A/N: Welcome to Matt and Lauren getting married; which I completely forgot. Thank an OK Teacher for kicking my butt. And she proofreads now that she's off for the summer. :D

However, this one will not be the grand scale wedding I've written in the past. As usual, this is more about a family.

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios. *stay calm Rockie*

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

Matt eyed Lauren in the kitchen of their small Georgetown apartment as he literally started to change in front of her from law firm intern to law school student soon to head to his night class. Lauren laughed at him. "I'm fine; I love you. I know you love me." Matt pulled off his suit pants, already stripped out of his dress shirt, tie and suit jacket.

Lauren smiled. "Matt, go get dressed for your class. Dinner is five minutes away."

"It smells amazing," Matt smiled, heading to their bedroom.

"It's a new recipe your mom shared with me. And leftovers for us to live on in the future months while filling our freezer."

"I like that plan," Matt said from the bedroom.

Matt came out a couple minutes later, dressed in jeans and a long sleeved polo shirt as Lauren finished the dish. "It smells wonderful Lauren," he smiled, pulling her to him as she finished the dish, kissing her cheek. "What is it?"

"Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta," Lauren smiled, pulling two plates out of their small cupboard. "It's already got the Jackster seal of approval according to your mom."

"The squirt's stomach is never wrong," Matt smiled as the two of them sat down together at their small kitchen table, sharing a meal together. They enjoyed the wonderful food. "I get why Jack likes it," Matt said, putting in another bite. He looked at Lauren.

Lauren shook her head. "They need to know the truth. And I know they'll listen. Matt please, I need to do this. And I need their advice."

Matt finished his dinner, washed and rinsed his plate, putting in the rack to dry. "You know I support you," he said, pulling Lauren into a hug. "I love you babe. Drive safe."

"You too," Lauren smiled, kissing him. "See you later." Matt grabbed his book bag with his laptop safely secured and headed out the door to his class.

Lauren took her time storing the leftovers and cleaning up the tiny kitchen. She knew the Hotchner family schedule with Aaron being home. The last thing she wanted to do was interrupt Cait and Aaron's time with Jack. She sat down to grade some of her sixth graders history essays, smiling at many of them. Why I love teaching middle school kids. You can challenge them. Lauren smiled, turning to the next one, reading it. Yup Micah, Lauren giggled, Abe Lincoln was a great man. But you sorta missed the point dude. You made valid points. Just don't focus on his stature and next time you write one of these, make more points about the achievements Lauren smiled, giving the essay a score of 78%.

Around eight, she pulled her scarf off the coat hook by the door, wrapping it around her neck and then put on her winter coat to make the run to her already heating car down the block on the cramped Georgetown street. Thank you Uncle Dave for my car starter Lauren smiled at Dave's Christmas present as she braved the February cold to get to her car.

Driving down the freeway towards Woodbridge, Lauren replayed her speech again over in her head. And then shook her head. That will go out the window ten seconds into talking with Cait she smiled.

Pulling into the driveway on Deer Valley Road, Lauren smiled at the light on in Jack's room. Timed that right; I'm there for the good nights.

Lauren got into the home, knowing its security, pulled off her coat and scarf, laying them over Dave's usual chair at the kitchen nook counter. She silently slid up the steps to hear Cait and Aaron talking to Jack. Bella quietly snuck out of the room into the hallway for some love which Lauren quietly provided, shushing Bella.

"Buddy, why do you need mommy time tonight?" Aaron asked. Lauren smiled leaning against the door frame of Jack's bedroom, yet a bit out of view petting Bella's head. Aaron was sitting in the window seat with his back against the left frame that faced Haley's star with his right leg on the floor. Cait was leaning against him. Jack was curled up next to Cait with her legs gently around him.

"A new classmate; he's Mike," Jack said. Cait and Aaron looked at him. "I mean all of it: the implants, learning to hear, getting mainstreamed, and bullied. On his first day. I want to help him. I need mommy for some confidence."

"Jack, you've never lacked that before," Aaron said, remembering an incident three years ago with his friend Jonah.

"This is different dad," Jack said.

Cait turned Jack to look at her. What's your new friend's name? she signed.

Tate Jack signed. "And you already figured out my problem."

Talk to us and mommy, Cait signed back.

"I still make mistakes signing but I want to help Tate out. Mike knows my mistakes and can get past them. Tate is still learning to talk and uses sign language. His speech skills aren't as good as Mike's. And he's got an interpreter from the school district there that signs for him in front of the class. The implants help only so much."

Aaron rubbed his shoulder. "I bet if you if you explained to Tate, with the interpreter helping you, you'd probably get better at signing with helping Tate."

"Good grief Jack," Cait smiled. "Shut the door. Dad came up with an educator's response."

"Mommy helped," Aaron smiled, nodding out the window at the stars.

"Thanks you guys," Jack smiled.

Cait kissed his cheek. "Thank you for being a wonderful and thoughtful friend. We're proud of you."

"Mommy too," Aaron smiled. Jack smiled with a wide yawn added.

"Come on buddy, bedtime," Cait said, getting him out of the window seat.

"Good night mommy," Jack smiled at the stars, heading to his bed. Aaron rubbed his head.

Jack noticed Lauren in the doorway. "Hey you," he smiled, moving to his bed. "What are doing here?" he asked, yawning again.

Lauren pulled him to her and hugged him. "I need to talk some wedding stuff with mom and dad. And I'm glad I'm here tonight. You are so amazing Jack," she smiled, rubbing his back. "It only takes one to stand up to the bullies. Trust me Jack, the rest will follow."

Jack climbed into bed and Cait tucked him. "And maybe some back-up," she smiled, kissing his cheek. They four of them prayed together with Jack soundly falling asleep with the last Amen.

Cait, Aaron and Lauren walked towards the steps. "Cait?" Aaron said. Cait looked at him. "Back-up?"

Cait smiled. "A big brother that's been through what Tate has. And has one class tomorrow morning." She looked at Aaron. "You calling Mr. Zastrow or Mike?"

"I've got Mr. Zastrow," Aaron smiled.

"Good call," Cait smiled. "The BAU Unit Chief calling him to defuse a bullying situation would be welcome in his world," she smiled.

Lauren looked at Cait as the three of them walked into the nook area together. "You can get Mike onboard that quickly?"

Cait smiled. "First off, I'm mom." Aaron winked at Lauren. Lauren smiled. "Secondly, Mike will relate. Piece of cake." She nodded at the breakfast counter chairs. "What's up with you?" she asked, looking at Lauren.

"Talk to us sweetheart," Aaron said, getting her into a chair. Cait sat down next to her. Aaron moved around to the other side of the counter in the kitchen and pulled two glasses out of the cupboard. "You?"

Lauren shook her head with a smile. "No thanks I'm driving," as Aaron poured a splash of scotch for himself and Cait.

"What's up?" Aaron asked.

"It's about the wedding," Lauren said.

Aaron and Cait stopped mid-drink. Lauren smiled. "No, no, it's not that. The wedding is on," she laughed. "I can't wait. But I just need to explain some things to the two of you." She looked at them. "About my family." Lauren took a deep breath.

Cait rubbed her back. "Just talk to us," she softly said.

Lauren exhaled. Cait snuck a look at Aaron. "My dad is fourth generation, silver spoon in mouth, high society San Francisco elite." She gave them a small smile with a shake of her head. "But was a bit of a rebel. His reading material in high school was business and economic magazines. And his favorite author was a professor at Baylor University in Texas. Guess where dad went for his undergrad degree?" Aaron and Cait smiled at her.

"And that's where he met mom. The daughter of a Memphis working middle class parents that got a full ride scholarship to Baylor to play volleyball."

"Dad did the next step; Harvard Business School now married. And mom enjoyed all those perks that money brings. She lost touch with grandma and grandpa, loving the high society. Eventually, that killed her and dad's relationship with me and my younger sister Samantha. Sammi and I wanted family Christmas. They wanted St. Moritz." Lauren shook her head. "When I was fourteen and Sammi was eleven, we both moved in with grandma and grandpa in Memphis. We got tired of the nannies and the house staff." Lauren thought for a second. "Except for Lupe," she smiled. "She was the best nanny of all. We and Sami still communicate with her. And miss her so much. Matt and I will pay for her ticket and hotel to get her to our wedding if we have to. She was more of a mom to me and Sami than our real one."

Cait looked at Aaron. "Cait and Aaron; mom and dad did not leave our grandparents high and dry to do it on their own with their budget. They; check that, dad's accountant sent a wonderful check every month that was more than generous. But the message was very clear with each monthly check. 'We've got our life. We accept our responsibility to our children. But we don't have time for them'." Lauren shook her head.

"Keep talking sweetheart," Aaron said.

Lauren smiled at him. "My aunt, mom's sister, didn't fare as well. Oh don't get me wrong, she and husband are far from starving. And I'm close to their youngest daughter. But their two older boys are one step away from the DEA locking them up. Dear Aunt Jill, snooping through Jenny, my cousin's email, found out about the wedding. And sent the info to my mom; along with my email address." Lauren rubbed her fingers together. "She was looking for a monetary reward." She looked at Cait and Aaron. "Yeah, my family is that screwed up."

"This is why I love the Barkley family." Lauren shook her head. "That is the first thing mom latched on to. 'We've met some of the Barkley family at functions in San Francisco'."

Cait shook her head. "There hasn't been a Barkley at a San Francisco society function in over forty years. Sacramento yes; San Fran, absolutely not. Grandma called them all leaches and bastards."

Aaron softly laughed. Lauren looked at him. "I had the pleasure to meet her before she passed. I can hear her saying that."

Cait smiled at him and looked at Lauren. "Keep talking."

Lauren eyed her back. "You know where this is going?"

Cait smiled. "Yeah, we've sorta got it gamed out. What do you need from us?"

"Some advice," Lauren said. "Matt and I have all our wedding plans set. And we're happy with all of it. It's the wedding we want. Grandma and grandpa invested some of that extra monthly money very well just for this for me and Sammi both. Matt and I are well within their budget." She looked at the two of them. "How do I hold off my mom?"

Aaron smiled at Cait. "Down girl."

Cait smiled back. "Thank you my love." Lauren looked at them. Cait smiled broader. "My husband knows me well enough that my initial reaction would be to tell your mother to go to hell."

Aaron smiled and then looked at Lauren. "Who do you want to walk you down the aisle?"

Lauren looked at him. "Answer the question Lauren," Cait said. "Now: don't think."

"Grandpa."

"We get it sweetheart," Cait softly smiled, rubbing Lauren's back. "They are your absent but still real parents. But you've got to put your foot down."

"Lauren," Aaron said, "lay out your case and don't forget a single item. And then give them your deal that you will accept for them being a part of your wedding. They are mainly guests only."

"And don't budge on those terms," Cait added, smiling at Aaron. "You just enjoyed putting on that lawyer hat of yours didn't you?"

"Yeah it was nice to pull that out," he smiled, taking a sip of his scotch.

Lauren smiled at the two and silently marveled at their relationship. "OK, I put my foot down. What if I get a bunch of mom's crap?"

Aaron smiled at Cait. "Hit it Caitlyn Victoria Barkley." Lauren looked at him with a question.

"Tell your mom to get lost," Cait flatly said. "This is your wedding. Not hers. You do it the way you want." Cait looked at her. "And play that hole ace about grandpa walking you down the aisle last."

Lauren looked at Aaron. "Never play poker with a Barkley," he smiled.

"And what about my family side of the church that will be a third of the size of your family's side?" Lauren asked.

Cait smiled. "It's not the size of your family in that church. It's the love of family on both sides of the church." Lauren looked at them.

Aaron smiled. "I think between a certain team, minus the senior profiler, and our church family that will have full buy-in, the scale will get balanced," he winked at Lauren.

"I love you both," Lauren sincerely smiled.

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A/N: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is my new favorite recipe. Google it. :D