Reid groaned after landing on the floor mat. The pain he felt was ignored when he heard Morgan's chuckle from above. He glanced up and realized the senior agent was within kicking distance and not looking at the younger agent. Using a sweeping motion, he knocked Morgan off his feet and laughed when he heard a grunt after he older man landed on his back.
"Damn kid, that was just uncalled for," Morgan groaned.
Reid chuckled, "Weren't you the one that just said we should be prepared for any move? That unsub's don't play by a playbook?"
Morgan jokingly shoved Reid's arm before the pair started to get back to their feet. "Nice to see you've been listening during these lessons." This was the seventh sparing lesson Reid had agreed to since getting out of the hospital. He decided that although he wasn't typically the one tackling unsubs, he needed to be better prepared. His close call with the fight for his gun a few months ago showed him that. Besides, if nothing else, it relieved some stress and put JJ's mind more at ease.
"Now," Morgan continued, pulling Reid's focus back. "Let's try it again. Pretty soon you'll be ready to take on JJ."
"Mmmm, here comes the yummy muscle men of the BAU," teased Garcia when the two joined the team in the break room a few hours later. Morgan grinned and Reid just rolled his eyes. "Looking good, dear doctor."
JJ nodded in agreement and handed Reid his tea. "Can't argue with her on that one."
Reid blushed, "thanks." He took a sip of his tea and headed to his desk. JJ smiled at the extra bounce in his step as he left. She wondered if he noticed the improvement in his self-confidence that she had since he'd been working out more. He would never get like Morgan, he needed to keep his mind more engaged than his body. Yet, she wondered if he had noticed the more looks he was getting when they were out –like she was. She wasn't at all worried, but it did amuse her how it seemed to help his confidence, whether he noticed it or not.
"Your boy genius has a little extra pep in his giddy up, doesn't he?" Garcia commented, gently shoulder bumping JJ. JJ smiled as she took a sip of her own tea and headed to her office to work on a few things before the team headed to Georgetown for their presentation on Thomas Yates.
Reid looked up from his philosophy textbook when he heard an interesting knock on his home office's door. He smiled at that thought, 'home office.' He liked the sound of that. "Come in."
Henry stuck his head in, "Spence, mommy wanted me to get you for dinner." Reid smiled. He had noticed of late that 'uncle' had starting to be dropped more and more often. He knew eventually there going to have to have the 'step dad' talk if…when he proposed and she accepted. He currently had that ring tucked away in a desk drawer, waiting for when the time was right.
"Thanks little man, I was getting hungry," he answered, tucking a bookmark into his textbook and closing it. He stood and quickly scooped up Henry into his arms. "Umph," he fake grunted, "you're getting big Henry. Must be all that mac and cheese we've been eating lately." He tickled the young boy and was treated to laughter as they headed down the stairs. "Hey JJ, what's for dinner?"
She turned to him after setting plates on the table. "I'll let you guess," she joked. Reid looked down at the plates and noticed the familiar food. "I added grilled chicken and mixed vegetables to balance it out. A certain little boy has to clean those up before getting a second serving," she added as she kissed Henry on the top of his head after Reid set him in his chair. The emerging family enjoyed their dinner while Henry regaled them with his adventures at pre-school.
"And blue is azul and red is rojo!" he finished, very proud of himself for remembering his colors in Spanish.
"Wow Henry, that was amazing!" JJ beamed. Reid nodded as well, impressed with Henry's memory capability.
"That's great little man. Sounds like you're learning at lot at school. I think that might merit a treat tonight, don't you?"
"Yeah! Ice cream!" Henry exclaimed. JJ glared at Reid briefly before looking back at the boy.
"I suppose we can do that if you finish your vegetables," she replied. Henry groaned but picked up a piece of broccoli. "You too Henry," she added, gently shoving Reid's arm.
Henry giggled, "Yeah, Spence, we need to eat our veggies!"
Reid laughed and ate a piece of cauliflower. Glancing at JJ, he commented, "I can't believe you turned him against me."
"The power of ice cream," she smiled.
JJ curled into Reid's side a few hours later after tucking Henry in and finishing up a few household items. Reid was already starting to doze off but wrapped an arm around her. "Have you noticed that Henry has stopped calling you uncle?" He nodded a little while keeping his eyes closed.
"Will make things easier when we get married," he sighed dreamily.
JJ froze, her eyes wide. Did he really just say that? Did he realize he said that? She sat up, letting his arm drop onto the bed. "What did you say?"
Reid rolled to his side, "Night JJ, love you."
She leaned over him, watching as his breathing continued to even out. Did he really just say that half asleep? "Love you too Spence." She bit her lip and giggled softly. Lying back down, she wondered how she was going to get any sleep now. He was going to propose! She had wondered about that, but kept it in the back of her mind. She figured it was a long way down the road given recent events. Although, really, one could say they had been together in some form for years now. She just hadn't expected he would even be thinking about it yet.
Watching her parents' marriage dissolve over her sister's suicide, she had sworn for years that she would never get married. At the time, she never thought she would meet someone she thought would be strong enough to handle whatever life could throw at them. But Spence was the strongest man she knew. If he could handle what life had thrown at him so far on his own, she knew she could be strong enough to handle things as well.
It was one of the reasons she kept going to sparing seasons with Morgan. Not only just for her safety in the field, but it helped keep her fighter spirit going, something she could admit she didn't really have years ago, before Henry. But now she had a reason to fight, well, two actually. She vaguely wondered if he felt that way when he was sparing now, if that's why it's made him more confident.
Whatever the reason, she loved the change and couldn't wait see what else their future held. With that thought, she smiled once more before turning on her side and drifting off to sleep.
JJ grinned at the look on Reid's face. She had arranged for Henry to spend the night at Karen's house so they could have their first night alone in the house since he had moved in. She had picked up some take out and arranged the living room as a little picnic as a little surprise.
"What is this?" he asked, setting his messenger bag on the table by the door. JJ answered by meeting him, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a soft kiss on his lips.
"Henry is sleeping over at Karen's. We have been going basically non-stop since you got out the hospital. Between working on life changes, work, and moving in, we really haven't had a night to just relax. So I thought we could have a little date night."
Reid smiled and pulled her close. "That sounds fantastic." They kissed once more before JJ led him to the picnic area and food. When he stared at the Chinese food he chuckled. "Your idea for relaxing was to torture me with chopsticks?"
JJ giggled. "I can get you a fork if you want, but I did pick these up too." She handed him a pair of chopsticks that had an M connecting the sticks. He studied them for a minute, squeezing them, and then smiled. She watched as he pinched some food and ate it. "Good?"
He smiled and nodded. "I suppose it will work," he teased. "Although if it doesn't, will you just feed me?"
JJ outright laughed and shoved him. "Don't make me beat you."
"Oh you could try," he joked back.
JJ raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, Doctor Reid? Want to have a sparring session in the living room?"
"Maaaybe," he answered, wagging his eyebrows and sending her heart aflutter. She felt him take her food away and set it down before planting a kiss on her pulse point.
"Spence," she breathed as he gently pushed her down onto the floor full of pillows.
A/N: Yay, we've finally reached the point right before the finale last season. The next few chapters are with my beta so should be coming soon. Also, they are a bit longer than others since there was so much to put in. Hope you like where we're at and are ready for my take on Hit & Run! ~Ann