A/N: Hello again, everyone! Just like one step at a time, I'm takin' one day at a time.

For those who watch Criminal Minds: Evolution, it's still crazy. Dr. Jill Gideon (the famous Jason Gideon's ex-wifey) has now entered the BAU household again, and I'm not gonna lie; I like her. Her and Rossi…shhh.

"Hey, y'all!" Élise waved her arms after opening the front door and stood on the steps when she saw Maeve, Bobby, and their kids, BJ and Charlotte, steering their car into their circular driveway and parked.

Maeve and Bobby unbuckled the children from their seatbelts in the backseat of their black Volvo SUV. They let them out, overseeing the kids run up the brick steps of the Bastien-Reid house. "Hi, Ms. Élise."

Élise hugged the children back. "Hey, you two." She took a step to the side and allowed the kids into the house. "So grown already…"

Bobby clicked on his key alarm and heard a beep-beep sound, meaning the car doors were locked. He and Maeve came up to the house with a small pink and blue bag over his shoulder. "Hey, Lise." He waved back at her as he and Maeve walked into the house.

"Notice anything new about me?" Maeve asked.

Élise's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened. Maeve's hair went from a partial balayage to a face-framing balayage. It was like a sun-kissed appeared around her, naturally lightening her hair. Along with that were the longer layers that gave her hair more dimension; it accentuated her face and made it pop. "You like it?"

"I love it!" Élise shut the door and held one hand on her back and the other on her four-month-pregnant belly. She wore a short flounce-sleeve wrap dress; its airy shape and draping allowed her to easily show off her bump and her favorite Tommy Hilfiger flip-flops. "So, how is the multi-HHS-IC research coming along?"

"I'm loving every second of it! Now, let me look at you," Maeve took Élise's manicured hand and spun her around once. "I swear, pregnancy looks so good on you."

Élise looked down at her belly before she walked at a leisurely pace towards the kitchen. Maeve and Bobby had a seat on the nook chairs. "Thanks. Not to mention, pregnancy brought out my side to start wearing dresses and skirts again." She opened one of the cabinets and grabbed glassware and colorful drinking cups.

"Since middle school, I haven't worn a skirt and dress. Then again, I was in my awkward body problem phase, and then it kinda stuck with me until the wedding, but I know it didn't make me any less of a woman. And I'd do it again if I could."

Maeve raised her hand as she watched Élise open and close the refrigerator when she got a pitcher of flavored water and poured a glass. "Girl power."

Spencer burst into the kitchen, kissing his wife and acknowledging Maeve and Bobby. "Kids are occupied, and Opal's on a walk with Rose."

"How's Alexei's doin'?" Élise slid a glass towards Spencer and watched him gulp it all down.

Spencer exhausted. "I finally got him down for a nap."

Élise leaned back and massaged her belly. "Now I'm craving for some pizza."

"I second that," Bobby had his hand up.

"And some honey barbeque wings," Élise added to her cravings list. "Oh! And while I have them, I want some Chinese food from Kuai Le: like some pot stickers, dumplings, fried rice, char siu ribs, egg rolls, spring rolls…"

Spencer stifled a laugh (the same as Maeve and Bobby) and got up. "I think I better goin' before I pissed you off if I don't."

Bobby rose up and followed him. "I'm coming with you, too."

Alexander's hazel eyes moseyed around the dangling toys in his play gym, grasping whatever was within his reach. The toy bar contained many detachable toys that either crinkled or rattled and a small mirror, so that feature was his favorite. His second favorite was the removable piano, which could play over 70 sounds, musical tunes, and introduction phrases in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Spencer squatted down to his size and tickled his belly, making him giggle out loud. "Hey, Alexei," Spencer propped him up, hoping he could sit up a little bit longer since he knew he hadn't gotten to sitting up without losing his balance. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

Alexei babbled with his blue plushy stuffed octopus animal toy in his mouth.

"I take it as a yes," Spencer tickled his belly again just as he heard Élise coming out from her walk-in closet. "Have you finished packing for your trip to Bogotá?"

"Uh-huh." For the following weekend, Élise will represent the DOJ at delegation events, government meetings, international legal cooperation, etc., in Bogotá, Colombia. Dr. Patterson allowed travel internationally again, so that's an added bonus.

"Hey, you cute little boy," Élise gasped and swung a set of rattle keys above him. He watched how he reacted eagerly and tried to grasp them for her, even though he couldn't. "Ooh-ooh…you want the keys, Alexei?"

Alexei made a high-pitched squeal.

Monday morning was another typical breakfast for the Bastien-Reid household. Élise had Alexei on her lap, feeding him baby formula from his favorite bottle, watching Séraphine and Isaac finish up their meals and Spencer cleaning their plates, hoping it'll get them through the day (or at least until lunchtime), and Rose feeding Opal for favorite dog food brand.

Alexei burped loudly, but at least he wasn't drooling as much as he used to. "I take it you're full, huh, big boy?" Élise's cell buzzed. She picked it up and scanned the screen. Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women Summit! The subject line read. She pressed OPEN. Don't forget about The Most Powerful Women Summit. The Summit Gala will be held on Tuesday evening, and the closing speech will be held on Wednesday morning/afternoon.

The Most Powerful Women Summit is an invitation-only event taking place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and at the National Portrait Gallery's Kogod Courtyard. Expected are interviews, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and high-level networking amongst the attendees, including an appearance from our very own First Lady, and Élise was asked to be the program's closing speaker.

"Are you kids ready for another day of learning?" Spencer cheered, hoping the cheer would get the kids pumped up for an educational day.

"Yeah!"

Opal barked, and Alexei had another loud burp.

Every time Élise would enter the doors of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, she'd always adored its interior, from the artwork to the murals and sculptures, all exemplifying a society where justice prevails. It's like a superhero or a team of them defeating the villain.

With her security team tailing behind her, she's addressed by bystanders and spectators; some had intimate smiles and waves. Élise hadn't even been in her office for like a minute when her work phone rang again. She slid her finger on the screen to accept the call.

"Hello?"

"Élise." It was Hotch. "I just got a call from the warden at Florence Supermax in Colorado. Giuseppe Montolo has refused our latest request to talk to him."

Élise massaged her forehead. "Well, it's not like the jagoff is busy or anything." She sounded like Rossi when she said jagoff, picking up his old-school slang.

"Ironically enough, that's exactly what he told the warden—he's too busy to talk to us."

Élise groaned. "If you ask me, this prick's playin' games since his only bargaining chip is his Dirty Dozen list. You know me; I don't play games with people like him, nor do I have the time or patience now."

"You already know we have to treat this as a dead end. Anyway, I just thought I'd like you to know."

Élise sighed. "Okay. Thanks. And get back to me as soon as possible." She hung up and slammed her phone on her desk. "I think I need to book an emergency head massage," she rested her fingers against her face and rubbed up and down when she sensed hair stubs. "And some waxing and threading—thank you, hormones."

Ms. Vargas held up translucent blue and yellow discs. "What color do yellow and blue make?"

"Green!" said the preschoolers when she crossed the two discs together.

"¡Muy bien, clase!In Español, green is verde."

The preschoolers in one replied, "Ver-de."

Now, the BAU was in Savannah, Georgia, involving the death of brides-to-be. There was a case involving a bride-to-be three months earlier, but now another victim (and by another victim, a third bride-to-be is currently missing).

Two youngish adults—one male (Axel Jordan) and one female (Zoey Oakley)—born in bright athletic sweats, colored socks, and sensible white sneakers blew their whistles at a couple of rambunctious children who were jumping on the huge trampoline near some of the gymnastic equipment set up in the gymnasium. After the adults got to the toddlers off, they stood in a straight line along with the students, including Séraphine, Aaliyah, and Blair. All the students were dressed in leotards and unitards in different colors and styles.

During the summer, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars came on the Disney Channel network. Séraphine's mouth dropped while the young girls performed all those flips and jumps on the screen.

"Whoa!" she cried, pointing to the television screen. "That's so cool!"

Élise massaged the back of her neck. "You wanna try gymnastics?"

"That's what it's called?"

Élise shook her head. "Yup. It's a sport where you can get to do those fancy spins, kicks, twirls, and flips."

"Can I do it, Mommy?" Séraphine pleaded with her hands folded. "Please-please-please?"

Later that night, while browsing the school's website's fall after-school offerings brochure, Élise scrolled down until she reached the activities for Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten. "Well, will you look at that? They have gymnastics."

Spencer joined her on the bed. "Who wants to take gymnastics?"

"Fee," Élise answered. "She saw that movie on Disney Channel and wants to try it out."

"What about Taekwondo?"

"Oh, she still wants to continue taekwondo," Élise replied. "And she also wants to try out tennis."

Spencer chuckled. "Oh, so now she wants to be a tennis player?"

"Who knows? Maybe she'll become the next Venus and Serena Williams rolled up into one."

"For a somersault, you'd want to get into a position like this." Axel bent his knees, got into a squatting position, and placed his palms on the blue four-by-eight tumbling mat with his elbows bent slightly. "Then you tuck your head and roll." He rolled across on the mat and finished, landing in a standing position. "And that's the somersault."

Zoey picked Séraphine out from the crowd. "You wanna give it a try, honey?"

Séraphine got to the mat, got into position, tucked her head, and rolled once. "Nice, Séraphine! Good job." Axel and Zoey clapped. "Who wants to go next?"

There was one suspect who looked for the murders but was released due to a solid alibi. It didn't matter much anyway because the third missing victim was found dead and dumped at a different site than the previous two victims. But unlike the last two, the word "slut" was written in red lipstick post-mortem.

This changed everything for the team. The unsub was not a male, after all, but a woman.

As promised, Élise spoke onstage and gave the closing speech during Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit – Day Three at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the D.C. metro. Seeing over 400 prominent women in their fields—from business to technology, politics to media, philanthropy, education, and more was invigorating and inspiring. It reminded her of the Women in our Element Event she attended a couple of years ago; some were even at the affair, and she had the pleasure of reconnecting with them.

Another solved case from the BAU. The good news is that the female unsub was caught, but the bad news was that she was suffering from psychosis, so, due to her mental state, there's a good chance she'll be institutionalized for her crimes. Even Tara admitted she felt a little sorry for her.

On the flight home, Spencer was reading across from Rossi and Tara. He was so absorbed that he didn't hear the earlier conversation until Morgan mentioned the word "complicated".

"What's complicated?" he asked, picking his head up and looking at the rest of the team. Tara stretched her hand across from Rossi and wiggled her hands, getting him to gaze at her engagement ring. The two-carat center diamond was set princess-style in platinum metal with two tapered baguette side stones.

"Beautiful."

Tara pulled her hand away and smiled wistfully. "Thanks," she began twisting her ring and asked, "How can this job complicate something like relationships?"

"Élise and I have been making it work for seven years and fourteen days, and now we've been married for five years, four months, and two days. We have our share of bumps, but if you love you, you make it work."

"And speaking of complications and relationships, when are we gonna see our own Derek Morgan and his lovely Savannah walk down the aisle?"

Morgan waved his hand down. "Hey, whoa-whoa-whoa. Baby steps, baby steps."

"When Derek Morgan says, "I do," it'll be a National Day of Mourning for single women everywhere." Spencer had to crack a joke—even Hotch cracked a tiny smile when he said that.

Rossi's phone rang in his pants pocket as he warned him, "Just don't elope."

"Wow. Sounds like there's a story there." No doubt Tara wanted to hear it.

A cheeky Hotch replied, "There is."

"Oh…" Spencer, Hotch, Morgan, and Tara watched Rossi's face soften. " Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

Rossi breathed. "It's Stephen."

TO BE CONTINUE…

Sorry I ended the chapter with a surprising cliffhanger, but I promise it won't be anything terrible.

Until next time!