Alright, another chapter. Here we go.

Love the comments I've received! You guys are amazing!

The new story I'm writing is coming along. The working name is The Bartender. But that's not set in stone, just thought I'd mention it. Hope you guys will give it a read when it's finished and posted, cause I'm not posting until I'm done. It will be shorter than this story but different. I'm nervouse no one will like it. Okay, moving on, ignore my rambling.

Enjoy!

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Ryder had tried to downplay it, not wanting to worry anyone. Worry Spencer. She knew how he was, how he thinks. It wasn't a big deal, she tried to explain. Just someone hung up on something that happened in the past. She had thought as much herself, but every time she did, she thinks back to the flowers. No one she knows had sent them, she'd been paranoid enough to check. So who were they from?

"I've only seen him twice." Ryder tries to calm Spencer with the information but he just looks at her, like that means nothing. "And in very public places. I mean, he's just sour about what happened." She had thought he was over it, it had been a couple of years now and they hadn't even dated that long. She didn't see how he couldn't be over it.

"I don't like it." Spencer shakes his head, well aware of how normal people can seem when lying just under the surface could be something monstrous.

"Me either." Ryder sighs, walking over to sit on the bed next to him. "And sure, I don't like him, he's an ass, but I'm not to worried."

"That doesn't make me feel better." He tells her, placing one leg on the bed when he turns to face her.

"Yeah," Ryder nods, it didn't make her feel better either. But she didn't want him to know that, he'd only worry more. "I'll keep an eye out. He hasn't exactly done anything illegal."

"You still have your gun?"

"Spence, I don't think-"

"Do you?" Reid cuts her off, staring straight into her eyes. He could even stand the thought of something happening to her. Ryder has carried a gun in her purse since meeting him. There was also one in the nightstand.

"Yes." Ryder nods, a little pit of dread filling her gut at the thought of using the weapon. She has nothing against guns, she prefers having one with her, it makes her feel safer. Doesn't mean she wants to use it. "I always have it."

"I'm sorry." Spencer sighs, leaning his head onto her shoulder. "I'm just worried."

"I know." Ryder nods while running her fingers through his hair. "I'll try to take someone with me when I go out for a little while, okay?" It would make her feel better as much as him.

"Yeah." Spencer mumbles, lifting his head just enough to connect his lips with hers. "I'll kick his ass, you know, if he comes near you again."

Chuckling, Ryder nods and cups his cheek with her good hand. "Yeah, I know. And I love you for it. Maybe we should get a dog."

Snorting, Spencer nods. "Maybe."

"I'll hold you to that." Ryder says, pointing to him before holding up her left arm, looking down at her cast. "Have a doctor's appointment for this tomorrow. I want it off before the wedding."

"Yeah," Spencer nods, taking her castes arm gently in his own. "The bone won't be healed but you might be able to go with just a brace."

"Well, it's better than this thing." She grumbles. "It itches." The cast was removable but it was difficult to do and then put by on. She's only done it once with Spencer's help to let her arm breath and clean it. "I broke my shoulder once but I just worse a sling, no cast." That hadn't been fun, she wasn't sure if this was worse or not. Shirts were impossible to put on with her shoulder, she had to wear buttons ups until it healed and her entire arm ached from not being able to stretch it. It hadn't inched like this though.

"I'm sorry."

"Not your fault." Ryder thinks shes said that more in her time knowing Spencer than her entire life. "Let's change the subject. How long until we find out the baby's gender and are we going to wait?" They hadn't yet decided if they were going to wait to find out, have the doctor tell them, or do some kind of gender reveal. Although Ryder was leaning more towards the second option.

"It'll be a few more weeks." He didn't want to give her a specific number. He knew sometimes they could tell a little earlier and sometimes it was hard to see later on, he didn't want to get her hopes up. He knew she was excited. "We'll have her tell us as soon as we can."

"Really?" She asks, perking up with a big smile. He knew she really wanted to know and he wouldn't be able to look at the ultrasound without knowing anyway. And he was excited as well, so excited just thinking about it makes his body buzz. He couldn't wait to know, decorate the nursery, buy clothes, tell people. Names. They'd have to pick a name.

"Really." Spencer nods, chuckling when Ryder throws her arms around his neck.

"I think I'm starting to show." She says after pulling away, straightening her back and pulling her shirt up to show her stomach.

"Maybe." Reid shrugs, it was a little early but it wasn't necessarily impossible. "Could just be bloating." He adds casually with a shrug, holding his hands up when Ryder's head snaps up, her eyes narrowed at him. "I'm just saying, it's natural. And expected."

"Yeah, yeah," She mumbles, not really upset. She was scared, worried, all of those things but she was excited to start showing. "Hopefully my dress won't need any last-minute altering."

"It'll be fine." Spencer says, pulling her towards him. "Everything will be."

"Yeah, you're right." Ryder nods. "Like always."

********

"Look how cute!" Penelope squeals, holding up a tiny pair of baby shoes. "They're just like Reids'."

"I have to get them." Ryder shakes her head and takes the offered black, converse shoes. They were so small, fit right in her hand. "They'll work for a boy or a girl." She says, looking down at her own shoes. They were converse but they only reached her ankles and they were yellow.

"Can you imagine," Emily appears with JJ, both women holding something baby related. "Reid holding his son or daughter, both wearing they're matching shoes."

"Oh, there will be plenty of pictures." Ryder tells her. "Trust me. I can hardly wait and this morning sickness is getting old."

"Have you tried seasick wristbands?" JJ asks, pointing a finger at her. "They helped when I was pregnant with Henry."

"I will now." Ryder nods. "Thanks for the tip."

"I have plenty more, don't worry." JJ chuckles, placing a little onesie back on the shelf. "Especially with stuff like car seats. The one I have now is great, I'll tell you all about it."

"Okay," Emily holds up her hands while Garcia watches with the biggest smile on her face. "Mother's club alert."

"Let's talk over lunch."

"You are on the right track, future mama." Penelope speaks and Emily huffs a laugh. "Come on, I know a place."

Girl's day had been their idea. After a text asking if she was busy that morning, Ryder had answered that she wasn't, the three women turned up at her door, big smiles on their faces as they declared they were taking her out. Natalie couldn't be there.

"No, no bachelorette party." Ryder shakes her head over the table at the others. "Nothing crazy anyway, I've already told Nat. Pizza and a movie sounds great, to be honest."

"Alright, you are the bride here." Garcia holds up her hands in surrender.

"Yes, yes I am." Ryder smiles before the topic diverts elsewhere.

"I almost forgot about that!" JJ gasps when Penelope brings up a name from years ago, nearly forgotten by the agents.

"Who?" Ryder and Emily ask at the same time, neither woman aware of what the others were talking about.

"Lila Archer." Garcia repeats, louder this time.

"That has to be, like five years ago now?" JJ asks while Emily and Ryder still look on confused.

"Can one of you please share with the class." Emily says, gesturing around the table.

"A stalking slash serial killer case in L.A. The girl who was being stalked was a young actress," Garcia happily explains and JJ shakes her head, expression suddenly unsure. "Her and Spencer..." She trails off, giving a so and so gesture with her hand before laughing. "They just kissed. And he made the front of a magazine, I can easily find a copy."

"Oh my goodness." Ryder laughs. "Please do."

"He never told you?" Penelope asks while Emily looks surprised and JJ chuckles, shaking her head.

"He didn't." Ryder continues to laugh. She didn't feel angered or jealous, nothing like that. It's not like she ever expected Spencer to tell her about anyone he'd ever kissed. And she knows he loves her, hasn't ever doubted it.

"How come I've never heard about this?" Emily questions.

"I forgot." JJ defends with her hands held up.

"I only just remembered."

"Any other suddenly remembered information?" Ryder asks, raising her brows and her fiancé's co-workers.

"Oh, girl, let me tell you..."

********

Things were calm. Ryder and Spencer had just about finished planning everything for the wedding. It wasn't going to be big, just their closest friends and family. Spencer still has to leave lots for work and Ryder hates him not being there but she gets it. Plus it gives her the opportunity to focus on her own work.

They decided not to do anything too much until they find out the gender of the baby. They had gotten the basics like a crib, but hadn't gotten to setting up the nursery. Ryder thinks they have time but still fears they'll never get around to it.

But she's not worried about that now. Instead, she's 'arguing' with Spencer while they get ready for dinner. "I don't not like the name, I'm just saying I don't want to name our child that."

"Okay, okay," Spencer relents before smiling, wrapping his arms around Ryder's waist from behind, resting his hands on her stomach. "It might not even be a boy."

"What do you think it is?"

"Impossible to tell." Spencer mumbles.

"Come on, just guess."

"Hm," Reid hums, scrunching up his face in thought. "A girl."

"Do you want a girl?"

"I'll be happy either way." Spencer kisses the side of her neck before pulling away slightly. "Although, they're going to go nameless if we can't agree."

"Yeah, yeah," Ryder chuckles, turning to him. "We're gonna be late."

"Uh-huh," Spencer nods but makes no move to leave, instead he leans forward to kiss Ryder. "Okay, fine, let's go."

"Don't be grumpy." Ryder says while grabbing her purse, grabbing Spencer's hand and walking with him to the car before driving to Rossi's house. Dinner had been planned at their girl's day out, the BAU woman brought it up the next day at work and that had been that.

"Tommy is on his way." Ryder says to Spencer after he parks the car, looking down at her phone. When leaving, Spencer had taken the keys without a word. Ryder had driven since the accident, but sometimes she wasn't comfortable with it. So when he was with her, Spencer would drive.

"And you said we were going to be late."

"Well, I just wanted to beat him. A little sibling rivalry and all that." Ryder shrugs as they exit the car, waiting until Spencer joins her side before they both make their way to the door.

"Ah, there's my favorite couple." David greets them at the door, patting Reid on the shoulder and placing a kiss to Ryder's cheek.

"Favorite?" She asks with a smile, raising a brow at the older man.

"Don't tell the others." He whispers, placing a finger over his lips for added effect.

"Never." Ryder whispers back, chuckling along with Spencer as they make their way further into the house. "I see a baby." She states when she notices Henry resting in his mother's arms. He wasn't exactly a baby anymore but he wasn't yet a toddler. He was in that area between the two.

"Here, you'll need the practice." JJ says as she passes the boy to the woman who gladly takes the little blonde boy.

"It's crazy how much he looks like you."

"That's for the best." Will mumbles, smiling as he places his arm around his wife's waist.

"You see your Uncle Spencer?" Ryder asks the boy when her fiancé joins her side, lifting his finger when Henry reaches his hand out for him. "Yeah? I think he wants you." She says before handing him over.

"Hi, Henry." Spencer smiles down at his godson and Ryder steps back to watch them. In a little less than a year, that would be their child he's holding and the thought makes her happier than she ever thought she could be.

"Uncle Spencer," Another, young voice says and Ryder turns as does Spencer to see Jack walking in front of his father. "Can you show me a magic trick?"

"Sure, buddy." Spencer nods as JJ comes forward to take her son, freeing up Reid's arms. Pulling a coin from his pocket, Spencer bends down to Jack's eye level and tells him to watch closely before flicking his hand, and making the coin disappear.

"Did you see that, dad?" Jack asks with a huge smile, turning back to his father.

"Yeah, I did, jack." Hotch smiles down at his son, placing his hand on his head.

"You look very handsome in your tie, Jack." Ryder tells them, chuckling when she sees him blush.

"Thank you." He mumbles shyly. "It's like daddy's."

"It is." Ryder nods with another small laugh.

"He was supposed to wear it for pictures today but we couldn't make it." Hotch informs them and Jack gives a nod in confirmation.

"I can take them." Ryder immediately offers with a shrug. "If you don't mind, I'd be happy too. I'll even give you a discount." She jokes. Photography is her job, her work, how she makes money, but she didn't mind session for free.

"What do you say, Jack?" Hotch looks down at his son and he nods with a smile. "I guess it's settled then."

"Perfect." Ryder says. They'd set up the details later but for now, Ryder moves past the men when she sees her brother enter the room next to Rossi. "About time."

"No patience." He shakes his head but smiles, throwing his arm around her shoulders.

"Alright, now that everyone has arrived." David says after clapping his hands together. "Dinner is served."

As everyone makes their way into the dining room, Tommy watching his sister go, deep in conversation with Emily, and grabs Spencer's arm to hold him back. "Mind if we talk, after dinner?"

Furrowing his brows at Tom's sudden change in behavior, Spencer nods. "Yeah, sure. Everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah." Thomas nods though Spencer doesn't believe him. "Everythings fine."

"All good?" Ryder asks when Spencer takes his seat next to her. With nothing to say, Reid only nods his head before they're both pulled into a conversation.

It was easy to engrossed, between listening, talking, and laughing. But Tommy's words never left Spencer's mind, only every time he looked over at the man, he seemed fine. His smile wasn't forced, he was laughing, relaxed. Spencer was stumped. Maybe he had misread the situation earlier.

It's not until He and Tommy get the chance to talk that he realizes he hadn't.

********

Warm light pours in through the bedroom window, highlighting the two silhouettes. Ryder stands in front of her mirror, struggling to put in an earring. Spencer stands behind her, tying his tie.

"You're not nervous, are you?" Ryder asks him after finally getting her jewelry in place, turning to help Spencer with his tie after he undoes it for the third time.

"No," Spencer shakes his head, watching her fingers working around the clothe. "Of course not."

"Mh-hmm." Ryder hums in disbelief. "It's okay if you are but there's no need to be." It was only natural, after all. "I mean, you've known me longer than Roy has anyway."

"He's still your father." Spencer mumbles. He was a little nervous, not that it mattered. Ryder had told him he would like Spencer but it wouldn't matter if he didn't. He had made the choice to give her up, Ryder says he doesn't deserve the right to have an opinion on her life. Though they had been doing good later. Their relationship was growing, Spencer was happy for her.

"I suppose." She mutters. "Lyla and Bella will be there as well."

"Not sure if that makes me feel better." Spencer says and Ryder only smiles up at him. She was actually excited about this, introducing the two of them. Her father, who she hadn't known that long, but still, hadn't met her fiancé. They'd also kept the pregnancy from them, wanting to wait like they had planned with the team.

"We'll be fine." Patting his chest, Ryder lifts herself onto her toes to place a kiss to Spencer's lips. "Shall we?" She holds out a hand to him, lifting a single brow.

"We shall." Spencer nods, placing his hand in her own and letting her pull him from their home and into the car before driving to the restaurant.

"There's my favorite little sister." Ryder greets as she and Spencer approach the table, opening her arms when the young girl stands, rushing to her.

"I'm your only sister." Bella says with a smile, pulling away just enough to look up at Ryder.

"Ah, you caught me." Ryder raises her hands in surrender as Roy and Lyla stand, staying back while the two sister's talk. "This is Spencer, my fiancé."

"Fiancé?" Bella questions, looking up to Spencer as he waves. "Like, you're getting married?"

"Exactly." Ryder nods once, leaning back to take Reid's hand in her own. "Spencer, this is my little sister."

"Hi," Spencer waves again. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too." Bella responds confidently, though she sounds a little unsure.

When Bella moves back, Lyla approaches and quickly wraps Ryder in a hug that the woman gladly returns. She hadn't been sure how their relationship was going to go, but the older woman had a kind personality and was just so motherly, Ryder couldn't help but like her.

"I can't believe you didn't tell us you were in a car accident." She says after pulling away and Ryder winces. She hadn't wanted to tell them, didn't want to fuss. And she felt it pointless for them to come down, she had been fine, after all.

"Sorry," She mumbles while accepting a hug from her father as well. "No need to worry, this is the worst of it." Ryder holds up her cast and gestures to it. The doctor hadn't been over-enthusiastic about taking it off before the wedding, but Ryder thinks she has convinced him.

"A boy in my class broke his arm once, he said it didn't hurt. Does yours hurt?" Bella asks from beside her mother and Ryder shakes her head.

"No, it doesn't hurt."

"Everyone signed his cast, can I sign yours?"

"Of course you can." Ryder nods to her sister before turning back to her father. "Uh, Roy, this Spencer." She introduces even if they know each other's name.

Stepping back, Ryder watches as Spencer and her father shake hands, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding when nothing bad happened. Like, what was she thinking, that someone would explode?

"It's lovely to meet you." Lyla moves up next, placing her hand on Spencer's arm. Ryder could tell she held herself back from hugging him. Maybe she'd noticed he was uncomfortable.

"You too." Spencer nods, only a little stiff, and Ryder moves forward, taking his arm and guiding him to a seat.