A/N: Hello again, everyone!

A shout-out to AHowell1993, Lina Faro, and Niki29 for either reviewing Chapter 63, favoring, and/or following the story. The occasional scenes from episodes of Criminal Minds in this story belong to CBS and Criminal Minds writers. No copyright infringement is intended. I hope everyone had a great, safe, and nice Thanksgiving.

First, I would like to say that I'm back after taking a short break from writing P&P. A lot has been going on with me; writer's block, feeling down and tired, life in general, etc.

At the start of the chapter, Séraphine's now twenty-two days old.


Reid walked out of his bedroom as he was fixing his tie as he was preparing to meet his team to see Seaver graduate from the FBI Academy. Finally finished with his purple tie, he enters Séraphine's nursery and sees Élise breastfeeding her again. Élise looked up and noticed Reid,

"Hey there, Spencer," Élise whispered.

Reid immediately had a grin on his face as Reid approached his girls. Reid laughed in his head; Élise and Séraphine were now his girls. He can't stop saying it, his girls. Now, Reid gets to go home to his girls. Now, he gets to be with his girls.

"Hello." Kissing Élise's lips before kissing Séraphine's face, he greets, "Hi there, little girl." Looking deep into her eyes, "What big eyes you have, my little Fifi."

"Yes, she does." Élise took note of what Reid was wearing; gray pantsuit, with a purple dress shirt and tie and Converse sneakers. "You look very nice, my hubby wubby. Heading to Seaver's FBI Academy graduation?"

"Mm-hmm." Reid nodded his head. He soon asked Élise, "Are you sure you don't want to go?"

"I don't know." Élise was uncertain. "I'm still feeling a bit sore. Plus, I don't think it's too soon to take Séraphine outside yet, even though we took her to the doctor's the day after we brought her home from the hospital after being born. Tell the team I said 'hi?'"

Reid shook his head, "True." He pats down on Élise's hand, "I'll tell the team I said 'hi' for you." Reid kisses Élise's lips again before turning to face his baby daughter again. "And I'll tell the team I said 'hi' for you." He kisses Séraphine's face again.

Séraphine responded with her eyes widen and cooed adorably.

Reid toothily grins as did Élise.


"Congrats on you graduating from the FBI Academy, Ashley." Reid gave his praises to Seaver.

Seaver smiled in return, "Thanks, Reid. Thanks again for coming. I have to admit; I'm still nervous."

"It's common." Reid sympathizes. "I remember when I graduated at 22; I even made headlines for being the youngest FBI graduates."

"I think I saw a couple of reporters earlier; one even asked me about my father, and I gave no comment." Seaver softly said. "I just…"

Rossi comforted Seaver, "It's understandable."

"Yeah," Seaver switched the conversation. "Also, how is baby Séraphine?"

"Yeah," Hotch smirks at Reid as he folds his arms. "How is my little goddaughter?"

Reid smiles, "She's a wonderful delight. As well as Élise."

Morgan cocks his head and raises his eyebrows, "Goddaughter?" Morgan turns his attention to Reid, "You made Hotch Séraphine's godfather?"

"Why, yes, I did." Reid confidently answered and his lip curl, "Is that a problem?"

Morgan shakes his head, "No…" Shrugs his shoulders, "Well, Hotch did bring you and Élise together, so I'm not mad nor surprised." Reid pulls out his cell phones and shows the team a recent photo of Séraphine; one was her sticking out her pink tongue.

"Aw," Seaver melted at the sight of the picture, "Isn't that cute?"

"She's twenty-two days old and at this stage, she likes copying what Élise and I do," Reid said. "Also, there's a chance she might be able to lift up for a few seconds or even turn from side to side."

Rossi replied, "She's an eager little energizer."

"Yup." Reid agreed.

"Well, I'm still upset that you didn't make me the godmother to your precious bundle of joy," Garcia slyly folds her arms and pouted her lips. "But that doesn't mean I won't give her all my love."

Reid reminded her, "When you found out about Élise, thanks to this bigmouth," Reid points to Morgan, "You tried to an unauthorized background check on her and your computers ended up with a virus."

"Well, forgive me if I take my love for you all seriously." Garcia justified. "Forgive if I go over the top. And yes, I love to go over the top. I'm built that way."

"And that's what I love about you." Morgan wraps his arms around Garcia and gives her a kiss, making her blush.

"Aw." Garcia redden. "Just what I needed."

Rossi puts his hand on Reid's shoulders, "Well, congrats to you all." He offers, "How about if I take you all to Fabio's in honor of Agent Seaver. And I'll pay."

Seaver blushed, "Aww, thanks."

"I wish I could, but I can't," Reid politely turned down as he fixed his tie. "I'm going home to be with my girls." Reid couldn't stop calling Élise and Séraphine his girls. "And keep on enjoying my parental leave."

"Aww. Isn't that cute," Morgan twists his mouth and chuckled, "You're going home to your girls. How does it feel being outnumbered in a house filled with females?"

"Don't hate on me because I get to come home with girls waiting for me and you don't," Reid remarked before winking his eye.

Garcia and Seaver's mouths dropped; Rossi presses his lips together to try and not laugh; Hotch still had his arms folded and continued to smirk. A bit taken back, Morgan nods his head, "Touché, kid." Morgan was really impressed with Reid's comebacks. "Quick and smart. I like that."

"Something tells me Séraphine's going to be quick with her comebacks," Rossi replied.

"With Élise and Spencer as her parents, she'll be able to take over the world." Hotch joked.


"Hello again, you three," A tall tan-skin toned and chin-length toffee color hair woman in her mid-to-late thirties smiled at Élise, Reid, and Séraphine when she entered her office.

Reid waved at the pediatrician, "Hello again, Dr. Pierce."

"You know you can also call me Dr. Kelly." Dr. Pierce suggested. "Either way works."

"Cool," Élise replied. "Still, it's great seeing you again, doc."

Dr. Pierce smiled, "Aw. Thank you." Pointing to baby Séraphine. "And how is your sweet little girl?"

Élise chuckled as she looked down to Séraphine, "She is such a joy."

"They all are." Dr. Pierce responded. "So, before we do the check-up, may I ask you some questions."

Élise coolly answers, "Of course."

Dr. Pierce gets her clipboard ready, "Now…" Clearing her throat, "Are you still breastfeeding?"

"Yeah-yeah." Élise taps her chest, "She's eating on demand every hour to three hours."

"Okay." Dr. Pierce asked again. "Is she sleeping on her back to lower SIDS risk?"

"Most definitely." Reid answers. "She goes through about ten to twelve diapers a day and she sleeps for about 16-to-18 hours a day."

"Okay." Dr. Pierce questioned about another topic, "Now…how is her tummy time?"

"So far, tummy time is about…five minutes." Élise truthfully answers. "The shortest time was about a minute or two. She's still fussy about it."

"You know tummy time is important," Reid explained before turning his attention to Séraphine, "It'll allow you to prepare yourself for your motor, visual, and sensory skills, help prevent flat spots from forming on the back of your head and build up muscles in your arms, shoulders, upper back and neck which will eventually allow her to lift up your head. You don't want that, do you?"

Élise whispers, "You're really going to get your intelligence from your old man."

Chuckling, "It takes time," Dr. Pierce was understanding. "May I suggest massaging her feet; it can encourage tummy time. And there's also placing her on your tummies. I did that, and it was an absolute joy." Dr. Pierce nods her head before reminiscing. "I felt more connected with my baby."

Reid and Élise looked at Séraphine again and smiled when she smiled back at them.

"I think she likes the idea," Élise said.

Reid plays with her little hand, "Indeed, she does."


Reid continued to stare at Séraphine peacefully sleeping in her crib. He seemed as if the parental leave went by too quickly. And tomorrow would be the day he returned to work. He had been preparing himself this past weekend.

Was he physically ready?

Yes.

But was he mentally ready?

No.

He was not mentally ready.

Not at all.


Reid took a deep breath after taking a sip of his freshly brewed coffee. After leaving the kitchen, he sees Élise breastfeeding Séraphine in a purple baby carrier while eating a bowl of Special K. An instant smile appeared on his face.

Élise greeted, "Hi-hi."

"Hello." Reid pecks Élise's lips before kissing Séraphine's head. "Aw, look at her."

Élise reddened, "I know."

Reid sighed, "Maybe I should…"

"Spen," Élise placed her hand on his cheek and knew what he was going to say, "I'll be fine, okay? Plus, the team needs you."

Reid took Élise's hand and kisses her palm; a giggled escaped from her lips before they looked down and see Séraphine letting out a big yawn. Their hearts melted.

"I'll let you know if anything," Reid took another sip of his coffee before gathering his bag. Kissing Élise's lips again, "Be safe, okay?"

Élise assured him, "I'll be fine."

Reid licks his lips and gulped. Kissing Séraphine's head again, he whispers to her, "Make sure you take care of mommy, okay?"

Séraphine let out a gurgle.

Reid chuckled as he began to walk again. Just as he reaches the front door, Séraphine began to lightly cry, causing him to turn away and see Élise immediately comfort her.

"Oh, sweetie." Élise cuddled closer to Séraphine. "I got you. Mama's got you, honey."

Reid exhaled again; he knew Élise would be fine on her own, so he left.


Reid had just stepped out of the elevator when he stared at Emily's FBI portrait on the wall of deceased agents. Reid sighed for about the tenth time since he left the house. And now half the sighs were Prentiss-related and other were Élise and Séraphine. He figured perhaps he should make a call to them, just to see that they're okay. He had just reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his cell phone when,

"Welcome back."

Hotch and Rossi approached him.

Rossi joked, "More like 'Welcome back, Dr. Father Reid."

Reid let out a snicker before gazing at Prentiss' picture. Hotch and Rossi observed it as well.

"Reid," Rossi placed his hand on his shoulder, "I know you hate goodbyes, and believe me, I do, too."

"But I have to accept that she's gone." Reid completed the sentence. "I know. I understand." Sighing for the eleventh time, "I've been at ease."

"We all have." Hotch quietly spoke up. "I get it." Hotch changed to a new topic, "And speaking of ease," Hotch had a sly smirk on his face. "How's my goddaughter and her mother are doing?"

Reid had a timid smile, "They're good. I'm worried about them. Perhaps I should give them a call."

"You go do that," Hotch insisted. "But make it quick; we have a case in Portland, Oregon."


The team headed to the jet and were on their way to Portland. As Reid was looking through his file—like everyone else on; Hotch spoke up,

"So, both victims around the same age and killed at night."

Rossi added, "One in an alley on the way to his car, the other in her home after coming from the grocery after work."

"There's extreme overkill in both," Morgan noted.

Ashley said. "Overkill usually implies a personal relationship."

"Or it could mean that the victim represents someone for whom the killer has extreme anger." Hotch includes.

"These unsubs are night owls, stalking and killing other night owls," Rossi replied.

"And they're also disorganized." Reid pointed again to his file, "In one they subdued their victims by hitting them with a pipe found at the scene, and in the other they used a knife, followed by 7 other items found in the kitchen." He closed his file.

"A doorstop, even a ceramic cat." Seaver shows a picture of a ceramic cat and doubtable asked, "All of this just to steal?"

Rossi explained, "When a gang mentality sets in, unsubs become more capable of heinous acts."

"It's still odd," Seaver responded. "The incidence of robbery is so low in this area."

"That's why I started working a geographical profile." Reid pulls out a map of Portland and points to various spots, "First things first, I factored in journey to crime distance. If you look here, you'll see that this area of Portland is well within the expected five-mile radius. I also factored in distance of decay."

"What does distance have to do with decay?" Seaver asked.

Rossi answered, "It's how geo-profilers measure relative probability of an offender traveling outside his comfort zone."

"Unsubs prefer to stay in an area that they know well," Hotch concluded.

"Like you'd commute to work or to the gym." Morgan gave an explanation.

Hotch adds, "The closer the crime scenes, the greater likelihood it is that the unsub lives or works nearby."

"Based on my algorithm, the unsubs either live or work in the area." Reid leaned the geographical profile out on the table and pointed to the overlapped area.

"So as long as the unsub stays in the area, we'll catch him," Seaver said.

Reid said, "Precisely."


After delivering the profile, Reid headed into the bathroom. Just as he entered, he received a text from Élise along with a picture attached to the message. Opening it, it was a selfie of Élise and Séraphine. Reid softly smiled before he felt tension in his eyes. Using warm water to wash it out, he grabs a paper towel to dry his face before noticing Morgan, "You know, that profile kind of makes it sounds like schizophrenia leads to serial killing."

"That's not what we said at all, Reid." Morgan clarified.

"You know, my mom has schizophrenia. There are many different types." Reid said.

"I know that." Morgan nods his head.

Reid continued, "Catatonic, disorganized..." Reid rips another piece of paper towel, "Just because someone suffers from inability to organize their thoughts or they can't bathe or dress themselves, it doesn't mean they'd stab someone in the chest 30 times postmortem." Reid turned around and sat at the edge of the sink.

"Reid, what's really going on?" Morgan concernedly asked.

"Our unsub's hallucinations aren't fractured like a typical schizophrenic. They're vivid and clear, leading me to believe that we're missing an important variable. Rather than making crazy conjectures, I think we should be trying to figure out what it is."

"Ok, listen to me." Morgan was sympathetic to what was going on with Reid. "I know this is a scary age for you. It's when schizophrenic breaks happen. Have you talked to anybody about this?"

"Élise, of course. Hotch." Reid gulped before confessing, "Emily."

"Have you seen a doctor?" Morgan asked again.

"They all say I'm fine," Reid replied.

Morgan questions, "Then why don't you believe them?"

"Because predicting one's chances of developing a genetic condition are like finding a penny in an ocean." Reid began listing the negatives. "I had terrible headaches back in January. But since then, I've been trying to eat better and healthier, drink less sugary coffee and more water and sugar-free coffee. And now, I can't sleep at night. I can't focus on our cases. I only read five books last week."

"Come on, kid, you gotta cut yourself some slack," Morgan advised before comforting him. "You're not also depressed about Prentiss, but you're worried about Élise and Séraphine and I get it... we all are. Reid, I miss her every day. But if your mind was splitting, do you really think you'd be able to figure out that this team is missing a variable?"

After a brief moment, Reid answers, "I'm just speculating that we are. Need to prove it."

"Ok, then you do that." Morgan suggested but not before telling him, "The moment you are wandering around the streets aimlessly, that's when I'll be concerned about you."

Reid looked up with a brief smirk before Morgan comments, "Come on, pretty boy. Let's get to work."


After Reid realized that the unsub bought a lot of salt and knowing sault is used in exorcisms and a variety of religious healings, he and Morgan headed to one of the churches in the unsub's comfort zone. There, they had a conversation with the priest.

"He came here in duress about...two hours ago."

"What did he say?" Reid asked.

The priest answers, "He said... He said voices were blaming him for a fire, and he needed me to get rid of them."

"You're right. He thinks he's haunted." Reid said to Morgan, who then asked the priest,

"Did he ask you for an exorcism?"

"Yes." He said. "He claimed his mother had taken him to get one when he was young."

Morgan asked again, "And what did you tell him?"

"I couldn't do it. Throughout history, people have confused possession with mental illness. Some still do. Nowadays, most churches turn people like him over to medical professionals."

"I'm assuming he didn't take your rejection well." Reid figured.

The priest clarified, "He was very angry."

"But he didn't attack you?" Morgan shook his head. "He didn't threaten you in any way?"

Just as the priest nodded no, Reid guessed, "He's probably gotten help from the church before."

Morgan agreed with Reid, "Was there anything else about his behavior that you found odd?"

"Like something he maybe said or did?" Reid added.

"No. I told you everything." The priest replied before he said, "Oh, there is one thing. He had a stutter."

Morgan and Reid looked at each other before doubting looks before Reid said to the priest,

"Thank you, sir."

The priest had a brief smile, "You're welcome."

Morgan and Reid left the church. After Morgan hung up after his conversation with Garcia, Reid explained how psychogenetic stuttering begins in the area of the brain that controls thoughts and reasoning; most commonly associated with mental illness.

Also meaning that for the unsub, it's either caused by the schizophrenia medication or maybe it's situational.


The team and local police finally found out who the unsub was: Ben Foster. Immediately rushing to his house, they could tell he would be on the run. Unfortunately, Morgan and Seaver, but Hotch and Reid managed to see one of the houses having their curtains being closed.

Hotch whispers into his FBI vests, "I think we've got something at 2218."

Quietly sneaking into the house, Hotch and Reid had their weapons ready. Slowly walking into the living room, Hotch orders,

"Ben, drop the knife."

Walking behind Hotch, Reid's mouth slightly dropped when he noticed Ben had taken two young children hostage.

"Shoot me," Ben begged, wielding the knife as Morgan and Seaver entered and had their firearms drawn to Ben.

"Ben, we're not gonna shoot you, but we do need you to put down that knife, ok?" Reid steadily made his way towards Ben. Putting his revolver back in its case, he asked, "All right, where are the other people in this room, Ben?"

"Right there." Ben points to the three hallucinations standing behind Reid. "You see him?"

"Right here?" Reid went along with Ben's delusions. "Were they there for the exorcism?"

"Mm-hmm." Ben tore. "I didn't kill them, though. I didn't do it." Despite his hallucinations jeering, Ben exclaimed, "And I'm not lying."

Hotch said, "Ben, they're dead and they can't hurt you anymore."

"They can't?" Ben asked.

"No, Ben," Morgan replied. "Your mind is playing tricks on you. Once you get help, it'll all stop."

Finally, Ben admits to his visions, "Yeah, ok. All right, I killed you. I set the fire."

As Ben's illusions cheered at his admission of guilt, Morgan said, "Ben, listen to us. It's ok. We're gonna get you a doctor's help. I promise you that."

"No." Ben denied. "The...The only way that you can help me is if you do it... If you kill me."

"Ben, that's not true." Reid consoled him. "Listen, the only way we can help you is if you let the kids, put the knife down, and we'll make sure you get all the help you need.

Ben hallucinated to Reid telling him to stab him in the neck with his knife, "Are you sure that'll work?"

"Oh, I'm absolutely sure of it," Reid promised. "Put that knife down, ok?"

Ben continued to hallucinate taking the knife and jamming Reid in the neck with it and all his problems will go away. Ben lets the kids ago, "Ok. It's ok. Get going." Seaver safely escorts the children out.

"Ok," Ben said to himself before charging towards Reid.

BANG!

"Aah!"

Ben fell to the ground after being non-fatally shot by Hotch.

"We need an ambulance," Reid said into his vest before checking Ben's pulse.

"Oh!" Reid performed some magic tricks to the children to help keep them calm until their parents came to get them. "What are these that I found in your ears?" Reid pulls out a quarter from each of the children's ears.

"Cool!" Sarah and Evan exclaimed as they took the quarter; Evan asked, "How'd you do that?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets."

Sarah and Evan giggled just as a car pulled up; a middle-aged couple stepped out of their car and saw their children.

"Sarah! Evan!" The father shouted.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Sarah and Evan rushed to their parents and gave them hugs.

The mother gushed at the sight of her children before hugging them. Noticing the team, who smiled in return. "Thank you."


Reid sat by himself away from Seaver and Morgan when Hotch approached him as he was preparing himself to get some sleep.

Hotch starts the conversation, "Hey."

"Hey," Reid replied before sighing as he set his head against the pillow.

Hotch sensed something; cordially asking Reid, "Are you okay?"

Reid bursts out, "Before you and Haley had Jack, have you ever wondered how he turns out to be?"

Hotch promptly answers, "All the time."

"You already know my mother's a paranoid schizophrenic and my age is where schizophrenic breaks happen and…" Biting down on his bottom lip as he inhaled and exhaled. "I don't know."

"It's natural to worry." Hotch comforts him. "But look how you turned out." Hotch gave Reid a smirk. "You have six degrees, a wonderful wife, a beautiful daughter, a job where you get to help people, amazing people in your life. I say you turned out great and you're doing great."

Reid quickly absorbed Hotch's words, "Yeah. Most definitely."

Sighing, "So…how mad do you think Élise might be at me that I almost got myself stabbed in the neck?"

"I think she'll be relieved that you're still alive," Hotch commented.

Reid perked up a bit, "Do you think so?"

"Either that or she'll yell at you in front of Séraphine." Hotch shrugged his shoulders before lightly chuckling. Lightening up, "But seriously, you'll be okay."


"Ah," Reid walked into the bedroom and adjusted his browline glasses. "I got Séraphine down to bed now."

Élise placed her Pride & Prejudice book on the bedside. "I'm so glad you're home, babe."

"As always." Reid and Élise gave each other a peck on the lips. "How are you feeling?"

"Good," Reid answered. "As a matter of fact, I feel better."

"Aren't you glad I had you wear your eyeglasses?" Élise cuddles closer to Reid in their bed. "Remember what we said about giving the contacts a break."

"Yeah." Reid adjusted his glasses for the second time; his eyes wandered, and his facial expressions mad Élise ask,

"Are you okay?"

Sighing, "Our unsub was a schizophrenic."

Élise knew where the conversation was headed, "Are you worry about how Séraphine will be in the future?" Holding his hand, "I know. I worry, too. It's natural to worry about your children, even if your child is a month old and is starting to grow."

"It's already giving me a headrush." Reid began massaging his temples.

Élise giggled, "Yeah. She'll turn out great."

Reid wraps his arm around Élise, "As well as our future children."

Élise lowered her eyebrow, "Yeah, I just gave birth to one child and I'm exhausted so…"

"Maybe wait another year or two?" Reid suggested.

"That would be nice."