A/N: Hello again, everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.
The chapter starts on Thanksgiving Day. Guess where I got the inspiration for the first couple of scenes?
As I said at the end of the last chapter, make sure you have your tissues on you.
"Gobble-gobble- gobble- gobble- gobble…" Spencer imitated a funny turkey by using the turkey hand puppet he got a few days ago. He slowly snuck his head through the door of Isaac's nursery. "Gobble-gobble- gobble- gobble- gobble…"
He couldn't stop being amused when he saw Isaac. He was standing on his little two feet with the crib bars still supporting him and smiled in gurgles.
"Mawrin', daddy…" Isaac waved.
Spencer greeted his son back. "Good morning to you, too, little man. And Happy Thanksgiving."
Isaac asked in his usual adorable self, "Wha wee dooin' todaa…?"
Spencer picked him up from his crib and started caressing him. "We are going to have lots and lots of fun today. We are going to gather around the table and say what we're thankful for, and we are going to have lots and lots and lots…of turkey!" he raised his free fist in the air and cheered, knowing Isaac would hopefully be as excited as he was.
"Taa…kay…" Isaac tried repeating. "Taa…kay…"
"Exactly, little man," Spencer tickled his belly, making him giggle. "Turkey. Turkey!"
"Taakay! Taakay!"
Chuckling, Spencer kissed his head and went to Séraphine's room to wake her up.
All Élise wanted was just five more minutes of sleep. Just five…which lasted all five seconds, when she suddenly felt this heaviness on her chest before it put its hands on her face…and it just passed gas on her. With her eyes still closed, she asked, "Why did this butterball fart on me?"
Spencer laughed heartily; Séraphine joined in on the laughter. Élise groaned when she was still opening her eyes and meekly smirked when Isaac smiled right at her.
"Taakay, mama…!" he licked-kissed her nose and giggled.
Élise had both her hands on her face once Spencer took Isaac off her and cradled him. "Happy Thanksgiving, everyone…"
Séraphine skipped over to her bedside and shook her to get up. "Up-up-up, mama…its Tanksgivin'…"
Élise stretched her back and arms before finally gathering herself up and elongating herself again. She stroked her daughter's hair.
"Happy Thanksgiving to you all."
When Spencer, Élise, and the children descended the stairs, all their noses whiffed the heady smell of butter, berries, cinnamon, and maple syrup from the hallway before strolling into the kitchen.
"Good morning, everyone!"
It was Aunt Ethel who chipperly greeted the Reid-Bastien family. She was in this autumn-themed midi-length dress, khaki-colored flats, a turkey-printed apron, and matching oven mitts.
"And Happy Thanksgiving!" Ethel pulled her hair back away from her face and smiled brightly at them.
"Happy Thanksgiving morning to you," said Spencer, letting go of Séraphine's hand and saw the blowout of food Ethel cooked for Thanksgiving morning: hash browns, French toast, cinnamon rolls, bacon, pancakes, and waffles, apple cider, and juice.
Plate clanking and minimum chatter were coming from the breakfast nook, where Gordon, John, Melissa, and their children were eating.
"You should try the French toast," John suggested.
Gordon agreed with a mouthful. "Mmm-hmm…"
"Would you mind if I brought a tray to my mom?" asked Spencer.
"Absolutely…"
Ethel was barely halfway through the sentence when all eyes were now focused on Nathan. His usually neat black hair was askew, his almond-shaped green eyes looked half-asleep, and his gray sweats looked a bit oversized.
Nathan rubbed his still sleep-filled eyes. "Good morning, everyone…" he said tonelessly and sat on the island. "And Happy Thanksgiving…" he sighed as if he didn't have any more life in him.
"You know, with that bed hair, you almost look like me, huh?" Spencer joked, hoping that made Nathan smile, but it didn't.
"Yeah, maybe…" he politely asked. "May I have two cups of Earl Grey tea, please?"
"Of course, my dear boy," Ethel tended to Nathan and filled up two cups. "Sure you don't want any breakfast?" she jerked her arm and smiled again. "I made a mean French toast. Extra cinnamony, creamy, and cheesy." She hoped it would bring a laugh, but now Nathan rested his hand on his cheek with his elbow on the countertop.
"No, thank you…" While leaving, Nathan got the cups and let out a slight, dry cough. "Happy Thanksgiving, everyone."
Ethel sighed; Spencer and Élise took seats at the island and laid out plates in front of them. "I wonder what's up with him and Anna lately."
A now worried Élise had one of her hands under her chin and scratched an itchy spot behind her neck and ear. "Yeah…"
Élise decided to pay her family a visit and knocked on the guest house's front door.
"It's open!"
Élise welcomed herself into the guest house, and there was her father watching Thanksgiving football; since football wasn't her thing, Élise would instead help out every now and then with the dinner.
"Hey, pops…" she waved to him.
Mr. Micha waved back. "Hey, Lisey. And Happy Thanksgiving."
Élise followed the pungent aroma of garlic, herbs, and spices into the kitchen, where she saw her mother getting the oven to preheat. Her mother was startled a bit when she noticed Élise standing by the archway.
She straightened her green short-sleeve polo shirt. "Morning, Lise."
"Morning, and Happy Thanksgiving," Élise replied coolly. "Where's Arthur and Bea?"
"On a walk." Ms. Geneva cleaned her hands and went back to the granite counters, set the small bowl of blended garlic, herbs, and spices to the other side, and sprinkled flour into the oven coat.
"Need help with anything?" asked Élise.
Ms. Geneva answered, "Your dad's gonna help out with the salad and vegetables, and Arthur and Bea are going to make a dessert and a starter crudité platter."
"Okay." Élise shrugged her shoulders. "I'm gonna take the kids and Spencer's cousins to the opening day of the Botanic Garden."
Ms. Geneva focused on the turkey. "Of course, your father and brother will be watching football, and I'll be attending church via the online services on Facebook."
Spencer and Élise made good on their word and took his side of the family to see the Botanic Gardens. When they arrived there, the families were taken away from its beauty, especially by the hundreds of poinsettias and other blooming plants surrounding the models of D.C. landmarks.
Samuel admired a model of the U.S. Botanic Garden building in front of a pair of topiary bears holding candles and tried to touch it.
"Uh-huh…" Melissa pulled him away and set him down. "We can't touch that."
"Wha'z it maid of?" Séraphine asked.
Spencer answered her question. "These models are made from natural plant materials: pinecones, willow, grapevines."
"Cool!" Élise couldn't believe the U.S. Supreme Court replica. "Whoever did this sure was dedicated. It's a complete likeness." Now, her eyes caught sight of the Enchanted Forest train display emerging from a tunnel.
"Choo-choo!" Élise mimicked a train whisper. "Choo-choo!" she kept on smiling until it diminished when she was Anna's face. Her arms folded and this distant, longing look on her face. Élise had to ask, "You okay?"
Anna flinched. "Hmm…?"
Élise asked again, "You okay?"
Anna meekly shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "Yeah, I'm okay." she wiped her nose with her sleeved arm and made her way to The Garden Railway Exhibit. From a distance, Élise noticed Anna wiping her eyes.
The families had lunch at the Mitsitam Native Foods Café, known for Native-inspired cuisines, located inside the National American Indian Museum's main level.
"Oh, no, Melissa…" When Melissa started humming the new 'Let It Go' song, Ethel groaned. She had gotten out the pie desserts from the ovens while checking on the brioche and cheesecakes. "Not that song again…"
Melissa snickered while she was working on the stuffed mushroom starters. "Sorry. I can't help. Wait until Sabrina sees the movie. We'll be hearing it nonstop."
"Like how dad and I used to hear John and Anna sing those Muppet songs?" Ethel smirked to herself.
Melissa's face screamed reminiscence. "I used to be so obsessed with those movies." She gasped. "And singing the theme songs whenever they were on, during the credits, or even reruns. Diff'rent Strokes. Family Matters. Full House…"
Ethel started singing off-key to the show's theme song. "Everywhere you look, everywhere you go…"
"There's a heart (there's a heart)," Melissa joined in. "A hand to hold onto."
Now the two started singing together. "Everywhere you look, everywhere you go. There's a face (there's a face) of somebody who needs you. Everywhere you look, yeah…" Now they were joined in by Élise.
"When you're lost out there, and you're all alone. A light is waiting to carry you home. Everywhere you look." Élise laughed. "I just came in to hear how you're doing, but then I heard you two singing…" Élise waved her hand and moved her shoulders. "So, how are the desserts?"
Ethel presented the pies on the cooking rack as if she was Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune.
"They look good," Élise rubbed her hands together.
Ethel waggled her finger. "Don't get any ideas. I get this with John and Gordon."
"Sorry, ma'am," Élise backed off and now had a serious face. "We need to talk about Anna."
"Yeah, we do…" Melissa felt chills down her neck. "Big time. These past few days, she and Nathan have been the lowest that we've seen them."
Ethel tossed the knife into the sink and had her hand on her hip. "Now that you mentioned it, we do, but I do worry we're going to push her…" the ladies' conversation was interrupted by the echoing footsteps and giggling chatter of the children and Opal's barking.
"Hello…" Gordon popped in first.
Following John, "Hello…"
"Hello…" Spencer was last.
An amused Ethel overlaid her arms. "Oh, you gentlemen…"
John followed in and saw the cheese bites that were ready to be put into the oven. "Ooh…"
"John Theodore…" Ethel used her don't-even-think-about-it tone, causing him to move away from them, shove his hands in his pockets, and he stood by the men again. She sighed again. "I don't feel comfortable about talking behind Anna and Nathan, but, uh…something's going on with those two."
Gordon crossed his arms. "I…have to agree with you on that. When we were coming up with the mocktails, he just seemed distracted lately…" he scratched the bottom of his neck.
"Same thing with Anna…" Élise had her hand over her mouth.
"So, you think we should do an intervention of some sort?" asked Spencer.
Melissa nodded. "I think that's a good idea."
"Anything to help them out," John was in. "But let me tell you something, if I found out he put his hands on my little sister, I'm gonna beat the stuffing out of him…"
"And I'll help." Gordon raised his hand. "Spencer, you'll clean up the scene and dump the body, so that way…"
Ethel scolded her. "Gordon Harold Carney…"
Gordon spread his arms open. "Ethel Lois, you'd do the same if he hurt our little girl."
Ethel opened her mouth but lifted an eyebrow. "You're not wrong."
Élise and Melissa hadn't seen Anna since they came back from the Botanical Gardens and figured she'd been in the room. Ethe joined them and knocked on her and Nathan's bedroom door. Peeking inside, Anna lay curled up in a fetal position. The three ladies tiptoed and reached out for her, wondering if she was asleep.
"I'm awake," Anna whispered. "I just been resting and…" she shrugged.
"Oh, my baby," Ethel sat beside her and helped her up. "What's wrong?"
Anna sniffed and wiped her nose. "Nathan and I have been going through a lot lately."
"You can tell us," said Melissa as she sat down next to Anna.
Élise couldn't help but ask, "Has Nathan been hurting you?"
Anna looked as if Élise was crazy. "Absolutely not. But, uh…a lot of something has happened to us."
Spencer, Gordon, and John had just got off the elevator; the doors opened to the open rec room in the basement. They walked side-to-side, but Gordon stopped them and pointed to Nathan, slumped in one of the lounge chairs, sipping from a glass drink.
"Maybe we shouldn't…" now Spencer was having second thoughts.
"We have to." Gordon reminded him. "But remember; we trend lightly…"
John cracked his knuckles. "Let me tell you this; he put his hands on my little sister, and I will bury him…" he marched over to Nathan. Gordon and Spencer followed and stood them to him; John had his arms folded.
"Hey…" Nathan barely looked at the three men.
John was in no-nonsense mode. "What's up with you?"
"Drinking my sorrows with Heineken low-alcohol beer." Nathan sighed depressingly. "But not even alcohol can ease what Anna and I are feeling right now."
"Oh, believe me, it doesn't," Spencer sighed. "A few years ago, I got abducted by an unsub who got me hooked, but I've been sober for six years."
"Mmm..." Nathan still looked disinterested.
Eventually, John dropped the angry big brother who was ready to kill act and concernedly asked, "Are you okay?"
Gordon and Spencer sat across from Nathan. "What's going on?"
Nathan groaned when he picked himself up. "You know how Anna and I have been trying to have a baby the past year?"
"Yeah…"
"Well…"
Ethel had her hands over her mouth, already teary-eyed when Anna revealed to them that earlier in the year, she and Nathan had been pregnant with twins but lost them in a devastating miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy and just had a negative pregnancy test; Élise and Melissa comforted a sobbing Anna.
"Oh, my baby…" Ethel hugged her daughter. "It'll be okay."
Anna wiped her tears away and sniffed. "I feel like such a failure. You know how bad I wanted to be a mom." Ethel allowed Anna to rest her head on her shoulder.
"I know just how you feel, Annie…" Melissa's voice broke. "I also went through an ectopic pregnancy before we finally had Samuel," she sniffed. "You're gonna get there."
"I had a miscarriage last year after we had Ziggy…" Élise had her hand on Anna's lap. "You're gonna get through this."
A fresh stream of tears poured down Anna's face.
"Oh, dude…" John rested his hand on Nathan's back as he was crying when after revealing to the gentlemen that he and Anna have fertility issues, including a devastating miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. "I'm sorry…"
Nathan picked his head up and wiped his tears with his sleeves. "You know, a week after the miscarriage, to find out we were expecting twins and then…" Nathan couldn't get the words out and had his hands over his face again, quietly sobbing.
"Hey, I know how you feel," Spencer comforted. "Élise and I had a miscarriage a few months after we had Ziggy."
"Melissa and I had gone through an ectopic pregnancy before we had Samuel," John added. "You're gonna get there."
Gordon included. "And you two have more opinions today than ever before, so…don't lose hope."
Nathan sniffed. "Thanks."
A couple of hours later, Spencer and Élise were preparing the children for Thanksgiving dinner.
Élise was putting on her small gold earrings when Spencer walked back into the bedroom. "Are the kids ready?"
"Mmm-hmm…they're with Arthur and Brenda in the living room." Spencer had his hands on Élise's vanity mirror chair. "I feel sorry about what Anna and Nathan have been going through."
Élise had her hand on her cheek. "Yeah. But at least they'll keep on trying; IVF, surrogacy, even foster adoption."
"Anyone who fosters and/or adopts are amazing people," said Élise, but now the mentioning of adoption has got her thinking. "Do you think they'll happen to us?"
"Us adopt?" Spencer wasn't questioning. "That's a life-changing decision to make."
Élise sighed. "The future is like a box of chocolate; you never know what you're gonna get."
"I know what we're gonna get; a tongue-lashing if we don't come down for Thanksgiving dinner."
Élise giggled as Spencer escorted her downstairs.
After everyone had the appetizers and starters, Ethel and Ms. Geneva called everyone to the formal dining table and were in awe at the decked-out Thanksgiving dinner table.
Once everyone sat a seat, Ethel started off the prayer.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the food that's on this table today. We bow our heads for you today, especially for those who aren't as fortunate as us. Give them strength; give us strength and growth and health to carry on and live to the fullest. Last and not least, keep blessing us with good as we will keep giving you thanks. In Jesus' name, amen."
"Amen!"
