A/N: Hello again, everyone!
A shout-out to ahowell1993, tannerose5, Kelly, Amy, Susan, Martha, Betty, and Skylar for reviewing Chapter 36!
PS: I snuck in some lines from S15E02 episode Awakening into the chapter.
Enjoy the chap!
Blake Residence…
"I'd like to propose a toast," James rose from his seat, raising his drink in the air, as did Élise, Reid, his wife Alex, Diana, Ethel, Gordon, and Élise's parents, older brother and wife. "To the newlyweds."
"To the newlyweds." Everyone said in unison.
"And I'd like to say a few words," Arthur rose as James sat back down. "Congrats, baby sis. I, uh…know what you went through the previous year and again, I…know things weren't good between us for the past few years. But you're still my sister and I'll always love you, no matter what. That's what family for and…I hope we can repair that."
"I second to that," Her mother, Geneva agreed.
"I third to that," Her father, Micha followed.
"I fourth to that." Brenda nods her head.
"For family!" Élise, Reid, and Anastasia—who was in a highchair—held hands and cheered.
"Family!"
"I want to dedicate this first dance to the newlyweds," James motions Élise and Reid to come on the small dance floor set up in the backyard.
"Come here, little one." Reid pulls Anastasia into his arms, "You're going to join us in this first dance as a family."
The yotcosecond Michael Jackson's Best of Joy began to play, Reid, Élise, and Anastasia all moved in sync. As they danced, their mothers, Ethel, and Brenda wiped the tears from their eyes, Arthur and even Micha quietly and repeatedly motions to Reid that he is watching him. James and Gordon watched with pride.
As the music continued playing, they start remembering some of the most memorable moments they had together.
The moment they first met.
When Reid left Anastasia in Élise's care for the first time.
The moment Élise gave Reid books for Anastasia on Father's Day and gave him first-edition books for his birthday.
The moment they…had their first kiss at Rossi's mansion under the mistletoe
When they almost had another kiss while working on a case.
Their second kiss at Élise's old apartment after coming back from dinner and the theater.
Their moment at Anastasia's Gotcha party.
When Élise was rescued and saved by Griffin and him by her side.
When Élise moved into Reid's apartment.
When Reid was rescued and saved by the team and Élise was by his side at the hospital.
Whenever they held hands
The first kiss they had in months last Christmas…
And again on New Year's…
Their first date and kiss…
When they first said 'I love you' after Maeve told them to express their love for each other.
Their time at Rossi's wedding.
Coming to New York and Boston.
The proposal…
And now.
"I love you, mommy and daddy." Anastasia quietly said.
Élise and Reid kissed her on top of her head.
"We love you, little one."
Reid smiled as he watches Élise dance to Paul Simon's Father and Daughter with her father.
"I can't believe my baby boy is married." His mother, Diana, sneaks up from behind him and hugs him.
"I still can't believe it either. But I still am happy." Reid hugs her back.
"If I may, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Anything for you, mother."
"How long have you've been dating Élise? And how come your team is not here to see at your wedding?"
Exhaling, "Okay. Élise and I…we meet after Anastasia. She…was applying to be her nanny. And…I guess you can say we…clicked. And…after a few months, we…kissed. Under the mistletoe. At one of my coworkers' mansions. And again at her old apartment after we…came home from dinner and theater."
"Oh, honey." Diana places her hand on his cheek.
"And sometimes, I wonder about…what would have happened if…"
"If what, baby?"
"Élise was abducted from her own apartment and held captive and hostage by a man named Richard Griffin, who had been stalking Élise from when she was even in college. She…went missing for…six-seven months. The team and I tracked her down…I went after him myself and…stabbed him over and over again. After all that, I wanted her to move in with me and…we kissed again for the first time in months on Christmas. And a few more times. We had our first date after a case in January and…we finally said, 'I love you' to each other in February."
"But…why now?"
Shrugging now, "I guess part of me was scared and…. And…among other things."
"What other things?"
"During a case in Los Angeles, 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, even though she has a husband and two boys. I shot the unsub with my backup ankle gun after freeing myself from my restraints, which is how I cut my hand. " Shrugging his shoulders as he shows Diana his bandaged hand. "Which is why I've decided to take an indefinite sabbatical and why I am now here in Boston. Living in a nice townhouse."
"Wow." Diana quietly exclaims.
"Yeah," Reid said.
"I feel like scratching her eyes out," Diana admits.
"To be honest, when I asked her if she meant it…she didn't say anything. And honestly…I don't think I wanted to know the answer because…I have Élise and Anastasia now. And I told them I didn't want anyone, not even JJ, to come between that."
"Well, I think that's good," Diana said. "Moving on from that. You know, I never talked much about your dad. When William left, it wasn't because of my schizophrenia diagnosis. You know what he said when I was diagnosed? He said, "Diana, we're in this together", and I am with you every step of the way. " I didn't know that. I know you didn't. And he meant it. But then the meds, pfft, the meds I was on, there were so many and so many side effects that I stopped taking them. And of course, my condition got worse and worse until I finally had to be hospitalized. And then it happened again. And again. In the end, it was the roller coaster, that was the part he couldn't deal with. And the thing is, even after he was gone, I kept thinking that somehow we'd find our way back to each other."
"You loved him." Reid figured.
"Yes. So, I waited. Year after year. And at some point, I knew it wouldn't happen. But I never allowed myself to even consider a relationship with someone else. Honey, life is long, and it's hard. And you deserve to have someone who will share all of it with you. All of it. And you have found that with Élise and Anastasia. And you two better give me some more grandchildren."
They both chuckled before hugging.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Élise Gabrielle Bastien-Reid," Spencer said as he carried Élise into the house.
"I love the sound of that," Élise admits. "Élise Gabrielle Bastien-Reid." She purrs like a cat as he continued to carry her up the stairs. She had to ask, "Are you sure it was a good idea for Alex and James to take in Anastasia for the night?"
"They said they were more than happy to do so; made them think of Ethan, the son they lost when he was nine from an unspecified neurological disease. They still don't know the name of the disease. He kept growing, but…"
"It still took away their child." Élise softly replies. "Outliving your child is a parent's worst nightmare. At least we're giving them a chance to be parents again, right? Even if it's for one night."
"Yeah." Kissing Reid again. "We should…probably get ready for bed."
Reid gulped, "Yeah. Let's get ready for bed."
Later that night…
Élise paced back and forth in the bathroom. Nervous about what they truly meant when they agreed they should 'probably get ready for bed.' They knew what they meant, but wondered if Reid really wanted her.
Maybe he was thinking the same; she doesn't know.
Perhaps Élise should stop thinking negative thoughts and start having positive thoughts.
Taking a deep breath. Opening the door,
All Reid had on were undershirt and boxers. And he was tapping his fingers against the bed. Elsie figured he must have been counting how long she was in the bathroom.
"Are you okay?" He asked with worried.
"I'm better now," Élise replies in a soft sexual tone. Slowly and seductively taking off her long off-white La Perla silk satin embellished and embroidered kimono robe…
Revealing her…
Off-white underwired silk balconette bra with Leavers lace trim with matching briefs.
"Wow." Was the only word Reid could say.
"You okay?" She asked as she crawls into the bed, her gaze not wanting to leave Reid's.
"Hmm-mmm."
Leaning in closer to him, "Do you want me?"
He replies with a kiss…
Before placing his hands on her chest. But before anything could happen,
"Élise, I'm not…you know…"
Exhaling, "That's good because neither am I. I just…I just want you to feel me."
"And I want you to feel me."
"Then let's do it."
Days later…
"So, how do I look?" Reid asked Élise as she was preparing breakfast. He was dressed in a dark navy suit with a matching dress shirt, dark purple tie, and suede oxfords.
"You look handsome, doc." Élise grins.
"Something smells good," Reid sniffs his nose. "And I know it's not just you." Kissing Élise's cheek.
As Élise giggles, "I made eggs, pancakes, some stuffed French toast."
As Reid took one, "Tasty. A perfect balance between the sweet and the savory."
"Thanks." Élise had a bite herself. "I figured you might need your strength and energy for your first day of teaching at Harvard. So, what class are you going to teach?"
"Math 55A."
"Really?" Élise sounded intrigued. "You know, I read that Bill Gates took the class, even one of the guys on The Simpsons."
"Interesting; you learn something new every day. I meant about…"
"I know," Élise assured him.
"And to be honest, I almost didn't take it, but I ended up doing so because Harvard asked me to sub for the current professor who's dealing with health issues and has to take three months off. Harvard even offered me $100,000 to sub for the rest of January through May semester since I figure I could use the money towards Anastasia's education."
"Well, that's great. But how come you almost didn't?"
"Scratch."
Élise knew, "That rat-faced IT-imitating clown who made your lives a living nightmare?"
"Yup." Reid took a sip of fresh brew coffee. "He took Math 55 while he was at Harvard; which in those graduates who have completed the class are immediately employed the U.S. government because they're said to be too dangerous to work anywhere else, more specifically, the NSA."
Crossing her arms, "That explains how he was able to make your lives a living nightmare and stayed under the radar. Well, that, the drive to avenge his father's death, and his narcissistic games that resulted in Hotch and Jack entering WITSEC, got Stephen Walker killed and kidnapped Prentiss, and you and the team thinking he framed you instead of Cat Adams and her toy flying monkey crew."
Reid snickers, "Perfect description. Just reminders of Scratch remind me of my time in federal prison."
"But you survived and now you're alive and well."
"And I have you and Anastasia." Reid gives her a peck.
"Oh," Élise kisses him back.
"Have mercy!"
Élise and Reid raised their eyebrows when they received,
"Hey, you're talking." Reid figured.
"Because of us." Elsie smiles as Anastasia ate her granola parfait.
"Yeah," Reid nods his head before looking down at his silver watch. "Oh! I better get going! I don't want to be late."
"Coffee mug." Élise hands Reid his travel mug filled with freshly brewing coffee.
"You know me so well." Reid gives Élise a peck before giving Anastasia a peck. "Love you."
"Love you too."
"I love you!" Anastasia exclaims before giggling.
After walking into his place and setting up the security code, he sets his bags and keys to the side in the living room. There, he immediately smells something familiar. Turning around,
"Hi, honey. You're home." Élise cheerily said as she sets a couple of plates down on the dinner table.
"Ah, I love the smell of tandoori chicken," Reid said before kissing Anastasia on the head and sat down at the head of the table. "But not as much as I love you."
"Oh," Élise growled before asking, "So, honey, how was your first day as an MIT chemical engineering professor?"
"It went well, thank you," Reid answered. "I met some students who were already familiar with me from my work in the FBI and some have even recognized my name from my studies in police journals."
"So, I guess they were eager to have you as their professor for the semester."
"They were and some of them were auditing the class."
"Really?"
"I counted fifteen girls and one guy; I had their undivided attention."
"Really?" Élise gritted her teeth.
"This even happened in my criminology class during the two weeks when Barnes reassigned us. A bunch of girls and one guy audited the class."
"Hmm." Élise pursed her lips.
Weeks later…
"Morning, sunshine." Reid chipperly said to Élise as she walks into the kitchen.
"Morning, Dr. Sweetness." She kisses his lips before covering her mouth again. "Oh, my…"
"Are you okay?" A worried Reid asked as he checked her forehead.
Stroking her stomach, "I've been feeling more sleepy and tired than usual."
"Maybe you need a nice massage," Reid prompts by rubbing her shoulders.
"Hmm." Élise was liking it. "But it's still not helping me." Sniffing, "What's that smell?"
"Bacon."
Élise covers her mouth again. "I think I need to…" Élise immediately rushes out of the kitchen and into the nearest bathroom.
Middle of the night…
Reid silently descends down the stairs when he began to hear almost an animal loudly eating inside the room. Tiptoeing to the corner of the kitchen, he sees…
Élise…
Munching on almost all the snacks she could find.
From the Oreos to the pretzels; from the berries to the potato chips; Élise even began eating some of the leftover vegetable ravioli and pasta. After she cleaned that up, she gulped down half a pint from a quart of Ginger-Ale and water. Realizing she would soon be coming out, Reid leaned back against the wall. Élise casually left the kitchen and dining room and was just about to walk up the stairs.
"Hold it right there, little missy."
Élise froze in place.
"Don't think I haven't been noticing you eating and snacking in the middle of the night; I just saw you in the kitchen. And in all honesty, I thought a raccoon broke in and was just pilfering the refrigerator and cabinets. And don't think I haven't noticed your frequent trips to the bathroom. And you did say you've been feeling more tired lately. Now, what's going on with you?"
Élise exhaled, realizing she's been caught.
"Follow the leader…" Élise motions Reid to come with her upstairs. Reentering the bedroom,
"I…wanted to wait until morning but since this is technically morning…" She pulls an envelope out of the side table and gives it to Reid.
"Open it."
And when he did,
"You're…?" Reid was almost speechless.
"Hmm-mmm." Élise ecstatically nods her head.
Overwhelmed with joy, Reid starts hugging Élise, lifts her up and swings her around.
"We're going to have a baby." The two hugged and kissed with all their might. "We're going to have a baby."
Massachusetts General Hospital
"Oh! What's taking them so long?" Élise impatiently said as she was sitting down.
"They're probably finishing up the blood work. Not to mention the ultrasounds." Reid said as Anastasia was resting her head on his chest.
"What's happening to mommy, daddy?" Anastasia asked.
"Remember when we told you that sometimes two people can't hold their love for each other any longer? And all that love goes into a baby, which grows in a mommy's belly?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that's what's happening to me." Élise points to her stomach.
"Ew." Anastasia squishes. "But what about me?"
"What about you, sweetheart?"
"Will I still be loved?"
"Of course," Reid kisses her head. "No matter what, just because our family is growing, doesn't mean you won't be loved just the same."
"We love you no matter what." Élise smiled.
"I love you, too." Reid wraps his arms around Anastasia and kisses her head again.
James Blake comes into the room. "Hello, everyone."
"Hi, James." Élise nervously said.
As Spencer had Anastasia sit up on a chair. "So…what's the news, doctor?"
"Congratulations to you both." He smiled. "You're not only eight weeks pregnant but…" He shows them the ultrasounds.
"We're expecting twins?" Élise shockingly said.
"Yup. Two babies for the price of one."
"Twins…"
THUMP!
"What the…?"
Reid passed out.
"That's exactly how I imagined it." Élise snickers.