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!

This chapter will take place within a few days after Closing Time and A Thin Line.

And…a special birthday is in this chapter. Soon will someone else's will with an extra surprise.

"So, what do you want to do for your birthday this week?" asked Reid as he pulled out a pan of freshly baked muffins from the oven and set them on the white countertops.

Élise thought about the question for a moment as she helped herself to a muffin, "Mmm." After chewing and swallowing, she answered as she got Séraphine's breakfast, "I don't know. But I don't think we should worry about me this week; we should be worrying about Fifi."

Reid chuckled as he helped himself to a muffin and helped Élise get Séraphine's breakfast, "Mmm. Delicious. What flavor?"

"Whole grain mixed berries." Élise began stirring the berries in the Greek yogurt. "Thought I try something new."

Reid had another bite, "Delicious."

"Okay," Élise had just finished putting Séraphine's breakfast together. Giving it to Séraphine, "Here you go, Fifi."

Séraphine babbled, "Tanks, mama."

Reid beamed with excitement and kissed her forehead, "Ah." Getting back to the topic about Élise's upcoming birthday, "Come on, now, Lise. You only turn thirty once."

"Thanks for reminding me how old I am, brains," Élise replied. "And in front of our soon-to-be one-year-old daughter and 21-borderline-22-week-old…."

Reid chuckled again as he placed his hand on Élise's belly. "I know. I know. You want me to talk facts to you about thee 22 weeks?"

"I love it when you do." Élise smiled.

Reid rambled, "At 22 weeks, our baby's hair is growing, as well as their nails. Their limbs are stronger and now hear us. Watch what you say." Reid whispered the last sentence.

Élise giggled. "Want to shine the light on my belly?"

Reid finds a flashlight in one of the cabinets as Élise wipes the Greek yogurt from Séraphine's mouth with a napkin.

Soon Reid gently shined the flashlight on Élise's budding belly and gasped when Élise felt the baby move.

"Oh! We should get some of these apples," said Élise as she, Reid, and Séraphine were at a local farmers' market. "Maybe I can look up some nice recipes for applesauce."

Reid began pointing out a fact, "Did you know that Granny Smith apples originated in Australia in 1868 and named after Mara Ann "Granny" Smith?"

Élise chuckled as she picked out some from the back—a trick she learned from her mother was always to get the ones from the back as they were the freshest and not touched by a lot of people. "I did not know that."

Secured in her cart seat, Séraphine tried to reach out for wrapped candy and caramel apples.

"Hold it right there," Reid moved her arm away. "You can't have those yet, Fifi." He stroked her palm. "One, not all your teeth have come in yet. Two, it's not good for you to have sweets with lots of sugar."

Séraphine's mouth quivered and began letting out a soft cry.

"Oh, sweetie," Élise planted a kiss on her forehead. "I know you want it, but you can't, okay." She whispered in Séraphine's ear, "At least not until next week on your birthday."

Reid wiped Séraphine's tears as Élise began picking out some bananas.

"You already know that on my dad's side, there are health problems, including diabetes," Élise remarked.

Reid sighed, "Yup."

"Sometimes I wonder about food choices for Séraphine and our baby," Élise looked at some of the kale and collard greens before bagging some. "I admit, I have a serious sweet tooth since I was a kid, though I'm trying to ease it down. Even being pregnant with Fifi and now, I worry about ending up with diabetes. Heck, that's one of my worst fears." She ties the plastic bag in a knot before placing it in the cart.

"I say we're making good food choices, even though I, too, have a sweet tooth." Reid thought about his usual sugar cravings, especially when he's working the case while keeping Séraphine occupied, and helped pick out some potatoes.

Élise observed some oranges, lemons, and limes before picking them. "I know." Exhaling again, "I guess we could give Séraphine sweets and junk food, but definitely not all the time." She wagged her finger as she sets small bags of berries down. "No way ever will I ever let her end up like Angelica from Rugrats or one of those kids on a major sugar rush or eats junk food 24/7."

Reid laughed. "What's Rugrats?"

Élise tittered. "I'll show you the series when we get home."

"And on the bright side, we'll be able to show her that healthy fruits and vegetables are tasty, too, huh, Fifi?" Reid tickled her tummy, making her giggle. They finished picking out the rest of the fruits and vegetables before checking out and leaving to head home.

"Oh! I like this one!" Élise pointed to a pink and purple cake design in a cake book of the supermarket's bakery section. "What do you think?" She spotted another cake design: a two-tier flamboyantly pink cake.

"A little too over-the-top," Reid said before he spotted a pink and white cake design, "Well, I do like this one."

Élise pursed her mouth to the side a few times, "Looks too simple." She asked Séraphine, who was casually chilling in her cart seat, "What do you think?"

Séraphine responded by staring blankly at Élise and Reid, back and forth.

"Yeah, I think she could care less." Reid figured.

Élise shrugged her shoulders, "Well, yeah." Turning the page again, she gasped at the sight of a pink Winter Wonderland theme sheet cake decorated with white snowflakes, icicles, and mini snowballs with touches of gold. "Oh!" She frantically tapped the cake design. "I love this one!" She jumped on the spot and squeaked, "Can we get it, please? Can we get it, please?"

Reid laughed in amusement and got Séraphine's attention, "Do you like this one?"

Séraphine squealed and began patting the pages with both hands.

Reid laughed and asked the auburn-haired woman behind the counter, "Can we have this design, please?"

"Absolutely." She took the book from them and asked, "Do you have her birth certificate for a free smash cake?"

Élise reached into her bag and handed the woman Séraphine's birth certificate.

"Excellent," The woman smiled. "What flavor would you like?"

"Vanilla."

The woman nodded her head, "Let's make it happen."

Reid knocked three times on Hotch's office door.

"Come in," said Hotch.

Reid walked in and saw Hotch getting everything to help Garcia present the team's case to assist in. "I've meant to ask you, how was your Valentine's Day?"

"Élise and I had the whole house to ourselves," Reid grinned. "Fifi was with Rose for the night, and Opal was quiet throughout the night, so yeah." Reid exhaled as he placed his hands in his pocket and asked Hotch, "So…how was your Valentine's Day?"

Hotch smirked, "I, uh, went on my first date."

"With the woman from the park?" Reid correctly guessed.

Hotch nodded his head, "Yeah. It's been a long time since I went on a first date."

"I know Haley would want you to be happy," said Reid, knowing how Hotch can never forget about Haley, his first love and the mother of their only child.

Hotch sighed, "I know."

"Have you told Jack about her yet?" Reid doesn't mean to pry into his boss' private life, but he's only acting in good conscience.

Hotch had finished getting the case files organized, "If it gets any more serious, hopefully. I don't want him ever to think I'll be replacing his mother, but, uh…I really like this other person."

Reid smiled, "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," Hotch smiled back as he saw Garcia walking into the bullpen with case files; Morgan and Prentiss followed her. "Let's get to work."

Reid didn't need Hotch to tell him that twice and gathered with the rest of the team in the roundtable room to discuss the case involving a series of home invasions and murders.

After the briefing was over, Reid was at his desk, getting his go bag ready. After zipping his go bag, he stopped and stared at a recent framed picture of him, Élise, Séraphine, and Opal.

Rossi looked beside Reid as he glanced at his picture. "It never gets any easier."

"Yeah," Reid agreed before setting the picture in its proper place. Sighing in disgust, "This unsub killed a little girl, and it wasn't even a year old."

"You're thinking of Séraphine and your unborn child?" Rossi knew what was going on in Reid's mind right now.

Reid shook his head, "Mmm-hmm. Mind if I call Élise?"

"Of course," Rossi doesn't stop him before walking away into his office for a few minutes before they head to California. Reid took a seat and pressed his cell to his ear, waiting for Élise to answer.

Élise answered after the third ring, "Hello?"

"Hi, love," Reid beamed. "I needed to hear your voice before we head to San Bernardino in California."

Élise laughed. "Going back to California again?"

"Yup. And we got to deal with a family annihilator." exhaled Reid. "Whose killed two sons and two daughters; one of the girls was not even a year old."

Élise scoffed in disgust. "When you find this piece of crap, please give him a special kick in the nuts for me."

Reid asked, "As long as you promise to send me pics and videos of Fifi and our unborn…."

Élise assured him, "Oh, believe me, I will. And may you bring some food and souvenirs, please? And be careful, too." She sweetly asked him before snarling, "Because if you don't, I'll tell your mother to cut your eyes out."

Reid vowed, "I promise. I love you."

"I love you times pi."

Reid gaped at Mackenzie's Lewis bloody bed, rug, pillows, and sheets with his hands in his pocket as he replayed the 911 call recording in his head.

He kept listening to the 911 call recording Mackenzie made as she was forced to live out her last moments in fear. It made him start to worry about Élise, Séraphine, and their unborn child, even though they are in D.C. safe and sound.

He calmly left her bedroom and met with Morgan and Rossi downstairs in the equally bloodied living room to talk about the Lewis family.

After gathering again at the police station and discussing the victims and suspects, Hotch decided to call it for today.

"Hello, my love," Élise answered after the first ring. She yawned, "I'm just put Séraphine down to bed, and I'm about to go beddy-bye myself."

Reid sighed, "Aw. Thank you again for sending me pics of Séraphine. I really needed that. This unsub killed a six-month-old baby, and the mother tried to shield her."

Élise loathed, "Ugh. When you find the unsub, go beat the crap out of them."

"I'll discuss that with the team," Reid chuckled. "I'll let you go to sleep."

"Love you."

Reid said, "I love you, too."

"My love!" Élise cheerily said. "How are you?"

Reid shakingly sighed. "Oh, God."

Élise's voice lowered, "What happened?"

"Another family was murdered last night," Reid could barely get the words he wanted to say out. "This unsub shot a pregnant woman who was due next month," Reid growled.

"It's official," Élise was now the Silent Eliminating Enforcer. "Send this bastard—or bitch—to the deepest abysses of hell, and if there's anyone else, do the same for them. And I'll be sure to send you cute photographs and pictures of Séraphine."

Reid let out a chuckle, "I will." Reid turned his head to see his team preparing to give out the profile. "I have to get going."

"Love you."

Reid smiled, "I love you, too."

Reid joined his team as they gave out the profile of the unsub to the police officers.

Mr. Wilmington allowed Élise to take on a lighter workload from home today. So far, Élise was three-quarters done with her work, had breakfast, and was already on her second raspberry leaf tea when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it,

"What the…?"

"Surprise!"

It was her parents, brother, and sister-in-law; her father and brother held giant flower bouquets in their hands.

Élise showered them with hugs, "Hi! Hello!" She allowed them in the house, and they stepped into the foyer before heading into the great room to see Séraphine playing with her toys. Élise placed the flower bouquets and got Séraphine's attention, "Hey, Fees! Guess who's here?"

"Artie!" Séraphine beamed as she steadily got up and hugged her maternal uncle.

Arthur decided her hug, "Hey, kid. How are you doing?"

"So, what brings you guys here to D.C.?" asked Élise and sniffed the flowers and looked at the card Reid got her. Reading it,

So sorry I couldn't be there for you for your birthday. These flowers represent my love for you!

Brenda answered, "We decided to visit you while staying until Séraphine's birthday, which is soon, right?"

"Oh," Élise chuckled. "Okay. I still got some work to do; it's not much, though," She waved the files in her hands. "I did schedule for a pregnancy spa day later today."

Brenda pushed her lips out, "Cool. We can keep Séraphine company."

"Thank you," said Élise before Opal dashed in and cuddled Arthur's legs. "And Opal can help."

Still working the case, the team began focusing on a potential unsub: Clark Preston.

After Élise finished her work, she headed to the spa. After coming home, she showered and had dinner and a strawberry shortcake dessert with the family.

"Lisey, my love." Reid perked after the first ring.

Élise laughed, "Hi there. Did you get the videos I sent you of Séraphine taking a bubble bath?"

"I really needed that," Reid breathed. "Now my team is focusing in on a shady racist who could potentially be a part of what the unsub's doing."

"Ugh," Élise felt disgusted when Reid mentioned a shady racist. "Racism is so decades ago."

"I know." Reid agreed and sighed again, "I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you on your birthday."

Élise was understanding, "It's okay. You're making the world a safer and better place for everyone, so…that makes me very happy."

"I love you so much."

Élise smooched over the phone, "I love you so much, too."

By the following evening, Reid was in the backseat while Hotch was driving, and Rossi was in the passenger's seat, heading to the unsub's house. They ended up learning about what happened to Trevor Mill's family a decade prior before going to Trevor's house to find Pamela and a goodbye note before going to secure Mayor Wellington.

Reid returned home at the exact time he wanted to arrive and locked in the security alarm. Creaking into the great room, he sees Opal resting. He stroked her fur, causing her to snore drowsily. Reid let out a chuckled before heading to Séraphine's room and seeing her sound asleep. He caressed her before giving her a peck on the forehead.

"I love you, Fifi." He whispered before going to his bedroom and saw Élise comfortably relaxing in bed.

"My love," Élise opened her arms out and smiled. "I'm so glad you're home."

Reid grinned and kissed her lips before departing to the bathroom for a quick shower and changed into a Doctor's Who shirt and plaid pajama pants. Crawling next to Élise, "Oh, I'm so glad to be home."

"You get the unsub?" Élise eagerly asked.

Reid smirked, "Morgan took care of him by shooting him dead while Hotch and Rossi took care of the repulsive racist."

Élise stuck her tongue out in disgust, "I'll have my associates take very special care of the racist. I swear racism is something that you learn, not something you inherit. It's revolting."

"I'll never understand why people are still prejudiced." Reid sneered. "It's sad but true."

"Yeah," Élise cuddled closer to Reid. "I'm so glad you're home."

Reid kissed her forehead and wrapped his arm around her. "So sorry I missed your birthday."

Élise kissed his cheek. "It's okay. But at least you'll be here for Séraphine's first birthday."

"Our little girl is turning one year old." Reid felt a tear.

A/N: THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE ALL ABOUT SÉRAPHINE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY! AND…SOMETHING ELSE WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE CHAPTER!