"Is there someone at the door?" Erin asked as she looked up from her oatmeal. David had been very kind to make that for her when she had mentioned that she was craving it that morning.

"There might be, do you want me to go check?" Penelope replied, looking at her over her cup of tea.

"No, I've got it." She pushed her chair away from the table and went over to the front door. Taking a quick peek outside, she saw that Spencer was standing there, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. "He brought flowers," she murmured, her heart fluttering in her chest. The anger of a few days ago was dimmer now, replaced by the fear and anxiety of facing her pregnancy alone. And so, it was easy for her to open the door to him, to look at him with kindness. "Good morning, Spencer."

"Erin. May I come in?"

She nodded and stepped aside. "We were just finishing up breakfast. My children are coming over later today, and I'm going to tell them about…well, about the baby."

He dipped his head, looking at her stomach, and then at the flowers in his hand. "I got you your hollyhocks. I hope you like them." Thrusting the bouquet out at her, he flushed a bright red, and she blinked back tears as she cradled them in her arms.

"Thank you. But I should let you know that these aren't my favorite flowers, Penelope just said that to be difficult. I love tulips, with all their beautiful colors and shapes." She smiled up into his face and sighed lightly when he smiled back. "Would you like to come in and talk for a little bit?"

"I'd like that, Erin." She nodded and reached out her hand, mentally kicking herself for the trusting gesture, certain that he would reject her once more. And then he clasped her hand, and her eyes fluttered closed as she fought not to cry.

"Hey, what are you doing here, Reid?" They both looked at Penelope, and Erin saw that she was frowning. "Did you get her the right flowers?"

"He did. Here, look, bunches and bunches of hollyhocks." She held them out to her friend and bit the corner of her lips as she smiled. "Would you mind putting them in some water and then having Dave run them up to my room? We're going to go talk."

"Are you sure that's wise, Erin?"

She nodded. "Yes. I'll be fine, and if things get out of hand, I know that you and Dave are here to diffuse things. I really want to talk, Penny."

"All right then, I'll leave you to it." Penelope stepped forward and took the bouquet before hugging her tightly. "I only want to protect you because I love you."

"I know, I love you, too. But I'm strong enough to do this." She pulled away and smiled at Penelope. "And a baby should know their father."

Spencer tensed a little beside her, and she wondered if she had said too much, if he wasn't ready to hear that. "There is that. Lunch is at noon, I think I heard Davie say that he's going to make us grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches."

"With tomato soup, I hope," she responded, watching Penelope nod. "You're more than welcome to stay as well, Spencer. There will be more than enough."

"We'll have to see," he said, squeezing her hand tightly. She nodded and began to lead him over to the study.

"Is there anything I could get you? I know Dave has some nice Scotch, though I'll be sticking to water."

"Water would be fine for me as well." She moved over to the cabinet where the drinks were kept and pulled out two bottles of Fiji water, handing one to Spencer before taking a seat next to him on the leather sofa. "So, you're pregnant."

"Yes."

"And it's mine."

A sharp stab of hurt struck her heart and she winced a little before replying. "Yes. You were the first man I'd been with in three months. There's no one else it could be." She covered her stomach protectively, and stared at the coffee table, trying to will away the bitter tears that stung her eyes.

"I'm sorry, all I seem to do is hurt you." She turned her head and looked at him, shrugging a little. "No, it's not all right. May I hold onto you?"

Erin was torn. A part of her wanted to agree, while a larger part of her screamed not to let him hurt her once more. "I don't want to get hurt any more this weekend by you. I need to save the last of my reserves for my children, since I don't know how they'll react." The tears she'd been fighting back began to roll down her cheeks and she looked away from him, not wanting him to see how weak she was.

"You were pregnant with Tabitha when I started at the BAU. I remember everyone treating you with kid gloves before you took off for maternity leave. I asked Hotch why you left so early, and he told me that some women have difficulties in their pregnancies. He told me how he and Haley had lost two babies already, and that, even though he didn't particularly like you, he was worried that you would feel that pain, too."

Erin gasped and met his eyes. "He said that?"

Spencer nodded and held up his arm. Surrendering, she scooted close to him, resting her head on his chest and listening to his heart. "I remember everything, thanks to my gift. I wonder if…if the baby will inherit that from me?"

"I don't know. I'm moving in here, until the baby comes. David wants to look after me, make sure that the baby stays in my womb for as long as possible. I could still lose it."

Those words hung in the air, sharp and full of hurt. It was her worst nightmare given life, and she wished she could have kept those words locked up tight in the vault of her mind. His arm tightened around her shoulders, and once more, she wondered what was going through his mind. "Erin, I'm sorry. You'll read the note I wrote, I just needed to say those words out loud. And if you lose the baby, I, I want to help you through that."

She nodded hesitantly, closing her eyes and breathing in his scent. "But I want this baby to be fine. I'd like to be in a relationship with someone who wants and loves this baby, who will support me through this process. I don't know if that's you, you haven't proven yourself to me. I need more than just pretty words."

"I realize that, Erin. Will, will you let me try?"

Erin pulled away from Spencer to look into his eyes, trying to figure out if he was being honest with her. "It's a commitment, Spencer. They'll bind us together for the rest of our lives, even if we don't become a couple."

"I know."

"All right, I will let you try. The first appointment with the OB is next Thursday. I'd like you to come along."

He nodded against the top of her head and then pulled her closer to him. "Even if I have to leave the case early, I will be there for you. I promise." And then, he dropped a soft kiss to the top of her head and she sighed, snuggling her face into the fabric of his shirt. It was a start, and more than her battered heart had hoped for.