A/N: Merry Christmas! (No offense to those of you that don't practice the holiday).

As promised, here is Part 2; another glimpse into the Hotchner boys home for the holidays, with a couple of special ladies involved.

Once again, this is a completely written story. You will get a chapter a day. And since I'm in the holiday mood, I won't take my usual swipe at the FF gremlins.

All rights to the CM character belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios, plus the wonderful writers of CM. The OC's are all mine.

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 2

If you could say hectic and relaxing in the same sentence and it didn't seem like a total contrast in terms, it described the lives of the three Hotchner men the last few days before Christmas. Buying for two ladies in their lives and making their wrapped gifts special had been an eye-opener. The two Hotchner men in love thanked the deities when Jess stopped by one day with some presents. "Like I've told you two, I'm here to help. That includes bailing your butts out in wrapping presents for your ladies," she said. Aaron and Zach just looked at each other, smiling.

Yet the Yuletide spirit had taken over the Hotchner home again. Aaron and the boys had a wonderful time putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the inside of their home the first weekend in December. Zach, the planner, along with his dad one weekend earlier in the fall, had put up the set of mini white lights that outlined the roof lines of the front of the house. "Better to do it now than freezing our fingers off," Zach smiled at his dad.

Aaron smiled back. "You just keep thinking Zach."

And even with the mad rush of gift buying and wrapping, they had time to enjoy themselves. The Sunday night of the decorating ended with Jack getting to turn on the outside lights. Once he flipped the switch, they all three put their coats on to go outside and look. The white lights of the Christmas tree shown through the living room window as the outside ones glistened the sign of a happy family home.

"This is just right," Jack summed up, standing between his dad and brother; the three of them arm in arm.

-00CM00-

Zach had picked up Beth and Sean at the Huntington Metro stop Sunday afternoon when they came down together on the Acela from NYC. Their first stop was not at home, but at the local mega food market. Zach, cooking for the Hotchner's, his grandparents and aunt, was armed with his shopping list. Beth had her own with her contributions to the meal. Sean smiled at her. "You're on your own; but I'm gonna help my boy out," he whispered into her ear.

"Still Sean, let's do this together for him," she smiled with a whisper back. Sean winked at her with full buy-in. The combed the aisles for the ingredients they needed with both of them adding a thing or two to Zach's part of the shopping cart.

When they got to the checkout lane, Beth and Sean bickered over who would pay. As the clerk finished running the items through the scanner, Zach swiped his bank card from his dad. "You snooze, you lose," he looked at the two of them and then winked at the clerk. "Uncle Sean, start bagging."

Their purchases in the shopping bags and in Zach's truck, they enjoyed some light conversation as Zach drove towards home. As they pulled into the driveway, Beth looked at Zach. "Where's the turkey?"

Zach pulled into the garage and smiled at him. "Unthawing in Uncle Dave's big ass fridge." Sean looked at him. "You didn't think he bought the bird? Especially after his trip to Long Island for Thanksgiving with his family? I thought I had got that through to the two of you with my texts; he didn't have a good experience with older sister Maracella. We're having Christmas and Thanksgiving for Uncle Dave. That's why it's turkey instead of ham," he smiled.

Beth, getting out of the backseat of Zach's truck, rubbed his back. "It was that bad?"

"I'll let Uncle Dave give you the ugly details," he smiled.

Beth looked at him. "I think I'll pass."

Sean looked at her and pointed. "I'm with you on that Beth," he said, grabbing their luggage from the back of Zach's truck as Zach grabbed a bunch of the shopping bags. Beth grabbed the last two and they headed in.

Aaron met them at the door, giving Sean a huge hug and then Beth as well along with a kiss. Sean and Zach looked at each other and rolled their eyes with smiles, moving into the house. Aaron took the grocery bags from Beth. "It's not like he's in love or anything," Aaron said, the couple enjoying their own eye roll. Jack bounded into the scene and it was hugs and loves again.

Sean pulled him up and looked at him. "First off Jack; I'm gonna say again. You are getting to be a load." Jack looked at him. "You're getting too big," Sean smiled. Jack threw his arms around his neck which Sean readily accepted.

"But Jackster; the shiner?" Jack, currently sporting a very nasty black eye, looked at him. "The black eye dude."

"Jonas sent the swing on the playground back at me; I didn't see it coming." Aaron hung up their coats in the closet, shaking his head.

Beth rubbed Aaron's back. It had been a trying episode for him. The team was out on a case, so it was Zach that had to handle the situation, which he did with his usual brotherly ease. Yet, it still ate at Aaron. "Aaron," Beth whispered, "that's why Zach is around and you trust him."

"I know," he smiled. "I just wish…."

"You were in the office and got the call," she smiled. He kissed her again and they headed inside the home.

"Yo Zach," Sean smiled at Jack with a wink, "where do I put Beth's bag?"

Zach, in the kitchen, putting the groceries away smiled. "In my den with the futon," he shouted back.

Jack proudly smiled at his uncle. "Nope Uncle Sean; Beth's bag goes in dad's room. We talked; I know about the birds and the bees." Sean looked at Aaron, trying desperately to hold a straight face. He was failing miserably but thanked the deities that Jack didn't notice. Aaron glared at him as Sean's smile grew. Beth walked into the kitchen to get away from the conversation, with Zach winking at her, pulling her into a hug.

Beth looked at him. "Has Jack talked to you about that conversation after we left Dave's that day and the two of them walked back together?"

Zach shook his head. "Not a word; and Caleigh has been here a couple of times." He smiled at her. "And we did our usual."

Beth eyed Zach. "What do you think?"

Zach grinned broadly. "We'll get the Jack version sooner or later."

All the kids were on break from school Monday morning. Caleigh had stayed the night since she would be busy with her family Tuesday and Wednesday. The two of them had been on break since the 13th from George Mason. Caleigh and Zach had spent some time together shopping for all the rest. And it turned out that Caleigh was a master cookie baker, so the Hotchner boys had a full spread of Christmas cookies.

As they all began to roll out long after eight, a sleeping in milestone for Aaron, Sean had taken over the kitchen. Caleigh was in first, sharing a hug with Sean and then grabbing a cup of coffee. She was showered and already dressed in the traditional Hotchner morning grab. They heard Aaron in the shower. Sean looked at her. "You two behave," he teased with a question.

Caleigh smiled. "We always do; that's why I love him."

Sean hugged her and then looked at her with the very serious Hotchner look. "I know that Caleigh; I really respect that the two of you can have that relationship. I'm proud of Zach that's he's fine with that; and you Caleigh, because you can accept that from him."

"Sean," Caleigh smiled. "I trust Zach with my life. But after what happened, to feel that safe in a man's arms is a big step for me. I couldn't have this with anyone else but him."

Sean pulled her into a hug. "Ya got that right Caleigh. Zach's a good kid that was raised right."

Caleigh looked at him. "I know that. That's why I don't mind him snoring in my ear," she smiled. Sean kissed her cheek and Caleigh looked around the kitchen. "What do you have going on here?"

He smiled. "Mini omelets; made to order." Sean had some mushrooms sliced along with ham, fried bacon, green peppers, onions and Zach's always present mega large bag of shredded cheddar cheese. He had pretty much figured out the family's preferences. Sean shook his head as he lifted the bag off the counter. "Care to explain this to me?"

Caleigh devilishly smiled at him. Sean made a mental note. She's been hangin' around Zach too long. "You're an executive chef? It's called a dairy product Sean; as in protein; something two growing boys need." Sean laughed at the "gotcha moment".

"So what can I make you my lady," Sean smiled.

Caleigh smiled back. "I'll wait for Zach."

"Awwwww," Sean mocked her, dressed as well in the morning "uniform" of the Hotchner house on down time. Caleigh smacked his bicep. "Owww, that hurt; where'd you learn that wallop?"

Caleigh smiled. "I have two brothers; trust me; I've learned how to stand up to them." Aaron, coming down the hallway in his lounge pants, long-sleeved t-shirt and wool socks, heard the conversation and smiled as he walked into the kitchen. He did his usual of taking off the days between Christmas and New Year's to be with the boys. SC Cruz heartily agreed to it.

"Feel free Caleigh to kick his ass."

"Do you want breakfast or not bro?" The three of them laughed as Aaron gave Caleigh a kiss on the cheek and shared a hug with Sean. "Anyone else moving," Sean asked.

Zach blew in, showered and shaved. "I am," he smiled. He was dressed the same as the rest.

"Beth is in the shower," Aaron reported as Zach poured glasses of juice for everyone in the kitchen. Caleigh poured Aaron a cup of coffee and refilled Sean's cup. She added a bit more to hers.

Zach looked at her. "It's just a warm up," she smiled, as Aaron added a bit of cream to hers and then his own.

He shook his head. "That stuff will eat your guts out." Caleigh looked at the older Hotchner men and rolled her eyes.

"Not all of us have your very touchy tummy," she smiled as Zach pulled her into a hug.

Zach kissed her. "Touchy tummy or not, that stuff is sludge; off the bottom of the barrel."

Sean peered into his coffee cup. "I'm really going to enjoy the rest of this; thank you Zach," he said.

"Hey Uncle Sean, I call them like I see them." Aaron and Caleigh just shook their heads. They all made small talk and enjoyed their glasses of juice. Beth came in a few minutes later looking like Caleigh; dressed like the Hotchner men with no make-up. Sean poured her a cup of coffee.

Zach looked at her, pulling her into a hug. "No Jackster?"

Beth smiled. "He's churning a bit; the smell of food will get him up."

Sean looked at Caleigh. "Now," he smiled with a question.

"Now," she smiled back.

Caleigh and Zach put their omelet orders in and Sean went happily to work. Zach pulled the package of English Muffins from the fridge and started two in the toaster. Caleigh pulled out the jelly jar and grabbed the butter dish from the counter as Aaron and Beth set the table. The muffins popped out as Sean finished the two older kid's omelets. He put them on plates he had by the stove and dove into the oven, fishing out some hashbrowns he already had prepared. Beth took the plates from him and set them in front of Caleigh and Zach as Aaron poured Zach's usual huge glass of milk. "Caleigh," he smiled, holding up the milk carton.

"I'll take a small glass thank you," she smiled. Beth handed him a glass and he poured. "Thanks Aaron," she smiled.

Aaron looked at Caleigh. "Thank you sweetheart; for being you," he smiled. Zach rubbed her shoulder, they silently prayed then dove in. Two bites in Zach got off his chair. Aaron, Beth and Sean looked at him.

"I need ketchup for my hashbrowns," he said, reaching into the fridge. He grabbed the mega bottle of Heinz and sat back down, dousing his hashbrowns.

Caleigh looked at him. "You need the most acidic thing on the planet for your hashbrowns but you can't drink coffee?"

Zach looked at her, shoveling in a forkful of hashbrowns. "I gave up long ago trying to figure out my stomach." Caleigh shook her head.

"Caleigh," Beth smiled, "don't question it. He puts ketchup on his scrambled eggs." Caleigh just stared at him.

"You haven't figured you love someone with an idiot stomach," he smiled, shoving in another forkful. He took some of the ketchup off his hashbrowns and rubbed it on top of his omelet. Caleigh just rolled her eyes.

Just then Jack rolled in and it was game on for breakfast. Caleigh and Zach, finished with their breakfasts, started cleaning up as Sean made his own omelet. When Beth and Aaron finished, they chased the kids out that had the majority of Sean's cooking pans done. They went downstairs.

Caleigh changed into her clothes for the day in the bathroom as Zach did the same in his bedroom. They went into the den and enjoyed some private time. They had already talked about the holiday. While their relationship was growing rapidly, they both agreed that this was not the Christmas to try and jockey themselves between two families. When Zach had went to the Graystone home yesterday afternoon to pick Caleigh up, he dropped off the wrapped packages for Caleigh from himself, his dad and Jack, and Beth and Sean, who chipped in together on that, as well as shipping all their gifts for the family down to the home via UPS the week before.

Zach added a Christmas card, thoughtfully bought at Hallmark for Rachel and Tom, including a gift card to their favorite restaurant. In turn, Tom helped Zach load up the presents that Caleigh had bought for the family in his truck. There was a small one on top of the stack from him and Rachel to Zach. Caleigh had helped him get them under the Hotchner Christmas tree.

They went back upstairs and joined Aaron, Beth and Sean in the living room, arm in arm. "So want's the Hotchner plan the next two days," she asked, rubbing Zach's back. Jack was in his room doing something.

"Beth is in charge of dinner tonight." Caleigh smiled at her. "I like this having other cooks around," Zach smiled. Beth pointed at him.

"Tomorrow," Aaron chimed in, "is Jack's Sunday School Christmas Eve service at seven."

"Don't forget some prep work for Christmas dinner bro," Sean smiled. Aaron pointed at him with a smile.

Zach took up the rest of the timeline. "Uncle Dave comes over for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Oyster Stew and appetizers before that and goes to that service with us." Caleigh looked at him about the oysters. "It's a Hotchner family thing," he said rolling his eyes. "We hang out, watching to see where Santa Claus is," he winked, as Jack walked in, "on the computer, while Uncle Dave goes to midnight mass at Father Jimmy's church. When he gets done, he bunks in downstairs on the futon."

Sean smiled. "And Christmas morning," he said, grabbing Jack into his arms, putting his hands over his ears, "all hell breaks loose before we go to church with the guys at ten." Caleigh smiled. She knew that Jack's presents from Santa from everyone were safely hid away in Zach's closet downstairs.

"After that," Beth continued, "Team Hotchner rolls to cook Christmas dinner for all of us along with Hannah, John and Haley."

"Which will mean," Aaron smiled, "another round of opening presents before dinner. What about your family Caleigh?"

Caleigh smiled and outlined their plans. Rachel was cooking for 26 on her side of the family on Christmas day. She rubbed Zach's back again. "Which is the reason I should get home to help her," she smiled.

"Message understood; Jack already has got the truck running with my remote engine starter," he smiled. Jack beamed and Caleigh pulled him into a hug.

"Merry Christmas little brother; I love you," she smiled, kneeling down.

Jack threw his arms around her neck. "I love you Caleigh; Merry Christmas." He looked at her. "I'm glad you and Zach are together."

Caleigh kissed his cheek. "Me too," she smiled. Aaron, Beth and Sean shared the same smiles and Caleigh enjoyed hugs with Beth and Sean.

When she got to Aaron, he pulled her into a deep hug. "Thank you for everything; for loving my son and all the support you do around here." Caleigh looked at him. "I know sweetheart; it's out of love. That love goes both ways; I'm very happy to have you in our family and very proud of Zach that he found such a wonderful woman." Caleigh's eyes filled with tears and they shared another deep hug. Beth rubbed Zach's back and Sean and Jack smiled at each other.

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