A/N: Hello again, everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.
I decided to start off the chapter on Sunday, June 1st.
Saturday afternoon, Spencer and Élise got texts on their cell phones from Savio Minervini and Dana Abdul, the parents of their three children, Giovanni, Alfonso, and Aaliyah, Séraphine's bundling new friend. Savio worked at the Treasury Department as a research economist, and Dana at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a chief data scientist.
The two parents asked if they would like to come to their home to try out their new backyard pool. When Spencer and Élise asked their children if they wanted to go, the two children couldn't wait and pretty much begged them for the rest of the day.
Sunday after church services—the Abdul-Minervini family told them not to worry about eating as they'll be serving food, the Bastien-Reid, along with the Putnam family, arrived.
Their home was this beautiful Mediterranean-styled residence. Élise loved the architecture; it'd reminded her of the traditional Tuscany-Italian villas with the terracotta clay roof tiling, white painted hand-applied stucco, block, and red brick walls, manicured hedges and shrubs, and the ivy wrap around the front door and wrought iron fencing.
When Séraphine and BJ got out of their respective car seats, they couldn't help but start running up the dual bluestone path and started banging on the door as if it was Halloween and they couldn't wait to say 'trick-or-treat' and wait for someone to give them candy.
"Séraphine! BJ!" Their parents got them to stop pounding on the door. "That's not nice."
Séraphine and BJ backed up. "Sorry…"
When they got to the front door, it was opened by Dana. She had on this pretty tulip printed midi-length belted shirtdress and brown leather open square-toed slide sandals—presenting her fabulously pedicured feet, her black hair in a single plait.
"Hey, families!" she had one hand on her hips and the other on the door. Dana made way for the families to enter the house.
The interior was as equally beautiful as the exterior. The copiousness of natural light from the large windows was amplified by the high ceilings. The reception foyer had quarter-sawn white oak flooring and a stunning custom wrought-iron railed stairwell. To their left was the cool gray family room that had an antique marble fireplace, beamed ceiling, and built-in lacquers. Across from them was the formal living room with white Venetian plastered walls, limestone flooring, and a center fireplace. And to the right was the south-facing dining room, another stunning limestone fireplace, and lacquered and crown molding walls.
Maeve and Bobby had another look around at the three rooms Dana presented before getting into the kitchen. The gourmet island-centered kitchen was a mix of warm and rustic with the medium-toned wood flooring and custom cabinet finishing, and modern with the top-of-the-line appliances and glass countertops. "I swear, I feel like I'm in the Mediterranean already."
"Yeah, I always wanted to go to Italy and Greece," said Bobby, holding Charlotte's hand. "Eat endless fresh pasta and food, wander endlessly when seeing the architecture…"
Dana smirked. "Makes us feel like I'm home a little bit." Dana led them to the backyard. "Savio's family from many places in Italy. My family's from many places, not just in the Mediterranean but in the Middle East and Arab world. Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Kuwait, Egypt, Israel, many of those places."
"Wow…" said Élise as Dana showed them the backyard. The brick multiple terraced seating area, small garden, outdoor wicker furniture, and the limestone curved-ended paved sundeck pool enjoyed by the couple's three children.
Savio was at the shaded grill area, completed with a small fire oven, inhaling and exhaling. "Ciao, people!" Savio waved to the group; he had a pair of tongs in one hand and a big plate in the other. "How's everyone doin'?"
"We're good, thanks." Bobby waved back.
Giovanni, Alfonso, and Aaliyah greeted the two families, almost splashing them with the water. "Hiya!"
"Ooh, pretty!" Séraphine was so giddy about the pool she couldn't help. "I wanna go! I wanna go!"
BJ bounced up and down. "Me too!"
Dana pointed back to the house. "You know, we have a separate changing area." She showed them the way; Élise, Maeve, and the kids followed her while Bobby and Spencer stayed behind, walked towards the grill area, and observed what Savio had.
Bobby had his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts. "So, whatcha go there?"
Savio poked around at the products on the grill. "The usual: pineapple, chicken, corn, tomatoes, kebabs, ribs, sausages. I even got a pizza in the oven." He aimed at the oven.
Spencer sniffed; the smell started to make him a little uncomfortable. "Uh…do you have pork in some of the meats?"
"Oh, don't worry," Savio waved casually. "Dana told me about your phobias with pork, fish, chili, and creamed spinach."
Bobby stifled a laugh.
"It's okay. I get it." Savio understood. "She and I don't really eat much pork, depending on what the dish is. Fish is not really my thing either, though my nonna once made a sweet cioppino…" he did a Catholic cross. "In fact, I'll never forget the time…"
Spencer unintentionally stopped him. "Yeah, I think I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with all this talk about pork and fish." Spencer covered his mouth and gulped hard. "Oh, man…"
Savio cocked his mouth to the side. "Sorry, Spencer."
The mothers got the children changed to go swimming. A couple of the parents—Spencer, Bobby, Maeve, and Élise just sat on the pool edge with just their feet in the pool and supervised.
Now, all families were around at the farmhouse-style outdoor table, eating some of the delicious barbecue Savio had grilling and a few samples Dana cooked up.
"Mmm…" Élise licked around her mouth. She just had some of this salad that was made with minced vegetables, parsley, mint, soaked bulgur, onion, lemon juice, and olive oil. "This is tasty. What kind of salad is this?" she had another poke around at it.
"It's tabouli," Dana explained. "It's my mom's recipe."
Élise swallowed a mouthful. "It's lovely."
Savio turned his head to see his sons gnawing on the meat of the ribs and chicken. "Enjoying yourselves, boys?"
"Mmm-hmm…" Giovanni and Alfonso shook their heads and kept on eating.
"Thank you so much for being here." Dana had a sip of homemade grape juice from the highball glass. After she gulped, she replied. "It's a shame the other parents couldn't be here."
"Well, Patricia and Harold took Blair and went to visit his grandparents in Martha's Vineyard for the weekend; Ronnie was feeling under the weather, and Joel and Helena didn't want to pass any germs; and Kevin and Cassandra had their twins."
A few days ago, the families received news that Kevin and Cassandra had their babies, fraternal twin girls named Aisha Eleanor and Claribel Halima.
"Yeah, I saw the photos." Élise giddied. "They start off so small and get bigger and bigger and bigger every day."
Bobby finished his spice-infused grilled chicken and swabbed his mouth clean from the sauce. "You know the old saying, 'They grow up so fast.'"
The adults had a hearty laugh. "Well, I'll tell you one this thing; this factory's closed," said Maeve before she had another mouthful.
Dana had her hand up. "Mine, too."
"Mmm…" Giovanni was still chewing his chicken leg when he asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"Yeah, what do you mean?" Alfonso asked as well.
The adults looked at each other like how they tell elementary-school-aged children about babies. And even they knew he wouldn't fall for the babies-come-from-the-stork or how too much love makes a woman pregnant.
Dana spun her head to face her husband, Savio, modestly sipping lemonade. "You want first crack at that question?" she waved to their curious-looking sons.
After two weeks off to help take care of Spencer following his carotid endarterectomy, Élise felt ready to get back to work. She got up at around a quarter to seven to fix up breakfast. After she had an omelet, a small berry parfait, a slice of French toast, and a fruit smoothie, she took a shower.
Élise deck on one of her favorite suit separates white dress shirt, wool flannel jacket, stretch wool slim pants, and three-four-inch pumps. Her makeup was simple, and her hair was slicked back and away from her face.
She heard footsteps behind her; Élise swirled, and there was Spencer standing by the bed. She sighed. "Do you really think I should go back to work?"
"This country needs you, Ms. Attorney General," Spencer walked up to her and held both her hands. "And besides, I'm gonna be fine. I got Fifi, Ziggy, Opal, and Rose keeping me company."
Élise gently rested her right hand on his left cheek. "Don't you think these last two weeks went by fast?"
"Actually, I once read that as we get older, time tends to speed up, as well as activities make time go by faster, not look at a clock, break times…"
Élise chuckled. "Exactly my point. Plus, I have to be in Fargo on Wednesday for the Tribal Consultation Conference…"
"Élise…" Spencer kissed her hands. "Go…"
Élise smiled, stroking his cheeks and giving him a passionate kiss before she left.
Spencer was in the kitchen, cutting the crust off the children's peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, when he took a quick glance at them at the table. Séraphine was doing a Scholastic workbook while Isaac was coloring random lines.
He went into the fridge and grabbed a carton of milk. After he closed it, he went into the cabinets and got two plastic cups—still being the germophobe; Spencer gave them a good wash and filled them until they were three-quarters full.
Spencer picked up the plates with the kids' sandwiches and glasses. "Activities away; time to eat."
"KK…" Séraphine closed her book, marking her spot with her pencil, and set that aside; the same with Isaac.
"Here you go," Spencer gave the children their lunch.
"Thanks, daddy…"
Spencer went to get Opal's lunch. "You're welcome."
Élise had a steady flight to Fargo, North Dakota. There were a few spots and places she wanted to see while she was there during her two-day stay. First, getting herself settled in her suite at the Jasper Hotel, she saw the Red River footbridge, the Plains Art Museum, the Historic Fargo Theater, the Red River Farmers Market, and Culver's—she definitely had to have another one of their butter burgers, fresh frozen custard, and cheese curds.
The family was at the Whole Foods Market, buying some groceries. There was nothing better for both Spencer and Élise than spending a Saturday afternoon with their children.
"Ooh!" Séraphine pointed to a cereal box she was interested in and picked it up. "Hun-nee nuht chee-ree-yowz…"
Spencer gasped when she gave the box to him. "Good girl, Fee…" she patted her curly hair. "You want this box for breakfast?"
"Please…" she batted her eyes.
It was enough to make Spencer blush. "Only because they're good for you, okay?"
Élise took Isaac to the bathroom. He started his potty training a few months ago, and it was getting better and better by each day. After she finished fixing up his polo shirt and cargo shorts and made sure he washed and dried his hands, the two left the bathroom.
Carrying him firmly and securely in her arms—a never-ending reminder that he was getting bigger and growing up every day, they hoped to meet up with Spencer and Séraphine at the bread, rolls, and bakery section.
"Ooh!" Isaac's blue eyes grew when he caught sight of the cakes, sweets, and cupcakes that were on display in the section. He reached his hands out greedily. "I wan-I wan-I wan, mommy!"
Élise turned around and saw the desserts. "Oh, not right now, little man…we have all the sweets needed at home…" When he and Élise moved away from them, Isaac curled his mouth into a frown and started to whimper.
"Ziggy…" Élise massaged circles on his back in an attempt to get him to stop crying.
It was that special time of the year again for Spencer and Élise: their fourth wedding anniversary.
As always, came the gifts. Spencer gifted Élise a modest blue topaz jewelry parure, a silk scarf, a hand-embroidered replica of the wedding bouquet, a geranium and hydrangea fragrance, and an air fryer. Élise presented him with a blue topaz pendant necklace, a book on flowers, a new coffee grinder, and a green short-sleeve polo.
Perfect since they were scheduled to have a private family photo shoot in their backyard. Spencer and Élise got their children dressed in blue and green linen-silk clothes; Opal was also in the photos.
But not before taking them to the family-owned Reilly Ridges Farm for orchard and berry picking.
Élise sat on the chaise, getting the pictures from today settled in the anniversary book; Spencer stood behind her.
"Oh, look at Ziggy!" Spencer pointed to a photo of Isaac with berries smeared all over his mouth and another one with berries stains on his fingers, laughing lightheartedly. "He enjoyed those berries too much."
"At least there's healthy to eat," said Élise before pointing to a selfie of the family. "Aw, look at Fifi." Séraphine pursed her lips. "Aw, ain't that cute? She has everything it takes to be a model or an actress."
Spencer shook his head. "You are something."
Élise closed it and put it back in its rightful place. "Happy Anniversary, babe."
"Happy Anniversary."
They embraced in a passionate kiss.
A/N: Sorry if the chapter fell a little short.