Serena is quiet the whole way home. When they get inside, she goes to her room for thirty minutes before she comes into the nursery to say hello to the twins. She kisses them both on their foreheads and picks up SJ as he reaches up for her. Spencer has been playing with them on the floor of the nursery.
"Have they eaten dinner?"
"No. You're mom said that she was about to fix something when we walked through the door."
"Okay. They're probably really hungry so I'm going to make something quick." Serena says as she walks out of the room toward the kitchen. She sets SJ in his high chair when she gets to her destination and automatically starts to cook.
When she hears Spencer's footsteps in the room, she tells him without turning around, "I'm going to make mac n cheese and chicken nuggets for the kids. We can order take out or I can cook you something if you really want it."
"We can order something."
"Okay. You can pick. I'll eat whatever you order."
As she begins to make the meal, she sees her mother has already made the macaroni and stuck in a bowl in the refrigerator. Her mother has even put some broccoli in the mix so the twins are eating a vegetable with their meal. How did she just know?
Serena sets about putting the chicken nuggets in the oven as she heats up the macaroni. Once everything is heating up, she finally looks at her family. She looks at them with a bittersweet smile and approaches the table to see what Spencer is ordering. He glances up at her with a worried look on his face.
"I ordered Chinese food, hunan chicken and beef and broccoli."
"That works for me."
"Are you okay?"
"It's just a bad day."
"I think we made a good break in the case. How's that bad?"
"That's not. I'm just having a bad day. Sometimes that happens."
Spencer nods then turns his attention to the twins. They play with the kids until the food is ready. As Serena is sets the plates in front of her children, the take out is delivered. Spencer answers the door and makes plates for him and his wife. They sit and eat in silence for a while. Serena is helping SJ eat his mac n cheese when Spencer notices she has barely touched her plate.
"Baby, you have to eat."
Serena looks at Sky at first but as her baby girl is eating avidly she realizes Spencer is talking to her. She frowns at the affectionate term as she doesn't believe he truly feels any significant affection towards her. When she finally looks up, he's studying her face. She shakes her head. "I'm honestly not very hungry, but I plan to eat what's on my plate. You don't have to worry."
"Serena, we've been through a lot but I do still care about you. Please don't question that."
Serena nods as Sky throws her cup on the floor. "Guess I'll have to eat this later."
"No, I'll get the kids. You should eat."
Serena hunches her shoulders, "Okay."
Spencer has cleaned up the kids and is reading them a story when Serena comes up to check on them a mere twenty minutes later. Both kids' droopy eyes light up when they see their mother but they're way too sleepy to move. Serena kisses them on their heads before she sits on the ground in front of the rocking chair. She smiles at her children as they drift to sleep listening to their father's voice.
When the two parents exit the nursery, Spencer notes, "You came up pretty quickly. Did you finish your food?"
Serena rolls her eyes, "I ate the majority of it. I'm not starving myself, Spencer."
"I didn't say that."
Serena narrows her eyes. "Good night," she says as she turns on her heels and heads toward her bedroom.
Spencer heads to his room thinking about his wife's sudden change in attitude. He texts Dylan to check on her and picks up a book to distract himself. After thirty minutes with no response from Dylan, Spencer decides to go check on Serena. When he enters her room, he expects to see her in bed but to his surprise she's not there. He hears music in the bathroom and decides to peak in. Serena looks up in surprise when the door opens.
"Hey," Spencer says awkwardly as Serena sits in the bathtub surrounded by bubbles.
"Hey," she says expectantly.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine, Spencer." Serena rolls her eyes.
"Come on, Serena. Confide in me." Spencer walks into the bathroom and sits in front of the tub.
"I'm just stressed. It happens when you're always trying to save two little human beings who are innocent and you selfishly brought into the world."
"How was it selfish?"
"They're marked. They're targets of international criminals because I am their mother." Serena shakes her head as tears come unbidden into her eyes. "I don't know if they'll ever lead normal lives."
"Serena, we all have to worry about things like that. Hotch has a kid that is healthy and happy. Foyet never stood a chance. JJ has two beautiful children and no one has come near them even though she was kidnapped for a mission she was associated with. Gideon had children and we all know how many serial killers he put away. It's the risk you have to take with these sorts of jobs. We both know you always wanted children. Even if you'd waited until later in your career, this would always be a risk. But I'm sure that our children will grow up and change the world just the way you do or maybe even better. We need to appreciate that right now we're looking forward to their second birthday and they are here and no one has come close to touching them."
Serena nods in response.
"I think they are the best decision you ever made."
She smiles, "You're the best decision I ever made."
Spencer swallows hard and frowns a little. "I don't know about that."
"I do. You are the reason I have my children after all. I still love you with my whole heart. The day I walked away from you was the hardest day of my life. I've never felt a stronger connection. Even now, I feel so much better because you're here even though we aren't on the best terms. It's unnatural."
"I know what you mean," Spencer says, "Do you want me to get your back?" He asks to change the subject.
Serena shakes her head. "No, I've got it. I'm going to get out soon anyway."
Spencer nods and takes that as his cue to leave.