A/N: Hello again, everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. No copyright infringement is intended.

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

I hope you all were as shocked as I was from the previous chapters—(whispering) I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it yet.

Previously on Criminal Minds…

"Emily...You're back."

"I really am."

"…I don't know if I can ever understand that you're angry."

"I just…I don't know how to think about this."

"At least you got her back."

Reid and Élise doubted that "Did we?"

"What's happened?"

"Something's happening to my mother."

This was just too much for him. The news of Prentiss and now the news about what was happening with his mother…it was starting again. And the saddest is he knew he needed to admit that. But not just to himself. There was just one place that he needed to go to. A safe haven where people wouldn't judge him and relate to him, especially in his line of work.

The applause died down just as Reid walked up and took center stage. He cleared his throat to get rid of the nervousness he was feeling.

"Hi," He twitchily smiled and let out a chuckle. He cringed and wretched his hands repeatedly to stop the hampering. Finally speaking up after licking his lips,

"My name's Spencer."

The group replied in unison, "Hello, Spencer."

"Sorry," Nervously chuckling, he kept glancing around the random unjudgmental faces staring at him. "It's been two years, five months, and seven days since I've been here and, uh…sorry again…" Wringing his hands again and smiling spastically, "A lot has happened to me. I got engaged and married to the most beautiful woman in the world. We have an equally beautiful child together. Everything's been going well for me and now…."

He gulped before confessing, "My craving for Dilaudid has started again." He shakingly acknowledges to everyone, "Well, actually, it…It started when…a colleague I work with died when actually…this colleague had to fake their death and go into hiding. I admitted this to my wife when she was in labor and about to give birth, and s-…when my child was born, those cravings went away because I didn't want to be that anymore. I didn't even want to think about it. But then…the cravings came when, uh…."

Reid kept trying to say something, but nothing would come out. At least not until his phone vibrated and he had to take it. Apologizing profoundly, "I'm sorry. I have to…." He leaves the building to look at his messages.

ON THE WAY ~ EBR

Reid texts back,

OKAY ~ SR

Reid smiled when he heard someone call out for him,

"Spencer."

Reid turned around, and it was, "John."

Reid was a bit surprised to see John. He almost looked the same, except his gut looked a bit bigger, his thinning bald hair was more grays, and the gentle wrinkles that were on his forehead and around his eyes.

John held his hand out, "It's been a while."

"Yeah, it has." Reid cleared his throat and firmly shook it back, "How've you been?"

John shook his head and answered, "I'm still hanging in there. I heard what happened to your team."

"Yes." Reid resignedly chuckled, "I was on a cruise when it happened, and now…." He moistened his dried lips again and picked his fingernails. "They're happening again. When I admitted to my wife, we…." His chin trembled, and he stared at his Converses. "We hugged, kissed, and cried with our child together. She told me it was going to be okay. She was there for me and…." Sighing. "Here we are." Reciting his mantra, "Out with the negative. In with the positive."

John asked, "You have a mantra."

"I developed one during our vacation," Reid explained to him. "Helps me stay motivated. A reminder to not let any toxicities in my mind, heart, body, soul."

John pushed out his lips and thought, "Well, that's good. Personally, I'm not into that whole spiritual stuff, but if it's working for you, then it's great."

Reid smiled back, "Thanks."

"And I get why you have it." John was empathetic as he knew what Reid meant. "And believe me, I would flush my sobriety right now if that happened to me."

Reid chewed his bottom lip, "I still don't know how to feel about it. Will it?"

"Maybe or maybe not," John said before advising, "But don't let anyone tell you when you should be. That's completely up to you and you only."

Reid smirked, "Thanks, John."

"No. No! No, no, no, no, no! Get away from me, you—no! Stay away! Sta—no! No! Get—no, NOOOOOO!"

"No!" Reid blurted out and flinched in his plane seat with a start, waking up Élise and almost waking up a few bystanders who were now staring at him with weird looks on their faces.

"Hey-hey, bunny," Élise immediately began comforting him, murmurs, "Honey, I'm right now." She held his hand and stroked his fingers with her thumb. "I'm not going anywhere."

Reid patted his heart as he felt it was going to pop out and explode on him. He soon put his hand around his throat, feeling this sharp pain. "Oh, God…" He spoke in a suffocated whisper, and his voice began to crack and tight, "I'm okay."

Élise brushed softening circles on his back, "Oh, sweetie…it's not your fault."

"It is," Reid said, clenching his teeth and having his hand over his teary face, "Had I not spent her that letter about Prentiss…."

Élise replied, "They said it was an accident."

"Bought on by my letter, and it induced a schizophrenic episode." Reid wiped his tears away before running his shaking fingers through his hair. "She cut her hand and…."

Élise embraced his cheek before kissing, "A visit from her only son and favorite daughter-in-law and granddaughter will cheer her up. Breath in and breath out."

"Breath in and breath out," Reid repeatedly what Élise just said.

"Good," Élise sadly smiled, "Good, baby. Now your mantra."

Closing his eyes, Reid took another deep breath. Tilting his head back, trying to relax in his seat, and putting his body at ease, he exhaled, "Out with the negative. In with the positive. Out with the negative. In with the positive."

"Thank you again for picking us up from the airport, Papa Reid," Élise said after she came from the kitchen and into the living room with a plateful of fresh sliced fruit and vegetables.

Reid helped himself to a sliced carrot, "Yeah, thank you again, dad."

"Anytime." William laughed as he played with Séraphine, "Plus, it's nice to get away from Ethel a bit."

"Well, yeah." Élise chuckled as she sat next to Reid and admired the living room's cool color palette. "I kinda like your place, Papa Reid. Reminds us of our house."

"Exactly more of the reason why I wanted you guys to stay," William said as he began tickling Séraphine's tummy. "My house is your house."

Reid wrapped his arm around Élise's body and asked his father, "So, uh…have you talked to the doctors about mom?"

"Yeah," William covered Séraphine's ears. "They said we could go see, but we have to tread lightly." William really dreaded what he was about to say, "They're even putting her on watch for about a week until further examinations."

Reid placed his hand over his face before pinching his eyes with his fingers. He sighed, "Oh, God…." Now he had his hand over his stomach, "Now, I'm feeling nauseous again."

William offered, "Perhaps I can get you some Ginger-Ale?"

"Yes, please." Reid accepted his father's suggestion.

Before heading to the kitchen, William kissed Séraphine's cheek and handed her over to Élise. Élise began bouncing Séraphine on her knee, and she turned her head to Reid, who started scratching his forehead. "Sweetheart…"

"Out with the negative. In with the positive." Reid intoned his mantra. "Out with the negative. In with the positive."

Élise comforted, "That's good."

"I need more than this before I see my mother." Reid was still plagued with guilt and clutched his head in his free hand. "I'm sick over this."

Consoling her husband, Élise said, "This is not your fault, okay? It's not."

Reid could feel his eyes moistening as he stared at his father's white ceiling. Sniffing his nose, "Well, I can't help it. Had I not told her about what happened…" He picked his head up, revealing to her his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes.

"Oh, sweetie," Élise grabbed his hand and wiped his tears away for him, "You love your mother, but you cannot blame yourself for this. Your mother will say the same thing."

"Oh, I can't do this," Reid said to Élise for the third time since arriving at Bennington. "I can't."

Élise encouraged him as she gently pulled his arm, "Yes, you can." She looked down to see Séraphine relaxing in her stroller seat and asked her, "Do you think daddy can do it, Fifi? For Grandma?"

Séraphine stared at Élise with her widened eyes and babbled, "Bah…bah…." She blew a raspberry at Reid and giggled.

At least that little moment of cuteness put a slight smile on Reid's face. But from afar, when he saw his mother staring blankly at the window, caressing her bandaged hand, the overwhelming guilt reentered his body. Now he really didn't want to see her.

"Hello, everyone!" Dr. Norman approached the family with a smile on his face, "How are we doing today?"

Élise chipperly said, "We're good, Dr. Norman. Right?" Élise taps Reid's shoulder, looking at him with obvious eyes. "Right, Spen?"

"Yeah, we're good," Reid replied with indifference and with a slight frown, still staring at his mother.

"Yeah, I know." Dr. Norman stared at Diana and sighed, "Yeah. I gave your mother the letter, and the next thing I knew, she was screaming and hitting her head." Dr. Norman nervously plays with his fingers. "When we walked in, she cut her hand and a little bit of her wrist after smashing the vase that was in her room. Our doctors said that she's lucky she didn't cut any of the arteries."

Reid bit his fist in shame to stop his quivering jaw; now, he really didn't want to see her.

"We're still keeping a closer eye on her, but she's been steady." Dr. Norman said as he picked up some files from the front desk receptionist. "Excuse me; I have to…."

Élise nodded her head, "We can take it from here."

"Thank you." Dr. Norman let the family by themselves.

Reid drummed his fingers together as they walked at a snail's pace towards his mother and timidly hisses, "I can't."

"Yes, you can," Élise pulled his arm and urged him to see her. "And you will." Now they were a couple of feet from Diana's spot. Élise patted Reid's shoulder again, "Say something." Élise encouraged him.

Reid bit his bottom lip and gulped his spit. Here he goes. It was now or never. "M-mom?" He stuttered.

Diana stopped chewing on her fingernails just as she heard her son's voice. She turned away from the window and stared at him, "Spencer." She whispered. Diana got up from her seat and ran her son with all of her might, placing her hands over her mouth. "Oh, my baby." She starts quietly sobbing. "Oh, my baby boy."

"I'm here, mom." Unexpected tears began flowing from Reid's eyes, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Oh, my baby." Diana touched Reid's face and hair before examining it, "Oh, nothing happened to that pretty face of yours, huh?"

Reid said with embarrassment, flushed, "Mom…."

Diana giggled before looking at Élise and Séraphine playing; Élise dangles one of Séraphine's toys in front of her face. "Oh, look at those two."

"Yup," Reid proudly smiled.

"Oh, it's so good to see you all again, Spencer." Diana stokes Reid's legs and heavenly sighs, "It's been far too long."

"I am as well, mother." Reid took his mother's hand, "And to be honest, I didn't want even to come."

Diana maintained her eye contact with Reid and asked, "Why, baby?"

"It's my fault." Reid wiped his nose as he had his head down; a tear fell from his eyes. "It's my fault you got hurt."

"Oh, my baby," Diana wiped his tear away and stroked his hands. "It's not your fault. I would never blame you for this."

Reid's face turned pale, "You don't?"

"No." She calmly patted his face before growling to him, "It's that damn government you work for. Oh!" She clenched her fists in anger and shook them, ranting. "I could…I could…scratch everyone's eyes out!" Yelling, "I could beat the living silliness out of them! I could nick them! I could do every unpleasant thing in the dictionary for doing anything to you and my girls!"

A few nurses came over, ready to calm Diana by any means necessary, "Ms. Diana…."

"It's okay." Reid assured the nurses and shielding his mother away, "I got her; we're fine."

The nurses looked at them and nodded their heads before going back to work.

"What's wrong, penguin?" Élise asked Reid after he set Séraphine down for a nap.

Reid tossed his cellphone on the bedside before getting into the bed next to Élise. He groaned, "JJ sent me another text two hours ago, asking me if I want to have brunch with her."

"Oh, God…" Élise rolled her eyes and wrinkled her nose, "Can't she take a hint that you don't want anything to do with her right now?"

Reid assured Élise, "I already talked to Hotch. He said he's going to talk to her about only he and Garcia would contact me unless it's about a case."

"Good." Élise scoffed and massaged her temples, "Oh, bloody…I'm already getting another headache just thinking about this whole thing with Prentiss."

"I know what you mean," Reid agreed, "What, I'm just supposed to pretend this whole thing didn't happen, and we can all go back and act as if this never happened?" Reid replied cynically. "When I get back to work, am I supposed to be," Now Reid was in sarcastic mode. "'Hi, JJ. Hi, Emily. I forgive you just like that. Maybe we can go back to the way we were before all this…crap…happened?" Reid snapped his fingers and sneered.

"I'm surprised you didn't curse." Élise held back a snicker. "That's okay. if it were me, I swear like a sailor."

"Yeah," Reid said before he continued. "What, I'm just supposed to believe that everything's the same between us? It's not. The problem with that is that this did happen. And when this happened, things change."

"Everything has changed." Élise grabbed ahold of his hand, "You've changed."

"Well, look at you. Look at you, penguin." Élise admired Reid's attire for the day: a light blue dress shirt with a gray cardigan sweater and matching-looking color tie, dark dress pants, and Converse sneakers. His hair was neatly coiffed, and when Élise sniffed him, "Oh, you smell like cinnamon and coffee. It's nice." She whispered the last sentence. "So…oh!"

Reid raised his eyebrows, "Who would have thought cinnamon and coffee go great together?"

"Like you and I?" Élise growled; she was already dressed for the day: a black pantsuit and heels.

He and Élise engaged in a passionate kiss, Pulling back after two seconds. "Ready for today?"

"Oh," Élise placed her hand on her stomach. "I still feel a bit queasy about the nanny interviews we did."

"Well, I'll be damned," Élise said as she observed the number of resumes Hotch had Garcia sent over. "How many are there?"

Reid had already calculated after Élise gave him half of what she had, "Twenty-two resumes."

"Again, damn." Élise gave him a smile and a lip peck, "And that's one of the many reasons I love you. Still…we need a nanny who loves children, knows first aid, maybe a martial art or two…."

Reid snickered, "Martial arts?"

"Why not?" Élise replied. "Plus, the nanny needs to be reliable, patient, flexible, a good communicator, hands-on, understanding."

Reid included, "The nanny definitely needs to be kind and sensitive, adaptable, work under pressure, a clean criminal background."

Élise sternly said, "I definitely do not, in any way, shape, or form, want the nanny to be neither a smoker, a drinker, an addict." Sighing, "But more importantly, I want the nanny to have a nurturing spirit and connect with Séraphine and our future children. Someone who can really make a difference."

"Indeed."

Reid chuckled again as he began packing his leather satchel bag, "Remember the process?"

Élise groaned. "Was that long or what?"

"So, Ms. Mia Wilson, you were formerly a social worker?" Élise questioned her as she observed her resume.

"Why, yes, ma'am and sir," Mia said with a smile. "I even have a degree in education, so I'm currently working as an elementary school teacher." She cleared her throat before asking, "Now…may I ask you something?"

Reid replied, "Anything?"

She leaned closer and asked them, "May I see your knickers?"

Élise's eyebrow raised, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened; Reid was as equally weird out by her rather inappropriate question, "Excuse me?"

She whispered to them, "A person can always know one's intention by their underwear."

"Ugh, Élise shuttered at the memory of that interview, "At least she wasn't as nutty as Dana Foster."

Élise was impressed with her resume, "Wow. A Master's in Nursing. So, you know your First Aid and everything you learned from your training, being a pediatric nurse practitioner for five years."

Dana confidently nodded her head, "Mmm-mmm."

"Uh, excuse me," Reid pointed to something in her large black bag. "But I believe something is sticking out of your bag."

The interviewee blushed, "Oh, that's just one of my knives." She closed the blade and placed it at the bottom of the bag.

Élise's eyes broadened, and she plastered a fake polite smile on her face, trying her hardest not to freak out, "Knives?"

Dana explained in an eerily calm tone, "A few years ago, someone broke into my home, so since then, I carry three knives with me. And sometimes a gun." Dana innocently giggles; Élise and Reid uncomfortably smile.

Élise saw Reid removing his revolver from his safety box, "Believe me, I'm all for guns and safety, but I don't want Séraphine…."

Reid understood what Élise was about to say, "I know. But at least she was better than Scarlet Radcliff."

"The nasal Queens accented itch who kept hitting on you," Élise crossed her arms, tightened her lips, and a sour expression, "I'd rather Lauren Yates."

"But she kept hitting on you." Reid almost laughed, "Remember this candidate?"

"So, Miriam Potters…" Élise uneasily stared at her resume. "You're a double major in theatre and psychology?"

Miriam chipperly said, "And I'm working towards a Ph.D. in psychology."

"Wow," Reid kept twisting his mouth and fidgetted with his fingernails before taking closer note of her attire: a vintage Victorian ruffle button blouse and red bow, ankle-length skirt, low-inch heels, and felt hat. "You're a unique person."

"Thank you," Miriam said with a chipper tone. "My heroine is Mary Poppins."

"I notice," Élise politely moved her head.

Miriam tittered and clapped her hands, "Oh, I can't wait for Séraphine and me to play games and sing songs."

"I bet so."

Élise still had her arms folded and thought for a moment, "I'm not going to lie; I almost wanted to pick her."

"I did, too." Reid agreed. "But at least we came to the perfect one."

"Oh, Lord," Élise helped herself to a glass of ice-cold Ginger Ale that was sitting in the tray on the coffee table as she crashed on the couch next to Reid, who was still reviewing resumes. "This is so long and tiring; I want to give up."

Reid joined Élise on the couch, "I thought the Silent Eliminating Enforcer doesn't give up."

"Oh, she doesn't; she's just drained and annoyed right now." Élise retorted as she was massaging her eyes and took another sip. "Maybe there's no such thing as the perfect nanny. Unless you're Mary Poppins, Fran Fine, Nanny McPhee, Fraulein Maria, or maybe even Mrs. Doubtfire, even if she was Robin Williams in drag." Élise took another sip.

Reid chuckled and licked his lips before coming across another resume. "Or maybe there is."

Élise picked her head up and looked over to see the resume. "Rosetta Wilhelmina Diamond. Forty-nine. Oh!" She sounded intrigued when she continued reading the applicant's resume. "And she's a retired FBI agent with the Crimes Against Children program. Married twenty-five years to Zephaniah Diamond, a CIA agent, until his death from cardiac arrest last year. She looks like a good candidate."

Reid pulled out his phone, "I'll make the call."

Reid and Élise sat across from Ms. Diamond. Élise took note of her attire; Ms. Diamond was nicely clothed in a soft pink sweater set, khaki pants, and comfortable white flats. Her chestnut brown hair was pulled into a neat bun, and her makeup was fresh and natural. Élise concluded that she's someone who took pride in the way they look but still knows how to dress if she were accepted the position.

Reid observed her body language: one ankle was tucked behind the other, and her hands gracefully placed on the knees. Reid insisted she must have had a proper and etiquette background, but the slight smile on her face as she was waiting to be asked shows that she's a confident but kind person.

After enough silence, Élise cleared her throat and began by swiftly looking at her resume and said, "So...tell us something about your background."

"Well, let's see," Ms. Diamond inhaled and cups her hands together, "My older brother and I helped look after our little brother and sister. I'm an okay-average cook, but I love cleaning. When I was in high school and university, I volunteered my time working with children, ranging from abuse to special needs and disabilities. It seemed fitting since my mother worked as a pediatric registered nurse and pediatrician and my father was a child psychologist and psychiatrist."

"Interesting," Reid was intrigued. "And you seem to have a wide range of majors."

Ms. Diamond explained, "I have an Associate's in General Studies, a double major in social work and psychology, a master's, and I completed my Ph.D. about three years ago."

"I even read some of your published work," Reid mentioned.

Ms. Diamond smirked, "Thank you."

"Fascinating indeed," Élise shook her head and pushed out her lips. "Your supervisor from the Crimes Against Children program spoke highly of you and called you one of the best agents he's ever worked with."

Ms. Diamond blushed, "He recruited me to the FBI, but yes."

Élise asked, "And your other skills are…?"

"Martial arts. Hi-yah!" Ms. Diamond did a martial art pose with her hands and chuckled. "I have a black belt in Karate and a green belt in Taekwondo. My parents thought it would be a good idea to learn a language or two, so I'm fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and Arabic with some French, German, and Italian knowledge from my high school years. And I'm certified in CPR and First Aid."

Now it was time for the upfront questions, "Are you a smoker and/or drinker?"

"Nope and nope." Ms. Diamond answered straightforwardly.

"Do you believe in hitting children?" Reid asked.

Ms. Diamond shuddered at that question, "Absolutely not."

"We have a black lab named Opal, so how are you with dogs?"

"I had a Golden Retriever named Rocket and a lab named Sugar growing up, so yeah, I'm good with dogs." Ms. Diamond answered.

"And now, probably the most important question: why be a nanny?"

Ms. Diamond sighed before explaining, "After I retired from the FBI and when my husband died, I really wanted to get back to working with children. We couldn't have children of our own due to our own reasons. But when I was working with the CAC, I saw the children I was helping as my own. Making a difference in a child's life is all I've ever wanted to do, and I'll keep on doing that until the very moment I die."

"That won me over," Élise replied.

Reid agreed. "Same as me."

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

"That's the nanny," Reid said as he placed his satchel on his shoulder.

Élise replied. "You go answer the door, and I'll get our little bundle of joy."

Reid and Élise gave each other a quick peck before they walked out of their bedroom. Reid looked down at his watch, and it was 7:00 on the dot, "Right on time."

He opened the door, and it was the nanny, wearing a black long-sleeve top, brown pants, and black slip-on shoes. She carried her tote bag by her elbow, and her hair pulled into a simple ponytail. Greeting, "Hello, Dr. Reid. I'm right on time, right?"

"Mm-mmm," Reid allowed her into the house. "Now, you have everything, right?"

"Emergency contacts, first aid kit, daily schedule, and notepad."

Reid was impressed, "Great." He pulled his cell phone from his pants pocket just as Élise entered the foyer with Séraphine in her arms. "Oh, I better get going."

"Don't let us keep you waiting." Élise insisted, gently rocking Séraphine.

"Okay," Reid said before giving Élise a lip kiss and Séraphine a forehead kiss before heading out the door. "Good day!"

Reid continued skimming through a file just as he stepped out of the elevator. And his eye quickly spotted JJ and Prentiss, who soon spotted him.

He gave JJ his reason why he couldn't do brunch and asked for Garcia, not stopping before reaching Hotch's office.

Hotch looked over a case file at his desk before Hotch saw him. "Hey, Reid."

Reid helped himself to take a seat in one of the chairs. "Hey."

Hotch noted Reid's almost anxious body language, "Are you okay?"

"I just came back from Las Vegas because my mother accidentally cut herself when I sent her a letter explaining Prentiss' fake death. I still don't know what to think," said Reid with a dry tone in his voice.

Hotch sat on the edge of his desk and sighed, "As I said, hopefully someday, you understand that this wasn't about you or me. This was about saving Emily. I don't know if I can ever understand your anger, but if you're going to be angry, be angry at me. I take full responsibility for the decision."

Yet the thing for Reid that Hotch didn't understand was…on second thought. It doesn't really matter what Reid was feeling right now because he knew some people needed help.

"We have a case, so…."

Hotch nodded his head, "Yes, we do. And as always, I do expect you to be fully professional."

"Of course."

"Hello?"

Reid sweetly said, "Hi."

"Hi, honey." Élise flirtatiously replied. "How was your day?"

Reid sighed since he didn't know where to begin. "Well, let's see, Hotch assigned JJ and me to go to the abduction sites. Of course, I was as professional as ever, even though I couldn't care less about JJ trying to get me to focus on the deception regarding Prentiss' fake death."

"Well, it's good you stayed professional," Élise replied before yawning. "I'm so sorry, but I'm feeling sleepy right now."

Reid sighed again, "I'm sorry. I'll let you get your sleep." Before he hung up, Reid asked, "How is it with the nanny?"

"Rose is wonderful, plus she's helping me for a very special occasion."

Reid smiled. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I love you."

"I love you times pi."

The next day, another body was found. The team profiled that the unsub was a white man in his 40s, reacting to rejection by a woman when he was a 1980s teenager and punished his victims for their reactions by taking away their sense with sulfuric acid. Because he fixates on this certain woman, it's caused him to develop obsessive love disorder; he thinks she holds the key to his happiness, willing to stalk her in an attempt to win her back and do whatever it takes to be near his love interest. Yet her rejection caused him to go into a depression, leading the unsub to rape and murder the surrogates who represent her. Meaning it's only a matter of time before this rage and anger cause the unsub to go after her directly.

After the profile was delivered, Reid headed back to the conference. JJ wanted to talk to him about Prentiss.

He abruptly dismissed her reasons before bringing up the urge to want to use Dilaudid again.

Something that shocked JJ.

Even when she apologized, Reid didn't want to hear it and declared it was too late.

The case ended on a bittersweet note: while the unsub was caught, his last victim was his brother's niece, and although she comes out alive, some emotional and mental scars could never heal.

Reid was peacefully reading Othello when Prentiss walked up from behind and sat across from him on the plane. Sighing, "So, the surgeon said he believes he can restore feeling to Tammy's hands."

"Good. We got there in time." Reid coolly said before trying to read again.

Prentiss continues to make conversation, "I heard Mr. Bradstone wants to watch the tape."

"People have an innate curiosity to see things in order to confirm them." Reid coolly countered before focusing again on his book.

"Oh, that explains why I'm going to Rossi's tomorrow night," Prentiss said with a smile on her face. "I want to see if he really can cook. You coming?"

Reid candidly answered, "Nope. Élise and I have another commitment, so we can't make it. I already told Rossi and Hotch."

Prentiss leaned forward in her seat, "Look, Reid, I know you're mad at us because we didn't tell you what really happened, and I understand that. But I promise you. We had no choice. You mourned the loss of a friend. I mourned the loss of six."

"What do you want me to do, cry again? Because I can do that." Reid scoffed in disgust when he began to think, "Are you trying to guilt me?"

"N-no." Prentiss felt a bit taken back and startled. "But I understand what you went through."

"Really?" Reid replied. "Sounds to me that you are."

Prentiss sighed again, "This whole thing gave me an ulcer. Please don't give me another one."

Reid closed his book and hissed, "Do you really think I'm supposed to forgive you automatically magically? Pretend this never happened? Because it did happen."

"N-no," Prentiss replied. "But I get it."

"Good." Reid shook his head. "Believe me; I'm still trying to get used to the news. It's going to take time. Even though it…."

Reid stopped himself, but he had to say it, "Even though it made me what to use… Dilaudid." He said with nausea. "And my mother taking the news of this made her hurt herself."

Prentiss' mouth slightly opened, and her eyes widened a bit, "I…guess I…uh, I, uh…." Prentiss stuttered, especially at this new revelation. "Take all the time you need. But I really hope we can get past this."

"Look at you, my love!" Reid exclaimed when he saw Élise. She was in a stunning soft pink stretch crepe strapless dress, Manolo Blahnik heels, amethyst jewelry, her hair pulled back in a low bun, and her makeup fresh.

Élise slicked back her hair a bit before grabbing her Lana Mark clutch, "I look good in Alex Perry."

Reid sighed, "It's a good thing I was able to make it back in time for the charity gala."

"And to think I was about to decline the last-minute invite," Élise chuckled, "Yeah. I wouldn't mind some pasta alla Rossi, but I'm really not in the mood with dealing with JJ and Prentiss right now."

"Who are you telling?" Reid said as he fixed his pink silk tie. "You should have seen the look on their faces when I told them about me wanting to use Dilaudid and my mother."

Élise figured, "I bet they were shocked."

"Oh, they were." Reid shook his head and assured her. "Believe me, they were. On the plane ride home, Prentiss tried to guilt me by telling me she lost six people she left behind, and I lost one."

Élise sighed before admitting, "Look, I get why they did it. But at the same time, you have a right to feel how you feel. No one should tell you how to feel."

"Exactly," Reid replied. "She also told me to take all the time I needed but really hopes we can get past this."

Élise asked, "Do you think we can?"

"Maybe," Reid shrugged his shoulders and answered, "But honestly, I don't know. But for now, let's go raise some money for breast cancer awareness."

Reid and Élise met up with Maeve and Bobby for the charity gala.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Also, I remix the chapter editing from Opal's birthday/Gotcha party to a charity gala Reid and Élise go with Maeve and Bobby.

If you have read, heard, seen, and/or watched a version of William Shakespeare's Othello, guess why I decided it to be the book Reid reads on the plane.