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Grimm Fairy Tales

Spencer found JJ studying his collection of books which filled the built-in bookcase. She ran a finger over the spine of one and then plucked it from the shelf.

"Did you find something you like?"

JJ whirled around, and the book slipped out of her hand. It crashed to the floor and narrowly missed her right foot. "Jesus, Spence. Stop sneaking around."

Spencer set down the coffee mugs he'd brought and picked up the book she'd retrieved and said, calmly, "I wasn't sneaking, JJ. I was walking."

"Well, I didn't hear you. Sorry about the book, by the way," JJ said as she watched Spencer open the front cover.

"It's okay. No damage."

JJ took the book from him and then pursed her lips when she saw that Spencer watched her intently. "What?"

"I have a myriad of books," Spencer gestured to the bookcases as he spoke. "Why pick my copy of Grimm Fairy Tales. I didn't think you were into horror."

JJ rolled her eyes. "They're fairy tales. I grew up with them."

Spencer shook his head and went to the sofa. He picked up his coffee mug and took a sip as JJ joined him. "You likely read the sanitized versions. The original versions are very dark. Doves pick out the eyes of Cinderella's step-sisters. The king molests Sleeping Beauty while she's asleep. When the Evil Queen in Snow White sent the huntsman after her step-daughter, so told him to bring back her heart and lungs to consume."

JJ choked on her coffee. "Who'd read such things to their kids."

Spencer shrugged. "Actually, some say that the sanitized versions we read our children do them a disservice."

"Why would I want to give my kids nightmares?"

"Because they learn to cope with the real terrors in the world through a surrogate with a happy ending. I see more harm in all of the stories having a happy ending because you and I know that life doesn't follow such a formula."

"Okay, I see your point, but still, cannabilism? Isn't there a less disgusting means to teach kids about the dangers of life?"

Spencer shrugged again. "I don't know. I've never thought about child care as a real possibility for me."

"Spence. One day you're going to make a great dad."

Spencer shifted in his seat. "I don't want to talk about it."

JJ nodded and said. "That's fair, especially after our last case."

Spencer put aside his coffee cup and sighed. "I can't imagine having a child and having to realize that they killed someone. It would be unimaginable if they were an adult, but as a child – I don't know. I'm not sure I could cope. Also, I have to think about my genetic history."

"I don't think I'll have kids. I love my position with the team, and if I had to worry about kids, I think it'd scatter too much of my focus."

"For what it's worth, I think you'd be a great mom."

"I don't think so."

Spencer stayed quiet. The look in JJ's eyes was one that he recognized when she didn't want to proceed with a topic. At the very least, they were on the same page about children.

"You want to go to bed. It's getting late."

JJ nodded and sighed. "I feel like I could sleep for days."

"I concur."

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The yellow light over Spencer's desk threw a golden cone over his workspace. He'd finally finished his latest article for Psychology Today magazine. It had a bearing on their case in Ozono, and he felt that the publisher would be highly pleased by the result.

Spencer put aside the draft and then reached for his stationery. Half an hour later, he'd finished his daily letter to his mother. He addressed the envelope and placed it on top of a box he'd packed. The address label on the cardboard read Jennifer Jaraeu, with her address below. He smiled and clicked off the lamp.

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JJ dropped her purse on her bedside table and began to undress. She showered, redressed in a pair of old jeans, a thin sweater, and thick, white socks with her favorite slippers.

She couldn't resist the temptation of the box she'd received with Spencer's return address. She grabbed her box cutter and sliced through the tape, keeping the flaps shut. Inside she found two books and a letter.

"Oh my," she said as she saw they were the same. One book she recognized because it was the one she'd dropped at Spence's apartment. The second was the same collection of fairy tales but a modern edition. She frowned and was about to call Spencer when she saw a sheet of paper in the bottom of the box.

Beautiful,

I know what you think as you read this. Why would Spence send me two of the same story collection? Well, I thought you might like to choose.

One is the original version, and the other is the sanitized, modern version, as I'm sure you already deduced. You can keep one or both. One day you will be a great mom, no matter what you think, and I wanted you always to have a choice.

All my love.

Spence.

JJ laughed and looked at the books. Spencer did have a point, she concluded. Perhaps kids should know that life isn't roses and unicorns, but then she thought, isn't it necessary to let them maintain their innocence for as long as possible.

Her phone buzzed, and she smirked to see Spencer's number. "Hey there."

"Hi. I got your package. I'm going through it now."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I decided to keep both."

"Did you."

JJ rolled her eyes even though Spencer couldn't see her. She sat and picked up the original version of the Grimms Fairy Tales. "Spence, talk in something more than monosyllables. You're freaking me out."

Spencer laughed and said. "Sorry.'

"I get it," JJ said. "You're right. There needs to be a balance."

"For all of us."

"Yes, for all of us. In that vein, would you like to come over for dinner? We'll enjoy some good food, maybe watch a movie, and then maybe we can remind each other that we're adults, not children."

"And, how do you propose we accomplish that task?"

"There you are," JJ said. "My Spence is back."

"Answer the question, Jennifer."

"Oh, my full name. I suddenly have the impression that I'm in trouble for some reason."

Spencer laughed. "I'll be there in an hour. We can skip the dinner and the movie."

"Only if you promise not to reveal more gruesome fairy tale details."

"I swear on my chess set."

"Wow, you must be serious."

"I am. See you in an hour."

JJ put down her phone and decided that she'd slip into something guaranteed to make Spencer forget about Evil Queens and damsels in distress.