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!

The story takes place a day or two days after the last scene.

Previously on Criminal Minds…

"I got a call…from the President…!"

"…he's nominated me to...a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit..."

"…if I'm confirmed, I'll be the youngest federal judge…."

"Sometimes I wonder how I got this far myself…"

"Don't be…You've come this far, haven't you…"

"Senate confirmed me for a seat on the D.C. Cir.!"

Élise is in a meeting with the President after Senate confirmed her to be a judge on the D.C. Cir.

"I, Élise Bastien, do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge perform all the duties incumbent upon me as office under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me, God."

While Reid watched Séraphine play with Opal in the great room, he was on the couch, coolly having one leg over the other and knitting himself a scarf. Balls of between six-to-a-dozen double knitting wool were spread on the coffee table, as well as a printed sheet of instructions of how to knit this scarf, but he already had it memorized.

Reid heard the front door open and a man's voice,

"Everything's been clear, Mrs. Bastien."

Reid overheard Élise as she replied, "Thank you, Marshall Johnson."

Reid set his knitting needles beside him and made his way to Élise's side, who had just closed the door before setting in the security alarm. Reid came from behind her, enfolded his arms around her body, and kissed her head. "Hello, wifey."

"Hey, hubby," Élise patted his soft and moisturized hands. "How was your day?"

Reid exhaled as they hug-walked into the great room and smiled at the sight of Séraphine in her nearly completed costume. It was a long white dress with short puffy sleeves with black sparkly ribbon and a white plastic bowl on her head.

"Aw, she looks like a cute little Dalek." Élise gushed. "But it's a shame we can't take Opal to the D.C. Sci-Fi convention since they only service dogs."

Reid replied, "At least Rose has agreed to cheer Opal up and take her to the dog park."

Séraphine giggled as Opal licked her feet before she looked up and saw her parents. "Mama! Dada!" She steadily got up and waddled her way towards them.

"Hey, my little Dalek," Élise opened her arms out before a groan left her mouth, causing her to clutch her hand on her almost 33-week-old belly and her other hand on her back.

"I got you, you cute little mutant," Reid scooped Séraphine, made his way to the couch, and picked up the scarf he was trying to knit. Reid let it flow as he showed Élise how far he's come. "I still have about twenty-two rows to do."

Élise was definitely impressed. "Wow! This is amazing. You give seniors a run for their money for a beginner."

"I found it therapeutic," Reid wiggled his fingers. "Actually, I just read that knitting can help those with arthritis, improve hand-eye coordination, reduce stress and memory concerns."

"Wow," Élise pouted her mouth. "Maybe I should start knitting. I always wanted to have a one-of-a-kind sweater."

"Knitting is also used as a medication and even…overcome addiction." He covered Séraphine's ear, so she wouldn't hear him when he whispered addiction.

Élise knew where this was going; his past Dilaudid habit. "Hey…" She toddled her way towards Reid and placed her hand on his cheek. "You don't ever have to worry about that nasty habit because you're doing great. So don't, okay?"

"Okay," Reid knew Élise was right; why start thinking about it now when he's hasn't been thinking about it? Reid assured his promise by planting a kiss on Élise's lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Séraphine jabbered, planting her tiny hand on their faces, "I lav yoo three."

Reid and Élise simultaneously kissed Séraphine's cheeks, and then Opal came and cuddled their legs.

Élise made her way to the kitchen and saw Rose fixing lunch. Seeing an array of ingredients on the kitchen counters, from fruits and vegetables; to tofu to nuts and seeds, Élise asked Rose, "So, what's for lunch?"

"How do you feel about a hearty salad with quinoa, tofu, and eggs for you and a grilled cheese sandwich with small cut-up vegetables and fruit slices for Séraphine after her nap?"

Élise smoothed her belly and licked her inner cheeks to think before she answered, "Well, I have been craving tofu lately." She smiled to herself and dazed off. "And Chinese fried rice. And shrimp. And egg rolls. cookie dough…"

"You can't have cookie dough while you're pregnant, Élise," Rose reminded her as she plated her lunch. "The same with undercooked shrimp."

Élise's head downturned, and she pouted her mouth as she sat down. "Oh, yeah. Sorry"

"But I can make brown rice with vegetables and egg rolls for dinner."

"Yay!"

Reid was in the great room, sitting with his legs crossed and on top of a pillow cushion. He carefully placed a final half-cut black plastic ball pit ball. Stepping away, he moved away and used the hot glue gun to stick the two mini transcalent plastic shot glasses over the LED candles before pasting the mini black plastic shot glass in front.

Reid set it down on the coffee table just as he looked up and saw Élise toddled to the great room, collapse on the couch, and exhale. Fanning herself, "Oh, God, I'm so hot and not in a good way."

"Your metabolic rate is increasing," Reid explained. "You know it was going to happen."

Élise wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Unfortunately, yeah. May you please get me some ice-cold water, please?"

Reid placed his arm around Élise's shoulder, pulled her closer to him, and kissed her temple. "Anything for you, my Queen." He stroked her knees and made his way to the kitchen to get Élise her ice-cold water glass.

Reid looked at himself in the mirror bathroom, fixing the knot of his navy-blue tie. After letting out a sigh, he left and closed the door behind him. He noticed the bed comforters were half tossed and wondered where Élise was.

The bedroom closet opened, and Élise appeared in a hot red silk slip with embroidered tulle and lace detailing.

Reid was breathless.

"You know what I'm in the mood for?" Élise bounced her hips a bit as she coyishly asked Reid.

Reid sheepishly giggled, but he cleared his throat, and his tone was now serious. Or at least he tried to be serious. "As much as I would love to be with you today, you know I have to be with the team at Talbot University to speak with an undergraduate criminology class at the Cesare and Edwin Auditorium."

"At least you'll be gone for an hour." Élise stroked his chest and pouted her lips, hoping he would not leave her.

Reid shook his head and kissed her forehead before guiding her back into bed. "Get some rest. You need it."

Élise scoffed to herself and got into bed. "Only because you said so," Élise playfully crossed her arms and pushed her lips out.

They lip kissed together before bidding each other adieu.

The team joined Rossi as they presented a lecture to Talbot University's undergraduate class on one of the longest-tenured and most prolific serial killers in the BAU's history: Thomas "The Womb Raider" Yates. They talked about his early abusive background to the makings of being and becoming one, including how he became one.

They also talked about his victims, going back to Seattle in 1992, San Francisco in 1997, Los Angeles in 2005, 2009, even going back to Seattle. They eventually caught Yates and managed to save a victim, but not before managing a deal with him.

"ROSE!" Élise rang the dainty yellow gold bell, calling out for Rose.

Rose knocked on the door before she came in. "Yes, Élise?"

"May you please make me a burrito, Rose?" Élise groaned.

Rose cocked her head to the side and twisted her mouth in confusion. "You made a veggie burrito thirty minutes ago."

Élise opened her mouth before she thought, "Oh, yeah. It was delicious." She smiled.

Rose closed the door again. Élise laughed to herself before her eyes broadened, ringing again for Rose. "ROSE!"

Rose dashed into the room again, "Yes, Élise?"

"Where's Spencer?" Élise grew worried. "Did something happen to him?"

"He's at Talbot University, giving a lecture with the rest of the team." Rose calmly explained.

Élise let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh, yeah. I forgot." Élise pointed to her head. "Pregnancy brain." God, I feel like a paranoid idiot, Élise said in her head.

Rose giggled when she closed the door again.

After the lecture ended, everyone offered to take Rossi to the prison to talk to Yates and go to dinner afterward, but he firmly insisted on going alone and could only look as he drove off.

"Hello, I'm home!" Reid cried as he stepped into the house.

"Dr. Reid?" Rose's voice came from the great room.

Reid activated the security alarm and made his way there, finding Rose watching television with Opal. Rose swallowed a mouthful of nuts and seeds. "Oh, hello."

"What are you watching?" Reid pointed to the television movie Rose and Opal were watching together.

"101 Dalmatians." Rose got up from the couch and cleaned up the small bowl and color cup. "How was the lecture."

Reid truly answered, "Informative. It's always good to lecture young minds."

Rose chuckled, "I remember lecturing undergrads about the CAC programs. Perhaps I should give a lecture or two every now and then."

"You should do that." Reid exited the great room, walked down the hall, made a right, and then left to his master bedroom, where he found Séraphine wide awake and playing with Élise's face as she slept.

"Dada!" Séraphine was ecstatic to see her daddy.

Reid walked over to the other side, scooped Séraphine off the bed, and kissed her head. "Hi, love. How are you doing?"

"Gah!" Séraphine babbled before pointing to Élise sleeping. "Mama laud."

Reid giggled, "Yeah, she snores like an elephant crushing daddy's car."

"I heard that," Élise opened one eye and smirked.

The next day, Reid read Cosmos by Carl Sagan when he saw Rossi walking into the bullpen. Reid finished in the nix of time, placed his book in his desk drawer, and approached Rossi when he was about to open his office door.

"Hey, Rossi." Reid greeted him.

"Hey," Rossi nodded his head, opening his office door and walking in; Reid dashed in and closed it behind him. "Yeah, just come on into my office." Rossi sarcastically said as he placed his briefcase on his desk.

Reid wondered, considering what happened after the lecture yesterday, "So, how are you feeling?"

Rossi sighed. "Decent." Tapping on the edge of his desk, "I'll admit, this job is a lot, and it can take a lot out of you. But to even save one life is still worth it in the end."

"Exactly." Reid agreed. "That's why we do what we do to make this world a better place to live in, even for our loved ones."

Rossi smirked a bit, "Yeah. Are you and Élise still thinking of baby boy names?"

"Yeah."

Rossi pledged, "Just promise me you'll never name him Thomas, Tommy…"

"Oh, believe me, we won't," Reid quickly assured him. "We even vetoed certain names: Gary and Michael because of Gary Michaels. Karl with a K and Arnold because of Karl Arnold. We definitely vetoed George, Frank, Tobias, any names involving Frank. We're still rethinking about Dylan, but still…" Reid waved his hand. "You'll never have to worry about our boy being named Thomas."

"Grazie, Dio."