A/N: This is my first story that I've published. Please point out any errors you notice and let me know what you think in general. Please review. Reviews are like food to writers. Don't let me starve*puppy eyes*
PS: If you check my profile, you'll notice my name is Halsey Taylor. It's not my real name, but it could have been and I just love it. BTW- the story behind the name is true, which is entirely why my daddy refused to let my mom name me:)
The bar was nearly empty.
Most people were with their families right now, probably watching old Christmas animated movies and sipping hot chocolate.
Spencer Reid, however, never knew that kind of Christmas. Hell, he never knew Christmas. He didn't feel like he was missing much, it was just another part of his childhood he could live without.
Spencer took a look down at his drink.
Whiskey.
He was never one for alcohol, but Gideon had loved whiskey. And, out of a need for understanding, he decided to try it. Now, as his own personal tradition, Spencer would find a new bar every Christmas and order the same drink until he was barley legal to drive.
A bad idea, maybe, but it worked for him.
Lost in his nearly drunken thoughts, Spencer jumped slightly when he heard the bell right above the bar door ring and prepared himself for the blast of icy winter air that was going to be coming his way.
'Join the party.' He thought sarcastically, taking another drink of his liquid depressant. Everything seems a lot less pathetic when people are doing the same thing as you.
Curious to see just who was joining the pathetic party, Spencer rose his head to take a glance at the person who was, like him, alone on Christmas.
What he saw, he didn't expect.
She was a young, tall woman in a black trench coat walk through the door, her mouth and nose covered by a red satin scarf, her shoulder-length dirty blonde hair in curls. She took off her coat and scarf and he noticed that she had the type of body any man would dream of having under him. Her long-sleeved, black shirt hugged her hour-glass figure perfectly, and he couldn't help but notice how amazing it made her breasts look. She was wearing a bright green plaid mini- skirt and black tights to protect her legs. Legs that Spencer could only imagine were as amazing as the rest of her. He kept observing as she glided over to the bar and started a conversation with the bartender. It was obvious they knew each other, considering the laughing and how the woman stuck her tongue out at the bartender like a child. After he handed her a can of Dr. Pepper she sat down at the opposite end of the bar and smiled shyly at him. He did the same and for a few minutes they stole glances at each other. Spencer would have loved to have gotten to know this woman better, but he didn't have the courage to go talk to this beautiful specimen of the female population. Eventually, she got up and started towards him.
"Hi, I'm Halsley Taylor Hale." She said and took a seat beside him.
"I'm Spencer Reid." Spencer replied sheepishly, trying to keep his eyes from wandering.
"So what brings you to our humble little bar on Christmas Spencer Reid?" She said, with slight laughter in her voice.
"Personal tradition."
"I've never seen you here before." She pointed out with a smile that was half real. He could only guess that she would have been happier without it on, yet felt if she didn't smile he would get offended.
"That's part of the tradition." He retorted, giving her a sly smile, as if daring her to try and figure out just what the tradition is.
Her half smile became a honest smirk now as she looked at him through her bangs and said "You know what? I'm not even gonna try."
Spencer laughed at this, feeling much more comfortable after she treated him like a friend.
"So," Spencer inquired, "why are you here?"
"Personal tradition." She parroted his earlier statement, smirking once more. A smirk that made blood rush to certain parts of his body. Spencer thanked whatever forces existed that he went back to his apartment and changed into jeans that, compared to khakis, did a great job at hiding his arousal.
Soon they started talking about everything. They talked about his work, about how she was 27, a forensic scientist and apparently her name was from a water fountain her mom saw in the hospital when she was in labor.
After they both calmed done from a fit of laughter brought on by a story about Halsley, her dad, and 7 barrels of hay, Spencer looked out the window of the bar and randomly said,
"Snow is so very pretty."
Halsley burst into another fit of laughter.
"It is!" Spencer defended himself as his new friend continued to laugh, slightly snorting every now and then.
"You. Are. So. Freaking. Dru-drunk!" Halsley called out in-between laughs.
"Maybe I am," Spencer said calmly with a smile, "but at least I can admit it."
"Would you like to come back to my apartment and like, sober-up or somethin'?" Halsley offered when she finally stopped laughing.
"Why the hell not," was his reply. Actually, he knew exactly why the hell not, he was reminded almost everyday.
"Later Baby-B!" Halsley called out to the bartender when she and Spencer were walking out of the bar.
"See ya Baby-G!" was the shouted reply that barely made it before the door closed.
Halsley looked up at Spencer with a large smile at being called her little nickname. She saw a confused look written on his features.
"Baby Boy and Baby Girl, they're brotherly and sisterly terms of endearment." She explained. For a reply, Spencer simply smiled and kissed the top of Halsley's head.