Disclaimer - I do not own the characters of the Criminal Minds.
I would like to dedicate this Epilogue to ProfilersInACastle who expressed how much she really loved this story and wanted an epilogue and to all of you who have stuck with Alyssa until the very end (Anyone get that that was a HP reference? lol)
Epilogue: One Year Later
"Hotch! Come on; just tell me what this is all about!" Former detective Alyssa Blake of the Boston Police Department, recently graduated FBI Academy student, called out blindly, hoping she said it in the direction of SSA Aaron Hotch, leader of a BAU team.
Alyssa Blake was blindfolded and being led by her arm unknowingly into the FBI BAU building and to the bullpen where all of the team; David Rossi, Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau, and even Penelope Garcia; were waiting for her. Along with the team stood Alyssa's now seven year old soon-to-be officially adopted child, Alana Stephens. They were all waiting to congratulate her from graduating from the Academy the day before.
"SURPRISE!" The team shouted out as Alana ran to Alyssa and hugged her tightly. Alyssa took off her blindfold and grinned as the bullpen and the team came into focus. She bent down slightly and hugged Alana back tightly before releasing her hold and standing to look at everyone else.
A lot has changed for a young Detective from when we last saw her. For one, she is no longer a detective but a soon-to-be officaill Agent for the FBI. Another big change is that she moved out of Boston and is now living in an aparment in Virginia with Alana. The most significant change however was the fact that Alyssa's little brother, Thomas Blake, was in jail. He was sentenced to life in jail with a slim possiblity for being released. The only reason he even has the possibility for parole is because he pleaded insane and was proven to be a psychopath with clinical depression and possible other chemical imbalances. Alyssa tries to visit him every now and theny, he is still her little brother, serial killer or not.
"Congratulations Alyssa" Morgan said, giving her a hug.
"Thank you Derek. Thank you to all of you. You really didn't have to do all of this."
"Oh but we did gorgeous, you deserve it," Garcia said while placing a cake down on a practically empty desk, the only things occupying it being a monitor, computer, landline, and a name tag.
The cake was a slightly complicated design of three stacks of about one and a half inch sized novels. On the top novel it said 'Congratulations Alyssa' along the spine and on top it was a copy of the cover of the FBI Academy handbook. The middle book said 'Welcome to the FBI', and the bottom one said 'We knew you could do it!' with a heart. On top of the whole cake was three lit white candles. There was no doubt in Alyssa's mind that those candles represented the three people who couldn't be here; her mother, father, and her sister in every sense of the word except for DNA, Gabriele Stephens, Alana's late mother. Everyone could tell Alyssa was tearing up a bit as she blew out the candles.
Garcia handed her a cake cutting knife and she made the first cut in it. She gave the first piece to Alana, who sat at Morgan's desk so she could eat, and then handed the knife over to Hotch to cut everyone else's. After Alyssa got her piece she leaned against Morgan's desk while she ate so she could watch Alana
"Have any of you noticed how protective she's getting of Alana lately?" Morgan asked the rest of the team in a hushed tone as they got their cake.
"It's because of the custody battle. The state wants to take Alana from her because she is young, has never been a mother before, worked as a police woman, and now will soon be working for the FBI. The state doesn't see her fit to be a mother" Spencer explained, him knowing the most about his really close friend's personal life.
"Do you think state has a chance of winning?" Garcia asked, saddened.
"Of course, on paper Alyssa doesn't really seem to be the motherly type. Sure, she took care of her brother but she always had help. With Alana, all she has is us and sometimes her grandparents when they come to visit once every other month. We can't exactly babysit while we're all on the same case" Rossi explained.
"You know I can hear you all, right?" Alyssa suddenly said while appearing in front of them, "I'm not going down without a fight. I will become her guardian, no matter what. I know what it's like to grow up without parents and I'm not going to put that sweet innocent child into a situation that I could barely handle when I was 16."
Spencer, sensing her distress, wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her close to his side.
"Why don't you two just date already? It seems like you've been friends with benefits forever" Morgan blurted out.
"We do not have benefits!" Alyssa was quick to defend.
"Yeah, sure."
Spencer guided Alyssa to the other side of the room to talk with her privately.
"You know we're all on your side for this custody battle, right?"
"Yeah, I know. I just think this is all too much."
"Don't worry, I know of the judge whose presiding over your case, she's nice, has two kids of her own, and will probably ask Alana's opinion. Alana will pick you."
"Good point, Spence, thanks."
After a moment of silence Spencer spoke up again, "Are you proud?"
Alyssa grinned and nodded, "Mom and Dad would be too, I know they would.I think I'm going to visit Tommy as soon as the custody battle is over and tell him all about it. I haven't visited him in almost half a year."
"Have you told Mr. and Mrs. Stephens yet?"
She nodded, "They told me my parents would be proud and that they were really proud and were rooting for me in the custody battle but there wasn't too much they could do. Hopefully worse comes to worse I can get Alana in a good orphanage in Boston so they can visit her more often. I feel bad for taking her so far away from them."
"They understood, besides they understood why you had to move here. And you didn't take Alana away from them; they gave her to you willingly. You know they were having some health problems at the time."
"Spencer?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you, for everything. You're the greatest" Alyssa then proceeded to kiss his cheek and walk away.
"Alana, how did you get so dirty?" the whole team heard.
They all turned to look at Alana and could help but smile as the seven year old shoved another piece of chocolate cake in her mouth and chewed happily. She had cake and frosting all over her face and hands and, subsequently, her pretty dress she was wearing.
"The fork was being mean so I used my hands instead" Was the simple and innocent answer she gave to her 'Mama' as she now called Alyssa, even though Alyssa had practically enforced not calling her mom every chance she got. Everyone immediately began laughing while Alyssa tried to remain straight-faced.
"Alana, sweetie, when you eat with your hands it makes a mess. Look at that pretty dress, it's all dirty now."
"Oh," Alana said back as she looked at what a mess she had made, "sorry."
Spencer walked over to her and bent down to her level, "it's okay, Lana, why don't we help you go get tidied up?"
"Okay Spencer."
While Alyssa and Spencer walked away, each of them holding onto one of Alana's wrists, the team exchange looks.
Alana giggled happily as she was swung up the steps by two of her favorite people.
That giggle.
That innocent child's giggle.
That was what officially made up the team's minds. They all officially silently agreed on a two things.
One: Alana would stay with Alyssa no matter what, she needed a mom and Alyssa was a perfect fit. Two: Spencer and Alyssa would be officially together soon, before they drove each other insane with waiting. They were a great couple and they were great with Alana together.
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." -Marilyn Monroe
AN - I will be doing a sequel at some point. I feel like you all deserve an explanation, so I'm going to give you one. I was supposed to publish this on Christmas as a specail Christmas surprise for all of you, but then I got really sick. I still am sick but it's better now. I wanted to post this for the new year but then my mom went to the doctors and discovered she was having a severe gall bladder attack. She just had surgery to remove her gall bladder and she wasn't doing so good for the first few days. She still isn't doing to good, I think I might have given her my terrible cold and now she's so sick she can't keep any food down. This isn't meant to be an excuse, just an explanation. I am honestly very sorry, I should have founf the time to post this a while ago.
Anyways, I really hope you enjoyed this story.
I would also like to thank all of you but especially MoonChild2308 who quickly became my friend and is working on one of her own CM fanfics right now, you should go check it out. Also Harley-Claire Fitz who helped convince me to start my work on the sequel and gave me some ideas. She has some stories of her own posted to, feel free to go check them out. And one more quick special thanks to Pheonix of the Night who is a dear friend in real life and is very supportive.
THANK YOU! I hope you find many more stories to read and world's to explore, I hope none of you were disappointed.
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