Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, the characters from the show, etc. I am not making any money off the writing of this story.

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.

~Author Unknown

By Monday, Spencer was almost tired of the thoughts constantly running through his mind. What did she mean by leaving after saying I have a right to know like that? I'm going to be a father. Schizophrenia is genetically passed. A father, me, a father.

He went almost automatically to the office of one he hoped could help. Luckily, Aaron Hotchner's office door was open. Spencer knocked, walked in and shut the door before turning to his friend and superior.

'You knew. You told her I have a right to know.'

'Know what?' Hotch knew Spencer needed to say the words aloud.

'I'm going to be a father. You found out when she came in to have the paperwork signed. You told her to tell me. I'm going to be a father.' Dr. Reid sank down into one of the visitor chairs.

'Reid, something you're going to figure out: you already are a father. The question is: are you going to be a dad?' Spencer looked up and thought for a moment.

'You are already a father,' Hotch continued. 'Any male through puberty can be a father. It takes no more skill than having sperm implanted in a fertile woman. A rapist can be a father. A sperm donor is a father. The question before you now is: are you going to be a dad? A dad is the man a child cries for when they wake up from a nightmare. A dad is the man who goes to a child's performances, games and talks to his teachers. A dad guides his child's steps and disciplines them appropriately when they step out of line. So the question remains: are you going to be a dad?'

'Can I be a dad? I mean statistics show…' Reid began only to be cut off.

'Spencer, your mind, your abilities are one on this planet. Statistics only show what is probable not what is possible. Is it probable for a man to have three doctorates, two bachelor degrees and join the FBI at 21? Not probable, but possible. You proved that, now can you prove to yourself that you're able and willing to be a dad?'

'What do I do? I mean until the baby arrives my part is basically done.'

'No, your part has just begun. You and Taithleach need to sit down and figure out what you're going to do. What are your expectations? What are hers? How are you going to raise your child?' Aaron paused a moment and dropped the proverbial bomb: 'do you love her? Are you going to marry her?'

'Do I love her? Marriage? The statistics of children from so called broken homes getting and staying married are…'

'…as varied as the couples themselves. Call her, talk it out. She's had some time to think about this; maybe she knows what she thinks she wants from you. It would give you framework to make your decisions. Take today, call her and ask.'

'I... ok.' Reid left the office, went to his desk to pick up his messenger bag, and walked out of the building. He walked, deep in thought to a park not far from the office. He watched parents playing with their children and thought about what he would do.

They met over coffee and tea at a small shop they had enjoyed together. They both stared into their cups for a long minute; neither knew how to start what was going to be an awkward conversation.

'I just want to put on the table. I've decided to keep Baby one way or another. Adoption is a wonderful option but I can't do it.'

Spencer looked up at Tai. She was willing to raise their child with or without him. That hit a nerve he didn't know existed. 'You don't want me involved?' He asked almost without thought.

Tai paused; she didn't mean to hurt his feelings. She simply wanted to be upfront. 'NO! NO! I mean no. I'm - I'm sorry, that came across more... harsh than I meant it to.' Her hands fell into her lap and she stared at them. 'I know you have your life with the BAU and what you do with them is important and necessary. But,' she sighed, 'I'm torn. I want you around. I want you by my side to raise Baby. I want to be able to spend time with you. I want to have the chance... to love you.' Tears dripped one at a time down her cheeks. This wasn't how things in her life were supposed to go.

Spencer wasn't sure what to say. His experiences with relationships never went this far. Hotch had said that statistics didn't apply, so he had to choose. Slowly he reached up and traced one of the tear paths down her face with a quiet reverence he seemed to manage so well. Swallowing around the lump forming in his throat, he voiced the decision that was so easy and so difficult all at once.

'I want to be around to raise Baby with you. I don't know if I'm going to be able to be there. The very nature of my job has me all over the country, sometimes for weeks.' He paused and added quietly, 'it was one of the reasons we had such trouble before.'

Tai thought for a moment and gave Spencer a small smile. 'If you truly want to be around then we'll have to figure out something. Baby needs a father-' Spencer smiled and interrupted '- Baby has a father. Baby needs a dad.' Tai's brows furrowed, so he explained. 'I spoke with Hotch he said any male past puberty can be a father and that the question before me was if I was going to be a dad. I am Baby's father; nothing we decide will change that. I want the chance to be Baby's dad.' Tai abruptly stood and threw herself into Spencer's arms. Startled at the sudden movement, he balanced them and put his arms around the mother of his child. After a few minutes, they finally drew apart and silently left the coffee shop holding hands.

Over the next week, they spent what time they could together. It was so nice to have him back in her life again.

'I need to go home and tell everyone.' Tai said over dinner at Spencer's place one night. 'I'm thinking sooner is better, I've really waited too long already.'

Reid swallowed his mouthful and asked, 'you haven't told your parents yet?'

'No, it's complicated. I didn't want to tell them over the phone.'

'Ok, do you want me to go with you?'

'If you want to and you're between cases, it would be nice to have support there.'

Spencer moved around the table and pulled Tai gently to her feet. 'See I knew you would be a romantic' she teased him gently as he drew her to him. 'I like how well we fit. Feels so nice, comforting.'

'Did you know statistically people who rate their marriages as superior and better often are more similar physically than those who are less satisfied with the relationship.'

'Always a statistic to go with a statement.'

Spencer grinned, 'statistics show that pregnant mothers -' Tai shut off the machine of statistics in the best way she knew, she kissed him.

When she finally drew back, she grinned at him 'how's that for your statistics.'

He gave a slightly goofy grin and leaned back down for another kiss. They quickly turned heated, then again since getting back together there hadn't been a real opportunity to consummate the renewed relationship. Spencer began pushing Tai toward his room and she hummed in agreement. Clothing was unceremoniously thrown on the floor alone the way. Once in his bedroom and the last of the clothing gone Tai pulled him to her for more searing kisses. Spencer's hands began skimming her skin. Down her back to her ass and pulled her to grind against his erection. She moaned and grabbed him back.

'You turn on so easily,' Spencer teased Tai as he moved down kissing the side of her neck. From hours of practice, he knew if he kept to just slightly harder than a feather, Tai wouldn't last.

'You have such a magical touch. I was never this easy. Oh, yes! Magic fingers,' she moaned as his hands moved to her breasts.

'We may want to move to the bed before we fall down…'

'…again.' Tai completed Spencer's thought and manoeuvred over to lie on the bed. She welcomed his weight on top of her. It felt like he always made sure she didn't fly into a million pieces. Ironic considering he was the one making her feel like she was going that way.

In the end, Reid couldn't go with Tai to her hometown. They hadn't caught the unsub, though they were closing in on him. He arrived in the small town and realized he had no idea where to look. The family only had a P.O. Box, not uncommon in the area. He asked Garcia to check her personal records and found no street address on file when she applied at the FBI. She didn't talk much about her family especially when they had renewed their relationship. He knew she was the youngest by almost eight years, and her parents names are Francine and Wallace Kohlmyer. Spotting the local restaurant, he stopped in for a coffee and hopefully directions.

'Heya Sugar,' called an older waitress as soon as he walked in the door. 'Haven't seen you 'round here before. Come on up and sit a spell.'

'Umm… thank you,' Spencer sat where she had indicated at the counter, not wanting to annoy a possible fountain of information. After two cups of coffee, Mary, the waitress, plunked down his change on the counter.

'Now what exactly is a man like you doing here?'

'I'm actually looking for Wallace and Francine Kohlmyer's daughter, Taithleach.'

Mary clucked her tongue at that. 'Now there's a sorry business. That girl just went and left town. That was so very wrong of her; she was supposed to stay here where she was safe. Such a sad situation, I don't envy her parents.'

Reid's heart clenched. If Tai had never left, he would never have met her. 'Do you know where they live?'

'Sure, just back up the road a mile then two miles north, green house on the left. If no one's there, they may already be at church.'

'Thank you,' Spencer managed before he dashed out the door. Not even five minutes later, he was knocking on the door of a pleasant looking house with a large, neat yard and a garden just visible in the back. Francine answered the door.

'I'm… my name is Spence – Dr. Spencer Reid from the –uh- FBI…'

'FBI! My goodness, come in, come in. Wallace come down here! There's a doctor here, says he's from the FBI.' Francine pulled Spencer into the living room and bade him to sit down. As she fussed about, Spencer looked around. The picture frames seemed to be very unevenly placed on the mantle, as if pictures had been taken down recently. There were several unfilled picture hooks on the walls, and there was a noticeable spot on one end table. Something had been recently removed that had sat in the same spot for a long time.

'Are you in the process of redecorating, Mrs. Kohlmyer?'

'We have to, thanks to that little slut.' Wallace boomed as he entered the room. 'First she couldn't stay, and then she became such a slut. No matter, she won't be our problem in a few hours.'

'Wallace please, not in front of our guest,' Francine pleaded as she walked back into the room. She carried a tray of dainties and a jug of lemonade.

'He asked,' Wallace grunted as he sank into the recliner.

'That little slut,' Spencer asked, unconsciously donning his proverbial profiler hat a bit more firmly. 'Who are you talking about Mr. Kohlmyer?'

'Taithleach, first she ruins all our plans with her arrival, then she has the gall to leave town, now she comes back with proof of her slut status and expects us to be happy about it.' Wallace ranted unable to stop now that the floodgates were cracked.

Francine was holding back tears, 'Wallace, please. This is not his business. The whole thing is almost over and then it will be no more. What did you need, Dr. Reid?'

'I actually wanted to speak with your daughter, Mrs. Kohlmyer. Do you know where she moved to when she left town?'

'She's no daughter of this house!' Wallace thundered. 'You won't be able to speak to her until after now. She is in seclusion until it is finished.'

'I think it may be best if you were on your way, Dr. Reid,' Francine attempted to divert the conversation.

'Uh... Yes I think I should be going as well.' Spencer moved back to the door. 'I think you should know. Taithleach was in the FBI Academy and well on her way to becoming a valuable asset to the organization.'

Wallace stormed over to the door, 'out now! You're not welcome here.'

Reid walked back to his rental with more questions and very few answers, not what he had expected at all.

Dear to us are those who love us... but dearer are those who reject us as unworthy, for they add another life; they build a heaven before us whereof we had not dreamed, and thereby supply to us new powers out of the recesses of the spirit, and urge us to new and unattempted performances.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wow, I was this close to giving up finding a quote to end this chapter when I came across this one. Still can't get over how well it fits where I ended it.

Good news, all the reviews, favourites and tracking e-mail I have received are helping to take chunks out of my writer's block. Thank you! I have a bit more yet that's pre-written, and just needs to be gone over again as this was originally written as a Season 2 – 3 story. Not long before posting, it was changed to a Season 5 – 6 story.

I hope this explains a bit more about their relationship, though not too much yet.

Please leave me a few words, everything but flames help me write!