Ch. 9- Telling Reid

Back at the hospital Stella was sitting up comfortably in a hospital bed and gown watching Mac, sitting next to her on the bed as he held their precious baby girl. Stella couldn't help but smile as she watched Mac as he smiled in amazement at the little bundle. She hadn't seen him smile that genuinely since their wedding day. It is true that Mac began smiling more since marrying Stella but this was a joyous day, a day to celebrate. And his genuine smile was a way for him to celebrate.

As she watched Mac Stella suddenly thought of Reid, a person whom Mac thought of as a son even though they weren't biologically related. Having thought of Reid Stella said,

"Mac, were you going to tell Reid about Emma? I think he would want to hear about her."

Turning his head to face Stella Mac replied,

"Yeah I will. He can consider her a younger sister since he is an only child."

Nodding Stella added,

"Not to mention you are like a second father to him."

Handing Emma back to Stella, who accepted her immediately, Mac took out his phone to find Reid's number as he picked up the hospital phone from the night stand. Finding Reid's number Mac dialed it into the phone as he placed his phone back into his pocket. As he stood with the phone to his ear listening as it rang Mac leaned over and rubbed Emma's soft pink cheek with his pointer finger. When Reid answered Mac straightened up as he replied,

"Hey Reid, it's Mac. How's it going?"

After a short pause he heard Reid reply,

"Hey Mac, I'm good. What phone did you call from? I didn't recognize the number."

Smiling at Stella and Emma Mac replied,

"I'm using the phone in the hospital room. You remember when I told you that Stella and I were expecting a baby? Well she gave birth earlier today. We now have a beautiful baby girl."

In a voice full of shock Reid replied,

"Oh my God. That's great Mac, congratulations."

Mac nodded his head in response even though Reid couldn't see it as he said,

"Thanks Reid. I wanted you to know. I thought that since we are so close and I think of you as my son, I was hoping that you would like to consider little Emma as your little sister. But it's your choice."

After a short pause Reid replied,

"…so that would make me her big brother technically, right?...Sure I would love to be Emma's big brother…Emma, that's what you both named her?... I like it."

With a giant grin on his face after hearing Reid's response, Mac said,

"I'm glad you like the idea of being her big brother. Hey the rest of our team from the lab will be coming by later after they finish a case. We would love it if you would come too Reid."

After thinking about it Reid said,

"Yeah, ok. I guess I could come."

Happiness swept over Mac as he said,

"Great. Listen I'll call you when I've heard from someone on the team and find out what time they are coming. Talk to you then Reid."

From the other end of the line he heard Reid say,

"Ok Mac. Talk to you later."

As Mac hung up the phone he looked back to Stella who asked,

"Well, what did he say?"

With the smile still on his face Mac replied,

"He seemed shocked at first but he seemed really excited at the idea of being Emma's big brother. He said that he would come by later while everyone else is here as well."

Smiling at the news that Mac had just told her, Stella said,

" That's great. I can't wait till everyone gets here to meet Emma."

Looking down at the now sleeping bundle of joy in Stella's arms Mac said,

"Me too."