Arrivals

Maggie, Leslie and Sandy, sitting at the lunch counter beamed at Cait's side of the conversation. Sandy smiled at her. "Why do you tease Dave so badly? I know what he means around here."

Cait grinned widely. "That's exactly why." Knowing Jack and Henry were upstairs in Jack's room she added, "As Derek says, paybacks are a bitch," she smiled. Sandy roared, already understanding the dynamic of the team. She and JJ talked or emailed almost daily. Especially now that JJ was a profiler. A mom worries.

Jarrod, Matt and Mike were getting the fireplace started for the team. The air outside had a bite in it, and they knew the team would love it. Will and Sean were enjoying a football game on the TV. The doorbell rang, and Matt moved to answer it.

He opened the door to see Penelope, Kevin, Fran and Derek's sisters. He welcomed them all in, hanging coats up as Cait entered the foyer. She exchanged hugs with all of them, having met Morgan's sisters when she consulted with a case in Chicago, just after she and Aaron had married.

She looked at all of them. "They're on their way. Aaron just called. They're at the BAU." Smiles abounded, as Cait led them into the home and introduced Sarah and Desiree to the rest gathered. Her parents, Jarrod and Maggie, Sean, Aaron's brother, and his pregnant wife Leslie and her and Aaron's oldest sons, along with Will. Will introduced his mother-in-law to the sisters, as well as Fran.

Fran gave Will a big huge. "I'm so happy for you and JJ. I'm sorry I couldn't be there but when two make your mind up, you act quickly," she smiled.

Will smiled. "With a little help from a certain Italian," he drawled. Des and Sarah both laughed, hugging Will as well.

Just then the steps of the Hotchner house began to vibrate with the sounds of two little feet descending down the steps with Beans and Mudgie. Matt grabbed Henry and hoisted him up in his muscular arms. Will introduced his son, as did Cait, with Jack giving Fran a huge hug.

Will looked at Henry. "Do you remember Fran?" he asked as Sandy smiled at the site, Maggie and Jarrod joining her.

He shook his head. "Matt's party this summer!" he said.

Henry reached from Matt's arms and gave Fran a big hug.

Jack looked at Cait. "Any news mom?"

Cait smiled at him, rubbing her hand under his chin. "All of them are heading here right now."

"Mama too," Henry questioned.

"Mama too son; they're all on their way home," Will smiled at his son.

Jarrod grabbed Henry. "This means, we're going to have a true family Thanksgiving! Sound good to you?"

"You bet Jarrod," Henry smiled.

Jack turned and peered into Cait's eyes. "Mom really?" Cait just shook her head and pulled him into a hug. Sean scuffed his hair as Maggie and Jarrod smiled.

Cait looked at Sean. "You the bartender or our oldest son?"

"I am, as long I can buy your oldest son a beer," he smiled.

Cait shrugged. "That's up to him. If he's going out tonight, driving or not, the answer is no. If he's homebody tonight, the answer is yes," she smiled.

Matt smiled at her. "I'm homebody tonight mom." He smiled at Sean. "And I can help you out." They went to work and the group settled in as Cait went back into her kitchen to start the final preparations for the meal, with Maggie joining her.

Des sat in the first chair at the lunch counter. Fran chased her. "Des, that's a reserved chair for someone that will be here shortly."

Des looked at her mother, totally confounded. Cait smiled at her from the kitchen. "That's the David Rossi chair so he can keep an eye on everything."

"And God help the person that takes that away from him," Jarrod joked.

Sarah smiled at Leslie. "When are you due?"

Leslie smiled back. "Late February."

Penelope, hanging around with Derek's sisters, after getting a hug from Cait, smiled. "So Auntie Cait, what happens if this baby is a girl?" Penelope, having the conversation with all the rest of the girls at Dave's cabin, knew that Cait's maternal instincts were all boys. There were no little Hotchner girls in her and Aaron's future. Her first husband, the bastard she thought, had taken care of that.

Cait smiled at Penelope. "I, as her aunt, will spoil her absolutely rotten and then let her parents deal with it later." Penelope pointed a finger at Cait in agreement, as Leslie beamed.

Maggie looked at her. "Do you know if it's a boy or girl?"

Leslie shook her head. "We want to be surprised."

"Cait, I think your grandmother still had it right," Fran smiled. Her daughters and Sandy looked at her with questions. Fran gestured towards Cait, handing the conversation over to her.

"The difference between having a boy or girl is with a boy, you only have to worry about one peter in town, with a girl, you have to worry about all of them," she smiled. They all laughed.

Fran looked at Jarrod. "How is your family doing? I'm sure your mother is missed." Jarrod and Maggie, as well as Cait, Aaron and boys had received sympathy cards from the kind-hearted woman.

"It's different without her around," Jarrod smiled. "She ruled the roost, that's for sure."

Sandy looked at Cait, being closest to her. "When did she pass?"

"In June, just before we went out there for our annual vacation. She was 91," Cait smiled.

Just then the front door swung open. "Reid, they know were coming, we've been here how many times before and I want to see my mom and my sisters. I'm not knocking or ringing the doorbell, so get over it kid. See, I made it in the door and didn't get shot."

JJ walked in behind Morgan to see Henry racing towards her. Emily, starting to walk in, stopped and looked at Reid. "You going to stand out there or come in?" Beans came around the corner and barked a happy greeting.

"Maybe I'll stay out here." Beans wagged her tail at Reid, immune to the "Reid effect" on dogs. Mudg wasn't and kept his distance. Reid walked in as Matt and Mike greeted them all, taking coats, except of course for JJ's. She was wearing Henry besides her coat. The Hotchner boys happily smiled. They knew how Henry was feeling. It would be their turn shortly.

Derek came into the central area of the home and grabbed Fran, giving her a big hug and lifting her off the floor. "Derek Morgan, put me down," she scolded, kissing his cheek. He grabbed a sister in each arm and greeted them as well.

Emily and Reid strolled in and greeted everyone, both having met Sarah and Desiree when that awful case with Carl Buford had happened and again when they were there for the case that Cait consulted on. JJ finally appeared, with her coat off and shared a long hug and kiss with Will.

Mike, growing into a young man like his older brother, walked by. "Newlyweds," he said to no one in particular, rolling his eyes.

It was his turn for a motherly scolding as Cait delivered her tried and true. "Michael!" He just shook his head at his mother.

Derek grabbed him and ran a hand across his neck. "You'll get there Big Dog," he smiled.

Mike looked at Derek, his green eyes, inherited from his mother almost sparking. "At the rate you're going, I'll get there before you."

"Yooooooooooo bro!" Matt said, giving him a high five, "You rock!" Fran, Sarah and Des joined the chorus.

Derek shook a finger at Mike. "Just remember my friend, paybacks are a …" He was cut off by three mothers: his own, Cait and JJ. He looked around a saw the young boys.

Reid walked past him, smiling. "Busted," he muttered under his breath.

The doorbell rang again, with Jarrod, smiling answering it. Brian and Gina were quickly welcomed into the Hotchner home by Cait, having met them when she did the update at the BAU after Dave was shot. She introduced them to all of the family, with them both getting a multitude of thanks for the job they did, giving Cait's glowing introduction. Gina and Brian handed Sean their choice of beers, grabbing one. He took the rest to the beer fridge in the garage.

As Sean came back in, the door to the garage opened and David Rossi strolled in. Jack went flying to him.

"Hi Uncle Dave. Welcome home. We missed you," as Dave crouched down to get his hug from Jack. His knees barked, but that was better than his back. There was no more lifting Jack for a hug for Dave; he simply was growing that much. Mudg raced to join Jack to share the loving.

Dave pulled out of the hug and kissed Jack's cheek. "Missed you too pal," Dave smiled. Mudg barked. "You too Mudg," he laughed as he gave his hunting companion his due as well. It was an "awwwww" moment for the team, as Cait waited in the kitchen for her hug. The team moved around greeting everyone.

"Uncle Dave, where's dad?" Jack asked, as Dave reached to hug Matt and Mike. Gina and Brian smiled. This was truly a family home. Dave looked at Jack. "He should be here in a minute or two pal," he smiled, seeing Cait coming towards him. Their hug was warm and sincere. Dave greeted the rest there, while trying to give Beans the love she was demanding from him. He kissed Maggie, Sandy and Fran as well, and shook hands with Jarrod. Sean and Leslie also got hugs. Dave greeted Morgan's sisters as well.

Dave did the same as the team that came in the door ten minutes earlier, greeting everyone else assembled. He and Penelope shared a hug. It was her, working with a late night Rossi text of a hunch that got them home for the holiday.

Sean and Matt did their bartending, as the team settled into the great area of the home. Dave, of course, pulled into his chair, getting a scotch from Cait. He looked at the drink, and smiled. "You know me too well. It's a stiff one," he said, raising the glass in salute.

"Well, just go easy, because you're cutting the turkey as usual, and I will not let you make a disaster of my bird," she smiled.

Dave eyed her closely. "Am I ever going to win with you?"

Fran sitting next to him, Sandy in the next chair, laughed. "You haven't figured that out by now?" Sandy just laughed more and took a drink of her wine.

The garage door opened again, and Aaron came in. He made a beeline to the kitchen, smiling at the group sitting at the lunch counter, with his tie slightly pulled down and his dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Dave smiled. Cait was slowly wearing him down. Once out of the office, he could relax.

Cait turned to see him coming and pulled him into a hug. Maggie smiled at the two other mothers. Their moment was heartfelt and sincere. All sitting at the lunch counter could see the love they shared. Cait rubbed the nape of his neck as Aaron held his wife close to his chest. Jack walked in. "You two aren't done yet?" Cait buried her head into Aaron's chest, slowly shaking it. Aaron laughed and pulled her back into a hug.

Maggie shook her head at her youngest grandson. "Jack, be patient. They haven't seen each other in a week."

"Neither have I grandma," Jack pouted.

Maggie smiled, pulling Jack into a hug. "You, too, my grandson, will understand one day," she said, kissing Jack on the top of the head. Dave, Fran and Sandy smiled their approval, with the boys coming into the kitchen as well.

Aaron kissed Cait on the cheek and pulled away. "OK, I'm yours," he smiled at his youngest son. Jack leapt into Aaron's waiting arms, with Mike and Matt following closely behind. Aaron hugged them all, giving Matt hell again about not shaving the scruff he had around his chin.

Matt looked at him. "At least I don't have the 'tasche'," he said pointing at Dave.

"My point exactly," Aaron growled at his oldest son. "You can shave your upper lip but you can't shave below it?" Matt just gave him his big ass smile, as Aaron pulled him into a hug.

"Aaron, you know you're fighting a losing battle," Maggie smiled, having been through that four times herself.

Aaron smiled, releasing Matt and pulling her into a hug and giving her a kiss. "I know mom, but I'm the dad. It's my job to kick his butt."

Dave smiled. "Can't argue with that Maggie," he smiled as Aaron pulled out of his hug.

"Dave, it doesn't matter. They're in college. They are on their own. You don't win as a parent. College is the time for the kids to say 'Love ya mom and dad, but guess what?'"

Dave just smiled and shook his head, knowing Maggie was right. Jarrod, hearing Aaron come in, came into the kitchen and gave his son-in-law a huge hug. They were that close. "Son, piece of advice: this will make you gray. Let it go."

Matt smiled brightly. "Thanks grandpa!"

Aaron threw his hands in the air. "I give up." Dave smiled. "I need to change."

"And lock up a few things," Cait gently chided.

"Doc, I just walked in the door," knowing she meant his sidearms. He gently cupped his hand around her chin, gave her a soft kiss on the lips and moved to their bedroom. Jack shook his head and walked out of the kitchen. Fran and Sandy laughed heartily. Aaron smiled at both of them and welcomed them to him and Cait's home.

Hotch gave Leslie a sincere brother-in-law kiss and hug, and rubbed her pregnant belly, smiling broadly, giving her another kiss on the cheek. He greeted Derek's two sisters, having met them in the same setting that Cait had. He gave Sean a huge hug, and moved into the great room to greet Will, Penelope, Kevin, Brian and Gina. Henry barreled at him for hug as well.

He lept into Aaron's arms. "Hi Hotch," he smiled, as Aaron shook Will's hand.

"Hey you," Hotch smiled, scruffy Henry's long blonde locks. He gave him a hug as he released his handshake from Will, giving him a wink. "Big dude, I need to change my clothes. Do you mind?"

Henry smiled at him. "Nope Hotch," he said, sliding out of his arms. Will grabbed him. Hotch turned to face two dogs staring him down.

He held his hands up. "Sorry gang, I've been a little busy." Beans barked her disappointment. Hotch waved her towards him and gave her his traditional "I'm home" rub down. Her tail wagged its appreciation. Mudg patiently waited.

Aaron looked at Beans. "We good?" Beans barked her OK. Mudg moved immediately up to him, wagging his tail. Aaron thought to himself. Damn it's good to be back home.

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