Epilogue

Luckily for both of them, the transition went very smoothly. They had started living together as if it was nothing, and over time, even had a schedule for who would have to get up when Clooney had to go out on their days off, and most of the time, that person was Derek. Spencer started school and, after some nerves, had no problems with his first semester. Derek had started working at the company part time, but upon realizing that he would be doing grunt work, he realized that he could be doing so much more with his time. With the help of Spencer, he decided to start his own business. He obviously didn't have the money for his own location yet, but putting his information up both at Spencer's school and around some places in the community, he was able to establish himself and quit the part-time job to work for himself full-time.

Spencer walked in, putting the stack of mail on top of his books and setting it on the table, groaning.

"Hello, sweetheart, how was your day?" Derek asked, looking up from his own notebook.

Spencer groaned again, sinking into his seat at the table and going through the pile of mail, dividing it between the two of them. "Fantastic, can't you tell?"

"Do you want to tell me what happened, or do I need to pull it out of you to the point of you being mad at me for asking?"

He took a deep breath, sighing. "It's Professor Blake."

"...Again? I thought you met with her last month and everything was square?"

Spencer mock laughed. "I met with her after class today to figure out why she's pushing me so hard, much harder than the rest of my classmates."

"...And?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "And she said that she enjoys challenging her students beyond the limitations of the textbooks and wants them to research the subjects they write about, so they know more on the subject matter and retain more information."

"Okay, I'm with you so far?"

He cleared his throat. "And she knows about my intelligence level and my multiple degrees, so she knows I'm not the average student, so she knows I can do better, so she's choosing to individually challenge me to push me beyond my normal capabilities."

Derek bit his lip to hold back a laugh. "And what's so wrong with this? The last I checked, you're Spencer Reid, and you love to be challenged. In fact, before this semester started, all I heard from you was 'Derek, I can't believe it, Alex Blake is teaching one of my courses - there are other professors available, but I need to take her course!'."

"That was before I realized she won't take book quotations and looks for more elaborate answers, which I usually don't have a problem providing, but there's so much pressure!"

"Okay, and why don't you talk to your advisor about all of this?"

Spencer gave him a look. "She is my advisor."

Derek raised his eyebrows. "Good luck."

"Tell me about it - this may be the first course I don't get a perfect score in." When Derek gave him a look, he scoffed. "Yes, in my entire academic career, I've always exceeded the grading scale, does that surprise you?"

Derek shook his head. "Not even a little bit."

Spencer opened up his bag and took out his notebooks, setting them in front of him and putting his bag on the back of his chair. "Enough about me. How was your day? Did you finish work on that house?"

Derek nodded, showing him his notebook page. "I've started up plans for my next house to show the client interested in it tomorrow."

Spencer raised his eyebrows. "You already have another house lined up after one afternoon?"

Derek put up his finger, flipping through his notebook and pointing. "Three, back-to-back."

Spencer smiled. "That's… fantastic. How did you manage it?"

"Well, I'd like to attribute part of my success to my personal genius who built a website and told me all of the business know-how I needed to get my feet off of the ground with this business."

"In that case, you're very welcome."

While Spencer was doing his homework, flipping through his textbooks, he cleared his throat. "Have you heard from Penelope yet this week?" he asked before putting the end of his pen to his mouth. "I've yet to get my weekly 'I miss my Boy Wonder' text'."

Derek laughed softly. "Oh yes, I talked with her this morning before work."

"Judging by the laugh, I assume it was humorous?"

He nodded, closing his notebook and going through the cabinets to find something for dinner. "Well, of course she sends her hellos our way. And she also told me that she's planning an, and I quote, 'Hotchner and Prentiss Wedding Extravaganza for next summer, with a pregnancy of the unplanned variety being the only thing to speed up the process'."

Spencer chuckled. "Well, I guess Penelope Garcia-influenced couples have a high success rate."

"I guess so."

Spencer put down his pen, holding up a finger. "Speaking of Penelope Garcia-influenced couples? JJ and the nephews will be coming up for a visit this weekend."

"She told you about this one?"

Spencer gave him a look. "After last time when we came home on date night in a mood and she was waiting for us on the couch? Yes, she called ahead."

"What day is she coming up so I can be home?"

"Well you should be home both days, but come on, you need to be here for your godson."

Derek ran a hand over his face. "Why am I godfather again?"

"Because according to Penelope, I only have enough godfather skills for one LaMontagne, and because JJ and Will both like you."

"If you say so."

That Saturday, Spencer woke up early to go through the house and be sure it was cleaned up for JJ's visit. He then went into the hall closet to grab a box of toys he'd bought for when Henry came for a visit, which included action figures, kids movies, and coloring books with crayons. Derek had gone out to do some shopping for sweets and healthy snacks, so Spencer could give Henry whatever he asked for when he got hungry. He set the grocery bags on the counter, unloading them.

"Apples, peanut butter, celery, raisins, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, popsicles, and pudding. Why did I have to get so much?"

"Because one of two things will happen. JJ will say what he can have for a snack, or she'll say 'whatever Uncle Spence and Derek have', at which point I will offer him the latter mentioned snacks."

Derek laughed to himself, putting everything away. "Whatever you say."

Later that day, there was a persistent knock on the door. Spencer got up off of the couch, groaning. "This should be fun."

"What, spending time with the kids?"

Spencer shook his head. "She's not next door to come over and ask questions all the time anymore, so she's going to be making up for it." When she knocked again, he sighed. "Coming!" He walked over, pulling the door open and holding it. "Come on in."

Henry ran in, going to his toy box and looking through.

"Henry, say hello first," JJ said, walking in and setting the baby carrier down, exhaling. "He's asleep right now, please don't wake him."

"Noted," Derek told her, turning down the volume on the TV.

Henry walked over to Spencer, wrapping his arms around his legs. "Hi, Uncle Spence. I miss you."

Spencer smiled, closing the door and bending down, pulling him into a hug. "I miss you too, little guy. Are you being an awesome big brother?"

He nodded slightly, lowering his voice. "I use my inside voice."

"And don't think Mommy doesn't appreciate that," JJ whispered.

Derek laughed softly, pulling JJ into a hug. "Didn't miss the whole infant thing, did you?"

She shook her head. "I don't even remember what sleep is. I'm in constant 'Finals Spencer' mode."

Spencer scoffed. "I've gotten better," he told her, standing up.

JJ eyed Derek. "Has he?"

"Yeah, he only cried once this last time."

"...Shocking."

Spencer mock laughed, walking over and hugging JJ. "Nice to see you too."

She patted his back, smirking. "Missed you, little brother."

JJ had settled on the couch with Henry, watching cartoons while the baby slept in his carrier, while Spencer was in the kitchen preparing another pot of coffee. He walked in a few minutes later, holding out a cup to her. "Two sugars and milk," he explained, taking the seat beside her.

"Spence, you are a god," she said softly, taking the mug from him and taking a sip before raising an eyebrow.

"...Is something wrong with the coffee? You could've had Mr. Former Barista make it and not asked me."

She shook her head. "What has me curious isn't the coffee. It's that piece of jewelry you've got on your ring finger."

Spencer cleared his throat, looking down at the silver band on his left ring finger. "Oh, that? Yeah, I um… I'm kind of engaged?" he said, blushing.

She gasped. "Spence!" she squealed, pulling him into a hug. "Congratulations!" She then pulled back, backhanding his arm. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Okay, one, ouch, and two, would you rather have found out over the phone where you couldn't see the ring in person?"

She nodded then paused. "...Penelope gave you that excuse, didn't she?"

"...Yeah, when she came up last weekend. And obviously she didn't tell you either. So bother her."

"Oh, don't worry, I will." She turned to Derek. "What, where, when?"

Derek chuckled. "Um, about two weeks ago at a coffee shop not too far from here. Decided it would be a good thing to ask him to marry me in the same type of place where we met."

"Oh that's adorably romantic!"

Spencer nodded slightly. "And I'm sure you'll be getting an invitation to the Fran Morgan planned festivities soon enough."

She glanced at Derek. "Your mom is planning it?"

"Yeah, we kind of made the mistake of telling her we wanted it to be small and quick and wouldn't have a problem doing it at city hall… she took that as 'Mama, plan a wedding, we're clueless'."

"As well she should've."

"And when that happens," Spencer started, looking at Henry, "would you like to be the ring bearer at the wedding?"

Henry thought before growling like a bear.

JJ laughed. "I'd take that as a yes."

She turned to them. "So, how did it happen?"

Spencer leaned into Derek's side. "It was your doing, would you like to share?"

He smirked, wrapping his arm around Spencer's shoulder. "Well, first thing's first, I needed to get Diana's blessing, because without that I couldn't do anything, so I convinced Spencer that we needed to pay her another visit. She got Spencer to leave, I talked to her, she said yes, then she helped me plan it. She told me nostalgia was key and that would mean a lot to him. Lo and behold, it did."

JJ eyed him. "It did?"

Spencer nodded. "He took me out to dinner at my favorite restaurant, which I must say is an automatic red flag, usually followed by an 'I won't be home this week because I'll be working nonstop' or 'by the way, Clooney chewed on your book', so of course, I went into it expecting the worst. Dinner was amazing, then he said we were off to somewhere else. Now, in Derek Morgan language, that could mean anything - miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, ice cream, the beach, the park… so I didn't know what to think. He pulls up in front of a coffee shop and all I can think is 'well, that's anticlimactic', but it turned out it was open mic night."

JJ gasped. "Oh, I like where this is going."

Derek smirked. "So I went up there, had him stand beside me, and read a poem that I'd worked on for weeks, and the last line was 'Spencer Reid, will you marry me?'. He blushed, got all flustered, pointed out my grammatical errors, and after some babbling, said yes. People applauded, he got more flustered, and someone was nice enough to capture it on video and send it to me."

"Please tell me I can see it."

He reached over for his phone, going through it and setting up the video, holding it out to her. "Be my guest."

She pressed play and leaned back, watching the video. She gasped loudly, cupping a hand over her mouth and squealing excitedly. "Oh this is perfect!" She immediately quieted down, crossing her fingers and hoping she hadn't woken up the infant. When she saw him sigh and keep his eyes closed, she breathed a sigh of relief. "So when's the wedding?"

Derek shrugged. "I'm sure she'll tell you soon enough."

When Spencer's phone went off a few minutes later, he checked the message and eyed JJ. "Really?"

She shrugged. "I had to scold her for knowing and not telling me."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "And what did she say?"

Spencer cleared his throat. "And I quote. 'There's video of this proposal and nobody told me?! I have to find out secondhand? Completely and totally unfair, Boy Wonder! What did I ever do to you?!'." He turned to JJ. "Rhetorical question or does she want me to start the laundry list?"

She laughed softly. "Pretty sure it's rhetorical."

Later on when JJ had to leave, Spencer was taking care of changing the baby while Derek was carrying a sleeping Henry out to the car.

JJ leaned against the car as she pressed the unlock button. "You may have asked for Diana's approval, but you didn't ask for mine."

"I thought the 'being a godfather to your child' thing was a given blessing," he whispered, putting Henry into his seat and buckling him in.

"It was, but you still could've told me."

"I know, and I'm sorry." He grabbed her bag, putting it on the floor in front of Henry's seat and closing the door. "But the more people who knew meant more ways for him to find out, and as you could tell from the video, I wanted him to be completely surprised."

She clicked her tongue. "I guess that's okay. But I swear to God, Derek Morgan, you hurt him-"

"And you'll kill me," he finished for her, "I know. It was good to see you. You know you're welcome anytime."

She nodded, leaning over and wrapping her arms around him. "I know. Thank you."

He smiled, rubbing her back.

Spencer walked outside, carrier in hand. "He's fed, he's changed, he's awake, and smiling for the time being, so I think it's the best time to get him going home." He opened the back door, clicking the carrier into the base and kissing the infant's forehead before putting the blanket over him, closing the door.

"So is there an adopted little one in your future?" JJ asked.

Spencer scoffed. "Currently, no, I'm still a college student."

"And you're probably going to be for another billion years if you don't stop collecting degrees," she reasoned.

"I just don't want to ever have the chance to second-guess my career choice-"

"You mean the one you haven't picked because you're still in college?"

Derek nodded his head. "Now I definitely see the 'sibling' thing."

Spencer nudged him with his elbow before walking over, pulling JJ into a hug. "I'll miss you too."

She grinned, kissing his cheek and wiping off her lipstick before patting his back. "See you again soon. You've got some tux shopping to do."

He rolled his eyes and smiled. "And I'm sure you'll make it so much fun. Can't wait."

She stepped back, twirling her keys around on her keyring before exhaling. "Guess I should get these little guys home." She waved to the two of them before getting in, starting the car.

Derek wrapped an arm around Spencer's shoulder. "Any chance I can actually get you to relax and watch a movie tonight?"

Spencer smiled. "Well, I suppose Professor Blake's assignment can wait to be finished until tomorrow morning after you make me breakfast."

"Would you look at that? Paranoid Student Spencer taking a backseat. And when did I agree to make you breakfast?"

"...When you had me put off working on my paper to watch a movie?" Spencer said matter-of-factly, patting his hand and walking inside.

Derek shook his head, following him and closing the front door.

Author's Note: It took me a while to come up with an ending I'd be happy with that wouldn't just be long and boring paragraphs explaining everything and putting a bow on top. Thank you to every single person who followed, favorited, and commented on this story over the last year - I seriously can't thank you enough for your continued support. This story is one that I've spent most of my time on, and I'm thrilled that so many people enjoyed it. I don't see myself continuing this storyline unless random inspiration strikes, so please feel free to check out my other stories :)