Molly walked out of the dressing room to a collective sound of gasps. She climbed on the mini platform and surveyed herself in the mirror. The strapless white dress billowed out like a dress a Disney princess would wear.
"I love this one!" Penelope squealed as she snapped a picture.
"It's really heavy though. These beads weigh a ton," Molly groaned as she tugged the dress up, as if it were falling down her chest.
"I don't recommend a heavy dress. You have to wear that all night and you'll be …" Emily trailed off as she gestured a big belly. "What about trying something more loose fitting, like an empire waist."
"I agree. A ball gown may not be the way to go. Although you do look amazing," J.J. said as she took a sip of her champagne.
The assistant at the bridal store went off to get more selections. When she returned, she handed Molly what looked like a pillow. Molly took it and looked at her quizzically.
"It's a baby bump," the lady said smiling.
Molly nodded and went into the room to try on the next dress. A few moments later she walked out of the room. The girls didn't make a sound. They just stared at her, jaws dropped.
"Does it look bad?" she asked before turning to look in the mirror.
She felt her heart skip a beat. She didn't hear anything around her as she stared in stunned silence at her reflection. The chest had simple beading that sparkled in the light. The rest of the dress flowed down her body in a white sheer fabric. Tears filled Molly's eyes as she pictured herself walking toward Spencer in this dress.
"I think we found the winner," Emily said breaking the silence. She clinked her champagne glass with J.J. and they both took sips.
(xxxxx)
The sound of the phone ringing woke Spencer and Molly from a peaceful sleep. Spencer grabbed his phone off the bedside table and sat up.
"Reid," he mumbled. "On my way."
Spencer rolled out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to clean up. Molly climbed out of bed and followed him. She leaned against the doorframe, squinting against the bright lights.
"Another case?" she asked.
"Yea, I'll text you when I know where we're going," he said.
"But you're going to miss the doctor's appointment," she frowned.
"I know, I'm sorry," he said as after spitting his toothpaste out.
Molly sighed. "I can call and reschedule."
"Go to the appointment," he began before Molly interrupted him.
"I can't find out the sex of the baby without you there," she protested.
"Why not? You can just call and tell me," Spencer said as he walked past her to get dressed.
"No, I can't. It's too important. You should be a part of it," Molly said crossing her arms across her chest.
"Molly, listen to me. It's ok. It will still be just as special when you tell me," Spencer tried to assure her.
"Oh, is that how it's going to be when I have the baby too? Are you going to be on a case and it's ok cause you'll see the baby eventually," she snapped.
Spencer stopped and turned to look at Molly.
"Are you kidding me? Molly, that's a completely different situation," Spencer said as he finished buttoning his shirt.
"How is it different Spencer? I feel like this moment is something we should share together and you're telling me it's only worthy of a phone call," she said angrily.
"It is special! I never said it wasn't special! I just don't want my job to get in the way …," he said trying to defend himself.
"In the way of our child!" Molly shouted.
"Where is this coming from all of a sudden? Molly you know what my job entails. It's not like this is a surprise. I can't change it," Spencer said growing angrier.
"You can't change it, so deal with it. Is that what you're saying?" Molly said through clenched teeth.
"Take it or leave it," he said as he stormed from the room. "I'm not going to feel guilty for doing my job."
"So, you're just going to leave? Just like that?" Molly said as she followed him.
He picked his go bag up and threw his satchel over his shoulder, before turning to face her.
"I'll call you later," he said opening the door and then slamming it shut.
(xxxxx)
Spencer had tried to listen to the briefing. He tried to focus on what was being discussed on the plane. He tried to add input to the possibilities, but he couldn't get his fight with Molly off his mind. How could she accuse him of not taking their child's life seriously? Like he would ever choose the job over his child.
Once they landed, the team separated and began their investigation. Spencer was paired up with Emily and Derek. He sat quietly looking out the window when he realized both Emily and Derek were staring at him.
"Hmm?" he asked looking between the two.
"I asked if you were alright," Emily said, as the light they were waiting at turned green.
"Oh, yea. Fine, just tired," he lied, hoping they would let it be.
But they wouldn't be Derek and Emily if they let things be.
"You've barely uttered three words since we landed, something is clearly up. Did you have a fight with Molly?" Emily asked.
Spencer looked at her and back out the window again. He wasn't sure he wanted to talk about it, but maybe another girl's perspective could help things. Emily was always very insightful.
"Molly is mad that I missed the doctor's appointment today," he said looking at Emily for help.
"Oooooooook," Emily drawled out, waiting for more information.
"Well, we were supposed to find out the sex of the baby," Spencer began when Emily and Derek both gave ahh's in response. "What?"
"Spencer, she's not mad at you," Emily began.
"No, she's definitely mad at me," Spencer assured her.
"Look, I know it seems that way, but she's projecting anger to mask the hurt. She had her hopes up to share this experience with you and you had to bail. She's disappointed. This is a big moment and by seeing you leave she probably feels insecure," Emily explained.
"But it's my job! It's not like I wanted to miss the appointment! It's my child too!" Spencer said getting upset and defensive.
"Reid, I get it. You are in a rock and hard place with this job. We all get it. Sometimes we have to choose the job over our lives. It's the shitty part of our job," Derek said as he continued to watch the road.
"I didn't choose my job over my child!" Spencer said getting irritated.
"Ok, then what do you call it?" Emily asked.
Spencer tugged at his hair in frustration. "I call it my job! I don't have a choice! If she wants me to get fired, then I'll stay and I'll spend every waking second with her and the baby," he snapped.
"We're not trying to fight you. We can relate to your situation, we have to make these decisions all the time too. But don't play semantics when it comes to calling it what it is. You chose your job, but if you didn't then you would probably be fired or reprimanded. So, I feel you. It's a difficult place to be in," Emily said trying to calm him down.
"I'd rather be with her right now," he said in a soft voice.
"Of course you do and Molly knows that too. She's just hormonal and I'm sure lonely. She has nobody, but us. So, when we go she's by herself. She doesn't have family or friends to comfort her," Emily said.
Spencer took the information in. He never thought about how lonely she must be. He would be lonely too, if it weren't for the job taking up most of his life. Now he brought her into his world and leaves her behind to take care of everything on her own. Of course, that had to be depressing at times.
"So, what should I do?" Spencer asked.
"The only advice I can offer is to talk to Molly. Derek and I aren't the best role models for romance, but communication is key," Emily started.
"What do you mean I'm not the best role model? Derek Morgan is the poster boy for love," Derek said feigning shock.
"Oh, please. You are the poster boy for flirting and one night stands," Emily joked.
"What? I do not do one night stands," Derek said making Emily and Spencer both laugh.
"What do you call it? One weekend stands?" Emily teased.
"Morgan, you change girlfriends more than your underwear," Spencer said making Emily burst out with laughter.
"Oh, ya got jokes now kid? I offer you help with your love life and this is the thanks I get?" he said shaking his head.
"Technically, Emily gave me the advice," Spencer replied.
"Alright, I'll remember that. I never forget," he said pretending to be angry.
"Except which girl you slept with last," Emily casually tossed into the conversation.
The three of them laughed as they pulled into the parking lot of the crime scene.
(xxxxx)
Molly sat in the car debating whether she should find out the sex of the baby or not. It could always wait until their next visit. Just because she was there today, didn't mean she had to find out now. She could ask the doctor to hold that news until Spencer could be there.
She missed him so much. She knew she had been harsh on him that morning. It wasn't his fault he had to leave for work. She knew that was his life when she met him and she walked into it willingly. To guilt him for having to go wasn't fair to him. It was low of her to insinuate that he was choosing work over his child.
She placed her hand on her belly and smiled as a tear slipped down her cheek.
"Hi Reidlet, it's Mommy. I hope you are doing well. Daddy wishes he were here with us today, but he loves you and I know if he could have been here he would have. I hope you know that we both love you so much and can't wait to meet you," she said in a soft voice.
Suddenly she felt a flutter in her stomach. It felt like a little butterfly flapping its wings three times. Molly's face lit up as she placed her hands over the area she felt the movement.
"Oh my gosh! I felt you! I felt that! Reidlet you can hear me! You can hear Mommy!" she said as tears now streamed down her cheeks.
She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone.
(xxxxx)
"He made a left on 4th and Constant," Rossi said over the com-link.
Derek made a sharp turn as they were speeding down the street after the unsub. Straight ahead they could see the unsub weaving in and out of traffic. The siren on their SUV was blaring as they raced through red and green lights.
Emily pulled out her gun, ready to shoot if needed. Spencer held tightly to the car door as they dodged traffic that took too long to get out of the way.
"I'm almost to him!" Derek hollered as they got two car lengths away. "Get ready Prentiss!"
Emily nodded as she sat straighter in the seat. At that moment, Spencer's cell phone began to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw Molly's name on the screen. Suddenly he heard a loud blast and the world went black.
(xxxxx)
Spencer's phone rang four times before going to voicemail. Molly frowned and tried to convince herself he wasn't ignoring her, he was just busy working.
"You've reached Dr. Spencer Reid. Leave a message and I'll call you back."
Molly waited for the beep. "Hey, Spence it's me. I … uh … wanted to apologize for our fight this morning and … I also have something to tell you. Give me a call when you get a second. I love you."
