"I'm so sorry Spence- I don't know how to tell you this but... It's Cat Adams.", JJ said and Reid's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't heard that name in years. Last time he checked Cat was on death row, awaiting execution for her crimes.
"What about...
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PROLOGUE
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The day that Spencer's life got blown to pieces once more, started out just the same as all the other days that came before it.
He woke up next to Max, she was still dead asleep and he knew that that wouldn't change for another 30 minutes, so he got up and made his way to the kitchen where he started to make coffee.
Ely, their son, joined him 10 minutes later and together they ate breakfast, talked about Ely's schoolwork, his plans for the weekend, his girlfriend, whatever was on the boys mind. That morning he was telling him about a party he wanted to go to on saturday after his showcase.
"Lory Baumann is throwing an aftershow party of sorts.", he explained as he shovelled oatmeal into his mouth. "Kelly wants to go there. Would that be alright?"
Reid glanced at his son over to rim of his coffee-mug. He knew that people were surprised whenever he introduced Ely as his kid. After all, the black boy with dark curls and even darker eyes didn't look anything like him.
Max and Spencer had adopted Ely 7 years ago. Spencer had met the boy through a case in which Ely witnessed his foster-mother's murder. It was a long and heartbreaking case but over the course of several weeks Reid formed a bond with the boy and when the case was solved neither of them were ready to say goodbye.
Max and Reid never had children of their own, not because they hadn't tried. They had tried pretty much everything but somehow it just wasn't ment to be. That is until Reid met Ely. Now neither of them could imagine living any differntly. With Reid teaching at the FBI academy, Max working as an art professor and Ely starting his last year of highschool before going off to college next year, things couldn't be more perfect.
For a long time Reid didn't believe that he was capable of leading such a life. One where not every moment was painted by tragedy. Where he could have teacher parent conferences, lazy sunday afternoons and family vacations. But here he was, leading the life that he had never thought possible.
"Is there going to be alcohol at the party?", he asked his son with a raised eyebrow.
"I think so, yeah. But only wine. And Lory's parents are gonna be there.", Ely replied honestly. Reid wasn't surprised. He knew the Baumanns from several school events and they were a unconventional but still responsible bunch. That was a pretty common theme at the performing arts high school that Ely was attending.
"Well as long as you don't drink and drive, we're good. We could drop you off at Lory's house after the showcase and I could pick you up later? Or are you sleeping over?", Reid suggested. They had the drink-responsibly-talk several times and Reid trusted Ely. He knew how responsible his son was.
To his surprise Ely blushed a little and quickly looked down at his breakfast. "I was actually thinking that I could sleep over at Kelly's house?", he asked meekly and Reid had to stop himslef from grinning.
