I love your insights on Spencer Reid. In all my years (and I’m not young) I’ve never connected to any fictional TV character like I do to Reid. Such an interesting and complex history, yet he’s a survivor, and one of the most endearing characters ever. I am so frustrated with the CM producers and writers that Reid’s true happy ending never was realized in the series. This was so disappointing to the viewers, not to see Reid in love or with a wife and children. He deserved happiness more than any of them.

What an insight story from just a line. I really love this kind of insightful stories about Spencer that the show tends to miss out. The last line made the impact most I think. Thank you for this amazing story.

OMG! This killed me in about 12 different ways. And I mean that as a very good thing. But still...wow! Heartbreaking doesn't even begin to cover it. I think you really nailed the depth of Reid's heartache and loss. And though JJ came close to finally "getting" it, she still didn't quite make it, which I think is totally canon. So yeah, fantastically done. I wish the show gave us more of this character "stuff" but they always cut it off and leave these really interesting story arcs unfinished IMO. Obviously their focus is and always has been the cases, but it's the characters I want to see explored more. Well...character (singular.) Just gimme more Reid lol! So thank god for fanfic! This really is amazing! xo

I randomly found your story, and i'm so glad that i read it!
It's so great how you described the characters, both Reid and JJ.
And i really love the conversation between them, and that JJ thinks he will be a father someday, but he doesn't think so. It's so beautiful and sad at the same time.
Really good job! : )

Wow - wonderful insight into the brief but wonderful moment during "The Inspiration". I love JJ's thoughts on both Spence and Maeve's relationship as well as her own with Will, as well as the fact that she's spent so much time comparing the two relationships and found hers with Will somewhat lacking in comparision it seems.

JJ's thoughts on Reid wanting children and his relationship with Henry were also wonderful. I know you've said before that you've always thought Reid fell in love with Henry first - but I could really see it here in JJ's memories about why she knew Spence was serious about "I would've" and her memories about why she made him Henry's godfather.

And then just when I thought it couldn't get any better - you have JJ and Spence continue their discussion and he reveals how much time he's spent thinking about being a parent... and we all know exactly why and who he was thinking about being a parent to and parenting with. And then the delightful section with Henry... and Spence making the realization the others besides Maeve thought about him was so touching - I can see him not realizing how much he means to Henry... and that was just the perfect ending to this story to show the full weight of what exactly "I would've" meant... that while it was about Maeve, in a way it was also about JJ and all of Spence's missed opportunities. What a beautiful one-shot!

im so glad this fic exists

great conservation between jj and reid about him making a good father and being there for henry since he was born.

red

This was a such a beautifully written piece. Its seriously one of the best one-shots I've read so far. I wish I could favorite it more than once.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. My god.

This? This is beautiful. I'm so glad to see you jumped upon that "blink and you might've missed it" moment from the show last night. That whole scene threw me for a loop, in a "gasp and go, 'Awwwww...!'" sort of way, and I LOVE the way you dealt with it here.

First off, I loved the comparisons between Reid's relationship and JJ's. Particularly the way Reid's was described as "antiquated", "Victorian", "dated", and that in contrast to JJ's more modern relationship, the way many people seem to get together nowadays. Almost like she wishes there'd been more proper romance, more simplicity (well, as simple as a relationship with the cloud of a stalker hanging overhead can be :p), in her situation. There was a hint of envy there, and not just because of the unspoken feelings lurking between these two, which I find interesting.

Second, the whole thing with this being even more of a reminder of all that Reid lost when he lost Maeve-that came to my mind, too, when he said those words last night and it broke my heart. It was surprising, yet wonderful, to think that he was ready for such an important step in his life, and knowing he didn't get that with her is just...ugh. Oh, Reid.

Third, all the thoughts JJ had about how Reid interacted with Henry. So adorable (I loved the "magicked the sore elbow" and snowstorm bits in particular-I could picture them and oh, my god, how sweet), and how much Henry idolized his godfather, and how touched and flattered he seemed by that fact (and yet I love that he was so concerned about just what all Henry knew regarding what he did for a living). That message from Henry that JJ had saved for Reid had me grinning and getting teary-eyed all at the same time! Perfect way to bring him out of the sadness he'd found himself in. And yet, indeed, much as he loves Henry, he doesn't get to see or interact with him every day. It's not the same thing as having your own child in your own house. I like that JJ tried to reassure him that there was still a chance for him, that it wasn't a "would've" but a "will".

And then the whole thing with Reid taking chances. I could relate SO much to this:
"People like JJ formed relationships so easily. They were comfortable taking chances, risking rejection. But not people like him."

Granted, I haven't had the kind of violent loss he has, of course, but still, I know EXACTLY what he's feeling anyway. Some people fall into this stuff so easily, and others, like Reid, or myself, wonder if we'll ever get that in our lives, and if so, how long it will be before it happens. I'm personally not in a rush for that part of my life right this moment, but it's still something I do wonder about regardless, and I think the way you articulated that fear and worry was perfect and so spot on.

Other things I loved:

"He tapped his temple. "The Great Reid knows all."

Hee :D.

"The monsters in my house were real."

Oh :(. I want to hug Reid so much right now. Seriously.

And then the end "I would've". *Puts hand to her heart* That got me. I feel like my heart has been pricked and poked at throughout this whole story, and it hurts, but in a good yet bittersweet sort of way, and...yeah. I just love it. Fantastic take on that moment from the episode.

me gusta!

That was an incredibly sad, incredibly touching story. I'm glad CM is letting Maeve's death continue to affect Reid in little ways. Most of the time the things that happen to them are only mentioned during great trauma, not as part of their everyday lives.

I was really upset with JJ with what she said before the now famous "I would've." Reid said it so quietly, so reverently, I didn't think many would hear it. BUT, I was sorely wrong. I think there's going the be q few stories about those quietly spoken words.
JJ has been so rude and out spoken this past year. I'm not really looking forward to the the season of JJ.
I hope that someday Reid is holding a little pink bundle in his arms. He needs to have a "daddy's girl" to love.
Anyway, great one-shot.

Great chapter! Can't wait for more!

AWW the feelings T.T
Nice job!