This is an exciting chapter. Also, I'll apologize here and at the end of this chapter because of the end of this chapter. I've got the next one mostly written, I'll try to have it up soon. I

Thanks for reading and following this story! It means so much!

Words: 3,089

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"This is way more difficult than it should be." Ryder groaned, letting her head fall onto Spencer's shoulder. "Out of all the weddings I've photographed, I never knew it was so hard to plan one."

"We'll figure it out." Spencer chuckled. The couple has been trying to figure out everything for the wedding. They didn't want to wait so long to get married, so they jumped right into planning. "How about we take a break from finding a venue?"

"Okay, yeah." Ryder sighed. She felt like they'd never find the right place. "Want to work on the guest list? I've been running mine through my head and it's not very long."

"Mine either." Spencer mumbled. Not that it was a bad thing, neither he nor Ryder wanted a big wedding.

"Um, so..." Ryder trailed off, looking down at her finger as she played with her shirt sleeve. "I think I want Roy at the wedding." It had been weighing on her mind for the past few days. She still held anger towards the man but she wasn't mad at him, if that made sense. And he was her father after all. He might not have been in her life for a long time but he was trying now. She needed to try too.

"If that's what you want, I think it's a great idea." Spencer smiled at her. He was happy she was trying so hard to have a relationship with her father, she deserved it.

"And, you know, Lyla and Bella too." Ryder nodded. "I mean if they want to come."

"Of course they'll want to come." Reid chuckled, taking her hands in his own.

"Yeah." Ryder smiled before it slipped off her face and she bit her lip and spoke hesitantly. "Speaking of fathers." Sighing, Spencer dropped his head. "I'm not pushing, just, you said you wanted to try."

"I know I did."

"I get it, you know I do, so if you change your mind, I understand." Ryder's voice was soft as she spoke, the young woman turning in her seat to face her fiancé.

"I just don't feel like he deserves to be there." Spencer admitted, looking down at their hands.

"I get that." Ryder nodded. "But it doesn't matter what he deserves, it matters what you deserve. This is our wedding, it's your choice if you want your father there or not."

"You're right, I just don't know."

"No need to decide now." Ryder told him, giving his hands a comforting squeeze. "I just had the greatest idea." She gasped suddenly, pulling away from Spencer to grab her opened laptop. "I can't believe I haven't thought of this before." Mumbling to herself, Ryde typed some stuff as Spencer watched her with a small smile. "What do you think?" Turning the device around, Ryder watches Spencer as his gaze moves from hers and down at the pictures being displayed.

"It's this beautiful garden Macey showed me once. I completely forgot about it." Ryder rambled as she flipped through more pictures. "And I realize that's not the best impression for a wedding venue, forgetting about it after the first time visiting. But it was a busy time for me. Just look at it, it's beautiful."

Chuckling, Spencer grabbed Ryder's she'd been waving around as she spoke and pulled it close to him. "It is." He agreed.

"It's perfect. We can go down this weekend, see it in person and all that stuff." Ryder continued excitedly before her body seemed to deflate and she looked to Spencer with a small frown. "What about your mother? I know how much she dislikes flying."

"I talked to her." Spencer says, baffled that he'd forgotten to tell Ryder about it. "She doesn't like flying but she wants to be here, said she'd be okay."

"Okay." Ryder sighed with a smile. She wanted Diana there as well, she just felt bad for making the woman do something that made her so uncomfortable. "Good. What should we work on now?"

"I think, now, we should take a break." Spencer says as he takes the laptop from Ryder's lap, the woman watching his movements closely.

"Are you hungry?" Ryder questions but Spencer just smirks as he sits back up and turns to her, cupping her cheek with his hand before placing a kiss on her lips.

"Foods not exactly what I was thinking of." He mumbles when he pulls away, lowering his hands to his fiancée's waist.

"Oh, really?" Ryder asks coyly, a smirk playing across her own lips.

"Really." Spencer grins before grabbing Ryder's sides, making the girl squeal with laughter.

"Spencer! Stop!" Ryder shouted as he continued to tickle her, falling back onto the couch, feeling him follow after her. "Stop it! That tickles!"

"That's the point." Spencer smiled down at her, their laughs mingling together and moving throughout the apartment.

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A few days later, after Spencer left for work, Ryder found herself sitting atop the closed toilet. Her phone was gripped tightly in her hand as she started down at the timer. It was the longest five minutes of her life. She wondered how it was possible for five minutes to feel like an eternity.

The chiming noise her phone let out almost made her fall to the floor. Her eyes had been on the timer but she hadn't been seeing it. She'd spaced out.

Ryder had wanted nothing more than those five minutes to be up but now that they were she couldn't move. She was frozen. She knew it was ridiculous to be so scared but couldn't help it.

Forcing out twp deep breaths, Ryder twists on her seat, picking up the small item from the back of the toilet. "Just look down. On three." She mumbled to herself. "One, two...three." Biting her lip, Ryder blinks her eyes down, unsurprised by what she saw. Two little lines. Who knew something so simple could change someone's whole life?

"It's okay, it's fine." She told herself, trying to decide her next move before reaching for her phone. "Hey, Nat. Um, c-could you come over? I-I need to talk to you."

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"Hey, sweetie, what's up. You sounded worried on the phone." Natalie said as soon as Ryder let her in, immediately turning to sit on the couch after she opened the door.

The younger woman didn't speak, just took a seat and motioned to the coffee table in front of her. Nat followed her friend's gesture, keeping her face neutral as she looked down at the many pregnancy tests. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know." Ryder mumbled, arms hugging herself. "I-I don't know what I am. Except terrified."

"Well, it's a scary thing." Natalie chuckled. Everyone was scared when they learned they were going to be a parent. "Are you worried about what Spencer will think?"

"No." Ryder said, her voice breaking with the single word. "He wants kids, we've talked about it. He loves the idea."

"Then why are you so scared?" Nat questioned, voice soft as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'm going to be a horrible mother." Ryder cried, holding her face in her hands.

"What? No, sweetie, why would you say that?" The model asked incredulously. "You are the kindest person I've ever met. I can't tell you how awesome you are because we'd be here all day. You have the best heart of anyone I know. You are going to be the most amazing mother that ever was."

"Maybe you should switch careers. Become a motivational speaker." Ryder joked, giving a wet laugh as she wiped away her tears.

"Who knows, modeling might not work out in my future." She shrugged. "Now, I don't ever want to hear you say something like that again. Everything is going to be fine. Now, are these the only tests you've taken?"

"Yeah. I took one before I called you. Three more after." Ryder admitted. "I've been feeling sick for a while and then I realized I was late. I'm surprised I've been able to hide it from Spence."

"Can I ask why you hid it?"

"I don't know." Ryder sighed with a shake of her head. "I was just scared. Still am."

"That's completely reasonable." Nat stated. "Now, it's obvious with four positive tests, but do you want to see a doctor before you tell him?"

"Yeah. He texted earlier, they got called away on a case. Probably be a few days before he gets back and I can not tell him over the phone." Ryder stressed that point.

"Alright. We could probably make one for tomorrow. I'll be coming with you of course." Natalie stated as she pulled out her phone.

"You don't have-"

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence." Nat cut her off. "I'm going to make you an appointment. Then we're going to watch tv and eat whatever you want. I know pregnant people crave the weirdest things." She mumbled, mostly to herself.

"Thank you." Ryder called out to her sincerely.

"What are friends for?"

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Ryder knew without a doubt that she was pregnant but hearing it from a doctor made everything official. True to her word, Nat stayed by her side the entire time, being the supportive friend that she was.

When the kind, red-haired doctor asked if she wanted to get a sonogram she froze. She was further along than she realized. The lady had told her she wouldn't be able to see much, the baby was still too small but it would be there.

She thought about Spencer. She wanted him there through everything. The first sonogram included. But then she thought about telling him. Ryder had no idea how she was going to do that. Maybe if she had a picture of their unborn child it would be easier. So with that in mind, she agreed.

Like usual when Spencer is away, the couple talked over the phone. Ryder had worried he would be able to tell something was up but if he did, he didn't say anything. The case only went on for two more days before he let her know he was headed back. It was late when he got in, Ryder had cooked dinner and was waiting for him by the door.

"Hey, how was work?" Ryder asked as casually as possible while Spencer set his things down.

"You know, it was work." Spencer shrugged. He never liked talking about work at home but Ryder always asked as an invitation to if he wanted.

"Hope you're hungry." She said, moving into the kitchen. She'd told herself she was just going to come out with it as soon as he walked in but lost her nerve.

"Starving." Spencer nodded, moving to wrap his arms around her waist from behind. "I missed you."

"Missed you more." Ryder smiled, feeling the tension leave her body as she leaned into the man she loved. The man she loved. She loved Spencer, he was her everything. What did she have to be scared about if he was by her side? "I have to show you something." Twisting out of his arms, Ryder takes a step back and reaches into her back pocket.

It was such a simple picture. Black and white blurs but it meant so much. Gripping the folded paper, Ryder hands it over to her boyfriend, watching his face closely as he takes it, unfolds and stares down at it.

"Suprise," Ryder said weakly when he didn't react. "Spencer, please say something."

"You're pregnant." It wasn't a question. He knew exactly what he was looking at, he just needed to hear her say it.

"I'm pregnant." That's all he needed to hear.

Ryder let out a surprised squeal when Spencer surged forward, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. "I take it that means you're excited?" She chuckled, her own arms encircling his neck.

"Excited?" Spencer laughed. "I've never been happier." He said, lifting Ryder off her feet to spin them around. "How far along are you?"

"Doctor said about six weeks, give or take. I found out the day you left. I wanted to wait and tell you in person."

"No, I'm glad you did." Spencer nodded. He couldn't imagine getting this news over the phone. "I'm going to be a dad." He said slowly, smiling as he heard the words.

"And I'm gonna be a mom." Ryder chuckled. The thought scared her before and it would in the future but right now she was just happy. With Spencer by her side, there was nothing to be scared about. "We're going to be parents."

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"I think we should wait to tell anyone until after the first trimester." Ryder decided as she lay in bed with Spencer later that night.

"I agree."

"I should probably tell you, Natalie knows. She promised not to tell Steve." Ryder informed him. "Not going to lie, I freaked out a little. Just the thought of being a mom, you know? I'm not sure if I know how to do that."

"What do you mean?" Spencer questioned, sitting up on his elbow to look down at her.

"Most of my life I didn't have a mom. I met Eleanor when I was fifteen and she was a great mother but I only had five years with her. What if, what if I'm bad at it? I have no clue what I'm doing."

"No first parent does. This fear is natural." Spencer assured her. "You think I have any idea what I'm doing?" He chuckled. "We're going to mess up, it's part of learning. It's a part of being parents." Spencer didn't voice his worry about the increased possibility that his child could get schizophrenia. That was the last thing Ryder needed right now. "We'll learn together."

"Together." Ryder smiles up at him, lacing their fingers together when Spencer took her hand.

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Not being able to tell anyone was killing Ryder. She was so excited she wanted to tell every person she saw. But it was best to wait, she agreed with that. Spencer had said he didn't mind if she told Tommy. He knew how close the siblings were and how hard it would be for Ryder to keep it from him.

She'd told him almost immediately. In person, of course. Ryder had called him to meet, asking to meet her and Spencer at their place for dinner. "We're pregnant." They had ended up saying together.

Tommy was super happy for them, standing to hug his sister. He was excited to be an uncle, as he'd said. He couldn't stop talking about how he was going to spoil his niece or nephew. He also put in that Thomas was a great name if they were looking.

Ryder couldn't wait to tell Steve and the others. But when she wasn't thinking about that, she was freaking out over the fact that in eight months, give or take, she was going to be a mother. She was going to have a baby. A lot of the time she tried to keep these worries from Spencer because she knew he worried as well, but he always found out and talked her down. She felt selfish, Spencer was going to be a father, he was just as freaked out as her.

And with the wedding coming up soon, Ryder was busy a lot. She didn't mind, it kept her mind off things. On top of working and planning their wedding-with Spencer's help-they were organizing the nursery. They'd turn the guest room into the baby's room. Talk about getting a house happened. It was in the future but not now, they decided.

When Ryder felt she'd been stuck in her apartment for too long, she finished editing the last picture she needed to before calling her brother. Spencer was busy with work and she didn't want to wait anymore.

"Milkshakes." Ryder says the single word after Tommy picks up his phone.

"Yes, what about them?" The older man asked his sister with raised brows even if she couldn't see him.

"I want one." Ryder stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Like, now. Multiple, probably. Do you think Ms. Linda will mix all three flavors if I ask?"

"Probably." Tommy nodded with a shrug as Ryder grabbed her purse and jacket. "I can just bring some over, you know."

"Yeah, I know. But I'm antsy, I need to get out and we can just meet in the middle." Ryder told her brother as she locked her apartment door. "I swear I've been craving a milkshake for three days."

"I'm just scared for the day you start eating pickles and peanut butter together." He chuckled over the phone.

"I'm not sure if should be grossed out or go buy pickles and peanut butter." Ryder laughed. She hadn't had any weird cravings yet but imagined she would before long.

"Pregnant people." Tommy sighed with a shake of his head.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm driving now so I have to go." Ryder informed her brother as she put her car into drive.

"Okay, see you soon, sis."

"Bye." Ryder mumbled before hanging up and tossing her phone into the passenger seat. She'd been craving a milkshake forever and finally got the time to go out and grab one, but once she thought about the sweet treat, she wanted something salty as well. Spencer was busy at work so she'd called Tommy to go out with her. She hadn't had much time with her brother recently anyway, it would be good.

Slowing to a stop when the light in front of her turns orange, Ryder sigh and turns on the radio. When the light is green, it feels like it only lasts for a few seconds, but when it's red, it seems to last minutes. But it was a big intersection, all the lights had to have the chance to be green.

Tapping her thumbs to the song, Ryder keeps her eyes on the light in front of her until it turns green, signaling for her to go. She always looked both ways, even if the light was green. Always. So why didn't she this time?

It felt weird. But when getting hit by a truck, that wasn't surprising. Ryder didn't even know what had happened. Her mind was clouded with confusion and surprise, shock following after. There was no time for the young woman to figure anything out before the darkness blurring her vision completely took over.

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Again, I'm sorry. Don't be mad. I'll try to post again soon!

Thanks for reading! I would really love to read what you guys think of this chapter.

Sorry for any mistakes, feel free to point them out and I'll fix them.