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 Kelsie for being the 175th reviewer for this story and your touching review while I also want to give a huge shout out to fishtrek, Fashionsita7, and criminalmindsrocks for reviewing chapter 31.
Because of getting a guest review for The Profiler and the Nurse: Book Two that said that the story was too boring and utter garbage that made me mention that I was going to quit writing until my mom (I ended up spilling out the review to her because of her noticing how grouchy I was when I had to help my mom and stepfather bring groceries into the house) and multiple reviewers telling me not to quit writing, I want you guys to know that if you're not going to be saying anything nice about my stories please don't review at all. I had actually decided to quit writing and delete all my stories before the reviews I got for chapter three of Promised Love: Book Two made me decide to take a break from writing and leave my laptop off for a week.
This chapter starts on October 22nd of 2007.
Spencer, Maeve, Stephanie, Joe, and Mary were eating dinner while Violet and Arthur sat in their baby swings when Spencer looked at his little sister, "Have you finished your homework yet?" asked Spencer.
Stephanie nodded, "Got it all finished in study hall today and Joe looked it over."
"Since you're done with your homework, what do you think about just the two of us going out to do something for an hour or two before lights out at 9:30 P.M. for you?" asked Spencer.
Stephanie perked up, "Can we go bowling, Spencer?" asked Stephanie.
Spencer nodded, "I'll do anything you want to do."
20 minutes later Spencer was driving his sister and himself to the nearest bowling ally where they ended up playing two games while talking about what Stephanie wanted to be for Halloween next week since she and her friends were planning on going trick or treating one last time since they were either 12 or 13-years-old.
The next morning Maeve looked at her husband as they ate breakfast, "Are you going to be taking a bunch of photos to work today?" asked Maeve.
Spencer nodded, "The ones I'm going to put on my desk are all framed while I also have the photos I'm going to be giving to Aunt Erin with me too."
Stephanie looked at her sister-in-law, "Are you looking forward to going to Richmond, Virginia for work today?" asked Stephanie.
Maeve nodded, "It's an honor that Virginia Commonwealth University wants mom and me to guest lecture about the paper we wrote together."
Joe looked at his wife and daughter, "Will you two be home for dinner?" asked Joe.
Maeve nodded, "We will, dad."
"I have tap dancing lessons from 4 P.M. to 5 P.M. today," said Stephanie.
Joe nodded, "I'll be able to take you to and from your lessons, Stephanie."
"I was already planning that we'll order pizza or Chinese for dinner tonight since we won't be getting home until 5:30," said Mary.
Spencer realized that he would be the last one home, "If I don't leave for a case today, I'll be glad to pick up whatever takeout you order when I'm on my way home from work."
Mary smiled at her son-in-law, "That would be grateful, Spencer. Just let me know when you're leaving work and I'll order dinner for you to pick up."
Stephanie looked at her brother, "Speaking of guest lectures, do you have any guest lectures to give during the next few weeks?" asked Stephanie.
Spencer nodded, "Professor Blake at Georgetown University is wanting me to guest lecture for her again soon."
"Even though I'm 12 and have plenty of time to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, what do you two think about me deciding to become a teacher?" asked Stephanie.
Spencer smiled, "I believe that it's admirable that you want to become a teacher because I believe that the world needs more teachers."
"Then why didn't you become a teacher yourself?" asked Stephanie.
"Even though getting abducted by an unsub made me briefly think about leaving the F.B.I. and become either a teacher or college professor, I know that I'm making a difference by using my mind to catch one serial killer at a time to save many potential victims lives while I make the country a safer place for you, Violet, and Arthur," said Spencer.
As soon as he settled down by his desk, Spencer reached into his messenger bag and pulled out frames that contained a picture of him, Maeve, Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie in the fall leaves, a picture of Violet and Arthur both smiling as they sat inside carved pumpkins that had holes cut out for her arms and legs while their names and first Halloween were carved in the pumpkins, a picture of him and Violet, a picture of him and Arthur, a picture of him and Maeve, and a picture of him and Stephanie together causing Emily to look at him.
"Finally got those professional portraits back?" asked Emily.
Spencer nodded, "Yes."
Emily grinned, "Please show me."
Spencer looked over where Hotch, JJ, Morgan, and Garcia were gathered around the coffee pot, "I might as well show everyone at once before Hotch tells us to all focus on work."
"Then let's go join the rest of the team," said Emily.
A minute later Spencer was showing off the framed photos of Violet and Arthur who were both grinning while sitting inside of carved pumpkins with their names and first Halloween carved into them, pictures of him with either Maeve, Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie, and the family portrait he decided to bring to work.
"These pictures are so adorable," gushed Garcia.
Spencer smiled, "Despite how stressful it was to deal with five-month-old twins during a four-hour-long portrait session, Maeve and I enjoyed watching Violet and Arthur ham it up for the camera."
Hotch looked at the picture of Spencer, Maeve, Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie together outside and a photo of Spencer with Violet and Arthur, "These are photos that you'll be cherishing for years to come while your grandchildren will love these pictures too."
Spencer gave Hotch a slight glare, "Violet and Arthur are five-months-old, so please don't bring up grandchildren."
Garcia looked at Violet's red curly hair, "I just can't get enough of Violet's hair."
"Even though Maeve and I both love it that Violet has red hair like Violet Hunter, Maeve is hoping that if we have another daughter in the future our second daughter has my hair," said Spencer just as his cell phone rang causing him to see that it was Georgetown Day School causing him to answer his phone causing him to go into a corner where he could talk in private "Dr. Reid. Is Stephanie OK?" asked Spencer.
"This is Nurse Lillian calling. Your daughter Stephanie got surprised by her period and leaked through her skirt. I couldn't get hold of her mother, so can you please bring what your daughter a pair of clean underwear, tights, and a new skirt so she doesn't have to keep her cardigan sweater around her waist to hide the blood?" asked Nurse Lillian.
Spencer blushed and choked a bit as he realized that the school nurse wasn't aware of Stephanie's family situation like the principal, Stephanie's teachers, guidance counselor, and the office staff were before he calmly spoke, "I'm Stephanie's 26-year-old brother and my wife and I have been her legal guardians since her mother's death in June."
"I'm so sorry for thinking that you're Stephanie's father," said Nurse Lillian.
"It's OK. I knew that there would be times that Stephanie would be called my daughter despite the 13-year age difference between us while I'm learning that I need to be both a big brother and a father to my sister," said Spencer before getting back on topic, "So you're needing someone to bring my sister a pair of clean underwear and a clean uniform skirt ASAP?" asked Spencer.
"Yes," said Nurse Lillian.
"I'm at work in Quantico, Virginia right now while my wife and mother-in-law are on their way to Richmond, Virginia to guest lecture to genetics major students at Virginia Commonwealth University so I'll see if my father-in-law who babysits my wife's and my five-month-old twins while my wife and I are working can bring what she needs," said Spencer.
"That would be great," said Nurse Lillian.
"I'll call him right now," said Spencer.
"Thank you so much," said Nurse Lillian before hanging up.
A few seconds later Spencer quickly texted his father-in-law.
STEPHANIE GOT SURPRISED BY HER PERIOD, SO CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE STEPHANIE SOME CLEAN UNDERWEAR, A CLEAN SKIRT, AND CLEAN WOOL TIGHTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH AND PLEASE GIVE VIOLET AND ARTHUR ANOTHER KISS FROM ME. ~ SR
A few seconds later Joe replied.
I CAN DO THAT.~ JD
As soon as he pocketed his phone, Spencer went to join the rest of his teammates, "Sorry about that. The school nurse just called me."
"Is Stephanie OK?" asked Emily.
"Do you need to take the day to be with your sister?" asked Hotch.
Spencer blushed a bit, "She's fine enough to stay in school for the rest of the day, but my father-in-law is going to run a few things to Georgetown Day School for Stephanie so she can quickly get back to class," said Spencer before walking away so he could get started on his consults.
Two hours later Spencer had already completed half of his consults for the day and delivered the professional portraits he picked to give to his Aunt Erin in Chief Strauss's office was about to go heat up the leftovers his mother-in-law had packed for him to eat for lunch when he heard two small voices.
"Dada!" cried Violet.
"Dada!" cried Arthur.
Spencer spun around in his chair and grinned when he saw his twins who were going to be six-months-old in less than two weeks being pushed in a stroller by his father-in-law causing him to quickly remove his Glock and locked it in his desk drawer so he wouldn't have his Glock around Violet and Arthur before he made his way to his kids and father-in-law, "This is a nice surprise."
Joe smiled at his son-in-law, "After dealing with Violet and Arthur being upset about not being able to stay at the school with their aunt, I thought that taking them to see their father at work would cheer them up while you can kiss your kids yourself and eat the lunch I kindly picked up for you and your teammates to eat."
Spencer smiled as he easily removed Violet from the stroller and settled his five-month-old daughter on his hip while his father-in-law removed Arthur from the stroller and placed Arthur in Spencer's free arm and made sure that he had a tight grip since they started carrying Violet and Arthur on their hips as soon as the twins turned five-months-old, "Spending time with Violet and Arthur is just what I needed after some of the files I've been working on."
Violet patted her father's cheek, "Dada."
Spencer smiled at his daughter, "Have you been a good girl for grandpa?" asked Spencer.
"Aside from Violet and Arthur both crying when you, Maeve, Mary, and Stephanie left the house; they've been well behaved," said Joe.
Arthur grinned at his father, "Eee baa meee geee, Dada."
"Are you telling me what you, Violet, and grandpa have done so far?" asked Spencer.
"Aye," said Arthur.
At that moment Emily and Morgan both walked over to them.
"You two have grown since the last time I saw you two," said Morgan.
Violet and Arthur both grinned at Morgan.
"They'll be six-months-old in less than two weeks," said Spencer.
Emily looked longingly at Arthur, "May I please hold Arthur?" asked Emily.
Spencer smiled, "Sure."
Emily eagerly took Arthur from her younger colleague, "You're going to be a heartbreaker like your father when you grow up, Arthur."
Arthur grinned and babbled.
Morgan looked at Violet who looked so happy to be held by her father, "Will you let me hold you, pretty girl?" asked Morgan.
Violet quickly buried her face into the crook of her father's neck.
"Seems like she's being clingy with her father today. Maeve was like that when she was Violet's age," said Joe.
"Even if Violet just wants to be in my arms today, I know that there will be days that she will prefer Maeve over me," said Spencer.
At that moment Garcia and JJ walked over to them.
"They keep on getting cuter every time I see them," gushed Garcia.
"While they grow too fast for my liking too. I still can't believe that they're going to be six-months-old in 12 days," said Spencer.
"Just enjoy them being as small as they are right now because Jack will be two in five days," said Hotch sadly.
"Speaking of Jack's birthday, Maeve and I can't wait to give Jack his birthday present," said Spencer.
Hotch thought about coming clean to his teammates about him and Haley getting a divorce after he discovered Haley cheating on him when he invited them to Jack's birthday party while he wanted Spencer to put a magic show during Jack's birthday party, "And Jack is excited to see Violet and Arthur and see what magic tricks you do for him during his birthday party on Sunday too."
At that moment Violet realized that her godfather was by her causing her to lean towards her godfather.
"You want your godfather to hold you, flower?" asked Spencer.
"Aye," said Violet.
A few seconds later Hotch was holding his goddaughter, "You keep on getting more beautiful every day, Violet."
Violet grinned and babbled at her godfather, "Eee geee teee maaa geee, Otch."
Hotch looked at Spencer who was grinning, "Did I just hear Violet try to call me Hotch?" asked Hotch.
Spencer nodded, "She hears me say Hotch when I talk about how my day at work was during dinner."
"Violet and Arthur already call me Em," said Emily.
Joe who had removed three pizza boxes from the bottom of Violet's and Arthur's stroller smiled at his son-in-law and his teammates, "Instead of talking about what names my grandchildren can say, why don't we all find an area to eat the pizza I picked up for you guys while everyone continues to pass Violet and Arthur around."
Hotch looked at the man who e another father figure to the agent he thought of as a second son, "Thank you."
A few minutes later Spencer, Joe, Violet, Arthur, Hotch, Emily, Garcia, JJ, and Morgan were in the conference room eating pizza and drinking soda while Violet and Arthur were passed around and given their bottles and be burped by their father's teammates while everyone talked about anything but work.
Later on that evening Spencer, Maeve, Stephanie, Joe, and Mary had just finished eating dinner when Spencer's cell phone rang causing him to answer his phone and listen to JJ who was telling him about a little girl being abducted in a local before hanging up and looked at his wife, sister, and in-laws, "A six-year-old little girl has been abducted at the Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, Virginia, so I'm needed at the mall ASAP," said Spencer sadly.
Maeve's eyes went wide, "Just like Jessica Davis last week."
Spencer nodded, "So I need to leave home now."
A minute later Spencer was kissing Maeve before giving Violet, Arthur, and Stephanie each a kiss on the cheek and got his Glock from its safe before he rushed out of the door while Maeve and Mary comforted Violet and Arthur who both started crying when they realized that their daddy had to leave for work.
After talking to the owner of the mall, Spencer was sitting across from Jeremy, "Jeremy, we asked your mom and dad if we could talk privately. Thought it might be easier that way," said Spencer gently.
"'Cause my dad thinks this is my fault," mumbled Jeremy.
"No. Jeremy, your dad is just super upset right now, because times like this, people get really emotional," said Spencer as he thought about the emotion he and his teammates dealt with when he was reunited with them after he killed Hankel since they thought the worse.
Morgan leaned forward a bit, "Hey, kid... The moments right before a kidnapping like this are the most important. You gotta understand you're the only one who can help us with that."
"But-but I can't remember," said Jeremy.
"Jeremy, all we need is the last thing Katie did or said before you realized she was gone," said Spencer gently.
Jeremy started breathing heavily causing Spencer and Morgan to get concerned.
"Jeremy." said Morgan as Jeremy stood up, "What. What. What? Talk to me," asked Morgan as he grabbed Jeremy.
"I can't breathe," choked Jeremy.
"Uh, y-you're having a panic attack. Sit down," said Spencer.
Morgan helped Jeremy sit down, "Jeremy, sit down. Sit down. Want you to put your head between your knees." said Morgan as he guided Jeremy's head to his knees, "Put your head between your knees. That's right. Just breathe. Just breathe." said Morgan as he looked at Spencer.
After going through Katie's house with Morgan, Spencer entered the break room that Jeremy was being detained in and sat across from Jeremy who quickly looked up at him.
"What's going on? Did you find Katie?" asked Jeremy.
"Jeremy, how old are you?" asked Spencer.
"I just turned 13 last month," said Jeremy.
Spencer smiled, "I have a 12-year-old half-sister who will be 13 in January," said Spencer before getting serious as he thought back to his own 13-year-old self while thinking about the crush he had on Alexa Libson when he was an 11-year-old high school senior while it was hard to start puberty when he was a 12-year-old/13-year-old boy starting at CalTech, "13. You know, when I was 13, I was starting to notice girls, too. I was curious, but, uh-heh. I was-I was, like, really awkward, so it was super hard for me to talk to them, and I, uh- I found that incredibly frustrating."
"Even though you're married, why are you telling me this?" asked Jeremy.
"'Cause I think I understand you. You're, uh- you're in the arcade," said Spencer before thinking about how his wife's hair smelling like kumquats since she uses a kumquat scented shampoo, "Pretty girl walks in, and, uh... You get distracted by the-the scent of her hair, right?" asked Spencer.
"I guess. So what?" asked Jeremy.
Spencer thought about the talk he's about to give Jeremy wasn't supposed to be a talk he was supposed to give for another 12-13 years to Arthur as he started to stutter a bit, "So you're- you're becoming a man. It's-heh. Believe it or not, it happens to all of us. There's nothing wrong with that at all."
Jeremy rolled his eyes, "Never said there was."
"And these video games that you play, these cool video games allow you to, to explore your violent side. Right? So, I mean, clearly, you're intrigued. My only question is whether or not you acted on these curiosities, you've experimented yet." said Spencer.
"Shouldn't you be looking for my cousin right now?" asked Jeremy.
Spencer gave Jeremy a look he had already perfected on Stephanie, "I am looking for your cousin right now."
"Why are you asking me these questions?" asked Jeremy.
"Why are you avoiding them?" shot back Spencer.
After Jeremy stayed silent for a couple of minutes, Spencer looked at Jeremy as he chose to speak in a firmer tone, "Hey, Jeremy, do you know what I do for the FBI?" asked Spencer.
"No," said Jeremy.
"I study human behavior," said Spencer.
Jeremy backed his chair away a bit.
"Like, uh, the way you're pushing your chair away from me," said Spencer as he leaned forward a bit, "It tells me that what I'm saying is making you uncomfortable, like, uh, you're trying to distance yourself from me, maybe from what I'm capable of reading about you."
"Whatever," muttered Jeremy as he continued to bite his inner cheek.
"Case in point: You bite your inner cheek. It's a- it's a nervous tic, like you're holding on to something. Doing it right now. You were also doing it inside the arcade, and I think you were doing it because maybe- I don't know- Maybe you remembered something more than what you told us." said Spencer.
"No. I told you everything," said Jeremy quickly.
Spencer gave Jeremy a firm look, "I don't know. I don't think you told us everything. I think something else happened inside that arcade, something you haven't told anybody yet."
Spencer, Jeremy, and Morgan were standing outside as they watched Jeremy's parents be loaded into police cars while a stretcher carried Katie into an ambulance when Jeremy looked at Spencer and Morgan, "Is Katie gonna be all right?" asked Jeremy.
Morgan thought about how long it took for Spencer to smile and laugh again after the Hankel case while the births of Violet and Arthur had helped Spencer immensely, "She will eventually."
"I heard her call my mom's name. That's what I remembered before," said Jeremy.
"We get it, kid. That's your mom," said Morgan.
Jeremy thought about Spencer telling him that his father was also going away for a long time due to hurting his cousin, "What's gonna happen to me now?" asked Jeremy.
Spencer sighed as he thought back to finding out about his sister while knowing that he could have said no just like Jeremy's Aunt and Uncle have to choose whether or not they want to take in their nephew, "I don't know, Jeremy, but, uh, we're gonna make sure you're all right, OK?" asked Spencer.
Morgan looked at Spencer as he noticed social services arrived causing him to nod at Spencer to let him know that it's time.
"Let's go," said Spencer as he placed a hand on Jeremy's shoulder and back and motioned him to come with him.
A minute later Jeremy was sitting in the backseat of a car when Spencer pulled out his business card that he wrote his personal number and land-line number on earlier, "I want you to have this."
Jeremy looked at the card and noticed that a cellphone number and land-line number was written on, "Why are you giving me this?" asked Jeremy.
"I know what it's like to grow up in a broken home while my wife and I ended up having to take in my 12-year-old half-sister during the summer since I couldn't let my sister go back to our father or end up in foster care. If you need some advice or need some homework help, please call me. If I don't answer, I promise you that I will get back to you as soon as possible," said Spencer.
"Homework help?" asked Jeremy.
Spencer grinned, "I ended up graduating high school when I was 12 years old and started college a month before turning 13, so if you're failing a class and need a tutor or you need a letter of recommendation for the college of your dreams please call me."
Jeremy looked at Spencer, "Thank you."
Over an hour later Spencer entered Violet's and Arthur's nursery and spent five minutes by Violet's and Arthur's cribs watching them sleep before he headed to the master bedroom where he found Maeve getting a bubble bath ready for them.
"After the phone call we had after you helped save that six-year-old girl, I thought that you would need this," said Maeve.
Spencer smiled, "Thank you."
A few minutes later Spencer and Maeve were taking a bubble bath together while Spencer told his wife about his interactions with Jeremy Jacobs who lost both of his parents in one day and how he wished that they could take in Jeremy since Jeremy has a few things in common with him and they have the room even though he didn't want a boy who's four months older than his sister living with them.
A/N: Rossi will be in the next chapter! If any of you remember my deleted story Romance by the Book, here's a heads up that Jeremy Jacobs will be appearing as a future love interest for Stephanie in a future chapter and that's why I decided that Spencer and Maeve aren't going to become Jeremy's foster parents.