A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or Criminal Minds; no copyright infringement is intended. At many universities there is a tradition of a tenured professor giving a last lecture. These often encompass what the professor would say if they had one last lecture to give. As we will see, Dr. Reid, who was set to teach a course at the FBI academy, is in a unique situation. This is the sequel to "Their Chosen Battle". At the moment, I'm intending this to be T rated, but that may change.

Chapter 1: Waking Up

The alarm went off, bringing Spencer Reid into a state of wakefulness. He hit the snooze button, and opened his eye just enough to see if Emily was stirring. Spencer was beginning to believe that one of the ingredients to true happiness was waking up with your wife laying next to you. It didn't look like she was stirring, which was just fine with Spencer. He really didn't want to get up. He positioned himself closer to Emily, specifically to her belly. His fingers lightly touched her belly where their unborn child was growing and he whispered," It's okay. Everything will be okay, I promise."

He was startled when Emily's hand started stroking his head. "Do you believe that? Or are you putting on a brave face for our child?"

"A little of each, I think." Spencer rolled over until he was looking at Emily's face. There was something very comforting about looking at her eyes, especially since he hadn't had the luxury of looking at them a few weeks ago.

"It will be okay Spencer. Today things are going to change."

"I don't need a lot of change, Em. I'm married to you, and we have a child on the way. I'd just like to be able to go back to work."

"I know. I think you'll be able to after today. If not, there's always plan B."

"I didn't know we had a plan B."

"I thought you had one."

"Are you messing with me?"

She smiled her teasing smile at him. "I'm trying to lighten your mood."

"Tell me neither one of us has to go anywhere today. That will do wonders for my mood."

"We do have to. We went to a lot of effort setting today up, we need to get up and get started. You're going to give the greatest lecture ever given."

The alarm went off again. Emily turned it off and got out of bed.

After a minute or so, Spencer got out of bed too.

"You realize the entire plan depends on me being an effective public speaker?"

"That's the part I like."

"Why?"

"Because if it works, you will have no reason to doubt yourself as a public speaker ever again. Just remember to relax."

"You know, I do some of my best work in a state of panic."

"Sometimes. You do need to evoke a certain level of calm today though."

"But no pressure."

"No, there's tons of pressure, but no matter what happens I love you and I'm proud of you."

"For what Em? If I blow it, what is there to be proud of?"

Emily Prentiss-Reid kissed her husband full on the mouth. When she broke off the kiss she looked him in the eyes and said," The only thing you have to do is give the lecture. Be the man you always are, because that's who I love. That's the you I stood by, and he deserves to be exonerated."

"What if he's not? Exonerated I mean. There's a pretty good chance giving a lecture to FBI cadets while I suspended will push Strauss over the edge."

"Then the powers that be are wrong."

"But what if they decide this is the end?"

"Plan B."

"We don't have a plan B!"

"Not yet. If we have to, we'll figure that out tonight. Now get ready, we've got to get going."

Reid would have been ready a lot sooner if Emily hadn't supervised him getting ready. He was always just a touch careless about his appearance. Most days she let him, but today she knew his appearance was going to be just as important as the content of what he had to say. The one concession she made was to allow him to wear two very different colored socks. He always maintained these socks brought him luck There were many times when she pretended it bothered her when he wore them, but the truth was she found that quirk amusing and just a little sexy.

In spite of the delay though, they were driving to the lecture hall in relatively short amount of time. Emily pondered that it was a strange set of circumstances that lead to Spencer's professional future riding on a him giving a lecture. Then again, it was a strange set of circumstances that lead him to be being suspected of attempted murder and treason, then exonerated of those charges only to be suspended.

Spencer, for his part, wasn't contemplating any of that. He kept thinking, without any reason he was satisfied with, that his mother would be very proud of him if she could be here to see her son give this lecture. She should be here, he thought, since she was a part of this case.

As soon as they pulled into the parking lot of the academy, they shoved their musings aside. And went to the scene of what could be the first, and last, lecture Reid would give teaching FBI cadets.

A/N: Coming up next: Spencer Reid starts his lecture.