Disclaimer: see my profile
Warning: see my profile and the first chapter
Reid woke abruptly to find that he was lying on his stomach with his left arm trapped under his body. Something was pounding and he thought it might be his head. He swallowed past the gunk in his throat and tried to sit up.
The knocking continued and was followed by an annoyed voice. "Reid! It's ten am. Open the door before someone calls the cops."
What was Hotch doing at his door at this hour on a Sunday morning?
He stood up on unsteady feet and rubbed at his left arm that was completely numb from being trapped under his body.
He ran a hand through his hair and kept shaking his left arm to restore the circulation. Little pins and needles began shooting through his arm as he entered the living room.
"Ow…" He opened and closed his hand.
"Reid! Open the door."
Reid muttered something that sounded a lot like "I'm coming," or it could have been "F-off," who knew for sure.
At least Hotch wouldn't hear him, he hoped, as he stumbled over his messenger bag. "Damn it…"
"Are you alright Reid?"
"I was until you decided to knock on my door." He muttered under his breath.
His boss stood with his trademark scowl in place when Reid finally opened the door. The fact that the SAC was wearing blue jeans, a dark green tee shirt topped with a dark brown leather jacket didn't penetrate Reid's haze until he'd invited the older agent into his apartment.
"You look like hell Reid."
Reid gaped at the suit-less and tie-less Hotch. Perhaps this was a nightmare and the universe would return to normal if he could just wake up.
"Reid!"
"Um… yeah Hotch. Ah… Do we have a case?"
"No, but you will need your 'go' bag."
Reid stood there staring at his boss. It would all come clear soon. He just knew it. "I don't understand sir."
"Did something happen that I need to know about?"
"No! I mean I was up late last might talking to Emily."
"Oh…"
Instead of going to get his 'go' bag, Reid took a seat on his couch that was an ugly red vinyl with holes in the arms.
Hotch found a place on the easy chair, which was an eye searing orange and green plaid that was threadbare and falling apart.
"She um… she showed up here crying last night at midnight. I didn't know what to do." Reid blurted out.
"What did she want?"
"She was pissed at me because she's three days over her due date. The doctor has her scheduled to go in to induce labor tomorrow if she doesn't start on her own. She seemed to think the whole thing was my fault."
"Women have a tendency to blame us for everything when they're pregnant. It's normal."
"I didn't know what to do." Reid repeated. "She came all the way over here when I specifically told her not to drive."
Hotch's eyebrows went up his forehead. "You told Emily Prentiss what to do?"
When the young man in front of him only looked confused, Hotch stood up. "Go get your bag. Morgan and Garcia were right. You two need a small vacation."
"But she has to go to the hospital tomorrow and -"
"One day isn't going to make a difference. Garcia already talked to Mai, who got the okay from Emily's doctor. Come along with me." Reid hadn't got up so his boss slung an arm around his shoulders. He squeezed them in such a way that Reid knew there was no way to escape.
---
"Where are we going?"
Emily felt as though she'd just repeated the day of the baby shower down to the last bump in the road.
"I told you it was a surprise."
"Why are we headed toward my mother's house?" Emily asked as some of the biggest estates in Virginia passed by her eyes.
"Don't worry about it."
"The last time someone said that to me, I ended up pregnant."
"That's your fault. You're the one that insisted on artificial insemination. If you'd come to me…"
"Alright! I should have consulted the goddess of everything."
"I keep telling you people that worship of me is the only way to happiness."
Emily reached over and smacked her friend upside her head.
"Hey"
"I'm getting sound proof my walls and a door." She threatened. "So that when you decide to come over unannounced, I can ignore you."
"No you won't. You like these little outings with me." Garcia said confidently as they turned into the drive at her mother's house.
"What are we doing? Why can't you just ask me to go somewhere with you, instead of just showing up on my doorstep?"
"Now where's the fun in that?"
Garcia pulled up to a huge wrought iron gate and beeped her horn. The small grey haired man that limped out was a fixture at her mother's house.
"Miss Emily!" He spoke with a voice that sounded like a gate desperately in need of oil.
He bowed in her direction and Garcia giggled. "Stop it." Emily hissed through a mouth that smiled hugely at the small man.
"How are you Avery?"
The small man had come to her door and was beaming at her like the sun. "I'm very well Miss Emily. You may go in."
He said it as though bestowing a great favor and Garcia howled with laughter once the gate had slowly swung open so Emily could see the big house.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on or am I going to have to get out my gun?"
"Just wait!"
The car passed the huge marble stone home and continued around to the back. The estate continued into a grove of elms and pines before opening up on a small cottage that was made from the same stone as the house.
"Why are we at my mother's guest house?"
"You're going to stay here." Garcia said.
"What? Have you lost your mind?"
"It was your mother's idea."
"What?"
"We're all concerned for you honey. We know how hard this pregnancy has been on you. You're starting to go nuts because you're late. Your mother noticed and so we collaborated on this mini vacation. She promises to leave you and Dr. Reid alone. She made you a great lunch and we're taking care of dinner. You can relax for a night before you go into the hospital."
"But the cottage only has one bedroom."
"I know!"
"Garcia!"
Her friend parked the car in front of a tiny replica of the home Emily had grown up in. Garcia got out of the car and grabbed her large red tote and Emily's bag.
"Garcia!"
"Come on!" Her friend left her sitting there as she took the bags into the French doors at the front of the house.
Well… She could sit there and whine or she could be appreciative of her friends. After all, she'd loved the guest cottage as a child. She threw up her hands and got out of the car.
"This is your fault." She scolded the baby. "If you weren't so stubborn." "I wonder where the baby could've got that quality," Hotch said from behind her.
She hadn't heard any vehicles pull up behind her. Reid gave her a small wave and a look that pleaded with her to believe that he wasn't in on this ruse.
"I don't know what you're talking about Hotch."
Hotch smiled and it was a bit like watching a shark smile. "I'm sure you don't," He agreed.
"Can we just go inside?"
JJ was in the living room when they came into the cottage. The small room was nothing like her mother's marble and glass home. The carpet was a light blue-grey color that matched the paint on the walls. It was a cool and soothing color that went well with the dark blue suede love seat and couch. A small television was mounted to the wall in front of the love seat. A glider rocker, much like the one Emily had, stood off to one side of the couch. There were three pictures on the wall in black and white. They were photographs of different lighthouse views on the Maine coastline.
"This is a great room." JJ said looking around with rapturous eyes.
"Wait till you see the bedroom." Garcia said, coming out of the kitchen with Morgan.
They both chuckled as Reid went scarlet. "There will be no tours. Everyone get out now." Emily ordered.
"But your mother's housekeeper made lunch and it smells good." Morgan complained.
"Too bad for you. You people dragged us all out here. I'm sure you can find someplace that serves lunch on Sunday."
"But -"
"Leave them alone." Hotch said. "That was the idea." His stern glower was back and he looked like Emily's boss again; for that, she was grateful.
"We'll go after I give this to Reid," Morgan said coming out of the hallway that led to the only bedroom. He winked at Reid and pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
"What's this?"
"It's the final paper work for the house. You two wouldn't let me just give it to you so you have to sign this stuff."
"Morgan," Reid said with a great deal of exasperation. "You gave us the house for less then half of what it's worth, stop complaining."
"Yeah, you fixed it up great. You're not going to make any money on your investment." Emily agreed.
"That's not the point… You two shouldn't have a mortgage to weigh you down."
"Actually, a mortgage helps your overall credit score. It shows financial instability to other creditors when you apply for a credit card, or buy a car."
"Alright Mr. Financial Advisor, we get it." Morgan interrupted. "Doesn't that drive you crazy," He asked Emily.
"Nope… I happen to like his babbling. If you'd stop and listen for a couple of seconds instead of teasing him all the time you might learn something."
Garcia high-fived her while the others laughed, except for Hotch.
"All right, let's leave these two alone.
They left meekly in the wake of Hotch's glare. He smiled at Emily and Spencer as soon as the others left, and Emily's world felt snapped out of place again.
"Sorry about that," He said. "I hope you guys aren't mad."
Emily and Spencer looked at each other.
"I didn't think you were. Just remember that they did this because they care about you. I trust you can get Emily to the hospital tomorrow." He said to Reid.
"Yeah…"
"Okay… Call me when it's all over." He said to Emily.
---
"What are you thinking?"
"That this chicken soup is the best I've ever had." Reid said. "Your mom's housekeeper is a great cook."
"Actually, she has her own chef. His name is Lawrence. He travels with her. She thinks he's the best thing since the advent of the microchip. She says he's the reason she keeps her figure."
"I don't have any complaints." Reid said around a mouthful of potato salad.
"Yeah… He's pretty good. So what were you really thinking?"
He went pink in the cheeks. "I was thinking that I hoped you weren't mad that the team put all this together."
"Why should I be mad? It's not your fault and I'm actually glad to get out of the apartment."
"What's wrong?" He probed.
"Nothing!"
"You came to my place last night and kept me up talking till three this morning." He yawned. "I know it wasn't just that you were upset about the baby being late."
Emily shoved up out of her chair. "Can we go sit down in the living room?"
"Sure," He followed her into the little blue room he was starting to think of as the living room.
"So, what's wrong?"
She clasped his hand tightly. "I thought I was over losing my baby all those years ago."
"You have to stop blaming yourself." His large eyes were filled with concern that made her want to cry.
"I can't help it. It's like the closer it gets to delivering the baby, the more afraid I get."
He wiped away the tear that was crawling down her face with one long finger. "Nothing is going to happen to our baby because I won't let it."
"But -"
"You've had the best care for your whole pregnancy. You've taken great care of yourself. I looked it up and Dr. Kelly has delivered two hundred and sixty-eight babies. The mortality rate for him is less than one percent. It's the best rate on the Eastern Seaboard. Everything is going to be okay."
"Why are you so calm? I thought you'd be freaking out by now."
"Because I love you and the baby. I just know everything is going to be alright."
"That's a very unscientific answer Dr. Reid."
He put an arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Sometimes you have to believe in something bigger than science. Some people think that what we do every day is one step away from witchcraft."
Emily laughed.
"What's so funny?" He wondered.
"Five hundred years ago we would've been burned at the stake."
"True…"
They sat in a comfortable silence that stretched out for long moments, which passed like pearls being strung on a silken cord until Emily broke the quiet.
"Spencer…"
"Hm…"
"If you came with Hotch, and Garcia brought me here, how are we getting to the hospital tomorrow?"
"Don't worry, I brought my car. It's out front."
"Oh good, did you hear that little one? We get to depend on your father's ancient Volvo for transportation." She looked down at her stomach while talking.
"That car is in great shape. When will you believe it?"
"I'm just teasing you baby."
"Oh… Well um," He bent down to her stomach. "See, your mother is a smart ass. You'll have to get used to that."
"Stop it." She smacked the back of his head.
"I'm going to go clean up lunch."
"Hurry back," She let go of his hand. "I like this relaxation plan." She winked at him and he went pink in the cheeks.
"Okay…"
He hurried out of the room. "See, Daddy is the best. You need to come out of there so you can find that out for yourself." She told her belly.
The baby kicked her in the ribs.
"Great, stubborn and a smart ass," She said. "I guess my mother telling me that she wished I had a kid just like me is coming true."
The baby didn't reply with a kick.
"Let's just enjoy the day. We're going to have a very long day tomorrow.
She sat back and looked out the window that sparkled in the sunlight. Someone had cracked it open a bit and a cool breeze made the white muslin curtains dance. Tomorrow was going to be painful, but today she'd try not to think about it.