JJ sat up in the dark, and tried to remember what had awakened her so abruptly. It wasn't Spence, he lay still, and she could feel his chest rise, and fall in the inky black darkness. So what was it, what had caused her to come wide awake? She remained where she was, hoping that the vague feeling of disquiet she felt would go away.

There had been many of these moments in the last seven months. In the back of her mind, she knew the cause, but didn't want to admit it. She was scared, bone terrified of giving birth. The grief counselor she'd seen with Spence a year ago had warned her this would happen. Still, the intensity of the feelings had hit her like she was a character in a cartoon that had just been flattened by a safe falling on their head.

She refused to worry Spencer with her fears, he had enough on his mind, and he didn't need to hear about how scared she was. If she had bothered to ask him, he would have told her that he didn't mind it when she talked to him about the baby. He was afraid too, and he wanted to talk to her, but he also felt she didn't need the stress.

She sighed, and returned to trying to go to sleep on her back. She had always slept on her side, but now it was too uncomfortable for her, so she spent most nights trying to teach herself how to sleep in a different position. She stared into the darkness, and was ready to resign herself to another night of no sleep, when a sharp pain crossed her abdomen. She cried out, and instantly Spencer was awake. The light came on he squinted at her. "Babe… what is it… are you ok?"

His look of loving concern was more than she could take, and she began to cry. He pulled her into his arms, and sat bewildered at the ferocity of her sobs. "Shh… baby… it's going to be all right, I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, I swear." Lately she'd had vivid dreams of his death in one fashion, or another, and sleeping had become a chore to avoid.

Soon her sobs quieted, and she said, "Spencer, I'm scared." Her blue eyes begged him to tell her that all was okay.

"Honey, its okay I am not going to go away, or die."

"No… it's not that, I'm scared to have this baby. What if something happens?"

"Jen, nothing is going to happen to this baby, it is healthy and happy." He placed a hand on her swollen belly and kissed her.

"How do you know Spence, what about last year?" She began to cry again, and he held her tight berating himself for not talking to her sooner.

"Honey, you had a miscarriage because of the actions of someone else, the baby is nearly full term this time, and it will be okay.

"You're not scared," she asked, gazing up at him through tear filled eyes.

"Of course I am I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, I didn't want you to worry."

"Really… you're not just saying that to placate me?"

"No Jen, I am scared, but not because I think something will happen to the baby, but because I'm going to be a father, what if I screw it up."

"You are not going to mess it up, Spencer Reid!" The fire was back in her eyes which is what he'd hoped for.

"And neither are you, we are going to do this together, ok?"

"Okay Dr Reid, whatever you say. She marked off a salute to him, and he began to laugh. They sat in the light for a few minutes just content to be near to each other. Then it happened again, another pain. She bit her lip, and tried not to cry out, but she couldn't fool Spencer.

"Honey what is it?"

"I think it was a contraction." He sat further up in bed, in shock, and hit his head on the reading lamp. "Ouch," he yelped, and tears came to his eyes. Then he laughed, it looked like they were in for a long night.

"Is this the first you've felt them?"

"No… there was one before when I woke you up." She looked at her watch, it was four fifty three. "I don't know how far apart they are, I didn't look at my watch.

"Okay, well the doctor said not to call her till they are ten minutes apart, and she said that could take hours, so why don't you take a nice warm shower. I'm going to make some coffee."

She got out of bed, and went into the shower. He was right it was lovely, and she forgot all thoughts of greed where coffee was concerned. She hadn't had any since she found out she was pregnant, but that didn't stop Spencer from making if for himself.

As she stepped out of the shower, she felt something let go, and water pooled around her feet. Well that wasn't a good sign.

"Spence, get in here now." He ran into the bathroom a look of utter terror on his face. "Jesus, baby you scared the hell out of me, I thought you fell or something.

"No… listen to me Spencer, we have to go to the hospital now, my water just broke." His face went sheet white, and she would have laughed if another pain hadn't made hear moan. That galvanized him; he grabbed her arm, and led her back to their room. She put on some sweat pants, and a tee shirt while he called the doctor. Doctor Marilyn Carter told him to bring her to the hospital, and she would meet them there.

He put down his phone, changed clothes as fast as he could, then picked up the suitcase she'd had packed for weeks. "Come on babe, Dr. Carter will meet us there. They went out into the warm August night, and buckled into the SUV. Spencer forced himself to drive the speed limit, but he really wanted set a new land speed record to the hospital.

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When they finally made it to the check-in desk at the women's center, he heaved a huge sigh of relief, they had made it, and Jen would have doctors to watch over her, and make sure she was all right. He knew it was selfish, but all he wanted was to return to his role of emotional support.

The duty nurse handed paperwork to Spencer, and then began to fuss over Jen. She began to wheel her away, and Reid jogged behind them trying to write, and walk at the same time. He sat down in a chair in the corner of the room, while the nurse help Jen change, and get into bed. He watched the nurse hook up the monitor for the baby, and grinned foolishly when he heard the rapid sounds of the baby's heart.

"Hey Jen, how are you doing?" Jen opened her mouth to answer, but yelped in pain instead. Spencer leapt out of his chair, and was at her side in two long strides. He grabbed her hand, and waited while the contraction crested and fell off. She let out a long breath, and said, "I'm just peachy Marilyn, how are you?" The doctor chuckled at her tone. She was used to verbal attacks from her patients, and had long ago learned not to take it personally. She had dark hair with some grey streaks, and dark eyes. She cultivated a calm and reassuring tone for the women she looked after. Everyone loved her; she was one of the busiest OB GYNs in DC.

"I am just fine, and you are going to be great Jen, so just relax, and I'll check to see how you're progressing." Spencer took this as his signal to leave.

"I'll be just outside making some calls, ok." He leaned down to kiss her, and then he was gone.

Dr. Carter moved down to check Jen, and she said with a sly grin. "I'll say it again, that's one handsome, and sweet man you got there, are you sure he doesn't have a brother, or a cousin." Marilyn Carter had a daughter about JJ and Spencer's age, and she was always looking for someone to set her up with.

"No, he is definitely one of a kind." She hissed as another contraction hit.

"Well, it looks like you're already dilated to a seven, this is an impatient baby. But its nothing this old warhorse can't handle." She stood up, and walked back to Jen's side. She squeezed her hand, and said, "don't worry, you will do just fine, you're healthy, and strong, and most importantly you have obeyed all of your doctors orders. The baby looks fine as well, no sign of distress and the head is down, and so we are good to go pretty soon. I'm going to go check on the delivery room, and make sure every thing is ready. I'll be back in a few minutes.

She passed Spencer on the way down the hall, and filled him in. "It's going to go fast from here on out, are you ready for this?" She knew he was a little freaked out at the thought of seeing the delivery.

"I'm fine doctor," he said, with a squeak in his voice. She laughed, and patted his shoulder as she said, "you'll do just fine Dr Reid."

He walked back to Jen's room, wondering if she were right. He wanted to be strong for Jen, and he kept telling himself in no uncertain terms that he would not faint.

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"Now Jen… I know you want to push, but you have to wait till I tell you." Dr Carter said, in a tone not to be disobeyed.

"Breathe… honey," Spencer encouraged her as she kept a death grip on his hand. "Don't you tell me what to do Spencer Reid; you're the one who got me in this condition." She gasped, and glared up at him, her blue eyes flashing in away he'd never seen before.

He was amazed at her tone, but didn't take it personally; the doctor had warned him that Jen might get abusive to him during delivery.

"Okay I see the head, push with the next contraction."

Jen screamed, and the pressure on Spencer's hand increased as she pushed. "Okay Jen… stop, breathe…" Dr Carter commanded.

"You're doing great, I just need to turn the baby a little, and the shoulders will be out. There was a pause, and Spencer spoke to Jen quietly helping her to relax, and breathe. "Okay honey, one more push and its over."

Jen began to push again with a long scream that terrified Spencer. Then it was over with a rush of fluid and a little blood. Then the sound of a slap on flesh, and the baby began to cry. Jen fell back against Spencer's chest. He sat behind her for support when she began to push.

"It's a girl, and she's absolutely beautiful. You want to cut the cord, Dad." Spencer looked down at Jen who was crying, and she nodded. He moved slowly our from behind her, and walked to the foot of the stirrup table. His hands were shaking so hard, he didn't think he could do this. Dr Carter smiled behind her mask, and gave him the scissors.

He cut the cord where she told him, and then he got his first look at his daughter. Oh God… she was gorgeous, it didn't matter if her skin was wrinkled, or if the a little blood, and fluids marred her face, she was breathtaking.

The nurse took her, and began to clean her up, they took an Apgar score, and when she was wrapped up in a clean blanket the nurse handed her to Spencer. He held her as if she might break into a million pieces. It was real; she was a tiny little person, a result of his love for her mother. He'd never believed in miracles until then.

"Hey baby, here's your mama," he said, handing her over to Jen, who began to weep again as Spencer placed the baby into her arms.

"She so beautiful Spence!" She said with awe and reverence. It had all been worth it, even now she was forgetting the pain, and could think only of this precious little life. She couldn't replace what they had lost, but she had her own place in her parents' hearts.

The nurse took the baby again, after about five minutes for a second Apgar score. Now that the first elation was over, Spencer began to ask questions about the baby, how was she, what were the Apgar results. She had scored an 8 both times. He explained the test to Jen, and said the score was normal. She began to giggle at his enthusiasm. He was back to his old self, and would probably drive the nurses crazy with his questions, and his archaic facts about childbirth, and anything else he could come up with.

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The BAU team waited impatiently for news of the birth. Spencer had called Gideon, who'd called everyone else, and they were all there pacing, and chatting, speculating on where it was a boy, or a girl. Amazingly enough, none of them had won the portion of the baby pool to guess the date of the birth. Morgan still held out hope that he'd guessed the right sex of the baby.

They all rushed up to Spencer when he walked into the room carrying a small bundle wrapped in a pink blanket, in his arms. Morgan said triumphantly, "I knew… it's a girl… right."

"Is that all you care about the stupid baby pool," Emily said, punching him in the shoulder, and cooing over the baby at the same time.

"No… look man I'm sorry… I just got a little carried away." Spencer chuckled at the chagrin in his partners face.

"Well, he's right it's a girl and she's beautiful," He said proudly. Then he grinned wickedly at Morgan and asked, "Would you like to hold her, Derek?"

Morgan backed away, holding up his hands. "Ah no… that's okay, I'll just admire her from afar if you don't mind."

Reid laughed heartily with the rest of the group. Spencer wondered how Garcia felt about this reaction. Those two were finally engaged and Reid knew she wanted children. Well… that would be interesting to watch. "Come on Derek, you aren't afraid of a little seven pound, twelve ounce girl, are you?" That did it; no one said Derek Morgan was afraid of anything. He hesitated again, and then moved to take the baby from Reid.

"Hey… support her head you big bruiser… she can't hold it up on her own yet." Emily lectured.

Gideon tried not to laugh at the look on the younger agents face. When she was situated in his arms, he really looked at her, and began to melt. Reid was right, she was beautiful. In fact he refused to let anyone else hold her, till Reid said he better get her back to Jen, before she wondered where they were.

"Hey Reid, are your going to tell us her name?" Hotch asked, as he smiled one of his rare smiles.

"Oh yeah, well we argued a lot over names, but we decided if it was a girl we'd name her Amy which is derived from old French, and means beloved."

"I think it suites her very well, Reid." Gideon said placing an arm around his "son" and looking down at the sleeping baby. "Hello Amy Reid, welcome to the world."

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The next months passed quickly as Amy grew, and her parents adjusted to life with her. Reid had made the adjustment more smoothly than anyone could imagine. In fact, he did so much for her, that Jen hardly had to lift a finger, which amused, and annoyed her at the same time.

It was soon April again, and Amy was eight months old. She was a carbon copy of her mother, with blond hair that was almost white and deep blue eyes. She had her daddy wrapped so tight around her finger, that it gave Morgan lots of new material for teasing him. He didn't care; she was his world, she and her mother.

They attended the beautiful outdoor wedding of Penelope and Derek. Spencer was thrilled to be on the side lines, and watch his partner sweat, but like Spencer, he calmed at the sight of his bride. This was right, she was the only one for him, and his life would never be the same again.

The stars and moon were appearing when Spencer took Jen in his arms on the dance floor. Gideon sat with Amy on his lap. She had charmed him as well, and he adored her.

"What a gorgeous wedding," Jen was saying.

"Hmm… oh yeah it was great."

"What are you thinking, Dr Reid. She looked up at him with an expression that still made him weak in the knees."

"Do you remember when you dragged me onto that hay ride at Christmas?"

"Yes, I do… and I didn't drag you, I gently forced you to ride on the wagon with me." She corrected him with a smile.

"Yeah, well, remember what I said about the universe being so large that it made me feel insignificant?"

"Yes, I remember," JJ said, she leaned back and looked up at the black sky. They could only see just a few stars as they were still in the city.

"I was wrong, the universe isn't huge, it's small, in fact it's right here, with you and with Amy." He kissed her, and she watched as a shooting star raced across the sky. She made a wish that her life could remain in this perfect moment forever.

Hey that's it for this story, thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to review or send me a personal message. This story is for all of you, and I am glad you enjoyed it.