Author's Notes: Yes, I know I've been spreading my wings around this fanfic world lately! To those of you that have followed me, it is greatly appreciated. And your R/R at my expansion has been so supportive and wonderful! However, my gut, and more importantly, my heart, keeps gnawing at me. I made a promise; and I keep my promises. I know some of you have been not so patiently waiting for me to get back to a certain story. It's a long story why that hasn't happened – just know I've needed some very high motivation to get to that place. After re-watching the S7 episodes so far, my muse finally provided me one! In two words ….She's back!

I've been toying with a lot of different scenarios on how to get Cait and the rest of the newly minted Hotchner family into a fanfic sequel to Family that I could be comfortable with. I hope you enjoy it. However, to those you just finding this family of mine, I hope this can be a "stand alone" story. Yet maybe it will get you interested in seeking out the original. *hint hint*

Disclaimer: I do not own anything remotely related to the CBS/ABC Studios program that is known as "Criminal Minds". But I'm sure having a lot of fun with it around here!

Dedication/Opening Quote: "It is better to write for yourself, and have no public; than to write for the public and have no self." Those special words someone hammered over my head have given all of you the stories I've written lately; most importantly, the courage for me to finally go back to this OC that I love so much. That, in this fanfic world, is known as a mentor. Y'all know who she is. ;) I just cherish her!

Chapter 1

Juggling is not easy. Just ask any circus clown. It takes years, and years, of practice. But, if anyone has had those years of practice, it's Cait Hotchner. And she's no circus clown; just a wife, mother and working professional that has handled that juggling through good times and not so easy times.

But as Cait drove home from a very typical day, the difficult road did not cross her mind. While she respected it deeply and the lessons she learned, it was in the past. She was totally concentrating on the rest of her day, when her cell rang. One look at the caller ID spread a large smile across her face. "Hi you!" she simply said.

"Hey Doc," the quiet response came back. She smiled at the pet name he used only around her. And she sorta laughed to herself. Her husband Aaron Hotchner, after all this time, was still very protective of his private life around the team. Cait doubted David Rossi, her husband's colleague and their mutual dear friend and neighbor, even knew about it.

"Where are you? Still in St. Louis?"

"No, on our way home. How 'bout you?"

"I've left the campus and am on my way to pick up Jack. Will you be home in time for dinner?" A renowned professor of criminal psychology and the assistant head of the Georgetown University Psychology Department, Cait Hotchner had the best of both worlds. She had a fulfilling career with a husband and three wonderful sons to boot. And she absolutely loved to cook for them all.

"Yes, we will. What's on the menu?"

"Tonight's menu is the pick of our youngest son: meatloaf and mashed potatoes with corn. And I put together a Jell-O just for him before the boys got up this morning. Don't tell – it's a surprise."

"My lips are sealed." Cait smirked. He was really good at that. It took her almost a month to figure out what was really going on with Emily. Actually, it was her and Dave that had put their heads together and figured out that Emily was indeed alive. Although their collaborated efforts helped them to "work the case" (Cait was Dave's criminal psychology advisor to his last four books) Cait let the thought slip away.

"I can't wait to see you and the boys will be happy that you're home."

"Same for me Doc. What time is dinner?"

"Matt and Mike both have practice until 5:45. They should be home by 6:15 so I'm shooting for 6:30. But Aaron, please don't stay at the office all that time and do reports. Come home and spend some time with Jack. You can do reports from home later."

"That was my plan Doc." Cait could hear his smile over the phone. "I'm learning. Seems I've got a pretty good teacher in my life."

"No," she gently corrected. "You have a wife and three sons that love you."

"That's even better. See you in a little while. Love you."

"Love you too." She heard the phone click off as she pulled in front of Madison Elementary. The old military adage of RHIP – "rank has its privileges" pretty well summed up her professional life. She made her own hours, specifically so she could pick up Jack from school, while Aaron dropped him off on the days when the team was in the office. And Aaron had got into the habit of sticking around in the morning to have breakfast with all his sons, albeit eat and run, while still getting up at his usual time to work from the home office that he and Cait shared.

Cait got out of her SUV to wait for Jack just as the bell rang. Three minutes later, he thundered out of the building with the rest of the kindergarteners. As he noticed her, he ran and threw his arms around her. "Hi mom!" he enthused as he hugged her. She put a kiss on the top of his head and ran her hand through the back of his hair.

"Hi you! How was your day?" Cait said as she waved at Mrs. McKee.

"It was awesome mom."

"I know how to make it better."

Jack raised his eyebrows at her and then realized what she was going to say. "Dad's home!"

"He's on his way. He'll be home for dinner." Cait said as she led him to her vehicle. As she opened the back door, Jack smiled broadly, took his backpack off and climbed in.

"That's even better. Dad can have meatloaf with us tonight!" Cait smiled at her son as she double-checked that he had gotten the seatbelt fastened and opened her own door. They went on their way to Deer Valley Road with Jack happily prating about his day. "I got to tell a story after lunch today mom. I told everybody about how we go to the ranch every summer and I get to ride horses with grandpa." Cait loved that going back to her family ranch in June was providing memories Jack he would cherish the rest of his life. He continued rambling about school and what he and "the guys" did at recess.

As she neared their home, Cait pulled over to the mailbox and grabbed what was inside. "Mom, that's a lot of mail," Jack noted as Cait pulled out two handfuls.

"It is Jack. And most of it is for your big brother."

"How come mom?"

"Because a lot of colleges want him to go to their school." While their family had not grown in numbers (the ex had taken care of that possibility), it had grown substantially in physical size. Matt was a senior at Annandale High School. While he was now only an inch shorter than Aaron, he had at least 15 pounds on him, every ounce being sheer muscle. Matt took his work outs very seriously, especially when dad joined him in the workout room they had built in the basement. And while he was a good football player, it was Matt's baseball abilities that had colleges and their recruiters lining up at their front door. Also, of course, he had his driver's license and because an extra car and driver took part of the load off of Cait, they had bought him one.

Michael was still the free thinker and gamer, only now 15 and nearly three inches taller. He also excelled in school and athletics, his sports being soccer and lacrosse. To that end, he swam with Cait and ran with Aaron to keep in shape for those endurance sports. As a freshman at the same school, he had proudly made the varsity soccer team (a rare feat) as a midfielder, which meant the Hotchner's fall evenings were filled with going to the older boys' games. Thank God for today, a Wednesday. It was the one day no games were scheduled.

And then there was Jack. Having just celebrated his sixth birthday, he too had grown like a weed, just not at the pace of his older brothers. He was a happy-go-lucky kid with Haley's warm nature and smile. He was one of the oldest students in the class (having missed the age cut off for joining last year's class by only seven weeks) and with parents that strongly believed in working with their children at home, one of the brightest.

They pulled into the driveway and Cait opened the garage door. Jack unbuckled his seat belt and opened his door as Cait got out, grabbing the mail, her handbag and briefcase. "Mom, does Matt really have to go away to school?"

She and Aaron had already had this conversation with Jack. He was already missing his brother before he even graduated in the spring. But the truth be told, so were she and his dad.

"Jack, dad and I have already talked to you about this. And as hard as it will be for you, it will be even harder for dad and me."

"Really mom?"

"Yes, it will." They both heard two very loud barks from the other side of the door leading into the house. "I think there's two that are glad we're home," Cait smiled as Jack grabbed his backpack and reached for some of the mail to help his mom. They both closed the gap and Cait put the key in the door, opening it to reveal a very happy Beans and Mudgie.

"Hey Beans," Jack said as his best bud gave him a "kiss". "Missed you," Jack added as he rubbed Beans neck. Mudg barked at Jack. "Missed ya too, Mudg" as Jack scratched behind one of his ears.

"Jack keep moving inside please so I can get in the door and shut off the alarm," Cait laughed. She made her way past Jack and the dogs and dumped her armful on the lunch counter. Jack joined her, setting the mail he had there and put his backpack in one of the chairs. "OK, now my hands are free," she said looking at the dogs; father and daughter, but of course unbeknown to them, and gave them both loving pets and scratches. The boys took care of Mudg when Dave was out with the team and he stayed there. She looked at Jack. "Can you let them out for me please?"

"You bet mom," Jack replied as the dogs followed him to the French doors off the nook. As they both zoomed out the door to do their "business" Jack looked at Cait. "Mom, will Matt forget us and never come home?"

Cait walked to him and pulled him up off the floor into a large hug. "Jack, Matt will never forget us and knowing him will be home as much as possible. He loves all of us and we're a family." Leaning in to put her nose and forehead to his, she added, "Who do you think is going to do Matt's laundry?"

Jack giggled. "He still hasn't learned?"

"Jack, do you know the difference between the color white and everything that isn't white?"

"Of course mom." Cait couldn't help but smile at his verbiage.

"Then do me a big favor."

"Anything mom."

"Teach your big brother because he doesn't understand." Jack roared and climbed down out of her arms to let the dogs in.

As Jack returned, Cait started to pull out his papers from his backpack. She began to look them over as Jack climbed into the lunch counter chair. He happily explained some of the lessons and pictures and pointed out a note. "Mrs. McKee says you need to read that." Cait nodded as she read the note detailing upcoming activities in her energetic classroom. "What's this Jack?" she said holding up a paper.

"Mrs. McKee wants all of us to work on starting our numbers. The whole class got one." Cait pushed the mail and her bags aside as she took the next chair to Jack and worked with him on the exercise. It was still a tussle with Jack and writing. As ambidextrous as his father, that was their one struggle with Jack in school. He couldn't decide which hand to write with.

Together, they finished most of it, with Jack mainly using his left hand. Just like his dad, Cait thought to herself. And being an educator, she knew the final choice would have to be Jack's. His stomach growled. "Time for a snack?"

"Yeah mom, I'm getting hungry." Cait went to the fridge and pulled out an apple which she sliced and gave Jack. As he ate, she started in on preparing their dinner. While they were still chatting as she got the meatloaf ready and started peeling potatoes, both the dogs perked up. A minute later, Dave Rossi strode into the kitchen. Jack hopped off the chair and raced to him. "Hi Uncle Dave!" he exclaimed as he ran into Dave's waiting arms.

Dave pulled Jack into a hug and rubbed the top of his head. "Hey pal! How was school?"

"It was great Uncle Dave! We had art class today and I made a picture of you and me and Beans and Mudg!" Dave looked at Cait who smiled broadly and winked at him. "Uncle Dave, you can take it home and put it on your fridge."

Dave smiled as he looked at the Hotchner fridge. "Pal, it's about time my fridge looked like that," as nodded at the appliance in the kitchen. "Thanks pal, I'll put it up as soon as I get home."

"You aren't stayin' for dinner Uncle Dave?"

"No pal, I have plans tonight." Cait raised an eyebrow at him. He crossed over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I've gotta run. I've got a lot to do." He walked back over to Jack, who had returned to his chair and gave him a hug as Jack handed him the picture. "Thanks for taking care of Mudg pal. And the picture; I love it!" He placed a kiss on the top Jack's head. "Come on Mudg. Let's head home. Bye you two."

A/N: Seems Dave has something going on! And how does that affect our happy family? Please know as always, this is a completed fanfic. The next chapter will be posted within 24 hours.