Sydney's POV

It was a rather slow day at the BAU, which was a good thing for me because that gave me to do the worst subject of all humanity. Physics. Or science if you don't know what it is.

Or what Dad doesn't know the only class I'm failing. I have a 'F' and yeah. Everytime I get my report card I'd skillfully change it from an 'F' to an 'A'. He doesn't know about that which is a good thing. You think that being the daughter of a genius that you'd get good grades. Well reality check, you don't.

"This is hopeless! Ugh!" I sigh as I rip out the piece of paper of what I think is the answer but it's not.

"What's hopeless?" I heard a voice as I took off my headphones, and I scream at myself as it was Dad who said that.

"Try doing physics, and then come back to me." I say to him as I went to take the last cheeto from its bag and it was the last one.

"Your stressing aren't you?" He asked so calmly as I knew immediately that he was reading me. Ugh. Can't he just leave.

"How'd you guess that?" I asked highly sarcastically as I wasn't in the mood, plus I don't want dad to know I was on the verge of failing Physics.

"Is it obvious you have a pile of paper in the corner." He said as I give him a look.

"...and?"

"Lemme help you." He says as I sigh as he was gonna make it easy and then bam it would be the most obvious answer.

"Fine."

Not even ten minutes of carefully explaining it to me, it wasn't that hard as I was making it seem. I was just doubting myself and not concentrating. Which is typical. I never concentrate, I have the attention span of a squirrel. Or more precise a potato. Once it falls my ass is gone.

"Are you sure your okay?" He asks as we are chilling in my den.

"Yeah." I say suspiciously fast at least to me it is. He doesn't question it because his phone rang which meant one thing. Maeve. I still don't like her. She woke me up from my nap a week ago. Right? Eh what the fuck, I don't remember anymore. See I forget shit, okay.

Not too long after he left to talk to her I took out my journal and began to journal. It's sorta calming as in the background I had some relaxing music. About six minutes later, I saw Dad coming back inside the room.

"Can re cancel, Syd?"

"Cancel what?"

"Movie night, please." He says practically begging as I sighed knowing probably what happened. Maeve called Dad and they made plans the night of our annual movie night. It broke my heart, but I didn't want to say anything about it.

"Yeah, its fine." I say ignoring what was just said between us. I wanted to avoid it as I cleared my throat and went back to journaling.

"You sure, just making sure?" He asks as I closed my eyes to keep the tears inside and luckily my hair fell shielding him from looking at my eyes. Which is a good thing because the last thing that I want is him seeing me on the verge of tears.

"Of course. Go have your fun with whatever." I tell him hoping that he'd change the subject. I muster the smallest smile as he kissed my head before grabbing his phone again and I'm assuming calling Maeve again.

It's just one movie night, what could it do? It's not like it's special and no big deal. When we've done our movie night since I was three. Granted the first couple years I'd force Dad to watch Barbie movies with me, but I enjoyed it. I'd pretend to be scared at the 'scary' parts, and he'd hug me and tell me that it's going to be alright.

But that's our tradition, and it always will be.

"Syd." I heard Derek say as I shook my head a little to get out of my thoughts.

"Ya."

"What's wrong? You were fine this morning and now."

"Do you know her?"

"Who?"

"Whatever her name is, Dad's friend."

"Maeve?"

"Yeah her."

"What about her?"

"Why, do you want to know about her?"

"Because I do."

"That's your dad's personal life."

"What's your point, Derek."

"It doesn't involve you."

"Yes, it does."

"No, it doesn't."

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing." I saw Dad standing at the door. Shit. He must've heard this. Great. Here comes the twenty million questions.

"Um, Mae said you can join us if you'd like. In a way to make up for our movie night." When Dad said to me as I forced a tiny smile on my face.

"I would uh like to but I um have uh homework." I say as I left without another word.

Third Person's POV

When Sydney left after saying that it definitely left Spencer confused. Said Spencer turned to face Derek who only acting like he doesn't know what's going on. He doesn't wanna get Spencer more worried.

"What's wrong?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Derek you're her best friend; she tells you everything."

"All I can say is give her time to adjust to Mae."

"'Adjust' what does she know?"

"Why don't you ask her?" Derek says before he too left the genius in his daughter's den. He gave the genius one lasting look before he left.

Little later

Sydney is writing in her journal as she is actively ignoring everything around her. They are having one of their dinner parties at Rossi's place. They're all enjoying their time and Sydney is in the living room eating spaghetti as she's journaling. It's the only thing that she's had in three days.

She sighs as she's shaking but she knows why but she doesn't want to eat. What broke her out of her thoughts was hearing her father's voice as it sounded like he was talking on the phone. She got up so she could eavesdrop on the conversation. It's a habit that she has.

"We're not seeing you tomorrow, Catherine." She heard her dad say as it sounds like he's irritated of the conversation that he's having with Cat. "She doesn't wanna talk to you."

"Goodbye." He said semi-harshly which made Sydney take a step back, but she tripped over the living room table.

"What did she want?" Sydney asked despite her dad's mood right now.

"It's nothing." He says pushing her away, but she knows that game.

"It's something, what is it."

"It's nothing okay!" Her dad exclaimed to her shocking herself at hearing this side.

"Why is it so hard to tell your own daughter about her fucking mother?! Huh!" Sydney exclaims back to him which shocked himself as he didn't mean it

"Syd, I'm sorry."

"Don't." Sydney said as there was already everyone by the entry door from the dining room to the living room all shocked of what they had just witnessed. Before they can say anything, Sydney is already gone and out the door.

No one was brave enough to say anything, so they didn't. Henry took Sydney's untouched spaghetti and ate it like he never ate before so at least her spaghetti didn't go to waste. As spaghetti is one of her 'safe' foods as everyone else has an entire list of her safe foods.

After two hours since the little argument earlier and Spencer is disappointed in himself for what he said to Sydney. He honestly didn't mean to say what he said and how he said it. He doesn't even recall the last time that he sounded like that at least at Sydney. He tries not to lose his temper around her knowing that's what her mother does. He doesn't want to scare her in the slightest. He tried calling her, but she won't answer he tried texting her, not a single response.

"Wait, what's her friends name? Maybe she went there?" Rossi suggests to the team.

"Uh uh Annie." Penelope says with a mouthful of her fettuccine alfredo that she's eating. Spencer nodded his head at his friend as he immediately grabbed his keys from his pocket and dashed out of the door.

He knew it would take a little convincing Sydney to accept his apology so he got an entire huge basket of her favorite stuff. He knows that parents shouldn't do this to their kids but it works for Sydney and that's all that matters.

He got to Annie's place and got out of the car leaving the basket of her favorite stuff in the passenger seat. He walked on the steps and sighed as he knocked on the door. Not even moments later, Annie's mom opened the door.

She had a soft smile on her face which Spencer weakly returned back. "Don't worry she's here. She was a mess when she got here."

Spencer nods his head at her head he awkwardly had his hands into his pockets as it was a little chilly outside and he wasn't wearing his jacket as he left it at Rossi's.

"Yeah, that's because it was my fault. I didn't mean how I said it but I accidentally not really yelled but..." He says to her as the woman nodded her head.

"Yeah that would explain it." She says as just then Sydney walked down the stairs, as she didn't even notice that her Dad was here. "Here get out of the cold, I'll go get her." She says as just as she turned she saw Sydney.

"Syd, baby there's someone here to see you." The woman said getting Sydney's attention but when she saw her dad she turned her back and beaded to the kitchen where Annie was making brownies, as Sydney had ran upstairs to get her water bottle.

When the woman moved to let Spencer into her house he immediately went towards his daughter. He grabbed her arm stopping her as she jerked her arm out of his grip. He grabbed it again stopping her for good. She whipped her head at him with an angry look on her face.

"What?" She asks bitterly to him as he looks at her. "Let go." After she said that Spencer let go but grabbed her hand instead and lead her to a quieter area of the house.

"Can we talk, please."

"About what mom or you?"

"Both, but mainly me."

"Fine."

"Is it true?" He asks her as Annie's mother had left them alone to give them some privacy. "Derek gave me suspicions."

"About what?" She asks him confused as to why he's asking this question. As she mentally prepares himself of asking the questions. "Dad what are you talking about?" She asks.

"Maeve."

"What about her?"

"Do you like her?" He asks her as she avoided eye contact as she was playing with her hands as she lowered her head to look at her feet.

"Why would you--"

"Sydney?"

"N-sorta I don't know." She says stuttering over her words which made Spencer intrigued even more. He took a minute to process what she said not realizing that her facial expression changed slightly.

"Is she gonna replace her?" Sydney says barely above a whisper that made him stop in his tracks and look back at his daughter. Spencer was shocked and also confused on who she was talking about. As if forgetting that Cat Adams is the answer. He tries to forget about her when he's not arguing over the phone.

"Who?" He asks as it was the stupidest answer in the entire planet. At least in Sydney's eyes. That's like the number one stupidest answer.

Sydney continued to fiddle with her hands as she didn't even look back up at her Dad. She took a deep breath as she felt like her breathing stopped at the mention of her mother. "Mom. Is Maeve gonna replace her?"

After Spencer listened to what she saidbas he looked at her. "Do you want her to?" He asks her like taking a fifty-fifty percent shot that she does want Maeve to replace her mother.

He watched as she got up from where she was sitting and made direct eye contact with him. "I mean you'll be happy again, well happy-er." She says as Spencer nodded his head at her having a tiny smile on his face.

"Good point." He says to her as she had a small smile growing on her face.

After making up they walked out of the house and Sydney was confused to see a huge basket in the passenger seat. All she could do was look amused as she knows what it is. "You were desperate, weren't you?"

Spencer looked at her as she was leaning against the car. He couldn't help but smile. "What gave it away?"

"Oh, I don't know." She says as she looked at the basket then looked at her dad. "Probably this huge ass basket in my spot."

"They didn't have any other sizes and a small one wasn't cutting it." He says as she managed to get into the car with the basket but she managed to do so.

After she got in he got into the car also, she was already digging into the basket and grabbed a candy bar.

"You were desperate sooo...." Sydney says making Spencer smile at her.

"Did it work?" He asks her as she split the other half of the candy bar which he automatically grabbed as sharing food is her love language.

Sydney smiles as she nods as she leaned her head on her Dad's arm as they drove to the apartment.

"Oh and also I found out of something." Spencer says as Sydney slowly ate a bag of chips as she was slowly chewing a chip. "Your teacher emailed me."

Sydney knew which teacher but wanted to act like she doesn't know what he's talking about. "Which one?"

"Your Physics teacher." Spencer answered her question as he knew what games that she was playing. Then again he's a profiler and he sees this on an everyday basis from criminals. "Your failing Physics."

"Oh that one, I didn't know about it." Sydney says as she knew that her dad giving her a look. She looked at him and indeed there was that look he raised and eyebrow.

"You did because your teacher also attached your report card. The same one where you changed the F to an A."

"Shit." Sydney cursed knowing that she got busted. She was hoping that he wouldn't notice that and or hear anything from her teacher. But atlas that didn't happen. They got to the apartment but when they got to the parking garage they didn't get out of the car.

When Sydney was trying to get out Spencer locked the door which resulted in Sydney giving him a look but he could careless. He was gonna get to the bottom of this as this isn't the type of behavior that comes from Sydney.

"You lied to me Sydney. Why?" He asks her as this isn't the behavior of Sydney. As he doesn't know about herself harming herself and or forcing herself not to eat.

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do." Spencer says as she sighs knowing that she can't get out of this.

"I guess I didn't want you to find out."

"What you thought I was gonna a be mad?" Spencer asks as Sydney avoided looking at him, but he could also tell that something was bothering her because she typically isn't this quiet. "What's wrong?"

She asks him visibly confused by the question, but he could see through her. If anyone could see through her besides Derek it would be Spencer.

"It's nothing."

"Syd come on don't so this, please. It's late."

"Can we deal with this tomorrow?"

"No, Syd come on baby." He says to her which makes her sigh.

She definitely knows that she can't get out of this anytime soon. So she musters up the courage to tell him. "People at school um...uh...um...b-bully...um me...before y-you ask Amelia spreads the lies...well some of them." She says as he looks at her as she has tears in her eyes.

He nods his head as he turned his head to her before she started explaining. His eyes furrowed together as his eyes widen slightly. "When did this all happen? What are 'some of them?" He asks her as her lip is quivering but she holds in a sob. When she didn't answer his questions that's when he gets suspicious. "Syd, what is Amelia talking about?" He asks as he isn't one to raise his voice at her, but if need be, he will.

She doesn't say anything as she takes off her hoodie which reveals her wrists that have scars on them. Which are lacerations on her wrists.

Spencer's eyes widen at the sight of the lacerations which are deep and going to formation scars. "How long has that been happening for?" He asked her as she's biting her now sore lip as it's starting to bleed with her chewing on it.

"A while. You remember when mom magically showed up at the door and Derek was talking about the cuts on my upper thighs." She says which was odd to him as he slowly nodded her head looking directly at her matching brown eyes. All he could see was pain and suffering and a scared girl who is too afraid of standing up for herself.

"Yeah." He says recalling what he saw as he grabbed his daughter's hands and held them in his.

"That's when um it got um bad. The lies that Amelia said around the school." Sydney says as Spencer then cups his daughter's cheeks with his hands. Right after he did that she let out her sob that she was holding in.

"You've been trying to commit, have you?" He asks her as in her sob she nods her head confirming. After she nodded her head. "Oh baby." He says to her as he brought her into his arms as he rubbed her back in efforts of calming her down. Not really knowing that it would work.

After a couple moments of them being like that even if it was nearing midnight but neither of them seemed to care in the slightest. Spencer was the one to break the hug and when he did he wiped his daughter's tears with the padding of her thumb. Which made her look at her Dad with red puffy eyes that broke his heart in every second as he's looking at her.

"I wanted to tell you but I couldn't." She says to him as he nods his head at her.

"I get it baby. I do." He tells her as he starts the car back up again as he leaned back to the back seat and grabbed the box of tissues and handed it to Syd which she took and blew her nose.

The whole ride back to the apartment was silent as Spencer was thinking over what was discussed in the car. They sorta have a rule.

What is said in the car stays in the car. Sorta like that saying: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. That's the closest thing that he tells himself of the situation. When they got back to the apartment Spencer carried the gift basket since he knew that Syd wouldn't have the energy to do it. She grabbed her key from her back pocket. Fumbled with it which resulted in her dropping it. Spencer tries not to laugh but he cleared his throat instead. Once Sydney got the key in the door and semi kicked it open. She wasted no time of heading towards her room and plopping herself on the bed. Immediately drifting off to sleep.

.....

hannah speaks!

hope you like this chapter!

❤️