A/N: Hello again, everyone!

A shout-out to ahowell1993, Hippiechic81, Kelly, Skylar, Amy, Martha, Betty, Susan, CandiLover, Rosier-Sama, Gryffindor4eva, Sinner2016, catalinaorrego, lulu-20-07, MarieReeds and pctronics for either reviewing Chapter 6, favoring and/or following the story.

Sorry for the delay! I have school-almost done as I'm about to graduate, independent study-working on a book, CM's S14 Finale kind of…knocked the wind out of me, part-time job, I do an internship at school, etc.

My apologies if I had made any mistakes but do enjoy the chapter!

Also, I'd like to give ahowell1993 credit for one of the scenes.


"Are you sure about this?" Élise asked Spencer for the umpteenth time since arriving at their current location.

"Yes, I'm sure," Spencer assures her. "I think it's time for you to meet my mother."

Élise hasn't felt this nervous in such a long time. She even felt like an awkward teenage; meeting your boyfriends' family for the first time.

"I hope she likes me." Élise anxiously blurts out.

"She'll love you." Spencer gives her a reassuring kiss by pressing his lips against her forehead. "I know she will."

"Back so soon again, Dr. Reid," Dr. Norman greets him before noticing, "Who's the pretty lady with you?"

Élise sort of blushed in embarrassment.

"She's my girlfriend." Spencer takes her hand and kisses its palm.

"Well, if you're looking for your mother, she's over there." Dr. Norman points his mother out to him and Élise, who is seen reading. "She's still doing well, despite her schizophrenic outbursts at times."

Spencer took a deep sigh; sometimes he regrets putting her in a mental institution because sometimes he felt as if he has abandoned her or leave her here to rot, but he also knew he was in no position to care for him. Now he had this feeling that maybe this wasn't a good idea.

Élise notices this and kisses the palm of his hand, assuring him, "It's okay."

Spencer smiled back at her.

The couple quietly walked over to her, "Mom?"

The sound of her son's voice causes Diana Reid to look up from her book, "Spencer." She softly smiles when she soon noticed, "Oh! Who's your friend?"

"This is Élise Bastien. She's my girlfriend." Reid proudly smiles.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Élise timidly said.

Diana eyes her before eyeing her son, "She's a pretty one, baby. She better be the mother of my future grandchildren." Spencer's face went red. "And please, call me Diana."

"One of my favorite names actually is Diana."

"I hope you two name one of my future grandchildren after me."

"Mom." Spencer's face turned even redder.

"I hope you're treating her well. Or I'll get you."

Élise giggles. "He's a gentleman."


"I really like your mother, Spen," Élise said as they parked the car.

"I think she loves you, Lise," Spencer assures her. "Even more so since you told her you read Margery Kempe when you were at Rutgers."

"Well, I did notice her reading her autobiography when I took a class and one of the topics was her, which has been said to be the first autobiography in the English language."

"I'm just surprised she didn't freak out as much when you said you're a federal prosecutor for the US Attorneys who occasionally nicknamed the Silent Eliminator or the Silent Enforcer for your silent law enforcement abilities for justice in the right way."

Stepping out of the car, "You never told me your uncle owns a horse ranch. And a large one."

Shrugging his shoulders, "I guess I wanted it to be a surprise."

Walking up the driveway, Reid knocks on the door. After waiting ten seconds—Spencer counted,

"Hi, Aunt Ethel."

A late-middle-aged woman with short chin-length ash-blonde hair, of average height and weight, dressed in a long-sleeve T-shirt, denim jeans and beat-up riding boots, opened her arms out, prompting Spencer to hug her.

"Thank God you don't have that long hair anymore." She gives him a playful smile before eyeing her attention to Élise, "You must be Élise."

"You guessed right, ma'am." Élise nervously smiled at her.

"You're too stunning."

"You're too kind, ma'am."

"Please. Call me Ethel."

"Hey-hey!" A familiar voice that Spencer immediately recognizes, "My favorite nephew." It was a tall late-middle-aged gentleman with short salt-and-pepper hair was dressed in a plaid shirt, dark loose jeans, and boots.

"Uncle Gordon!"

"Give me a hug, you!" After he gave Spencer a hug, "Who's this pretty little lady?"

Wrapping his arm around Élise, "This is my girlfriend, Élise Bastien."

"Pleasure to meet you, sir." Élise awkwardly waved at him.

"Please, call me Gordon." He insisted. "So, Élise. Have you ever been on a horse before?"

"No, sir. But I've always wanted a pony. I never got it."

"Well, today's your lucky day. My wife can help you get into the right gear and we can get started.

"Okay."

Holding her hand out for Élise, "You can come with me.".

After Élise and Reid gave each other a kiss, Élise went with his Aunt.

"It is getting serious between you two?" Gordon whispered to him.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. When you two plan your wedding, I hope you're having your cousin John be your best man."

"Absolutely."


After Ethel helped Élise get into the proper gear—a white T-shirt, skinny jeans, and Frye boots—Ethel led her to where they kept the horses.

"Now the first thing is to meet the horses," Ethel showed her a brown horse. "Get to know them a bit. This big fella's name is Falcon."

"May I pet him?" Élise asked.

"Sure. Just remember horses spook easily, so you want to be very gentle."

Élise started to pet him, "It's just like velvet or a really nice cotton-poly blend."

"That's it, nice and easy. I think he likes you, now."


After being led into the field, as Élise put on her riding helmet and gloves,

"All set?" Ethel asked before continuing, slowly instructing step-by-step, "Your left hand on the reins, your left foot in the stirrup and get on up."

Élise did it with ease, despite thinking she was going to fall.

"I did it! Whoa!" Now Falcon started to go, a little too fast for Élise "Whoa! Hey-hey! Slow down there, Falcon!"

"You got to show him who's boss. Use your voice."

"Falcon, slow down on down there," Élise said in an authoritative tone of voice.

"You see? He's slowing down." Ethel said as she was walking over to Élise.

"This is actually quite fun!" Élise excitedly said. "I thought I was going to be a nervous wreck."

"Now, I'm not one to mince words, so are you and Spencer getting serious?"

"Yeah, we are."

"Good. When you two plan your wedding, I hope you can have my daughter Anna help out with the wedding; perhaps she could be your maid of honor unless of course, you have sisters or someone else and she could be a bridesmaid."

"Absolutely. And thank you for that."

"Of course. And make sure that hair of his stays short. He looks like a preppy hippie hipster working for the FBI when he has that long hair."

Élise giggled just as a horse flew past them and jumped over a log.

"Woah," said Élise before looking at Ethel, "Who was that?" asked Élise.

Ethel shook her head as she recognized her nephew on a horse.

"That was Spencer who's riding his horse, Sherlock," said Ethel.

"Sherlock?" asked Élise.

"Gordon and I got him Sherlock when he graduated from the FBI Academy as a way to remind him that he's always welcome here during his time off," said Ethel.

Élise watched her boyfriend get his horse to jump over another log.

"How long has Spencer been riding?" asked Élise as Spencer approached them on his horse.

"Uncle Gordon got me onto a horse as soon as I turned 18-months-old," said Spencer.

"Have you ever competed?" asked Élise.

"Yes, and my trophies and medals are in my room here," said Spencer before looking at the ground, "At least it's December and not March," said Spencer.

"Why?" asked Élise.

"Mojave Rattlesnakes, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and a bunch of other rattlesnakes and venomous snakes come out," said Spencer.

Élise shuddered.

"Don't scare your girlfriend, young man," Ethel warned him.

"Yes, ma'am"

"Our ranch is a therapy horse ranch for children and adults with disabilities."

"Cool. Despite your germaphobia, you're not afraid to ride horses?" asked Élise.

Spencer shook his head.

"Horseback riding is the only sport I'm good at, and I just need to make sure to take a really long shower after riding," said Spencer.


"Wow, I really like your Aunt and Uncle." Élise praised Reid as she walked out of the bathroom.

"Yeah, I practically grew up with them," Reid said as he and Élise were getting ready for bed together and they were already in their sleepwear. "After my dad left, they took care of my mother whenever I had class until I was eighteen when I had her institutionalized to Bennington."

"Well, that's good." Élise commented as she sat down on the full bed; she was still fuming in her head that his father left his ten-year-old son alone with his schizophrenic mother "Now, I can't wait to meet your cousins, John and Anna."

"And I can't wait to meet your parents and brother."

Élise's eyes widen and her heart stopped for a moment. "Oh. My parents? And brother?"

"Yeah." Reid noticed her facial expressions as he sat next to her. "Look, if you don't want to…"

"No. No-no. It's just that…I…my family's not exactly the Brady Bunch family, so…I guess you can say that I'm estranged from them."

"I get that. And I understand that."

Meekly shrugging her shoulders, "I guess I could give them a call or two." Élise moved a little closer to Reid. "I bet you want my father's blessing. It wouldn't be gentleman-like of you not to."

Smiling like a schoolboy before he and Élise broke out into laughter, "That, too." Pulling Élise into his arms. They looked into each other's arms before their lips touched; moving in sync. Élise brushed her fingers around his hair and Reid caresses her face. They allowed their bodies to fall on the bed as they were embracing each other.

"Ah-huh."

Élise and Reid parted from each other when they noticed Ethel, in a yellow bathrobe over her nightwear, with her hands on her hips, pursing her lips.

They felt like teenagers after they were caught making out by one of the teachers.

"I hope you two were not about to..." Ethel warned them, wagging her finger.

"No, ma'am." Reid quickly corrected her and frantically shook his head; Élise just stayed silent. "No. No. No-no-no!"

"Good. At least not in my house anyway. Because that's not the way you were raised, young man. I was just about to wish you two good night and to get plenty of sleep for Christmas service tomorrow."

"We will."

"Good. Now good night to you both."

"Good night." Once she closed the door,

"Are you religious?" Élise asked.

"My Aunt and Uncle are Christians," Reid explained. "Personally, I'm more of a man of science."

"Well, my mother would drag me to church on Sundays when I was little; honestly, I wanted to stay home to watch reruns of Power Rangers. Now, I don't go anymore; I guess you can say I'm more agnostic than atheist. There's a difference."

"I know." Reid gives Élise another peck on the lips. "Now we should probably get some sleep."

"We should." Élise agreed as she pulls the comforters over her and Reid before embracing him. "And remember…"

"No sex," Reid concluded. "At least not yet."


"John," Reid greeted his cousin John with a hug. "How are you? We just came back from church and we're about to start opening presents."

"Fine, cousin Spencer," John said with a smile. John eyes Élise quietly in the background. "Who's the little lady?"

Spencer motioned Élise to come closer. "This is my girlfriend, federal prosecutor for the US Attorneys, Élise Bastien."

"Nice to meet you, John."

"Same."

"John." A young woman with ash-blonde hair walks into the room. "Big bro!"

"Little sis!"

A woman with red-gold hair walks into the room,

"Melissa!" Gordon and Ethel gathered around her as she was holding something. "How are you?"

"I'm good. Oh! Careful." Melissa whispers. "We don't want to squash Sabrina."

"Hi," Ethel gentle took newborn baby Sabrina into her arms. "Hi, sweetie."

"She's a sweet bundle of joy, John." Gordon complimented.

"So precious." Élise oozes.

"She is!" Reid came to see his second cousin, who she soon gushes at when she was brought into Spencer's arms by Ethel. "She's smiling at me."

"I expect you another grandchild or two from you, John. And you as well, Anna. You're 25 years old and you should settle down with someone soon." Ethel said.

"Mom…"

"And I definitely expect great-nieces and nephews from you and Élise, Spencer."

Spencer and Élise look at each other before their lips pecked.


"Are you sure you want to do this?" Reid asked Élise as they were approaching the front desk.

"Absolutely," Élise answered in a calm authoritative tone of voice. "Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Yes? May I help you two?" The dark-haired secretary asked the couple.

"Yes. I would like to see William Reid, please." Élise politely said; Reid shows her his FBI credentials and Élise shows off her AUSA credentials as well.

"I'll go get him." The secretary went to go get him.

Élise still couldn't get the thought of Reid's father abandoning him and his mother when Reid was ten. She just felt nothing but disgust at his father. And she was going to do something about it.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Reid asked her again as she reached into her purse and took a mint.

"Oh, I'm sure." Élise was fired up although Reid could not physically see it. "I am absolutely sure. You'll really know why I'm called the Silent Eliminator and Enforcer."

"Spencer?" William Reid has just walked out of his office.

"Hello, father." Spencer politely greeted him.

"Who's your friend here?"

"Her name is Élise Bastien and she happens to be more than a friend. In fact, she's my girlfriend." He places his arm around her and gives her a peck on her cheek.

"Oh."

Smirking, "Why don't we talk in your office, sir?"


In William Reid's office, Spencer stood near the door with every muscle in his body tensed up as he looked at his father and Élise sat across from him, pursing her lips.

"Wow, I've never I get a visit from someone with the US Attorney's office," William said, with a smile on his face.

"And I never thought I'd get to my boyfriend's deadbeat father." Reid proudly smiles at Élise who managed to cause his father's smile to fade away. "Until recently, it had been, what, Reid?" Seventeen years since you last saw each other."

"Look, I can…" William Reid explains it away.

"You know what?" Reid couldn't take it away and stand by Élise, who was still sitting in his chair.

"Spen, baby?" Élise tries calming him down. "Please? I got this?" Élise continued for him, "Don't bother, okay? Just please, don't bother because honestly, you'll just look like a jackass bastard."

"Please, sir," Élise said 'sir' with elegant parenthetical; held up her hand to signal William Reid not to talk. "Just…please. Now that I think about it, do you want to say something, Reid?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Clearing his throat. "What you did to mom and me…17 years ago," He paused, let out a heavy sigh. "You should have caused you to lose your license to practice law while you most likely would have had to spend time in prison for child endangerment."

"Yeah-yeah." Élise held Reid's hand; she knew he wanted to cry but didn't let it show. "Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon really wanted to report you to the police and your law firm, and I begged them not to because I didn't want to be separated from my mother."

"Spencer…"

"Shut up!" Reid snaps, William leaned back into his car. "I'm talking now. I…" He couldn't continue…

But now it was Élise's turn, "And of course, I do have some connections here in Las Vegas and I definitely know some who can strip of your license to practice law just like that," Élise snaps her fingers. "I could do that. Hell, I should do that. But for some surprising reason, I'm not going it."

"Why?" William surprisingly asked.

"We talked about it on the way down here. So, here's the deal and I suggested you listen up because I'm only going to say this once and only once." Clearing her throat. "It'll be Spencer's decision if he allows you back into his life," Getting up from her seat, looking William Reid straight in the eye. "If he does let you back in his life and if you dare hurt him, even just one bit, hell, even in the smallest measurement, I'll contact one of my contacts here in Las Vegas and you get to deal with me."

Now Élise was all up in his face, "I'll make sure that you lose your license to practice. Not only that, I'll make damn sure you paid a hefty fee for child endangerment, spend some time doing community service and have your ass thrown in jail. And …let's just say I know some contacts who have connections at some of the prisons here in Las Vegas. And…perhaps some would look so forward to see you. Considering your work as an attorney, I'm sure you pissed off one or two of your clients. I'll make sure your house and your assets are given to Reid, and by that time, you're going to end up a bum on the street. And you're going to wish you never left Spencer and his mother. Hell, you're going to wish you weren't' even your ancestors' descendant. Do I make myself clear?"

William Reid swallowed hard, his mouth clamped shut, his body froze up on him and simply nodded his head. "Hmm-mmm."

"Good." Taking Reid by the hand. "Let's go."

Once they left his office,

"Ohh-hoo!" Reid cheered in excitement. "For a second, I thought you were going to hit him."

"I wanted to," Élise admits.

"For me?"

"Hmm-mmm. And if it makes you feel any better, I think he wet himself."

Kissing her forehead, "That's my girl."

Tapping his nose before giving him a peck on the lips, "And don't you forget."