Echos of a Genius | Spencer Reid

The Epilogue

Stephie

The house buzzed with excitement as I walked down the hall toward Hope's room, my heels clicking softly against the wood floors. It felt like just yesterday she was running around in pigtails and mismatched clothes, refusing to let anyone brush her hair. Now, she was sixteen and getting ready for her first high school dance. I had to admit, the feeling was bittersweet.

I tapped lightly on her door. "Hope? Do you need any help in there?"

There was a moment of shuffling and then her voice, high and cheerful, called back, "Come in!"

I opened the door to see her standing by the mirror, her eyes shining as she turned to face me. She wore a soft blue dress, the color bringing out her eyes, and her hair was done in loose waves that framed her face perfectly. She looked beautiful—so much more grown-up than I was ready for. My heart swelled with pride and just a hint of nostalgia.

"Wow, Hope..." I said, my voice catching as I took her in. "You look stunning."

She blushed, glancing down as she smoothed out her dress. "Thanks, Mom. Do you think it's too much? Or not enough?"

I chuckled, stepping closer and brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "It's perfect. You're perfect." I paused, and a lump formed in my throat. "I can't believe how grown-up you look."

Hope laughed, that familiar sparkle in her eye that was so uniquely her—equal parts sass and sweetness. "Mom, don't get all sentimental on me now," she teased, but I could see her softening, too.

At that moment, Spencer peeked in, holding his phone up like a proud parent on a mission. He stopped in his tracks, his mouth forming a small "O" as he took in Hope's transformation. "Wow, Hope," he murmured, his eyes wide with admiration. "You look beautiful."

She rolled her eyes, but she was clearly pleased. "Thanks, Dad." Then she added, "You guys are being so... parental right now."

Spencer shrugged, not even bothering to hide his emotion. "That's our job. We've got to embarrass you a little." He grinned, stepping forward and snapping a picture before she could protest. Hope groaned, but there was no mistaking the joy in her eyes.

"Really, Dad?" she sighed, but she was laughing.

"Absolutely," Spencer said, slipping his phone back in his pocket. "It's not every day we get to see our daughter all dressed up for her first high school dance."

I took her hands, squeezing them gently. "Are you excited? Nervous?"

She nodded, looking between us. "A little of both, I guess. I mean, it's just a dance, right?"

Spencer smiled, his eyes warm with understanding. "Just a dance, sure. But it's also something special. A memory you'll carry with you for a long time."

Hope gave us a small smile, but I could tell she was a bit shy about the attention. I leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, "Back when we first met, your dad almost broke his leg while our friends tried to get him to dance, so let's hope you got my moves."

Hope's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Really?"

Spencer shot me a mock-glare. "Hey, don't make me the dancer here." But he couldn't keep the smile off his face as he looked at her. "I told Derek I couldn't dance."

The room fills with laughs and I feel Spencer snake an arm around my waist. It's so crazy to see this baby we created standing in front of a mirror checking her hair for the 50th time.

We all fell silent, the weight of that realization settling around us. Then, with a deep breath, I hugged her tightly, feeling her small but sturdy frame in my arms. She hugged me back, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, memorizing the feel of this moment, knowing it won't last forever.

After a moment, she pulled back and smoothed her dress. "Okay, okay," she said, her usual confidence returning. "If I don't leave now, you two are going to make me cry."

Just then, the doorbell rang, announcing her friends had arrived. Spencer walked with her to the door, while I grabbed my phone to snap a quick photo. Hope posed reluctantly, trying to appear indifferent but unable to hide her excitement.

As she turned to leave, she paused and looked back at us. "Thanks for everything. Love you guys."

With that, she was out the door, her laughter trailing behind her as she joined her friends on the front porch.

The house fell quiet as we stood by the door, watching her go. I glanced over at Spencer, and we shared a look, one that held a thousand memories and a lifetime of love. He slipped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"She's really growing up, isn't she?" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

I nodded, blinking back the tears. "Yeah. But she's still our girl."

We stood there for a moment, leaning into each other, taking comfort in the familiar warmth. It wasn't easy to watch her go, but in that quiet moment, I realized something important: she had grown into the person we'd always hoped she'd be—smart, kind, and brave. And as much as it hurt to let go, I knew we'd given her everything she needed to go out into the world and make it her own.

I lean my head on Spencer's shoulder, feeling a strange mix of pride and nostalgia settling in.

"She's really growing up," I said softly, squeezing his hand.

Spencer sighed. "Yeah... next thing we know, she'll be heading off to college and telling us she doesn't need us to pack her lunches anymore."

I laughed, brushing a tear away. "Or worse, she'll tell us she's met someone."

Spencer's eyes went wide. "Oh no, absolutely not. Dating? I think we agreed she's staying twelve forever."

I grinned, nudging him. "Good luck enforcing that."

He grinned back. "Challenge accepted."

We both chuckled, feeling a bit lighter. Our girl was growing up, but she'd always be our Hope.

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AN: My heart aches in all the right ways for this fanfic. I love them so much and Echos of a Genius is definitely my favorite one i've written so far. So here I am at one in the morning writing a short epilogue for you all because after everything they went through, they deserve this moment. ❤️