In Hiding (Final Book in the Boss's Niece Series)

Re-doing Haley's Room

"What color do you want your room painted, honey?" I asked Haley.

Since we had the weekend off, Spencer and I decided to re-do Haley's room. We were going to paint it, move some things around, give her a desk and a bookshelf. She was reading fairly well now. She and Spencer would read every night to improve her reading skills.

"Blue!" she exclaimed. I chucked. "Baby blue!"

"I think we can do that. What do you think, daddy?" I asked Spencer.

"I think so." he said. "I called Morgan to come over to help. He's bringing Garcia and you three are gonna go shopping while the men do the work."

"Yay!" Haley exclaimed.

"Yay." I said, less enthusiastically.

"Come on, Mel. It'll be fun." Spencer said.

"I don't like shopping. You know that. I'm not a normal girl or a Garcia." I said. "But, I guess I can go with Haley and let the men have their men time."

Spencer chuckled and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

"Awe! Mommy and daddy love each other!" Haley said.

"You better run, little Haley. Or the big bad monster is gonna get you." Spencer said. Haley squealed and raced off as Spencer chased her.

"Don't break anything!" I called after them.

•

The next day, Saturday, Penelope and Derek came over early with little Hazel. Haley loved Hazel because she was the only other little girl in the BAU.

"Hey you two." I said. "Is little Hazel Morgan going shopping with mommy and aunty Mel?"

"You know it!" Penelope said. "She's getting bigger every day, so I decided to bring her with us to get some little baby clothes."

"And I thought, because Mel is going, Mel could pick out the clothes so that Baby Girl doesn't go overboard." Derek added. I smiled.

"Well, I have been through the baby clothes and the teething and all that stuff, so I'm glad to help." I said. "Come on Haley or we'll leave you behind."

"Coming mommy!"

Haley raced down the steps in her little jeans and a t-shirt that read, "Girl Genius".

"I wonder who got that for her." Derek chuckled.

"I did, actually." I said. "Because you are a genius, aren't you Haley."

"Yes! I'm smart like daddy!"

I laughed and took hold of her hand. We said goodbye to the men and went out to the car. We decided to take my car. I put Haley in her carseat and Penelope hooked Hazel in her carrier before we climbed into the front and drove off to the mall.

•

*Reid's POV*

"Aren't little girls supposed to like pink?" Morgan asked as we painted Haley's second wall a light shade of blue.

"Not really." I said. "That's just a stereotype. While most little girls do like the color pink and dolls and things like that, other little girls like other colors and playing with other toys and even reading comic books."

Morgan chuckled. "Leave it to Reid to make something so simple as little girls liking pink and making it scientific."

"I didn't say it was scientific. I said it's a stereotype."

"Whatever Reid."

"So, how's being a father? You used to it yet?"

"Not at all. It still seems like a dream. Everyday, I'm questioning myself. I'm worried that I'm gonna do something wrong. I just wanna be the best father I can be."

"I felt that way, too." I admitted. "Don't worry. Soon enough, you'll be a pro at it and you won't have to question yourself anymore."

We continued to paint in silence. Once we finished painting, we brought in Haley's new desk and bookshelf and started putting them together. Morgan knew a lot more about this stuff than I did, so he did a lot of the work.

"Did you know Mel asked Jessica to look into that woman at Rossi's funeral?" asked Morgan, breaking the silence.

"Yeah." I replied. "She told me yesterday. How do you know?"

"Garcia caught Jessica doing the background check on her. Reid, I think there's something you need to know about this woman."

•

*Mel's POV*

We were currently in the tenth store at the mall. Penelope was getting Haley to try on a little dress. For what, I have no idea. There was no real reason for Haley to wear a dress.

I was holding Hazel and looking through baby clothes for her.

"Mommy, mommy! Look!" Haley cried.

I turned to look at her.

"You look beautiful, baby." I said. "Like a little princess."

"I'm not a princess. I'm a scientist."

I looked at Penelope and raised an eyebrow.

"It wasn't me, it was Morgan. Don't give me that look." she said. "Go get dressed, honey. We're gonna go get something to eat."

"Okay Aunt Penelope!"

Once Haley was gone back into the dressing room, Penelope turned to me and said, "I feel offended. You and I have known each other for years and yet you ask the new girl to do a background check on someone instead of me."

I laughed and said, "I'm sorry. It was sorta like her first assignment on the team. What'd she find? Anything?"

"A lot. I'll tell you over food."

Haley exited the dressing room. Penelope payed for her dress and we went to the food court to grab some lunch. Once we were sat down at a table, Penelope started telling me about the woman.

"Her name is Debra Anderson. She is 52 years old, never married. She is originally from New York, but travels the world. Why does she travel the world? For her job as a hit woman."

"A hit woman?" I asked. "Does that mean...she could be after me?"

"Uh, it may be a possibility, but I would highly doubt it."

"Why?"

"Well...um...I don't know how to say this." Penelope said, biting her lip nervously. "Mel, Debra Anderson is your biological mother."

*************

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER!!!!!!

Also, I realized I called Penelope "Garcia" when she's now married to Morgan. In order to fix that, I will say that she kept her last name, like JJ did when she married Will. Kk, cool :)