A/N: Hello again, everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.

If you guessed correctly, congratulations! THIS CHAPTER'S GOING TO BE ABOUT ISAAC DYLAN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY! (CLAPPING HANDS) YAY!

But first…

Reid looked at himself in the floor-length mirror, dressed in a sweater vest over a rolled-up sleeved button shirt, gray chino pants, and wingtips.

Élise strolled into their bedroom, already clad in a cream-color pantsuit and heels, now had her hands in her pockets.

"How do you feel about returning back to work after three weeks?" she asked.

Reid turned away and scratched his head; thinking it was time for a change, he decided to soon get a new haircut. "Honestly…I don't know how to explain it."

"I don't think anyone does," Élise replied, giving her hair one last brush. "Do you feel refreshed and ready to take on the unsubs again?"

A chuckle came from Reid's mouth. "A little bit."

Élise had her hand caressing his cheek. "Even so, that's still good…right?"

Even before stepping off the elevator, Reid couldn't help but stop at the wall of deceased FBI agents. He got to Strauss' picture and quickly read the description of her FBI career.

Strauss came a long way. From the first time dealing with her on a Milwaukee case, she insulted the head detective within the first sixty seconds of her first crime scene. When she stepped on a victim's blonde hair, she had a bit of a nervous breakdown; if Hotch wasn't so nice to her, he would have left her there for everyone to see it.

Then her attitude towards the team really toned down with the Foyet case. Though she had her personal demons, finding out, she struggled in her battles with alcoholism and was just as she was in determined to stay clean. In spite of her actions, she did not deserve to have her life brutally taken away by the Replicator.

Reid sighed before walking into the bullpen and setting his bags on his desk. He looked at his framed picture of himself with Élise, Seraphine, and Isaac.

"Spencer."

He turned his head and saw Blake with her bags. He offered to get them for her, but she insisted she got them and placed them on her desk.

"How were your three weeks?" she asked.

Reid nodded. "Great, actually. I got to spend some time with Élise, the kids, my dad, and my in-laws. How are you and James?"

Blake sighed when she took her seat. "Amazing. Felt we were a real couple again. I know he was back a week earlier before…Erin's death, but this time…"

"The feeling was more stronger than ever?" Reid completed the sentence for her.

Blake shook her head in agreeance.

"Pretty boy!"

Reid smirked; he knew that voice—and nickname.

"Morgan."

Morgan smiled with his lips closed and fully grinned, showing off his perfect white teeth.

"How have you been?" Reid asked.

Morgan shrugged. "Spent my time back home in Chicago."

A vivacious voice suddenly thrilled the bullpen. "People!"

Garcia walked in, her arms open as if she was about to magically spread peace and love to all the people in the land. First, she—obviously—hugged Morgan.

"Chocolate thunder…"

Morgan cuddled her back. "Baby girl."

"Oh, I miss you calling me baby girl up and front instead of over the phone," Garcia oozed and made her way to double hug Reid and Blake. "Double brains and beauty…I missed your brains and beautiful faces."

"We missed you, too, Penelope," said Blake after she pulled back from her hug.

Garcia made a halo above her head with her hands, and her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped again.

"Did you miss me?"

JJ was there by the bullpen doors.

"Yah!" Garcia ran towards JJ and gave her a long overdue hug. "Mmm…I missed you, too," she smelled something and sniffed her nose. "Is it me or…?"

JJ explained, "We decided to go to New Orleans for a while. I guess I still have the smell of Creole cuisine."

"Did you two finally…?" Garcia whispered.

JJ burst into laughter. "Penelope…!"

"I can't help it; I have a dirty imagination," said Garcia under her breath for her and JJ to hear, pulling her to everyone else.

JJ lifted her shoulders and asked, "So, how has everyone been doing?"

Before anyone could answer, they spun around and saw Rossi walk in.

"Hey…"

"My favorite Italian man," Garcia couldn't help but give Rossi a hug. "Did you get my presents?"

"Yes, I got your biscotti. And your Pignoli cookies. And your Amaretti," Rossi patted her hands. "But, really, I'm fine. It's not the first time we've lost an agent."

They knew Rossi wasn't wrong. There are agents who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Rossi added, "But at the same time, this isn't the first time we've lost a good friend."

Again, Strauss made have had her antagonizing moments, but at the end of the day, she just wanted the best for the team; Strauss was also a good mother and a good person.

Finally, Hotch brisk walked into the bullpen without greeting everyone. "Conference room, everyone," he ordered.

"Time to get back to work," Morgan muttered; everyone obeyed Hotch's command and sat at their respective seats.

Hotch was the only one standing; he set his briefcase down.

"What's going on, Hotch?" Morgan asked; he and everyone else suspected something was up.

"As you all know, in light of Erin Strauss' death three weeks ago, the BAU will be going through changes."

Reid felt his face and skin crawl. "What do you mean?"

"Not in changes where we'll be reassigned to different units," Hotch corrected what he meant. "But the Bureau will be interviewing to fill in the new Section Chief position. Including me."

The team was silent, though most of them had opened mouths and broadened eyes in light of hearing this.

"Will you be leaving?" Garcia asked quietly; Garcia's not a person to take lightly to change.

Hotch assured, "As I said, the Bureau will be interviewing people; one of them is me, due to my experience running the BAU while Gideon was on his six-month leave."

Chills came again when Gideon's name was mentioned.

"Nevertheless, until more is revealed, I'll still be the Unit Chief," Hotch reassured. "I just wanted to let you all know first before you hear anything."

Garcia sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God."

"Okay, thanks," Élise hung up and set her phone on the bedside. "So, Ethel and Gordon are able to come to D.C. for our little man's first birthday this weekend."

Élise couldn't stop saying it was soon going to be Isaac's first birthday. Though she didn't know she was pregnant with him for the first twelve weeks, she was determined to make sure he was healthy, and a week before his due date, there he was.

Born at the stroke of midnight on June 21st of last year, weighed eight pounds, was twenty-one inches long, and look at him now.

Sure, it was his first birthday, but she was determined to make it extraordinary, though he wouldn't even remember it.

"Mmm-hmm…" Reid was at the edge of the bed, looking at the clean carpeted floor.

"I have so many ideas on how to make our boy's day perfect," Élise continued.

"Mmm-hmm…"

Élise deduced he wasn't really listening to her. "And maybe I should pay Ethel to do the planning for us."

Reid sighed. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

Élise snapped her fingers in front of him. "Spen…"

"Huh?" he snapped out of it. "Wha…?"

"You seemed off ever since you came home from work," Élise replied. "Typically, you explain how your first day back would be after a two-week break, but not this time. Why is that?"

Reid rubbed his eyelashes. "The Bureau will be interviewing people to replace Strauss."

Élise lifted her shoulders and leaned closer. "So, what's the problem?"

"Hotch is one of the interviewees," Reid announced.

"Ah…" Élise's mouth dripped a bit open, and she still got what he was saying. "You're worried he's not going to be the Unit Chief anymore, huh?"

"It just seems so weird if Hotch was not going to be our Unit Chief," said Reid. "I guess I'm just used to it after Gideon had his…nervous breakdown. Though it's not really called a nervous breakdown, but a major depressive episode instead. And again when he left permanently."

Élise had her hand on his shoulders. "I doubt Hotch would leave the team to a complete stranger."

"True; he did let Morgan be the temporary Unit Chief while he was dealing with Foyet," Reid stroked his chin. "I don't think Rossi would want the job as Unit Chief. As he once said 342 days ago, "I would never be Unit Chief for I am too old nor have the patience anymore for that political svit."

Élise snickered. "I don't blame him. All you can do is see what will happen. Try not and think about that for now. Let's try about good thoughts. Like our boy's upcoming birthday."

Reid ran his fingers through his hair. "I think I can't wait for my hair appointment after work."

"Neither could Aunt Ethel," Élise commented.

"So, did you get the invitation?" asked Élise; she was on the phone with Maeve, who was still in Vermont with Bobby and their children.

Maeve sighed. "Absolutely. I can't wait to see Seraphine and Isaac again. It felt like it's been forever."

"I know, right?" Élise fiddled with her fingertips. "So, how's Bobby?"

Maeve answered, "He's been feeling a bit better now that his mother's responding to the treatments well."

Élise had her hand on her heart. "Oh, be still."

Maeve sniffed. "It's been a battling few months, but we still have a long way to go."

"Well, give Bobby and his parents my blessings," said Élise.

"Okay," Maeve promised. "See you on Friday."

"Lots of love," Élise completed the conversation and hung up. She opened the fridge and took a look to see what she could cook for dinner. Chicken, eggplant, zucchini.

A lightbulb went off in her head. "Stir-fly."

She grabbed them and closed the fridge door.

"Whoa!"

Élise almost dropped her ingredients when she saw Reid's new tousled hairdo. His hair was now shorter on the sides and back; and longer and fuller on the top.

"Interesting cut," Élise played with his hair. "Really shows off your bone structure."

Reid massaged his back. "I hope it's enough to get Aunt Ethel off my back."

"It's more than enough."

"What do you think of this one, little man?" Élise couldn't decide between two short-legged suit outfits. "Mmm…?"

Reid stood against the wall with his arms folded, his legs over one, and his legs crossed. He amusingly rolled his eyes. "Élise…I don't think he really cares…

Élise scoffed. "Yes, he does…"

"Seriously, look at him…" Isaac looked around the room. "He could care less…"

"Mmm-hmm…" Élise set the outfits back in the drawers and walked back and forth, scratching her head. "Okay…I can deal with that…"

Reid picked Isaac up. "Come on, you…" he rocked him and whispered in his ears, "Mommy's a little crazy about your upcoming birthday party."

"I heard that," Élise remarked.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

"Wonder who that could be?"

She opened the door and smiled.

"Ma! Bea!"

Her mother and sister-in-law.

"Élise…!"

Élise allowed her mother and sister-in-law in the house and closed the door behind them. "I thought you weren't coming until later tomorrow."

"Thought I surprise you," said Ms. Geneva.

Bea squealed, "Where's the little man?"

"Hello!" Reid's voice echoed in the foyer before appearing with Seraphine and Isaac. His eyes broadened when seeing his in-laws.

"Hey!"

"Grandma…!"

Ms. Geneva held her arms out. "Ah, let me hold my grandson," Reid gently passed Isaac to his maternal grandmother. "Oh, look at those big blue eyes…"

"Aww…you're so cute!" Brenda patted his head. "Those eyes, that nose, your hair…boy, you got such good genes…"

"Thank you!" Reid and Élise said simultaneously before looking at each other.

Seraphine hugged Brenda after she squatted to her size. "Hi…!"

"Hey, little girl," after pulling back, Brenda asked, "Ready for your brother's big day?"

"Yay!" Seraphine jumped up and down.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

"I think I have an idea…." Reid excused himself, making his way to the door. And when he did…

"Mom!"

Diana was there with a nurse assistant.

"Baby!" after walking into the house, she held her arms out and hugged her son. "It's been too long…"

"Mmm…it has," said Reid before giving his thanks to the nurse assistant and assuring her he could take it from here.

He watched his mother interact with Seraphine and Isaac as he logged in the security alarm.

Now, both families gathered in the dining room, vegetable Bolognese with a garden salad.

Isaac kept babbling as he was being fed his mashed dinner; Ms. Geneva asked, "Do you like it? Is it good?"

Isaac babbled again, making everyone giggle and laugh.

"I can't believe my grandson is already a year old," William sniffed; the emotions came to him already.

Reid wiped his mouth. "Ready for your big day tomorrow?"

"Yah…!" his maternal grandparents shook his hands.

Élise cheered like a football player who'd just scored a touchdown and had the crowd cheering like there was no tomorrow. "Yay…!"

Élise slipped her black silk nightcap on her head; Reid was already in bed, looking at the memory book and setting up Isaac's page for his birthday.

"Tomorrow's going to be the big day," Élise got into bed and rested her head against the pillow. she opened her eyes and shot herself up. "Food…"

Reid coolly replied, "We got pizza, ice cream, cupcakes, and people will be bringing in dishes."

Élise sighed. "Okay," she patted his chest and rested her head again. Opening her eyes again, "Theme…"

"Pool party," Reid mentioned.

Élise closed her eyes again. And opened them three seconds later…

Before Élise could say anything, Reid stated in a televised weatherman voice, "Tomorrow's weather will be sunny all day, 78 degrees, zero-to-five chances of rain."

Elis clapped her hands over her face. "Oh, Lord…I'm going nutty over this…"

"What's up with you?" Reid held her up. "I know you want to make this a perfect day for Isaac, but you weren't this antsy with Seraphine's first birthday. What's really going on?"

Élise sniffed and wiped her eyes; her hands were now moist from the tears.

"Does all this have to do with you leaving us for a couple of months?" Reid guessed. "You had your reasons. We talked about this."

Élise shook her head. "I know."

"You shouldn't feel guilty about it," Reid assured her.

"Still, I just…" she had her hand on her stomach. "I just…no matter how many times I told myself not to feel guilty, I can't help it but keep on feeling it."

Reid took her hands. "As your husband, let me just say you are a wonderful and amazing woman who would do anything for her loved ones, especially her children. You got better for our children and me."

He kissed her temple. "Now get some sleep."

Élise woke up at least in the middle of the night before finally allowing herself to sleep. When she looked at the clock again, it was nine minutes until seven.

She turned her head and noticed Reid wasn't there, causing her to shoot her body up.

Before she could think of anything else, the door swung open.

It was Reid, and he had a big breakfast tray: filled with Belgian blueberry waffles, French toast, egg white omelets, granola parfait, crepes with fresh fruit, and orange juice.

"I see you're up, sleepyhead," said Reid, setting the tray on the bed.

Élise massaged her head. "Yeah…"

"My dad made breakfast for us," Reid explained. "He wanted us to get our fullest strength for Isaac's party."

"Mmm," now Élise moved down to her neck and chest. Clearing her throat, she opened up. "Spen, about last night…"

"Hey," he lifted her head with his hand on her chin. "You don't have to explain or apologize for how you feel. You went through a lot. You can't keep punishing yourself like this."

Élise bobbed her head in agreeance. "Mmm-hmm…" She can't keep doing this to herself. Élise smiled a bit.

"I love you."

They gave each other a smooch.

"I'm ready to celebrate our boy's birthday," Élise's voice rose a bit. "But first, let's eat because I can't celebrate on an empty stomach."

Reid kissed her forehead. "That's my girl."

They started eating their breakfast and discussed what they needed to get done before the guests arrived in the next few hours.

Reid and Élise pressed their fingers to their mouths towards Seraphine, signaling her to be quiet before walking into his nursery.

"Shhh-shhh-shhh…he's waking up…"

Isaac started waking up, stretching his tiny body and yawning squeakily.

"Good morning, Zig-zag."

Reid and Élise hung a blue letter HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner in his crib.

"Happy Birthday, Isaac!"

Élise blew a noisemaker, and Reid and Seraphine threw blue-and-white colored confetti around his crib; Isaac just had his eyes widened and squealed.

"Yoo onn, brah!" Seraphine giggled.

"That's right," said Reid. "And boy, we got a good day planned for you, little man!"

Isaac giggled as Élise picked him up; gave him a kiss on his forehead.

"Want some breakfast, homeboy?"

Isaac babbled, "Yah..."

"Oh, here's the birthday boy," Mr. Micha saw Élise walk in with Isaac in her arms; Reid, Seraphine, and now Opal trailed behind her.

Applause was given by the family members.

"Oh, let me see him," Ms. Geneva wanted to hold him; Élise gave her mother Isaac. "Hey…who's one today?"

Seraphine pointed. "He is…"

"So, sis, are you going to ask like a complete case this time around?" asked Arthur, who fondly remembered Élise being a total drama queen, even over the littlest of things, including crying about when the candles were forgotten."

"I was pregnant carrying this one; I was overly emotional and no," Élise confidently assured him. "I'm not going to."

Arthur sipped some coffee and lowered his eyes. "Mmm…we'll see…"

"Looks good, everyone," Élise gave a thumbs up to her parents and in-laws working in the backyard. The white portable tables were set under the gazebo and pavilions; a few for food and drinks, one for presents, one for towels and lounge chairs, and one for the guests' personal items. Reid made sure the pool water was clean; Arthur made sure the lifeguard chair was secured and steady; Brenda got the kiddie pool and water slides organized.

Going back inside the house, she heard an echo.

"Guess who's back…?"

Élise smiled. "Hey, Rose!"

Rose is given a heartfelt hug. "Hello…"

"How was the wedding?" asked Élise about the wedding of one of her nieces on her late husband's side.

Rose sighed heavenly. "I felt honored to be the mother of the bride, though her mother died ten years ago," she sniffed. "It was wonderful to have experienced that."

Élise gave her another hug.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

"I wonder who they could be…"

Élise got to the door, and there was the entire Carney family. The ever-famous Aunt Ethel and Uncle Gordon; John, Melissa, Sabrina, and Samuel; Anna and Nathan.

"Everyone!" she allowed them in. "So glad you made it…"

"Ooh…!" Ethel was the first one to dash inside, giddying with joy. "Where's my little movie star nephew? Where is he? Where is he!?"

Reid's voice echoed. "He's right here with me…"

Ethel laser-focused on Reid and Isaac. She held her arms out, wanting her nephew to hug him and when he did, "Thank you, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, you cut that hippie hair of yours," she whispered.

"You'll never stop commenting on it, will you?" Reid remarked.

Ethel patted her chest. "Not as long as I'm still living and breathing on this Earth. Now give me my great nephew," she coaxed Isaac out of Reid's arms and cooed him. "Hey, little man. You are one year old today. Who's the one-year-old movie star, huh?"

Élise giggled at Ethel holding Isaac but started snickering when Reid mimicked Ethel when she called her great-nephew a movie star.

"I know you're not sassing me from behind, Spencer Walter Reid," Ethel warned Reid, making him stop and snicker to himself.

Élise hugged her cousins-in-law. "How's everyone doing?" she spun Melissa around. "Oooh…looking good."

Melissa flexed her arms. "I've been doing those exercise videos you sent me and some new ones I found. Plus, caring for two children can be a workout itself."

"Who are you tellin'?" Élise agreed before getting to Anna and Nathan. "So, how are you two?"

Anna shrugged. "We're good…"

"Yeah, thanks for asking," Nathan had his arms around Anna.

John crouched to Sabrina's size and asked, "Ready to go swimming?"

"Yes!" Sabrina cried.

Élise guided the families to the backyard while Reid got to the door after hearing another knock.

It was the team. He didn't know what surprised him: Hotch looking like a surfer in his dark shades, plain shirt, boardshorts, and flip flips; Morgan in lifeguard gear; Garcia looking like an obvious beach girl; Rossi as an undercover Secret Service agent protecting the First Family.

"Hello…." he realized not everyone was there. "Where's JJ?"

"Emergency with her mother," Garcia explained. "She took Will and Henry with her but wanted me to give you Isaac's birthday present," she gave Reid a bag.

Élise's voice bounced the walls when entering the foyer again. "Hello-hello, people…" she shook at Morgan's attire. "Oh, I bet this is making your day."

Morgan flexed his muscles. "Mmm-hmm…"

Garcia acted quick-kneed. "Oh, save me…save me…" she fell into his arms and swooned.

"Where's JJ?" Élise asked, not that she really cared.

Blake explained. "Family emergency."

"Okay," Élise understandably shook her head; again, she didn't really care JJ wasn't there.

"LET'S PARTY!"

Soon some more people arrived, and for nearly two hours, all the kids either played in the pools or water slides with their parents, ate at the snack bars, and relaxed under the cabanas. Opal floated around in the pool in her new swimsuit.

Reid helped Isaac unwrap one of his presents. "Hey…look…you got an abacus and a xylophone!" he set Isaac down. "Wanna give your godfather Aaron a hug.

"Tanks yoo, Aryn…" Isaac babbled as he hugged him.

Élise couldn't help but smile and take a picture.

Hotch grinned. "Anything for you, little man."

So far, Isaac got a bunch of books and clothes from Mr. Micha, Ms. Geneva, Arthur, Brenda, Alex and James, and Élise's associates from the firm she worked at and the Circuit; a giant check from her old boss, Mr. Wilmington; educational electronics from Garcia and Kevin, his first pair of custom shoes from Rossi; bongos from JJ and Will.

"Let me go get my gift," Morgan dashed out to get his present for Isaac, and when he did, mouths dropped, and eyes beamed.

Morgan gifted Isaac a black-and-gray '50s classic car-styled ride-on speedster.

"Voilà!"

"Top of the line," said Morgan, touching the padded seat. "Made in France and totally kid-proof, so…you're welcome…"

"Caaal…!" Isaac scampered to the scooter; Morgan scooped him up and sat him down. "Tanks!"

Morgan chuckled, giving him a high-five.

The present exchange continued. Isaac received knitted clothes from Aunt Ethel; play kits from Uncle Gordon; sports balls from Gordon and Melissa; a costume play chest and a Buk drum from Anna and Nathan; a medieval themed book from Diana, and flashcards from William.

"Happy Birthday to you," Reid and Élise sang as they brought out the smash cake for Isaac.

Everyone joined in, "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, Isaac. Haaapppy Biiirrrtthhhday to yoouuu!"

"Blow out the candle, little man!" Reid had his hands on his knees.

Isaac burped his candle out, making everyone giggle and applaud when she finally did.

Isaac started grubbing on his cake.

"You wanna share some of that cake, homeboy?"

Isaac took a small piece and fed it to Élise. "Ma…ma…"

"Oh, thank you, sweetheart!" Élise kissed him. "And happy birthday!"