Chapter 65

Once Laura got over her initial panic everything kind of subsided. They knew that Harris wasn't going to do anything until Laura was at 37 weeks, which meant that they had months before they had to worry about anything.

The midwife clucked a little but accepted the story of a condom tear without question. She prescribed a vitamin supplement and a healthy diet and regular walks, just as they expected, and sent them on their way. Laura was in all other ways healthy, there was no reason for them to expect any health problems with this pregnancy.

Even though the midwife told her to avoid all process sugar Spencer always kept a lemon cheesecake in the fridge. They went through a lot of them.

It did not escape them that this baby would be due within days of Maggie's due date. Not that they thought it was Maggie coming back, this was someone completely new in their lives. But perhaps a guardian angel was telling them something.

At the end of the term she told UDC that she would not be teaching the Home Ec class in the fall, as she was due almost exactly at the end of that term. She did agree to advise on curriculum with them provided she could work from home. She planned to continue to work on curriculum for the community center as well. She kept up her work at the textile shop, and planned to right up until her due date, mostly because it gave a chance to socialize with other women. She'd already joined Penelope's knitting group and by the summer had a thriving circle of friends.

Spencer continued to work, of course, doing the usual work of the BAU. At first he was nervous about leaving her alone, but after the first few cases their profile seemed to be bearing out, no one bothered her at all. So he relaxed and focused and continued to stop bad guys. But now he came home to a comfortable home and meals cooked with love and a growing little miracle that he already adored.

In late May they finished the house. It was more open than the original builders intended, with an archway between the living room and dining room, and only a counter framed in another arch between that and the kitchen. But somehow Morgan had kept all the original woodwork and stained glass so it managed to keep that Gilded Age air that he and Laura both loved. Spencer took the small office space upstairs so he could spread out case files, while Laura took the one off the kitchen, with lots of light and a view of the backyard. And in that backyard they planted vegetables and fruit trees and from the big, old oak they planned to hang a swing.

Archie and Oliver were thrilled to have the space, once they got over their nerves about it. They hit feline adolescence with the power of a thousand suns, romping up and down the stairs, in and out of hiding places, up and over anything they could climb. The spiral staircase in the dining room was an especially enjoyable place for the furry members of the household to lie in wait, more than once Spencer walked by, his mind on other things, only to get a bop on the head from a furry paw. They also liked to go after his shoe laces and flop on his books while he was trying to read and attack Laura's yarn while she tried to knit. Of course no one said anything, they were simply adored.

Laura was knitting baby things again, only this time she wasn't pretending to buy yarn for other things or other people. This time it was all bright, rainbow colors of yarn and fabric for quilts, despite the gentle, butter color she chose for the nursery walls. "I'm not hiding my interest this time." She said, one lazy Sunday morning as they rested in bed and drank hot drinks and listening to the news while the cats attacked their toes under the sheet. "I'm celebrating. My life is exactly what I want it to be."

Spencer smiled as Archie attacked his teasing fingers. These lazy Sunday mornings were what he had wanted in his life for so long. They helped make his life exactly what he wanted it to be. "Good to know."

June came, and around the middle of it Garcia brought three mugs full of lollipops to the office. She left one on Hotch's desk and one on Spencer's. "What, none for me?" Morgan asked.

"They're for Father's Day." She replied. "Last I heard you were still practicing."

Morgan chuckled, then caught the look on Spencer face. "What?"

Spencer pulled the lollipop out of his mouth. "I'm just remembering how quickly we made Maggie."

"So?"

Garcia caught it and grinned. "Some people need practice, some people are naturally gifted."

Morgan's jaw dropped as the entire pod started laughing. "Oh you did not go there. You did not go there."

Just then Rossi walked up. Garcia handed him a mug full of lollipops, pronouncing him the World's Best Grandpa. "I hope that's okay." She said.

Rossi smiled in that way of his that was very real. "It is. Thank you very much," He even kissed her cheek for it.

Spencer smiled around his lollipop. It was more than okay, it was kind of perfect.

The following week Tonya moved in to the aerie apartment. "I could live with my sister." She said. "But I'd have to kill her within the month. Besides, this way I'm close enough to help with the baby. And it's not like we didn't live in the same house for years."

They drafted Morgan to help with the hauling of boxes upstairs, and afterward sat down to take-out. "So we've been meaning to ask you two something." Laura said once they sat down. She looked at Spencer, who nodded his final approval. "Godparents?"

"I would be honored." Morgan said, clapping Spencer on the shoulder.

"Of course," Tonya said, hugging Laura tight,

After dinner as they did dishes Spencer looked over at Morgan. "So why haven't you asked her out yet?"

Morgan looked back over at the living room where the ladies were talking, "Maybe I'm taking Laura's advice." He took a sip of his beer. "Besides, you make settling down look good."

Oh

July came and with it the twenty week ultrasound. Spencer held Laura's hand as the tech pressed the machine down on her distended stomach. "Of course we'll have to wait for final word from the doctor but everything looks spot on healthy." The tech said. "Want to know what you're having?"

Spencer looked at Laura. They had been discussing this for days. If it was a girl would they worry that she would somehow die because Maggie did? If it was a boy would they be even more paranoid about Harris? They had gone around and around, but in the end there was only one solution. "No." Laura said, "We want to be surprised."

"All right."

Summer moved into fall. Life moved on pleasantly, with all the love and comfort he ever wanted.

As Laura got close to her due date Hotch assigned a protective detail to stay with her constantly, just in case. But throughout the summer no one had seen or heard one peep out of Kipling Harris, or anyone else who could have threatened them. There was simply nothing at all.

Finally, one year to the day from the day that Maggie started making her way into the world Spencer and the team were walking in to the office, on their way back from another miserable case, when his phone rang. "Where are you?" Laura said, her voice sparkling with excitement and fear. "Are you still in the air?"

"No, we're at the office. Why?"

"My water just broke."

Oh. Shit.

Hotch gently took the phone from his hands. "Have Anderson drive you to the hospital." He said quietly. "We'll get him there."

Twelve hours later Spencer was standing in the birth center, bearing all of his wife's weight while she focused on the task at hand. For the second time in their lives he watched as she lifted her head up and groaned as she pushed, putting everything she had into the effort. She was hot and sweaty and pale with exhaustion and pain and as he watched, she somehow became more radiant than the sun.

There was a brief flurry of sound and then a brand new cry was heard the world. For a moment Spencer swore he felt the brush of angel's wings.

"I'll take that." A deep, male voice said.

Spencer looked away from the beauty in Laura's eyes and found himself looking down the barrel of a gun.