Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds

A/N: Shout out to Daisyangel, fishtrek, lolyncut, Fashionista7, criminalmindsrocks, OneTrueAkatsuki for reviewing chapter 35.

Writer's block for this story sucks!

Update on the coronavirus, there are now two positive cases in the county I live in and because of receiving immunoglobulin therapy to treat Kawasaki Disease when I was 19, I'm not going anywhere including the grocery store for a while. Due to me knowing how to sew since I was 13 (I took a semester of various sewing classes every semester between grades seven and 12 since I loved my first sewing class in junior high and it was discovered that I'm talented at using a sewing machine and color coordination with fabric) and owning a sewing machine at 26 my mom has recruited me to sew face masks for the nursing home she's a receptionist at so updates might be a bit sporadic since I have enough fabric to make over 10 masks and my mom and a coworker of hers will be getting me supplies to make masks.

It's November 25th of 2010 in this chapter meaning that it's also the first anniversary of Haley's death while two birthdays and an anniversary of some deaths are celebrated in this chapter.


Spencer woke up to Clarissa crying for Haley in her sleep causing Spencer to pull his wife into a hug, "It's OK, Clarissa," soothed Spencer.

After comforting Clarissa for 10 minutes, Clarissa opened her eyes as she felt her husband hugging her close to him, "Spence?" asked Clarissa.

"You've been crying for Haley in your sleep for over 10 minutes. I know that it's the first anniversary of Haley's murder is going to affect you, Diana, Aaron, Jack, and me deeply today just like the anniversaries of our parents, Uncle Daniel's, Aunt Ethel's, and uncle Gordon's deaths always affect us," said Spencer softly.

"I'm just not sure if I'm up to celebrating Thanksgiving today," said Clarissa.

"Knowing Haley, she'll want you to celebrate Thanksgiving today like we did the day after her death for the kids' sake since we were all thankful that Jack was able to come home to us," said Spencer before tilting his head, "Since you're showing signs of not being up to celebrating Thanksgiving today, why don't you stay in the living room with grandma Lydia, grandpa Evan, Jack's maternal grandparents, Bridget, Evan, Ariel, Caden, Jack, Wesley, and Sabrina while Lucy, Anthony, Diana, Ellie, Jessica, Aaron, Emily, and I are the ones to cook in the kitchen."

Clarissa nodded as she thought about how her husband spent the past day and a half preparing Thanksgiving dishes with Lucy while Anthony entertained the children who were too young to attend school, "Deal."


Over an hour later the Reid family, Ellie, Lucy, Anthony, Grandma Lydia, and Grandpa Evan who were all still in their pajamas were gathered in the kitchen for breakfast when Ellie noticed Clarissa's red eyes, "Are you OK, Clarissa?" asked Ellie.

Diana looked at her foster-sister, "Today is the first anniversary of the day my former Aunt Haley was murdered by a bad man who had a vendetta against my uncle Aaron."

"Jack survived since Aaron told Jack to hide," said Spencer.

"Poor Jack," said Ellie.

Spencer looked at Diana, "Are you OK, bumblebee?" asked Spencer.

"I'm OK since I talked to the guidance counselor at school yesterday morning," said Diana before thinking about the grave she visits with her mother at least once a month, "Can we go to Aunt Haley's grave today?" asked Diana.

"I was already planning on having us visit Aunt Haley's grave today," said Clarissa.

A confused Evan who had cranberry syrup all over his face from his cut-up pancakes looked at his parents, "I don't know Aunt Haley."

Spencer reached for a wet wipe and started to wipe his oldest son's face, "That's because you were only 17-months-old when Jack's mother died and your uncle Aaron divorced Haley a few weeks before Bridget was born."

Bridget looked at her Irish twin, "I don't know Auntie Haley well too, Evan," said Bridget before looking at her parents, "Why did uncle Aaron divorce Aunt Haley?" asked Bridget.

Spencer looked at his second child, "The unit your uncle Aaron, Aunt Emily, and I work for has a high divorce rate. Aunt Haley couldn't handle being married to someone who has to travel all over the country for a few days each week, so she broke her wedding vows and decided to cheat on uncle Aaron and got together with another man instead of trying to ask for a divorce."

"Your daddy and I were the ones to catch Aunt Haley kissing another man and we chose to do the right thing and tell your uncle Aaron right away," said Clarissa.

"That wasn't nice of Aunt Haley," said Bridget.

Clarissa nodded, "I was extremely angry at my former sister-in-law that she stayed away from me until after your birth, but your birth helped heal your uncle Aaron's broken heart until he got together with your aunt Emily."

Bridget looked at her mother with a serious look a three-year-old could ever give their parent, "Have you ever cheat on daddy?" asked Bridget.

Clarissa shook her head, "I love your daddy way too much to cheat on him. If a single guy approaches me about going on a date, I just show him my rings and tell him that I'm happily married."

Bridget looked at her father with the same look she gave her father, "Have you cheat on mommy?" asked Bridget.

Spencer shook his head, "I never have since I used to state that I'm not interested in dating at the moment when my marriage to your mother was kept a secret at work while I now tell every woman who asks me out that I'm happily married and show her my wedding band."

Diana grinned at her little sister, "Plus if I'm with daddy when he gets hit on, I just use my intellect and scare away the woman who's hitting on daddy."

Spencer laughed, "Just like you did at Daytona Beach in Florida."


Three hours later Spencer, Clarissa, and Diana who were all wearing either a navy blue military-style pea-coat, a red pea-coat, or a purple pea-coat were standing by Haley's grave when Diana looked at the resting place of her former aunt, "Hi Aunt Haley. It's been a year since a bad man sent you to Heaven, and I hope you know that I miss you every day," said Diana as she placed the bouquet of white roses that she used her allowance to buy onto the patch of dirt by the headstone.

Clarissa looked at the grave as she rested her hands over Diana's ears, "Even though there are times that I'm pissed at you for cheating on Aaron, I miss you every day while your parents told me that Ariel reminds them so much of you as a baby."

Spencer looked at the grave, "I have a feeling that you have been telling my parents, Aunt Ethel, and uncle Gordon about the shenanigans I have gotten into with Clarissa and my children during the past 10 years, but thank you for being part of my life for nearly nine years."


Later on, that day at 1 P.M., Bridget, Evan, Ariel, Caden, Wesley, and Sabrina were all taking a nap when Clarissa looked at her oldest brother, "How are you doing today, Aaron?" asked Clarissa.

"I miss Haley, but I know that she's glad that I didn't let her death stop me from marrying Emily," said Hotch.

Clarissa hugged her oldest brother, "I miss Haley too, but I know that she's glad that you didn't let her death stop you from marrying Emily when you planned on marrying her while you and Emily adopted two beautiful children together."

"When you and Spencer take the kids to New York City on the 29th, are you going to track down Sean?" asked Hotch.

Clarissa shook her head, "After not hearing from him in a year and 11 months, I would most likely slap him in public or use one of Spence's guns and shoot him."

"I don't blame you, but after Sean missing out on the good times and bad times last year, I decided not to contact him and make him contact me when he needs me," said Hotch.

"I agree, but at least you're my favorite brother," said Clarissa.


After Thanksgiving dinner was eaten, the Reid family, Hotchner family, and Brook family, Lucy, and Anthony were gathered around Ariel and Caden who were both sitting in their high chairs laughing while Ariel and Caden enjoyed their first smash cakes three days early while knowing that Haley would want them to laugh on the first anniversary of her death.


Three days later, Spencer and Clarissa were standing over the borrowed cribs that Ariel and Caden were sleeping in their two-bedroom hotel suite in New Haven, Connecticut when their youngest children wake up and grinned at them.

"Dada! Mama!" exclaimed Ariel.

"Mama! Dada!" exclaimed Caden.

Spencer scooped up Ariel, "Happy birthday, princess."

Clarissa scooped up Caden, "Happy birthday, baby boy."

Diana, Bridget, and Evan rushed into the bedroom that their parents, Ariel, and Caden were sleeping in and grinned at their little brother and sister.

"Happy birthday, Ariel. Happy birthday, Caden," said Diana.

"Happy birthday, Ariel. Happy birthday, Caden," said Bridget.

"Happy birfday, Ari. Happy birfday, Caden," said Evan.

A minute later Lucy, Anthony, and Ellie who were sharing another hotel room entered the Reid family's hotel suite to help Spencer and Clarissa get Diana, Bridget, Evan, Ariel, and Caden all ready for the day.


An hour later the Reid family, Lucy, and Anthony were gathered at the diner that Spencer and Clarissa frequented at while they were dating for breakfast when Spencer looked at Diana, Bridget, Evan, and Ellie, "After we're done eating, we'll be going to the cemetery where Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon were buried at."

"Would you guys be upset if I don't want to visit the cemetery?" asked Ellie.

Spencer gave Ellie a soft smile, "Not at all, Ellie."

Anthony looked at Ellie, "You, Lucy, and I can go swimming at the hotel's pool while everyone else is at the cemetery."

"OK," said Ellie.

"I swim too?" asked Evan.

Spencer smiled at his son, "We can go swimming after your nap this afternoon."

"Why wait?" asked Evan.

"Aside from seeing where your great-aunt Ethel and great-uncle Gordon are sleeping, we'll be going to the park where your mommy and I met at since the police department my uncle worked at decided to build a new playground at the park your mother and I met at and named if after Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon and we were invited to cut the cord."

"And after we cut the cord with a huge pair of scissors, we get to play on the slide, swings, and monkey bars," said Diana.

"Really?" asked Evan.

Spencer nodded, "I'll push you on the swing, tadpole," said Spencer before looking at Bridget, "I'll be pushing you on the swing too."

Clarissa smiled at Ariel and Caden, "And I'll be pushing you two on the swings too."

Ariel and Caden both clapped their hands, "Yay!"


Over an hour later Spencer, Clarissa, Diana, Bridget, Evan, Ariel, and Caden approached Ethel's and Gordon's graves where Spencer saw two of his uncle Gordon's former coworkers Sergeant Johnson and Detective Rodgers who were now either retired or was now a lieutenant.

Bridget who was wearing a red pea-coat like her mother looked at the two men at the grave she's seeing for the first time, "Who are you two?" asked Bridget.

Thomas Johnson and Corey Rodgers turned around and they smiled when they saw Spencer with his wife and six children.

"Mr. Johnson! Mr. Rodgers!" exclaimed Diana as she ran over to Thomas and Corey and hugged them.

Lieutenant Rodgers scooped up Diana, "I haven't seen you in person since you were almost three-years-old, Diana. You're getting too big for me to carry."

"I'm now 51 inches tall and my pediatrician said that I'm very tall for my age because of daddy being six foot one," said Diana before she eagerly introduced her siblings while mentioned that it was Ariel's and Caden's first birthday too.

Thomas who had retired a year ago looked at Diana and thought about how Diana was going to turn into a beautiful young woman when it came to her long curly brown hair that reached her waist and her big blue eyes that sparkled behind her purple glasses, "How old are you going to be turning next month?" asked Thomas.

"I'll be turning seven next month," said Diana.

Thomas looked at Spencer, "Just make sure that Diana doesn't start college at 12-years-old like you did. Your uncle was crying when he told all of his former coworkers that you were already a college student."

"I remember that they were crying on my first day at Yale," said Spencer.

"As of right now, I'm only in the fourth grade and it's planned that I won't graduate high school until I'm 15 since mommy and daddy want me to focus on being a kid right now," said Diana before grinning, "Daddy promised me that I can take a college class online when I turn 12 as long as I choose not to graduate high school until I'm 15."

Lieutenant Rodgers looked at Bridget, Evan, Ariel, and Caden who were wearing pea-coats that were the same color as their parents or snowsuits to keep the one-year-old twins warm before looking Spencer and Clarissa, "Even though you two have sent pictures and our jobs or life kept us from attending Bridget's, Evan's, Ariel's, and Caden's Christenings, you two have been busy since the four years you two have come up here."

Spencer gave a sheepish smile as he glanced at Bridget, Evan, Ariel, and Caden who were visiting their great-aunt's and great-uncle's graves for the first time, "Life has gotten in the way, but I know that I wouldn't change a thing since Clarissa and I ended up having four more beautiful children together while we gained an amazing foster daughter two months ago."

"Our foster-daughter Ellie decided to stay at the hotel with the nannies instead of coming here," said Clarissa.

"That's OK," said Thomas before he gave Spencer a stern look, "Even though you've been a trouble magnet who landed in the hospital four times for various injuries or pneumonia the past four years?" asked Thomas.

Spencer blushed, "I was following the oath I made for this country, but what matters is that I'm alive and all healed up from the injuries I dealt with."

Diana who now had her hands in her purple pea-coat while the gentle breeze that had her mid-back length curly brown hair that was left down underneath her purple hand-knitted hat blew in the wind beamed up at her father, "Either way, I'm glad that you were picked to be my daddy since I want to be an F.B.I. agent like you someday."

Spencer inwardly shook his head as he thought about Diana's IQ, "With you having an IQ of 170, you can do anything you want with your life."

"Did uncle Gordon tell you that?" asked Diana.

Spencer nodded, "He told me that I can do anything I want with my life."

Diana looked at the graves of her great-aunt and great uncle, "I just wish that I could have met Aunt Ethel and uncle Gordon."

Spencer rested a hand on his oldest daughter's shoulder, "I do too."

Thomas rested a hand on Spencer's shoulder, "Knowing your aunt and uncle, they're proud of what you accomplished over the past 10 years."

"I wouldn't' have gotten through the deaths of Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon without Clarissa," said Spencer before kissing Clarissa on the lips, "I love you, Clara."

"I love you too, Spence."

"We love you, mommy and daddy," said Diana, Bridget, and Evan in unison.

"Wuv Mama. Wuv Dada," said Caden.

"Wuv Dada. Wuv Mama," said Ariel

"And daddy and I love all five of you," said Clarissa.

A minute later Thomas and Corey walked away so Spencer and Clarissa could have privacy as the family of seven talked to Aunt Ethel's and Uncle Gordon's grave.


A half-hour later Spencer, Clarissa, Diana, Bridget, Evan, Ariel, Caden, and Ellie approached the bench where Spencer and Clarissa met when Spencer knelt by Bridget's, Evan's, Ariel's, and Caden's eye level, "This is the bench where your mother and I met at."

"This bench is the reason why Diana, Evan, Ariel, Caden, and I are here today?" asked Bridget.

Clarissa nodded, "I saw your daddy a few times in New Haven until I found him crying at this bench."

"Why didn't you talk to daddy sooner?" asked Bridget.

"When I first noticed your daddy, I developed a huge crush on him and I didn't know what to say to him," said Clarissa.

"People can get tongue-tied when they realize that they're attracted to someone," said Spencer.

"What were your first words to each other?" asked Bridget.

Spencer's eidetic memory quickly caused him to flashback to his first conversation with Clarissa before he recited their first conversation, "You alright?" "My aunt and uncle who raised me since I was four years old after my parents' death, were killed in a car accident two days ago." "I lost my father when I was three and my mom at 17." "I'm Spencer Reid." "I'm Clarissa Hotchner, and you look like you could use a friend."

"Right after that your uncle Aaron who was in town for work called me since I was late to join him for lunch and I convinced him to let me bring your daddy along since I wasn't going to leave your father alone here," said Clarissa.

"Daddy did join mommy for lunch and they learned that they had a lot in common," said Diana.

"And three days later, your mother showed up at Aunt Ethel's and uncle Gordon's funeral since she refused to let me go through the funeral alone," said Spencer.

"Did people think that you two were dating?" asked Bridget.

Spencer chuckled, "All of the guests who came to give me their condolences told me that your mother and I looked like a cute couple causing me to tell them that we weren't dating. Nearly everyone told me that I shouldn't let her go since someone else might ask her out before I was ready to be more than friends."

"After being friends for 15 days, your father asked to be his girlfriend on my 19th birthday causing me to agree instantly," said Clarissa.

"A year after our first meeting here, I was attending M.I.T., but I made it down here to ask your mother to marry me at this bench."

"Since I was in my second year of nursing school and your daddy was at M.I.T., we waited until the second anniversary of the day we met to say 'I do' to each other," said Clarissa

"Then I was born a year and 21 days after mommy and daddy married," said Diana.

At that moment Evan's stomach let out a loud grumble causing the Reid family to head to their hotel for lunch with Ellie, Lucy, and Anthony.


Two hours later Spencer was giving a speech about his Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon before he, Diana, Bridget, Evan, and Ellie used a pair of giant scissors to cut the ribbon that closed off the brand new Tucker Playground that was built to honor Spencer's aunt and uncle before the Reid children, Ellie, and a bunch of other children got to start playing on the playground equipment while Spencer and Clarissa got to swing Ariel and Caden on the baby swings that were available for babies and toddlers.


Later on that evening Spencer, Clarissa, Diana, Bridget, Evan, Ellie, Lucy, and Anthony were singing "Happy Birthday" to Ariel and Caden before the youngest Reid twins started to dig into their individual birthday cakes that the hotel provided for them.


After all five kids were asleep in their hotel beds or cribs, a crying Spencer was holding a crying Clarissa as they cried about Ariel and Caden finally being a year old while also Spencer cried about it being the tenth anniversary of losing his Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon.


A/N: I'm crying about Ariel and Caden finally being a year old. The Reid family's trip to New York City will be happening in the next chapter.

Here's a heads up that the upcoming chapters will be coming in slower since aside from deciding on why Spencer will start having migraines that causes him to have buzzed hair in the back and sides at the beginning of season seven, I need to figure out how to deal with the storyline that deals with Ian Doyle. I refuse to fake Emily's death since I can imagine Diana, Bridget, and Evan hating their uncle Aaron for a long time if their favorite uncle lied to them about their Aunt Emily while Hotch wouldn't want to break Jack's heart and tell him that his step-mother has died when Emily is alive. I already thought of three alternative universe ideas I can go with. If any of you want to know about my ideas, please let me know and I will create a poll to help me finalize which alternative season six storyline I can go with.