A/N: Hello again, everyone! Just like one step at a time, I'm takin' one day at a time.
Since becoming AG, Élise had gotten used to using the department's aircraft for her flights, including personal trips. Obviously, she had to do so for safety and communication reasons. Either way, she didn't mind it—she never got to experience business/first-class flights or nice meals that weren't bagged snacks growing up. She almost felt like a celebrity, a VIP, but at least she would never treat the staff like crap or like menial servants.
Élise desired to acquire as much sleep as she needed since she immediately caught her flight after midnight. Like she caught a few hours of shuteye back home after taking the kids out for trick-or-treating before her flight—it would be a long flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Since the plane needed to refuel, the first layover stop was in Brussels, Belgium. Unfortunately, she didn't get to see the capital as much as she wanted to see the city since it was midnight when landing.
The time difference still fascinated her; D.C. was six hours behind Kigali, and she spent almost a whole day traveling. Again, she didn't mind glancing out the window to see Kigali. She'd never been to any African country in her life, so she wanted to soak up as much as she could.
After getting the kids dressed and ready for school with Rose, Spencer hiked back up to Alexander's room for another diaper change before he had to leave for work. "There we go," he said to the now six-month-old. In the months, Alexander hated having his diaper changed; now, he seemed so mellow and laid-back about it. That, and he had one of his favorite toys with him.
Spencer pecked the top of his head. "You be a good boy for Rose while Daddy is at work, okay?" Alexander's sudden babbles made him smile, and he angled forward to get a better look inside his mouth. He saw something, and when he did, Spencer's jaw dropped.
"Lex…you have your first tooth comin' in."
After being occupied on a nineteen-hour flight, all Élise wanted to do was to relax (she went to the Maisha Spa to mend her jetlag a couple of hours after landing) and rest up for the 84th Interpol General Assembly. The event would occur once a year, with major decisions involving general policy, international cooperation resources, etc., and resolution decisions.
The sunset was a glorious firmament of orange, pink, and purple. After a short shower with her petite body bundled in a terry-cloth robe that said KIGALI SERENA HOTEL on the breast and her feet cuddled by the white slippers, Élise laid her back on the comfy king-sized pillowtop bed. Her hotel suite almost reminded her of being back in St. Croix and distant memories of St. Lucia. And it's been years—like she was a kid-preteen—since she's been to the latter country. And it was her only time.
Élise finished the last of the garden salad and the dal tadka room service set up half an hour ago. She wasn't going to lie; it was almost as good as the dal tadka she and Spencer had during one of their date nights before their engagement (maybe even better). She lifted one of the cloches; this delicious black forest cake was served with fruit compote. She set it down and picked up her cell, checking the texts she got from Spencer.
After seeing Spencer's latest text an hour ago, Élise decided to call him. Pressing the call button on her phone, she placed it in her ear, whispering to herself, "I hope you're not too busy."
Her wish came true when Spencer answered after the third ring.
"Lise! How's Rwanda?"
Élise groaned. "If only you knew how tired I was being on that long flight, babe. I felt as if I'd been on it forever."
"I can imagine," Spencer replied. There is nothing much up here in D.C.; no case needing our attention or consultation."
"Maybe the unsubs are in therapy right now," Élise guessed lightly. Don't worry about me; I'm good. The baby's good, too," she yawned. I think I'm going to catch up on some Zs before I call to check on the kids."
"And speaking of kids… someone's first tooth is coming in soon."
Élise's phone buzzed again when she got a photo message from Spencer and gasped. "Awww! His tooth's comin' in. Before we know it, his teeth's gonna be comin' in." She was glad to have moments like this captured. "Keep sending me the pics, okay?"
"Okay. I love you."
Élise smiled before she hung up. "I love you, too." She raised the silver cover again and licked her mouth, ready to eat the black forest cake.
The BAU has been called in to help investigate the murder of a local resident. The twist to the case was the crime took place in a community of non-violent sex offenders supervised by a reverend who's also a sex offender after he impregnated his underaged girlfriend, who's now his wife and the mother of their children.
At first, Spencer and Morgan suspected the victim's husband, but after talking to him, the two knew he didn't know. However, they discovered some unusual circumstances of being allowed to stay in the town.
Élise's stay in Kigali might have been short, but it was still a great trip. But now, it was time to head off to Rabat, Morocco. While she's never been to Morocco, she's read about it. Of course, one of the best films ever made, Casablanca, with legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman; Cycle 16 of America's Next Top Model and Series 2 of Britain's Next Top Model were filmed in Morocco. In fact, one of her favorite fashion designers, Yves Saint Laurent (may he rest in peace), Morocco served as a boundless foundation of inspiration in his designs and considered Marrakech his second home.
The team and police caught word of another murder, this time, a teenage girl, and considering how this victim was in a cheerleading uniform like the previous victim, the team profiled the unsub with a fetish for cheerleaders.
"Rosie!" Séraphine and Isaac ran to their nanny once their afterschool classes were done—the former had gymnastics, and the latter had Little Scientists—who came to pick them up. "Good afternoon."
Rosie hugged them back. Alexander was strapped to her chest in the black carrier. "Afternoon. Did you two have fun today?"
"I did magic milk—making colors and watching them swirl in a bowl." Isaac wiggled his fingers.
Séraphine added, "And I got to do tumbles and cartwheels."
It was nighttime by the time the team completed the case, but everyone was more than happy to be flying back home tonight. Spencer was in the jet kitchenette, fixing up a late-night snack. He needed something to keep him up for a bit until they landed. His gaze lingered on the team. Morgan had his headphones, and Rossi and Hotch were finishing up the after-action report. Tara stared outside the window.
The team had to take a different approach. And fast. After Morgan and Tara went back and talked to the witness, who was the last one to see the first victim alive, they realized part of the profile was wrong. It wasn't a male in his late 30s-early 40s as they thought.
But a teenage boy with a cheerleader fetish. And she was the one who had shot him while he had the sheriff's daughter hostage.
He observed her hands and how she kept picking her fingernails and fidgeting with them. He poured a hot cup of coffee, picked it up, and walked down until he sat across from her. "You okay?"
"I have a lot on my mind."
Spencer correctly guessed one of them—he knew about the career opportunity that could take her away from the BAU. "Your first time?"
Tara stared down at her hands. "Yeah."
Spencer asked, "Want me to tell you how I dealt with it at first?"
"Of course."
A/N: I know I ended the chapter on a short note, but I promise you that the next chapter will have some surprises.
Until next time!