Chapter Eight
"JJ wake up." Spencer whispered softly as he brushed her hair from her face and kissed her cheek. They had only gotten in bed a couple of hours ago returning from a case in Oklahoma. The boys had been with Will and she had come home with him both of them crashing into bed and falling asleep immediately. JJ simply grumbled something unintelligible and pushed him away.
"Love, we've got to get up, Michael's birthday party is today and according to you there are still a million things to do. Although by my account and according to your actual list there are only fifteen." He rambled.
"Spence," She said rolling over her eyes still closed.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Be quiet and make coffee." She muttered pulling the blanket back over her head.
Spence smiled and rolled out of bed and padded to the kitchen and began making coffee while searching for something that would pass for breakfast. He found a couple of bagels and was about to put one in the toaster when he heard JJ come into the kitchen.
"Fourteen" She said smugly wrapping her arms around his waist. "There are only fourteen items on my list Dr. Reid"
Spencer turned around wrapping her in his arms and pulling her close, "I added one in my head." He explained as he captured her lips quickly kissing her deeply.
"Spence…" She moaned when eventually they stopped for a breath, "I have to have everything ready by one."
Spencer smiled at her kissing her again, "I've broken the entire list down by how long each task will take and I can explain to you exactly how we have time to get it all done and have time for this or we could spend the extra three minutes on this." He told her.
JJ laughed before pulling his head back down for a kiss, "I hope you accounted for plenty of time." She whispered.
"Trust me, I did." He assured her as he lifted off the ground, instinctively she wrapped her legs around him as he carried her back to his bed.
At thirty minutes to one they were standing in JJ's backyard looking at the display. "It looks great JJ, Michael is going to love it." Spence told her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Well it wouldn't have happened without your well timed organization." She smiled before kissing him. "What's going on in your head?" She asked noticing a peculiar look cross his face.
He shrugged a little, "It's just we are spending the afternoon off work with all of our friends and the boys and we have to act like nothing has changed between us. It feels like we are lying to them."
"Spence, the boys don't even know what's going on with us." She reminded him.
"That's part of the problem JJ. I don't like feeling like we are sneaking around. It's been six months since Will moved out, your divorce is finalized. I want to be able to put hold your hand in public without worrying who might see us. To not steal kisses and worry that the boys might see. I want it not to matter if people see how much I love you when I look at you." He told her the frustration evident on his face.
They were interrupted by the sound of the boys and Will coming through the house.
"JJ?" They heard Will call first.
"Mommy! Spence!" Michael exclaimed running, "its party day!"
JJ picked up her younger son hugging him and Henry made a bee line for Spence. Who quickly wrapped him in his arms. "Are you ready to assist with the magic show?" He asked the older boy.
"Yes, I've been practicing!" He assured him.
"Hi Will." Spence offered his hand to the other man who hesitated just for a minute before accepting it.
"Hi Spencer, it looks great back here, Jennifer is there anything I can do to help?" Will asked.
"We can start bringing the food out." JJ answered glancing at Spence who was lost in conversation with Henry about the magic show. He felt her eyes on her and looked she could read the look in his eyes that said, "Just think about it."
It wasn't long before guest began to arrive, all of Michael's friends from preschool and their parents, and of course the entire BAU team. The party was loud and fun, between the magic show and hosting guest JJ and Spence had kept their distance during the party. JJ had come into the kitchen to refill one of the party trays when she heard Michael begin to cry from outside. She looked through the window to see the newly turned four year old overwhelmed with party excitement sitting down crying. She was about to go to him when she watched Spence crouch down next to him and hold out his arms. The boy went to them burying his head in Spence's neck. Spence picked him up and carried him to one of the chairs in a quiet corner of the backyard talking softly to him.
"He's a natural with them." Emily's voice came from behind her. JJ didn't turn around but continued watching Spence cuddle Michael who was now giggling about something.
"Yeah, it's one of the things that still surprises me about him." She muttered.
"He and Henry did a great job with the magic show." Emily continued.
JJ felt a smile cross her face, "They've been practicing for weeks."
"So what did you and Spence fight about before the party?" Emily asked nonchalantly.
JJ spun around, "What? Why would you say that?"
Emily laughed, "Because you've been have avoiding each other all afternoon. At first I thought it was just you two trying not to keep things hush hush still, but I think there's definitely something else. Let me guess, he wants to go public and you aren't sure yet."
JJ stood staring at Emily her mouth hanging open, "Emily…what…I mean how did you know…"
Emily laughed, "JJ, I've been there through it all with the two of you, there is no one in this world that knows the dynamics of JJ and Spence better than I do."
"How long have you know?" JJ asked glancing back at the backyard where Michael was now happily playing and Spence was talking with Rossi and Garcia.
"That you were in love with him? Probably longer than you did. That eventually the two of you would be together? When you got him out of prison. That you were together? Since the case in Austin." Emily answered. "So what's holding you back from letting it be known?"
"I guess I worry people will think it's too soon." JJ answered, "They'll think I was cheating on Will and I don't want that for Spence or for me."
"Screw what other people think. The people that matter to you know you and Spence and are going to be thrilled for you. You've spent the better part of fifteen years pretending not to love each other, why are you making yourself spend any more time that way?" Emily said gently before hugging her.
"JJ, Michael is asking about his cake." Spence said quietly from the doorway.
The two women stepped apart as JJ wiped a tear from her eye. Emily headed to the backdoor stopping and pulling Spencer into a quick hug. "I'm on your side." She whispered before returning to the backyard.
"Spence will you go tell everyone I'm coming with the cake?" JJ asked.
"Sure." He answered somewhat confused about what had happened.
The party was winding down and only the BAU team remained in the backyard laughing and carrying on like they had so many times over the years. JJ watched Spence laughing and joking with Garcia and Alvez about something. She took a deep breath and walked over to them slipping her hand into Spence's. He looked down at her and smiled.
"You were right, and I'm sorry." She said.
"I love you." He answered her not carrying that Penelope and Luke were standing right there as he wrapped his arm around her and placed a kiss on top of her head and she rested it against his chest. The couple then turned their attention back to Penelope who was standing there with her mouth wide open uncharacteristically speechless.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Penelope finally squealed out.
"I'm in love with him." JJ answered looking back up into Spence's eyes amazed at how good it felt to say it out loud.
"Well yes I know that I just thought it was something we were never going to talk about. When did we decide it was ok to talk about?" Penelope asked.
"Right now." Spencer answered dropping a kiss on JJ's lips which caused more squealing and finally drew the rest of the team over to them.
"Dr. Reid is there something that you would like to share with the rest of the class?" Rossi asked with a smile as they gathered around.
Spencer smiled as he pulled JJ closer still, "I'm in love with her." Spencer said too much cheering from the team. "I think this calls for dinner and wine!" Rossi announced and called over to Henry and Michael, "Boys let's see what we can cook for dinner."
JJ wasn't sure how Rossi whipped up the meal he did, but after Tara and Luke made a quick run to the grocery store for more wine and a few ingredients they were all seated on make shift tables in JJ's yard, the boys on either side of JJ and Spencer.
Rossi stood and raised his glass, "To love and the complicated, rocky path that it takes us down. To never letting go of it once you find it and to knowing that you have a family of people surrounding you that have your back every step of the way."
"To love" Everyone echoed holding up their glasses in celebration JJ and Spencer kissed causing giggles from the boys and groans from some members of the team.
"All right, we get it you two but come on already." Luke teased causing Lisa to slap him playfully. Eventually the dinner party broke up and they saw their guest out. Michael was fast asleep on a chair in the backyard and Henry didn't look like he was far behind him.
"I've got Michael." Spence said picking the smaller boy up and preparing to carry him to his bed.
"Spence?" Henry asked.
"Yes Henry?" He answered.
"Can you come read with me after you put Michael in his bed?" He asked softly.
Spencer smiled at him, "Of course, go get ready for bed and I'll meet you in your room."
A few minutes later they were sitting together in Henry's bed about to start reading when Henry asked him a question, "Do you love mom the way my dad use to?"
Spencer hesitated for a minute wondering if JJ should be there for this conversation but didn't want to make Henry feel bad for asking. "I guess you could say that Henry, I mean every love is different and what your mom and I share is different than what she and your dad share."
"But you love her in that romantic kissy kind of way right?" Henry pressed.
Spencer swallowed now worried where the conversation might be going. "Yes, that is part of it." He answered truthfully.
"But what if you stop loving her that way? Will you go away? I don't want you to go away Spence." Henry said with a nervous look in his eyes.
Spencer hugged the boy tightly, "Henry, I love you and I have since the moment I held you in the hospital and I will always be here for you. I love your mom very much and your brother and nothing is going to change that either."
Henry seemed satisfied with his answer and held the book out for Spencer to begin reading, They had only gotten about halfway through the chapter when he realized the boy was asleep. He quietly crept from his room and joined JJ on the couch downstairs. She snuggled up next to him relaxing after their day.
"I should probably go and let you get some sleep." Spence said after a few minutes.
JJ pulled back and looked at him, "We should both go upstairs and get some sleep." She corrected standing up and offering him her hand.
"JJ…" Spencer hesitated.
"Spencer, listen to me, I had to get over my concerns with telling the team you're going to have to get use to staying the night here. I mean unless you want me and the boys moving into your apartment." She laughed.
"What are you saying JJ?" He asked.
"I'm saying I don't want you to go home and I don't want to spend more nights apart when we don't have to. Spence I want you to move in with me and the boys." She explained.
"What about Will?" Spencer asked. "Is he going to be bothered if I'm living with the boys?"
JJ shock her head, "I called while you were putting the boys to bed, he said he realized watching you all together today how much you love them and he's fine with whatever we decide. I told him that the three of us could tell them at breakfast tomorrow."
Spencer blinked a few times staring at her in surprise, "You want me to come to breakfast in the morning? That's your and Will's time to be with the boys."
"The point of Sunday breakfast is to show the boys we are still parenting together and that we are a team. Spence I want you as part of that team." She said suddenly growing nervous he might say no.
Instead he kissed her slowly and softly thinking about how much had changed in just a few hours.
"You realize that I haven't lived with any one since I was 18 years old right? I might be really bad at it and you might want to kick me out." He told her.
JJ laughed, "Well you're going to be moving into a house with two boys and all of their mess so you might want to move out in two days."
Spencer shuddered a little, "I'm getting better with the mess, I think." He laughed.
JJ kissed him, "Come on let's go to bed, you're going to learn how early they get up in the morning."
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In between cases over the next few weeks they began the process of moving Spence into JJ's house. They donated most of his furniture but the issue they were running into was what to do with all of his books. JJ knew that storage wasn't the answer and they needed to be somewhere safe from the boys. JJ came up with a plan and waited for a weekend that the boys were with Will and Spence was out of town leading a seminar. At seven on Saturday morning Dereck Morgan was standing in JJ's dining room with almost every tool that he owned.
"You know you are never going to be able to build enough bookshelves for all of the kid's books right?" He asked her.
"I know, I just want him to have a place that he can feel like is his. He's moved into this house that is crazy half the time with two kids making messes and being loud. I want him to be able to have a place that he can go and read and study in somewhat quiet."
"Somewhat, with Hank there's never quiet I can't imagine with two how it must be." Derrick laughed.
"It's nonstop and Spence has been an absolute trooper but I want him to have this." She explained.
"You're a good woman Jennifer Jareau. He needs you, he always has. I'm just glad you guys have managed to work it all out." He told her.
JJ smiled thinking back to the first night that they had dinner with Derrick and Savannah. She had been so nervous, if there was anyone on the planet more protective of Spence than she was it was Derrick. He loved him like a very protective older brother. There were times she felt as he had disapproved of their closeness over the years, especially after she and Will got married. He had never said anything but she had felt it.
It was two weeks after their date to the Cherry Blossom Festival so things were still very new and unsure with the two of them when he asked her. 'Derrick and Savannah asked me to come to dinner tomorrow night." He mentioned casually, "I told Derrick that I was dating someone and he said I should bring her."
"You didn't mention that I was the someone?" She asked
"No, not yet, but I will tomorrow night but I'd really like it if you were there when I did." He told her honestly. "You, my mom, and Derrick have been the three most important people in my life. I want to be able to share this with him."
JJ smiled and kissed him, "Of course I will go."
Looking back on that night they both felt like a couple of teenagers meeting the parents for the first time. Spence held her hand as they walked to the door ringing the bell with his free hand then placing it over their joined ones. They heard Derrick's voice coming through hall.
"Come on Hank, your Uncle Spencer is here and I think he brought someone." He said before opening the door. "Little brother…"he was saying as the door was opening stopping a shocked look on his face at the sight of JJ on his front porch.
"Hi Derrick" She offered weakly.
"JJ" Derrick uttered still in disbelief but he quickly hugged them both warmly showing them into the house.
After dinner Spencer and Savannah were discussing a medical research study that she was helping with when Derrick said, "Let's let them have their genius time, we can go outside."
Standing outside Derrick with a beer and JJ with a glass of wine JJ took a deep breath and spoke first. "Go ahead and ask your questions." She offered.
"Do you love him or are you getting over Will? Because that man has been in love with you for fifteen years and you cannot go breaking his heart." Derrick warned her.
"Derrick I have spent the last fifteen years trying not to love Spence. First because neither of us were ready then I met Will, then I got pregnant with Henry and I thought I had to try with Will. It seemed for years everything was pulling us apart, pushing us back together, and then pulling us apart again."
"So what changed? Why now?" Derrick asked.
JJ took a long drink of her wine and told him everything. She told him about what it was like to visit Spence in prison, to believe she would never get him back, then how she almost lost him a year later to that cult, and then when she had finally told him that she loved him while they were being held hostage.
"It was like once that happened the floodgates opened and there was no going back." JJ told him. "Derrick, I have no intention of letting Spence and I be pulled apart again."
Derrick smiled and hugged her, "That's all I need to know JJ. I love you and The Kid both and I want you two to have all the same happiness that Savannah and I have, God knows you both deserve it."
Derrick worked nonstop all day Saturday and was back over first thing Sunday morning completing the job. The dining room table was gone, custom made bookshelves had been installed covering the walls, French doors were installed so that when he wanted to Spence could close off the noise of the rest of the house. The centerpiece of the newly designed office was Diana Reid's old desk that Spencer had kept all of these years.
JJ and the boys were just finishing dinner in the kitchen when they heard Spence's keys in the door. They ran quickly to the office to surprise him.
"Hey Guys." He called as he closed the door. "Where is everyone?"
"We're in your office!" Henry called out.
"My what?" Spence asked with a laugh walking in the direction of Henry's voice stopping when he reached where the dining room had been when he left on Friday.
"Surprise!" The three of them yelled, Michael running to him for a hug. Spence picked the boy up looking around in disbelief.
"JJ, what is this? How did you get it done?" he asked.
"It's your office and I had a little help from a friend." She answered. "Do you like it?"
Spence ran his hand over his mother's desk and set Michael down so that he could take her into his arms. "This is without a doubt the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for me." He told her before kissing her.
"Welcome home Spence." She told him.
TBC