A/N: Hello again, everyone! I hope you're all doing well and hanging in there—that's all anyone can do. I hope you're up for some more sweetness coming up.
It's been a few days since Éliana's birth—Élise's family headed back to New Jersey, and Diana returned to Brookfield. Now, it was time to take the newest member of their family home.
"Who's little girl are you? Mmm?" Élise snuggled her cheek against her newborn girl's. "Who's little girl are you? That's right. Meeee!" Élise squealed, pointing to herself.
Spencer opened the door to Élise's room and strolled in with a wheelchair. "Your chair, madame." He came to her side and kissed her cheek. "And my sweet Elle Belle."
Élise gasped. "Elle Belle," she looked down at baby Éliana. "You like that nickname, Elle Belle?"
Éliana cooed as she opened her mouth and even opened her eyes for a little bit, making Spencer and Élise's hearts melt on the inside and the outside.
"Ooh, you cute little girl." Élise gushed and made kissy sounds as she had a seat and allowed Spencer to wheel her out of her hospital room. He stopped when it got to the private waiting room. William was there, reading a Men's Health magazine issue before seeing Spencer and Élise.
"Hey, you two," he waved to his only son and daughter-in-law before he beamed down to his youngest granddaughter. "And hiiiii, little Éliana."
Élise cradled Éliana. "You're gonna be spending a lot of time with your grandpa, Ella Bella."
"Grandpa's gonna be living with us," Spencer tickled Éliana's nose, making her gurgle again.
For the past few months, William Reid had been getting his Las Vegas house into top rental shape. He had a cleaning company scour and tidy up the place and make it spotless; he either threw out or donated the furniture he didn't want anymore and replaced it with new furnishings; he triple-checked that he packed everything William wanted (William also threw out or donated what he didn't want anymore) and mailed over half a dozen boxes to Spencer and Élise's place; updated his security features; and got a new smoke/carbon monoxide detector. Afterward, bringing his business affairs in order, a former colleague of his had their tech-savvy nephew help him set up a business account to a well-known real estate listing for rental (along with some house rules). So far, he got a few offers ranging from a couple of days to a weekend to a month.
"Indeed, I am," William proudly announced, following behind his son and in front of Élise's detail.
"When are they coming?" an overly enthusiastic (like as if she's on a sugar rush)(and almost impatient) Séraphine asked for the umpteenth time, opening the living room drapes and staring out the window like a hawk, itching for the arrival of her little sister.
"Soon, Séraphine," answered Rose (she hoped), who had Alexander in her arms while Isaac was watching Arthur on the television screen. Opal took a nap in the corner and snored quietly.
"There you go, sweetheart," Rose fixed up the accent pillows on the couch with one free hand and propped him up on the couch next to Isaac. She whipped her iPhone from her khakis pocket and saw it was almost ten o'clock.
"I'm gonna get lunch started," Rose noted before she asked, "What do you kids want for lunch? Sandwiches and mini pizza bagels?"
"Pizza bagels!" Séraphine and Isaac crowed and threw their hands up.
Rose giggled as she veered off into the kitchen before swinging around again when she heard a loud banshee-like shriek. "Is everyone alright?" Her voice grew worried; she zoomed to the boys' sides before she stood behind Séraphine. "What…?"
"She's here!" Séraphine bounced and threw the curtains sideways. When Rose glanced outside the window, the Suburban was parked in the front driveway. Spencer and William helped Élise and baby Éliana out.
"My sister's here!" Séraphine sprinted from the living room and jumped up and down. She started clapping, and a huge smile came on her face when her parents and paternal grandfather opened the front door, walked through it, and closed it when they entered the foyer.
"Let me see! Let me see! Let me see!"
"Shhh, she's sleeping." Élise shushed her eldest quietly and whispered.
Séraphine gave them a thumbs up and pleaded in hush tones. "Can I at least hold her? Pleeeease?"
Élise sighed to herself as she and Spencer strolled up the staircase. "As much as I loved the quietness at the hospital, even a little too quiet, it's really nice to be home again." Her head cocked to the side when Spencer leaned on top of it for a head kiss.
All the household members gathered in Spencer and Élise's main bedroom. Spencer fixed up a baby monitor and placed it in the side holder of Éliana's pink bassinet, where she's now sleeping.
"Now, we'll be able to hear her when she wakes up," Spencer spoke softly as he guided everyone out of the room. Turning his head again, he saw Séraphine standing on her tippy toes over the bassinet, watching her little sister sleep.
"Psst! Fee!" Spencer hissed quietly but still won't take her eyes off the baby. He swirled and scooped her up, carrying her out of the room. "We have to let her sleep."
Séraphine opened her arms and looked almost baffled. "So…that's it?"
Spencer shook his head amusingly. "Maybe after dinner, you can entertain her."
Dinner ended over an hour ago, and Spencer helped his father prepare the children for bed (he and Élise gave Rose the evening off).
Élise sat soporifically back in the cushioned rocking chair, feet up on the ottoman, clasping Éliana in her arms when she heard the bedroom door open and close.
"Lise!" said a voice.
"Sitting room." Élise hoped she wasn't too loud since she just got the baby asleep again after breastfeeding her.
Spencer, dressed in a dark navy monogrammed linen Ralph Lauren pajama set, walked in and stood by the sitting room doorway. "Hey," he greeted Élise tenderly before he looked over his wife and down at Éliana, kissing her temple.
"Awww, look at her," Élise gushed.
Spencer lightly nudged Élise's shoulder. "Makes you wanna have another one…"
Élise quickly shut him down, giving him almost a stink-eye. "Yeah, this factory is closing down now, as should yours, too…"
Spencer giggled and kissed Éliana again, this time on the forehead, before Élise leaned forward for a lip lock. Their eyes opened when they heard knocking.
Spencer pulled away; he squinted his eyes, pursed his lips, and lifted an eyebrow non-suspiciously. "Mmmm, I wonder who that could be…?"
Moseying until he got to the main bedroom, Spencer opened the door, and there was Séraphine, already in her Victorian-ese nightgown and her wavy curls in a loose braid. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep by now?"
Séraphine batted her eyes. "I wanna say goodnight to you again."
Spencer lopsided his head; his face read spiritedly dubious, and he had one hand on his hip. While he is a father first (while he's home, at least), he's still a profiler. "Is that it, Fee, or do you wanna see your little sister again?"
Séraphine bobbled her head; a wide smile appeared on her face. Spencer took a step back and allowed Séraphine into the bedroom. After she hopped on the bed, she rested her chin on Élise's shoulder.
"Hey, sis." Séraphine waved at the sleepy newborn.
Spencer couldn't help but take a snapshot of it on his cell phone.
Élise sat back on the couch in the soft leather sectional in the living room, watching the news on low volume while breastfeeding Éliana in a football position.
"Hey, honey." Spencer strolled into the room with Opal trailing behind him with a cup of warm tea and set it on the coffee table. She lifted her cable-knitted shawl to show him a breastfeeding Éliana.
"Hey, little one," Spencer kissed her temple just before he pulled back, and Opal nosed in, sniffing Élise and Éliana. "Ah-ah-ah. Careful, Ops…"
Opal whimpered once when Spencer tugged her back before she went to her corner and curled into a ball. "You wanna take her on a walk?" asked Élise, watching Éliana yawn and drift off into a yearning sleep.
When Spencer was about to give Élise an answer, there was a triple knock at the front door. Spencer checked the camera screen and saw that most of the team was there. Garcia looked up and waved.
"We have visitors," Spencer announced as he sauntered to the front door and opened it. Before he could say anything, Garcia beat him to it.
"Ahhhh, congratulations!" a bubbly Garcia threw her bag-filled arms around Spencer. "Another BAU Girl up in the hizzouse!" she threw her hands up and strutted towards the living room.
"Congratulazioni, padre!" Rossi cupped his hands on Spencer's face and kissed his cheeks as he entered. JJ, Will, and Tara patted his shoulders and smiled, offering him their kudos. Spencer crouched to Jack and Henry's size and threw his arms around him.
"Congrats, Spence," Hotch patted his shoulders and drew him into a hug.
Spencer asked after obviously noticing a certain someone was missing, "How's Morgan?"
"According to Savannah, he's coming along well, but due to the severity of his torture injuries, he's given up to six months of mandatory time off."
Spencer sighed—he knew it was for the best for Morgan to be allowed to be given that much time off to recuperate from his abduction and torture.
Tara gushed. "Oh, she's so pretty…"
"Thank you."
"O…M…G, she's like totes adorbs!" Garcia's voice burst over the sight of Spencer and Élise's newborn daughter. "With this full head of dark brown hair and those bluey-green hazel eyes, she's gonna be a heartbreaker."
Now, Élise felt a sudden headrush when Garcia said that. "Yeah, I just gave birth to her, Lady G. Let's take some baby steps."
Garcia's mouth opened but closed for a moment and instead replied, "I can do that."
"Oh, I can't wait to see Morgan and Savannah's faces when they see our newest family member!" Élise chirped, ensconced in the passenger seat while Spencer drove, and the kids—from left to right: Séraphine, Alexander, Éliana, Isaac, and Opal—were in the back of the black Suburban.
Spencer replied, "I can't wait to see how he's doing, considering everything."
Soon, Spencer drove the vehicle into the driveway. Élise helped the children and Opal out, and Spencer carried Alexander by his left arm and Éliana in her car seat. Séraphine and Isaac ran up the stone path to the two-to-three-story Craftsman-style house.
Savannah opened the door and greeted everyone. She allowed the toddlers to come inside first (and told them milk and cookies were waiting for them), and then, Opal, who politely wiped her feet on the welcome mat, got acquainted with Rusty, Savannah's pug.
"Hey, everyone!"
"Hey, Savannah," Élise waved back as the two came in and embraced her. You look good!"
"Mmm…" Savannah pulled away and gasped, covering her mouth for a minute when she saw Éliana sucking on the pacifier in the car seat. "Oh, so this little cutie must be the famous Éliana Laëtitia..."
"Yeah," Spencer playfully bopped her nose. "How's life treating you and Derek?"
Savannah smoothed her hands on her hips. "Well, speaking of Derek…"
"Is that someone I hear sayin' my name?"
Morgan walked—his walk was more of a trudge—into the hallway. He wore sweats and white socks, and his right hand was bandaged.
"How you feelin'?" Spencer asked.
Morgan sighed heavily as he turned around tread back to the living room. "It was hell and back, but I made it back despite thinking I wouldn't."
"What got you through it?" asked Élise, carrying Alexander in her arms.
"My daddy," Morgan whispered. "And you all."
Spencer patted Morgan's shoulders. "We'll be glad to see you back."
"Too bad you won't be seein' my pretty face for the next few months." Morgan joked as Savannah joined him on the couch.
Élise replied sarcastically, "Yeah, we'll be missin' your handsome self, alright."
"So…notice anything different about us? More specifically…me?" Savannah flapped her left hand up, hoping Spencer and Élise would get the hint. And they did.
"You two are engaged!" Spencer smiled. "I take it there was some kind of mourning day for the single women?" he smirked, remembering the conversation about Morgan getting engaged and married during the Dana Seavers case from last year.
Morgan replied with sarcasm, "Ha-ha, you're so hilarious."
"And that's not the only thing…" Savannah added, flipping her hair back and discreetly pointing to her belly.
Élise gasped. "You're preggers!"
"Mmm-hmm, that's right." Morgan gave her a cheek kiss. "There's about to be another mini-Derek Morgan coming into the world."
"Because you know what they say—the more the merrier, right?" Élise mocked him good-humoredly. "If you're up for it, would you like to hold Éliana?" she asked while Spencer got her out of the car seat.
Savannah opened her arms, and Spencer placed the infant in their arms. "Ooh, she's so precious…" she and Morgan caressed.
"Oh, yes, she is…" Morgan grinned. "Oof!"
His face turned into a grimace when Éliana spat out her pacifier, which hit Morgan's forehead, causing everyone to snicker.
"Look on the bright side—you don't have to worry about our newborns anymore…" Élise smirked as she went to pick up and clean her pacifier.
A/N: There you have it—along with some surprises! Until next time...