Michaela woke shortly after Garcia's call so Spencer disappeared into the nursery to take care of her once he collected her from the bedroom. He took Fran's gifts with him, wanting to hide the pump and planning to fold and put away the onesie. He felt bad for his outburst in front of Fran. Of course he was happy to have her help and he hadn't meant for it to seem like he didn't want her around. He just really missed his mother. It didn't help that he knew his emotions would be stronger for a time after Michaela's birth. He made a mental note to do a little research to find out what other emotions were common and how long this would last.
When Garcia called, she'd said the team had solved their case and was flying back to Quantico. They'd return to the office for debriefing and to finish up some paperwork then, if Spencer was up for it, they wanted to come see Michaela. They weren't due to land until early evening so he didn't have to decide just yet.
He wasn't sure what to do until they got there. Except for the night before when it was just him and Derek, they hadn't really been alone since Michaela's birth. Fran was still there, of course, but the house was calm and nothing needed to be done. Spencer found it hard to fall back into a state of pre-baby normalcy.
"What would you have done on a day off before Michaela that didn't require leaving the house?" Fran asked.
Spencer thought about it for a moment then shrugged. "Read. Or Derek and I might watch a movie."
"I'm down for a movie," Derek agreed, offering his boyfriend a warm smile.
"Then why don't you try one of those," she'd suggested. "Go take a relaxing bath, spend some time to yourself while you have a chance. Derek and I can make lunch and then you two can settle in for a movie."
So Spencer disappeared into the bathroom and Derek joined his mother in the kitchen to make lunch, taking the baby monitor with him. Fran suggested something small for lunch like a soup. They didn't have anything to make it from scratch the way she'd have preferred to do for her boys but Derek did find a can of chicken noodle in the cupboard that they heated.
"I've missed being in the kitchen with you, Mama," Derek admitted, leaning against the counter as they waited for the soup to warm.
"I have, too," Fran agreed, smiling at her son. "Maybe later in my visit, when Spencer is feeling a bit more like himself, you and I could cook him a nice dinner," she suggested.
"Yeah," Derek agreed. "I don't get many chances to cook him real dinners. With how much we travel for work, it's usually takeout or some place with the whole team when we get back."
"Well, you and Spencer decide what you want and I'll make up a list and do some shopping. You two don't have to worry about anything while I'm here," she announced.
"Mama, you're going to spoil us," Derek said with a laugh. "What are we going to do when you leave?"
"You'll know what to do," she assured. "It's my job to help you both learn and instinct will tell you what to do. You may not have been able to prepare beforehand but that doesn't mean you're different from any other parents now. You'll get it."
"Thanks, Mama," Derek said before placing a kiss to her cheek.
"So," Fran said in that tone that Derek knew meant she was trying to get information. "Whose last name did you give Michaela?"
"Ah, well, about that... I thought we'd hyphenate our names with his first since he gave birth to her, but, ah, he said he wanted to give her just mine," he explained.
"She's Michaela Morgan and not Reid-Morgan? Derek," she said, drawing his name out in that way only a mother can that always elicited a knot of apprehension. "You've always been a smart boy. Please tell me you understand what that boy was trying to tell you by offering to give your daughter your name."
"Relax, relax, I know what he meant. We agreed that we want to but I don't think you can technically say we're engaged yet. I want to wait a couple weeks to let Spencer get back to his old self and let things with Michaela settle first before starting another big event," he explained.
"See, I told you. You've always been a smart boy," Fran said, patting his cheek before tugging him into a firm hug. "Still, I'm so happy for you both!"
"Is this about Michaela still?" Spencer asked with a small laugh as he entered the kitchen. His hair was still damp from his bath and he'd changed into a pair of his khakis and a button down shirt. The clothes made him feel more like himself and the shirt would be easy to remove for feedings with Michaela.
Fran pulled away and turned her grin to Spencer. "Derek just told me you two are practically engaged."
Spencer's eyes widened and he began fiddling with the ends of his shirt. He narrowed his eyes at Derek and huffed, dropping his hands to his sides again. "Why would you tell her that?" he snapped. "We're not! I-I don't mean I don't want to – I do. I thought we both agreed we wanted to but it wasn't official. Don't go around telling people we are, Derek!"
"Whoa, easy, Spence." Derek took a cautious step toward his boyfriend with his hands raised in a placating gesture. Apparently, this was the wrong thing to do.
"Don't treat me like an unsub!" Spencer growled. "If you're going to come closer, just do it."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Derek said softly as he fully crossed to his boyfriend and placed his hands on Spencer's biceps. "I didn't mean to treat you like that. And I didn't tell Mama we're engaged. I told her exactly what you just said – that we wanted to but weren't yet. I fully intend to propose properly, pretty boy, I promise. I just thought it might be best to wait a few weeks, let you feel like yourself again and let our lives calm down into a routine with Michaela."
"Spencer," Fran said quietly from behind Derek and Spencer flicked his gaze to look at her, trying to keep any heat out of the look. He wasn't angry with her. "I didn't mean it to sound like he said you were. I was just happy that you both were thinking about it. I'm sorry."
Spencer flicked his gaze back to Derek for a moment then sighed and leaned forward to press his face into Derek's neck. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I hate this! I feel like crying all the time and then I get angry over something stupid. Before, I'd have realized she said 'practically,' meaning not exactly but intending to."
"It's not stupid, honey," Fran assured. "Your emotions are going to be all over for a couple weeks. That's normal. Just remember, the positives are just as strong as the negatives. You'll look at your baby and she'll yawn or sneeze and that will bring a wonderful, natural high for you. And it only lasts a week or two. Before you know it, little things won't send you into fits of crying anymore."
Spencer smiled wistfully as he thought about Michaela. He remembered watching her sleep for a moment the night before when Derek was taking Clooney for his walk. Even just sleeping, their daughter was beautiful and he'd felt a rush of love for the infant.
"Ah, Spence," Derek said quietly. "I think you're leaking."
Spencer pulled away and looked down to see two wet spots on his shirt. He made a frustrated noise and anxiously pulled a hand through his hair. "I was thinking of Michaela. Last night, when you took Clooney for his walk, I watched her sleep for a moment before getting ready for bed. I remember feeling a deep love for her. Thinking of her must have triggered a let down of milk. I'll be right back," he mumbled before disappearing.
"Come on, let's get lunch ready while he's changing," Fran said. "It should be warm now."
While Spencer changed his top, the two Morgans filled bowls with soup and put them on a tray with some silverware. Well, Derek filled bowls and prepped the tray. Fran pulled out her phone and began tapping away.
"What are you doing?" Derek asked, trying to peer over her shoulder without being too nosy.
"Looking something up," she said distractedly. "I know how much Spencer likes his coffee and I know some doctors say you can't have any caffeine but I'm sure small amounts is okay."
"Won't it get through the milk and bother Michaela?" Derek asked.
"Well, since she was a surprise, I'm assuming Spencer kept drinking coffee like usual while he was pregnant," she explained. "I'd say she's used to it. Small doses won't hurt her." After a moment, she grinned and flipped the phone around to show him. "Thought so. Doctors' opinions vary but they've settled on a range of one-hundred to five-hundred milligrams a day and to watch for signs the baby isn't sleeping well anymore and cut back. But to be on the safe side, he should fill some bottles before drinking any caffeine. That way, if it does bother her, you have 'clean' milk as a backup while his system clears."
Derek grinned as he read through the information she was telling him. "He's going to love that."
"Love what?"
Derek turned to grin at his boyfriend as Spencer returned, wearing a different colored button down shirt. "You can have caffeine."
"I can?" Spencer asked, coming closer to scan through what Fran was showing him. "I guess it's a good thing you brought a pump," he said when he was finished. "I'd like to do that soon then. I really want coffee."
"I'll help you after lunch," Fran agreed. "You two go eat and enjoy your movie. I'll go get the bottles that came with it and get them sterilized just to be safe. After your movie, you can get comfortable and pump."
So that was how they spent the afternoon. They ate lunch and while the boys cuddled and watched a movie, Fran disappeared into the nursery and kitchen to prepare. When the movie was over, she took Spencer back to the nursery while Derek cleaned up their lunch dishes. At first, Spencer was disappointed that he'd only managed to produce a little over an ounce and a half but Fran assured him he hadn't hit his peak yet and it was normal to produce less in the first few days. Michaela wouldn't eat much more than an ounce at a time right now anyway. And the more he fed her and pumped, the more he'd produce.
Satisfied that they had some milk for her overnight, Spencer went straight for the coffeemaker to get coffee made. He started with a small cup, conscious of his daughter. Knowing he would still feed her himself, he didn't dare flood himself with caffeine like before she was born. Guilt washed over him at the thought that he'd been drinking coffee like he always did while he was pregnant with her. If he'd known, he wouldn't have had as much as he always did. As the coffeemaker ran, he felt tears sliding down his face.
"Are you that happy to have your coffee?" Derek asked with a laugh. His smile fell as he realized his boyfriend wasn't happy, but genuinely upset. "Hey, what's the matter?" he asked as he rubbed soothing circles across Spencer's back.
"I feel guilty for having had as much coffee as I do while I was pregnant. What if I messed up our daughter?" he asked, turning wide, fearful, wet eyes up at Derek. "If I had known..."
"You wouldn't have had as much," Derek concluded. "I know. But you didn't know so don't beat yourself up over what ifs. Michaela is fine. The doctors checked her over when we got to the hospital, remember?"
"I know," Spencer mumbled, wiping at his eyes. "I just hate the idea that I could have hurt her at all. I love her so much."
"I know, pretty boy," Derek agreed, kissing his temple. "I do, too. She's okay. You can go check for yourself if you want to."
Spencer bit his lip in indecision. Logically, he knew Michaela was fine, fast asleep in their bedroom. He could hear her breathing through the baby monitor that never strayed far from his grasp. But his mind wouldn't stop buzzing until he saw her, too. Finally deciding, he nodded and slipped out of the kitchen and hurried down the hall. He quietly pushed the door open and stepped inside and over to the side of the bassinet.
Michaela was as he'd left her for her nap earlier. Her little pink blanket covered her lower half, far enough down that it wouldn't get up onto her face. One little fist was up by her head which was turned to one side. Cautiously, so as not to wake her, Spencer reached down and placed a few fingertips on her chest. He felt her heartbeat and the sensation calmed him. His daughter was perfectly fine.
Relief washed over him and he sighed as the tension left him. He quietly slipped into the hallway and pulled the door shut behind himself. When he returned to the kitchen, Derek was pouring a cup of coffee.
"She's okay," he announced unnecessarily. Derek knew she was fine. It had only been him worrying.
"I told you she was," Derek said gently, handing him the coffee. "Feel better now?"
Spencer nodded before taking a sip. He moaned at the warmth and the taste then blushed for it. "Sorry. A day without coffee and I already really missed it."
Derek only chuckled and kissed his temple.
Clean and fed and caffeinated, Spencer felt more like himself. At least for a little while. He knew his emotions would probably wreak havoc on him soon enough or he'd leak and have to change his shirt again. But for now, he was happy.
They decided to watch another movie, Fran joining them this time. Halfway through, Michaela's crying came from the baby monitor on the coffee table but before Spencer could go get her, Fran was up and waving him back into his place beside Derek.
"You always rush for her when she cries. Let me get her this time. If she's hungry, I'll bring her to you," she assured.
Spencer nodded but kept his eyes firmly on the monitor instead of the movie as if he could watch Fran with Michaela. He felt a little anxiety any time it wasn't him that went to the baby when she cried. But just like the night before, as Michaela's cries calmed as her grandmother tended to her, Spencer's anxiety receded. He sighed and settled more comfortably into Derek's side.
"Am I ever not going to worry when she's out of my sight?" he mumbled, not really expecting an answer.
Derek had his arm around Spencer and began rubbing his arm. "I'm sure you will. But she's less than two days old. You're allowed to be anxious. But Mama had three babies; she knows what she's doing. Michaela is okay."
Fran emerged a moment later with Michaela in her arms. Assuming the baby was hungry, Spencer sat up straighter, eyes locked on his daughter. When Fran settled into her seat instead of passing the infant over, Spencer frowned in confusion and watched them.
"She's fine, Spencer," Fran assured. "She doesn't seem hungry. But she's not sleepy enough to go back to sleep so I brought her out here."
"Oh. Yeah." Spencer leaned back into Derek again, still watching the baby. "I guess you haven't been able to see her much since you arrived. She's been sleeping."
"Yes, but that's okay. Newborns will sleep. I can see her now though," she cooed as she looked back down at her granddaughter. "Can't I, sweet pea?"
Michaela yawned, the action producing a small squeak, then stared up at her grandmother, her mouth open as if she wanted to smile. The squeaky yawn was just too adorable and Spencer found himself laughing, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt. Their daughter was beautiful and happy and healthy. He wanted to hear her laugh and see her smile all the time.
Not long after the second movie finished, Derek's phone buzzed. By the greeting, Spencer knew it was Garcia again and he paid close attention, assuming the team was ready to come visit. Sure enough, Derek turned to him and spoke in a low voice that Spencer knew Garcia cold hear anyway.
"You feeling up to seeing the team, pretty boy?"
Spencer nodded with a soft smile. "I feel okay."
Derek relayed the go ahead to Garcia who assured him she'd let the team know and they'd be over soon. He hung up and put his phone back on the coffee table before wrapping an arm around Spencer again.
"I know having that many people around can be overwhelming," he said, running his fingertips up and down Spencer's arm again, an unconscious gesture of comfort that Spencer liked. "If it gets to be too much, don't feel bad for saying so. They'll understand."
"I know," Spencer assured him. "I really do feel okay at the moment. But if I need a minute, I'll say so."
By the time the team arrived, Michaela was still awake though Spencer could tell she wouldn't be for long. Though with the excitement of so many people wanting to hold her, he feared she wouldn't get to sleep anytime soon. He knew she was bound to be hungry soon, too. She hadn't eaten since just before Derek left to pick up Fran. He was afraid an overtired, cranky baby was in their future.
Hoping to get her fed so she'd sleep and avoid a cranky baby, Spencer voiced his concerns to Fran who agreed. Once he'd removed his shirt, she helped him get comfortable with a throw pillow in his lap to help support Michaela then settled Michaela in his arms before going back into the bedroom for her blanket to cover her and Spencer's chest.
As Derek went to answer the door, Michaela was just latching on and beginning to eat. Spencer felt his face flush as the others entered the living room, feeling exposed without his shirt despite having Michaela's blanket obscuring her and part of his bare chest. When the two were settled, she excused herself, saying she'd let them have their time alone with their team, and disappeared to her room despite Spencer's protests that she didn't have to.
Garcia was the first to enter but she stepped off to the side to let the others go first since she'd already seen Michaela. She was definitely going to take a turn though. She'd just go last. It was actually Hotch that came closest first. This didn't completely surprise Spencer since Hotch had a son already.
"Looks like we've interrupted dinner," he teased, sitting on the opposite end of the couch while Rossi sat on the arm beside Hotch, both completely unphased by Spencer's bare chest which actually calmed the younger man's nerves.
Spencer smiled affectionately as he looked down at his daughter's face against his chest and brought his free hand up to touch the fist she had curled against his skin. At the touch of his finger, she opened her fist and grabbed onto it. "That's okay. She'll fall asleep and be completely unaware of you all taking your turns holding her."
"What does it feel like?" JJ asked, sitting in one of the armchairs. Garcia took the other chair and Prentiss sat on the arm beside JJ.
Spencer huffed in slight annoyance. He didn't mind answering baby questions; he'd just already answered that one for Garcia. "It's like a tugging while she sucks. Slight and non-painful. If it hurts, she's latched wrong and I have to help her latch properly."
"Does that happen a lot?" she asked.
"It did the first few times while I was still at the hospital," he explained. "But I think she's realized what she's doing and we haven't had a problem feeding."
"Does she have a middle name yet?" Garcia asked.
"No," Derek said, leaning against the back of the couch behind Spencer and smiling down at Michaela. "We haven't really discussed it."
"Well, do you want any family names? Maybe one of your mothers' names?" Prentiss suggested.
Spencer immediately shook his head. "I don't want to have to choose. It's unfair to whomever we don't name her after. And if, when she's older, we decide to have more, we can't guarantee another girl to name after the other mother."
"Is there anyone else you'd like to name her after?" JJ asked. "Or a letter you want it to start with? Like keeping her initials all M's or not."
Spencer and Derek glanced at each other then Derek shrugged. "I don't think lettering matters. And I can't think of any other woman I'd wanna name my daughter after other than my mama."
"Actually, I think there is someone whose name might sound good as a middle name," Spencer said quietly, looking down at Michaela who was just sucking sleepily, finished eating. "But I don't know if it's strange to want to name our daughter after her."
"Who is it?" Derek asked.
"Melanie."
"The nurse at the hospital?" Garcia asked.
"Yeah," Spencer said, cheeks tinging pink. "I know we didn't know her much but she helped me so much, even if I was only there for a few hours. She helped me become comfortable with an infant while Derek was preparing the house."
"I'm sorry I wasn't with you," Derek said softly, leaning down to nuzzle into Spencer's neck and press a kiss there.
Spencer leaned away a bit but only to turn a warm smile on his boyfriend. "It's okay, Derek. I understand. We needed a space for Michaela and you did it in one day. I really appreciate what you did."
"Michaela Melanie Morgan," Garcia said, testing the name out for them. "What do you guys think?"
"Morgan?" Rossi said, looking at the little family. "No Reid?"
"Well, ah, after things at the hospital settled down, Spencer and I talked," Derek said. "We agreed that getting married is something we both would like. Just not quite yet. We've just had a newborn and we both agreed waiting a little while before officially getting engaged and having to plan everything was a good idea."
The team made agreeable noises, some nodding.
"Is that a good name?" Spencer asked, looking up at his boyfriend. "If you don't want to name her after a nurse we barely knew, I understand."
"No, no," Derek said, shaking his head with a soft smile. "It sounds okay to me and I understand why you want to use it. When I first came in and saw you with Michaela, you seemed so at ease and confident. And that was just a short time with Melanie's help. If that's what you want to name her, then that's her name."
Spencer nodded. "I like it."
"Then our baby has a full name," Derek announced, grinning.
Spencer grinned and looked down at Michaela. She had finally let go of his nipple and was sleeping peacefully. He shifted to lay her on the couch between himself and Hotch and easily swaddled her in her blanket, looking up at Hotch as he worked.
"Would you like to hold her first?" he asked. At his boss's nod, Spencer carefully lifted her up and settled him into Hotch's arms then pulled his shirt back on.
"You're a natural, Spence," JJ said quietly, casting a wistful smile toward Michaela. "How do you know what to do?"
Spencer shrugged then ducked his head with a sheepish smile. "I just do. I still worry that I'll make a mistake and do something wrong when it's just us again though."
"We got this," Derek assured, leaning down to drop a kiss to his temple.
"Hey, uh, I don't mean to stick my nose where it doesn't belong," Rossi said slowly. He looked around the room at their team members. "But we're a family and I can't be the only one thinking of this. We all know the costs of this job to personal lives. Are you planning on coming back?" he asked, his tone and expression gentle and caring and held a little worry.
Spencer shrugged and began fiddling with the cuffs of his shirt. "I don't know," he said quietly. "I haven't thought about it. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't work for the FBI..."
"Well, I decided I would do whatever you decided," Derek said quietly, moving around the couch to sit between Spencer and Hotch, wrapping an arm around Spencer's shoulders. "If you wanted to stay, I'd stay. Our team is part of our family. And if you wanted to quit, I'd quit, too. I, uh... I don't want us to grow apart because one of us is working so much." He turned to Hotch with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Hotch."
"I understand, Morgan," Hotch assured. "I wouldn't want you to lose one another like I lost Haley. But my job is important to me."
"What would you do if we quit?" Spencer asked.
"I don't know," Derek admitted with a shrug. "I know I couldn't go into law enforcement again. But I'm not sure what else I'm good at."
"You're an awesome cook," Garcia chirped helpfully.
"Not as good as Rossi," Derek countered, shooting a grin toward the Italian.
Rossi chuckled and shook his head. "I'm only good at Italian food, what I grew up with."
"I'm still not good enough to make a career out of it," Derek said. "But you could teach somewhere, pretty boy." He gave his boyfriend an encouraging smile.
"I'm too young to be anyone's teacher except maybe middle schoolers or elementary school kids but I don't think I could handle younger kids. I'm better suited for a college setting but I still don't think I could do that," Spencer said, shaking his head. "Remember that case in Arizona when a college was being attacked by an arsonist and it turned out to be a young woman with religious issues from her childhood? You wanted me to speak to a few of them because I'm closer to their age," he said, leaning around Derek to glance at Hotch who nodded. "I got too nervous and rambled. I'm too close to their age to be their teacher."
"Sure you could," Prentiss said cheerfully, grinning at him. "You just walk in there like you know what you're doing and take charge and do your teaching and they'll love you!"
Spencer watched Hotch pass Michaela to Rossi then sighed with a shrug. "I don't know..."
"Reid, that case was two years ago, you know," Hotch offered. "You've grown up. You don't look like a college student anymore."
Spencer sighed and began bouncing his foot against the floor in agitation. "I don't know," he said again, a slight whine of frustration dragging out the last word. "It doesn't matter if I can or not because we're in this together – if I seem like I want to leave but Derek doesn't, then I'll feel bad for making him quit." He looked at Derek. "And you don't even know what you'd do if we quit so why does it matter what I want or think or should do?" He huffed and pushed a hand through his hair, his breaths coming slightly quicker than normal.
"Hey, Spencer, it's okay," Derek said quietly, wrapping his other arm around the smaller man and gently tugging him closer. "You don't have to decide right now, remember? We have a month before we need to go back, okay?"
"I can extend it to the full three months if you need to," Hotch added quietly.
"See? Don't stress yourself out over it right now," Derek added.
Spencer took a few deep breaths then nodded and gently pulled away. "I need a minute," he admitted quietly. "I'm a little overwhelmed."
Derek nodded and let his hand caress down Spencer's arm as the other man pulled away. He knew that was coming when Spencer had begun tapping his foot and fiddling with his shirt. "Okay. Take your time."
Spencer nodded and mumbled an apology to their guests and went down the hall to their bedroom.
"Is he okay?" JJ asked, still looking toward the hall where Spencer disappeared instead of at Derek.
"Yeah," Derek assured. "I think it's just hormones. He just needs a minute in a quiet place to decompress."
JJ worried her lower lip between her teeth then stood. "I'm gonna go talk to him," she announced though she looked at Derek as if looking for permission. When he just shrugged (because, really, JJ probably wasn't going to stress Spencer out more than he was so what harm could it do?), she exited down the hall, too.
She gently knocked on the door then peeked in. "Spence? Can I talk to you?"
Spencer was sitting in the center of the bed, hugging his knees. His eyes were closed but at the sound of JJ's voice, they popped open. He nodded and straightened out his legs and wiggled to sit on the side of the bed.
JJ pushed the door shut then sat beside him. She looked at him for a moment then stared down at her hands in her lap. "I didn't come to make you talk about whether to stay or leave," she assured. "I just wanted to talk about something if you're up for it?" She looked back up at him, seeking his assent. "I just wanted us to be alone when I did."
"Of course, JJ," he said quietly.
"You don't have to if you don't want to, but I was just curious what it was like," she said quietly.
"What what was like?" he asked, tilting his head.
"When you, uh, had Michaela," she explained lamely.
"Ohhh. Well," he hedged, fiddling with the cuffs of his shirt again though it was more a thoughtful gesture than one of agitation. "At first, I had no idea what was happening. I just know that my abdomen hurt. Derek threatened to take me to the hospital because I was in so much pain. But he agreed to put it off if agreed to take a bath.
"The water actually made the pain recede enough that I almost fell asleep again in the bathtub." He chuckled at the idea. "Derek left the room for two seconds to answer the phone. And suddenly there was this intense pressure and my body was pushing without my consent at first. I felt her moving and it scared me because I had no idea I was in labor. I didn't know there was a baby there. I just felt something.
"Once I could catch my breath, I reached down to see what was happening and I felt her head. Knowing that I was giving birth should have made the fear go away because then I knew what was happening, you know?" he said, glancing at JJ with a shrug. The blond was paying close attention and she nodded in understanding before he continued. "It didn't. I felt her head and my heart started pounding and I couldn't breathe. I screamed for Derek as my body pushed down again. I tried to fight it, still terrified, but fighting it made it worse so I learned to work with the contractions.
"The pain and pressure of pushing her head was gone the second it was fully delivered. It was all moving so quickly – at least, it felt that way to me – so I still wasn't completely calm. I was still terrified. But then the rest of her came out quickly and suddenly, she was in my arms." He folded his arms like he was holding Michaela again and stared down at them, remembering seeing her for the first time. "All the fear and pain and discomfort vanished. I... I loved her the instant I saw her." He lifted his gaze to smile at JJ. "Ten minutes earlier, I had no idea she existed. She'd been in my arms two seconds and I loved her. Giving birth to my daughter was the single most terrifying, painful experiences in my life but it was also the most joyous and most wonderful." He wiped at his eyes where a few tears had pooled but was grinning at JJ.
JJ grinned back and leaned over to hug him tightly. She pulled back almost instantly, laughing. "Uh, Spence, I think you're leaking."
He brought a hand up to his shirt, feeling the damp spots and groaned in annoyance. "This is getting old. I wish my body would adjust to her already and stop leaking whenever I so much as think about her."
"It's only been less than two days," JJ pointed out, still grinning at him. "You'll get there." She stood and crossed back toward the door. "I'll leave you alone to change." He nodded, smiling back, and she pulled the door open. Before she slipped out, she turned back and her smile was less amused and more peaceful. "Thanks for sharing your story with me, Spence."
"Of course," he said quietly, returning her smile.
She slipped from the room and Spencer changed his shirt. Again.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Are chapters too short? I shoot for roughly 8-9 pages (they usually come out to a little over 8 though this one was almost a full 9) in my favorite word processor but I feel once they're posted, they're just short. If people want longer chapters, I'll try to make them longer. I'd say that'd probably make waiting for chapters longer but, obviously, the times between posting varies so much already, depending on my luck, so...
Originally, I didn't have a set season for this since it was supposed to be a one-shot. I always imagined Reid with his shoulder length hair (I love that style; so adorable!) and I like the team lineup with Rossi and Prentiss best which means it has to be set in at least season 3 because Rossi doesn't show up until 3x06. Which is where I intend to set this, in case anyone needed to know when this was set. It is an AU, obviously, but I'm trying to keep canon somewhat so, if I did my research right, JJ is pregnant about this time but they don't know yet and don't know she's been dating Will. But, as I said, it's an AU so I'm playing with timeline to suit my needs, haha.