A/N

Thank you, Hannah .grahamlecter, for your hard work and dedication. You've done a great job as Beta-reader on this and I am extremely grateful. Now that you're finished checking the rest of the chapters, I'm the one catching up!

If you care to leave comments, reviews, or constructive critiques, I'm gracious about it (I promise). I know not everyone will enjoy this story. And there are always better ways to say something, and there are parts of the story that could (and should) be cut out. I get that, but how will I know if the readers don't tell me?

I appreciate those who have given me so much praise, ideas, and constructive reviews. Scoofuls, Szzlebtch, ElleAtGW, knothead, DragonGecko18, LolaD, Bethany, Kelly, IGDAF, and several other guests. I'm sure I've forgotten someone (and am sorry for that).

To all, as always, please enjoy the story.

G-Girl

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Chapter 57 - 4th of July

Before the sun rose, Susan was awake. She pulled on her panties and nightgown and headed for the bathroom. When she came out, she opened a cabinet, and took out an enormous patchwork comforter, laying it on the chair by the back door, then climbed back onto the bed over to Spencer on her hands and knees. "Honey, wake up. I have a surprise for you. I don't want you to miss it." She kissed him softly and sat back on her heels.

Dragging his knuckles across his eyelids, Spencer yawned, and opened his eyes, trying to focus. "What time is it?" He yawned again and covered his mouth. "Scuse me."

"It's almost 5 o'clock. Here are your pajamas and socks. I want you to see it with me; then we can go back to bed."

He sat up, rubbing his hands over his face. "See what? Where are we going that I need to get dressed to go to bed? I'm already in bed." She climbed off the bed as he pulled on his pajamas, socks, and his glasses, not bothering with his contacts.

"Outside, Love." Susan slid on her robe and fuzzy slippers, looking out the doors, holding the blanket when he came back out of the bathroom, tugging his robe on over his pajamas.

"How far outside?" He wasn't keen on getting out of bed this early.

"Out on the deck. Hold this for me? We'll need it." She handed the comforter to Spencer and opened the door, stepping out onto the deck. "Good, we haven't missed it."

"By the way, it's 4:38… but fine, I'll go with you." He followed, hearing the back door to the other bedroom open and Lizette asking Andy to hurry. Susan walked up three steps onto a sun deck, next to the corner of their bedroom, leading him to a chaise lounge. She took the patchwork comforter and spread it out. "Now, sit back, and I'll sit in front of you. We can snuggle under the blanket."

He turned his head and saw Andy holding Lizette, enveloped in another massive blanket, standing by the railing on the other end of the deck. They were looking out at something. Spencer sat down on the chaise and held Susan's hand, helping her sit down between his legs, with her back against him.

She gathered up the edges of the blanket. "It's almost time."

The early morning air was cool and damp as they pulled the rest of the giant blanket around them. Spencer had his sock-covered feet flat on the chaise, pinning the bottom of the blanket under them.

Since Susan was holding the ends of the blanket in front of her, his hands were free to wander. Grinning, he gently opened her robe and slid his arms around her as he kissed her neck. She sucked in a breath and shuddered. "Oh, my, that feels good. Ready for it, Love? Spencer, Honey, look up."

"Hmm?" He half-expected something to jump out of the water or fly by. Instead, the colors on the horizon changed from grey to purple. Several more minutes went by as the sky changed to light purple and pink. They sat, listening to the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore. With anyone else, he might have asked, is that all? But he viewed it from her perspective. She probably does this every year and now wants to share it with me. He saw a lovely smile on her face as she looked up at him. After several minutes, the sky brightened to a pinkish-orange before the sun finally peeked out over the horizon.

Smiling, he slid his hands over her belly, his fingers spread out on either side. "It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with me."

Susan snuggled against him, turned her head and kissed his chin. "I thought you'd like it. Our first sunrise here, together. Thank you, Love, for letting me drag you out of bed."

A few more lovely moments went by; she turned, slid her arms around his waist, and kissed him. Spencer groaned, and she whispered low against his neck, "Why don't we go back to bed?" Susan adjusted her robe as she got up, helping him gather up the blanket. They went back down the steps and back inside the bedroom.

He set the blanket on the chair and took his wife back to bed for a couple of hours.

/

Waking up for the second time that day, he stretched against her back, one arm bent under his pillow and his other arm over her with his hand on her belly, feeling the faint fluttering. He kissed her shoulder and chuckled when she shuddered. "Susan? Are you awake, Sweetheart?"

She reached up to the side of his neck, stroking gently. "Mm-hmm. G'morning again, Lover. Do you want to shower first? It'd be a tight fit, for both of us. If only there was enough room in there, I'd see about getting a bigger shower installed."

He yawned. "I'll take a quick one. Out in a few." His pajama pants were in a tangle around his ankles, so he pulled them up under the covers, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom.

Susan stretched, buttoning her nightgown back up, wondering where her panties ended up. Feeling around under the blanket, she found them and slid them on. She got up, pulled her robe over her arms and tied it as she pushed her feet into her slippers, and went back out to the deck.

It was a beautiful morning, with the sun up higher now, and the cool ocean breeze on her face.

Further up the beach—near the boardwalk—she saw the platform set up on the end of the pier for the fireworks show later. From previous years, Susan knew the 3rd-floor deck and the beach would have the best views.

Smiling blissfully, with her hand on her belly, she loved feeling the baby fluttering while watching the waves crashing on the shore. There was something primal and soothing about it.

She went back in moments before Spencer stepped out of the bathroom, freshly shaved and showered, steam wafting into the bedroom. He looked adorably sexy with his damp hair clinging to his neck and head and the towel around his middle.

Susan was taking clothes out of the drawer of an upright dresser. He slid his hands over her arms, kissing the back of her neck. "I could swear I smell coffee. Your turn, for the shower. Uh… where is the suitcase?"

"It's in the closet. Empty." She tapped her fingers on the other drawers. "Your clothes are in these two and hanging up." She sniffed the air. "You're right. Someone made coffee… and breakfast. If you'll wait 'till I'm out, I'll give you the short tour that ends in the kitchen."

While he was getting dressed, he heard the shower start, and a song started playing on her MP3 player; Susan sang along with it.

After turning the shower off, Susan reached out, pulled a towel off the rack above the toilet, and dried off. As she drew the shower curtain back, she found Spencer dressed, sitting on top of the closed seat, holding his hand out. She took it, stepping gingerly out of the shower and onto the bathmat. "Well, since you're in here, I brought my lotion. Will you help me put it on?"

"Do you really need to ask? Oh, I have something from Emily, to show you later."

"Something good, from the look on your face." She picked up a container on the counter—smaller than the one at home—and handed it to him. "Travel size. It should be enough for the weekend." Her lovely body was warm and still damp from the shower.

Susan shook again as he kissed her, pulling her gently over his lap with his hands on her thighs. "Mm-hmm. I'll make sure to get the most important parts." He smeared some onto both hands, massaging it in gently, slowly, kissing her skin as he went along.

"Thank you, Love."

"We should go downstairs soon since we're hosting. We can always do more of this, later. Mmm, but then again… no, really, we need to get up, and you should eat breakfast."

"Grrr." She got up slowly, holding onto his shoulders, and went out to the bedroom. "What was that something you wanted to show me?"

"Did you growl at me?" Spencer laughed, as he followed her and sat on the bed, grinning, watching as she wriggled into a pair of panties, and then her cutoff shorts. She fastened in a triangle-shaped cloth panel since the zipper wouldn't close over her belly.

"Yes… I did growl." Susan smiled, sliding her bra on, and he closed the back, kissing her arm as she adjusted the front.

"And what was that song you were singing in the shower?"

"It's a song my mom used to love from the '70s, Rock Me Gently." She pulled on a blue cotton top that gathered under her bust and flowed over her belly. "The way we're going, we might make it downstairs by lunch." She put her hand on her stomach and groaned softly. "Mmm, ugh. You're right. I need food, my tummy is rumbling."

He grabbed his book bag from beside the dresser and opened it. "Okay, this, the tour, then breakfast... and coffee," handing the paper to Susan. "Emily gave this to me last night."

She read it, and her eyes welled up. "Thank you, Love, for showing me this." A tear rolled down her cheek, then another. "It makes me happy Dad knew how special you are." Susan leaned against him with her arms around his waist.

He held her face and kissed her, sliding his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe her tears. After a moment, they let go of each other, and she folded the paper and gave it back to him. He put it in his bag and set it down by the dresser. Holding her hand, they went to the door.

"Ready?"

She nodded. Going out, she cleared her throat, gesturing to the other rooms on the third floor—each bedroom had a nautical-themed picture painted on the door. "Lizette and Andy have the Seahorse room, next to ours. Coral is on the left, Dolphin on the right."

Spencer pointed to a door by the stairs. "What's in there?"

"Supply closet. Towels, sheets, toilet paper, soap, etcetera."

Walking down to the floor below, she pointed to more bedrooms. "This one behind us is the Seashell room, Anchor is next to it, Heron on this side, and Mermaid is on that side." She pointed down a hallway. "That leads to the front of the house and the grand staircase. This one goes to the kitchen." She gestured to another supply closet by the stairs. Continuing down the next set of stairs, they stepped into another hallway. Susan pointed to her right. "Supply closet and pantry, and the door on the left leads to the garage, to the washer, dryer and freezer." She pointed behind her, "The living room, den, and library is that way, and the landline phone in the house is here…" They continued into the back of the kitchen and found Marsha making breakfast, while Lizette and Andy sat at one end of the two long, picnic-style tables with their daughter in a highchair.

Marsha said cheerily, "Good morning, you two. Coffee's ready. Andy grilled the sausages and bacon, so breakfast is almost ready."

Spencer was looking around the kitchen and the large dining area. He noticed a wicker basket on the counter in between, with cell phones in it and a driftwood key rack on the wall above it, with hooks on it. Susan's key chain hung from it, next to a couple of others. "A very good morning. So, no cell service? Penelope isn't going to like that. Great house, though. Lots of room… and rooms."

"Cell service is… spotty, at best. I can get more bars at the store, and on the boardwalk. I just turn it off when I'm here. People who need to reach me have the landline number. Mama, Andy, thanks for making breakfast; it smells yummy." She hugged Marsha.

"You're welcome, Suzie. Spencer? Emily called about an hour ago, said the caravan is on the way, and asked if there was anything else they need to bring. Did you two watch the sunrise this morning?"

"Thanks. We did. It was… great." Grinning, he poured coffee into a mug he took from a glass-faced cupboard near the sink and saw a sugar dispenser on the counter. He poured some in his mug, figuring it was enough. "Where are the spoons?"

"In the drawer by your right hip, Love. Let me get something to eat, and I'll call if there's anything else we need. They'll drive by the store on their way into town… in about an hour." Her stomach grumbled again. "I'm starving."

Spencer stirred his coffee and went to sit down across the table from Andy.

Marsha set a skillet with scrambled eggs and potatoes on the counter. "Suzie, can you get the tray out of the oven? Careful, it's hot. Thank you, Sweetie."

Susan set the tray on the counter, then she arranged breakfast on a plate, setting it down in front of Lizette, and got one for herself. Spencer and Andy waited for Marsha to get her plate before loading theirs.

The tables sat end to end in the dining area with enough space for at least 16 people, and there were four more tables—under patio umbrellas—on the large deck outside the double doors. Susan sat beside Spencer, facing the beach, across from Andy and Marsha.

Andy gave Marsha a side hug. "Thanks, Mom. Since the grill is ready for later, after I eat, I'll set up the pop-up on the beach. Suzie, I used the grill mats you brought. Thanks, they work great."

"You're such a good guy, Anders." Marsha reached up and ruffled his blonde hair.

Spencer looked up; his eyebrows arched. "Anders? Not Andrew? I mean, I assumed…"

He shook his head. "Anders, after my mom's father, Anders Nilsson. My brothers and I are named after our grandfathers."

Spencer gave the group a brief explanation of patronymics. He was pleasantly surprised; no one rolled their eyes.

Andy nodded, adding, "It made genealogy simpler, for sure."

"Well, I learned something new." Susan turned to Andy. "If you wait on the pop-up, we'll have more people soon."

"Yes, ma'am." He chuckled. "No, really, all I need is one person, to help open it. I can carry it out there; it's not all that heavy."

"Not that… it weighs about a hundred and fifty... oh, yeah, never mind. I thought of a few more things we need." As Susan got up, Spencer offered to help Andy.

She called Emily. "… and ice. Safeway will be packed. The Fresh Market is easier, off the Coast Highway. Look for the IHOP, turn right at the next corner, then left… yeah, there's a CVS across the street. You'll see it. And you have the address and directions to the house? We park all the cars on the dead-end side, to the left of the house… Osprey Court ... Okay, great, see you soon." Susan went back to the table and sat down. "Emily said they have to pick up a few things, anyway, so they'll pick up the ice, as well. They're leaving Starbucks now and should be here in about thirty minutes."

Nearly forty minutes later, several vehicles parked on the side street next to the house. During the planning, Susan had sent a list of bedrooms available to everyone, including the den and the tents, which were in zipped covers, leaning against the railings on the upper decks. Suitcases and bags were left in the front foyer, near the long, winding staircase, until later after they had the rooms assigned.

Morgan easily carried in two large tote bags holding four 20-pound bags of ice, and Marsha showed him to the chest freezer in the garage. After they came back in, he walked over to Garcia and JJ, who were laughing and talking at the table near the French doors leading out to the deck. Andy and Spencer had set up the pop-up on the beach and were heading back to the house.

Penelope grinned impishly, staring out the glass doors. "JJ, I'm telling you, it's so obvious. You can't see it?"

Morgan peered outside; his thick eyebrows pulled together. "What are we looking at?"

"Spencer's got swagger. Like full-on… Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park… and at the end of Independence Day—swagger."

"Ohhh, yeah, I see it, Mama." Morgan smiled, hugged her, and kissed her temple. "Our boy is all grown up." He barked out a laugh and went back to the tray of bacon, ate a strip, then another.

Emily joined in from the kitchen. "If you're talking about Spence, I agree. If you were talking about the other guy, I'd say, duh, yeah. What's his name again?"

Susan and Marsha were in the kitchen putting away the groceries with Emily, and Susan looked out the window, smiling. "I can tell, too. Mm-hmm. That's Andy… Lizette's husband."

Lizette had taken a group to the upper floors, while Marsha took the frozen groceries to the standing freezer in the garage. As they returned to the large, open living room adjacent to the dining area, there was a discussion on the sleeping arrangements.

Jack told his dad he'd take a tent, so Henry and Michael decided they also wanted to sleep in a tent. Will said he'd set one up for them on the 2nd-floor deck. JJ said she wanted to sleep in a bed, so she was going to bunk with Penelope in the Mermaid room with the twin beds.

Two of the bedrooms with queen beds had chairs that converted into small beds, so Chris and Kate took their suitcases to the Coral room since they had their son, four-year-old Chris Jr. with them. Morgan and Savannah got the Dolphin room; it had the other pull-out chair, and they had Hank with them. Emily and Aaron, in the Seashell room, on the 2nd-floor. Meg offered to sleep on the pull-out bed in the den since Marsha had already set up in the living room. She had the porta-crib for Tiana, giving Lizette and Andy some alone time. Luke set up his tent on the 2nd-floor deck with Roxy. Matt set up the last large tent with his two boys while Kristy took the girls and their portable crib to the Heron bedroom with the four bunk beds. Tara had her choice of a tent or the Anchor room with the two bunk beds. She decided on the room, saying she would push the beds together. Her boyfriend was planning on coming out the next day.

Once everyone figured out where they were sleeping, backpacks and suitcases were squared away, as the tents were set up and air mattresses inflated.

One group wanted to visit the boardwalk, and another went out to relax on the beach.

Andy came back in after cleaning out and filling up the hot tub. He added the chemicals and said he'd test it later to make sure the levels were right since Lizette and Marsha talked about using it later.

Surrounding the hot tub on the south side of the house was a large deck with two open showers on one end, resourcefully made from old surfboards attached to posts. There were two private shower stalls, each with a changing area, and a private half-bathroom.

Against the other side of the house, next to the dead-end road used for parking, were three large storage sheds that blocked the view of the staircase from the main street. The grill, pop-ups, beach chairs, tents, and other items not nailed down or chained up were stored in the sheds when the house wasn't in use.

Aaron and Emily offered to grill hamburgers and hotdogs later for lunch while Matt & Will said they'd fix dinner. Chris brought an electric ice-cream maker and all the ingredients to make different flavors, plus several boxes of waffle cones.

Next to the pop-up on the beach, Susan and Kate were talking about how their pregnancies were progressing when Meg came out to tell Kate that Chris and C.J. needed her inside.

She stayed to talk to Susan. "Uh… Doctor… um… Susan? I registered for your class in the fall and wanted to talk to you… to introduce myself before classes start. And I'm wondering if Kate or anyone else told you what happened… to me?"

Susan nodded. "Susan's fine, especially here; I'm not a stickler on formalities. Most of my students call me Dr. S., and yes, Spencer told me some of it. So, Meg, how long has it been?"

"About five years. I still have bad dreams and some issues, mostly about trusting people."

"So, tell me about yourself, instead. I'm sure Kate told you besides teaching, I'm a licensed psychologist?"

"No, she told me about your dancing and the art photos you posed for. Well, showed me, actually." She laughed, nervously.

"Well, okay, that's fine too. Of all the women here, you and I are the closest in age. I'm guessing you need someone to talk to, and there are things you can't talk to Kate about. How am I doing?"

"I'd say you're right. I do talk to Kate, but yeah, it's hard, talking about… some things."

"The best way is to be direct. I don't pull my words or my punches. Speaking of, have you taken self-defense classes?"

She looked down at her feet and sighed, then back up at Susan, shaking her head. "I should. Kate told me about the different types of offenders, and how to survive..."

"That's half the battle. You know Penelope, right?"

"I got to meet her, yes, but I don't know her all that well."

"She took a self-defense class I teach." Susan looked down at her abdomen; her hand resting lightly on it as she gestured with the other. "Well, taught. I'll start up again after the baby's born. Anyway, that helps people feel more in control of their lives. If you'd like, I can help you get signed up. Have you ever considered volunteering at a community center near your home?"

"Uh… I… haven't… before."

"I've found a great way to help myself… is to help others. My friend Lizette and I have been volunteers at the Rec center in my neighborhood since we were kids."

"It's still hard for me to leave the house. I mostly go from home to school and back home. I still see friends, but not as often as they want. Even my friend Markayla goes out more than I do."

"That's your friend who was abducted with you?" Meg nodded, and Susan continued. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure. "

"I'll bet you felt there was something off about the situation, and she talked you into going along."

"Right again." She glanced at the house. "Did Kate tell you that?"

"Nope. I can tell. Listen to your instincts; they'll serve you well. I'd even bet good money you want to go into law enforcement, maybe even the FBI after you graduate, but it's that first step... that leap of faith you're having trouble with."

Meg's mouth dropped open for a moment. Then she chuckled. "Three for three." She grinned and stuck her hands in her pockets, dragging the toes of one foot through the sand. "Are you sure you're not a profiler?"

"My dad was an FBI agent, and he was good at reading people. Even at a young age, he said I had good instincts. But that doesn't always protect you. Having self-defense and martial arts training helps. A lot."

"Okay, so here's the thing. All my friends are dating. I'm scared... you know… trust issues. It's hard to open up to people."

"I get it. I do. My ballet teacher tried to force himself on me, so I kneed him in the nuts. Hard." Meg's eyes went wide, and Susan went on, "It took nearly two years before I went back to ballet, but only with a female teacher and after taking martial arts and weapons training."

Meg stared at her. "Wow."

Susan smiled warmly. "Meg, so many people have stories like that. So many are damaged… broken, and some never get their lives back together. They find a way to learn to live and function like that. You went through a horrific situation, but statistically, you were luckier than so many, if you think about it. I was lucky, too, statistically."

"True. I never really looked at it that way. My therapist said I should be over it by now. She feels I'm hanging on to the past."

"Your therapist should tell you to go at your own pace, as long as you do something to push past those fears. When you do, you'll know it. You'll feel it, even if it's a tiny step. Look at it as a tunnel. It gets dark in a tunnel, right?"

Med nodded.

"If you keep moving forward at whatever pace you feel most comfortable, you'll eventually come out the other side. If you don't do anything, it's a cave, and you're stuck there… in the dark."

"I get what you're saying." She smiled, nodding slowly.

"Meg, can I tell you something else?" She nodded. "I had trust issues too. After that ballet teacher, I didn't know if I would ever be able to trust guys. I worked on it, learned Karate and Judo, and pushed past that fear. When I was 16, I attended a lecture on Sexual Sadists." Meg's eyes grew wide, and Susan continued. "True story. A friend I admired greatly recommended it for my Psychology doctorate. And the guy who gave the lecture kept looking at me. It felt like he was staring into my soul, and I pictured him kissing me. I started shaking, getting all tingly. Then I didn't see him for 13 years. Do you want to know what happened when I saw him again?" She nodded again, her eyes wide. Susan turned her head; she could see Spencer in the house. Turning back to Meg, she smiled. "I trusted my instincts and married him two months later."

She heard someone calling her name and turned to see Jesse running up. Susan gave him a fist bump and introduced him to Meg. "Jesse's attending GW, on a baseball scholarship. He's gonna be my TA for the fall semester. Jesse, where are you staying? Is your mom here?"

"Yeah. We're here with Darby and Michael. They bought the beach house two doors down and are hosting the staff this year."

"That's great!" She told Meg, "He's a good guy, works at the Rec center running baseball camps during the summer and other sports programs on the weekends." Jesse smiled, and his cheeks darkened.

"Um… Jinny and Darby are setting up, and we were talking about barbecuing later, but they only have one small grill. I told them I'd go get a pizza for lunch." He asked Meg, "D'you… wanna go with me?"

She looked at Susan as her eyes widened, and Susan poked the young man's shoulder. "We have an extra grill you can use later. Now, I know you'll be a gentleman and show Meg around? And you know the landline number here. Meg, I'll let your mom know, yeah?"

She smiled broadly, nodding again. "Mm-hmm, okay?"

As they went off in the direction of the boardwalk, talking, Kate came back out. She called to Meg, "Be back for lunch in an hour?" Meg turned and gave her a smile and a thumbs-up. Kate turned to Susan, "Well, so much for trust issues. What did you say to her?"

"I told her if she didn't go through the emotional tunnel, it was simply a dark cave." Susan shrugged, looking down the beach at the two teens. "Meg took a leap of faith and pushed past her fear."

"Who's the boy? Is he a local? Do you know him?" Her brows furrowed.

"I do. Jesse's worked for me at the center for three years, but I've known him for ten. He's 18, and a good kid. He wants to get his degree in sports medicine. Besides, he knows I could take him down. Easy." She grinned and patted her belly. "Even now."

"Good enough for me. He's the first boy she's shown an interest in… since the abduction."

Spencer sauntered up with a couple of beach towels over his bare shoulder, slipping his arms around Susan and kissing her neck.

Kate chuckled. "Spencer Reid, you surprise me. Seeing you wearing flip-flops and board shorts? You have changed."

"I have. I admit it, still not into twerking, though." He smiled at Susan's wide-eyed quizzical look and spread one beach towel out in the shade of the pop-up, then the other. "I was thinking I'd sit out here and ask my wife if she'd join me. How about it, Beautiful?" He sat on the back of the towel and Susan held his hand as she sank down, sitting in front of him.

"Thanks, Love."

Patting the towel next to him, he asked Kate, "You want to sit for a while? Take a load off?"

She smiled and sat down, holding Spencer's arm he offered for support. "Sounds good. My load needs some off about now. So, Meg responded to that? I've been talking to her about that, for ages, without much luck."

"I guess she had to hear it from an unbiased third-party. Meg told me she's registered for my class next month, and I told her Jesse's going to be my TA. If it makes you feel better, We'll let you talk to our daughter about boys and how to play mind games with psychos… when the time comes."

Pushing her feet into the sand and wiggling her toes, Kate laughed. "You got it. Yeah, Meg told me about her classes. Yours sounds fascinating. It must be popular—she got the second-to-last seat on the first day of registration."

JJ and Tara, wearing bathing suits, brought towels and water bottles over and sat down on Spencer's right.

Susan nodded. "I've had waitlists every semester. The head of the Psych department asked if I'd do three classes a week next year. I'll consider it. The first class of the semester is always a blast. We put everything out on the table, so to speak. Every crude, explicit term and colloquialism they call out, I write on the whiteboard. Takes about 10 minutes for them to get all the dirty words out of their system, then I wipe it all off, and we agree to look at human sexuality from a psychological perspective. If I started there, I'd lose them. Engaging them first, objectively, and they're invested. And I've had students tell me they want to learn more than what they tell each other."

Spencer raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "So that's what I missed out on when I had to reschedule?"

"I'd say you're caught up, Love." She leaned back against him as she looked up and winked.

Kate asked, "How did you end up teaching that class? Let me guess; you drew the short straw?"

"Actually, after I finished my dissertation on the subject, my advisor asked if I'd do a lecture in his Psych class. It was so well-received, Dr. Harkanian, took it to the administration, to turn it into a class. He was impressed by my cool detachment, my calm, objective teaching style. You know, the old adage, those who can't do, teach?" She rubbed her fingers over her belly and laughed. "Well, I guess that's over now."

"Not necessarily. As long as you don't think about me kissing you and I'm not around, to distract you. When I did my first lecture in your class, you only shook, four, maybe five times?" Spencer kissed the back of Susan's head.

"That's true," Susan explained her condition to Kate.

JJ leaned back on her elbows behind Tara, looking over at him. "So, Spence, I thought you didn't like the beach. What about the limited and unengaging topography?"

"Well, Jennifer, this is the first beach I've been to with Susan. This morning we woke up early and watched the sunrise together. I don't know if I'd ever do this by myself, but I'm sure I'll come back with her. I read something recently. A good woman inspires a man, a brilliant woman interests him, a beautiful woman fascinates him, but a sympathetic woman gets him. I was lucky enough to find a woman who encompasses those qualities and so much more." He didn't say it to hurt Jennifer, but she brought it up, and recently even she admitted how perfect Susan was for him.

Susan whispered as she turned her head, kissing his jaw. "Ooh, smart, insightful, and sexy." He grinned, holding her close.

With a serious expression on her face, Tara gripped his shoulder. "Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Dr. Spencer Reid?"

He laughed as his fingers grazed absently over Susan's stomach. "I'm still me; my wife inspires me to be a better person."

Kate nudged his other shoulder. "Ugh. Get a room, you two."

Tara turned to JJ. "They act like we're not even here."

Spencer ignored the comment. "Oh, Sweetheart, there is something I need to talk to you about."

"Sure, I want to go inside and change into my bathing suit, anyway. Back in a bit."

He stood up, offering his hand to help Susan up, and they went back to the house.

Walking up the stairs by the kitchen, she jokingly grumbled about not having a master suite on the first floor. "I'm gonna need a nap when I get up there."

Spencer chuckled, holding her hand on the way up the stairs. "After we... talk. So, how soundproof are these rooms? Are we going to keep people awake at night, with all of your… uh… noises?"

"Oh, you're cute. You make noises too, Love. Stand here, and I'll shake the bed upstairs, then you tell me if you hear anything." Susan went up the second set of stairs to the master bedroom and closed the door. Facing away from the bed, she rocked back against the footboard to a 4/4 beat. "Can you hear me?" She started singing Donna Summer's Love to Love You, including the moaning.

Spencer rushed in, laughing, and Susan stopped singing.

"The beat was… um… interesting, but when you started singing and moaning, I had to get up here. It's a good thing everyone else is on the first floor and outside. Is there anything to put under the bedposts?"

"Ooh, yeah, we have some rugs that might help, up in the attic, if you feel like going up one more flight."

"Later… for tonight." He locked the door, grinning…

/

Susan went out to the beach in her halter-top tankini and shorts, sitting back down on the towel.

Kate looked up at her and laughed. "Where's Spencer? We figured you two would be busy for at least an hour."

"Mmm. I just can't get enough of that man of mine." Susan shook and noticed the looks on their faces. "He's in the attic on a mission for me, tracking down cots and mats for the tents."

Lizette came over in a bathing suit and her black-mesh cover, standing behind Susan. "Poodle, did you put sunscreen on?"

"Not yet. I'm gonna sit in the shade, maybe walk on the beach later."

"Some of us are going to sit in the hot tub, or rather the not hot yet tub. The heater was unplugged. So now that it's on, the water is going to warm up. You may go in, for about 15 minutes, or until it gets up to 96 degrees."

Susan clapped her hands. "Yay. You up for it, Kate? I miss not being able to use the hot tub at home." The ladies walked back to the house and got in the not hot yet tub. It was almost warm.

"Andy cleaned it out, too, before he filled it."

Meg came back with the Boardwalk group. Chris was talking with Jesse, and he looked around and saw Kate in the hot tub.

She held up her hand and told him, "Don't say it, Chris. The water's barely warm. Susan and I get to sit in here until the water heats up."

He sat on a beach chair near the fire pit, laughing. "Alright, I trust you. Jesse here has been telling me he works at the Wheeler Park and Rec Center and now Meg says she wants to volunteer there. Did you know about that? That's where we saw that Spring show, right?"

"Yes, it was. I'm not surprised. Susan knows him, hired him a few years ago, and he's going to GW."

"He's a good guy, Chris. I know his mother, too. Jesse, tell them what your GPA was in high school." Susan beamed, obviously proud of the young man.

Jesse blushed again. "Uh… 4.0, while working at the Center, class Valedictorian, plus, I volunteer as a tutor at the center. And Susan will kick my… uh… butt if I get out of line. I've got to take these pizzas back to the house. I'll be back later, for fireworks and the spare grill. Bye."

Susan waved, and turned to Meg. "If you want to volunteer, talk to Lizette. She's the Assistant Director, in charge of classes and programs."

Lizette took off her sunglasses and grinned mischievously. "Sure. I can always use more minions… I mean… volunteers."

Twenty minutes went by; the water was getting warmer. Spencer stepped out of the double doors, pulling open the magnets that kept the screen closed. He walked down off the deck and over to the hot tub with a towel over his shoulder.

Susan stood up. "That was nice, but it's getting warm. What's the temp, Gator?"

Lizette picked up the floating thermometer and held it up. "94 degrees. Yep, 'bout time to get yer butt out, preggo." She hooked a thumb, gesturing. "You too, Kate."

Susan's eyes went wide, and she chuckled. "I love you too, bestie." She got out and carefully eased down the wooden steps. Spencer offered her the towel and draped it over her shoulders.

"Payback… for when I was pregnant," Lizette snickered. She stuck her tongue out at Susan, then smiled as she signed ILY. Susan returned the sign, sticking the tip of her tongue out.

Spencer laughed at that. "I got that stuff out of the attic and put it on the upper deck, by the tents. I saw you sitting in the hot tub, so I figured you'd need a towel. How was the water?"

"Thank you, Love, warm and very nice."

Aaron stepped out onto the deck, with Andy and Matt carrying containers over to the grill. Susan's stomach grumbled at the sight. "Ooh, goodie, lunch soon. I'm hungry."

There was a group on the beach near one side of the pop-up playing with a frisbee, and another, down the beach on the other side, throwing a football. Some of the ladies were sunning themselves; another group played in the surf, watching the smaller children.

After the sun went down, one group set up chairs on the beach. Aaron and Emily sat on the 3rd-floor deck, across the platform from Susan and Spencer. Another group, mostly the younger kids and their parents, sat around the fire ring, making smores.

Spencer kissed Susan's neck and whispered against her ear, "I'd love to have another talk with you."

She shuddered against him, whispering back. "Sounds good. I doubt anyone would miss us." She got up, saying out loud she was going inside to change, and went into the bedroom. Spencer stood by the railing for a minute, watching his friends having a good time around the fire ring. He walked down to the 2nd-floor deck, went inside through the door leading into the hallway, then hurried back up the staircase to the corner bedroom. Susan was waiting for him, with the lights on low. "Door locked?" He kissed her, moving his hands over her hips and up her back, untying her tankini top…

/

He went down to the kitchen as Susan—now in flannel lounging pants, flip-flops, and a t-shirt—went back to the deck with a blanket and sat on the chaise. Shortly after, Spencer walked out of the French doors off the dining area, holding two cold water bottles. He went up the back steps to the 3rd floor, finding Susan on the chaise. Grinning, he handed her a bottle and sat behind her. "That was nice." He looked around at the empty chaise lounges. The fireworks started mere minutes after he sat down. "Good, we didn't miss any fireworks."

Susan leaned back against him. "We started our own earlier." They snuggled together, watching the sky light up.

As the fireworks show ended, they went downstairs while Andy helped Lizette get the projector set up with the flash drive and had Luke unfurl the screen from the 2nd-floor railing. Matt secured it to the partial railing on the 1st floor, while bags of popcorn were being popped inside. The movie the majority voted on was Independence Day. Every few minutes, fireworks would go off, up and down the beach. Susan sat in front of Spencer on the chaise, sharing a bowl of popcorn and snuggling together. She could tell he was having a good time. Looking around, it seemed everyone was by the smiles on their faces.

Near the end of the movie, as Jeff Goldblum struts in the desert, with Will Smith, Garcia remarked to JJ, "See? Spencer's got that swagger." Several in the group voiced their agreement. Spencer pressed his lips together to keep from grinning.

Since it was late when the movie ended, Susan, Kate, Kristy, and the youngest children went to bed, while the others folded up the chairs, put out the fire, took the electronics into the house, then rolled up and secured the screen, before heading to bed. Susan was already asleep when Spencer got in bed, and he fell asleep after only a few minutes, listening to the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach coming from the open window…