Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. I'm just a big fan!

Spencer tapped his hand on the side of his trousers for what seemed like the thousandth time today, as the waited for the elevator doors to open to the 6th floor. He had something important to tell his team, and he wasn't sure how they would take the news.

"Hi Spence," greeted JJ, once the elevator doors opened. "Have a good weekend?"

"Yes, it was fine."

JJ took note of Spencer's quiet tone. Usually the genius profiler was bursting at the seams to tell JJ what new intellectual adventure he went on over the weekend, but now he only said four words to her. Something was definitely going on in that big mind of his.

"Well, I hope you enjoyed your time off because we have a new case." JJ held up a stack of manila files for emphasis.

Spencer headed over to the round table and took a seat in his usual spot. One by one, the other members of his team filed in and took their respective seats, still chatting with one another over how they spent their weekend.

"Let's get started please," ordered Aaron Hotchner, dressed in his usual suit and tie.

"Actually, while we are all gathered here, I have a quick announcement to make," said Spencer, while all the eyes of his teammates met his. It would be better just to say his news now and get it over with, rather than beat around the bush to it. "I have been looking into adoption and I need a letter of recommendation from someone who knows me well. It just needs to say that I am a fit parent."

"Wow, Reid, that's fantastic! Our kid is going to get a kid!" said Derek, one of Spencer's best friends and confidantes.

"Ooh, this is so exciting!" squealed Garcia, her blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders. "I get another baby to spoil silly!"

"Congrats Reid," started Rossi, "but doesn't the adoption process take over a year to complete?"

"Well yes, but I've already started the process a year ago. Social Services says they have a child ready for me but they need the letter in order to finalize the process."

"Spence, have you really been looking into adopting for a year?" JJ's face looked hurt. "We could have helped you."

"I know you would have," said Spencer. "But this was something that I wanted to keep private until I was sure that it would happen. I hope you will understand my decision."

"I think it's a great idea for you to adopt, but I have to ask, where did the idea come from?" asked Hotch.

"I've been wanting children for a while now, and after Maeve, I don't think I will get to have children of my own. This wasn't a descion that I made lightly. I have been thinking a lot about this and I am confident that I want a child of my own. There are a lot of good kids out there that need a home and I think that I will be able to give them one."

"You still can have children of your own," said Alex Blake. "There's still time for you."

Spencer merely shrugged.

"I speak for everyone when I say that I am very happy about your choice and I would love to write a letter for you, but I'm afraid that it will have wait until this case is completed," said Hotch, and opened his case file as a hint to the others that they should do the same.

XXXXXX

Spencer headed up the steps and walked into the adoption agency, with Hotch's letter tucked inside his messenger bag. He had kept his promise and wrote Spencer a beautiful letter that would surely be accepted by the social worker. The letter was all about Spencer's dedicated service to the FBI, how hard of a worker he was, and how he was perfectly fit to be a parent. Spencer could tell that he had spent a decent amount of time composing it perfectly.

"I am Dr. Spencer Reid, I have an appointment with Nancy Burke," said Spencer, to the receptionist at the agency.

"She's been expecting your appointment," answered the receptionist. "Her office is down this hallway and the last one on the right."

Spencer thanked her and followed her directions to find Mrs. Burke typing feverishly on her laptop.

"Hello Dr. Reid," she greeted, and stopped what she was doing. "How have you been?"

"Fine, thank you. I have that letter that you requested." Spencer set it down on her desk so she could have a look.

"Excellent." Mrs. Burke put on her reading glasses and scanned it. "This will work just fine." She put the letter in Spencer's file. "Now that that requirement is out of the way, I believe you are ready to legally adopt a child."

Spencer felt his heart swell. He has been waiting to hear those words ever since he started this process.

"Do you remember the child that we talked about last time you visited? Lily Anderson?" said Mrs. Burke.

"Yes, of course." Spencer thought back to the child that Mrs. Burke thought was a perfect match for him. Lily was a six year old girl, whose parents died in a car accident and was placed into foster care. She had long, brown hair, big blue eyes, and tiny dimples in her cheeks. Spencer had to admit, she was absolutely adorable.

Spencer had met her once when Mrs. Burke took him to the foster home she was staying at. She was really shy at first, but warmed up to him after an hour. He noticed that Mrs. Burke smiled at his interactions with Lily, and took note of how he made her laugh.

"If it is okay with you, I would really like Lily Anderson to be placed in your care. Her foster parents told me how she couldn't stop talking about you after you left, and from what I saw, she took very nicely to you. The couple that is looking after her told me that they can't watch her for much longer. She needs to be placed permanently with someone and I think you are that person."

"Thank you, thank you so much," sputtered Spencer. He was so excited that he found himself tripping over his words.

"I have one last thing I need to confirm with you before I place Lily under your care," said Mrs. Burke. "Do you still have someone to care for Lily when you're away on your cases?"

"Yes, I do." The hardest thing about the adoption process was finding someone who was willing to watch his child when he went away. He had no family that was capable of doing it, and all of his close friends were his teammates. Luckily for him, he had an elderly neighbor that was more than eager to watch his child. Mrs. Johnson had lived across the hallway from him for twelve years and nineteen days, and was always good to him. She knew that Spencer was often away for days at a time, and she would keep an eye on his apartment for him. Spencer was good to her too, and would bring her groceries when she was too weak to leave her house, and would spend an afternoon talking with her when she got lonely. Spencer knew that all of her grandchildren lived out of state, and when asked, did not mind watching his future child while he was gone. "Mrs. Johnson is still willing to watch Lily while I am gone."

"Good," said Mrs. Burke. She had to meet Mrs. Johnson before the adoption process could go through. Thankfully, she was approved.

"Well, Dr. Reid," Mrs. Burke continued. "I believe I am ready to place Lily Anderson permanently in your care. Congratulations, you are now a father."

XXXXXX

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter! I had this idea based on the conversation that JJ and Spencer had in the first episode of the ninth season, when he said that he would have had kids if Maeve didn't die. I think Spencer would be such a great father too. Please review and let me know what you think of my idea!