It was in the evening of a soft, early summer's day when Tovah gave birth to a son. Her labor had begun early that morning and she had called Laurel to asked, "What does it feel like when you are in labor?"

"I suspect everyone is different," Laurel replied. "With me, it started out with some twinges of pain in the pelvic region. Then, after they started coming regularly, they began to get stronger, more like cramps. Why, do you think you are in labor?"

"I think so," Tovah replied. "But, I don't know if I should wake Spencer up and tell him."

"A wise decision would be to let him sleep," Laurel told her thoughtfully. "You know Spencer. He would just start worrying, and then he would begin telling you what you should and should not do. He would then devolve into citing facts, figures, and statistics that you really don't need to hear right now. Besides, both of you need all the rest you can get now because, believe me, you aren't going to be getting any for the next several days."

"I suppose you are right," Tovah sighed. "It's just that – "

"Do you want to talk? Laurel offered. "Because, if you do, that's no problem – I'm right here. Why don't you start by telling me about the building you are currently working on?"

The two women talked and listened with each other for nearly an hour before Tovah excused herself to go work on her current project. "Now that we've discussed it, I realize where the problem is," she told Laurel. "I should have time to rework that back elevation before Spencer wakes up."

"You'll call me when you get to the hospital?" Laurel asked.

"Of course!"

It was several hours later, when Reid woke up at his usual time to go to work, that Tovah gently told him that he wouldn't be going in that day.

"You should have woken me," he protested as he picked up his cell phone. "I'll need to call Hotch."

"You needed your sleep," Tovah pointed out. "And, besides, there is nothing for you to do. From here on, it is just a waiting game."

It was shortly after lunch when Tovah finally allowed Reid to drive her to the hospital. And, as he drove, she took the time to call her mother.

"You never called me!" her mother accused her. "I would have come over."

"Mom, I was working," Tovah protested. "And, I had Spencer with me. It wasn't like I was alone or anything."

"You need your mother at a time like this!" was the immediate response. "Don't worry - Your father and I are on our way."

"That's what I was afraid of," Tovah murmured as she shut off her cell phone.

The next hour and a half was consumed with paperwork, checking Tovah's and the baby's vital signs, getting her into a hospital room, and, finally, seeing the doctor.

"You are making good progress," the doctor assured the mother-to-be. "All we can do now is wait for that young man of yours to decide to make his appearance."

"O – O - K – A – Y," Tovah panted. "O-W-W-W-!"

"The baby is in the right position, isn't he?" Reid worried. "You do know that 3% - 4% of all births are breech presentation and that can lead to numerous problems."

"There is no problem with that," the doctor assured him. "Your young man is already showing his superior intelligence by positioning himself correctly right from the start."

"Now, about my mother – " Tovah started.

"That's no problem," the doctor hurried to assure her. "There's no reason why she can't be in here with you. If she's in the waiting room you can just tell the nurse to send her back."

"There isn't any reason for her not to be here?" Tovah asked, disappointed. "You can't think of anything?"

"Problem there?" the doctor guessed.

"Yes," Reid spoke up. "My mother-in-law does have a tendency to be rather - dramatic."

"And we want our son to be born into a calm, quiet, meditative atmosphere," Tovah explained.

"Sorry," the doctor apologized. "But I'm afraid that's something you are going to have to handle yourselves."

In the end, Reid overrode all of his mother-in-law's protests ("Why can't I be in the delivery room? My sister-in-law Ester got to see both of her grandchildren being born!"), and limited her visits to the labor room to ten minutes each at fifteen minute intervals.

"Tovah needs to rest between contractions," he told the upset woman. "And, I need to make sure that she gets that rest."

In the end, Maxwell (after his maternal grandfather) William Meyers-Reid was born with only his parents and the doctor in attendance. Laurel had managed to calm the new grandmother down by pointing out that Tovah had been raised to be a well-mannered, modest young lady, and that it was probably that modesty which was preventing her from allowing any unnecessary people in the delivery room. Also, she reminded the older woman, wasn't she always complaining about how her sister's grandchildren were spoiled, rude, and ill-mannered? Now, wasn't it just possible that these traits had begun with their being coddled and spoiled at birth?

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Young Max's bris took place the traditional eight days after his birth with the BAU team, along with Blake and James, in attendance. Reid had arranged to use one of the reception rooms at the Beth Israel Synagogue, where he and Tovah had gotten married.

At the appointed time, Tovah carried the peacefully sleeping baby into the room and carefully handed him to Laurel, who then took him to the front of the designated area and put him into the lap of his maternal grandfather, who held him for the actual ceremony.

"I'm glad that's not me up there," Morgan shuddered.

"I'm sure it's not that bad," Garcia said. "Besides, you had it done in the hospital. What's the difference?"

"I didn't have everyone looking at me," Morgan replied.

"However," he added as he looked around at the buffet that had been set up for the guests. "The food afterwards just might make it worthwhile."

"Mazel tov!" Rossi greeted Tovah's parents afterwards. "A Healthy Grandson – What A Blessing!"

"A grandson is indeed a blessing," Mr. Meyers agreed.

"Now, for the next one – " Mrs. Meyers began prophetically.