey, I wasn't even sure she liked me 'til recently! She's very closed off."

"She's an open book," Gideon unexpectedly interjected, making Derek jump.

"How long--"

"May's an open book," Gideon repeated, looking up at Derek with a frown. "She doesn't really hide her likes and dislikes. She's very vocal about her opinions and won't hesitate to hit anyone with the truth, especially when necessary."

"Doesn't help me, Gideon," Derek complained. "I know she likes music, but a lot of the artists she likes are either old or dead, so no chance at taking her to a concert. She likes go, and I've already been asking her to teach me. She's practically a mechanic, and I don't know what to with that. Can't think of anything else."

Spencer hummed. "Wait, yes, you can do something about her being a mechanic. Take her to New York. Only a one-hour flight, three-hour train ride, remember?"

"What's in New York?" He frowned.

"The New York International Auto Show," Spencer smiled. "She missed the one in DC, but the one in Manhattan is ongoing right now, in the Javits Center. It'll give you an excuse to spent quite literally the whole day with her."

Derek blinked. "Spencer, this is why we're friends."

"We are not friends," Spencer frowned. "Frenemies at best. I don't want a friend who wants to bone my best friend."

"Spencer," Gideon gently reproved. He can understand where Spencer is coming from, of course, given how Spencer was practically a loner for years, and didn't have enough close friends—other than Ethan, but is he considered just a friend?—until May. He recognizes that Spencer will always be a bit territorial over her. But that doesn't mean he can be rude.

"Sorry," Spencer eventually mumbled. "Just so you know, I am helping."

"I know you are," Derek stated, looking between the both of them before finally setting his eyes on the younger of the two. "You already gave me an idea, man. That's good enough--"

"Not good enough for my best friend," Spencer shook his head, cutting Derek off. He closed his eyes and sighed before saying, "Get her some food. She can eat for an army, so maybe take her to a restaurant or prepare a picnic for her right after the show."

Derek finally smiled. "Thanks, man."

"Just promise me you won't hurt her in any way." There was a glint in Spencer's eyes that both Gideon and Derek noticed, but they didn't dare point it out. "Promise me."

"I promise."

The time has come, May thought to herself as she looked her outfit up and down in the mirror.

It wasn't often she was concerned about how she looked—or, to be more precise, she really doesn't care—but now, she feels like she has to. Because she was finally going on that she was promised. So, she mostly just tried to make her usual outfit just a bit...cuter.

She decided to wear a white tank top underneath a light blue button up, and quickly paired it with black slacks as a sort of homage to her old habit of wearing black pants. Then on her feet were simple white Chuck Taylors. It fit her current style, it wouldn't make her sweat, and it looked cute. Which is all according to her plan.

Of course, she didn't know what Derek's plans are. Only thing she knows is that Spencer helped. And Spencer knew her better than most people, so she was optimistic. Derek made sure to tell her that their date will be from morning to night, and that they just needed to be early so they don't miss anything.

She doesn't know exactly what she might miss, but she's excited.

He told her to be ready by seven in the morning—which she wasn't too happy about, but she couldn't complain since she knew he was trying his best to cater to her, and she's also excited since he's her imprint—and that he'll be picking her up at exactly that time.

Has she mentioned how excited she was?

Regardless, it was five minutes from seven, and she was practically done. All she needed to do was spritz some perfume on her neck and on the insides of her wrists. And after doing that, she was ready as she'll ever be. The second the clock hit seven, there was a knock on her door.

Spencer, who's an early bird, was watching her like a hawk. And continued to do so once she's opened the door.

"Hi," she greeted. She allowed her enhanced senses to basically drink him all in. Her sense of smell's always the first to be greeted; his natural scent and the perfume he always wears just always reminds her of home. Her ears can hear his steady breathing, but his heart was practically pounding against his ribs. Her eyes picked up the little imperfections on his black, long-sleeved v-neck, but she couldn't help but focus a bit on the skin on his neck down to his chest.

Derek cleared his throat, and her eyes immediately went back up to his eyes. "Eyes are up here."

She grimaced, and a disgusted groan was heard from behind her. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I'd like you to do it more."

"Oh God," Spencer gagged and immediately ran to his room.

"Sorry, about him," May pointed behind her.

"It's no problem. I can seriously excuse his behavior for about a year for helping me."

May rolled her eyes. "Don't do that. You'd give him too much leeway."

Derek chuckled. "Well, come on. Can't miss the train."

"Uhhh, what?"

"Shut the fuck up!" May cursed, as she looked out the window of Amtrak they were on, her eyes locked on the New York City skyline. "What the fuck are we doing here?"

"Spencer gave me the brilliant idea to take you what's known as North America's first automotive exhibition, which first opened in the year 1900."

May turned to Derek so fast that the man swore it was supernatural. "You...you're kidding, right?"

"I'm not."

"No way. No way you're taking me to--"

"I am."

"Fuck," she cursed again. "Derek Morgan, how? I mean, how am supposed to pay you back? I'm--what is going on?!"

"First off, I'd do anything for you, so there's no paying me back," he said. "Second, your best friend. He saved me ass from doing anything corny or not to your taste."

"And third?"

"And third...I just hope you enjoy."

She gently hit him on the shoulder, eyes wide. "This is insane."

"Do you like it?"

"Derek, I love it," she told him breathlessly. "Thank you so much. Jesus Christ."

Derek laughed. "This is why I told you we'd be spending the day together. We'll be getting lunch together, dinner together, and take the last train to DC together. Just..."

"Just together?"

"If that's fine with you?"

"It's more than fine, Der."

Derek couldn't help himself from lurching forward and hugging her tightly. And May didn't hesitate to hug him back. It was slightly awkward as they were sitting beside each other, but it was worth it to both of them.

He eventually let go, just as the train was arriving in Penn Station. He smiled, and leaned to kiss her on the cheek, which caused her face to blossom red.

"Come on," he said, as a smile threatened on his lips. "We're gonna hop on to the subway next to get to Javits. And after that, the world's your oyster."

They eventually did so, and May had the brightest grin on her face as she stepped into Javits. Immediately, she spotted the new Mustang with a V-8 engine, and without thinking, she grabbed Derek's hand and dragged him towards the car. Throughout their morning there, they were holding hands, their fingers entwined.

From the Mustang, to the Acura MDX, the new Bentley Continental...May had an absolute blast as she checked each of their engines and even hopped inside for a quick picture. They decided to officially step out the building a little after noon to have a late lunch. May insisted on paying for lunch—to pay for at least one thing, despite Derek's protests—and they decided on a Thai restaurant.

After lunch, May asked Derek what he wanted to do. The man only shrugged and told her that the only thing he wanted to spend time with her.

"You're kidding me," she rolled her eyes. "There's gotta be one place in New York City that you've always wanted to go to."

Derek shrugged. "Well, what if we try trapezing? Elle kept giving me random recommendations as soon as I told her we were going to New York, and for some reason, trapezing stuck to me."

"I...well...why not?"

So they went off to Trapeze School New York. Between the two of them, May was definitely more inclined to jump—considering she was kind of used to it due to her years of cliff diving, even as a child—and Derek was more apprehensive. But the second he got used to it, he trapezed even more than May.

"Don't tell anyone I screamed," he told her after their class. May couldn't help but giggle as she zipped her mouth in a very exaggerated manner. "May, I swear."

"I won't!"

Derek sighed. "You're gonna tell Spencer, aren't you?"

"Yep!"

They eventually decided on walking around Central Park, talking as they moved. They were still hand in hand, and May couldn't deny how right it felt to have her hand in his. They spotted a few people relaxing on the grass and decided to copy them, sitting on the grass with no care in the world as they waited for the best time to get dinner. As they sat, talking and laughing, their conversation topics got more and more absurd.

"Seriously? One of the reasons you wanted to join the FBI was because of X-Files?"

"Duh!" May snorted. "Just so you know, if not for Agent Scully, you probably wouldn't have met me. You?"

"I've always wanted to go into law enforcement because of my father. He was a cop in Chicago. I don't know...I guess I wanted to be like him."

"That's beautiful," she told him. "And now, you're honoring him. You're continuing his legacy."

"You think I'm just like him?" He wondered, looking down at the grass.

The sun was starting to set, and May could swear that the sun was looking down on him, as if trying to gaze upon him before it disappeared into the night. His skin was glowing underneath the warm, golden light, and she couldn't help herself from admiring him, thanking the spirits that they decided to make him her imprint.

"Yes," she said.

"Why?"

"Because you're a great man, Derek."

He smiled almost bashfully, leaning his head against hers as they both looked turned their heads to watch the sunset. "You know, I...I wasn't always...I didn't always feel great."

"What do you mean?"

"When I was a teenager, I...something happened to me. That whole thing...I reached adulthood with so much regret, so much pain. And I suppose that shaped who I am too. Sometimes I think that if not for that thing, I wouldn't be where I am today."

She pulled her head away and looked at him, watching as he did the same. She stared into his eyes and said, "I don't know exactly what you went through, but...our traumas impact our lives more than we expect, more than we want. Sure, it shapes us, molds us into the person that we end up becoming, but trauma...no one ever deserves that. And as profilers, we know that trauma is often the one thing that separates us from the likes of serial killers, and the difference lies in how we respond to them. I think that makes you great too."

"What does?"

"Because you were able to rise above it all."

Derek hummed, cupping her cheek with his hand. He watched her eyes flutter close as she leaned against his hand. "May?"

Eyes still closed, she responded. "Yeah?"

"The day isn't over yet, but I want to say thank you."

She finally opened her eyes again, and the man couldn't help but get lost in her pools of brown that turned a beautiful gold in the light. Her eyes were warm and comforting, and he knew he wanted to get lost in them forever.

"There's no need for you to say thank you," she said. "I'm the one that should."

He chuckled. "If I can't say thank you, neither can you."

She scrunched her nose and poked him in the chest. "Fine." Then she pulled her face away. "So, what now?"

"Dinner, then we go home."

Smiling, she leaned forward to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Can't wait."

author's note: it's funny how i've never even been to mainland US and have to literally research random shit for me to write chapters like this lmfao.

anyway, i've seen that a lot of ppl didn't realize that leah's actually much younger than expected. that's mostly bc of 2 things: 1. the actors are definitely on the older side, and 2. upon shifting their appearances do change (they get taller, blah blah) and that will technically make them look older. 

but yeah let's not talk about that anymore.

hope y'all enjoyed part 1(!!!) of their date. next chapter will still be their date, as it's clearly not yet over. we'll get to see more warm and fluffy scenes. they're already pretty touchy anyway!!! but i'm trying not to make them rush into it, considering the imprint's already a rushed move, you know?

love you alllll <333