A/n hello all... Here's something for the Fourth of July. It's short, just two chapters. Many thanks to CrImInAlMiNdScSiNyFaN87 for the idea. Also many thanks to my awesome beta REIDFANTIC for her help and support.

Disclaimer: See my profile

The sky was slowly moving from the deep violet of the early dawn, to pink and gold. The breeze in the trees tossed the branches back and forth in a sinuous dance. The perfume of summer flowers wafted across the porch that fronted the large house which was set back from Edgewood Ave in Arlington Virginia.

The woman sitting in the porch swing drifted slowly back and forth. The chains that held the swing in place creaked just a bit in the early morning air. The wooden slats that held her weight were painted white as were the arm rests and the back rest.

The only thing to really break the stillness of the dawn was a small gasp of pain from the occupant of the porch swing. She rubbed her belly and softly chided the baby for kicking her in the ribs again.

"How is mommy supposed to get any sleep when you kick me?" She admonished the baby. "I don't mind watching the sun come up, but not after a sleepless night."

The baby didn't respond except to kick her again. "Well… I guess this is why my mom used to say when she told me she hoped I'd have kids just like me. You're a smart ass, little one."

There was no answering kick, but there was another pain across her back. The first one had woken her two hours ago. JJ was one week away from her due date, so she muttered "You better not make an appearance today, Mommy has too much to do."

After shifting positions, the pain went away. As the sun began to scale the morning sky, it got warmer on the porch. Too warm for comfort, so she retreated to the air conditioned comfort of the new home they'd moved into just six months ago.

The smell of coffee was the first thing to greet her nose when she walked into the entryway just off their living room. He did it on purpose… But then, he wasn't the one that was pregnant. Still, it was mean to have yummy coffee right in front of her.

He stood leaning against the counter with a dark green mug in his hands that was steaming. His hair was tousled and he wore a pair of black sweat pants and a green tee shirt that matched the cup in his hands. His feet were bare and one was crossed over the other, while one hand rested on the counter. He looked over the rim of the cup and smiled at her.

"Don't try and charm me mister…" She said severely.

"What…"

"You and your damn coffee… It smells so good, and I can't have any."

He put the coffee mug on the counter and looked at her with the face of an angel, but his eyes were full of suppressed laughter.

"Don't pout JJ… It's not attractive."

"It's a very good thing for you that I'm carrying your child, or you would be so dead right now."

"Whatever you say my darling…"

"Don't try to score points."

"I'm not," Reid said. He left his position at the counter and walked over to hug his wife. "I love you."

"Good answer Dr. Reid."

"Now… let's have some breakfast." He gently ordered.

--

Morgan left the kitchen with Clooney close on his heels. He balanced a silver tray on his hands that was loaded down with plates, silverware, and glasses that were filled with food and drink. Clooney whined up at him.

"Hey… you got something to eat while I was cooking this masterpiece." He reminded the pooch at his side.

Clooney chuffed at him and Morgan chuckled. "I know… You think that all the food in the house is yours."

Clooney wagged his tail and Morgan laughed. "I don't think so boy. Let's get this into our goddess." Clooney barked and ran ahead of his master to the bedroom at the end of the hallway.

"Hey… remember me… The one that feeds you," Morgan yelled good-naturedly after the retreating dog.

Penelope sat propped up in bed looking much more comfortable now that Morgan had helped her to the bathroom and getting into clean cotton pajamas. The pajama top had a white unicorn with a rainbow colored horn on the front of it, and the bottoms were white with a red stripe down the outside of the legs.

"Lookin' good baby girl," Morgan rumbled happily.

He put the tray on one side of the bed and went around kissing his wife and giving her baby belly a playful rub.

"Hey stud… that smells great."

"Of course it does… Clooney gave it his seal of approval."

The dog wagged his tail and Morgan laughed. "Okay… say hello to Penelope, but don't jump up."

Clooney chuffed indignantly. He sat down and gently reared up to put his paws on the bed next to Penelope. She obliged his gentleness by patting his head. Morgan returned to his side of the bed and settled in next to her.

"Why does he love you better than me?" He complained while Penelope reached for her plate of fruit and some creamy scrambled eggs.

"He doesn't," She said soothingly.

"You don't have to lie to me."

"I'm not…" She looked down at the dog and said, "Clooney, go show Daddy how much you like him."

The dog seemed reluctant to leave, but with much baby talk, and encouragement from his mistress, he left her side and went to lick Derek's hand.

"Oh that's great… He looked like he was headed to the gas chamber."

"No he didn't…"

"Fine… I'm not going to argue with you." He picked up a slice of bacon and crunched through it while Clooney watched him.

"So… When are Reid and JJ coming to see us?" Penelope asked after a long comfortable silence.

"They'll be here at about one o'clock. I don't want you to worry about it. Reid and I can handle a barbecue for the four of us."

"I trust you stud." She assured him while Clooney continued to beg for food.

Morgan leaned over and kissed her with a loud smack. "I love you baby girl."

"I know…" She said comfortably.

Morgan collected their dishes and put them on the tray. "I'm going to load the dishwasher and then get the grill ready."

He turned on the baby monitor he insisted on carrying around with him so he could hear if his goddess needed him for anything. When he'd left the room, Penelope pulled her left hand out from under the blanket and tossed a bit of bacon she'd stolen from Derek's plate to Clooney. The dog barked and accepted the gift by wolfing it down.

"Good boy…" The dog came back to her side of the bed and lay down. "We won't tell Derek about that, will we?" She patted his head and he licked her hand.

--

It was one pm when Reid pulled the car into the driveway at Morgan's house. The door to the house was open with the screen door shut against insects. He looked over at his wife who was fanning herself with a folded piece of paper despite the air conditioned interior of the car. He wondered for the fifth time since getting in the car if this was a good idea.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked her.

"I'm fine… It's the Fourth of July… let's enjoy it." She smiled at him and he was blown away again by how beautiful she looked in the purple tunic she wore with white three quarter length cotton shorts. He thought that she really did glow like pregnant women were supposed to.

"You're really sure," His large eyes were anxiously searching her face.

"Yes… Let's go in before the ice cream melts." She had a liter of root beer sitting between her legs on the floor and she reached for it.

"No… I'll take that," He ordered.

--

Derek crossed to the front door when the bell rang, but didn't beat his dog there. Clooney was barking and wagging his tail so fast it was almost a blur.

"Okay… I'm coming," Morgan said. "I think we need to teach you how to open the door."

The dog barked and someone said from the other side, "Hey Morgan… hurry up, it's hot out here."

Morgan opened the door and grinned at JJ who was scowling at him. "Come on in…"

Clooney gave them both a sniff. He also gave Reid a very wary stare and barked. "Guess we know the Reid affect is still working." Morgan laughed.

"That's very funny… You want to take this ice cream and soda before I drop it."

Morgan took the soda and with Clooney on his heels took it too the kitchen. JJ followed after him and Reid went to the living room.

"Is she okay…" JJ asked.

"You can stop worrying," Morgan said as he put the ice cream in the freezer. "Penelope is as strong as they come."

"Yeah… but she's been on bed rest for four weeks now, and she's not due for another three weeks... Is she going to make it now that she can't work?"

Morgan had pulled out apples, grapes and melon for a fruit salad from the fridge. He put the fruit on the counter and turned back to JJ. "I don't know… You know how she is… She wants to help me out. She doesn't believe that Kevin is a good enough replacement for her job."

"She loves you, and being at the end of the phone when you call for help with background information makes her feel in control."

Morgan put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. "You should be a profiler. You know how to get to the heart of the problem."

"No… I just know my friends."

Morgan squeezed her shoulders again and then went back to washing the fruit in the large metal colander he'd pulled from the cabinet.

"She's in our room if you want to see her." He told JJ.

"Trying to get rid of me…"

"No… I just know she wants to see you."

She was leaving the kitchen when Morgan hollered after her. "Tell that husband of yours to get in here and help me."

"Okay…"

--

Garcia had her lap top open and was deep into a Tetris tournament when she heard the knock at the door. She heard her friends talking to Morgan and Clooney barking. Her sweet boy was here and so was her sunshine. It was going to be a good day.

The footsteps in the hallway a bit later alerted her to JJ coming into the room. "Hey sunshine… How's my girl?"JJ came around the bed and leaned down to hug her friend. "I'm fine, but then I'm not going to have twins like you."

"Oh don't worry about me… I'm fine!" Garcia waved her off.

"I thought the doctor said to rest… Why are you playing in your computer?" JJ said sternly after taking a seat in the glider rocker next to the night table.

"Tetris is very relaxing," Garcia said.

"Right… Are you sure your doctor would approve?"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Now tell me… Is my baby boy behaving himself?"

"Nice way to change the subject."

"I'm okay Jayje… I promise I've been a good girl." She gave JJ a very significant and exasperated look, "I'm married to Mr. Overprotective."

JJ giggled at her friend's tone. "You don't know Spencer. Yesterday he decided that standing in the shower was too dangerous and he bought one of those shower benches old people use."

Garcia laughed, "I can top that. Derek decided a week ago that security system needed to be upgraded and he blackmailed Agent Davidson to do it for free."

"You're kidding… How did he - wait I don't want to know. If you don't tell me, I can't testify against him."

Garcia giggled and they spent the next ten minutes trying to outdo each other with stories about their husbands since becoming pregnant.

JJ's laughter faded off and she smiled a little wistfully. "I have to admit that the bench is pretty cool. Who wants to stand in a shower when you're looking like a whale with swollen feet?" She rubbed absently at her abdomen.

"Yeah… the new security system is state of the art and easy to use. I feel safer." Penelope admitted.

"Let's promise not to tell the guys." JJ said.

"You're on… Now why don't we -" She gasped and her eyes went and panicky.

"Hey… What's the matter?"

"I think my water just broke."

TBC