Title: Matters of the Universe: A Crying Mess (Part 9 of 15)
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I still do not own CM, it's a pitty really, it belongs to many people, writers, directors, actors, actresses, creators, network types none of whom are me. I also do not own the quotes at the beginning. They belong to the people who wrote and preform them, and likely SOCAN as well.
Summary: Reid and Prentiss meet in a bar one night before she joins the team, but things don't go how she plans. What happens when they have to work together?
Notes: This chapters prompt was "Reid babysits and enlists Prentiss' help" or in this case vice versa but you know... This part is a bit longer than the last few. I hope you like it. The song in this part is by one of my fave local bands if you check out no one else I've ever mentioned in fic you should check these guys out.

"We're moving up slow, it don't seem so steady. There's no need for big plans, I'll be here when you're ready. You know the world doesn't move the way you want sometimes. I kept a close distance but you kept me behind." Amos the Transparent (After all That it's Come to This)

Reid wasn't sure why he had agreed to help Prentiss babysit her goddaughter, kids hated him. Everyone knew that they had even called it the Reid effect and it extended to dogs and cats as well. He knew Prentiss hadn't seen it for herself but she was very well warned about the effect of it. He enjoyed spending time with Prentiss when they didn't have to work, but this didn't seem like it would be an enjoyable experience. He had never been around a baby that he actually had to help take care of before.

He sat next Prentiss awkwardly as she and her friend caught up. It had been nice to hear her introduce him to someone as her boyfriend, but he felt like he didn't belong where he was. Prentiss' friend Erika was telling them both everything they needed to know about the baby's schedule; explaining the baby was down for her nap. Part of Reid hoped that their small charge would stay asleep. Shortly after Erika left the house the baby began to wail indicating the end of the nap.

"You get to meet Natalie now," Prentiss told Reid getting up to get the baby from her room.

Reid waited for Prentiss to return with the baby, still sure that this was going to end badly. She came down a few minutes later with Natalie in her arms. The infant was wearing a purple footed pajamas and her red hair was in tiny pigtails. Reid was amazed at how good Prentiss was at this, the baby looked so natural in Prentiss' arms. There was a huge smile on both of their faces and he could hear Prentiss talking to the baby telling her not worry that her mother wasn't there and that she and Reid would be taking care of her for a few hours.

"You're good at this," Reid commented. "You look so happy."

"She's my goddaughter, of course I'm happy, this is the first time I've gotten to babysit her since she was born! Who doesn't love babies?" she asked. "Silly Uncle Spencer he doesn't know just how much fun you are little one, no he doesn't you need to show him just how sweet and amazing babies can be. Can you do that for Aunt Emily Natalie?"

"I'm sure that this is lot more fun and less nerve wracking for someone who has actually been around babies before, Emily."

"You're going to learn all about how to take care of babies today, Doctor Reid. Natalie, do you want to go see Uncle Spencer?" The baby giggled excitedly. "I think that's a yes, all right angel bear with Uncle Spencer, okay?"

"Emily I'm not sure this is the best idea. I've never held a baby before, and normally when I am within a few feet of them they begin to scream."

"She's not screaming right now, she's very happy. I think you can do this and the only way to get over your nerves is to just jump in with both feet."

She went over to him and put the baby in his arms. Reid was surprised when she put the baby in his arms. He wasn't sure what to do, and ended up holding Natalie under her arms. She was wiggling and he was afraid she might wiggle out of his hands. Prentiss couldn't help but laugh when she saw what Reid was doing. She thought he would at least try to mimic how she had been holding the baby only moments before. As much as he had warned her about how bad he would be at this she never thought he could be this bad. Natalie began to wail in protest, squirming in his arms. It was like a switch had been pulled the second Reid had touched the child she went from a happy sweet angel to a screaming wreck.

"I told you I can't do this, children hate me," he told her, trying to give the baby back to her. "She doesn't like me, she likes you. Take her back this is torture. Please."

"No, she doesn't hate you, she's just uncomfortable Spencer. Let me help you, hold her like I was just holding her, and she'll be fine. Don't give up so easy."

She carefully helped him to cradle the infant in his arms. As soon as he was holding her properly the baby got quiet. She looked up at the man who was holding her and cooed softly. Reid looked at the baby and felt a smile cross his lips. Prentiss quickly wiped the baby's eyes, and nose. She smiled seeing Reid soften as the baby began to babble gibberish at him as if she was telling him something important.

"I'm sorry about that, Natalie," Reid whispered.

"See you're not cursed or whatever it is the team says. The Reid effect is nothing more than children picking up on how nervous you are and reacting to it. If you would just relax around kids you'd find that you would be fine with them."

"You could be right. I was able to read fifteen books about babies last night, but none of them mentioned the proper way to hold a baby other than supporting a newborn's head and Natalie isn't a newborn."

"You read fifteen books about babies, just last night?"

"They were the only ones I could find so quickly. I've never been around any children before. Most of what I read was about development, it was very interesting because I've never thought about things like that before."

"Which things?"

"About babies and children in general about becoming a father," he explained. He was now gently rocking the baby in his arms as if he had been doing it for years. "Did you know that babies like to be rocked because it reminds them of being in the womb? Some people say it's because their brain moves around in their heads, but if that were true they would suffer brain damage. Babies also like white noise around them, because there was always the noise of the mother's heartbeat as it was developing. Most babies settle quickest when there are voices nearby. Isn't that fascinating?"

"I did know that, but I'm glad I could pique your interest about babies."

"Me too, I never thought about becoming a father before I met you. I thought that children would always be afraid of me and that I would make me a bad parent, but now I'm wondering if I might be able to be around children with some guidance. Natalie seems to be warming up to me."

She smiled. "I think she likes you, she's trying to tell you something, I think. All you needed was some experience. You've really never thought about being a father before?" She handed him a bottle.

"No, I have never been in a serious relationship before." He took the bottle put the bottle in the baby's mouth and she began to drink. "There are still many things we would need to talk about before we decided to have children of course, mostly about the medical problems in my family."

"I think it will be a while before we get to that point, but it's nice to know you would be willing to consider having children with me. You're a quick study."

"Does she still need to be burped?"

"Yes she does."

"Maybe you should do that, I don't want to upset her again."

"Sure, but pay attention it's not that difficult."

Prentiss took the infant from Reid and held her up to burp her. Reid watched the whole thing, as if he was studying what she was doing. It didn't take long for Natalie to burp rather loudly. Prentiss then gave the baby back to Reid who let the her finish the bottle. When it was empty he did what Prentiss had just done and she burped again. He then noticed a smell and he knew exactly what that meant.

"I think I might need to learn how to change a diaper," Reid told Prentiss, handing her the baby.

"Can you get me a diaper and some wipes? There should be some in the bathroom."

"Sure," he agreed, getting the items from the other room.

Prentiss laid the baby down on a blanket on the floor, and opened up the diaper. Reid handed her a few of the wipes. Prentiss carefully cleaned the baby up, then rolled up the dirty diaper with the wipe in it. She then slid the clean diaper under the baby, and secured the side tabs. She then picked up the baby who laughed happily, as Reid put the diaper in the bin in the bathroom. Prentiss was glad that Reid didn't seem squeamish about dirty diapers.

"That doesn't look that hard," Reid reasoned. "I think I could do that."

"Good, the next diaper change is all yours then," she laughed, getting some toys for the baby.

"You should put her on her stomach."

"I'm sorry?"

"She's awake and alert right now, which indicates she wants to play. She will be less likely to fall asleep on her stomach, because she's placed on her back when she's put to sleep. Also, all the books I read said that having "tummy time" as they call it helps to get them the ready for the creeping and crawling phase of development."

"You did do a lot of research didn't you?" She looked at the baby. "Uncle Spence seems to think you need some tummy time. Would you like that Natalie? Do you want to play?"

Reid then put a plush toy next to the infant, who was now giggling excitedly. Reid even got down on the floor to get closer to the baby, which delighted Prentiss. Reid then took another toy and began to use it as a puppet, telling Natalie a story from memory as moved the toy around just out of her reach. Natalie laughing and giggling with glee as Reid entertained her with his story and her toys. Prentiss couldn't help but feel like this was right seeing him like that. She wondered what it might be like if she and Reid had a baby. She was glad that everything seemed to be going so smoothly and knew they would enjoy the rest of their adventure.

End Part 9

Notes: I hope this one worked, the end was a little abrupt I know but I felt I would just start to repeat myself if I kept going.