A/N: Hello again, everyone!

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

I hope everyone's had a great holiday season.

Cheers to 2023!

Mid-afternoon on a Sunday, while Élise was looking after Isaac and Rose were preparing dinner, Spencer offered to bathe Séraphine and do her hair. Séraphine admitted she wanted something different with her hair and pointed to a braided hairstyle.

Spencer knew what to do. Since her birth and when her hair had more curls, he's been researching products, natural ingredients, and different hairstyles. He gave her a wash—shampoo and conditioner—applied oil and moisturizing and dried her hair; he started braiding in the bedroom.

"Ow…" Séraphine cried. "Ow-ow-oww…!"

Spencer comforted her. "Don't worry, Fifi. I'm also done…"

"It takin' forevah…" Séraphine sighed.

"Oh, I know—I know…" Spencer consoled her again; he didn't blame her for being impatient. "But I'm also…" he clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "I'm done…" Spencer took her hand and guided her to the bathroom. Afterward, he scooped her up to get her to see her reflection in the clean wall mirror.

"Oooh…" Spencer styled her hair with cornrows halfway through, having them secured her vibrant-colored rubber bands that let the rest of her curly hair fall back. "Pretty…"

Spencer smiled. "You like it?"

Séraphine bit down on her tongue and nodded her head. "Uh-huh…" she held her arms out and hugged him. "Thanks, daddy…"

Spencer kissed the top of his daughter's head. "Anytime, honey…"

"Spence!" he could hear Élise calling out for him and getting close. The door crept open a bit, and there she was with Isaac in her arms. She gasped when she saw Séraphine's new hairdo. "Ooh, look at you, little girl…"

Élise curled one of her wavy locks with her manicured index finger and looked at Spencer. "Are you sure you weren't a hairdresser in a past life?"

Later that day, it was nighttime; Élise was in the sunroom in the bedroom. She was on the comfortably plush white settee with her socked feet up on the circular ottoman, simultaneously looking at her tablet while scrolling around on her Samsung phone.

She was startled a bit when she heard a knock on the sunroom room. She turned her head, and there was Spencer standing.

"Ready for bed?" he asked.

Élise stretched, getting up when her phone pinged again, prompting her to get it and looked what was happening. "Oh, Maeve texted me and said she and Bobby would be there with the kids at Séraphine's birthday party next week. Oh!" she got another text message. "I even got one from Savio and Dana, the parents of that cute little girl of theirs, Aaliyah; same with Harold and Patricia's daughter, Blair."

Back in the late fall, Spencer and Élise attended a campus tour of the Washington International School with the other prospective parents, even Maeve and Bobby. Most of them recognized and heard most of them: Spencer recognized Savio Minervini and Dana Abdul from their work among the federal white-collar crime agencies, and they have two older boys; Maeve and Bobby recognized a couple of old acquaintances from their grad school years—Joel Leon and Helena Hagen from the NIH and they have a son, Ronnie; Kevin Tyjani, a Nigerian-British business mogul and Cassandra DuMont-Hawthorne, a British-French curator who works at the Smithsonian who have two sons—one older Quinten and one Séraphine's age Victor—and are currently expecting twin girls; and Harold Winthrop and Patricia Levingston, Foreign Service Officers for the State Department and, are both from prominent business and political families and they have a daughter, Blair.

Then Spencer and Élise took Séraphine to the admissions visit with their other preschooler-aged children. As the visit ended, the parents realized their children had the potential to be best friends by the time school started. The parents hoped to get better acquainted.

"Do you have any idea what you want to do with your birthday?" asked Spencer. "I mean, yours is next Sunday."

"I don't know, honesty," Élise scratched her head as she followed Spencer to their bed and got into bed with him. "Maybe a nice spa day. I haven't had a spa day in a while," she slapped her hands on her face. "A good face mask, scrub, massage, mani-pedi, and body wrap makes all the difference."

Spencer snorted. "How?"

"I just read in Health that spa therapy improves circulation, reduces inflammation in the body, and enhances the body's autoimmune response. Plus, it does wonders for the mental mind." Élise pressed her index and middle fingers on her temples. "Remember the first time I took you for a gentleman's spa service?"

Spencer stroked his chin, remembering that day. He remembered how his face looked more hydrated, his skin more energetic and how refreshed he looked. "I see your point," he tugged Élise closer to him. "Now, we have more pressing matters to attend to."

"No sex…" Élise warned him playfully.

"No…" Spencer wasn't even considering sex, but come to think of it, maybe… "But if you want…"

Élise couldn't help but burst into laughter and covered half her face with her hand. "Spencer…"

Now it was Monday morning, and everyone was eating breakfast at the nook. Spencer passed the bacon plate in case anyone wanted one; Élise finished up an egg and vegetable omelet and wiped her mouth daintily with the napkin. Séraphine gulped half of her orange juice; Isaac had a spoonful of oatmeal with yogurt; and Rose placed a plate of croissants in the center.

"So…" Rose picked a small croissant and added a touch of butter. "Who's birthday is coming next week?"

Séraphine raised her hand. "Me…!"

"And mommy…" Spencer pointed his finger to Élise, who blushed embarrassingly. "We can't forget about mommy. And who'll be turning three next week?"

"Me…!" Séraphine giggled. "And how old will mommy be?"

Élise pressed her mouth up, lowered her eyes, and darted them to her. "It's impolite to ask an adult their age."

Séraphine shrugged. "Sorry…"

After breakfast, Séraphine and Isaac were playing with Rose, and Spencer and Élise were getting ready for work. Spencer dusted any lint that was on his three-piece dark navy suit and checked his oxfords when he lifted his head and watched Élise come out of the bathroom, clad in a black wool pantsuit with a tailored white shirt and slingbacks.

"I got some meetings at DOJ headquarters," Élise stood in front of the floor-length mirror, turned around, and stared at her behind. She wanted to make sure it didn't look too big. "Rose asked what do you want for dinner? She said she wanted to try a lasagna recipe."

Spencer shrugged while putting on his favorite silver watch. "Anything as long as it doesn't have pork, fish, creamed spinach, and it's not chili she's cooking."

"Or macaroni and cheese," said Élise after she turned around again, and Spencer gave her a weird look. "Hey, you have creamed spinach, pork, fish, and chili, and for all good reason. I think I can have mac and cheese."

Spencer snickered. "You hate mac and cheese?"

Élise explained. "I ate some at school and ended up throwing up on my mom's carpet. Since then, mac and cheese and I have been…" she wagged her finger.

"Didn't you have a bite or two during Thanksgiving?" Spencer recalled. "Surely you got over it."

"Like you'll get over your certain food phobias." Élise joked back.

Before anyone knew it, it was already late at night, and everyone in the Bastien-Reid household was asleep.

At least until Spencer's cell started buzzing on the bedside, which caused him to wake up and groan as he got it. He was still a bit sleep-deprived, but after wiping his eyes and winking them until his vision got clearer. He noticed a text alert from Garcia and clicked on it.

MISSING LITTLE GIRL! DEEDS ON THE PLANE! I REPEAT, MISSING LITTLE GIRL!

The message was more than enough to get Spencer hurrying. He borderline jumped out of bed, tossed the sheets, and made his bed. After taking a quick shower, he got dressed in the clothes Spencer laid out before bed. Afterward, he tiptoed to Élise's side and kissed her lips.

"Case?" Élise mumbled; her eyes were closed.

"Mmm-hmm…" Spencer double-checked to make sure he had everything. "When they call us in the middle of the night, you know it's serious. Especially when it's about a missing little girl…"

Élise turned her body the other way and snuggled her head into the pillows. "Find 'hem…then go beat the crap out of them…"

Spencer chuckled. He snuck into the children's room to kiss them goodbye and was out the door.

With cases like these, the team wasted no time and was on the flight to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to help with the abduction of a four-year-old girl named Gabby Hoffer. Helping them on this case was SSA Tia Canning.

Élise concluded another meeting with the Deputy AG when her work cell phone vibrated. The planner app on her phone alerted her that she now had a meeting with the Associate AG.

"You okay, Spencer?" Blake asked Spencer, who had his hand on his cheek while driving to meet up with Agent Canning.

Spencer sighed. "Hopefully…"

Child abduction cases were one of Spencer's least kind of cases. He's said it before, and he'll repeat it since it's never easy, especially since becoming a parent. Gabby was almost a year old than Séraphine; she was back home with Isaac and Élise, safe and sound, and even that wouldn't stop him from worrying.

"What would you do if anything happened to your child?" he asked back to Blake.

Blake heaved a sigh. "I think I'd lose it. What about you?"

"Same," Spencer shook his head and pinched his eyes. "But Élise…" he already imagined it. "Anything happened to either one of our children, ooh…it would be Hurricane Élise…and there's never been one in the US."

Blake shuddered. They got out of the Suburban and met up with her about a potential suspect, Ian Little, to meet up with the rest of the team at the station. When they saw him, he had severe burns; Hotch knew what really happened.

After work, Élise played with the children for about an hour until dinner was ready. Afterward, she tucked the children in and just completed her statements for two upcoming ceremonies at DOJ headquarters.

"Maeve, I'm telling you, I'm exhausted," Élise had her head against her pillow. "I can sense a headache coming."

"Here's what you should do," Maeve advised. "Take a few deep breaths, and dim your bedroom lights, though it might not be easy without Spencer."

Élise snorted. "Maeve!"

Maeve laughed. "Try relaxing."

"I'm relaxed," Élise assured her. "Though I can feel my legs and hands tensing and tingling a bit…"

"Look on the bright side; your birthday's this Sunday, so you can relax as much as you want to. Perhaps treat yourself to a spa day?"

Élise smiled widely. "You took the magical words: spa day," now, an idea came to her again while tapping her chin. "Maybe a fancy dinner, too?"

Spencer picked up his cell phone, dialed home, and held the phone to his ear. Élise answered after the first ring.

"How's everyone doing?" Spencer felt antsier by the minute. He felt it in his hands; almost amazed, he kept his hand steady.

"We're good; I'm about to head off to work."

Spencer blurted, "Can I speak to the kids? Please?"

"Of course…" now Spencer knew Élise put the phone on speaker since he could hear her. "Kiddies, your dad wants to speak to you…!"

"Hi, daddy…" Spencer almost had a tear when he heard Séraphine and Isaac's voices. "You okay…?"

Spencer sniffed his nose. "Mmm-hmm…I love you two. You know that?"

"We luv yoo, too…" Isaac blabbed.

Spencer licked his lips and bit down on his bottom lip when he gave the kids his farewells. He sniffed his nose again when he hung up. Spencer shook off the chill and wiped his eyes, getting himself together. He reminded himself that the kids were safe and there was a little girl out there who needed his help.

He, Morgan, and Canning met up with the crime team at the Little family farm and found the body of Gabby's father, Kate's ex-husband, and one of their main suspects, Doug Hoffer.

Rose finished cutting the crust off the kids' peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gave them their lunch along with a glass of milk.

"Here you go…"

"Thanks, Rosie…" Séraphine and Isaac gratefully thanked her.

Rose went back behind the cabinets, grabbed some supplies, and started cleaning the countertops. She soon asked, "So, Séraphine…what do you want for your birthday next week?"

"Cake!" Séraphine declared, raising her arms in the air.

Isaac repeated after her. "Cake!"

Rose giggled.

Now, the team turned their suspicions onto Sue Walsh, Gabby's first cousin once removed, after reviewing the security footage on the night Gabby was abducted.

And it was further confirmed that Sue killed Gabby's father…

And even more so when she assaulted Hotch in a fit of rage…

Proving she's responsible for Gabby's abduction.

The team knew they'd never get Sue to tell them where Gabby was to ensure Kate's long-term suffering and had to look at things differently.

Little did they know they would uncover—and discover—something big. And sickening.

After another long day, all Élise wanted to do was go home, take her heels off, kick up her feet, and relax with her children. And she did while Rose was getting dinner ready.

"What do you think of the movie?" asked Élise, locking a curl of Isaac's hair on her finger and letting it go loose while the three of them watched the 1970s version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

"That's a lotta chocolate…" Séraphine commented on The Chocolate Room on the big screen. "It's so pretty…"

Isaac drooled when he saw the chocolate falls. "Chocalot…chocalot!"

Élise chuckled when she heard her phone vibrate on the antique-looking coffee table. "All that candy looks good, huh…?" when she picked up her phone, it noticed there was a video chat request. She pressed yes, and there was Spencer, who waved to her.

"Hey…!" Élise smiled and waved back. "Are you coming home soon?"

"Oh, yeah…" Spencer sounded relieved. "Thought you might want to see something…" he turned the video to Gabby being reunited with her family.

"Oh-oh-oh…" Élise melted. "I so need that…and I think you need to see this…" she turned the video back to Séraphine and Isaac, laughing and giggling while watching the movie.

"I needed that, too…"

Hotch assured the team during the flight back home that they'll only do paperwork and the after-action reports and call it an early workday the following day.

And he kept his word. The team finished the filing and was ready to call it a day. While packing, one of the agents turned up the volume on the television screen in the bullpen. It was a new report about the team's success in finding Gabby yesterday, following a press conference on the steps of the US Capitol. There was Élise with the other AGs.

"Yesterday afternoon, while assisting in the abduction of four-year-old Gabby Hoffer, the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit uncovered an underground disrupted adoption criminal business. In this undercover family disruption, children are taken in and quickly given away by overwhelmed adoptive parents…"

JJ sighed while watching the conference and had her arms folded. "I couldn't stop hugging and kissing Henry when I got home. Just knowing how many more kids like that are out there…"

"I know, it's sickening…" Blake agreed. "Hopefully, our legislators will do something about it."

"And soon," Spencer added. "If you need me, I'll be home, not letting my children and spouse out of my sight."

JJ stretched her arm. "You don't have to tell me twice…"

Élise stared at her bedroom ceiling for about five minutes before finally getting herself out of bed. Steadily on her feet, she groaned while stretching. Élise rubbed her neck before realizing Spencer wasn't in bed. In fact, his side of the bed was perfectly made.

"Spence…?" she strolled into the bathroom, and he wasn't there before going to the closet, and he wasn't there as well. Scratching her head, she wondered…she gripped her phone to see if there were any messages she didn't know about and nothing new.

She cruised out of the bedroom, turned around, and went to the children's bedrooms, and they weren't there. Now, she felt her maternal instincts kick in and worried.

"Hello…?" her voice echoed when she ambled down the hallway and staircase—almost tripping on her big toe with her pajama pants. "Hello…?" she crashed her body into the kitchen swinging door, making it open. "Oh…!"

Spencer, with Séraphine, Isaac, and Rose, stood behind the counter island.

"Surprise…!"

"Ah…!" Élise smiled ear-to-ear. For a second, she thought the worst had happened; she had her hand clutched to her chest, and Elise worried she would rip off her breasts. "Oh, God…"

Spencer came from behind and hugged her. "We scared you, huh?"

"I swear, you keep doing that…" she gritted her teeth and plastered a smile on her face while whispering in his ear. Spencer kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry, old timer…"

"Hey-hey-hey. I'm younger than you." Élise cocked her head at him as Spencer escorted her to her seat. Then he presented a plate consisting of a giant cinnamon roll, funfetti pancakes and waffles, Eggs Benedict, a glass of sparkling water, and orange juice.

After breakfast, Spencer arranged a spa day for Élise and planned a dinner at home for just the two of them.

It was the day of Séraphine's third birthday party, and Élise kept making sure everything was needed to make the day perfect for her.

"Okay, let's see…" she said to herself. "Balloons-check," Élise waved her lucky MontBlanc pen to the pink, purple, yellow, and white sparkly balloons. "Snacks, food, and play areas-check," she pointed her pen to the snack and food tables and then the play areas in two of the corners. There was also a room in the basement that would be used as a mini movie theater.

She checked off a bunch of completed tasks: making sure the basement was clean and inspected-approved all week, kid-appropriate music, RSVP'd guests, etcetera, etcetera. She turned her phone off and did some Zen yoga breaths when entering the elevator and stepping off into the main floor hallway.

Élise took a turn into the living room and found Séraphine playing with Opal. "Mommy…!" Séraphine held her arms out and toddled to her—she updated to a black walking cast.

"Are you ready for your big birthday party today?"

"Uh-huh…" Séraphine bounced.

Élise heard the front door being opened and closed. "I'm back!" it was Spencer carrying in a giant white box.

"Is that my cake?"

Spencer shook his head. "Mmm-hmm… I'm gonna set it downstairs, okay?"

"KK…!"

Just as Spencer headed towards the elevator and stepped in, there was another knock at the door. Élise looked at the peephole, where four adults and four small children were standing. She opened the door and smiled. "Hello, everyone…" she allowed the first two adults and child in. The man had fine bone structure, dark eyes, and an Ivy League crew haircut; the woman had dark blonde hair bluntly cut to her chin and small blue-gray eyes; and their daughter had her light golden brown hair in pigtails, and light eyes sparkled.

"Harold and Patricia. Blair…"

"Hi…" the little girl quietly spoke up and slipped into the living room; Opal came into the foyer; Blair took a step back and used her parents to shield her from Opal. "Mommy…"

"Opal…" Élise curled her finger, having the dog come to Élise and start petting her fur. "Oh, sorry. Opal's very friendly.

"Oh, that's okay…" said Patricia, stroking Blair's hair. "Blair can…be shy."

The following family: the male had an almost six-foot height, olive complexion, short dark hair, and eyes; the petitely average-height woman had flawless light copper coloring, straight black hair, and eye color; a little girl with dusky skin color, wavy hair, and hazel eyes; and two boys; one looked like he could be Jack's age and the other Henry's age.

"Hello, Savio, Dana, and hello, little Aaliyah." Élise greeted the first family.

Aaliyah flapped her hand. "Hiya…"

"There are our two boys: our oldest, Giovanni," Dana waved her arm to one boy with short curly hair, medium skin tone, and dark eyes, and another boy with longish brown hair, warm tan complexion, and hazel eyes. "And our youngest, Alfonso."

"Yello…" the boys greeted simultaneously and smiled.

"Hello, boys…" Élise had her hands in her pockets just as Spencer appeared and stood beside her. "My man…"

"Hello, everyone." Spencer greeted. "So, is this eve…?" his question was interrupted by the sound of the front door knocking. Rose helped Élise escort every down to the basement while Spencer got it. Standing there were his parents and in-laws.

"Hey, Spence…!" Arthur stepped in. "Where's my niece and sister?"

"Basement with some of the guests," Spencer answered, pointing back to the elevator; Élise's family headed for them.

Diana squealed; she almost squeezed the gift-wrapped present she got for Séraphine. "Ehh! I can't believe my granddaughter's three."

"Just seems like yesterday she was in your arms…" William smiled distantly. "She really is growing up," he placed his hand on his only child's shoulder. "Treasure these moments because before you know it, she'll be having a family of her own."

Spencer smiled back. "I won't."

Within the next couple of minutes, Hotch and Jack; JJ, Will, and Henry; Garcia, Blake, and Rossi arrived, following Kevin and Cassandra and their two sons; Maeve and Bobby and their children, Joel and Helena with their son; and a few old associates with their children.

Spencer and Élise lit the pink, purple, and white candles to Séraphine's pink, purple, white, and gold ombre butterfly cake.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, Séraphine. Happy birthday to you!"

Last chap of the 2022 year!

See you later in 2023!