An: Hi everyone! I'm here with a new story, I wasn't happy with a few of my old ones so I'm starting again. I owe a huge thanks to JJCM, aMUSEment345, Mabelreid, and Ann Parker for helping me get my story off the ground! I hope to get feedback from everyone!
"Mommy!" JJ groaned as she heard the beckoning war cry of her four year old son. "Mommy! Wake up!" The small blonde ordered at the end of her bed. With an over dramatic sigh JJ rolled over throwing a pillow over top of her head, knowing very well her son would have something to say about this. His feet padded across the floor to where her head lay on the bed. "Mommy, daddy will be here soon! I need to pack!"
The blonde mother's eyes opened and darted directly to the digital clock; it read one minute to six thirty. "Henry, baby," JJ tried her best to smile as she sat up and lifted her son onto her bed. "Daddy isn't coming until noon, we still have time until he comes and gets you. Why don't we relax in mommy's bed for a bit?" She suggested very hopefully that she would be getting a few more hours of sleep.
Except the blonde child had different ideas… "Can we call Uncle Spence and ask him to take us for pancakes?! Please mommy! Please! Please!" Henry begged with big blue puppy dog eyes.
The team had been having a lot of back to back cases which resulted in Henry losing much valuable time with his godfather. Spencer had promised the young boy that they could go for pancakes one weekend to make up for all the times he canceled on him. Since Will left a few months ago Spencer had dedicated his spare time to being the father figure in Henry's life now. Will was still around somewhat he Skyped, called, and FaceTimed often but living all the way out back in New Orleans left little time for him to spend with his son. JJ and Will had come to a mutual agreement that for a few weeks every month Henry would go out to New Orleans and spend that time learning about the different culture out there until he started school again in September. At least that's how Spencer Reid explained it when JJ threw a massive fit at Will in the middle of the office when he requested the idea.
"Please mommy!" Henry begged.
JJ brushed the light blonde strands of hair out of her son's face. "Okay," she caved. "I will call but you have to go get dressed and brush your teeth." The four year old let out a shout of happiness before jumping off the bed and zooming out of the room.
Unplugging her phone from the charger JJ hit the speed dial and waited for him to answer. Spencer was never much of a sleeper so she was expecting him to be awake and like always he was. "Hey JJ! What's wrong?" He answered quickly, JJ never called him before eight.
"Nothing Spence." She couldn't help but grin he was always on his toes. "Henry and I were wondering if you would be up for getting pancakes with us on this fine early morning."
A thud was heard on the other end of the phone that made JJ jump. "Sorry!" Spencer sputtered. "I dropped my book… Sorry…"
JJ laughed, "it's no problem, so pancakes? Up for it?"
"Yeah… Yeah! Definitely, I'll be there in twenty. I'll drive." Reid answered, they said their goodbyes and hung up. JJ threw the covers back and walked across the cold wood floor to the wardrobe that sat on the far side of the room. Changing into jeans and an overly large Redskins jersey she left her room to check on Henry.
"How's it going little man?" Henry's mother asked him as she watched her son try to do up the buttons of his cardigan. "Need help?"
"No! I can do it mommy!" Henry exclaimed as he frantically missed buttoned it. "Done!" His smile was bright. "Is uncle Spence taking us for pancakes?" The little boy was so hopeful of this, he missed his uncle like crazy.
JJ kneeled down to fix his buttons. "Yes he is, and he will be here very soon so go brush your teeth and use the potty so we can go." She barely finished her sentence before the blonde lightning bolt took off towards the washroom. He pulled the stool on from under the sink so he could reach the faucets.
Spencer pulled up outside of JJ's house and let a slight smile peek through his lips. There was always something about the gorgeous white house, and the perfectly watered green grass that made him happy. Or maybe it was because he imagined himself living in that house, raising Henry and loving JJ… That thought made his smile turn into a grin.
He got out of the car and knocked three times on the door waiting for an answer. "Uncle Spence!" He heard Henry cry from behind the door. "Mommy answer it!" The little boy knew enough not to answer the door alone.
JJ unlocked the door and opened it slowly as she attempted to stop Henry from running out. "Good morning Spence, how are you?" She greeted once she opened the door fully with Henry in her arms.
Henry struggled against his mother's arms into his uncle's. "I'm good JJ, I'm really glad you called I've missed him." He confessed as he shifted Henry over his hip. "Are you ready for Pancakes buddy?"
"Yeah!" Henry cheered. "Pancakes! Pancakes! Bacon, eggs and pancakes!"
The entire way to the IHOP Henry sang his song eventually getting his mom and uncle to join in with him.
They were seated quickly just before the morning breakfast rush so there was a fair amount of peace during their breakfast. Henry had ordered chocolate chip pancakes which he devoured the moment they were placed in front of him. JJ had banana pancakes and Spencer blueberry, they had spent the morning talking about Henry's first big trip to New Orleans. Spencer was telling the boy all about the birds and bugs he would see while he was up there. JJ talked to him about safety at the airport and that he was to stay with his daddy at all times no matter what! JJ was extremely nervous about leaving her son in a different state, it was different from when she was on a case… Henry wasn't going to be at home.
"Uncle Spence have you ever been to New Orleans?" Henry asked as his mother cut up his pancakes.
Spencer choked a little on his coffee before putting the mug down. "Yeah Henry, yeah I have for work."
"Was it fun?"
Spencer tried to contain his thoughts… It was probably one of the worst trips he had ever been on. He ran from the team, lied to them, watched JJ fall in love, but he admitted he had a problem. "Uh yeah, the city is nice. I have a friend who lives there and he loves it."
Henry nodded, Spencer couldn't help but notice the hesitation in his godsons voice. "Daddy said we can go see alligators and turtles… and the wax museum."
"You mean the Musée Conti Wax Museum?" Henry nodded. "It is beautiful, you will learn all about the French Creoles. You can see beautiful costumes, authentic décor and hear stories of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, two legends in New Orleans lore. You will hear the story of how they found swamp land that came to be New Orleans. You may also learn about Napoleon and when he sold Louisiana as well as the pirate Jean Lafitte."
The blondes boy eyes widened. "A pirate! Mommy I'm going to learn about a real pirate!" He exclaimed the waitress who was refilling Spencer and JJ's coffee couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
"Jean Lafitte was a French-American pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name L-a-f-f-i-t-e, but English-language documents of the time used "L-a-f-i-t-t e".
JJ's hand reached over to pat Spencer's hand. "Okay Spence let's save some facts for the tour."
After bickering with JJ for ten minutes about the bill Spencer paid the whole thing before getting the Jareau's into his car. "So am I still picking you up for Rossi's party tonight?" Reid asked as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.
JJ's eyes widened. "I completely forgot about that!" The senior agent of their team had decided to host a party with his work family to show off his new gazebo and Morgan was bringing the drinks which only meant trouble. "Yes you still are- if you don't mind I mean." JJ blushed. "Say around seven?"
"Seven is perfect." After they were dropped off JJ rushed around the house looking for everything Henry needed for his trip.
"Tooth brush?"
"Check!" Henry replied.
"Hair brush?"
"Check!"
"Clean underwear?"
"Check!"
"Curious George?"
"Umm…" The literary famous monkey had been a gift from his godfather and Henry never went to bed without it. "He's not in the bag mommy…" Two fat tears started to crawl down the little boys face.
JJ rubbed the top of his head in comfort. "Check the bathroom okay? Or the kitchen?"
Crisis was averted when Henry came charging back in swinging the monkey around.
"He was by the coat rack!" The two finished their packing just in time for the knock on the door. JJ carried the suitcase down the stairs and unlocked the door for her ex-boyfriend.
"Hi Will." JJ greeted as she handed him the case. "I hope you guys have a good time…" She was trying her best to be supportive and happy about all of this for Henry's sake but in all honesty it was slowly killing her inside… A whole week away from her son!
"Thanks Cher- I mean JJ…" that nickname was just a force of habit. " I promise he'll call every night." Will smiled the best he could he knew this wasn't easy for JJ but Henry was his son too.
The two stood in awkward silence until Henry made his entrance. "I'm ready!" He called as he marched into the hallway carrying his backpack and curious George. "Let's go daddy! I wanna be in the air-o-plane! Uncle Spence told me I could be in the clouds!"
"Say goodbye to your momma then we can go, kay champ?"
Henry ran into his mother's legs and hugged them close. "Bye mommy." He whispered.
JJ crouched down to his level and embraced him in a warm hug and kisses the top of his head. "I love you baby. Be good for daddy alright? And I want to hear about your day okay? So I will call you every night! No matter where I am I promise."
Henry nodded before pulling back and kissing his mother's nose. "I'm a big boy mommy, and you're a big girl so no crying." The small boy demanded as he wiped his mom's tears away. A breath caught in JJ's throat as she nodded then kissed her son once more.
Will picked up Henry's backpack and suitcase before ushering the boy out of the house. "I'm sorry Jay, but we got a plane to catch. I promise he will call you first thing tomorrow mornin' after he gets some rest. The trip will be hard on him."
"I know." Was JJ's reply. "I fly a lot remember."
Will nodded. "I really do think he'll enjoy his time out there. He needs to broaden his horizon outside of the city life."
"By bringing him to a place full of drunks-"
Will rolled his eyes this was just a repeat of their conversations from the past few weeks. "We talked about this already-"
"I know it was uncalled for." The blonde sighed. "Just make sure he calls me Will, I mean it ."
Her child fathers nodded. "Yes, I promise he will call you. Now we really gotta go."
JJ waved as her son got into his father's truck and headed down the road to the airport.