A/N: Hello, everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. No copyright infringement intended.
Get ready for one of the most memorable CM finales, which will be in two parts.
This chapter takes place coming home from the baby shower.
Rose had her EarPods on, humming to herself and dancing in place, spooning Opal her dinner of meat and potatoes with a little bit of plain pasta, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and green beans into her doggy bowl.
She started washing the bowls she used to cook dinner. Just as she was drying them off and placing them in the dishwasher, Rose removed her EarPods when she heard the front door being opened and closed and semi-loudish footsteps.
"We're home!" that was Élise's voice she heard before walking in with Spencer and the children.
"Hello!" Rose placed the wrinkled cloth back in the sink, ripped a napkin from the rack, and began wiping her hands. "How was the baby shower?"
"It was great." After putting her tote bag on one of the island seats, Élise had her hands on her hips and bent back to stretch. "For an extremely wealthy and noble family, they're actually quite humble and down-to-earth. And believe me; I've seen my fair share of families who come from old money and nobility. And believe me, they can be…trying, to say the least."
"Wow," Rose nodded her head after throwing the napkin in the trash. She squatted to the children's height. "Did you two have a good time?"
"They were very nice to us." Séraphine petted Opal's fur, who purred and snuggled in return.
Isaac bobbed his head. "Uh-huh…thay 'ave a doggy like Opal."
"A black male lab named Dayo." Spencer added, "They even said they would be more than happy for their dog to have a little playdate with her."
"Aw," Rose couldn't help but have giggling feelings about Opal and Dayo. "I cooked some pasta and salad. Rose knew the family might not all be that hungry from coming home from a baby shower, but that didn't mean she couldn't fix up a small meal; she got out the leftovers.
"Thanks, Rose." Spencer took the leftovers from her, scooped them on a plate, and placed it in a microwave.
Élise sat at the island counter, poured some lemon and berry-infused water from the pitcher into a cup, and took a sip. "I sooo needed that."
Rose asked, "You okay?"
"I'm okay," Élise insisted and was seconds away from having another cup when she heard one of her phones vibrate in her tote. She dove into her bag, finding her favorite sunglasses, oil blotting sheets, and small makeup kit before discovering it was her work phone ringing. She recognized the caller ID and answered it.
Spencer asked the children, "You kids want anything to eat for dinner?"
"Yes, peaze…"
Spencer guided the children out of the kitchen and pointed them to the bathroom. "Go wash your hands, okay?" Once he stepped back in, Rose was getting a couple of dinner plates from the cabinets above the sink, and Élise was still on the phone.
"Okay. Thank you for telling me. Good night." She sighed and had her right hand on her hip.
Spencer asked, "Everything okay?"
"The chair, Monika Beck, had a family emergency," Élise explained. "The conference has been rescheduled to next week."
Spencer curled under the duvets and sat up straight, reading Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. Élise dragged two of her favorite Goyard luggage bags on the bench and collapsed her back on the plush bed.
"I'm so exhausted," Élise groaned with her eyes closed. "And I haven't even left for Iceland."
Spencer closed his book—he was already halfway through it anyway—and left it on the bedside. "You'll be fine since it's postponed to next week. Gives you lots of time for a more important day."
"And what's that?"
Spencer answered, "Mother's Day."
Élise's mouth formed a small O. "Oh, crap…" she had her hands on her head. Élise spent so much time worrying about Iceland that she forgot about the holiday that made her a mother. "I completely forgot."
"Don't worry; I've taken care of everything," Spencer assured her. "You don't nor won't have to lift a finger."
Élise smiled warmly. What a gentleman.
"Back to Iceland," said Spencer. "There's a reason it's consistently ranked as the most peaceful country on Earth. All are good reasons."
"High rankings in social stability, equality, democracy, gender, human rights, along with a Nordic social welfare system with universal healthcare." Élise picked herself up and slipped under the coverlets.
"Thank you, exactly." Spencer pointed out Élise's points. "You're gonna have a great time. If I don't have a case that involves traveling out of state, I'll be more than happy to help Rose hold down the fort."
Élise caressed his cheek and kissed it. "You're adorable."
"Awww…" Spencer drew Élise closer to him.
"No sex…" Élise stopped him, and he backed away. "…At least not tonight."
For the past week, Élise made a number of public appearances, press conferences, statements, announcements, and speeches.
The team also spent the week assisting DCPD, Maryland, and Virginia state agencies on some instances. They managed to finish another one when everyone began packing up.
"Happy weekend, everybody!" Garcia made her usual over-the-top presence known. "I'll be loving you all from afar."
"You don't have to tell me twice." By the time Rossi finished that sentence, he was already on his way out.
Morgan walked down the bullpen steps with his bag over his shoulder. "I'mma visit my mama and sisters in my home city, so…" he, too, was out. "Later."
JJ held her black tote bag by her elbows. "I'm gonna spend my Mother's Day being pampered by my boys…"
Blake pushed her seat in. "What about you, Spencer?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"I have my Mother's Day with Élise planned out," Spencer said confidently. "I already sent my mother her gift, and we gave Rose the weekend off to visit family, so…it'll be a great weekend before she goes to Iceland."
Spencer snuck himself out of bed when it was minutes to seven in the morning. After getting the children up and making them breakfast, he enlisted their help to make Élise her Mother's Day breakfast.
Spencer gently placed her meal of a crepe with lemon and berries, eggs Florentine with homemade hollandaise, a cinnamon bun, and orange mimosa cocktail on the mother-of-pearl serving tray; Séraphine placed her and Isaac's cards the two made next to the plates; and Isaac placed the tulips, roses, and carnations in the small bud mosaic tiled vase.
When they were finished, Séraphine pushed the button for the elevator to open, stepped in it, and closed it. After it opened again and got off, Séraphine and Isaac zoomed to their parents' bedroom. Séraphine turned the knob, and Isaac opened the door. Coming into the room, they found Élise still sleeping. And snoring.
"Mommy 'nores loud." Isaac had his hands over his ears.
Spencer snickered. "I know." He then watched Séraphine and Isaac jump on the bed. When Élise was starting to wake up, Séraphine covered Élise's eyes, and Isaac sat beside her.
"Wha…?" Élise groaned when she felt something over her eyes and heard quiet noises.
"Happy Mother's Day!"
"Whoa!" a bewildered Élise nearly fell out of bed when she heard the children. "Holy…"
Spencer got the children to make some room for her on the bed when he set the tray between her legs. "Happy Mother's Day…" He kissed her head.
Élise saw the two handmade cards from Séraphine and Isaac on the tray. She picked them up and read them, having her hand on her chest when she read what they wrote. "Hapy Mommy's Day!"
"Happy Mother's Day." Séraphine hugged her around her neck.
Isaac hugged her around her waist. "Wee luv yoo, mommy."
Spencer tended to Élise's every whim; whether it was cleaning up or allowing her to rest for a couple of hours, and he looked after the children,
After a spinach lasagna meal, the family gathered around and watched some Mother's Day specials; they had just finished a Rugrats episode.
"Whoa." Élise used her index finger to wipe some tears and sniffed her nose. "I haven't seen this episode in a long time, and it still gets to me."
Spencer used his collar to rub his tears. He asked, inhaling, "So, what do you want to watch next?"
Élise sloped her head up to think for a second. "How about a movie? Surprise me."
Spencer had Séraphine and Isaac help him cook dinner and dessert: linguine Caprese with a spring salad. With his supervision, he helped Séraphine mix the pasta bowl, and Isaac tossed the salad bowl.
"Oh, careful, Fee!" Spencer moved her away from the stove when the pasta was cooked. After turning the stove off, he slipped on some mitts, grabbed the pot by its end handle, and drained the water into the sink. Spencer placed the pot back on the stove, removed his gloves, and set them on the counter. He held his hand out. "You did good, honey."
Séraphine highfived him back. "Thank you, daddy."
"Hoow I doing, daddy?" Isaac asked, still stirring the bowl.
"Good boy, Ziggy." Spencer gave Isaac a thumb's up and checked on the cake he and the kids baked for Élise during lunch in the refrigerator. He once read it's best for the cake to completely cool in the fridge before frosting. "Now, who wants to help daddy make the frosting for mommy's cake?" he already had all the supplies and ingredients needed to set up on the countertops.
Séraphine and Isaac raised their hands. "We do! We do!"
After dinner, Spencer and Élise got the children bathed and ready for bed but decided to let them stay in their bedroom for a while for storytime.
"…No matter where you are, my little one, I will always love you until the end of time," said Spencer; he had Séraphine close to him.
Élise finished the last sentence in the book and had Isaac close to him. "I will always love you, mommy, until the end of time," she closed the storybook. "And we complete this Mother's Day with a book."
Séraphine and Isaac were fast asleep and had their heads resting on Spencer and Élise's pillows. "I'll take Fee; you take Ziggy," Spencer suggested with Séraphine in his arms, as did Élise with Isaac. While they took the children to their respective rooms, Spencer whispered, "And maybe afterwards…"
"Spencer…"
Élise managed to get a few hours of sleep after getting the children to bed and on the six-hour flight to Reykjavík. This would be the first time she'd ever visited a country like Iceland, and she had read up on some interesting facts about the country for the past couple of weeks. And the people who she heard might be attending this conference, from prominent politicians to sportspeople, from notable science people to musicians. In fact, it's rumored that Björk might be attending the conference.
"Excuse me, ma'am…?"
"Huh, wha…?" Élise released a snort when she heard a faint voice calling out for her and felt someone shaking her shoulder. She shook her head, smacked, and licked her lips to alert her mind. She looked up at the flight attendant and wiped her mouth with her palm.
"We're about to land at Keflavík soon."
"Attention, passengers…" Élise zoomed out of the captain's announcements overhead and looked out the window to see the country that's Iceland. It was such a beauty even just from seeing it in the skies. From the waterfalls and rapids to the snow, Élise saw what might have been a geyser and steam. It was literally better than any other photograph she could ever think of.
On the way to the hotel, Élise still couldn't get enough of the country's eclectic architecture! From classic-looking, Swiss chalet style, block towers, colored pitched roofs, and waterfront row designs to the cutting-edge, complementary, modern, and functionalism-styled buildings and homes around the city. The tallest building in the city, known for its uniquely curved spire and side wings, the Lutheran Icelandic church, Hallgrimskirkja, and situated outside was the Leif Erikson statue.
The black Suburban stopped at the hotel, and Élise got out. Staring in front of her was the complementary-styled Anderton Reykjavík Hotel. After getting her bags, her details in front and behind her followed her into the hotel. Entering the lobby, clean lines, white-light and neutral color palette walls, warm-hued wooden flooring, custom furniture, Icelandic artwork, and weaving on the walls, along with the country's rowan, poplar, and birch.
Élise approached the white mirror behind desk, where a fair-toned woman with long dark golden blonde hair was on the computer and smiled when she saw Élise.
"Hello," she greeted Élise in a Nordic accent. "I'm Lára Hall, hotel manager, and welcome to the Anderton Reykjavík Hotel. How may I help you today?"
"Hello and I'm Élise Bastien. I have a reservation at the Queen Executive Suite." Élise showed the manager her ID and proof of making the reservation.
The manager typed into the computer. "Yes, ma'am. And your suite has been taken care of." An assistant manager took over at the front desk, and the manager personally escorted Élise to her suite. Everyone got off the elevator and stepped into the hallways. Again, at awe of the interior.
"You'll love it here; it's one of our most popular suites." The manager used a digital key card to open the suite and allowed Élise to enter first. She and her detail had a look around the room.
The suite had floor-to-ceiling windows, quality crafted furniture, a monochrome bathroom with a scale-proof shower and tub, blackout wool curtains, 45-inch television, faux sheepskin, and mohair rugs and throws, a balcony terrace with panoramic views of the city, a workstation, and the necessary convenient amenities. The welcome amenity of a cheesecake made from skyr and a carbonated orange drink in a flute glass sat on the table. The manager showed Élise the automatic deadbolt, electronic locks, and safe and secondary locking devices.
"I think I'm gonna like it here." Élise smiled.
After dinner, Spencer got a message from Hotch that he needed to be there. He got his go-bag and satchel, gave the kids kisses, and was out the door. Entering the FBI building, he ran into Blake. As Spencer got into the elevator, he got a text from Élise, five hours ahead of D.C.
FIRST NIGHT IN ICELAND! WISH ME LUCK AT THE CONFERENCE! LOVE YOU!
Smiling, Spencer texted her back.
LOVE YOU TOO. AND BACK AT WORK!
Soon, Spencer strolled some of the pictures she sent him in Iceland.
"Wow," Blake angled her head to her left, seeing what Élise sent him. "What a stunning place."
Spencer put his phone away. "It's not everything you'd get to see in a country like Iceland."
"Actually, did you know that the Icelandic language started in the 9-10th century; a dialect from Old Norse, has 32 letters, and Icelanders coined their own words like "computer" from tala meaning "number" and völva meaning "seeress?"
"Really?" an intrigued Spencer asked as Blake stared at her phone before she put it away again and grasped the black straps of her black bag. "James?"
"Yup," Blake shook her head as the elevator doors opened; Spencer allowed her to step off first like the true gentleman he is. "This again?"
Spencer asked, "You miss another flight to see James?"
"Worse. He came here," a disappointed Blake replied as they walked into the bullpen. "He's cooking and watching "House Hunters" without me. You know, he'd better not try to make an offer again."
Spencer knew what she meant. A year ago, after James returned from Doctors Without Borders, he got a job offer at Harvard, one of the country's most prestigious and top universities and the world. But only wanted to take it if Alex was going to take it and be "that couple" again. She had her reasons why she declined and instead would visit him from time to time.
It would be sad if Blake left the team; it was not every day Spencer had a team member with an equally intelligent and great mind. At least not since…Gideon left.
They walked into JJ discreetly telling everyone about her private home life to the vacation discussion and noticed Section Chief Cruz with Hotch.
They joined them at the roundtable about a case in Silverton, Texas, before Cruz announced he would join them.
After her first night in Iceland, Élise woke up with her head against the down pillow, fingers folded, and stared at the white ceilings. Her mind was wholly relieved like nothing was going to get in her way. Without turning her head, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table and checked to see if she had missed any messages. There was a text message from Spencer.
SILVERTON TEXAS FOR A CASE. CRUZ IS WITH US.
She stared at the time, it was seven-fifteen in the morning, meaning it was late both back home in D.C., and the team and Cruz would probably still be in the air on their way to Texas. She'll text him to bring home some Texas barbeque. Later, because now, she has a crazy week ahead of her. Clicking on the planner app on her phone, she looked at her schedule for today. Obviously, eat breakfast first; on the first day of the women's conference luncheon at Dill, a New Nordic restaurant, and later on, a banquet in the hotel's main hall. She had some free time in between.
This was going to be an event she'll never forget. But first, she desperately needed some coffee and breakfast.
After landing in Silverton, the team split up. Spencer and Morgan were joined by a few of the Silverton Sheriff's Deputies at the town's only bar to get more information on the victim.
Élise had a great luncheon. Along with sampling some of the Icelandic cuisine, she chatted and got to know some prominent women, such as Fjord Hatlen, heiress, fashion icon, and cofounder of multiple charities; Kara Nord, prominent actress, and filmmaker; Tate Stinar, pharmaceuticals mogul, Paulina Polen, United Nations Ambassador, and undoubtedly more at the banquet at the hotel.
She returned to her suite, took a nice long shower, and changed into a fitted black sheath dress with a gray Icelandic wool bolero jacket from STEiNUNN, black stockings, and four-inch heels. After she finished clasping her new dangling earrings she got at Auram—she had some extra time on her hand to do a little sightseeing around the city and figured she would buy a gift to two for family and close friends; she picked up her phone from off the bed and saw it was almost six thirty. Meaning it was afternoon time.
She gave the children and Rose a call home when she got back to the hotel; there was no way she'd forget about Spencer. Pressing the number on her contact list, she held the phone to her ear and waited for him to answer. After the third ring, he picked up and quietly answered hello.
"Hey, babe." Élise smiled.
"How is it in Iceland?"
Élise sighed as if she was in heaven already. "Amazing. Luncheoned with some amazing women, and soon I'm gonna mingle with more powerful women at the banquet."
"Ooh, sounds like you're having a good time." Spencer was excited for her.
Élise chuckled. "Yeah, I am. How is it in the Lone Star State?"
"It's going along…interestingly, but some of the deputies here…I don't know why…but I just can't put my finger on it. There's just something about them that's…"
Élise finished the sentence for him. "Turning you off?"
"Oh, yes. But, hey. We just have to suck it up and do the job."
"That's one of my mottos whenever I'm at work." Élise preached, lifting a raised fist in mid-air. "Be professional and get the job done."
"Yeah. I have to get going. I'll give the kids a call before bedtime."
Élise replied, "Same. Love you."
"I love you, too."
Rose double-checked on Opal, who was safely secured in her pen in the far corner of the living room while the children were in the bathroom. Walking up the stairs, she felt her phone vibrating in her pink robe pocket, and it was a video chat request from Élise. She slid her phone to accept it, and out came Élise.
"Hey, Élise." Rose waved. "Spencer called a while ago to say good night to the kids."
Élise waved back before using her fist to cover a yawn. "Hey. Look, I know it's one in the morning, but I just needed to say good night to my babies."
"Of course." Rose understood and went to get the children. "Séraphine! Isaac!"
The children dashed to Rose, who stood in the middle of the upstairs hallway and gasped when they saw Élise on the two-way video. "Hi, mommy!"
"Hey, babies."
Isaac asked, "Wen ar yoo comin' home, mommy?"
"Real soon, sweetie," said Élise. "Are you behaving yourselves for Rose while daddy and I are gone?"
"Uh-huh…"
"Good. I just called to say good night, and I love you two."
Séraphine and Isaac waved goodbye. "We love you, too, mommy."
The team received some rather…less-than-inadequate noting from the elected medical examiner but managed to get something from a Christian preacher.
After hearing about another victim, Spencer, Rossi, and Sheriff Peter Coleman almost gave the deputies a new one for disturbing the crime scene. After learning something new about the victim, the team delivered the profile.
Now it was day two of the International Women in Power Conference, and a banquet will be held later that day at the Perlan, a renowned landmark building in the city. But there were a couple of places Élise wanted to see for herself after having some breakfast and a heaping cup of coffee: The Blue Lagoon, the Harpa concert hall, the city's Botanical Gardens, Sun Voyager, and other exciting attractions sites.
Now the team turned their attention on the preacher, who not only fits the profile—now seeing how the killings have a religious aspect but he had a secret life involving a prostitution ring and drug trafficker.
After sightseeing some more around the city for a few hours, Élise returned to her hotel suite, took a shower, did her hair, and got changed into a formal midi-length black dress, a white cropped jacket, stockings, and heels. Just as she was grabbing her crystal-studded clutch from the bed, she picked up her phone and dialed Spencer's number, only to get his voicemail. The team must really be busy with the case.
"This is Dr. Spencer Reid. I can't take your call right now, but please leave me a detailed message. Thank you."
BEEP!
"Hey, babe. It's me. I called the kids a while ago, and everything's going well. I'm still having a great time in Reykjavík," she sighed. "If you still have those feelings about the deputies during the case or anything about the case, please be careful. I love you."
After hanging up, she tossed her phone in her bag, double-checked to make sure she had everything she needed and was already out of the suite.
Now the team's doubts about the preacher turned to him being used as a smokescreen for a much, much better plot. They didn't want what it was, but they needed to before it was too late.
Élise arrived at the Perlan—meaning Pearl in Icelandic—a huge futuristic revolving glass dome building that sat on the top of Öskjuhlíõ hill. She read that the Perlan was once a cluster of hot water tanks before being converted into a museum that housed natural history exhibitions, an observation deck, a restaurant, a café, and a planetarium.
She was a little bit early for the banquet, so she decided to look around the museum exhibits.
Before leaving to find the preacher, Spencer noticed he got a voicemail message from Élise. He dialed and gripped it to his ear to hear it.
"Hey, babe. It's me. I called the kids a while ago, and everything's going well. I'm still having a great time in Reykjavík," he heard Élise sigh before she continued. "If you still have those feelings about the deputies during the case or anything about the case, please be careful. I love you."
Hearing Élise's voice made everything right at the moment.
Élise stepped away from the crowd when she went to the bathroom and saw a text message from Spencer.
I LOVE YOU.
Élise texted him back.
I LOVE YOU TOO.
BANG!
"SHOTS FIRED! SHOT FIRED!"
BANG-BANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG!
BANG-BANG!
Machine pistols firing at the speed of sound.
Glass from the windshield and the diner windows shattered from the gunshots; the cop cars were also shot at. And…
"BLAKE!"
BANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG!
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!
BANG!
BANG-BANG!
"REID!"
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
BANG-BANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
"GOGOGOGOGOGOGO!"
BANG-BANG!
BANGBANGBANGBANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!
"UGGH…"
TO BE CONTINUED...