A/N: Hello again, everyone! I'm still taking one day at a time, hoping—and praying—for the better of things as time passes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.

It was official: the road trip was a complete success. Leaving Knoxville and sightseeing around the town for a bit, they stopped at a few small towns for breaks before stopping in Roanoke, Virginia. Staying there for about an hour and a half, they managed to make it back to D.C. and back to their home in McLean within the gray scattered clouded nightfall.

The children were already half-fast asleep; what toddler would be after a long week of exploring their home country? Still, Spencer and Élise couldn't believe how much the children were really getting big, and then one day they'll be too big to be carried and were really growing up.

They changed the children into their pajamas and let them sleep in their grand-sized bed for the night.

Spencer got into his favorite purple plaid pajamas and strolled the children's heads. "I'm so glad you two had a good time together." He kissed their heads. They may have been asleep and might not be able to hear him. These were the memories that would last a lifetime, the kind that'll last forever. He was so glad the children got to experience something like this. Hopefully, they'll go on another one within the next couple of years.

Spencer watched Élise's bathroom door open. She was clothed in a pure silk champagne color nightgown, exaggeratedly stretching her limbs as she paraded towards the bed and sat next to Isaac.

"Mmm…" she gently collapsed on her back. "I'll never take for granted anything in my life ever again. I love it." Élise turned her body to the side. "Just as much as I love you all."

Spencer rotated his bed to the side as well, next to Séraphine. "You had a good time?" he whispered.

"Oh, yeah," Élise nodded. "Despite someone having the…guts to try and hack into my accounts, I didn't let that get me down; it would have drained my energy altogether. Now…when I get back to work tomorrow… I'm gonna give it to them and buy Lady PG a month-and-a-half's worth of mani-pedis."

"I think she liked that," said Spencer. "I mean, we went to fifteen states from here to Vegas, saw landmark after landmark; historical sites along the way; ate some of the cuisines."

Élise snickered. "I've been eating my words for the past few weeks, and it really was one of the best things I've ever done."

"May I say, 'I told you so' for the umpteenth time?" Spencer asked with a bit of cockiness in his tone, picking himself up to rest forward over the children.

Élise leaned closer. "With a kiss, you may."

The two kissed and wished each other pleasant dreams.

"¡Hola! ¡Soy Dora!"

Séraphine and Isaac comfortably sat on the couch with their legs crossed and waved to the television screen. "¡Hola, Dora!"

Spencer sat between them, reading a Carl Sagan book. He smirked to himself, happy the children were engaging a second through a classic educational kids' show.

Soon enough, the front door opened. "Hello-hello loved ones!" Élise popped her head in and waved.

"Mama!" Séraphine and Isaac uncrossed their legs, jumped off the couch, and sprinted to a squashed-positioned Élise with her arms open. "Mama!"

Élise kissed their heads before she stood up and stretched her back. "How's everyone?"

"¡Muy bien!" Séraphine replied in Spanish. "¿Y tú?"

Élise peeked her eyes up at the television screen. "You've been watching lots of Dora today, huh?"

"¡Sí!" Isaac bounced up once.

Spencer set his book down, walked towards Élise, and gave her a lip peck. "How was your day?"

"Aw," Élise sighed heavenly, tugging him closer to whisper in his ear. "I just love making the bad people cry…"

Spencer smirked. "Did you…?"

Élise smiled with pride. "Mmm-hmm…"

"You go, Ms. AG."

Élise gave him a cheek kiss. "And don't you forget it."

Once the green and white road sign said Welcome to Baltimore, Élise tapped on the phone app, clicked on Spencer's number, and held her phone to her ear, waiting for him to call.

"Hello, love?" he answered after the third ring.

"Hey, you," Élise replied softly. "How's the fortress?"

Spencer snickered. "It's going well; the kids are relaxing now. Don't worry; they're behaving themselves. How were the network conference and the national annual meeting in Philadelphia?"

"It's going well," Élise sighed. "I think I'm gonna have a busy week ahead of me," she began massaging her temples. "I swear, I don't think I'm gonna have time to take Fifi back-to-school shopping." When Élise said back-to-school shopping, she just wanted to cry, though the closest she got was the lump developing in her throat. "Oh, Spence…this'll be Fee's first back-to-school shopping and I…"

"Hey-hey-hey, Ms. AG…" Spencer smoothed her with the tone of his voice. "It'll be okay; I promise. Now, I've been looking at their website lately, and there are no special supplies required for the students in preschool through grade 5, so… that's one less thing to worry about."

Élise had her head back against the comfortable backseat. "Oh, yeah. Okay. That's one less thing to worry about…" her eyes dilated a bit. "But what about…?"

"If you're not too busy, we can take her back-to-school shopping this weekend," said Spencer. "We can even let her pick out a new backpack."

"And have a talk with her about after-school extracurriculars," Élise added. "Allow her to expand her horizons at a young age."

Spencer and Élise kept their word and wanted to talk to Séraphine about pursuing after-school extracurricular activities. While Isaac was taking a quick nap, the three sat at the kitchen nook table together.

"So, you see, Fee, after-school activities are a great way to explore interests, improve your self-esteem, and develop skills you'll need when you're all grown up," Spencer finished explaining the purpose of extracurricular activities.

Séraphine had her arms folded on the table. "But what if I don't get to see my friends?" she pouted.

"Well, you'll never know. And who knows? Maybe you, BJ, Aaliyah, Ronnie, Victor, and Blair will all be in the same class." Élise tapped on the sheet after school programs Séraphine could join.

Séraphine stared down and skimmed through the activities. "Ooh-ohh-ohh!" she tapped her finger on what activities she wanted to try. "This-this-this!"

Spencer smiled at what she wanted to try. "Oh, science!"

"Like you, daddy…" Séraphine batted her eyes.

Spencer grinned and bopped her nose, making her giggle.

Élise stared at the marked activities Séraphine wants to try out in the fall. "Science, Creative Movement, and Taekwondo. Oh, she's gonna be one busy girl this fall semester," she turned her head when she heard the bathroom door open and Spencer buttoning up his pajama top. "Let's sign her up on Monday morning," she set the paper sheet on the bedside. "I'm so tired."

"How can you be tired?" asked Spencer, walking to his bedside. "You've pretty much worked a nine-to-five these past few days."

"Okay, then, you try being the AG to this country," Élise remarked. "Unfortunately, you can't put your money where your mouth is since you have to go through the rigid process of being nominated by our President and be confirmed by the SJC and Senate, so…" she stuck her tongue out.

Spencer replied dryly with a sly look, "You are just so mature."

Élise snickered again until she heard her cell phone ring on the table. She picked it up and gazed at the personal contact number. "And speaking of the President…" she pressed the call button on her phone and held it to her ear. "Mr. President…"

Spencer pushed himself under the comforters and watched Élise's facial expressions and how she had her hand on her hip.

"Uh-huh. Uh-huh," she sighed when she shut her eyes. "Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can." Élise ended the phone and began tapping. She held her phone by its ends and gasped; her jaw dropped.

"Holy hell…"

Spencer asked with concern, "What happened?"

Élise handed her phone to him and raced into her walk-in closet.

"Oh, God…" Spencer huffed.

Élise strolled out with two duffel bags and threw them by the bedside ends. "Yeah, I have to get to Missouri; the President will meet me there. We're going to meet the mayor and governor."

"How long are you going to be there?"

Élise had her hand on the bathroom door and sighed again. "I don't know. I know I promised Fee to take her back-to-school shopping and…"

"No-no-no…" Spencer flung the comforts aside, got up from the bed, and ambled over to her side. "Don't do this to yourself, okay? You go and take care of what's happening in Missouri, okay?"

Élise smiled, caressing her hand on his cheek, and kissed it.

Élise crept Séraphine's bedroom door open, smiling distantly when watching her sleep. Tiptoeing to her side, Élise sat on the edge of her bed and stroked her head.

Séraphine grumbled; her tiny eyes caught a glimpse of Élise. "Mommy…?"

"Shh…" Élise soothed her daughter, whispering. "I have to leave for a while, okay? Get back to sleep…"

Séraphine shut her eyes as tightly as possible, her head snuggling against her pink pillow. "Mmm…"

"I love you so much."

Élise kissed her temple before she rose up, closed the door behind her, and went to Isaac's room. She crept to his side and kissed his head. "Sorry, little man, but I have to leave for a while, okay. I love you so much." She got up and smiled again when she knew she heard Isaac mumble, 'Mama…'

Twenty minutes after being driven to Reagan, going through the airport checkpoints, and hopping a Boeing aircraft, within nearly four hours, Élise landed in St. Louis and was transported to the Four Seasons.

Spencer finished preparing today's lunches; he'd given Rose the afternoon off, and she went to Tysons Corner Center with some friends. He got Opal's lunch of chicken, carrots, peas, and bread, and he made caprese sandwiches of fresh mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and olive oil with a hint of sea salt and balsamic vinegar on toasted sourdough bread.

Séraphine took a big bite of her sandwich, wiping some of the balsamic vinegar that dribbling from her mouth. "Mmm…"

"You like your sandwich?"

"Mmm-hmm…" Séraphine shook her head.

Isaac chewed. "Yummy…"

"If you finish your sandwiches, I'll give you both some potato chips, okay?"

"Yah…" the two children cheered before Isaac asked, "Wren's mommy comin' hom, daddy?"

Séraphine agreed. "Yeah, she's been gone for a very long time…" she had her hand on her cheek.

Spencer sighed. "Yeah, I know," It wasn't a picnic for him either, but at least Élise understood Spencer's side of being away whenever he and the team go out of state for cases and other important events.

"Look, I know mommy and I's work can make us so busy that we must leave for a long time. But the most important thing is that we love us so much, and we'll always come home."

"Think she'll be back in time to take me back-to-school shopping?" asked Séraphine, who was halfway done with her sandwich.

Spencer patted her head. "Of course. But if anything, I can take you back-to-school shopping."

"Yay!"

"Hey," Isaac began whining. "Wha' 'bout me?" he thumb-pointed to himself.

"You don't start school until next year, little man," Spencer ruffled his son's curly locks. "So, there's nothing for you to worry about."

"Ah…" Isaac still sounded bummed.

Élise has spent her time in one of the St. Louis suburbs on the latest developments, coordinating with the department's best prosecutors and agents, spending time with the victim's loved ones and other intrigued minds, interviews, and press conferences.

That time had come to an end as she needed to head back to D.C.; she had to deliver another conference on the DOJ's historic financial fraud crisis settlement the following day.

Spencer sat at the counter, sipping the last of his chamomile tea he made ten minutes; he tucked the children almost ten minutes ago, and Opal fell asleep at the same time.

He rested his hand under his chin and sighed before looking at the time on the white microwave. He yawned, covering his mouth with his balled fist, suggesting to himself to get some sleep.

After washing his cup and precisely placing it back where he got it, Spencer only took a few steps out of the kitchen before he heard the front door being opened.

"Thank you…" said the figure stepping in, bidding adieus, and closing the door. "Whoa…!"

Élise jumped, causing her to drop her bags. She laid her hand on her chest. "You scare me…"

"Sorry, honey," Spencer couldn't help but give his wife a hug and a loving liplock. "I'm so glad you're home. But I thought…"

"Thought I surprise you all…" Élise kissed him again. "Sorry if it had to be late…"

Spencer kissed her again but with more passion this time. "That's okay."