Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.

Previously on Criminal Minds- Wrapping an arm around the little boy, Fran snuggled him into her side, opened the book, and began: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Let the Pranks Begin

Spencer ran into the kitchen the next morning. "Good mowning!" he shouted.

"Somebody's sure feeling better." Morgan remarked, patting down the boy's messy mop of hair.

Reid batted his friend's hand away. "Uh huh, I feel gweat!" he exclaimed. To prove it the mini profiler began to race around the table. "No mowe leeping! I'm weady to…" he broke off, freezing when he spotted his surrogate father enter the room. His eyes went saucer wide as he took in the expression on Hotch's face.

"Spencer" Aaron growled. "What did I say about running?"

Spencer's head dropped to his chest. "Not to." He sadly replied, fidgeting under his dad's scrutiny.

"And I told you that because?" Hotch prodded.

Reid sighed. "Betause I was sit." He dutifully answered.

"That's right." Aaron said. Pleased that the boy understood, he gave his youngest a smile. It seemed Spencer was finally learning to live with his new boundaries.

Raising his head, Reid looked his father figure in the eye. "But I'm not sit anymowe. I haven't had a fevew since seven fiwty(thirty) lat night and I don't feel bad ow anyfing. So fewe's no weason why I tan't run and pay if I want to." He argued.

Hotch groaned. He should have known it wouldn't be that easy. Ignoring the muffled snickering of the other profilers in the room, he crossed his arms and pinned Spencer with his best fatherly glare. "We are not having this conversation again young man. Your fever may be gone but it won't stay that way if you start running around." He warned before pointing towards the entryway. "Now go in the living room and park your butt on the couch before I do it for you."

Noting the wetness on Reid's eyelashes and the tremble of his lower lip, Morgan quickly stepped in to defend his friend. "Cut the kid some slack, Hotch. A little running and playing won't hurt him."

Aaron raised an eyebrow at the single man's observation. "Two words; Fun Factory," he stated.

Derek winced. He'd forgotten all about that. He guessed he still had a lot to learn about dealing with little kids, starting with not caving at every kicked puppy look. Raising his hands in surrender, the muscular profiler backed out from between the two. "Sorry Pretty Boy" he apologized. "Hotch has got a point. The last thing I want is for you to end up in bed sick again because I allowed you to run and play too early."

"But"

"Cheer up Bambino, there are still plenty of things you can do." Dave said, glancing up from the pancakes he was making. "Why don't you and Morgan go in the living room and play with the Legos until breakfast is ready? You've got that new spaceship set you haven't opened yet. You could get a start on building it."

Morgan jumped on the idea. "Yeah, come on kid." he urged. "Let's go crack open that Millennium Falcon kit."

"Otay" Spencer grudgingly agreed. After giving Hotch one last glare, he toddled into the adjoining room with his best friend. The angry tot grabbed the box of blocks that was almost as big as he was and carried it over to the coffee table. With Morgan's help the little boy hoisted the rectangular box on the table and ripped it open. He slowly and carefully dumped the contents out and looked them over before plopping down on his behind and starting to build.

"Morning" JJ cheerfully called as she walked into the room a few minutes later.

"Mowning Weid!" Henry shouted, bouncing up and down in his mother's arms. "Mommy and Henwy pay twain! Weid pay twain too?"

"Sorry Henry, Reid can't play right now." Derek replied. "He's been sick, remember?"

Henry nodded. "Uh huh" he answered, nodding vigorously. "Him better now?"

"Yeah, he's better. He's just not up to running around yet." Morgan told the little boy. "You'll have to wait a little bit longer to play with him. Okay?"

"Otay" Henry said, smiling at the two profilers. His attention was quickly captured by the small colorful blocks in their hands. "Henwy pay bocks wif Weid?"

JJ saw a fearful look flash across Spencer's face before he could mask it. Knowing how much he loved putting together challenging puzzles and also knowing her son's love of destroying block buildings, she swiftly decided she needed to divert her little one's attention. "You don't want to play with mommy anymore, Henry?" JJ asked, pretending to pout.

Henry peered curiously up at his mother. "Mommy sad?" he questioned.

JJ shook her head. "Yes, mommy's sad because she wanted to play train with you." she replied.

Henry frowned. "Mommy no be sad. Henwy pay twain wif hew." He announced.

"Yea! Henry and mommy play train!" JJ happily shouted, grinning from ear to ear. Looking down at a confused Spencer and Morgan, she winked at the two. "Bye guys! We're going downstairs to play!"

"Bye" Spencer said back. He was relieved that Henry wouldn't get a chance to destroy his forming spaceship however that relief was tinged with a ton of guilt for feeling that way about his godson.

"See you at breakfast!" Morgan called out. He turned to their building set before spinning back around as a thought came to him. "Hey JJ! Where's Will?"

JJ turned and eyed her friend suspiciously. "He's taking a shower. Why?" she warily inquired.

Derek fought to keep a mischievous smirk from coming out. "Just wondering, you guys usually come down together." he fibbed.

JJ's stare intensified.

"Okay, okay, I've got something for the boys and I need his help to set it up." Morgan smoothly covered.

Spencer's ears perked up at that revelation. "Weally? What is it?" he asked, patting the older man's knee. "What'd you get? Is it big? Tan we pay on it? Is it…"

"Whoa! Slow down Pretty Boy!" Morgan instructed. "You'll find out what the surprise is soon enough." He slammed a hand over his mouth. He hadn't meant to say that. His friend wasn't going to leave him alone now. The kid was just that, a kid, when it came to surprises. Spencer was sure to bug him until he found out just what the surprise was.

Sure enough, Reid pounced on the statement. "A prize?!" he excitedly hollered. Jumping up, he got right in Morgan's face. "What is it?! What is it?! What's the prize?! Tan I see it?! Tan I? Peas?"

"Thanks a lot JJ" Derek tossed over his shoulder. He then turned his attention to the youngster dancing around in front of him. "Spencer, calm down before Hotch comes out here and gets after your butt." He warned.

Reid immediately stilled.

Morgan nodded. "Now sit." He smiled as the little boy did as he was told. "Good boy" he said, patting Spencer's head like he was a dog. "Now you'll find out about your surprise later. Right now we've got something important to do."

"We do. What?" Spencer asked, intrigued by the prospect of something being more important than his surprise.

"We have a prank to pull, youngster." Derek quietly relayed.

Spencer's eyes lit up. He loved prank wars. They were always a ton of fun. "On who?" he questioned.

"Will" Morgan answered. "You game?"

"Uh huh" Reid agreed, nodding his head. "What awe we gonna do?"

"Well you see" Morgan started before leaning over and whispering his plan in the boy's ear.

Spencer pulled back, looking up at his friend horrified. "I tan't do fat!" he protested.

"There's a fresh, homemade cookie in it for you." Derek offered, knowing the boy wouldn't be able to resist one of his favorite treats.

Reid cocked his head to one side. "Cho'late chip?" he asked.

"The biggest one from the batch Garcia is making." Morgan replied. "I'll sneak it to you right after breakfast. Now come on. What do you say? Are you willing to help your best bud out?"

Spencer didn't even have to think about. "You bet." He agreed.

A wide grin broke out across Morgan's face. "Alright then, let's get this party started!" he exclaimed. He stood and scooped up his partner in crime. The two then hurried up the stairs and down the hall to the door of JJ and Will's room. After cracking the door open and peering inside, Derek set Reid on his feet and knelt down in front of him. "Okay, now you remember what to do?"

Spencer rolled his eyes. "Of touwse I do. I'm a tid, not tupid." He huffed.

Derek chuckled. "Sorry, Short Stuff" he apologized. He nudged the little boy forward. "Go on now. Go get him tiger."

Reid nodded. He glanced at his friend and then crept into the bedroom. Hearing the water running in the bathroom, he grinned. He still had time. Spencer snuck across the room and after a little struggle, opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. Putting a hand beside his face to block his view of the shower, the little boy shuffled over to the toilet. He took a deep breath and screwed up his courage before flushing the toilet at the same time as he hollered, "Will!" at the top of his lungs.

Morgan burst out laughing as the horror movie worthy scream reached his ears. "Me: 1, Will: 0" he thought. Footsteps on the stairs drew his attention away from the scene of the prank. Not wanting to be caught, Derek raced down to his room and hid inside, leaving Spencer to fend for himself.

CM

JJ walked into her bedroom to find Reid standing in one corner of the room. She sighed, shaking her head. She'd known Morgan was up to something but she hadn't thought he'd rope the little boy into whatever he had planned. She'd have to have a talk with him about that. But first, she had an upset child to deal with. "Spence" she called as she walked up behind him. "What's going on?" Getting no response, she frowned. "Come on Spence. Turn around and talk to me."

"Tan't" Spencer tearfully whispered.

"Yes, you can." JJ countered. "I'll make it okay with…"

Will chose that moment to walk out of the bathroom. He nodded to his wife as he walked over to the bed and took a seat. "Come here, Spencer" he ordered, patting the spot beside him.

Reid turned and timidly toddled over to the bed. He hesitated for a moment before climbing up next to the stern looking man.

Will crossed his arms as he stared down at the squirming boy. "Do you wanna tell me what that was about?" he asked.

"I uhhh, I" Spencer stammered, nervously toying with the hem of his shirt.

JJ's motherly instincts kicked in, causing her to speak out. "Spence, what did Morgan make you do?" she softly questioned.

"Morgan put you up to that?" Will inquired, raising an eyebrow. He got a shaky nod in response. "How did he convince you to do it?"

"He ummm, he" Reid stuttered before blurting out, "heoffewedmeatootie."

JJ's mouth dropped open. "A cookie?! You sold Will out for a cookie?!" she incredulously asked.

"It was cho'late chip!" Spencer defended.

"Spence, that doesn't…"

"Garcia's?" Will questioned. Getting another nod, he smiled. "Sounds like a good reason to me."

"Will!" JJ gasped.

"What? Everybody knows you do not turn down Garcia's cookies, especially the chocolate chip ones." Will innocently stated.

Spencer stared up at the Cajun like he'd grown an extra head. "You're not mad?" he asked, the surprise clear in his voice.

"At you no" Will replied. "Now Morgan, he's a different story. There's a bulls eye on his back and I plan on hitting it. That boy's gonna regret starting a prank war with me."

"Will" JJ warned.

"Sorry Chere, I don't have a choice. I have to prank him back. It's a guy thing." Will explained.

JJ sighed. "Fine, you boys can have your little prank war." She conceded. "But keep the boys out of it. Understand?"

"Absolutely" Will agreed.

"Good" JJ said. She walked over to the bed and extended her hand. "Come on Spence. Let's go have a little talk with Morgan."

"Otay" Reid agreed, taking his friend's hand.

After saying their goodbyes to Will, the two made their way back downstairs. Seeing Morgan sitting on the floor pretending to be innocent had JJ seeing red. "Spence go help Rossi in the kitchen. Morgan and I need to talk." She instructed, giving the little boy a push towards the other room.

Nodding, Spencer rushed out of the room. He had no desire to stay for the coming conversation.

JJ waited for Reid to exit before rounding on Morgan. "Listen and listen good because I'm only going to say this once." She growled, holding up a hand when the profiler opened his mouth. "You boys wanna have your little prank wars fine but you leave Spence and Henry out of it! I will not have them getting caught in the middle of your pissing contest! Got it?!"

Derek gulped. He'd never seen JJ like this. She reminded him of a mama bear defending her cubs. Hearing a furious 'Well?', Morgan quickly nodded his head. "Yes ma'am" he replied.

JJ studied her friend's face, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, she relaxed a little. "Good" she said, walking towards the stairs down to the play room. Stopping a few feet away from her goal, she turned and added, "Oh and Morgan, Spencer better get that cookie."

Derek nodded once more.

Smiling, JJ turned and started down the stairs. She needed to warn the other ladies of the impending war.