The next morning, JJ went back to her house to shower, get changed, and get Henry ready for his visit. Meanwhile, Spencer was in his room with Parker. He had her rested on his chest while he held a book in one hand, reading to her.

"Alice in Wonderland? Quite the adventure for her."

He looked up to see Morgan leaning against the doorframe.

"Hey… I didn't know you were coming by." He put a bookmark into the book, putting it on the nightstand.

"Is she asleep?"

He nodded. "Just went down for a nap."

"Then can we talk?"

"If we can keep it quiet? I don't want to wake her."

He took the seat beside Spencer's bed.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Really, Pretty Boy?"

"Right, sorry."

Morgan sighed. "I don't know anything about being a father. And I only remember my father up until I was ten. But she's my daughter, and I feel like I should have a place in raising her."

Spencer bit his lip, looking down at her. "I know, and I understand. It's just really hard for me to let people in."

"Then I guess it's a good thing you already trust me. I could've let you go back to your hotel room with the guy in the leopard tuxedo."

He shuddered at the thought. "That's just mean."

Morgan smiled. "But really, Pretty Bo- Spencer." His head shot up at the use of his first name. "I want to be involved, and I'll take whatever you'll give me."

"I don't want you only being involved because you feel like you have to do it."

"I don't feel like I have to do it at all. She's my daughter. I want to be there for her."

"I don't want you to miss work or anything because of us."

"I'm not missing it because of you. Hotch offered me a couple weeks off to help you out, since you just had surgery and you're going to need help around the house. I asked for it because I want to help."

Spencer looked up at him. "Would you agree to a trial run?"

"A what?"

"You can stay with us in the room tonight, until she has to go back to the nursery, and we'll see how it goes. From there, we'll see what happens."

"I'll take whatever you'll give me. Thanks, kid."

"You know, you're going to have to stop calling Garcia 'Baby Girl' – you've got somebody else with that title now," he said, looking down at Parker.

He smiled. "I guess I can come up with another pet name."


A few minutes later, Spencer yawned.

"I've got her. You should take a nap before you have more visitors."

"You sure?"

He nodded, setting his coffee cup on the windowsill. "Let me see her."

Spencer bit his lip. "If she gets fussy, she really likes humming. And she's due for a feeding soon."

"I've got her."

Spencer sat up, wincing slightly, picking up Parker and resting her in Derek's arms. "And she also likes skin-to-skin contact. It comforts her."

"I've got her," he repeated.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you. For carrying her, for keeping her, and taking such good care of her. It's my turn now. Get some sleep."

Spencer laid back on the bed, pulling his blanket over himself. Within a minute, he fell asleep.


When he finally woke up, he looked over at Morgan. He was rocking in the chair, humming softly, an empty bottle in his lap.

"That's right, pretty girl. He's your daddy, and I guess I'll go by papa, or dada, whichever you'd prefer. I don't know if your daddy ever talked about me, but I can tell you even though I haven't known you're mine very long, I'm in love with you. You're the perfect little baby, you know that? And you've got two grandmas who are just going to eat you up. Not to mention you've got an Aunt Sarah and an Aunt Desi. If Aunt Penny doesn't spoil you rotten, they will. Of course, I'll have a bit of a role in that too. Look at you, how can anyone not love you?"

Spencer smiled, clearing his throat. Morgan looked up.

"Looks like daddy's awake. How much of that did you hear?"

"Pretty much the whole thing."

"I'd be embarrassed, but I don't regret a word."

"You mean it?"

Derek nodded, kissing Parker's forehead.

"So you're going to do it? Spend the night?"

"As long as they let me," Morgan said, setting her in the bassinet.


"Hey, Morgan?" Spencer said nervously, looking up at him.

"Yeah, Pretty Boy?" Morgan asked, leaning over.

Spencer bit his lip, grabbing the back of Morgan's neck and pulling him into a kiss.


JJ walked into the room, gasped, and turned back.

"We need to give Uncle Spencer a minute, buddy."

"Why?"

JJ picked him up. "Because he's talking to her daddy right now, and it's a very boring adult conversation you don't want to hear."

Will raised an eyebrow, peeking in. "Yeah, Henry. Very boring."

JJ looked at Henry. "How about daddy takes you to go get some animal crackers? I'm sure they'd love to give you some at the nurses' station."

Henry gasped. "Can we?!"

Will picked him up. "'Course, buddy." He kissed JJ's cheek and walked away.


She looked back in to see them still kissing. She took out her phone, taking a quick picture. She quickly called Garcia.

"Hey, Jayje, did Henry love meeting little genius?"

"He hasn't had the chance yet."

"I thought you were going there at noon."

"Oh I'm here and it's past noon. But we can't get into his room yet."

"Why, is he changing or something?"

"He's not alone."

"Who's he with? I know Morgan was visiting this morning but-" she gasped. "He is NOT."

"I don't know what's going on. I don't know the context. I just walk in and they're liplocked."

"This is such a huge deal! You need to get details."

"Only if he'll give them to me. I'm not going digging."

"But Jayje!"

"Nuh uh. And you won't either."

She groaned. "Fine."

"And keep it to yourself."

"Bu-"

"No buts."

"Fine. I'll see you later."

JJ hung up, looking back in the room.


Spencer pulled back, looking up into Morgan's eyes. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Morgan smiled, kissing his forehead. "Don't be."

Spencer blushed, speechless. "I um, JJ's going to be here soon. Maybe we can, um, finish the conversation later?"

"The conversation, or the kiss?"

"Um, the conversation."

Morgan smiled, changing the subject. "You eaten yet today?"

He shook his head.

"I'll go get you something," he said, pushing himself out of the chair.

"Nothing too solid."

"No problem."


He watched as Morgan left the room, and then saw Parker looking at him. He smiled, picking her up out of the bassinet. "I am so glad you're my only witness."

"Is she?"

He looked over to see JJ walking in.

"Don't scare me like that!" He wrapped her up in her blanket, adjusting her cap.


"How was she while I was gone?"

"Derek had her most of the time. I slept."

"And then planted your lips on his?"

He blushed again. "It was spur of the moment, I definitely didn't plan it."

"I believe you," she said, sitting beside him. "Have you thought about it?"

"About what?"

"Him being involved?"

He nodded. "We're doing a trail run tonight in the hospital, seeing how he is with the two of us. And if he does well, we're going to discuss it."

"Only you could test the scientific method on your child's father."

He smiled, kissing her forehead. "It'll be worth it."


She looked over at the door. "You've got a visitor."

He raised an eyebrow, glancing over. He saw Henry, and quickly put a finger to his lips. "Inside voice."

Henry nodded, running over to the bed.

"Henry, slow down," Will called, following him.

"It's fine," Spencer said, looking down at Henry. "Want to meet your cousin, Henry?" He nodded repeatedly. Spencer shifted over on the bed, making room. "Come on up here."

Will picked up Henry, setting him on the bed beside Spencer. "Remember, Henry. The baby's gon' be real delicate. You have to be careful."

Henry looked at his father, nodding.

Spencer bent his arm down, showing her to Henry. "Henry, this is Parker. Can you be a good big cousin to her?"

He smiled, looking up at his uncle. He leaned over, kissing her forehead softly. "Hi Par," he whispered.

JJ took out her camera, taking pictures.


"Do you want to hold her, Henry?"

"Spence, is that a good idea?"

"He'll be fine. We're all right here. Besides, I seem to recall Jack holding Henry, and he's about the same age."

JJ gave Will a look.

"JJ, we're not gon' let him hurt her."

She sighed, admitting defeat. "Fine. Henry, you have to be really careful though. And you can't get off the bed with her. You have to stay right there and hold her still. Can you do that?"

He nodded, holding up his pinky. She wrapped hers around his.

Will fixed Henry's arms, sitting on his other side. "Just like that, okay?"

Henry nodded. Spencer bit his lip, easing Parker into his arms. Once she was situated, Henry looked up at his mother, smiling. "I did it."

JJ smiled, snapping a few more pictures. "You're doing great, buddy. Good job."

Spencer kissed Henry's forehead. "Is it okay if I take her back now?"

Henry kissed his cousin's forehead one more time. "Okay, Unca Spen."

Spencer reached over, picking her back up and setting her in the bassinet. "You did amazing, Henry. I know you're going to be an awesome cousin."

Henry leaned over, hugging Spencer's stomach and squeezing. Spencer winced, inhaling and biting his lip. Will picked Henry up, taking him out of the room before he noticed he'd hurt him.

"Spence, you okay?"

He nodded, wrapping an arm around his stomach. "Just rubbed against the staples. It's no big deal." Despite what he said, the pain was written on his face.

Morgan looked in and saw Spencer in pain. "What's wrong?"

JJ sighed. "Henry aggravated his incision when he hugged him."

Morgan set his tray on the table. "Need anything?"

"Just something for the pain. Please?"

JJ reached over, pressing the call button. After the nurse came in with the medication and checked his staples, he sat up on the bed, exhaling.

"Spence, I'm so sorry."

"What? He hugged me. He didn't know."

"Maybe he shouldn't have held Parker."

"He did fine, and she didn't seem too upset about it. JJ, it's fine. These things happen."


After a few minutes of awkward silence, Morgan pushed the tray over. "Eat up, Pretty Boy."

Spencer poked around in his soup with his spoon. "When I get out of here? I want a double cheeseburger, fries, and a really big cup of coffee, extra sugar. This stuff is disgusting." He wrinkled his nose, eating the soup.

JJ sat his bed up, resting a pillow behind his back. "Have you walked yet today?"

"I did this morning. My doctor wants me to get up later, too."

"I need to get home in a little bit. Morgan, think you can handle that?"

"No problem."


"So what's the game plan again?" JJ asked.

"Well, you need to go home and be with Will and Henry while you have the time off. I'd rather you take your days off for me after I'm released, because I know I'll be needing your expert advice then. So Morgan's going to spend the night tonight, and we're going to go from there."

JJ smiled, kissing his forehead. "Take care of yourself." She looked up at Morgan. "And don't you attack my little brother with your lips again."

"Actually, Jayje, that was all me," Spencer admitted.

She gasped. "Well, well… Derek and Spence sitting in a tree…"

Spencer looked at them. "What, that song again? What's it mean?"

Morgan smiled, shaking his head. "Bye, JJ."


Later on, after the nurses took Parker back to the nursery, Morgan was going to take him for a walk around the hospital.

"I'm fine, I don't need to walk."

"Your doctor seems to think different. Now come on."

Spencer sighed, kicking his legs over the side of the bed. "I need socks."

"Where are they?"

He motioned over to his bag. Morgan dug through, taking out a pair of odd slipper socks. "These?"

Spencer groaned, embarrassed. "I need your help."

Morgan knelt beside the bed, slipping the socks onto his feet. "Do you need help getting up?"

He nodded. "This lack of independence is the worst thing I've ever experienced."

Morgan got up, holding out his hands. "Come on."

Spencer sighed, grabbing his hands and pulling himself up, wincing.

"You okay?"

"Just take it slow. I'll be fine."

He clung to Morgan's hand as they walked out to the hall.

"Sure you can handle this?"

He nodded again. "I'm fine." He stood up best he could, taking small steps.

"Doing good, Pretty Boy."

"You sure that name's appropriate? Right about now it's more like 'Sleep Deprived Stapled Shut Boy'."

"I'm not changing the name now."

"Suit yourself."


When they were halfway down the hall, Garcia walked over.

"How's my prodigy doing?"

Spencer exhaled. "Sore. Going for a walk hoping it'll help ease the pain."

"Is my niece in the nursery?"

He nodded. "And, supposedly, she's one of the biggest charmers they've ever met."

"I wouldn't be surprised, considering she has this one as her father," she said, motioning toward Morgan.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I do believe you charmed this one into making that baby," Garcia said.

"Nuh uh. Not even close. That was all him."

Garcia looked at him. "Oh really, Boy Wonder? I never pegged you as the type."

Spencer blushed, changing the subject. "I'm going to finish this walk up in a few if you want to meet back in my room, Garcia."

"I think I'll pop by the nursery, see your daughter being a flirt. Behave, you two."

"JJ told her, didn't she?" Spencer asked as she walked away.

"Oh, definitely."


Once they reached the end of the hall, Spencer looked up at him.

"Can we stop for a minute?"

Morgan nodded, sitting him down. "Take all the time you need."

He exhaled. "How's your mother taking the news?"

"She's thrilled. She wants pictures every chance I have to take one. She's constantly asking about you and the baby. She's always questioning me."

"About what?"

"If I'm involved, if I'm on the birth certificate, if I'll be helping you, how we're going to work out co-parenting, both being working parents," he saw the look on Spencer's face, "and I keep telling her that it all depends on how you decide to do it. I'm not going to pressure you into any of it. You don't owe me anything after going through this by yourself."

He chewed on the inside of his lip. "Can you?"

"Can I-?"

"I don't have any of the other answers, but one of them I can't deny. You are her father, Derek… it's only fair that you're on the birth certificate."

"You mean that?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You have no idea how much that means to me, Pretty Boy."

"They're bringing it by the room later on… but, this doesn't mean everything's set in stone. It's just me doing the right thing."

"I understand. We'll see as we go along. Baby steps."

He nodded in agreement. "Baby steps."


When they got back to his room, Morgan eased him onto the bed, pulling the blanket over him. He looked over, seeing Garcia with a shopping bag.

"Baby Girl, what'd he say about shopping?"

"I'm going to have no problem making rent this month, so this is allowed. Plus, it's perfect for her."

Spencer looked over at her. "I'm slightly frightened by your definition of 'perfect'."

She rolled her eyes, handing him the bag. "I've been waiting to do this since you were pregnant and wouldn't budge on her name."

He reached in the bag, taking out several blocks that spelled out her name. He smiled, tracing the letters. "Thanks, they're perfect."

"Keep going."

He groaned. "Garcia, you didn't."

"Keep going," she repeated.

He went through the bag, pulling out personalized pacifiers and bibs.

"Oh, wow…"

"That's not all. Check the bottom."

He raised an eyebrow, looking at the bottom of the bag. He groaned, pulling out a Spiderman onesie.

"I didn't name her after Spiderman!"

Morgan bit his lip to keep from laughing.

"That doesn't stop it from being adorable."

He put everything back in the bag, setting it beside the bed.


"So, you two are having a sleepover tonight?"

"We're testing the idea of co-parenting," Spencer said. "Seeing if we'd be able to tolerate each other enough to be in the same house with Parker for periods of time."

"You two are going to be shacking up? Living in sin? I like it."

Spencer blushed. "Not quite."

"Well, what's going to happen? You've obviously snatched up Derek Morgan, and you're very lucky for that fact."

"I-I haven't… snatched him up. He's free to do whatever we wants."

"Relax, it's just an expression. So what's going on?"

"He's going to sleep on the cot JJ was on last night. We've arranged to have Parker in here for a few hours, and have a sort of… test run."

"And if that goes well?"

"We'll see what happens from there."

"You'll tell me, right?"

"Garcia!"

"What? I think after everything I did for you, especially keeping your secret, the least you could do is let me know how it works out."

He sighed. "Maybe. How's that?"

"Sounds like the best I'm going to get on that."

She then looked over at Morgan. "So, Derek, have you DTR'd yet?"

"Have we what?" Spencer asked, looking between them.

Morgan shook his head. "No, Garcia."

"What's it mean?"

"Determined the relationship," Garcia said. "And why not? You two have a baby together, that has to mean something."

"Yeah, it means I was a very clingy and emotional drunk person, and Derek gave into my pleas."

"But that kiss…"

Spencer sighed. "It was a spur of the moment thing. All the hormones and being happy that he was going to be there for her, it just happened."

"So are you ever going to?" Garcia asked.

"I don't know? We'll see how it goes taking care of her I guess."


Author's Note: Coming up - Derek and Spencer try their hand at co-parenting!