Chapter Twelve

"Are we picking Reid up or is he meeting us at the airport?" Emily questioned as she tossed her bag into the back, Hotch doing the same and closing the hatch soon after.

"We're going over there, we were invited for breakfast." He had tried politely declining the invitation, already feeling as if they had imposed enough the night before, but it was near impossible to say no to the woman and he didn't want to upset her right now.

"That should be good." Emily smiled remembering the vast amount of times she had heard Morgan bragging about his mothers cooking, she could nearly hear him even now.

"Are you guys coming?" Rossi's voice carried back from the passengers side opened window, it was unusually hot for the beginning of May and he did not enjoy sitting in a car that seemed to draw all the suns attention.

"Right now" Emily breathed out as she got in the back with the girls, like he had never made them wait.

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"Hi" Reid waved awkwardly at his team as they entered the door he had just opened. Garcia gave him a hug and JJ offered a wave in return as she smiled back, no one mentioned that he was still in pajamas or how he obviously hadn't combed his hair.

"You go on in the kitchen and help yourselves." Fran was looking way to cheery and the pep that was in her step was almost scary.

"Thank you ma'am" JJ nodded as she grabbed Spencers arm and pulled him with, too worried about what the outcome would be if she declined. "Spencer is she alright?"

"She's coping." He shrugged as he pulled a blueberry muffin from the counter.

"With Betty Crocker?" Emily wondered as she came up behind them. Every surface of the kitchen had food covering it, most some form of pastry including a pie.

"There's eggs and bacon in the oven staying warm, biscuits are in the microwave." Emily nearly dropped her cookie with how quick Fran had appeared, the woman was all stealth as she moved to the cabinet to pull down plates. "I didn't make oatmeal cause that isn't really something that you can keep warm but if anyone wants I will."

"This is more than enough." Rossi just sat at the table with Garcia watching as Fran collected glasses and eating utensils, he had a feeling one wrong word to the woman who seemed to be trying impossibly hard would have her in tears. The kitchen was proof enough of that, there was enough food in there to suggest she had been cooking all night yet the kitchen didn't show any signs of use and was nearly sparkling.

"So what's everyone been up to?" Fran sat at the table once she had found everyone else a spot and made sure they each had at least a plates worth though she hadn't made herself one. "I haven't heard anything since Christmas. What about the lil' ones?"

"Well," The ball obviously fell into her court as the others didn't have kids and unbelievingly Hotch had quickly stuffed his mouth full. "Henry's talking up a storm now, he was a little behind with his first words but now I can't get a minute of silence. He just runs through the house blabberin' away and it leaves me wondering why I was ever worried about him being shy." Will joked that they need a curtain climber to match their little motor mouth.

"That's good. My three were just like their daddy, never quiet, sometimes I swear they were born talkin'." She smiled and everyone relaxed knowing the topic of children wouldn't bring up the pain of losing one of hers.

"Sounds like Jack." Garcia looked to Hotch.

"Are you saying I'm never quiet?" Hotch raised an eyebrow as he set down his fork.

"She's saying he's just like you." Rossi cut through what Aaron was trying to portray as stern. "The kid's a ball of seriousness."

"He is not, and mentioning balls did someone forget soccer season?"

"No," He didn't forget, maybe just let it slip his mind. Whether he'd admit it or not he was gettin' up there and running around with a bunch of seven and eight year olds wasn't easy on the knees.

"Well then I'll see you at next weekends game." It wasn't a question so there was no need for an answer.

"I'll probably be there too." If asked Emily'd say it was to show support but in all reality her weekend was pathetically empty.

"What about you Penelope, what have you been up to lately?" Fran moved to keep the conversation flowing as things sort of hit a bump.

"Umm," What had she been doing? The looks she got for her pause had her hurrying to speak. "The usual, you know work. . . and stuff."

"Of course, you have work to be getting back to." And suddenly Fran was pulling plates from people. "Silly of me to be keeping you here and waisting your precious time." Emily didn't even get a sip from her coffee as the mug was pulled from her lips.

"They aren't expected back until tomorrow Fran." Reid was up and over to the sink where she was placing dishes still full of food inside.

"Yeah but when Derek got that call he had to go and it would probably be better if they were back in D.C. when it comes." She didn't bother with an if, she knew it would.

"Alright, can you just. . ." He nodded over his shoulder and she took the hint.

"Thank you for the meal." Emily offered, the others chorusing as much as Fran left the kitchen.

"If you want you can make another plate." Spencer suggested to the five that hadn't really gotten to eat as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Actually we'll have to be leaving soon if we're to catch our flight." Hotch checked his watch to see they really didn't have much time for delays.

"Yeah kid," Rossi flinched at his own word as he saw Reid squirm the slightest. "go get dressed so we can go."

"I'm" He set his mug down as he glanced at his feet for a minute, collecting his nerve as he glanced back up at them. "I'm not going."

"What do you..." Garcia started but was cut off by Hotch.

"Do you know how much time you want to take? I believe you have two weeks coming to you before it'll start cutting into personal days." He could understand wanting a few days off of work, it would probably be better then him trying to drown himself in it.

"I'm not taking personal days." He was having a hard time looking at their faces as things sunk in but he stayed strong.

"Spence?" No way was she hearing him correctly so she moved closer to rid herself of the absurd idea. "What are you saying?"

"I'm not going back."

"What do you mean you're not going back, to work or to Virginia?" Emily also stood being the only one to have stayed sitting.

" Either, there's nothing there for me anymore."

"We're there." Garcia whispered as she tried avoiding tears. "You can't just not come back."

"You can't quit the BAU," Rossi had not seen this coming, the kid lived to work. "I understand that things aren't easy right now but running away wont solve anything."

"I'm not running." It had been a hard decision but he knew it was the right one, there was no way he could even start to rebuild a life void of Derek in Virginia.

"The hell you aren't!" It was JJ that let the anger show, she wouldn't accept him trying to cut ties like this, to isolate himself. "You've spent near half of your life in Virginia, just because Dereks gone does not mean you are!"

"JJ" Emily was shocked, that had been to far.

"You don't think I don't know that." Reid spoke coldly but quietly, he could feel tears but he wouldn't allow them to fall. "Why do you think I don't want to go back? Every desk, every hallway, every elevator ride, they're all going to be filled with memories. Memories that I'm going to want to stay in, to allow myself to be dragged into, and what kind of life would that be. I'm going to try to hold onto the past instead of embracing the future.

This isn't some rash decision, Derek and I had plans for the future and sorry to tell you this but the BAU wasn't one of them." He hadn't known when they were talking about it but now he could honestly say he wouldn't have left his family to chase cases either. "We weren't going to be there much longer and this is me just bumping things up a little bit.

You can look at it which ever way you want but I'm not hiding, I'm not afraid to go back, I'm finding the strength to move forward, to continue on."

"Are you sure?" Garcia was in tears now as she squashed him into the biggest hug she could manage.

"Positive." Though they were making it harder for him to stay strong as they questioned him.

"You take care of yourself." Rossi gave him a hug of his own as he kissed his cheek. He might not have believed him but a man could only do what he thought right and who was he to judge that.

"What about all of your things?" Emily asked as she avoided the real question she wanted to ask, it wouldn't change anything.

"I'll hire someone." He shrugged it off.

"We'll do it." Garcia offered up her and Emilys help.

"Yeah, no problem." Emily didn't give a hug as much as she was given one, a rather tight one may she add.

"What about Clooney?" JJ spoke carefully, she felt bad for what she had said. The dog was in her backyard at the moment though and she needed to know what she was supposed to do with him.

"Will you send him out?" There was no way he wouldn't keep Dereks dog, if he tried getting rid of him Derek would surely find a way back from the dead just to kill him.

"Of course." He pulled her into a hug and she nearly broke down when he said there was no way he could stay mad at his sister.

"You better call." Emily spoke threateningly. "And skype, lots and lots of skyping." Garcia added.

"We've got to go." Hotch spoke sternly as the others said their last good byes before leaving the Morgan home reluctantly.

"It's just something I have to do." Spencer couldn't take the silence and the stare.

"I understand." Unfortunately Hotch did. "If you ever need anything ..."

"I'll call." Reid assured as he and his boss, well former boss, moved toward the door.

"Anything at all, and if you change your mind..."

"I wont."

"Well if you do, I don't care if it's in a week or in a year you call me, as long as I have a team you'll have a spot on it." He honestly hadn't imagined going home without Reid. Now he was officially the last left of what had been their original team, Gideon M.I.A, Morgan dead, Reid done, and it left him feeling somehow empty.

"Thank you" He watched Hotch start out the door and was about to close it when it was pushed back open and he was enveloped in a crushing embrace.

"You do as Dave says and watch out for yourself." This man had been an everyday presence in his life for over a decade and he would easily call him a brother, if not a son so he honestly didn't care if his image was taking a blow by this rare display.

"I will." He received one last squeeze and a pat to the back before Hotch pulled away. He was too stunned by this to pay much attention to the extra shine in the older mans eyes.

"You make sure you do, and you watch out for her too." Hotch waved at Fran who was just now coming back from her room and with that he was gone.

"Shouldn't you be going with them?" She had made sure he was all good and packed the night before.

"I was thinking that maybe I'd stay a little longer." Spencer closed the door as Fran sat on the couch.

"You can stay as long as you like." She was glad to hear she wouldn't be left on her own so soon, she had taken leave but her daughters decided to keep working right on through.

"Not too long, maybe just a month or two." He sat on the couch with her and the smile he offered only brightened hers.

Three Weeks Later

"Look at his big ol' head!" Desiree pointed out one of the pictures her mother had been gushing over. "How can you honestly say he was the cutest little boy you'd ever seen?"

The whole family was spread out in the living room, including clooney, looking at scrap books and Desiree and Sarah were back to taunting and teasing their brother like he was right there with 'em.

"You leave your brother alone, he was a fine looking boy." Fran chastised as she flipped through the first book she had put together for him. "See Spencer, this was the one I was telling you about." She pointed out a Derek that couldn't be more than seven smiling brightly and missing his front teeth.

"Oh I remember that!" Sarah had started laughing uncontrollably.

"Did he lose them naturally?" Spencer was smiling at a boy that had a dorky grin plastered ear to ear.

"He .. He.." Sarah calmed herself enough so she could manage the story. "He was jumpin' on the couch and fell off the back face first."

Spencer felt bad, well the slightest bit bad as he laughed at the image that had conjured. "He knocked them both out?"

"No I pulled the other." Fran herself laughed a little at the memory.

"And he cried like a little girl."

"You are horrible." What to do with her daughters was the question of the century.

"Naaa, he knows I love him." Sarah shrugged it off easily, it was the way they had always been and she was missing the jabs he would be sending back her way right now.

"Phone!" Desiree sung out as she came back into the room with Spencers ringing cell.

"It's probably Garcia." Spencer answered, she was the only one that really called him anymore, well at least so religously.

"Well in that case," Desiree ignored the hand that was held out expectantly as she flipped the device open.

"Hey!"

"Nope, you want to really be part of the family you'll get treated like part of the family."

"Sarah gave Derek no privacy and he didn't give Desi any, she's taken you as a little brother so she's returning the favor." Fran explained.

"I'm an only child." He protested.

"Not anymore" Desiree teased before actually paying attention to who was on the line. "Dr. Spencer Reids phone, how may I help you?"

"He doesn't need a secretary." Sarah rolled her eyes at the peppy voice her sister had just sing songed in.

"It's for you."

"Well of course it is." He tried getting his phone again but she wouldn't give it so eventually he gave in and she put it on speaker. "Hello?"

"Dr. Reid?"

"This is he. Who is this?"

"Sam, I was just calling to see if you two were still interested in going through our agency. I've had quite a few good cases come across my desk this month and right now I'm looking at a file that fit what you two asked for to the T. We've got a teenage pregnancy due in August and though she's been a little hesitant she saw your profile and wants to set up a meeting."

He was speechless, his heart had literally sunk. The girls weren't looking to be much better off.

"Dr. Reid?"

"Ummm, yeah. ... yes." He cleared his throat trying to gain some calm.

"Are you interested? I can have a meeting set up as early as next week."

"Next week?" It wasn't sinking in, a month. Their baby shows a month after he.. .

"Possibly earlier."

"Do you know. . ." The lump in his throat was growing by the second and words were becoming difficult. "Do you know what she's having?"

"I'm not authorized to say."

"Please, I just... I just have to know."

"It's a little girl."

"A little girl." He tried, he really did but he couldn't control the sob that broke free.

"Dr. Reid are you all right?"

"I'm ... Is she set on a couple?" He didn't think he was ready for a child but how could he pass up an opportunity that might not present itself again.

"That's why you're on the top of her list right now, she wants her baby to have the stability your marriage would offer. I know for a fact she's already had her heart set on another couple but later turned down the woman after they split. So can I count on seeing you and Derek Wednesday, She's pretty eager on meeting you and I'm pretty sure you're a foot in."

"And if I wanted to continue on solo?" Fran moved to sit with him and he accepted her hand as Desi sat on his other side still holding the phone.

"I'd have to create you a new profile but you wouldn't be eligible for this case, she's set on a married couple. Is there a reason you're asking?"

"No Sam," The little girl had never been his but now he felt as if he was losing her too.

"Alright then, so how about next Wednesday?"

"Can you do me a favor?" He had honestly thought the tears were done but he could feel all the progress he had made over these last few weeks vanishing.

"I can sure try."

"Pull our profile," She tried to question it but he just continued on. "and please don't call back."

"I'm sorry." Desiree hung up his phone feeling somehow responsible for the situation.

"It's not your fault." He wanted to get up, to take a minute to try to pull himself together but Sarah had moved to sit in front of him and he was completely boxed in.

"Are you alright baby?" He nodded his head yes but even as he did so it was obvious that he wasn't so Fran pulled himself into a hug.

"We would've had a little girl." He was crying sincerely now, had made Fran do the same but he didn't really care.

It was hard news to take and the girls didn't think any words could possibly begin to make things alright at the moment so they didn't say anything. Instead they joined the hug, offering the newest member of their family comfort and taking some in return.

It was going to take some time to get over this newest blow but for the night the solution would be four squeezed onto a tiny couch with a few pints of ice cream and some I Love Lucy reruns.