Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. The occasional scenes from episodes of Criminal Minds in this story belong to the writers of Criminal Minds and CBS. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Shout out to msladyaries08 for being the 200th reviewer for this story and also a shout out to fishtrek, criminalmindsrocks, OneTrueAkatsuki for reviewing chapter 31.
I'm so sad that Criminal Minds is airing it's last two episodes tonight. Even though the show is ending, I'm not going to stop writing since I want my Spencer/Clarissa Hotchner series last until after the series finale tonight even though I already know that I'll need to make a few twists because of Spencer and Maeve being cousins and Spencer's parents being dead.
Spencer and Clarissa ended up becoming certified foster parents through their church between chapters 30 and 31 of this story. Diana, Bridget, and Evan all agreed about letting foster children into their home since they know that there are kids who need a good home and their eight-bedroom house is big enough for another foster child or two. So I hope everyone loves who becomes Spencer's and Clarissa's foster child in this story even though this child gained a connection with Morgan.
Spencer and Clarissa woke up at 5:45 AM to their almost 11-month-old twins laughing through the baby monitor.
"Eek a boo," said Ariel.
Caden started laughing before he spoke, "eek a boo,"
Ariel started laughing before she spoke, "eek a boo."
Caden started to laugh.
A smiling Spencer looked at his wife as they both slipped on their glasses before he turned off the alarm on their alarm clock, "They must have figured out to play peek a boo with each other on their own."
Clarissa smiled, "We must try to get their game on film."
Spencer nodded, "Let's go."
A few seconds later Spencer and Clarissa were using Clarissa's iPhone to film Ariel and Caden playing peek a boo with each other with their blankets as they smiled at the cuteness their two youngest children were displaying.
After watching Ariel and Caden play peek a boo for five minutes, Spencer and Clarissa quickly decided that they could take advantage of the twins being awake and bundled them up before they pulled on sweat pants and sweatshirts before loading up the twins in two single jogging strollers and went on a two-mile run through their neighborhood.
Over a half-hour later Spencer and Clarissa entered their house to find Lucy and Anthony in the kitchen that they had decorated for Halloween gathering everything that was needed to make pumpkin pancakes, homemade shredded hash browns, scrambled eggs, and turkey bacon.
Lucy smiled as she realized that the parents of her charges ended up going for a run and they took their youngest children with them, "Good morning, Spencer. Good morning, Clarissa."
"Good morning, Lucy. Good morning, Anthony," said Spencer and Clarissa in unison as they each placed a twin in their respective high chair before they accepted the bottles of water that Anthony quickly fetched for them.
"Hi," said Ariel and Caden in unison.
Lucy smiled at her two youngest charges, "Did you two enjoy joining mommy and daddy on a run?" asked Lucy.
Ariel screamed as she clapped her hands.
Lucy laughed, "I take that as a yes."
Ariel laughed and clapped her hands before she stuck her tongue out at Lucy.
"You're such a cheeky little bugger, Ariel," said Lucy.
Clarissa laughed, "Seems like Ariel is going to have Diana's, little Evan's, and my personality while Bridget and Caden have their father's personality."
"Either way, the kids will be forces to be reckoned with when it comes to their intelligence and having the famous 'Hotchner glare'," said Spencer before looking at the clock and saw that it was 6:30 AM, "We should probably take a shower so we can get the rest of the kids up at 7."
"Ariel and Caden can just start munching on some Cheerios," said Lucy.
"Don't forget about heating some milk for them too," said Clarissa.
Anthony as he opened up the refrigerator and grabbed two bottles of breast milk that Clarissa pumped the day before, "I wasn't going to forget the milk."
A minute later Ariel and Caden were munching on some Cheerios as they drank a bottle of breast milk on their own while Spencer and Clarissa took a quick shower together as they squeezed in a quicky before they had to get the kids up for breakfast or school.
Later on that morning at 9 AM, Spencer was fixing himself a mug of coffee when his brother-in-law joined him.
"Good morning, Reid," said Hotch.
Spencer smiled at his brother-in-law, "Good morning," said Spencer before he pulled out his phone, "This morning Clarissa and I woke up to one of the cutest scenes from Ariel and Caden from the baby monitor causing us to quietly film the moment."
"What were they doing?" asked Hotch.
Spencer grinned, "Just watch."
Less than a minute later Hotch was giving a rare smile as he watched his youngest niece and nephew sitting up in their cribs as they played peek a boo together, "Now that's one of the cutest moments. I can remember finding Sean in Clarissa's nursery playing peek a boo with a 10-month-old Clarissa."
"Speaking of babies, I'm not looking forward to Ariel and Caden turning 11-months-old next week Thursday since that means that they'll be turning one on one of the worst days of my life," said Spencer.
"But at least Ariel's and Caden's being born on the anniversary of the day you became an orphan a second time will make November 28th one of the happiest days of your life too," said Hotch.
"Speaking of anniversaries, I know that it will be hard to deal with the first anniversary of Haley's death three days before Ariel and Caden turn one," said Spencer before smiling a bit, "But as Diana said, she believes that Haley decided to have Ariel and Caden be born three days after her death to make everyone smile again."
"I believe that too," said Hotch.
"Clarissa and I already planned that we'll be spending Ariel's and Caden's first birthday in New Haven and our anniversary in New York City, but we'll make sure to live stream Ariel's and Caden's cake smash for you," said Spencer before he went to his desk so he can tackle a few files before Garcia brought them a case.
Three hours later, Clarissa knocked on the door of the room that Ellie Spicer was in, "Ellie Spicer?" asked Clarissa.
A scared Ellie noticed a young woman with a suitcase on wheels, "Are you from child protection services?" asked Ellie.
Clarissa shook her head, "I'm Nurse Clarissa Reid. When I'm not a school nurse at Washington International School, I'm a nurse at Children's National."
Ellie quickly connected the dots on where she heard the name Clarissa Reid, "Are you the wife of Derek's coworker Spencer and the mother of the kids Spencer told me about when he did a card trick for me while paramedics checked me out?" asked Ellie.
Clarissa smiled, "Yes."
"Spencer showed me a picture of you and you're much prettier in person," said Ellie.
"Thank you," said Clarissa before thinking about Spencer telling her that the Prince of Darkness chopped off Ellie's long black hair that has grown into a chin-length bob since her abduction a week after Evan's 2nd birthday, "and you're beautiful like my six-year-old daughter, three-year-old daughter, and almost 11-month-old daughter," said Clarissa.
"Why are you here?" asked Ellie.
"My brother is Agent Hotchner and he wanted me to give you a checkup before I take you home with me," said Clarissa.
"Why can't I stay here?" asked Ellie.
"My husband and I just got approved to become foster parents earlier this month. I've already gave me the all-clear for me to take you home with me until after the case my husband is on is over since you'll be getting the supervision you're required to get at Spencer's and my house while you'll be able to get a home-cooked meal, sleep in a comfortable bed, and play with some children until the case everyone but Penelope left for is over and it's decided on what will happen to you," said Clarissa before opening up her medical bag and pulled out a scale, her stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and a thermometer, "May I please take your vitals now?" asked Clarissa.
"Sure," said Ellie.
A minute later Clarissa was weighing taking Ellie's temperature, checking Ellie's blood pressure, checking Ellie's pulse, and listening to Ellie's heart and lungs.
After Clarissa was finished looking over Ellie, Ellie was sucking on a sucker that Clarissa gave her, "You're a great nurse, Clarissa," said Ellie.
Clarissa smiled, "Aside from the kids and Children's National loving me, my husband and my children love it when I take care of them when they're sick or injured."
"If you and Spencer have five kids, I take it that you love kids?" asked Ellie.
Clarissa nodded, "Aside from Spencer and I becoming certified foster parents earlier this month, we're already planning on trying another baby when Ariel and Caden turn five."
At that moment Ellie's stomach growled causing Clarissa to look at the clock, "We might as well go get you something to eat before we go get you some clothes and a pair of pajamas to get you through the next few days."
"Will your kids be upset if I come home with you?" asked Ellie.
Clarissa shook her head, "Before my husband and I signed up to become foster parents, we asked Diana, Bridget, and Evan if they'll mind occasionally sharing their bedroom with children who can't live with their parents at the moment. They instantly agreed since my husband and I taught them that there are children who don't have parents to take care of them and our house has a lot of love to give to other children," said Clarissa before taking Ellie's hand, "Let's get going so we're home in time to help make homemade pizza tonight."
"Will there be mushrooms?" asked Ellie.
"Do you like mushrooms on your pizza?" asked Clarissa.
"Yes," said Ellie.
Clarissa grinned, "Diana, Bridget, and Evan love having mushrooms on their pizza like their father and me."
Three hours later Clarissa and Ellie entered the Reid family home with a few shopping bags that contained some clothes, pajamas, and a few toiletry items for Ellie when Diana and Bridget ran over to them.
"We finally got a foster child to live with us?" asked Diana.
"Yes. Girls, I want you to meet Ellie Spicer," said Clarissa.
Diana's eyes went wide, "My daddy helped save your life in June. As someone who lost an aunt almost 11 months ago, I'm sorry for your loss, Ellie," said Diana before looking at her mother, "Why is Ellie here and not in Los Angeles?" asked Diana.
"I ran away from my foster family to visit Derek, but because of your daddy and Derek left for a case after I showed up your mother arrived to give me a checkup and she brought me home since your mother is a foster mother," said Ellie.
Diana smiled, "Mommy is a great nurse."
"I know. Have any foster kids live here yet?" asked Ellie.
Diana shook her head, "Not yet," said Diana before remembering her manners, "I'm Diana and I'm a six-year-old fourth grader who will be seven in two months."
"I'll be nine in February and I'm only in the third grade," said Ellie softly.
Clarissa then gestured to Bridget, "This is Bridget and she's three-years-old and in preschool."
Ellie smiled at the little girl who was hiding behind her mother, "Hi Bridget."
"Hi," said Bridget shyly.
At that moment Evan ran out of the kitchen with a cookie, "Hi mommy."
Clarissa laughed, "You and your cookies, Evan," said Clarissa before gesturing to Ellie, "Evan, I want you to meet Ellie. She's eight-years-old and will be staying with us until daddy comes home from Nebraska."
Evan grinned at Ellie, "I two."
Ellie took in the sight of the two-year-old toddler who had ear length curly brown hair and big brown eyes behind glasses, "You look like a longer-haired version of your daddy."
At that moment Lucy came downstairs with Ariel and Caden, "I see that we finally got ourselves a foster child."
"We did, Lucy," said Clarissa before she took Ariel and Caden from Lucy and looked at Ellie, "Ellie, these two adults are the kids' nannies Lucy and Anthony. These two babies are Ariel and Caden and they're going to be 11-months-old on the 28th."
"It's nice to meet you two," said Ellie before glancing at Caden who was wearing overalls with the left leg sewed up at the knee, "I hope that I'm not being rude, but why is Caden's left leg amputated?" asked Ellie.
"Caden's left fibula was a few inches shorter, so Spencer and I opted to have Caden go through a below the knee amputation. In a few months, he'll be getting his first prosthetic leg," said Clarissa.
"I'm sorry to hear that, and hopefully Caden can walk," said Ellie.
"It was a difficult decision to make, but Spence and I have faith that Caden will live a full and active life with a prosthetic leg," said Clarissa before looking at Ellie, "Let's have you meet Spencer's grandparents before I give you a tour of the house. After the tour, you get to decide if you want to bunk with Diana or sleep in the guest bedroom."
After giving Ellie a tour of the house, Ellie happily decided to take the empty trundle bed in Diana's room.
Later on that night Clarissa woke up to screaming causing her to rush out of bed and rushed to Diana's room where she found Diana standing by Ellie's bed as tears streamed down her face as she heard Ellie scream for her father.
"Is Ellie having a nightmare about her daddy?" asked Diana.
Clarissa nodded.
"I'll go get some hot chocolate packets ready," said Diana before rushing out of her bedroom.
A few seconds later Clarissa was softly saying Ellie's name as she stroked the eight-year-old girl's hair until Ellie woke up.
"Clarissa?" asked Ellie.
Clarissa nodded, "You were having a nightmare."
"I was watching my dad die," said Ellie.
Clarissa gave Ellie a sad smile, "When I was three, my father passed away from a heart attack that was induced by the stress of going through treatment for lung cancer and I was in my daddy's hospital bed cuddling with my daddy when he died. And when I was 17, I was in a car accident that killed my mother and shattered my ankle."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Ellie.
Clarissa gave Ellie a sad smile, "Spencer lost his parents to a drunk driver when he was four and when he was 19 he lost his aunt and uncle who adopted him to a man who vowed revenge on Spencer's uncle. So Spence and I know what it's like to deal with tragic losses, but the best thing we can do is share the memories we have with our parents with our children."
"Do you have nightmares about the accident you were in?" asked Ellie.
Clarissa nodded, "I do and Spencer has nightmares too."
Ellie noticed that Diana's bed was empty, "Did I scare Diana away?" asked Ellie.
"You didn't, but she's making sure that we have everything we need to make hot chocolate. It's a Reid family tradition to make tea and hot chocolate after being woken up from a nightmare," said Clarissa.
"Seems like a good tradition," said Ellie.
Clarissa nodded, "Chocolate contains serotonin which makes us feel happy when we're sad."
"I don't know what serotonin is," said Ellie.
"You'll eventually learn that in school," said Clarissa before holding out her hand, "Let's go see about that hot chocolate and we can raid the cookie jar too."
Ellie smiled, "Thank you for being there for me. My foster parents don't even comfort me after a nightmare."
Clarissa gave Ellie a small smile, "Just keep your head up because everything is going to be OK."
A few minutes later Clarissa, Diana, and Ellie were in the kitchen making hot chocolate while Clarissa told Ellie about her and Spencer finding a naked Evan standing in his nursery with his feces painted on the wall a year and a week ago causing both Diana and Ellie to burst out laughing.
The next morning Spencer smiled when he saw Clarissa, Diana, Bridget, Evan, Ariel, and Caden on the screen of his iPad, "Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Spence," said Clarissa.
Diana who chose to wear a short-sleeved white blouse, a red and gray plaid jumper dress, and a red cardigan for her school uniform while her long curly brown hair was pulled into French braids smiled at her father, "Hi daddy."
Bridget who was dressed just like her sister smile, "I miss you, daddy."
"I miss you too, squirt," said Spencer.
Evan grinned at his father, "Hi daddy."
"Hi tadpole," said Spencer.
"Dada," said Ariel.
"Dada," said Caden.
"Hello, Ariel and Caden," said Spencer.
Bridget looked at her father, "We had a foster child stay last night."
"Your mother told me. I just hope that all of you are being kind to Ellie," said Spencer.
"Ellie slept in the second bed in my room last night and mommy and I helped Ellie feel better after Ellie had a nightmare by making hot chocolate and eating cookies," said Diana.
"Ellie had a tea party before my bedtime," said Bridget.
"Ellie read to me at bedtime," said Evan.
"That's great," said Spencer before looking at his wife, "Where's Ellie right now?" asked Spencer.
"She didn't feel comfortable Skyping with us before Diana, Bridget, and I pick Jack and Aria up for school," said Clarissa.
"Please tell her that I want to talk to her," said Spencer.
"OK," said Clarissa as she looked to her side to find Ellie looking at them nervously, "How about you spend a few minutes talking with Spencer while I help Diana and Bridget make sure that they have everything they need for church."
A few seconds later Spencer smiled when he saw Ellie, "I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you, but I hope that you're comfortable with my wife, my children, the nannies, and my grandparents right now."
"Even though I was hoping to stay with Derek, I liked staying at your house with your wife, children, and your grandparents last night," said Ellie before smiling, "I'm finally getting a feel like living in a house with brothers, sisters, and grandparents that I always wished for before my mom died," said Ellie.
"When my parents died, my mom was pregnant with my little brother or sister while my aunt and uncle couldn't have kids of their own. So I understand about wishing to have siblings, but now I have siblings through my two brothers-in-law and my teammates," said Spencer before smiling a bit, "Even though Clarissa and I already have five kids, we still have plenty of room in our hearts to give kids a safe place to stay when they don't have anywhere else to go."
"Do you think that you and Clarissa can become my permanent foster parents?" asked Ellie.
Spencer's heart swelled as he thought about hating the fact about the rough life Ellie has dealt with in her short eight and a half years of life, "Clarissa and I will need to talk, but I don't think that there's going to be a problem with you staying with Clarissa, Diana, Bridget, Evan, Ariel, Caden, and me."
At that moment Evan ran over, "Please read to me, Ellie."
"I'll let you go so you can ready for the day," said Ellie before disconnecting the Skype chat.
A few seconds later Spencer was texting Clarissa.
I WANT ELLIE TO BECOME A LONG-TERM FOSTER DAUGHTER FOR US. MY HEART SWELLS AT THE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE HAS LOST IN HER EIGHT YEARS CAUSING ME TO THINK ABOUT LOSING MY PARENTS WHEN I WAS FOUR. ~ SR
A few seconds later Clarissa replied.
I WANT HER TO BE OUR LONG-TERM FOSTER DAUGHTER TOO. I'LL START MAKING A FEW CALLS ABOUT ELLIE STAYING WITH US. JUST FOCUS ON FINDING WHO ARE MURDERING THOSE FAMILIES AND WE'LL MEET WITH ELLIE'S SOCIAL WORKER WHEN YOU GET HOME. I LOVE YOU. ~ CR
An hour later Spencer looked at the ditch before looking at Rossi and thought about how Rossi bought a new pair of Italian leather boots after he sold the pair Rossi was wearing when Rossi sent him in a ditch over seven months ago, "Since there's no mud to deal with this time, we're both going down that ditch together and you'll help me if my bad knee starts to act up or I'll be selling be selling the seven-month-old pair of Italian leather boots you're wearing right now on eBay too."
Rossi shuddered as he also thought about the pictures Diana drew of random accidents happening to his boots, the viral photograph of him in the Reid kids' timeout chair that went around Quantico, and the grudge Clarissa still held against him, "I'm going down because you, Clarissa, and your two oldest daughters scared me the last time I sent you into a ditch."
Later on that afternoon, Spencer had completed a geographical profile after learning more about their unsub when Agent Beeks looked at Spencer.
"He's been in the system? I thought you said he's from suburbia," said Agent Beeks.
"He grew up in medium socio-economic status, but his rage against families tells us that he experienced extreme abuse or neglect, so, at some point, he was most likely removed from his family. Now, I had Garcia widen the search of missing children to those in foster homes and juvenile care facilities, all represented by these 10 black dots," said Spencer as he pointed at the geographical profile he made.
Emily saw the 10 dots that her brother-in-law made, "10 kids fit our profile. That's great."
Spencer shook his head, "Actually, each dot represents a thousand currently in the system."
Emily's eyes widened in shock, "10,000 children?" asked Emily.
"Nebraska's one of the nation's highest per capita state ward populations. Now, using the age and the gender of our suspect, I was able to whittle down the search, and that yielded this interesting pattern," said Spencer as he waved his hand around the map.
"A pattern of red dots. Give me one more hint," said Agent Beeks.
Spencer thought about the color code he created, "The red dots represent 33 boys between the age of 10 and 17 who became wards of the state this year, all abandoned at major hospitals."
Agent Beeks realized what Spencer was talking about, "The state Safe Haven Law."
"Wait a minute. I thought the Safe Haven Law was so that women could leave unwanted babies in hospitals instead of leaving them in dumpsters," said Emily.
"That's correct, but initially there was no age limit in Nebraska," said Spencer.
"He's right. The law now just covers infants, but we still get teenagers left at hospitals with a note pinned to their jacket. Some are even driven in from out of state," said Agent Beeks.
"Now, Monica Archer, our first victim, worked at this hospital, Northern Omaha Medical," said Spencer as he marked his geographical profile, "If the unsub's parents abandoned him there, it's probably where they met."
Emily nodded.
After explaining his theory to the rest of the team, Hotch looked at his brother-in-law, "So what happens here when a child is abandoned?" asked Hotch.
Spencer thought about what his wife had to do if she found a child abandoned at Children's National, "The hospital contacts social services. The act of abandonment immediately labels the parents unfit and the child becomes a ward of the state."
"So he goes into foster care," said Hotch.
"Ideally, but most parents won't take older children. In which case, he'd be sent to a juvenile facility," said Emily.
"The same one that houses delinquents?" asked Morgan.
Emily gave Morgan a concerned look, "That's right."
"Did Northern Omaha Medical register an adolescent boy as a ward of the state on that day?" asked Hotch.
Morgan rubbed his eyes, "Garcia said no, but she's still looking."
"If Monica wanted to keep him out of a facility, she might have gone around protocol," said Rossi.
"But she might still have documented it," said Hotch before looking at Spencer and Rossi, "Reid and Rossi, go to the Archer house and see if you can figure out what her plan was."
Spencer nodded.
The next morning Spencer followed Agent Beeks through the Archer family home while Agent Beeks looked at him and Rossi.
"I don't know what you'll find. This was the first crime scene, so believe me, my guys went over it with a fine-tooth comb," said Agent Beeks.
"I'm sure they did, but now we know that Mrs. Archer chose to take the suspect home instead of taking him so social services like she should have, we need to try to figure out why," said Spencer.
Rossi thought about Mrs. Archer's career, "She was a nurse for 15 years. She would know how to work the system," said Rossi as he opened up a little notebook.
Spencer looked at a picture of Mrs. Archer, "Maybe she called in favors with social workers or knew some foster parents that could take him in."
Rossi looked at the land-line, "They've got messages."
"My guys checked it the first day. Those must be new," said Agent Beeks.
Rossi pressed a button so they could listen to the messages.
"This is Brittany at Dr. Olsen's office. Eric missed his 9 AM. Please call to reschedule," said Brittany.
The phone beeped just as another message started to play.
"Hi. Hello. My name is Nancy Riverton, and your son Jeremy missed his bus at the rest stop on Route 6. He's fine. He's safe. Don't worry. He's with me. But if you could just give me a call…," said Nancy.
Rossi looked at Spencer, "What were the names of the Archer children?" asked Rossi.
Spencer quickly used his eidetic memory to recall the name of the children, "Eric and Daniel. No Jeremy."
"And she said she picked up this kid on Route 6," said Agent Beeks.
Rossi realized that Jeremy already picked his next targets, "It's him."
Agent Beeks quickly dialed a number, "Hey, I need an address for a number-515- that's Des Moines. Name is Nancy Riverton."
Rossi looked at Spencer, "Has Clarissa ever wanted to take a child who's parents she called the police and CPS on home with her?" asked Rossi.
"Countless of times," said Spencer.
"Clarissa?" asked Agent Beeks.
"She's my wife of almost eight years and she's a pediatric nurse at my two oldest daughter's school. When she's not a school nurse, she's a nurse at Children's National in Washington D.C.," said Spencer before shaking his head, "There are times that she wants to take an abused child that she cared for home with her, but at least Clarissa and I became certified foster parents through our church last month."
"Which is why Clarissa was able to take Ellie Spicer home," said Rossi.
Spencer nodded, "Exactly," said Spencer before he decided to focus on the case.
After getting back from Iowa, Spencer, Clarissa, Morgan, and Garcia were gathered in a conference room at Quantico when Ellie's social worker Florence Moss finished reading the files she had on Morgan, and Garcia and read the notes she made about Ellie's staying with the Reids before looking at Spencer and Clarissa, "After doing a quick background check on Agent Morgan and technical analyst Garcia and talking to Ellie about her time at your house, I decided that Ellie can move out here so she can have a fresh start while you two can continue being Ellie's foster parents."
"What about Ellie coming to live with Penelope and me? Ellie stayed in contact with me after she was rescued and she ran away from her foster home to visit me," said Morgan.
Florence looked at Morgan, "Even though your wife filed to be Ellie's emergency foster mother after I temporarily placed Ellie into Clarissa's care, I found a few questionable things in the background checks I did on you and your wife while you two haven't taken all the classes that are required to become foster parents yet."
"What questionable things in our background checks?" asked Garcia.
"I read about the overkill that your husband did on the man who killed Ellie's father and aunt after rescuing Ellie, so I don't feel comfortable about placing Ellie with someone who has anger management issues. You got arrested for hacking into computers and escaped going to prison by accepting a job here. Your husband failed to turn in the man who molested him as a teenager causing many other teenage boys to be molested or murdered for about 20 years until your husband got framed for murder almost four years ago. During the home-check at your house, I found out that you and your husband live in a three-bedroom and two-bath house with your 16-month-old twins and your mother-in-law," said Florence before looking at Spencer and Clarissa, "Will you two be sending Ellie to the same school where your two oldest children attend and have her go to grief counseling?" asked Florence.
Clarissa nodded, "We will be since we have the money available to pay for Ellie's tuition for the remainder of the school year while I'll use my resources at Children's National to get Ellie the counseling she needs," said Clarissa before thinking about Ellie telling her that she used to do ballet until her mother's death while she recently started to play soccer, "Aside from planning that Ellie goes to church with us and our children, Ellie can choose between joining the school's soccer team or take ballet lessons again."
"Good," said Florence.
Spencer thought about Diana telling him how much fun she and Ellie were having sharing her bedroom, "Will it be an issue if Ellie continues to share a room with our oldest?" asked Spencer.
"Since you're oldest is a year and a half younger than Ellie, they can continue sharing a room as long as both girls want to," said Florence before shaking hands with Spencer and Clarissa, "I hope that everything works well while you two raise Ellie," said Florence before she left the room.
Spencer looked at Morgan and Garcia, "I'm sorry that you two couldn't take in Ellie."
"Even though I wish that Penelope and I could take Ellie in, I'm at least glad that Ellie will be living with parents I trust to take care of Ellie while she can have a sibling close to her age to play with," said Morgan.
A few minutes later Spencer and Clarissa were telling a nervous Ellie that she's their new foster daughter causing the eight-year-old girl to hug her new 29-year-old foster father and 28-year-old foster mother.
A/N: Yes I had it that Ellie Spicer's mother died.
