Did anybody watch a show called How I Met Your Mother? Spoilers for the show: The titular mother only revealed during the last season of the show, is killed off ten minutes before the end of the show. Not my favorite ending for a show. This is my roundabout way of saying these next few chapters are going to be sad in order to honor the character.

Chapter Fourteen:

Reid woke up early in the morning and looked at the other side of the bed. He briefly hoped it had all been just a bad dream. But she wasn't there sleeping away peacefully.

He got up and changed. He checked his watch. It was still early but he wanted to make the call before Jenna woke up. Reid dialed her number.

"Hello," Ally Caudel answered after the first ring.

Ally worked as an international investment broker and kept odd hours. It would make giving the news easier.

"Hi Ally its Spencer."

"What's up?"

"Ally, I don't know how else to say this but bluntly: Jane is dead."

"What?" she sputtered. "No! It can't be! How'd this happen?"

"She simply fell down why walking through the grocery store with Jenna. I should know the cause of death soon."

"Oh God, Jenna! How is she?"

"She's doing as best she can for a child her age I guess."

"Okay I'm getting on a plane as soon as I can. Dan can watch the kids."

"Ally no. Wait please," Reid said. "I just wanted you to know first."

"But I want to be with you guys. She's my sister!"

"Ally, I need a day to process all of this. I barely know where to begin."

"Then let me come to help."

"Please Ally, things are going to get crazy very quickly. Jenna deserves the quiet time too before everyone comes for the w-wake and funeral," Reid said suddenly getting emotional.

There was a pause on the line.

"Oh Spencer, I'm sorry. Look okay I'll make plane reservations for tomorrow and start informing the rest of the family." She took a deep breath. "We're going to get through this together. We're family right?"

"Right," Reid said.

They said good-bye and Reid hung up. He took a deep breath and calmed himself down. There would be time to cry later.

It was still early so Reid went into the kitchen, turned on his computer, and began to prepare for the funeral. There was an enormous variety to everything. Taking notes, he kept searching for keywords and phrases until Jenna appeared in her purple pajamas. Reid looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, Jenny Jen," he said brightly.

"Dad yesterday wasn't a nightmare was it? It wasn't a nightmare because you're home when you should be saving people."

"Jenna Aunt J.J. can handle saving people for a while without me. Yes mommy still is gone."

"I miss her," she said tearing up. "Who's going to make chocolate chip pancakes because yours are always burnt or slimy?"

"I'm miss her too," Reid said and gave her a hug. "I promise I'll learn to make proper pancakes someday. Now how about some Eggo Waffles?"

"Okay," she said.

Reid had his hand in the freezer when there was a knock on his door. He opened it to find Rossi with a giant basket of muffins in one hand.

"Here comes the muffin man," he said with a hint of cheer.

"Uncle Rossi!" Jenna cheered.

"Hey kiddo," he said cheerfully. "I hear your dad can be useless around the kitchen at times so I brought you a breakfast treat. Triple chocolate chip and glazed blueberry!"

"Yum," she said then turned her head down. "Are you here because Mommy died?"

"That's only part of the reason," Rossi admitted. "The big reason is to see how big you're getting! Wow, you're a giant."

"Daddy says I am going to be slightly above average in terms of height."

"Well, your daddy doesn't know everything. I think you're going to be taller than him!"

Jenna giggled.

Reid led them to the kitchen where he offered Rossi some coffee. Rossi began to unwrap the muffins with the green ribbons. "The heart-healthy ones," he groaned. "Only Iris Bakery makes good low sugar muffins."

Rossi talked animatedly with Jenna the whole time. He talked about his recent fishing trip and the different animals he saw. Rossi also told her about the trip he took with his grandson to Disneyland which made Jenna's eyes light up.

Rossi was telling Jenna about Space Mountain when Reid's phone rang. He recognized the number and took the call into his office.

"Hello," Reid said sadly.

"Hello Mr. Reid this is Officer Malone, we have the autopsy report on Jane. It was a stroke."

Reid sighed.

"It was one of my seven guesses."

The officer read off the name of the stroke she had. It was one of the rarest kinds that involved no symptoms. Reid was only half-listening. The medical information was important but not nearly as important as his next question.

"When can I see her?" he asked after Malone finished his summary.

"Any time today." He then went into details about transferring the body. Reid thanked the officer and hung up.

Reid opened the door to find Rossi waiting outside while Jenna was watching cartoons in the living room.

"What caused it?" he asked.

"A stroke," Reid said simply.

"I'm so sorry Spencer," Rossi said and gave him hug. "You'll get through this. I promise."

Reid nodded and let go. He couldn't get emotional yet.

"Would you like me to watch Jenna while you do what you need to do?"

"If it doesn't put you off or—"

"Kid I'm retired, I have all the time in the world and Jenna is a dream to look after."

"Thanks."

Reid made some more phone calls and chose a funeral home. During that time Morgan and J.J. called but he said he was busy.

He told Jenna he needed to run errands and Rossi would be watching her. She just nodded and returned to what she was reading. Reid no idea what was going on her head.

…

The coroner opened the drawer and there was his sweet beautiful Jane. He wanted to cry but he wouldn't let himself do so. He kissed her gently on the cheek and whispered into her ear. It already hurt so badly and this was only the beginning.