Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds and no copyright infringement is intended. I do, however, claim ownership of my own original characters.

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William Reid sat on his bunk and shuffled through the letters he'd gotten over the last few months. He pulled out the first one he'd received a short time after Spencer and Allie's wedding. He hadn't recognized the handwriting. He started to reread the letter he'd read many times.

Hi there,

Hi, you don't know me. My name is Allie and Spencer and I just got married. I don't really know what to call you, Mr. Reid, William or Dad. Spencer and I received the card and letter you sent. Thank you for the kind wishes. I think Spencer is still trying to come to terms with your letter. He's been hurt so much in his life so you have to give him time. Do not give up hope. Although it sometimes takes Spencer a while to come around, when he eventually does, he is totally committed. So you may have to wait until he's ready but I can speak from experience that Spencer Reid is worth the wait. I thought I would write to you and if I can smooth things over in any way between you and Spencer, I'll try but he will always be my first concern and we are expecting a baby who will also be my priority.

I work at the FBI in Questioned Documents. That's where I first met Spencer. I had a report for him and he came to get it. I turned around from my desk and looked into the most beautiful brown eyes I'd ever seen. Your son has the most beautifully radiant smile. I was blown away in that moment and I didn't even know what an amazing guy he was. I know a little of how you feel, I had to make the first move with Spencer because he's very shy. It didn't take me long to be totally in love with him and sometimes I still have to pinch myself to believe he loves me.

Our wedding was lovely. Spencer said the most beautiful things to me. I love your son so much. It's like he's the other part of myself. I have sent you a couple of pictures, one of the wedding party where you can see Evan's girlfriend Bethany and one of Evan, Spencer and myself. I don't know if you're allowed pictures or not but I thought you might like them.

Our honeymoon was short and quiet. We didn't have much time because I don't have any vacation right now and missed a lot of work due to my accident and my appendectomy. We went to a small country inn for a couple of days. We just wanted to spend our time with each other without sights to see and timetables to keep. Spencer had a masseuse come the first afternoon to get all the stress from the wedding out of me. It was wonderful. Then he had them bring breakfast in bed for me each morning. The first night we were there we were dining in this little lounge and we were the only ones there. Spencer went to this old jukebox they had there and picked some music and danced with me. Spencer hates to dance because he never learned how and didn't go to any of the dances when he was in school seeing he was so much younger than the other students. He knows I love it and he did it for me. It was so special, but the best part was hearing him say to people, "This is my wife, Allie."

As I told you, I'm expecting a baby. I'm three months pregnant now and my clothes are just starting to get too tight. At one time Spencer was against ever having children. He was afraid of the possibility of becoming schizophrenic like his mother and passing it on to an innocent child but that threat lessens with each passing day. He was also afraid he would not know how to be a good father because of not having a role model when he was a child. I'm sorry if that hurts you but that's how he felt. Like I said, once he comes around, and he has come around, he's totally committed. He's busy making plans for the baby. He's reading child care books and vows to be the best father he can and I have every faith in him.

I must say this, with all that's happened between you and Spencer, I should hate you but I can't. I may be angry with you over what my husband has had to endure because of your actions but you are his father and I would not have this wonderful man were it not for you and Mrs. Reid. So, whatever else I may feel about you, for that I am grateful to you.

I don't think Spencer is ready for regular correspondence so if you want to write back you could send the letters to me at the FBI in Quantico c/o the forensic department. I hope you keep well. Take care of yourself and stay as safe as you can.

Your daughter-in-law

Allie

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Spencer gave Allie his arm to help her out of the SUV. He grabbed her suitcase and went around to the other side of the vehicle to get Joanna who had drifted off to sleep during the ride from the hospital. Allie walked slowly, still uncomfortable from the delivery. "Do you want me to take her honey," she asked, knowing the answer she'd get.

"No, I got her," Reid replied.

Allie was glad they were home. She didn't think Spencer had gotten five hours sleep in the last three days. He was so determined to be a good father that every time Joanna moved he was at the bassinet checking on her. She had told him to go home and the nurses had told him to go home. Mom and Dad and the team had told him to go home but he'd stayed by his wife and daughter's side the entire time.

Allie opened the door to the sound of her mother's voice. "Welcome home sweetheart," she said as Allie climbed the stairs slowly to the main living area. She sat gingerly on a chair in the living room as Spencer put the baby carrier on the coffee table and was about to release the baby when he was pushed out of the way by Joan. "That's fine Spencer, I've got her but I do have something I want you to do for me." Reid looked at her, his eyes questioning. "I want you to go to that bedroom over there," she pointed to his and Allie's room, "And I want you to get some sleep."

"But Joanna might…" he began, only to be cut off by his mother-in-law.

"Uh, uh, uh, no arguments young man. If Joanna needs anything Allie, Lloyd and I are here."

"But Allie, she shouldn't do too much. I don't want her to be overtired."

"That's why Lloyd and I are here," Joan countered. "Don't worry, please go get some sleep."

Spencer stood up, bent and kissed his daughter on the forehead, then crouched in front of Allie. "If you need anything, wake me up okay." Allie nodded and kissed him, begging him to get some sleep. "Okay, okay, I'm going," he said as he headed down the hall to the room he shared with Allie.

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William opened his second letter looking at the words in the swirling, loopy handwriting he now recognized as that of his daughter-in-law and began to read Allie's words.

Hi Dad,

It feels strange to call someone other than my father that but I'm glad you asked me to. I got your letter and I'm pleased that your sessions with Dr. Raymond are going well and you're delving into your relationships with Evan and Spencer.

Spencer and I are looking at houses. He feels with the baby coming and my family visiting, that we need a bigger place. He's right, of course. We've seen some nice places but way outside our price range. Spencer is such a smart consumer. He reads everything and knows all the questions to ask.

We had a birthday party for Spencer last Saturday. Luckily the team didn't have a case. Spencer didn't know what to make of it. All these people came with gifts. He said he'd never had anything like that before. The team was here and Anderson and Lynch from the FBI. Evan came with a whole group of kids who had helped teach Spencer to play baseball for a charity tournament the FBI had. Spencer apparently had never played the game. One of the boys, Julian, who was the school bully until Spencer decided to help him, gave Spencer his most special gift. It was a mounted baseball signed by the team and all the kids. Spencer was really touched, he teared up a little. Then we brought the cake out and sang to him. He blew out the candles with trepidation. I guess the team had gotten him a cake a few of years ago with trick candles that wouldn't blow out. Spencer had never seen anything like that before so Morgan said he kept trying to blow them out. I didn't do anything like that to him. You should have seen him after everyone left. He thought he was alone and I was in the shower and he picked up each card and ran his fingers over it and read them all again. He put them all on the island between the kitchen and the living room and when we went to bed, he went back out to the living room and got the baseball and put it on the nightstand where it still sits, one of the first things he sees when he wakes up in the morning.

I had another sonogram yesterday because the doctor considers, due to the injuries I sustained in my car accident, that I'm high risk. I'm trying not to let that thought get to me. Everything was fine. Hearing that heartbeat again was something else. We could really see something this time. Spencer was mesmerized by the image on the screen. The doctor even gave us a picture. She asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby but we thought about it and said no.

Spencer has become a major watchdog over my pregnancy. I can't lift. I can't walk too far. I can't take out the trash. Well, okay, that one I really don't mind. He's started saying he should do more for me, like cook dinner. Spencer Reid is so many wonderful things but he's no Emeril Lagasse. He's very heavy into the child care books now and I think he knows how to handle every childhood ailment known to man.

He makes me laugh sometimes with his matter of fact scientific approach to everything and the next minute he's down on his knees by the couch having a very serious conversation with my stomach. But, of course, some studies have shown that babies in the womb can hear and if they can then you can bet Spencer Reid is going to be talking to his child. It's so endearing when he looks up from one of his discussions and these big eyes that are windows to a soul that has been hurt too much and witnessed too much, shine with this childlike wonder. He makes me happy every day. Anyway, I have to go now. Take care, Dad.

Yours,

Allie

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Spencer woke with a start, thinking he heard the alarm clock but soon realized that wasn't it. Then the sound penetrated his consciousness. It was crying. Joanna was crying. He jumped out of bed and ran to the crib but she wasn't there. He hurried down the hall to the living room to find her being rocked in her grandmother's arms. "What's wrong with her," he asked?

"Dunno," Joan replied, "Sometimes babies cry."

"Is she wet," he asked?

"No, just changed her," his mother-in-law told him.

"Maybe she's hungry," Reid suggested.

"I just fed her," Allie said.

"Did you burp her afterwards," Spencer asked in all seriousness only to be met with his wife and her parents erupting into laughter. "What's so funny," he wanted to know.

"Spencer, I've had three children," Joan replied, "I know how to look after a baby." Reid nodded but he didn't look quite sure.

"Fine," Joan relented, "If you think you can do a better job, she's all yours." She handed the crying baby to her son-in-law.

Spencer rocked her and talked to her in baby talk, much to the amusement of the others, but to no avail. The newborn just kept crying. "Joanna," Reid said sternly, "This is your father; you are to stop crying this instant." He thought the baby looked at him but he wasn't quite sure because her eyes seemed to go all over the place, but she suddenly stopped crying. Reid nodded and carried the baby to the nursery, placing her in the crib and making sure she was covered. He turned on the mobile over the crib and it began to move while playing a lullaby. Reid sat in the rocking chair to watch her.

Allie came into the room to check on them a while later and found them both fast asleep. She retrieved the quilt they'd bought in Lake Louise from the living room and covered her husband, kissing him softly on the forehead. She turned on the baby monitor and tiptoed from the room leaving sleeping beauty and prince charming to their dreams.