Looks around to see if anyone is watching... reaches out hand to "borrow" Criminal Minds on a permanant basis... and alarms go off... stuffs hands in pockets, whistles, and casually walks away... Drats foiled again... It still belongs to Jeff Davis, CBS, ABC and lots of other folks that aren't me.
Happy reading and enjoy :D
"How much of this stuff is for Henry and how much of this stuff is JJ's shoes?" Will mused as he pulled a large suitcase, a carryon, and a diaper bag out of the back of the SUV while Spencer worked to set up Henry's stroller and attach the car seat.
"Uncle Will is trying to be funny Henry." JJ mock whispered to Henry, just loud enough for Will to hear as she swayed back and forth rocking Henry while she waited for Spence to be ready to go in the airport.
"Hey now… I'm just tryin' to understand how this little guy can have more luggage than his Momma," Will replied, turning from closing the hatch of the SUV with a grin on his face. "I've seen you shop for shoes… lord knows how many pairs are packed in that suitcase… it was pretty heavy."
JJ laughed at Will's teasing and walked over to him. "You know what; hold your Godson for a few minutes while Spence I make sure we've got everything." She said as she passed the baby to Will, adjusting the blanket covering Henry as the baby cuddled into his Godfather's chest.
JJ startled at the loud excited screech of a familiar voice behind her, causing her to turn and her mouth to drop in shock and surprise. Will's eyebrows rose on his forehead. Spence froze where he knelt next to Henry's stroller as he double checked the diaper bag as he attempted to calculate the odds of a chance meeting at the airport departures drop off.
"OH MY…. PEACHES!" Garcia exclaimed from three feet behind JJ, watching as she turned to look at her. "This is a pleasant surprise. We can…"
"Baby girl, you forgot your carryon." Morgan yelled from where he stood at the back of his truck in a further out lane in the drop off zone.
"Oh…" Garcia sighed, and began to turn to head back to Morgan for her bag.
"I've got it," Kevin said, resting his hand on Penelope's arm and then turning and meeting Derek "muscles" Morgan halfway to collect Penelope's bag.
JJ, Spence, and Will all three stole a glance at each other, wondering if this would be the moment that the majority of the team would find out the truth.
"So, I was going to say, maybe we can grab a coffee or something?" Penelope asked smiling as she watched the blanket covered form resting on Will's chest squirm a little.
"Actually, pookie bear we have to go if we're going to catch our flight in time." Kevin said as he rejoined them from collecting Penelope's bag.
"Already?" Penelope gasped in surprise.
"Well, it is almost 10 am. Our flight is at 11:30 by the time we get through security and to our gate so..." Kevin rambled.
"Okay… no real time for coffee… I get it." Penelope sighed and turned wrapping her arms around JJ in a quick hug, startling a speechless JJ as she squeezed.
JJ managed to wrap her arms around Garcia and return the hug in her speechless state.
"Okay – have a Happy Thanksgiving mes amis." She said as she released JJ and hitched her multi-colored purse and her carryon up on her shoulder and waved back over her shoulder as she followed Kevin through the slew of holiday travelers and into the concourse.
As they walked away, Penelope could just barely be heard speaking to Kevin. "Wasn't it nice of Reid to drive JJ and Will to the airport?"
JJ, Spence, and Will all shared a glance again before Will broke the silence. "Pookie bear?"
Joe glanced up from the computer as he stood at the front desk. He smiled at the sight of the on duty bell boy helping his favorite guests into the hotel. "Well if it isn't Mr. Reid and his lovely lady friend, although I see your new addition has arrived since you were here for work a few weeks ago." He said with a smile as he nodded down at the baby in the stroller.
"He actually arrived just a couple days after we left." JJ replied as she glanced sideways at Spence.
"Ah, well then we'll need to get a crib in your room for young Master Reid." Joe replied jovially as he typed away on the keyboard. "Let's see now, I took the liberty of checking you in earlier today so the room you requested would be guaranteed… and I'll send someone up shortly to set up the crib for you." he said, handing the room keys to Spence.
Spence gave Joe a nod of his head. "Thanks Joe." It was nice to have a hotel to come to that felt like home away from home when they visited his Mom now.
"Always happy to help Mr. Reid. Have a nice stay and Happy Thanksgiving." Joe replied with a smile.
Spence rested his hand on the small of JJ's back, his thumb rubbing small concentric circles over the base of her spine as she turned Henry's stroller and they walked to the elevator.
Joe watched as they walked away, unable to help but wonder why that lovely little family was in Las Vegas of all places for Thanksgiving until he remembered them mentioning that Spencer was originally from here during a previous conversation. He nodded his head and turned back to the computer screen, glad that Spencer and JJ, as she'd told him to call her, would be spending the holiday with family.
Spence nudged JJ as the elevator stopped at the 15th floor. JJ smiled in realization as they stopped in front of their hotel room door, the same hotel room door from their first visit.
When the door opened, JJ noted it looked much the same as it had during their original stay a year and a half ago. The large whirl pool tub still sat in-set underneath the large panoramic view windows. A large king size bed was still in the center of the room… some of the décor or the room had changed, it had after all been a year and a half since she'd invited herself along to visit Spence's Mom. "Did you plan this?" JJ asked turning to look up at Spence.
"I uh, thought maybe you might like to use the tub… and I seem to remember you enjoyed the view." Spence smiled as he leaned down to kiss JJ.
"Mmmm, baby…" JJ moaned into the kiss before being simultaneously interrupted by a knock on the door and a squawk from Henry in his stroller. "Mmm we'll have to finish that later…" JJ murmured as she pulled away from Spence's lips. "You get the door and I'll get Henry?"
Spence nodded a grin on his face as he listened to JJ sooth their baby boy as he moved to get the door.
"But JJ… I don't want him back in Mom's life… back in my life… in Henry's life… in your life if it's only going to be out of guilt." Spence started to argue.
"Don't argue with me Spence. Your Dad should meet Henry at least once… I'd like to meet your Dad at least once." JJ said poking Spence's side as he sat beside her while Henry nursed.
Spence sighed, "Fine. I'll call him and invite him to join us if he doesn't already have any other plans… but I can't guarantee that he doesn't have other plans."
"I know baby," JJ replied, her voice softening as she knew how much it had hurt Spence that his father had been no more than a ten minute drive away, but had never bothered to visit, never bothered to call… never bothered to acknowledge that he still existed. Just because they'd reconnected while Spence worked with Morgan and Rossi to solve Riley Jenkins murder didn't mean that Spence had put it all behind him, especially now that he was a father himself. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek as he reached in his pocket for his cell phone.
A ghost of a smile crossed Spence's lips as JJ kissed his cheek. He turned his head and kissed her soundly, before he turned his attention back to his phone and dialed. "Hey Dad," he said, somewhat surprised to get a live person instead of the voicemail on Thanksgiving morning, "JJ and I brought Henry to visit Mom for Thanksgiving and we were wondering… "
JJ smiled as watched Spence talking on the phone with his Dad and then turned to look down at Henry's peaceful face, tracing his brow where it furrowed ever so slightly just like his Daddy's.
"Oh, he's just beautiful… and tiny." Diana gasped as JJ laid Henry in her arms and then sat down beside her. "He reminds of Spencer when he was a baby… but I can tell already he will be the perfect mix of you both." Diana said, glancing towards Jennifer and then back at her grandson as he wrapped his tiny fingers around her finger.
JJ smiled and glanced at Spence where he stood off to the side talking to his Dad, happy for him that his Mom was having a good day and that Spence would get to see even just the tiniest glimpse of what a holiday with all of his family could be like.
"Spencer, I need to give these to you." William Reid said, holding out the papers he'd been holding.
"What's this?" Spence asked, taking the papers from his father with a confused look at the envelope filled with papers in his hand.
"I set up a college fund and a trust for Henry. I want you to have the papers for them… I set it up so that only you and Jennifer have access to it… anybody can make deposits… but only you and Jennifer can move the funds." William explained to his son. "I know this doesn't even begin…"
Spence looked down at the papers in his hands. "You can't just buy your way back into my life."
William flinched at words, knowing that his son had every right to his anger. "I'm not trying to buy my way back in… but I am trying to make sure that my grandson gets every advantage I can give him… every advantage that I should have given to you. You turned into fine man Spencer… and I can't take credit for any of it. I know that… but it doesn't mean that I don't regret that I wasn't a part of the man you've become. I'm sorry. I know it doesn't fix things… but I am."
Tears crested Spence's eyes as he flipped the envelope over in his fingers. He thought about what his pre-adolescent and teenage years had been like without a father… the nights he'd spent crying because his Dad was gone and his Mom was sick and he was only 10 years old… and then he looked at JJ where she sat next to his Mom with Henry… He hoped Henry never had to go a night missing his father or wishing his mother would miraculously get well… he hoped Henry never had to go through the things he'd gone through…Henry deserved to have every advantage. Henry should have a trust and a college fund… and then he looked at his father and understood. He wasn't trying to buy his way back in… he was asking for a fresh start. "I… thank you." Spence said as he looked over at his father. "Thank you."
"You're doing it wrong," Diana said as she watched William feeding Henry, "you have to tip the bottle up more so that he doesn't get so much air and a sick tummy." She said as she adjusted the bottle in his hand so that Henry was getting only milk through the nipple of the bottle.
"Well look at that. He's a hungry little guy." William said a smile on his face as he looked down at Henry hungrily drinking his bottle and then glanced over at Diana.
Spence smiled as JJ curled into his side while they watched his Mom humming and rocking Henry to sleep once he was fed.
"Today was a good day." JJ whispered into his ear as she continued to watch Diana rocking and singing to Henry.
"Yeah," Spence nodded. "It was. This is the best Thanksgiving I can ever remember having."
William sat next to Diana watching her with their grandson. For just a moment, it was easy to get lost in the memories of 27 years ago when Spencer had been a baby. However, Spencer wasn't a baby anymore… or even a boy… he was a grown man with a family of his own.
"Thank you for inviting me Spencer," William said as he hugged his son goodbye. "Give me a call tomorrow or Saturday. Maybe we can grab lunch…" he trailed off hesitantly, unsure about asking for too much too soon.
"Sure… that would, ah, be great… Dad," Spence said, fidgeting as he pulled back out of the hug.
"Bye Mom, we'll see you tomorrow." Spence spoke softly in his Mom's ear as he hugged her goodbye. He lingered for just a moment, enjoying the motherly affection, not knowing when they'd be able to have such a good visit again. He released his Mom and then bent, picking up Henry, who sat in his baby seat, sound asleep and oblivious to the goodbyes going on around him.
"Have a goodnight Diana, see you tomorrow." JJ said as she stepped forward, taking her turn at goodbyes and silently wishing that tomorrow would be just as good of a day as today had been.
"Thank you Jennifer. Take care." Diana replied, keeping the goodbyes brief as she could feel her clarity slipping away.
Will stretched as he woke up in bed and thought of his last couple of days.
On Wednesday morning he'd dropped Spencer, JJ, and Henry off at the airport for their flight to Vegas for the holiday weekend. He'd taken care of a few errands and then he'd ventured out into the club scene in DC.
Things had been hopping in the District on the night before Thanksgiving… but somehow he found himself in a jazz club having a drink and reminiscing about the previous Thanksgiving. A year ago, he'd been a cop with the NOLA PD. He had a boyfriend… Charlie… He couldn't help but think about all the changes in the last year… and he realized just how much moving to DC had helped him. Yes he still thought about Charlie… but it didn't hurt anymore. He could think about Charlie now and be grateful for the time that they did have together… so maybe it was time to start to move on.
He'd left the jazz club after having a couple of drinks and headed home window shopping along the way and come across a music store. The store window had a display with the best looking drum set he'd ever seen. It rivaled the drum set he'd asked his parents for as a child when they'd finally broken down and gotten him lessons. He'd stood in front of the window looking at the display for several minutes. Then he made a decision. He was buying that drum set and picking his sticks back up. He hadn't played in years, but some lessons should brush the dust off… and if nothing else, it would be a good way to meet some people with similar interests here in DC. JJ and Spencer were his best friends, but he couldn't stay attached to their hips forever…
Will smiled, mentally putting together his to do list for the day as his feet hit the floor. Buy a drum set. Sign up for music lessons. Set up said drum set. Get a gym membership. It was time to rejoin the land of the living and put himself back out in the world again… although he still wasn't sure if he wanted to apply to DC Metro… he could decide that another day though. He thought as he stretched his arms above his head and headed for the shower. For now, he needed to go see a man about some drums.
"Mmmm, this feels heavenly," JJ moaned as she leaned back against Spence's chest, soaking in the large bubble bath he'd drawn for them in the whirl pool tub once they'd gotten Henry down, "this was a fantastic idea baby."
Spence continued massaging JJ's lower back as he leaned forward, kissing her shoulder. Then he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I'm glad you like it. I thought you could use a little pampering." He said, wrapping his arms around JJ and holding her close.
"Mmm I'm just glad we don't have a first thing in the morning flight." JJ mumbled half asleep as she relaxed back into Spence's chest.
Spence chuckled. "Me too. Come on JJ; let's get out before you fall asleep on me in the tub." He said as he nudged JJ forward a little and then stood up and stepped out of the tub. He reached for a couple of large fluffy towels, wrapping one around his waist. Then he held out his hand to JJ as she stood up and stepped out of the tub. He wrapped the other towel around her.
JJ wrapped her arms around Spence and rested her cheek on his chest and yawned. "I didn't realize I was so tired. It's been a busy couple of days… but good days, you know?" JJ asked yawning again.
"Yeah, it was good." Spence replied, reflecting on their visits with both his Mom and Dad as JJ moved out of his arms and dried off. "Hey, wait… if you wear those, what am I going to wear for pajamas?" Spence asked as he watched JJ toss aside her own pajamas and pull on the top of his flannel pajamas.
JJ paused in buttoning up Spence's soft warm flannel pajama top. "You can wear these, baby." she said with a smirk as she tossed the matching flannel pajama pants to him aiming high so that he would have to reach up to grab them.
Spence reached to grab his pajama pants as they went over his head, his towel dropping to the floor as he did so. "You did that on purpose." He said as he looked back at JJ and saw the wide grin on her face.
"And your complaint is?" JJ asked, yawning again.
"Uh… I don't have one I guess…" Spence replied as he scratched his head and then stretched.
"Mmm hmm, that's what I thought. Come on baby; let's get some sleep. Henry is going to be awake in a little while and hungry." She said as she pulled the covers back on the bed. She climbed in and scooted towards the middle.
Spence followed her, turning off the lamp beside the bed just before laying down. He grinned as curled up next to him, the soft flannel of his pajama shirt brushing against his stomach as she wrapped and arm around him and pressed into his side.