A/N: Hello again, everyone!

Let me be the first to say this: I am *so* incredibly sorry for falling behind on this story. It is just so hard for me to come up with scenes to write out and sometimes it's hard to write out the scenes. Plus, life can get in the way of that. But I'm working on it.

I have a new story out: (For)Ever After Alternative.

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

Also, I would like to credit ahowell1993 for helping me with this chapter.

Reupdated this chapter!


"Now, Rossi, are you sure you don't mind Opal staying here with you while we spend our Christmas in Las Vegas with our families?" Reid asked as he watched Opal with Mudgie.

"I don't mind at all," Rossi suggested to him. "Plus, I think it's great for Opal and Mudgie to spend some father-daughter bonding them."

"Do you have everything you need, Rossi?" Élise asked him as she just came back from setting up the pen.

"I have everything."

Sighing, "I can't thank you enough, Rossi. We'd take her, but Mandalay Bay doesn't allow pets."

"Still, I wouldn't have it any other way."

Smiling, "Thank you, again, David. Squatting down to pet Opal, "Don't worry, little one. Mommy and Daddy will bring you back some toys for you to play with, okay?"

"We love you."

"Go on, you kooky kids." Rossi playfully said, motioning them out the door, "Before you two miss your flight."

"Okay. We'll bring you back presents."

"Bye!" Élise blew kisses at Rossi, Opal, and Mudgie. "Love you."

"Have fun!"


"This is my home, everyone," Reid announced to Élise, her parents Micha and Geneva; her older brother and sister-in-law, Arthur and Brenda as they were getting their luggage. Deeply inhaling, "Home sweet home."

Geneva looked at Spencer, "Shouldn't it be hotter in the desert here?"

"Usually, but it's winter. Just be glad that isn't summer," said Spencer.

"At least it's not hot like it is in St. Lucia."

"True." Reid points out a tall suited and driver's hat-wearing gentleman holding a white sigh saying, 'Bastien-Reid.'

"Bastien-Reid?"

"That's us."

"Your limo awaits." He shows them a black limousine.


As bellhops followed the family to their room,

"You're all going to love the four-bedroom presidential suite." A petite female manager said. "During your stay, you'll have your own personal fitness room with a treadmill and free weights, a TV entertainment room, pool table, wet bar and stunning views of Las Vegas." Opening the door for them,

"Wow!" Arthur exclaimed.

"Sweet!" Brenda compliments.

"It's very Vegas alright." Ms. Geneva said, feeling a bit disdain for the room.

"But still big enough for all of us," Élise replies as she tips the bellhops and exited the room. "Why don't Spencer and I along with Arthur and Brenda take the upstairs while you and dad take the downstairs bedrooms, mother?"

"I think I like that." Ms. Geneva before she left the room; Mr. Micha followed her and Arthur and Brenda headed upstairs to put their luggage away.

Just as Élise was about to follow them, Spencer looked at his fiancée, "Hey, babe?"

Élise turns and looks at her fiancé, "Yeah?"

"I went over six years without talking to my mom in person since she refused to talk to me after I committed to Bennington and joined the FBI a few years later. I started talking to her again when I had to bring her into protective custody. After Haley's death and me developing a lung infection and then getting shot, we need to cherish the moments we have with our mothers. So, can you please at least try to get along with your mother?"

Élise closed her eyes as she thought back to the two times she found Spencer in a hospital room, Hotch crying over Haley's death, and having to help tell Jack that his mother was dead, "I'll try."


"Hi, Aunt Ethel."

Ethel opens her arms out, prompting Spencer to hug her.

"I do not love this long hair on you." She gives him a playful smile before eyeing,

"Élise, dearie!" She hugs her next before she soon eyes. "Oh! Is this your family, Élise?"

"Yes, ma'am." Introducing her family one-by-one, "My father Mr. Micha, My brother, Arthur, my sister-in-law Brenda. And my mother, Ms. Geneva."

Shaking each of their hands, "Hello there. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

"Same here, ma'am." Arthur politely commented.

"So, this is where you live?" Ms. Geneva asked, observing the ranch.

"Why, yes. My husband, Gordon and I live and own a therapy horse ranch for children and adults with disabilities. My children, John and Anna, help out occasionally."

Nodding her head as she seems uninterested, "Interesting. Not much of an animal person."

Trying to kill the awkwardness and the silence, "Okay. Why don't I get lunch started, now?"

"And while you do that, mind if I get on Sherlock?"

"You just got off from your cane, babe." Élise reminded him. "I don't want you to fall back on the progress."

"I'm willing to take the chance," Reid whispers in her ear before kissing her temple.

Ethel clears her throat, "Ah-huh."

"Don't worry," Reid assures her. "We won't be doing it until after the wedding."

"Doing what?" Arthur raised his eyebrow.

Élise replies to her brother. "What could make you an uncle sooner."


"I hope this turns out well," Élise whispered in Reid's ear as he leads the way to Bennington.

"It will," Reid assures her by planting a kiss on her palm. "It will, babe."

"I hope so," Ms. Geneva murmured under her breath as she had her arms folded.

Élise quietly hissed through her teeth, "I swear, my mother..."

Patting down on her hand, "It'll be okay, alright? Let's just get it through today."

"Okay." Élise agrees as they all approached Dr. Norman.

"Dr. Reid!" Dr. Norman greets. "So great to see you again."

"Same with you, Dr. Norman." Élise said before she introduces, "These are my parents, my older brother, and my sister-in-law."

"Nice to meet you all." Dr. Norman greets everyone else before escorting them near the door, where they saw Reid's mother by the window, writing down something.

"How has been doing, doc?" Élise asked.

"Even though paranoid schizophrenia is a lifetime illness and has her off days, the meds have stabilized her symptoms."

Reid tries to sound upbeat, "Well, that's good."

"I suppose." Ms. Geneva comments.

"When she heard you were coming down here for Christmas, to say she was ecstatic is an understatement."

"Well, that's still great, right?" Élise replies.

"I'll leave you all alone; I have some paperwork to catch up on."

"I bet you do." Ms. Geneva replies under her breath.

Élise rolls her eyes, "I swear, I…"

"I am very excited to hear she's doing well." Reid finishes her sentence before quietly walking over to her and just after Reid clears his throat, "Mom?"

Recognizing her son's voice, "Spencer. How are you?"

"I'm okay. I'm finally walking unassisted."

"Well, that's just great, baby. We'll be able to enjoy our mother/son dance at your wedding," Diana turns her attention to, "How's my soon-to-be daughter-in-law?"

"She's doing well." Élise happily answers before, "Mama D, I'd like to introduce you to my parents, Mr. Micha and Ms. Geneva, and my brother and sister-in-law, Arthur and Brenda."

Shaking both of their hands, "Pleasure to meet you both."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." Mr. Micha said.

"Same as you," Diana said before turning her attention to Arthur and Brenda. "Arthur. I love that name, Arthur. The name of an Arthurian legend, a King; remains me of the medieval tales of King Arthur and his knights. Even from my days of teaching 15th-century medieval literature."

"Why, thank you, ma'am." Arthur felt a bit awkward but complimented.

Turning her attention back to Élise's parents, "Has my boy been treating your daughter well?"

"Like royalty." Mr. Micha answers. "And she treats him like royalty as well."

"Well, that's wonderful. I just can't wait until the wedding."

"Same here."

Élise and Reid observed Élise's parents and Reid's mother talking about the wedding.

"At least my parents seemed to be getting along with your mother, right?"

"Exactly. And you and your mother seemed to be okay with each other, right?"

"Well, it is the holiday season." Élise remained Reid.

"True." Reid nods his head.


"Hey, sweetheart," Reid said as he sat next to Élise on the plush bed in their hotel bedroom, "Are you okay?"

"I'm hanging in there." Élise honestly answers.

"Are you still thinking about that dinner earlier?"


Élise and Reid, Élise's parents, brother, and sister-in-law, all decided to go to a Christmas dinner at his Aunt Ethel, Uncle Gordon, and his cousins, John and Anna, John's wife Melissa and second cousin, Sabrina. Reid's mother was allowed to attend the dinner.

"Heavenly Father," Aunt Ethel led the prayer as everyone held hands, "Thank you for bringing us all together for this Christmas. And may our Christmas dinner be filled with love, kindness, and respect and the memories to come with it. God bless you in Jesus' name. Amen."

"Amen."

As everyone held themselves to some of the food on the table,

"So, Élise," Ms. Geneva began to start the conversation, "Do you and Spencer say your prayers before you eat?"

"At times," Élise answers as she helped herself to a small piece of the lemon and herb-basted roast turkey with some cranberry stuffing.

"You should always say your prayers." Ms. Geneva commented.

"Or what," Élise whispers to Reid, "I'm going to hell?"

"Élise…" Reid pats her hand.

"Are you all planning on going to church on Christmas?" Aunt Ethel asked.

"I think we can go," Reid answers before taking a bit of the mashed potatoes. "We had a good time last year."

"Do you two go to Sunday church back in Washington D.C.?" Ms. Geneva asked.

"Nope." Élise quickly answers.

Ms. Geneva asked again, almost sounding offended. "What? You don't believe in God anymore?"

"I didn't say that mother," Élise politely replies. "I just don't go to church anymore. Forgive me if I'm more nonreligious; there's a difference between that atheism."

"I'm more of a man of science, but aside from having the Bible memorized these days I might consider myself an agnostic," said Spencer before tilting his head, "After the year I had, I might make my New Year resolution trying going to church more often."

"Hopefully you do." Ms. Geneva replies. "You are getting married at a church, right?"

"Of course, mother," Élise said before stuffing some carrots into her mouth. "Because everything you say is right, right?" Élise mutters under her breath, but almost loud enough for everyone to hear, causing everyone to hear her.

"Élise…" Reid tries to ease the tension.

"Is there something you need to say?" Ms. Geneva asked Élise.

"Nope," Élise answers before eating another piece of turkey.

"Are you sure? You got a mouth; you can use it."

Swallowing, "If you have nothing nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all, right?" Élise smirks.

"Right."

"Maybe you should take your own advice," Élise mutters under her breath before taking another sip of water.


"Spen, babe," Élise sighs. "It's still hard."

"I know it is," Reid soothes her hands. "But keeping it all inside is never a good thing; believe me, I know."

"I'm trying but…" Élise shrugs. "It's just so hard."

"I understand." Reid kisses the palm of her hand. "Promise me you'll keep trying, okay?"

Élise bats her eyes. "I promise, lovey." She kisses his lips.


"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Élise happily exclaims before announcing, "I still have my gifts to exchange." She was holding her gifts by her elbows as she gathered everyone around in the Presidential Suite living room for the exchanging of Christmas gifts. "Since everyone else has exchanged gifts yesterday after coming home from church on Christmas Eve."

"Merry Christmas, Élise," Her father warmly greets with a hug.

Reid hugs her next, "Merry Christmas to you, babe!"

"Hands off my little sister, genius," Arthur playfully pulls Reid away from Élise. "So, I can hug her." He affectionately hugs her before letting her sister-in-law hug her. Élise smiled as she and Brenda parted. Her mother was just walking out of the bedroom, closing her robe. Élise half-smiles at her before slowly walking up to her and gave her a hug.

"Merry Christmas, mother."

"Merry Christmas to you, too."

After quickly parting, "I have presents for everyone." Élise grabs the presents for everyone as they sat on the couch. Hanging her gifts to everyone, "My gift to my brother and sister-in-law. My gift to mother and dad. And last but certainly not the very least, my gift to my loving fiancé." She gives Reid a kiss before caressing his cheek.

"Sweet!" Arthur exclaimed once he saw his gift from Élise. "A first-class roundtrip to New Zealand!"

Brenda cried before giving Élise another hug, "Thank you so much!"

"Anytime."

"A first-class roundtrip to St. Lucia." Élise's parents hug her. "Thank you."

Élise lovingly hugs them back. "Yup."

"First editions of Stephen Hawking's first two books," Reid rushes to hug and kiss Élise. "You shouldn't have."

"I wanted to," Élise whispers in his ear and flirtatiously plays his hair. "Anything for my man."

"Must you do that in front of us?" Arthur cocks his head. "It's Christmas time."

"True." Élise gave everyone a cup of freshly brewed hot chocolate, "Merry Christmas, everyone."

"Merry Christmas."


"Oh," Élise squealed in excitement as she was with her mother, Aunt Ethel, Mama Diana Reid, Reid's cousin Anna and cousin-in-law Melissa, Elise's sister in law Brenda, walking into a Nordstrom Wedding Suite. "I'd never thought I would be shopping for a wedding dress."

"Well, believe it because it's actually happening." Ms. Geneva coolly said.

"I can't believe I'll be helping my soon-to-be-if-not-already daughter-in-law pick out a wedding dress."

"Wedding dress shopping is so much fun, you know no idea," Melissa commented.

Aunt Ethel included, "You not only need a fabulous wedding dress but also a dress for square dancing."

Ms. Geneva cocked her head in a different direction and tweeted her eyebrow, "Huh?"

"It's a family tradition," Aunt Ethel explained it to Élise's mother. "To have a square dance during the wedding reception."

"It's oodles of fun," Anna cried in excitement, clapping her hands. "Just…please don't be as critical as you were with Melissa, mother." She urged Ethel.

"I wasn't critical," Ethel objected. "I was just opinionated."

"Uh-huh," Anna nods her head before placing her hand on Élise's shoulder. "But seriously, Élise. With us, you'll have the perfect wedding gown and reception dress in no time."


Élise shows off a white Badgley Mischka gown with a sweetheart top and ruffled skirts.

"Aww." Anna, Brenda, and Melissa gushed in adoration.

"You look like a lovely…flamenco bride." Ms. Geneva commented.

Diana and Ethel nodded their heads. "Agree."


Élise shows off a white Monique Lhuillier gown with a simple square neckline and sheer caps. As Anna, Brenda, and Melissa clapped their hands.

"Pretty." Diana smiled.

Ms. Geneva blurts out, "Oh, god. You look pregnant."

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Ethel was quietly seething. "I'm going to get Spencer."


Élise displays a white strapless Oscar de la Renta gown. Anna, Brenda, and Melissa gave each other interesting looks,

"Is the gown made with toilet paper?" Ms. Geneva cocked her head and tweeted her eyebrow.

Ethel added. "And stacked over each other?"


A white Carolina Herrera gown later…

Before Anna, Brenda, and Melissa could say anything,

"You look like a fish covered in scales." Ms. Geneva utters.


Another white Monique Lhuillier gown…

Ms. Geneva dryly exclaims. "The child of Big Bird dipped in bleach and bling."


A white Vera Wang gown….

"Did you roll around the bedsheets?" Ms. Geneva criticizes.


Another Vera Wang gown….

Ms. Geneva censures, "Makes you look like you got caught in the desert wind."


Another Vera Wang gown but in black…

"Hell no!" Ms. Geneva and Ethel bellow simultaneously.


Another Vera Wang gown…

After Anna, Brenda, and Melissa let out a fox whistle and Diana let out a tear,

"That's gorgeous." Ms. Geneva smiled.

Which made Élise smile.

"Just not on you."

Élise's face dropped into annoyance and disappointment.


"Forget it," Élise said, covering herself up with the white robe. "Maybe I'm just not dressable."

"Don't feel down, Élise," Anna places her hand on her shoulder, comforting her. "Sometimes, you need to try on a hundred dress to find the perfect one."

"Anna's right." Melissa agreed with her. "But I'll admit, I was afraid Ethel was going to be the critical one, but your mother takes it to a new level."

"I wonder if I could put duct tape over her mouth," Élise thought in her head before thinking, "But then she'll probably flog my ass West Indies style."

"Come on, Élise," Brenda browses through some of the wedding gowns. "There has to be one for you."

"Don't give up." Anna joins in on browsing for some gowns.

"I'll try," Already sounding defeated, Élise glances through wedding gowns, "But I don't think…"

"Whoa," Élise said, dazed.

"Found something?" Anna guessed.

"Oh, I found something, alright." Élise pulls out a Carolina Herrera gown. "My perfect wedding gown."


"Wow." Was all Ethel, Diana, Anna, Melissa, Brenda, and especially Ms. Geneva—who could feel her eyes clouding a bit, could say.

It was a stunning strapless Carolina Herrera gown with elegant but striking embroidery.

"Do you like it?" Élise confidently asked.

"Absolutely!" They all said concurrently.

"Then I will say 'Yes' to this dress." Élise positively declares.


"So, what is this place, genius man?" Arthur curiously asked as he, Reid, and his father, Mr. Micha, walked into a grand building.

"Binion's," Reid answered. "One of the 136 casinos in Las Vegas."

"So, are we here to gamble?" Arthur asked again with lifted eyebrows.

Reid simply replies, "No. Well, I did give $2,000 to a hooker one time."

"Say what?"

"Long story." Reid said before changing the subject, "Anyway, we're just here to eat at Top of Binion's Steakhouse. And I say, you two have to try the Chicken Fried Lobster."

Mr. Micha nods his head, "I never had Chicken Fried Lobster."

"It's a 12 ounce North Atlantic lobster tail fried to a golden brown and served with bearnaise sauce."

"Oh," Mr. Micha rubs his hands in pleasure. "Sounds delicious."

"And you'll be paying, right?"

"Yes."

Arthur places his hand on Reid's shoulder, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship." But soon became squeezing his shoulder; Reid yelped a bit, "But just because I'm a bit shorter than you and you're an FBI agent who's about to be my brother-in-law, doesn't mean I won't kick your ass if you hurt my little sister. Deal?"

"Yup."

"Good." Arthur releases him.

"Hello, Spencer."

Reid's eyes faintly widen, and his jaw dropped when he sees, "Dad."

His father standing in front of him,

Placing his hands in his pocket, "Hello again, Spencer."

"Father."

Arthur lifted his eyebrow again, hoping to break the awkward suspense and tension before asking again, "I take it he's your father."

"William Reid," Reid quietly seethes. "Even though he flew out to D.C. after I got shot, I haven't seen him in seventeen years when he abandoned me and my mother."

"Ah," Arthur looked at William Reid in slight disgust.

"Pleasure seeing you out of the hospital and walking, son," William Reid began walking away when,

Spencer instantly thought about how four-year-old Jack is still adjusting to the death of his mother and living with his father full-time causing him to think about needing to cherish his parents being alive, "Wait a minute, dad."

Reid stopped him, causing William Reid to turn his head.

"Would you like to…have dinner with us?"

William Reid's mouth opened and closed a few more times before, "Really?"

"Yes." Reid shakes his head.

"I'd love to," William Reid smiled before offering, "And if anything, I'll pay."

"I'd appropriate that." Reid smiled back.


Élise and Reid, Élise's parents, brother, and sister-in-law, all gathered for a New Year's Party at Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon's ranch house with his cousins, John and Anna, John's wife Melissa and second cousin, Sabrina. Reid's mother was allowed to attend.

"Everyone!" Élise taps on her glass with a small silver spoon before setting that aside and cleared her throat. "I would like everyone to raise their glasses in the air."

When everyone did, Élise continued,

"I'd like to propose a toast to a new year. To a new year, a new millennium, and new beginnings. May great things and miracles happen in 2010. Amen, and God bless us all in 2010."

"Amen, and God bless us all in 2010."