Spencer and Penelope always meet JJ for Sunday brunch when the team isn't on a case. It started after Henry was born although it didn't get to the point that they met up every week until a few years ago.
There was a time when Spencer thought of it as a novelty. Though anymore it's just routine.
Sometimes other people join them. Derek and Savannah tend to show up more often than not. Hotch and Dave usually have other plans but they make it when they can.
As much as Spencer likes when the whole team shows up he really enjoys the Sundays when it's just the six of them. JJ and Will on one side of the table, Spencer and Penelope on the other. Michael in between JJ and Penelope and Henry in between himself and Will.
He had half expected that the whole team would show up this week in light of their news but when he walks into the restaurant it's just the five of them waiting on him.
"Savannah's working and Derek had a thing," JJ explains after he sits down.
"Yeah, and Dave was out until 6am. When I tried to wake him he just grunted," Penelope says and laughs.
Once they're settled in and have ordered Will smiles over at them and says, "So I hear congratulations are in order."
"Um, maybe. We won't know if it worked until next week," Penelope answers.
"Well, either way I'm happy for you. Now you'll get to know the wonder of 3 am feedings," He raises his glass in their direction before taking a drink.
"Don't scare them before they're even pregnant," JJ says with a laugh.
"Oh I think they're made of tougher stuff than that," Will sends a smile in their direction.
Spencer feels something tapping his arm and looks down to see Henry staring at him with big eyes, "Uncle Spence what are Mommy and Daddy talking about?"
JJ looks over to Penelope but she's just starring at Spencer waiting for his response. So she looks over and says, "Yeah Uncle Spence what are Mommy and Daddy talking about?"
Spencer doesn't grace JJ with even a look before he leans in and says, "Your Aunt Penelope and I are thinking about having a baby."
"Like baby Michael?"
"Exactly like baby Michael," He nods.
"Oh," Henry stops to think for a moment, "Would I have to help change your baby's diapers too? Cause they're really stinky."
The adults try to stop their laughter but Henry isn't paying any attention to them.
"Well we might need your help. But I'm sure we can find something else for you to do. How are you at making bottles?" Spencer pretends to mull it over.
"I'm really good at it. Michael really likes them," He points across the table to his baby brother.
"Well then we might be able to save you from diaper duty."
"That's good cause I don't think I can change two baby's diapers at once," Henry smiles with relief.
Spencer ignores the laughter from the rest of the table while he ruffles the little boys hair. He can't help but hope they have a child as amazing as Henry.
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Will leaves after brunch to go into work and Penelope follows shortly after. She claims that she needs to go make sure that Rossi is still breathing but JJ knows better. After being out until 6 this morning Rossi won't be waking for at least another hour and maybe not even then.
That leaves Spence to help her get the kids home.
JJ knows several people, including perhaps the JJ of 10 years ago, who never would have thought that Spencer Reid would want children. Never would have thought that he would have any clue of what to do with them.
She's not sure when she started questioning that assumption. Maybe while she was pregnant with Henry and he spent all his free time reading about pregnancy and infants. Maybe the first time she watched him hold Henry. It might have been the first time he offered to change a diaper and did so with such focus and determination that you would think he was in a firefight.
But if she's being honest with herself it was probably the first time she left Henry with Spencer and Penelope. She came home to Penelope in the kitchen. She took one look at JJ and shushed her. Then she grabbed her hand and pulled her into the living room to see Spence napping with her boy. Even in his sleep he was rubbing Henry's back, cuddled up around him protectively.
Even so it was still something of a shock to actually hear Spence say the words. She had thought she would die before hearing him admit that he wants a family.
Penelope is perhaps the greater shock. JJ truly has doubted that Penelope wants children of her own at times. She's so content to be Aunt Penny, to be a member of the BAU family that JJ had wondered, from time to time, if Penelope would or did want kids.
There's something about it being the two of them though that JJ has to admit that she likes. Mainly because, out of everyone save Henry and maybe Will, she knows exactly what it will look like to watch them raise a child.
She's come home to it several times over the years.
The one thing that she has no doubt about is that this baby will be one of the luckiest, most well loved children on the planet.
They make it to the parking lot eventually, Spence with an armful of squirmy toddler and one hand holding Henry's while JJ holds the other and carries the diaper bag. They pull Henry up to swing between the two of them and Spence looks over at Michael and says, "You'll be big enough to do this soon."
Yup luckiest kid in the world.
Now if she can just get Derek and Savannah going.
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Monday the team catches a case and they all go into work mode.
It's actually a relief for Penelope to be able to focus on something other than her upcoming doctor's appointment.
It isn't a particularly easy case. Spree killers never are. Though thankfully it doesn't take them long to catch the guy. In fact, by Thursday Penelope's meeting them at the elevator with pizza.
The team doesn't necessarily forget what's happening the next day but they are super tired. So tired in fact that even Derek just gives her a hug, takes a slice of pizza, and moves on to his car without trying to get anyone to go out and celebrate.
It's all the same really. There will be time for talking tomorrow.
Sometime around two am Penelope realizes that she won't be getting any sleep and decides to try some tea. She can hear Dave moving around downstairs so she doesn't bother to be quiet.
"How are you still awake?" She asks as she walks to the oven to grab the teakettle.
"Couldn't sleep. You?" He asks. There's a notebook in front of him and three different colored pens so he must be working on case notes.
"Same. I'm too keyed up about tomorrow I guess," She shrugs and turns the faucet on.
"That's right. Tomorrow is the big day. Nervous?" He closes the notebook and runs a hand over his face.
She shrugs, "I don't know. No. Yes. I don't know."
"Well not knowing what you feel is normal," He reasons with a tired smile.
"It's just I don't want to be nervous. I want to be excited. But I'm scared as hell," She admits.
Dave laughs, "I think any parent will tell you that that feeling is normal too."
She nods and moves about making her tea before blurting, "This whole thing is so terrifying."
"Not just for you," Dave responds so softly that she's not sure if she was meant to hear it.
"What do you mean?"
He startles a bit and then smiles at her, "I told Hotch once that I'm more committed to this team than I ever was to any of my ex-wives. I wasn't kidding. One day you were people that I was being forced to work with and the next you were my goddamn kids."
"Really?" She asks hesitantly. He's trying to sound reassuring but she gets the feeling there's more to it.
"You really think I would let just anyone move into my house Penelope?"
That's a good point, she's willing to concede.
"And when your children make big decisions like deciding to have children of their own it scares the living hell outta you," He continues.
She sends him an uncertain smile as the teakettle screams. She wonders, off hand, if this has something to do with Joy or Kai but even as close as they've been since she moved in she's not sure if she's allowed to ask that.
So she's hesitant when she asks, "Sir is everything okay?"
Dave looks startled for a moment and says, "Everything's fine Penelope. Why don't you try to get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."
She nods as he gathers up his things and says goodnight.
She takes her tea back upstairs, and spends another hour tossing and turning before she finally gives in and calls Spencer.
He answers groggily and she immediately feels bad for waking him, "Sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called."
"Penelope it's fine. What's wrong?" She can almost see him rubbing his eyes.
"I'm scared about tomorrow and I know it's dumb but I can't stop thinking about it," She babbles.
"What do you feel?" Spencer asks quietly.
"What?"
"A lot of women, though not by any means all women, say that they can tell by the second week of pregnancy. Have you noticed any changes?"
She stops for a minute to think about the past couple of weeks, "I've been peeing more. Not like, a lot more, but JJ mentioned that she's been seeing me in the bathroom more often."
"That's good. That's a sign of pregnancy. Anything else?"
She almost says no but then she reaches over to grab her tea and remembers, "My boobs have been really sensitive too."
"That's also a promising sign of pregnancy. See you most likely are. And tomorrow, or really in 12 hours, we'll know for sure and we'll plan from there. Either way."
Neither of them say that both of those symptoms could just be the hormones they've been injecting her with. They don't want to jinx it.
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They don't have to be in until 9:30 that morning because they got in so late the night before but Penelope is exhausted. She's yawning like crazy, her eyes are watering, and everyone looks really concerned.
Spencer, the jackass, on the other hand looks as well rested as ever despite the fact that they stayed up until 5 am talking.
JJ corners her in her office just before lunch asking, "Are you alright? Nothing happened did it?"
Penelope stares at her and lays her head down, "I'm just tired."
A giddy look dawns on JJ's face. She smiles and says, "Oh my goodness. You really are pregnant."
"What?" Penelope jumps up.
"Well, exhaustion is one of the first symptoms. When I was pregnant with Michael I slept 12 hours a day."
Penelope scoffs, "Well I wish I knew for sure that's what this is, but I was up until 5 talking to the good doctor on the phone."
JJ gives her a weird look, "But you've stayed up that late before without being this tired."
Penelope shrugs, "If it's all the same I'm going to try to get a nap in. Cover for me with Hotch?"
"I'll do my best."
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The thing is, out of everyone except maybe Dave, JJ is the member of the team most able to 'handle' Hotch. She's also the only one here that knows how he acts with a pregnant co-worker. So, figuring that Penelope will forgive her, the first thing JJ does when she closes Penelope's door is go to Hotch's office.
"Garcia's taking a nap," She announces as she walks in without knocking.
Hotch looks up from his paperwork and says, "Alright."
"She might need a few hours. So if you could get everyone to leave her alone it would probably help," She elaborates.
"Of course," He says in a tone of voice that suggests that there's something he's worried about. So she turns around and closes the door.
"What's wrong?" She asks without preamble. Hotch plays the game well but she knows that he hates beating around the bush.
He stares at her for a moment but she stares right back at him until he finally sighs and asks, "How do you think this is going to play out?"
"What? The pregnancy?"
"No the aftermath."
"Well I assume they'll do what Will and I do. They'll hire a nanny to help out during the day. Penelope will probably start going home at a reasonable hour. We may need to get her set up a little better so she can work from home when we have cases that run late," She says with a shrug.
"They aren't you and Will," Hotch answers.
"No. They aren't," She responds suspiciously.
"They aren't even me and Jessica."
"What?" She starts only to have Hotch cut in.
"There are times when we need Penelope in the field. What happens then? We can't put a playpen in the PD. They don't have a Will or a Jessica at home."
"Hotch. They do have a Will. And I'll have to speak to him first but I'm sure he would be willing to help. They also have Savannah. And probably Morgan's mom. Hell, if it came down to it they also have Kate and maybe Alex and Tara if she's in town. And if nothing else we do the best we can without her in the field."
Hotch looks like he wants to say something else but he settles on, "Of course."
"So what if we have to make a few extra concessions for them. That's what you do for family. I sincerely doubt that either of them are planning on going anywhere," She tries. She knows she hits the nail on the head when she sees his shoulders lift half an inch.
Sometimes she forgets he's just as terrified of abandonment as Spence is. He's just not as vocal about it.
"What does she need?" Hotch changes the subject and JJ decides to allow it.
"Right now I think she just needs sleep but she might appreciate more tea and ginger ale in the break room."
"Of course," Hotch answers, "Could you discreetly make it known that she isn't to be bothered and could you possibly send Reid in?"
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"Shut the door," Hotch instructs once Reid appears in his doorway.
Reid follows his order and then stands awkwardly, like he thinks he's in trouble.
"Relax, take a seat. I just wanted to ask if you or Penelope need anything?"
There's a part of Hotch that wants to ask if either of them is leaving, to just lay it out there and let the pieces fall where they may. But he also understands, realistically, that there's nothing to worry about in this moment. They don't even know if they're having a baby and in spite of the fact that they are two of the most well thought out people he knows he also understands that they have no idea what they're getting into.
Hotch certainly didn't know what he was getting into before Jack was born.
Reid seems to be giving his words some thought because he pauses before saying, "Do you think we could borrow one of the SUVs? Penelope was really tired this morning and I don't feel comfortable taking her on the metro like that if I don't have to."
"Of course. I'll arrange it," Hotch nods and watches Reid squirm in his seat. He almost smiles when he realizes that it reminds him of a very different Reid. A pre-Tobias Hankel Reid. Hotch remembers telling Gideon, all those years ago, that he felt he should be helping Reid to learn to deal with things emotionally. He thinks now that even if he hasn't done the best job of that Reid has still changed. He's a much more mature and confident person now than he was 10 years ago.
Mature enough now that he's willing to face his own fear of driving for the safety and comfort of the probable mother of his children.
"Actually why don't I drive you?" He asks when he realizes a couple of things. One, that he kind of misses that kid that trailed into his office behind Gideon 14 years ago. And two, that his thoughts from earlier don't only extend to the job. JJ and Dave were right. Reid and Garcia are family, they need support and they don't have anyone other than the team to give it to them.
Reid nods, relieved, "Would you? I hate those things."
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Spencer has to wake Penelope up for the appointment. She really hadn't meant to sleep that long but she'll be eternally grateful that the team didn't get a case in those few hours.
Unfortunately she's busted because right behind Spencer is Hotch, staring at her with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Penelope are you ready?" Spencer asks crouched down in front of her.
She still feels groggy but she's more alert now, "Of course."
She grabs her things quickly, Spencer takes one of her bags and Hotch grabs the other.
"I'm driving you," Hotch answers her silent question.
"Why?"
"Because I'm afraid to put you on the metro right now," He puts a guiding hand on her lower back and okay maybe he has a point. She is pretty out of it.
"Oh. Sorry sir. I know I shouldn't be sleeping at work but I really needed it and…"
"Garcia, it's alright. We don't have an active case and I can't say that I've not done the same in the past. And I didn't have the excuse of possibly being pregnant."
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She tries to sleep some more on the way to the doctor's office but she can feel the anxiety building. Though it would certainly be easier to sleep with Hotch driving than with Derek.
Hotch drops them at the front door with instructions to call when they're finished. Spencer gives him an affirmative answer before opening the door for her.
Once she's in the office things actually go rather quickly. They immediately take her back to draw blood and less than 20 anxious minutes later the medical assistant is calling them back to the exam room and telling them that Dr Lacey will be in soon.
They wait another five minutes or so, long enough for Spencer to read a book for the doctor to come in with a smile on her face.
"Well, it seems I have good news," She says as she sits down.
Things are sort of a blur for the next few minutes. Dr. Lacey keeps talking, and Spencer keeps nodding so she guesses he's absorbing all the information for her. At least she hopes he is because she sure isn't.
She's still in a bit of shock when Spencer stands and shakes Dr Lacey's hands. Never thought she would see the day. She stands to join them and unable to help herself she grabs Spencer and hugs him for all he's worth.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much," Seems to be the only thing she's capable of saying.
Walking to the elevator is like walking on a cloud. Everything's good and nothing bad can happen.
Spencer calls Hotch as they're leaving the office and by time they get downstairs he's waiting. Spencer opens the door for her and before she's even in the seat she starts babbling.
"We're preggers! We're going to have a little blonde headed genius baby! And I'm going to teach them everything I know about hacking and between my brains and his our kid is going to be the most awesome thing in the whole fricking world!"
Hotch lets out an honest to goodness laugh and Spencer looks as happy as a unicorn taking a bath in a tub of glitter.
The ideas are beginning to swirl in head. What the baby will look like, what color eyes they'll have, how cute the team will be holding him or her. She starts to imagine rocking a little baby to sleep at night and what the nursery will look like.
She turns to Spencer in the backseat and says, "OMG do you know all the things we have to buy! We need everything. A crib and a playpen and bottles and diapers and pacifiers…"
"Penelope," He interrupts, "We have nine months. Let's just take this one step at time okay?"
She nods enthusiastically, "Yeah, yeah, we can do that."
Hotch just looks over at her and says, "Congratulations," In such a sincere voice that she leans in to give him a kiss on the cheek.
She's expecting it, she really is, but seeing everyone's cars in Dave's driveway makes her even happier. She practically runs to the house to tell them, only to be held back by her heels. She considers taking them off but a side look at Spencer and Hotch tells her that may not be the best idea.
So she slows herself down and waits for Spencer. It is his moment too after all.
As soon as they're in the door though, all bets are off and she screams, "We're having a baby!"
There's not even anyone in the living room, but they still hear her from the kitchen and soon enough Derek, JJ, Will, Henry, and Dave all file in wearing some sort of smile.
Derek gives her a big hug and then moves on to Spencer. Dave gives them each a giant kiss on the cheek. Will gives her a hug and Spencer a clap on the shoulder. Then JJ walks up carrying Henry, who's getting a bit big to be carried around and pulls Penelope into a threeway hug.
When they pull back Henry looks at her and asks, "So you and Uncle Spence did decide to have a little baby like Michael?"
"Yeah little man. But we'll still love you just as much," She reaches up to smooth his hair.
"Oh I know that," Henry replies as nonchalantly as only as seven year old can, "I just hope it's a boy."
"Oh yeah, why is that?" JJ asks her son.
"Because girl's have cooties Mommy. Everyone knows that. Sides, I don't want any girl cousins."
"Is that right? Well I'll see what I can do," Penelope answers while sharing a smirk with JJ.
"Why don't you go talk to Uncle Spence? I'm sure he's got a magic trick for you," JJ says putting Henry on his feet and patting his back.
The women stand back for a moment and watch Henry run full force into Spencer, launching himself on the man. Spencer's obviously caught off guard but he handles it well and doesn't let Henry fall.
"Never thought I would see the day, but you two are going to be amazing parents."
"You think so?" She asks not so much out of insecurity as fondness. Still watching Spencer smile at Henry.
"Are you kidding I've seen the way you two work together to take care of Henry and Michael. If you can handle my boys you can handle anything."
"Speaking of your boys where is the little munchkin?"
"Upstairs. It's nap time. He'll be waking for room service shortly," JJ laughs, "You okay?"
Penelope pulls her watery eyes away from her guys to say, "What? Yeah I'm fine. So totally fine. Today's a happy day. I'll be terrified tomorrow."
JJ laughs and wraps an arm around her while Dave walks around handing out wine glasses.
When he gets to her he gives her another kiss on the cheek and says, "Only cider for you kitten."
With that he's tapping a spoon against his own glass.
"May I have your attention please? We're here for a celebration of life. It's not often we get to do this so we had better get it right, yeah?" Everyone laughs, "I never thought I would see this day but here we are celebrating the coming child of Penelope Garcia and Spencer Reid. Whoa I never thought I say those words in that order. To a wonderful life and good people.. Because you know this is going to be the smartest, kindest child to ever exist."
"Hear hear!" Derek yells as they toast.
Things continue like that for a while. Eventually Jessica drops Jack off and he spends some time playing with Henry.
Sometime after six Dave decides that's time for dinner and calls in for takeout. The adults move outside to the patio, Michael in his carrier next to JJ, and the boys spend some time running around and chasing one another.
Savannah shows up sometime after eight, looking exhausted and stealing Derek's wine so they take the opportunity to start wheedling them.
"So, you're next right?" JJ is the one that starts it, of course.
Savannah almost chokes on her wine and Derek's so thrown that it takes him a moment to start patting her on the back.
"I think we're still a little ways off," She answers while Derek nods his head.
"Oh come on Derek, you've been taking it slow for years. I mean who would have ever thought that I would be a father before you?" Spencer jumps in and everyone laughs a little.
"Hey, hey now. I'm happy bein' Uncle Derek. I'll be there every Saturday we aren't on a case to hang out. Same way I do with Henry and Jack. Same way I'll do with Michael. But Savannah and I, we aren't there yet."
Penelope can tell that JJ wants to say something else but she backs off. Maybe because she doesn't want to do it in front of the team but probably because she doesn't want to do it in front of Savannah.
Eventually the kids are put to bed, later than normal because they're celebrating, but still relatively early.
Penelope stays downstairs for another hour or so talking and enjoying herself before the exhaustion sets back in. By this point JJ and Will are snuggled on the couch, Dave's in his favorite chair drinking a glass of wine, Derek and Savannah are headed to bed, and Hotch and Spencer are on the other end of the couch talking. Penelope has no idea what they're discussing but they're both pretty animated about it.
She can't stop her yawn, which turns out to be louder than she expects and ends with everyone looking at her.
JJ gives her a knowing smile, "I hate to tell you this but it only gets worse from here. At least you don't have morning sickness yet."
Hotch's brow furrows and he asks, "Was it hard for you to work long hours while you were pregnant?"
"Sometimes," JJ shrugs.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hotch asks.
"Because we still had a job to do," JJ replies sensibly.
Hotch still looks a little troubled but let's the topic go for now.
Penelope's starting to lose the battle when Spencer's hand appears in front of her and helps her up. He trails closely behind her on the stairs, almost as if he's afraid she's going to fall and maybe she should find it annoying but she actually finds it pretty cute. They both make their way through the hall to the kids room and crack the door to find Jack, Henry and Michael fast asleep.
"Do you think we'll have a boy?" She whispers and Spencer shrugs.
"I think we have a fifty percent chance of a boy, but I'm more interested in a healthy baby," He responds and Penelope has to laugh. It's such a standard answer.
"Still it might be nice to have a girl around here," He continues. She leans into him and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"I agree. Now I think my body's telling me that it's time to go to bed."
With that they slowly pull the door closed and move to separate for the night.
"Spencer," She waits for him to turn to face her, "I just wanted to say that I'm really glad we're doing this together."
He gives her a shy smile, "Me too. Good night Penelope."