A/N: I don't own Criminal Minds…you know the drill. I do, however, own Elizabeth Rose, although some of her is credited to my niece and nephews.

This is a companion piece to "Partners," taking place in my "Second Chances" universe. It won't be updated as regularly as "Partners" – just as a moment comes to me so you may want to add it to your alerts. It will be character driven, not plot, with its primary focus on Reid and his daughter, Elizabeth Rose (Ella). JJ, Henry, and the others will make appearances, and perhaps even take over a chapter here and there, but the Father/Daughter relationship will be the focus. Although this chapter starts at her birth, it likely won't follow a chronological order, but rather skip around as inspiration hits. Ella's age will always be stated at the beginning of each chapter.

A shout out to mabelreid, who's "Memoirs of a Godfather" and some discussions we've had inspired this story idea. If you haven't read that, I recommend it.

The title comes from a cherished memory with my own father, who used to sing "You are my Sunshine" to me at night. Although it's a Johnny Cash song, and it's actually about a lost love, I'll always associate the chorus with lying in my bed as my dad kissed my forehead and lulled me to sleep with his off key but lovely voice. He was – and is – a pretty amazing guy, which is likely why I haven't found my own version of Spencer Reid in my life, expectations pretty high. We all know Reid would be an amazing father, just like my own, so it seemed fitting to honor him, and my own, with that lovely memory.

For those unfamiliar with the song, here is the chorus. It may come up later on so I wanted everyone familiar with it.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

As always, please read and review! Now, on with the cuteness.

Chapter 1: A Dream

Age: minutes old

It felt like a dream.

The first time he held his daughter – his daughter – it didn't feel real.

How had this happened? Of course, he knew the biology behind it all; having obviously been there at the moment of her conception, but how had this happened?

When he was in his early twenties, the idea of having a child was unappealing to him. At the time, he was more concerned about his own survival in the world, too self-absorbed to consider bringing another life into the world and putting their needs ahead of his own. Maybe self-absorbed wasn't the right word…self-preservation, perhaps. He was so worried then about following in the foot steps of his mother that he didn't really even open himself up to the idea of love, of parenthood, of a family of his own.

So how did he get here?

One word: Henry.

Well, make that two: JJ and Henry.

Having his friend, the woman who had secretly captured his heart a long time ago, have such faith and revere for him to put her newborn son in his charge as godfather had changed his life. When he held that little baby boy he felt the weight that his new title bestowed upon him. He felt this need to protect, to encourage, to love this bundle in blue. It was a feeling that was foreign to him. He may have been in love with the baby's mom, but he knew that was unrequited love. This, however…he had a good chance of that love being returned as Henry grew up.

Eventually feeling that love returned in smiles, hugs, giggles, and when Henry was old enough, the actual words, made him finally feel that desire to someday have this as his own. But, that meant giving up the love for the boy's mom so he could make room for another.

Or so he thought.

He wasn't sure if he believed in God, a higher being that could impact the lives of his believers. But, he was a believer of the universe, of science. Of how one, seemingly small or even meaningless event can cause the domino effect of something much larger. He believed in how the flap of a butterfly's wings in California could have a cascading effect and lead to a tsunami in Japan. He believed in how atoms, small and not very impactful themselves, could join together to create stars, galaxies, and the universe when put together.

As he looked over his life, he could pinpoint that exact event – when something fairly insignificant led to this very significant one right now.

A tornado in Kansas.

If they hadn't had such severe weather during that case when Henry was sick, JJ would have gone home during the case. She wouldn't have been standing by the window, worrying about her son, while they waited out the storm. Morgan wouldn't have been there to nudge him to talk to her. Which, in turn, probably would have kept him from visiting Henry that weekend when Will left. Would he have even left? Knowing what he knew now about their relationship, they probably would have gotten to that breaking point, but when? Would he have finally moved on when she was finally available?

Talking to her – hugging and comforting her – that night at the station, seemed like a small event between two friends still trying to repair their damaged relationship. It was really the start of something new between two people in love, even if they hadn't acted on those feelings yet.

Those feelings that led him to today.

He watched as the nurses helped Dr. Ferguson clean up his little girl some, barely remembering cutting her umbilical cord. Soon she was placed in JJ's arms and he reached out, gently touching this life he helped create. She shared some of his DNA. In the very back corners of his mind, he hoped that wasn't a curse, but mostly he just couldn't believe he had helped produce this beautiful life before him.

After a few minutes, the nurses took her back so they could do her official check over and finish cleaning her up before swaddling her in a warm blanket. It was during that time that another helped JJ into a wheelchair and gently escorted them into a new room; out of the delivery room. He felt this desire to go back to where his daughter was to make sure she was safe. He was almost back out he door, in fact, when a nurse wheeled in his daughter in the basinet. He barely heard JJ encouraging him to hold their baby, his body already taken over with that exact desire.

He gently, carefully – and admittedly, a little nervously – picked up his little girl and cradled her in his arms. She fussed a little, still figuring out life outside of the womb, and his instinctually rocked her. "Hello Elizabeth Rose."

Her eyes opened as she settled, responding to his voice. He held her gaze for a moment and the world stopped.

It felt like a dream.

His heart swelled with love and awe as he realized it wasn't a dream. It was very real. This was his life.

He was a father.

And she was his daughter.

His light, his beacon, his…sunshine.