The Ever Winding Road

A/N: The sequel to A Thin Line has arrived! I cannot promise frequent updates, but I will try to update ASAP. This chapter is small and sweet just to get back into the routine of things. Also, thanks to REIDFANATIC for betaing this story. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't any characters who appear in the TV show, Criminal Minds.

Chapter 1: Coming Home

"The only thing that makes one place more attractive to me then another is the quantity of heart I find in it." Jane Welsh Carlyle

"When is Mattie coming back?" Morgan asked Reid, who kept checking his cell phone for messages and missed calls.

"Today," Reid said. He put his phone in his pocket. Mattie had only been gone for a week, yet it felt longer.

"How's her father doing?"

"Better." In reality, he wasn't sure. Mattie had left for home because her father had gone through a rough patch with his cancer. Mattie had said he was doing better but something in her voice had been lacking. He could tell she was holding back how bad it really was.

"Seriously Reid, stop," Morgan said as Reid took out his cell phone again. "You will know the moment she calls. Maybe your new nickname should be, Dr. Lovesick puppy."

Reid glared at him and followed Morgan over to his desk. "I am not a lovesick puppy." Morgan was about to say something, but Reid's phone rang. "We will continue this conversation later." The caller id confirmed that it was Mattie. "Hello."

"Hey. Wow, that is amazing." Mattie said as she sat in the airport.

"What is amazing?" Reid asked as he down at his desk.

"Just hearing your voice and suddenly everything is wonderful."

"Same here," he just smiled at hearing her voice.

"I have some bad news. I am still in St. Louis."

"I thought your plane was supposed to take off an hour ago."

"It was, but the weather has been a mess so who knows when I'll be getting home." She let out a big sigh. She really just wanted to be home with Spencer.

"Oh, I really was looking forward to seeing you." His voice sounded sad that she wasn't going to be home.

"I know. I'm seriously considering just laying in bed with you for a week when I get back."

"I think you would go insane after a few days."

"You are probably right. Hold on." Mattie listened as an announcement was made over the intercom. "There is hope that you might see me tonight."

"Really?"

"I'm going to keep my fingers crossed, but they are starting to board some flights. Who knows something just might happen."

"Do you want me to wait up for you?"

"No, it will probably be really late when I get home. Wait, are you even going to be home tonight?"

"I think so; we haven't received a case yet. Then again, the plan could always change."

"Of course." It was one of the challenges of being married to a profiler. His schedule was always unpredictable. There was no way to be sure when he was going to be called away for a case.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Her tone had sounded resenting.

"Everything is fine. Why?"

"Your tone just changed."

"I'm just tired. It's been a long week."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He knew it had to do with her father's heath.

"Not really." She was still processing the whole week.

"If you want to talk about it later, you know where to find me."

"Okay. Huh, it looks as if they are starting to board the plane."

"Then I might get to see you tonight?" Reid asked as a smile crept onto his face. He really wanted to see her.

"Maybe. Hey, I have to go. I'll call you later."

"Sure."

"Love you."

"Love you too. Bye." He hung up the phone and noticed that Morgan was smiling. "What?" Reid asked annoyed.

"Nothing. You're just a lovesick puppy." Reid glared at him.

Mattie sat in her window seat staring out at nothing in particular. Her mind was preoccupied with the events of the week. She knew her father was dying, but it was worse to see him actually sick and the life starting to drain out of him.

Mattie finished cleaning up the kitchen and went upstairs to check on her father. She had just brought him back home from the hospital after a new round of chemo. She knocked on the door, before entering. "Dad?"

"I'm up honey." Mattie's father said as he sat up in bed reading the newspaper.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she sat in the chair next to the bed.

"A little tired, but fine otherwise." He said.

"Do you want anything?"

Her father put his newspaper down and looked at Mattie. "Matilda, stop treating me like a baby."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think I was." Her voice was quiet, almost breathless.

"No, I'm sorry. All you have done is come here and help me out. I'm just…"

"I know dad. I know."

"Why don't you tell me about how things are with Spencer?"

Mattie smiled. "That might take awhile."

"Well, we have all day. We might as well start somewhere." Mattie smiled and started to talk about her married life.

Mattie knew her father was scared. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but she could just tell. She wished it wasn't happening, but the world didn't follow the rules of what we want.

Reid woke up when he felt a head on his chest and an arm wrapped around him. "Hey, you're home." Mattie nodded her head and held on to Spencer a little tighter. He ran a hand threw her hair. "How was the trip?"

Mattie let out a sigh. She knew that she should probably get everything off her chest by talking about it. "I hate that he is dying."

Spencer wrapped his arms around her. "I know." Spencer never really had anyone close to him die before. His grandparents had died when he was young, but that was it. When his father left, it was like he had died but that wasn't the same.

"How was your week?" Mattie asked. She wanted to talk about something other than her past week.

Reid let out a groan. "Long. If we ever have kids, I swear that we should keep them on a leash."

Mattie laughed. "Why on a leash?"

"That way, we'll be able to keep a closer eye on them." The latest case had dealt with children being kidnapped.

"Well, that might work with a toddler, but never with a teenager."

"You're probably right."

"I don't think child services would even permit you around children. Let alone, tie them on a leash."

"Ha ha ha. Very funny."

"Thank you. I try to be."

"You're welcome." Mattie's comment started to make him think. He opened his eyes and looked at his wife. "You don't think I would make a good father."

She knew he was overanalyzing her comment because he was half asleep. "You'd make a great father." Mattie gave him a sweet kiss.

They had never talked about kids before. "Do you want kids?"

"Eventually." He looked nervous at the thought of kids. The 'Reid affect', as Hotch called it was no secret. "Don't worry. I'm happy with it just being us right now."

Reid closed his eyes content with where the conversation was. Plus, at two in the morning he wasn't much of a talker. "Before I forget there is a message for you on the machine, something about publishing a paper."

Mattie shot up. "What?!" She quickly ran to check and see what the message was.

"Honey?" He sat up as Mattie started to jump on the bed in excitement.

"The Journal of Organic Chemistry wants to publish my paper!" He blankly stared at her. "It is only one of the best places to have a paper published!" She deeply kissed him and continued to jump on the bed. She was much too happy with excitement.

"That's great." Her grabbed her and pulled her down so that she was lying next to him. "I'm so happy for you. Now what does that exactly mean?"

She rolled her eyes. Mattie knew her husband's brain was only functional when he was awake. "It means that your wife is brilliant. It's not as if just anyone gets their paper published by the Journal of Organic Chemistry."

"As if I didn't already know that you are brilliant and beautiful."

"It also means that my work is going to be read by some of the best in their field." She giggled with excitement.

"Honey, that's amazing." Reid was more than partially awake, so he actually understood what she meant and what an amazing opportunity it was for Mattie. "We should do something to celebrate."

"I completely agree, but…" She yawned. The toll of the trip was finally hitting her. "Sorry."

"Okay sleepy head, close your eyes. We'll figure out something tomorrow." Mattie snuggled her head into Reid's chest and drifted off to sleep. He wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes. It was good to have her back.