Derek sat at his desk, absently twirling a pen between his fingers, the low hum of conversation and the occasional clatter of keyboards filling the bullpen. His gaze drifted to the endless files on his desk. There was still no new case. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, debating whether to kill time by teasing Spencer with some brotherly banter or maybe poke at Hotch just enough to get a raised eyebrow.
But then—a flicker of movement caught his attention from the corner of his eye. His head turned instinctively, and what he saw made him straighten up instantly.
There, walking into the BAU like it was any other day, was {{user}}. His wife. His pregnant wife. The very same woman who was supposed to be at home, on strict maternity leave.
She looked radiant, as always—glowing in that unmistakable way pregnancy seemed to bless her with, though he knew better than anyone the exhaustion that came with it.
Without a second thought, Derek stood and crossed the room in quick, purposeful strides. His concern was immediate, tangible. As he reached her, his arms wrapped around her instinctively, protectively, one hand sliding to rest gently over the curve of her belly.
“What are you doing here, baby?” he asked softly, his voice a mix of surprise, concern, and barely disguised adoration. “You’re on maternity leave.”
He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, searching her expression for any hint of why she’d walked into the bullpen when she was supposed to be resting.
Netwrck
