On My Own Too Long
Reid and Prentiss
Chapter 13
September 2011
"So we're dating, huh?" Emily teased Reid, when they got in his rental car later that day.
"Its what your Mom wanted to hear. She would have only given you more hell if she thought we weren't together. I said it to spare you that."
"Thank you but I can handle my Mom."
"You know, Emily, I actually like helping you out. It proves to me that even with a tough woman like you sometimes you need someone...and maybe that someone can be me. Maybe I can show you, one day, I can be the person you want around to help you even though you could do it all alone just fine."
"I know I can't do it all alone just fine."
"Really? That's what you've told me since we met: I got this. I can handle it. I don't need any help."
"I don't sound like that," she said, with a smile.
"Yeah, you do." He started the car and pulled out of the space. "What do you feel like for dinner? Do they have any good take out around here?"
"There's a place that has pretty good pulled pork sandwiches."
"Sounds great. I'm starving."
"What else is new?"
"What? I'm not always starving but hunger is one of man's most primal needs, among others."
"Well I can't help you out with your other primal need tonight but we'll get you fed at least."
"Actually don't assume you aren't helping me out with that too."
"Oh, really? Are you flirting with me?"
"Flirting? I don't even know how to flirt."
She laughed. "The innocent act don't work with me. Remember I know you are very far from innocent, Dr. Reid. I have two babies to prove that."
"Now Morgan can't ever again kid me about being a virgin."
"Well we never did see you around too many dates but I figured you just kept that on the down low. Other than Austin, that is."
"Austin is practically the whole sum of my romantic history."
"Really?"
"There were other women but none of them meant that much to me."
"I know what that is like. There are guys I dated that I would rather forget even knowing. It horrifies me to think I ever got with them."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Not you!" she cried, laughing. "Its different with us. We're friends, first and last."
"And parents together. I never thought I'd be anyone's baby daddy, as Morgan calls it."
Emily laughed again. "Well, I promise you, there will be no baby mama drama with me ever. Its all gonna be cool. At first I wondered how we'd work this but I think we can figure it out. I know that the babies being at the hospital makes it simple for us both to see them right now and we haven't talked about visitation for you after they come home but I want you to know that I'm open to whatever works for you."
"I want to do my equal share- fifty, fifty."
"Wow. That's awesome. Most men would be happy with every other weekend."
"You think so? I doubt that. Most men probably just settle for that because that is what they are offered."
"Take it from me, plenty of men shirk their responsibilities. We see that everyday in our jobs. What happens to the kids who no one takes care of when they are small."
"I know but not all men are that way and I know that I'm not. I hope you know that too by now."
"I do know that, Reid. With all my heart, I know you're going to be there every step of the way for the twins. I thank God ten times a day that you're their father, I really do. It's a relief to have a friend to share all this with and to know my kids have a great Dad who wants to be there for them as much as he can."
"I'll need your help-"
"Mine? I don't know what I'm doing. Maybe Hotch and JJ can help us both because I have no clue how a person juggles the BAU and babies."
"About that...I'm not going back to work for a while. With my headaches, the doctors wanted me to take time off anyway and now with the babies here-"
"You don't have to do that. We can get a nanny. One who has medical training. And I'm not going back to work right away either so...we'll figure it out. You don't have to derail your career because of the kids but if you want time off to deal with your health issues I totally think that is a good idea."
"My kids come before my career, Emily. Right now they need me more than the BAU does and I need to get healthy for them."
"Just know that I don't expect you to do what Will did and take a break from work to make it easier on me. That worked for JJ and Will. We can figure out what works for us. Right now, I admit, I can't imagine leaving the kids with a nanny but maybe when they are bigger, stronger and healthier I could. And if not then the BAU can get by without me for a while longer like it has for the last six months."
"Whatever you decide to do, I support you. We will figure it out- the money, the shared custody, our jobs, everything. We both made those babies so we both need to take care of them for the rest of our lives."
"Well hopefully we can teach them to take care of themselves pretty good so we can get a break when they hit their twenties."
"I guess we'll see about that in twenty years."
"Twenty years," she mused. "You ready to spend that much time hanging around me?"
"I consider myself lucky to be able to."
"Awwwww."
He smiled at her as they drove through town, with her giving him directions to the restaurant.