A/N: Hello, everyone!

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

I decided not to include an April's Fool/Morgan-vs-Reid continuing of the prank war; it's been declared over.

Spencer picked another tie from his rack, which he kept in a part of his walk-in closet. Even after he recently cleaned the room, it looked even better than when he and Élise bought it over a year old. Built-in custom dark wood cabinets, shelving, and brown hardwood flooring with an Oriental rug in the center of the room. All his clothes—shirts on one side, trousers on the other, and his shoes on the shelves organized and hung by color and size.

When he and Élise chatted with Mr. Stephen Gubarev after they bought the property, he showed them the secret comparts the house came with. One of them was a hidden safe among the walls via password protection. Spencer mostly used it to keep his most private documents under lock and key, along with some of the jewelry Élise would give it.

"Oooh," he presented one tie to his chest against the plaid oxford shirt he wore and looked at himself in the floor-length mirror. "This could work," he said to himself.

"Spencer?" he heard Élise's voice from inside the closet. He gave himself one last look and decided not to go with the tie. He placed it exactly where he had it and was on his way out, but not before turning his head, double-checking to make sure nothing was out of place before leaving. When he came back into the bedroom, Élise had on this denim trucker jacket over a white tee, boyfriend jeans, and white Converses.

"I got the kids ready," said Élise, looping her belt through and bucked.

Spencer asked, "You got the present?"

With a smirk, Élise picked up the big jigsaw-wrapped gift and placed it back in the swirly red-themed bag. "And the address."

"Now, let's go celebrate a birthday." Spencer led the way out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

Twenty minutes from McLean to Arlington, the Suburban steered in the paved circular driveway a few feet away in front of a white painted panel and brick trimming exterior traditional-meets-modern looking house. Spencer and Élise helped the children step out of the full-sized black SUV. They saw the red, green, and blue balloons that hung on the columns on the covered porch.

Walking up the three stone steps, Spencer rang the door, and within about eight seconds, someone answered the door. It was this tall woman—perhaps about five-eight-to-maybe-and-a-half. She had clear pale skin, light blue-green eyes, thin plumpish lips, a broad forehead, a few freckles that spread from her cheekbones to her straight nose, and her soft blonde hair in a messy ponytail, wearing a striped black-and-white short-sleeve shirt, high jeans, and brown tasseled sandals that showed off a fresh pedicure.

"Hello, everyone," she said and made room for the family to come in, but not before wiping their feet on the large mat. To their left were the L-shaped stairs, their right was the dining room, and across from them was the great room leading to a deck. There was also the recently polished hardwood flooring, warm neutral painted walls, and IKEA furniture and décor.

"Thanks for inviting us, Helena," said Élise.

"Thank you for coming," Helena locked the front door and tucked her top into her mom jeans. "Joel's in the backyard, and I'll bring Ronnie out of his room."

Helena showed them to the big and fenced backyard. Spencer estimated that the backyard was about an acre. The rain that happened a couple of days ago on spring's first day made the grass greener. A few spots had small flower gardens, a greenhouse, a pergola, and a couple of oak trees, including one with a homemade swing. Tables were set up as well more balloons and streamers hung around the travertine deck and a banner that read HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONNIE! in capitalized bold letters.

There was an athletic and muscular bronze tan complexioned man in a black T-shirt under an unbuttoned plaid short-sleeve, khaki slacks, and hiking boots, putting up a colorful star pinata by its string on one of the strong branches.

When he finished, he saw there were people standing on the deck and waved to them as he folded and carried the ladder by his arm. "Hey!"

Élise waved back. "Hey, Joel."

"¿Cómo estás?" Joel replied back in Spanish before he pointed out his wife and son; everyone turned around and saw Helena with a little boy around Séraphine's age with light olive skin, blue-green eyes, and long shaggy hair that almost looked like a lion's mane. "Hey, Ronnie man…"

"¡Papi!" Ronnie ran up to his hunkered dad to hug him and faced the Bastien-Reid family. "Hi!"

"Hey, Ronnie." Spencer held his hand out for Ronnie to high-five him and asked after he did, "How old are you today?"

"Three!" Ronnie held three of his fingers up.

Élise then asked, "How does it feel?"

Ronnie shrugged his shoulders and made a goofy face, making the adults giggle before hearing a herd of people and different footsteps behind them. Based on their appearances, it was on both sides of Helena and Joel's families, as well as Maeve, Bobby, their children, and their acquaintances from the NIH and HHS.

It was finally nighttime, and Spencer offered to tuck the children. Élise coolly sat up in bed, reading an article on her tablet, when Spencer came back in.

"Ah," he rolled his neck around. "I finally got them in bed." Spencer pulled the comforters and tucked himself in. comfortably settling himself down, he looked to Élise and asked, "What are you reading?"

"An article in Parents." Élise answered. "Says here that kids starting activities and having hobbies when they are toddlers has excellent benefits in growth and development. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Look at all the activities and hobbies she can be doing more of right now."

Spencer's given her tablet and quickly skimmed through the list of the approved activities and hobbies the Parents article suggested. "Foreign language learning, collecting, sports, collecting, dance…"

"I always wanted to take dance classes, especially ballet," Élise spoke up; she now lowered her body in the bed and had her hand on her head with her elbow against the pillow. "Ballet is said to be harder than any sport and is used in sports more nowadays. Plus, they're some of the most elegant dancers out there. If our girl plays her cards right, she could be the next Misty Copeland."

"I'm not sure ballet would be good for her, especially not right now." Spencer then listed his reasons. "She just had her ankle immobilized for two months. Dancing on pointe leads to shin, feet, and more ankle injuries, as well as ballerina's feet, and the constant pressure on body image that can go up by the time she's older."

"Oh, yeah, you're right," Élise puckered her lips up in agreeance—especially with the body image part due to her own struggles with her body—before adding, "In the gymnastics world, the small, prepubescent 'pixie' look was favored, and the girls would delay puberty by keeping their body weight extremely low, which stops the mensural cycle. No cycle, no estrogen; no estrogen, no growth—physically, emotionally, and sexually. If you got your period, you were considered fat."

"Ouch." Spencer hissed.

Élise continued, "And in the modeling world, it can be just as bad. A few years ago, the "look of the year" was anorexia; not to be anorexic but to look anorexic. After a few underweighted models died from the Nervosa, major fashion houses and designers banned the size-zero models from walking in Fashion Week and anyone under eighteen."

Spencer felt chills. "Oh…" The lengths people will go to be that skinny. He looked at the article again and tapped on the screen. "How about tennis? As a matter of fact, did you know that tennis goes back to the 12th century?"

"I think so, yeah," Élise answered and glared at the screen. "Oh! WIS has a soccer team for the primary school and a swim team. Maybe…" she lifted her eyebrows.

Spencer cocked his mouth to the side. "Well, swimming is good. There's even something called the Infant Swimming Resource lessons, where swimmers learn to float and self-rescue themselves out of danger and not drown, which is the leading cause of accidental deaths for children under four years old."

Élise shuddered. "Wish that came in handy for me when I almost drowned. And I was a little older than Séraphine right now."

"Sorry to hear that." Spencer had his hand over hers. "The team and I never have to worry since we have done water rescues in the field, and knowing how to swim helps save the lives of victims that the unsub tried to drown or even an unsub from taking the easy way out by drowning."

"I guess you're right."

Spencer added, "And if she likes soccer, maybe Jack can give her a pointer or two."

"Oh-oh! And martial arts!" Élise did a fighting arm stance, did a little bit of a fake-out, and threw some air punches. "Our girl's been doing pretend fighting like I used to when I was little. Let her do some self-defense. We put her in boxing lessons; she could be the next Laila Ali."

Spencer chuckled amusingly.

Spencer and Élise gave paninis for lunch on a platter to the children after they woke up from their naps after the family came back from church services. Rose had just left to do some grocery shopping. "Okay, so we have a Caprese with tomato, mozzarella, pesto, basil, turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato, turkey and mushroom, and grilled cheese."

"I wan cheeze…" Isaac pointed to a panini.

Spencer had to remind Isaac of his manners. "And what do we say?"

"Peaze…"

Élise sat down next to him and patted his head. "That's my boy…" she then helped herself to a Caprese sandwich. "And if you all finished your sandwiches, daddy and I have some kettle chips."

Spencer picked a grilled cheese panini just as Séraphine picked a BLT and turned her head to the backyard. Spencer took notice since it was about the third time she kept looking at the backyard. He figured and asked her, "Is there something you want to say?"

"I wanna do swimming." Séraphine spoke up.

Spencer looked to Élise, who had the same thinking when she took a swig from her drinking glass; Isaac was oblivious to the conversation and enjoying his sandwich. After setting her glass down on the table, Élise folded her hands together and asked, "And why do you wanna swim?"

Séraphine reasoned and shrugged her shoulders. "I see people on TV do it, and I wanna do it, too." She ended the sentence with a smile.

Spencer and Élise gave each other another look. "Well…I guess we can let you try to take swimming lessons..."

Séraphine gasped, and her eyes widened. "Yay!"

"However…" Élise hated to be the one to burst her bubble. "We'll be doing this on a trial basis. Meaning we'll see where it goes for now and then see if you can do more, okay?"

"KK!"

"Is that all?" Spencer asked again.

Séraphine had her hand on her chin and tilted her head, thinking. "How about fighting lessons?" she threw a couple of swing punches in the head.

After managing to book the first lesson this week, Spencer offered to take Séraphine to her first swimming lesson since he got off work early and Élise was still at work and preparing to go to Michigan the next day. The two decided with D.C. Swimmers since they offered trial base lessons at a discounted price and have been known to have taught and trained future Olympians.

The two arrived fifteen minutes early at a contemporary-styled building in Tysons Corners. When they walked into the lobby area, there were two receptionists in blue uniform-style shirts at the water-and-sea-themed desk—one male and one female. To their left was a mini shopping center to buy swim gear, and to their right, there was a waiting area with a few plushy chairs. Looking across from where they were standing, through the floor-to-ceiling glass, there was an Olympic size pool, a food court, and a silver sitting area.

The youngish female receiver saw the two and greeted them with a warm smile. "Hello. How may I help you today?"

"Hello. I'm Spencer Reid, and this little guppy has her first swim lesson," he waved his other hand to Séraphine, who waved back.

"Hi!"

The receptionist waved again and typed to find them on the computer. "Ah, yes. A private swim lesson with Instructor India Marlowe."

Spencer looked down at Séraphine and asked, "Are you ready for your first swimming lesson?"

"Yeah!" Séraphine giggled.

Spencer helped Séraphine switch out of her clothes and into her pink and white swimsuit, matching color swim cap, and goggles, and brought her towel. He watched her have fun in the pool with her instructor before joining in after the first fifteen minutes.

Élise came home about half an hour ago and said her hellos to Isaac and Rose since Spencer and Séraphine were coming home from her first swim lessons.

After she took a quick shower and changed into a bejeweled logo pink hoodie, gray sweatpants, and slippers, she grabbed some dinner plates from the kitchen and helped set up the dining room table.

"We're home!" Spencer cried, bursting through the front door with Séraphine, his voice echoing through the first-floor walls.

After Élise finished setting up the last dinner plate, she smoothed her hands over her slacks and made her way to the entryway, only to find Spencer stretching up after hugging Isaac. "Hey, you…" she held her arms for Spencer to hug her and kissed him when he did. "And my little fishy." Élise cuddled Séraphine. "How was your first lesson?"

"It went good!" Séraphine declared, spreading her arms out like a little bird ready to fly and twirl around. "Daddy helped me float on my back."

"The instructor said she was great and really nice to her," Spencer added. "They even have certified swim instructors and lifeguards come over and help teach at home."

"Well," Élise crunched herself up. "Rose made one of your favorites for dinner: chicken parmesan with linguine, vegetable salad, and cookies and cream."

"Yay!"

Spencer was walking into the FBI building via the east entrance when he got a call from Élise on his phone. He placed the phone to his ear and answered with a quiet hello. "You made it to Detroit safety?"

"Uh-huh; I just got off the plane," said Élise. "I'll be staying at the MGM Grand, and hopefully, I'll be back home by Saturday night."

"You're going to do great tomorrow," said Spencer.

Élise sighed. "Yeah. Then next week, I have to testify in front of Congress, so I have to prepare for them when I get back home."

"You'll be fine." Spencer gave Élise some words of encouragement. "I know you. Remember…"

"Ride or die?"

Spencer smirked. "Ride or die."

Some of the agents in the bullpen, including some of the team and especially Spencer, watched the press conference of Élise in Michigan.

"Didn't I say you would be great?" Spencer managed to get ahold of Élise when he got home and was getting ready for bed.

Élise sounded drained from the way she yawned. "Yeah, I was, wasn't I?" a small burp came out of her mouth, and that made Spencer chuckle a bit. "Sorry, babe. I feel a little tired."

"Yeah, I can tell you're exhausted, alright." Spencer joked.

"I'll be okay, especially since I'll be back tomorrow." Élise replied, "After the press conference, before going back to the hotel, I went to this restaurant, Culver's, and had their cheese curds, pretzel bites, frozen custard, and bacon deluxe butter burger. It was delicious."

"Yeah, I agree with you," said Spencer. "Too bad it's only available in the Midwest; maybe one day, if there's ever the chance, we'd take the children there."

As promised, Élise returned to D.C. before it was nighttime.

Now it was Tuesday morning, and while Élise prepared for her Congress testimony, the team head to Wheeling, West Virginia, for a case relating to the never-ending hostility between two families, the Howards and the Lees, and learned of an urban legend, The Mountain Man.

Élise sat in her AG office, finishing up on some last-minute material she'll need for this week's testimony before she saw her personal phone ring on the desk. It was a video message from Rose. She opened it and smiled when she saw it was Séraphine and Isaac with Opal, playing and following her around.

Then her work phone rang. She picked it up and saw the 212 area code. Élise immediately knew it was a New York City number. She answered it and quietly answered hello.

The following morning, the team was called upon another murder relating to the Lee family, leading to the reason why the two families feud and realizing the Mountain Man could be the unsub.

Élise was more than happy to be home. She felt her nerves before her testimony to Senate in the morning was getting to her. And seeing Séraphine and Isaac resting made her heart melt and eased her mind.

Now the team's called for the abduction of the Howard matriarch, leading to a distant relative and uncovered hidden family secrets.

Élise testified before the U.S. Senate.

The team decided to head back to D.C. that night after making sure Blake was alright. Ten minutes later, after liftoff, Spencer attended to her after her near-drowning encounter with the unsub.

"Here you go, Blake." Spencer gave her a cup of hot tea and sat next to her.

Blake sighed. "Thanks," she adjusted the blanket around her shoulders before taking a sip. "Mmm…" she licked her lips and sighed again. "What a case."

Spencer sat back in his seat. "I'm surprised the Lees, and the Howards were able to put aside their differences to get the truth about…"

"Oh…" Blake shuddered, pulling the blanket tighter. "I think I developed a fear of water after what happened. But I just can't help but have this feeling that…" she took a hard swallow. "Oh, man…Hotch said I can take a couple of days off."

Spencer suggested, "You should take it."

By the time Spencer got home, the children and Opal were asleep, and Élise was still up, where he told her about the case.

Élise had her hand on her temple. "Holy hell…is Alex okay?"

"She'll be alright," Spencer assured her. "But she said she's developed a fear of water."

Élise had her head against the pillow. "Now, I'm glad Fifi's taking swimming lessons, and it's not too late for Ziggy to start. Perhaps before I leave, I can…set up a get-well basket for her."

"That's a nice gesture," said Spencer. "At least we don't have to deal with the unsub anymore."

Little did anyone know, the unsub survived and attacked a couple in Kentucky.