Emily yawned widely, trying to cover it with her hand as if that would disguise just how exhausted she was. As much as she was enjoying everyone's company and as much fun as the evening was, there was no getting around the fact that all the sleepless nights were catching up to her. (And it didn't help that she had a belly full of Rossi's incredible cooking...)

She'd brought Isadora with her because she knew the baby would want to eat before the night was through and also because she knew Garcia would never let her hear the end of it if she didn't get to cuddle the baby at least briefly.

(Erik, however had not wanted to come. She'd insisted he was welcome to join them, but she'd pointed out that there was sure to be some emotional catharsis involved and he'd decided he would rather get some much needed rest – for which she couldn't exactly blame him.)

Currently, Isadora was squirming about in the baby wrap as Emily attempted to disentangle the two of them so she could feed her. Since that first day in the hospital, the two of them had more or less gotten feeding down to a well-oiled machine, for which she was extremely grateful, after hearing all sorts of horror stories about breastfeeding being difficult.

She was grateful for a lot of things...not least of which was that she got to share her beautiful daughter with the people that meant so much to her.

In the kitchen, boisterous laughter filled the room, the notes floating into the living room where she sat. She was startled, then, by a soft voice announcing, "Did you know that breast milk is a living substance which contains live cells, including stem cells, millions of white blood cells, and as many as six hundred different species of bacteria?"

She looked up with a warm smile on her lips. "Hey, Reid," she greeted as he wandered away from the kitchen, hands jammed deep in his pockets in his signature awkward way – she had to wonder if his discomfort was because he was unsure where their friendship stood after everything or because he felt uncomfortable around babies.

He sat down across from her, clearly trying to avoid looking too long at her; realization dawned on her then that his awkwardness was because of her exposed breast.

Of everyone on the team, Reid was the one who had spent the least time with Isadora. She couldn't help but worry that it was her fault, that he was trying to keep himself from getting too close out of fear of being hurt again...

"I'm sorry, you know?" she murmured at length. When he raised a brow in question, she added, "For the way that I left..."

He nodded, not quite meeting her gaze. "I know," he confirmed, but didn't say anything more.

"It wasn't because I don't love you guys," she continued. "And I'm so glad that everything worked out the way it did because now I get to share this with you. I'm not sure how I would have handled these last few months without everyone's support."

"I'm sure you would have done fine," he said. "You always seem to manage somehow..."

That may have been true, she had to concede, though she didn't say as much. "They say it takes a village," she said, "And I may be biased, but I think she's got one of the best..." She smiled softly at him.

"Does that mean you're planning to stay?" he asked quietly, almost daring to hope.

"For the time being," she conceded, "Though likely not forever – Genosha needs Erik. And Isadora needs her father." She offered an apologetic look that was at least part sadness, part guilt.

For a moment, Reid looked torn over what response to give, but his genius brain eventually won out and he couldn't help spouting out, "It's actually a very interesting experiment of sorts, Genosha... In recorded history, there's never been an all-mutant society. It would be intriguing to study the social dynamics at play."

Emily couldn't help but laugh softly at the familiar Reid-like rambling. "I think if anyone were to study Genosha, Erik would find you the least objectionable..."

He looked surprised by that. "Really?" he squeaked. "Wh-why? I mean... I didn't think he liked me very much..."

"I think you remind him of Charles," she said with a shrug. "Only without so much of the baggage between them. And it doesn't hurt that I'm fond of you as well."

As Isadora finished nursing and Emily gently tapped her back to burp her, Reid watched with interest. "The name Isadora is of Greek and Latin origin, meaning 'gift of Isis' who was, oddly enough, an Egyptian Goddess. Aretalogies differ in their attributions of hers, though it's generally agreed upon that she was a protector of women and children, of marriage and parenthood. And, in some texts, she's a protector of virginity."

Emily gave a little snort of laughter. "Well, then, I hope her namesake looks after her because I'm not exactly a spectacular model of virginal purity. Though, to be fair, with Erik for a father, she'll be lucky to have a boyfriend for longer than the five minutes it takes to introduce them..."

He smiled softly. "You're a good mother," he said, almost a whisper.

"You think so?" she asked. "Sometimes, I'm not so sure."

"I know so," he confirmed. "But then, I always knew you would be."

Smiling shyly, she offered, "Do you want to hold her? You haven't really had as much time with her as everyone else..."

He seemed about to hesitate, but then thought better of it, nodded, accepting the little bundle she was already passing him. He held the baby up in front of him, offered her a smile that quirked up one side of his lips. "Hello, Isadora," he said diplomatically.

The baby blinked at him, almost studiously, then reached out a hand as if to pat his cheek.

Reid laughed, kissed her palm. "Nice to meet you too."