Disclaimer: Right now, I own a cup of coffee and that's it. So Criminal Minds is not mine.

Baby?

Pregnancy Counter 39 Weeks

Derek carefully rolled out of bed, grabbing his cell and shutting off the alarm. He groaned and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

Joy stretched out her arm and cracked her eyes. "Morning."

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep."

She yawned. "Phone?"

"Charged. And we're still working that local case. I'll be right here."

"All right."

She closed her eyes and relaxed against the pillows. Derek buckled his belt as he watched her sleep. He put one hand on her bump; some mornings he felt the baby kick back, but not this morning. Joy cracked an eye again. "He dropped."

"Hmm?"

"I got up during the night, walked around. I noticed my center had shifted, again."

"So, soon?"

She nodded and closed her eyes again. "Keep your phone nearby."

"Do you want-?"

"Go to work, Derek. I don't need you to hover."

He pulled on his shirt and checked her hospital bag, before grabbing his go-bag. With a smile, he grabbed his shoes and phone. On his way to the door, he checked on Tyler, peeking in the pirate room. He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Daddy?"

"Be good for Mama."

"Always."

Derek kissed Tyler's temple and got up. It still amazed him when Tyler called him Daddy.

Sitting in his SUV, he sent up a quick prayer that everything would go well.

"Clooney, you are as bad as Derek."

Tyler giggled as Clooney followed Joy around the kitchen. He shoveled his cereal into his mouth.

"Slow down, Tyler."

"Who's taking me to school?"

"Aunt Jessica and Jack."

Tyler nodded and hopped off his chair. He hugged and kissed Joy's bump, then bent and rubbed Clooney. "Watch over Mama, okay boy?"

Clooney barked and leaned against Joy's leg.

"Oh, for heaven's sake."

Tyler ran down the hall to get his backpack. Joy gripped the counter and slowly counted through the contraction.

Oh yeah, today was D-Day.

With a groan, she straightened and checked the clock. Still twelve minutes apart.

"Hi, Aunt Joy! Tyler!"

She smiled as Jack ran through the house. Jessica hugged her. "How are you?"

"I'm doing all right." She sighed. "I had the bloody show two days ago and he dropped this morning, I think. Or he just moved."

"How far apart?"

"Twelve minutes."

"Do you want me to grab Tyler's overnight bag? Keep him with me?"

"That would be fantastic."

Jessica squeezed Joy's hand. "I'll stop by during my lunch break, all right?"

"Perfect."

"Nothing stupid."

"Do I look like Derek?"

Jess laughed. "Come on boys!"

Jack and Tyler tore out of Tyler's room. "Bye!"

"Be good."

"I will." He hugged her again. "Take care of my baby brother."

"I wonder if you'll feel the same when he's here and touching your toys."

"Of course."

"Go to school." She ushered them out, leaning in the doorway and waving as they pulled out of the driveway.

She wanted to finish her laundry, prepare a few meals for Tyler and Derek and check the nursery again, just to have something to do. Clooney whined.

"Come on, boy. We have a baby to prepare for."

Derek tapped his pen against the stack of papers and glanced at his phone.

"Staring at it isn't going to make it ring."

"I know."

Hotch raised his eyebrows. "How close?"

"Soon. Today or tomorrow, she thinks."

"How far apart are her contractions?"

"When she called at lunch, they were still ten minutes apart."

"She's doing fine."

Derek leaned back in his chair. "I know she's done this before. But it's my first time and even though she keeps telling me not to worry, but I can't help it."

"Jess has Tyler now and I'll be taking him and Jack home," Hotch said. "By the time you get home tonight, she'll probably be ready."

"You think?"

"Isn't that what she told you?"

"Yes."

"Then, yes. Haley always knew what was going on, while I felt like I was having a psychotic break."

"Hotch, did you just compare yourself to an UnSub?"

"For now, try to focus on work to pass the time."

"Easy for you to say."

"It doesn't get any easier after this."

Derek blew out his breath. "I hope I don't screw this up. I really want this to work, to go home to Joy, Tyler and the baby and have a family. I don't want…"

"Morgan, you'll figure it out. You won't do what I did."

"Thanks. Um… Hotch?"

"Yes?"

"I kind of finished my paperwork."

"That's all done?"

"I had a lot of nervous energy. I kind of baby proofed the office too."

"Is that why you were on your hands and knees?"

"How many people saw?"

"Me and Rossi, and probably Garcia."

"Yeah, Tyler and I baby-proofed the house three nights ago."

Hotch took the stacks of papers, shaking his head. "Go talk to Garcia."

At five-thirty, Derek let himself in the sparkling clean house. "I thought you were supposed to rest?"

Joy smiled. "I had this done by three."

He crouched in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Well?"

"Still six minutes apart. Give it another one to two hours, then we should get going."

"I'm going to shower, change and eat."

"I'll be right here, probably sort of napping."

"You sure?"

"I'll shout if anything changes." She cupped his cheek. "It isn't like the movies. My water won't break and there'll suddenly be a baby. It's a waiting game."

"I'll take your word for it. You're the expert." He stood and kissed her forehead. "Back soon."

"Really, take your time."

Derek muttered and swatted the hand that was shaking him.

"Derek."

"M'sleepy, Momma."

"Come on, Daddy."

He opened his eyes. Joy stood in front of him, holding her hospital bag in one hand. "It's time?"

She nodded. "It's time."