The Most Life Changing Thing

Reid and Prentiss

Chapter Twenty One

January 2011

The morning after they made up from their first big fight Emily woke up before Reid. As she was laying there, slowly coming awake, she reveled in the feeling of him next to her in bed, his arm still around her waist, hand on her bare back beneath her shirt.

Before they ever had started dating she knew that Spencer Reid was a good man. He had a loving heart and a sweet soul. But now that they were a serious couple she had found out just how truly remarkable he was. Emily had always been her own biggest protector in the world. Now, though, she knew she had Reid to protect her too, to love her through any of her mistakes or missteps, through her fears, insecurities and doubts. All the ugly things in the world and in herself he didn't blink when he saw. She needed strength like that, as much as she had fought admitting it.

A man she couldn't chase away ever.

A gentle smile came to her lips as her eyelids fluttered open. She took in the sight of him sleeping- a little growth on his cheeks, his mouth open with some drool coming out, his expression peaceful and relaxed.

Her heart soared. Just a year ago she was finally starting to admit to herself she hated it that he was seeing Austin. Its not that she didn't know for quite a while she found him sexy, brainy and nerdy in the most adorable way but she couldn't admit how much she wanted to get closer to him. He rarely bought Austin around them or even talked about her so it was easy to pretend she didn't really exist- until New Year's Eve of 2009.

She showed up at a party that JJ and Will had. Seeing the way Reid interacted with Austin annoyed the hell out of Emily. She tried to tell herself it was because the woman was flighty but the truth was she hated to see Reid's hand on any other woman's back, thigh, waist, his fingers intertwined with hers, him laughing at her jokes and his eyes tender with emotion.

When Reid and Austin broke up a few months later Emily had already started to flirt with Reid, wanting him for herself. It never worked though. He didn't get what she wanted. Not until that night she kissed him and they made love for the first time.

It was a sweet relief to have Reid understand how very much she was attracted to him. It had changed everything. A part of her wished she had done it sooner but that would be like wishing her child was never conceived. Though Emily might never know the identity of the father of her baby she still found her child perfect. This baby was just who this baby was supposed to be.

So everything with Reid happened when it needed to have happened. She was just glad he was here now. Glad and amazed that he had fallen in love with her. Her life had never been filled with beautiful, happy endings...it shocked her that she had Reid, had this baby on the way, and was living a happy ending. Her life could be this...this beauty and love...it took her breath away.

Pressing a soft kiss to Reid's cheek she then slowly crawled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom.

When she came back to bed he was awake. She smiled a sensual smile at him, as she climbed onto the bed on her knees and leaned close to him, murmuring "You're here."

"Where else would I be? When you went to sleep I was here so it shouldn't be surprising," he declared in his truly curious way, wondering why she had said what she said.

Emily's smile grew as she shook her head at him. "Mr. Literal, I meant to say I'm glad you're here."

"Oh." He smirked. "Me too." And then he pulled her against him so she was over his lap and looking up at him, before his lips slowly molding against hers, teasing her with a gentle kiss.

They kept sharing tender kisses, their hands exploring each other's bodies, until Reid stroked his hand gently over her stomach, his thumb rubbing softly back and forth below her belly button. Emily slowly broke their kiss and stared into his eyes- seeing a look of devotion and wonder in his gaze.

A sweet smile crossed her lips and they just stared into each other's eyes for a moment, silently taking in the fact that the baby existed and would be with them for all the rest of their lives. That they were really committed to each other now, to sharing all of life's struggles and joys.

Raising her hands she cupped his face, as the moment grew with want and tension, and then slowly brought her mouth to his. Shifting, moving together, she lay back on the bed, moaning at the feel of his long, lean, hard body pressing against her.

That feeling is one she wanted to know over and over many nights for the rest of her life. And now she finally let herself believe that she actually could.

XXXXXXXXXX

Two days later Emily and Reid went back to work.

She had been off a week by that time. A soft smile played on her lips as she remembered how they had spent their days off after they had made up- long hours spent just lounging, him rambling about the development of the baby, sharing two hour baths and having a poker tournament where they were both very ruthless and determined to win. In the end she beat him but cheered him up by climbing on his lap for some strictly adult style fun.

After taking off her coat and putting her purse in her desk drawer she made her way to Hotch's office, knocked and then entered once he told her to. "Hey."

He gave her a concerned look. "Feeling better?"

"Much. Thanks. Do you have a few minutes though? I need to speak with you about something important."

"Of course. Have a seat." He still had a leery look in his eyes, sensing she had been hiding something for a while now.

"I know I should have given you more of a head's up because you'll have to replace me but-"

"If this is about your relationship with Reid, you don't need to leave the team because of it. Though, officially speaking, I'm unaware of any changes between you two that might violate the frat rules."

"Its not that. I need to leave the team because I've decided to take a couple of years off from work. I don't need to leave immediately but I can't work in the field anymore."

Hotch raised an eyebrow, the concern on his face only deepening, only with confusion.

Emily went on "I'm pregnant."

For a moment Hotch was surprised but then his eyes lightened with happiness for her. "Congratulations."

"Thank you. I know I don't have to take time away from work but I want to be the primary care giver for my kid for a couple of years, just so I can savor every little thing about this experience. Once the baby can go to pre-school then I'll come back to work, maybe at a desk job, if its not too boring. I hated my desk job before the BAU so I'm not sure I could stand it again. I might be back here with my resume in hand pleading for a space on your team again when the time comes to get back to work."

Hotch slowly stood up. "And you would be welcomed back whole heartedly, budget withstanding."

She smirked and stood. "Right."

"It would have been nice to have more warning but I understand that you told me when you were ready."

"I'd like to tell the rest of the team today during our briefing."

"You can still come along on cases but stay back at the police station for now until you officially go on leave. We still need your prospective on the profile."

"Yes, sir, of course," Emily said.

He walked to his door and opened it. "You do know this means you get to do more paperwork instead of helping Morgan kick down doors, right?" he teased, joking for a rare moment.

She smirked. "I know and its gonna really suck."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

The team was gathered in the round table room a little more than an hour later, for their ten am briefing.

As soon as Hotch walked in Penelope flipped the controller in her hand "Okay, my super crime fighters, today we have a real sick twist with this baddie-"

Hotch interrupted "One moment, please, Garcia." His gaze switched to Prentiss.

All eyes turned to her. She spoke "I know this is gonna come out of left field but...I'm pregnant."

When no one reacted with surprise she groaned "You all suck! How long have you known?"

Penelope said "A little birdie did mention to me that there may be a bun in our raven haired beauty's oven."

Morgan said "All the signs were there."

Reid said "You didn't have any idea until I told you I suspected."

Morgan smirked. "That's not true, kid. I was just keeping my suspicions to myself."

Rossi told Emily "You do have a tell tale glow."

"I do?" she asked, shaking her head at that idea since she hadn't felt very well the week before and was just getting stronger again. She gave them all a small smile.

"Totally!" Penelope cried. "You have that ethereal mommy-to-be look about you. I can't believe you didn't tell me the second you suspected you were preggers. I'm severely behind in my booty and baby blanket making now. You know I have to spoil this baby rotten: the offspring of two of the most awesome people I know. EEEE! JJ is gonna faint when she hears that boy genius knocked you up."

Emily said "There is something that I need to make clear to all of you...Reid and I are very excited about this pregnancy but it didn't come about in the traditional way."

Morgan scrunched his nose. "No details, please! Come on now. Spare us. Some of us just got done with breakfast," he joked.

"Ha ha," Emily joked back. "What I mean is...I went to a fertility clinic to conceive. Its something that I want to be up front to all of you about and for the baby to one day know and understand. I decided to get help conceiving because I didn't want to leave it to chance any longer. I kept quiet till now because I wanted to make it through the first trimester before saying anything. My due date is July 7th. You don't need to do the math or wonder...I was inseminated with donor sperm before Reid and I started dating." She gave Reid a loving look. "I feel pretty lucky that everything happened the way it did so I'm not going through this alone."

Penelope came over to hug Emily. "You'd never be alone, sweetie. And, let me assure you, you've scored an awesome boy toy for yourself and future daddy for your little bambino." Squeezing Emily tightly, Penelope said "You are surrounded by love."

After a moment Emily joked "Garcia, you're cutting off my breathing." That moment there was such a warmth in the air as they all talked for a couple more minutes about the baby, teasing about baby names and sharing their excitement before they started to talk about the case.

Emily finally wasn't alone in this pregnancy or in her life. She had let down more of her wall to let her loved ones in to care for her. With a baby on the way it was more important than ever that she keep doing that. She could do it all alone.

But she would never have to because she would always have the love and support of her BAU family.