A/N: Hello again, everyone! Last week my laptop shut down on me due to the hard drive turning into complete crap, so it had to be replaced and my parents' computer (yes, I still live with my parents); its Wi-Fi kept going on and off, so…
Hopefully, I got a little bit of my mojo back, but still, writer's block can totally suck—I've said this before, and I'm totally not afraid to repeat it. Plus, my life offscreen can be a lot. Again, I'm still taking one day at a time, hoping—and praying—for the better of things as time passes.
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. The story starts off on Wednesday/Thursday, November 19th/20th.
"… That's wonderful, Uncle T. I'll see you next month when the holiday season comes." Élise ended her cell conversation with one of her father's brothers, her paternal Uncle Titan. She was in her spacious wood-paneled home office, and she had just finished booking the family's first-class round-trip flight—from the day after Christmas, December 26th, until a couple of days after New Year's Day, January 3rd.
After getting an email confirmation that the tickets had been booked and secured, Élise heard a rhythmic knock on the door five times.
"You busy?" Spencer said with his head poked in.
Élise closed her current tab and switched between tabs on her browser, now strolling through a bunch of online designer catalogs. "Now that I got the flight tickets, I need to do some retail therapy shopping for the trip. I've been checking out the latest Cruise Collections from Ralph Lauren, Alice and Olivia, Rachel Roy…"
Spencer made a semi-confused face. "What's a Cruise Collection?"
"A Cruise Collection is often called a Resort Collection or Resort wear, and they're launched between the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter Seasons for the jet-set-minded client needing a wardrobe update for whatever climate."
Spencer smiled. "You're such a Queen."
Élise beamed—she loved the compliment. "I don't need a tiara nor a crown to be one. I just got off the phone with my Uncle Titan, and my cousin Karim will pick us up at the airport when we land."
"You glad to see your father's side of the family again?"
"Yup. It has been at least four years since we last saw them at the wedding in Las Vegas. It'll be like a mini family reunion with them, along with my Uncle Reece, Aunt Nina, Aunt Chasity, Aunt Mara, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Amalia…"
"I still can't believe the number of family members you have on your dad's side."
"Okay, thanks, Patricia." Élise just ended a cell phone conversation. "Kevin and Cassandra are throwing a holiday fundraiser party at their place on the 6th in a couple of weeks. It's to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS and to bring holiday joy for the less fortunate."
Spencer finished looping his tie in. "Oh, that's noble of them."
"Which means in addition to resort shopping for St. Croix, I'm going to need a nice party outfit because I'm gonna donate some of my old clothes to the Salvation Army." Élise dallied on her phone. "Want me to get your suit altered again, or do you want to wear a nice dress shirt, pants, and shoes?"
"The latter," Spencer answered, and his mind alerted when he saw the time on his watch. "Let's get going."
"Hopefully, you won't have a case spamming into the weekend."
There were some activities Spencer and Élise wanted to check out and do with the children for the weekend before they left for the following Thanksgiving weekend. George Mason University was hosting this Gem of an Even, Hansel & Gretal as Opera at the Atlas Performing Arts Center; two interactive exhibits at the National Geographic Museum, The Enchanted Forest Holiday Extravaganza at the Westin Tysons Corner.
While Élise announced a new law enforcement guide for public safety while safeguarding constitutional rights, Spencer and the rest of the team had a case in nearby Reston where three victims were stabbed to death; the two male victims were murdered in their homes while the lone female was killed in her workplace.
"So, in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving, I thought I would show you all a little dance called the Turkey Trot." Ms. Ortiz waved her hands upwards, wanting the class to get out of their seats.
Ms. Torres joined in. "It's a fun bouncy dance; very popular in the early 1900s. What dance is not completed with a little ragtime music from the King of the genre himself, Scott Joplin."
"It's just a really simple dance," Ms. Ortiz promised. "Just do what Ms. Torres and I do, and you'll be fine. And if you mess up, that's okay."
Ms. Torres turned on the music and Maple Leaf Rag. The two teachers hopped their feet apart in the rise of their footballs with heel droppings, following arm flappings. Soon, the class joined in and started having a good time.
Seeing how the unsub cleaned the female victim's clothes instead of destroying them, the team deduced that the unsub was a woman, and from what's been gathered so far, the team figured the unsub could have had some kind of interaction with all the victims.
"Mommy!" Séraphine leaped into Élise's arms.
Élise snuggled her curly hair with her cheeks. "How was Creative Movement?"
"It went great!" Séraphine spun around one, and Élise chuckled. "Oooodles of fun!"
"That's good, and I hope you've been a good girl because it's Pizza Night!"
After dinner, while Spencer got the children tucked in and ready for bed, Élise wanted to get a good start on donating some of her old clothes. She meticulously and scrutinizingly observed a white turtleneck before ultimately deciding to give it away. Soon, she tossed a bunch of her old jeans, skirts, and pants into the contribute pile.
Spencer knocked on her open closet door, and Élise turned. "Hey, babe."
"That's for charity?"
Élise flung another blouse in the batch. "Yup. Gives me another reason to buy new clothes."
Spencer simpered; half his body was against the wall. "Think something's going on with Rossi?"
Élise held her back away and went back to focusing on her clothes. "What makes you say that?"
"According to Kate, Rossi might have a groupie," Spencer replied.
Élise stifled a laugh. "I know the man has fans, but a groupie? What is he, some kind of typical yet cliché rock star?" Come to think of it, Élise and almost every FBI employee knew Rossi was the reason most of the fraternization rules existed. So maybe…she still had to take a laugh.
Spencer combined; now, his elbow was against the wall, and he casually had his hand on his temple. "A non-crazy one who might want tutelage. According to Kate, the last time he offered it, a woman broke into his house," he took a pause. "Six times."
Élise snapped her head. "For real?" She made an amusingly humorous face. "I wonder what happened to her."
"She's doing five-to-ten."
"Classy." Élise giggled. "For a rich G-man, he should have had better home security."
It was another Saturday morning in the Bastien-Reid household. Élise helped clean the sink after serving the family their breakfast. Rose was now giving Opal her daily walk and decided to take her to the doggy park later.
"So, kids," Spencer finished drying his hands and threw the rag with the others. "Mommy and I have some ideas on what to do today."
Isaac had his hand up. "Like what?"
"How about the Fall Bazaar at the Washington Waldorf School?" Élise suggested with her hands against the countertops. "Fun activities, arts and crafts, a puppet show, storytime."
"Cooool!" Séraphine and Isaac exclaimed. "Can we go? Can we go?"
Élise swayed her hands down. "We can. We can." She pulled out her cell phone, and it said ten after eight. "We could be out of the house before nine o'clock if you hurry up." Spencer and Élise couldn't help but laugh when they watched the children hurdled out of their seats and bolted out of the nook.
"You just gotta love their enthusiasm." Spencer got the children's plates, utensils, and cups and had just placed them in the sink when he felt his pants vibrate. He took it out of his pockets and held it to his ear. "Hello?"
"I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but there was a double murder last night."
Spencer sighed, not so loudly that Élise could hear him. "Aw, man…"
"I'm just the unfortunate messenger," Garcia apologized; her tone matched it.
"Okay." Spencer groaned when he hung up. He turned to see Élise giving him a small smile. "Why do unsubs have to mess up our weekend plans?" he asked with exasperation.
Élise pulled him closer to him. "On the flip side, Thanksgiving's next week, so we get a little time away from time."
Spencer chuckled; Élise knew how to make him smile.
After seeing the latest crime scene, the team delivered the profile about the unsub being a middle-aged Caucasian woman with Intermittent Explosive Disorder and trichotillomania, where she pulls out her hair as a stress reliever.
Élise kept her word and took the children to the Fall Bazaar held inside the WWS building. It was everything it was said to be. Festive, jovial music occupied the event, and interesting artisan vendors in the lower school hall.
Speaking of which, Isaac tucked on his mother's hand and extended his tiny arm out to point to the henna and face painting vendor. "Mommy-mommy-mommy!"
"You wanna get your face painted?" Élise petted Isaac's head.
Séraphine injected in. "Same here!"
Élise shrugged her shoulders. "Eh, why not?"
Another bittersweet episode—it was good that the team caught the unsub before she could do more harm to anyone, especially her daughter, but in another one of her uncontrollable rages, she murdered her husband and might have to spend the rest of her life institutionalized, leaving her two children to be raised by a family member.
Cases like these made Spencer tremendously grateful to have a wife and children. A wife who'd understood his hectic work schedule and had seen the downsides of horrendous mental illness and kids so innocent and young and free.
And he'll never stop being grateful for that.
Since the case was over and making the rest of the weekend, as promised, Spencer and Élise took the children to the Westin Tysons Corner for The Enchanted Forest Holiday Extravaganza hosted and presented by The Junior League of Northern Virginia. It was an absolute whimsical forest of decorative holiday trees and decorations.
Séraphine loved the science experiences from the Children's Science Center, and Isaac adored the model train display by the National Capital Trackers.
After another long day, Spencer and Élise snuggled together on the couch.
"Cheers." The two clucked their chilled Champagne flute, and each had a sip of their mocktail drink. After a nice inhale, Élise blew a light sigh. "Already Thanksgiving Week. Pretty soon, it'll be Christmas, and Thanksgiving will already be forgotten."
"Yeah." Spencer agreed with ease.
Élise held her head closer to his chest. "At least we can relax for the majority of the week after Tuesday afternoon."
"And speaking of Christmas, what do you want for Christmas?"
Élise pouted her mouth upwards. "I'll let you know soon enough."