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A/n, this is a tag for "The Internet is Forever."
"I'm so glad you could make it," JJ greeted Spencer with a short hug when he entered the house.
"Me too. How are you?"
"Good. Come in."
Reid walked further into the tiny home JJ, and Will had recently rented. It had a small entryway and a living area to the left of the front door. The outside was painted white, and the inside was neat and cozy.
"Where's Henry and Will," Reid asked.
"They're taking a walk at the park down the street. That's one of the reasons we decided to rent this house. It's a beautiful place for kids to play, and Henry loves it. One day, I'll send you there with Henry."
"Ah, I'm not sure I'm ready to handle Henry independently," Reid squeaked.
"Sure you are. I have faith in you, Spence. Will and I made you his godfather after all."
"I know, I'm just – a little nervous."
"Don't worry. You'll do fine."
"I suppose. Can I see the remainder of the house?" Reid changed the subject.
"Sure."
CMCMCMCMCMCMCM
Half an hour later, JJ took Reid out to the backyard. It was a small space, but Reid could see that JJ had begun to plant flowers.
"Wow, you put in lilacs, daisies, and there's a roses bush. What kind did you decide?"
"That was here, and I decided to keep it," JJ said. "There are a few colors, including yellow, green, and orange. By good luck, our landlord used a variety of thornless roses, so we didn't have to worry about Henry. "
'Good," Reid said.
JJ went over to the rose bushes and surveyed them. "Wait here for me," she said to Reid and hurried back into the house.
Reid studied the backyard, and for an instant, he found himself imagining what it might be like to live here with JJ, that Henry was his child, and – he clamped down hard on this new fantasy. Over the last year, he'd successfully forced down his feelings for JJ, hoping they'd fade away for good one day. Now was not the time to fall back into old habits and bring up fresh pain.
JJ returned, and he forced a smile. She carried a pair of garden shears with her. Reid watched her go to the green blooms and cut a blossom from the bush. She brought it to him and held it out. "Here you go." She said with a smile.
"Thank you. Green roses symbolize abundance, good fortune, and the beginning of something new in a person's life."
"I know. I looked it up before you came over."
"Did you also know that green roses in literature date back to the 18th century in China? They were grown in the Forbidden City in the garden of the Imperial Palace. Even though the roses were beautiful, they were unavailable to the general public. The only person with access to them was the Emperor."
"I didn't know that," JJ said. "I like that story."
"Me too."
"Hey, I thought we'd find you out here." Said Will from behind them, and Reid jumped a little.
He wondered if he'd ever stop feeling awkward around Will. He was relieved to see Henry in his stroller.
"Hey, Henry," Reid greeted. "Hi, Will."
"Hello, Spencer. I see JJ is showing off her garden." Will gestured to the rose Reid held.
"Ah yeah. It's beautiful."
Henry began to chatter, so Will lifted him out of the stroller and set him on the grass. Henry toddled over to Reid and reached for the rose.
"You like this. It's a rose, Henry. It's a special kind that doesn't have thorns, so you don't get hurt."
Henry giggled, pulled off one of the petals, and reached for his dad. Will shook his head and picked him up. "He loves to be held."
"He's getting big," Reid observed.
"I know, too fast for me," JJ said and reached out to touch Henry's blond head.
Henry leaned toward his mother with his arms outstretched. JJ took him with a smile of pure joy that made Reid grin. JJ was happy, and that was good, right?
"Come inside," JJ said. "I have oatmeal cookies and lemonade."
"That sounds great after our walk," Will said, and they went inside.
Reid followed behind with his rose. He looked at the flower and then at the house. Maybe one day, he could have a home like this.
One day.