Two weeks had passed.

In those two weeks, he had seen Jude as much as he could. The boy was bright, and cheerful. He also had this grin, or smile that could charm anyone into anything. It was almost like he knew how cute he was, and how he had every adult wrapped around his tiny finger.

Jude kept the plush doll Spencer gave him on him almost all the time.

Arguments between Charlotte and Spencer didn't still; they were going at it ferociously often. And when Jude was around it continued with big fake smiles with rude remarks thrown at each other in cheerful voices. They never even argued about something worth arguing about, usually Spencer made an insult toward her and every time he did she would retaliate. Neither could help it.

Spencer met Annie, Charlotte's sister when he came over after two weeks. She was chubbier, with blonde hair, looking much older than Charlotte. She constantly had something to say to Spencer, while Charlotte would always diffuse any situation about two arise.

The daily letters he wrote to his mom conveniently forgot to mention he had a child.

His coworkers noticed him acting distracted. He knew the day he woke up a week later he would tell Hotchner first. On Monday morning.

But now it was Sunday and Spencer was at a table with Jude while he ate. Charlotte gave him a photograph album to look at of Jude's first year while she was bickering with her sister in the other room. Apparently she was trying to help Charlotte unpack the rest of her things, and Charlotte got annoyed easily.

It was a green album, that said "Babies first year" on it. Her and Annie left again, and Spencer opened it. The first page had the birth certificate on it, his full name was Jude Edgar Reynolds. Mother was Charlotte Stella-Marie Reynolds, father unlisted.

The first picture was an ultrasound picture. Just a tiny bean in the picture, but it was Jude. Spencer's fingers trailed the edges. His throat went dry and his chest tightened. He knew the sudden feeling to cry was silly, but all he could think was why wasn't I there?

The picture of it was Charlotte, with a small bump. She was sitting cross legged on the floor, both hands protecting the small bump. She was laughing at something, looking away from the camera. She was beautiful.

He flipped through the rest of the ultrasound and baby bump pictures, until he got to one with her in the hospital. She was holding a a small baby wrapped in a blue blanket. Her hair was a mess and she looked exhausted. On the side, she had written ten hours of labor, alone. Came into my life Septemper 28th, 1 am on th dot. Kicked ASS. He laughed, then stared at the 'alone' part. What would it be like, going in the hospital all by yourself to give birth?

That was her choice, he reminded himself.

The next few pictures were of Jude's first day of life, in the hospital. He had a full head of dark hair when he was born. His eyes were open, and a light blue color. While his hair had lightened up, his eyes had darken, just to match the shade of Charlotte's eyes.

He looked through as the pictures showed him getting older, by minute it seemed. He also found that Charlotte dressed him imbecably at all times, like she had always done to herself before. But now it seemed she didn't try much at all. He hated to admit it, but she looked beautiful still.

Toward the end he noticed several pictures taken on the beach, grey sky and ocean in the background and some snow on the ground. Wisps of hair blew around their faces as the two had large smiles in all of the photos. Spencer felt his stomach clench again. He loved to see Judes smile because it was so familiar to the smile that used to bring him such joy.

"I don't see why you don't get him a hair cut."

A loud sigh followed. "It's not that long."

"Its past his ears."

"Just because you give your boy a buzz cut doesn't mean I have to do the same to mine."

Spencer snorted as the girls walked by the kitchen. Jude looked up, wrinkling his nose and smiling. That's when Annie walked in. "And why is he here anyway." she said as if he wasn't there. She didn't even look at him. With her she carried a box of bowls and cups.

"Lay off." Charlotte said with some venom. She started putting her cups away with some force. "He can be here all he wants."

"I don't see why he would want to- give me that you're doing it wrong." the older sister snatched a cup from Charlotte. Spencer remembered from when they were dating that Annie was a bit of a controlling bully toward Charlotte. She always assured him that it was because she had four kids and was just over stressed. Charlotte pressed her lips together tight, but didn't say anything. "It amazes me that you can mess up and still have things go okay. And with a guy that is always gone, that hardly seems stable to Jude."

Charlotte just stared at her sister through narrowed eyes. "Its almost three."

"Oh, yeah." she set the things down. "I'm going to go pick up the kids. Call you later."

"Bye." Charlotte said while her sister picked up her bag and left. As soon as the door closed Charlotte let out a loud frustrated groan.

"Mommy juice?" Jude said.

"You want juice?" she said, a tone of distress in her voice.

"I can get it." Spencer said, standing up. Charlotte and him said nothing to eachother while he tried to find a sippy cup through her cabinets. He couldn't help but feel the need to say something comforting, but reminded himself he was still mad at her, so he let her brood in silence.

"Spencer can I ask a favor?" she said suddenly.

"What is it?"

"I have to take a night shift tonight, so I was wondering if you could maybe possibly take Jude tonight. If not I could just ask my sister."

"Until what time? I have to work."

"Seven in the morning."

"That's fine I can watch him." he said, sitting next to Jude again.

"Really?" she said brightly, looking relieved. "Do you have food and somewhere for him to stay?"

He didn't. "Yeah. Of course."

"Thanks Spencer, this is perfect!"

Spencer left right away to go buy a little bed, and some kid friendly food. He had to shell out an extra hundred to have the bed delivered right away, and had to think about what kids eat.

Apparently Jude had a sensitive stomach to dairy according to Charlotte, he could have a little but usually she gave him none at all. Apparently the doctors said as he got older he would grow out of it, but as of then she tried to steer clear of that. However he could have soy milk.

He chose simple things, like crackers and applesauce. At home he marveled at how he never had things in his fridge before, he usually ate out when he was home.

His apartment wasn't big either; he had a bedroom, and a bathroom. Shelf space covered half a wall in his living room, and he couldn't even think of how many books were in his room.

It was hours later when he buzzed Charlotte up. The bed was put together in his room, green and blue dinosaur blanket and pillow. He had food and it wasn't until he opened the door that he realized he didn't have toys.

But he would soon find out that she had that covered. He invited her in, a wide awake Jude perched on her hip. "You really don't mind right?"

"Not at all." he said as she let the boy down, who looked around the small apartment with wide eyes. "Hey Jude."

"Tell daddy hi." Charlotte said, looking around the room with an odd expression.

"Hi." Jude said, clinging to his mothers leg.

"Well, here is his bag, everything you need is here." she said, setting it down. "I will stay a bit until he gets settled."

It took about twenty minutes, but Spencer managed to coax Jude to the table and give him some snacks while Charlotte snuck out.

Spencer had never had the chance to learn how to be a father, so he was starting from scratch pretty much.

Jude clung his plush T-rex to his chest as he walked around, taking everything in. Suddenly he found Spencer's keys. "Hm?" he asked, holding them out.

"Those are mine." Spencer said, scratching his arm, and smiling.

Suddenly Jude laughed, holding the keys to his chest. "Mine!" he looked at Spencer expectantly. Catching what was happening, Spencer experimentally reached out and Jude took off like a shot around the couch. "Mine!" he repeated. Spencer laughed and ran after him, grabbed him, through him in the air and caught him. Something his own father has never done but Jude was laughing so hard Spencer did it again, laughing himself.

He didn't understand how he could love someone so much in such a short time but he was filled with it every time he looked at the boy. As Spencer caught him Jude wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged him.

Spencer knew he had something to live for.

Monday came and he had to tell Hotch.

He walked through the bullpens with his face down, fearing that by the look on his face would give him away to the team, which he felt constantly. They knew something happened in his life but no one asked, yet.

He walked straight into Hotch's office, first. Knocking on the door, Hotch looked up. "Can I talk to you privately, sir?"

Hotch nodded. "Of course." he closed the door and sat down in front of Hotch. For a moment, neither said anything. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. I mean, I think so..." he pulled out his wallet, the picture Charlotte had first given him in there. He set it down, picture facing Hotch. "That is Jude. He is eighteen months old, and I found out a few days ago he is my son."

Hotch, the one who always looked serious and composed, looked blown away. He stared from Spencer to the picture, looking at a loss for words. "You have a son?"

"I was just as surprised." Spencer laughed without humor. "This is all really new for me. I feel like I can't do this."

Hotch seemed to push away his shock. "I don't know what that situation is like, but when you have to be a dad, it will come easy to you Reid. I know you, and I know you can do this." he almost smiled. "This is a shock, I'm sorry."

"I know it is. And sir, if you mind I want to keep this between us for now."

"Have to tell him eventually." he handed the picture back. "He is a cute kid, Reid. Congratulations." Hotch said, actually smiling. It had to be the first smile Spencer saw since before Haley's death. "And welcome to the daddy club."

A/N

So what do you think so far?