A/N: Hello again, everyone!

A shout-out to Quilter1993, fishtrek, vermilion aura, Hoodedphantom, Butteranime, and Lwna.

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

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

Get ready for Part One-and-a-Half of one of the most infamous yet one of the most memorable aftermath Criminal Minds episodes of the series, Magnum Opus, but in the Remix. Also, Quilter1993 told me that March is National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month and give a shoutout to readers who are dealing with bleeding disorders for this chapter.

Previously on Criminal Minds…

"You'd sacrifice yourself for her!?"

"ÉLISE!...No-no-no…you stay awake…WHERE IN THE HELL ARE THE GODDAMN MEDICS!?"

"THAT'S MY SISTER..."

"No…"

"Aaron…We lost our unborn child…You should not have kept this from me!...It was completely stupid, irresponsible…"

"GOD, DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT NOW!?"

"Please...Don't come looking for me…I'm sorry..."

"Hey, Spencer. Did you get a message from Élise?"

"Yeah, I did."

Élise's family gathered back in the living room of the suite Reid was staying with Élise as Séraphine and Isaac were taking their naps. Arthur reclined on the couch with his index finger and thumb on his temple and chin, replaying the video message Élise left him and the rest of the Bastien family before she took off.

"Hey," she sighed and licked her lips. "Look, uh…by the time you get this message, you'll probably be worried why I'm doing this, and I don't blame you. You don't have to go to the police or blame Spencer for what's happening. No one is making me do this, and I'm not in any danger, but, uh…please…don't come and look for me. Or have anyone look for me. I'm responsible for what happened to me. Getting abducted, Diane, my PI, Duane, and even the could-have-been third child I'd be carrying right now. You're better off without me for now. Love you."

Arthur scoffed as he put away his phone. "Élise just up and left."

"She said not to blame ourselves," Reid mentioned, slouching forward on the couch with his fingers folded.

Arthur retorted, "She also said not to blame you, but I really feel like doing that right now."

"Shh…" Brenda placed her finger on her mouth and pointed to the other room. "The children are sleeping."

"Mmm…" Arthur rolled his eyes at the back of his head before turning to his mother. "Ma…"

"She was pregnant…" Ms. Geneva whispered.

Mr. Micha attempted to calm her. "Genny…"

Ms. Geneva's jaw opened slightly, and she looked to Reid with her hands on her hips. "She was pregnant?"

"She didn't even know until after this happened," Reid reasoned.

Ms. Geneva's voice grew a bit, "So, you're defending her now?" she scoffed. "No surprise. I'm not going to be sorry for saying this!" Ms. Geneva exclaimed. "If she had not kept her a secret, this would not have happened!"

"But in a way, I get it," Brenda responded. "I get why she did keep it a secret."

"There are various types of stalkers," Reid began giving the statistics. "Diane was a rejected stalker, looking to avenge…"

Ms. Geneva cried, "Oh, shut up with the statistics, Spencer!"

"Blame Diane for what happened, Ms. Geneva," Reid stood up and snapped. "Not Élise. She's been going through a lot, even long before Diane."

"Oh, I am," Ms. Geneva assured him. "But I'm still blaming Élise. And you."

"Come on, now, Genny…" Mr. Micha tried to speak up.

"Don't…just…" Ms. Geneva stepped back and raised her arms in the air, shaking her head. "You know what?" she balled her hands into fists. "I'm out. Because I'm not sending my soul to hell for being disrespectful and say things I know I'm going to regret saying. So..." Ms. Geneva grabbed her bag from off the couch and walked out, prompting Mr. Micha to go after her.

"What has Élise been going through?"

Reid ran his fingers through his hair. "Postpartum depression."

"Oh, man," Brenda sighed. "Sorry to hear that."

Reid massaged the back of his neck. "Yeah."

Arthur blew a loud puff of air and stretched as he got up. "Maybe we should…go."

"Yeah," Brenda agreed. "Give us a call if anything…"

Reid nodded. "Mmm-hmm." now Reid was the only one left in the living room suite. He strolled into the other room and saw the children still asleep. He longed, knowing the idea he'd have to lie about their mother taking off.

After her flight landed, Élise arrived in the main terminal and dodged into the nearest bathroom. When she did, there was no one there. Good for her, and adjusted the medium length medium-dark brown, honey, and copper brown wig that had a silky straight page with skin part she got before leaving D.C. on her head. She didn't want anyone to know who she was, considering her high-level-and-power position as a D.C. Circuit Judge, though she was on medical leave. No thanks to Diane Turner.

She sighed, placing her free hand on the white sink before grabbing ahold of her tense neck and staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Élise still couldn't believe she was actually doing this. Like, for real. Élise meant what she said. She didn't want to be found; for now, everything would be cash transactions and would be going by a pseudonym.

She sighed; jumped a bit when a tall woman in a floral dress that came way above her knee walked in and gave her a polite smile before she walked out. After getting her rolling Goyard luggage from the baggage claim area, Élise bought a quick bite and a drink and hailed a car service ride.

"Ma'am…"

Élise snapped her head. "Mmm...?"

"Are you okay?" the pale male driver asked, looking up in the review mirror.

Élise chuckled. "Decent." define okay, Élise said in her head. She stared at the window, looking at the building and places; some were as old as the state and country itself. It's been a long time since Élise's been here. It felt weird for her to come back here since it's been so long, though she also worried this would be one of the places everyone would think to look for her.

She hoped that wouldn't be the case.

Finally, the car stopped, and the driver replied, "We're here, ma'am." he got out of the car, took her luggage from the trunk, and opened the door for her.

"Thank you," she gave him a small smile and generously tipped him. Looming ahead of her was this multi-story-and-window grayish-white-blue futuristic-looking building. Walking in, the lobby looked scientific, even the circular front desk, accomplished by employees in scrubs and a brunette woman in a black suit talking to them. Slowly approaching them, one of the staff members noticed her and smiled.

"Welcome to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital of Boston. How may I help you today?"

In hushed tones, Élise said, "I'd like to check-in, please."

"May I get your name, please?"

"Jean DuBois."

It's been a few hours since Élise-up-and-left happened.

After tucking the children in, Reid had his head against the fluffy pillow, staring endlessly at the ceiling for about an hour, eight minutes, and thirteen seconds and counting. He turned his head to see the blank side of the bed.

He'd hoped this was just a dream, but he knew this wasn't.

It kept going and going in his head that Élise was gone, and he didn't know when she'll be back.

His thoughts stopped when he heard his phone vibrating on the bedside table. He reached for it and looked at the caller ID.

It was Hotch.

Reid placed the phone to his ear and dully answered, "Hello?"

"Spencer. How are you?" asked Hotch.

Reid exhaled loudly.

A worried Hotch asked again, "You okay?"

A suddenly teary Reid closed his eyes and uttered, "Élise is gone."

"What do you mean, 'gone?'" Hotch was ready to send out a search party again for her.

"She left me a video message, saying that this whole mess was her fault and that she needed to fix it," in hushed tones; Reid whispered, "She also said she doesn't want to be found and to not look for her."

Hotch sympathetically sighed. "I get it. She went through a lot."

"You have no idea," Reid groaned. "Hey, uh…can you keep this between us?"

"Absolutely," Hotch swore. "And I haven't told the team what you told me back at the hospital."

Reid breathed. "Thank you, Aaron. And, uh…I'm sorry about what I said about you and David. I got too emotional…"

"It's okay," Hotch replied. "Take all the time you need. Good night."

"Night," Reid hung up and took his phone back on the bedside. He spotted the windows and saw a bit of the moon. "Good night, Élise."

Élise laid her head back against her pillow and had her eyes closed. When she opened them, it was still in her new room.

For now, for the time being, at least.

She looked down and stared at the leather journal she got before leaving D.C. and opened to the first page and began reading.

Day 1

January 16, 2013

Journal,

This is my first day here.

And my first time writing in you, so I'll go easy on you today.

Honestly, I don't know what the hell I'm doing here.

Oh, hell, I do know why.

Because of me keeping this big secret about being stalked by one of my former friends from my time at Harvard Law, I lost two great guys: one amazing wiz at everything secretive and intelligence and a sweet but somewhat clueless yutz.

Opie. Poor little Opie got hurt and knocked out protecting me. Suppose something had happened to her. Oh, God. I don't think I would ever forgive myself. Stewie and I raised her from the time a colleague brought her to us.

Not only that, but I also lost my sense of security. Though Stewie and I were moving soon, I still couldn't help but still feel totally unsafe. I always talked about home invasions and my crazy fear of them until it happens to you. It's a whole different story. No one deserves to have that taken away from them. I knew to myself something wasn't right. Almost everything goes through the Bureau because of our line of work, and I hadn't…

I can't help but kick myself over it.

But you know what the worst part was?

Stewie and I lost our unborn child, which would have been our third child.

To say I was devastated is an understatement. I can't help but be totally responsible for what happened. Yet, the thing is, I didn't feel pregnant; I just…

Perhaps tomorrow.

Élise immediately shut the journal and placed it under her pillow. She couldn't finish what she wrote when she came here. And it was really making her teary again.

As well as her argument with Reid.

"You should not have kept this from me!..."

"It was completely stupid, irresponsible…"

Just all that happened made her snap.

"GOD, DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT NOW!?"

"…I have to live with that for the rest of my life."

And he was right.

"Maybe next time, when you think about keeping secrets like this, think about what could have happened."

Élise sat on the edge of the white suite bathroom tub, crying like the woman in the well, and no doubt her eyes were red as the sinful devil. Using her sleeve to wipe her tears and runny nose, she was on the verge of crying again.

Élise trembled at that memory before she got to another one.

Élise got up and stormed out of the bathroom. At that moment, she looked around the room and wanted to break, punch, kick everything in this room, and she wouldn't give a damn. But then again, that wouldn't help her. Plus, the hotel would have charged her massively for the damage and no question ban her from ever stepping foot in the hotel again.

Élise looked at her luggage and knew there was one thing she had to do.

Thus, how's partially how she ended up here.

She kept telling herself this was not only for herself but for Spencer, Séraphine, Isaac, their unborn child, and families.

She hoped for the best while she's here.

Élise looked to the window, saw the giant moon, and said, "Good night, Spencer. Good night, Fifi. Good night, Ziggy. Good night, family and friends."

"Daddy…?"

Reid nodded off before he felt his arm being tugged. "Mmm…"

"Bok…" Séraphine pointed to the book she wanted him to read.

Reid smacked his mouth. "Oh, sweetie…" he picked up Isaac and placed him on his lap before setting Séraphine next to him. He'd just opened the book when he saw his phone vibrating on the couch.

"Ear yoo go, daddy…" Séraphine handed it to him.

A grateful Reid gave her a kiss on the head before he answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, Reid."

It was Morgan.

"We just landed in San Francisco for a case. Still, just thought I call to see how you and the rest of the family are doing; Séraphine, Isaac, Élise."

Reid inhaled when Morgan mentioned Élise. Still felt a bit raw to even the mention of Élise's name.

"Hey, I know you guys have been going through a lot, but no matter what, we got your back, and we'll be there for you and…"

"I gotta go." Reid quickly hung up and set the phone on silent after hearing Isaac cry. He saw Séraphine lying on his side and Isaac babbling and gnawing on his teething toy. Opening the book again, "Okay," Reid tried to sound upbeat. "Let's read My Brother Sammy."

xxxxxxx

"Jean…?"

"Ugh!"

"Jean…?"

"Remember me now, bitch?"

"D-Diane…?"

"Jean!"

Élise jumped when Dr. Leena Mitchell, the sixty-something-year-old brunette doctor, was trying to get her attention. "Mmm…?" Élise guessed she was still not used to her pseudonym.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Élise massaged her neck, "Peachy, Dr. Mitchell."

"How's the anxiety?"

Élise breathed. "It's there."

"Feeling depressed right now?"

"That's what the Prozac is for," Élise remarked. "Stimulate my mood, right?" she placed her fist on her cheek while her elbow rested on the armchair.

"What about the nightmares?"

Élise rubbed her face. "Not as bad as the one I had my first night."

"It'll pass," Dr. Mitchell replied.

Élise felt something in her throat and tried to swallow it. "Will it?"

"Okay, little guy," Reid whispered in Isaac's ears. "Time for beddy-bed."

Isaac squeaky yawned and let out some cries.

"Oh, I know, Ziggy," Reid comforted him with hugs, kisses, and massages. "I don't like days like this, too, but…" he shrugged. "So much is happening right now. I mean, there's the move and…" gulping, "Mommy's taking care of her own business, though I don't know when she'll be back." Reid sighed again. "But she'll come back…I know she will."

"Daddy…?"

Reid gazed up and saw Séraphine in her pink pajamas, dragging her bear.

"I'll be right there, okay?" Reid assured her as he placed Isaac in his crib. "Good night, buddy."

Isaac tugged on his ears and dreamily drifted off. Reid stretched his back and scooped Séraphine. "Let me tuck you in now, princess." he kissed her cheek.

Élise moaned as she started to wake up. Blinking to regain her consciousness, she noticed someone walking into her room.

"Uh, may I help you?" she asked.

"Hello, bitch."

Élise sprung forward and gasped for air. She patted on her chest; this was her second nightmare regarding Diane Turner. It was like Diane was telling Élise from the grave that she would always be a part of her.

"So, Fifi," Reid had Isaac on his lap while speed-reading the Four Seasons menu. "For breakfast, do you want some buttermilk pancakes or French toast? Or maybe an egg and cheese sandwich?"

"Sandywitch, peaze."

Reid chuckled. "Okay, an egg and cheese sandwich for you. I got some baby food for you, little man. Help you grow big and strong."

"Ahhab…"

His phone vibrated, and he dug into his pocket to get it. "Hello?"

"It's me again."

Garcia answered.

"How are you feeling today?"

Reid coolly answered, "I'm okay."

Garcia asked again, "And the little kiddies?"

"They're good, too."

"And Élise?"

Reid closed his eyes, inhaled, and exhaled.

"Look, it's been over a week now, and you know me, I just can't help myself but make sure that you guys are okay and…"

Reid still wasn't ready to tell them about Élise. "Thanks, and good day." he sighed, rocking Isaac while Séraphine looked at her daddy. "How about some orange juice?"

"Yea, peaze," Séraphine batted her eyes.

"How are you feeling, Jean?" Dr. Sasha Long, the petite blonde-hair-brown-eyed-freckled-faced physical therapist, asked Élise. She leaned her body away from her slung arm and drew imaginary circles with her elbow while doing a pendular exercise.

"Decent," Élise answered honestly. "Though I still feel silly for doing this."

Dr. Long replied, "It's important to do these exercises to build up the strength in your arm."

Élise sighed. "Yeah, I know."

"Continue to do this several times a day," she reminded Élise. "Now, onto the elbow."

Élise placed her hand on her shoulder while Dr. Long released her sling. There, she saw the tiny gunshot arm, curiosity of being shot by Diane after she was shot.

Dr. Long saw Élise focusing on the wound scar. "It's just a scar, Jean," she wanted her to focus on the physical therapy and do the elbow bends. "Don't worry and just…there you go." Dr. Long smiled when Élise did the exercises.

Reid relaxed in the living room and read Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde after tucking the children in. He released a yawn and looked at the time, thinking it was time to go to sleep. He set the book down and went to the master bedroom's bathroom. He sprayed water on his face and stared at his reflection.

It's been nearly two weeks, and he already had a 5 o'clock. His eyes were slightly more melancholy yet darker than usual, and his hair was so unkempt and unruly that Aunt Ethel would cut his hair herself.

Reid knew his scruffy appearance was the result of Élise leaving him and the children without telling anyone. It was almost as if he didn't even care anymore. And why should he; that's how he was feeling in his mind.

He distantly heard his phone vibrating in the other room. Seeing his phone, he picked it up and saw the caller ID.

It was a private number; nevertheless, he still answered after holding his phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

He let out a quiet gasp, and his mouth dropped when he realized Élise's voice.

"Spencer…it's me."

He whispered again, "Élise?"

"Yeah."

Reid hissed. "Is that all you can say? 'Hey, it's me.' 'Spencer…it's me.' 'Yeah.'"

"Spencer…"

He cut her off again, "It's been twelve days since you left us high and dry," Reid seethingly ranted. "When we got back, your bag was gone, you were gone. Séraphine's been wondering every day where you, your mother, were, and you didn't have the damn curiosity or the damn decency to tell us where you're going and just only…?"

Reid stopped himself, fearing he was about to say he knew he could come to regret. Tranquility exhaling, he spoke on the phone again. "Élise. You had us all worried."

"You deserved better than what I can give you right now." Élise softly replied.

"Élise…"

Élise's voice croaked. "Spencer, please. I need to do this on my own."

Reid breathed. "At least let me know you're safe."

"I'm safe," Élise assured him. "I promise."

"At least tell me where you are," Reid quietly begged. "Please, Élise."

Élise sighed over the line. "I love you."

Reid knew he was never going to get the answer of where she was. "I love you, too."

They hung up, and Reid collapsed on the bed, crying his heart out.

A/N: Figured I wrote more than enough for this chapter and will continue in the next chapter. Guess where I got the name for Élise's pseudonym?