A/N: Hello again, everyone!

A shout-out to Quilter1993, fishtrek, vermilion aura, and astrayleaf.

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 Two 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 shout-out to readers who are dealing with bleeding disorders for this chapter.

BTW, TODAY'S MY BIG BRO'S BIRTHDAY AS WELL AS MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!

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!?"

"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 is gone."

"You deserved better than what I can give you right now...I love you."

Reid sat on the edge of the bed, with his head down and his fingers pressed to his head. He finally stopped crying for who-knew-how-long. Élise calling him, only for her to tell him that he deserves more than what she could give him.

She just left, didn't even have the decency to say goodbye, and then not tell him where she was since she meant that she really didn't want to be found.

What was so secretive for her not to want to be found? He was her husband. She was his wife. She…what…the…

Reid sighed. This really was starting to get to him. Emotionally. Mentally. He saw his phone on the bed beside him. Loudly exhaling, he pressed his phone to his ear and waited for the receiver to answer.

"Anderson."

"Hello, Anderson?" Reid whispered. "Can you send me the case files, please?"

Élise used her elbow to block her borderline nearsighted eyes from the bright, rising sunlight. Slowly rosing up and stretching her back after tossing the white sheets to the side of the bed, she steadily got out of bed and walked to the bathroom.

Turning the white sink faucet on, she gazed at her reflection after splashing her face with water. Her skin was breaking out a bit, her eyes looked defeated and puffy. Guess she still felt tired after her phone conversation with Reid last night. It felt weird not to talk to him for nearly two weeks; when she met him, the longest she went without speaking to him was about a day or two.

Maybe that was what she needed. A little distance. Some space. She didn't think there was anything wrong with that. Élise wondered why Reid couldn't understand that.

Hopefully, he'll come to understand that.

And if he didn't…

Élise set her hands on the sink ends, not wanting to finish that sentence, and decided to prepare herself to try and take on the day.

Reid groaned, finding himself waking up with his head on the dining table, a map of San Francisco and the case files spread all out. He doesn't remember falling asleep; that hasn't happened to him in a long time, other than falling asleep on the plane after a case was finished.

He flinched when he heard wailing over the baby monitor. He looked and saw it was Isaac crying. He stretched after Reid rose from his seat and yawned as he went to tend to his son. He stopped massaging his neck as he approached his son's crib.

"Hey, little man," he cuddled him as Reid saw Séraphine waking up.

"Daddy!"

Reid came to her side, got down on his knees, and gave her a kiss. "How are you doing? Did you get a good night's sleep?"

"Yea!"

Reid smiled and stroked her hair. He looked at a kicky and babbling Isaac before Reid played with Séraphine's curly hair ends. "You want to go see Opal and Rose?"

Séraphine's face lit up. "Yea, peaze!"

"Want to order some breakfast?"

"Mmm-hmm," she bouncily shook her head.

Isaac stuck his tongue out and giggled.

Élise was so happy for her physical therapy to be done and over with. At least for the moment. It was a little after eleven in the morning, and since she hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, Élise decided to go to the Constitution Café for lunch, located on the first floor of the rehab hospital.

She slid a plastic tray along the silver rails in front of the food displays. It was mostly organic fruits and vegetables, various types of tofu, packed and sealed snacks, sugar-free soda, fruit-infused water. Élise picked out a takeout salad that had some chicken and tofu, a bag of saltless potato chips, and bottled sparkling water.

Seeing a white circular table in the back corner, Élise went to have her lunch there. Taking a seat, Élise placed the dainty white napkin on her lap, uncapped her bottle, and took a small sip. Opening the plastic lid, Élise grabbed her fork, poked around her salad, and took a bite.

"May I sit here?"

Élise looked up and saw a big woman in bluish-gray sweats with her lunch tray. She shrugged and said, "Sure."

The woman sat across from her and greeted, "Hi."

Élise simply replied, "Hello."

"I'm Donna Rogers," she smiled.

"Jean DuBois."

"Hey, everyone!" Rose had a wide smile on her face when she opened the door and saw the Bastien-Reid family there and allowed them to come into her apartment.

"Hello again, Rose," Reid softly said and closed the door behind him.

Opal barked, and her eyes bulged when she saw the family. She got up from the doggy bed, walked up to the family, and immediately began hugging Reid's legs.

"Oh, you can never get tired of doing that, huh, girl?"

Opal barked again, panting with her long tongue out.

Séraphine giggled and started petting her fur, "Hi, gal…"

Opal purred.

"Now, you won't be long, right?" Rose asked as she took the children's bags from Reid's hands and placed them by her couch; she was already filled in with what was happening between him and Élise.

Reid sighed as he bounced Isaac in his arms. "Hopefully."

Isaac cooed as Reid kissed his temples and was given to Rose.

"Be good for Rose, okay?" Reid tells his children, squatting down to give Séraphine a quick hug and goodbye kiss.

"Yea, daddy."

Reid stroked Séraphine's cheeks before giving her one last goodbye kiss on the forehead. Scrunching up, he gave Isaac one last hug and kiss, made sure his satchel with everything that the case files inside were secured across his chest and walked out the door.

"Okay, Jean, we are done," a medium-built woman with red hair and green eyes said to Élise after finishing up the physical therapy.

Élise replied dully, "Yay…" she still wasn't feeling all that, even with Prozac.

"I know it's a lot, but you'll get your strength back; you just have to put in the effort."

Élise doubted that. "Yeah. Yeah, I just have to put in the effort."

Reid was actually surprised he made it to San Francisco. For him, he wanted to turn around and walk away a couple of times and instead tell the team what he found out over the phone. He thought it would be interesting to see the team again after two weeks. He can't hide away forever.

He walked in on the team and possibly one of the detectives working on the case with them, looking at the clear board with pictures of the victims and sights of where the unsub killed them with they turned around.

"Spence!" her blue eyes broadened, and she sounded surprised to see Reid again after two weeks.

"Reid," Alex was just as surprised to see him again.

JJ gave him a friendly hug and a small smile before taking a few steps back as Hotch approached him.

"I didn't expect you back this soon," Hotch knew what he and Élise were going through. He concerningly asked Reid, "You sure you're ready?"

"No," Reid truthfully answered. "But I figured something out."

Élise thought the day went back decently. She had a round of physical therapy, a good lunch, met a new person or two, finished dinner, and was now resting in her bed after taking a nice long shower and clad herself in her favorite black sweats.

Sighing, Élise resorted to a comfort.

Day 14

February 1, 2013

Another day I'm still here is another day I'm trying to get better.

I'M TRYING!

Yet, for me, it doesn't seem good enough.

Is my arm getting better? Yes.

Am I trying to open up more to my therapist? Even if I lied to her about Diane still did not affect me.

Is it wrong that I can't stop thinking about her? That I haven't stopped thinking about her since this whole ordeal?

I don't know.

Élise stopped writing and pondered for a moment before writing her thoughts again.

Reid still had some of the nuts that were set beside him; the team came back saving the unsub's—who turned out to be Bryan Hughes, a delusional—and hemophilic—killer who was killing his victims for their blood and used it as paint for his 'blood paintings'—latest victim.

Unfortunately, Bryan did not make it, as Reid predicted his delusions fueled his killings and motivation to commit suicide and/or suicide by cop.

He had a few more when he saw his phone ringing. Without looking at the caller ID, he answered, "Hello?"

"My favorite genius!" Garcia excitingly greeted him. "I know, like three times, but I just really wanted to see how you were doing."

"Decent," he answered after having a few more nuts. "And thank you again for the nuts."

Garcia blushed. "Of course, my love."

Reid replied tediously, "Their magnesium help produce serotonin."

"Aw, there's my favorite genius," Garcia giggled. "Wait until you return. I have a big surprise for you, to say the least." she gasped. "I better get started on it. Buh-bye."

Reid placed his phone back in his pockets again just as Hotch approached him. Hotch concerningly asked Reid as he steadily got up, "Are you okay?"

"Still taking one day at a time," Reid sighed.

Hotch assured him, "I meant what I said. You really didn't have to be here if you were not ready. This is gonna take time."

"How much time?" Reid whispered.

Hotch answered truthfully, "It's hard to say. But we're all here for you."

Reid nodded. "Thanks."

For almost the past hour, Élise kept opening and closing her journal, whether she needed to read her entry for today or add more.

Setting her locked journal behind her pillow, Élise laid her head back against the soft pillow and closed her eyes, praying in her head that she would get a better night's sleep.

Reid distantly looked out the window as the team flew back home to D.C.

He spun his head when he noticed JJ sitting across from him.

"Nice look," she took note of Reid's brown cardigan, unkempt button shirt, and stubbled mustache and beard.

Rossi replied while figuratively playing with his, "Makes you look…very distinguished."

"Yeah, does Élise like the look?" Morgan's chuckling smirk turned into his eyes lowered and barely opened mouth. "What's wrong?"

Reid inhaled and exhaled through his nose. "Élise is gone."

Rossi turned his body and crossed his fingers. "What do you mean, 'she's gone?'"'

"She left when I took Séraphine and Isaac to the pool," Reid responded softly. "Two weeks ago."

The team's silent reactions ranged from concern to worry.

"Sorry to hear that, Spencer," Rossi gave his condolences.

Reid shook his head. "Yeah. I am, too."

Morgan sighed. "Listen, if you need anything at all, you just have to ask."

Reid gazed at Morgan with his drained eyes, "Actually, if you guys don't mind, I could use some help with something."

"Name it."

The "something" Reid wanted his team to help him with was help move him and the children into the new house he and Élise got.

And also help Rose move into the house with them.

Rossi hired The Giant Home, a well-known moving/trucking company, and Spotless, a cleaning service to help with the boxes, the cleaning, and anything else that's needed.

Hotch, Morgan, JJ, Blake, and Garcia helped out in their own ways.

JJ organized everything that was needed.

With Hotch and Morgan, it was the furniture.

Rose and Blake helped Reid with the children.

Garcia set up the security system with the company.

After the movers and maids left, the team gathered back in the living room.

"Thanks again, everyone."

Garcia was the first to give him a hug. "Anything for you, my love." she pressed her two fingers against her lips and tapped his temple.

"We're here for you, man," Morgan hugged him next.

Alex comforted him next; JJ gave him a heartfelt hug, cupped her hands to his face, and lightly tapped his cheeks.

Rossi patted his shoulders before he cocked his head to the front door, suggesting that they should leave.

Now, Reid and Hotch were in the living room alone.

"Élise will come back," Hotch replied, giving Reid a sense of hope.

Reid questioned that and feared the worst. "And if she doesn't?"

"I don't know," answered Hotch with honesty. "But I meant what I said. We are here for you. And this will take some time."

Reid emotionally pulled Hotch into a hug. "Thank you."

"Alrighty, princess," Reid scooped Séraphine and placed her in her toddler bed after reading to her. Tucking her body under the pink, purple, and white comforters, squatting to her size, "How do you like your new room?"

The walls were painted a delicate purple, with one wall covered by Japanese wisteria tree wallpaper. The flooring was clean white carpeting. One corner in the room had all her toys neatly organized; another corner had most of the white furniture, and another corner had a parent zone with a white rocking armchair. The windows had white blackout curtains.

Séraphine babbled, "It pretie, daddy."

Reid stroked her head and asked her again, "Do you miss your old room?"

"Nah…" Séraphine giggled.

Reid petted her head. "Well, I'm glad you like it, Fifi?"

"Daddy?" Séraphine lifted her head.

"Yes?"

Séraphine innocently asked, "Wen's mommy caming home?"

Reid sighed, trying to think of an excuse to give her. Wrapping his arm around her, "Mommy's away. She's really dealing with a lot right now and…she needs time."

"I wan er beter," Séraphine rested her hand on his chest.

"Yeah," Reid agreed. "I want her better, too." he looked down at Séraphine and replied, "Come on. Let's get you settled down."

Reid petted her head, tucked her tiny body against the covers, turned off the lights for her nightlight, and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Fifi."

"I luv yoo, daddy," Séraphine yawned before gently falling asleep.

Reid looked to Séraphine and responded. "I love you, too." he closed the door and immediately stepped into Isaac's nursery room. He tiptoed to his crib and watched him sleep for almost five minutes before giving him a kiss on his temple, causing him to let out a small yawn.

Reid thought it was enough and quietly walked out. He took a few more steps before realizing he was about to enter his new master bedroom. For him, it would be weird to not go to bed without Élise. And almost…disrespectful.

He went into the nearest closet and pulled out some blankets and pillows. Reid went down to the living room, set up the comforters and cushions on one of the couches, and placed his head against one; hopefully, he'll have a goodnight's sleep.