A/N: Hello again, everyone! IT'S 2025! I'm manifesting for good things to come in 2025!
I hope you're all doing well and hanging in there—that's all anyone can do.
My first gift to you for the new year…
"You punched a kid, Seraphine?"
Rose gasped as Seraphine told her the story of what happened during recess while the two females and William were setting up the dinner table. They heard from Spencer and Élise what happened and that they would be getting pizza after bringing Isaac home from the hospital.
"Uh-huh." Seraphine shook her head. "I didn't just punch him; I kicked him, too. And he was an older boy."
William walked around the table, bent down, kissed the top of her head, and gave her a fist bump. "That's my girl."
Rose cocked her head to the side and had her hands on her hips with a sly look on her face, and was about to say something when the front door opened and slammed.
"We're home!" Élise chirped.
Spencer swung into the dining room, carrying two large cardboard pizza boxes (one plain cheese and one mushroom). "And we got pizza!"
"Yay!" Seraphine jumped up and down, clapping and smiling. "I want! I want!"
Élise strolled in, with Isaac walking in front of her with his right hand on his left arm splint. "And guess who's gonna be okay?"
"Ziggy!" Seraphine darted until she got to his side to hug him. "You okay, dude?"
Isaac picked at his bandaged cheek and shrugged his shoulders. "Uh-huh." Rose and William excused themselves, petting Isaac on the head and offering light smiles to him.
"And you, young lady, we need to have a little talk." Spencer opened the pizza boxes, inhaled the cheesy tomato and earthy scent, and watched the steam pouring out. "About what you did today."
Seraphine jerked her shoulders up. "What did I do?"
While Élise fixed up pizza slices for everyone, Spencer continued, "You punched a kid in his gut. And kicked him in his face, making his nose bleed."
Seraphine admitted as she took a seat at the dinner table, "Okay, I did that, but he hurt my brother. And pushed me twice." Her voice perked when trying to defend her actions and justify with, "And you always say I need to defend myself. Plus, I didn't start it." She waved her hands aside.
"Believe me, Fee: you're not wrong for looking out and defending your brother…" Élise presented a pizza slice to Isaac, placed his white napkin on his table, and kissed the top of his head. "And it's good that you didn't start it."
Seraphine grinned proudly, "But I did finish it."
Spencer helped himself to a large slice of mushroom pizza. "But at the same time, you have to be careful. Not everyone is gonna take kindly of what you did."
"Okay, Fee?"
Seraphine blew a raspberry sigh. "Okay. I'll be more careful next time."
"There you go, buddy."
That night, Spencer offered to help Isaac get ready for bed while he still had his splint on. He made sure to protect his splint with a waterproof cover while giving him his bath, knowing it needed to be kept clean and dry to lower the risk of infection. Spencer picked out a short-sleeve flannel pajama set.
"You feelin' okay after what happened to you today?" Spencer asked his son, making sure his arm was kept elevated with the small arm pillow that Élise had in the closet but still comfortable enough for him to sleep.
"Mmm-hmm…" Isaac responded sleepily, his eyes blinking but trying to keep them open.
Spencer passed his fingers through Isaac's wavy curls. "Hey, if you ever get into any trouble in school like that, you can come and tell me, Mommy, or even Grandpa, okay?"
"Okay, daddy…"
Spencer pulled the sheets over Isaac's body until the comforters covered his chest, and it was over his arm splint. He leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "Good night, buddy."
"I love you, dad…" Isaac yawned.
Spencer turned around with his hand on the knob and whispered back, "I love you, too." He closed the door and propped his back against it.
The elevator doors opened, and Spencer exhaled for the second time since he stepped in them. Hotch said he didn't have to come in today if he didn't want to. Spencer was sure to be back for work and just needed to keep himself occupied but promised Hotch he'd leave work earlier than usual if anything came up.
Spencer walked gratefully to his desk. He slid the leather strap off his shoulder, placed his bag on the desk, and rumbled for his files and paperwork. He pushed his seat back before sitting down, bolstered himself forward, and started reading one of the case reports from yesterday.
"Spencer!" he was already done reading when he heard Garcia's voice. Before he knew it, she appeared before him, carrying two small gift bags. "Ooh, how are you? I heard what happened to little Ziggy, so I came bearing gifts, even though his birthday is not for another few weeks. But don't think I haven't forgotten Fee, Alexei, and Elle."
"Thanks, Penelope." Spencer appreciated the gratitude.
"Hey, Spence," JJ injected herself and patted his back lightly. Tara and Rossi came around. "We heard about what happened. How's Isaac?"
Spencer placed the case report back in the file. "Oh, he's fine. During recess, an older kid pushed him off the swings, breaking his arm and giving him little scratches, and Seraphine, being the big sister she is, gave the kid a quick butt whipping after he pushed her twice."
The women's mouths fell open; JJ stammered, still grasping the fact that a little girl like Seraphine beat up an older kid. "S-she beat up a kid?"
"Did she win?" Rossi sounded intrigued; an eyebrow raised, and his lips curled up. A crossed-arm Tara responded with an elbow jap.
Spencer rolled his eyes to himself and read another file report. "Believe me, I was as shocked as you all when I first heard the news. I mean, S-serap-phine…"
Suddenly, a BREAKING NEWS banner on the flat screen television in the bullpen. One of the office agents turned up the volume. The next screen displayed…live footage inside the Senate chamber along with the captions reading Attorney General ÉLISE BASTIEN SENATE CONFIRMATION VOTE.
"Oh, come on, Lise…" Spencer whispered to himself, hoping she'd be confirmed.
"Look, Alexei! Look, Elle!" William had the young toddler and over two-month-old on his lap. "Your mommy's on TV…"
Élise herself watched the vote from the White House with the President, First and Second Ladies in the Roosevelt Room, nervous as sin about whether or not she would be joining the Supreme Court.
The Vice President appeared next, counting and totaling the number of votes. He angled himself towards the microphone and breathed, "On this vote, the yeas are 61, and the nays are 39, and this nomination is confirmed."
The US Senate chamber broke into loud applause after senators voted to confirm Élise Bastien to the Supreme Court.
"She did it…" Spencer sighed to himself, smiling on the inside.
"I did it," Élise exhaled, her voice quivering. She placed her hands on her head and felt tears dotting her eyes before the President drew her into a comforting hug.
The D.C. sky turned to a midnight blue with soft gray clouds and a few stars in the atmosphere. The kids and Opal were asleep. Spencer strolled into the sitting room in his and Élise's bedroom with two champagne glass flutes filled with (non-alcoholic) sparkling rose juice.
Élise sat on the sofa with her feet up and smiled when Spencer passed along her drink. " Thanks, babe."
Spencer sighed heavenly when he sat next to his wife, wrapped his arm around Élise, and tugged her closer to him. "My wife, Élise Gabrielle Bastien, is going to be the future Supreme Court Justice of this country. Next stop—President."
Chuckling, Élise smacked her lips after she took a tiny sip. "Mmm, not so sure about being President or even Vice President. I mean, look, it would be an honor to run this country, but our lives be that public? Nooo…" she had another sip.
"Still, I'm proud of you, honey…" Spencer planted a kiss on the top of her head and toasted cheers again.
William sat up in bed with one leg over the other, reading Isaac Asimov from his Robot book series, when he heard a knock on his bedroom door. "Come in," said William, without looking away from his book.
Spencer opened and closed the door behind him, carrying two shopping bags in one hand. "I am officially finished shopping for my wedding anniversary."
"And this June is your…?"
"Sixth wedding anniversary," Spencer answered, setting the bags on his father's desk chair. He started rummaging inside and pulled out a small black velvet portable jewelry display case. "Check this out."
He opened the box to show William its contents: a jewelry set consisting of an amethyst heart-shaped pendant necklace and yellow gold drop earrings.
"Wow," William gently took the case from Spencer and observed it for himself. "It's beautiful. You have good taste in jewelry."
Spencer is given back the case, and he puts it back in the bag. "Thanks, Dad. She's gonna love it."
It's been a while since Élise and Maeve hung out and decided to have a girls-only time out in the metro at the Tysons Corner Center. They strolled through the first and second levels of Macy's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's, packed with stylish and fast-paced senior employees and customers, smelling some classic fragrances and trying to find wedding anniversary and Father's Day gifts for their husbands and fathers.
Élise and Maeve strode into a candy store filled with candies, chocolates, gummies, and truffles, not just from the States but from around the world. It was like a mini wonderland of candy.
"Oh, do you think Spencer would love these?" Élise pulled two large boxes: Jacques Torress chocolate bonbons and the Vosges exotics truffle collection.
"Well, he does love sweets and sugar," Maeve commented, wanting to taste some of the samples that were on display and the French-made macarons. "If only that chocolate festival was still around…" she chuckled once. "I remember my first time; I ended up with a serious sugar rush that I think lasted for the rest of the weekend. I tasted like twelve different kinds of chocolates. I remember this white chocolate mocha espresso. I could not stop eating it," she snapped her fingers. "Maybe you should make him that."
Élise looked at them again and declared, "Eh, I'll take them both. And I will take up your suggestion," she said Élise as she and Maeve approached the cashier to pay for the chocolates.
"Oh, I love this one."
Élise and Spencer beamed, exchanging photographs of each other on their sixth wedding anniversary. Half of them were in color, a quarter sepia, and the other black and white, taken by William.
Élise swapped a colored photograph of the happy couple kissing. "Your dad's a natural photographer."
"And you're a natural model." Spencer flashed a black-and-white photograph of her and Spencer, who was embracing her from behind while she played with a calla lily, the flower representing the sixth wedding anniversary.
"Here I'm thinking you were the model in the alternative life," Élise commented, flaunting a smile.
Élise gasped, fanning herself after she was done dressing up Seraphine. It was a pretty little sleeveless dress created from silk organza and tulle and completed with floral corded appliqués. She accessorized with white Italian leather ballet flats, a delicate bow, and a floral crown in her curls.
"Awww, don't you look so adorable?" Élise couldn't help it; she had to take a few snapshots on her cell phone.
Seraphine giggled in response, twirling around a couple of times just as Spencer came in, carrying Éliana in one arm.
"Ah, Fee, you look so pretty."
Seraphine performed a curtsy. "Thank you, Daddy!"
"Are you excited to be a flower girl for Uncle Derek's wedding?" Élise cupped her hands on Éliana's face and smooched.
"Uh-huh…" Seraphine bobbled her head, almost knocking off her white floral crown off from her head.
Garcia had JJ, Tara, Rossi, and Spencer gather in the roundtable room for an important presentation (important to her, at least).
She exhibited three invites—one was set in sparkling gold and pastel floral branches; the middle one was a dark blue backdrop and bronze accent mixture of white script, serif, and all-caps fonts; and the last one was black and white. All were for Morgan and Savannah's upcoming summer wedding.
Garcia started rambling, "I totally love the first one, but at the same time, my inner Miranda Priestly is saying, "Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking," she did her best Meryl Streep impersonation of her character saying that line. "Even though it's not springtime. But…" Garcia moved her shoulders up and made a 'I don't know' face.
Garcia went on, "I wanted to do something different—take the modern and classic and make it my own and color—you can never go wrong with a little color and the last one—you can never go wrong with the old-school black and white photography. Still, what do you all think?"
Tara pointed to the screen. "I definitely love the middle and the black and white." Garcia made a cutesy gesture.
JJ winced, "I can't help but I love them all."
Garcia tittered. "I know, but thank you."
"I do like the classics, so the black and white for me," Rossi raised his hand.
"You're really taking this part-time wedding planning and consulting seriously." Spencer commented.
Garcia had one hand on her curvaceous hip and scoffed in a playful, offensive manner. "Well, this is my chocolate thunder who is getting married, so I want to make his and Savannah's day absolutely perfect."
Descending footsteps were heard faintingly until they got louder, and an authoritative tone filled the room. "We got a new case…" Hotch's eyes turned up to the screen. "Garcia…?"
"Right-right-right," Garcia switched the screens and picked up her tablet. "Sorry about that, sir. I-I-I was just…"
Hotch took a seat. "It's okay. And I like the black and white." He ended the sentence with a smirk.
"Mommy-mommy-mommy!/Daddy-daddy-daddy!"
Seraphine and Isaac ran into their parents' open arms and threw their tiny arms around them.
"Hey, kiddies!" Spencer kissed the top of their heads and ruffled their hair. "How was the last day of school?"
Isaac cheered, throwing his thumbs up. "It went great."
Élise and Spencer took the children's hands and helped them in the backseat of the Suburban. "Are you two excited for the summer?"
"Uh-huh," said Seraphine as she was strapped into her seat. "I can't wait to go to summer camp."
"Me, too." Isaac and his big sister threw a fist bump.
Descending the stairs, Spencer rolled his neck around while stretching, shaking his limbs, and yawning for about the umptieth time. He got home late last night, like one in the morning—he didn't expect the case to take longer than he thought, but over the years, he's gotten used to it. He went into the kitchen, and a surprise awaited him.
"Happy Father's Day!"
His tired eyes automatically opened, and he grinned lightly at the breakfast nook where Élise, his father, and the children were waiting for him. Rose had the week off to spend time with her family in the Northeast.
"Heeeey!"
"Happy Father's Day, Daddy!" Seraphine and Isaac skipped a beat and bounced from their seats to hug their father, who crouched to their size and embraced them back.
"Awww, I can't wait to spend my dad with you all," said Spencer after he kissed their heads and stood up straight, extending his back and trudged slowly and eyeing down at his Father's Day breakfast: Eggs Benedict with cooked asparagus, hashed browns, cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting, and his favorite: chocolate donuts loaded with sprinkles.
"I love you all."
"Yay, Alexander!" Spencer cheered when he tossed Alexander the brown foam football, and he caught it. He scooped up Alexander and kissed him.
"I'm so proud of you, little buddy!"
Alexander babbled in response.
Hotch asked Spencer to come in early. He wondered why since he hadn't seen JJ, Tara, Garcia, or Rossi yet, only him. When he got to his office, he was seated at his desk with his fingers folded together.
He jumped slightly when he saw who was sitting across from him. She had light grayish-blonde hair that went down to her shoulders and small blue eyes—which were red-rimmed and puffy.
"Dr. Harris?" He recognized her as Nathan Harris' mother, Dr. Sarah Harris.
"Hello, Dr. Reid." Dr. Harris sniveled, wiping her nose with a tissue. "It's about my son, Nathan." She mustered up and shuddered, "He's dead."
A/N: I'm sorry to leave you hanging like this. I'll make up for it in the next chapter! I hope you enjoyed it!