Author's Note: I know this chapter is ridiculously short. I apologize. This was actually intended to be a one-shot, but I wanted to at least get it started and I have to be up in less than 4 hours. This is my first Criminal Minds fic, so I hope it's not too terrible. For some reason the idea for this came to me a long time ago when this song came on and I've finally decided to write it out. I promise the rest of the chapters will be much longer. Please let me know what you think.

It's a cold winter night in Chicago. The fireplace is lit and the snow is falling gently outside.

As she stands in front of the fireplace, Fran Morgan picks up the photo sitting on the mantle. It's nights like these that are particularly hard, even after all these years. It's nights like these when she most misses her husband's arms wrapping around her, securing her in their warmth.

There were many things Fran wanted for her children. She wanted them to be happy. Healthy. To find love.

But most of all, she wanted them to never have to feel the pain she felt when she lost her husband. The pain she's carried with her for years.

Which was what would make the phone call so much harder to take.

It was a few months later. Summer. Happy time.

Both Sarah and Desiree were staying with their mother for a week. It was summer vacation for Sarah's students as well as Desiree, who was finally almost done with her Master's degree.

Desi was busy chatting away, she and her boyfriend telling her mother how they met, when the shrill cry of the phone ringing cut her off.

Fran got up to answer, a smile still on her face.

"Hello!" she answered cheerily.

"Mrs. Morgan?"

The smile immediately slipped from her face. She knew that tone when she heard it. The tone that always brings with it terrible news. Her thoughts immediately went to Derek, sure something must have happened to him. Finally, she found her voice.

"Yes?"

"My name is David Rossi. I work with your son at the BAU."

Her hands were shaking. "Ye-Yes, Mr. Rossi. I know who you are. What…What can I do for you?"

"Ma'am…I hate to be the one delivering this news to you."

"Is Derek alive?"

She had cut Rossi off before he could continue. Whatever had happened to her baby, she didn't want the long drawn out explanation. She needed to know.

"Yes, ma'am. Derek is alive. He's…physically fine."

"Then what is it?"

"Ma'am…it's R-Spencer. Spencer Reid is dead."

TBC