A/N: Hello again, everyone!

Unfortunately, I don't own Criminal Minds. I hope everyone's okay. I'm still taking it one day at a time, but I'm hanging in there again. This chapter takes place on Memorial Day—meaning federal employees have the day off…unless there's an emergency because I can imagine there being FBI agents on call for all holidays. There are Firefighters, police officers, and emergency room doctors who are on call every holiday—words from my homegirl, Quilter1993.

The beautiful blue sky was partially mixed with off-white clouds, and the temperature outside was typically warm in May in D.C.

"Oh, I can't wait to get to Dave's place," said Élise as she sat in the passenger seat. Spencer drove, and the kids—from left to right: Séraphine, Alexander, Isaac, and Opal—were in the back.

"It felt like it's been forever since we saw them."

"Well, you are dressed for the occasion." Spencer quickly glanced at Élise's attire before he focused his eyes on the road again. It was an ultra-feminine, jagged American flag-patterned dress and white kitten heels.

Élise licked her glossed lips. "I can't believe the weekend's over."

The family was surprised to have Élise's parents, brother, and sister-in-law visit them in honor of her mother's birthday. They also got to meet the newest addition to the family. Her parents gushed over Alexander; her mother even commented that if he weren't adopted, he'd look like their biological child. Her comment wasn't meant to be malicious (it wasn't), but he really did.

Plus, the family got to do some fun activities over the weekend. Farms miles from the D.C. metro began the annual PYP (pick your produce) season, including the biggest Berry Blowout. By the time everyone got home, Séraphine and Isaac had huge stomachaches from all the berries they ate. Another activity Spencer and Élise wanted to do was to attend this year's National Memorial Day Concert, which took place on the West Lawn of the Capitol. Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna hosted the event (dead ringers for Jack Garrett of the IRT Unit and Rossi), and all-star artists lined up in the National Symphony Orchestra to honor the people who served and sacrificed for this country.

Spencer steered the car into Rossi's circular driveway. Élise helped the toddlers and Opal out, and Spencer carried Alexander in his car seat. It was still the same beautiful, authentic American Colonial-style home. The American flags hung high and proudly. He parked in one of the open spots on the lot. Judging by the number of SUV Suburbans, pickup trucks, vans (mini, too), and other vehicles that were there, it was a full house.

And their hunches were correct when they got to the backyard. A mass of cookout grills (Spencer counted seven). The air smelled of Kingsford charcoal grills and smokers and heated meat, citrus fruit, and a little bit of natural leathery and woody from the elderly gentlemen's Cuban cigars. The sounds of innocent children giggling and laughing and the splashing of chlorine water from the two rented pools.

There were some familiar faces at the party. There was Jack Garrett of the IRT and his family; from what they heard, they had six kids—three boys and three girls. There was Matthew Simmons with his family; his wife Kristy and their four kids—he's known to be the breeder on his team; Max Ryan, Rossi's old military comrades; his daughter Joy, her husband, and grandson.

Spencer couldn't believe it, but there was Gideon's son, Stephen, and his girlfriend, Adina, by one of the grills. He and Élise hadn't seen them since his father's funeral five months ago. Rossi must have invited him; at least he's here so they can catch up.

"Spence!" Hotch caught the family's attention. Like most of the men (and Spencer included) at the party, Hotch wore a clean, tucked-in polo shirt, belt, and chinos.

"Hotch!" Spencer waved back, and the family approached his foldable white table.

Séraphine and Isaac held their arms open for their godfather to hug them. "Uncle Aaron!"

Hotch crouched down to their height and hugged them back. "Hey, you two." Élise escorted them to play with some of the other kids, including Jack, who promised to help watch out after them. He stood back up and straightened his back before noticing Spencer holding the baby seat. "Uh, is this who I think it is…?" he upstretched an eyebrow.

Spencer carefully took Alexander out of his car seat; the baby began cooing as he held him in his arms. "Yup. He's our new son. You want to hold him?" he asked.

Hotch smiled a bit. Spencer placed the baby in his arms. He replied, taking a seat, "Hey, little guy…"

"Hotch!" Rossi approached him, and before he could say anything, his eyes darted to Hotch and Alexander. "Who's he?" he pointed to the baby as more of the team gathered—Morgan, Garcia (in a very typical Garcia-esqe swimsuit outfit), and a pregnant JJ (though she certainly didn't look five months due to her rather petite and toned frame) with Henry by her side. Spencer took a moment to greet his godson.

"Uh…" Morgan's jaw opened halfway with an intrigued face, waiting to hear a juicy gossip—the same with Garcia and JJ.

"Everyone…" Élise wanted to break the ice. "This is our new adoptive son…Alexander Jason."

Garcia's gasp broke the awkward yet flabbergasted silence. "He's your say-what now?"

"You two…?" JJ had to take a seat—maybe it was her pregnancy symptoms that were making her feel faint.

"How come we never…?"

Spencer answered everyone's anticipated questions. "We wanted to keep the adoption a secret for personal reasons," he eyeballed Garcia since she's known for her snoopiness and needing to be "in the know" about everything despite her intentions. "We started the adoption process around a year ago. We got a call from someone wanting to adopt her baby. Now…" he presented Alexander like a game show host presenting a contestant with a new car. "Here he is."

"Oh, my bright and glowing stars in the glimmering spots heavens, he's so beautiful…" Garcia grinned cheek-to-cheek and opened her arms, wanting to hold him next. Spencer and Élise allowed it, and Hotch passed him onto Garcia. "Come here, precious…" she gasped again. "Ah, look at those handsome hazel eyes."

Morgan caressed his chubby cheek. "Aw, look at him. He almost looked like me when I was a baby." His chuckles turned into a small cry. "Yeow…!" he yanked his finger away, and the team, mostly Spencer, Élise, and Hotch, snickered. "Your boy bit me…"

Spencer preferred to stay under the shade of the table's umbrella. Since either he or Élise couldn't apply any sunscreen on Alexander (the FDA and AAD recommended not using sunscreen on infants under six months old), he was kept away from direct sunlight.

Spencer readjusted the bucket hat on Alexnader's hat and upped a level on the 3-in-1 portable black cooling fan. "Oh, that's much better…"

"Whoo!" Élise cried and ran her fingers through her wet hair. She scoured her oversized tote bag for her blue microfiber towel and used it to wrap and squeeze out any excess moisture. She took a seat next to Spencer. "Oh, chlorine water is killer on this kind of hair and skin, but thank God for cleansing, moisturizing, and strengthening products."

Élise coaxed Alexander out from Spencer's arms. "Oh, let me have you, Alexei…" he started cooing, and Élise melted again from his cuteness. You sweet, handsome boy…"

"Hey…"

The parents glanced up, and Stephen, Gideon's son, was getting their attention. He wore a white tank, surfer-like shorts, and slides. On one hand, he had a decorative tray containing burgers and sandwiches and a jug of ice-cold water on the other. "What's up, two?" After greeting them, he politely set the tray on the table and offered a fist bump; Élise fist bumped him first, followed by Spencer.

Stephen pulled up a chair and joined them. "How's life treating you, too?"

"We're good, thank you," Spencer answered, examining the burgers and sandwiches Stephen had brought them. "Uh…"

"It's smoked fried chicken and pulled beef, in case you were wondering," Stephen replied. He watched Spencer sigh in relief in response and Élise helping herself to a sandwich. She had a bite and licked her lips after gobbling it up. "I made it myself."

Élise commented. "It's delicious…"

"Thanks; I don't really keep up with kosher, but I personally don't eat pork," said Stephen before he felt a tap on his shoulder, and it was Adina. She greeted Spencer and Élise before she gave Stephen a lip lock and joined the table.

"You two enjoying yourselves?" said Adina, using a bamboo hand fan to cool herself from the heat. After the married couple shook their heads in a yes answer, her green eyes caught a glimpse of Alexander. "Hey, who's this handsome cutie pie?"

Spencer cleaned up the baby's spit in the corner of his mouth. "He's our son, Alexander Jason."

Stephen's face vigored. "You…named him after my dad?"

"In a way, yes." Spencer watched Élise sway Alexander. "Because, in a way, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have the life I have right now."

Adina clapped. "May I hold him, please? I love babies…" Élise placed the newborn in Adina's arms and gasped. "He's so precious…"

"I think that's about the eleventh time we've heard that," said Spencer with a proud grin.