A/N: Thanks for all the loves; aka reviews, alerts or just reading. :D
Chapter 4
The team was in the office the third of November, the first Tuesday of the month. Everyone, including Anderson and Gina's email pinged with a message from Cait.
Hey all! It's getting that time and you know how I plan ahead. Who's in on Thanksgiving this year?
And yes, that's your invite. RSVP as soon as you can. :D
Tara swung around in her chair to look at Emily and Reid. "This is for real?"
Reid turned in his chair and looked at her. "Oh it's more than real," he smiled. "It's a true Thanksgiving feast, complete with a table setting that spooked me the first time I went."
JJ looked at her. "Cait has the kitchen to pull it off…"
"And damn well knows how to use it," Emily finished, with a smile and a point at JJ. Jayje nodded at Tara with a smile.
"Do you have family?" Reid asked Lewis.
"Just a drunk father that I've chose to finally walk away from." They all looked at her. "I gave him the choice; he made it," she sadly said.
"Sorry Tara," JJ sincerely said.
"I'm not," Tara retorted. She looked at all of them. "Back up," she said, looking at Reid. "You got spooked?"
"The first time I walked into Cait's dining room with her formal place settings? I've never sat down to a table like that in my life."
"Yes, he got more than spooked," Emily smiled. "But Cait is good; she had me sitting next to boy genius that turned into babbling wonder. I helped him through it," she snarked. Reid smiled. Morgan and Garcia came in the side door.
"Got it," Tara smiled at her.
"Spence," JJ smiled. "Are your folks coming?"
Reid positively lit up. "Mom wouldn't miss this for the world. Especially after Hotch, Cait and the boys, along with Rossi visited her and dad out in Vegas." JJ looked at him. "So yes, dad is bringing her," he smiled. "They're arriving the Sunday before; still by train. Mom won't give into dad to fly," he smiled. JJ and Garcia nodded with smiles. "I've requested the week of Thanksgiving off. Hotch already approved it."
Morgan smiled. "Rumor has it Cruz already has us on desk duty that week."
"How do you know that?" Tara asked.
"I might have done some peeking into emails I shouldn't have," Garcia whispered. Morgan pointed at her with a smile.
JJ looked at Prentiss deep in thought. "Em?"
"Where the hell is Cait going to put all of us?"
-00CM00-
Since the team was on stand down for the week, basically giving them the week off, Cait only had to teach classes on Monday and consult from home if needed by the team. She happily hugged Jarrod and Maggie meeting them in the baggage claim area at Reagan International on Tuesday after their red-eye flight with arrival around ten that morning. Jarrod looked at her as they walked to the car. "How's the new job?" he asked.
Cait beamed. "I love it; and it's the perfect blend between teaching; maybe find one student that will be an up and coming profiler and working with an actual group of profilers."
"Why aren't you teaching tomorrow?" Maggie asked.
"Georgetown finally got smart. Class attendance the day before Thanksgiving has been less than thirty percent for years across the whole campus. Classes ended today. And before you ask how we kept them there on Tuesday; I don't think there was a class that didn't have a test planned today," she smiled. "I had one yesterday."
As they drove home, Maggie eyed Cait in her rear view mirror. "You're serving how many for Thanksgiving?'
"Twenty nine," Cait smiled. "That eat solid food; Ethan and Michael don't count," she winked at her dad. "And thirty seven for dessert. Trevor Callahan doesn't get into the solid food table as well."
Maggie looked at her from the backseat. "And you have no problem with this?"
"Nope," Cait smiled. "I've gotta plan."
Aaron got the same grilling from Sean and Leslie, driving them to the house two hours later, along with Wyatt and five month old Ethan after picking them up at Union Station. "You know my wife," he smiled at them.
Leslie smiled. "She sat twenty-four at that table of hers last year."
Sean lightly laughed to not wake his two sleeping sons in the back seat with Leslie, safely nestled in their car seats they had inherited from Jack. "It's the dreaded holiday kid table."
Aaron smiled at him. "Mike and Jack have already volunteered to help out mom."
"Damn my nephews are good," Sean smiled. Aaron just rolled his eyes at Leslie in the backseat through the rearview mirror. She softly laughed, shaking her own head at her husband.
-00XM00-
Aaron came out of he and Cait's bedroom dressed down for the afternoon and smiled at the scene in the kitchen. Cait was gently fending off Ethan's advances to grab at her pierced earrings and necklace. "Sean and Leslie settling in upstairs?" he asked, smiling at his growing youngest nephew.
Cait nodded, gently grabbing Ethan's hand from tugging on her left earring loop. "And Wyatt?"
Aaron smiled. "He's conked out on our bed. Sean and Leslie said he chattered the whole trip and wouldn't nap."
Cait smiled. "I remember those days flying home each summer. I couldn't get Matt to shut up."
Aaron laughed. "Are your folks in the same state as Wyatt?"
Cait smiled, nodding her head. "Flying first class like they do, they said they slept; but not the best."
Aaron took Ethan from Cait. "He slept the entire three hours," he said, winking at Cait. "So you my nephew need some entertainment," he tickled Ethan, getting a giggle, "and someone is waiting to meet you." Ethan pulled at Aaron's nose and stuck a finger in his mouth. They both looked at Beans, sitting on the tiled kitchen floor in anxious anticipation of a new little one to play with. "And I've got the perfect someone to do it," he smiled at Ethan. Beans stood up on all four paws and softly barked, wagging her tail.
Aaron took Ethan in the living room. Cait pulled the comforter off the couch, doubled it over and put it on the floor. Aaron sat Ethan on it. Beans walked up to her newest munchkin and did her usual; the sniff test. Aaron smiled at Beans, rubbing her head and Ethan giggled at Beans, reaching for her nose. Cait pulled a few toys from a box she had in the closet and put them next to Ethan. Five minutes later, between the fire Aaron had built, the toys and Beans, Ethan was happily entertained.
Sean came down the steps a few minutes later, smiled at his youngest son being doted on by Beans and walked into the kitchen. Cait and Aaron were drinking a beer. Aaron opened the fridge door as Sean pulled Cait into a hug. "Now, finally sis," he smiled, wrapping her in his arms. "Two is a more than a handful."
"Been there; done that," Cait smiled. "Good to have you here again," Cait said, kissing his cheek.
Releasing Cait, Sean smiled at the beer Aaron handled him. "Wyatt?"
"Conked out on our bed," Aaron smiled. He rubbed Sean's shoulder. "It is good to have you here again brother." Sean smiled and the three clinked beer bottle necks together.
Just then, Mike came in the garage door. Beans flew from the living room to greet him at the door. Cait pointed at the Hotchner brothers to the living room with a large smile. Ethan was down on his hands and knees, ready to follow Beans. "Ooooo, he's got the ants in his pants," she smiled as Ethan rocked on all fours. "With Beans around, he'll be crawling by the end of the weekend."
"Thank you Cait," Sean sarcastically said, taking a drink of his beer. Aaron and Cait laughed.
Mike walked into the kitchen, greeted his parents and pulled Sean into a large hug. "It's great to see you Uncle Sean," Mike smiled. "We missed you not coming down here in August."
"Sorry Mike," Sean smiled. "Leslie and I have to juggle family time, times two."
"I hear that; loud and clear," Mike smiled. Sean waved his beer bottle at Mike. He shook his head. "I know mom and dad's rule." He looked at his parents. "Is it OK if I go out tonight?"
Aaron smiled. "What's her name?" Mike severely blushed.
Cait shook her head with a smile. "You are soooooo busted," she laughed. "Now answer your dad."
"Andi." He shrugged. "Technically Andrea; she's my Chem class partner in the lab. And I'm just going to her place to watch a movie."
"Her place?" Cait asked.
Mike smiled, kissing Cait's cheek. "Her three other apartment roommates are heading home for the holiday. And yes," he said, looking into his mother's eyes, "means she's got the place to herself. We're not there yet mom; far from it. This is the first date," he smiled.
"She's doesn't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving?" Cait asked.
Mike sadly shook his head. "Andi's parents are high society in San Fran. They're going to Hawaii at their vacation estate for the weekend."
Aaron and Cait smiled at their son. "She's more than welcome here Mike," Aaron said.
Mike beamed. "Thank you both; Andi doesn't like her parents' high society life. She's helping at the VA center Thursday to feed homeless vets."
"There's dessert," Cait said.
Mike smiled. "It's a first date mom."
Cait smiled. "Got it son," Aaron said, rubbing his shoulder.
Sean smiled at all of them and then looked at the clock. "What about Jack?"
Cait and Aaron shook their heads. "We finally gave in on the bus."
Mike rubbed Sean's shoulder. "JJ and Will bought a house out here. Henry rides the same bus."
"Dave would add the word 'finally' for them making the investment," Aaron smiled.
Sean eyed Cait. "Tough to untie that apron string mom?" he asked with a smile.
"More than you'll ever know Sean," Cait smiled back.
"So I'm good to go tonight?" Mike asked.
Aaron smiled. "Yes; just know we're backing mom the next two days."
"I'm in dad," Mike smiled looking at Sean, cracking his knuckles. "I've got a cousin to spoil."
"Gee thanks Mike," Sean said, sadly shaking his head. Mike moved to the living room.
Jack threw open the garage door. "Hey gang! Look who I found!" Mudg made a beeline into the kitchen. Dave followed Jack to the same destination.
Aaron looked at Cait. "He talked," Cait said. "For the first time in my life, I listened," she smiled. "He's buying the pizza delivery from Sal's. I'm not cooking tonight."
Sean smiled at Dave, handing him a beer as Jack hugged his parents. "You do have your moments Big Dog."
"Dats why I'm the Big Dog," Dave smiled.
-00CM00-
With the pizza delivery, it was dinner at the nook table, the lunch counter, or standing around the kitchen island. Jarrod gave out his shrill whistle, looking at his oldest child. "You've blew off all the questions and we've let you slide. It's time for answers now."
Dave handed him a glass of scotch. "Thank you Jarrod." Jarrod took it with a smile and a point.
"Dinner is easy," Cait smiled. "We always have a lot of leftovers, so I'm not worried about that at all. And we put twenty-four around my table last year. We can do it again. There just might be a little less stuffing."
"But what about our traditional Sunday, everyone going home Monday turkey pot pie?" Jack asked. "In my world, that's the best part of Thanksgiving."
"Word bro," Mike smiled, sharing a fist bump with Jack while looking at Cait as well.
"Trust me guys, they'll be enough for that," she smiled. "I hit Uncle Dave pretty hard with a big ass bird."
Jack looked at Dave. "Gee, I bet that was a big ouch."
"You're growing up too fast," Dave snarled at Jack with smile. Jack smiled back. Ethan yawned in Cait's arms, putting his head on her shoulder.
"But thirty-seven for dessert?" Maggie asked.
Cait rubbed Ethan's back. "Please don't put him out Cait; he needs a final bottle to sleep through the night," Leslie said, looking at her bathed, pajama clad son. She moved to warm up his bottle.
"I've got this," Cait smiled, enjoying Ethan snuggling with her. Aaron rubbed her shoulder with a smile, knowing how much that meant to her. "All of it," she said, looking at Leslie. "Mom makes her usual grasshopper dessert and I bake my apple pie. Sandy is making her blueberry pie, and Fran is making a pumpkin pie. Alex sent me an email with a recipe that she's bringing." She looked at her mother. "We've both made it before. It's the one with the Oreo crust with the ice cream filling with caramel and chocolate syrups mixed in and Spanish peanuts on the top."
"I remember that one Christmas," Dave smiled. Cait smiled with her own nod.
"What about Haley's family?" Leslie asked.
"They've got too much to bring to their family Thanksgiving. Plus Jess has just been swamped with the new IT upgrade in her department. She and Hannah are bringing the plastic wear for dessert; John is bringing an extra bottle of Bailey's to supplement Father Jimmy's."
"And the Callahan's?" Aaron asked.
"Chris is bringing another bottle of Dave's favorite scotch," Cait smiled. "Along with a bucket of ice cream," she smiled.
"You're good mom," Jack smiled, sitting with Dave at the lunch counter, eating a bowl of ice cream with Maggie's unthawed frozen California strawberries that she and Jarrod had shipped to the family earlier that fall. Wyatt was doing the same.
"Yes she is Jack. Now share," Dave smiled.
Jack scooped up a spoonful and held it up to him. Dave polished off it off with a smile. "Cait, you might add unthawing another pint or two of your mom's strawberries to that list."
Cait smiled at him with a point as Aaron took Ethan from her arms. "My turn Doc," he smiled. Leslie handed him Ethan's bottle.
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A/N: I like home cooking. :D
