Chapter 4

Everyone reading the Hotchner Holiday Post turned to the next page. While they noticed the headline of Jack and Bella, their eyes were quickly drawn to the picture of the two of them together.

Jack was sitting in front of a massive pile of brightly colored fall leaves. Bella was at his side with Jack's arm around her. Everyone noticed one thing. The nearly seventy pound yellow lab did not dwarf Jack. "He's growing into such a wonderful young man," Diana smiled at Bill.

"Remember Thanksgiving Diana?" Bill asked with a smile. Diana looked at him. "When Jack hugged Cait after his dessert?"

Diana thought for second. "My goodness Bill, you're right. He's up to her breast line."

JJ sadly shook her head at Will. "We've got that growth spurt coming in our world." She looked at him. "I don't want it."

Will kissed her cheek. "It's comin' mama whether you want it or not. Do you think Cait wants it?"

JJ smiled. "I know better. We talk."

Will rubbed her shoulder. "Figured that out a long time ago honey," he smiled.

Hi everyone! Happy Holidays!

Mom says write what I want. Just tell everyone about my year. So here goes…

I hit my first homerun in Little League baseball this summer. That was really cool. And I finally got to ride "with the wind" at the ranch this summer keeping up with mom. It's a highlight I'll never forget. I'm finally trusted on my horse named Haley like mom is. I'm pretty proud of that.

I loved my first year of playing tackle football with the pads and wearing a helmet. I don't know about mom on that one though. We didn't have the best team in the world. But I played on a team with a bunch of fun guys. We had a good time. And Coach Westie was a great guy. And the up side was my soccer training made me the field goal kicking specialist of our team. I'm glad I did it. But honestly? I'm gonna stick to soccer for my fall sport from now on. Unless when I get to high school and that team needs that specific skill.

Derek shook his head. "He's a sixth grader and he writes like that?"

Savannah rubbed his side, chasing Hank away from another cabinet pull of pans. "His mom is an educator? You doubt that?"

Dave smiled. "Raised you well my Padawan. Do the glamor job without taking the hits."

Middle School is awesome! I really like going between my classes and having my own locker. My favorite classes are advanced math and world history.

My basketball season is still taking a hit. Just before Thanksgiving I had an accident on the playground and broke my right collar bone. I'm a couple weeks away from getting back to regular play. I'm on the DL for eight weeks. That stinks. Btw, mom edited out my original adjective.

"It sucks dude," Declan smiled. Emily lightly punched Declan's bicep as all the rest reading the card laughed.

Other than that, I miss my brothers not being here anymore. I get it. Doesn't mean I have to like it. Oh well, the joys of being the short guy in this family. And the two special ladies in their lives are way cool. I love them both. But I have to admit – having dad and mom all to myself has its upside. So does being old enough now to have a video game playing night with Uncle Dave on a Friday once a month; and mom's breakfast for the two of us the next morning. Uncle Dave just has to pass dad's test at breakfast on how many new swear words I learned.

Everyone reading the card laughed at that comment.

*looks at word count* I think I'm good with mom. :D

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

"Ya got it done my forever little dude," Derek smiled. Savannah rubbed his side, knowing Derek's memories of that awful time when Haley was murdered.

Savannah smiled at him, pointing at Bella's little corner picture. "This should be interesting."

Declan looked at Emily. "Cait or Jack writing this?"

"Bud," she smiled. "Out of the box, I don't know. But as I read, I can give you my analysis."

Declan looked at her. "Damn mom; you sound like Reid."

"Oooo Gawd forbid," Emily snarked. "And watch your language sir." They laughed together.

I've had a tough year.

Emily smiled at Declan. "This is all Cait's snark."

Declan laughed, nodding his head. "Yup it is."

January as usual saw my male master gone most of the month; which is usual. But that means I gotta sleep with my female master to keep her company. You know – curled up around her legs to keep her company. I love the growing one upstairs. But my humom is my priority.

The first part of February, I spent two weeks keeping the four humans here warm as they shared the flu with each other. It's dirty job, but someone has to do it. Why does hudad get it the worst?

Dave laughed. "Yup Cait: we're busted."

As winter turned to spring, I had the dirty job of lying by the French doors, soaking in the afternoon sun waiting for my humans to get home. While I did sneak in some naps, I was always on guard.

JJ looked at Will laughing. "Cait at her best," he smiled.

My summer started really fun with having my young human home to play with. And I got to spend ten days with my friend Pete and his lady Jenna. They stayed at the house while my family went to some place called the ranch. Pete and Jenna are super cool. Like my humom, they let me help water all the flowers. And I got to nap in the shade while they used the pool.

And summer means some weekends at Uncle Dave's cabin. Chasing all the birds and squirrels in the backyard is a lot of fun. Especially with my buddy Max (Uncle Dave's dog) joining in. My only complaint is the squirrels that go up the tree just high enough so I can't reach them. And then turn around and chew me out. Hey! I'm a dog! But that wears me out. So I get lots of naps in between.

Fran laughed out loud. "You are on fire Cait," she smiled at Calico sitting in her lap, rubbing Calico's head.

Sandy looked at Doogie; her Springer Spaniel. "This is your life story," she smiled. Doogie wagged his tail and plopped down at her feet.

But my best month is always when grandma and grandpa come. It's always nap time by grandpa sleeping in the recliner in front of a roaring fire. And it also means I've got two younger short legs to play with as more humans stay here in my domain. The short legs are named Wyatt and Ethan. Of course, the more playing means I need more down time. But it was tough this year. I also had to take care of the short home human with a big, black thing around his arm. I'm not used to pulling double duty. This required much sleep.

Emily and Declan laughed together.

Derek laughed with Savannah. "Oh baby," she smiled. "You should hear Cait when she's out on girls' night with us. She can have us all rolling. And only with two drinks."

"I don't want to think about that," Derek smiled, pulling Hank out of another cupboard.

And then there's the really, really big day when there's lots of humans here; including two more short legs. They leave lots of table scraps for Max and me. That's special and gives me a lot to be thankful for. And Max and me can find lots of places to sleep off our hard work for this family.

Whoops! The humom is looking at me. I've written too much.

Happy Holidays to you all. *woof*

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A/N: While I do not have pets any more (my choice), I live vicariously through friends on Twitter with their pets.

Humom and hudad are words used in that culture. I'm just rolling with it. :D