never grow up, criminal minds

027. custody battle

"I know I haven't been present in her life since she was born, but I was hoping to make things right." Lily tells the judge. "I regret leaving my daughter behind and Spencer Reid didn't deserve to be forced to take care of the child he barely had time to process was going to be born."

Spencer bites his tongue, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose as he listens to Lily's speech, resisting every urge he has to yell and protest, knowing that won't work in his favor.

"I grew up, I got a job as a dental assistant, I met a nice man." Lily says. "We got divorced due to wanting different things in life. I came back to make things right with my daughter."

"Ms. Stark, it says here that you had an alcohol and drug addiction." The judge says. "You were arrested twice."

"Yes, your honor. It was a dark time in my life and I regret it. I've been clean for two years." Lily says.

"I've heard enough. Dr. Reid." The judge calls to the stand. Lily sits back down and Spencer stands at the podium.

"Your Honor, I have been the one raising my daughter since she was born. Lily abandoned her at the hospital two days after she was born. I've been there every step of the way and I take care of her. I make sure she goes to school, she's fed, I have a babysitter for when I need one. I only had two months to prepare before she was born, but I was ready to handle the new baby. I put a nursery in my home, I bought everything she would need, I read thousands of books."

"As an FBI agent with the Behavioral Analysis Unit, your job takes you away a lot on cases." The judge says.

"I-- yes, it does. But I'm not a neglectful parent or anything. When I'm home, she gets my full attention. I leave her with a trusted adult when I'm away, we talk on the phone when I'm on a case. I have a stable home."

~ ~ ~

"Now... you both make compelling cases... somewhat." The judge says, casting a small side eye in Lily's direction. "This is a long process, for everybody involved. So... until the next court date, Clara will remain in her father's custody." Spencer lets out a sigh of relief. "But..." His heart drops. "She will have supervised visits with her mother every weekend. No sleepovers, just one hour a day on Saturday and one hour a day on Sunday."

"Thank you." Lily smiles.

"Court dismissed." He bangs the gavel.

Spencer slouches a bit as his mind mulls over the decision.

"One step closer." Lily smugly smiles.

"Oh, relax. You get her for 2 hours out of 168. And those are supervised hours." Spencer sneers.

"Still one step closer." Lily points out, walking out with her attorney.

+++

"I don't wanna spend an hour with her!" Clara yells, stomping her foot.

"I know. I know." Spencer coos. "But you don't have a choice, baby."

"Why not?" Clara whines. "It should be my choice. It's my life."

"I know, I know. I know." Spencer rubs his face. "It just-- kids don't really get a say when it comes to this kind of thing. Especially when they're young."

"I deserve all the says." Clara states.

"I agree." Spencer says. "But the courts don't work like that. I'm sorry."

Clara's cheeks puff out, Spencer able to tell just how frustrated she is at all of this. Lily shouldn't be able to have the power to just walk in and flip both of their lives upside down.