A/N: Heh, so another oneshot just took over my head. (grins and rolls eyes at oneself) I've promised to a dear soul to write a ReidxPrentiss –fic, and when this idea floated in I thought HEY – perhaps they could be combined. Here's the result. (smirks sheepishly)

WARNINGS: Hmm… Sad themes, I guess. But nothing more serious than that this time. (blinks) Now there's a record!

DISCLAIMER: Oh boy, if only I'd own 'CM'! I'd slip this story into the series instead of posting it as fanfiction. (grins evilly, then sighs with disappointment) No significant connection to the movie, just a similar theme.

WARNING/ANNOUNCEMENT – Honestly, I'm not sure if I quite finished this story in this one chapter; I may later expand it to a two- or threeshot. So I'm asking you guys… What do you say, should this story continue or should I leave it the way it is? I'd really like to hear what you think after you've read the chapter!

Awkay. (takes a deep breath) Since this is always the scare part, let's get it over with. I REALLY hope you'll enjoy the ride, folks!

Terms of Endearment

The cabin was quiet and filled by light as Emily Prentiss opened her eyes slowly, filling her lungs with a breath that held the scent of lake and forest. For a moment she enjoyed the feel of the warm, soft bed until shifting to lay on her side. She frowned upon discovering that the other side of the bed was empty.

Shouldn't be surprised anymore, she came to think. He always wakes up early, especially now.

Feeling slightly heavy from too much sleep she pushed herself up and began to make her way towards the cabin's door. It took only opening the door to discover that she wouldn't have to look for her companion long.

Dr. Spencer Reid was sitting on the cabin's stairs with a thoughtful yet calm, almost serene, look on his face. No matter how much she hated the action Emily found herself examining him with her gaze, as she did very often these days. Spencer appeared exhausted and pale, but not sick. In fact this was the most 'normal' he'd looked in months. That thought gave Emily a hint of comfort.

Clearly sensing that he was being stared at, Spencer turned his head just enough to see her. A tiny smile appeared to his face. "'Morning, Emily", he greeted, his voice so soft that she guessed he'd been nauseous earlier.

It was a tiny miracle, really, that she managed to smile as she approached and sat beside him. Without neither of them noticing she took his hand and they both held on tightly. "How long have you been awake?" she inquired, managing to keep her tone casual.

Spencer shrugged. "A couple of hours, I guess." They were both much too aware that it was only seven in the morning at the moment. "I… wasn't feeling well, so I thought I should get some fresh air." That was a coded expression to him feeling violently ill. He gave her a swift sideways glance. "I didn't disturb you, did I?"

Emily shook her head, half-subconcsiously tightening her jaw for a moment. "But I wish you had." Her eyes were, perhaps, a little bit harder than necessary. "I thought we had an agreement that you wouldn't go through this alone." Of course she'd known from the start that it wouldn't be quite that simple. Spencer had made it through so much all alone that he probably didn't know any other way of doing it.

Appearing somewhat sheepish Spencer sighed and relaxed, so that he leaned slightly against her shoulder. She wondered if he'd just made it through a wave of pain, and the thought made her stomach knot. "I'm sorry", Spencer murmured after a moment of silence, then cleared his throat. "So… The doctor's going to call today." He tried to say it like it'd been a tiny, mundane thing and failed miserably.

It most deffinitely wasn't humdrum, to wait for the news on whether his leukemia was showing any signs of surrendering whatsoever. They'd already been relieved by the news that said Spencer was showing signs of recovery before this newest bump in the road. When Spencer had woken up one morning feverish and nauseous it hadn't taken his intelligence and knowledge along with her common sense to figure out that something was wrong.

So no, this was not mundane. Because Emily had never been this scared in her entire life. When he first collapsed after a case briefing, then admitted he'd been feeling sick for almost two months and later got the diagnose, Emily had been shielded by numbing shock. But now she'd had the time to think, to take in everything. And being in front of this – in front of the possibility of losing Spencer – completely bare and aware was the most horrifying thing she'd ever faced.

Emily was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt Spencer shudder. She immediately looked at him, ice-cold alarm spreading through her body. "Are you okay?" It was a stupid question, really, especially since she knew he'd lie in response. But somehow hearing him say those words, no matter how false they were, comforted her.

It was a surprise that Spencer managed to smile before nodding and clearing his throat. She felt his too cold hand squeeze hers rather weakly. "I'm fine, just a bit tired and sore."

Emily didn't know what happened, and why now of all times. But for the first time since this whole nightmare began her eyes filled with hot, hellishly stinging tears and a couple of them rolled down her cheeks. Her body shook and she brought a fist to her lips as a single sob erupted. She immediately hated herself for such a reaction. She was supposed to be the stronger one of them – the one who wasn't lost, scared and angry in the middle of all this! She'd always been so good at bottling up all her emotions inside, almost scarily good. She'd been able to walk through almost anything without letting the members of her team see her upset or affected. So why couldn't she stop another two tears from appearing?

Emily didn't know what she was expecting, because she shuddered with surprise when Spencer suddenly wrapped a pair of arms around her and pulled her close. He held her so close that she could feel his heart beating. To just about anyone else it might've been a surprise how quiet he was just then, since he'd always been viewed as the most talkative member of the team. But over the fifteen months they'd been together Emily had seen more than enough hidden sides of him not to be surprised by anything. Some days she felt selfish pride over the thought that she was the one he'd trusted enough to reveal all of him.

Emily had no idea how long the silence had lasted until Spencer spoke quietly. "It's okay", he assured her in a soft voice, rubbing circles to her back. "The bonarial transplant didn't work, but according to the statistics there's still a 20-40 percent's chance. So…" The man swallowed. "I'm not planning on giving up, okay?"

Emily knew she was squeezing him too hard, but couldn't bring herself to loosen her hold. She buried her face to his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. It felt good to discover that it hadn't changed, no matter what was happening in his body. Emitting a sigh she ran a hand through his hair, and a part of her was glad he hadn't lost them during the harsh treatments. It made the harsh reality seem a bit further off.

This switch of roles felt bizarre to her. Usually she was the one rubbing his back when he threw up, the one holding him when he was in pain and refused medication, the one who whispered soothing words she hoped from the bottom of her heart she'd believed in. Usually she was the one in control over herself.

Just then, completely unexpectedly, there was a sharp jolt in her stomach as the third party of their relationship joined the moment. With a soft gasp Emily brought a hand to her stomach, just in time to feel another jolt. "The baby", she explained after a moment when seeing Spencer's questioning expression. "It's kicking. Do you want to feel?"

There was a rather amusing, nearly petrified look in Spencer's eyes as she made the decision for him. He jumped a little with surprise when she placed his hand to her swollen abdomen and the baby kicked in an instant, as though recognizing its father's touch. It took a long moment before Spencer finally relaxed and dared to press his hand fully against her.

Emily felt her throat contract as he observed how Spencer all but stared at her stomach with wide eyes and the baby kept kicking, as though responding to some telepathic messages from him.

She'd found out about her baby, their baby, a month after Spencer had been diagnosed. Sometimes it hurt to feel a new life inside her growing while Spencer seemed to be fading away. And at times, like today, it hurt even more to know that there was a great possibility that Spencer would never see his child.

"You know…" It took a second or two before Emily realized it was her voice talking. "I've been thinking. And if it's a boy… I think Jason would be a great name."

At first Spencer looked at her and blinked twice. Then, as he realized she was serious, a huge smile appeared to his face. That's when the last of her self-restraints broke.

She leaned forward and kissed him, hard. After a moment's shock he responded eagerly.

They'd rented the cabin for a long weekend to get away from everything. But two hours later the rest of the world reached them as Spencer's cell-phone started ringing determinedly. They both knew full well it was the doctor calling.

They looked at each other with solemn eyes, then got up and headed inside to hear the news. They didn't dare to let go of each other's hand for even a second.

'When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.'

Unknown

End.

A/N: Soooo… (swallows, and blinks a bit) ('Got something in my eye, that's all) What are your thoughts – was the story good, at all? Do you think you just read the full story or should there be more? Or heck, should I press 'delete' while I still can?

PLEASE, do let me hear from you! Writing is something I'd go insane without, and hearing from you would be the icing on top of the cake. So… Pwease…? (gives puppy's eyes)

Awkay, the battery of my laptop is going to bail me soon, so I've gotta start tuning out. (pouts)

Thank you so much for reading! And hey, maybe I'll be seeing you around some day!

Peace out!