Chapter 10: Surprises
A week later on Sunday afternoon, Reid and JJ were watching Henry playing in the park on the swing set.
"JJ," said Reid.
"Yes?" said JJ.
"I had the wedding dream again," said Reid. "But it was different this time."
"Different how?" asked JJ.
"For starters," answered Reid "This time, Kate was the third person in the witness group who was crying at the wedding instead of you."
"It makes sense," said JJ. "You didn't know her yet when you had the first wedding dream. Does that mean I wasn't there crying this time?"
"No, you were there," answered Reid. "You just weren't in the witness group."
"Well, where was I then?" asked JJ.
"Please listen to me and I'll answer that, JJ," said Reid.
"All right," said JJ. "Tell me what else was different this time."
"In my first wedding dream," said Reid. "I said that you were crying with Emily and mom. But I realized recently why you were crying."
"Because I was happy for you and Maeve, Spence," said JJ.
"No," said Reid. "That's why mom and Emily were crying, but not you, JJ."
"Then, why was I crying?" asked JJ.
"One question at a time, JJ," said Reid. "Please be patient."
"All right," said JJ. "Tell me about the new dream."
"Well," said Reid. "Garcia was still the minister for me and my bride. Emily was still saying to Gideon and Elle, 'Our boy genius is all grown up!' And, Morgan, Gideon and Rossi were still giving me two thumbs up. And, Garcia still said to me, 'Let's get to it, you two!' And I still said, 'Get to what?' And, Garcia still said, 'Kiss her, dummy!'"
JJ laughed quietly.
"But," continued Reid. "When I lifted my bride's veil to kiss her, she did have a full face this time, JJ."
JJ stopped laughing and she lowered her head.
"So," said JJ. "Maeve had a full face for you this time?"
"It wasn't Maeve who I saw, JJ," said Reid.
"Then, who was it?" asked JJ.
"It was you, JJ," answered Reid.
JJ looked up at Reid while gasping.
"M...Me, Spence?" asked JJ.
"You, JJ," smiled Reid. "I lifted my bride's veil and it was your face underneath. That's where you were this time. You were smiling at me from cheek to cheek. And, you said to me, 'Hello, Dr. Reid.' And, I smiled and said to you, 'Hello, Mrs. Reid!'"
JJ looked into Reid's eyes totally surprised at what she just heard. Reid put his hands on JJ's face.
"And, I put my hands on your face just like this, JJ," said Reid. "And, then..."
Reid gently kissed JJ on her lips. And, JJ kissed Reid back while losing herself in his embrace. She put her arms around him and they kissed for a few minutes before they both had to stop for air. JJ still had her eyes closed and her heart was beating rapidly.
"That felt amazing," whispered JJ.
"And, to answer your second question, JJ," said Reid. "I think you were crying in my first wedding dream because then, I wasn't marrying you."
JJ gasped and opened her eyes from hearing that. She found Reid down on one knee in front of her holding an engagement ring in his hand. JJ started crying happily.
"Jennifer Jareau," said Reid. "I love you very much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
Henry ran over to them from the swing set.
"Yes," cried JJ. "I will marry you, Spencer Reid!"
Reid put his ring on JJ's finger. JJ kissed Reid and they happily hugged each other tightly.
"I love you, Spence," smiled JJ.
"That's it!" said Reid.
"That's what?" asked JJ.
"That's the way you were smiling at me when I lifted the veil in my new dream, JJ," answered Reid. "And, this time, Garcia smiled and said to us, 'I now pronounce you happy and happier!'"
JJ tearfully laughed.
"Spence," blushed JJ. "You've just made my dream come true."
"Does this mean mommy is Mrs. Reid now?" asked Henry.
JJ hugged and kissed Henry while tearfully laughing.
On Monday morning, Reid and JJ got the BAU team into the round table room for a family meeting announcement. They had Garcia put Emily Prentiss on the screen again from London.
"Hey, everybody," smiled Prentiss.
"Hi, Emily," said Reid.
"Em!" happily cheered Garcia. "We miss you!"
"I miss you guys, too," said Prentiss.
Callahan walked in.
"Hi, guys," said Callahan.
"How are you doing today, Kate?" asked Hotch.
Callahan put her hands on her belly.
"Oh, much better," answered Callahan. "Now that Megan is home safely, both of us are doing fine."
"Where is Megan now?" asked Morgan.
"Oh," said Callahan. "Chris took her over to Markayla's house. Megan said that while Alex was cutting her hair, Paige asked him why Kyle hadn't returned yet. So, he lied to both Megan and Paige and told them that Kyle was getting rid of Markayla's body. Both Megan and Paige believed him, so Megan insisted on going over to Markayla's house to see that she was okay."
"Inseparable best friends," said Garcia.
JJ hugged Garcia.
"I know the feeling," said JJ.
Garcia hugged JJ back while giggling.
"So," said Prentiss. "Who is making an announcement?"
"Oh, I am," answered JJ. "Kate, you weren't with us, yet, but over a year ago, I made a promise to our family."
"What was the promise, JJ?" asked Callahan.
JJ answered, "I promised that I wouldn't keep any more secrets from them. I miscarried my second baby in 2011, but I didn't tell anybody I was even pregnant again for over three years. As Garcia has put it, 'They are my family and I'm stuck with them. Good or bad, right or wrong, richer or poorer, sickness or in health, we're in this together!' So, I'm just keeping my promise, now."
"That sounds like Garcia all right," laughed Prentiss.
"What is it you want to tell us, JJ?" asked Hotch.
"Guys," said JJ. "Spence and I have become lovers these last few months, and, now we're engaged!"
JJ showed everybody the engagement ring that Reid gave her.
"JJ!" happily said Prentiss.
"You're getting married?!" asked Callahan.
"Congratulations, you two!" said Morgan.
"Thank you," said Reid.
"I knew there was something different about you, Jayje!" cheered Garcia.
Rossi Italian-kissed JJ's cheeks. Reid and Garcia hugged each other. Callahan and JJ hugged each other. Hotch shook hands with Reid.
"Congratulations," said Hotch.
"Virtual hugs all around!" smiled Prentiss.
"Oh, that's not all, guys," said JJ.
"There's more?" asked Reid.
"Yes," answered JJ. "Spence, do you remember the time you told me that Henry would still become a big brother someday?"
"Yes, JJ," said Reid.
"And, the time I said that you would still become a father, someday?" asked JJ.
"Yes," said Reid. "Wait a minute..."
Everybody looked at JJ.
"Oh, my God!" said Garcia.
"Whoa," said Morgan.
"JJ..." said Prentiss.
"You mean...?" asked Callahan.
JJ put her hands on her belly.
"I mean," smiled JJ. "You're not the only pregnant agent here anymore, Kate! You're going to be a father, Spence! I'm pregnant again, guys!"
"Jennifer!" cheered Reid.
Everybody was happy and excited for Reid and JJ. Reid happily hugged JJ, sweeping her off of her feet. And then they kissed each other happily.
"I love you, Jen," whispered Reid.
"I love you, too, Spence," whispered JJ.
"Penelope," said Prentiss. "Is there any way I can jump through this screen now?"
"No, Emily," answered Garcia. "If there were, I would have jumped through my screen to see you!"
Prentiss and Garcia tearfully laughed.
"You sly dog!" said Morgan.
"How long have you known, Jayje?" asked Garcia.
"Since this morning," answered JJ. "I felt the familiar pregnancy symptoms a few days ago, and I went to see my doctor to find out for sure. And, I got my test results back this morning!"
JJ showed everybody her ultrasound photo.
"Reid," smiled Prentiss. "How does it feel knowing you're going to have a baby genius?"
"I'm totally stoked!" answered Reid. "We need to tell our moms!"
"Spence," smiled JJ.
Reid continued, "We need to buy baby supplies!"
"Reid," said Prentiss.
Reid continued, "We need to choose a name!"
"Reid," said Hotch.
Reid continued, "We need to choose godparents!"
JJ and Callahan laughed. Morgan put his hands on Reid's shoulders.
Reid continued, "We need to tell Henry..."
"Whoa, kid," said Morgan. "Whoa!"
"Put on the brakes, son," said Rossi.
"Reid," laughed Callahan. "JJ isn't giving birth tomorrow morning!"
"Yeah," agreed Garcia. "You two have nine whole months to do all of those things!"
"Of course," said Reid. "I'm sorry, everybody."
"It's understandable," said Hotch. "Except for Dave, none of you saw me when Haley told me she was pregnant with Jack."
"Man, I wish I could have seen that!" laughed Morgan.
"JJ, please sit down," said Reid.
JJ sat down in a chair.
"How do you feel?" asked Reid. "Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want something to eat?"
"Uh," said JJ. "I feel happy. Not right now. Maybe a sandwich."
Reid ran out of the room to make JJ a sandwich. Everybody smiled at JJ.
"Get used to this, JJ," laughed Callahan. "You'll have nine whole months of this!"
"I know," laughed JJ. "I know!"
"Our boy genius is all grown up!" happily cried Prentiss.
Garcia and JJ looked at Prentiss on the screen.
"I know," cried Prentiss. "I'm so emotional, I couldn't wait!"
Two more weeks passed. Kate Callahan had told Hotch that when she adopted Megan she took a whole year off from working cases to bond with Megan. She decided to do the same thing for her unborn child, so she gave Hotch her tendered resignation. She said her tearful goodbyes to the rest of the team. But, she promised that she would attend Reid and JJ's wedding. Hotch started looking for another agent to fill Callahan's vacant role.
Another week had passed. The BAU team were called in for a new case. Everybody except Hotch had walked into the round table room.
"Where's Hotch?" asked Garcia.
"I'm not sure," said Morgan.
"Rumor has it that he's hired someone to fill Callahan's spot on the team," said Reid.
Garcia groans.
"What is it, Penelope?" asked JJ.
"I hate change!" said Garcia. "Why can't Emily just come back?!"
"Before Kate was hired," said Morgan. "Prentiss said that she didn't want to come back, Baby Girl."
"I know," said Garcia. "I just miss her so much."
"Rossi," said Reid. "Did Hotch tell you who our new team member is?"
"No," answered Rossi. "All he said was that this was a well experienced agent."
"Are they nice?" asked Garcia. "I know! I always ask that, but are they?"
"I think we're about to find out," said JJ. "Here comes Hotch now."
Hotch walked in and he sat down. Everybody stared at him. Hotch looked up at them.
"Our new agent is just getting her badge," said Hotch. "She will be along in a minute. Garcia, let's get started."
"Yes, sir," said Garcia.
The team started to review the new case when their new coworker walked in.
"Well," said a familiar voice. "Some things never change!"
Everybody looked up to see Emily Prentiss standing there. The five of them were totally surprised. Hotch was smiling.
"Prentiss," said Rossi.
"Emily?" said Reid.
"Emily," smiled JJ.
"Em?!" said Garcia.
"Prentiss!" said Morgan.
"Surprise!" said Prentiss.
"Oh, my God!" cheered Garcia. "Oh, my God!"
Garcia ran up to Prentiss and she happily hugged her while crying. JJ and Prentiss kissed each other's right cheek while hugging each other. Rossi Italian-kissed Prentiss's cheeks. Reid and Prentiss hugged each other tightly.
"Brainiac," laughed Prentiss. "I love the hairdo!"
Morgan and Prentiss hugged each other.
"Emily," smiled Morgan. "What are you doing here?"
"I decided to come back to the team," answered Prentiss. "I asked Hotch not to tell anybody that it was me."
"But, over a year ago," cried Garcia. "You told Hotch that you didn't want to come back to us!"
"What changed your mind, Emily?" asked Reid.
"It was more like a change of heart," answered Prentiss. "After what I went through because of Doyle, I experienced some bad feelings. I needed some time away from my old life, so I went to the London field office. But, Clyde Easter once said that I usually run away from my problems. He was so right! But, I found out I wasn't running away from my problems as much as I was running away from my family."
Tears started running down Prentiss's cheeks.
"You were running away from us?" asked Garcia.
"From JJ really," answered Prentiss. "After Will's funeral, I felt so guilty. I blamed myself for not finding him earlier and getting him to the hospital sooner. While JJ was away grieving, I thought that she was blaming me, too. So, I told Easter that I would take the job at the London field office."
"Emily," said JJ. "I told you, I don't blame you for what happened to Will. I never did!"
"I know," said Prentiss. "That was Izzy's fault. It took me years to believe that. I've realized that my problem wasn't about you forgiving me for what happened to Will, JJ. It was about me forgiving myself for it."
"Hey," said JJ. "I've experienced that problem myself once. Come here."
JJ and Prentiss hugged each other tightly.
"Mmmm," said Prentiss. "I've really missed this. You guys have no idea how much I wanted to hug everybody when JJ and Reid announced their engagement and their new baby."
Reid smiled and hugged Prentiss. Prentiss hugged Reid back tightly.
"Mmmm," said Prentiss. "I was crying so much after hearing those announcements. Not just because I was happy for you two. But, because I wasn't here to celebrate it with you guys. I didn't want to be away from the people I love anymore. And then Hotch called me saying that Kate had turned in her resignation."
"So, you granted my wish," said Garcia tearfully. "You came back to us!"
Prentiss and Garcia happily hugged each other tightly.
"Mmmm," cried Prentiss. "And, I will never leave you guys ever again!"
"Welcome back, Prentiss," smiled Morgan.
"Well," said Hotch. "I'm sorry, guys, but..."
"We know, Hotch," smiled Prentiss. "We have an unsub to catch."
"We will celebrate my dream come true later!" cheered Garcia.