Five months! FIVE MONTHS! I'm SO SORRY! I didn't even realize! Life got away from me, time flew by. I fell out of motivation to write this story! But here you guys go after that horrible cliff hanger!

PLEASE READ END NOTES!

Words: 2,197

"I can't believe this," Sniffing, Ryder runs a shaky hand through her messy hair before dropping it back onto the hospital bed next to her. "I can't believe that's all it was. I feel stupid for overreacting. I just...it hurt." She says when she can come up with no other explanation.

"Braxton hicks can be very painful, nearly as much as real contractions, trust me you didn't overreact," Her doctor tells her in a comforting voice. "Your body is just preparing itself for real labor. They're a good sign, it means your uterus is strong and practicing hard. But I do recommend continued rest."

"Hear that?" Spencer mock whispers to her and Ryder rolls her eyes.

"I'm about done with doctors," She grumbles and rubs a hand over her stomach. The pain is all but gone now, just a little cramp here and there.

"I love you too, dear," Spencer pats her thigh with a smile, and Ryder can't help but return it.

"I'm sorry for the craziness I caused," Ryder apologizes to her doctor but the woman waves away her apology.

"It's no trouble. You're a mother worried for her child, it's perfectly understandable. I remember my first, I was a mess," Smiling at the young couple, the doctor passes over a clipboard with a few papers on it. "Alright, you're good to go home now. Everything looks great, I only prescribe plenty of rest and no skipping meals."

"Ooh, no problem there," Ryder mumbles. "The little bean loves to eat."

"That's good," The doc chuckles and nods. "Okay, just call if anything changes, I'm here whenever you need something."

"Thank you," After signing themselves out, Spencer and Ryder head back home. Ryder still feels ridiculous for acting the way she did but at the same time, if someone else was in as much pain as she was, she couldn't see them acting much differently. Not while pregnant, anyway.

"Want to go back to sleep?"

"I'm awake now," Ryder shakes her head. "I'm sure you're tired."

"Nope, wide awake," Spencer says and joins his fiancé on the couch. "We can watch tv until breakfast. I'll make you whatever you want."

"Hm, you're the best," Ryder hums and snuggles into Spencer's side. "I love you."

"Because I make you food," Chuckling, Ryder lightly hits Spencer's chest.

"No-I mean yes, but that's not the only reason,"

"Yeah? What are the other reasons?"

"Is this punishment for scaring you?"

"Punishment is such a harsh word," Spencer mumbles. He places a quick kiss to her cheek before grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around both their shoulders. He hands Ryder the remote and allows her to pick something to watch. He doesn't mean to, he really doesn't, but he closes his eyes. He had really thought he was awake, but the night's events must've tired him out more than he'd thought. Now that he knows everything's okay, his mind takes the chance to rest.

When he wakes again, this time much slower than before, Spencer groans as he sits up. He must be getting older, sleeping on the couch never bothered him this much before. The sun shines in through the cracks in the curtains. He shields his eyes from the glare and takes a deep breath.

"I was supposed to make you breakfast. Not the other way around," He tells Ryder after moving into the kitchen. "You're supposed to be resting."

"Spencer, I am making breakfast, not running a marathon," Ryder argues, annoyance seeping into her voice. "Relax, would you? How do you expect me to walk down the aisle in a few days if I can't even move around the kitchen?"

"You're right, I'm sorry," Spencer sighs. He's just worried, okay?

"Don't patronize me," Ryder spins on her heels and points a spatula at him. Spencer can't help but smile even though he can tell she's truly annoyed. But a spatula? While wearing an oversized shirt (It was his, she stole it a long time ago). It's more adorable than anything.

"I'm not, I promise," Spencer holds his hands up in surrender. "Just worried."

"Well, don't be, I'm fine," Ryder turns back to the eggs cooking on the stove. "Juice?"

"Grape or orange?" Spencer walks to the fridge and opens it.

"Grape," Ryder mumbles and Spencer looks over to see her pouting. He opens his mouth to say something but she beats him to it. "I'm sorry." She whispers. "I didn't mean to snap."

"Oh, it's okay," Spencer assures her. He sets the juice on the counter before moving to her, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind. He could go into a rant about how it's the pregnancy hormones causing her moods to go crazy, but he fears that'll only upset her even more. "Breakfast smells great. Are those muffins?"

"Oh, yeah, can you check on those please?" The rest of the morning is otherwise peaceful. The couple enjoys their breakfast and spend the rest of the day relaxing best they can with Ryder fretting over every last detail for the wedding.

Ryder doesn't tell anyone about their late-night trip to the hospital. It was a false alarm anyway. She doesn't want anyone else worrying and being overprotective like Spencer is being. The wedding is soon, they already have enough to worry about.

By some rare stroke of luck, the team doesn't get a case before the wedding arrives. Ryder had been trying her best to ignore it, but she might have been freaking out inside that they would get called away and they would have to postpone the wedding.

But as it would seem, this time luck is on their side.

The morning of the wedding, Ryder wakes in a bed that is not her own. She's up as soon as she opens her eyes, ready to get the day started. JJ, Emily, Penelope, and Nat are all with her. They make breakfast and take their time eating before going to get their hair and makeup done.

Now, standing in her dress in front of a floor-length mirror, Ryder feels a pang of sadness shoot through her. She's thought about it many times, but now it's more real. Her mother is gone. She's not here for this big moment in her life. She wasn't there to help her pick out her dress and now she's not here to see her in it, on her wedding day.

Sniffing, Ryder looks to the ceiling and blinks her eyes. She should've gone with waterproof makeup.

"Cold feet?" Lowering her head, Ryder smiles at the man in the reflection before turning to face him.

"No," She shakes her head softly. "Just thinking about mom."

"Yeah, me too," Tommy sighs and walks towards her, stopping a few feet away. "I was thinking about how happy she would be to see you marrying a great man. About how beautiful she would say you look. Like a queen. Her princess all grown up."

"Tommy, the goal is not to cry," Ryder stresses, her voice cracking as she once again looks up, her fingers coming to dot the corners of her eyes.

"Sorry," He chuckles and lifts his hands to rest on her shoulders. "What's this?" He asks when his gaze catches a little blue barrette in her hair.

"Oh, Pen gave it to me. Some borrowed and something blue. It's stupid but," Ryder shrugs. "I like it."

"What about the something old and something new?" Tommy smiles.

"Technically it's new, she bought it last week," Ryder lifts her hand to carefully touch the jeweled hairpiece. "Guess three out of four isn't bad."

"Unless..." Tommy trails off while slowly reaching into his jacket's inner pocket. Ryder furrows her brows and watches him closely as he pulls out a diamond necklace. "It was mom's," He tells her softly. "She wore it on her wedding day. She told me once that she hoped to give it to you on your own." Ryder feels tears well up in her eyes once more and doesn't speak for fear that if she does, they'll fall. "Here's your something old."

"No offense mom," Tommy mumbles under his breath and motions for Ryder to turn around. She does so and he lifts the chain over her head and clasps it behind her neck. "Beautiful."

"Thanks, Tommy," Ryder sniffs again, the tips of her fingers hovering over the jewelry before she turns to hug her brother.

"Where're the girls?" She asks a minute later while pulling away.

"Out there, told them to give us a minute," He nods towards the hall. "It's nearly time. You ready?"

"Beyond."

Maybe it's cheesy to say, but the ceremony is beautiful. Tommy walks Ryder down the aisle and only those paying close attention - so everyone - sees Spencer discretely wipe the tears from his eyes.

Diana is able to make it and William shows as well. The two of them sit side by side, wide smiles on both parent's faces. Spencer doesn't notice until after the ceremony that Gideon came. He can't help the pure joy that fills his heart when he sees the older man.

He introduces him to Ryder with the biggest of smiles. He even goes as far as the tell him the name of their daughter with her permission. Something they have yet to tell anyone.

Everyone dances and laughs and smiles. It's all around the perfect night. Ryder doesn't think anything could change that. Until it does.

It's nearing the end of the night and Ryder is dancing with her bother when he leads her to the side. "Tommy?" She asks in confusion while sitting in the chair he motions her to. He sits across from her and glances towards everyone else. There out of earshot but they're all still visible. "Tommy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," He quickly assures her. "Well, not-not exactly. I, um..."

"Tommy, tell me," Ryder hardens her voice, her eyes boring into Tommy's who finally looks up to meet her gaze.

"I'm being deployed," He spits out quickly. "Tomorrow morning." Letting out a deep sigh, Tommy grabs onto Ryder's hands and drops his head. "It's as long as I could get them to hold off. I told them there was no way I was missing my baby sister's wedding."

Frozen in her seat, Ryder's mouth falls open but no words come out. After a moment of silence, she looks down and nods her head. "I guess it was only a matter of time," She finally speaks, her voice resigned. "At least I got you back for a little while. And you were here for this. I wouldn't have been able to walk down that aisle without you by my side."

"You would've," Tommy insists. "But I wouldn't have let you," He smirks. "Just like I won't let this one grow up without knowing her uncle." He says while gesturing to Ryder's stomach. "I will be back. Time will fly and I'll be back before you know it. Promise."

"I'm going to hold you to that," Ryder stands and wraps her arms around her brother, holding him as tightly as she can to her. This is the last time they'll be together for a long time. She's got to savor every moment. "Now, come on, let's have another dance, shall we?"

"We shall," Tommy smiles and lets his sister pull him back to the others.

As Tommy had said, time flies by. Ryder feels as if the night is ending before it's even started. Though she feels exhausted, she's sad to see it end. They don't make the traditional wedding exit, they stay until the last person is gone, leaving Ryder, Spencer, and Tommy left.

The sister shares a long, teary goodbye with her brother, knowing this is the last she'll see him for a long while. If ever again, a dark part of her brain whispers to her but she pushes the voice down. Even Spencer hugs the younger man before they're finally going their separate ways.

Ryder tries her best to sleep that night, to be well-rested for her and Spencer's flight the next day. But her mind doesn't let her. She tosses and turns, unable to get comfortable. Spencer, bless him, does all he can to help her feel better but nothing seems to work. You'd think she'd be used to this, worrying over those she loves. This isn't Tommy's first deployment and Spencer puts his life on the line almost every day. But despite this, the worry she feels drags her down, threatening to drown her.

Sorry if that felt a little rushed. I'm going to be honest, I was ready to get this done lol. I love this story, truly I do. It's just felt like lately I've been writing chapter to chapter with not much in mind for story and plot. I'm hoping to one day rewrite maybe, improve this story. I have a lot more I want to do but not the energy or time to do it.

I'm thinking of doing a sequel. Give me the chance to work everything out. Like a part 2. Spencer and Ryder are married now, so we move onto their life after that. What do you guys think?

This is not the last chapter, there will be more. I don't know when but there will be. It's not over yet.

I'm so sorry again for the wait! I really hope you guys enjoyed this and let me know what you thought! Those reviews help motivate me so much!

Also, if you haven't check out my story "Light Of My Life" go try it. That one is COMPLETE. Surprising, I know.

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