A/N: Yup, it's that time of year again. And I'm going to be honest with you all.
This is year seven of writing the traditional Family Thanksgiving story. I love writing it. And I know all of you my loyal readers love it. I appreciate your support so much.
That said, to make this new and fresh each year becomes a bit of a head scratcher in my world. And it doesn't get easier as the years pass. For all of you, I've come up with a new angle. I hope you enjoy it.
All rights to Criminal Minds and its characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.
*Knightly bow*
Chapter 1
Cait and Aaron walked into their home on Monday filled with family.
Sean, Leslie and their sons had arrived earlier in the afternoon, taking the Acela train down from New York City. Wyatt, now a first grader, attended a private school. It was not one of Manhattan's high-priced private schools that the rich in the borough coveted for their children. However, it was the same one that Leslie had attended. And her folks offered to pay Wyatt's tuition. While Sean and Leslie never took any money from them with the restaurant thriving, they did accept that from her parents. Cait and Aaron agreed with their decision and supported it. Wyatt spent a half hour with Cait catching up on his Monday lessons while Sean made dinner. "Why can't you be my teacher Aunt Cait?" Wyatt smiled. "You're awesome."
"Yeah, she's good like that," Jack smiled, finishing his homework with Aaron.
"I've got lessons to teach here," Cait winked at him. "Sorry buddy," she smiled, kissing Wyatt's cheek, rubbing his head. She looked at Aaron.
Aaron smiled. "Jack is done too." The boys looked at him. "Go," he smiled. The boys raced up the steps to play a video game.
Maggie, Jarrod and Jake Barkley, who also arrived earlier, smiled at the boys heading to the steps. Jake blew his knee out in spring practices with the Green Bay Packers, the same knee he injured a few years back. While he enjoyed being Aaron Rodger's understudy, and stepping in when the Packer's need a back up quarterback that could match the MVP's skills, he knew it was time to let his dream go and retired from football.
Cait eyed him. "So when are you going to get a real job?" taking a drink of her beer. Aaron winked at her, taking his own drink from his beer.
"Jeez, can you sound more like mom and dad?" The adults laughed in the kitchen. Jake smiled. "After I finish getting my knee re-habbed this fall, I'm going to begin the California alternative teacher certification." Everyone looked at him. Jake smiled. "I've already got a college degree in history, so I need to complete course work for teaching secondary students. I just have to jump through the State of California's hoops to get my teaching certificate. I hope to teach at a school in Sacramento and work with at risk kids."
Cait rubbed his chest. "Good for you my brother," she smiled, kissing his cheek. "Would that be the same school Stephanie is teaching at?" Jake turned bright red. Cait smiled. "I'm glad you two are back together," she said hugging him.
"How the hell did you know?" Jake demanded.
Cait demurely smiled. "I'm your big sister."
"That's amazing Jake," Leslie smiled at him. "And go get Stephanie."
Sean slapped his shoulder. "It is Jake. Good for you." He looked at Sean. "And I agree with my wife and sister."
Jake shook his head at the teasing he took from the rest. He looked at Maggie. "Mom, don't start."
"Yes mom - don't," Cait growled. "It's their business, not ours."
Jarrod shook his head at Maggie. "She's right."
Cait looked at Sean. "I like having you around too," she smiled. "I like a night off from cooking."
"And the pasta dish smells primo Sean," Jarrod smiled.
Sean smiled back. "I miss cooking. But we've got an amazing staff. That's why Leslie and I took the week down here. We totally trust them. They're hungry, pardon the pun," he smiled at the group in the kitchen, "and they've bought into Leslie's and my customer service philosophy."
"And when they graduate and move on?" Aaron asked.
Leslie shook her head. "You don't want to know how many resumes I have on file on my computer with new ones begging for a job; including bus staff. We haven't had a turnover in that crew for eighteen months."
"Wow," Cait appreciatively smiled. "That's saying volumes. You have to be treating them right as well." Leslie and Sean smiled.
Aaron smiled at Sean. "That's something to be damn proud of brother."
"Yes it is," Maggie smiled. Jarrod smiled his approval to both of them.
-00CM00-
Cait walked into her kitchen Wednesday morning at six forty-five. The house was quiet except for Aaron taking his shower. She started the coffee maker and looked at her to-do list for the annual Thanksgiving dinner. There wasn't a lot left to do. Leslie, Sean and Maggie had hammered out most of it on Tuesday while she was at the BAU.
Sean came into the kitchen in lounge pants and a white t-shirt as Aaron walked in wearing a pair of jeans and his white undershirt. "Pre-turkey day dress down at the office Aaron?" Sean asked with his smile.
"I take the hit for my team once a year, working a half day," Aaron smiled, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Sean and Cait rolled their eyes at each other with Cait shaking her head.
Sean looked at her. "Cait, I know how that list of yours is," he nodded.
"It's a mom and me day," Cait smiled. "And you and Leslie want to do something with the boys."
"You're good," Sean smiled. "I lived in DC half my life. I've never seen all the monuments. Neither has Leslie. It won't mean much to the boys, but we want to do that today."
Cait hiked an eyebrow at him. "Or maybe you and Leslie could do that together and between Grandpa and Jake the boys could stay here and you two could have a day to yourselves."
Sean looked at her. "Do you mind?"
Aaron shook his head at his brother. "You could have dropped a smaller hint Sean," Aaron smiled. Sean looked at him. "Sean, you know the both of us. Just ask."
Cait waved her hands in the air. "Time out Brothers Hotchner. I know where this is heading." She looked at Sean. "You and Leslie go and have time together. We have no problems taking care of the boys." She looked at Aaron. "Get your ass into the bathroom to shave because I'm not referring a fight between you two."
"Busted," Sean smiled at his brother.
She beaded a look at Sean. "Your penance for starting this is getting Jack up."
Aaron smiled at Sean. "Now who's busted?"
"Get the hell out of my kitchen both of you," Cait quietly barked.
"Busted," Jarrod said walking into the nook.
"Good morning dad," Cait smiled, pouring him a cup of coffee as the Hotchner brothers headed off. "Thanks for the back-up," she said, kissing his cheek.
Jarrod looked at her. "Will that ever stop between them two?"
Cait smiled. "They've got past the pain with everything that happened. It's just now about an age difference and being brothers even as old as they are."
Jarrod smiled. "Like Tom and Jake?"
Cait rolled her eyes. "I don't even want to think about that dad." Jarrod softly laughed, sitting down at the lunch counter with his cup of coffee.
Maggie walked into the kitchen twenty minutes later to Jack and Aaron eating their morning oatmeal. Jarrod was pouring himself a bowl of Wheaties as Bella crunched her breakfast. Maggie smiled at her. "A little morning fireworks?"
Cait smiled back at her, giving her a hug and kissing her cheek. "Dad to the rescue."
"He's good like that," Maggie said. "Occasionally."
Jack giggled getting off his chair, rinsing his oatmeal bowl out in the kitchen sink. "I'm out to brush my teeth," he said, putting the bowl in the dishwasher. "This all sounds like a landmine field."
Cait pointed at him with a smile. "You're good," Cait said, hugging him. "Please get going Jack. The yellow limo is here in ten minutes. And you need a heavier coat. Look outside."
Jack looked out the patio doors to see where Bella's paw prints had warmed the frost on the ground. "Got it mom," he smiled, heading for the steps.
Aaron pulled his car keys out of the small basket on the counter and hit the starter button for his car. "I'll run him down the hill," he smiled, heading off to him and Cait's bathroom to brush his teeth.
"I'll put the garage door up for you Aaron to let the exhaust out," Jarrod said, getting off his chair.
"Thanks dad," Aaron said heading into the master bedroom.
Jack flew down the steps as Aaron pulled on his coat. "Let's go buddy. I hear the yellow limo coming down the street." Jack shared quick hugs with everyone, grabbing his bookbag that Cait handed him, pulling on his winter coat.
She kissed his head. "Have a good day you," she said to Jack. She kissed Aaron. "You too," she smiled, rubbing his back.
"Love you. See you this afternoon," Aaron smiled, kissing her back.
"Bye mom," Jack said, moving to the garage door off the kitchen. "Love you too!"
Everyone in the kitchen smiled.
-00CM00-
Maggie and Cait, as usual, whittled down what was left on the prep list in a hurry. By the time Aaron got home, all the prep dishes were washed. Maggie, Jarrod, Cait and Jake were playing a game of Euchre with Wyatt watching a movie on the TV. "Where's Ethan?" Aaron asked.
"Conked out with after lunch nap," Cait smiled. "Jake took him to the park with Bella."
"Works every time," Aarons smiled, rubbing Wyatt's head. "Return of the Jedi Wyatt? Again?"
Wyatt looked at him. "It's my favorite Uncle Aaron," he smiled. Aaron smiled at him, moving to the master bedroom to put his firearms in the safe at his bedside. Bella followed him in, getting some love and attention.
Aaron came back out and looked over Jake's shoulder at his cards. Jake played the ace of hearts. "Wrong move little brother," Aaron said, as Cait played her trump card nine of spades.
"God damn you," Jake said.
"Watch your language," Cait growled back, nodding at Wyatt.
"Aunt Cait, I live in New York City," Wyatt said. "I've heard worse. Trust me." The adults all smiled at each other.
By four thirty that afternoon, the Hotchner kitchen was alive with family. Matt and Lauren were there, drinking a beer. Dave came in, opening a bottle of beer for himself after hanging up his coat. He handed a beer to Cait and Aaron and greeted the family as Max bounded in to play with the boys and Bella. "The Sal's delivery is ordered," Dave smiled, greeting everyone.
Leslie looked at Aaron. "How is Mike doing at the FBI Academy?"
"He finished Phase One of his training yesterday. Beyond that, we haven't heard a word."
Matt snuck a look at Lauren with a small smile. Which of course Dave noticed. Lauren gave him the Hotchner glare. "You've got that down," Dave whispered.
On cue, Mike and Andi walked into the kitchen, each carrying a beer from the garage fridge. Aaron shook his head. "I'm really glad mom and I can supply you boys with beer."
Mike smiled. "For the record dad, I brought a case of beer that we bought. It's sitting on the garage floor staying cold." Aaron looked at him.
"Because I brought a case as well," Matt said. "That I put in the fridge." He looked at his parents. "We're celebrating tonight."
Mike handed Aaron an envelope. Aaron looked at him. "My final Phase One test scores."
Aaron handed his beer to Cait, took the envelope and opened it. He pulled out the paper. Cait looked over his arm. They both read the results and smiled. "Congratulations son," Aaron said, pulling Mike into a hug. "I'm so proud of you," he said into Mike's ear.
"Thanks dad," Mike said, tightly hugging his dad. "That means so much to me."
Maggie and Jarrod noticed the tears in Cait's eyes. "Caitie?" Jarrod softly asked.
Cait smiled at him, brushing away a tear. "Ninety-eight point seven," she said. "Top of his class," she smiled.
"Atta boy!" Dave said, pulling Mike off his feet with a bear hug.
"Hot damn," Jake said. "Party tonight!"
"After church," Cait and Maggie scolded.
After church, it was.
###
A/N: First off, I'll admit that most of you do not understand American football. I get that. MVP is the Most Valuable Player. Aaron Rodgers, on my favorite team (Green Bay Packers) has received that honor more than once. That's all I'm gonna say and hope like crazy its good enough for my international readers.
Bus staff is the crew in a restaurant that clears, cleans and resets tables after customers leave. Then they wash the dishes. Bus staff is vital in the cog of making a restaurant successful. I was blessed the ten years I managed a restaurant to work with some of the best. And they were mostly high school aged kids.