A/N: Hello again, everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. No copyright infringement intended.

I'm back from Florida after seeing my big brother get married on the beach, and now, I have a sister-in-law. Yay! It was wonderful. Bless them both to a lifetime of happiness and joy. I dedicate this chapter to them.

Now back in business, it'll be about a week since Élise had her AG hearing. So, let's see what happens next…

While Séraphine and Isaac had their naps, Spencer dabbed around on his home computer, looking at the different schools in the D.C. metro area since Séraphine was at the age to start school when September comes in the next few months.

Élise knocked on his home office door and came in, holding a plate that had a sandwich and a glass. "Thought I bring you a sandwich," she used her foot to close the door, set it down beside him on his desk, and kissed his cheek.

"Awww…" Spencer gave her a cheek kiss back and went back to focusing on the screen.

Élise stood behind him and over his shoulders to see what he was up to. "Going back to school?" she joked.

Spencer chuckled. "No. Just looking at schools to send our children."

"Well, Fifi is the tender age to start school…" Élise mentioned. "And D.C. has some of the best schools in the country." She pointed to some of the schools on the screen. "I mean, there's Flint Hill, Maret, Potomac. I mean, Georgetown Day; some of the best and highest-ranked government officials sent their children there. Sidwell Friends is said to be the Harvard of Washington's private schools. Many politicians and presidents, even our current one, send their children there."

Spencer shrugged. "I know, but don't you want to try something different, like, say, the Washington International School?"

"Huh…" Élise looked at their homepage on the screen. "Ranked as one of the top and most challenging schools in D.C. and was the first school in the area to offer the International Baccalaureate. I've always heard of an IB program, but what is it exactly?" she asked.

Spencer explained. "The benefits of an IB program are that it gives students a more well-rounded education, to be more multilingual, rigorous academic, personal standards, confidence growth, inquiry, and critical thinking. Plus, when students graduate with an IB diploma, then it's eligible for sophomore standing and can up to 30 college credits towards their bachelor's degree."

Élise pursed her mouth and nodded her head. "Ooh…sounds intriguing. If my school had one, I could have been takin' over the world sooner."

"It does…" Spencer agreed and was amused by Élise's world-dominating earlier plans. "Which is why I've already sent out an inquiry form."

Élise slanted her head to the side. "Since when?"

"Since Séraphine was born…" Spencer muttered quietly. "And another one after Isaac's birth…"

Élise's smirk turned to chuckles. "Did you complete an application already?"

"Yes…"

Élise patted his shoulder. "Good thinkin'…what's next?"

"A parent questionnaire," said Spencer. "We can even schedule an individual meeting with an admissions member, then there's the applicant visit and other documents to send out, and we won't know until March if approved or declined admission."

"I know we'll be accepted," an optimistic Élise replied. "Hell, I mean, WIS and any other school would be out of their mind not to accept us, especially with your brains and my…influence."

Spencer was at his desk, finishing up on some paperwork with Blake, when he eyed JJ striding out while entirely focusing on her phone, causing her to almost bump into another fellow agent. By the looks of her expressions, she had this sort of cool calmness about her. It definitely doesn't take a profiler of the team's expression to know something was really going on with her. Not that it was any of his business, nor did he don't really care about JJ's personal life, but for the past couple of days, Spencer suspected something off with her. Though the rumors of JJ and Cruz having an affair died down a bit, something was at play.

"Spencer, hey," Blake called out for him. "Look…" she waved her MontBlanc pen to the wall-mounted television. One of the agents turned up the volume; Élise's picture was on the screen.

"…Élise Bastien was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with the bipartisan vote…"

His mouth dropped.

"Holy…" Élise tried not to finish that sentence since the children were near her, watching the BREAKING NEWS announcement on the status of her SJC confirmation hearing.

"Now the nomination of Ms. Bastien could go to the Senate floor confirmation as early as…"

Isaac giggled, pointing to the television. "Mama, yoo on TB…"

"Oh, yes, I am…" Élise sat down and saw she got a text message from her brother. "Yes, I am." She opened the message and read it.

CONGRATS SIS! YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO MAKING HISTORY!

She got another one from Maeve.

YOU GO GIRL!

And one from Spencer just now.

PROUD OF YOU!

By the next workday, Spencer was at his desk working while Garcia alerted everyone that they were needed immediately for a spree killer in Cleveland, Ohio.

Spencer got his cell phone and quickly texted Élise to let him know they'll be in Cleveland.

Élise finished fixing the children their lunch: BLT sandwiches with the crust cut off. "Here you go…"

Isaac clapped his hands and cheered. "Yay…"

"Thank you, mama…" Séraphine smiled. "Where's daddy?" she wondered.

Élise ran her fingers through her curly hair. "Daddy went to work; hopefully, he'll be back in a day or two…"

Séraphine sighed. "Okay…"

"But if you two finish your sandwiches and you're good, I'll make you two some chocolate chip cookies…" Élise hoped that'll get them excited.

And it did. "Yay!"

The team, minus Rossi—who went to Santa Monica for personal reasons—landed after discussing the possibility of the unsub also being a vigilante. Spencer and Hotch talked to a mugging victim before coming together with Blake and Morgan.

Now the team got word of the unsub gunning down someone else; Spencer and Blake went to talk to the witness, only to learn that the victim was the witness' abusive ex and hoped the team never caught the unsub, viewing him as a hero.

Spencer and Blake thanked the witness for their time and walked back to their car. Spencer sat in the front passenger's seat, and Blake offered to drive. Turning the ignition on, she began the conversation. "Look, I know we've seen our share of vigilantes, and yes, I know the law sometimes is not fair, but it still doesn't give someone the right to kill."

"One of the many reasons for someone to be a vigilante is because of a lack of faith in the legal justice system," said Spencer. "The legal system still has some unfair laws and loopholes. I once read that in West Virginia, you can beat your wife on a Sunday as long as it's done in public on the courthouse steps."

Blake quickly looked at Spencer with a bewildered expression on her face. "Seriously?"

"Mm-hmm…"

Blake scoffed and shook her head in disgust. "Whoever thought of it were a serious misogynist, and whoever approved it are equally reprehensible…"

"Definitely…"

Élise was in the kitchen with Rose, helping her prepare dinner. Élise mixed seasoned breadcrumbs into the blended ingredients and formed balls when Rose strolled in.

"The kids are accompanied right now," said Rose, going through the cabinets and grabbing the saucepans for the sweet and sour sauce. "Thank you, educational television."

Élise nodded. "Oh, yeah…" then, she said, "Hey, Rose. Did your school ever have an IB program?"

Rose thought about it for a few seconds. "I think so, yeah. I wearily of pursuing one because of all the work that came with it, but I found it beneficial when I went to college."

"Spencer and I are thinking about applying Séraphine and Isaac to the Washington International School," said Élise, folding her sixth tofu ball.

Rose gasped. "That's an outstanding school; I know lots of parents send their children to Sidwell or Georgetown Day, but WIS is a good school. Some of my old colleagues actually send their kids there, too."

Élise rolled another ball. "There's so much process to go through, but I think we'll be accepted."

Back at the police station, Spencer's hunches resurfaced again about JJ for a yoctosecond just as Garcia called them about who the potential unsub could be.

Clifford Walsh, a man who lost his wife and son ten years prior to meth addict Howard Clark, and then he was randomly killed in prison.

The team gave the profile.

"Oooh…" said Maeve. "You know Bobby, and I applied BJ and Charlotte to WIS, too; I even know some old colleagues and acquaintances who have kids attending there."

Élise scratched the top of her head. "Did you two do the parent questionnaire?"

Maeve said, "We did, yeah; we even scheduled a visit sometime in February."

"Spencer and I are going to do it when he comes back, and hopefully, we can get schedule a visit."

Spencer and Morgan found Walsh's truck and discovered he was counting the days Clark would be released from prison to avenge his family until his own death, and Walsh intended on committed suicide until finding another outlet.

There were rumors of an accomplice, but the team needed to send out warnings to anyone related to Clark's case, only for news of another murder unrelated to Clark.

Élise selected some clothes and put together some outfits for the week.

Going through the evidence again and Walsh's photos, the team discovered that his son was Clark's accomplice, and Walsh knew it.

But unfortunately, after revealing the truth to him about his last victim when holding Clark's mother hostage to even the fields, Walsh committed suicide.

Within an hour, the team was back in D.C. While gathering his belonging, Spencer noticed JJ was still focused on her phone before stepping into the elevator.

"Spencer…" someone called for him.

"Huh…?"

Blake asked, "Ready to go home and see the wife and kids?"

"Absolutely." Spencer adjusted his bag as he and Blake walked towards the elevator. "I'm taking Élise to a Korean film festival in Georgetown. You're welcome to join us if you want. A lot of the entries probably aren't subtitled yet, but I can do a simultaneous whisper translation while we watch."

"I think I'm going to curl up to a good book," said Blake.

"괜찮아요, 문제 없어요."[1] Spencer replied in Korean.

Blake pouted her lips. "Impressive…"

"감사합니다."[2] Spencer replied again in Korean.

As promised, Spencer took Élise to the Korean Film Festival in Georgetown.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Spencer fumbled around with the buttons on his sweater. Élise sauntered from the bedroom bathroom, still in her burgundy-colored velvet sleep set and slippers; her hair was a bit messy and tangly and didn't wash her face yet.

"Mmm…" she still felt a bit tired from last night, but she still noticed Spencer getting ready. "Work?"

"Morgan and I are going to Constitution; we're gonna get breakfast on the way," Spencer answered, gathering things he'll need for his satchel. "JJ's gone missing…"

"What do you mean 'missing?'" Though JJ was not her favorite person in the world, especially since she snitched to Prentiss about leaving Spencer and the kids for two months, Élise was a bit concerned about her.

"Will called and said she didn't come home last night."

"Sure she didn't get drunk with Garcia again?" Élise still had fond memories of blasting them when they were hungover.

Spencer frowned a bit. "Surprisingly, no, because Cruz is also missing, and you want to know something?"

"What?"

Spencer announced, "JJ and Cruz knew each other from their time at the State Department, and they still work there."

Élise made a face. "Say what…?" she knew JJ was forcibly transferred to the State Department years ago, but that was years ago. "H-how…?"

"Hotch already spoke to the Director, and now, he's going to State to talk to Rosemary Jackson."

"The Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs." Élise knew who she was. "Personally, I'd offer my advice and assistance, but I don't think that would be a good idea since I still have my nomination, and it wouldn't be wise for me to be caught up with other federal departments' business." Even though JJ would be one of the last people in the universe she'd help out.

"Yup." Spencer pecked her lips; Élise smooched him back. "Love you."

"Love you, too."

The team confirmed that JJ and Cruz were abducted and knew it had something to do with her DOS transfer. It made them wonder what she really did in the year she left, especially since Erin Strauss knew what JJ was doing. To find out more, Anderson gave Spencer and Garcia an access card to the SCIF.

Once there, they came across a classified task group operation called Integrity involving tracking Osama Bin Laden. Garcia discovered a photo of JJ, Cruz, Strauss, and a tall, muscular man with them in the Middle East before the two were forcibly escorted out by security guards.

Élise needed an outline, and that was taking out her recent frustrations on a punching bag in the gym.

"Ehh-ehh," Élise grunted from hitting the bag. "Mm-mm-kiya!" she did a sidekick against the bag. Now she began talking to herself. "This chick has the nerve to tell me about secrets. Did she not learn herself after Prentiss was said to be dead and ended up being alive and hiding in Paris from Doyle. Of course, it's okay for her to have secrets, but not anyone else. Yeah, that doesn't sound hypocritical at all. Oh, no…no-no-no…"

"Hello…"

Élise flinched. "Whoa…!" when she turned around, Rose was standing by the door with her hands in her pockets.

"Do you often talk to yourself?" asked Rose.

Élise turned her head the other way. "I got that from my mother," she rolled her neck while taking off her gloves and started unbandaging her hands. "Heard me rambling?"

Rose handed Élise a cotton towel; Élise appreciated it. "You know, being married to a CIA agent wasn't easy; sometimes, he couldn't tell me his assignments because of how highly classified his work can be, but at the end of the day, I got it."

Élise dabbed her face. "Ahh…still, it just pisses me off how JJ threw this we-shouldn't-be-secrets-from-each-other with Diane at the same time; she had this going on. Hell…you'd think she learned her lesson after Prentiss."

"Let's hope she does after this…"

Élise tossed the towel in the hamper and walked out; Rose followed her. "Yeah, I doubt that…"

Despite being told by Undersecretary Jackson to back off from investigating, the team managed to get some information from her on why JJ and Cruz were abducted.

And with some help from Prentiss, on the way from London to help them.

Tivon Askari, an elite trooper and translator from Iraq who worked with them until his betrayal.

The team knew it was now or never to hurry since Askari is known to derive pleasure from inflicting torture on others.

Rose was cooking dinner while Élise entertained the children with a movie since they were good all day.

"Mama…" Séraphine tucked Élise's blouse sleeve.

"Mmm…" Élise patted Isaac's head as he had it on her lap. "You okay…?"

"When is my cast coming off…?" she pointed to her pink and purple cast.

Élise answered, "Soon…and then, you'll get to trade it for a boot. Which means you'll get to walk again. Yay!"

"Aww…" Séraphine was a little disappointed. "That means you, daddy, and Rose won't be able to carry me anymore."

The team—and Prentiss—fought off the terrorist regime squad, Askari, and Michael Hastings—a senior CIA operative who was secretly working with Askari—and saved JJ and Cruz.

By the following morning, Spencer was at home with the children, offering to cook everyone, even Rose, breakfast.

"Okay…" Spencer gently placed a buttermilk pancake on top of the three-quarter stack he had, walked over to the nook, and placed a pancake on everyone's plate. "One pancake for you…"

"Thank you, Spencer…" Rose bowed her head.

Spencer handed another one. "A pancake for my princess…"

"Thanks, daddy…" Séraphine giggled.

"One for my prince…"

Isaac clapped his hands. "Tanks…"

"And last but currently not the very least, one for my special lady…" after he put the pancake on her plate, he kissed her lips; Élise kissed him back.

"Thanks, babe…" Élise batted her eyes, and then her phone rang; she immediately got it and answered hello before walking out of the kitchen to take it.

Spencer helped Isaac pour a little maple syrup, and Séraphine sprinkled berries onto her. Rose got up, strode towards the refrigerator, and got some orange juice. Spencer got up and got some cups from the cabinets.

"So…how was the case yesterday?"

Spencer sighed. "Hotch ordered JJ to take some time off to recoup at home when she's released from the hospital. I'm actually thinking about…" he didn't finish that sentence when Élise came back into the kitchen and had this almost blank zombie-like look on her face.

"Élise…?" Spencer walked to her side.

"Senate made their decision…" she said in this whispery tone. "I'm going to be the Attorney General of this country…"

Spencer's jaw dropped; some huffs came from his mouth before it formed a cheerful smile and gave her a hug. "Oh, Élise…"

A tear fell. "I'm going to be the AG…" she sniffed. "Me."

[1] Korean: That's fine, no problem.

[2] Korean: Thank you.