A/N: You all knew I was going to do this. But did you really, really honestly think I'd tack it onto the end of a story that was mainly about baseball?
The next step in this universe needs, deserves better than that. And I am bound and determined to do it right. I just hope I do this much anticipated story right in all you readers' eyes.
Yet, as I wrote this story and loved doing it, the back of my tiny brain thought of three very special people. Don't get me wrong: I know many of you have supported this character. However three have supported this storyline from day one with their encouragement and kind words: HxChick and our mutual friend, the OK Teacher. I dedicate this one to the both of you. The third person, I'll get to in a sec.
And yes, you will get a chapter a day; this story is completely written. That's the way I roll; with my usual codicil about the FF gremlins. Why they always show up when I'm posting a story is beyond my understanding.
All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Productions, CBS and ABC Studios.
*Knightly bow* Yup, the third is Thn0715 my mentor!
Chapter 1
The preparations were already underway for David Rossi's annual Labor Day picnic and blowout the Sunday of the holiday weekend. Zach and Aaron had been over the day before to add their picnic table from home to his large patio. Beth sent along the homemade ice cream mixture in its container to put in Dave's extra fridge following Hannah's recipe that Zach had in his mother's cookbook. Mike and Caleb Greystone arrived about the same time to add their family's table as well. Dave's catering service arrived a bit later to add three more tables and chairs.
Rossi smiled as his pool cleaning service arrived to do their job as he headed into his massive glass-enclosed shower. He would attend Father Jimmy's eleven o'clock Mass later that morning. I won't have to listen to him hammer me over the head when he's here later Dave smiled to himself.
JJ, stirring up Spence's favorite peanut butter Rice Krispie bars, looked out from her kitchen and smiled. Will, sitting in the recliner in the living room, had Henry in his lap. Henry was holding his baby brother Micah in his arms, giving him his mid-morning bottle. Sandy Jareau smiled at the scene as well, putting the younger boys' favorite M&M bars in the oven. "You are Caleb's new best friend mom," JJ smiled.
Spencer Reid was typing on his laptop his hand-written latest article to be published. Garcia finally convinced him to use it. His high school learned typing skills quickly came back to him. He paused to look at his wristwatch and then the post it note to what he needed to bring to the party with a smile.
Derek Morgan was on a leisurely morning run with a growing older Clooney. "Work my legs out boy," Derek said. "My arms will get the workout later today." Derek knew Beth's ice cream mixture would need his strong arms that afternoon in Rossi's old fashion ice cream maker. I'll have to run extra tomorrow to burn off that goodness.
In the kitchen of he and Savannah's home, Fran added the final ingredients to her cake mix and winked at Savannah. "It's Zach's favorite," she smiled.
"I know it's his mom's recipe," Savannah smiled, putting together the Asian cabbage salad the team all loved. "I'm using Haley's recipe for this," she nodded at the bowl. Fran smiled.
Garcia, in her kitchen, was her usually whirling dervish, putting together her pasta and veggie salad. "Kevin, are the black olives drained?"
"Yes plum cheeks," he smiled, handing the glass container to her.
Penelope gingerly sliced them. Kevin looked at her. "Knives aren't my thing; you know how much of their total destruction I see on my screens."
Kevin kissed her cheek. "You're doing fine; take your time," he smiled.
Aaron, Beth and Jack got into Aaron's vehicle, having just attended Father Jimmy's nine o'clock Mass. The family had complete buy-in in juggling their different faiths in attending church services.
Zach did the same thing, sitting with Caleigh and her family at St. Andrew's Lutheran nine-thirty service, having spent the night in the Greystone home, nestled up to Caleigh, snoring in her ear. Pastor Hartwig, St. Andrew's minister, had become a Zach favorite as well.
At Jessica Brooks' townhouse, she and Hannah worked together on the deviled eggs that Zach loved so much. Grandpa John, no slouch in the kitchen, was finely dicing the onion that would go into the two pounds of hamburger that he would soon make into patties to be grilled later. Derek would supply the same amount, with Fran making the patties. Jack and Zach's favorite strawberry Jell-O, along with Henry, Reid and Kevin's Orange Jell-O with bananas, was already in the fridge.
Sean, having worked the early night shift at the restaurant Saturday, shook his head at the dismal New Jersey countryside along the tracks of the Acela that was taking him to DC and thought back. A week earlier, the master chef slapped him on the shoulder as Sean looked at the two week schedule. "I did that on purpose Sean," he smiled. "You're off Sunday and we're closed Monday. Sneak down for a quick weekend with your family," he broadly smiled. "You deserve it working as much as you have since June."
Jack smiled at Aaron in his rearview mirror. "What's the plan dad?"
Aaron smiled. "We go home and change quick; then go get Uncle Sean at the Huntington Station."
"After that Jack," Beth added, turning in her front seat to smile at him "we all head to Uncle Dave's to make the fruit salad. So you get your backpack ready for the day," she smiled.
Jack thought for a second. "Don't Zach and Caleigh usually help out with that?"
Aaron looked at Jack in the mirror. "They're both good buddy," he smiled. "But Uncle Sean brings his 'A' game. We'll be done in an hour; Zach and Caleigh can have their time together."
Jack beamed. "Sounds like a plan to me dad."
-00CM00-
Caleigh and Zach changed from their church clothes and went into Rachel's kitchen. Zach grabbed the bag of ten pounds of potatoes from the garage and brought them in as Caleigh reached into the drawer for the potato peeler. Zach looked at her with a smile, putting the bag of spuds on the counter. He pulled a peeler out of his cargo shorts pocket. "I brought it from home," he smiled, kissing Caleigh. "Let's get at it."
Rachel walked into her kitchen, looking at the two of them and the growing mound of potatoes they had peeled. "I think you've got some dicing to do," Zach smiled.
She looked at Zach. "I really can't add some chopped onion to it?"
Zach smiled and pulled Rachel to his side. "Do you want me to eat your potato salad or not?"
"But you'll eat the burgers with onion in them," Caleigh asked.
"They're cooked; not raw," Zach defended.
Rachel laughed, grabbing a chopping knife from the cutting block. "You and that pesky stomach of yours; I only do this because your mom babied your stomach," she smiled, grabbing a cutting board from the cabinet.
"And maybe you loves me," Zach beamed, kissing her cheek.
Rachel giggled, spreading two fingers barely apart. "Just that much," she smiled. Caleigh and Zach laughed.
Rachel turned serious and looked at Zach. "How's Beth with that?" Zach looked at her. "You and Jack not calling her mom."
Zach smiled at her. "That's the wonderful woman my dad married. She knows Jack and I have a mom and it's not her. And what mom did to protect us. She totally respects that," he said. "And has full buy-in. She knows neither of us can call her mom. That's why Jack and I love her so much; she's isn't into titles; it's all about the love. And Beth knows how much Jack and I love her and respect her," he smiled more.
Rachel rubbed his shoulder, grabbing a peeled potato. "You're good Zach," she proudly smiled.
"So is Beth," Zach proudly smiled. He felt his cell buzz in his pocket. Quickly wiping his hands on a paper towel he tore off, he pulled it out, looked, smiled and answered it. "Hey Uncle Dave; what's up," he said, putting the call on speaker.
"Zach I'm two minutes away from church so just listen. A big report of mine that needs to be at the JEdgar building start of business Tuesday I forgot to sign. The weekend agent noticed it, she called Anderson, and he called me. Since you're going to be heading over from Caleigh's to my place, would you mind swinging down to Dale City to meet Anderson half way and pick up the damn thing? I'll get my courier service to get it back to the BAU by tomorrow morning so it can be sent out. I'll pay you for the gas."
"You don't need to pay for the gas Uncle Dave," Zach smiled at Caleigh and Rachel. "Text me Brian's number during Father Jimmy's homily that you'll partially listen to," he said, winking at the two, "and we'll set a time to meet."
"Thanks Zach," Dave said.
"Just make sure you repent for all your sins Uncle Dave," Zach said.
"Yeah right," Dave growled, ending the call.
Rachel laughed. "For as much as he means to your family and how much you love him, you do enjoy working him over."
Zach kissed her. "That's why he's Uncle Dave," he devilishly smiled.
"Brian isn't coming to Dave's party," Caleigh asked.
"No," Zach said, shaking his head. "He's meeting up with some of his college buddies."
Fifteen minutes later, Rachel tested one of the diced chunks of potatoes she had boiling. "They're ready," she said, putting the cover back on the large pot and shut the heat off under them. "They just need to be drained, and then put in the freezer to cool."
"I got it," Zach said, pulling open a drawer, pulling out two hotpads. He grabbed the two handles of the pan, lifted it and moved to the sink.
"I've got the lid Zach," Rachel said. They got the potatoes drained.
Zach's cellphone went off in his pocket. "Do you want me to get that," Caleigh asked him.
Zach shook his head. "That's just Uncle Dave's text; it can wait."
Caleb, drinking a large glass of lemonade after just finishing cutting the grass said, "You've done that before Zach."
Zach looked over his shoulder as he gave the pan one more shake to get the last of the water out. "It's not my first county fair Bub," he smiled.
Rachel grabbed a large plastic tub and set it in the sink. "Empty them in there Zach please."
"Yes ma'am," he smiled.
Rachel covered the container and handed it to Caleb. "Can you put that in the freezer downstairs please?"
"Got it mom," Caleb smiled, setting his glass on the counter and then grabbing the container.
Zach looked at Caleigh. "Are you ready to go to Dave's?" She shook her head. "Then you get your stuff together while I connect up with Brian." He looked at Rachel. "What time you heading to Dave's?"
"I should be ready to go one-thirty. I want to get there and help Beth, Jessica and Hannah."
Zach smiled. "Uncle Sean will be there; he's got a couple days off. I'm sure he'll help out."
Rachel smiled. "You go make your call."
Caleigh smiled. "I'll get ready; Zach is your bag packed?"
"Yeah, it's all set," he smiled. He handed her the peeler Rachel had just washed. "Just throw that in on top. Dad and Beth are bringing my swimsuit with them," he said, heading for the back porch to call Anderson.
Caleigh came out of her room fifteen minutes later to see Zach and Caleb sprawled out on the couch, their long legs and bare feet across the table in front of the couch, watching the pre-game show for Nationals broadcast. "Make yourself at home Zach," she laughed, recognizing the scene from his lair.
"Learned that long ago babe," he smiled.
"What time are we meeting Brian?"
"One o'clock at Old Millroad Park. And yes, I know where it is to answer your next question," he smiled at her. Caleigh stuck her tongue out at him and headed into the kitchen to see if she could help her mom.
Tom, sitting in his recliner watching the TV as well, laughed at the exchange. "Just keep staying two steps ahead of her Zach."
Zach looked at Caleb. "That's a fulltime job."
"Word bro," Caleb said, sharing a fist bump with Zach.
###
A/N: Patience is a virtue folks. And I told you at the top I want to do this right. Hang on to your undies. :D