Once back in town, Spencer ran to the store to pick up food and other essentials until Francesca's stuff arrived. He walked into his apartment and settled Franny on the couch. Something seemed different, not quite right. He walked into his bedroom and noticed half the stuff was missing, half the drawers were empty, half the closet sat vacant. His chest tightened. He suddenly knew what was different. Spencer checked the time. Francesca would be hungry soon. He decided to piece together her new highchair. When he was finished he set the little girl in it and began to sort through the groceries. Then he saw it, sitting on the counter. A glitter caught his eye. The diamond. He sighed deeply and picked up the note.

I can't do this, sorry

~Delani

Spencer balled up the paper and tossed it into the trash. He slid the ring into his pocket. He turned his attention to the small child cooing happily in her highchair.

"Well, now that that's taken care of, how about dinner?" he spoke to the little girl. Francesca giggled and beat her hands on the tray in front of her. Spencer laughed at her actions. He dug through the bags of groceries until he found a Gerber graduates meal.

While Francesca ate, Spencer tended to his blinking answering machine. There were numerous messages from his friend and co-worker Jennifer Jareau. he figured she was the one voted to call and get the details of his leave of absence, since he only told Hotch it was a family emergency.

Spence, it's JJ. I got your email about Cole. I'm so sorry I know he was one of your good friends. Call me when you get this…Spence, it's your JJ again, I still haven't heard from you, call me…Spence, it's been nearly two weeks and you still haven't called, I'm worried. If I don't hear from you soon, I'm going to have Garcia put a trace on you.

Spencer pressed the delete button and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" The young women's voice answered.

"JJ, it's Spence," Spencer replied.

"Spence, I was so worried about you!" JJ cried.

"I know, I'm sorry, I've been stuck in Las Vegas. I just got home today," Spencer explained.

"I'm just glad you're safe," his friend added.

"Yeah, I have some news, uh hold on," Spencer's attention was pulled away from the phone call. "Sweetie, no, no, don't play with the peas. Honey here, I'll help you," JJ heard him say.

"Spence, what's going on?" JJ tired to get his attention again.

"Sorry, we were having and issue with dinner," Spencer stated.

"Who is we, Delani?" his friend was rather confused.

"No, um, that's my news. You know I was Francesca's godfather, so now, I have full custody of her," Spencer informed.

"I'm so proud of you," JJ gasped, knowing now her and Will had made the right decision naming Spencer the godfather of thier son Henry.

"Yeah, that's wonderful, but now I have this little girl to take care of and I really don't know how to do that," Spencer sighed.

"Well, you have Delani, don't you?" JJ asked.

"I'm pretty sure she left me, I really don't want to get into it," Spencer said dismissively.

"Do you want me to come over there?" she asked, ignoring the comment about Delani.

"No, I'm afraid I'll be in the same situation when you leave. I just have a few questions," Spencer answered. He figured JJ could help him out, being has she had a toddler of her own.

"Ask away" the young mother offered.

"Ok, umm, I'm waiting on all of her stuff to be shipped in from Las Vegas, but I bought a highchair and a playpen today. Can she sleep in a playpen?" Spencer wondered.

"Yes, absolutely" She replied affirmatively. "Do you have food for her? Diapers? Clothes?" the mother asked.

"I went out and bought diapers, and the toddler like foods, and I have enough clothes until the rest arrive," Spencer started "I also got her a doctor's appointment for tomorrow," he finished.

"Good, good. It sounds like you have it all under control. You'll be better at this than you think," JJ promised.

"Thanks Jayje," he laughed.

"You're welcome Spence, but I have to and Henry are waiting. Please call me if you need anything!" his friend said just before hanging up. Spencer drummed his fingers on the counter and turned to look at Franny. She was covered in peas and ravioli.

"Oh sweetie," he laughed.

He sat in the waiting room filling out endless clipboards of paper work. He sighed as he wrote Francesca's social security number for the fifth time.

"Excuse me," A little voice said. Spencer looked up to see a young girl standing in front of him.

"Yess?" he answered.

"What's your little girls name?" The girl questioned.

"Francesca, but I call her Franny," Spencer said simply.

"Freddy?" The little girl misheard him. Spencer laughed.

"Yes, Freddy," He liked that, it was cute and quirky.

"Spencer Reid," The receptionist called.

"Well, that's me, it was uh, nice meeting you," Spencer said as he grabbed Francesca into his arms and followed the nurse.

The doctor had done a routine exam and insured Spencer his new little girl was as healthy as could be and that she was growing and developing, as she should be.

"It's not going to be easy raising her by yourself, especially with your job," the doctor informed him. The older man finished filling out his charts and began to dig through a drawer. He extended a pamphlet in Spencer's direction. "Here, look through these. Maybe you can find a single parents group to join just until you get on your feet," the doctor suggested.

Spencer took the information, gathered the newly named Freddy and left the office.

Spencer spent the next couple of weeks settling in with Freddy. The hardest thing he had to do was call his job.

"Hello?" The always professional voice of SSA Aaron Hotchner answered.

"Hotch, it's Reid, I need to…" Spencer was interrupted.

"Reid, I didn't think we were going to hear from you again. We miss having you around the BAU," Hotch mentioned.

"Well, I'm not exactly coming back, yet anyway," Spencer disclosed.

"What, why? I put you down for a leave of absence. I understand you needed some personal time,"
Hotch continued.

"No, Hotch, that is not it. My best friend died recently and I was given custody of his 18-month-old daughter. I can't take care of her and deal with our work schedule and the constant traveling," Spencer explained.

"Wow, that's not what I was expecting. I'm losing a great profiler. I'm sure I could find something for you to do around the office," Hotch all but begged.

"I can't right now, Hotch. This little girl is my top priority," Spencer sighed.

"Alright, well I wish you the best of luck and I put and extension on your leave, give me a call when you're ready to come back and don't be a stranger," Hotch said.

"I won't and thanks," Spencer finished the call. Spencer had enough money from Cole to stop working for the time being and spend some time raising Francesca. He decided they would need some more space. Freddy was quickly out growing the one bedroom apartment. She needed a room of her own. The search for a new apartment was painless. He simply knew somebody that knew somebody that knew somebody who was looking to rent an apartment. The size was right and so was the price. He accepted and quickly moved in. During the move, he found the pamphlets the doctor had given him. He considered the idea of joining a single parents group.