Glasses of champagne and expensive deserts were shared around the table. Caroline and Lexie had officially passed their boards, they were attendings now. Lexie was over the moon, after the crash she didn't know if she even wanted to continue with a career in medicine. She wanted to quit and never step into an OR ever again. Then she got the offer from UVA, she didn't think she was going to leave at first. The wounds from the crash were still fresh, but she realized the only way for her to heal was to leave. She's thankful every day that she left. She's happy again, she is very successful in her career. Shes made a new life for herself. 

Weeks pass and being an attending is very different then what Lexie expected. Interns were a lot less annoying when she was one. She can't believe she was ever that dependent on an attending. Her first surgery she lead completely by herself when off without a hitch. It was just an aneurysm clipping, but Lexie was proud she could complete the surgery and lead the interns along the way.

Neurosurgery always held a place in Lexie's heart. Studying under Derek really inspired her. Something about fixing a person's brain gave Lexie a huge adrenaline rush. When she first started dating Mark she dabbled a bit in plastics, but she knew neurosurgery is what she really wanted to do.

Craniotomy after craniotomy, Lexie can't wait for a day off. Saving lives will always be one of her favorite things to do, but Lexie misses her bed and Spencer. It seems like she always has a shift or Spencer is away on a case. Today, however, Lexie gets to go home for a whole day. Spencer is home today too.

She didn't even bother to change out of her navy blue scrubs, all she wanted to go was get home. She pulled into her apartment complex and walked up the stairs to her home.
When she walked in the first thing she saw was Spencer laid across the couch engulfed in a book. To focused to even notice Lexie had walked in.

"Must be a very interesting book." She said locking the door and walking over the sit under Spencer's legs.

"It actually is very interesting-- it's about how quantum physics and geometry work together, I never looked at them together before," Spencer said putting the book back on the coffee table.  "How was your shift?"

"Long, tiring, but I have a whole day off." she sighed laying her head on Spencer's lap.

"You go take a shower, I'll order takeout," Spencer said. Lightly running his fingers through her hair.

Lexie hummed in response and slowly pulled herself off Spencer and walked to the bathroom. Stepping under the hot water is always therapeutic after a 20-hour shift.

She loves coming home to Spencer already being there. When he's out of town for cases she misses him terribly.  Her and Caroline's shifts are almost opposite, Caroline chose trauma as her specialty, so she works around the clock. Lexie's surgeries are almost always scheduled unless a trauma comes in and the other surgeons' arent available. Since they have become attendings, Lexie's only seen Caroline a handful of times.

She finishes up her shower and dresses in Spencer's Caltech t-shirt and pajama shorts. She shuffled into the kitchen and smiled when she saw the food Spencer had ordered was on the table. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. She breathed in his scent of paper and cinnamon. His sweater was soft on her face. It was mid-January, so the apartment's hardwood floor was freezing, Lexie didn't mind though, she had Spencer to keep her warm.

Spencer loved hugging Lexie, he loved having her head pressed against his chest. Whenever he was around Lexie he was warm inside. He felt bubbly, as strange as that sounds, it was true. He loved waiting for her when she gets home, meeting her when she gets out of the shower, eating dinner, and going to bed with her.

When Spencer was away for work, sleeping alone in a hotel room, all he thought about was missing Lexie by his side. These months with Lexie was the happiest he's been in so long. He's learned to let go of Maeve, not forget about her, but let go. He still has the book she gave him on his coffee table, now the sight of the book doesn't make him as sad as it did. Now he sees the book and smiles, thinking of the many phone calls they shared.

"Your dinner is going to get cold," Spencer spoke up

"I don't care, I don't want to move."

Spencer laughed and picked Lexie up bring her over to the table.

"Spence! Put me down!" Lexie laughed with him

"You need to eat darling," Spencer said, putting her down on a chair.

Lexie blushed at the nickname, she wasn't one for pet names, but she doesn't mind 'darling'.  The two ate their take out in mostly silence, only talking a few times about how good the food was. After dinner, the two curl up on the couch and try to watch a documentary. Halfway through Lexie's eyes drift closed.

When Spencer notices Lexie's asleep, he picks her up bridal style and takes her to her bedroom. He goes to the bathroom to change into pajamas and brush his teeth. He has a spare pair of pajamas and a toothbrush stashed at Lexie's apartment. She has a stash at his apartment too.

Just as Spencer is ready for bed, his phone rings. Great. He sighs and answers the call from Gracia.

"Hello?" he grumbled

"Sorry brainiac we've got a case," Gracia said, a little too happily for midnight.

"Alright, I'll be right in." He groaned.

"Oh, no need for a go-bag, its a local case." She added.

"Okay, thanks, Gracia."

He went back into the bathroom and got re-dressed. He was exhausted, they had only returned from a case in Arizona yesterday, this job comes with no breaks. Once he was dressed he made himself some coffee. He didn't want to wake Lexie, but she got mad at him when he left without saying goodbye.

He gently woke her up, confusing Lexie.

"What's wrong?" she asked groggily.

"I have a case, its local so I might be home tonight." He kissed her forehead. "I love you, be safe."

She smiled "I love you too, you're the one who needs to be safe."

He smiled and waved a small goodbye and left the apartment. As he opened to door, Caroline walked in.
"Hey Spencer, gotta case?" She asked

"Yep." He sighed.

"Does it have to do with the explosion downtown? We got a bunch of cases at the hospital, but I'm over hours for the week." she sighed

"Probably, I won't know more till I actually get to the BAU."  he replied, eyebrows furrowed.

She nodded in response and walked into her home. Spencer walked to his car, heading to the BAU.

"Alright crime fighters, I hate to call you in this late, or early rather, but we have quite the doozy," Gracia said, clicking photos of a destroyed building on the big screen. "This 24-hour diner in downtown Virginia was blown up about an hour ago, medias already got hold of it, calling it terrorism."

"We were called in the find this bomber before he strikes again, let's get to work." Hotch boomed. 

Spencer gulped. The diner that was blown up was the diner he and Lexie frequented.

a/n: hey guys, thanks for reading! also, thanks so much for 1k reads!! now that's crazy. i love y'all. don't forget to vote and comment. hope everyone is healthy and happy!🤍