This is my entry for the Valentine's Day Challenge. Sorry it took so long to post it. This is for Seditionary.

Valentine's Day had never been one of Spencer Reid's favorite holidays. When he was in school, it just showed how out of place he was. He would watch the other kids give and receive cards and gifts. He got the occasional card from a friend but usually there was nothing.

It hadn't gotten any better when he became an adult. He was just as socially awkward with adults as he had been as a kid. He didn't go on many dates and those generally didn't have second ones. He preferred to pretend the holiday didn't even exist. There was one person he would prefer to be his Valentine but he was unreachable so that would never happen. He tried to not even think about it.

It didn't help that when he got to the BAU that morning, the holiday was plainly evident. There was a bouquet of flowers on Emily's desk, probably from her current beau. Spencer was willing to bet there were flowers in JJ's and Garcia's offices as well. There was even a small arrangement on Morgan's desk. He just sighed and sat down at his desk.

When it came time for lunch, Derek and David grabbed Spencer and they went out for lunch. Emily had a lunch date and the others had plans as well so it was just the three of them.

"You okay?" David asked as they ate.

"It's just not my favorite day," Spencer shrugged.

"It can be rough," Derek agreed.

"You got flowers," Spencer pointed out.

"It's from a friend of mine," Derek said. "We went through the academy together. We always send flowers to each other on Valentine's day."

"So you don't have a date tonight," David said.

"I'm going to a party at a friend's house tonight," Derek said. "It's a mixture of singles and couples. What about you, Dave?"

"No date," David said. "My next book is going to print in a couple of weeks and I have to go over the edits for it before that."

"But you guys could have dates if you wanted," Spencer said. "I don't have that option."

"I'm sure Dave could set you up with one of his ladies," Derek smiled.

"No, thank you," Spencer said.

"You sure?" David asked. "I know several women that would love to go out with you."

"Very sure," Spencer said.

When they got back to the office, Spencer sat down at his desk, pulling a file from the stack to start to work on. It was then he noticed an envelope setting in front of him. He picked up, looking around as he did. No one was watching him to see what was going on. There was no postmark so it had to have been hand delivered. He opened it and took out the card.

The front of the card was nothing but a picture of a single red rose. Inside was a handwritten note. 'I've watched you for a long time. Your spirit and your intelligence call to me. I see your face in my dreams.' The card was unsigned. The writing looked feminine. After reading it for a second time, he slipped it into his bag.

David walked into the bullpen around three o'clock. "Hotch is in a meeting," he said, "but he left a note saying that, in honor of the day, you could leave early. I'd take advantage of his generosity."

"I'm gone," Derek said, standing up.

"Me, too," Emily said.

"You, too, Spencer," David said. "Hotch said to make sure everyone left."

"Alright," he said. He grabbed his things and headed out with the others.

Spencer had just walked into his apartment and put his keys on the table by the door when he noticed an envelope lying on the floor. He picked it up and carried it into the living room. Sitting on the couch, he opened the envelope, pulled out the card and read it. 'Your quirky sense of humor makes me smile sometimes when nothing else does. I look forward to seeing you every day.'

He pulled out the first card. The handwriting was the same on both cards but he had no clue who it was, well, not many clues. Female and someone who worked in the office but other than that, he had no idea who it was. Putting the cards on the coffee table, he got up and headed for the kitchen.

He was about to start some coffee when his phone phone rang. With his look, they were being called in for a case. "Reid," he said as he picked up the phone.

"Dr. Reid, this is Margo from the apartment office," she said. "We have a delivery here for you if you would like to come down and get it."

"What is it?" he asked.

"All I know is that it's something for Valentine's Day," she said.

"I'll be down in a minute," he said.

Now he was concerned. Someone had his address and he didn't like not knowing who it was. He wasn't really afraid, it had to be another agent after all, but he wasn't that fond of secret admirers. It had been his experience that things like that never worked out well.

When he got to the office, Margo handed him a florist's box. "Someone's got a sweetheart," she smiled.

"I just wish I knew who it was," he said.

"A secret admirer," she said. "Nice."

"Can you tell me who delivered it?" he asked.

"Just your average collage kid," she shrugged. "He said he hoped he got finished in time to make it to his own date."

"Thanks," he said, heading for the door.

"Happy Valentine's Day," she yelled after him.

Reid set the flower box on the coffee table and just looked at it for a few minutes, chewing on his thumb as he did. He finally sat down on the couch, removed the ribbon and took the top off the box. Inside was six long-stemmed roses, one in white, red, pink, yellow, red velvet and peach. There was also a red rose boutonni re in the box and another note.

'Without even knowing it, you've made this Valentine's Day special. I would love to spend this evening with you. If you like, please join me at the Florentine Restaurant at seven-thirty. The reservation is in your name. Please wear the boutonni re.'

Seven-thirty. He glances at the clock. It was a little after four. It was a thirty minute drive to the restaurant which gave him almost three hours to get ready.

Wait.

Stop.

Was he really going to get dressed up, drive to a fancy restaurant and have dinner with someone he'd never met before. Apparently, he was. He leaned back on the couch. There was no telling who it was. It could be someone he'd like to know or it could be a total disaster. At the very least, he'd get a meal. With a sigh, he decided to go for it.

Spencer had a brief moment of anxiety when he reached the restaurant that evening. He almost turned around and went home but decided to see it through. After the valet drove his car away to park, he took a deep breath and went inside. The maitre d' looked as he approached.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"I have a reservation for seven-thirty," he said. "Spencer Reid."

"Of course," the man said. "The other party is already here. If you'll follow me." He picked up the menus and started walking, Spencer not far behind.

They were almost at the secluded booth when Spencer saw who was sitting there. His eyes grew wide and he almost stumbled.

"Hotch?" he said and the other man looked up.

"Hi, Spencer," he said.

Spencer sat down on auto-pilot. "May I get you something to drink?" the maitre d' asked as he handed them the menus.

"White wine," Hotch said.

"The same," Spencer said. The waiter nodded and moved away.

"A little surprised?" Hotch smiled.

"I think that would be an understatement," Spencer said.

"Did you like the flowers?" Hotch asked. "I wasn't sure about them."

"They're very nice," Spencer said. "Why didn't you just ask me out? Why all the mystery?"

"I was afraid you'd say no," Hotch admitted. "I thought the secret admirer thing would peak your curiosity enough to get you to come."

"I would have said yes," Spencer said quietly. The waiter arrived with their drinks, took their orders and left.

"You would have..."

"I, ah, I've been watching you," Spencer admitted.

"For how long?" Hotch asked.

"Since you and Haley split up," Spencer said. "At first, it was just to make sure you were alright. After a while, after the divorce, I noticed how lonely you seemed."

"I thought I was hiding it well," Hotch said.

"You did to the general public," Spencer said, "but you work with people who are nosy for a living. We notice a lot of things we're not supposed to."

"True enough," Hotch said. "I think I really started looking at you right after you faced down Owen Savage."

"You threatened to fire me," Spencer remembered.

"Yeah, well, what I really wanted to do was a lot different than fire you," Hotch said, "and it would have probably gotten me fired. That was the first time I realized what I felt for you."

Spencer reached out and took Hotch's hand across the table. "I wouldn't have minded," he said, "then or now."

Their food arrived and they made small talk while they ate. Shortly after they finished, they heard the band began to play. The notes of 'Dream A Little Dream of Me' reached their ears.

"Dance with me," Hotch said. He stood and held out his hand.

"Alright," Spencer said, taking the offered hand and standing up.

They moved to the dance floor. A few people watched the two men as they danced but they didn't notice. It felt so good just to hold each other.

"I haven't heard this song since I was in high school," Hotch said. "I remember dancing to it at a Valentine's Day dance."

"Did you have a good time?" Spencer asked.

"I think I did," Hotch said, "but I'm having a better time now." Spencer blushed a little at that.

"Are you ready to go?" Hotch asked after they danced to another song.

"Very," Spencer said.

They went back to the table so Hotch could pay the bill then left the restaurant. The moonlight bathed the area, giving everything a surreal look. Hotch pulled Spencer to him as they waited for their cars. They gently kissed, parting when their cars arrived.

"Come to my place?" Hotch asked. "I don't want tonight to end yet."

"Alright," Spencer agreed. He gave Hotch a smile then walked to his car.

Hotch smiled as he got into his own car. It had been a wonderful evening and it wasn't over yet.

FIN

Seditionary, I hope you enjoy it. If you want the M rated nex chapter that happens when they get to Hotch's place, let me know and I'll write it.