Emily walked into the office with a bounce in her step. It felt so good to know that Spencer felt the same way that she did. She could still feel his lips on hers. She wasn't one for sharing her romance stories with anyone, but for some reason she wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Probably because for once, she was actually in love, not just getting her kicks in.
She dropped into a seat next to Derek and waited for the briefing to begin. J.J. wandered in only seconds later with Luke a step behind her. They all smiled and said their good mornings to one another, when Hotch and Penelope walked in.
"Hold on to your hats kids, we are heading to the windy city," Penelope said as she turned the big screen on.
"Wait, where's Reid?" Emily asked in confusion.
"He had a family emergency to attend to. He'll be sitting out this case," Hotch said. "Continue."
Penelope started the briefing, but Emily zoned out. A family emergency? What had happened between the time he left her house and arrived at his house? Was it his mother? The second everyone stood and started leaving the room, Emily turned on her phone to send Spencer a text.
E: Everything alright? Is it your mom?
She busied herself gathering her belongings. It wasn't until she found a seat on the jet, that she felt her cell phone vibrate.
S: Mom is fine. I can't talk right now.
Emily felt her heart drop. After the intimacy they shared last night, she felt him pushing her away. Maybe when he left her house, he realized it was a bad idea. Maybe he was filled with regret. Her mind raced with worry and insecurity. She hoped he would call her soon and tell her what was wrong.
(xxxxx)
It had been three long days searching for their unsub. Three long days that Emily didn't hear from Spencer. Not once. He didn't respond to text messages. He didn't respond to phone calls. She felt sick. Telling him her feelings had blown up in her face. Just like it always did. This was exactly why she compartmentalized things. Nothing good ever comes from being honest about your feelings.
Part of her wanted to drive over to his apartment and demand that he talk to her, but she wasn't that person. She wouldn't make him talk to her if he wasn't interested, and clearly, he wasn't interested.
"Hey Prentiss, you up for some drinks?" Derek called from his car as they walked away from the jet.
"No, I'm exhausted. I just want to curl up in my bed and go to sleep," she replied.
"Suit yourself, see you later," he said climbing into his car.
Truth was, Emily was mentally and emotionally exhausted. She felt like she had been run over by a truck. The last thing she needed was to drink too much and do something stupid. When she got home, she stripped down and climbed into a hot bath. She was just starting to relax and close her eyes when she heard knocking at her door.
She groaned in frustration. Who the hell was bothering her? It better not be Derek or J.J. or Penelope trying to drag her out against her will. She slipped out of the tub and threw a towel around herself. She walked into the next room as the person knocked again.
"I'm coming, hold on," she called out in irritation.
She didn't even look to see who it was. She just unlocked the door and swung it open. She was caught off guard to see Spencer standing before her. His eyes grew wide and he looked up toward the ceiling. She could see his cheeks reddening.
"Spencer? What are you doing here?" she asked confused.
"I know you're probably mad at me for ignoring you the past three days, but I wanted to talk to you and not over the phone," he said nervously, still avoiding eye contact.
"Well, this sounds like a great conversation," she sighed. "Come on in."
She moved aside and he walked into her apartment. He walked over to her couch and stood awkwardly waiting for her.
"So, what's up?" she asked.
"Umm, could you … could you maybe get dressed?" he stuttered. "I … you're making me … it's kind of distracting."
Emily rolled her eyes but went to her bedroom to throw on some clothes. In moments, she returned wearing a t-shirt and shorts. She walked over to the couch and sat down, gesturing for him to do the same.
"So, what's up?" she asked again.
He sat down and rubbed his hands nervously on his pants. She could see him trying to figure out the right words to say.
"Spencer, look, let's not beat around the bush. I know that you've had second thoughts about us being together. I won't hold you to anything we said or did together a few nights ago, ok?" she started. "We were both emotional and we can just leave it at that."
"Emily, no. No that's not it at all," he said waving his hands in protest at her.
Emily furrowed her brow and shook her head. "Then, I don't understand."
"I like you a lot, Emily. I want to be with you more than anything," he said frowning.
"I sense a but," she said bracing herself for the reason.
"But I found out some news the other day that changed things. It made me reevaluate everything that's been happening, and I have to do the right thing." He took a deep breath. "Lacy is pregnant."
Emily's jaw dropped as the weight of the news sunk in. She looked away from him and tried to deal with the range of emotions flying through her body at the moment.
She knew why he was doing this. Spencer was an honorable man. She knew that he grew up without a father and would never leave his child fatherless. She, also, knew how old fashioned his thinking was, due to the way his mother raised him. He wouldn't leave Lacy to fend for herself. He would man up and become the husband she, didn't deserve, and the father, the child did deserve
"Emily, it's not fair to Lacy or the baby. I need to work things out with her for the sake of our child. I need to give her a chance to fix what's been damaged. I can't just run out on her when she needs me the most. I can't be like William."
Emily sucked in her pride and plastered a smile onto her face.
"I know … and I understand … and congratulations, Spence. You are going to be a great father," she said, though her voice trembled giving away her true feelings. "And husband."
With that, she stood up and faked a cough.
"I … uh … I'm going to go finish my bath. You can lock the bottom knob and see yourself out. I'll see you later," she said as she felt herself breaking down.
"Emily, wait," Spencer called after her.
"Goodnight," she said shutting her bedroom door.
She leaned against the closed door and covered her mouth as the tears poured from her eyes. She got a little taste of Heaven and it was stolen away from her. That night, for the first time since she could remember, she cried herself to sleep.
(xxxxx)
The mind is cruel. Emily dreamt of Spencer that night. Of them making love and having a child of their own. She woke up in a worse mood than she had been the night before. She loaded herself up with caffeine and went in to work with a wall up that could rival the Great Wall of China.
She sat down at her desk, completely ignoring everyone, especially Spencer. She could feel his eyes burning through her, but she refused to look at him. She wasn't mad at him. Not at all. His sense of right and wrong was one of the things she loved about him.
Most of the morning was silent. Everyone must have sensed something was off, because no one talked or goofed around. They all sat doing their paperwork, saying nothing to one another. It was around lunchtime, when Lacy appeared in the office.
Emily had to close her eyes and count to twenty. She wanted to rip off her shoe and beat the living pulp out of Lacy. Figured the world's worst human being would get to marry the world's best human being. It was like Earth's cruel joke. Somewhere destiny and fate were having a good old laugh at Emily's expense. Perhaps she deserved this for all of her years of breaking men's hearts. She didn't deserve Spencer any more than Lacy did.
"Spencey, look what I bought today," she said trotting toward him in her stilettos.
I hope you fall.
Emily watched with a disgusted look on her face. Spencer grabbed the bag that Lacy was holding out for him. He pulled out a t-shirt and stared blankly at the front of it. His face did not show amusement. In fact, he looked a bit upset.
"I got one too!" Lacy said holding her shirt up.
Emily saw that her's said 'Bun in the Oven.' She wondered what Spencer's said.
"Wait y'all … are having a baby?" Derek asked in shock as he caught a glimpse of Lacy's shirt.
"Yes!" Lacy squealed. "Isn't that exciting?"
Derek looked at Luke who looked at him with no expression. They must've been reading each other's minds. They both looked toward Spencer.
"I thought we could wear these for the birth announcements," Lacy said grinning.
"Lacy, I didn't want to tell anyone yet," Spencer said softly, but angrily.
"Why? Aren't you excited to be a dad?" she asked frowning.
"I just wasn't ready to tell anyone," he said again.
"I see," she said as her cheeks turned red and tears filled her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you."
She gave an awkward wave to everyone before turning and rushing from the room. Emily wanted to punch her manipulative mouth. She was low balling Spencer and she fucking knew it! How could he be so damn smart and yet not see how this woman was running all over him?
Spencer was bright red as he ran after Lacy, his shirt sitting on his desk. Derek got up and held the shirt up for Luke and Emily to see.
"The Baker," Luke read out loud. "Is it just me or is she a little …"
"Manipulative twat?" Emily supplied.
"I was going to say a bit much," Luke said looking at Emily intently.
Emily just shrugged and pretended to go back to her paperwork. In reality, she was still trying to process everything happening. Lacy was rubbing this in her face. There was no reason to come down here and announce the birth like that. She did it to torture Emily.
"Hey Prentiss, you alright? You look a little green," Derek said breaking her thoughts.
Emily looked up to see him and Luke staring at her. She placed her hand to her stomach and scrunched her face in pretend pain.
"I haven't been feeling so well. I hope I didn't catch anything," she lied.
"I hope you didn't catch that stomach bug that's been going around. I heard it's brutal," Derek stated.
"Great, just what I need. You know what, I think I'm going to call it a day and go home early. I better keep an eye on this before it gets worse," she said clearing off her desk.
"Probably a good idea. It's not like we're busy today," Luke said, though she could tell he didn't believe her.
Emily gave them both a weary smile.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow, hopefully," she said, placing crossed fingers on her stomach.
With that she walked off to ask Hotch for use of sick time. Hotch, of course, gave her his approval and wished her well. She nodded and walked out of his office. While she waited for the elevator, she heard someone call out her name. She turned to see Spencer walking toward her.
"Emily, wait. Morgan said you're sick?" he asked eyeing her suspiciously.
"Yea, possible stomach bug," she lied, turning back to face the elevator.
"I'm sorry," he said. "About Lacy."
"Spencer, it's fine. I'm fine," she said briskly as the elevator doors opened. "I'll see you tomorrow." She pressed the button for the lobby and stared at the floor.
"Emily, I'm sorry," he said again.
She looked up just in time to see his heartbroken stare. She looked away as the doors closed.
(xxxxx)
It had been three weeks since the announcement of Spencer's baby-to-be. As much as they all tried to be happy for him, no one could. They could see he was miserable and Lacy was becoming overbearing, showing up unannounced, calling constantly.
Her spoiled brat, diva behavior was becoming more evident amongst the group. After a pow-wow, it was decided that Derek would try to talk to Spencer. Maybe they could save him from making a big mistake.
It was a cold, rainy morning when Derek found Spencer making himself a cup of coffee in the break room.
"How you doin' kid?" Derek asked as he walked in and leaned against the counter.
"I'm fine," Spencer replied staring into his coffee as he stirred it.
"How are things with Lacy?" he asked.
Spencer sighed. "She's moving in with me next week," he stated matter-of-factly.
"You sound thrilled," Derek said.
"It's the logical next step," was all he could think to say.
"Reid, why are you doing this? You know you can still be there for the child and not be with her," Derek said.
"This is my responsibility. I chose to sleep with her and now I have to own up to it," Spencer said, more to himself than Derek.
"Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Do you even love her?"
"It doesn't matter," Spencer said sadly.
"Yes, it does matter! It matters a lot! You deserve happiness just like anyone else," Derek said, getting more riled up.
"I will not abandon my child - " Spencer started.
"No one is asking you to abandon your child! You can still be there for your child, Reid. Forcing yourself into a marriage will be detrimental to everyone in the long run," Derek insisted.
"Morgan, I appreciate your concern, but it's what I have to do," he said dejected.
Derek frowned. He knew how stubborn Spencer was when he had his mind set.
"Look, no matter what, I'm always here for you little brother. I will always support you," Derek said softly. "I just want to see you happy."
"I know," Spencer smiled, but tears filled his eyes and his voice cracked.
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. They both turned to see J.J. peeking through the crack in the door.
"Hey guys, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have case," J.J. said gently.
Derek patted Spencer on his back as he walked out of the room with him.
(xxxxx)
A/N: thank you to everyone following, reading, and commenting on this story! I've taken the old stories ending and altered the idea, so the next chapters will probably come slower since I'll actually be creating new ideas. Hope you are enjoying it so far! Oh, and a little birdy told me to tell you the next chapter has a lovely surprise :) xoxo