Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. The occasional scenes from episodes of Criminal Minds in this story belong to the writers of Criminal Minds and CBS. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Shout out to Daisyangel for being the 100th reviewer of this story, and also a shout out to Fashionista7, criminalmindsrocks, Guest (I know that it was you fishtrek), Astrahan for reviewing chapter 18.
I can't believe this rewrite now has 100 reviews. Shout out to everyone who takes the time to review since reviews really make me smile during the rough time everyone is dealing with when it comes to being quarantined in their homes or having to work in the medical field like my mom who's a receptionist in a nursing home.
This chapter starts three weeks after the last chapter, so Ashes and Dust, Honor Among Thieves, and Open Season has all happened before this chapter which starts on May 1st of 2007.
WARNING: THE F-WORD IS SAID QUITE A BIT IN THE CHAPTER.
I'm sorry to say that Violet and Arthur won't be appearing until the next chapter.
Spencer who was making pancakes for breakfast with his mother-in-law looked at his 36-week wife who was leaning against the kitchen island as she rubbed her back, "Are you OK, Maeve?" asked Spencer softly.
"I'm just dealing with some Braxton-hicks contractions," said Maeve before sighing, "Even though Dr. Jacobs said that Violet and Arthur could come any time now when you were in Spokane yesterday, I'm just tired of being pregnant."
"I know that you can handle being pregnant with Violet and Arthur for 13 more days," said Spencer before looking at Maeve's walking boot, "How is your Achilles tendon feeling this morning?" asked Spencer.
"No pain, but I'm looking forward to taking the cast off for good in two to four weeks," said Maeve.
Later on that night a flustered Spencer was trying to fix his tie after a bunch of prostitutes grabbing his tie looked at Hotch, "Please don't tell Maeve that I've been propositioned by every prostitute we talked to," said Spencer.
Hotch gave his youngest agent who was pretty much back to his pre-Hankel self an amused look, "I won't tell Maeve as long as you tell her yourself," said Hotch as he shook his head when he heard Emily talk to Morgan.
"You make the people around you feel good," smiled Emily.
Spencer and Hotch approached Morgan and Emily.
"Well, he's no Charlie Chaplin," joked Hotch.
Spencer laughed.
"Again with the Chaplins'," deadpanned Morgan.
"How'd you guys do?" asked Emily.
Hotch gave a flustered Spencer an amused look, "Well, Reid got propositioned by every prostitute we talked to."
Spencer nodded at Emily's and Morgan's chuckles, "They all said that they're jealous of my wife."
"But we didn't find anybody who thinks they'd seen the unsub," said Hotch.
"Same story with us," said Morgan.
"We saw Gideon and McGee a block back. They hadn't had any luck, either," said Hotch.
"It's odd. If the unsub were out here, he'd stand out. You know, people would recognize the description," said Spencer.
"So where does that leave us?" asked Emily.
Captain Wright and JJ approached them causing Captain Wright to look at Hotch, "Right where I thought we were."
"Captain?" asked Hotch.
"You said this guy would definitely be memorable. You were adamant. So if no one out here remembers him, according to you, he doesn't exist," said Captain Wright.
"That's not exactly what we said, but," said JJ before Captain Wright interrupted her.
"It's what you implied," said Captain Wright.
"What do you think happened to them, Captain?" asked Hotch.
"I told you, I don't think anything happened to them," said Captain Wright.
Hotch glared at Captain Wright, "Oh, that's right. You think they all got houses and jobs."
"OK, this all means is we have another piece of the puzzle here. Someone got over 60 street-smart people out of here and no one noticed," said Emily.
"It's almost like he blended in," said Spencer.
JJ looked at Spencer, "It's more than that. It's like he must somehow belong."
"Like he's here all the time," said Hotch.
Morgan quickly noticed a van that had a man talking to the woman he just talked to, "Like social services."
"What?" asked Emily.
Morgan looked at Captain Wright, "Captain Wright?" asked Morgan.
"Yeah?" asked Captain Wright.
Morgan kept an eye on Mona, "Does your social services department patrol around?" asked Morgan.
A confused Captain Wright looked at Morgan, "Excuse me?" asked Captain Wright.
"Do they drive around in the middle of the night looking for people to help?" asked Morgan as he saw a social service employee take Mona's cart.
"No. They have to be called, and then," said Captain Wright before Morgan took off causing everyone else to chase after Morgan.
After saving Maggie and going to a hotel to get four hours of sleep the team was flying home from Kansas City when Spencer saw a text message from Maeve.
I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE IN KANSAS CITY. I LOVE YOU. ~ MR
Spencer smiled as he replied to Maeve.
I'M FLYING HOME RIGHT NOW AND I'M ABOUT TO TAKE A NAP ON THE JET. ~ SR
Maeve quickly replied.
ARE YOU COMING STRAIGHT HOME OR GOING TO THE B.A.U.? ~ MR
Spencer smiled as he thought about what Hotch told him.
I'M GOING TO THE B.A.U. SO I CAN CLEAR OFF MY DESK SINCE HOTCH TOLD ME THAT I CAN START PATERNITY LEAVE TOMORROW. ~ SR
Hotch who was sitting near Spencer looked at his youngest agent, "Did you tell Maeve what I told you while we were boarding the jet?" asked Hotch.
Spencer nodded, "Thank you for letting me start paternity leave tomorrow."
"I just want to make sure that you don't miss the birth of your children," said Hotch before he thought about walking the streets with Spencer, "Have you told Maeve about you being proposition by prostitutes?" asked Hotch.
Spencer shook his head, "She never lets me live it down."
"She witnessed prostitutes propositioning you before?" asked Hotch.
Spencer nodded, "Countless of times."
Hotch thought about knowing that Spencer met Maeve on May 16th, "Even though Maeve might be in the hospital on the anniversary of you and Maeve meeting for the first time, have you thought about what you're going to get her?" asked Hotch.
"I'm going to send Maeve and my mother-in-law to the spa for the day while Joe and I take care of Violet and Arthur," said Spencer.
Hotch nodded his approval, "Maybe cook for Maeve too."
"I'm already planning on having dinner ready for Maeve too," said Spencer before he closed his eyes so he could get an hour of sleep.
Later on that day at 5 P.M., Spencer was just about to pack up to go home when he turned around to find Maeve and her father holding three boxes of pizza and a grocery bag that contained popcorn and candy, "What are you doing here Maeve?" asked Spencer.
Gideon came down the stairs and smiled at Spencer, Maeve, Emily, and Morgan, "After the case we came home from this morning, I thought that we could have a Charlie Chaplin movie marathon in the conference room. Maeve kindly agreed to pick us all up some dinner."
Maeve pecked her husband on the lips, "And Jason insisted on inviting me since he knew that I'm going stir-crazy at home while I wait for Violet and Arthur to make their debut."
"Either way, I'm glad that you'll be here to decompress with me," said Spencer.
Maeve kissed her father's cheek, "You can go home now and I'll carpool home with Spencer and one of his teammates."
"Just take it easy, princess," said Joseph before looking at his son-in-law, "I'll see you at breakfast, son."
"You too, dad," said Spencer.
As soon as Joe left the bullpen, Emily stood up and looked at Maeve, "Even though you're 36-weeks with twins, you look like you're about to give birth any day now."
Maeve rubbed her baby bump, "I'm tired of being pregnant, but it's important to keep Violet and Arthur inside of me until my planned c-section."
"Violet and Arthur will let you know when they're ready to meet you and their daddy before your planned c-section," said a female voice.
Spencer and Maeve turned around and gasped when they saw Maeve's gynecologist walking towards them.
"What are you doing here, Dr. Jacobs?" asked Maeve.
"Jason invited me here so I can finally meet his coworkers," said Dr. Jacobs.
Gideon looked at his girlfriend, "You know Spencer and Maeve?" asked Gideon.
Maeve looked at Gideon, "Dr. Jacob has been my gynecologist for the past few years."
"Dr. Jacobs is my girlfriend," said Gideon.
Dr. Jacobs looked at her boyfriend, "I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be delivering Violet and Arthur when I realized that Spencer worked with you, but you know that I couldn't violate HIPAA laws."
"I understand," said Gideon just as Garcia and JJ both entered the bullpen, "You two are just in time for a Charlie Chaplin movie marathon."
Maeve who was now holding three boxes of pizza, "And I brought dinner."
Garcia smiled, "Are you so excited about giving birth to Violet and Arthur soon?" asked Garcia.
Maeve nodded, "I am since I already told Emily and Derek that I'm tired of being pregnant."
JJ looked at Maeve as she thought about the apology she gave to both Spencer and Maeve about her behavior towards them after the case in New Orleans, "Are you and Spence going to be having more kids after Violet and Arthur are born?" asked JJ.
Maeve nodded, "We have decided when we will try for another baby or two, but we're going to surprise you guys."
Halfway into the third movie, Maeve's eyes went wide as her Depend underwear she wore to protect her clothes from the accidents she's been having from not reaching the bathroom on-time became soaked before she had a contraction that caused her to scream while she squeezed her husband's hand hard.
Spencer winced as he looked at his wife, "Is everything OK, Maeve?" asked Spencer.
Dr. Jacobs quickly got up, "Did you just have your first contraction, Maeve?" asked Dr. Jacobs.
Maeve took a few breaths as she nodded, "Yes and my water broke too."
Hotch quickly got up and looked at Spencer, Maeve, and Dr. Jacobs, "I'll drive you three to the hospital now."
Dr. Jacobs looked at her boyfriend and the rest of thee B.A.U. team, "Since it's 9 P.M., you five just head home since it's going to a while before Violet and Arthur make their debut and visiting hours are already over at Georgetown University Hospital."
Gideon nodded, "I understand," said Gideon before looking at Spencer and Maeve, "I'll let Chief Strauss know what's going on so she can get your mom, uncle Gordon, and aunt Ethel out here before I call your parents, Maeve."
"Thank you," said Spencer as he looked at Garcia, JJ, Emily, and Morgan, "You guys should listen to Dr. Jacobs and I'll text you guys when we're up for visitors since my mom, my in-laws, Aunt Erin, Aunt Ethel, and uncle Gordon should get to hold Violet and Arthur first."
A minute later Spencer and Hotch were helping Maeve walk down the stairs to reach the first level of the bullpen while Dr. Jacobs wheeled up Spencer's desk chair.
"Please sit down and your husband can push you out of the building," said Dr. Jacobs.
"I'll go get my car," said Hotch as he quickly ran out of the bullpen and chose to take the stairs down to the parking garage instead of the elevator.
20 minutes later Hotch was steadily driving Spencer, Maeve, and Dr. Jacobs back to Washington D.C. as he looked at Spencer who was sitting in the backseat with Maeve as he calmly coached Maeve on her breathing exercises, said soothing words, while he massaged Maeve's lower back, "How is everyone?" asked Hotch.
"I'm nervous and scared about holding Violet and Arthur for the first time tomorrow," said Spencer calmly.
Dr. Jacobs looked at her patient, "What about you, Maeve?" asked Dr. Jacobs.
"Well, let's see," Maeve began to sarcastically list off as she was soothing her very pregnant belly, "I'm pregnant with twins. My feet ache. My back hurts. My ass hurts. Everything in my body hurts me to the next level. Yeah, I'm feeling peachy cream about delivering two bowling balls through a hole that's the size of a lemon or getting cut open, Aaron."
Dr. Jacobs looked at her patient from the front seat, "We'll be to the hospital where you can get an epidural before you know it."
Maeve glared at her husband and shouted, "I DON'T WANT A FUCKING EPIDURAL!"
Spencer continued rubbing his wife's lower back, "Please accept the offered epidural when we get to the hospital, Maeve. I don't want to see you in pain."
"I agree with Spencer, Maeve, you're about to give birth to twins, and I always advise an epidural for twin births," said Dr. Jacobs.
Maeve seethes, "It's a good thing that both Aaron and Dr. Jacobs both told you to you leave your Glock at the B.A.U. because I feel like killing you with your gun for getting me pregnant."
"Maeve…," said Spencer.
"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP AND I'M NEVER GETTING PREGNANT AGAIN!" shouted Maeve before taking a few breaths to calm down and sharply looked at her husband, "I'm having this overwhelming urge to… do my own vasectomy on you with the pocket knife I know that you keep in your messenger bag and give what I cut off to Zoey to play with."
Spencer gulped while both his and Hotch's faces turned red, "I'm sorry."
Two hours later Maeve was finally settled into a room when she looked at Dr. Jacobs, "How far dilated I am?" asked Maeve.
"You're already five centimeters dilated," said Dr. Jacobs before looking at Maeve, "Even though your last ultrasound showed that Violet and Arthur are in a suitable position to be born naturally, are you sure that you don't want a c-section? You would get to hold Violet and Arthur much sooner if you agree to a c-section," said Dr. Jacobs.
"I want my mom in the delivery room with Spencer and me, so I want to give birth naturally," said Maeve before screaming as she felt another contraction.
"Let's get someone in here to do an epidural on you," said Dr. Jacobs.
Maeve glared at her gynecologist, "After what happened to Spencer three months ago, I don't want to get an epidural."
Spencer looked at Maeve as he gave her his puppy-dog eye look, "Please accept an epidural, Maeve. I'll be fine since I didn't get addicted to Dilaudid and I can easily attend a few meetings while I'm on paternity leave."
Mary gave her daughter a stern look, "Even though you're turning 26 next week, as your mother I order you to listen to Spencer and your doctor."
Maeve glared at her husband, mother, and gynecologist before sighing, "Please give me that epidural."
30 minutes later the anesthesiologist who came into the room to give Maeve an epidural shook his head after trying to find a location to inject the medication, "I can't do an epidural."
Spencer looked at the anesthesiologist, "Why?" asked Spencer.
"I can't find the right space to do the epidural," said Dr. Bergner.
Maeve glared at Dr. Jacobs, "Don't you dare think about injecting any pain medication into my I.V."
Dr. Jacobs, "I understand, but let's have you walk around the maternity ward before you can take a warm shower."
A minute later Spencer and Mary were helping Maeve get out of bed so they could help Maeve walk around the maternity ward.
Over eight hours later at 8 A.M., Maeve leaned herself against her shoulder after she pushed for the 10th time.
Spencer who was grateful to squeeze in four hours of sleep earlier gave Maeve a look of encouragement, "You're doing great, Maeve."
"I see some curly brown hair, so a few more pushes until the first twin arrives," said Dr. Jacobs.
Spencer kissed his wife's lips, "I love you, Maeve. Only a few more pushes before we meet either our son or our daughter."
"I love you too, Spencer," cried Maeve.
Three pushes later a piercing cry sounded in the delivery room while Dr. Jacobs held up the first Reid twin to Spencer and Maeve who were both openly crying at the sight of one of their twins, "Congratulations mommy, daddy, and grandma it's a beautiful baby boy."
Spencer and Maeve kissed each other, "One more twin to go," said Spencer.
Dr. Jacobs looked at Spencer, "You want to cut the umbilical cord?" asked Dr. Jacobs.
"Yes please," said Spencer.
A few seconds later Spencer was cutting the umbilical cord that connected his son to Maeve before Arthur was wrapped into a blanket and placed in Spencer's arms.
Spencer tearfully looked at his son who had stopped crying and was gazing at him, "Hello, Arthur. I'm your daddy. I'll quickly show you to mommy and grandma Mary before you're taken away to be cleaned up."
"Please bring him over, Spencer," said Maeve.
A few seconds later Spencer was placing Arthur onto Maeve's chest causing Maeve to gasp at the sight of brown curly hair.
"Arthur looks so much like you, Spencer," cried Maeve.
"I agree with my daughter," said Mary.
"I know," said Spencer before thinking about the date as he looked at his son who was being picked up by a nurse to be checked over, "Happy Star Wars day and May the 4th be with you, Arthur."
Maeve burst out laughing as she remembered why her husband was giddy about Violet and Arthur being born on May 4th, "Of all the days Violet and Arthur had to be born, they ended up having to be born on "Star Wars" Day."
Spencer grinned, "At least Violet and Arthur will never be separated and raised by other people like Luke and Princess Leia were. I'm already planning that they're dressed up as Luke and Leia for Halloween this year while they have a "Star Wars" themed party on their 1st birthday."
Maeve felt another contraction, "I need to push again."
Spencer quickly scrambled back onto the stool.
15 minutes later Spencer was cutting the cord that connected Violet with Maeve before he got to hold a blanket covered Violet as he looked down at his daughter who had red hair and blue eyes, "Violet Guinevere Reid, I'm your daddy. Happy "Star Wars" Day and May the 4th be with you," said Spencer before he placed Violet on Maeve's chest.
Mary looked at her daughter as tears fell down her face, "She looks just like you did when you were born, Maeve."
"I know," said Maeve before she kissed her husband, "I love you. Please go be with Violet and Arthur while I deliver the placentas and get cleaned up."
"I love you too," said Spencer before he left the delivery room to be with Violet and Arthur while Mary left to call her husband who had recently picked up Spencer's mother, Aunt Ethel, and Uncle Gordon from the airport.
20 minutes later one of the nurses who was in her mid-40's looked at Spencer who was smiling at the sight of Arthur and Violet holding hands as he helped put a diaper on Violet while she diapered Arthur up, "Even though you brought onesies and hats for Violet and Arthur to wear today, I have special onesies, hats, and blankets that you would love to have Violet and Arthur wear and be swaddled with today," said Nurse Sally as she showed Spencer onesies that said MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU, hand-knitted hats that looked like Princess Leia's braided buns, Yoda's ears, or R2-D2, and "Star Wars" themed blankets to swaddle newborns in, "I'm an avid "Star Wars" fan just like you, so I created a tradition to provide "Star Wars" themed onesies, hats, and blankets to give to the babies who were born here today."
Spencer grinned, "I love these onesies, hats, and blankets, so thank you so much," said Spencer before he picked out which colored MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU onesies that Violet and Arthur would wear before he picked out a hat that looked like Princess Leia's braids for Violet and a Yoda hat for Arthur to wear.
After Violet and Arthur were dressed, Spencer quickly took a picture of his kids that he would soon send to his and Maeve's family, friends, and coworkers before Nurse Sally had him help swaddle Violet and Arthur up.
An hour later Spencer who had changed into a clean pair of khakis and a short-sleeved dress shirt from his go-bag was sitting on Maeve's bed holding Violet while looked at Maeve who's now wet hair from her shower was pulled into a messy bun while she was wearing a clean hospital gown, "How are you feeling?" asked Spencer.
"Our mothers and your aunts were right that I would no longer be in pain after giving birth, but the pain I went through the deliver Violet and Arthur was worth it," said Maeve before smiling when she saw that Violet already had a hand wrapped around one of her father's fingers, "I see that Violet already has you wrapped around her little fingers."
Spencer smiled down at Violet who seemed to prefer skin to skin contact causing him to unbutton up his dress shirt a bit, "I know that I'll be in trouble someday if Violet ends up being a daddy's girl."
Maeve looked down at Arthur who had one of his hands wrapped around one of her fingers, "I'm going to be in trouble too since Arthur is already a Mama's boy."
"Are you pleased with how Violet and Arthur turned out?" asked Spencer.
"We both got our wishes about wanting a mini-Spencer and a mini-Maeve even though Violet has your curls, but we both know that brown eyes like yours are more dominate than my blue eyes so there's a chance that Violet and Arthur will both have your eyes," said Maeve.
At that moment Nurse Sally came into the room, "Since Violet and Arthur have been fed and you two have bonded with them, do you two want me to take your first family portrait before you four spend the rest of the day dealing with visitors?" asked Nurse Sally.
Maeve nodded, "Yes please and thank you for the "Star Wars" themed onesies, hats, and blankets."
Nurse Sally smiled, "Your welcome. If Violet and Arthur end up being Luke and Leia for Halloween, I hope you two can send me some pictures."
Spencer laughed, "If I can get Maeve to agree on having Violet and Arthur be Luke and Leia for Halloween, I'll make sure to send you some pictures."
A minute later Nurse Sally was taking a picture of a smiling Spencer and Maeve while Spencer held Violet and Maeve held Arthur.
A/N: April Fools about making you faithful readers think that you guys have to wait for Violet and Arthur to be born in the next chapter! I decided that Violet and Arthur Reid would be born in this chapter since I know that all of you readers need a reason to smile during the coronavirus pandemic (No cases in my county yet) As someone who can never get pregnant, please don't tell everyone that you're pregnant when you're not or pretend that you had a miscarriage today since a bleeding disorder and severe endometriosis made me lose the organs I need to get pregnant.
When it comes to the reason why Maeve wasn't able to get an epidural happened to me too when I consented to an epidural before a failed laparoscopic surgery to remove a few organs back in November of 2018. The anesthesiologist couldn't find the right place to safely put the needle in my back and because of knowing that I have a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's Disease he didn't want to take any risks of causing too much bleeding or give me any bad bruises.
My late eighth and ninth grade science teacher who died from stomach cancer when I was 19 always wore a t-shirt that said MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU on May 4th.
Spencer's mom, Chief Strauss, Aunt Ethel, Uncle Gordon, Maeve's parents, and the team will be meeting Violet and Arthur in the next chapter.
