Disclaimer: See my profile

Epilogue

JJ opened her eyes to quiet and low, yellow light. She turned over to see light from the hallway seeping into the room from under the bedroom door. Spencer had disappeared from the room she noticed. She flicked her eyes to the baby monitor, which sat silent on her night table. If the baby had cried, she hadn't heard. She threw off the covers and grabbed her robe.

A few creaks and pops of the settling house broke the quiet as she made her way to the nursery. The door stood open when she arrived, but the crib was empty of its usual occupant. She continued down the stairs to the basement they'd just finished two weeks ago. Her feet whispered over thick silvery-blue carpet and around the corner to the living area.

Spence perched on the royal blue leather sofa with their baby girl in his arms. He didn't seem to hear or see JJ as she watched him feed their baby her bottle. He spoke to her very seriously as he had every night, ever since he'd found out about the baby.

"You're so beautiful." He said softly. "Almost as pretty as your mom, she's the greatest, but then you already know that." He told the four-month-old Camille. "She loves you so much."

Tears welled up in JJ's eyes as she watched him rock Camille. The little sucking sounds her daughter made arrowed straight into her heart, as did the things Spencer said.

"We're going to have so much fun together. We'll read books, and do magic. Your mom will teach you how to play soccer and how to kick ass."

JJ couldn't help it. She laughed. Spencer jumped in surprise. He looked up and smiled. "I didn't hear you come down.

"I can see that. Do you think you should teach our daughter words like 'ass?' JJ asked.

He flushed pink. "I want her to be just like her mother, strong and beautiful, and brilliant at dealing with difficult people."

JJ joined him on the couch as Camille finished her bottle. She took the baby from Spencer and patted her gently on the back.

"Flattery will get you everywhere." She said waggling her eyebrows.

"Do you know what I was thinking about before you came in?" He asked her.

"No."

"I was thinking about the day we finally went out on a real date."

Camille burped and JJ laughed. "Oh… That was the happiest day of my life up to that moment."

Spencer reached out and stroked a finger down Camille's back as she lay with her head on her mother's shoulder. "I was so happy that day and mad at myself at the same time."

JJ shifted their daughter so that Camille lay in her arms, her eyes closing in sleep. "Why were you mad at yourself? You didn't do anything wrong."

"I should've been the one to ask you out, especially after you helped me get through withdrawal. You could've lost your job for helping me. Instead, you're the one that asked me out."

"I was in love with you even if I didn't know it consciously. It's why I did what I did. I couldn't stand the thought of you getting fired or overdosing."

"I'm sorry I caused you so much stress and pain." He said shifting a bit on the couch so that the leather creaked.

"Why are you apologizing?" She demanded softly. "I'm the one that made you wait for two years. I often wonder why you didn't tell me to get lost when I finally asked you out."

"I loved you." He said simply, his eyes glued on Camille.

"Loved?" She teased.

"You know what I mean." He said, rolling his eyes.

She slid over so that he could put his arm around her shoulders. He reached forward and touched Camille's blond curls.

"Thank you for putting up with me and forgiving me." JJ said.

"Thank you for giving me a beautiful little girl that looks just like her mother." He responded.

"I think she's almost out." JJ said. "Want to put her down and go fool around?"

"You have such a way with words." Spencer laughed as they stood up with Camille.

"I better, it's my job." She retorted.

"I'm not interested in words." Spencer said as she followed him up the stairs.

"I'm glad, because words are overrated."

As she watched Spencer put Camille in her crib, the sudden realization hit her, that her life was perfect. It wasn't what she'd pictured six years ago, but it was perfect.

THE END