.two years later

"How long do you think you'll be gone?"

Rosemary bit her lip as she looked over at her husband in the passenger seat, her deep brown irids flooded with concern and, already, longing.

"Can't say for sure, you know that," Spencer replied softly, wishing her could give Rosemary a more definite answer. "But we've already made good progress on the profile and we think we already know what we're looking for so... I might be home even sooner than you think."

Rosemary still could not make the corners of her lips tug upward; she knew it was part of the deal that had come with being with Spencer- his job had to come first in their schedule. And yet, it never ceased to render her heart into a state of sorrow. Coming home to Spencer after a long day of working alone in the archives always brightened her mood. They'd talk for hours as if they had just met all over again. About their day, new books they wanted the other to read, and, in the unfortunate case that one (or both) had had a not so good day, they'd cuddle or make each other feel better with words of affirmation. But there were times like today when Rosemary knew she would be coming home to an empty apartment for days on end, and she hated the loneliness (even if she sure loved her alone time).

"Don't do anything reckless, please," she begged, knowing Spencer was anything but when it came to his job, but also knowing he would do whatever it took to save a life. "Let Morgan be the hero, or Kate, or J.J. Be careful."

"But if I let them be the hero, what will you have for a husband?" Spencer inquired, his eyebrow raising as he looked over at her.

"An alive man," she replied, her lips now curving to form a tiny smile. "Keep me updated, okay?"

"I always do." Spencer seemed to frown slightly, his mind at work. "You're acting more concerned than usual- are you going to be okay on your own?"

Perhaps he thought it was her trauma coming back and making her even more stressed than usual- but Rosemary had other things on her mind that was making it all the more difficult to let him go this time.

"I'll be fine- and I'm always this worried about you, I just don't... express it as much."

Rosemary stared at him for a moment longer, as if to permanently capture an image that she could savour for the days where his presence would be only the books on the shelves in their home that had come into contact with him. Spencer reached over the middle compartment to offer his hand; Rosemary accepted, their fingers interlocking.

"I love you. Please don't worry yourself out over me, okay?"

Rosemary was just as always deeply affected by the words that Spencer now had no trouble saying to her. She then nodded at his request.

"I love you, too. Now go- I'm holding up the team, and I don't need Hotch to give me that look over it next time I see him."

"All right- I'll see you soon, Ro."

Spencer hopped out of the car, retrieved his baggage from the trunk, and made his way into the building. Rosemary waited until he was past the doors to tear her eyes away from his retreating form and begin to drive off to work. The museum didn't need her to come in at strict hours, as her job relied more on a need for new items to be looked over or old ones to be reviewed, which was entirely relative to what the other staff or the curator decided that day. She was just about to exit the perimeter back onto the main road when she realized something was sliding around on the passenger seat- she glanced over to see just what it was.

Spencer's wallet!

"Oh, Spence," Rosemary shook her head, quickly making a U-turn to head back towards the parking lot. She figured she could catch him before the team came down to get in their SUVs and drive to the landing strip where the jet would be waiting. She located a parking spot before hopping out of the car, wallet in hand to jog over to the doors.

It didn't take long before she was in the elevator, drumming her fingers against her leg in an anxious hurry. The elevator gave a short, bright sound before the doors opened. Rosemary exited, approaching the bullpen with searching eyes- there he was with the rest of the team, everyone seeming to chat briefly before they headed off.

"Spencer!"

The head turned immediately, light brown locks swaying as Spencer caught sight of his other half. He looked a little surprised that she had shown up, and she hurried over and held up the wallet as if to offer explanation.

"It must have fallen out of your bag in the car," she breathed out, hand on her stomach as she stopped by the lingering agents, handing the wallet over. Rosemary then turned her gaze on everyone, putting a friendly smile on her face. J.J.'s gaze seemed to shift as she watched Rosemary's every move, her blue gaze lingering just a moment on the hand resting on the abdomen.

"So the genius does forget things, huh?" Morgan teased triumphantly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Technically I didn't forget it, but it fell out of it's own accord," Spencer corrected him, prompting Kate to laugh and Derek to frown lightly.

"Ooh, I forgot to- Rosemary!"

Everyone's eyes were averted to see Penelope scurrying over to the group, a file in hand.

"Here, you're going to need this, I forgot to give it to you yesterday," she informed Derek as she shoved it into his grip before breaking through the crowd to throw her arms around Rosemary. The brunette's eyes widened- she had grown used to the physicality of Penelope Garcia and her warm personality, but it threw her off regardless when she was enveloped in a bear hug this early in the morning.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!" Penelope said woefully as she pulled away.

"It has been a while," Rosemary admitted, looking apologetic.

"Does anyone know what's holding our leader up?" Rossi suddenly interjected, glancing toward's Hotch's office.

"He probably got a phone call," Kate suggested.

"So when were you two planning on telling us?" J.J. said abruptly, causing all eyes to land on her.

"Us?" Rosemary replied quizzically, gesturing towards Spencer, who looked equally as puzzled.

"Yes," the blonde responded, looking somewhat amused as if Rosemary was playing dumb with her. "How far along are you?"

Penelope gave a dramatic gasp and Spencer's mouth opened, though for once he was unable to utter a single word.

"I- how did you-?" Rosemary was stuttering, her eyebrows pushed together as she tried to fathom how J.J. could have guessed her secret before Spencer had.

"I'm a mother, I know a pregnant woman when I see one," J.J. reminded her, suddenly frowning as she looked around at the different faces, their expressions ranging from shock to joy. "Wait- Spencer didn't know? I just thought you guys were both waiting to tell us..."

Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes filled with guilt. "I should have asked you privately, oh my gosh-"

Rosemary turned to face Spencer, now more concerned that he was going to be incredibly angry with her before leaving for this case.

"Spencer- I'm sorry, I was going to tell you after the trip," Rosemary confessed hastily. "I didn't want to tell you before you left because I knew you wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it and you have to focus on your case."

Spencer finally snapped out of whatever state he had been sucked into, and he blinked quickly before speaking. Everyone seemed to be watching him in desperate curiosity, wondering how he would react.

"How did I not guess it before J.J.?" he exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowing. "I should have noticed the signs before anyone else! I can't believe this-"

Morgan let out a hearty laugh at that, stepping forward to put a hand on Spencer's shoulder.

"For once, something our little brainiac didn't know," he shook his head, grinning at the younger agent. "Congrats, man."

Now everyone was interjecting with words of congratulations, and while Rosemary was glad, she wanted Spencer to say something to her.

"Don't frown like that," Spencer told her, pulling her in for a hug as Penelope clapped her hands excitedly. "I'm happy. And I know why you didn't tell me yet. And I hope you know I plan on spending the entire plane ride writing down all of my favourite names. The Doctor will probably be on there, just a warning."

Rosemary laughed and breathed a deep sigh of relief into his shoulder.

"I'm perfectly okay with that, as long as Pippi Longstocking is on there too," she murmured with a smile. They broke apart and Rosemary lowered her gaze in slight embarrassment as Kate and J.J. stared with heart-warmed eyes, Rossi and Morgan exchanging a subtle yet approving look. Penelope hopped up and down in glee, exclaiming, "Another BAU baby! Can I be the godmother? Are we all the godmothers and godfathers? Oh my goodness, I have so many things to start collecting for this little one-"

Rosemary's grin widened and she glanced at Spencer, who was bashful but full of pride.

"But first, you can get back to your computer to help us solve this case," came the commandeering voice, Hotch approaching the group with just as serious a face as ever.

"Yes, sir!" Penelope replied obediently, waving shyly at Rosemary before scurrying back to her own office.

"All right, let's get ready to head out- I had a call to take, but we're good to go now," Hotch informed the group, Rosemary feeling incredibly awkward as she stood there.

"Rosemary, Reid- congratulations," he finally said, shooting the couple a soft smile, yet in his very Hotch way Rosemary knew he was very pleased for them, especially for the agent he had worked beside for so long now. "I promise he'll come back in one piece."

"Thank you," Rosemary nodded, biting her lip as the smile tugged at her mouth again. "I'll see you when you get back."

She placed a kiss on Spencer's cheek before waving goodbye to the group, returning to the elevator. As she stepped in, the doors shutting behind her, an involuntary smile of pure bliss broke out across her face.

She had made it- and now no man, gold mask or not, could take that happiness away from her.

Thank you to the readers that have followed this story until the end!