The Most Life Changing Thing

Reid and Prentiss

Chapter Twenty Three

July 2011

Standing under an arch of flowers, in the backyard of Rossi's cabin, Emily and Reid held hands as they recited their vows, while standing in front of a very small group of family and friends. Emily was just a few days before her due date. The wedding had been thrown together in less than a month yet it was beautiful and just what they wanted. The most important thing was to have their mothers there and their BAU family.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Reid cupped Emily's face, kissing first the tears on her cheeks and then her lips, as the baby was cradled within her between their bodies.

The audience clapped as the newly married husband and wife made their way back down the aisle.

After doing the receiving line they started to take pictures.

The moment her water broke was caught on film, along with Reid's panicked look. The video captured his rambling about how long the average delivery is and Emily crying "Get me to a hospital!" as if she was afraid she would have to give birth at her own wedding reception.

"Oh my," Penelope said "EP you have some timing! I didn't even get a glass of champagne yet."

"Take that up with the baby," Emily snarked at her as Hotch and Dave helped Emily out to the front of the house, where Reid was already getting the car started.

JJ hurried inside to get Emily's purse for her. Soon all the guests were waving good bye as Reid drove his wife to the hospital to give birth to their daughter.

By dawn the baby slid into the world, greeted by her exhausted and teary parents who long ago had settled on her name: Cassandra Star.

Her middle name was inspired by the first time Emily tried to flirt with her future husband. Even though it didn't work they still laughed about it often.

With the baby laying on Emily's chest she didn't seem to be able to stop crying, and staring in wonder from her child to her husband. "She's here. She's here. Look at her. She's perfect."

"She's amazing," Reid said, in awe.

Hours later Emily woke from her sleep to see Reid holding the baby. To her it was a beautiful, precious sight that only made her love him all the more. And to think she would see that sight day after day was more than she could even comprehend.

Before she got the chance to speak to Reid, and let him know she was awake and wanted to hold Cassie, Elizabeth Prentiss knocked on the open door and came inside. "I hope I'm not interrupting. The nurse seemed to think it would be fine to visit, since I am family, but if you prefer your privacy..."

Emily slowly sat up. Letting out a steadying breath she then gave her mother a genuine smile. "Stay. Meet your grandchild."

Reid's eyes met Emily's and she could see how proud he was of her for giving her mother an olive branch. Maybe things would get rocky between the women again but today wasn't the day for worrying about past hurts or imagining future problems that could arise. Today was all about family and love.

XXXXXXXXXXX

October 2013

"Say Happy Birthday Mommy!" Reid prompted Cassie, as they shook Emily awake. They were visiting England that year. Two years ago, for her birthday, they went to Greece and last year it was Italy.

Cassie, who was now two years old, babbled "Mama, birthday! Mama, wake up. Its birthday!" Her fingers tangled in Emily's hair, effecting tugging her awake, if the noise hadn't already woken her.

Reid had to pry Cassie's fingers out of Emily's hair. "Gentle with Mommy. She's cranky when she's woken up too early."

"You got that right," Emily mumbled, good naturedly, before she sat up, taking her daughter onto her lap. Cassie and Reid both wore birthday hats. Emily chuckled at the sight of them.

Reid leaned over and kissed her. "Happy birthday, my beautiful heart," he murmured to her, speaking in Russian, to remind her of their first days dating.

That day was spent going site seeing and then bringing Cassie back to the hotel for a mid-afternoon nap. As their child rested Emily and Reid were standing out on the balcony, her back resting against his chest as his hands lay on her stomach.

Quietly she stated "You've been rubbing my stomach a lot lately. You want to try for another baby, don't you?"

He let out a sigh. "I'm very happy with the family we have now but sometimes, I guess, yeah, I do think about it."

"I don't know how successful we'd be but I am willing to try, if you want."

"Thank you for saying that but it can't just be something you do to please me."

She looked up at him, with her probing look that meant she didn't understand his thinking. "Of course I want to have another child with you. If I didn't then I wouldn't even bring this up at all."

"Maybe you think you'd be letting me down if you don't? You just went back to work again. Is this really the time to have another kid?"

"Okay so we'll wait six months. I don't want to deliver in summer again anyway."

He smiled down at her, brushing her hair away from her face. "Really?"

"Really."

His smile grew. "I would like that very much, I think."

She chuckled. "I think he says. Once I'm knocked up you better be sure cause it will be too late to say I think," Emily teased.

Reid rested his forehead against hers. "I'm sure. I've often thought I want Cassie to have a sibling. Whether they are close or not they will at least always have each other, even when we're gone."

"If we can't get pregnant we could always adopt."

"That's true. Older children wait in foster care for years for a family."

"We'll expand our family, Spencer, one way or the other."

He gave her a gentle kiss. "Henry David Thoreau once said: Love is an attempt to change a piece of a dream world into reality. Emily, you bring my every dream to life. That is something I never would have thought anyone could do for me...or would want to do. You love me better than I ever thought I could be loved."

"And you do the same for me." She smiled brightly. "So I'll keep you...hmmm...I think."

They chuckled, as their arms snaked around each other and they kissed under the setting sun. The night they had first slept together he had asked her if he could help her and she had kissed him, saying that is how he could help her best.

She had been right. Reid helped Emily make a life that was much more than just her career and lonely nights spent aching for his arms around her, for a child to hold in hers. He helped her make a love, a family, a future.

And everyday he kept right on helping her grow that love, that family, their future. Sleeping with him led to the most life changing thing in all the world. It had been the start of making this life that she loved to share with him.

THE END

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story.

Sara.