A/N: Hello again, everyone!

I'm BACCCCKKKK!

A shout-out to ahowell1993, tannerose5, Kelly, Amy, Susan, Martha, Betty, and Skylar for reviewing Chapter 34! A special shout-out to Francesca Salazar for following and/or favoring my other CM-related stories.

I'm so glad that after the two-part season 15 premiere, Spencer and JJ aren't getting together despite Spencer's heart being broken. I just now hope this new love interest for Spencer works out.

Sorry if I made any mistakes, but please do enjoy!

This is going to be a unique chapter as well as future chapters, so buckle up!

"Hey, Élise," Reid said as he pressed his cell phone to his ear and had his cell phone call in the plane's bathroom.

"Hey, you," Élise answers back. "What happened to you? You sound exhausted."

"Believe me, I am. Listen, uh…I know it's late but, can we talk more when I get home?"

"Of course; I've been waiting up for you, anyway."

"Thanks." Whispering, "Love you."

Élise lightly chuckles, "Love you, too."

After walking into his place and setting up his apartment's security code, he immediately dropped his bags and keys to the side on the floor, he quietly burst into Anastasia's room and sees her peacefully sleeping in her bed. He watched her for a few more seconds before planting a kiss on her forehead and moves a piece of her hair away from her face. Silently walking out, he walks into the living room and sees a mug set on the coffee table.

"I figured you might need some coffee, so…" Élise slightly shrugs and gestures him to sit next to her. After joining Élise,

"Thank you." After taking a sip. "Just want I needed."

"What to tell me what happened?"

"Well, let's see, JJ and I were in a hostage situation. The unsub wanted to play a deadly game of Truth or Dare. JJ admitted she's always loved me. I shot him with my backup ankle gun after freeing myself from my restraints, which is how I cut my hand. And…" Shrugging his shoulders as he shows Élise his bandaged hand. "That's pretty much it." He takes another sip.

Élise shook her head. "What a minute. JJ said she's always loved you?"

"Yup."

"But isn't she…?"

"He threatened to kill us if she didn't reveal her deepest, darkest secret, so...yes."

"But still…" Sighing heavily. "So, what now?"

"I talked to Prentiss during the flight back home and I told her I wanted to immediately take a sabbatical for an indefinite amount of time and leave town for a while. After the number of times I've been held hostage and almost killed in one year and JJ…I…I think I need to clear my head. And spend more time with Anastasia."

"And she agreed?"

"Yeah. She figured that after this that taking time off would be good for me. And I want you to come."

Élise was a bit speechless. "Spencer, I…"

"I figured that…it'll be a year since Griffin…you know…and I want you to help me take care of Anastasia and perhaps…use the time to recover from your abduction and ordeal outside of DC."

Élise looked down at the floor before looking at him again, "I'd be honored, too."

Spencer smiles, "Thank you. And just so you know, I told JJ I had a girlfriend." He takes Élise's hand. "When I said I loved you, I loved you. And I'm not going to let anyone, not even JJ, get in the way."

"Same here." Élise giggles before they both kissed each other on the lips.

After breaking apart, Élise looked at her boyfriend, "Where would you like to go for your sabbatical?"

"Not Las Vegas or Pasadena since those are the first two places where my teammates would think that I would go."

"Not New Jersey for me," said Élise. "Once I got out of New Jersey, I…kinda wanted to stay out. Plus, I…don't think I'm ready to return there just yet."

"How about Cambridge?"

"The Cambridge in Massachusetts or the Cambridge in the United Kingdom?" asked Élise.

"Massachusetts since Blake has been wanting me to guest lecture for her for years and I like the idea of spending a few months at either Harvard or MIT teaching and working on research projects."

"Do you want to drive or fly to Boston?"

"Actually, I was thinking we can drive."

"Drive?" Élise asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Driving means we don't have to lug a car seat around at the airport."

"True." Élise nodded her head.

"Plus, I was thinking we can stay in New York City for a few days and then drive to Boston."

"That sounds interesting. Perhaps we can leave after Rossi's wedding?"

"I like that."

"So…how do I look?" Élise asked Reid once she got all dressed up and ready for Rossi's wedding.

Reid couldn't help but stare at her with such awe. She was wearing a French plum combo with a sequined bodice and sweetheart neckline from Herve Leger, three-inch silver heels from Manolo Blahnik and a matching purple clutch from Judith Leiber and accessorized with a necklace and earring amethyst set. Her hair was flat-ironed stylish and fell to her ear-to-chin and her makeup was natural and minimal.

She was breathtaking.

"Wow." That's all Reid could say.

Élise burst into small giggles. "Thanks." Élise herself couldn't help but smile at just how Reid looked so…fine and…dared she say…sexy in that black tuxedo.

"Right?"

"You know it." They give each other a peck on the lips.

Élise sees JJ by herself watching Reid and her husband Will talking to the other guys. She took a deep breath before walking over to her,

"Hey."

"Hey."

There was a slight moment of silence before Élise continued, "I really am glad that you and Reid are alright. Feeling okay?"

"I'm fine and thanks."

Élise gulped down the rest of her water before continued, "I've noticed the looks you and Reid have been giving to each other ever since I saw you two come back. And when Prentiss was giving her speech. And I'm sure he told you he already has a girlfriend. Now, I don't want to break anyone's heart over your revelation, but if you had always loved Spencer since the beginning, then maybe you shouldn't have brought Garcia along on that date. Or...perhaps told Will you were already in love with someone else when you first met him in New Orleans. Do you know the quote? Uh, I think it goes something like this: 'If you love someone, set them free. If they come back, they're yours; if they don't, they never were?' Maybe that's what you should do. Let Spencer go and be happy with his girlfriend and you go and be happy with Will and your boys. And...one last thing I'd like to tell you: you do anything to hurt Will, your sons, and/or Spencer, I'll come after you. Hell, I might even destroy you. You can't have it both ways. Sad but true. And just so you know, you're not the only one whose been in a warzone. And I do mean that in the nicest way. Clear?" She flashes a smile and winks before she soon walks away from JJ and asked Reid, "You want to have a dance?"

"Why, yes, I would."

"Oh, what a great wedding that was!" Élise said as she, Reid, and a sleeping Anastasia walked in.

"I still can't believe you caught the flower bouquet."

Waving the flower bouquet in the air, "I still can't believe all that cake you and I had."

After putting Anastasia down in her room, "Well, it was a big cake for a small group of people."

"True." Wrapping her arms around Reid, "So…when do you want to start packing?"

Giving a moment to think about it, "Want to start tomorrow?"

"Why, yes, I would."

A week later…

"So, is everything packed?" Élise was just finishing up packing the last of the boxes.

"Packed and ready to be put into storage." Reid was carrying Anastasia in his arms. "I can't believe I'm moving out. Again. The first time I moved was …"

"After your stint in prison, thanks to Kitty Cat Bang Baby and her two toy flying monkeys who helped made those months hell."

"Actually, thanks to them, I started using my ankle hostler. Thirteen years ago, Hotch told me you didn't need a gun to kill someone when he came to the BAU, but Jason Gideon told me that the only truly effective weapon we have is our ability to do the one thing they can't. Empathize since they are the ones who dehumanize their victims and we humanize the killers. At first, I thought he was just saying that to convince me I don't need to carry a gun. He didn't care if I carried a gun or not since the deadliest weapon we have is a thorough and accurate profile. I also didn't believe it but then he told me about his encounter with another killer, The Footpath Killer who had a shotgun in the back of his head, Gideon walked away alive and the Footpath Killer incarcerated. Plus having a gun can also save the lives of others and protect you."

Folding her arms, "Sounds like you took it to heart."

"I did." Sighing. "But as they say, every ending is a new beginning, right?"

"Cliché but true."

"I like clichés, even if they can be corny." Élise chuckles. "I think we better get going. We have a long four-hour drive to NYC."

"You made the reservations, right?"

"Yup." As Élise cups her hands to Anastasia's face, "You're going to love the Four Seasons, babe. There's a pool. Landmarks to see. Plus, when we get to the hotel, you'll get a welcome gift, your own sized bathroom. Evening cookies and milk."

"Fancy, huh?"

"Yeah!" Anastasia bursts out.

"Ah, she said 'yeah," Reid exclaims.

"Yes, she did." Élise grabs her luggage. "Now off to New York."

"Yeah."

"She cheered! Yay!"

"You're going to love the Downtown Four Seasons," The concierge said to Élise, Reid, and Anastasia were being escorted to their room with bellboys carrying their luggage. "If there's anything you need, just ring us and we'll take care of it."

"Wow, thanks," Élise said. "We just had a long four-hour drive from DC."

"May I recommend our spa services? We have top of the line skincare services, massages, packages that will ease your body and mind."

"Sounds interesting."

"Indeed, it does." The concierge opens the door for them. "The Royal Suite, sir, ma'am, and little one."

"Wow." Élise comments.

"Now this is nice," Reid said as he observed the room.

"This suite has a media room and library, not to mention an office in case you have work to do."

"I'm on a sabbatical," Reid announced. "I'm trying not to think about work for a while."

"Okay. Well then, we'll leave you all alone. Please, do enjoy your stay here." The concierge smiled to them and motions the bellhops out of the room, but not before Élise gives them all a generous tip.

"This is going to be the best trip ever." Reid declared.

As Élise, Reid, and Anastasia were relaxing in the media room,

"What movie is this?" Reid asked as he ate a popped corn.

"Matilda; classic movie. I mean, classic."

"It's really good."

Élise said, "Matilda almost reminds me of you."

"Except I don't have any telekinetic powers."

"You both are child prodigies." Élise points out.

"Hey, Anastasia." Reid tries to get Anastasia's attention, who was sitting comfortably in the middle of the couch. "Do you like this movie?"

"Yeah."

"At least she's talking more," Élise mentions. "After Matilda, do you want to watch another movie and get some shut-eye?"

"Let's get some sleep; perhaps tomorrow we can watch The Sound of Music."

"Prentiss?" Reid asked.

"Spencer!" Prentiss was happy to hear from him. "How are you?"

"I'm okay."

"Anastasia and Élise; how are they?"

"They're doing great. We're about to celebrate."

"Celebrate?" Prentiss asked.

"Both Élise's and Anastasia's birthdays."

"Oh, well then, tell them the team and I said, 'Happy Birthday' to them."

"I will. And also, how's the team?"

"They're doing well. They're all in a bit shock, especially JJ, that you just left unexpectedly but…we can handle it."

Reid nodded his head, knowing how the team would feel about his sudden sabbatical, especially JJ since… "Yeah. And thank you again for the sabbatical."

"Hey, we all need a break every now and then," Prentiss sympathetically said. "Especially what you went through the past couple of years now."

"Yup." Reid agreed; that part of his life still remains with him. "We'll be heading to New England in a few days, so…"

"Okay. Just continue to check in every now and then, okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

"Now, Anastasia," Reid tries to get her attention as she was in her stroller, "Do you know what animal that is?"

"Pengy!" Anastasia points out the penguins.

"A penguin! Very good!" Élise exclaimed. "Penguins are flightless birds who have adapted flippers to help them swim in the water."

"They can eat a whole bunch of seafood," Reid added. "They can even eat squid and krill."

"See, babe?" Élise points out the zookeepers. "They are feeding the penguins."

As Reid asked Anastasia, "After the penguins, do you want to see the sheep and goats before coming back to see the sea lions?"

"Yeah!" Anastasia smiles.

"I know this sabbatical helping with Anastasia's language skills," Reid said.

"I will, Spencer. It will."

"Oh, my goodness, your daughter is adorable." A heavily pregnant mother gushes over Anastasia. "What's her name?"

"Anastasia and…"

"I hope you two have more children soon; a girl like her should grow up with some siblings." She waved to them before leaving. As Élise and Reid were a bit speechless,

"Lady?" Anastasia broke the silence, pointing to her.

"What about her?" Reid wondered.

"Her belly?"

"Oh, a baby is growing in her tummy."

Anastasia innocently asked, "Did she eat it?"

Élise and Reid broke out laughing, despite their efforts not to. "No." Feeling awkward about telling a toddler about where babies came from, "Sometimes…"

"Two people can't hold their love for each other any longer and so…" Reid tries to continue before,

Élise concludes, "All that love goes into a baby, which grows in a mommy's belly."

"Ew." Anastasia squishes.

"And this is part of the set, right?" Reid asked the Cartier sales associate gentleman.

"Why, yes, it is, sir."

An engagement ring set in white gold with small diamonds and two wedding rings set in white gold.

"Do you have a special lady in mind, sir." The sales associate eagerly ask him.

Smiling, "Yes, I do."

"Dr. Reid?"

"You must be Élise Bastien?"

…"Don't leave me."

"No."

"I love you."

When I said I loved you, I loved you…"

"Spencer!" Reid, Élise, and Anastasia are warmly greeted by Dr. Alex Blake and her husband, Dr. James Blake.

"Blake!" Reid happily accepts a hug from Blake and a handshake from James. "How have you two been?"

"We're been great, thank you."

Reid asked her again, "How's being a full-time teacher?"

"Knowing I'm talking all my skills putting them into becoming a teacher is honorable indeed."

"That's great."

"Pleasure to see you all again," James said. "So, Spencer. What brings you down here to Boston?"

"I needed an indefinite sabbatical." Reid truthfully answers. "After…what happened to me the past couple of years and recently with…" He had to stop himself. "I just needed a break. So…I decided to put my focus on perhaps guest lecture some of your classes and I like the idea of spending a few months at either Harvard or MIT teaching and working on research projects."

"Well, I think that's an amazing idea." James nodded his head. "And we all need a break every now and then."

"Plus, I think it's a wonderful idea for you to guest lecture in my classes. Perhaps I can make a call to them and maybe ask you if you can have a temporary position at Harvard. Alex told me you had three PhDs, so…?"

"I'm thinking of engineering or mathematics; perhaps I can either lecture at both schools."

"Well, whatever you make, we'll support you 100%."

"Agree."

"I can't believe Harvard and MIT hooked us up with this incredibly nice townhouse," Élise said as she and Reid unpacked some of their belongings in their master bedroom. "It's furnished, a washer and dryer, a small little office area, plus a deck with nice views and outdoor furniture."

"I still can't believe Harvard and MIT are giving me classes to teach."

Élise mentions, "Well, I think it's a good idea."

"Me teaching mathematics at Harvard and chemical engineering at MIT?"

"You'll be teaching a new generation of students." Élise figured.

Reid was still sounding doubtful, "I don't know."

Grabbing a hold of Reid's hands. "Knowing I'm talking all my skills putting them into a teacher is honorable indeed."

"You sound like Alex."

"Exactly." Élise gives him a peck on the lips.

"I needed that." Reid kisses her back.

Later that night…

"Hey, Spencer," Élise said as she descended down the stairs. "What happened?"

"I just wanted to play a little game before bed," Reid smiled.

Raising her eyebrows, sounded interested. "Okay. What do you want to play?"

"Hot and cold."

"I haven't played that game in a long time, but okay." Élise shakes her body before moving around the living room. "Am I getting hot? Cold?"

As Élise was in the kitchen, "Cold. You're cold." Walking back into the living room. "Hot. You're getting hotter. You're on fire, but not literally."

"It's in the closet?" Élise wondered.

"I did say you were hot," Reid replies.

As Élise opens the door,

"Anastasia? What are you doing hiding in the closet?" Picking her up from the floor, "And what is that in your…" Élise noticed…

…The 'Marry Me?' shirt Anastasia was wearing.

Élise's jaw dropped before staring at Reid, still smiling.

"What…?" Élise was a bit speechless before opening the small box in Anastasia's hand, "Oh, my…"

The white gold engagement ring with the small diamonds.

"Spencer…"

As Reid walked up to Élise, "When I said I loved you, I loved you. And I'm not going to let anyone, and I mean anyone, stand in the way of that." Getting down on one knee. "Two years, a month and three days ago, I met the beautiful and wonderful woman who ended up becoming the mother of my darling daughter. I can't imagine my life without you now. You have bewitched every last part of my body and I never wish to ever be parted from you from this day forward. I don't want to have any more regrets with you." Clearing his throat, "I may not be a Prince with his own country or a billionaire with billions of dollars, but I am a man in love with you." Taking the ring out before taking Élise's hand. "But I would feel like the luckiest and wealthiest King in the world…if you… Élise Gabrielle Bastien…would be my wife." Reid slips the ring on her finger.

Perfect fit.

Élise covered her eyes with her hand, crying before sniffing and those tears turning into laughter.

"Yes." Elsie managed to say. "Of course. Of course, Spencer!" They kissed with such passion before,

"Have mercy!"

"You're happy for us, aren't you?" Reid tickles Anastasia.

"Yeah!"