Chapter 9: Life Carries On
"What do you do with the left over you? And how do you know, when to let go? Where does the good go, where does the good go?
Look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive. Look me in the heart and tell me you won't go." Where Deos the Good Go, Tegan and Sara
Mattie opened her eyes and looked at her husband's sleeping face. She must have rolled over during the night because his arm was still wrapped around her. She took a deep breath of his scent and smiled. She really loved being able to breathe him in.
Mattie moved the hair that hung in Spencer's face to the side. He looked so peaceful as he slept. It was nice to see him so peaceful. Usually after a case, Spencer's face was a little sadder and he was quieter. She gently brushed her lips up against his and kissed him.
Before she realized it, Reid was kissing her back. His lips gently pressed against hers and he deepened the kiss. The kiss ended with Mattie wanting more and her breathing slightly labored. Reid smirked, but his eyes remained closed.
"Hey, you can't kiss me like that and pretend to be sleeping." Mattie complained.
"You were the one who kissed me first." He said before pecking Mattie's lips.
"Yeah, but it was your tongue that slipped into my mouth."
"I was just improvising." Reid said with a shrug.
"Not bad for being on the spot." Mattie said before snuggling her face into Reid's chest.
"How are you feeling?" He asked after a few minutes while his hand ran through her hair.
"Better." She honestly said. "Thanks for holding while I cried."
"I'll be there whenever I can."
"He got to see the baby's sex." Mattie said in a quieter voice at the bittersweet memory.
Reid's eye snapped open as he realized what that could possibly mean. He gently pulled away from Mattie so that he could look her in the face. "Well?" Reid excitedly asked.
"I don't know. I closed my eyes during the ultrasound." Mattie kissed Reid on the cheek. "Don't worry, we'll know soon enough." Reid dropped in head into the pillow with defeat. "You're really getting anxious about knowing aren't you?"
Reid looked at her. "Why aren't you anxious?"
"I figure, we'll find out when it's the right time. Plus, you are going to be a wonderful dad no matter what."
"I'm not worried about being a parent. Okay, I am a little worried but I know that you'll be around to keep me in line."
Mattie chuckled. "What makes you think I'm going to be better at parenting than you?"
"Let's just say it is an intuition."
"Well that's a horrible intuition." Mattie said slightly disappointed in Spencer.
"I'm sorry." Spencer said after a moment.
"It's okay." Mattie said before snuggling up to Spencer again. "Spencer."
"Yes,"
"Let's go home."
Amy did not know what she was doing. She did not know why she was having dinner with Edward. They were being friends, if that was a possibility. No, it had to be possible.
"Everything okay?" Edward asked.
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" Amy said.
"I don't know. Maybe it was the fact that you haven't touched your food or it could be how you keep taking a sip of your wine every two seconds." Edward took the bottle of wine and refilled Amy's glass for a second time. "You tell me."
Amy looked at Edward suspiciously. "How do you do that?"
"How do I do what?"
"How do you read my mind and know that there is something wrong without even asking?"
"It's a talent. Plus, I've had tons of experience with you."
Amy slightly blushed. "That's definitely true." She took a sip of her wine this time it was not to calm her nerves. Edward smiled at what Amy had referred to. "Looks like I'm not the only one blushing now." Amy said as she took a bite of her food.
"Oh, so you are eating now." Edward said deferring the subject.
"I used to eat back then to."
"Yes, you did. All of my friends were amazed that I found a model that did not have an eating disorder or a drug habit. Although, the more I think about it you were addicted to coffee."
"Well, you always did a good job of supplying me coffee." Amy took a deep sip of her wine. "I think I might be a bit tipsy."
"Oh, I think it's more than a bit."
Amy laughed. "Was this your plan all along?"
Edward smiled deviously. "Well, it was my intention to get you drunk, go back your or my place and have sex. Then, in the morning I was going to take you out to breakfast and suggest that we'd start going out and take things a little slower. Or we could just skip that part."
"Wow. That's quite a plan."
"Look, if I have overstepped my bounds I'm sorry. It was just an idea. It doesn't seem as if you're involved with anyone, unless the guy from the dress shop… I'm sorry I'm going to go. Order whatever you want it is on me." Edward stood up and walked to the desk, gave the waitress a wad of bills, and left the restaurant.
Amy sat at the table for a long time debating too many things. She took a deep drink from her glass finishing off the bottle and left the restaurant. She took a cab to her destination and knocked on a door. "Uh what are you doing here?" David asked half-asleep.
Amy leaned against the doorway. "I am drunk."
"I can see that."
"I know you're leaving soon. I was wondering if you would hold me tonight, if nothing else."
David moved Amy's hair behind her ears. "I can do that. Come on; let's get you some Aspirin and water then to bed." Amy nodded her head and started to walk forward before stumbling. David caught her and picked her up. "Maybe you should leave the walking to me."
"I think that's a good idea."
David held Amy as she lay in bed next to him. He felt her shaking and pulled the blanket up closer around them. Then he heard the whimpering and realized that Amy was crying. He gently rubbed her back and held her tightly.
"You owe me." Mattie said as they pulled up to the Hotchner house. Spencer parked the car and looked at Mattie. "You owe me." She repeated.
"I know that this is not the ideal night you had planned for but can you try to be somewhat happy?" Mattie blankly looked at Reid. "This wasn't my idea. Blame Hotch."
Mattie rolled her eyes and pasted a smile on her face. "Fine. I will be pleasant."
Reid ran his finger down Mattie's cheek. "I'm sorry. I promise that tomorrow night we will stay in, watch movies, and eat take-out."
"Okay," Mattie gently pecked Spencer on the lips. "Let's go before Morgan finds another reason to make a crack at our sex life." Reid scowled as he got out of the car. Mattie wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked up to the door. "Smile." Mattie said before knocking.
Hotch opened the door and greeted Mattie and Reid. "Come on in. May I take your coats?"
Mattie handed her coat over before four-year-old Jack ran over to his father. "Daddy! Daddy!"
Hotch put the coats in a closet before picking up Jack. "Jack can you say hi to Dr. Reid and Mrs. Reid?"
"Hello." Jack said and looked back at Hotch. "Mommy told me to tell you something…"
Hotch smiled. "Do you remember what mommy wanted?" Jack shook his head. "Okay, let's go ask mommy what she needed. Excuse me for a second."
Mattie slightly laughed when Hotch and Jack were gone. "What?" Spencer asked.
"Just an image of you in a couple of months came into my mind. Don't worry you were adorable." Mattie said before guiding Spencer into the house where the rest of the team was.
"Hey, Momma!" Morgan said the moment he saw Mattie.
"Hi Morgan." Mattie said. "How are you?"
"I'm good." He looked at her stomach. "May I?"
"Sure. My stomach is already a magnet."
Morgan knelt down and put a hand on Mattie's stomach before speaking to it. "Hey baby. This is your Uncle Derek." Mattie laughed. "Now, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to behave for your mother. She is a wonderful woman. When it comes to your daddy though be a little trouble maker."
"Hey!" Mattie said as she playfully smacked Morgan's shoulder. "Spencer is nervous enough about being a dad that he doesn't need you influencing our child to torment him."
"Fine." Morgan said rolling his eyes. "So, baby you need to behave because your mom says so and you always listen to your mom." He stood up.
"Done with your life lessons already?" Mattie asked with a smile.
"For the moment."
Suddenly Jack ran around the corner and hid behind a chair by Mattie and Morgan. "Shh, I'm hiding from my daddy."
"Why are you hiding?" Mattie asked.
"Shh!!!" Jack said as Hotch came around the corner. Jack jumped out and hugged Hotch's leg. "I got you Daddy."
Hotch smiled. "Yes you do. I thought you were going to go help mommy."
"I am." Jack said and ran off.
Curious, Mattie followed Jack and went into the kitchen. "Do you need any help Haley?"
"Sure." Haley looked around and said. "Can you chop up the carrots?"
Mattie started to chop the carrots when Jack came into the kitchen. "Mommy, are the cookies done yet?"
"Almost sweetie. Why don't you go check if there are cups on the table?" Jack nodded his head and ran off. Haley had noticed how Mattie watched her and Jack interact with each other. "Don't worry, you'll be running after yours soon."
Mattie smiled and one of her hands automatically rested on her stomach. "Well, I think this little one has awhile until he or she starts walking let alone running."
"You don't know the sex yet."
"No." Mattie said annoyed. "You are such a natural with him. You make it look so easy."
"It's not as easy as it looks. There are the days when he drives me insane, but I still love him more than I can verbalize."
David needed a break. He needed to get away from his chaotic life for awhile. Doing what he always did, David got in his car and drove to New York. He drove to the one place where his mind would be did not have to think about all the problems in his life.
David got out of his car and looked at the house in front of him. It was an old brown two-story house. He smiled and walked around to the driveway where an elder man was shoveling snow.
"Hey old man, you're going to kill yourself if you keep that up." David said.
The elder man looked at David and laughed. "Well, why don't you stop your yakking and get over here." David shrugged his shoulders and went up to the man, who gave him a long hug. "How are you doing kid?" The man asked after letting go of David.
"Not bad. Give me that." David took the snow shovel and started to clear the driveway of snow.
"Show off." The man chuckled. "Oh and kid just because you decided to shovel snow it does not mean that I'm too old to do it myself."
"I'm just helping you out." David said with a smirk.
"Do you still like your coffee black?" David nodded his head. "Okay, I'll be inside." The man said before heading to the back door of the house. "David, it's good to see you kid."
David smiled at the man. "It's good to be back, Grandpa."
Unlike many people, David actually enjoyed shoveling snow. It probably had something to do with the fact that it was one of his venting techniques from when he was younger.
Twelve-year-old David sat in the police station for the fourth time. Since his mom's death, he had been getting into trouble. It ranged from running away from the foster families to getting into fights. Officer Jackson, the cop who had saved him that horrible night, had taken a special interest in David and was now keeping an eye on him. David sat in a chair his arms crossed looking at the wall. "Kid, I know you've been having a hard time, but you got to quit getting into fights."
David laughed and looked at Officer Jackson his expression dark. "You don't know what I am going through." Officer Jackson looked at him. "My mom is… dead. She…" He took a deep breath. David had avoided talking about what happened. It was all to fresh in his mind still. "Are you sure that you know what I am going through?"
Officer Jackson let out a slow breath. "You are right. I'm sorry." He looked at David. David was small for his age and his dirty blond hair hung in front of his brown eyes. He was a strong kid. "David, how well do you know your father's side of the family?"
"I don't." David replied. "Why?" His voice was shaking.
"I found your grandfather. He lives an hour or two away. He wants to take you home with him. What do you think?" David was quiet. His hands gripped the chair. "I talked to him. He's a nice guy." Jackson said trying to reassure David that he would keep an eye on the situation.
"I guess I could give it a shot."
"Good boy."
As a result, David went to live with his grandfather. David was shy about what had happened. He didn't talk much and to work out his frustrations in life, David would shovel snow.
"Where are you?" Mattie asked on the phone.
"I'm landing in fifteen minuets. I'm going to pick up some stuff at the store and then I'll be home. Why?"
"I need you to stay calm and remember that the baby and I are fine."
"What's going on?" Reid asked slowly trying to stay calm.
"To make a long story short I'm in the hospital."
"Matilda!"
"Breathe." Mattie waited until she had a feeling that Reid was calmer than before. "Are you breathing?"
"Yes," Reid said through gritted teeth. "Are you sure that everything is fine?"
"I'm positive."
"I'll be at the hospital soon."
Reid ran down the hall as fast as he could without hitting anyone. Although, Reid had been able to calm down for Mattie on the phone, the feeling had not lasted long. Yes, he was a paranoid father-to-be, but more than anything pure terror of something going wrong that pulsed through his blood. Reid found the exam room and Mattie sitting on a hospital examination table.
"Hey handsome, it's nice to see you."
"I'd say the same thing but you keep trying to give me a heart attack."
"Did I at least get close this time?" Mattie joked.
"Too close."
Mattie placed her hand on Spencer's cheek. "I told you not to worry. Everything is fine." In the background was the sound of a baby's heartbeat. "See, nothing to worry about."
Reid let his face sink into Mattie's hand. "I'm always worried about you two." His expression told her that there was more to the words than he was letting on.
"How bad was it?"
"It was not the worst, but that doesn't make it any better."
"Can I have a hug?" Mattie asked. She knew he needed a hug much more than she did. Reid put his arms around Mattie and his body became a little less tense. "I have a surprise for you?"
"What's that?" Reid asked highly interested as Mattie handed him a tape. He looked at the label. "Seriously?"
"We are going to watch it the moment we get home."
"First I'm making you dinner. Why don't I go see when I can get you out of here?" Mattie nodded her head and Spencer went over to the nurses' stations. He leaned up against the counter. "Hi, my wife is in the first exam room. Do you know if there is any way she'll be able to go home tonight?"
Before the nurse could respond a doctor writing in a chart asked. "Are you Mrs. Reid's husband?"
Reid looked at the doctor. "Yes. Are you my wife's doctor?"
"Yes. Has your wife been under any major stress lately?"
"Her father died last week, but that's about it. Why?"
"It's nothing serious now, but later in the pregnancy stress could become a problem."
"What kind of a problem?"
"In the worse case I'll just put your wife on bed rest for longer than usual. In the best case I'm worrying for nothing. Just try to keep her blood pressure low with a stress free environment. If she gets dizzy or exhausted faster than usual give me a call."
"Okay. Can I take her home tonight?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. I'll keep what you said in mind." Spencer said. Any calmness he had was gone. Now, he was more worried.
"Spencer, hurry up. I can't wait much longer." Mattie said as she sat on the couch in the living room in their new house.
Reid came out of the kitchen shaking his head. "I'm making you dinner and all I get is whining." Reid sat down on the couch next to Mattie. "The food is in the oven, so let's watch this." He pressed play on the remote and watched the recorded ultrasound. Reid's hand gently rubbed Mattie stomach. Reid's eyes widened as he saw the sex of the baby.
"So what do you think daddy?" Mattie whispered.
"I think we have a beautiful baby girl." Reid said with a smile before resting his against Mattie's shoulder and watching his baby girl.
A/N: The poll is closed now, but that doesn't mean that the reulsts will necessarily be "baby" Reid's name. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.
