When Layla and Spencer made it back to the house, Layla was almost sure her parents or someone else would be there waiting for them. She was happy to see the empty driveway, all she wanted to do was relax a little before going to see her grandfather at the hospital. She wasn't sure what Spencer wanted to do, she was hoping he would want to stay but she'd understand if he wanted to go back to his own place, she figured he might have dealt with enough of her issues for one day.

"There's probably not any food left." Layla said as she turned off the car.

"Why?"

"Because I haven't been able to get Argos to stop getting into the food on the table if it's left out for too long." She climbed out of the car, waiting for Spencer to open his door before locking it. Spencer nodded. He wasn't as nervous to see the dogs as he'd been that first time, but he was still standoffish at the idea of going in before Layla, so he waited a few feet away from the door as she unlocked it.

She'd been right, all the food that had been at the edge of the table was gone, surprisingly, all the plates were unmoved, and Spencer was impressed with the lack of broken glass on the floor. Spencer helped her clean up the remainder of the food, he even started washing the dishes while she whipped off the table.

"You don't have to do that!" She said quickly, moving to his side almost like she was about to take the utensils from him. "You're a guest, guests don't do dishes." She said. Spencer looked down at her, the very top of her head came up to his shoulder. Spencer remained where he was, not letting go of the sponge and plate.

"It's okay." He said. "You cooked, its only fair that I do the dishes."

"But- you're a-"

"Layla, I'm going to be around a lot." He told her, "I'm not a guest." She bit her bottom lip and bounced on the balls of her feet, something she did when she was excited or anxious.

"But…" Spencer didn't understand her stature, she'd gone from tired and relaxed with him, to uncomfortable and anxious. She hadn't had a problem with him just picking things up. It took her a few moments, but she relaxed slowly. Something clicked in Layla's head, he would be around a lot more, she had been trying to avoid thinking about the future would look like. Obviously, he would be around a lot, they were having kids together. But, what would 'being around' mean, like would they be living together? Would he keep his apartment? She couldn't see herself being able to share her space, she valued it way too much, she needed a place where she could be alone and regroup. But at the same time, with her grandfather's illness the future was very unpredictable.

Layla couldn't imagen her life without her grandfather. He was the only one who stood up for her when she was a kid, he was the one that fought through hell and back to save her from a situation that would of more than likely ended in her death. He risked his relationship with almost all of his children just so Layla could have a normal life. He loved her unconditionally, even though those first few months of her living with him were not fun, he never complained about the doctor bills, the constant validation she needed, the screaming nightmares she'd had, the expensive service dog she had required. No, she couldn't live without him.

"Layla." Spencer said slowly, he resisted the urge to wave a hand in front of her face, "what are you thinking about?" She jumped at his voice, clearing her throat and pulling at the ends of her slightly frizzy hair.

"Huh? Nothing." She bounced on the balls of her feet again and moved through the kitchen, through the archway into the formal dining room where a sliding glass door was placed and let the dogs out. Spencer licked his lip and went back to washing the dishes. He finished a few moments later, drying his hands as he turned back to Layla. Her arm was tightly wrapped around her chest, her elbow propped up on her arm, her hand fingering at her collarbone. "Are you hungry?" She asked Spencer after she caught him looking at her. The question caught him off guard.

"No." He answered. She looked at him a long moment, before nodded and turning to look back out at the dogs. He moved over to her, tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him but didn't move away.

"I'm sorry." She said again.

"Stop saying you're sorry."

"I don't know what else to do, you're not hungry. Cooking and baking are the only things I'm good for." The words weren't said with any emotion, it was like she was simply stating a fact.

"Who told you that?" He said, moving his hand down her arm, pulling hers from her throat where her fingering had left little red scratch marks. She didn't fight him, she actually leaned back into him. She shrugged.

"Why aren't you mad?" She asked.

"I am mad, just not at you." She sighed, "you did really good today." He said. The top of Layla's head didn't even make it to his chin, he would have to angle his head down if he wanted to press his face into her hair. She scoffed at his words.

"Good?"

"Very good. Would you have been able to do all you did today a few months ago without a panic attack?"

"I had a panic attack last night."

"But you didn't have one today."

"One day isn't a milestone of any kind. And I can't believe I met your friends like that. I…I." She shook her head. "The word 'embarrassed' can't convey."

"Don't be embarrassed. They aren't going to hold that against you-"

"It doesn't matter if they hold it against me or not. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to have your two of your adult family members try and blame their actions on someone else and try to get him arrested? And why, this isn't going to be the last we hear from them, they aren't going to leave it alone, I don't, I don't want them to hurt you or your career when they're trying to hurt me. That's not fair to you!"

"They aren't going to hurt my career." He assured her. "They can't. I promise you." She bit the inside of her cheek and scoffed. Spencer's hands were resting on her waist, his fingers were resting right where her stomach started swelling outwards. His hands made her skin feel extra warm, warmer than she would have thought someone else could be.

"Why do you think we went home together?" Layla asked, her hands moving to cover his.

"Um." Spencer wasn't sure of an answer. "Copious amounts of alcohol lowered our decision-making skills." She grunted slightly.

"But why us? I mean, why you and me specifically? There were plenty of other prettier women there and I've never had good luck with speaking to guys in bars." Spencer thought about it again.

"Normally I don't speak with girls and I don't think any of them would have argued Shakespeare with me like you did." She nodded.

"Do you regret it?" She asked, turning so she could see his face easier. Spencer's eyebrows furrowed; he honestly hadn't thought about it like that. He wasn't sure his real feelings behind it, his emotions were all muddled together but he wasn't…upset or conflicted about his actions. He hadn't thought about what would have happened had they never slept together.

"No." He said. "I don't. Do you?" She shook her head quickly, pulling away from him gently.

"I…this is the first time in my life where I've been able to…." She sighed, trying to think of a way to word it that would make sense. "I've never had someone that's really….depended on me. If that makes sense. I have never been able to stand up for myself to my family. I mean, my grandfather has been there for me for the last serval years and Aunt Macy and Uncle Tony have always been good to me, but…" That's when the dogs started coming back into the house. Layla shut and locked the door after the last one came through.

"Learned Helplessness, or the elephant syndrome." Spencer said. She recognized the term from one of her therapy sessions. "You know, Elephant Trainers created one of the most classic examples of learned helplessness. In order to maintain control over their adult elephants, they would tie ropes around their legs when they were babies so they couldn't escape, eventually, they wouldn't try and escape anymore as they grew because, in their head, they would never be able to break free of the rope." Layla squeaked at the new information.

"Poor babies." She frowned. "That shouldn't be legal." She licked her lips.

"But like you were saying before." Spencer said, "all the hormones that are released during pregnancy that are meant to bond the mother and child, or in this case, children, probably have a lot to do with your…progress."

"I guess." She said, "does that mean that when they're born, I'm going to go back to the way I was before?" She didn't like the idea.

"No…" He shook his head. "I don't think you will."

0000

The next week went by very quickly. Spencer ended up having to go into work later that night. When he got there, Spencer had been expecting to be bombarded with comments and more questions about Layla and the pregnancy, he'd prepared for it the entire ride to the office.

"Please be safe." Layla told him when she pulled up to the front doors. Spencer leaned over, and for the first time in their short relationship, he was the one to kiss her. It felt both weird and good to him

"I will." He said. Derek had been walking up at the time Spencer was climbing out of the car. He waved at Layla as she drove away and smirked at Spencer but left it alone. Layla spent the rest of the evening with her grandfather until the visiting hours were over, where she had to explain everything that happened that afternoon.

They arrested Lucy the next day. She was released on her own recognizance and the judge placed an order of restraint against her and Layla until the case was resolved at the request of Layla's lawyer. Layla felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders when she heard that. The idea that Layla wouldn't have to hear from or see Lucy due to a court order felt absolutely amazing, and if Lucy broke the order then she would be arrested again. Elliot was surprised at his daughter's actions but was relieved to hear about the temporary restraining order, he wasn't looking forward to hearing what Lucy thought about the whole ordeal, but he decided to take it one day at a time.

The cookout got postponed due to Elliot being in the hospital, but due to the late notice on the extension, Anthony, his wife and two kids weren't able to adjust their plane tickets and decided to come at their scheduled time. Anthony figured he could help with some work that needed done on the house and just visit. Macy was supposed to be the one that picked him up from the airport, but she ended up having to get her sick daughter from school. Thankfully, Layla's doctor's appointment finished right before they landed, and she was able get there in time to pick them up, and since they were staying with her anyway, it just made things easier.

"He was a little worried about my blood pressure, but that was it." Layla said into her phone as she watched people move around the crowded area. "But my blood pressure has always been a little high." She stood on her tiptoes in an attempt to see over the people. "I can't wait to send you the ultrasound pictures! The doctor wasn't able to tell the genders for sure, but he said that he should be able to at the next ultrasound in two weeks!"

"Does he have an idea?" He asked tiredly. This phone call had been one of the only breaks he's had on this case and he didn't foresee another one until this case was finished.

"He did for two of them, but I wouldn't let him tell me. For one I don't want be locked onto a gender and then find out it wasn't right, and I want you to be there when we find out." She said. "My friend wants us to do a gender reveal party…but I don't like that idea. I think it should just be something between the two of us- at least when we first find out."

"I'm not sure if my schedule will allow me to attend any more doctors appointments."

"Then I'll have them write it into an envelope and we can find out when your home."

"Are you going to bake it into a cake?" He asked, that's what Haley had done for her and Hotch when she was pregnant, and he could see Layla jumping at the opportunity to bake a cake.

"I was thinking about it." She said sheepishly. "I don't know. How do you wanna find out?"

"We could just open it." He offered, that made the most sense to him. She sputtered for a second before responding.

"That's not fun!" She said, "I guess we can talk more about it when we have an envelope." She licked her lips, "hopefully you'll be able to come." Spencer smiled at the tone of her voice.

"I'll be back soon." He said, looking at the piles of paper and boxes they got from the storage container that he still needed to go through.

"When you do get back, you should come over…" She said, biting her lip. The offer had been in the back of her head since her phone started ringing. After he had been there that one day, her bed had felt to big. She'd been getting three of the dogs to sleep with her at night instead of just the one.

"I'd like that." He said and she relaxed.

"Good." Her smile took over her entire face and she momentarily forgot where she was, so much so that she didn't see her uncle, his wife and their two kids coming towards her.

"Have you been at home alone? While your grandfather is in the hospital?"

"Honestly, I've been so busy at work. I had to cover two of Marissa's shifts because her daughter's sick, and I've been with Grandpa at the hospital. I've barely been at home."

"I really don't want you at home alone while everything with your aunt and parents is going on. That's the best time for them to try something."

"I have four dogs-"

"The dogs can't call the police."

"I'm fine Spencer. And my Uncle's going to be here for the next week and a half." She licked her lips.

"Have you heard anything from them?"

"Not from my Aunt." She said.

"Your parents?" She was silent and Spencer sighed. "What did they do?"

"It's just…text messages and voicemails. Lucy told them about the pregnancy and…" Spencer could hear her voice shaking a little. "Its…nothing."

"It doesn't sound like nothing."

"I don't want to- it's fine really."

"Laya-"

"I don't want to talk about its Spencer." She instantly felt bad for snapping at him.

"Who's Spencer?" Layla's uncle's voice scared the ever-loving hell out of her, and she nearly dropped her phone.

"I have to go Spencer. You'll call later?" She asked, her face growing a dark shade of red at the expression her uncle was supporting.

"Yeah- Layla, please, try not to be by yourself, I really-"

"My uncle is here, I'm not alone." She assured. "I promise." Spencer didn't like the idea of leaving the conversation like this but let her rush him off the phone.

"Uncle Tony!" Layla didn't have time to put her phone in her purse before her he wrapped her in a bear hug, lifting her feet off the ground. She saw her aunt standing behind him, a tired smile on her face while both of his son were looking at their respective phones. Anthony put her down, ruffling her hair.

"Who's Spencer?" He asked her again.

"Uh-"

"Oh Tony, leave her alone." Jessica said, pushing at her husband shoulder. "You've got plenty of time to harass her after we get settled in." Anthony grunted but listened to his wife's words. He picked up the suitcase that Layla hadn't even noticed. Layla's cousins smiled at her when they finally looked up from their phones.

Anthony made jokes as Layla led them out of the building and to her SUV. She'd worn a large jacket, not wanting her pregnancy to be the first thing her uncle see. He noted that it was a little warm for to be wearing it. Something about how, even as a Floridian, he would have been sweating underneath the fabric.

"How's Grandpa?" Tracy, the older daughter asked Layla as Anthony loaded everything in the back of the SUV. Layla frowned, moving her sunglasses she had on top of her head, down over her eyes.

"He's been in good spirits." She said sighing, "They're taking him into surgery and bolting his hip back together. It's only a fracture, but he's old, ya know?" Tracy nodded. Layla felt bad about the circumstances that she was seeing this side of her family. She hadn't seen Tracy since the first week Layla had moved into Elliot's house. Layla wasn't huge on texting or phone calls really, she much preferred to speak to people in person, she's spoken to Spencer on the phone more than anyone else in her contact list put together.

"How long is he going to be in the hospital?"

"We're not sure. It could be anywhere between a few days to a week in a half. The doctors were talking about moving him into an assisted living facility temporarily so someone can help him until he can walk and take care of himself again."

"I'm sure he's loving that idea." Anthony said.

"He wants to get a live-in nurse so he can be home, but his insurance isn't going to cover it, hell his insurance isn't going to cover the facility either." Layla sighed. She hadn't even had money to pay her car payment this month, she'd have the money at the end of the week, the payment was just going to be really late. Thankfully they didn't have a mortgage, but even the property taxes were coming up and she didn't know how she was going to pay them.

"I'm sure we'll find a way to make it work." Anthony saw the stress on his niece's face and changed the topic to Alice's, the younger daughter, grades and how she was at the top of her class. Layla found the new topic easy to focus on and was thankful that she didn't have to contribute much. When they made it to the house, Layla was more then happy to show everyone to their rooms. The house was a five bedroom, her and her grandfather took up both master suites, leaving three guest rooms. Layla had cleaned out the one closet to her bedroom after her grandfather made a comment about a nursery. She'd done so in one of her sleepless, 2 AM escapades. Linda had already gone on a few shopping sprees for the newest additions to the family and Layla's closet wasn't going to fit anything else.

"Sorry, the girls are going to have to share a room." Layla said. "The other spare….isn't exactly guest ready." She was hoping he wouldn't question it too much.

"They share a room at home." He chuckled. "It's not that big t a deal." He followed her downstairs, noting that she was still wearing her jacket.

"Feel free to eat anything, and if you want me to cook anything, just let me know." She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath. She didn't have a lot of food in the house, she just didn't have the money for it. Her insurance wasn't covering even half of the doctors appoints and as her grandfather's bills continued to pile up, the gap between what she owed every month compared to what she made just kept getting wider.

"You look a little stressed." Tony said as Layla started putting some dishes away that she has washed that morning, she had tossed her purse onto the kitchen counter. "When's the last time you got some sleep?" He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the counter. Layla shrugged. "Does it have anything to do with the uh, nice cut on your cheek there?"

"I'm fine." He took a deep breath and let it out. Macy had caught him up on what happened with Lucy. He'd been both surprised and not. It had only been a matter of time before one of his sisters started beating on her. If he had an extra room in his place at the time everything went down, he would have taken her away from the entire family. That's honestly what she needed at that time.

"Is it your parents?" He asked and she took a deep breath.

"I really don't want to talk about all of that right now."

"Does it have anything to do with the Spencer you were talking to on the phone?" Her face flushed and Tony knew he had her. "Would you like to talk about him?"

"I really don't want to talk about anything right now."

"Come on!" He threw an arm up dramatically. "you gotta give me something. Am I going to get to meet him before I leave?"

"Yeah." She said, "probably." She smiled softly, "he's out of town at the moment for work."

"Work huh? What's he do?"

"He's in the FBI." Tony nodded in approval.

"FBI huh?" He frowned, "how old?"

"27. I think he'll be 28 soon."

"So, six or seven years?" Layla rolled her eyes. "He can't find anyone his own age?"

"It's not that bad Uncle Tony. He's really nice. Six years really isn't the big."

"Layla, you just turned 21…it's very easy for guys to be nice, to say all the right things and then when they're done, they go back on all the promises they made and turn into different people."

"You don't know him."

"You're right." He said, nodding. "I don't, how'd you meet?"

"We met at a Bar." He made a noise and Layla huffed in annoyance. It took quite a bit for Tony to keep from smirking at his niece's aggravation.

"Starting out on a great foot."

"We did." She said, "and now I'm pregnant." He choked on the air around him. Layla looked at him and crossed her arms to match him.

"You're what?" His expression blanked for a few moments.

"Pregnant, I had gone home with Spencer the night I met him. I…I don't really remember how it happened or why, but it did. Spencer has been very supportive through the entire thing." She shrugged off her jacket, thankfully to finally be able to pull it off.

"Layla." Tony wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. "This…is this a good thing?"

"I think it is." She smiled softly. She dug around inside her bag and pulled out the newest strip of ultrasound pictures. She looked down at them and her smile widened before she passed them to her uncle. He furrowed his eyebrows at the pictures. He had a pretty decent memory when it came to his wife's two pregnancies.

"Why…are there?..." He pulled the pictures closer to his face, "why are there three…"

"Because there's three babies."

"What is this talk about babies?" Jessica came into the kitchen. She had changed from her clothes earlier to a more comfortable pair of leggings and converse and plane white t-shirt. Tony wordlessly gestured to Layla's stomach. "What? Really? Oh my God!" It was a little funny to Layla that the first thing that first response people had to finding out she was pregnant was 'oh my god,' it was like people forget there were other words in the dictionary.

"And there's three of them." Tony added, handing the ultrasound pictures to his wife.

"Triplets?" She looked over the pictures before wrapping her arms around Layla, it took her a little by surprised. "That's amazing! How far along are you? Have you found out the genders? Who's the father?"

So, we got to meet her uncle! that's exciting. hopefully layla doesn't run herself raged.