A/n,
written for the Father's Day Prompt challenge over at the country song prompts
forum. Please check it out and
contribute both stories and country song prompts. It's under my forums and on the list of
Criminal Minds forums. Happy reading.
Disclaimer: I don't own CM or the
song "He Didn't Have To Be"by Brad Paisley
XXXX
Henry
Reid smiled as he stared through the glass of the nursery window at his newborn
daughter. Turning to the man standing
next to him, he said,
"I hope I'm half the father to
Maddy that you've been to me." Reid
blushed at the compliment.
"I'm glad to be your father. It was sad that Will chose not to stick with your mom once she found out she was
pregnant," Reid commented.
"Yeah, but you took up the slack
even though you didn't have to," Henry replied.
"It's been my pleasure to be your
father. You've done well for yourself,
Henry," Reid stated with pride. Smiling
Henry hugged the man who'd been his father for as long as he could remember.
"I remember the first time you
asked her out on a date," Henry said with a smile.
"So do I," the genius agreed.
XXXX
When a single
mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run
XXXX
A
four-year-old Henry Jareau was in his bed.
It was well past his bedtime but he couldn't sleep. His Uncle Reid was downstairs and he was
pretty sure he was going to ask his mommy to go out with him. Henry didn't quite understand what that
meant, but Jack had told him that it meant grown ups went out to places by
themselves. They do it when they like
each other the older boy had explained.
Henry knew he liked Reid. He did
fun stuff with him and he was nice to his mommy. He strained to hear as Reid began to
talk. Unable to hear very well, the
little boy crept silently from bed and stood at the top of the stairs so he
could hear what was happening..
XXXX
"I
had fun tonight, JJ. Thanks for inviting
me over for dinner," Spencer thanked her.
"You're welcome, Spence. We love having you over. Henry adores you and you're fantastic with
him. I think the 'Reid affect is a thing
of the past," she teased. Reid smiled he'd been thinking the same thing. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he smiled
nervously.
"Hey, JJ?" he asked softly.
"What is it, Spence?"
"Would you um, like to go on a date
with me? Maybe to the movies. Henry could go to." The media liaison smiled. She couldn't believe
the man she'd secretly loved for years was asking her on a date. Let alone the fact that he was willing to
include her son without any hesitation.
Most of the guys she'd dated since Henry was born always turned and ran
once they knew she had a kid.
"JJ?" Reid called.
"Oh, sorry, I was just lost in
thought. I'd love to go. Are you sure you don't mind Henry going?"
"Not at all. I know he's your first priority and to be
honest I love him and want to spend as much time with him as I can," Reid shyly
admitted. Leaning forward JJ placed a
soft kiss on Reid's lips. Blushing they
pulled apart and gave each other a smile.
"When were you thinking of going on
this date?" JJ wondered.
"How about Saturday? We can go to Pizza Hut and then the
movies. I know it's not a very romantic
date, but I want to make sure we go somewhere that's kid friendly. Maybe our next date can be just the two of us
and we can go somewhere a little more romantic," he added quickly.
"Our next date hmm?" JJ
repeated. Fearing he'd spoken to quickly
and assumed too much Reid tried to backpedal.
"Well I mean if you want to. I'm
sorry for just assuming you'd want to," Reid apologized quickly.
"Relax, Spence, of course I want to
go on a second date with you. I was just
teasing," the blonde told him. The two
of them began laughing and Reid gave her a sweet smile.
"Well I'd better go, but I'll see
you Saturday," Reid said.
"Yeah, I'm glad we have tomorrow
off. There's a lot to get done around
here," JJ commented.
"Call me if you need any help,"
Reid said as he placed a kiss on her lips then turned and left the house
leaving a smiling JJ and a very excited little boy in his wake.
XXXX
"That
date went well," Henry commented.
"Yes it did," Reid replied.
"It was nice to be able to go for
once. I know Mom struggled to find a guy
because all of them found out about me and ran.
All of them but you," the new father amended.
"I was committed to you and your
mom. I still am. I'm glad that JJ and I had Bethany and Jake
but you've always been my first child.
The fact that you're not biologically mine doesn't matter."
"Do you remember when you asked Mom
to marry you?" Henry questioned.
"Yes I do. You helped me. She definitely wasn't expecting that," the
profiler replied.
"No, she wasn't expecting it at
all. However, it was totally worth the look on her face," Henry agreed.
"That it was," Spencer said,
remembering the night.
XXXX
I met the man
I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she'd say yes
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
XXXX
"Are you ready to help surprise your
Mama, Henry?" Reid asked. The two of
them were in JJ's kitchen working on dinner.
"Yeah!" cried
the little boy.
"That's good
why don't you go pick some of those sunflowers your mommy likes so much," Reid
suggested.
"Okay," Henry
called out as he headed for the back door.
Spencer smiled as he thought about what was in store for everyone that
night. He'd managed to get the day off
so he told JJ he'd watch Henry so she didn't have to take him to daycare. When she asked him why he'd taken the day off
he just told her he had somethings to take care of. Nodding in understanding she'd kissed both
him and Henry then left for the BAU.
Spencer couldn't believe they'd been dating for a year. It had been the best year of his life.
"I goted the
flowers from the backyard like you told me to," Henry said proudly. Reid looked up as the five-year-old walked
back into the kitchen carrying the sunflowers that were JJ's favorite.
"That's great,
kiddo. Why don't you put them in that
vase on the counter then you can go watch TV until dinner's ready," Reid
suggested. Nodding Henry did what he was
told before scampering into the living room and settling in front of the TV.
XXXX
The wonderful smell of a homecooked
meal wafted through the house as JJ let herself in and kicked off her shoes.
"Spence,
Henry, where are you?" she called out.
"Mommy!" came
an excited yell as Henry barreled towards her.
JJ let out a surprised breath as he crashed into her legs.
"Hi there,
baby. Did you have fun with Spencer
today?"
"Yeah, I
pickedyou flowers and we maked you dinner."
"You mean you
made me dinner," the mother corrected.
"Yeah, that's
what I said, Mommy. Come on, you gotta
see the kitchen we made it real pretty," the little boy informed her.
"I'd love to
see it," she said taking her son by the hand and letting him drag her into the
kitchen. XXXX
Her breath caught as she saw the
candles and her boyfriend standing at the stove checking something.
"Oh, Spence,
this is amazing," she breathed.
"I'm glad you
like it. If you want to get changed,
dinner should be ready by the time you come down," Spencer offered.
"I think I'll
take you up on that, JJ said as she leaned in and placed a quick kiss on his
lips before turning and heading for the stairs.
XXXX
Dinner was going well and they'd
finally reached the dessert course. Reid
smiled at Henry and pointed towards the living room.
"Mommy,
Spencer and I have a present for you. Do
you want to see it?"
"I'd love to,
sweetie."
"Okay, stay
there and close your eyes. No peaking,
Mommy. I mean it," the little boy said
seriously.
"My eyes are
closed and I won't peak, I promise," she replied. A couple of minutes went by before Henry
reappeared in the dining room.
"Okay, you can
open them now," Henry instructed. JJ
opened her eyes to find her little boy standing their with a teddy bear with a
jewelry box tied to the ribbon around the bear's neck.
"Thank you,
baby," she said taking the bear.
Reaching for the box she opened it.
Frowning slightly when she realized it was empty she glanced up to where
Spencer had been sitting to see if he knew what was going on. He wasn't in his chair anymore, though. He was down on one knee in front of her
holding out the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen.
"Will you
marry me, Jennifer Beth Jareau?"
"Yes! Yes I will marry you!" she cried tears
sliding down her face as she threw herself into Reid's arms and covered his
face in kisses. Taking her left hand he
slid the ring on her fourth finger. It
was a perfect fit.
"Hey Spencer,
can I ask you something?" Henry asked shyly drawing the adults out of their own
little world.
"Sure you can,
Henry," the genius told him.
"Now that
you're gonna marry my mommy, does that mean you're going to be my daddy?" The room went silent and Reid threw JJ a
quick look. She just smiled at him and
patted his arm.
"That depends,
do you want me to be your daddy?" Spencer questioned.
"Yes I do,"
Henry exclaimed.
"Then yes, I'd
love to be your daddy," the male agent replied.
"Yay! I love you, Daddy," Henry cried throwing
himself into Reid's arms and hugging him as tight as his little arms could.
"I love you
to, enry," Reid said tears clogging his throat.
He finally had the one thing he'd been wanting all his life. He had a family.
XXXX
I met the girl
that's now my wife about three years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in
And now all of a sudden
It seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me
And I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Because he didn't have to be
You know he didn't have to be XXXX
A lot of things have happened
since then," Reid commented as he stared transfixed at his granddaughter.
"I can't believe
it's been three years since I met Sarah," Henry reflected.
"Now you're
married and have a beautiful little girl," his father replied.
"Yeah, she's
pretty precious, isn't she?" Henry said with a proud smile.
"That she is,"
Reid agreed.
"Would you
like to hold her, Grandpa?" Henry offered.
"I'd love to,"
Reid responded.
"Well come on
then," Henry said entering the nursery his father in towe. Settling in one of the rocking chairs, Reid
waited for Henry to place Madeline Diana Reid in his arms.
"Here you go,
Maddy. Here's your Grandpa. I hope I'm at least half the dad he didn't
have to be," Henry said gently placing histiny daughter into his father's arms.
Finished!
A/n, please
read and review.