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, IDGAF, and several 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 58 - 5th of July

Sunday morning, they slept in since it was so late the night before when they went to bed. From the quietness of the house, it seemed everyone else was sleeping in as well.

When they finally got up, Spencer took his shower first to warm up the bathroom for Susan. Once he was out, Susan got out of bed.

"Thank you, Love. I'll only be a few minutes."

He dressed and headed downstairs while she was in the shower.

As Susan walked into the kitchen, she saw the group on the beach from the window. She went out back and when she got closer; it was apparent something had happened.

Emily was on her way back to the house in a hurry. "We need the landline. A mother was walking on the beach this morning with her daughter and checked her cell phone. She said it was only for a moment. But when she looked back up, her daughter was gone. I'm going to call 9-1-1."

"This has happened before. Call, but let me check something while you're on the phone." Those on the beach were ready to start going door-to-door, while Andy, Morgan, Matt, and Aaron were wading in the surf with their arms in the water. Susan went up the steps of the deck, checking the showers and the outdoor bathroom, knocking on the closed doors, calling out. "Hello? Anyone in there?"

A small voice inside whined, "Yeah. I'm not done yet."

Susan turned, waving at the group, shouting, "She's in here!"

The mother ran the entire way over, yelling frantically. "Maisie, are you in there?"

The small voice answered. "Yes, Mommy. I told you I hadda go pee! You were lookin' at your phone!" The little girl came out at the same time Spencer went inside the house to tell Emily the child had been found, safe and sound. Aaron strongly suggested to the mother she should spend more time paying attention to her child instead of her phone.

The rest of the morning was spent fixing and eating breakfast, as the Simmons and Callahan families were getting packed up to go home. Since Marsha cooked breakfast the day before, Aaron offered to make breakfast and Spencer said he would help. Luke joined in and between the three of them inside, with Andy manning the grill outside; breakfast was prepared quickly. Spencer filled and started the coffeemaker, which included a hot water dispenser for tea, then cut up vegetables, and whisked eggs, for omelets while talking with Aaron, who was making pancakes. After Luke made muffins from a box mix and some fresh blueberries, he set them in the oven to bake. Then he fixed Roxy's breakfast, adding in another handful of blueberries.

Tara and Penelope came down the back staircase, into the kitchen, only to be whisked out to the dining area by the guys.

Morgan and Savannah walked through the living room with Hank to the dining area. Since there wasn't enough room for him to help in the kitchen, Morgan stood on the dining room side of the counter, taking mugs off the hooks under the cabinet and setting them up on the counter with the sugar and creamers. He started pouring, taking coffee orders. Penelope impishly asked him for a half-caf, non-fat, double-shot Caramel Macchiato. He threw his hands up in the air.

"It's just coffee, Sweetness. This ain't Starbucks."

She hugged him, laughing. "I'm kidding, Hot Stuff. I'll take a mug of hot water," as she picked out a teabag from a clear case on the counter, filled with a mixed variety of flavors.

As people were flocking around the table with their coffee, Morgan made sure the cooks got some, too. He asked Spencer, "Hey Kid. How much coffee do you take in your sugar now?" and passed three mugs across the counter. "I'm playin' with you. I've got you covered." Since the dispenser was behind him, Susan also asked for a mug of hot water and pulled a Ginger tea bag out of the case. Smiling, he handed her the mug, with the handle pointing towards her. "Careful, it's hot."

She sat down with Tara, Emily, and Penelope. Tara was talking about her boyfriend—the doctor—joining up with her later.

Morgan handed Emily a mug of coffee, doing a little bow. "Your coffee, Princess… with Splenda."

"Oh, sweet. Thanks. You remembered! Oh, I need this. It seems everyone is having a good time. Thank you, Susan. You were right, even with as many people here, it doesn't seem overly crowded."

"You're very welcome. I'm having a great time, too. Especially watching the guys in the kitchen, working together so efficiently. So, Tara, what's he like?"

"I'm sure Emily and Penelope will like him. He's gorgeous and… has the most delicious French accent." She practically purred, smiling.

"Oh? Dis m'en plus sur lui." Susan asked Tara to tell her more about him, knowing she spoke fluent French.

"Je ne savais pas que tu parlais français." Tara answered. Emily and Penelope smiled. They both already knew Susan spoke French.

"Oui. La famille de ma grand-mère était française. Comme la majorité du groupe ne parle pas français, nous devrions parler anglais? So, what does he do?"

"Yes. He's a doctor; a pediatrician, at GW Med. He's brilliant, sweet, gorgeous, sexy as hell and he'll be here in about an hour."

"So, does this mean you've left the bitter barn?" Emily laughed. "This is the one Lisa set you up with? And he stuck around when you told him about your job?"

Tara lowered her voice. "Oui. Il a dit qu'être un agent du FBI m'a rendu encore plus sexy."

Emily glanced over at Aaron and smiled at him, then turned back to Tara. "So, he's a keeper then?"

"Oui absolument." She grinned.

The guys brought trays out of the kitchen, and a big bowl of cut-up fruit, as Lizette came in, holding the open door for Andy, who carried a tray piled with bacon and sausages.

Marsha brought Tiana over and handed her to Lizette. "She wants you, dear. I'm not sure who's arguing upstairs, but there are two boys sitting in the den, looking miserable."

Emily went and brought Henry and Michael into the dining area and helped them get breakfast on their plates, then sent them outside. She could hear Will and JJ arguing from the den.

Matt walked in from the front door, followed by his sons, meeting up with Kristy and the girls near the dining area. They were all packed, their van loaded, ready to leave after breakfast. He helped the twins get their plates as his boys got theirs. They settled outside at a table with Kristy and baby Rose. He returned to get a plate for her and one for himself with a cup of coffee, balancing it all as he went back outside.

By that time, the Callahan family came into the kitchen, got their breakfast and coffee, and headed for the tables on the deck. Luke took Roxy outside, set her bowl next to the table where he sat with his plate.

Spencer set plates on the table, handing Susan a fork as he bent over and kissed her. "I can tell you're hungry." He sat down.

"Oh, really? How?"

"You're awake," He teased. When she gasped, he leaned over and kissed her again. "I'm glad we did this. I'm having a good time."

"Thank you, Love. I am too. Who's arguing?"

Emily frowned. "Sounds like Will and JJ."

By now, they were both yelling on the front staircase. Will's voice was booming over JJ's, his New Orleans drawl even more pronounced, and it was becoming increasingly awkward around the dining area. Andy went outside with Lizette, Tiana, and Marsha and started setting up more chairs as the group inside went out, finishing their breakfast around the covered tables and the fire ring. Those who finished eating stacked their plates on the table next to the grill, not wanting to go back into the house yet.

Henry and Michael watched the house with worried eyes. Will and JJ were in the living room, near the dining area. Their voices suddenly went quiet. Will came out, apologizing to Susan for the disruption, telling Michael and Henry to help get their gear in the car; it was time to go. After they left, some in the group went back inside, some remained outside, still eating. A few people took empty dishes into the kitchen, loading the dishwasher, while Marsha put leftovers away.

Matt and his family said their goodbyes, insisting they had a good time, not letting the temporary unhappiness ruin their drive home. "Tomorrow, traffic is going to be busy. Best to head out while it's early." He pointed to members of the team. "BAU crew," he barked, "I'll see you on Tuesday. Everyone, thanks for a great weekend." They waved and headed out the door.

Susan noticed a figure sitting alone in a dim corner of the living room. She went over and sat down on the ottoman across from the chair. "Do you want to talk about it?"

JJ sat quietly. Even in the low light, Susan could see her blue eyes were red and tears had streaked down her face. She cleared her throat, as if she wanted to talk, but was unable to.

"I'll get Spencer... if you'd rather talk to him?" Susan started to get up, and JJ grabbed her wrist.

"Don't leave… please. I screwed up. Will left… without me. I messed up my marriage and my friendship with Spence."

"JJ, does this have anything to do with you asking for his forgiveness the day after our wedding?"

"Yes," she said, in barely a whisper. "He can hardly even look at me. I told Will… when he asked what was going on."

Emily came over and sat down beside her, also concerned. "What if I talk to Will? I know you wouldn't have left him, or the boys. I know you only said you loved Spencer to—"

JJ cut her off with a gasp, her voice still barely audible. "I meant it. If Spencer had been back then, the person he is now, Will might not have had a chance with me. That's what makes this so awful. Will and our boys... they're everything to me. The air I breathe… they're my life." More tears tumbled down her cheeks.

"Did you tell Will that?" Susan was getting the picture, from bits and pieces of the conversation.

She spoke haltingly. "Susan… you must hate me… but please, please believe me, I would never take Spencer from you. He's the man he is now, partly because he loves you. I said things to him I regret… questioning his love for you… I was scared I'd lose my best friend."

"I don't hate you, JJ. Spencer's pride was injured. The last thing he wants is to be hurt by someone he loves and trusts."

She smiled slightly and chuckled. "I see why he loves you so much."

"Thank you, JJ. That means a lot. Finding Spencer… the one person who makes me shake, the only one who has ever made me… feel. I can't imagine how devastated I'd be if he left."

She looked up, eyes wide. "No one ever made you feel anything?"

Susan shook her head. "Only him. I'll be right back."

After using the bathroom, she caught up with Spencer out on the beach as he was talking with Aaron and Luke.

"Love, I need to talk to you."

He smiled, took her hand, told the others he'd be back. On the way back to the house, she saw Lizette, Marsha, Tara, Savannah, and Penelope in the hot tub, so she took him around to the other side of the house, behind the staircase.

Sliding his hands around her waist, he asked, "Here? Not up in the bedroom?" He kissed her lips and her neck, pulling her as close as he could. "We're pretty exposed here."

Susan shook her head. "No, Love. I meant talk. We can have that talk later. Sweetheart, this is important. JJ is in the living room, heartbroken and crying. Will left with the boys. She said she told him—"

"She told him? She told you?" His brows rose, then flattened in a scowl. His expression softened as he looked into her eyes with his arms still around her. "Susan, I'm yours completely. Now and forever. Never doubt that. Jennifer and I are friends… that's all."

Susan smiled, her hands resting against his shirt, and kissed him. "Never a doubt in my mind, Love. And I'm yours, forever and always. But JJ thinks she's permanently ruined her friendship with you, as well as her marriage to Will. Can you forgive her, Love? For me?"

He kissed her softly. "For you, anything. There was a time I thought I loved her and I didn't tell you about that because it wasn't love and it long before us. None of that matters anymore. Let me talk to Will and then I'll talk to Jennifer."

They went in and he crossed the kitchen, picking up the phone. He spoke quietly, listened for a moment, then hung up. "Will and the boys are at the IHOP in town; he's going to wait for me. I'll take care of this. I love you." Smiling, he held her face and kissed her again, and went to the living room. Emily sat down at the table with Susan as Spencer talked with JJ in the dim corner.

Less than a minute later, they heard JJ gasp. Susan and Emily turned their heads, to see JJ's arms clasped around Spencer's neck and him hugging her.

Emily smiled at Susan. "And you're okay with them being friends?"

"Absolutely. I have no doubts about Spencer or his love."

He walked over and kissed Susan. "I love you. I'm gonna go meet up with Will. Back in a while." Emily looked up at him, smiling broadly. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Love you too." He hugged JJ again on his way to the front door.

She walked over to them at the table. "Thank you, Susan. I don't know what you told him, but he apologized to me, for being such a jerk, as he put it. He asked for my forgiveness. I don't know if our friendship will ever be like it was before, but that's my fault. I only hope Will can forgive me and give me a chance to make things right." She hugged Susan, then Emily, while wiping her eyes. "I should have told Will when it happened," JJ told Emily and Susan about her Truth or Dare confession, how it hurt Spencer by telling him and hurt Will and their marriage by not telling him. "That's all on me."

Nearly an hour later, Spencer parked by the side of the house, with Will parking next to him, in his car. As he stepped out of the Lincoln, he noticed a shiny, silver Peugeot in the circular driveway in front of the house. A tall man, with dark, wavy hair, stood beside the car, looking down at his cellphone. As Spencer headed towards the door to find out who he was, the man looked up, said he was looking for Tara Lewis.

He spoke with a French accent, "This street name is different than the address she gave me, but I swear I've been here before; years ago."

Spencer remembered earlier Tara saying her boyfriend was on his way. "We asked everyone to park on Osprey Court, the side street over there. She's in the hot tub, out back. I'm Spencer, that's Will, Henry, and Michael." The man said his name was René and followed them.

Walking through the house, Spencer could see the group on the deck outside. The boys ran past him, going out the doors to hug their mother as she turned around, with Will right behind them. He put his arms around JJ and kissed her. Spencer stood there, smiling at the reunion. They had their arms around each other, and the boys, as both Will and JJ, were apologizing to each other in between kisses.

He saw Susan rushing toward him with a huge smile on her face... and passed him.

"René!" she squealed and hugged the man as he engulfed her in his arms, lifting her off the ground. Spencer caught part of what they were saying in French. He heard the words cousine, but they were talking so fast. And he definitely heard the words famille, tante, and oncle.

Tara climbed out of the hot tub and came over, wrapping a towel around her, with Emily and Penelope hot on her heels. She explained, "René told me he had a cousin here in the DC area, but she never seemed to be at her apartment; he told me her name was Maria."

"Tara, my first name is Maria." Susan took Spencer by the hand and turned back to René. "This is my husband, Dr. Spencer Reid. Spencer, this is my cousin, René Brou-, excuse me, Dr. René Broussard."

Spencer shook René's hand, telling Susan, "We met… out front."

René noticed Susan's belly when she put her arms down and laced her fingers together. "Quoi! You're married and pregnant? I thought maybe you've been eating too many pastries?" He laughed, patting her on the head like one would a small child.

She narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips, then chuckled. "I sent Aunt Alison emails, telling her about Spencer, about the wedding, and the baby. She didn't say anything to you? I've tried calling and calling, but no one ever answered."

"Mom was diagnosed with a meningioma and Pop overreacted; turned off all the electronics. No computer and no cell phones. I went by your apartment, but you moved out and there was a moving van in front of your parents' house. Besides that, I don't have Phil's current number. Mom's fine now… she had surgery. Pop calls me once a week."

"Je suis désolé. Oncle Remy sans ordinateur? Je suis choqué. I moved back home to Betty B. But I will make sure to give you all my contact info and Phil's. Tara said you're at GW Med? Spencer and I are going to need a pediatrician, in December."

"Congratulations!" René flashed a smile as he slid his arm around Tara. She took him around, introducing him to the rest of the group.

Will and JJ went back upstairs for well over an hour, finally coming down for lunch, looking freshly showered and smiling, holding hands. Spencer had been watching the boys as they played on the beach, happy that JJ and Will had made up.

Tara, Penelope, and Lizette were all busy in the kitchen, preparing lunch, with René and Emily sitting by the counter, helping as needed. Spencer led Susan to the dark corner of the living room, whispering in her ear.

"Now, I think it's time for us to have our talk. Meet me upstairs?" He kissed her longingly, holding her snugly.

She shuddered. "Oh, absolutely. I'll be up in a minute." Susan went through the living room while he headed out to the back. As he walked in the door from the deck into the bedroom, she was closing the door from the hallway and locking it. "Why are we sneaking up to our room, anyway? We are married, after all."

He kissed her, felt her shake as she practically melted in his arms. "The sneaking off makes it feel forbidden." He grinned. "Would you rather we announce it? They can probably hear you, anyway. Why? Would you rather go back outside?"

"Oh, no. I wasn't complaining. Just wondering…"

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