A/N: First off, thank you all for supporting my time away. I truly appreciate your understanding; I was the Energizer Bunny of writing for a while until my batteries died. However, my batteries are re-charged. Not at the pace I did before; I've taken this very slow and easy. And highly enjoyed the process; yet I'm ready to rumble.

By the title, I'm sure all of you can assume I'm not going to do my usual happy. But I promised you all that Caleigh would be back with Zach, and I thought this was a good point to pick that up.

All rights to the CM characters and the storyline belong to CBS, ABC Studios and Mark Gordon Productions.

And yes, this is a completely written story. My usual promise: you'll get a chapter a day. *shakes certain finger at FF gremlins*

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

It was a crisp October day when Aaron Hotchner and his two sons boarded the train on an early Thursday morning. Zach had left his pick-up at the Huntington Station and the three of them took the Metro and then transferred to the Union Station to take the Acela train to NYC. They were all going to spend the weekend with Beth.

It was their first chance; Jack was out of school for a long, five day weekend, compliments of the annual Virginia state-wide teacher's convention. Zach had worked with his professors and Coach Taylor to be excused from classes at George Mason. His laptop was firmly secured in his backpack to keep up with his classes online.

Zach smiled at his dad as they got on the train and settled in. Well at least Zach and his dad. Jack was a bundle of energy, looking forward to his first train ride. Once the train passed by the Chesapeake Bay, the ride from the window got pretty boring and Jack frowned. Aaron smiled, opening Jack's backpack.

Zach was already heads down, keeping up with his classes, taking notes and doing assignments, his long legs sprawled across the seats, two and two facing each other, with his ankles resting on Jack's recently vacated seat, looking at the scenery. He had his headphones plugged into his computer so he wouldn't bore others with the lecture he was watching.

Aaron proudly smiled at his dedicated student and pulled Jack into his lap. "It's movie time for you and me buddy." Jack had put four DVD's in his backpack and pointed to the one he wanted to watch with a smile at his dad. Aaron already had his DVD player on the tabletop with the ear buds for two already plugged in. Zach warmly smiled at the scene and went back to his studies

Yet, he had three tabs opened on his laptop and covertly sent an email message. Ride is pretty boring right now; seeing a lot of not great things. I'm keeping up with my classes; call you when we get there. Luvs ya; Zach. Caleigh smiled, opening her laptop for her ten o'clock class.

The rest of the train ride was spent with Aaron and Jack spending some bud time together watching the DVD and Zach staying current with his classes. As the train began to cross the New Jersey causeway, Aaron and Jack shut his DVD player down, the movie done. Zach looked out the window and then at his dad. "We're getting close?"

Aaron nodded and Zach shut his laptop down, stowing it into his backpack. Jack did the same with his DVD player with Aaron helping him. They all enjoyed the scenery with Zach pointing out a bald eagle to Jack. Sure enough, the eagle took a great plunge toward the waterway and came away with a fish in its mighty talons. Jack smiled. "That's just cool Zach."

They shared a high five. "Yup bro, it is," Zach beamed.

Aaron rubbed Jack's back. "Buddy, remember the Lion King? The circle of life? You just saw that," he smiled, rubbing Jack's back more. Zach smiled at his dad with a nod.

The train dipped into the tunnel to get them across the Hudson River and Jack looked at his dad wide-eyed. "This is too cool dad," he smiled.

"Yup bro, it is," Zach said, enjoying the ride as well. Aaron smiled at his two sons. Finally, some us time he thought. With the Replicator on the loose, he didn't have much time lately with his sons. He had shared some small details of that case with Zach, explaining his long hours, even when the team was home. He knew Zach would talk to Dave to get more.

"Just get the SOB dad," Aaron heard his oldest son's words in his head again. "I've got the fort." Aaron could see Zach's look in his mind. The proud, determined smile his oldest son always gave him, backing the job he, Dave and the team did. And sending his message to Aaron; I've got this dad with his small, confident smile. Aaron quietly smiled his pride of Zach as his sons were completely taken in by the darkness of the tunnel.

The train made the climb out of the tunnel, slowly pulling into Penn Station. Jack looked at his dad. "Beth will be there?" Aaron smiled. Jack had full buy in on Beth; he knew that Zach remembered Haley too much, yet welcomed how much he embraced her.

The feeling was mutual. Zach had, finally, found someone in his life. With Caleigh, he understands Beth and I better he thought. And my son had found someone very, very special. Caleigh, since the Dave's Labor Day party had been in the Hotchner home more than once. Aaron loved seeing her there; just not for Zach. She was a special lady that accepted without question the life they all lived and had become close to Jack as well. And Caleigh was becoming more and more someone that was there, at the right time, for Zach.

Aaron could concentrate on the Replicator case, knowing that Caleigh, and her family for that matter, were backing Zach. He took great relief in that, knowing his oldest son had his own relief from the burdens of his job. Yet he knew that Zach had read Dave. The case is weighing on him as well. I'm sure that's why Zach's stepping up Aaron thought as the train slowly stopped at the platform.

The train pulled to a stop and the three Hotchner men gathered up their bags and backpacks and head off to the platform. Jack, his hand in Aaron's, looked around. "Where's Beth?"

Zach, his backpack over his shoulder and pulling the bag that held him and Jack's clothes, rubbed his head. "Security bro; only ticketed passengers get to this level."

Jack looked at his dad. "Buddy," he said, as they got on the escalator to reach the main level of the station, "a lot of things have changed since 9/11 and especially in this city." Jack nodded, having watched with Zach the moving memorial services a month ago. He was getting old enough to understand.

They got to top and walked off the escalator towards the security gates. Beth noticed them through the bullet-proof Plexiglas and waved. Hotch and Zach smiled, as Jack waved back. When they passed through, Jack ran to her. "Hi Beth!"

Beth pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of head. "Hey you; I'm happy you're here; and I'm really excited for our weekend together."

Jack beamed at her. "Me too Beth." Hotch pulled her into a deep hug and they shared a kiss. Jack and Zach shared smiles.

When his dad finished, Zach pulled her into a deep hug as well, kissing her temple. "Good to see you Beth," he smiled, pulling out of the hug.

Beth rubbed his bicep. "You too Zach; how's Caleigh?"

Zach beamed. "Busting my butt for pics of our weekend," he said. Beth smiled and they moved to the curb to catch a taxi. A taxi pulled up and Zach opened the door, took a whiff and looked at the driver. "Get lost; I'd be riding up front with you and I won't put up with the smell." He shut the door.

Beth looked at Hotch. "He doesn't understand New York cabbies."

Hotch smiled. "But I understand my son." They moved to the next taxi in line.

The driver was already out, pulling his trunk lid open and smiled at them, reaching for their bags. "I've got you," he smiled, hearing what Zach said. He nodded towards the taxi in front of him. "He's not good; his reputation and smell precedes him," he smiled to the family.

They all got in with the driver expertly getting them to Beth's apartment on a side block off of Tenth Avenue and 27th Street. Hotch paid him and Zach provided the tip, smiling at his dad. Beth got them to her home. The two bedroom apartment was roomy and she looked at the boys. "You can bunk together, or Zach, I brought that couch from my place in DC," she said, pointing at it, "because I knew it would fit you," she smiled.

Zach smiled. "Let's see how many miles we put on today." Beth looked at him. He softly smiled. "Dad shared your itinerary with me. You're gonna work the little guy's butt off. That means I'm putting up with a million-miler in bed. So the couch just may work in my world."

Beth looked at Aaron. "Two pages," he smiled with a question.

She shrugged, with a smile. "I want the boys to see the entire city."

"I do too Beth, especially Ground Zero," Zach said. "But I know JP," he smiled.

Aaron smiled and kissed her. "Let's take it one step at a time."

After they all settled in, it was decided to take in the Empire State Building. While it wasn't the shortest of walks from Beth's place on the east end of Chelsea Park, Beth knew the boys both needed to get their legs stretched out. And they took their time, with Jack's short legs compared to the rest of them.

Zach walked by a deli and nearly drooled. Hotch stopped and looked at him, holding Jack's hand. "Zach, we had big breakfast before we left; really?"

Zach smiled at him. "Dad, I can always eat." Jack nodded at him as well.

Beth laughed. "Hotchner, you have two growing sons. I can't wait to see how Sean feeds them." The plan was later that night to go to the restaurant that Sean was now head chef.

Hotch shook his head. "This weekend is going to seriously dent my wallet the way the boys eat."

Beth laughed. "This city will," she smiled, rubbing his shoulder, as they entered in to the wonderful smells of NYC deli.

Zach ordered a beef and cheddar, "extra mayo please" he smiled at the man behind the counter, who looked at him with a smile.

"You sharin'?" he said, nodding at Jack.

"Yup, I am," Zach smiled. Jack still wasn't huge on cold meat sandwiches but had started occasionally taking one when he didn't like the lunch selections at school for the day. The deli guy cut a small portion of the hoagie off the end and put in plastic wrap. He did the same to Zach's portion. Beth and Aaron looked through the deli case and selected a pasta and crab salad to share. They all got drinks and Beth beat Aaron to the register and paid. The deli had outside tables and they grabbed one, eating as they watched the New Yorkers scurrying by. Jack just shook his head as he took a bite of his sandwich and a drink from his soda.

Zach smiled. "It's the city that never sleeps bro," he said.

"Wow," was all Jack was able to get out of his mouth. Aaron and Beth shared a smile.

They finished their lunches and lazily walked to the Empire State Building, entered the lobby and took the elevator to the observation deck on the 86th floor, Beth having already pre-bought the tickets. Jack ran out onto the open air deck, looking at the New York skyline in amazement. Beth and Hotch joined him. Zach hung in the background.

Beth looked at Aaron. He shook his head. "He doesn't handle heights very well," he said, shaking his head.

"Then why did he agree to come with us," Beth asked and then thought for a second. "And how did he fly to LA with Dave."

"An airplane is still an enclosed space; this isn't. And he did because you wanted to," he smiled.

"Zach, you ain't gonna look?" Jack asked. "The view is great!"

"You want me to throw up on your shoes JP?"

Yet Zach pulled his digital camera out of his cargo short's pocket and took pictures of the three of them. Beth rubbed Aaron's back. "The other observation deck is on the 102nd floor, but it's closed in. Can he handle that?"

Aaron shrugged an answer. "Maybe." They moved to that deck, which is an indoor deck and Zach was able to look out and enjoy the skyline, especially towards the Statue of Liberty and the WTC site. He took another picture. However, he made the mistake of looking down and the blood drained from his face. Aaron grabbed him and backed him away.

Zach took a deep breath and sat down in the chair Aaron gently pushed him into it, rubbing his shoulder. "You OK?"

Zach shook his head to the affirmative, taking another deep breath. "Dad, the yellow taxis were the size of gnats," he said, shaking his head. Aaron smiled, continuing to rub his shoulder. Beth and Jack enjoyed the view a bit more and then joined them.

The made the slow and easy walk to back to Beth's apartment.

###

A/N: Zach handles heights like I do.

And a huge shout out to Rutland that made the recommendation to me where to put Beth's apartment after I got her in the area I wanted. Luvs ya!