CCoAC's Writing Challenge

Challenge: Back to Basics Spring Challenge

Characters: Reid/JJ

Prompts: fresh flowers, baby bunnies, Easter Egg Hunt

Setting: AU Season 7, inspired by "Proof"

Dresses and Cute Little Bunnies

Saturday, April 5; 9:45 A.M.

"A MINITAURE RABBIT ZOO?"

They're baby bunnies, Spencer. Not rabbits.

"They're still in the same family!"

Dr. Gatsby Algernon-Reid let out a long breath of exasperation.

"Don't breathe in exasperation at me!" Dr. Spencer Reid snapped.

There's really nothing to worry about, Spency. Gatsby assured. I've had Garcia check humane farms and shelters in rural Virginia two months ago. The bunnies are healthy.

"How can you be sure?"

Who's been a parent longer?

"I'm not disputing your parental abilities," Reid defended. "I'm just saying that you need to be careful of where you're getting the bunnies. 45% of humane shelters carry bacteria harmful to children under the age of 7."

Spencer, calm down. I told you already that JJ and I arranged everything earlier. All you have to do is help JJ out. You can do that can you?

"Yes, Gatsby."

Have you crushed JJ to the ground yet?

"No, I haven't," Spencer made a face. "What does that supposed to mean?"

Don't worry about it. Gatsby replied. JJ hasn't called me, crying so I guess you're good. Just remember what I said.

"I have an eidetic memory, dear." Spencer reminded his wife.

That doesn't mean anything. You still forget certain items on the grocery list.

Spencer started to retort when he was interrupted by the sound of his five-year-old twin daughters, Isadora Haley and Minerva Harper, running towards his room and jumping on his bed.

"DADDY!" The girls squealed.

"Hey, you munchkins." Spencer smiled. To Gatsby, he said: "Our daughters just woke up."

Oh, put me on speaker!

"Your mom's on the phone. She wants to speak to you."

Spencer put his phone on speaker and let his daughters talk to their mother. He watched as the girls spoke so enthusiastically about what they're going to do today.

"Mommy, do I have to wear a dress?" Minerva asked.

Yes, Minnie Mouse. Gatsby said. You have to wear a dress.

"But they make me look like a girl!" Minerva whined.

"You are a girl, duh!" Isadora said.

Not long after, the doorbell rang and the girls suddenly got excited again.

"Auntie JJ is here!" They chanted. "Auntie JJ is here!"

Spencer watched them as they ran to the door; then he went back to his phone conversation with Gatsby.

"Well JJ and Henry are here." He said. "So, I gotta go."

Yeah, me too. Penelope and I are taking Remy shopping today.

"You think it'll get his mind off of meeting Carmine's parents?"

No but we've never gone shopping in Canada before.

Spencer laughed. "All right, have fun."

You too. Be nice to JJ, okay?

"Okay. I love you more."

I love you best.

Spencer ended his conversation and headed to the kitchen. He saw JJ Jereau fixing three bowls of cereal for her son, Henry and Isadora & Minerva.

"Once you guys finish your breakfast," she instructed. "We'll go to our bunny zoo, okay?"

"YAY!" The kids cheered.

"JJ, can I talk to you for a moment?" Spencer asked.

"Sure, Spence." JJ nodded.

"Hi, Uncle Spence." Henry greeted.

"Hey, Henry." Spencer smiled. "I'm gonna talk to your mom for a minute, ok?"

They went into Spencer's office upstairs. It was one of the few places in the Reid household that were off-limits from the kids.

"So, what's up?" JJ ushered.

"Whose bright idea was it to have a mini baby bunny zoo?" Spencer asked.

"What's your problem with it?"

"I just feel it's unsanitary; that's all."

"Spence, the bunnies are completely harmless. I got them at an animal farm in Chesapeake."

"Gatsby explained it when she called me this morning. What I'm worried about is the kids' safety."

"It was their idea."

"Oh." Spencer responded, looking embarrassed.

JJ sighed as she slumped on the couch.

"Are you ever going to trust me again?"

"I don't know, JJ." Spencer snapped. "What you did really hurt me; regardless of weather or not you had to do it."

"I never wanted to."

A long, deadly silence occupied the room. This was the first time JJ and Spencer have spoken to each other in three years since their fight. Unrequited emotions were running high and tensions were finally coming to the forefront. But if they wanted their kids' Spring Weekend to be painless, they have to work together.

"Look," Spencer sighed. "I don't want to fight with you this weekend. I promised my wife that I'd try to be nice to you."

"That's the only reason?" JJ said.

"No. But that's the best one I got right now."

"We both agree that this weekend is about the kids and not us. So let's call a truce for this weekend. Then you can hate me on Monday. Deal?"

Spencer didn't need to think about JJ's offer.

"Alright." He said. "Deal."

After they shook on it, JJ stood up.

"Okay," She said. "Now that we got that out of the way, we need to set up the bunny zoo."

"Where're the bunnies?"

"In the back of my minivan."

10:05 A.M.

Fifteen minutes later, Spencer finished setting up the little fence in the backyard when JJ came over with a small cage in her hands.

"Are they it?" Spencer asked, warily.

"Yes, Spence." JJ smiled. "These are the baby bunnies your wife and I picked out."

"And you're sure they're safe?"

"Why don't you hold one and find out for yourself?"

JJ opened the cage and took out a small baby bunny. It was pudgy, gray and white fluff ball. After playing with it for a few minutes, she delicately handed it to Spencer. He felt a little squeamish at first but soon the bunny felt warm and made himself at home.

"Wow." He laughed. "This little guy is really soft."

"I know," JJ smiled. "He really seems to like you."

After a holding the bunny for a few minutes, Spencer gently put the small animal inside the little round fence. There were at least eight baby bunnies in that cage. And the two agents were having fun putting them in the round fence.

"I never really had a pet growing up." Spencer revealed. "Between taking care of my mom and going to school, I never really had the time."

"I always wanted a bunny for a pet." JJ shared. "But my dad and my brother always hunted them for food."

Spencer thought for a moment before he said: "We're just spoiling our children, are we?"

JJ laughed. "Yeah, we are."

Their laughs were interrupted by the sound of their children calling their names.

"Daddy! Auntie JJ!" Izzy called.

"Mommy! Uncle Spence!" Henry called.

JJ looked at Spencer before she got up and ran over to the two young children.

"The bunny zoo isn't ready yet, guys." She told them. "Go back in the house."

"But Mom!" Henry whined. "Minnie won't put on the dress you bought her."

"She keeps crying." Izzy added.

Spencer saw JJ motioning him to come over to her. Curious, he left the bunnies and sprinted over to her.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Minerva is crying about the dress she has to put on." Isadora said.

Spencer ran back into the house, with JJ, Henry and Isadora following behind, to find his headstrong daughter in the middle of the living room floor, still in her PJs and pouting.

"Why aren't you wearing the dress Auntie JJ gave you?"

"I don't wanna wear this stupid dress!" Minerva cried.

"Minerva Harper Reid!" Spencer scolded. "Do not make me embarrass you in front of Auntie JJ."

"But Daddy," Minerva cried. "I wanna wear my black pants and my sparkly pink shirt."

JJ then intervened, kneeling in front of a tearful Minerva.

"Hey Minerva," She asked. "If you wear your dress for me today, I'll let you wear your outfit tomorrow. What do you say?"

"Can I wear my headband?"

"I'll let you wear anything you want."

Minerva wiped the tears from her face then got up and went to JJ.

"I'm sorry." She said, giving the woman a hug.

"It's okay, honey." JJ smiled.

She picked the child up and brought her to her father who took her into his arms.

"Are you gonna put on your dress, now?" Spencer asked.

"Mm-hmm." Minerva nodded.

"That's my girl."

After Spencer kissed his daughter on the cheek, he turned his attention to Henry and Isadora.

"Why don't you two go watch TV?" He instructed them. "We'll call you once we finish the bunny zoo."

Henry and Isadora nodded and started to watch an episode of Phineas and Ferb. JJ watched as Spencer held his other daughter, gently rocking and singing to her.

"Is she always this difficult?" She asked.

"Not really," Spencer replied. "But she's very opinionated and brash like Gatsby. She's her mother's daughter."

"Can't argue with that," JJ agreed. "But when Minerva grows up, she's gonna be Daddy's girl."

Spencer looked at his daughter and smiled. Can't argue with that.